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[indent][sub][B]Location:[/B] [COLOR=SILVER][I]Southern Plateau [/I] - [I]PRCU[/I][/COLOR][/sub][sup][right][b]Hope in Hell #2.005:[/b] [COLOR=SILVER][I][b]Fowl Play[/b][/I][/COLOR][/right][/sup][/indent][sub][hr][/sub][INDENT][sub][B]Interaction(s):[/B] [COLOR=SILVER][I]Rory [@Webboysurf], Katja [@Zoldyck], Blackjack [/I][/COLOR][/sub][SUP][RIGHT][b]Previously:[/b] [COLOR=SILVER][I]Feathers on the Court[/I][/COLOR][/right][/SUP][/INDENT][/COLOR]

[indent] The water running over Haven's face felt like heaven to her. She stood still under it for a moment, letting it wash away any remaining nerves or doubts that had gathered in her chest since her talk with Rory. He'd been honest with her; that was really all that mattered to her now. She figured that couples had to go through things like this when they first started out, anyways.

She turned around, water droplets bouncing and rolling off of her feathers as her back entered the water. Her hands reached for the soap as she wondered if her and Rory should go on a proper date. [i]Maybe after the dance.[/i] The thought was bittersweet.

She made quick work to wash the little sweat that had gathered on her skin. Since her body regulated it's temperature at a higher rate, Haven hardly had to worry about body odor. Her hair on the other hand, was a tangled mess. She washed it with a generous amount of shampoo and conditioner, using her fingers as a brush to tame the golden brown locks.

As much as she wanted to stay in the quiet space, she knew that she needed to get moving. Last nights activities were catching up to her stomach. It grumbled within her as she shut the water off. She pulled on her spare PTU and sneakers quickly. Thinking about the trial had her walking the line between stuffing food down her throat like a hungry fledgling or hardly eating anything at all. A mix of excitement and nerves, bundled up between her shoulder blades where her wings touched and feathers blossomed.

She stepped out of the shower tent with her dirty clothes in hand. Her wings began to stretch out behind her, rousing the feathers to expel any remaining water droplets from within. She headed for the tent, quickly opening it to toss her dirty clothes towards her duffel. The sight of the two sleeping bags so close together on the ground had her smiling as she zipped the it closed.

Haven scanned her gathered teammates as she approached Blackjack's breakfast assortment. Casually searching for any odd looks sent her way as she pulled her hair up into a ponytail. They'd heard her and Rory's [i]intimate moment[/i] last night. There was no doubt about it. So would the comments start now or later?

Haven's eyes halted on one particular teammate that captured her attention. Katja, normally their sunshine on a day like this, seemed like a wisp of a cloud instead. A selfish part of Haven wondered if it was because she regretted turning Rory away yesterday. Better yet, would things be awkward between them now?

If Haven had to worry about things being awkward between anyone, she really should consider Mei's feelings. The dark haired firecracker wasn't gathered with the team yet. She had to admit that it was as much of a relief as it was a worry. Then again, Haven had to remind herself that Mei's awkwardness should be directed Rory's way instead. Haven hadn't known that Rory was taking her to the dance. If things were weird between them, she'd tell her just that.

As if in answer to Haven's thoughts, Tad announced Mei's departure just as she took her spot by Rory's side. She looked over at him, her eyes flaring for a moment as Mei's final words hit her in the gut. She knew he would feel responsible for it. Yet it was also out of his control in a way. Who would have known that Mei would have such a dramatic reaction? She had to have been debating the air force for a while to just up and leave like that.

Haven glanced towards the rest of Blackjack with a sheepish smile forced onto her features. Jess just [i]had[/i] to tease them about it. [color=tan]"Sorry, guys."[/color] She murmured to them all, if only to save face. Her eyes were on Rory again soon after. She quickly decided that the best thing she could do for him was to stay by his side. So just as casually as she had approached him, Haven slipped her hand into his and gave it a gentle squeeze. Her smile was reassuring, yet underneath her concern for him laid irritation towards Mei's final words.

