[IC] Ju-V

[Skai]

H A V E N B A R N E S

---

It was strange to think that anyone would willingly run into danger, Haven thought as she listened to the puffy eyed boy. As he listed countless other dangers he had faced, weapons Haven wouldn't dream of putting herself up against, she began to realize just how strange Wes was.

Her head tilted imperceptibly to the side as she studied him closer. He stood to remove his hoodie, and upon removing it Haven noticed hidden strength beneath the baggy clothing. His arms were unassumingly small, but she could see lean muscle beneath the skin as he stretched them. His shirt was a size too small, with a shade that wasn't as brightly white as anyone with normal sight would see. It didn't do much to hide the toned body underneath it.

"I see." Haven murmured, her eyes returning to his as he sat again.

A chess game was about to begin between the blonde girl and the boy with the white streak. The other blonde was talking at Bulk, and Haven worried that the quiet brute talked with his fists instead of his mouth. She couldn't hear the conversation between the redhead and Billy thanks to the videogame the long haired boy dove right into. She could remove the earplugs to try and catch it, but the room was already buzzing too much. She'd have to rely on their body language to listen in. Which, at the moment, didn't look friendly from either party. Finger, on the other hand, stood sheepishly by. He wasn't thrilled to be a part of their heist.

"Did those fights get you put in here?" Haven continued with Wes, although she regretted the question as soon as it left her lips. It was none of her business why he was in here. Although she had to admit she was curious. What ability did the metahuman gene activate within him?

Confusion flashed across Wes's features, and Haven felt a moment of worry until he responded with...

"No one put me in here. I asked to join the program. And I wouldn't call them fights, really. I was just helping people. You know," he started an extremely casual tone, "stopping muggings, preventing shootings, busting up some gang drug deals. Nothing extreme."

Haven reflected his confusion, her brows twitching towards each other. He asked to come here? She thought of the freedom she once had, and then of the description that the Aegis Agents had given her of this place. Why would anyone come here voluntarily?

"I figured this place could prepare me to start helping more people. Stop even worse threats." The auburn haired boy turned to take in the entire recreation room as he said this.

Haven watched Wes's head come to a stop with Billy in his sights on the last word. It was all starting to click for her, now. The weapons he had faced, muggings, shootings, drug deals- he used his powers for good before coming here. When he signed up, he was hoping for the title of a hero when he left.

Haven couldn't grasp it. She'd never considered using her wings so freely. It was just too much of a risk to show them off. Knowing this about Wes... how he had been able to use his powers to help others and keep his own life separate... Haven felt jealous.

She couldn't let it get to her. It wasn't his fault that she had to hide her nature. The way he explained it, Haven wondered if he thought that she also volunteered to be here. She also began to wonder how many others were here with the same goal in mind, or if he was in for a rude awakening.

"That's..." she couldn't think of the word, "noble of you." She finished, although that still didn't feel right. She was certainly confused by his motives. "How long have you been doing that for? Before you decided to come here, I mean."

"I—" Wes faltered. His eyes met hers, and Haven could tell that he was mulling over the question. "Uh, I don't know exactly. Over two years. Maybe closer to three. Time's been a blur for me for awhile."

The boy's eyes never left hers as he continued. "It's just... I do what I can. I don't think that's anything... special."

Haven nodded once, even if she didn't agree with him. The contrast between herself and Wes was growing much more apparent. Special didn't even cover half of what he'd been doing. Over two years of using his ability for others? During the last two years, Haven lived thinking only of her own survival.

"I think it is." She said, before shifting her weight on the stool to rest her elbows on the table. "I've only met a few people willing to stand up for others like that, and... I've only stood up for one other person in my life." She pressed her lips together for a moment and glanced about the room. Just to make sure no one's attention was turned towards them. "I didn't volunteer to be here. I was on my own for a long time. The years blurred for me, too."

Wes leaned forward as well, and Haven immediately began to look for any sign that he had changed his mind about her.

The way I see it, it doesn't matter how many people you stand up for or how many times you make that stand. What matters is that you were willing to stand for something and someone. So, I hope you realize that that makes you special, too."

He paused. It gave Haven enough time to guess that his mind hadn't changed. "I don't know why you've been on your own, Haven, and maybe you didn't come here willingly, but... I know from experience that it's better to have someone watching your back."

After being on her own for so long, Haven had grown a strong backbone. She was confident that she could stand up for herself. If things went south, she always had a way out. She literally had a fight or flight reaction. Unfortunately that wasn't going to be an option here. She wasn't sure what trouble a bunch of kids with abilities could cause in a place like this. Maybe it would be a good change if she had someone like Isabel, again.

She'd met Wes only an hour or so ago. It hadn't been under friendly circumstances, either. Despite the initial impression he presented, he was the exact opposite of what she had assumed so quickly. So, she decided that the little trust she now had in him was enough to say, "I'm going to guess that it's been a while since someone watched your back, too." She then added a bit humorously. "Since you've already been at it, why not agree to do that for each other?"

"If another person goes for the wings, you'll let me know. As I will with you."

"I'd like that." He offered her a hand. Haven looked at it, still so unfamiliar with shaking hands with anyone, and gave it a gentle squeeze before pulling her arm back to her. "I'm starting to figure out that this place might not be all that friendly." As he said this, Wes turned toward Billy and the red-haired girl again. He then, speaking mostly to himself, added, "And, truth be told... I'm not very good at turning a blind eye."

Haven decided not to look directly at the three on the other side of the room. Wes was drawing too much attention to himself by staring at them. Billy seemed preoccupied, but she had no doubt that he was still cataloging every interaction that took place in this room. She instead chose to look behind him, where she could see one of the other newbies addressing the free spirit. His approach was rather blunt, but Haven could admire how easily he had done it. Seobin. She made sure to remember his name. Whatever Libby had to say in return would be useful information. Haven was glad to be sitting so close to her, now.

"An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind," Haven quoted the director in an attempt to make the situation a little lighter. "That boy will come for all of ours at some point, even if he offers up his own eye in exchange." She murmured softly to Wes, before she turned her head to look out of the window. Even with the planes crowding the sky above the city, the openness of it made her forget about the crowded rec room for a moment.

There was a long pause before Wes finally responded. "He can come for me all he wants, I won't mind." Haven pressed her lips together in response.

From the corner of her vision, Haven could see that Wes's gaze shifted from the redhead and landed on the girl in green whose coughing had lessened. Then it drifted along to look at each of the others before finally settling back on herself. The auburn-haired boy opened his mouth, his lips beginning to form another word, before he stopped himself. Haven wondered what he was about to say. He slowly rose from the table, a hint of a smile playing at his lips.

Don't worry, as long as we're in here, I've got your back."

Haven glanced his way. He gave a small wave before walking off towards the way they came in, his hoodie balled in his hand. She was aware how little she could smell compared to normal humans, but she still picked up a small trace of the pepper spray lingering where he sat. Even if he was planning to do something about his hoodie, she noticed how his attention remained on the deal between Billy and the girl.

Haven, however, decided to turn her gaze back to the skies. At this point, she yearned for a good nap and a chance to stretch her wings. Until she could do that she would remain in her spot, listening to the others chat, bicker, and play their games. If she was lucky, she'd hear about Libby's escape from the island... and maybe figure out a way to disappear from Aegis's radar for good.

[Hound55]

She followed along with the group inside. She took special care in noting weaknesses in the facility; guards not being alert, walls that looked like they could be plowed through, makeshift weapons if it came to that. Soon they were in the rec room and were introduced to the others within the facility. Their makeshift tour guide droned on, but Brooklyn couldn't be bothered to care all that much. Instead, she glanced at the others, sizing them up. As her head turned, she felt a shadow over her. She turned back to see a mountain of a man standing there, staring at her. He was cute in a "golden retriever" type of way, though she got the sense there was nothing behind those eyes. And her thoughts were confirmed when he just. continued. to. stare!

"Keep starin' at me and I'll rip your arms off and play jump rope with 'em." The nerve of this dude! "Anyone going to claim their lost lamb here?" Perhaps he was lost from a tour group and got separated from his mommy. Either way, she had little time to be hand-holding anyone here. "What happened to hello? How are you? My name is? What just cuz you're locked up you get to be rude? I'm not the broad to try that with."

@PatientBean

---

Libby, her name was Libby and she'd escaped several times from other facilities until she landed on Alcatraz. To be frank it would be near impossible for any to escape this place without an ability that allowed flight or water breathing. An isolated island definitely allowed for more complex plans of escape, but no matter how you went about it, the results would be the same. One could attempt to swim, but it wouldn't take long for them to be captured and brought back. Escaping from an island would require something more exciting. While he glanced over at Libby, he listened to the girl talk about Billy and it all began to make sense as to why he'd been staring at a few of them the moment they'd stepped foot into the room. What he wouldn't give to pluck the inner chambers of his mind to see what made him tick. When the small one finished talking, Seo levitated over to Libby and gazed out of the window next to her.

"Do you feel like a pet trapped in its cage? Or do you feel like there is purpose here after all?" Seo said, wondering just what this girl could do. "Forgive my lack of manners, my name is Seobin. I hear you like to escape and I was curious as to why."

@Wei Wuxian

---

The fast talking New Yorker hit him with a staccato of questions, each more confronting than the previous. But it took him a while before he felt comfortable giving a response that he was pretty sure would make sense.

It was so very easy for him to say things that didn't make any sense. Billy had often pointed this out to him.

"I was just waiting for the opportunity to say 'Hello'." He said, speaking softly. "Sometimes, I've-- I get told sometimes that when I speak from behind people, before they notice me. It makes them uncomfortable. Or scares them. At least you-- don't seem to scare so easily."

He stood there trying to think of something else to say. Oh! A thought came over him. What brought him over in the first place!

"I like your jacket. It's cool." He said, referring to her black leather jacket. "It...--" He struggled looking for the word. It made everything else about her -her ruby red lipstick, the blonde hair - stand out in contrast, even brighter. "It pops."

His brow furrowed, as if trying to think about how well the word fit.

"Uhh... I guess, 'How are you?' My name is Brian, if that interests you at all. Just-- just wanted to say about your jacket. It's cool. I didn't wanna seem rude."

---

Libby didn't turn, she just kept looking out over the Bay. A wide brimmed hat kept the sun's glare from the window out of her eyes. The black croptop she wore showed off a large tattoo of a compass between her shoulder blades.

"The minutes. The hours. Being free, it's just-- it's a feeling all of its own."

She spoke absently, almost as if she was a hundred miles away and merely reminiscing for her own benefit.

"The last time I was out, I snuck into Oracle Park. Sneaking in is just an escape into a box. Sat on those right field bleachers over the archways in front of McCovey Cove. Watched Joc Pederson splash hit one over my head against the Phillies. They had me on TV. I knew I wouldn't get far after that. When Aegis picked me up, they did it as I sat in the Old-Fashioned Glove over on left field waiting for them..."

She turned and faced Seobin and offered a smile, as if the explanation wouldn't be enough of its own.

"It's not-- It's not anything like that. Or anything bad about here in the first place per se... It's just something in me. It's something I have to do."

[PatientBean]

^{INTERACTIONS: Bulk
MENTIONS: Bulk
LOCATION: Recreation Room}

---

Brooklyn finally had her answer as Bulk responded to her only to make her feel like a jerk. In her defense, she liked dogs but didn't want to own one and dude here had major Golden Retriever vibes. "You're right, I don't scare easily. In fact, had you come up behind me I woulda popped you one. You seem tough, but I guarantee I am tougher. Bigger dudes than you have tried to mess with me and now they drink their steak through a straw like it's a Yoohoo."

To signify this, she cracked her knuckles. "Thanks. Special ordered and customized to my likes." Brooklyn realized the conversation was growing stagnant. She rolled her eyes. She supposed she should get to know the guy after he made his way over like a kicked puppy. "Name's Brooklyn. So Brian, what's there to do around here, seeing as it looks like I'll be spending more time over here than I thought? Don't get me wrong, soon as I am able to I am breaking out of this joint. But I figure I may as well have some fun before I bring it all down to rubble."

Brooklyn took another glance at the room, seeing if there were cameras or guards or just anyone she felt would get in her way if she tried. She was with others like her so she would have to reconcile with that fact. She hadn't met someone she couldn't take down, though that didn't mean they didn't exist.

[Qia]

---

~

In that corner of the Recreation Room, Sophia's mind dipped into the memories of her high school years—a phase of life that appeared less tangled now than it did back then.

The hallways of those days were vibrant with the vitality of youth, a mix of laughter, conversations, and the echoing thuds of lockers being shut. In that bustling environment, Sophia could be seen ambling with a contemplative aura, her emerald eyes distant, fixed on an unseen point that had set her apart as a tad eccentric. Her classmates were particularly intrigued by her gaze, which was often directed out of the window where her desk rested, and there was a murmur about her oddness. Her silent laughter, too, caught on the wind's whisper from time to time.

