[u][center][h3]Echo Marine, Albus Alliquam, Tawne Adagio[/h3][/center][/u]

What started out as a mischievous smirk developed into a smug shuckle and finally culminated in a raucous guffaw.  Over the course of a few moments, Tawne proved less and less able to contain his mirth as what began as an experimental joke culminated into hijinks worth of a true master of the art of sabotage.  In fact, the sophomore could not even look at the screen without cracking up, however composed he managed to make himself.  Finally, he called out across the hotel room, [color=CD5700]"Albus!  Get over here and get a load of this!"[/color]  He span his laptop around neatly on the smooth wooden desk so that the faunus could get a good look.


Albus was finishing homework. Writing on two seperate sheets of paper that acted as notes. " Alright- Alright. " He chuckled, sliding of the chair and quickly jogged over to Tawne, " Awww~ Why are you doing this without me! " Albus pouted, his elbow resting against the chair. 


Leaning on his crossed arms, Tawne tapped the edge of the computer, inviting his friend to figure out the story for himself.  [color=CD5700]"There's no time to waste when it's time to evil-do!  The evil that I do do.  Check it out: you remember Star Colony, right?  Well, these new guys just made a little base on the server, and I dropped by to give 'em a little 'welcoming present', heheh!  It looks like a doormat, but it's really a pitfal trap full of dust bombs.  I've already killed two of the suckers!  You shoulda heard them over the voice chat.  So pissed off!"[/color]  He whirled the laptop around and set his dextrous fingers dancing across the keyboard, like an artist on his loom.  [color=CD5700]"What's next, do you think?  Falling anvils?  Tripwires?  Ooh, I know.  I'll lead a monster inside."[/color]


He intently looked at the screen, trying his hardest to focus, " Hmm...this is a hard one. I'd suggest rigging a bomb to a signal chest. Put something you least need in it. And bam! You have the most basic trap. " Albus couldn't think of anything else at the moment. Homework was more important to him at the time. 


An uncharacteristic surge of panic crossed Tawne's face.  His steady tapping of fingers on keys swelled to a fever pitch, and he cried in mock, [color=CD5700]"Wagh!  I've been found out!  One of the admins is running after me!  I mean, it's only been like, thirty minutes.  I'd figured he was either blind or ramming a few too many hotpockets into his piehole.  No, no, no...!  Aw, what a gem.  Kicked from the server for the day.  The fun police strikes again!"[/color]  A few clicks of the mouse exited out of the game and back to desktop.  Tawne leaned back in his chair, not at all perturbed by this turn of events.  Sunlight filtering through the blinds caught his eye, and with a start he realized he'd forgotten breakfast.


" Really? Again? Do I have to make more apologization emails to the server owners?" Albus laughed lightly, standing up straight and his hands sliding down into his pockets as he watched. There wasn't much he could do right now, his eyes were baggy from lack of sleep. Albus wanted to do more, but obviously his father wanted him to score the highest in Beacon. He couldn't fufill two wishes at a time, " I need to do my homewor- "


An abrupt slam of the bathroom door cut Albus off.  Echo appeared in casual clothing, her still-wet hair neatly poofed.  [color=0070FF]"What're you two bozos yakking about?  More bullying people online, you bully?"[/color]  She grabbed a yellow bandana and tied it with deft precision around her hair.  Tawne shrugged nonchalantly, casual as ever.  [color=CD5700]"Studio wouldn't have put pressure pads and retracting panels in if they didn't want 'em used.  Besides, if I were you, Ech, I'd be a lot more worried about your newest viral video.  Shower scenes are all the rage on Dank.com."[/color]  He grinned and rose to his feet.  Echo, who knew her teammate merely jibed her, rolled her eyes and pulled the bow tight.  [color=0070FF]"You'd know."[/color]


Sighing again, Albus rubbed his head and walked back to his desk on the other side of the room. More focused on his homework as...usual? His grades had been declining and Albus tried to focus but with such rowdy friends that was almost impossible. He couldn't have the fun he liked but at least he was with the people he cared about. "Echo! Don't-...do anything right now. I am busy and-...and I need to do my homework."


The bluenette cast Albus an incredulous look.  [color=0070FF]"I hope 'don't do anything' doesn't include breakfast.  Crunch numbers if ya like; I'm gonna go eat.  Finish quick.  Today's the big day.  If we're gonna pull off Plan Beat we need at least one more rehearsal, all four of us.  Ya with me, Tawne?"[/color]


She turned to look at him, but found the bespectacled lad only a few inches away.  With a laptop powered down, a chair pushed in, and a stomach a-rumbling, Tawne was the spitting image of ready.  [color=CD5700]"Nope.  I'll need at least two hours."[/color]


Albus frowned, and after a moment of intense thought piped up with, "I'll stay here."  No sooner than the words come out of his mouth, his teammates vanished, leaving Albus to the privacy of the hotel room.  Even such a mundane place held great promise on a day like this, though.  While they might not look it, no member of BEAT could be more amped about the chance to represent Atlas in the tournament of all tournaments, the Vytal Festival.  Albus took in the silence of the room...for once it was quiet. Though he had felt uncomfortable without the comfort of others nearby. He grabbed the books next to the computer and jumped onto his bottom half of his bed. 


Meanwhile, the two Atlesians met their first obstacle only moments into their trek for breakfast.  Tawne insisted that they patronize the nearby pancake house, Mad Stacks, while Echo argued that they'd be able to rendezvous with their team leader at a noodle shack.  [color=CD5700]"You nuts, Ech?  Burg's a big girl, she can handle herself for a little while out in the real world.  Knowing her she'd be too busy trying to eat her way into immobility to even acknowledge we exist.  Mad Stacks is where it's [i]at[/i]."[/color]  He leaned against the hotel doorway, hands resting idly in his pockets with one of his feet stuck behind the other.  Still not adjusted to the full sunlight, he waited for Echo to stop glaring at him.


She obliged, though only after remarking through pursed lips, [color=0070FF]"We have pancakes all the time, doofus.  We still gotta wrap up the plan.  Noodles or no noodles, Burgundy will get it.  There's a lot ridin' on us today."[/color]  Regretting having to give up on pancakes but well aware of how productive an attempt to change his comrade's mind might be, Tawne pushed off the building at set off into the bustling festival grounds, Echo right alongside.  [color=CD5700]"No pressure though,"[/color] he sneered to no-one in particular.


In short order, the pair arrived at the noodle stall, homing in on a waterfall of luxuriant scarlet hair.  Tawne and Echo seated themselves on either side of Burgundy, effectively trapping their leader between them.  Sure enough, the girl had already eaten enough to satisfy a family or two.  Naturally, Tawne wasted no time pointing this out.  [color=CD5700]"Geez, Burg.  I really am surprised you aren't a blimp by now.  Must have God's own metabolism."[/color]  He signalled a staff member.  [color=CD5700]"One udon.  Please."[/color]  He cast an eye down the stall, spotting a black-haired girl in gray nearly as gluttonous as Burgundy.  The three individuals around her also caught his attention, and a logical realization ensued.  Whistling, Tawne received his udon, and remarked to his friends, [color=CD5700]"Those four are too unique-looking to be normal.  Figure they're competitors?"[/color]


Halfway through a bite of soba, Echo followed his eyes.  Rather than spending time pondering or not, she slurped down her food and said aloud, [color=0070FF]"Hiya.  Hmm...group of four, cool threads?  Y'all competing in the Vytal Festival tournament?"[/color]  For the moment at least, these new faces interested her more than running over a plan with Burgundy, not that the redhead had finished stuffing her face.