[Stirling Hepburn]

Stirling Issac Hepburn

FACE CLAIM: Joey Richter

♦ THE BASICS ♦

AGE: 25

GENDER: Male

ORIENTATION: Heterosexual

POSITION: Theatre Major and Cafe Barista

♦ THE ABILITY ♦

POWER: Echolocation

Stirling is able to use a high pitch clicking sound which is created in the back of the throat to navigate and determine the location of objects within his environment. He is also able to use abient noises (such as doors slamming) to do the same. It works in a similar way to sonar, as the calls and sounds create a sonic map of the environment. The sounds relayed to him are translated into a mental map. 

LIMITATIONS:

-Too many loud sounds (club environments etc) can reduce the effectiveness of the power

-Blocked by powers that can prevent/dampen sound waves (air manipultion, sound manipulation)

-Users of supernatural speed can be difficult or impossible to detect

-Anyone using Invisibility is still detecable 
-Cannot be turned off, only reduced by not clicking and noise canceling ear phone

SIDE-EFFECTS:
-Auditory overload 
-Hightened sense of hearing
-Spatial Disorientation
-Ear aches
-Headaches
-Ruptured Ear drums
-Sickness and nausea
-Sparodic Tinitus

♦ THE FREEFORM ♦

November Beginnings

23rd November. Alberta, Canada. It was cold outside. But the skies were clear, and the sun was shining with meager warmth. The hopsital smelt strongly of disinfectant. Emma Hepburn's sheets were soaked in sweat, and her skin glistened with the salty water. The room had decended into silence. In her arms lay a bundle of white cotton and chubby limbs.
"Come meet your baby brother, Noah." Beckoned the exhausted woman with a silky voice. A young, dark haired boy appeared from behind a nurse. Noah wandered closer, and looked with child-like wonder at the pink faced new-born.
"His name is Stirling Issac." The woman seemed sorrowful for a moment. "Issac after your Daddy." The little boy seemed to understand to gravity of the gift of his fathers name. 
"I miss him..." The boy said gently.
"I know baby. But we need to make sure we all stick together, ok?"

Doctor Doctor

Emma Hepburn sat nervously in the surgery, clutching onto the small body of Stirling and the soft hand of Noah. She had noticed that Stirling didnt react to the light coming on, nor did his eyes follow her. He always seemed to jump when she reached down to scoop him up. The doctor had poked and prodded her youngest son, made him cry and scream. Then he sat back in his chair with a concerned huff.
"I cant be sure, but your son might be blind."
The word dropped like bomb. How on earth would she cope with a blind child?
"He doesnt seem to be able to see light or movement, which will explain why he sometimes jumps when you pick him up."
Tears welled up in Emmas eyes.
"Its ok Mrs Hepburn! We can run further tests to see the extent of the impairment, and we can help you cope with his development."
Noah suddenly piped up beside them.
"What does blind mean?" The boy whispered.
"Sweetie it means that Stirling cant see."
"Oh... Can I still play with him?"

Whoopie Cushions

"SHH! Be quiet Stirling!" Growled a 10 year old Noah. Behind him was a giggling 5 year old Stirling. His long hair fell around his eyes which burned with youthful humor as they wandered into the kitchen, where their pale mother was baking cookies. The two boys exchanged a reassuring poke before Stirling stepped forward.
"Ma?"
"Yeah sweetie?" The woman asked, looking down from her work. 
"I wanna show you something..." The boy struggled to keep that mischievous smile off his face; after all this was his first prank!
Emma knew what was going to happen; Noah was already and advid pranker. She knew it wouldnt take long for him to indoctrinate her other son. Knowing full well what was going to happen, she stood, trying to keep and air of obliviousness as she took her sons hand.

Stirling led her down the hall, one hand on the wall as a guide. They entered the living room, and Stirling (with a little direction from his brother) pointed his mother to a chair. Emma was struggling to contain her laughter. She knew what was going to happen when she sat down. And she sat. And sure enough, a loud rumble came from beneath her from a whoopie cushion. She watched both her sons erupt into laughter. 
"I got you ma! I fooled ya!" The youngest squealed. Emma found herself laughing to, scooping up her youngest and blowing a raspberry onto his stomach.
"You did get me! That was a great prank!" She brought Noah into her arms, gave him a big kiss. 
"You did a good job of teaching him, Noah!" And the three embraced.

