Dawn

[Elle Joyner]

.

As the door opened and the new figure entered, Dakota snatched her hand back through the cage bars and away from Parker's with a start. In a general sense, she tried to see the world from a positive angle. To see light, even in the darkest of places. But as the man stalked down the aisle of cages, there was no spin, no twisting direction her mind could take to convince herself he was anything but bad.

A shiver tracked the length of her spine, a coldness stealing away what little warmth there was. Straightening, she opened her mouth to ask Parker who he was. Then it went from bad to worse. The man neared Mason's cell, and Dakota bolted upright. The door opened and Mason was grabbed, and with a yelp, she moved swiftly to the edge of her own cage wall.

"No!" she cried out, grasping the bars, "No, no, no! Mason! Don't hurt him!… Don't take him! Crow! How do we… how do I… Make then come back!" Sobbing, she gripped the bars until her knuckles were write, her voice pitched as she rattled the ironwork, to no avail, "Bring him back! Take me! Mason!"

Devolving rapidly, near frantic, and half blinded by a flood of tears, Dakota pushed her diminutive frame against the ironwork, as though she could slip through or separate bar from bar.

"Dakota. Dakota!" Parker would have done anything to push himself through the bars and hold her. "He's coming back. I promise, okay? They just have to put his tracker in.. I.. I hope. But he'll come back."

He touched his own shoulder. "It'll be l-like.. Yours. So we'll all match." He didn't really know how to comfort Dakota. Hell, he didn't know how to comfort himself. He had seen so many people be dragged away. Usually, they came back. If the didn't, they'd probably be moved. Parker didn't know why he was in one of these cells rather than the empty rooms, but he couldn't wonder what the girl in the cell across from him thought.

Parker had seen plenty of people be taken away, and never see them again. Truthfully, you never knew if you were coming back when they carted you off. But if this was Mason's first time being taken, they were usually just doing the preliminaries. He couldn't think of any other way to assure Dakota.

"No, no, no, no, no, no."

Desperation propelled her forward and within heartbeats she was at the front of the cage, eyes trained on Mason's face. She could see the fear in his eyes and it broke her heart. She wanted-- No needed to tell him to calm his mind and bide his time, to will the fear away...

But they were just words and her own fear coursed through her veins. So instead she cursed the powers above for subjecting them to this fate and let her heart break for the loss of innocence.

"Mason!" Crow cried out, tears welling in her eyes. She reached through the bars as the men dragged him by, vainly attempting to grab hold of him. "Mason!"

White knuckles clenched the bars of her cell, even long after the door had closed and Mason vanished from sight.

It wasn't right. It wasn't fair. Her eyes remained fixed on the door Mason and the horrible men had vanished through, her mind reeling over what had happened. She tried to listen to Parker… to really hear him, but when Crow's desperate shouting joined Dakota's something within the girl… something terrifyingly unfamiliar bubbled to the surface.

She was angry. And that anger frightened her, to her very core.

Straightening, she pushed herself away from the bars, and stood stock still for several seconds, hands at her sides. She couldn't break. She wouldn't.

"Crow." She whispered, the repeated herself a little louder, "Crow. He's coming back. He'll be okay. Don't… don't let them see it hurts. You said they… they wanna hurt us. Don't let them see."

Moving back, she collapsed against the bars between hers and Parker's cell, sinking down with a sniff. One hand dropped through the bars, the other patting the space beside her, "Come and sit, Crow. We… we'll wait here. Till he comes back."

As Dakota settled against the bars, Parker sat up shock straight, as poised as the tufts of his hair that stood up. He was scared to shock her again, even if she stretched out her hand and awaited his touch. No, he wouldn't. He couldn't possibly afford to make her hurt anymore than she already was.

"How do you know Mason?" Parker whispered, eyes cast downward, hands folded neatly in his lap, holding himself from trembling.

"He ran me over." Crow said impassively, as she sank down beside Dakota.

Dakota frowned, looked to the older girl with a shake of her head, all too certain there was more to the story, but not entirely sure she had the strength to hear it. Instead, she breathed softly, "...And I invited him to sit at our booth." Sniffling, she lowered her eyes, staring down at her hands, "He's gonna come back. He has to…"

Parker's eyes widened at Crow's response, wondering how someone could run another person over and garner such a friendship out of it. Or, how Crow had survived being run over as effortlessly as she explained it. But this question didn't seem to help Dakota's mood much, as she started to sniffle again after answering it herself.

"H-hey," Parker murmured, extending one finger towards her hands, a sparkle of blue electricity separating them. "H-he sounds -- n-n-nice?" Parker looked helplessly towards Crow, unsure of how to help either of them. If she was already this much of a mess a half hour in -- how would she survive days? Months? Years?

"He'll come back." Parker whispered, huddling into himself further.

"But he won't come back the same..." Her eyes welled with tears and her chin trembled incessantly. "I never wanted to be back here, never wanted to see anyone else in this hellhole."

After a minute of hiding her face, Crow wiped her eyes and tried to breathe through her stuffy nose. "S-sorry.."

Reaching out, Dakota wrapped her free arm around Crow, biting her cheek until the tears faded from her eyes, stroking the girl's hair, "...Nothing to be sorry about. We're gonna get through this, Crow. You and me and Mason and Parker… all of us. We're gonna get through it and get out. And no matter what, we're gonna be okay. We're gonna be together, and we're gonna be okay." Looking to Parker, she smiled, sadly, "Right?"

Parker hesitated in his answer, staring at the girls in the cell beside him with tired eyes. "Right," Parker echoed, almost lifelessly. "Of.. course."

He knew no way to make anything better. He couldn't even say he'd felt the worst of this place, because Crow had been here so much longer. He couldn't remember the feeling of sun on his skin.

"It'll be alright."

"Yeah, if you have a loose definition of 'alright'." Crow whispered softly, tone suggesting both sarcasm and sincerity. "But… I guess we can hope that it will be."

TAGS: Collab with Cloudy || @rissa, @CloudyBlueDay
@BearEnthusiast @EveryoneInDemCells

 

[Joan]

Joan Ardent || The Base/Unknown Location

---

After hearing Koa's response, Joan muttered under her breath, not caring who heard, "Why is everybody being so hard on him, then?" With a faint sigh, she continued on with the group, noting that they were apparently going to whoever was in charge now. Good. Maybe he can explain what the hell happened back there.

What did happen back there, anyway?

She hadn't given it much thought since she had recovered consciousness, but now that she was thinking about it, she realized that there were many, many questions that needed answering. For one, there was why the team had been there in the first place, along with why she and the other three teens had been, in Makoa's words, kidnapped. And that was just scratching the surface of what she wanted to know. As these thoughts buzzed around in her brain, she didn't notice the lack of windows or the subtle signs that they were underground, although she did feel something slightly off. She did notice the Asian woman changing and kept a careful distance from her, recalling the giant beast she had transformed into at the mall. I don't want to be caught on the other end of that, no way.

