[COLOR=TAN][hr] [center][img]https://i.imgur.com/pJAAgZk.jpeg[/img][/center] [indent][sub][B]Location:[/B] [COLOR=SILVER][I]Southern Plateau [/I] - [I]PRCU[/I][/COLOR][/sub][sup][right][b]Welcome Home #1.089:[/b] [COLOR=SILVER][I][b]Sky Betty[/b][/I][/COLOR][/right][/sup][/indent][sub][hr][/sub][INDENT][sub][B]Interaction(s):[/B] [COLOR=SILVER][I]Aurora [@Melissa], Harper [@Qia], Lorcán [@Lord Wraith] [/I][/COLOR][/sub][SUP][RIGHT][b]Previously:[/b] [COLOR=SILVER][I]Flock Together[/I][/COLOR][/right][/SUP][/INDENT][/COLOR] [indent]Haven stretched her arms high above her head as she reached the edge of the campsites. [color=tan]"That was a piece of cake."[/color] She said to Aurora at her side. [color=tan]"I'm ready to stuff my face and relax by the fire for a bit, now."[/color] [color=tan]"Shut up, Tad."[/color] Haven added to the collective with a chuckle before she turned to Aurora. [color=tan]"Hey, I gotta find Harper. I'll catch you later for a smore."[/color] Haven said with a salute as she began moving again. She snagged a bottle of Hyper-Aid as she made her way to the food tables. A smile came to her face as she noticed that the person she'd just been looking for stood at the end of the line. She slipped through the crowd of Firebirds gathered, tucking her wings in so they didn't bump any shoulders. She certainly noticed a different flash of autumn red hair among them. A few of the rest she recognized from parties, and she offered polite hey's and hi's as she made her way through to the line. [color=tan]"Hey, Harper."[/color] She said as she stopped next to her. [color=tan]"Have a good time today? I can't wait to see what you all came up with for the theme."[/color] She tucked the Hyper-Aid under her arm as she prepared to grab a plate. What little she could smell of the food already had her stomach growling. [color=tan]"This food is about to revive me."[/color] [color=#8a9a5b]“Hey!”[/color] Harper responded, her face lighting up with a warm smile as she turned. [color=#8a9a5b]“You know, today was actually pretty…eventful. Calliope and Mei brought some brilliant concepts to the table for the theme. I really think we’ve made something that the new students this year will enjoy.”[/color] Harper’s eyes danced over the spread of food. [color=#8a9a5b]“This does look pretty good.”[/color] she concurred, a playful growl from her stomach punctuating her words. She brushed a lock of hair behind her ear, a sheepish grin on her face. [color=#8a9a5b]“I guess I’m hungrier than I thought.”[/color] [color=tan]"It's been a long day."[/color] Haven returned with a smile. She stepped in a little closer, reaching for a plate after Harper had grabbed hers. [color=tan]"Soo, I talked to Banjo earlier. No fun with that until we know more about who we're dealing with. He's holding his cards for now."[/color] She glanced into Harper's eyes to gauge her reaction. Harper’s eyebrow arched in astonishment, and she hesitated briefly before responding. [color=#8a9a5b]“Seriously? Banjo’s putting a pin on things?”[/color] Her tone carried a subtle note of letdown, blending with her astonishment. Granted, caution was prudent in their situation, and she had said that they would have to play the long game. But Banjo championing restraint? That’s not the twist she’d anticipated. A gentle laugh escaped her as she shook her head, disbelief playing across her features. She grasped a serving utensil, her smile lingering. [color=#8a9a5b]“Well, life’s full of surprises, isn’t it?”[/color] [color=tan]"He's thinking more rationally than I am."[/color] Haven mused. She put a few tortillas on her plate. [color=tan]"He did give me an idea, though. We should talk to a transfer about their time at the Foundation. He said Alyssa from Firebird might talk to us, if we ask in the right way."[/color] Harper paused, a flicker of realization crossing her face. [color=#8a9a5b]“I guess there’s truth to the saying that even a broken clock is right twice a day,”[/color] she mused, her hand automatically reaching for a taco. [color=#8a9a5b]“I’m on board with approaching Alyssa, but count me in for that conversation this time.”[/color] Haven grinned as she also began fixing her plate. [color=tan]"Come sit with me. We can sit near her and hopefully share the same fire for a 'smore."[/color] Harper’s nod was resolute and, while clutching her plate of food, she followed Haven’s lead to a cozy nook not far from their person of interest, who was lost in lively conversation with her companions. They nestled into their chosen spot, the warmth of the fire brushing against their cheeks. Harper leaned closer to Haven, her voice a hushed murmur, [color=#8a9a5b]“How do we broach the subject with her? We can’t exactly just blurt out questions about her past, especially not about her previous school.”