[hr] [center][img]https://i.imgur.com/jtw2VGJ.jpeg[/img][/center] [COLOR=tan][indent][sub][B]Location:[/B] [COLOR=SILVER][I]Strigidae Dormitory[/I] - [I]PRCU[/I][/COLOR][/sub][sup][right][b] Dance Monkey: #4.018 [/B][COLOR=SILVER][I]Passerine the Time[/I][/COLOR][/right][/sup][/indent][sub][hr][/sub][INDENT][sub][B]Interaction(s):[/B] [COLOR=SILVER][I]N/A[/I][/COLOR][/sub][SUP][RIGHT][b]Previously:[/b] [COLOR=SILVER][I]When the Day Met the Night Owl[/I][/COLOR][/right][/SUP][/INDENT][/COLOR] [indent]Haven was grateful for an empty dorm as she stood in front of the shared bathroom mirror. Not only because she hadn’t had to see her roommates' concerned and frightened faces when she appeared in the dorm for the first time in two days, but also because she had the place to herself as she prepared for the senior dance later that evening. By the looks of it, she had a bit of work to do if she wanted to not only look her best, but also feel as best as she could after such a long week. The effects of her stress were beginning to show in subtle ways. There were the traces of dark circles under her eyes, the kind that would most likely darken until she resembled a raccoon if she couldn’t overcome the nightmares that plagued her. There was the way her face already seemed to have lost some of the roundness to her cheeks. No doubt because she hadn’t been able to hold the contents of her stomach throughout the night. The effects of the trial still showed in the gaps between her plumage where pin feathers were just beginning to push their way out to replace what had been lost. It was an effort to shift her wings. A wince reflecting in the mirror as she lifted her right wing to inspect the aglet-like obtrusion where her primary had been- [i][s]pulled by Anabel[/s][/i] -zapped by the hard light of the sabotaged game. She gently nudged it with a forefinger, finding it still a bit uncomfortable to the touch. As much as she yearned to release the downy feather hidden within, to see that gap replaced once more, she knew that it was too soon. It could be another few days, or another week, until they were ready to go. In the girls home picking at the pins had been similar to the other girl’s picking at their zits and pimples. It had been a hard habit to break on her own. Which had only made her more grateful to have Anabel by her side to keep her from stressing the baby feathers. Her wing slumped behind her once more. She hadn’t had a chance to get to the school computers after she posted that message in a bottle. So much more pain had been inflicted since that it had been forgotten. Haven turned the faucet to the sink abruptly and snatched her toothbrush from the bag nearby. She set to work on her teeth, brushing the insecurities and worries away with each stroke as she refocused on the task at hand. It had been too long since Haven had taken an everything shower. A funny term she’d picked up between the women on campus, that meant she’d not only be in the bathroom for an hour, but she’d take care of [i]everything[/i] that might be included in one. Her basic products were already lined up and waiting to be used. Her razor sat halfway off of the shower’s shelf, prepared to remove any hair she wanted gone for the night. Shaving hadn’t even crossed her mind until her freshman year. She even had a bottle of baby shampoo ready to clean her feathers, in case she wanted to take that extra step. There were a few spots on her wings she’d gotten twice already the day before. The reminder made her pause in her routine. She slowly lowered her toothbrush from her mouth. A wave of nausea threatened to erase the toothpaste's job as she thought of how those feathers had gotten dirty to begin with. Tanned fingers went white knuckled as they gripped the edge of the sink. Her back tensed as she prepared to bolt to the nearby toilet. She stared at herself in the mirror in frustration as she took slow breaths in through her nose and out through her mouth, and just as she worried that the feeling might break her control, the nausea subsided. She gave herself a moment longer to breathe and recover, and then spat into the sink. Forty minutes later, Haven emerged from the steamy bathroom feeling like a fresh flower in spring. The warm water and self-care had been almost therapeutic. The distraction of washing and shaving centered her. As she sat down on her bed to lather her smooth legs in lotion, her wings carefully laid out behind her to dry any remaining water droplets, she found herself looking forward to the night's event. Not only was it a chance to let loose, to attempt to forget about her troubles, drink a little, dance [i]a lot[/i] if she had it her way, and spend some time with the girls… but it was also her first date with her [i]boyfriend[/i]. Rory’s new title had her heart fluttering within her chest, and she quickly squashed the urge to find him before she went to Aurora’s to get ready. Instead she shot him a quick text, something flirty that would make seeing him later all the more exciting, and vice versa. They’d already sent each other multiple texts since she left him earlier that day. Their anxiety of parting from each other had been evident in the lingering touches and kisses they shared as they both dressed for the day. Both of them were reluctant to let the other go until the last moment, almost making her late to meet at the docks. Her texts had updated him that she was safe and sound with the girls throughout the trip, with one little sneak peak about the color dress she’d chosen. There had also been a text sent for the hoodie he let her borrow to hide her