I dunno, it kinda feels like I am making far too frequent Interludes. But on the other hand I kinda feel like I need to do this since Joal's perspective is a little too jarring in a sense.
Speaking of, as usual since it is an intermission its a shorter chapter than usual since I ran out of ideas.
Expect a very fanon, OOC and inconsistent Amy, again I never read Worm lol.
Oh, I've also decided to try and think of title names for interludes rather than just interludes.
Please enjoy the chapter!
"So uh, that's the dumpster. Can't believe that guy ratted me out..."
I hear Joal mutter that part to himself, though since I was next to him.
He lived like this for six months?
I glance the unusual kid next to me, rather than be begging the Social Worker or the PRT to get him out of this situation, he seemed embarrassed and slightly pissed off at the witness.
I can't understand him at all, who would want to live like this?
I take a moment to glance into the dumpster while the Social Worker guy asks Joal a few questions. Its surprisingly clean, but there are signs of long term use and living here, like the faded out color of the carboard here used as a bed of sorts, no doubt rubbed off due to tossing and turning.
I remember his body. Ugh, wait, that sounded wrong. I remember his problems.
Genetically inherited diseases, malnutrition for a long period of time, genetically related issues and signs of dehydration, though it seems to be adressed nowadays. Horribly disfigured brain parts, his own body somehow blocking off signals to entire sections of the brain. He was technically a Case 53 by her standards, but he had no power and no outward disfigurement. Not to mention this was the only sections I could see, looking at Joal was like looking through cloudy, milky water. I could spot some things if she focused enough but it was not worth it.
I was given the rundown from Vicky when she gossiped to me about Joal, hearing it from Missy and Dean at school. Both his arents did drugs for a long time, it was likely his mother continued to do them while he was in the womb since it didn't take a genius to guess how a slaver pacified a neo-nazi.
His life was so utterly bullshit, and yet.
'Just my luck.'
I remember his words distinctly, he seemed slightly mad. But not as mad as a normal person would be, he was not as angry as he should be. He just...accepted it? How could he be ok with this, he could have asked someone, anyone for help.
"I should mention. This building has been recently bought, so while it tecnically was legal for you to live here before, now it would be considered private property. It is owned by a company named Lobotomy Corporation." Kyle, the Social Worker who looks painfully average tells Joal, who nods, seems like he already knew somehow.
Also, weird company name. Brain surgeons perhaps?
"I've been noticing people going inside and out for a while, I kinda figured it was being viewed or toured since one of the people was clearly an estate agent." Joal responds with.
I slowly stop paying attention to what they were discussing after that. He sounds so casual, so detached. Its off putting, like something isn't quite right.
Looking back into the dumpster where he spent so long in, I felt kinda bad. But it was the kind of guilt I got when looking at your typical homeless person, fleeting, but the fact that some guy my age looks like a kid doesn't help.
Suddenly, there was light squeaking coming from within the dumpster, I notice the small yet chubby and surprisingly well groomed fur of a rat from inside. Ugh, he was also living with rats. I move to reach out and move it aside, probably because of my experiances with blood and gore as is, I did not feel scared of other things typical girl would be, at least to an extent. This included both rats and bugs and such.
Though, something happens. A blur moves past me and grasps the rat quickly yet gently at the same time, it takes me a moment to recognize it, Joal. He had an expression of both surprise and urgency, both of which I figured out was rare from the unusually calm boy. Yet that begs the question, why?
"Ah, sorry Dallon." Unlike Joal's usual calm and well-spoken tone, he was clearly flustered, no doubt trying and thinking of ways to explain what just happened "This is uh, this is Jane. She's a rat."
Joal takes a few steps back away from me while holding 'Jane', he is trying to keep me from touching the rat.
"You have a pet rat?" Miss Militia moves to look over Joal's shoulder to look at the rat, who was noticibly calm and observing us and their surroundings, a sure sign of their familiarity with Joal.
"Uh...um, not quite." Joal says as Jane runs up his arm and stands on their shoulder.
"Why does this rat look more well fed than you?" Kyle says, somehow with a bit of intimidation as he walks over to Joal.
I blank at that conversation once more, since I understand. I get the general idea of everything now. The reason why he is the way he is, while I was no psychologist, I understood how people were after dealing with them everyday.
