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[sub] Interacts with Haven ([@Skai])[/sub]
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[indent][color=#ffffff]As Sophia carefully navigated her fork through the modest meal before her, the cacophony of voices from the adjacent table seeped into her consciousness. The Kid’s confident smirk was a stark contrast to the unease that knotted in her stomach with each snippet of conversation she overheard. The thought of the group being divided loomed over her, stirring a silent wish that Nat and Haven would remain by her side, at least. Not that she was against meeting new people but the thought of there being no familiar faces with her made her anxious. [/color]

[color=#ffffff]The rationale behind the division was not lost on her; the memory of Billy’s near-fatal mishap sent a shiver down her spine. The task of managing a myriad of abilities and temperaments must indeed be daunting for the overseers of this peculiar establishment.[/color]

[color=#87ceeb]"Two or three, or even four or five,"[/color][color=#ffffff]Sophia murmured, more to herself than to anyone else. Now she [/color][color=#ffffff][i]really [/i][/color][color=#ffffff]hoped she got Haven or Nat. But…what were the chances of that, in such a big group?  Not high. That’s what that meant. Still, it was entirely up to her on how to handle the situation. So, she would just have to take whatever she’s given in the best way. Somehow. [/color]

[color=#f0e68c]"Yup.  Number #543 at your service.  The lowest number at this here facility.  When I started out those numbers held a lot more meaning, and the handling of the... residents... was a lot more sterile in nature.  Most of us weren't considered much more than the numbers they assigned us on arrival."[/color]

[color=#ffffff]This revelation halted Sophia’s meal, prompting a contemplative pause. Was it preferable to be branded an outcast or reduced to a mere numerical code? Her own experiences had taught her the sting of exclusion, yet she could scarcely fathom the coldness of being equated to a single variable in an equation. [/color]

[color=#ffffff]It just seemed too dehumanizing. [/color]

[color=#ffffff]It was then that Sophia’s gaze found Haven, her arrival marked by the elegant tuck of her wings—a dance of feathers and finesse. A smile graced the blonde's lips, a silent acknowledgment of the winged girl’s poise. Haven’s inquiry about the meal drew her attention back to her plate, prompting a candid assessment.[/color]

[color=#87ceeb]“It’s passable, I suppose. A tad on the bland side,”[/color][color=#ffffff]she admitted, her taste buds yearning for the familiar flavours of home. [/color][color=#87ceeb]“But then again, I opted for the vegetarian meal, so perhaps my judgment is skewed.”[/color]

[color=#ffffff]When she noticed Haven's gaze shifting towards a boy with dark brown hair—his appearance marked by more tattoos than the blonde had ever seen before—Sophia followed her line of sight. The boy, who seemed to carry the weight of his harsh experiences in every line of his face and body, stood out even among the diverse group of metahumans. [/color][color=#ffffff]His grip on the tray seemed less about the food it carried and more about the burdens he bore. Or perhaps…he was simply hungry. [/color]

[color=#ffffff]Sophia leaned slightly towards Haven, her voice gentle.[/color][color=#87ceeb]"Do you know that guy or something?"[/color][color=#ffffff]It was a nosey question, for sure, but it was out before she could second-guess herself. [/color]
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