[/color] Haven settled into her spot carefully, her wings tucking in behind her so that they wouldn't drag on the ground. [color=tan]"I have no idea. Hopefully something will come up that can be our way in."[/color] She took a bite of a taco, her expression determined and thoughtful as she chewed. Harper’s gaze was fixed on Haven, detecting the quiet resolve that lay beneath her companion’s easygoing facade. As she indulged in a bite of her taco, the rich tapestry of tastes provided a momentary distraction from the task at hand. With a contemplative silence hanging between them, Harper finally broke the stillness. [color=#8a9a5b]“How about we start with something light? We could ask for her take on the year so far,”[/color] she suggested, her voice low and thoughtful. [color=#8a9a5b]“If the conversation naturally steers towards her previous school, we’ll follow the lead.”[/color] Haven agreed with a smile. [color=tan]"That's perfect! We'll join them once we're done eating, then."[/color] Haven took her Hyper-Aid and tapped it against Harper's water bottle ceremoniously before going back to her food. Amongst the crowd, Haven heard a familiar bromance apologizing to each other. She glanced their way, a soft smile spreading as she spotted Rory standing with Lorcán. She tried to mind her business as she continued eating, but a few key words stood out to her. [color=#fe650d]“I had no right to make jokes about your abilities or your relationship with Haven.”[/color] Haven's brows quirked. [i]What did he say?[/i] [color=#04cf3a]"Though, maybe not tonight. I think the gals have us starting for different teams tonight."[/color] Haven paused mid bite, cleared her throat as she shifted her wings behind her, and took another bite. [i]Does that mean he...?[/i] She let the thought settle into the back of her mind for later. The approaching SUV she'd noticed among the buzz of the campsite came to a stop, none other than the man himself stepping out to join them. Yet with his welcome arrival came bittersweet news. Haven was glad to hear that their degrees were safe; if hers was ever in jeopardy to begin with, she still wasn't sure. The "other changes" didn't settle well in her stomach. She watched Rory for his reaction, wondering if the announcement would take the invisible weight off of his shoulders he'd been carrying since this morning. Haven recognized Lorcán by his footsteps, quickly approaching her. He was the only one in the camp wearing flip flops, but even with dress shoes she could tell how he walked with purpose. She waited until he tapped her shoulder to look up at him. She set her last, half-eaten taco down on her plate as he spoke and then took a breath, glancing over Ror's way as she tried to think of what she could say. [color=tan]"I heard what you said to Rory... and I can see why you went off like that. I considered ditching today, too."[/color] She pressed her lips together before looking up at him, glancing between his sunset colored eyes with her own earthy tones. He'd said something about Rory's relationship with her... but what did he say that could upset Rory? [i]If it's important, Rory will talk to me about it, right?[/i] [color=tan]"I told her to hear you out before making any assumptions."[/color] She tilted her head to the side, her gaze turning firm. [color=tan]"But I heard people talking about it behind her back, and it wasn't kind. I think you should give her an explanation before their gossip gets to her first."[/color] She offered him a forgiving smile. [color=tan]"I didn't really need the apology, but Rory did. So, I appreciate it."[/color] She wiped her hand off on a napkin before holding it out to him. [color=tan]"We're all good, dude."[/color] [color=#fe650d]"I'll totally be sure to talk to her this evening then, the last thing I want is to hurt the Lady Dude."[/color] Lorcán replied gratefully, slapping his hand against Haven's palm before hooking their thumbs to make a pair of wings. He half-smiled before looking out around the plateau at the numerous campsites. [color=#fe650d]"Shame these mainlanders don't leave gossip behind when they come to the island, there's no need for it here."[/COLOR] Haven smiled at their secret handshake. She popped a loose bite of tomato into her mouth while he looked around. [color=tan]"I feel like we're all too old for gossip, too."[/color] She said around her tomato. She swallowed, looking up at him with a smile. [color=tan]"Did you hear O'Neil earlier? Our degrees are safe. I'm not sure what he had to agree to for it, but at least that's a weight off our shoulders."