They came to a door and were let in. The first thing Joan noticed was the blue-haired girl who had been with Archer, leaning against a shelf with a sour look on her face. The next thing she noticed was the large amount of shelves and drawers lining the walls of the room, and the third thing she noticed was that those same walls held absolutely no windows. That was unusual enough to warrant a small frown, but before she could think on it too much, Darius started talking, and she turned her attention to him.

After he finished speaking, she was left silently contemplating what he had said. So...we were kidnapped-slash-rescued by a group of secret vigilante superheros...? No, that's not quite right, since he said they fight specifically for other people with powers.I'm not sure what the correct term for that would be, but whatever it is, it's a good thing, right?

Though, the agitated shapeshifter raised a good question. Would they be allowed to leave if they wished, or would they be held their 'for their own safety' or something like that? For that matter...what were they being kept safe from, exactly? What had they been 'rescued' from, apart from the fire beast, and how had they even known where to find them or that they even had powers, anyway?

She elected to keep most of those questions to herself for now, instead waiting to see how Darius would react to Hang's question. However, she did allow her most pressing question to slip out.

"Who, exactly, wants to use us?" She spoke quietly from her spot by the door, tucking her hands into her pockets. "What are you protecting us from?"

 

[Sairento]

Alexander Summers - Unknown Base

Vigilantes.

That was the first word that came to mind for Alexander. Not just any vigilantes either; super-powered vigilantes. Possibly even self-appointed ones. And that screamed 'dangerous' to Alexander. Frowning as he stared back at the man, he clicked his tongue once as he tagged on to what his 'would-be blackmail victim if his phone hadn't been taking by a piece of shit' said.

"I second her view," he said, pointing to the shapeshifter. "I'd prefer to leave as soon as I can."

"Actually, before that, how do we know you are who you say you are? You say it was for benign reasons, but knocking us out and kidnapping us?" he said, crossing his arms. "You took all of us under the pretense that we have powers. How can you possibly know that? And even if it were true, how would we know your goals are what you say they are? Its hard for us to see a dichotomy between you and some other group if there's still so much mystery."

"You say you are to educate us on allies and enemies. The kidnapping does not help your case at all."

 

[Eru]

Evan Rowell
UNDEAD ASYLUM 1F​

The door swung open again, and a scientist came through, accompanied by men Evan guessed were his cronies. He shivered. What horrible things were behind that door? But, the scientist approached, and Evan tensed as he passed by, not daring to make any sort of eye contact. Evan thought there was nothing he could hide any longer from the people who ran this place, and he felt cold and naked because of it. He shivered again, and retreated into the darkness away from the bars.

A scuffle broke out, the cronies lumbering into action. In spite of himself, Evan crept forward to pull Patrick back from the bars, fingers struggling to make purchase on the gown as he tried to keep him away from the men outside. "Stop! They'll take us next!" Evan whispered in a harsh, pleading tone, even as the men ignored them completely. And then, it was over, and all four had exited the cells. Evan sighed, sinking onto the floor, watching Patrick shake the bars keeping them locked away, and hearing the noises from without grow more agitated.

"Man," Evan told Patrick quietly, laying a hand on the hem of his gown and tugging, "They won't give. Don't waste yourself." He looked up at the ceiling almost wistfully. So, this was their fate. Chosen by the stars, only to be locked up and tortured, branded and broken. The very elements of a tragedy.

@Red Thunder
@CloudyBlueDay​

 

[Radio Jelly]

From where he stood behind Hang, Austin felt a fleeting comfort as they marched onward. If it was some kind of test--or twisted experiment--the last thing he wanted was to be the center of attention. This outcome seemed infinitely less probable given the company he had found himself in, and for a few brief moments he had become resigned to whatever final destination they faced. Unfortunately, as with all things, it did not last.

When Koa spoke through the doorway, Austin braced himself once more for any kind of ambush, or trick. His eyes flickered nervously about the space, and he tried his best to recall from which direction they had come from, though it was utterly hopeless.

"Ah, Koa. Come in."

The muscles along Austin's shoulders relaxed for just a moment; Darius's voice didn't carry the cold, tell-tale indifference that he had grown accustomed to. Austin opened his mouth to speak, but upon noticing Sapphire, forgot what exactly he was going to say. Though he wasn't keen on letting his guard down, most--if not all--of the metahumans he had witnessed at the mall were accounted for with Sapphire's presence. For a reason not even he understood, he felt some small relief by that knowledge. Before Austin could ask the volley of questions at the tip of his tongue, Darius began his introductions.

"I know you all must be a little confused right now. My name is Darius Finch. This is my daughter, Sapphire. She lead the mission to rescue you from the North Star mall, along with her team of three others, Makoa, Archer, and Jace."

Jace?

Austin vaguely remembered Makoa referring to the paddle-ball enthusiast by the same name, though he didn't recall ever having seen the boy during the mall incident. He was beginning to wonder at the nature of the fourth member's abilities when the subject of Darius's spiel took a turn Austin would've never expected.

"We are the Protectors. A group of individuals with superpowered abilities who fight to protect those like us. Those like you. Currently, people like us are majorly unknown to the public. But we exist, and have existed for millennia. Forces out there know we exist too, and want to use these abilities for their own gain."

At once, Austin felt frozen, though not entirely by fear. Some inconceivable mixture of anger, terror, and pity roiled beneath his passive exterior, and suddenly it was all Austin could do just to maintain eye-contact. There were too many variables, of course: Austin still had no idea whether or not Darius was telling the truth, and--if he was--whether or not the 'forces' in question were the same ones Austin feared. The urge to ask began to precipitate to the forefront of his conscious, as he began to fathom the kind of danger that this group of powered individuals were in opposition against.

"... All I can do for you is teach you how to understand your powers, and to protect yourself from those who want to use you."

It was a ridiculous promise. Even if the Protectors faced a different sort of adversary, they would--by their nature--be hunted and exterminated. Austin looked about the room, doing his best to not appear too forlorn despite the fact that everyone there was already doomed. While staring at the singed laces on his shoes, Austin cursed his damnable luck.

Utterly pointless... train them for what? As if it were even possible...

Austin shifted a couple steps backwards, swept his unkempt hair back with one hand, and eyed the clock-face on his right wrist inquisitively. Before he could find a reason to excuse himself, Hang piped up ahead of him.

"Operative question then is when can we leave and get on with life? Excuse you, but I have family,"

Austin couldn't remember the last time he had spoke to his own parents, and Hang's quip left him with a strange bitterness he couldn't place. She was both wrong and right to want to go home--especially after what happened at the mall--but even if it was a throwaway line, the boy had to agree with the sentiment. A dangerous intrigue took a hold of Austin then, and he couldn't stop thinking about what exactly Darius was trying to promise them.

Could it be possible to totally understand these abilities? Would he just hand that knowledge to us?

