[h1][color=gray]Harmon Rottlage[/color], [color=brown]Ruben Tarblatt[/color], [color=plum]Kayla Kirby[/color], and [color=cyan]Leonard Boggs[/color][/h1]
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[i][sub]In collaboration with [@Empour] and [@DeadBeatWalking][/sub][/i]

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Harmon watched the meta-energy within the canister gravitate towards the center, crystallizing, taking on a dull coloration. He'd seen this before, Ruben had run the exercise with him last year. Nothing had changed. The reaction was meant to be an indicator of how developed the powers of the individual in question were. Some were... [i]admittedly[/i], more explosive than Ruben had ever liked. A clear indicator of how powerful, and often times, [i]unstable[/i] some meta-humans were. Ruben viewed them as risks that need to be isolated. Or quashed, even. The taller girl, Michelle... she definitely wasn't on Ruben's [i]preferred[/i] list after this incident. Harmon watched him look across the room at her. It was hard for most folks to tell his expressions behind that Brainvault, but Harmon knew he was disgusted with the display. He looked back down at the crystalline structure, fiddling with the band on his arm, causing the formation to twitch and jump some. 

Suddenly, there was a scream, from somewhat close by. The little girl next to the gargantuan one had fallen out of her chair for some reason. She made a very awkward looking scramble to get back up, and skedaddled away, ending up near the front, between the desks and Ruben. She was clutching her cylinder, which was emitting light. [color=brown]"Is something. Amiss."[/color] Ruben inquired, turning his Brainvault to face Kayla. The girl sputtered out something about a snake, but was suddenly interrupted.

The door creaked open, as a few students instinctively turned around to see who was at the door, and then turned back. A voice called out quietly.

[color=cyan]"Is this, uh, Ruben's class?"[/color] Lenny said, looking at his syllabus. [color=cyan]"I'm late. Sorry about that."[/color]

[color=brown]"Tardiness. Isn't. Appropriate."[/color] Ruben responded, [color=brown]"But for. The first. Class. You. Are. Excused. Please. Find. A seat."[/color] He reached into the crate and handed him a canister. [color=brown]"Ask. Harmon. For instructions."[/color]

Lenny nodded, but the nod quickly turned into a surprised, inquisitive look. He turned his head to face the front most desk and the figure sitting there.

[color=cyan]"Harm-O?"[/color]

Harmon raised his head at the sounding of that familiar moniker. He turned to face Lenny as the faintest, most crooked smile etched itself upon his face. He let out an exasperated, half-laugh-half-hello as he shot up from his seat and approached Lenny. [color=gray]"Ah! A-ha!"[/color] He said, a little too happy to form any proper sentences at the moment.

The two embraced, hugging tightly for a moment. [color=cyan]"Missed you, bro!"[/color] Lenny said, patting his old friend on the back.

There was a brief moment of silence as the embrace carried on before Ruben called out, [color=brown]"Please. Take. Your seats."[/color]

Harmon detached himself from Lenny and grabbed his hand, shaking it. [color=gray]"S-so, so good, to see you again!"[/color] He said, in between meager breaks of laughter. Lenny nodded as he took a seat next to him, inching a bit closer to Harmon. [color=cyan]"Me and Creed live here now, so you and I can hang out just like the old days."[/color] Lenny said, grinning from ear to ear. Harmon didn't respond with words, he just nodded, still looking ridiculously happy. The year suddenly became a lot more enjoyable for him, that much was evident.

The girl by the teacher's desk was suddenly addressed by Ruben, [color=brown]"Do you. Require. Anything. Else. Miss."[/color] Kayla jumped a little, as though she had forgotten Ruben was behind her. [color=Plum]"Ah, uh, no, I'm fine, I'll just, uh,"[/color] she looked around, nervous. She didn't bother to finish her sentence, though, and just rapidly took a seat next to Lenny. She obviously didn't want to sit next to Michelle. She was still holding the cylinder close to her chest, as if she was afraid someone would try to take it away from her.

