Toby nodded. "Someone swerved to avoid a wreck and almost ran me over. I just wanted to be safe and the next thing I know the street was wrapped around me. I tried to put it back to fix things."

The small asian man blended into the background well.  He had noticed the sounds of a crowd and allowed his curiosity to draw him to the scene.  He was dressed simply in black jeans and a long-sleeved white t-shirt with black sneakers and a Jays cap pulled down over his dark glasses.

He had arrived in time to see a man he recognized make a dramatic appearance.  The Mighty was much larger than he had thought, there was something about him besides mere size as well.  His Qi was as powerful as that of any master.  The big man was, no doubt formidable.

As he watched, the Mighty leapt to a rooftop and then bounded away.  Zhiquan decided to follow.  Perhaps he could ask a few questions of the Gifted man.  He turned, sniffing the air and then began moving swiftly and gracefully through the crowd.

 "Interesting," Johnny stated into The Mighty's ear, "so what do you plan to do about this young man? He seems to be telling the truth. His background indicates he's sixteen years old. A similar incident happened last week downtown at one of the Toronto Savings and Loan locations, according to their surveillance feed this kid was there with his family, though things get a bit sketchy after the robbers begin opening fire, hard to tell but it sure looks like this kid trapped 'em...seems like a powerhouse. Geez, what do they feed you guys in Canada?"

 Someone else was studying the exchange with interest. A creature only days old, it's only job was to watch things for it's master and as a result it only had a single large eye in the center of it's face flanked by large black ears not unlike a bat, it had a small mouth to facilitate its ability to eat though it only had a small box of crackers in it's miniscule collar-case. It appeared to be something of a flyer and climber. Using it's stretchy skin as wings, it could glide for hours and it would do so to follow this young man, now that it had heard him confirm that he was the cause of the supernatural accident. The creature's waited patiently as a shadow on the rooftop, presenting it's master with all it saw and heard. It grew excited, knowing that it's master was pleased with the discovery, with someone he could use in his magikal endeavors. He only needed a moment of vulnerability to catch him...

Zhiquan moved quietly until he found The Mighty and the young man he was speaking with.  He took a deep breath then exhaled it slowly as he willed himself calm, stifling the anticipatory excitement that was building within him.  Then he stepped into the street.

He approached the two men, one larger than life and the other but a youth, albeit a youth with apparently great power.  As he did, he caught a flicker of movement from a nearby rooftop.  Dismissing it absent-mindedly, nothing but a bird, surely, he stepped forward and bowed deeply.

"Greetings, I am Li Zhiquan.  Like the two of you, I number amongst the Gifted.". His voice was quietly melodious and it was clear that he was not a native english speaker.

David tried to ignore the voice rambling unasked for in his ear, although he did make note of the bank incident of a week ago -- he recalled the event, but he'd been nowhere near that part of the city and the situation had resolved before he could have gotten there.

Besides -- despite his earlier encounter with (sigh) the Master of Puppets, he tried not to get involved in situations of violence without being invited.

"I get that you didn't do it on purpose," he replied to the boy, "and I'm sure that everyone appreciates that you tried to fix things -- not everybody cleans up their messes," he added approvingly.

Unsolicited or no, his hijacked earbud had a point -- what was to be done, here?  The kid didn't do it on purpose, he could hardly be arrested for vandalism.  He himself wasn't looking for a 'sidekick' -- not hardly!  Not in the least because Toby was a minor, not to mention the fact that he didn't have a whole lot of advice on how to get a handle on such extensive elemental powers.

Before he could figure out a likely course of action, however, they were joined by....

He raised his hands incredulously.  "Are you kidding me?  Is there some Gifted boy band rehearsals in town that I missed a memo on?" he demanded of the uncaring sky.  Why was he suddenly being deluged by kids with powers today?

"...you're probably some fifteen year old sitting in his parents' basement hacking me with a tablet," he muttered for the benefit of his remote listener.

Pulling himself together, he smiled at the newcomer.  "Good morning, Li," he replied cheerfully.  "I'm David, this is Toby.  What brings you by today?" he inquired politely.

If it was something along the lines of making a name for himself by beating on other Gifted, his next response was going to be a little less polite.

"I was hoping that you could answer some questions about being gifted.  I have traveled a long way hoping to understand what I have become and why!"  He smiled shyly.  "I was on my way to the library when I found myself in your path."