Alex wasted no time in grilling Darius with the questions Austin was sure all the kidnapped metas had. They were all good questions that Austin wanted the answers to, but it was Joan's inquiry that caught his attention. The boy wasn't even sure Darius had heard it given how quickly Alex jumped in, but there was no answer more important to Austin. If Darius knew what he claimed to know, this was his chance to prove it. Austin's concerned gaze lingered on Joan for a moment, before he wordlessly glanced back in Darius's direction, and quietly slipped both hands into his hoodie pockets.

 

[CloudyBlueDay]

Mason

With one hand still strongly clamped over his mouth and three others gripping him so firmly he could not dare think to move, Mason was dragged out of the room in which the rows of cells full of people. He was first hit with a strange artificial freshness, and even with his mouth covered, he suddenly felt as if his lungs were full. They must have been keeping the oxygen low in the area he was in previous, because this felt almost like stepping outside on a brisk day.

He was in a hallway; it was lit with bright, almost blue lighting. The hallway seemed endlessly long yet almost uncomfortably narrow, so much that he was pulled through another door in a matter of moments. He saw no one, but did glimpse upon plenty of doors and windows that looked as if they peered into rooms.

The next room was small, cold. His bare feet scraped the metal flooring and he felt shivers run down his spine. In the center of the room was some sort of mix between a doctor's chair and an operating table. The most terrifying thing about it were the metal cuffs clearly intended to hold a person in place. If anything, this looked like an operating theatre, and that could not mean good things.

Making strained noises of protest did not help his situation, and the two men lifted him into the table. Within moments he was strapped in, and utterly trapped The final touch was the brace that went around his head, limiting his movement almost entirely.

Don't do this, he wanted to say. He'd never felt so trapped. This isn't right. What did we do to deserve this? Please. But nothing he could say would fix anything, and nothing he could say would save him from his fate.

The two men left, and Mason was alone in the sterile room. He screamed for rescue, but his cries did not make it past the walls.

⌽​

The Base of the Protectors

Darius processed every question with what seemed like an intense amount of effort. He sat with his hands clasped underneath his chin, taking in a deep breath just to solidify what he was about to say.

"This is your life." He said solemnly. "There is nothing to 'get back too'. Returning to your family at this moment in time would be absolutely perilous to both you and your loved ones. I know that we seem just as bad as the aggressor we claim to fight, but allow me to explain."

Standing up from the desk, Darius looked over towards Makoa. "Could you go get Ayla, please?" The girl nodded, slipping through the door back into the hallway.

"The people I say look for you are from an organization known as the SPME, standing for Studies of the Physically and Mentally Enhanced. Largely unknown to the public, they front themselves as a government facility that does unharmful research on the growing advancements of man. In reality, they kidnap people who have abilities, and treat them like lab rats and test subjects. They take any type of person. Children, adults, elderly. Some of the people they take never see the light of day again. Many of our members have had a brush with the SPME. Some have been trapped within their grasp for years. With each day, the SPME only grows. They become more confident, they create more locations, they take more and more people in broad daylight.

I can tell you with confidence if you walk back into the world with no formal training and no proper idea of how to protect yourself, you will be next on their list."

The door opened and Makoa entered once more, but this time with another figure in tow. This girl was frail and doll-like, a strong contrast from the athletic body types that Makoa and Sapphire possessed. Despite her fragile stature, she held a soft smile and curious eyes, despite the fact that they glowed a soft gold hue.

"Ayla," Darius said warmly. "This young man here was asking how we can possibly know that he and his companions have powers. And while on the topic of it, we may just explain how we knew to be at the mall at all."

Ayla's smile twitched and grew. She leaned forward on her toes. Makoa settled beside Sapphire, and the two sat poised together. Ayla's smile broadened, and she seemed to sparkle.

"O-on.. on January 13th, five minutes before 2:51pm, you bought a new sweater." She raised her finger and pointed to Austin, seeming a bit shy about it. "You went up to Sapphire's cover and you talked. Five minutes before 2:51, you bumped into Archer. You dropped your sandwich. He asked if you wanted another." Ayla smiled at Joan. "You cut in front of a lady arguing with Koa and ordered two number fives with ketchup, and animal house fries. It cost you seventeen dollars and thirty-two cents." She came to look at Hang, and then rested her gaze on Alex. "And you bought nachos with all the money you stole after dropping the wallets in the bathroom. At 2:51 precisely, after Sapphire called it out, Archer ran away and the mall went in flames. I saw the fire monster and I saw the mall burn."

She rested in her stance and seemed to be finished. "O-oh. And my name is Ayla. I get visions of the future sometimes."

Something about Ayla was shaky.This interpretation could fall two ways; perhaps she was being coerced, bribed or even extorted. Her nervousness reflected something practiced, what if she had been told to say this? What if the information had been planted in her mind?

The other option was.. She was, simply put, nervous. She fidgeted with her hands but her light smile was genuine; she felt comfortable here, albeit being naturally shy. Ayla looked to Makoa and Sapphire for an almost reassuring glance, and they offered it. Reactions were subtle in this place, it seemed. The person who seemed proudest of all, however, was Darius.

"Through Ayla our fate aligns," He said. "We know you have powers through your actions at the mall, of course. And your transformation is quite an interesting one." Darius said politely towards Hang. "I'm sure you could learn to control it much better.

In hopes of lifting anymore mystery you may feel, we would be happy to give you a tour of the place and all our other members. But my final goal is to offer you a week in our residence, safe from the prying eyes of the outside world. A week's intensive where you will learn as much as possible about the SPME and other threats, and as much as possible about your own capabilities.

Any questions before these three show you around?"

@Doctor Jax @Joan @Sairento @Radio Jelly

⌽​

The Cells

When the doors closed behind Mason and his new friends, all was still. Patrick's shouts were for nothing; for all of Dakota's whimpers there was no response. The scientists were not coming back. Not just yet.

In their place came the whirring of machinery somewhere beneath them. In every cell something began to stir. A piece of the ground began to lift, and from beneath it a plastic tray was brought up.

Dinner time.

A plastic bowl capped with a plastic top. A sort of broth resided inside, and a plastic spoon accompanied it. The broth was pleasantly lukewarm. Beside it was a cup of peas, a bowl of unidentified mush, and an old piece of bread, served just before the expiration date.

The plastic tray was pushed forward, perhaps two if the cell had a pair of captives. The platform receded and the ground became whole again.

Laughter erupted once more from Aaron as he stuck his finger in the mush. "They're trying to fatten up the new ones! I haven't seen a meal this hearty in sooooo long…."

@Red Thunder @HerziQuerzi @Shizuochan @Elle Joyner @rissa @Eru

yall

i sleepwrote this post so like…. Typos in the morn, k?

 

[Doctor Jax]

h a n g \\ d a o

---

"This is your life. There is nothing 'to get back to.'"

The words drew a wave visible across Hang's body. Swiftly, suddenly, her skin shivered from toes up into a wave of sharp white spines that crossed her like a shimmer. Nothing to get back to. For some reason, his words left an impression. She was not someone who was easily impressed, but she'd just been kidnapped and stashed in an underground bunker. These were not people who were just playing soldier. They knew what they were doing.