[/color] [color=#fe650d]"It's enough to keep us afloat,"[/color] Lorcán replied pushing his bangs up under the backwards ballcap on his head. [color=#fe650d]"Hopefully the sea doesn't send any more chunder our way, Sky Betty. Things are still likely going to be choppy for a bit. Can't say I've ever talked to a Foundation Student before you had anything swell to say 'bout that place."[/color] [color=tan]"What have they said about it?"[/color] Haven asked as she picked up her taco again. She took a bite, her gaze travelling towards Alyssa. She'd never thought to ask someone about the Foundation before. Lorcán let out a wry chuckle at Haven's question. [color=#fe650d]"It's what they don't say, brah.[/color] He replied, [color=#fe650d]"They don't like to talk about their time there, both Bettys I've spoken to don't like to talk about the Foundation. Not exactly peachy memories, they tend to resent being asked. There's almost an element of fear to it. Not exactly sure what the Foundation does, but I'm definitely sure it isn't choka."[/color] Haven frowned as she finished chewing. She set the taco down once more. She wasn't sure what choka meant- Lorcán's slang always sent her through a loop, but she assumed it wasn't a good word. [color=tan]"I get why they want to leave the past in the past, but... Wouldn't they want to warn us about their school's skeletons?"[/color] [color=#fe650d]"Maybe they can't,[/color] Lorcán added after a minute. [color=#fe650d]"Remember Summer Carlyle was arrested for assisting Kowalski in maintaining his facade as Jonas by manipulating the memories of those closest to the imposter chancellor. "[/Color] He looked at Amma and then Alyssa before turning back to Haven. [color=#fe650d]"Wouldn't be that farfetched that a rival school with a malicious agenda to put a mental block into those Bettys. Brah, they could like totally be sleeper agents or something."[/color] [color=tan]"That would be crazy,"[/color] Haven murmured, her eyes glancing at the transfers with a sudden empathy to them, [color=tan]"but we live in a world of crazy anyways."[/color] [color=tan]"When you were off with Amma, did she speak about it at all?"[/color] The question was innocent, even though Haven had heard him mention that Amma had never used her abilities for herself earlier. [color=#fe650d]"Like I said, Sky Betty, it's what she didn't say,"[/color] Lorcán answered with slight shrug. [color=#fe650d]"Even the Queen of Darkness didn't want to speak about her time there. All I know from talking with her is that for all their talk of individuality, their halls are more like hospital, stark white, sterile and void of personality. But yeah if a topic makes Miss Gloom and Doom stall out for a second, I'd hesitate too."[/color] Haven's nose crinkled as he described their campus. A brief flash of the girl's home appearing before she shrugged the memory off with a shift of her wings behind her. [color=tan]"I feel like you'll say they live underground next."[/color] She joked halfheartedly. [color=#fe650d]"Nah, brah, that's the kicker,"[/color] Lorcán stated, [color=#fe650d]"Whole Institute is situated in these floating pods out in the Southern Atlantic. Only thing I like about them."[/color] He tried to joke back. [color=#fe650d]"Though I'm not ruling out underground tunnels. Torres has moleperson written all over her."[/color] [color=tan]"That's even worse."[/color] Haven physically shuddered. [color=tan]"The island probably feels like a breath of fresh air."[/color] She couldn't imagine living somewhere with no land. [color=tan]"Maybe I shouldn't ask about it, then."[/color] She sighed and tucked her stray hairs behind her ears in a self-soothing motion. [color=#fe650d]"Your call, Sky Betty,"[/color] Lorcán shrugged again, [color=#fe650d]"I'd certainly wouldn't lead with that if you haven't spoken to either before."[/color] He joked with a small, playful elbow jab. [color=#fe650d]"If you're really curious though, I can break the ice with Alyssa for you, berah. Her Jake, RJ and my cousin Cass are total bros, I'm sitting over there by them, come over for dessert and we'll segway the convo and see what comes out."[/color] He turned to leave, pausing to speak again. [color=#fe650d]"Afterall, no one can deny I make the best S'mores."[/color] Haven shot Lorcán a grateful thumbs up. The second he had left, though, Haven turned in her seat to grin at Harper. [color=tan]"It's our lucky day, Harps."[/color] [/indent] [COLOR=TAN][hr][/COLOR] [CENTER][img]https://i.imgur.com/Q9J9PIr.jpeg[/img][/CENTER]