But what the heck was the joke?

On a particularly sun-soaked afternoon, a defining moment unfolded in Sophia's life, etching the nickname "Sunny" into her identity. Standing by a window, bathed in the warm embrace of sunlight, she found herself captivated by a delicate bird that flitted just beyond the glass pane. The simple beauty of the scene drew a gentle smile to her lips, a fleeting expression that revealed a rare glimpse into her inner world—a world often shielded from the prying eyes of her peers.

Amidst the flow of students, there existed a mischievous figure notorious for her love of pranks and antics. Her words reached Sophia's ears in fragments—snippets like "Sunny," "out there again," and "loner." These fragments ignited a blend of feelings within Sophia—embarrassment entwined with curiosity. Could it be that they were discussing her? Uncertainty mingled with the stares she felt upon her back, leaving her in a state of puzzled contemplation. The jumbled snippets of conversation cast a spotlight on her as if a secret were shared about her that she wasn't privy to.

Luckily, or perhaps unluckily, she did not have to wait long to find out the secret.

Amidst the halls and classrooms, the transformation was immediately palpable. Sophia's presence was no longer accompanied solely by her birth name; instead, the corridors whispered with the weight of "Sunny." While a handful of her peers embraced the nickname with genuine affection, the majority wielded it as a tool of amusement. Sly smirks exchanged between students, shared glances laden with hidden meanings—it all served to solidify the rift that had formed between Sophia and her classmates.

With each utterance of "Sunny," Sophia felt an echo of her true self slipping away, replaced by the caricature that had been painted by her peers' perceptions. The name became a point of curiosity, turning her into an enigma among them. The girl who found solace in the sun's tender caress had inadvertently become the outlier, the one who seemed to revel more in nature's embrace than in the company of her fellow students.

And as time went on, the divide between Sophia and her classmates continued to widen. "Sunny" had become more than a nickname; it was a symbol of the divergence between her introspective world and the bustling currents of teenage social circles. Sophia found herself navigating the hallways not only as an individual but also as a concept in itself—a girl who was both seen and obscured by the sunlight that had birthed her moniker.

~

Sitting in the corner, Sophia's thoughts echoed with the reminder that she couldn't remain hidden forever. The idea of appearing "normal" eluded her like an unsolved riddle. The uncertainty of where to begin or what to even aim for was a constant companion. A soft exhale left her lips as she lifted her head, her gaze drifting across the room. Faces blurred into a tapestry of unfamiliarity, but within the crowd, a few figures stood out—seemingly more approachable than the rest. The idea of stepping into their world ignited a flutter of nervousness in her chest, but determination welled up within her as well. Gritting her teeth, Sophia mustered the courage to rise from her corner, her heart's rhythm a rapid drumbeat in her ears.

It was time to take the first tentative step toward bridging the gap between herself and these complete strangers.

Summoning her courage, Sophia's voice cut through the air as she approached a girl who sat at a nearby table, carrying a tinge of anxiety. "Hey," she began, her words a tentative bridge between their two worlds. As her emerald-green eyes met Haven's gaze, a sense of curiosity mingled with her unease. There was something about her, an aura of tranquillity that Sophia found both intriguing and inviting.

With a soft exhale, she continued, her voice carrying a trace of vulnerability. "I'm Sophia. Mind if I join you?"

Interacts with: @Skai

[Skai]

H A V E N B A R N E S

---

Gazing out at the skies, Haven would have slipped into a melancholic state if it weren't for the conversations in the room distracting her. The big guy took a little too long to respond. His voice was surprisingly gentle. She wasn't sure what she expected, but she guessed it would have went along the lines of brutish and dull. Hell, he even complimented the blonde and asked how she was. Chivalry hasn't died, yet.

The free spirit a table down began to speak just as the blonde fired back. Haven managed to hear both conversations, with very mixed feelings about them both. She could relate to Libby's words; being free really was a feeling of it's own. She was surprised to hear that Libby didn't bolt from the stadium as soon as she'd been busted. Haven wouldn't have put herself in such a crowded space in the first place, but she would have bolted the moment that screen showed her face. The fact that Libby decided to wait for the agents to come get her made Haven question the girl's motives. Was it the feeling of freedom she craved, or was it the feeling of escape instead?

Meanwhile the blonde was talking herself up. Brooklyn wasn't dull, but she was much more brutish than Brian. Haven couldn't decide if the Yoohoo steak comment was an exaggeration or reality. Maybe the girl had super strength, or maybe it was an empty threat. Haven couldn't blame her for acting tough. Especially if she was up against a big guy and in a room with a criminal minds character, along with all the other strangers. Then again, if she brought the walls down on everyone here it would give Haven a perfect chance to break out herself.

Haven heard the last minute addition to the room approaching her before she spotted short blonde hair in her peripherals. Her eyes moved from the window to fully face the girl. Her eyes were kind, and the kind of green that reminded Haven of the forest on a sunny day.

"Hey." Haven detected the smallest tremor in the girl's voice. There was no doubt that the girl was as wound up with anxiety as Haven had felt boarding the plane this morning. "I'm Sophia. Mind if I join you?"

As unsure as she was to add a second name to her growing "list of acquaintances", Haven wasn't going to turn her away. She even felt compelled to give Sophia a small smile, if it helped the girl's nerves. "Sure. I don't mind." She pushed her backpack to the side of the table, so that it wouldn't take up any table space the girl might want to use.

"I'm Haven. I came in with all of the others today." She said as she looked back into those evergreen eyes. Something about Sophia made it easy to talk. Besides the normal feelings of paranoia and social anxiety, Haven felt like she'd found another person that she wouldn't have to watch her own back around.

"So... did you volunteer to come here, or were you picked up?"

She hadn't made this many friends in years.

[Qia]

---

Sophia's anxiousness was met with a glimmer of relief as she approached Haven's table. The girl's small smile acted as a soothing balm to her nerves, and the sight of someone seemingly approachable made the endeavour of striking up a conversation less daunting. As Haven pushed her backpack aside to free up space, her gratitude was reflected in her eyes. "Thanks," the shy girl replied softly, mustering a faint but genuine smile of her own. She felt a twinge of surprise at how Haven seemed open to engaging with her, despite the unfamiliarity of the situation.

Sophia's fingers instinctively smoothed down the fabric of her floral dress as she settled into the seat across from Haven. Listening intently, she nodded as Haven introduced herself. The name carried a certain sense of strength, fitting for someone with the wings that Sophia had glimpsed.

"Nice to meet you, Haven," Sophia responded, her voice tinged with a mix of gratitude and curiosity. As Haven's question lingered in the air, Sophia took a moment to consider her answer. The truth was tinged with a touch of vulnerability, but something about the atmosphere Haven created encouraged honesty.

"I... didn't exactly volunteer," Sophia admitted, her gaze momentarily drifting downward before returning to Haven's hazel eyes. "It's a bit complicated, I guess. I was kind of brought here." She offered a small, self-deprecating chuckle, hoping to alleviate any tension that might arise from the seriousness of her response.

Sophia's heart rate had gradually eased since entering the room, and as she looked at Haven, she felt a rare warmth of connection. The idea of making a friend, especially one like Haven, was an unexpected ray of light in her world of uncertainties.

Haven's expression didn't change as she listened to Sophia speak. The only indication that she was processing Sophia's words was her lips pressing together for a brief moment before she nodded once. "I was voluntold as well." Haven murmured with a wry smile.

Sophia's fingers fidgeted slightly with the edge of her dress as she spoke, her emerald-green eyes reflecting a mixture of apprehension and a touch of vulnerability. The need to clarify her parents' love was evident in her voice as she continued, "I mean, they really do care about me. My parents. It's just... they believed that maybe here, I'd have a chance to be around others who understand, who share something similar." Her words danced on the edge of the defence, her tone not only directed outward but also inward as if she were reassuring herself just as much as explaining to Haven.

Emotions shifted in Haven's eyes as she seemed to struggle to find words. In a matter of seconds, she dealt with an inward battle and her eyes settled into a soft stare. "I'm sure they mean the best for you." She shrugged lightly. "It doesn't seem awful here, so far."

"Yeah," Sophia replied gently, her voice conveying gratitude. "I think they do mean well. It's just... sometimes, it feels like they want me to be something I'm not. Like they expect me to fit into a mould I was never meant for." She sighed softly, her fingers absently tracing the delicate pendant hanging from her neck.

"But you're right," she continued, her tone brightening a bit. "It doesn't seem too bad here. And I guess we have each other now. That's something." Her gaze shifted around the room, and she realized they were slowly becoming a part of this peculiar community, whether they had chosen it or not.

Haven had a soft smile on her face as Sophia turned back to her. "I have to admit, I thought it was going to be difficult to find friends here." She shrugged before continuing. "I'll introduce you to Wes when he gets back. He popped out to wash up a little."

"Wes, huh?" Sophia mused, her curiosity piqued. "What's he like? And the others here, what are they all like, so far? I...got here pretty late." She leaned in a bit, eager to learn more about the people who would become a part of her life in the days to come.

"Uh... well," Haven started, her eyes flicking towards the others briefly. "I haven't met any of them but Wes." She looked a little uncomfortable as if there were things she wanted to say but chose not to. "Some of them I feel are just anxious to be here, so they haven't spoken to anyone yet... or they've already acted out and gotten in trouble." Her shoulders straightened and her voice dropped just low enough for Sophia to hear. "The younger-looking girl gave everyone that already lives here an introduction when we came in. It seems like there's only one person I think we should avoid." Haven's eyes moved behind Sophia for a moment.

Sophia noticed the subtle shift in Haven's gaze, directed toward a certain individual in the room in conversation with two others- a redhead and a little...kid? She couldn't help but feel a shiver of discomfort as she observed the man in question, even from a distance. His athletic build, the tattoos that adorned his face and neck, and the way he carried himself all hinted at a past filled with darkness and mystery. His aura was not one of approachability; rather, it was a palpable force that seemed to demand submission from those around him. Sophia had seen individuals like him before, people who thrived in an environment of confinement and control, where power dynamics played out in subtle but influential ways.

Sophia couldn't help but wonder what kind of person he was and what role he played in this peculiar gathering. It was a curiosity tinged with apprehension, a sense that this man held secrets and an unpredictable nature that made him an enigma in this already bewildering environment. She couldn't deny the allure of unravelling this man's story, but she also sensed that some things were better left undiscovered. It was a delicate balance, and Sophia found herself on the cusp of a choice – to delve deeper into this enigma or to tread cautiously and preserve whatever sense of safety and comfort she'd managed to find with her new friend.

As Sophia turned her gaze back to Haven, she leaned in a little closer, her emerald eyes reflecting a mix of curiosity and concern. She asked in a hushed tone, "Who's that guy?"

"Personally, I'm not sure. He was eyeing up every new arrival like a hawk, though." Haven's eyes flitted between Sophia's. "I think in some way you already know just by looking at him, but The Kid, that's her nickname, told us he could read anyone like a book. I'm guessing he doesn't use that information kindly."

"I don't want to find out if I'm right, either, so I'm hoping to stay out of focus for as long as possible."

Sophia couldn't shake the shiver of trepidation that ran down her spine as Haven laid out the extent of the man's abilities. Like an open book, the notion of being so easily read was chilling. It left her feeling exposed and vulnerable in this already strange and unfamiliar environment. However, in a peculiar way, she couldn't deny that there had always been a part of her that longed not to be misunderstood by others. She had often wished for the power to convey her thoughts and feelings more effectively to her old classmates, but really never could.

It was a strange paradox to long for understanding, yet fear the consequences of such a revelation.

As she absorbed this newfound knowledge, Sophia's gaze flicked back toward the enigmatic man, her expression now laden with a mixture of wariness and curiosity. He stood as a figure of uncertainty, both alluring and foreboding to her. The girl couldn't help but wonder about the stories hidden behind his piercing gaze and countless tattoos, and the experiences that had sculpted him into the person he was now. It was a tangible reminder that every individual here bore their own narrative, their own struggles, and their own secrets.

Turning back to Haven, Sophia offered a grateful yet subdued smile, appreciating the insight she had shared. "Thank you for letting me know," she murmured, her voice a blend of appreciation and introspection, " and for making this transition a little less daunting. It means more than you know." Her voice held a quiet sincerity, a genuine appreciation for the kindness she had found in this unexpected encounter.

Sophia knew she needed some time to process all that she had seen and heard, to find her place in this intricate tapestry of lives. With a gentle smile, she added, "I think I'll take a little time to explore and maybe find a quiet spot to think. But I'm sure we'll run into each other again soon. And maybe I'll get to meet Wes then. Thanks again, Haven."