And the thought that she was no longer within Uncle's grasp, underneath his control, frightened her. It was an odd, unwelcome realization, that she had so long been in his power that the idea he was out of reach was uncomfortable. Yet, there was a buried exhilaration there, as well. However, lacking money was seriously beginning to bother her, and the crocodile skin slowly lengthened into spines an inch long as she rubbed her lips in thought.

Answering another question of theirs, a girl entered and began to tell them all that had happened to them. Hang wasn't the least impressed. They probably coached her or something. I don't buy it. Nevertheless, the fact the girl was so exact nagged at the back of the Vietnamese heiress' mind. She was extremely exact, but then again there was no telling how long they'd been down here. There had been cameras and the other two or three could have told her what had happened.

But why would they lie?

"Everyone lies, baby," Uncle said with his hands on her shoulder, lips by her ear, as she cried over a rumor someone had spread about her in school. "Everybody lies. You better learn when they do."

With that, Darius made a rather grand statement in how their "fates" aligned with this girl who could "tell the future", and his comment on her abilities brought forth another shudder. Her nose flared and morphed momentarily into a flatter, wider, more animal shape as her eyes narrowed, glowing blue. The spines shook and receded ever so slightly, however. Yes -- control would be appreciated, all things considered, especially after the... Incident.

"What kind of chances do we stand once this week is up. I can have a private army in literally a day. What's the SPME got?" she asked, crossing her arms and lowering her head, like a bull lowering its horns while pawing the ground. Combined with her corrugated, scaled skin and animal demeanor, it wasn't hard to imagine her ramming into the man before her.
[/hr]

 

[Red Thunder]

Patrick O'Malley
SPME cell​

"They won't give. Don't waste yourself."

He'd heard Evan's words. He really had. But somehow his arms didn't get the message. His teeth clenched, furious at his inability to enact ... any change whatsoever, Paddy still gripped the cell bars in a steel hold. They didn't budge, of course, and in a few moments he stepped back, hands balled.

"They'll waste us themselves, Evan," he replied, voice strained. "I'd rather go out on me own terms than as a damned lab monkey."

At the whirring of the floor moving, Patrick spun, fists raised and ready to fight. But at the sight of the food, his stomach grumbled. It felt like so long since he'd eaten; the memory of his mother's dinner seemed like ages ago, made worse by the fact that he'd only gotten to smell it. But the fight didn't leave his brain, and he eyed the opening through which the food had come with interest, and in his mind he could see himself trying to force it open further.

Aaron's remark echoed into the small area, and it gave Patrick some bearing back to reality. Neither he nor Evan were going to fit into that opening; as he'd considered his options, the trapdoor had closed again, killing that path anyway. Grunting in frustration, he approached the trays and sat down before them.

"More than glad teh eat i'all if yah taren't hungry," he muttered, glancing to his cell mate with a wry look.

@Eru

 

[Elle Joyner]

.

At the sound of the buzzing machinery, Dakota jumped, bolting upright to her knees. The trays propelled upright through the floor, and heart pounding, she stared at the plastic, laden with some of the most unappetizing looking offerings she had ever seen and her lip twitched down in a frown. Irrationally, it seemed like a mistake to touch it... Or maybe not so irrationally. These weren't friends and they certainly weren't compassionate people. These were their captors, and they wanted something from everyone they had taken. A dose of something in the food would be all too easy... and if someone were hungry enough.

Ironically, her stomach groaned as she sank back down, shaking her head, "I'm not eating..." She whispered, her eyes stinging with tears as she thought about Shelley's... about the burger she would never sink her teeth into. Her stomach throbbed and she grimaced. Eventually, she knew, even without the experience, that she'd get hungry enough for the food to look appealing, but she hadn't reached that point yet, and she wasn't going to risk giving them what they wanted...

Non-compliance was new for her, but it felt right. It felt justified...

"...I don't trust it." She continued, glancing to the other two with another frown, shaking her head in concern, "What... what if they put something in it?"

TAGS: Collab with Cloudy || @rissa, @CloudyBlueDay
@BearEnthusiast @EveryoneInDemCells

 

[Radio Jelly]

Something about the way Darius understood the SPME was strangely reassuring to Austin. In proving his understanding of the government agency--as well as openly sharing it's true nature--Darius had garnered from Austin a begrudging respect, and earned the Protectors a small measure of validity in the boy's eyes. It wasn't enough to set Austin at complete ease, but anyone with a keen eye would've noticed a subtle shift in the way the boy held himself at the closing of Darius's explanation. Austin's shoulders slumped, and the knot of tension that had held them rigid dissipated. Slowly, he removed his left hand from his sweater's kangaroo pocket, and flexed it by his side.

"I can tell you with confidence if you walk back into the world with no formal training and no proper idea of how to protect yourself, you will be next on their list."

Austin's gaze wavered a bit at Darius's ominous warning. The SPME were no doubt a strange boogeyman for the likes of metahumans--especially ones like Hang, who were strong and dangerous beyond measure. It was likely a mistake to implicitly trust Darius, but Austin suspected it would be a much greater folly to ignore him. The boy was about to speak up in favor of Darius's offer, when a timid-looking girl was summoned into the room. He hadn't seen her at the mall, but something about her was intrinsically unnerving.

"... This young man here was asking how we can possibly know that he and his companions have powers. And while on the topic of it, we may just explain how we knew to be at the mall at all."

Austin's eye-brows arched; his curiosity was piqued by Darius's leading introduction. The boy's eyes flickered between Darius's expression, and Ayla's own golden irises. She seemed invigorated by the question, and Austin felt a single preemptive pang of anxiety before she began rattling off facts she would have no way of knowing.

"O-on.. on January 13th, five minutes before 2:51pm, you bought a new sweater." Austin's mistrust was evident in his demeanor, and he couldn't help but take a small step backwards when Ayla pointed in his direction. "You went up to Sapphire's cover and you talked." He felt his heart fluttering in his chest, though he knew it was possibly a ruse. Maybe it was rehearsed, and they had used camera feeds to glean as much. A part of him wanted to believe it was true, but nonetheless he felt relieved when she moved on to the next person.

While she spoke, a million theories raced through Austin's head about the potency of her abilities. Was it some kind of telepathy? Perhaps a kind of empathetic link? Austin's lips pulled into a shaky frown, and he paled at the thought of how easily the girl could recall exact events. Austin put both hands back into his sweater pockets, and became perfectly still as Ayla moved through the day's events as though she was reading a script.

"O-oh. And my name is Ayla. I get visions of the future sometimes."

The future?

Austin wanted to scoff at the thought, but in reality he was simultaneously amazed and afraid. Some small part of him relaxed when he realized it was a less intimate kind of power than he thought, but nonetheless he made a mental note to avoid running into her in the halls.