wings. [quote=Dove][i]“successful entry, thanks for the girlfriend tax”[/i][/quote] The subtle smell of him from the oversized sweatshirt had made it easier to be out of the comfort of his dorm for so long. She had to admit that being surrounded by her friends had also eased her mind enough to make it onto the ferry. Plus, with Amma sitting beside her, she knew that there was one person going to the mainland that truly understood why she seemed on edge. The relief of seeing all of the girls gathered together again had made it easy for Haven to accept any hug sent her way. There had been one from Aurora when she first joined them, where she thought she’d seen tears welling up in sapphire eyes for a moment as the redhead’s texted apology had been denied, because there was nothing to apologize for anyways. Haven hadn’t mentioned her encounter with Lorcán for obvious reasons. It may have been eating at her as she sat beside Amma on the ferry to ask if the raven-haired woman had been to his dorm overnight, though she didn’t dare ask it with Aurora sitting nearby. With Harper, Haven had whispered a thank you in her ear as they embraced. A thanks for not only helping the team find her in that dark place, but for keeping Rory sane throughout it. Which she was sure had been difficult to do when Harper herself might have been just as worried. There had been more to say to her about it of course, judging by the look they shared as she’d pulled away, but Haven figured it wasn’t the right moment to discuss it with the other groups of students waiting for the ferry nearby. In a nice moment alone with the blonde in one of the shops, Haven had even checked in with Calliope. She wondered if the long-term couple had gotten a chance to talk, like Calli had mentioned in their walk to the quad. It was nice to hear that she and Banjo had been able to communicate, and also to know that such a long-term relationship could overcome their issues so easily. She refrained from asking for any first-time relationship advice, only because she wanted to enjoy their shopping trip without talking too much about the boys. To have those moments with the girls, Haven thought the trip had been refreshing despite her uneasiness. The worst of it had been when they were walking between the shops, milling about between both students and the inhabitants of the mainland. There was that ever present feeling that something or someone was looming just behind her. Yet every glance over her shoulder or through her brown lashes proved that nothing was there. That the ghost that made the hairs on the back of her neck stand tall only haunted her in her mind. The feeling gave her goosebumps even now as she finished moisturizing her arms. The many voices and footsteps within the dorm weren’t making it easy to be at peace. She stood from the bed and paced across the floor, shaking her hands out beside her as she tried to hold onto the excitement that made her so eager to get out of the dorm again. Her eyes moved to the bottle of booze that had been tossed onto the bed. It was tempting to start the celebration early, if only to let its liquid courage make her troubles melt away before they continued to ruin her good mood. She stopped by her bed, lifting the bottle from her sheets as she seriously considered taking a swig. She’d managed a decent lunch on the mainland, so it wouldn’t do any harm to take one little shot to go, right? Haven placed the bottle back on the bed and turned away from it. She could wait until Aurora’s. Drinking alone wasn’t much fun anyways. Plus, she didn’t want to be plastered by the time she met up with Rory. Especially since her boyfriend didn’t drink himself. Her towel dropped to the floor as she stopped in front of her closet, one foot gently nudging it towards her half-empty hamper nearby as she pulled out a comfortable brown tank top and sweat shorts to wear until she would change into her dress later. She tugged on a comfortable cardigan over the tank top for layering as she thought about what she’d need to bring to the Myotis dorm. The dress, the shoes… some makeup, maybe a hair tie or two. She had no idea what she was going to do with her hair, but she was sure one of the other girls could help her with that. Haven moved over to her bag and packed it up, shoving the booze into the mix before she put her heels in last. She slid on a pair of slides as her eyes moved over the room. One final pass to make sure she hadn’t forgotten anything until her eyes landed on the green number hanging over her mirror. The sight of it brought a small smile to her face. She couldn’t wait for Rory to see her in it, and she had to admit she was even more excited for him to take it off later. Shouldering her get-ready bag, Haven unhooked the hanger of her dress from the mirror and carefully carried it to the door. She slipped into the common room, and then further into the hallways of the Strigidae dorm. Her steps carried her down the stairs, and then towards the familiar door to Harper’s dorm room. For the second time in a week, Haven found herself knocking on the wooden door, except this time it wasn’t nervous hesitation that made her pause but the sound of an unfamiliar voice behind it. She bit her lip as she tried her best not to eavesdrop, her eyes glancing down to the dress that hung over her arm as she checked to make sure it wasn’t dragging the ground. It was hard not to wonder who could be in Harper’s room, yet as she heard steps approaching the door Haven figured there was no point in wondering now. She was about to find out, either way. 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