With that, Sophia mustered a small, hopeful smile and turned to navigate the bustling room, her heart a mix of anticipation and trepidation for the journey that lay ahead.

[Venus]

---

---

The second they were led away from the entrance and guided around the facility, the redhead’s senses were on high alert. She’d been discreetly examining her surroundings, taking in as much detail as she could about the areas and those around her without raising suspicions or appearing paranoid. Not too long after they had entered what the staff called the rec room, the redhead had spotted the man currently beckoning her attention, sitting on a chair in the corner like a king surveying his territory from an iron throne.

Tall. Lanky. Buzzed hair. Pale skin adorned with tattoos… And the sharpest, coldest pair of ice blue eyes Noah had ever seen. At first glance, he looked like the kind of man she’d take a chance on at the pub, if only to get a fun night and a juicy story to tell her friends later on. But the more she stared out at the stranger and his actions out of the corner of her eyes, the more suspicious and intrigued she got. While his eyes did wander around and momentarily settled on each member of the new arrivals, she didn’t miss the way they always seemed to circle back to her. Something in those arctic orbs tugged at Noah’s consciousness, urging her to keep her alert high and her guard even higher. The realization dawned on her like a bucket of ice water: that lascivious glint in the man’s eyes was the same one she’d seen in Howard Sterling’s pools of shit back on the day that had started everything.

The Cypress girl was still trying to come to terms with the implications of the potential threat she’d identified when she heard someone calling out to her from across the room.

"Hey, Red! I think we might be able to help you get something you'd be interested in."

It only took a second for Noah’s expression to morph from concern and into something that resembled a bewildered resting bitch face as she turned around to face whoever was calling her. A cloud of tension seemed to settle inside the rec room at the sound of the raised voice and she could feel the eyes of everyone in the room shifting from her, to the iron king and his teenage minion, and back to her again. The general consensus of nervous, petrified looks from both the newbies and veterans alike told her everything she needed to know about this man: he was someone it was best not to mess with.

Although she knew that approaching the iron king might not be the smartest idea, what was Noah supposed to do? Ignore him? That would probably piss him off and put a bigger target on her back than the one she already seemed to have. Tell one of the guards? Fucking laughable. They didn’t look like the types who gave a shit, and chances are they’d find a way to pin anything that happened on her (just like they had back home). Get one of her peers to help her? Absolutely not. It was much too early in the game to know who she could or couldn’t trust, and she wasn’t about to risk anyone’s status or safety by getting them involved in something they hadn’t been initially included in in the first place. So what other choice did she have? As much as she didn’t want to, the best course of action was to charge into the situation head-on and hope she’d come away unscathed.

Taking a deep breath, Noah squared her shoulders and walked across the room, stopping a few steps away from the iron king and his minion. “What do you want?” she pointedly asked the man, clenching her jaw and crossing her arms in front of her chest. She kept her defiant stare locked on his, wanting to show no signs of being intimidated in any way.

"It's not about what I want yet, Red… It's about what I can give you." He smiled disarmingly. "A little birdie told me that the screws took something from you."

Bubblegum. He could smell it on her now. As well as an intoxicating vanilla scent which was unrelated. He fought a leer down at some of his further thoughts.

"Taylor, could you please fetch us a vape pen for the young lady here. Bubblegum cartridge." His head tilted to the side as if considering the number of spares, as if he were at a store. "Make it a five-pack of cartridges. My tab."

Noah bit the inside of her cheek. Yet. Not about what he wanted yet. That was all the proof she needed to know that accepting this seemingly kind offer wouldn't be without consequence. She might not have the street smarts that some of her peers seemed to possess (hello, privileged upbringing in a middle-high class Washington suburb), but she wasn't naive enough to forget that nobody ever did anything without wanting or expecting something in return-- especially in a place like this.

"A free five-pack vape on my very first day? Wow. That's generous of you," the redhead commented with a fake smile, not wanting to raise any suspicions even if a slight edge of sarcasm could be heard in her words. "I must've made a hell of a first impression on you if you're offering me all of that at no charge."

The irony was, he'd not paid her less mind then at that moment, since he first targeted her. The facility was a system. Not unlike a swimming pool, with everything constantly in motion on the eddies and currents of seemingly innocuous events.

He had moved something within the system, and was now interested in seeing who, how and what would react through entanglement. There was a plain kid in a hoodie who'd been eyeballing him since he first saw him. He made him out as someone who viewed themselves as a "hero–type". Until he could properly be threat assessed he was one to be mindful of, and work around his gaze. Once he had his pattern down it would be no more difficult than working around the cameras. The blonde powerhouse also seemed wary of his movements at the time, but then was distracted by Bulk. Not like him to make himself useful under his own initiative, but Billy would take it.

Others were watchful and wary, including "wings". She might be the way to go, if he could drop her without the kid in the hoodie noticing.

Eyeballs weren't a bad thing if shock and awe moves could be made to exploit them and prevent further action.

Nothing stops a person from deciding to be the hero like watching the previous person get stamped out like a dying flame for attempting the exact same thing.

Already he'd seen another lean boy eyeballing him, and he'd been so intimidated he'd scurried off to hide at another table to play chess with that first inscrutable blonde mystery, where he thought he wouldn't be noticed. Never to look back. Pitiful.

"Something makes me think you make a Hell of an impression in every room you're in…" He replied, smiling his Cheshire cat's grin whilst taking in all of the change surrounding him.

Noah flashed the heavily tattooed man a genuine grin of her own. He could say that again. "What can I say? People just seem to have a blast with me," she teased cheekily with a small snicker, unable to resist herself from dropping the imperceptible Easter egg about her abilities before promptly changing the subject to avoid suspicion. "So what am I supposed to call you? I don't think the Alcatraz Fairy Godmother is a suitable enough title for someone that looks as good as you do."

"Call me Billy." He said with a smile, that flashed too many teeth. He doubted she would for long. But long enough…

"Billy…" she repeated, allowing the name to roll off her tongue with the slightest edge of flirtation. The iron king’s name was Billy. While Noah's question seemed innocent enough or an attempt to make conversation, the reality was that she was also trying to gather her own intel about this guy. FBI-levels of investigating people online was one of the redhead's skills, so she was hoping to get enough information to be able to look up this Billy as soon as she had possession of a device with internet capabilities. For now, she had decided to just play along with what was happening, but staying on high alert to spring to action the moment things seemed to take a turn she didn't like.

"Well, it's a pleasure to meet you, Billy," Noah declared, extending out her hand for the man to shake while locking her eyes with his again. There was no way of truly disguising how skeptical she was of everything happening, but she could definitely make sure he knew she wasn't someone that would cower around him like the rest of the program attendees seemed to. "I have a feeling that we're going to be great friends."

He liked how his name sounded coming out of her mouth. Perhaps not as much as he'd like something else of his going into her mouth, but this was a start, not a finish. The day was long.

He took her extended hand and saw through her lies. Still. No matter. He wasn't looking for a 'long term friend' from her. Just long enough. He thought again about how his name would sound coming from that mouth again, but now with a twist of panic. His smile broadened. Just have to get her on the hook first…

"Daw– Taylor. My order. For the lady, please."

The younger boy looked within himself - a portal within himself, to be more precise - and satisfied with the other end's location pushed an arm in and came out with a vape pen and five refill cartridges. Both still in their original packaging. He gave them to Billy before turning to the girl.

"You didn't ask for any specific colour or design. This was the first I found. Enjoy." He split without any formal goodbye, eager to extricate himself from this situation.

The way the minion had basically dumped the vapes on Billy's hands and ran off as if he'd just handed out a ticking bomb wasn't missed on Noah. She'd seen the terror on poor Taylor's face, and the way he cowered any time Billy so much as looked in his direction: a clear sign that she should emulate his actions and run while she still could. The redhead knew, however, that backing away now was sure to put a stamp with the word 'coward' on her forehead. She'd been told by someone that being respected in a place like this was vital to avoid being messed with-- and if that meant putting up a front to stay in the good graces of people like Billy, then that was a sacrifice Noah would have to make.

Keeping up her facade, Noah turned her attention from where Taylor had disappeared and onto the goodies in Billy's hands. "That's a pretty pricey stack you got there, Billy. Are you sure you want to waste your money like that and give all of that to me for free?" she asked, furrowing her brow while trying to get the asking price of this deed to be revealed (even if she had a good idea of what it could be).

"Free. Well, what really is 'free' these days. I certainly wouldn't want you to view any kind of 'great friendship' as purely transactional…" He started. She knew full well where he was going. She just wanted to see if he'd balk at spelling it out for her. Not a problem he would have.

"I just thought I'd found someone who looks like they know how to have some fun. And a friend in need, is a friend indeed, so they say. Perhaps they might have some fun at the same time."

'At first, at least.' Were the words left unspoken.

And finally, there it was: the real purpose behind this whole charade.

A wide grin broke across Noah’s face before she could stop herself. Of course that’s what he wanted. The second she’d spotted the Howard look in those icy eyes, she knew exactly what it was that darling Billy was after: some sweeeeeet, sweet lovin'. He didn’t even see her as a threat, just a hot piece of ass he wanted to tap. How… disappointing.

“You want me to let you hit it in exchange for a vape pen and five cartridges?” she asked with a snort, still grinning and unable to keep the amusement out of her voice. “Is that all you think I’m worth?”

His smile turned to a smirk of its own. “Like I said, I don’t want to view this as transactional. I mean, WHO IS ‘only’ worth a vape pen and five cartridges?” ‘You. You are. That’s what’s going to make this happen.’ He thought to himself.

“But I could flip that around as well, and say do I look like I’m worth so little, that time with me should cost more than a vape pen and five cartridges? You don’t think there’d be… quite a bit of fun going around both ways?” He asked.

”Not transactional at all.” He repeated. ”But I can understand how the very suggestion of that would be offensive. I just viewed it as one ‘great friend’ recognising a point of need in another, and hoping to fill it. But this is starting to sound a lot less like your issue with it being transactional, and the point being more that you don’t feel I’ve hit your price point. THAT would be a whole different argument altogether. Like I said, I don’t view it that way. Just… a couple of hot ‘great friends’ feeling each other out, who also may have found something else they could help the other person with. That’s all.”

The more she heard Billy speak, the harder it was for Noah to not roll her eyes and keep a straight face. Did people actually fall for this? What good, genuine intentions could someone have to approach a person out of nowhere making propositions or offering gifts and claiming that all they wanted was just sex in return? Give men like Billy an inch, and they’d take a mile. Consenting to something like this wasn’t just idiotic at best, but could put her in real danger or potentially compromising positions she did not want to be a part of.

Nope. It was time to wrap this thing up.

"As tempting as the offer is to become a pair of ‘hot great friends’ to 'fill my needs' and 'feel each other out', I think I'll pass,” Noah sternly replied to Billy, finally dropping the friendly act. “But don’t worry! I’m sure there’ll be plenty of other girls willing to drink the koolaid you’re selling. I just won’t be one of them.” And with those words still hanging in the air, the redhead gave the man a two-finger salute, turned on her heel and set off in the opposite direction.

"Alright, now just hold up a sec–” He grabbed her firmly by the wrist, as she turned to walk away.

"Hey--- what the fuck?!"

In an attempt to tear herself loose, Noah dug the nails of her free hand on the arm of Billy's that held her other wrist captive, but failed to see how exposed she had left herself to Billy’s other hand in the process, which had gone lower still. She looked into his icy eyes and saw the animal within, revealing a glimpse of its true self at last before disappearing in a flash. His expression no longer matched the situation, a twisted look of confusion on his face.

The redhead looked down and saw why. His hand was frozen in mid-air with two fingers intending to find an unwelcome home in a spot below her waist, as if they’d found only an invisible wall.

The confusion on his face quickly gave way to fear. Billy didn’t know exactly what her power was, but he knew he was about to find out. He’d overplayed his position.

In a matter of seconds, Noah’s face transitioned from shock at the compromising placement of Billy's free hand, to pure, unfiltered rage at the realization of what he had attempted to do. Without warning, the young woman raised her hand, her thumb and middle finger coming together.

"You really fucked with the wrong one."

With a loud snap of her fingers, the table right behind Billy exploded into splinters. The force of its blast propelled Billy's body forward in Noah's direction before slamming him into the invisible wall from earlier, and slowly slumping him down in a crumpled heap.

The redhead stepped back from the pile of a person at her feet, her eyes wide and body trembling as the realization of what she had done began to sink in. Before this moment, she had never deliberately used her powers on someone for harm before, or in such close proximity that the blast could have actually hurt her. Even in the Howard situation, her focus had never been on directly hurting him-- his injuries had been collateral damage from the vehicle's blast. But in the heat of the moment, when faced with the reality that she came so close to being assaulted, her rage, impulsivity and desire for revenge had overcome any sort of logic, rhyme or reason.

