,,what's your flavor,,open

[Brianna Faline Parker]

--The campus was boring, there was nothing to do, and her homework could wait until tonight, around mindnight or so when she remembered to do it. It wasn't that she was slacking, it's just sometime she used her luck to her advantage. She entered the coffee shop, and spoted her favorite table, she was open. How lucky, right? Hah. She chuckled to herself. It was like her to make corny jokes to herself.

--Sometimes the island felt as if it was closing in around her, but when she was in the coffee shop, she could just go away, in her own little world, try to ignore the emotions pouring off others. It was easier here, when mostly everyone was calm and cool. The thick aroma of ground coffee beans wafted through her nostrils and a small smile spread across her face.

--Brianna didn't worry too much about what other people thought about her, they were used to weird kids roaming the island. She would be nothing new. She walked up to the counter and ordered her usual. She walked over to her table and sat down, looking out the window at the beautiful scene that lay spread out in front of her.

--She had to admit, the island was beautiful, and mysterious. It had great places to explore and discover, but there was just something...missing for her. Maybe it was the lack of diversity. It hardly rained, the temperature being tropic. And maybe it was the fact it was a deserted island? That was probably it. She wished she could see her father, bring him here, so he could get away from her mother. But maybe they had tried for another child, a normal one.

--But what fun was life if you held onto the past? It wasn't worth it. She tended to look forward, stay optimistic, but there was just something telling her to hold on, just a little bit longer. And she always listened to her gut instinct, it had saved her more times than not.

[Brandon Bailey]

Brandon enjoyed coffee's smell, but he wasn't one for the taste of the bitter drink. He seldom drank it; when he did, he had more sugar, chocolate and cream than actual coffee.BUt it wasn't rare to see him here. The cafe was simply a quiet little building where he could do homework, write a poem or two, and just over all relax his mind. On a early Friday evening such as this, it was great to wind down in a place with soothing music and comfy chairs.

He found himself with a small cup of cafe mocha in hand, sitting down at a table across from a blonde girl. Setting down his backpack, he pulled out today's newspaper, flipping through it lazily. He'd already read through it. One could say that he was just browsing for something he had missed. Sadly, though, it didn't seem like it.

Brndon sipped his coffee in peace.

[Brianna Faline Parker]

--Brianna was idly sipping her coffee, one leg crossed over another when a boy came and sat at the table across from her. She studied him for a moment, her eyes looking over his face, studying his movements. His emotions flooded over her. She needed to get a better control over that. They were much like her own. She took another sip of her coffee, the warm liquid sliding down her throat, warming her. It was strange, drinking a warm drink in such a warm place. But she was addicted. For a moment she thought about joining the boy, but held back. Ah, what the hell, you only lived once, right?

--She got up, and smoothed out her jeans before going over and sitting at the boy's table. Brianna wondered if he atteneded the academy. Oh that was a dumb thought, of course he did. Why else would he be here? "Hey. Hope you don't mind if I sit here. Got kind of lonely back there." She motioned to her table, grinning. Bri really hoped this kid wasn't boring. He didn't seem like it. And if he was as bored as she was, then they might end up having a good time.

[Brandon Bailey]

"Oh, it's not a problem. Make yourself comfy."

Brandon liked to meet new people. Especially superfriendly types. The people that got along with you no matter what. It was nice meeting people that didn't act like total jerks, which was often what you found at the Academy and around the island.

"Of course, get a whole bunch of shunned and abused superhumans altogether in one place. Someone must have been smoking weed when they came up with that one. I mean seriously, the mood on this island's about as colorful as a goth's black lipstick collection."

Brandon stifled a laugh at that, and held out his hand across the table in an offer for a handshake.

"Hi. I'm Brandon. I don't like coffee."

Short, sweet, and to the point, it was enough to stir up a conversation with the girl. He offereda smile as he held out his hand, waiting.

[Brianna Faline Parker]

--Brianna grinned. And at his emotions. "Thanks." She said happily, once more crossing one leg over the other. She set her coffee on the table. A couple people had sat at her table. She knew if she got up, and wanted to sit at her table again, that they would leave. It was just her luck. Then the other stuck out his hand. "Nice to meet you. I'm Brianna." Bri said, shaking his hand gently. But he didn't like coffee? "I hope you know you're in a coffee shop." She said playfully.

