The first time Cindy heard of the Darrow School for the Gifted was in a conversation with Theresa, who had mentioned that there were certain different networks that people could rely on to find other powered individuals in Darrow — in the School's case, specifically people who gathered together in the name of learning. From the moment it was first explained to her, Cindy thought the idea intriguing, perhaps very near perfect for helping out clueless young individuals like herself, who didn't know where powers and gifts really fit in the construct of "normal" society.
It was an idea that made her heart ache for how much she wished she could have had something like this, rather than the nebulous instruction of a man who rarely even tried to meet her face to face, instead sending recordings and messages to a small television screen in a bunker located underground. Maybe if she had other people around her, she wouldn't have been so isolated. Wouldn't have been so clueless about the things happening in the world.
Wouldn't have had to make decisions in a vacuum, confused and uninformed.
It took a while before Cindy mustered the courage to at least check the school out. She wanted to make sure she kept her jealousy in check, to think instead of the opportunity that such a place could offer to young people, rather than feel bitter over lacking that direction herself. Whether or not Cindy really had anything to offer to such an institution, she didn't know. But it couldn't hurt to meet people, right?
Theresa had recommended that Cindy meet Raven, a young woman who had been involved with the School for longer. And so Cindy was at the main entrance to the building, looking up dubiously, wondering why her chest was pounding so hard in her chest.
It was intimidating, in some ways. She wished she had something to hide behind, if only partially — her hands kept itching for the scarf that she normally wore over her mouth while in costume. But if she wanted to be invited to a place like this, Cindy felt that the least she could do was be transparent about who she was, and what she could do.
Besides, if Theresa trusted Raven, Cindy had nothing to worry about, right?
Cindy cringed to herself, nervously rubbing at the back of her neck before she stepped inside, trying to relax her expression into a smile. There was a woman waiting there, who must have been...
"Um, hi. Are you Raven?" she greeted. "I'm Cindy — I think Theresa might have mentioned that I was coming."
It was an idea that made her heart ache for how much she wished she could have had something like this, rather than the nebulous instruction of a man who rarely even tried to meet her face to face, instead sending recordings and messages to a small television screen in a bunker located underground. Maybe if she had other people around her, she wouldn't have been so isolated. Wouldn't have been so clueless about the things happening in the world.
Wouldn't have had to make decisions in a vacuum, confused and uninformed.
It took a while before Cindy mustered the courage to at least check the school out. She wanted to make sure she kept her jealousy in check, to think instead of the opportunity that such a place could offer to young people, rather than feel bitter over lacking that direction herself. Whether or not Cindy really had anything to offer to such an institution, she didn't know. But it couldn't hurt to meet people, right?
Theresa had recommended that Cindy meet Raven, a young woman who had been involved with the School for longer. And so Cindy was at the main entrance to the building, looking up dubiously, wondering why her chest was pounding so hard in her chest.
It was intimidating, in some ways. She wished she had something to hide behind, if only partially — her hands kept itching for the scarf that she normally wore over her mouth while in costume. But if she wanted to be invited to a place like this, Cindy felt that the least she could do was be transparent about who she was, and what she could do.
Besides, if Theresa trusted Raven, Cindy had nothing to worry about, right?
Cindy cringed to herself, nervously rubbing at the back of her neck before she stepped inside, trying to relax her expression into a smile. There was a woman waiting there, who must have been...
"Um, hi. Are you Raven?" she greeted. "I'm Cindy — I think Theresa might have mentioned that I was coming."