This rat, Jane. Was likely the only family or connection Joal ever had. It made sense in hindsight, I was familiar with people tending to make connections or made up bonds and backstories for when they feel lonely. God knows how many patients thought they had a special bond with her because she healed them.
This must explain why Joal felt so strongly. I had to do one more test to make sure though, didn't want everything to end up as a mess due to a misconception on my part however.
Once again, I reach a hand into the dumpster once more, when I pull out some documents, something I recognize to be some kind of algebra homework, I make sure Joal sees me take it out, but he only asks me to not destroy it, with a calm smile nontheless. In other words, this affirms my suspicions even more, Joal finds that rat more important than his own education.
I read his files, yes, he was important enough to have files. It was basic courtesy and training for me to gloss over the information of those I heal, a habit ingrained in me from my time in the hospitals. Joal's actually stood out to me a little.
His family had a history of drugs, his diet was likely lackluster and unbalanced, he had a history of schoolyard fights and brawls.Ok, wasnt the worst story I've seen. At most I had thought if he would have a pissy attitude due to said upbringing.
But when I touched him, when I saw what a seemingly normal boy was hiding...it was just so...
So interesting.
"Uh, Dallon. You alright?" Joal was suddenly standing in front of me, when did he get there?
I never zone out that easily unless I get a really good smoke or when I think about Vic- Let's skim over that.
"Why do you call me Dallon? You seem more comfortable calling me that than Amy." Ugh, smooth. I was still acting kinda like an asshole, I'll scare him away at this rate.
"Hm? Ah, well its just something I'm used to, sorry. I uh, watched a lot of Aleph media, specifically Japanese media and I sort of ended up mimicing their mannerisms." Joal says while seemingly unphased by my words.
...I can't tell if he really is that socially oblivious or if he is just being nice. But, it does feel good to be called a Dallon, honestly I feel like my position in the family is kind of strained as is. Plus, being called by my last name from a person my age actually feels kinda good. Not respected as Panacea, but as Amy Dallon. Respected for just existing, not for my deeds.
"Thats fine...so, what's going to happen to you now? I actually have no idea where people go before they end up in care." I was not actually too sure what would happen to him.
He raises a brow at me, as if I did something he did not expect of me, not neccersarily dissapointed, just curious. But, I never met him before I was pretty sure.
Thinking on it, I did not do anything weird, I just asked him what would happen to him, why would it he strange for me to care about him?
"Well, the usual route of an orphanage was considered, but I was told I may have to stay in the Protectorate Headquarters for a while since I technicaly count as a Parahuman. But even that is delayed since somehow the Youth Guard know about me and are now advocating me to live as an adopted child to one of their administraive members." Joal sighs, but doesn't seem that depressed about it, a more lighthearted sigh if anything "In other words. I have no idea and nothing is going to happen until all this Political and media drama passes by."
Holy shit that sounds ass.
Goody two shoes Dean actually spoke about the PRT headquarters a little, said it could be boring at times. Now that speaks volumes more then the constant whining from Missy or the jokes and groans Dennis makes about the PRT. The fact that Dean of all people didn't like it at times and found it boring? I was half tempted to compare it to a Mental Ward.
"Good luck with that." Smooth Amy, smooth.
For fuck's sake, I finally see a person I find interesting and I'm fucking up at talking. At least get mad, or pissy or even rude, I know how to respond to people like that! Why are you so damn calm about everything I mess up?!
"Thanks." He replies simply.
See what I mean? Ugh, its like dealing with a quieter Dean, you are supposed to get along with them and find nothing wrong with them, and not doing so majes you feel guilty or that you are the bad guy.
"By the way, if you don't mind. I have a request if you're not going anywhere." Joal suddenly speaks up.
"What is it?" I reply back.
"I want to ask if you would not mind to observe my body's condition again. I know you said that you can't see everything due to whatever is going on inside me, but the more I know...the more I would feel assured." Joal states while continuing to play with Jane.
A golden oppertunity!
Now it won't be weird if I observe that strange but fascinating mesh of conditions and irregularities! At least it won't be boring.
Ah but wait! I'm treating him like a science experiment, I should feel ashamed. I can't believe I got caught up in that mindset so easily. Was I that bored to fall so easily?
Hold on, I didn't even answer him yet, I've just been stuck in my own thoughts ever since I saw those insides, shit.