Prank Patrol

It was Noah's birthday. 16 today. And boy had Stirling and there mother planned a surprise for him. Stirling had feigned a headache, so while his brother suffered in school, Stirling and his mother prepared their small house. Both son and mother had been frequent victims of Noah's pranks, and they had both decided his birthday would be a beautiful chance.

Along the hall they had place a succesion of whoopie cushions; the floor was hidden by the red things. Above doors were buckets filled with lovingly made slime, waiting to be tipped upon an un-suspecting birthday boy. 

Emma had made a series of cupcakes; a few normal ones for herself and Stirling, and the rest filled with various undesirable flavours. Mayonaise, Mustard, Anchovies. They had managed to mask the smells with sweet smelling candles. And finally, all of Noahs presents were hidden beneath his bed. The wrapped boxes upon the kitchen table was merely a ruse; each box contained a balloon which had been lovingly (and mischievously) decorated with funny faces. Stirling and Emma hid in the living room, waiting for the click of the front door at Noahs arrival.

And sure enough they heard it. Swiftly followed by a cry, a splash, a thud and a synphony of fart noises. Then the house erupted in laughter.
"IM GONNA KILL YOU!" 

Echolocation

Stirling was 14 and a half. At school, despite his protests. It was summer, hot, muggy, suffocating. Outside the sky and turned stormy and dark. The boy could smell the rain in the air. Thunderstorms were his favourite. They sounded fierce and cruel, and he liked to imagine that there were giants fighting in the sky. The class fell into silence as the first roll of thunder rumbled far away. Stirling worked his way to the window, his cane rattling across the floor. Pale face pressed against the window, ears straining to catch even the faintest rattle. It edged closer, each rumble growling louder and louder, sending new waves of imagination through the boys head.

All grew silent for many minutes, and Stirling felt his excitemnet dissipate. He turned, to return his seat. But the storm had some rage left within its dark clouds. The crash was mighty, rattling the sky above him. And Stirlings world was suddenly a flash of blue, a wave rippling out and curling around the contours and shapes of the class room. He stumbled back a little, his ears ringing. What the hell just happened? Every noise around him send pulses of sonar back to him. Is this what seeing was like? Ear drums pounded as he covered his ears with his hands. 

"Are you ok sweetie?"
Stirling rushed into his mothers arms, looking very miserable and upset. His ears hurt, and everything felt upside down. For teh first time his world wasnt entirely black, and it was frightening. But his mothers soothing voice calmed him, and when they arrived home the two curled up on the sofa and read braille together. 

Mutations

Stirling heard him name from downstairs. He navigated the familair descent with ease, wandering into the living room. The ringing of his ears had eased of slightly, maybe from the quietness of his own home. But still each step sent pulses back to him. Maybe he was a super hero? Maybe he had been bitten by a radioactive bug or something. His hopeful brain wished it was true because that was awesome! He hadnt told his mother, or even Noah yet. Super heros didnt allude to their powers. 

"Stirling this man wants to talk to you."

Stirling frowned a little, but went and perched beside his mother. He felt the strangers eyes on him.

"Hello Stirling. My name is Paul Hunter. I am a recruiter from the Academy of Acton Vale"

Oh. That sounded like one of those special schools for 'special' people. The boys face scrunched up.

"Im fine with my own school thanks." He said with a hint of bitterness. "Im pefectly capable, and I dont need a special school." 

The man chuckled. 

"The Academy isnt that sort of special school." His hands folded as he leaned forward. 

"You are a mutant, Stirling. Not some radiocative monster, but someone with special DNA which gives you powers."

SO HE WAS A SUPER HERO!

"I can tell you can 'see' the room cant you?" The boy nodded. "We call it Echolocation, like bats or sonar."

There was a gasp from both mother and son.

"And the Academy is to help other mutants like you to master their powers."

Emma, Stirling and Noah sat at their kitchen table. There was an air of meloncholy about them. The silence was broken by Noah and his stubborn voice.

"Why does he have to go!"

"He has to go so he can learn to use this power." She tried to sound firm, but her voice cracked a little. "And its not that far away, we can visit!"

Stirling let his family talk about him, but he didnt speak, quietly letting his anxiety bubble and rise.