As Darius continued to pitch his services to the group, Austin stole several glances at his new compatriots' faces for signs of their mood. Truthfully, the man was laying it on rather thick for Austin's taste, though the boy supposed that Darius's strategy was to front-load as much important--and credible--information as soon as possible. It practically invited backlash.

It was no great surprise when Hang was the first of them to voice their concerns.

"What kind of chances do we stand once this week is up. I can have a private army in literally a day. What's the SPME got?"

Austin's eyes narrowed, and a small smile crept across his face. True to her character, Hang's question was a biting rebuke of Darius's offer on the surface, though there was another layer to it. In asking about the breadth of the SPME, Hang was at least expressing interest in being prepared.

Well... expressing it the best way she knows how, I suppose.

If Hang could be convinced, Austin was pretty sure the rest of the group would eventually see reason. A brief moment passed where Austin weighed the decision in his mind one last time, before he decided to back Darius's offer. However, making any kind of noise unnerved him to a high degree--let alone speaking in front of the same girl he saw nearly eviscerate a fire monster.

"D-Does it really matter?" Austin's voice came out too soft, and he awkwardly tried to clear his throat before continuing. "I mean, like, you remember the broadcast in the mall? Even if what he's saying isn't true, don't you guys want to learn more? I mean," Austin turned in Hang's direction, but found it nearly impossible to hold eye contact with her--instead, he kept his head down and began plucking at the zipper on his sweatshirt. "'Some of us probably need to learn more. No offense, miss." Austin kept trying to shift his weight between both feet, and couldn't seem to find a comfortable angle.

"Besides if these, uh, 'SPEM' or whatever have government backing, then if like one tenth of what this dude says is true it probably doesn't matter what protection you think you can buy." For a moment, Austin was able to keep still--his gaze shifted back over to Darius. He tried to remain impassive, but there was a hunger in his gaze, and a measured eagerness in his voice.

"I can do a week away from home. My vote is to stick it out."

@Doctor Jax

 

[Aero Blue]

The whirring of machines added something - almost pleasant - to the ambience. Almost. It was like in the prison dramas; like the cold, dispassionate guard pushing food through the crack of a jail-cell, but even less than that. The guard would consider the vicious convict as something less than human, and in that respect, they were similar to the scientists, but not quite. You could gleam disdain from the guards in the movies, but automated pillars betrayed nothing.

She wasn't even particularly hungry, Cassia noted. Perhaps hunger, after so long, had become her. Perhaps her body had accepted malnourishment as its default state. She knew none of those were true; it was simply that she had already eaten. She remembered Patrick's mother, her act of kindness. Her sacrifice, as well.

For the moment, she pushed it from her mind, returning to the 'now'. That was self-preservation.

"As a general rule, I don't really trust liquid foods, least of all soup. Seems like something you should only accept from mothers and grandmothers, and..." Cassia eyed the mush. "Heavens. Liquid-solids are the worst of all worlds."

Cassia grabbed a piece of bread, showing it to Hedieh as if it were some prized trophy, and dunked it in the mush, hoping to counteract the worst aspects of both items. Vagrant resourcefulness at its finest.

 

[Joan]

Joan Ardent || The Base/Unknown Location

---

Darius waited for everybody to ask their questions before tackling them methodically, one by one. His answers were thorough as well, which always counted for something as far as Joan was concerned. What he had to say about the SPME, however, caused a chill to slowly grow deep in her bones.

An organization that kidnaps people simply because they have powers...who would do such a thing? Her mind flashed back to the broadcast, focusing most of all on the moments before it had shut off. A young man whose face she hadn't been able to make out with a dart sticking out of his neck. A young man who had just happened to have the courage to speak out, and he had been silenced, and likely kidnapped as well, since he had mentioned having powers. In that moment, she was immensely grateful that she had ended up here, instead of wherever L30 had been taken.

Before doubt could creep in again, a young, shy-looking redhead came in. Her eyes glowed, just like she had seen Archer's glow, only these didn't glow just for a moment. They kept glowing, and Joan couldn't help but wonder if she was using her powers right then.

Ayla began to speak, quietly outlining some very specific details about the moments before the fire beast had appeared. Joan didn't even think to doubt her after seeing her glowing eyes. That, to her, was evidence enough that the girl had some form of power, so why not visions of the future? And hadn't the blue-haired girl said something about Ayla after Archer had come rushing back into the food court and the fire beast had made its way up?

So, when Darius mentioned a tour and repeated his offer to let them stay a week and learn how to control her powers, she was completely ready to take that offer. She was, in fact, about to thank him, but then the shapeshifter interjected, and she turned her head slightly to listen to what the other woman had to say.

A private army...? I guess she's dangerous in more ways than the one, then. At least she seemed to acknowledge the threat the SPME posed, and she had, in her own way, confirmed she would be staying for the week.

The boy with the hoodie surprised her by speaking next. He had been completely silent for most of the time they had been there, so even though he was soft when he first spoke, he caught her attention immediately. She watched him with some sympathy, noting his obvious unease at putting himself at the center of attention. She was even more surprised that he seemed to be voicing very similar thoughts to the ones she had had, but it was also somewhat of a comfort. At least she wouldn't be alone when she finally spoke.

"I agree with you." She nodded toward him before continuing. "These people...this SPME, whoever they are...They took a guy on live television. You remember that, right?" She looked at the other two, clenching her hands into fists inside her pockets to keep herself from taking them out to fiddle with her belt loops or something like that. "That guy was talking, and then...there was a dart in his neck. Just like that." She sighed then and took a hand out of her pocket to rub the back of her neck, before turning to look at Darius. "Archer said there was somebody here with powers like mine, right? I'll be happy to learn whatever I can here."

 

[HerziQuerzi]

Hedieh Redding // Still A Cage, Unfortunately

"As a general rule," Hedieh answered mildly, pulling her tray to her corner, "I eat." Hedieh took up the piece of bread in both hands. The urge to scratch at the crescent scar had only grown when the boy -- Mason? -- had been dragged out. Stress, but the kind of stress that settled in the body and stayed out of the mind. Hedieh's fingers tapped incessantly at the bread, and she didn't seem able to find a comfortable position to sit no matter how she shifted. But she didn't feel like breaking down or shouting like most of the other occupants.

"Thanks for not losing your mind," she mumbled to Cassia, grateful she wasn't sharing a cage with someone more emotional. Then, realizing that was a weird thing to say -- somehow avoiding being awkward still seemed important to her -- pointed at Cassia's broth. "Even if you don't trust it, you did say that you were thirsty."

Overhearing the blonde girl in another cage, she continued. Still directed towards Cassia, but loud enough for others to hear. "Anyway, what's to distrust? They had us knocked out for God knows how long, and clearly are the ones in control. Avoiding eating isn't going to give any of us an upper hand or whatever."