Lenny turned to her and nodded, as a gesture of courtesy. [color=cyan]"'Sup."[/color] He immediately turned back to Harmon, whispering, muttering and chuckling amongst themselves. As usual, Lenny did most of the talking, while Harmon was just happy to see his old friend. It was hard to hear their whispers, but certain words stuck out. "Games" was one, "soda", "marathon", "rules", and "midnight" were the others. It wasn't clear what they were discussing, but it certainly sounded like some kind of get-together.

That sounded like fun. A lot of fun, actually. The boy that had just come in seemed nice, and she doubted the faceless one could be mean after seeing that heartwarming hug. She wasn't sure if they were talking about actually running a marathon or something else entirely, but she could just ask. 

[color=plum]"Hey, you two!"[/color] she whispered, [color=plum]"Are you guys having a party or something?"[/color]

Lenny slid around, leaning on the edge of his desk. [color=cyan]"Only the best party [b][i]ever.[/i][/b]"[/color] Being reunited with his friend made him excited enough to not hide in his shell, as he normally did.

[color=plum]"Would you guys mind letting me in on this party?"[/color] she asked. A party on her second day here? That sounded like loads of fun.

Lenny looked back at Harmon, who was simply keeping his head a little low. He shrugged, indicating he didn't really see any harm in the notion. That, or he was too confused to say no. Lenny turned back, nodding. [color=cyan]"Sure! My roommates probably won't mind. Haven't met 'em yet, but, they probably won't."[/color] He chuckled to himself. [color=cyan]"I have an Xbox and games, you should bring some snacks, uh,"[/color] Lenny waved his hand, trying to remember the name of the girl who hadn't introduced herself yet.

[color=plum]"Kayla, Kayla Kirby. I'm up on the fourth floor, when is this gonna happen, and where?"[/color] she said, noticing his confusion.

Lenny shook her hand. [color=cyan]"Lenny Boggs. This is Harmon."[/color] He said, nodding to his friend behind him. [color=cyan]"He's a bit shy."[/color] He paused for a second, trying to remember his room number. [color=cyan]"Room 269"[/color] Lenny said. [color=cyan]"It's a guy's dorm, so wear a hoodie so the teachers don't see you waltzing in."[/color]

Kayla felt a momentary flash of indignation, but it faded quickly. He was right- A teacher seeing a girl walk into the guy's dorms would put a quick end to the festivities. Kayla wasn't sure if she actually packed any pants, but she was sure there would be some somewhere even if she hadn't. [color=plum]"Okay, I'll be there. Midnight, right? I overheard a little of your conversation,"[/color] she said. She wasn't holding the cylinder anymore, it was sitting on the table she was sitting at, and the light had died down. 

Lenny nodded. [color=cyan]"Don't tell nobody, though."[/color]

Kayla shook her head a bit, and said, [color=plum]"You guys are actually the first students I've talked to, aside from that.. Snake-girl up there. I don't have anyone to tell, so you don't need to worry,"[/color] She shivered a little bit when she said snake-girl.

[color=brown]"Please. Return. To your individual. Exercises."[/color] Ruben said, looking at the trio. They followed suit, turning back to their desks, and ending their discussion.

Then Kayla spoke up. [color=plum]"Um, professor, uh.. Ruben, I did the thing with the wristband, and it made this really pretty stuff, but what are we supposed to do now?"[/color] She held up the canister to show off the sparkly liquid.

[color=brown]"If. Your exercise. Is complete. Then you. Are free. To socialize. Quietly. Until. Class. Is concluded."[/color] Ruben responded, peering over the computer terminal at his desk. [color=brown]"An assignment. Will be issued. Next. Class."[/color]

A free period, right off the bat? That was pretty lucky. Kayla, though, had a few more questions, key among them being, [color=plum]"Professor, are we allowed to keep these canisters? I really like mine..."[/color]

[color=brown]"Yes."[/color] Ruben responded, [color=brown]"But I. Will not. Offer. Any. Replacements."[/color]

Score! She could keep this awesome little lantern thing. It was so pretty- if only she could figure out how to get the wristband off.