Anxiety

Stirling's anxiety had flourished since coming to the Academy. He had always had it, but now it had come in a storm. A new enviroment always freaked him out, but this was different. He couldnt run back home to his Ma, or giggle with his brother. He had no where to go when he felt his anxiety crawl like a snake up his spine. And he suddenly could 'see'. A sensation he had never known; to see the forms and contours of the world around him. Many would think he would be happy, but it was a world he had never known and a world he had never been apart of. 

And his ears always hurt. Ringing and pounding with every noise. His trainer said that his ears would get used to his new power soon, but for now he had to wear noise cancelling ear phones just so he didnt pain all the time. And he still used his cane, more for comfort as he didnt trust the map in his head.  

Stage Fright

Stirling wrung his hands together as he waited in the wings of the small school stage, waiting for his name to be called. He was sure he wanted a part in the shcools production of Sweeney Todd. His therapist said it might help his anxiety. It had been 5 years since he had mutated, and he had figured how to use his power, but his anxiety still was a daily struggle. But, he desperately wanted to be apart of the show. He could see everything on stage in a way now, so it shouldnt be a problem, right?

And so he wandered onto stage, hands tucked behind his back to hide their shake. He had called his brother before hand, and Noah's words of encouragment were coursing through his mind. You can do it, Stirling. And so, he took a deep breath, and let his voice ring out. It was his favourite songs from Sweeney Todd; Epiphany. His voice shook at first, but soon he felt himself becoming the murderous barber. And it felt good.

Finally they picked up the phone.
"So? How did it go?" The sound of his mother and brother made his day even better.
"I GOT THE PART!" And he heard excited screams crackling out the speaker.

Humanitarian 

Home for the summer was a good feeling. It was warm, the house smelt of flowers. He had plans to spend all summer pulling pranks on his mother and having water fights with his brother. Nothing but fun and smiles were his plans.

It was evening, and they all sat before their small TV, watching The Sound of Music. And suddenly, the Do Rei Mi was paused and Noah piped up in a rather quiet voice.
"Im going to Syria."
Stirling and Emma looked aghast for a moment, frozen in time before Emma finally spoke.
"What do you mean, Noah?"
"Im going to Syria to help the refugee camps. They need help, and I cant just sit by and let kids starve." He looked away from the two, focusing on the frozen face of Julie Andrews upon the TV.
"But you cant go..." Stirling mumbled, his eyes filling with tears. He knew his brother worked to help people; form soup kitchens, to care homes, to crisis centers. But this was a new extreme.
"I can, and I am. I need to help them Stirling." The eldest brother stood, moved to sit between mother and brother and wrap his arms around them.
"Ill be fine. Ill write all the time, and Ill be back reguarly."
Stirling nestled his face into the soft fabric of his brothers t-shirt.

He's Dead

"Stirling?" Wait. Why did she sound upset?
"Ma? Whats wrong?" Stirling felt a bubble of fear begin to grow in his chest.
"Its Noah."
"Whats wrong with him?"
"Hes... hes dead." The world snapped into silence.
"He's dead Stirling..."

His mother opened the door, he could tell she had been crying. She threw her arms around him, pulling him close. They both collapsed onto the floor, sobbing together for the loss of their family. A bomb had hit the camp which Noah was working at. They said he was killed instantly. That knowlege wasnt a comfort. They cried and embraced, letting out their sorrow. 

America

They had moved to America. Their little house held to many painful memories, and his mother had been fired from her work. The loss of a son had caused her to spiral into a depression, and America offered a new life. They brought a little bungalow near Bellefonte with the money they got from selling their old house. The bungalow was small, and maybe a little run down, but they had decorated it with fairylights and painting and colourful things. And it felt like a home. Complete with a smiling picture of the three of them proudly on display. 

Stirling had gone on to do a Theatre Major in Bellefonte, and he worked in a Cafe to support both himself and his mother. And he occasionally auditioned fro small productions held by the local theatre group. It was tough without his brother, but they managed. Stirling always kept his brothers ring on a chain around his neck. It felt like having a piece of Noah with him. 

♦ THE PLAYER ♦

USERNAME: Ink

AGE GROUP: 17

EXPERIENCE: 5 years

WHERE DID YOU FIND US? n/a

[Stirling Hepburn]

well hes done!