--So maybe this wouldn't turn out so bad after all. This boy, Brandon, seemed friendly and fun. She wondered what his little power was, or his skills. Her own wasn't as...amazing, as some of the other ones. But she loved her power. It did get annoying sometimes thought. But if she was having a bad day, she could find someone who was having a good one, and sort of feed off their emotions. It sounded creepy, but it wasn't, it always helped her.

[Brandon Bailey]

Brandon looked behind the girls shoulder. No sooner than she had vacated her table, it had been occupied. He clued back into her when she started speaking, and responded by looking around behind him slowly, as if he had just realized that fact he was in a coffee shop.

"Oh, it's a coffee shop? I thought it was a library, 'cuz I'm checking you out!"

Playful. He could do playful. He winked at her and chuckled before sitting back in his chair with a large grin.

"Haha. That was lame. I'm sorry. I'm really just here to avoid being at school, ya know? Gives me a place to think without having to worry about the usual hassle of whether I get attacked by a book thrown by a randomly pissed off telekinetic Latina girl."

Oddly specific, but it happens. You had to be repared for anything at a place where anything was possible. Brandon prided himself on several things, one being his preparededness.

"Is that even a word?"

He threw away the random thoughts, and the elemental opened his mouth to speak.

"So, I don't recognize you... but then, I don't really pay attention to people not in my classes, you know? Kinda hard to when you're trying to get from Calamia's English to lunch in less than 2 minutes so you can actually get the good food."

[Brianna Faline Parker]

--Brianna laughed, a sincere laugh. She loved corny jokes and pick-up lines. Actually, she lived for them. And the wink made it better. The boy wasn't bad looking. "Oh don't appologize." Bri said, still chuckling slightly. Her head cocked slightly at the very descriptive scenario. "Yeah, I understand what you're saying." Which she did. Isn't that the whole reason why she was here? Well, partly anyway.

--"Oh. Well, I didn't recognize you either. But I just guessed you were from the academy." Brianna said sarcastically. Of course he was from the academy. Why else would he be here? "I'm lucky. I never get there late, or if I do. There is always good food left." She said smirking. Luck came in handy 100% of the time.

--No matter what, she always got good, fresh food. Sometimes she felt a little guilty, being so lucky. But it wasn't like she picked the gift for herself. But she always thought what she would do if she was given the opportunity to either pick different gifts, or get rid of them. She really didn't know what she would do.

[Brandon Bailey]

"You know, I've actually had that happen to me, that's the bad part. Hahaha. 'Bout took my head off. So what part of heaven did ya fall from?"

A girl that didn't mind the plethora of corny jokes and utterly lame pick up lines he knew? Awesome.

The elemental sat back in his chair, taking a sip of his coffee. He didn't lke coffee hot, but he didn't like it cold either. He usually let the room temperature cool it to warm, not really having much control of temperatures that weren't below freezing or above boiling point for water. It wasn't where he liked it, but it was close enough.

"Luck is nice to have, but skill's also just as important. I mean, its not just luck that I'm this damn good looking. It's skill. Lots of skill. It's hard being this pretty."

Brandon laughed at himself and shook his head.

"Naw, my little cousin got all the good looks in the family. Me and my brother are just merely dashingly handsome," the elemental continued, before going on, "seriously, though, what's your reason for coming here? I told you mine. "

[Brianna Faline Parker]

--"Oh jeez! I'll have to keep my eyes out for a Latina girl, who looks pissed off." Brianna said playfully. She couldn't help but giggle. "Probably the same place you fell from." She smiled. This was...fun. Something she hadn't had a lot of lately. Most of the time the island just brought you down. It wasn't the island its self, it was what it stood for. Being disowned by your family and friends, or being labeled a freak but the general population. Although when you were around people that had the same issues, it wasn't so bad. But there was hardly any excitement.

--Brianna nodded. "Oh I'm sure it is." A playful pout appeared on her plump lips. "But luck isn't my...'power'. Luck is my skill. My power is Empathy." She said casually, as if it were normal in every way. "Then your cousin must be drop dead gorgeous." Bri teased. "My reason? Well, my mother is a complete bitch, heartless one at that. And my dad, well, he isn't so bad. He's just whipped." She shrugged. Wasn't much more to it. She hated discussing her past with people. It was better to just forget it. She was here now, and there was nothing more she could do about it. And she certainly couldn't change it.