However, there was a lingering question fixated on the young woman's mind…

Why didn’t any of it hurt her?

Guards started barking orders amidst the chaos and converged on the site of the explosion, where the seething Noah stood alone over the sprawling boy who couldn’t keep his hands to himself.

The large boy previously engaged in conversation with Brooklyn exploded from the other side of the room, plowing through tables and chairs in the process. Still fueled by adrenaline and rage, Noah spun on her heel to face him and raised her hand again, her fingers ever-ready to fearlessly defend herself. The horrid spray hit him from one side, diverting him, before tasers lit him up. The doors opened and more guards flooded the room. Four guards tackled him before an additional two jumped Noah from behind, securing both of her hands to ensure safety. Two more guards continued to order the rest of the Ju-V kids in attendance into behaving peacefully.

The two attendees under heavy physical guard control were removed from the room, as more guards entered and looked to reclaim the peace, all while they waited for medical personnel to take custody of the injured Billy.

[Zoldyck]

---

---

After the board was set, David took a pawn of each colour and shuffled them between his hands behind his back, before producing them hidden within two of his closed fists.

Sasha tapped a fist, and with a twist of his wrist revealed the white pawn lying in its palm.

He replaced the pawns and rotated the board so that the white pieces were in front of the Russian girl.

Alexandra was relieved to see that she’d be the one to open the match. It meant that if this boy was at least vaguely competent he’d be able to end this game soon and she’d be able to return to her initial plan of observing the rest of the attendants.

While the game might be over within a minute, given how she was about to open with a move that basically telegraphed that she was throwing the game, Alexandra did realize that she had to at least keep the farce up for the boy to not get suspicious.

“Name?” She asked her opponent without looking up from the board as she moved the King’s Bishop Pawn to F3.

He looked down at the board.

Barnes Opening. She’d played Barnes Opening.

It was one of only 20 opening moves. Played in disproportionately far less games than that. For obvious reasons.

Taking “random chance” out of the equation, there was only two reasons she’d play - anyone would play - Barnes Opening.

And both meant she didn’t respect him.

By the numbers white now had only a 33% chance of winning now. She’d essentially given away the advantage.

Either she respected him so little that she actually thought she could win from here; Grandmasters would sometimes do this - Devastating to lose a game against an opponent who starts out with Barnes Opening.

Or more likely… He kept one eye on King’s Knight Pawn, and the other scanning the rec room behind her.

”David. Yours?” He went through the motions and moved King’s Pawn to E5. His hand briefly went over to the right, before it returned to his side. He was used to having to hit the clock for games in organised competition.

She acknowledged his introduction with a nod before replying with a short “Sasha.” Alexandra could hear David sigh when she moved her hand to the King’s Knight Pawn. He shook his head as she picked the piece up before saying “Don’t do that…” when she put it down on G4.

David plays Queen to H4, with a hollow call of ‘Mate’.

”Really? Fool’s Mate?” He said to the inscrutable Russian who started to get to her feet opposite him.

”I’ll admit I know nothing about you, but the one thing I’m pretty damn sure of, is that I’m not sitting across from a fool.” He didn’t raise his voice to express his disappointment, and kept a very level temperament.

”In fact, that might be why I suggested this. I thought I recognised someone who similarly wants to be left the Hell alone, and to set a comfortable distance, whilst simultaneously scoping out what they’ve just got themselves in for.” He uttered, briefly taking his eyes from the events in the surrounding Recreation Room, to meet hers.

”So how about we start over?” He began resetting the board. ”And we’ll try something a little different. You can talk as much or as little as you feel comfortable. Question back and forth - but United Nations rules. Either one of us hits something the other doesn’t feel comfortable with, throw a ‘Veto’ in there, and another question comes. Sound reasonable?” Having finished resetting the board - there weren’t many pieces to move. He pulled one of each pawn again, shuffled them and presented his closed fists. Waiting for her response as she stood over him and the board.

”...and don’t feel guilty. I’d be very surprised if you’re the only one who drops a ‘Veto’.”

The Russian met David’s gaze for a brief moment, not uttering a sound as he explained his reasoning and idea for conversation to her. With it explained back to her like this, she realized how selfish and rude she had been to this young boy who apparently only wanted to help. It’s not like she had asked him to, or wanted his help to begin with. But he seemed genuine and if they had to live under the same roof for God knows how many years, it’d be a lot easier if they were on good terms.

After letting the silence hang in the air for a few more seconds the Russian girl nodded to herself and dropped back into her seat. Running her fingers through her hair, she looked off to the side before muttering softly. “I apologize, I did not mean to offend.”

She tapped his right fist, which once again revealed a white pawn. Alexandra took it from the boy’s hand and placed it back on the board, hoping that the initiative shown would help in expressing the sincerity of her earlier apology.

“Mind if I start?” Alexandra said as she reached for the King’s pawn. “Voluntary…” she began as she moved the pawn to E4 “...or forced?”

David smiled and immediately responded with the move of pawn to E5, if only for what it 'meant' and wondered if she'd pick up on the poetic reasoning.

An 'open game'.

"In my case, the two virtually blur without distinction."

David thought of an opener that she couldn't refuse. Non-threatening. Let her feel comfortable.

"As vague or specific as you feel comfortable with… where are you from?"

Alexandra thoughtfully nodded at David’s answer. In all honesty she probably would have given the exact same reply had he asked her.

Seeing David’s move, she responded by moving her Queen’s Knight to C3. Going for a flexible reply to his seemingly harmless opening.

“Rossiya.” She said with a grin as she folded her arms. “Many great chess masters come from my land. That doesn’t intimidate you, no?”

The Russian girl asked her next question as David finished his next move. She figured she’d ask a more innocent question to ease the tensions from earlier. “Your hair. Is cosmetic? Or related to powers?” Alexandra pointed at her own hair, mimicking the flow of the streak in the boy’s hair to emphasize what she meant.

Rossiya. He thought to himself. Definitely feels more comfortable with the vague then.

He drove his king's Bishop straight to B4. He appreciated the opening into the Vienna game. Perhaps it was a form of peace offering. A more patient type set-up than most, in stark contrast to the prior Fool's Mate.

Good. If nothing else it means she's paying attention.

"It's lack of pigment. So yeah. Not cosmetic. It's the real deal. And since it showed up around the same time, I'd guess it's likely related to them. Yes."

"How long have you been in the States for?"

“I see.” The Russian girl replied contemplatively. Whether that was in response to his answer or his move remained unclear.

“Less than week…” Alexandra moved her Queen to H5, a response that offered her much flexibility while potentially sacrificing a vital piece. “...more than a day.” she said with a nonchalant shrug.

“Interests?” She chuckled to herself before cracking a smile to the young boy. “Besides playing chess with strangers?”

"Quite like Risk. A good book. I grew up on football… OUR football, even if I wasn't much of a player myself…"

Pawn to G6. A defensive counter anticipating a Queen's aggression. If nothing else it would shift the point of attack.

Less than ten yards behind Sasha's shoulder there was some kind of wheeler-deal going on. Between the redhead who'd fallen asleep on the bus and the boy who'd been watching everything. He lowered his eyes and attempted to re-focus on minding his own business.

"What you're wearing… military background or family hand-me-down?"

He couldn't remember what it was called. But he remembered seeing her striped garb in numerous movies.

This was a question that made Alexandra consider using her veto on. So didn’t want to divulge too much about her past, in fact she’d prefer it if she didn’t have to share anything about her past. But she remembered her conversation with Lynch earlier and figured that her clothes would have been brought up by someone eventually. So, after biting her lip in contemplation she replied as vaguely as possible.

“Technically neither. But your guesses came close enough.”

She noticed David looking over her shoulder to something that was happening behind her. The Russian girl took a short glance to whatever seemed to have grabbed his attention and saw that it was the conversation between the redhead and whoever that Calculus kid was. While she didn’t have to wonder what he wanted from the girl, she was curious about what he had to offer her. Even if they hadn’t been warned by the young girl earlier that guy would still give Alexandra the creeps.

But that was something for later.

She shortly made eye contact with David, as if to mutually confirm their feelings on Calculus, before bringing her attention back to the conversation and the game.

“You said earlier that you’re here both voluntary and forced. Is it family? Did they talk you into joining program?”

In her mind there was only one move she could do. It would allow her to go straight for the jugular, and draw first blood to boot as well. Picking up her Queen, she moved it to E5, capturing David’s pawn while simultaneously putting his King under…

“Check.”

A wry grin crossed his face. He'd anticipated this with his previous. Castling was off the board now, with his king having been in check.

He had a choice of two different moves. He could either play it safe and block with his Knight. Or…

"I'm gonna 'Veto' that one."

He moved his queen to E7 to block.

If nothing else, he'd learn something.

So discussion about family was off limits. Alexandra gave an understanding nod. Seems like they had that in common.

“Very well, how about this?”

She moved her Queen to H8, seizing David’s Rook while evading his Queen.

“You mentioned books. What do you read? Fiction? Non-Fiction?”

There was a satisfied look on her face as she placed the captured Rook down next to the board. It seemed that, despite the earlier lack of motivation, she was finally getting into the game.

He cut her space, moving his King to F8.

"A little of everything I can get my hands on, I suppose. Don't mind mystery stuff. Some older works. I like the atmosphere that Ellroy sets in his L.A. Quartet."

He smiled. "Maybe not terribly high brow, but it's a welcome respite from the stuff I'd have to read for school."

"How about you? What do you actually look to do with your time when you're not dragged into boring chess matches against your will?"

The blonde girl nodded appreciatively at his answer, as if she made a mental note to check those books out at a later date.

“I train and I study.” she said matter of factly as she calculated her next move.

“I make sure to work on improving my skills at Sambo and build the strength it requires. They have good gym here, yes? You will probably find me there often.”

Alexandra moved her knight to D5, forcing David to choose between his Queen and his Bishop.

Her lips curled into a smirk. “As for study, it's mostly history and philosophy. I am especially interested in the great people of history. Those who achieved eternal fame and glory by risking it all and coming out on top at the end.” She fell silent for a few seconds as she cast her eyes down. “Those who gave everything for their country, for their people.”

Quickly tapping her fingers on the tabletop, the Russian looked back at David, trying to meet his eyes.

“What is your goal? In program, I mean.”

He moved his Queen to C5, to maintain a clear and present threat on the troublesome Knight, as well protecting his Bishop.

He considered another Veto, but with Sasha having not used one since his first, she had applied social pressure.

"To be done, through and clear, and back to my normal life."

"Sambo. That's kind of like judo… jiu jitsu, yeah? Grapples, holds and throws. Wrestling based." His eyes lifted from the board momentarily to take in her size and stature. She was a sizable specimen. Particularly compared with himself. "Probably won't see me in there too much. I struggle to put good weight on no matter what I do. Take care of yourself in there." He voiced concern whilst looking at the two boys who had targeted other girls. "Your powers. Have you got a decent hold over them yet?"

Chort

A look of frustration briefly flashed on Alexandra’s face as her attempts at an easy piece capture were thwarted.

"Correct! I am surprised you know of Sambo. You did not seem like martial arts person to me." She quickly looked him over as if to confirm the boy's statement about not going to the gym that often.

The blonde girl's expression notably hardened when David asked about her powers. This was a piece of information she was adamant about not sharing. Knowledge is power, and this particular bit of knowledge would be very powerful indeed.

"Veto." she said as she finally decided on her next move. Moving her pawn to A3, putting the Bishop that had been a thorn in her side within striking distance. Soon it was going to be hers, it was only inevitable.

"Power related questions are off limits." The Russian said bluntly as she locked eyes with David.

David chuckled. "I know enough to not confuse it with a dance, and it's basic origin." The curled edges of a smile daring to carry his demeanour to tepid. "I'm not about to cut a path through the MMA world, leaving bodies strewn in my wake."

He thrust his Bishop into the Pawn at D2. She wants the Bishop? Fine. It would be on his terms.

"Smart." He replied. Impressed at her decision to withhold on powers. "Fair enough."

"What are your plans for after the program?"

A soft chuckle came from the girl. She hadn’t expected him to launch his Bishop into a doomed charge, but she admired the effort. She quickly responded with her own Bishop to D2, mercilessly striking down the charging piece.

She briefly considered vetoing this question too. Alexandra wanted to keep as much of her personal life hidden from her peers as she could. But she also imagined that if she was too secretive it would lead to people viewing her with suspicion which might actually encourage them to dig further into who she is and what her history was.

Letting out a sigh, she replied in a terse manner. “Go back to home country. Reunite with friends. Have accounts to settle.”

“How about you? How does ‘return to normal life’ look like to you? Ambitions for university? Or you intend to get job?”

