#candaceteen

[ktarsims]

And our protagonist... Name: Candace Miranae (as teen) Species: Witch Created by: Actually one of my own original creations, though iirc I made her originally as a gift for someone else during a gift exchange. ^-^ Bicycle: AnoeskaB Bicycle Female (Blue, of course) Traits: Ambitious, Diva, Kleptomaniac, Natural Born Performer Part-time Job: Music Business Apprenticeship (week days) Color: Blue Food: Vegetarian Grilled Salmon Music: Electronica Sign: Virgo

[ktarsims]

Out in the hallway, Candace found another student to introduce herself to. “Oh, hello!” She stopped and introduced herself. “I’m Candace. I got a late start today.” The guy with the interesting tattoos stopped his progress toward the stairs to greet her in return, “Hey! I saw you in the drums room, didn’t I? The name’s Takeo.” He grinned at her, “But you can call me Tak!”

Candace favored him with a very genuine smile, “You noticed me? I thought everyone was so engrossed in the music they were oblivious to all else.”

Takeo gave her an eyebrow waggle, “Hey, good music is one thing, but I’m not blind when a cute chick makes an entrance. So what made you late this morning?”

Candace actually blushed a little, “Well, I was actually told to start tomorrow instead of today. I just got into town yesterday afternoon. My Great Aunt’s funeral in the morning rather complicated things.”

“Oh wow. Were you close?” Takeo’s smile dimmed slightly at this revelation. “Wait, if you were told not to start until tomorrow, why are you here?”

“I think I didn’t realize how much she cared for me, since I’m here as part of her dying wishes. I was just so curious to learn more about the school and meet my fellow students, so I came in once I was well rested!” Candace was exuberant on this point. It was true, after all. “It seems I missed out on some speech or instructions or something this morning though.” She frowned slightly.

Takeo’s smile recovered, “It’s hard to tell with some people, isn’t it? Well I hope you’re liking what you see.” He gestured and winked, and Candace blushed again. “I wouldn’t worry too much about the intro speech this morning. They’re bound to repeat it again, and have it in writing in a dozen places or something ridiculous like that.” He laughed, “You know, real bureaucrats around here sometimes. Anyhow, I’d better get to my next class. Be seein’ ya!”

As he turned to go, Candace called out, “Oh, can you point me in the direction of the computer room?” Takeo spun on one foot till he was facing her again and pointed to a door just past her, “You’re nearly there Ace!” Then he spun again and hopped over one of the stair bannisters on his way up, taking three steps at a time.

“Thanks!” Candace called after him, then frowned. ‘Ace??’ Well, she supposed it was better than Candy... which someone had tried to call her in elementary school... to their regret. It implied... excellence. She could perhaps take it as a compliment. She turned to enter the computer room.

[ktarsims]

And some other outtakes of Candace getting abducted. I told you I took a lot of these. Okay, I’m done now...

[ktarsims]

Candace hauled herself back across the street to her new ‘home’. “I don’t even know the status of this ‘home,’” she muttered to herself and sighed. ‘Maybe I AM tired. Also I should probably eat...’ She went inside and to the kitchen, to make herself something to eat. Once it was made she stared at it, not actually feeling hungry, and then put it in the refrigerator for later. ‘A bath. A nice hot bath.’ She went upstairs and spent some time soaking in hot water. She felt calmer after that, and decided that what she really needed was a bit of perking up. ‘I’ll have a chat with Azrael.’ 

Feeling that this was definitely the right choice, she went into the spare room upstairs where her magic mirror was installed. “Magic Mirror on the wall, who is the fairest of them all?” A ghostly face appeared in the mirror, “You know it’s you, my dear, but need we really always start out that way?” Candace grinned. “It’s been a rough day, Azrael. Besides, sometimes it’s nice to hear it. Apparently Aunt Tabitha was a big deal at this school when she was here. I haven’t found out precisely why yet though. Also apparently there’s sometimes a waiting list to get into the school. And this town has a curfew. A CURFEW. The school is full of good looking guys though. So that’s a bonus.”

“Woah, woah. Slow down my dear.” Azrael, as usual, cut to the interesting bit immediately, “Full of good looking guys, eh? Perhaps there’ll finally be some ROMANCE in the air!” Candace smiled. “Let me tell you all about them...” but before she could continue, Azrael interrupted her, “Don’t look now, but something is happening out on the street.” Candace raised an eyebrow. Azrael very rarely interrupted her. She looked left out the window and saw that he was right... there were some strange lights in the sky. “That’s interesting. I’ll be right back, Azrael, I want to see what this is.” She ran back downstairs and out the front door to get a better look.

[ktarsims]

Before Candace could actually exit the room, someone else came towards her. “I greet you,” the girl with the strangely luminous skin and hair said as she walked up and made a slight movement that was almost like a bow, “I am Binye. I did not see you at the morning gathering, but you appeared in the percussions room earlier. Are you a student?”

Apparently at least a couple of people had noticed her in the music room. Candace was still wondering if this girl was an alien... but... ‘perhaps it’s better not to ask right now...’ Candace smiled and gave a brief nod, “Yes, I am. I arrived a bit late in the day and missed the morning gathering. My name is Candace MIranae.”