I look up to Joal, well not far, he was shorter than me; he seems to be attempting to patiently and politely wait for me while occaisionally playing with Jane who demmanded attention.
Thank you Miss Rat, you were able to avoid this from becoming a train wreck of a conversation.
"Sure. I'll allow it. By the way, I will hold your hand in order to examine your body. Just don't get any ideas about this or I will take it as sexual harrassment." Fucking hell I suck ass at thiiiiiis!
"Oh, I know my place. No worries, I know the way to the nearest public bathroom if you want to wash your hands before and after touching me." Joal what the fuck?
'I know my place'? How did he say that with such practiced ease? Is he trying to farm pity points with me?
"Why would I want to know where the narest public bathroom is?" I reply back, I'm getting mixed signals here.
"Well. You found out I lived in a dumpster for the better part of six months. And I am pretty sure Gallant or Shadow Stalker have body cam footage of me eating from a dumpster so I figured you would find me disgusting. Ah, I take daily showers at a fountain nearby here. So I like to think I am somewhat clean." Joal says back.
Ah so he was worried I might find him disgusting and that was his way to be considerate with me? Ugh, I have to look over his psyche evaluation again later. This sounds like something Jessica would have a field day with.
"No, I'm ok. Lets hurry up and do this." I want to analyze that biology once more...I want to understand it.
I soon grab his hand, and once again I'm visiting that...I don't even know what to call it.
Muscles denser yet flexible than any body builder or gymnast's, creating a subtle bastion of power despite little to no maintainance, its energy consumption was way too efficient, was this how he lived despite all the genetic damage his parent's lifeystyle had on his birth?
While I would never do brains, I can observe them. And his brain activity was just...oooohh...
The path of the synapses was all over the place, it was an absolute mess with conflicting and active pathways that led to seemingly nowhere. I couldn't see where they were headed, due to the interference, probably power shenanigans. There was also much more activity going on than your average person, I'm surprised his brain isn't fried.
He shouldn't be alive.
He shouldn't be calm and still, if he was somehow miraclously alive, he would have to be rapidly starving and a severe and very debilitating sense of overstimulation. But he is alive, breathing. His heart rate isn't indicative of his body's erratic condition at all.
This was...different from observing Case 53, despite it being no different in practice. It's like this, thing, not body, this thing is connected to something. Something that I must have been searching for billions of years and it is right in front of me. There was no logical explanation as to why, just something was telling me to keep looking, find out more. To get more knowledge about what was in front of me, to get that data. I even felt stronger, my mind slightly expanded as I looked into infinity-
I want to know more.
I want to see more.
I need more.
"-my...Amy...Amy!" A burst of yellow enters my view as I was visibly shaken, causing me to let go of the hand.
"Wh-What..." I feel slightly dizzy as I was shaken, I recognise it immediately...so easily, as if it was second nature, it was my mother, Carol.
"Amy, get yourself together. You even started drooling." Carol's tone was discplinary and cold as normal.
Immediately, I go to rub my mouth with my sleeve, my arm with aid sleeve felt slightly cold and the dampness of the fabric.
I was drooling?
I turn to Joal "How long...was I like that?"
My throat was dry...
"Oh, about 40 minutes straight." He says far too casually.
40 minutes? It barely felt like I was in there for 4.
"I...yeah, sorry. It was just, interesing to see what was going on inside you. You uh, you probably won't die of natural causes." I say lamely, I feel my face blush slightly as I rub my mouth to get rid of the drool.
Stupid polite idiot. He could've said something and helped me out...
"Hey, next time I go like that, nudge me or somthing." I sightly glare at the ever calm boy.
"Alright. Yeah sorry, that was on me." He replies with.
"Ugh...you're too nice." I look away and avoid eye contact with him.
I can't understand him at all when I speak with him.
I look back towards Carol, she was discussing with Kyle, the average looking social worker. A few keywords I as able to pick up from this distance were 'Youth Guard', 'potential' and 'PRT'. Why did she even come here in the first place?
I see Carol walk up to Joal and puts on her lawyer smile, it was more of a poker face to me than anything.
"Joal, I've heard about your situation. Do you know who I am?" Carol begins with a gentle tone.
"Yeah, Carol Dallon right?" Joal treated Carol just as he had treated me, Miss Militia and even Kyle, interesting to take note of.