[color=tan]"I can't believe she had to call us out like that."[/color] Haven quietly said to him, her head turning back as Tad continued his Tad Talk. [color=tan]"She took it a little too far in my opinion."[/color]

Rory didn't bother to apologize in reaction to the news. His face remained surprisingly stoic, for someone who so often wore his heart on his sleeve. But he bit the inside of his cheek as he stood next to Haven, squeezing her hand harder than she squeezed his. She had always wanted to join the air force... but to be the catalyst for such a sudden move tore at his chest. He looked down, avoiding eye contact with the errant stares. But he still stood tall, back straight, like his father had taught him. He looked over to Haven, giving her a short nod and a lighter squeeze of the hand. He flashes a weak smile for a moment, before his eyes rose up to look towards another imposing figure. Well-less imposing now. Everything about Katja seemed... wrong. Come to think of it, Katja never wore her jacket this early in the year. Short sleeves or sleeveless was always her M.O. so she could show off the guns. But it wasn't just the jacket... where was the smile? The hi-fives, the pep talks, the school spirit? She out-Roried him in everything... but to be so cold and dead like this was wrong. He whispered to Haven. [color=04cf3a]"I know this is bad timing... does Kat seem off to you?"[/color] He couldn't help the concern and hesitation creep into his voice.

Haven glanced over Katja's way again. [color=tan]"Definitely."[/color] She read the expression on his face. It was clear that he was worried. Whether it was because of his feelings for her or just concern for a friend, Haven knew that she had to trust him in order for things to work. [color=tan]"You should talk to her. She's always cheered us up, so maybe she needs someone to do that for her now."[/color] She offered him a small, yet reassuring smile.

Rory gave Haven a concerned look as he took in her words. The concern was mixed, as were two feelings in his chest. Katja was somewhere dark, and needed help. But given their conversation that morning, it felt wrong to leave Haven's side for Katja of all people. But Haven's words and her meaning were clear. Like the Amazon had told him to trust his heart the night before, Wings was telling him to do what he thought was right. But he looked her in the eyes carefully, studying her expression. [color=04cf3a]"Are you sure?"[/color]

Haven nodded, stepping onto her tip toes to give him a kiss on the cheek. [color=tan]"You're still friends, right?"[/color] She gave his hand a light squeeze. [color=tan]"I trust you, Rory. Go help our friend get her spark back."[/color]

Rory shot Haven a soft smile, squeezing her hand back. [Color=04cf3a]"You're the best."[/color] He let go of Haven's hand, starting to head off to grab some breakfast items. Over his shoulder, without a thought in his head, he said softly, [color=04cf3a]"I'll meet you at the Trials. I love you."[/color] He went ahead and grabbed a few breakfast items and filled up on some coffee, before breaking off to go check in on Katja.

Haven had been smiling as Rory turned away from her, just happy to be having moments like this with him. Then as those three words slipped from his mouth, Haven's heart was fluttering in her chest. Her mouth parted in shock as her wings went slack behind her. She blinked, her eyes refocusing on Rory as he grabbed some food. [i]Did he just...?[/i] She cleared her throat, a sudden flush coming to her face. [i]It doesn't happen that fast, does it?[/i]

Haven chuckled to herself as she headed for the breakfast table, a goofy smile on her face. [i]He didn't wait for me to say it back... but did I need to? Do I...?[/i] She looked over the spread of breakfast items, that same nauseous yet starving feeling taking hold of her the more she thought about it. She grabbed a waffle and stuffed it into her mouth, then piled a few on her plate with some fruit and syrup. It seemed like the hunger would win this time.