He looked at the bigger man for a moment before removing his dark glasses.  His revealed eyes are green and split-pupilled, the eyes of a cat not a human.

Well...he really only had himself to blame for this.  While he would consider himself quite far from an expert in matters Gifted, he did have this whole positive public image that he'd gone to great effort and no small expense to manufacture.

So, when impressionable young men showed up to ask advice from someone who, according to the news, seemed to have things fairly together, was it any big surprise?

David had to reflect for a moment on the three very different encounters the morning had brought to him; an arrogant teen, drunk on power and angry with the world; a frightened boy, causing havoc without intent and frightened of the results; and now a calm, collected seeker of wisdom.

Kids these days.

"I hope you're not looking for an explanation on how things work, because understanding how Gifts function is above my pay grade," he replied wryly.  "Although, if I had to guess based on what I'm seeing here, I'd say you're strong, fast, agile, can see in the dark, have a good sense of smell, and are really good at climbing?" he suggested.

"Yes.  I have knowledge of my gift.  I seek a purpose for it."  He paused a moment, frustrated by his limited knowledge of this language.  "I seek the reason I have been made that which I am.  I wish to find my destiny."

He sighed.  "It was a long journey from my monastery to this place, my life is longer journey.  But what path do I choose?"

If one like The Mighty cannot help him, he's not sure what his next step should be.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:21, Sat 14 Jan 2017.

Toby just hung his head muttering something about at least this guy was wanting his powers.

Zhiquan turned to the young man with a slightly sad expression in his eyes.  "It is not a matter of wanting or not wanting, it is a matter of accepting the path you have been placed upon.

This path we have been placed can be a grave burden, indeed.  But it can also be a gift, allowing us to find a great destiny."I

Zhiquan sighed.  "We are like a current in a great river.  We may flow around the rocks and make our way swiftly to the sea, or we can smash our fury against the rocks and flow angrily to the sea.  Whichever we choose, though, the sea is still our destination, our destiny."

Ah.

With words like 'monastery', 'path', and 'destiny', this Lee fellow had just revealed a lot about himself, and hopefully giving David a handle on how to talk to him.

"I get what you're saying," he told Lee, but made sure he was including Toby in his address.  "None of us asked for this to happen to us, but it has.  There's no going back," even if one wanted to, "and so we have to accept that this is who we are now, and move forward."  He took a breath, trying to organize his thoughts.

"What happened to us...it gives us the opportunity to be more of who we are," he suggested.  "These powers aren't good or bad, in and of themselves.  It's how we use them that's important.  If you want to take this extra ability and be an asshole or a conqueror, there's not a lot that most people can do about it.  Me, though, I make an effort to help people when I can.  I'm better suited to dealing with dangerous situations than just about anybody, and so I make a point of doing so."

He shrugged.  "If I make a mistake or if there's collateral damage, I own up to that mistake, and I put right what I can.  If we're going to do things that are frightening, then people will fear us.  If we show them we're responsible and accountable, they'll come to accept us."

That was, in any case, a large portion of his standard plan of action.

Toby sighed. Own up and show responsibility....do good if you can because you can...He wasn't sure what to do with his life at the moment. "I see the point...still. It is a bit difficult especially when you cant control what you can do. Speaking of which. Do either one of you know someone who could help me?"

"I can help you to learn greater control of mind and body.  That might help you to control your gift.". Zhiquan smiled pleasantly.  "Perhaps teaching such things is a part of what I am called to do."

Toby actually chuckled. "Well if it would help me not make something explode whenever I get angry I will try it."

"Good,  We must choose a time and a place.  Perhaps a park would be good to begin your studies."  Zhiquan bowed deeply to the younger man as he planned a course of study.

"It will require much of you.  But learning focus and control will help you to control your gifts."
This message was last edited by the player at 16:26, Sat 21 Jan 2017.

David smiled, a smile that was as Mighty as the rest of him.

"This," he stated in his voice that was, against expectations, not a bass rumble.  "This is also something that needs doing -- working together to help each other out.  For me, that extends to everybody else," he waved a hand vaguely down the alley, back toward the city street.  "Not just other Gifted.  I try not to get in fights, and I, ah, 'grab stuff down from the high shelves', as it were."  He had done that as a matter of course before his Gift, let alone now what he was capable of.

