Trust her.Not what she says.Not what she promises.
Trust what she shows you when she loses control.
That is who Violet Asher is.She is who she is when she bears her fangs at you.
If she does that. If she shows you who she is, even once.
Believe her.—Unknown
“Again, I am seriously so sorry! No one has ever had a real problem with it before, so I didn’t even think about it! I spent all of class running it through my head, though, and I realized it’s totally fucked up to do that without asking, isn’t it?” Jade apologized again. Class had barely ended before the older girl had bolted from her desk and rushed to explain to Violet. The other students were interested in meeting the new group as well, but fewer wanted to speak to Violet after her harsh reaction earlier in the day. Violet was irritated that her first impression had been wounded. But preventing the discovery of her first talent was more important. She’d simply have to make Jade regret making her choose.
“It’s seriously no big deal!” Violet assured her for what must have been the fifth time in a row. “I’m just a bit on edge, and it just felt a little…” Violet trailed off, giving Jade an awkward look which invited her to finish the sentence.
“Invasive? Yeah, I understand. I guess I’m just a bit desensitized, after everything in this class. But I realized I’d absolutely freak out if someone started digging through my private information without asking. I’m just a big idiot, that’s all,” Jade answered. Violet sighed.
“No, I understand. You’ll need to know eventually, right? If using other people’s talents is part of your calling, I’m sure you’re expected to get used to everyone’s. That makes sense. It’s just… that talent you couldn’t identify? It’s a bit unpleasant, and it’s tied to some nasty memories,” Violet replied. By way of further explanation, she put her hand on her desk and allowed her talents to etch themselves into its surface. A few more people leaned in curiously as the talent she invented for herself carved itself out in front of the class.
Second Chances - [Red] - {1}
“The scout lives a dangerous life. She is often the first to encounter danger and rarely has the means to defeat it on her own. While she explores the mist to find safety for her friends, she will be given a second chance. She will survive exactly one otherwise fatal incident, without exception. This talent will not be replaced once it has been expended.”
“Oh wow!” Kassie exclaimed, interrupting the conversation. “So I guess you probably, like, already used that one, huh? I can see how you might not want to talk about how.”
“Yeah,” Violet agreed. “It hurt pretty bad. Not just… the reason I needed it,either. That involved a green hedron. But also… well, the talent is a little unclear about what ‘survive exactly one otherwise fatal incident, without exception’ means. Turns out it doesn’t actually involve healing, and the process itself is extremely… well. I don’t like to think about it. Or talk about it, much. And honestly, I don’t know how your talent works, Jade. How it interacts with the one-time use limit on this one. I was afraid you’d get hurt as badly as I was if you tried to activate it.” Jade winced as Violet described her talent.
“Oh, shit, you were mad for my sake, not just for your own privacy? Well, now I feel even more like garbage. I’m sorry. I won’t mess with your talents without permission again, I swear to God!” Jade promised.
“You probably won’t need to for a while, anyway,” Kassie shrugged. “Unless you need whatever crazy scouting tool you were creating before. That was totally weird-looking! Not something I’d picture a scout using at all, but I guess it wasn’t finished. Either way, that first talent really doesn’t seem like one you can really practice with, regardless. Unless you are, like, completely crazy.”
“I won’t be practicing with you all for a bit, in any case,” Violet interjected, cutting Jade off before she could explain she was trying to make a weapon. “I have to be cleared by the shrink before I can do any practical education. I’m sure I’ll be in a better place then, and you can absolutely see what you can learn about it. I’m really sorry for reacting that way before. Like I said, it’s been rough lately.” Jade’s eyes widened as Violet spoke, and she was filled with a more positive energy a moment later.
“Oh, you’re seeing Mr. Shepard? He’s great! Yeah, he’ll help a lot, although it won’t just make everything disappear. I was assigned to him, too, when I first got here. I still go see him, even though it isn’t required anymore,” Jade said. She continued to speak, but any words after that washed off of Violet like rain on glass. They had an impact, but their memories were all she noticed as she rolled Jade’s words around in her head.
She’d been growing concerned. When she’d made it to the academy, Violet had promised herself she wouldn’t kill anyone too close to her again. At least, not so quickly. The disastrous trip through the mist had served as cover for her. It had provided enough explanation for everyone she’d killed up to that point. But if people continued dying around her in the safety of Prism City, someone was eventually going to start asking her questions. It was bad enough that murders were going to start showing up after she arrived in the city, but it was a big enough city that no one would suspect her specifically. Especially if she didn’t make them look like “murder” for as long as possible. She was well past the point of believing she wouldn’t kill again, and she was, in fact, looking forward to the next time she had a chance to do so. She was already missing the adrenaline of the act. That rush of power and clarity in every sense. But her classmates? That would center any investigation on her immediately.
She was beginning to think she’d have to risk that anyway. Jade’s ability was too dangerous. It was luck alone that she was benched for long enough to figure something out. Eventually, she’d be expected to share her talents with the mirror. And that would be it. Even if Jade couldn’t read her full summary—which Violet was unsure of—the reality of her first talent would be the domino that collapsed the world on top of her. Just by existing, Jade threatened to take Violet’s control of her own life away. Violet would risk killing a classmate to avoid that. But as Jade spoke, Violet remembered her therapist in his office. He’d used an actual, physical key to lock his office. Where he kept his files on his patients. And Jade had seen him.