No sooner had her hand lifted off of her Bishop, David had driven his Queen straight into her Pawn's rank with an aggressive strike to C2.

"As unfair as it might seem, asking a question which I'd have no intention in answering myself, I'm gonna have to Veto that one."

"But in the spirit of keeping some kind of openness and transparency, I'll answer my own previous one for nothing, before you ask your next. I have a decent handle on my own powers." He leaned back from the board slightly, daring to raise his eyes a little and taking in some of the room around them.

"Don't want you worried that you're sitting across from a human bomb or anything. I'm non-volatile." His lips again daring to curl into that same half-smile from earlier.

Alexandra seemed to be taken aback by David’s aggressive move. She silently observed the board for a few seconds, as if to calculate several moves and their possible outcomes. As she contemplated her next move she met his half-smile with her own, mostly out of amusement that he vetoed a question he basically asked himself.

“I appreciate attempt at trying to put me at ease. However, I cannot give same guarantee.” Her smile widened as she finally made her move, placing her Queen down at D4. She felt comfortable in playing more conservatively to clean up her backline before pushing for the initiative again.

“Why me? There are plenty of others who look like they want to be left alone.” She cast a glance at some of the girls who picked books from the shelves. “Why me specifically?” The blonde girl said as she leaned back into her chair, her fingers tapping the table top with a slow rhythm.

"More than fine." He looked at her move with some confusion. "A gesture is just that, a gesture. Not an expectation."

He advanced a pawn to C5. Applying pressure on the Queen.

"It wasn't just wanting to be left alone. Circumspect. Looked like you'd be looking to quietly assess. And if I'm honest… you're…" He fumbled, considering the right words. "...traditionally aesthetically pleasing. Consistent with the other two they dropped on the second we walked through the door. I gather you're observant enough to know who I'm talking about."

"I might not be some white knight charging headlong into danger on his steed, but if I can do something good for somebody else without putting myself at risk. I'm not against it."

"Those friends you mentioned… A half dozen? More? Or less?"

“Traditionally aesthetically pleasing…” the Russian repeated in an amused tone as she leaned forward, supporting her slightly tilted head with her right hand, while she had a grin plastered on her face. “I’ve been called many things, but this is a first.” She did realize what David meant when he referred to the other two girls, the one with the tattoos and the one from the 50s. She wasn’t going to admit it, but Alexandra was grateful that someone seemed to care enough about their fellow peers to do something to keep them safe.

She casually moved her Queen one space, from D4 to D3, offering the piece up while putting the black Queen at risk of being struck. Mutually assured destruction with barely any escapes left.

“Just a regular group of friends. Don’t really see reason to go in detail to someone I just met.” She said nonchalantly, trying to make her answer sound as inconspicuous as possible.

“How about you? You have people waiting for you after program?"

David chuckled under his breath at her non-answer.

”If you don’t want to answer, a ‘veto’ is fine.” His hand hovered over his queen. ”Unless you’re worried about another question?” His face dared to flash a smirk, before it fell just as quickly.

His eyes raised from the board to meet hers, but got distracted by movement behind her right shoulder.

As David had reached to grab a piece, it appeared someone else was doing likewise.

He lowered his head slightly, hoping to obscure himself, but his eyes held firm. A low grunt as his thumb and forefinger separated slowly and as if there was a great resistance between them. Having achieved this, a subtle third finger joined the clawed hand as he held it over his Queen. Contorting his face, as if in consideration of his next move. He tried his best to mask his actions, and anyone not at the table would almost certainly not have noticed the subtle movements. Hiding it from Sasha, who was paying him closer scrutiny, would be another thing entirely, though.

He opened his mouth to answer in some fashion, when Hell broke loose.

The boy with the predatory grin was thrown into an invisible wall by the force of an explosion, a shower of splinters in his wake, before crumpling and sliding down in an untidy heap. A guard erupted from his position in one corner, started barking orders, telling everyone to put their hands behind their heads, walk to the nearest wall and put their foreheads against it.

The large boy, didn’t seem to hear any of this, or hadn’t yet responded to the guard’s demands. He began to run in the direction of the initial violence. Before the spray hit him, followed by tazers. The doors flew open and a half dozen more guards rushed in. Four attempted to bring down the large boy, whilst the other two continued to talk the rest of the attendees into compliance.

David swore under his own breath at his own stupidity in taking any kind of action.

Alexandra cast a quick glance over her shoulder to observe whatever chaos was unfolding behind her. An amused chuckle escaped her lips as she saw the creep from earlier collapsed on the ground. “So much for not being human bomb.” She said as she turned back to face David with raised eyebrows and an entertained half-smile on her face.

“What did you do?” The Russian girl asked as she slowly got to her feet in compliance with the shouting of orders, delaying slightly so she could hear David’s reply.

”Probably a mistake…” He muttered in reply.

David barked a hushed whisper to her whilst the guards were still addressing other concerns.

”If they ask… the administration, the guards. Don’t lie. They won’t ask you anything they don’t already know. Don’t get in trouble with them over this. But if the kids ask… you don’t know what the Hell happened.” His eyes pleaded, whilst his voice seemed sharp. Harsh.

Alexandra looked down at the boy with a furrowed brow. “What do you mean?” she replied with feigned confusion. “All I saw was you getting cramp in hand because stress of losing game.” A self satisfied grin curled on the girl’s lips. “And I don’t have eyes in back of head, so I don’t know what happened there. We were only focused on game, yes?”

With all of the mess happening around them she had to at least keep some semblance of focus on her powers so they wouldn’t accidentally trigger. But nevertheless, Alexandra extended her hand to David. A gesture to help him get to his feet, and one to signify her willingness to abide by his terms.

He'd have smiled at her reply, if his mind wasn't already spinning, considering the possible ramifications from his latest act. He took her hand, before the pair knitted their hands behind their heads and walked to the nearest wall.

[Skai]

H A V E N B A R N E S

---

The small blonde walked away from the table, and Haven didn't feel any suspicion that the girl had been pulling her wing the whole time. Which, in Haven's opinion, meant that Sophia was another person she could see becoming a friend here. The word friend felt foreign. Jumping from zero to two in one day felt a little bit like having whiplash of the soul.

Speaking of whiplash.

Haven caught sight of red hair flashing. Her eyes locked on the two in time to catch her salute, and Billy's hands reaching... A shiver ran up her spine and ruffled her feathers. Her hands clenched into fists beneath the table as her mind tried to process what his second hand had been reaching for. Fortunately for her psyche, his hand never found it's destination. Haven's fists loosened. What stopped him?

The dickhead seemed to wonder the same thing. Until his face twisted into something raw and vulnerable. Fear. Was it because this was the first time his plans had gone wrong, or because he knew what it felt like to lose the advantage? Or was it because of the look of pure feminine rage on the redhead's face?

"You really fucked with the wrong one." Haven heard over the long haired boy's videogame.

Oh SHIT.

Haven moved swiftly, shoving the stool out from underneath of her before she ducked beneath the table. She could only hope that had been enough of a warning to the others. She had no clue what ability the girl had, but she wasn't going to find out the hard way. An explosion erupted from the corner of the room as if it was an answer to her paranoia. Her immediate reaction was to shove her hands against her ears; just in time to give her eardrums extra padding before the sound hit her. She grimaced as the awful crack of wood being torn apart shot right through her hands and earplugs. The thump of a body sounded muted, but was still loud enough to draw Haven's eyes back to the scene.

Splintered wood lay scattered on the ground around Billy's slumped body. His lacerated skin already bleeding. The wounds didn't look fatal, although she guessed he'd have a nasty concussion and find it difficult to sit comfortably for a while.

The redhead stood unharmed above him, as if the explosion hadn't reached her. Haven noted her body language. The fear of what she had just done clearly displayed. The guard, who had been willfully ignorant or completely oblivious to their interaction, jumped into action by barking orders. She could hear some large body pushing it's way through the rec room to get to Billy and the girl. Bulk came into view just in time for more guards to pour into the room.

They went for Bulk first. Haven wasn't surprised that it took four guards to take him down. The guy was like an angry bull, still putting up a fight even on the ground. She looked back to the redhead, currently getting her wrists zip tied behind her back, and watched as they took her from the room.

Haven slowly stood to her feet and dared to look around the room. No one seemed harmed but Billy, fortunately. The girl's power was... she couldn't think of any word but explosive at the moment. She had a right to be, the way the unconscious prick had attacked her.

So as Haven reluctantly turned her back to the room, she figured karma had done it's work today. He obviously had it coming. She placed her hands behind her head and stared forward. Out into the blue skies of San Francisco again. As intimidating as The Kid presented Billy, this proved that he was still just a human with human flaws. She knew without a doubt that if he ever pulled that shit on her, he'd get what was coming to him again.

She laced her fingers together behind her head as the guards began to address the bystanders. She'd see it as a blessing if they were sent to their rooms now. She could stretch her wings, take the earplugs out in the quiet of it, and maybe even get a nap in. She was sure that the second her head hit the pillow she'd be out. Her dreams would take her into the mountains, and she could forget about the last day and a half for a few hours.

[Tackytaff]

---

---

Sunita joined the others in silent compliance as they were shuffled from the first room to the next, one fewer in number. Nobody had rushed to the thin boy's defense, and he seemed to be forgotten about before they even reached their next destination. So much for solidarity. An uncomfortable knot of guilt had taken hold in Sunita's chest. Its cause she could hardly fathom.

No saving someone from their own idiocy

Besides, she did help; the real victim had been the pepper-sprayed girl. She'd helped her, or tried to anyways.

It didn't take long after their fellow in-mates welcome speech for Sunita's eyes to wander towards the bookshelves despite the two girls that had already made themselves comfortable beside it, but she'd done her reading on the bus ride over. It was time to at least make an attempt at being sociable. Even the newest arrival, who'd tried nearly disappearing into her seat moments before had stood to approach the winged girl. Well, someone in their little group was popular.

Could it be having such observable mutations make some more approachable to the others? It seemed a promising theory, until she came to consider the small rodent-type creature of their group that had somehow managed to be forgotten among the rest. A limit to their empathy for the weird maybe- or just an outlier; they still had no clear way to communicate with the animal-person. Whatever biases there were, Sunita herself preferred puzzling over the powers of the more conspicuous mutants among them. Most were surface-level, just normal young people. Only a few had revealed powers in their short time together. Her left hand twitched as she mentally began sorting through what she knew of each resident so far. Over the last few weeks, with the loss of privacy, came a newfound reliance on memory. Not that regular practice made the itch to jot down thoughts any weaker, as Sunita mentally inventoried what she'd witnessed.

The four they'd just met she kept separate in her mind for the time being. Until she knew their real names and saw the claims in action.

External Mutations
Bird Girl	Wings, very avian in appearance. Flight is an assumed given.
Rock Boy	Boy appears made of stone. Unusually large size more likely a bi-product than coincidence. Assumed durability and strength
Large Russian*	Tagged as only a potential external mutation. The physique could well be natural. Unsure which would be more intimidating.
Otter	An otter. Potential type of shapeshifter. Then, why choose the form of an otter for the entire trip?

Internal (Triggerable) Mutations
Asian Girl	Invisibility, seen in action
Rugged, tired boy	'Edge'
The quiet girl that had helped the one who'd helped the invisible girl.	Blood? Bleeding it? Sweating it?

Sunita's mind lingered on the detained boy again. The word "edge" shouted by the guard wasn't much of a clue, but somehow still enough to send a lurch of butterflies in the stomach despite herself. The thought of finding someone with a similar mutation to her own so quickly was too improbable to even dwell on.

It took a shout from the center of the room to bring hers back to the present. The heavily lip-sticked blonde was already having it out with one of their 'hosts'. It was the last bit of motivation Sunita needed to abandon her earlier reservations and move towards the bookshelves of the room. Let others continue to label themselves as trouble-makers the first day. She had more sense, or at least enough fear, to keep her nose clean.

Four more of the group occupied the small 'library' corner of the room. Sunita's attention was kept on the least conspicuous pair of blonde girls sitting closest to the shelf as she tried to at least appear interested in the selection. Internally, she struggled to find the words and courage to begin a conversation. The others around had done so easily enough, but socializing had never been a strength of hers.

"Revengeorescape?" The words rushed out of her mouth much too fast after she'd deciphered the title on the spine of the book the seated girl had been reading. She coughed uncomfortably before trying again.

"Monte Cristo," Sunita forced herself to take a breath. "Are you reading for the escape or revenge?"

An explosive force that knocked Sunita forward to her knees covered the other girl's response, if she'd even had time to give one. Again, one of her fellow arrivals had let their volatility get the better of them and sent another squad of armed guards on them. It was hard to keep her frustrations in the right place as she picked herself up to follow the shouted orders.