"You say you're having control issues," he addressed Toby, his expression speculative.  "Been there.  Is that issues with things happening when you don't want them to, or not happening when you do?  Because if you could smooth things out a little more back there, it'd go a long way setting people's minds at ease about what happened," he pointed out.

And endorsing a nervous new Gifted who's trying to do the right thing with his abilities would just happen to be a good PR opportunity....

Toby thought for am moment. "More happening when I don't want them to. Like when I tried to repair the street I accidentally caused the water pressure to build and pop the hydrant..even thought I was not trying to control the water."

He then looked around the edge of the alleyway towards the scene he had caused. "I dont see how I can smooth things over....but if I can help I will."

The Mighty smiled again.  "Sometimes, it's being willing to try and help that's more important than any actual help that results," he pointed out.  "That's where the whole accountability thing comes in."

The big man glanced over at Lee. "If you still want to talk, hang around until we're done here?" he suggested.  "Or if you have to go, my contact information is online -- just put the word 'peaches' in the subject line, it'll get to me immediately." Filters were a wonderful thing.

"You ready to do this?" he's asked Toby.

Zhiquan tilted his head slightly to the side, smiling slightly.  His starting green, split-pupilled eyes gazing at the Mighty and at his new student.  He doesn't speak, but shows no signs of not following his new acquaintances.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:50, Mon 30 Jan 2017.

Toby just sighed. "Yea yea I guess so."

Nodding his approval, the Mighty lead the way out of the alley, back to where the original incident had occurred.  It appeared that the water main to the hydrant had been shut off by this point, but a fair bit of water was still draining out of the damaged street.

The massive Canadian Gifted lead his short train of followers directly to the police officers still on the scene, nodding a polite greeting to them both which was returned with cautious looks.

"Officers," the Mighty began, ignoring for now the curious looks and slowly growing attention from the bystanders still in the area.  "Sorry for bailing abruptly like that.  I've had a discussion with this young man here," he turned slightly to indicate Toby, "and he's decided to come speak with you.  It seems that he was nearly hit by a car by accident, and all of this," he waved a metal-gloved hand about the still-distressed intersection, "was an instinctive reaction to protect himself.  He certainly didn't intend to hurt anyone, and he was trying to put everything back again when he inadvertently cracked the fire hydrant."

He smiled ruefully.  "When you're new to all this, fine control can be tough," he confided.  "Especially when you're stressed out."

The younger of the two cops, a tall brunette, frowned and stepped forward so she could see Toby better.  "All right, kid," she snapped, one hand dropping down near her gun.  "You--"  She was interrupted by a hand on her arm from her partner, an older man with flecks of white starting to show in the black hair at his temples.

"Hold up, Anderson," he told her mildly, and she stepped back with obvious reluctance.  The older cop turned his attention to Toby and smiled, although those who were used to such things might notice that it didn't reach as far as his eyes.

"I'm officer Thomas, this is officer Anderson," he introduced them.  "Is what we he says true, son?" he asked of Toby.

Toby had instinctually been flinching back when the younger officer started on him. However when the older one looked down on him he felt a lot more at ease. "Y..Yes sir. I have only had these abilities for a week or so. I do not have full control over them. I did not mean to pull the street out. I was only trying to protect myself. And I tried to put it back as soon as I realized what had happened."

For a moment, you could almost see the phrase 'didn't mean to pull the street out' replaying behind Thomas' eyes before he continued.

"Well, son, I'm certainly glad to hear that you didn't do something like this on purpose, but you can understand why we have to be concerned that it happened by accident," the older man informed him seriously.  Anderson snorted, as if this was the understatement of the year, but continued to hold her tongue -- and the butt of her holstered gun.

The Mighty, too, remained -- uncharacteristically -- silent, letting Toby forge his own way for now.  The boy was young, but he wasn't powerless, and he couldn't let people dictate how he responded to things.  He was the only one who could learn to control what he could do, and so he needed to take the lead on this.  The Mighty was there for him for support, but this was his life.

"We're lucky that nobody was hurt in all this," Thomas continued, glancing around the disrupted intersection.  "This time." He turned his gaze back to Toby.  "But what about next time, son?"

Toby motioned towards the Mighty and Li. "They said they were going to work with me and help me control my abilities." his eyes kept nervously glancing towards the woman who kept her hand on her weapon. "That way there wont be a next time."