@Shizuochan @Elle Joyner @CloudyBlueDay

 

[Sairento]

Alexander Summers - Unknown Base

"Dumb fucking kidnapping," Alex grumbled to himself, tapping one of his toes against the ground. While the others continued to talk about…well, whatever. Two of them could go sing kumbaya and learn all about their powers and make the world a better place for all he cared, yada yada yada. One of them (oh hey, it was blackmail victim again) wanted to go toe to toe with this…SPME. Not bad idea by any means. "Maybe try enlist the help of these people with powers before you try take on a shadow organization. Probably better than a private army," he thought to himself.

"Well, at least they won't have to pay for me anymore," Alex thought idly, stretching his arms as he glared at the guy behind the desk again. "One more thing. My computer and phone?" he asked. He could probably just grab his stuff and leave if he didn't like how things were going, and he could get some more blackmail info to use later. Otherwise, he'd learn how to eavesdrop even better, and then leave.

It was a win-win situation for him either way.

 

[Eru]

Evan Rowell
"what"

---

Evan eyed the food with disdain. It hardly looked tasty, but even more than that, the will to remain entirely uncooperative was overriding any hunger that might have been rumbling in his stomach. "I'm not going to eat it," Evan spoke flatly. "And neither are you."

He picked up the dish and threw it against the back wall of the cell, splashing its contents over the floor, letting the container fall with a clack. "You said something about going out on your terms, I believe? Well, these are mine."

"I'm not playing their game," Evan continued on, starting to seethe. "This is how they start to break you. I want out, now." It seemed as if the other prisoner's remark had cut him deep, suddenly. Evan sat on the floor and waited, staring at the place the food had come from. If it came again, he'd do it again. And again. And again.

 

[rissa]

Thanks for your broth!

---

Crow shrugged at Dakota's words, her hands steadily clenching and unclenching as she decided what to do. How to feel. How to survive after such a blow to her pride, to her finite supply of hope. Her mind was still ringing with Mason's cries and no matter what she did, she found them hard to ignore.

"Even if they have... I haven't eaten in like three days." Shrugging again, Crow pulled both bowls towards her, motioning towards Dakota's with a questioning glance. "Hope you're okay with me eatin' yours then."

The broth looked unappetizing and the bread, well it looked a couple days too old. But it was food. Sustenance. A means for survival. So she soaked the bread before wolfing it down, trying not to focus on Mason's ghost-voice. She chewed and swallowed as fast as she could, sparing no time to determine any flavor. When finished, she stacked the bowls and pushed them away.

Crow eyed the boy in the cell across from her and then finally Dakota's outstretched hand. Attempting to take her mind off the could-be-drugged soup, Crow glanced over at Parker.

"What got you in here?" Crow asked vaguely, dragging the back of her hand across her mouth, wiping away the last remnants of soup. "This your first time?"

"First time?" Parker said with a raspy laugh. "Not everyone gets to escape like you."

Frowning, recoiling slightly, Crow bit back an angry retort and settled with a contemptuous laugh. "I suppose not, hm?"

She glanced over at Dakota, her eyes softening slightly. "Kinda wish I never escaped though," Crow admitted with a slump of her shoulders. "Better than tasting that freedom ya know?"

Parker's blue eyes searched Crow as she hesitated in a response. He could tell what he'd said had angered her, but she made no show of it. "I.. wouldn't say that." He murmured. hoping to tread a bit more lightly. "Maybe because you know what it feels like you're more motivated to get it again." Parker sighed. "I know I've lost all hope. Maybe if I felt the sun one more time I'd fight a little harder." He looked back at Crow again. "What did it feel like?"

"It felt... strange. Exhilarating, even. But I kept looking over my shoulder, ya know? I'd hear a noise and freeze. Sometimes I couldn't make myself move until minutes later. If I was too close to a road and a car drove by, I'd nearly bury my face in the dirt, terrified that it was them. I d-don't think I had enough time to process it.

"But it felt good... Real good."

Parker swallowed. It sounded like even though Crow had truly been free, she hardly felt like it, and he knew if he escaped, he would be the same. The crinkling of a leaf would set him off. "I just wanna see my family again," he admitted sullenly.

Swallowing, her eyes wary and tense, Crow glanced between Parker and Dakota. "I'm not sure if that's a good idea. If it'll ever be a good idea. They'd just find us again… and then find them… And…"

She shook her head, refusing to voice her thoughts aloud. Some things were just better left unsaid.

with @CloudyBlueDay

 

[Red Thunder]

Patrick O'Malley
SPME cell

The clack the small dish made as it bounced emptily away from the cell wall was utterly depressing, and Patrick's stomach rumbled in frustrated hunger. Who knew how long it had been since they'd been taken? Who knew how long it was since he'd eaten last? Had Cassia gotten a bite? Probably; his mother would have ensured it.

It was encouraging, thinking of his mother. Even as he watched the barely touched remnants of what was perhaps only superficially labeled 'food' creep its way down the unmoving barrier that surrounded them, it gave him some modicum of comfort to think of her. And of her poorly funded yet still delicious handiwork. His mouth began to water at the thought. It made Evan's action all the more frustrating.

"Yah wannae starve, fine; I can appreciate a bit of rebellion. But yah arenae gonna escape if yah have nothin' tah eat. Won't have teh strength tah." Paddy gave his companion a resentful look before glancing longingly back at the slop that, thanks to its unappealing viscosity, had yet to give in to the pull of gravity. "And anyway, I'd appreciate yah leaving mah own tah me. You may no' wanna eat, but I do."

@Eru

 

[CloudyBlueDay]

Mason

For a while, Mason was left alone in the empty room. No one came, and there was no movement. He tried to count, to keep track of time. But he lost focus after sixty seconds. He felt a little hollow, hunger causing his insides to rumble in discontent, and fear making the room spin. It felt like hours could've passed. Or maybe it was simply just a few minutes. After struggling helplessly for some time, Mason gave up, slumping in the chair and waiting for his fate to be delivered on a silver platter. And so it was.

A man wearing yet another white lab coat entered the room, letting the door close and latch behind him. Mason strained up as best as he could to see the person. He carried a metal clipboard, and leafed through the papers wordlessly.

"Hey," Mason shouted. "Hey, let me out!" The man did not reply. He barely even flinched. Mason struggled audibly against the restraints, shaking them, causing annoying clicks and clanks. He was becoming tired, but refused to give up. "I said, --"

"Silence, Mr. Zetith."

And Mason fell silent indeed. How did they know his name? How did those simple three words scare him shitless? The authority this man presented was unlike Mason had ever felt. He felt like a caged animal, being prepared to be skinned.

"The procedure will be quick if you make no fuss."

Mason swallowed.

"And.. then you'll let me go?"

A small, mechanical laugh came out of the man. He did not reply. The clicking of his heels as he traveled across the room was all Mason had to make out of what he was doing as he stared at the blank ceiling. A cupboard door was opened with a some sort of lock code - he could hear the sounds of a keypad. More shuffling. A metal cart was wheeled. How fucking big was this room?

