[COLOR=GRAY][INDENT][INDENT]As the pair began their walk, alone once more, Aurora couldn’t help but eavesdrop on the various conversations going on around them. The campus was abuzz with chatter surrounding the ceremony and the Foundation’s presence, and although she didn’t want to trigger another panic attack, it was hard to avoid the elephant in the room.[color=#8ecdb7] “What do you think is going to happen?”[/color] She looked up at Lorcán, [color=#8ecdb7]“The Foundation operates so differently, everyone knows that.”[/color]

[color=#fe650d]“I don’t think-” [/color]Lorcán gathered his thoughts while they walked through the campus. His ember-like eyes danced around observing the students in their hushed groups. Everyone was on edge after the ceremony. 

[color=#fe650d]“Things might be choppy right now lady dude, but I don’t think we’ll just let them take over.”[/color] He finally responded. [color=#fe650d]“If the school didn’t go down for that kook, Hyperion, it’s not going for these junkyard dogs. I can’t see my ‘rents bailing on us or P.R.C.U. for that grommet. No, I think they’re playing the long con, H.E.L.P. is going to go new school on this one and wow us all before the sun sets on this year.[/color]

[color=#8ecdb7]“I’ll be honest with you, I’m scared.”[/color] The redhead revealed, looking down at her loafers as they moved along the paved pathway, [color=#8ecdb7]“I don’t want things to change, I like them the way that they are.”[/color]

[color=#fe650d]“It’s okay to be clucked,”[/color] Lorcán smiled reassuringly, [color=#fe650d]“I think we’re all clucked in some way dude, everyone is afraid of being raked over by this. I know I am, before this mornin’ I was totally shaked for this year.”[/color]

[color=#fe650d]“I really thought it was going to be ricos this year,”[/color] He wistfully muttered looking towards the looming clouds in the sky above the campus.[color=#fe650d] “Looks like we’re really going to get worked though, but I think we’ll come through the otherside.”[/color] He smiled, wrapping an arm around Aurora and giving her a squeeze.

The redhead nodded, knowing that Lorcán spoke truthfully; sure, it might be rocky, it definitely would not be perfect, but they’d be okay in the end. Most importantly, they had each other. 

Well… at least until graduation. 

But Aurora didn’t want to think about that, not right now. They still had plenty of time together before she had to come to terms with him leaving the Island, potentially for good. 

[color=#fe650d]“Besides, nothing will ever change between us.”[/color] Pointing his chin towards the Myotis dorm in front of them, he spoke again.

[color=#fe650d]“This is your stop, brah. I’ll grab my stuff and meet you back in her in ten to fifteen then?”[/color]

Aurora chose not to dwell on his words, responding with a simple nod while taking them at face value and not thinking through the subtext that riddled her mind. 

[color=#8ecdb7]“Yeah, sounds good. I’ll be quick,”[/color] She replied through a forced smile, hoping he wouldn’t think anything of it, before taking a breath, clearing her mind, and vanishing into thin air.

[color=#fe650d]“So rad,”[/color] Lorcán muttered while reaching out to where Aurora had been only seconds ago. He suddenly found himself missing her presence, a cold Easterly wind blowing across campus sent a shiver through his spine.

The weather had been this way exactly five years ago.[/INDENT][/INDENT][CENTER][COLOR=#AC0D01][sup]________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________[/sup][/COLOR][url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/5504477][img]https://i.imgur.com/qq4DoJJ.jpeg[/img][/url][/CENTER][indent][sub][COLOR=#E64C09][B]Location:[/B][/COLOR] [I]University Dormitories[/I] - [I]Pacific Royal Campus[/I][/sub][sup][right][COLOR=#E64C09][b]Welcome Home #1.069:[/b][/COLOR] [I]I've Been Talking With A Ghost[/I][/right][/sup][/indent][COLOR=#AC0D01][SUP][sub]____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________[/sub][/SUP][/COLOR][INDENT][sub][color=#E64C09][B]Interaction(s):[/B][/COLOR] [I][@Melissa] - Aurora Mitchell[/i][/sub][SUP][RIGHT][COLOR=#E64C09][b]Previously:[/b][/COLOR] [I]Not Myself Today[/I][/right][/SUP]
[indent]Walking the short distance to the Canis dorm, Lorcán entered the building before making his way to his and Rory’s dormitory on the second floor. Opening the door to his bedroom from the shared living space, Lorcán froze in the doorway as he was greeted by a bald finely dressed man sitting on the edge of his bed.

[color=#fe650d]“Jonas!?”[/color] Lorcán exclaimed entering the room,[color=#fe650d] “But you’re de-”[/color]

[color=#ffffff]“Yes,”[/color] Jonas replied, polishing his glasses as he stood up from the edge of the bed. [color=#ffffff]“I had gathered I was already dead at this point in time. Pity, look at you all grown up.”[/color]

Jonas clapped Lorcán on his shoulders before gesturing for him to take a seat.

