[color=gray][indent][indent][color=darkgray][i][color=#a64d79]“I put an extra scoop in after how well you did on that last test,”[/color] The woman's voice called as she rounded the corner from the kitchen into the dining room only to discover an abandoned math textbook laying as open on the table as the window beside it.

[color=#a64d79]“Lorcán!”[/color] Victoria Roth yelled, peering out the window just in time to catch sight of the young boy tearing across the pavement towards the campus grounds.

[color=#a64d79]“Young man, get back here right now!”[/color]

But the words fell on deaf ears as the young boy continued to put distance between his mom and himself. 

It was the first week of September and students would soon be arriving on the island. Lorcán was still too young to attend Pacific Royal’s collegiate program and was instead resigned to homeschooling under his parents.

That would have been fine if he had a sibling or a classmate of some kind. More than anything in life, Lorcán desired a friend.

[color=#fe650d]“Hi!” [/color]
[color=#fe650d]	“Hey!”[/color]

[color=#fe650d]		“Sup?”[/color]

The eleven-year-old boy greeted every prospective student he crossed paths with, smiling and waving while ducking between the taller teenagers. Suddenly he was roughly pushed to the ground, tumbling into the dirt only to look up into the face of a sneering older boy.

[color=#ffffff]“Watch where you’re going runt,”[/color]

[color=#fe650d]“Sorry, dude.”[/color] Lorcán apologized, dusting himself up before extending a hand, [color=#fe650d]“I’m Lorcán, what’s your name?”[/color]

[color=#ffffff]“Whatever,”[/color] The older boy retorted, brushing Lorcán off before pushing him down again with a chuckle. [color=#ffffff]“Stay down Lora.”[/color]

[color=#fe650d]“It’s Lorcán.”[/color] The younger boy repeated, moving to stand again only for the older boy to attempt to push him down for a third time. Lorcán stumbled backwards but managed to defiantly stand. Sweat began to pool on his forehead, his hands shaking as his cheeks flushed.

[color=#ffffff]“You think you’re tough, pipsqueak?”[/color] The teen extended spikes from his cheekbones, making a biting motion towards Lorcán. [color=#ffffff]“I told you to stay down.”[/color] He raised a fist only for the air around him to suddenly rise and ignite.

The teen screamed in pain as flame engulfed him, sending the older boy to the ground as he tried frantically to extinguish himself. Cries of anguish and fear echoed around the pair as tears welled up in Lorcán’s eyes.

[color=#fe650d]“I just wanted a friend…”[/color][/i][/COLOR][/indent][/indent][CENTER][COLOR=#AC0D01][sup]________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________[/sup][/COLOR][url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/5504477][img]https://i.imgur.com/7BWn8qb.jpeg[/img][/url][/CENTER][indent][sub][COLOR=#E64C09][B]Location:[/B][/COLOR] [I]Southern Plateau[/I] - [I]Dundas Island, Pacific Ocean[/I][/sub][sup][right][COLOR=#E64C09][b]Hope In Hell #2.002:[/b][/COLOR] [I]Buddy System[/I][/right][/sup][/indent][COLOR=#AC0D01][SUP][sub]____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________[/sub][/SUP][/COLOR][INDENT][sub][color=#E64C09][B]Interaction(s):[/B][/COLOR] [I][@Rockette] - Amma Cahors, [@Melissa] - Aurora Mitchell[/i][/sub][SUP][RIGHT][COLOR=#E64C09][b]Previously:[/b][/COLOR] [I]Chasing Cars[/I][/right][/SUP]
[indent][color=#fe650d]“Little on the nose, dudes,”[/color] 

Lorcán muttered aloud, accusation sitting heavy in his voice as the simulation started up, the rumoured sterile hallways of the Foundation appearing before his molton-coloured eyes. The familiar wave of nausea washed over as he touched a hand to the door, he could feel his HZEs being extinguished the second his hand made contact. Pushing on the door, it failed to budge before Lorcán nearly dry-heaved from the prolonged contact. Pulling back, he took a couple of deep breaths while looking into the maze in front of Blackjack.

Based on the facial expression of both Harper and Calliope, it was becoming blatantly obvious this was not by their design. Lorcán's eyes immediately moved from the alleged designers to Amma, who to his surprise seemed just as caught off guard, if not more disturbed than the rest of the team.

Perhaps this was a trap meant for her?

Lorcán suddenly spun around again, cupping his hands together and forcibly launching a fireball from his palms. It fizzled out against the door, not even leaving so much as a scorch mark as the EBI field rendered his HZEs inert.

[color=#fe650d]“I slaggin’ don’t care for being a rat in a cage.”[/color] He growled. [color=#fe650d]“Looks like the only way out is through.”[/color] He stated to the team, before doing a quick head count to ensure everyone was accounted for. Reaching into his back pocket, Lorcán pulled out his father's old black ballcap, blowing a few wavy strands of sun-bleached hair out of his eyes before putting the cap on backwards.

[color=#fe650d]“Dudes, we need to buddy up, everyone pair off and stay with your person.”[/color] His fiery eyes looked towards the fog laden corridor. Lorcán stood up straight, rolling the sleeves of his athletic shirt up before taking charge of the situation. It was the same time most of the team had heard Aiden Roth issue instructions to them during Practical Ability Training.

[color=#fe650d]“Place could change at a moment's notice, we don't know the game we’re playing so we’re just treading water trying not to get dunked by the next swell. Got to get on the board somehow.”[/color] Lorcán continued before grabbing Aurora's hand without any hesitation. He gave it a quick squeeze before looking at her.

[color=#fe650d]“Lady Dude, you’re with me.”[/color] He left no room for argument before looking back at the other eight students.

[color=#fe650d]“Don’t let go of your buddy in any circumstance and let's try to keep the group together as much as possible.”[/color] Lorcán turned his gaze back to Amma.

[color=#fe650d]“Brah, you got any insight here?”[/color] He asked, his eyes locked with Amma’s, but what looked back was feral and uncaged.

Amma's eyes were unwavering, rigid, deep, and laden with unbridled fury that lined her gaze in silver. Waves of a storm-ridden sea clashed with molten cores and there, a slow tremor in her hand that barely shimmered with her power slowly being leeched away near the walls infused by the dampening field. Her red sparks struggled to dominate her flesh as was often their want.

[color=#b4a7d6]"It's a test. This is what they do. I don't -- "[/color] Her stare lances down, quick and deliberate as she studies his hand laced with Aurora's. [color=#b4a7d6]"They make you weak, defenseless." [/color]Amma slowly stepped closer, her full mouth rising into that often hellacious smirk she was known for.

[color=#b4a7d6]"They'll attack you at your lowest when you think you've gotten away far enough. When you think you're safe."[/color]

She makes to move around the pair, gazing off into the fog.

[color=#b4a7d6]"They want to see how long you can last on their terms. In their domain."[/color]

Without hesitation, Amma set off down the corridor with a deliberate pace, sparing neither a secondary glance.

[color=#fe650d]“Brah!”[/color] Lorcán protested as he watched Amma run off.

[color=#fe650d]“That's not the buddy system!”[/color][/INDENT][/INDENT][/COLOR]