Just a bunch of scared kids that didn't ask for any of this, we can't start turning on each other the first day.

She tried to remind herself as she scowled at the wall, hands pressed over her head. Still, couldn't they act like they didn't belong in a detention center for at least an hour?

[Hound55]

Interactions: Rex @psych0pomp, Adam @DocTachyon, Sunita @Tackytaff, Sora @earthtogab, Noah @Venus, Brooklyn @PatientBean, Holt, Zach and Lina (Former PCs, now NPCs), The Kid, Laura "Bright Eyes" DiBiase, Brian "Bulk" McIntyre, Billy "Calculus" Isaacs (communal NPCs)

---

The Kid continued to walk around the room, describing the features and accoutrements of this part of the facility and its various attendees to the ever dwindling audience she still held. Whether they chose to remain in the protection of the group, or chose to soak up whatever information they could on this place before considering their own moves remained to be seen. Or perhaps they were just relieved to have a somewhat friendly voice in this new environment.

Zach stayed at the fringes, as if using the group for what he could in protection and information, ready to distance himself in an instant the second the situation no longer was favourable. The otter, Holt, brazenly strutted at the front of the group, as if his confidence was its own shield from the worst of this place. Rex drifted through the middle, feeling somewhat guilty for what happened earlier to the others after he opened his mouth, but no less irritated with his current lot in life. Others intermingled around as she took this bedraggled tour group around the room, notably keeping their distance from one Billy Isaacs.

"Video games. They're big here." Said the Kid, continuing as she gestured to Kyle whooping it up from the lounge, controller in hand. "There's a decent general catalogue up for streaming in the large communal areas of the residential quarters, as well. You don't want to damage the controllers or break anything though... they're f'r everyone and you will be..." The Kid considered her words carefully. "Disappointing... A lot of people."

"Likewise movies and bingeable tv. But video games are big. There's a lot of downtime, and people tend to get through the stuff they want to actually watch, so video games tend to do more to break the boredom in communal areas. Particularly with long-timers."

The group strayed too close to a wide-eyed onlooker, and Laura DiBiase's rocking became more fervent and severe. She locked on to one and her facial expression contorted to the manic. Adam felt uncomfortable as it appeared she was looking vaguely in his direction, but not at him. Her eyes saw something altogether different, unfocused like she was looking at someone else who wasn't there. But who else could she be looking at, after all the otter was barely three and a half feet tall, she was looking far over his head.

She was shaking her head in disapproval at what she saw. Who the Hell was this crazy person to sit in judgement of others?

"Oh, the things you've done... Ha ha ha ha!"

She was rocking further and faster. Adam moved to the left, her eyes didn't focus or turn to follow him. It wasn't him. But who?

"Alright, looks like we're agitatin' her, so we might move along. Go see what Libby's doin'..."

Sunita felt uneasy from the dishevelled girl. She wasn't vacant, and that was only more terrifying. What had 'Bright Eyes' DiBiase seen amongst them that repulsed her, or was it just her own brand of madness? The blonde rockabilly girl, let out a vocal otburst at another of the people who had originally been in the Rec Room, and Sunita furrowed her bow. She moved on from the rest of the group, but offered her own look of curiosity as they left the crazed girl rocking in her chair, but chose to join the quiet group gradually growing by the bookcase. Already having learned from the wide dispersal of pepper spray that your associates can bring down more trouble than they necessarily protect you from. Sora moved on quickly, but with the group. The disturbed girl put the wind up her, and she was eager to find out more from friendlier faces.

"--just won't be one of them."

"Alright, now just hold up a sec--"

"Hey--- what the fuck?!"

Lina looked on nervously, what was happening now? Was there about to be another burst of the spray? Everything happened so fast, with these outbursts. There was barely time to turn your head to take the danger in, let alone respond in any meaningful way.

Quick, rapid handfighting between the red-haired girl and the boy they'd been warned about. Perhaps they were about to see why the warning had come. What was to be so fearful of this one, who had the face of a predator and carried himself with a fearless confidence.

Suddenly, for reasons that seemed to baffle the overconfident predator, he found himself at a disadvantage in the handfighting, and looking down the barrel at the full fury of the woman scorned. A hand raised to the sky, thumb and middle finger clasped.

"You really fucked with the wrong one."

A table exploded, and the one they'd been warned about was caught well within the blast radius, thrown like a ragdoll before landing in a crumpled pile at her feet.

The one the Kid had introduced as 'Bulk' exploded from his place, tearing through tables and chairs on a direct bee-line for the red-headed girl.

The sudden explosion of chaos, calling for a counter-balance eruption of order and the guards flooded the room to create it. They took down both 'threats', and sent for a gurney from the medical center to cater for the battered visage of Billy Isaacs. The guards issued demands to secure the room, sending the occupants to the walls with their hands behind their heads. Little Holt knitted his claws and tucked them behind his head as he stood against the wall. Rex thought he could see a small smile on the Kid's face as she looked back at what had just befallen the one she'd referred to as Calculus. She looked like she could only have been happier if they'd needed to pick him up with a bucket and shovel.

"Stay against the walls! We'll be relocating you to your quarters soon!"

Bulk and Noah were roughly removed from the room under heavy guard presence, the attendees were assembled and walked in single file along the walls, out of the Recreation Room, following a guard with a set of keys to where they'd be spending the night. Most looked back to the center of the room, where Billy Isaacs was having his pulse taken.

_{^{"Pulse is still strong, but we should get him out of here quick..."}}

---

"You're right, I don't scare easily. In fact, had you come up behind me I woulda popped you one. You seem tough, but I guarantee I am tougher. Bigger dudes than you have tried to mess with me and now they drink their steak through a straw like it's a Yoohoo."

The rockabilly blonde cracked her knuckles. "Thanks. Special ordered and customized to my likes." She was fast realizing this conversation was growing stagnant and rolled her eyes to express as much.

"Name's Brooklyn. So Brian, what's there to do around here, seeing as it looks like I'll be spending more time over here than I thought? Don't get me wrong, soon as I am able to I am breaking out of this joint. But I figure I may as well have some fun before I bring it all down to rubble."

A few beats passed whilst he considered what she'd said. She seemed to think she could break out of this place. Quite possible. More than a few people here could. Now STAYING escaped on the outside was a whole other thing entirely.

She was looking at him funny. It was taking him too long to answer. That's what it normally meant when people looked at him like that.

"Uhmm... there's video games." He said with a thought. "Hey..!" He muttered just now realising someone had jumped in and taken his place at the console.

And then there was an earth-shattering kaboom.

And all his anger, all his rage was redirected in an instant.

Billy was lying on the floor with some girl standing over him. His friend. The reason why other people didn't make fun of him. The reason he had everything that he did in this place. Lying on the floor. Hurt.

He abandoned the blonde girl who had briefly captured his attention and charged to the scene, when suddenly he was hit with pain. First something hit his face from the side, blinding him with it's stinging burn. And then they lit him up with the zappers. He tried to push through, but then he felt his legs seize with the rest of his body. He'd kept pushing forward for as long as he could, but now he dropped like a stone.

He grunted and groaned, unable to do much else as they were upon him.

---

Led to their residential quarters, Zach found himself paired with the large boy of granite who'd caused so much trouble earlier.

Great... Just what I need. The extra eyes on me that this kid's gonna bring.

The bed had a clear plastic drycleaning bag of folded clothes on it with a big yellow sticker across it, declaring the clothes to have passed through the greater scrutiny of security's inspection prior to finding its way to the bed. Presumably searched for further contraband.

Feels good to be trusted... Still could be worse. Could be actual prison. Then I don't even get my own clothes.

He looked over and stone-boy was looking at his own stickered possessions on his heavily re-inforced bed. They'd made no efforts to be subtle with it either. Thick steel supports, it looked like you could park a car on it. The stone-boy sighed. Zach gave him a glance. Everything about him, posture, mannerisms, comments. Made it sound like his life had been set upon him. And that he found it easier to complaing than to make the most of it.

Couldn't be me... Zach thought to himself.

He looked back to his own bed and saw his pack of cards with a yellow sticker on them. He picked it up and reopened the flimsy cardboard box, and pulled them out, licking his finger tips before he counted off the fifty one jacks it contained.

Perfect. As complete as when they'd taken them from him. Only missing the one from the bank job. He put them back in their box and placed it on his shelf, before thinking on it and pocketing the pack in their usual home.

The wall had a tv on it, with a red light aglow. He turned it on with the remote they'd been provided and inspected the remote while he waited for it.

He pressed a split screen button and watched as it first divided the screen vertically, and then with another press, horizontally.

"Huh... So, how do you want it. Left and right, or top and bottom? Seems like they've worked it so we can watch our own stuff."

"Left and right. Widescreen. Looks like it'd work better with aspect ratios."

"Aspect ratios?"

"Yeah. You know. The settings for how they film movies and tv shows. It'll probably fit better."

"Fine. Sure thing." He dropped the remote back on the bed, and then opened the bedside table. There was a set of headphones in there with a USB charge cable.

"Oh! There's headphones. Probably so we can each watch our own thing. Well that's... that's pretty cool."

Rex pulled his own drawer open and confirmed what his new roommate was saying, and grunted in assent.

"Wait-- they're not... They're not gonna shut us in here are they? It's like five o' clock. They're not gonna hit us with that early a curfew surely. I mean if nothing else, they're gonna feed us..?"

He looked over and saw his rocky roomie had curled himself up on his bed, and turned away as if to sleep.

Apparently Zach had said the wrong thing. And the stone-boy was more sensitive than he looked.

Well shit... If nothing else I'VE gotta eat...

---

Noah and Brian found themselves sitting in chairs outside of a door plate-marked 'Director Virgil Rowell'. It wasn't merely the pair of them, as both were flanked by guards on either side.

And judging by the expression on Brian McIntyre's face it was necessary. He looked furious and determined, his eyes never leaving the red-haired girl with his glare as ever-present as the straight line his mouth was creased into. His jaw clenched tight.

The girl, however, paid absolutely no attention to her potential second attacker. Instead, Noah replayed the scene in her head over and over again like a movie on an endless loop. Could there have been any other way of handling that situation? They had been warned about taking matters into their own hands-- multiple times, at that. Yet instead of doing what she said she would and staying in her own lane with her head down, she'd just very publicly and very deliberately blown up a table to hurt another program attendee.

But wasn't it justified? Pervy Billy had laid hands on her in an obvious attempt at assaulting her. Surely, self-defense against a literal assault would be an exception, right? Surely these program idiots didn't expect her to just put her hands up, let Billy do whatever he wanted and allow herself to be a victim? Because if they did, they were nothing short of imbeciles.

But could she have done something else…?

Noah's mind was racing as she shifted her focus to the potential consequences of her actions. While she wholeheartedly couldn't think of anything she could have done differently, she had still broken the rules. Her blasts had still hurt someone-- self-defense or not. The first time something like this happened had resulted in her getting attempted murder charges filed against her, and even after some legal maneuvers her actions had led her to the institution she currently found herself in. So if that's how bad it had gone the first time… What new fate awaited her now?

Well, she was about to find out…

Suddenly, Virgil's door cracked open, and the two attendees were both called in by name.

---

GM's Notes

The Player and former player NPCs (with the exception of Noah/@Venus have now been directed to their dorms in the Residential Quarters. Please remember the pairings mentioned earlier.

Returnable, non-contraband personal items, and clothing that characters brought has been thoroughly inspected by security and left on their beds with a large yellow sticker, declaring these items to have passed inspection.

[Carlyle]

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_{Location: Recreation Room -> Dorm Rooms - AEGIS Complex, Alcatraz Island}

Issue #4: Magnet for Chaos

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_{Interaction(s): Sophia @Qia}

Previously: FIRE! FIRE! FIRE!

Screaming. Orders. Explosions.

For the second time in a matter of mere minutes, the complex fell into chaos. Natsumi, having been escorted aside to the lone drinking fountain in the rec room to wash out her eyes, had barely any time to react to the commotion. Across the room, some of the internees had broken out into a shouting match, and before anyone knew it, explosions had gone off, with various pieces of furniture being thrown about by a man charging to the scene of the incident.

Although what appeared to be some kind of force field had been thrown up to block the explosion, Natsumi still felt a sudden worry for her own safety. Between capsicum-pained blinks, she could see herself disappearing into thin air; her very body reacting to the danger like it had before as guards flooded into the room en masse to deal with the ongoing situation. Her thoughts could only fear the worst, firmly believing that the guards might decide to rope her in as a perpetrator and put her down once more.

After all, all it would take was one overzealous guard to light the match, as it did during the warden's introduction. But the dreaded spark never came, much to Natsumi's surprise. Though they were still nonetheless pushed around not unlike prisoners, the guards had given Natsumi enough leeway to fade back into existence without another round of pepper spray or even the painful zapping of a taser. She wasn't certain if the warden had said anything to the guards, or if it was just one guard that had stepped out of line, but regardless of the who or what Natsumi was simply glad not to be on the receiving end once again.