[color=#ffffff]“You’re a spitting image of your father by the time he was this age, what are you now, nineteen?”[/color]

[color=#fe650d]“Twenty-one actually,”[/color]

[color=#ffffff]“Twenty-one, what an age. Have you and the lovely Miss A begun dating yet?” [/color]Jonas asked with his usual all-knowing twinkle in his eye.

[color=#fe650d]“No, not yet at least,”[/color] Lorcán replied while rubbing the back of his head. [color=#fe650d]“Are you, like a ghost or something?”[/color]

A hearty laugh filled the room, putting Lorcán somewhat more at ease but he was still suspicious as he studied the older man. He looked like Jonas, he sounded like Jonas, he even smelled like Jonas. The woody cologne with notes of tobacco leaf and vanilla hung in the stagnant air of the boys’ dorm. 

[color=#ffffff]“No, I assure you I am most corporeal,” [/color]Jonas replied while squeezing Lorcán’s shoulder. [color=#ffffff]“I just don’t simply experience life quite as linearly as you do.” [/color]He explained though the vagueness of his phrasing left Lorcán with far more questions than he initially had.

[color=#ffffff]“Tell me, my boy, what has happened on campus to have everyone in such an uproar? Even in you, behind your calm demeanour, I see the anger and hurt.”[/color]

[color=#fe650d]“We totally lost our accreditation to basically all, the like, major programs. Pretty much means everything I’ve worked so hard for is absolutely bunked. Y’know, kinda feels like home is a bit of a prison.”[/color] 

[color=#ffffff]“After Crestwood Hollow, your father and his peers felt much the same way. They were outcasts, outed by their abilities, expelled from their school with nowhere to go in the world.”[/color]

[color=#fe650d]“But they had you and then you made P.R.C.U.”[/color]

[color=#ffffff]“That’s an oversimplification of events, but yes,”[/color] Jonas replied. [color=#ffffff]“The point I’m trying to make is that sometimes, what looks like starting over is the beginning of something better. This school is a building, but its ideals are transferable. Just because someone else is taking the building doesn’t mean they get to crush its ideals.”[/color]

[color=#fe650d]“But how am I supposed to make a difference out there without a degree?”[/color]

[color=#ffffff]“Do you truly think it was the degree that was going to make the difference?”[/color] The older man asked with a sympathetic smile.[color=#ffffff] “Come now, child. You’re wiser than that. The community here is what prepared you to make a difference. We created something here the world can only aspire to.” [/color]

[color=#fe650d]“A place to go for those who had nowhere.”[/color] Jonas nodded as Lorcán responded before expounding further.

[color=#ffffff]“More importantly a place where everyone belonged and mattered. That’s why we have the teams and the houses. We wanted to show how similar people could work together and how circumstance and adversity could be overcome. The uniforms serve to remind us that we are all Hyperhumans who are not only wanting, but also deserving of the same treatment and respect.”[/color]

Leaning back, Jonas crossed his legs before reclining slightly more.

[color=#ffffff]“Many years ago, I had the opportunity to meet with Nakamura Yoshi, he wanted the school then as much as he seemingly does now. He’s an ambitious man, but not malicious. I suspect that if the loss of the school’s accreditation is linked to the Foundation, then it was not Nakamura who orchestrated it. There may be turmoil even within the Foundation’s ranks.”[/color]

[color=#fe650d]“Was Kowalski also just ambitious?”[/color] 

The question hung in the air for an uncomfortably long moment before Jonas replied.

[color=#ffffff]“Yakob coveted power, a trait I let my love and admiration for him blind me to.”[/color]

[color=#fe650d]“If you know he’s Hyperion, why can’t you just stop him?”[/color] Lorcán asked, [color=#fe650d]“Like, you’re going to go back in time aren’t you?”[/color]

[color=#ffffff]“I’m afraid it just doesn’t work like that, Yakob and Miss Carlyle are most diligent in ensuring that any knowledge I have of the future is not used to change the past.”[/color] Jonas pinched his brow before gently massaging it.

[color=#ffffff]“In hindsight, it’s now glaringly obvious why.”[/color]

[color=#fe650d]“So?”[/color] Lorcán retorted, [color=#fe650d]“Go back, don’t play by their rules. You can stop all of this from happening.”[/color]

[color=#ffffff]“My dear boy,”[/color] Jonas replied sympathetically, [color=#ffffff]“I wish I could spare you this pain, but I am not a god nor will I play one. Things are already set in motion which cannot be undone.”[/color]

As he spoke, his hand brushed against the pocket of his blazer.

[color=#ffffff]“Speaking of, I need to give you this.”[/color] Reaching out, Jonas deposited a small object into the palm of Lorcán’s hand. 

[color=#ffffff]“Consider it a belated eighteenth birthday gift. I know it’ll serve you well”[/color]

The object was warm to the touch, obsidian in colour and seemingly pulsed as Lorcán moved his thumb over its near frictionless surface. It would have appeared as stone if it wasn't vaguely metallic. 