"Yes, that's good. I also heard that you can't head to a normal orphanage because of your technical status as a Parahuman thank's to Panacea's outburst." Carol states.
Way to make me feel good about myself, she did it so naturally most of the others didn't notice the true meaning of those words.
"Well, if Amy didn't say anything I probably would have never found out by myself. So I am quite thankful she was there." Joal said.
Well, it's been a while since I was told thanks for telling someone they were sick, injured or dying. Normally the ungrateful fucks who visit me in the hospital call me a liar, a few even tried suing me since when individuals with low priority injuries or illnesses are identified, since they think I'm just leeching money off of them or making them pay the hospital more.
"I see...well, I know that the PRT are offering for you to live with them due to your current situation. I know it is a big decision but, I want to ask if you would consider our family adopting you." Carol says-
Wait what?!
Adoption?!
I stumble a little as I stare at Carol with wide eyes.
"Uhhh...what?" For the first time, I see Joal become flustered and seem surprised, though he gathers himself quickly "Adoption...what brought up this idea?"
"No offence to the PRT." Carol look at Miss Militia "But they arent exactly equipped to raise a child 24/7 even if they give you a personalized room. They specialize in assisting those with powers and helping nurture them but not long-term childcare."
"Oh, it should be fine." Joal says with his hands up in a surrender position "I know I don't look it, but I'm 16. So I can handle a place like the Protectorate for 2 years. Even then, I doubt they'll stick me in the headquarters for long, its likely a temporary living space until they decide what to do with me. Probabaly something like bursaries or loans for my continued living, the same stuff they offer Case 53's."
"You know about the term Case 53's?" I hear Miss Militia speak up "While it is public knowledge that can be accessed in libraries and the internet, it's a pretty niche term since University courses or official PRT papers are the ones that use the term."
"I saw it online." Joal replies to her.
"We should get back on track." Carol steps back into the conversation "I was aware about your age. But the main reason why I am ask you to consider the adoption is due to your potential Parahuman abilities. If left by yourself, to put it frankly the gangs won't stop at anything to get another even potential Parahuman on their side and-"
I stop listening around then.
...
Is that his response to everything? He knew I could do more than just heal and said he saw it online apparently. I confirmed Joal at least wasn't lying by observing his hormonal resonses and heart rate but his resting heartbeat was already irregulerly high enough and his chemichal responses are a rapid fire mess as is, besides...
If he knew I could do more than just heal people, did he know I can use it to see if people are lying or not?
Just how much does he know?
"Uh, can you please give me some tjme to think about it, Miss Dallon." The boy who was the current focus of my thoughts looked uncomfortable at Carol insisting him to accept the choice of adoption.
"This is larger than you, Joal. Considering the nature of how you were revealed as a potential cape to the PRT as well as to the public indirectly will put eyes on you, especially since you became PHO famous recently." Carol is firm on her stance "You are considered to be an open Cape at this point. While the moderators are doing their best to salvage the situation, the damage has been done."
"Wait Joal was outed. Plus he was already PHO famous beforehand?" Honsestly I had no idea about this.
"You don't know? Amy, you were the one that revealed it with your outburst earlier today. You know better than to reveal the identities of capes. It blew up on PHO especially since Vicky decided to watch the clip since you never go on patrol and she wanted to see you in action without entering a Ward or hospital." Carol sighs.
I didn't yell it that loud did I? Ah shit, it was the boardwalk wasn't it. Cape groupies are everywhere there.
This was my fault...
"There are already rumours circulating online, since there were clips of some of the Wards recognizing and name dropping Joal at the front reception of the Protectorate a few days ago." Carol continues.
I look towards Joal, his expression is slightly winced as if he were in pain.
"Sheesh, that's not gonna end well." Joal took it pretty ok despite the significant impact being known as a Cape would be for the rest of his life, worst part was he didn't even have any powers.
He had all the negatives of being a cape while none of the positives.
And it was all my fault.
"So, while you could gain more safety and security if you transfer to the school, Arcadia. That won't likely be enough to protect you from all threats or people that want to use you or, how aware are you about how capes recieve their powers?" Carol asks.
"Online, the positive trigger event theory has been debunked countless times. Trigger events are likely in response to strong physical or mental trauma." Joal quickly replies back.