Violet had only been a Reaper for a few months. Before that, she’d had no talents. No clarity. No magic crystals, and no enhanced abilities or perception. She’d grown up with only the right words and the perfect expressions as weapons. All of that had taught her one universal truth. Talents gave people control. Ability gave people control. But even in situations where neither would work, or for someone like her who was denied both, information always would. If she could learn enough about Jade, she wouldn’t have to kill her to control her. And Shepard’s notes wouldn’t solely have information. Just the fact that the other girl had been assigned to therapy told Violet the man would have notes on at least one vulnerability. And if Jade trusted him as much as she said she did, perhaps she’d shared even more.
Violet’s path was clear. She needed to find a way into that office. She was certain it wouldn’t be so simple as picking a lock. Physical key or not, this was one of only a few prestigious schools for lancers in the country. Sensitive patient information was unlikely to be so easy to reach, especially for a category red like her. Which brought her back to her initial problem. Information would lead to control. She needed more information, then.
Kiera’s hand gently karate-chopped Violet’s head, pulling her from her contemplations and back into the conversation. “You in there, Vi? You know people are fucking talking to you, right?” Violet blinked, then looked at the concerned faces around her.
“Oh, uh, sorry. Maybe the headmaster is right. Maybe I’m not quite ready for all of this yet. I got a little caught up in the past,” Violet replied. Jade’s face immediately wore a look of sympathy, while Kassie’s frowned a bit.
“I’m sorry to hear that, but I totally get it,” Kassie responded. “Sorry, we probably shouldn’t be crowding you like this, huh?” Violet shrugged.
“It’s alright. I prefer this, actually. Feeling normal for a while. I guess I just didn’t realize how much shorter my social battery had gotten these past few days. None of you did anything wrong, really,” Violet promised. “I don’t feel crowded.”
“Yeah, you say that, but, like, the boys haven’t gotten to you yet. I promise. If you are tired now, you’re gonna wanna get the hell out of here before they decide you are friendly enough to approach,” Kassie joked.
“She’s not kidding, man. I feel fucking crowded,” Kiera warned. “I’m gonna be honest, here, I used you as an excuse to escape my own little group. They’re still a bit afraid of your threatening aura. But they are some curious shitheads, and I only got the ones who weren't distracted by Aubrey and Guy.” Violet scoffed.
“It’s the sidetail, probably. It really gives my violent tendencies away,” Violet joked.
“Hey, you joke, but like, you could totally be on to something,” Kassie said. “Some people can totally be more dangerous than they look! A little caution is super necessary for lancers, especially if someone gives an initially hostile impression!” Violet scowled internally, but offered a bright smile.
“Ah, they just need to get to know me. I only kill people sometimes, I swear!” she joked.
“Yeah, well, with the energy you had this morning, I was a little worried this was gonna be one of those times,” Jade cut in, nerves still in her voice. “But I guess I woulda deserved it. You don’t seem so bad now, though. So I guess I’ll just assume you only bite nosy bitches, and stop being one.” Violet laughed and shook her head.
“No, seriously, that was way out of character for me! ‘Once every few years’ kind of behavior! You all just caught me on a bad day!” Violet insisted. “Just sucks that my worst days in… well, pretty much ever, were right before my first day in class. You can ask me whatever you want. I don’t mind a little nosiness.”
“Fair enough. Well, in that case, just let us know if things start to feel like they are a little too much, and we’ll back off, I promise!” Jade said.
“Great,” Kiera agreed. “'Cause that guy who tried to touch my tail is a little too much.” She held a thumb over her shoulder and pointed at a guy with a shit-eating grin and what looked like orange, crystal leaves in his hair. Kassie rolled her eyes and clapped, standing and approaching the other group. As a bonus, this distracted the boy from a flustered Aubrey.
“Masaki! We talked about this! I know the physical effects of callings are interesting, but you can’t, like, touch people’s crystal as soon as you meet them!” she lectured, leaving the other three girls alone. It was Kiera’s turn to wear a shit-eating grin. She clearly enjoyed the apparent fear in the boy’s face as the blonde lectured him.
“Yeah, I think I’m gonna be friends with her,” she laughed.
“She’s a good friend to have,” Jade agreed. Violet sighed.
“I can see that. She’s the one who is really earning me this space, isn’t she?” Jade responded with a sheepish smirk.
“You’re pretty sharp, huh?” Jade answered. “Yeah, she told us to give you a little space. Said you had a hell of a story, and that you would want to get to know everyone, but also that we shouldn’t push you too much. Your, uh… reaction this morning just reinforced that a bit.” Violet grimaced. She didn’t love the idea of Kassie making that decision for her. Violet could decide what she could handle on her own, and she was irked that Kassie had prepped the class for her.
“Well, I appreciate that. It makes me feel a little less embarrassed about lashing out. She probably should have done the same for Aubrey, though. I’m guessing Kassie didn’t get to hear as much of her story, but after her mistake on the train, I’m certain she’s on even shakier ground than I am,” Violet replied. Jade tilted her head.
“Oh? What mistake?” she asked. Violet put a hand to her mouth.
“Oh. Oh shoot. It’s nothing. I just meant she had at least as hard a trip as I did. People may want to give her space, too.” Violet replied.
“No joke,” Kiera agreed. “That trip was bullshit.”
“Speaking of which,” Violet said. “What do we do if we—or someone we know—needs a little more urgent attention from Mr. Shepard? Like… if it’s urgent urgent?”