[color=#fe650d]“What is this?”[/color]

Jonas suddenly clutched a hand to his chest, his entire going out of focus for a split moment.

[color=#ffffff]“It has been wonderful to catch up, my boy, but I’m afraid this is my stop.”[/color]

[color=#fe650d]“Jonas!”[/color] Lorcán yelled but he was gone. [color=#fe650d] [sub]“Wait…”[/sub][/color] He added meekly before sitting back down in the room alone again. Looking at the strange object in his hand, Lorcán turned it over once more before pocketing it. He sat there for a moment, taking in everything that had just happened before jumping to his feet.

[i][color=#fe650d]Aurora![/color][/i]

Lorcán must have been gone far longer than he told Aurora he would be. She’d probably be wondering where he was, or worse assume he had fallen down the stairs and hurt himself.

[i]Again.[/i][/INDENT][COLOR=#AC0D01][sup]__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________[/sup][/color]

[INDENT]Flying out the door of the Canis Dormitories, Lorcán practically tripped down the stairs before running face-first into another male of similar height. Bouncing off the chest of the other individual, Lorcán tripped backwards before firmly landing on the ground with a familiar dull thud.

[color=#fe650d]“Ow,”[/color] He muttered aloud before looking up and seeing the familiar face looking down at him. [color=#fe650d]“Oh, my bad, Dad.”[/color]

Aiden Roth extended a hand towards his son, helping Lorcán to his feet.

[color=#ef5e49]“I’m glad I ran into you, though admittedly, I was looking for Rory.”[/color]

[color=#fe650d]“He wasn’t upstairs, so I imagine bro’s already headed for the Plateau.”[/color]

[color=#ef5e49]“I’ll fire him an email later then,”[/color] Aiden replied before setting his keen eyes on his son, [color=#ef5e49]“How are you doing, y’know with everything from this morning? I wish I could have warned you but it seems it was sprung even on O’Neil. We only found out moments before the ceremony.”[/color]

[color=#fe650d]“I spoke with Jonas.”[/color] Lorcán watched his father’s expression as he continued to speak. [color=#fe650d]“Just now, upstairs.”[/color]

[color=#ef5e49]“I see,” [/color]Aiden spoke softly, choosing his next words carefully, [color=#ef5e49]“He always considered you a grandson, I’m not surprised he’d choose to visit you.”[/color]

[color=#fe650d]“So you knew about the like, time-slipping?”[/color]

[color=#ef5e49]“Your mom and I both knew, I know Kowalski and Summer also were aware of it. They were on damage control though in hindsight-”[/color]

[color=#fe650d]“You’re realizing how flawed that is?”[/color] Lorcán’s voice had a steely edge as he responded, [color=#fe650d]“Jonas said the same thing.”[/color] He kicked a stray piece of gravel across the paved walkway. 

[color=#fe650d]“Is no one worried that Kowalski is still out there then, using Jonas’ abilities to evade capture?”[/color]

[color=#ef5e49]“I’d be lying if I said the thought hasn’t crossed my mind.”[/color] Aiden stated solemnly as the pair began walking in the direction of the Myotis dorm. [color=#ef5e49]“But Kowalski was at least limited in that he could only learn abilities he understood. Not even Jonas fully comprehended how his abilities worked. Jonas wasn’t even entirely sure he was a Hyperhuman at times. It’s unlikely that Kowalski had been able to unlock the ability to mimic Jonas’ non-linear existence.”[/color]

Silence hung between the two Roths before Aiden spoke up again.

[color=#ef5e49]“I don’t want this hanging over you and ruining your senior year, Jim is already meeting with the Foundation to sort out graduating degrees. Take some enjoyment from seeing Jonas again, remember he sought you out to spend what precious time he had in this moment with you.”[/color]

[color=#fe650d]“Thanks, I’ll uh, try to do that.”[/color]

[color=#ef5e49]“Now, then,”[/color] Aiden raised an eyebrow at Lorcán, [color=#ef5e49]“Shouldn’t you be getting to the plateau?”[/color]

[color=#fe650d]“Just picking up ‘Rora first,”[/color] Lorcán beamed motioning towards the Myotis dormitories they had stopped in front of. Aiden clapped a hand down on his son’s shoulder turning to see the familiar redheaded girl waiting for him.

[color=#ef5e49]“Then I won’t salt your game any further.”[/color] Aiden responded, nodding to Aurora as he waved.

[color=#ef5e49]“My fault he’s late, won’t happen again.”[/color] He called, winking at Lorcán before going his own way.

Watching his dad walk away, Lorcán reached into his pocket, his hand bumping up against the strange object before it pulsed from his touch. Shaking his head, he adjusted the backpack slung over his own shoulder before running up to Aurora.

[color=#fe650d]“Hey, lady dude, sorry that took so long, we should probably hustle.”[/color] He smiled, [color=#fe650d]“But I think we should still take the scenic route, I can carry that bag for you if you want?”[/color][/INDENT][/INDENT][/COLOR]