"You know your stuff." Miss Militia says, I've noticed she was actually fairly quiet throughout this discussion "I won't lie and say we have enough resources or suitable plans to suddenly take in a teenager to live. I would like for you to consider joining the PRT and the Wards. If you live in the base that is the single most secure building on the Bay. You may not have powers yet but that means we can focus on assisting you with professonal levels of study materials, particulerly we have specialists on capes. You'll even be paid for your assistance in the Wards even if we do not put you on patrol, you can be their guy in the chair for now. Plus, when we make your Cape identity, we can help play damage control about your identity."
Unexpected but also expected development!
I noticed the unsure and shaky look in Miss Militia's eyes, chances are she was told by council and was told through comms that she had to a least advertise the position to Joal.
The poor guy looked a bit overwhelmed. I had an inkling he was the pushover type, he seemed to want to say no to the both of them but didn't want to make a firm and blunt refusal while in front of them.
That was another difference compared to goody two shoes Dean. Well, Dean wasn't actually all that bad despite my label for the guy. Dean also liked to avoid confrontation and conflict, though thanks to his cheat sheet being able to see people's emotions it was an easy thing to navigate, it was easy for him to understand and connect to others.
Joal was different in the sense you could tell he was trying to connect and see things from another person's eyes. By God was he terrible at it most of the time, something I figured out while talking to him.
He even was willing to put up with me drooling on him and acting pissy, some doctors can't even put up with me on a bad day.
But that makes me question. What does he see? What does he think? What is his opinion of all this?
Wait.
When did I get so introspective?
Why do I...not want him to leave? Why do I care so much for this stranger I met just today? I don't want him to leave. Joal joining the family...appeals to me?
Something in my head is telling me- no, its silently screaming at me to make sure he doesn't leave.
Something is wrong here, something has been for a while now. Am I being Mastered? Shit.
"I...need some space." I begin walking away before anyone can even reply to my statement, Joal doesn't follow after me either.
I remember his file, I normally skip most things that are speculations since it's better to just meet the person, but there were some scrapped versions one could find, old versions of a file that are considered outdated.
Possible unaware/self inflicted Master.
I understood most of this stuff now, I have a better general idea of the situation. But I also have way too many questions. Despite something in my head yelling at me to go back to Joal, I was able to force myself out of the alleyway, taking out a cigarette to smoke after realizing the PRT troopers kept away passerbys.
Though...using a power requires an active Corona Pollentia. So what was that? Maybe a side effect of looking into that infinite-
The door beside me suddenly opens. Out walks a woman with blue eyes and black hair, she is wearing a two piece top, black suit and white dress shirt top with a back tie.
At least...it was supposed to be a suit. Were those hotpants with my image on them? Our eyes meet as we silently glance at each other for a few moments.
"...Yo." The woman lets out.
"...Hi." I reply back.
...
A few seconds pass by as she soon exits the building, closing the door behind her before she walks into the alleyway happily while holding a sheet of paper. As she passes by me, she gives me a pack of ibuprofen?
The moment she did give me the pack however, my mind was...clear.
Like clear clear, there was no longer any silent voice in my head urging me to go back to Joal.
Hold on, that was where everyone was.
I move to look past the corner watching the half suit half casual wearing woman approach the various Capes plus Kyle who was just sort of there. The woman that gave me the ibuprofen and sudden mental clarity reveals the paper with a smile.
"Jin?" Joal recognises this woman, while as short as a teenager at 5'7, she was unmistakenly an adult woman. Despite her fashion choice.
"Joal, great to see ya! I got it finalized finally. These are the official adoption papers I recieved this morning." The newly named Jin seems quite happy "Oh, who are all of your new friends?"
...Adoption papers?!
The plot thickens further!
I see Carol and Miss Militia both flinch slightly and turn the the happy and obviously quite oblivious Jin who is almost showing off the papers.
Kyle, who was still kind of there, also just seems nore confused than anything as he excused himself to take a call onto the side.
A few moments pass by as Kyle hangs up and says, more tiredly than anything "The...the records say its official. I have no idea how all the clearings were done so fast...or why I had no idea this was happening."
All of the adults present were silent, plus confused.
"I...think I should probably explain." Joal states.
Please. Yes. Explain everything.
This is such a mess.