“Ah, so nice to meet you, fellow student! Have you been able to find everything you needed? I would be pleased to help you if not.” Binye managed somehow to look both concerned and friendly at the same time. “Yes, thank you. I ran into the Class President earlier and he was able to print me out a copy of everything I missed this morning.” Candace resisted bringing back the images of Benjamin’s smile to mind again, and brandished the small packet of papers. Just then, the bell rang, signaling the end of this first day at Mercury High.

“Ah, the bell! You are sure you are good then?” As Candace nodded, slightly amused at this insistence, Binye smiled, “Very good then, I shall see you more tomorrow. I must get to my part-time work.” She turned and Candace watched her neon skin and hair walk jauntily out the door. What an interesting person. ‘I really want to know if she’s an alien. Well, I shall hope to find out soon.’ Candace walked out the door and joined the throng heading for the school exit.

[ktarsims]

A small packet of papers tucked away, Candace was now wandering around the school humming to herself. ‘This is my time to shine!’ she thought, humming a tune she was making up as she wandered. She hadn’t run into anyone else for a while now, but she was systematically wandering the halls and looking into the rooms. Little daydreams were coming and going in her mind, possibilities flowering like a field of wildflowers after a fresh spring rain.

The next door she opened and wandered inside she recognized after a few moments, and realized she’d accidentally wandered back into the Science room where she’d met Jamal and Mikhail earlier in the day. It took her a few moments to focus and realize there was someone else in the room this time, and he was looking straight at her. “Oh! Hello. My name is Candace.” She gave him a small smile. She recognized this guy... he’d been one of the hunks in the drums room. An awkward silence filled the space then for about 40 seconds. He was looking at her still. ‘Surely he heard me? Is he deaf?’ 

He finally opened his mouth and said, in a distracted and low tone, “Connor.” Candace paused for a few more moments, trying to make sure she’d heard him correctly, and wondering what was wrong with him. This was worse than when she first introduced herself to Benjamin. ‘Ah, Benjamin. I want to see those smiles again...’ The silence lengthened as she recalled that image. Then she focused her eyes on the present again to realize Connor was still staring at her. She felt a slow blush creeping up her face just from the intensity of the regard, which made her want to get away. She mustered up a,  “Nice to meet you, Connor,” and turned away. Before she could actually walk away, Connor turned and walked out of the room.

[ktarsims]

Candace waited inside the door of her home until she hear the officer’s car driving away. Then she crept quietly out her front door, to the mailbox. Her memory was still vague and unclear, but she very clearly remembered that it was imperative that she return the bicycle. She must make arrangements for that immediately. Having done so, she went inside and ate her dinner, still trying to piece together a clear picture of what had happened.

‘Seriously though... he’s warning me for being out after curfew like 5 feet from my front door? What kind of draconian measure is that? He also said someone told him to come here. Did one of my neighbors report me? I remember.... lights... and talking to Azrael... something to do with Binye?’ She sighed. ‘I’ll ask Azrael tomorrow.’ She was too exhausted to go summon the mirror spirit again right now.

She climbed into bed and was soon fast asleep in spite of her still questing mind.

[ktarsims]

While Candace was still lost in oblivion, an officer showed up on the sidewalk. As she was teleported back down from the space ship, he stepped forward and caught her as she was woozy on her feet and led her to his patrol car a few feet away. Candace’s first conscious thoughts were scrambled and incoherent. At the moment, she only remembered that somehow her day had gone horribly wrong.

When she opened her eyes, she was sitting in a police car parked on the street in front of her house and there was a concerned looking... fairy? standing outside the open door and watching her. She was so confused that no words came, and she just stared at him blankly. He directed a query at her, “Are you feeling a bit better now, ma’am?” Candace blinked and started to nod, then stopped and took an internal assessment before replying, “I seem to be okay, officer, thank you. What are you doing here? Or rather, why am I in a police car?”

As she took a deep breath and tried to remember what had happened or what she had been doing before, the officer frowned slightly. “Well, miss, I was hoping you might tell me how you came to appear out of thin air on the sidewalk here where I’d been told someone was lurking about out after curfew. Were you taking something you shouldn’t have and managed to black-out or something?” Candace instantly felt affronted, and fought to not be biting in her response, “The last thing I remember, OFFICER, was being inside my house getting ready for bed. I’M the victim here. You say I appeared out of thin air? I was under the impression that magic wasn’t allowed here.”

The police officer looked nonplussed at her attempt to turn this around. “Now see here, miss. There was no one else about. I came looking for a teenager out after curfew and probably up to no good and you appeared in front of me, barely able to stand and clearly the worse for drink or drugs or something equally debilitating. We have a curfew here for a reason, and you need to respect that. Now, since it’s your first time, I’ll let you off with a warning and take you home. Whereabouts are you staying?”

Candace was starting to vaguely remember something about lights out the window that Azrael had pointed out to her. She gave the officer a morose look and then pointed behind him. “I’m staying right here. I clearly didn’t stray far from home.”  The officer gave her a wry look. “Or at least, you set up in advance a way to return. Alright, let’s get you back into your house, and I don’t want to catch you out after curfew again.” He escorted her to her front door and watched her walk in.