Through his peripheral vision he could see the man settle himself down in a stool beside him. Mason strained once more, and the man promptly rearranged Mason, pushing his head and making him stare at the ceiling again.

"What are you doing?" He mumbled through a whimper.

"It won't be long."

The man lifted the sleeve of his hospital gown, exposing the flesh of his left shoulder. A cold piece of cloth was dragged across his skin, which Mason supposed was covered in a numbing agent, because once that was done he couldn't feel his shoulder any longer.

The man produced a syringe looking thing; only bigger and bulkier and certainly somewhat mechanical. Mason couldn't see much of it, but it looked absolutely terrifying. He clenched his fists in an attempt to calm himself.

From this point on he only felt what happened vaguely. The cool metal of the weapon the scientist wielded was pressed against his shoulder and allowed to puncture his skin. Mason sucked in air, a little gasp of pain escaping him in the process. He could see a vial being filled with red liquid. A strange clicking noise followed, and he felt like.. like something was being.. Inserted. He could feel it in the back of his mind, the signals of pain his brain tried to make him aware of were simply muted.

The syringe was removed, a cloth returned and dabbed away at any blood. He was surprised at how much it stung.

"The scabbing process is expedited. It won't bleed for more than a few minutes. A scar will form."

He thought about Crow's scar.

"Will you be compliant as we take you back? Or shall I render you unconscious."

Mason opened his mouth but no sound came out. He wasn't ready to give up, but the man waited.

"Why are you doing this?" He finally croaked.

A cloth was brought over his mouth, and Mason slept.

⌽​

The Cells

Despite Evan's ruckus, the room remained still. The inmates mumbled amongst themselves and nothing moved. The mush dripped from the walls and settled on the floor. Aaron grinned ear to ear in his corner of the cell, and under his breath he hummed a nonexistent tune.

"Leeeeoooooo," he sang. "How does it feel to know you're going to die, Leeeoooo?"

The mechanical whir returned, promising the arrival of another delivery. But this time only one came. Within Evan and Patrick's cell, the floor parted, and up came another tray. On it lay a cloth and a spray bottle.

Stuck to the bottle was a labeled message. It read, "Your cellmate shall appreciate your tidiness."

A few minutes after this incident the doors opened once more. The two men large men that had entered previous returned, this time with a limp Mason in their grasp, dragging him across the floor like a ragdoll. Blood dripped from his shoulder; the scientist had not bandaged it.

Like a sack of potatoes, Mason was tossed back into the cell, and left the same way they came.

@Red Thunder @HerziQuerzi @Shizuochan @Elle Joyner @rissa @Eru

⌽​

The Base of the Protectors

Darius sat, listening intently to his four guests as they posed their questions and spoke amongst themselves. He was happy to see the one who had been silent finally speak up, and especially in favor of their cause. It seemed that his efforts had turned out as he had hoped.

"Unfortunately, a private army would not last you very long." Darius admitted. "You might spare yourself a few days, but the SPME has eyes everywhere, and plentiful resources. They have made us out to be people to be afraid of; and through that they have the support of those who do not fully understand."

"I do recall L30." Darius said with an unhappy sigh. "His cause was valiant, but he was not careful enough. Hopefully we can locate and rescue him. And Archer did mention your abilities were plant related?" Darius smiled at Joan. "Yes, Silas has plant-related abilities as well. I'm sure he would be happy to meet you."

"And about your tech," Darius mulled over this question a moment longer then the rest. "We have a strict no technology rule. Any tech makes us vulnerable to tracking. We have a few earpieces for missions, and that's all. If you choose to leave after the week, your belongings will be returned. Everything else you entered our abode with is open to you."

At that moment the door opened with a gust of wind and Archer stood in the middle of the room, a dopey smile on his face. "Sorry to interrupt," though he wasn't sorry at all, "Basil and Silas are calling everyone for dinner." A happy smile came upon Makoa's face, as if she was relieved to see he was alright. Archer winked at Joan before blasting out of the room once more.

"We can discuss more at dinner if you like, and you'll have a chance to meet the others. Ayla and Makoa will show you the way out." Darius announced.

Once everyone had gone, Archer disappearing the same way he came and Makoa and Ayla leading the rest out of the office, Sapphire stayed behind. She slid up to Darius's desk, a small smile painted on her thin lips. Darius gave her a tired glance. This meant she wanted something.

"I was wondering," She said lightly, sweetly. "If I could call… Patrick?"

Darius rolled his eyes and stroked the stubble on his chin. "And where do you plan to find a phone?"

Sapphire was quite ready for this response. "I'll go to a payphone. He'll pick up."

Darius leaned back in his chair. "You checked up on him before we left. He showed no signs of any abilities. He should be perfectly safe."

She was getting a little bit whiny now. "I know, but I'm sure he's worried.. Maybe I could just --"

"You know the rules, Sapphire."

Sapphire groaned. "Well, Archer took a call in the middle of our mission."

Darius was losing his patience. He rubbed the space between his eyes and pointed to the door. "Enough. I'll talk to him later. No calls."

With an upset teenage squeal, Sapphire stomped out of the room and slammed the door behind her. Darius chuckled to himself with a sigh. Kids.

@Doctor Jax @Joan @Sairento @Radio Jelly

yall

This GM post marks the end of chapter two! My next post will bring us into our first character development centered mini chapter, 2.5. To move us along swiftly, I will update the NPC tab with brief pieces about the other Protectors that are being introduced, and you can get a collab up with me of your character and your desired NPC at dinner with the Protectors.

 

[Sairento]

The Best Ingredient Is…

Alexander Summers - Proctector's Base

Co-write with Cloudy


Pots and puns bubbled in the kitchen. The aroma of marinara sauce wafted in the air and two flitted around the kitchen. Silas, stacking plates now his arm and clutching silverware in the other hand, while Basil stirred the last of the food and licked the stirring spoons she prepared to throw into the sink.

"I'm going to set the table," announced Silas, his voice deep and unbothered by any hint of emotion. "I'll start plaaaaating-!" Came Basil's cheery cry as she prepared to transfer the giant pot of pasta into the even larger pot of sauce.

Alex was…not starved. Famished would be a good word. He'd had part of a plate of nachos that day, and not much else. Ergo, he mostly followed his nose as he walked slightly ahead of the group to the dining room. "…pasta…spaghetti?" he thought as he cut across the room they'd walked through where they'd met the paddle-ball player, and the dining room after that.

As Silas exited the kitchen, he passed Alex. The near seven foot male narrowed his eyes at the boy as he left, but said nothing and did not offer more than an uncertain glance. His slight limp did nothing to damage his intimidating stance. Basil, however, jumped to attention, ready to greet the newcomer.

"Hey!" She said excitedly, turning around with such force that her pink hair jumped behind her. "You're one of the new guys, right? I'm Basil!" The squelching of pasta as it fell into the marinara was almost loud enough to overpower her voice. "Wanna come help me put the finishing touches?" Her voice held an almost song like quality with every word and she was happy to have an extra set of hands.