Following in the footsteps of those that still remained in the recreation room, Natsumi allowed herself to be escorted towards the complex's dorms. There, she had figured, she might be able to get some respite without the fear of being blown up or some other threat kicking her invisibility ability into action.

As she was directed to her dorm, however, Natsumi was left with an unfamiliar face. Even with her reddened eyes, she couldn't remember seeing the blonde individual before. She hadn't been on the bus ride or the ferry, so Natsumi could only assume she must've been here already or arrived later than the rest. Whoever the girl was, however, it seemed that the two of them were supposed to be roommates during their stay at the AEGIS complex.

_"Hi," Natsumi croaked out in reply, moving to sit on one of the dorm beds. Across her face, she forced a weary yet friendly smile at the blonde girl she had been partnered with. _{"I think we're supposed to be roommates."}

[Qia]

_{Interacts with Natsumi (@Kuro)}

---

A few months earlier...

"Aegis?"

Sophia’s brows knitted together in confusion as she exchanged a puzzled glance with her mother, whose eyes seemed to carry the weight of unspoken worries. Her heart quickened at the expression on her face, and she swallowed hard, attempting to dislodge the knot of unease that had taken root in her throat. Her parents' words had set a storm of questions swirling in her mind, each more bewildering than the last.

"You know how things have been in the world lately, with metahumans and all," her father continued, his tone laced with a subtle anxiety that pricked at Sophia's senses."And with you struggling so much in school...."

Sophia's chest tightened at his words, her unease growing. She wanted to object, to defend her academic performance, but the truth was undeniable. Her grades had been slipping, a reflection of the growing distractions and anxieties in her life. She bit her lip, tasting the bitterness of the obvious lie that slipped past her lips. "I'm not doing that bad," she managed to say, though the quiver in her voice betrayed her true feelings.

"We really wanted to give it another year," her mother began, her voice carrying a wistful tone, "until you graduated, you know." Sophia could see the regret in her mother's eyes, mirroring the heavy sensation that had settled in her own chest.

"But..." Her mother's voice wavered, and she paused, searching for the right words, "With everything that's happened this month…you and that...that girl," her mother continued, her voice trailing off, unable to hide the unease that recent encounters had stirred within her.

Sophia's throat tightened as the gravity of her situation sank in. She turned her gaze away for a moment, struggling to meet her mother's eyes, knowing they held both worry and disappointment. Leaving behind everything she knew—her school, her sanctuary, and her familiar life—felt overwhelming.

"Mom," Sophia finally managed to say, her voice barely above a whisper. She looked back at her mother, her eyes pleading. "I can't just leave everything behind like this. What about my…. friends? What about school?" Desperation crept into her voice, impossible to conceal.

Her mother reached out, gently placing a hand on Sophia's shoulder, offering a soft, reassuring squeeze. "I know, sweetheart," she said, tears now freely flowing down her cheeks. "But we're doing this because we love you. Because we want to keep you safe. We just want to protect you, even if it means not being by your side. But…we’ll always be with you. Just remember that."

---

Sophia's reaction to the chaotic scene unfolding before her was a potent mixture of shock, fear, and a deep sense of unease. She had come to Aegis to find answers and learn to control her abilities, but witnessing the raw display of metahuman power sent shivers down her spine. The sudden explosion of the table and the violence that followed left her trembling and speechless. Her eyes remained fixed on the redhead, Noah, whose abilities had undoubtedly caused the destructive outburst, judging by the sheer intensity in her eyes and the turmoil etched across her face.

Sophia couldn't help but be struck by the raw power emanating from the redhead. It was clear that her abilities were formidable, and the havoc they had just witnessed was a testament to that fact. The way Noah had defended herself, even if it had been in the heat of the moment, left Sophia in awe and apprehension.

And fear.

So…this is what it felt like.

The guards rushed in quickly to control the situation, Sophia's heart racing all the while. She couldn't tear her gaze away from the injured boy, Billy, and the chaos that had erupted in the room. Her mind was a whirlwind of questions and doubts. How could she ever hope to control her abilities if she didn't even understand them fully? What if, in a moment of anger or fear, she accidentally harmed someone, just like Noah had done? However, something told her that Billy may have deserved her severe reaction. Sophia couldn't help but feel a profound twinge of shame for her earlier thoughts. At that moment, as she observed him, it became clear that Billy was no different from any ordinary bully she might have encountered outside these walls.

As the guards ushered them to the dorms, Sophia's thoughts drifted to her new life at Aegis. Would things truly be better for her here as her parents had said? The sterile corridors and the watchful eyes of the guards made her doubt the sincerity of their promises. The white walls seemed to close in on her, suffocating her with a sense of confinement she had never experienced before. She couldn't escape the feeling that she was being watched every moment, the cameras following their every move like unblinking sentinels.

As she arrived at what must be her room, going by what she was told before, the blonde was startled to find herself face-to-face with an unfamiliar girl. Her heart raced for a moment, her instincts on high alert, but then she noticed the weary yet friendly smile on the girl's face. It was a stark contrast to the tension that had filled the recreation room just minutes ago.

"Hi," the girl greeted her, and Sophia felt a small measure of relief in the ordinary greeting. "I think we're supposed to be roommates."

Sophia managed a small, tentative smile in return, her initial wariness giving way to curiosity. "Hi," she replied, her voice carrying a touch of uncertainty. "I'm Sophia." She took a step closer, offering a hand in greeting.

"Nice to meet you."

[Skai]

H A V E N B A R N E S

---

A uniform in the room announced their next destination. The relief that Haven felt was visible in the way her shoulders sagged. I might have to thank the redhead for taking one for the team. She thought as she lowered her arms to her side and grabbed her backpack. As she was walking through the door she overheard the medics discussion. The dickhead would live.

Haven mulled over why she felt relieved that he hadn't passed away. She noted the way to the residential area, emergency exits, other juvee's room assignments, as she came to the conclusion that perhaps she just didn't want her first day here to end in a funeral. Even if it was for a stranger.

On a deeper level, Haven didn't wish death upon anyone. Even the worst of the lot deserved to live, but only so they could face their consequences. She just wanted justice. In her eyes, Billy's oncoming concussion was only a slice of a punishment cake. She doubted Rowell would give him anything more than a week in solitary and a slap on the wrist, but Haven guessed that there was more coming for him. One day someone was going to shove the whole bakery down Billy's throat.

The girls separated from the boys, heading down a hall opposite them. Haven began to feel that ever present anxiety begin to creep in again as the girls were being paired off. Who was she going to be paired with? She glanced at the remaining girls. Sophia had already been paired up with the girl who could disappear, so that ruled out the only other person she knew on this side of the dorm.

"Room 110 for Haven Barnes and Zelda DiAngelo."

Haven blinked as the group stopped once more, her last name hitting her like a cold drop of rain. The uniform continued on, along with the other girls. Haven stood by the door until someone lingered behind with her. She looked over at Zelda, a shorter girl with white hair and the palest skin she had ever seen.

"Hey," Haven began with less confidence behind her voice than she would have liked. She cleared her throat and started again. "You can just call me Haven. I don't... really use my last name." She glanced into the room, and was glad to see that it wasn't going to be a cramped situation. "Do you want to pick what side you want? I don't really mind what I get."

[Lawful Newtral]

^{MENTIONS: @Skai @Retired
INTERACTIONS: Sharing a look with Wes, talking with new roommate Haven
LOCATION: New Alcatraz, San Francisco, California, US
NOW PLAYING: ♫ Tinashe - Treason ♫}

---

It did not take long for that table of Zee's to become its own snowglobe, the pale ornament within suspended in her own snowy world as everything else moved and shook around it. At the very least, her reading in complete silence made for a much less unnerving sight. Reading in silence made sense. Sitting and standing in the same silence, which was essentially what she had been doing since the bus ride, made less sense. Maybe people might even find Zee approachable like this.

That was a joke, of course, but right as that thought crossed her mind, a boy passed by Zee's table. Brown hair, pasty skin, so average he might as well have been plucked from any street in the country. And yet there was one thing remarkable about him: he noticed Zee.

Was 'notice' a stretch? It might be a stretch. He was just pausing to look at her for just a moment before continuing on. But that moment was him with his mind at Zee, there was no questioning it. There was a question at the tip of her tongue: why? It remained there because she knew the answer. She was weird, she was scary, she was a freak. That description did extend to everyone in the room, that boy included, but Zee really felt like one of the only ones to deserve her place here. To deserve the confinement, the isolation. There's cold blood on her hands. That must be what he was staring at. The two shared glances, his curious expression bouncing off of her indifferent wall of ice. The moment soon passed, and that boy was on his way while her eyes returned to the pages below.

And that was precisely when a table exploded.

^{"Voices in my head goin' silent"}

It was a blur of excitement and activity, destructive force colliding into the body of one of the veterans. Chaos and the rough fist trying to enforce order came in like armies into the rec room, trampling over the peace and any hope of Zee figuring out the context of what in the world just happened. It was a flash of red hair, that was for certain, but she had been too focused on her book to notice anything else. What set them off? What else can explode in their presence? Why explode that table in particular, which was close enough to her own that splinters bloodied her face? Perhaps all that was not important at the moment. It certainly wasn't to the New Alcatraz officers, who swiftly and indiscriminately had everyone to the wall. She barely had the time to put the book back on the shelf before everyone was directed away from the wall and into...somewhere else.

That somewhere else ended up being their living quarters, the former cells of Alcatraz and current dorm rooms of New Alcatraz. Gender segregated, of course, but what did Zee expect? She kept walking in that apathetically sluggish pace until she found her name and one other in the words of an officer.

"Room 110 for Haven Barnes and Zelda DiAngelo." So this one was her room. Which of the kids was Haven Barnes again?

It turned out to be the one with the wings. Cool. That one was hard to ignore among the other unconventional misfits, but if she can fly with those...that was a freedom Zee had long dreamed about. What would that world look like, if she had Haven's life, and Haven hers? Could she sign off on another person going through what she went through?

"Hey," came Haven's voice to take her out of that thought. It was a soft and slightly shaky voice, and she cleared her throat to start again, less shakily this time. "You can just call me Haven. I don't... really use my last name." Once upon a time, Zee might have questioned the history behind disavowing a perfectly good surname, but the part of her cared froze over. She did not want to dig up the snow under her roommate. Not yet, anyway.

"Hey," Zee replied. Her own voice was a stable and cold nonchalance, more of an effortless exhale than an utterance. "I'm Zelda. Call me Zee or Zelda, call me whatever you want."

"Do you want to pick what side you want? I don't really mind what I get." It was comforting that Zee had a friend in not really minding or caring. Almost put a smile on her face. Almost.

"Neither do I. I can sleep on the floor if you want both beds." That was half of a joke. An attempt, even.

[Skai]

H A V E N B A R N E S

---

Haven looked back at her roommate as she spoke. Zelda, Zee, whatever? Zelda's tone was flat, walking the line between indifferent and cold. Haven felt a chill in the air between them that made her cramped wings shift. Was it just her imagination?

"Neither do I. I can sleep on the floor if you want both beds."

The humor was unexpected. Even if it was in the same tone as before, Haven felt it break the ice between them. The right side of her mouth quirked and she found herself feeling much more at ease with the stranger in front of her.

"As nice as that sounds, I don't think I could do that to you." She moved her way into the room, figuring that she could be the one to pick instead. "I guess I'll take the left side, then." She said as she looked between the beds. The orientation of the light coming through the small window in the room looked like the sunrise would hit her bed first. It would be comforting to wake up to natural lighting, since she'd never really used an alarm clock anyways.

To make the claim official, Haven stepped over to it and set her backpack on the end of the bed. She picked up the plastic bag and examined it's contents. Inside it was just her well worn clothes; the sewing kit was nowhere in sight. With a soft sigh she set it aside and turned to sit down on the bed.

From the hallway she could hear the last roommates get dropped at their room. Doors were shutting, and it seemed like the dorm had settled into a peaceful state. The sign that she could finally rest after such a long day.

With a roll of her shoulders, her wings slowly unfurled behind her. They stretched out to the length of the bed before unceremoniously sagging onto the sheets. The relief was instant, and clearly displayed on her face. She even took a moment to stretch her neck out before she remembered that she wasn't alone.

"This is... a lot cushier than I expected." She thought aloud as she nodded her head to the TV. "Guess they think we won't cause as much trouble if we're entertained."

[Tackytaff]

---

---

The response to the explosion was swift, more coordinated and disciplined than the startled reaction to the event outside the quarantined area. These guards were practiced and effective; not that anyone put up much of a fight. The explosion had surprised them all.