[Brandon Bailey]

"I fell from South Carolina. I'm a long way from home, you know? And no offense, but you definitely don't have Southern Girl vibes. Not that that's a bad thing. Haha."

Brandon listened closely as she summed up her life story in a short burst of what seemed to be bitterness.

"Actually, I didn't mean to bring up your past. I was just wondering why you choose this cafe, ya know?"

Brandon felt instanly guilty, and his last words were very muted out of that guilt. The past was a sore subject for nearly everyone on the island. It was made worse by the fact that Brandon had had a much better childhood than most Gifted. He smiled, though, as he tried to better her mood.

"I'm sure things will work out! You're a really nice girl and all. Good things happen to good people, even if there's a really long wait. And I can tell you're a good person, so something good will happen!"

[Brianna Faline Parker]

--"Well, I did fall from heaven." Bri said smirking. "Actually, I come from Las Vegas, Nevada." She said shrugging. It was exciting there, always something to do. She loved going to the strip. This island was just...boring. Sure, the island was nice and everything, but it was no Vegas. Not that the rest of Nevada had been exciting. She loved her hometown.

--Brianna shook her head, her cheeks flushing. "Oh. Yeah, sorry. It's just everyone seems to ask why you're here, as in the island. I guess I've just been here too long it seems." She said. "I"m here because I have an addiction to coffee, and I just love it here." She sated, shrugging. If Brandon was looking for some exciting reason, he wouldn't get one from her.

--She smiled at him as he tried to make her feel better. She concentrated on his happy mood. It made her feel better. "Thanks." A small smile crept across her lips. It had been a while since anyone had tried to cheer her up, and it had been a while since she had wanted anyone to cheer her up. She had a habbit of being somewhat of an emotional recluse. Well, when it came to her own emotions.

[Brandon Bailey]

"Viva Las Vegas, huh? This islands actually a lot more exciting than my hometown. I liked my home, though. Everyone knew everyone, and nobody really cared that I was a mutant freak capable of burning down their homes then putting the fire out. "

Pausing, the gifted boy stopped returned a courtesy to the girl.

"You're an empath, huh? I'm an elemental. I'm even unique amongst the gifted, too. I get the awesome super power of control over opposing elements! What fun!"

Brandon spoke with lightly veiled sarcasm. He loved his powers, but he hated how much of his energy was spent just on controlling himself from burning down something, or unleashing a tidal wave.

"I guess with great power comes great responsibility, no?"

Thanked for his attempt to cheer her up, the boy nodded.

"Don't mention it. Anyways, what classes do you have this semester? Anything interesting?"

[Brianna Faline Parker]

--Brianna nodded. She loved Las Vegas, but she hated her home, her family, well, her dad was alright. But he could've done a lot more for her. But maybe this is where she belonged, on the island of misfits. Not that it was a bad thing, no weird stares, no one running away from you. All your friends had freaky cool powers too. So it wasn't all bad. Or that's what she always told herself. Sometimes you had no choice but to look on the bright side of things.

--"This place seems so boring to me sometimes. Sometimes I wished I grew up in a close community. Then I would know someone cared about me leaving. No one probably even noticed." She shrugged. It was true. In Las Vegas, you had to watch out for no one but yourself. If you didn't, the world would bite you in the ass. She had lived close enough to witness this, but far enough away to not be directly effected.

--Once again she nodded. "Cool! It would be awesome to have a cooler power. Sensing emotions just isn't exciting." But it didn't bother her. It was a fun power to have. It certainly came in handy for one thing or another. And it was paired with a very cool skill, luck. This skill was contradictory to her previous life. With a dad that wouldn't stand up to your mom, and then said mom ships you off to an island for "gifted people."

--"Classes, interesting?" Bri said smiling and chuckling. "Not really. Pretty much just the usual." She said. "What about you?" Classes were the same here as they had been in regular school. Math was her least favorite, but far. The rest weren't too bad. And having teachers with cool powers too got interesting most of the time. There really was never a dull moment during classes.