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Haven tugged on the sides of her suit to adjust the fit of it against her wings. They flexed out beside her, testing her range of motion within the fabric like she had done since the first day wearing an A.R. Suit. Happy with the feeling, Haven gave a bright smile to her teammates nearby as she took a spot behind Rory in the line to enter the simulation.

[color=tan]"Let's show the other teams what we're made of."[/color] She quipped. Her fingers tapped the neural uplink on each side of her temples as she also tested their position. She reached out in front of her to give Rory a light tap on his lower cheek.

[i]Gotta love these uniforms.[/i]

Haven felt the same mix of excitement and nervousness as she stepped towards the entrance. She could already feel adrenaline pumping through her veins, preparing her for what was to come. She had no doubt that Harper, Calli, and Mei had outdone themselves. The only worry she had would be the simulated pain that would come her way if things were violent. Then again, there wouldn't be any pain if she was fast enough.

Rory swiped his card, and then she swiped her own. She blinked a few times as her eyes adjusted to the A.R. visual. Her head turned, scanning their surroundings in an attempt to gauge what could come their way. The door shut behind them, and Haven flexed her hands beside her.

The flickering visuals didn't raise any alarms. But when the lines of red numbers and letters assaulted her eyes, Haven knew something had gone wrong. She was soon plunged into a darkness even her own eyes could not see into. [color=tan]"Harp-"[/color] She cut herself short as a bright white overtook everything. Her eyes shut tightly, and they didn't open until she heard a name being whispered to them. One name in particular, the name that had been given to one of Blackjack's very own.

When Haven opened her eyes, her heart plummeted off a cliff. She recognized the layout instantly, although yesterday she hadn't pictured it this... clean. The fog grazed her shoes, the hissing echoing off of the white walls and floors. She could hear the static in the room nearby, her eyes drawn to the inside of it to see the damaged screen. She turned her head to the right only to find an unsettling scene that made her wings tuck in tightly to her back. [i]This can't be how it actually looks, can it?[/i]

Haven could feel anxiety pooling in her chest. Lorcán had tried the door and nearly puked. They were surrounded by a HZE blocking field, and there was no sky above them. She probably couldn't fly in here, or she'd risk getting zapped herself. She was a bird in a cage...

A hand brushed against hers. [i]Rory.[/i] His familiar touch grounded her. She gratefully took his hand, holding onto it for dear life. Her head turned away from the rooms to look Calli and Harper's way, her eyes intense as she ran over possibilities. She heard Tad return Harper's card to her as Haven entered the simulation. When could Harper have lost it? She never lost important things easily.

Haven's attention was drawn from Harper as she heard Amma speak. Her eyes locked onto the Foundation-transfer and it was obvious that Amma hadn't been a part of this. That rage that laid beneath the silver eyes and pale skin was one that Haven had felt before. She found herself empathizing with Amma for the first time. Amma was just as trapped as they were.

Her words echoed in Haven's mind as she watched Amma's whorls of scarlet dissipate into the fog in front of them. [i]They want to see how we last in their domain, huh?[/i] Haven felt her thundering heart begin to settle as her determination regained control of her mind.

[color=tan]"Someone's messing with us, and it isn't Amma."[/color] She glanced over Harper's way. Harper had probably figured it out by now. She was always a step ahead of them all. Her head turned to look into Rory's eyes. Her gaze was tense, holding the gravity of the situation in her gold and green eyes. [color=tan]"As much as I wish this was a haunted house, we could be in real danger here, Rory."[/color]

Her hand still held his tightly. She felt like if she let go she would get swallowed up by this place. Her eyes searched his for the eventual understanding, and then she looked around at the group. With Amma gone, they were at an uneven number. Lorcán had taken Aurora's hand, Rory hers, Calli with Banjo, and she assumed that Harper would take Katja's. Maybe Gil's instead?

She held out her free hand Katja's way as a thought popped into her head. [color=tan]"I can probably handle your strength better than the others."[/color] She said with a small smile. [color=tan]"Sound good?"[/color]

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