Sunita's ears continued to ring as she watched the redhead girl escorted away and her victim carried out. She was directed with the others towards their dormitories, their welcome cut short. At this rate they'd all be under indefinite lock-down if the others didn't learn some self-control.

Sunita hurried down the hallway behind the guard, eager to be reunited with her few possessions. They were waiting for her on a small desk in one of the last rooms the man gestured to while attempting to say her family name.

She didn't bother correcting him, instead rushing towards the sticker-ed bag, wallet, and most importantly, her journals.

Except there were only two in what should have been a stack of three. Sunita shuffled between the two notebooks in disbelief before rifling through the other belongings- but the bag was too small and stuffed with clothes to contain anything else. Without any regard for the potential room-mate that had followed her, Sunita pushed her way out of back out to the hallways and began chasing down the security that had guided them.

"There's been a mistake!" She called after him, jogging to catch up. All prior worries of drawing attention had evaporated.

"My book," She said more quietly, with the smile and tone typically reserved for her teachers and elder relatives "One of them is missing, I had three coming in. Simple journals, nothing malicious."

"Approved materials have all been returned. Anything else needs to be taken up with the director." He made a point of leaning down to peer at her. "Nothing will come of it of course. But that's the official channel." And with a stupidly satisfied smile the man returned to his egress.

It shouldn't have mattered really. A dozen people must have read through them already. It would all be fine- she would be fine. But even as she grasped for them, the memories of the pages she'd been reading that morning only drifted further. The excitement of arriving, and all the new people, it had been too distracting for her to have fully memorized. Sunita covered her face with her hands, forcing herself to breathe deeply while willing her heart-rate to subside. A practiced method of falling into a meditative trance, freeing her mind of stresses for a precious few seconds.

When she was ready, her hands pushed back through her hair as she took a final breath and looked up to the ceiling. She would be okay. The worry persisted, but it was clear and focused rather than the panicked anxiety of before. She'd been shown where to find what she was looking for, even if the convenience of means had been taken. It hadn't been so long since she was 15. The memories wouldn't all be beyond reach. She could work to remember. She'd meditate, recall every detail she could of that year, commit it all to perfect memory, and find what she'd missed the first time around.

But that would have to wait, she realized, hearing laughter from the room on her right. Two girls were settling into their new accommodation while she'd once again been standing outside like a silent idiot. Without acknowledging them, Sunita returned to her own room again.

"Oh, hello again." She said, only registering the blonde she'd pushed passed to leave upon her reentry. It was the very same girl she'd interrupted reading- before being interrupted in turn.

"I guess I get a second chance at an introduction." She said with a smile she hoped wasn't too forced as she offered a hand. "I'm Sunita, looks like we'll be roommates."

---

---

Interactions:@mickilennial

[Lawful Newtral]

^{MENTIONS: @Skai
INTERACTIONS: Still talking with new roommate Haven
LOCATION: New Alcatraz, San Francisco, California, US
NOW PLAYING: Nothing.}

---

This was a good start. Haven has proven pleasant enough already, even if the bar set by the rec room incident was not very high to begin with. There was the ghost of a smile on the winged girl's, and though Zee had no emotional compulsion to smile, she still felt it polite to curve her lips in turn. It was an empty smile that did not match her eyes, too blank to even be confused for emotionless.

"Suit yourself," Zee said as she moved to occupy the righthand side. So begins the unpacking. She did not bring many items of affection from home; a lot of what she could call keepsakes were in a government-owned storage locker after she was arrested. Books inevitably found their way into her backpack. Textbooks from her final school years, a collection of YA drivel Mom had thought she would enjoy reading, and a crossword puzzle book that Dad had bought on a whim without realizing how shit he was at trivia. Such fond memories. And not a single one could knock Zee out of her frigid exterior. The memories remained, but the pathos was gone, the feelings scourged. By that point, what was the use of memories?

Another unproductive line of thought. Zee distracted herself with the crossword puzzle, penciling in answers her father could never think of. The commotion of her peers settling in gave way to a pleasant harmony of white noise diminishing into silence. This room would follow in that silence were it not for Haven.

"This is... a lot cushier than I expected," the winged girl said as she nodded her head to the TV. Zee followed her gaze and gave the idiot box an inquisitive glance that centered back on Haven before long. "Guess they think we won't cause as much trouble if we're entertained."

"Maybe," Zee muttered coolly in response after a few moments of awkward silence. "But let's not sugarcoat it, we are trouble."

That came off a bit...harsh. It was the truth as she saw it, but the truth didn't have to sound so harsh, did it? Well, no going back on that, butt maybe Zee could turn it into a conversation starter. The thought sent shivers down her spine.

"...So what kind of trouble are you? What can you do?"

[Retired]

_{"School for Monsters!
School for lonely little monsters!"}

The facility was nothing like Weston had imagined. In his mind, the young man had signed up for an elite training program for those wanting to use their extraordinary abilities to help others. He didn’t mind the compound itself. That it used to be a prison bothered him less than how it still felt like one. That flew in the face of the narrative the brochure had fed him. Not that Weston had been expecting a beautiful, perfect fantasy by any means. He was more of a realist than his seemingly simple nature suggested, and he knew this endeavor would be far from rainbows and sunshine. 

For Wes, it was the company he found himself in that was the most significant discrepancy between what he had pictured before and what he witnessed now. The facility staff, nothing more than correctional officers in actuality, being filled with hatred and distrust only slightly threw him off. That was something he could come to terms with quickly enough. The security personnel weren’t assigned here by choice. It was work, and like any place of employment, there’d always be those who put in minimal effort or went through the motions just to get through the day. Others, like the men from the courtyard earlier, would let their biases and fears rule them. Weston had seen it all too often in the city: put someone in a position of power over others, and there’d always be a chance it would corrupt them. Moreover, these men and women were assigned to an isolated chunk of land occupied by dozens of volatile, superpowered young people, and it was understandable that tensions would grow. 

And that was the crux of the issue for the young vigilante. Weston wanted to be here. He chose this. He sought this opportunity to improve himself, and he was in control of his behaviors. His fellow attendees couldn’t express the same thing. Less than an hour since the group of nineteen had set foot on the island, that was already clear to Wes. There were many here with him, perhaps most, who blatantly lacked that control. Some desired to be anywhere else than in the Juvenile Vigilante Program; a few let their baser instincts rule them; others looked like they’d stab you in the back faster than they’d be willing to share in a conversation. 

The image of the emaciated boy, feather in hand, flashed through Weston’s mind. That one had indeed been willing to spill blood at the first opportunity. 

But then there was Haven. She confided in Wes about not choosing to be in the program, but she still shone brightly amidst the darkness. So, while nothing like what he had imagined, there remained those good attributes within the program he had been hopeful for. 

These thoughts ran through Wes’ head as he separated from Haven and crossed the recreation room. His eyes drifted across the space and lingered on the two forms still in the middle of the area conversing. The redhead and the wolf who hungered for her. Another, just like the thin, tattooed assailant from earlier, who thirsted for blood. 

Weston knew of monsters who lurked in the shadows. He just hadn’t expected to encounter them within the program as well.

His train of thought was interrupted as he neared closer to the rec room’s only entrance and exit. A shiver ran down his spine, and the hairs along his pale arms stood up. Weston faltered mid-step and glanced around. Next to him was the couch, where one of the long-haired boys delighted in a video game. Close by was the large boy introduced as Bulk and the interestingly styled blonde, whom he loomed over. 

Weston finished his step, unsure of what had caused the sensation. Another shiver ran through his body as he strode toward the doorway. This time, it started at his stomach and danced along his chest. It was a peculiar feeling, familiar yet unidentifiable, ‌like something he remembered from a dream but amplified a dozen times. It was pleasant. The more he approached the doorway, the stronger the tingling through his body became, and the better Wes felt. The sensation was comfortable. Powerful. 

That’s when he saw her. Sitting alone at a table, aside from hair closer to pure silver than white, she was entirely unassuming. Yet, as Wes’ eyes found her, he knew the girl to be the source of the harmonious buzz that now permeated his entire body. He was within ten feet of the girl now and wanted to draw nearer. Just as he contemplated that odd compulsion, the girl’s head turned, and their eyes met. It was only for a moment, barely a second, before Wes broke eye contact, having recalled the last time he had stared at a woman. He forced himself to continue toward the door. As he went, so too did the sensations.

The guards outside the rec room were considerably more personable than those who had accompanied the group to the courtyard earlier. Two guards brought him to a large laundry room after he explained he wanted to wash the residue chemicals of the pepper spray from his hoodie. Double-stacked rows of washers occupied the length of one wall, while dryers took an adjacent wall up. Along the far side of the room were sinks and deep wash basins. 

As Wes only had one item to wash, he took his sweatshirt to a basin and scrubbed it thoroughly by hand. He preferred it that way, as part of him worried the machinery would be too rough for the ratty hoodie to survive. Once satisfied that he had cleansed the fabric of the chemicals, he hung it across the simple line between two nearby corners of the room. That the facility had a basic clothesline among the updated machinery might have been the most surprising aspect of his brief time at Ju-V. 

By then, enough time had passed that the guards informed him they would escort Weston to his new dorm instead of returning him to the recreation room. Security had already taken the others from his group to their respective rooms. Wes failed to notice the exchanged glance between guards at the mention of the rec room.

The walk to the residential area took longer than the one to the laundry room. From the outside, the building looked tall and imposing, but inside, it was bright and comfortable. To Weston, it could have been a five-star celebrity resort.

“Weston Cassidy,” one guard read off a small tablet device as they arrived outside his new room.

Even with the two-to-a-room living situation, it was more spacious than Wes had expected. It was immaculately clean and adorned with all the amenities promised in the brochure. It also came with an already lounging roommate: the same dark-haired boy who had been playing the video game in the rec room. 

Weston, however, ignored it all and went straight to his bed. On top of the sheets was a folded pile of clothing. The plastic grocery bag he had originally stuffed them in was nowhere to be seen. Resting atop the clothing was a small device no longer than his finger. Wes immediately reached for the MP3 player and the carefully wrapped headphones next to it. Inspecting it slowly, he noticed nothing was out of place. Popping the headphones on, the young man held the power button and waited the several seconds the old player took to start up. 

Eventually, light, playful tones greeted him. Weston noticed it was a different song than he had left off on and had begun partway in. He also knew this melody was exactly four songs ahead of the one he had paused. Wes imagined it had frustrated the person investigating the MP3 player to discover that the skip buttons didn’t work. The only operational buttons were the power, play/pause, and volume controls.

Any attempts they might have made to learn the entire discography of the device would have met with failure. The only way to discern that information would be to listen to the entire music library. An endeavor that Wes knew from experience would take just over thirty-seven hours and seventeen minutes. Whichever staff had tried gave up after barely fifteen minutes.

Still, they had returned it to him in working order, which was all Wes cared about. 

Putting the MP3 player away momentarily, Weston turned toward the other young man in the room. 

”Uh, hey." He offered a slight wave at the longer-haired boy. "I’m Wes."

[Skai]

H A V E N B A R N E S

---

"Maybe, but let's not sugarcoat it, we are trouble."

Haven tilted her head to the right in response. Zee had a point, but Haven didn't really see herself as trouble. Then again, the incident with the thief had certainly proven she was prone to it. Now that she thought of it, her obvious truancy record, disregard for the law, and petty crimes had Haven questioning how much trouble she really was. Compared to the four who had already been detained, she assumed she was still among the lowest percentage of this institution.

"...So what kind of trouble are you? What can you do?"

Zee's stare wasn't demanding. It didn't feel casual either. Haven pressed her lips together. She felt a familiar urge to shut down any questions aimed at her personal life. Yet... Why should she bother trying to hide? It felt like hiding who she was would only make life here difficult and isolated. So, fuck it.

"Well," she began slowly, deciding to at least give short descriptions for now. "I'm a flight risk. Have been since I grew these." She couldn't help but grin a little as she lifted a wing behind her. It promptly slumped back onto the bed.

"Never really had a home." Except for with Isabel. "I've flown across the country and back by now. If they knew how many vacation homes I've broken into, I'd be considered a criminal case of breaking and entering." She shrugged. The feds would probably figure it out soon enough. "A park ranger with an anger problem caught me a few days ago and here I am." She twisted her lips now, trying to ignore the rage that bubbled in her stomach when she thought of that prick. Moving on from that thought quickly, she decided to give a short description of her other qualities.

"Along with the feathers, I have better eyes and ears than most people. The cold doesn't bother me as much, either. I've gone as high in the air as planes with no issues."

Haven figured that was enough information without droning on or sounding self-centered. So she decided to ask her roommate the same question.

"How about you? Does it have to do with the gloves?"