Interaction(s): @Junkmail - Sierra Hilton, @Hound55 - Adrianna DahlPreviously: TBD
The drive from Orange County to Prince Rupert had been unusually quiet. Road trips for the Townsend family were usually a much more jovial occasion, but a melancholy mood had set over the four on this particular day. It was bittersweet, on one part both siblings were going off to school together, and on another, it would be the first time Arthur and Celeste Townsend had been without their children since the day their eldest had been born.
Normally the one to console everyone, the usually cheerful, chatterbox that was Alyssa Townsend didn't quite feel like herself lately. Another school year at yet another new school. It had been hard enough going off to the Alexandria Foundation last year, a lot like the days leading up to departing for the boarding schools of her youth, but this was still somehow harder. The Foundation's Institute had been unique, but it's location and protocols left little to be desired for someone who wanted to remain in touch with their family throughout the year. Alyssa was grateful when her father finally stood up to his mother and had Alyssa removed from the suffocating environment. But her first experience with a Hyperhuman-only institution left a sour taste in her mouth. She only hoped that Pacific Royal didn't do the same to her brother.
Alyssa's first encounter with P.R.C.U. had come from the two school's friendly extramural league. Attending an away game on the Canadian island, Alyssa had become enamoured with the rival school and began to beg and prod for her parents to transfer to a program there instead. With the discovery of her brother's own Hyperhuman abilities, and with P.R.C.U. being both a closer and more inviting institution, the Townsends' caved to their daughter's wishes.
In the driver's seat, Alyssa's father; Arthur, likewise drove in near silence, breaking only occasionally to announce when they were stopping or to sing along with the radio, even if only under his breath. Her mother, Celeste, on the other hand, kept trying to initiate conversations, only for them to call flat when neither of the siblings put any effort into carrying them. Every so often, Alyssa could hear her mother muttering prayers of protection under her breath, mostly for Alyssa and Oliver at Pacific Royal, but occasionally for them all whenever Arthur's lead foot got a little too heavy on the gas pedal.
After nearly three full days of driving the car came to its final destination. The four of them had arrived in the port city of Prince Rupert. Managing a smile, Alyssa elbowed her younger brother before she and Oliver climbed out of the back of the Range Rover.
The pier was crowded with people, most of which held signs that condemned Hyperhumans. The hurtful words and slurs were familiar, words that had come from Alyssa and Oliver's own grandmother when she had found out about first Alyssa's Hype-Gene and then again with Oliver when the youngest Townsend revealed that like both Alyssa and Celeste, he too was a Hyperhuman.
Pushing through the protestors, Alyssa shielded her younger brother, as the paid made their way towards the pier. It was almost odd that Pacific Royal didn't keep this location more private, shouldn't there have been H.E.L.P security to dispel the rabble? Thankfully, both siblings were able to board the ferry without incident, waving to their parents as the vessel made its way across the Pacific toward the hidden island.
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"You're a long way from California, Townsend."
The red-haired girl looked up at the looming mansion. The steel slope of the roof, the ornate gables and the overall height of the building all pointed to it being from the Victorian Era. It was rare to see this far West, most of Canada's best examples were located in its central provinces. Toronto's Distillery District being perhaps the country's best-preserved example.
There was a lot of beauty in it, the history and what it represented not only to her but also to all Hyperhumans.
Not that Alyssa had much time to dwell on it. Since arriving on the island, she had been shuttled to the Administrative building where here and Oliver were assigned to teams. As a part of the H.E.A.T. Program, Alyssa had been assigned to something called 'Team 78 - Firebird' complete with a familiar-looking emblem on her student card. An armband bearing a similar but not identical symbol had also been issued to her.
"Excuse me, Ma'am, but I think this might be the wrong-"
"Sorry, it's an older design. Your team was a last-minute addition, so they're breaking out the overstock from five years ago. You'll get an updated one along with your house uniform."
Alyssa didn't get a chance to ask Oliver what team he had been placed on before the pair were whisked off to some sort of opening ceremony and escorted to separate seats alongside other members of their teams. United with the other students who she would be spending the year alongside, Alyssa tried to study each of them whilst listening intently to Dr. Lehrer.
She clapped excitedly and whistled loudly as the ceremony came to an end. The whole group was pulled aside by their faculty representative and her student aid who explained that because the team had such a hectic arrival that they'd try to give them some space and time to adjust and instructed the team to hike across campus to the Southern Plateau. Their faculty member, a Dr. Miranda Rivers, informed them a truck had been sent ahead with their belongings to lighten the load.
The walk across the island was fascinating. Surrounded by the island's unique vegetation, Alyssa's eyes darted back and forth searching for fauna while engaged in a lively conversation about the Lehrer Hyperhuman Classification System and its flaws with two of the Sierras. They had several fascinating insights into the argument that Dr. Lehrer and Kowalski's work, while valid and perfectly fine for a work of its time, should be re-investigated for further clarification and perhaps expansion to the classification system.
"I truly believe that either primary classification could include all eight secondary classifications. Or even do a sub-classification to further categorize Hyperhuman abilities. Like yourself, it's not simply just Somatic, it's Dynamic, maybe even Expulsive!" Alyssa energetically explained.
“I’m pretty inclined to agree. Most of what of the classification system, from what I’ve read, seems to come from an era where we were trying to explain and categorize the phenomena shortly after its presentation.” The first Sierra responded.
“I’m with her. Metaphorically of course. She’s me. Anyways- I think trying to shove a whole bunch of people into a few categories is a bad move. Think about it, Myers-Briggs is just astrology for people with a job. These categories are basically astrology for people who breathe fire or fart laser beams.” The second Sierra stated as the conversation continued between the three girls until they arrived at their destination.
Mulling around the campsite, Alyssa threw herself into making her pizza. Unable to limit herself to just one set of toppings, she divided the pizza into three evens sections. Mixing a white sauce and a tomato sauce, she created her base before mixing together mozzarella and provolone for her cheese. On the first third, she put chicken, bacon and sausage, before finishing with pineapple and jalapeños. On the next section went steak, red onions and mushrooms while the last section was pepperoni, bacon, green pepper, caramelized onions, and mushrooms.
Excitedly placing her masterpiece into the oven, Alyssa looked around for someone to talk to before spotting a familiar face. Her eyes lit up as she stepped forward, a hand shooting out to introduce herself.
"You're Adrianna Dahl! I'm a huge fan of your work. It's incredibly upsetting what happened to you." She chattered energetically, "I'm Alyssa Townsend, it's such a pleasure to meet you, Adrianna Dahl!"