Alex blinked and balked slightly at how sudden and…

Loud this girl was, before shaking it off. "Sure," he said, walking over as he put on his trademark smile. Quite literally too. It was a wonder he usually wore sunglasses; his smile rarely ever met his eyes. "Alex. What can I do?" he asked

This…Basil didn't seem like the kind of person who would react well if he treated her with the scorn and annoyance he did the others. And it wouldn't do him well if everyone just spread the harsh things they heard about him; it wouldn't be good for business if no one approached him because he was 'difficult' or 'mean'. Ergo, he'd pull the wool over at least one person's eyes before the day was done.

"If you could grab the parsley out of the fridge, that'd be excellent." Basil said, nodding her head to the large industrial sized fridge off in the corner. "So," she said eagerly. "What're your powers? Hopefully something teleportation, maybe? We could use that." She brimmed.

Alex gave a light mono-toned chuckle. "No, not really. I can uh…hmm…" he said, wondering briefly if he should reveal his powers. "Well, they'll find out eventually," he thought, opening the fridge as he looked for the parsley. "Ah, there it is," he mumbled, picking it out. "I can turn into a…well, ghost, more or less. Invisible, intangible and the like. Here's your parsley, by the by," he said as he walked back over. "Anything else?"

"Ooooh!" Basil murmured, taking a moment to think about how his powers might work. "A ghost! That's so fun!" She happily took the parsley from him and in the blink of an eye had already chopped it finely. Sprinkling it into the mix, she grinned back at him. "Yeah, one more thing," She said, offering him an unlicked spoon with sauce and pasta. "Taste?"

Alex took the offered bite without second thought. He was, as mentioned before, famished. Making a show of contemplating the taste of the dish, he ensured his mouth was clear (politeness and manners) before speaking again. "I do think it's a little salty," he said slowly, before chuckling and shaking his head. "No, its perfectly fine. So, what's your power, if you don't mind me asking."

A frown came upon Basil's face when he announced it was a little salty, and his chuckle did not rectify it. "Hmn," She announced, going in with a spoon of her own, but not saying anything after that. "Oh, my power?" She hummed. "I build stuff." She announced, giving the pot one more stir before reaching up on her tip-toes and getting a dish to pour it into. "I can build and invent anything, really. I make all the weapons and our suits and all that." She gestured to the pot as she pulled out a serving spoon. "Pour that?"

Alex took the spoon as he carefully poured from the pot. "Invent anything," he mumbled, nodding as he focused more on not accidentally burning his hands as he poured. "Anything?" he said. "That's quite impressive."

"Did you make the sauce from scratch?" he asked idly.

"Oh, yeah!" Basil said happily. "Me and Silas did. We're usually on cooking duty." She grabbed a few more plates and gestured to the door with a nod of her head. "C'mon, let's go put it on the table. I bet everyone's starved."

Alex nodded as he grabbed two plates himself (he wasn't going to try balance more than that many and accidentally drop a plate), nudging the door open with his foot before stepping through, using his other foot to hold the door open for Basil. "Are you two on cooking duty because the others can't cook?" he asked with a light teasing tone.

A small laugh escaped Basil. "Mmmmmmaybe. They try, that's for sure. Archer is good for fast food." She narrowed her eyes at him as she glanced back. "Where's the food, silly? I think we've got enough plates."

"Fast food as in he makes it fast, or actual just. Fast food." Alex then made a light chuckle and an 'oops' as he walked back into the kitchen, placing the plates back where they were supposed to be. He immediately sighed, his smile dropping as he rubbed his cheeks. "Man that's sore," he grumbled, before slapping a semi-smile back on and carrying the dish back out.

 

[Doctor Jax]

Payphone Pals

---

To put it lightly, Hang thought Darius underestimated the reach her uncle had. There were things her uncle had done - had covered up, had made disappear - in conjunction with others whom she was never allowed to speak to which made her think that the SPME would have a hard time trying to get ahold of her on their own.

And if she was honest, she was a little freaked out. No money, no influence… For so long, that had been her identity. That rich bitch. Without her wealth and power through her Uncle's connections, what did she have? How was she supposed to get some leverage? At the least, she needed access to at least a little bit of money so when she got out after this week was done, she could immediately get whatever it was she needed and head back.

It was a weird thought, though. How often had she considered getting away from Uncle Duc? How many times had she fantasized taking one of her shotguns and blowing his head off, fleeing with whatever cash she'd managed to save? Now was her chance, but…

As she walked out, wrapped up in her own thoughts, she caught wind of the blue-haired girl -- Sapphire -- talking to Darius about taking a call, and she lingered by the door, listening in. The word 'payphone' sparked her interest, and she waited for the upset teenager to leave the room.

"Hey. Blue," Hang said tersely. "You want to call someone, I want to call someone. Why don't we both get what we want?"

Sapphire jumped at the sudden appearance of Hang. She hadn't expected anyone to stay behind and in her anger she had almost charged into the girl. Straightening herself out quickly, Sapphire brushed off her clothing and retained a haughty air, nose pointed up, though clearly her proposition made Sapphire pause in her immediate rudeness.

She thought about this proposition for a while, arms crossing and brows furrowing. "No." She said. "No way. Do you know how much hot water I'd get in? We'd both get in? You could jeopardize the entire mission, compromise all of us. Fuck no." Sapphire looked just as mad about this as she spoke through a hissed whisper. If she was gonna sneak off, it'd be done by herself, and damn easily too. What was a monster girl worth to her on a situation like this? She began to walk off.

"Then what does that say about you? You were going to do it on your own," Hang shot back. "And so far I've seen, none of you are good at following your own damn rules. Speedy over there took a call in the middle of your mission, you said it yourself. We could be in and out inside an hour."

"I — I was not gonna —" Sapphire argued. "You were fucking listening, weren't you?"

"Free country, little Troll," Hang drawled, gesturing to her hair. "So what's it going to be? Look, if you want, I can go out by myself and call whoever the hell you want for you, just get me out of this rabbithole.That, and I seriously need an ATM..."

Never mind that her stomach was trying to turn itself inside out from hunger. Despite the fact she had managed to wrestle her appearance back to normal, she was ravenous and doing her best to contain the urge to grow more teeth.

Sapphire sneered at Hang, her face getting hot with anger. "If you want to get caught, go ahead, Monster Girl. I might be breaking my own rules but at least I know how to do them properly. If you leave now, they'll come looking for you. It's dinner and you've already been gone too long."

With one last glaring look, Sapphire's nostrils flared. "My father tries too hard for people who don't deserve it. I hope you enjoy your fucking week."

With that, Sapphire vanished from sight, the image of her figure rippling until Hang was left alone in the hall. The monstrous teen watched the girl go, chewing a fingernail, hating to admit that she was right. Reluctantly, she followed her towards the chow hall, her stomach growling at her as she went.[/hr]

a collab with @CloudyBlueDay