Lord Wraith

Commencement: A Foundation Institute RP

“Mr. Patterson,”

Lance's eyes strained to open, the steady beep of the infirmary equipment was like a defeating drum on his skull. He felt cold everywhere and simultaneously numb.

“I’ve asked your family to wait outside in the hallway. The nurse is administering something that will make you more lucid.” Jonas stated, taking a seat on the edge of the bed before motioning towards another woman beside him. Outside the soundproof window, Lance’s mother and father look inside, along with his younger brother. Jonas locked eyes with the boy, roughly the same age as Lorcán and much like the young Roth, Chadwick was slated to be starting at Pacific Royal the following fall.

“I was wondering if you could answer a few questions for me?”

Lance only groaned as his eyes rolled between the bandages from Jonas to Summer. Jonas nodded before reaching into his jacket and producing a couple images of different young men.

“Is one of these the boy who attacked you?”

Lance grunted, tears streaming out of his eyes and staining the bandages as he tried to nod. A finger slowly lifted before tapping directly on the image of Lorcán Roth. Jonas nodded solemnly, putting the images away before gesturing towards the blonde woman at his side.

“I need you to tell Miss Carlyle everything you remember about the night you were attacked.”

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_{Location: The Office of Dr. Miranda Rivers - Pacific Royal Collegiate & University, Dundas Island, Pacific Ocean}

Dance Monkey #4.025: But It's Better If You Do

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_{Interaction(s): None}

Previously: Viva Las Vengeance

“Aiden, this isn’t the first time this has happened,” Jonas pinched the bridge of his nose, massaging it before replacing his glasses. “There was the boy two years ago, even with some of our healers, he still bears the scars of the incident with Lorcán. And now the young Mr. Patterson will be lucky to survive.”

“This wasn’t Lorcán,” Aiden argued, “The first incident was the manifestation of his Hyperhuman abilities, we’ve had him doing practical ability training since the age of eleven, no other Hyperhuman has had the privilege of having their abilities that closely trained from such a young age. Lorcán hasn’t lost control again.”

“He’s a boy of intense emotions, how can you be so sure his infatuation with Ryan didn’t emotionally compromise him?”

Aiden’s head hung slightly at Jonas’ challenge, a reluctant sigh escaped his chest, hanging in the open air before he replied.

“I don’t,” He admitted, “I didn’t expect Lorcán to grow so attached to Ryan, not in that way. I figured the age gap would be enough of a deterrent.”

Jonas suddenly laughed, a long hearty laugh that started in his belly before bellowing out into the air.

“Do you not have eyes, my son?” Jonas asked, wiping mirthful tears from the corner of his own eyes while Aiden looked at him with confusion. “Miss Clarke is a young, attractive woman while your son is a boy going through puberty. She has been nothing but kind to him, friendly and goes out of her way to ensure he feels like he belongs. Of course our boy wasn’t deterred by the age gap.”

Jonas smiled sadly, patting Aiden on the shoulder.

“And the boy does love a redhead.”

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Lorcán’s mind was like a maze as Miranda chased after the Apparition. Walls were erected around so many memories, that it was almost terrifying to think of the consequences breaking them down would have. Whoever had placed these here had engineered a nostalgia fueled childhood within the boy, one free of most hardships, only ignoring defining moments from his youth.

The Apparition continued to feed, breaking down the artificial barriers and unlocking more memories while simultaneously changing some of those Miranda had already ventured through. She watched as memory after memory played out before her, only to disappear and reveal a meek boy who would then scurry away to hide again as the Apparition continued to devour.

If Miranda couldn’t get Lorcán’s psyche to stand up and fight back, she was on the receiving end of a losing battle. There was no way of knowing what could happen if she lost, could the Apparition truly take Lorcán’s mind and body for its own? And where did the creature come from?

The fate of Lance Patterson weighed heavily on Lorcán and now the illusion was shattering. What had originally been simply guilt derived from his affections for two young women, was multiplying rapidly to the boy taking the rap for a murder Miranda couldn’t be sure he had committed.

Without answers, there was no way to make the boy fight back. There was no one who could make the boy fight back. It had become so dark inside Lorcán’s mind, it was no wonder the boy’s psyche had been lost and forced to hide in the shadows. In his despair, he had lost sight of his guiding light.

Miranda was falling through the memories again, they were a jumbled mess of non-linear events, each taken out of context to scramble his perception. But if the Apparition fed on guilt and angst, then hope and love would be its undoing.

Planting herself on firm ground, Miranda thrust a hand into a memory, forcing herself through the barrier before tapping the smaller figure on the shoulder.

“Come with me,” Miranda smiled, watching the flash of recognition from the figure’s blue eyes before they turned to Miranda.

“Lorcán needs you.” The older woman stated, extending a hand. It was immediately accepted before the pair were plunged back into the dark labyrinth of Lorcán’s fractured mind.

“Where is he?”

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“Hey!” Ryan froze as she walked the path back towards the campus. She immediately recognized that voice as he stepped out from behind the tree.

“Dad, I don’t have your money,” Ryan replied, a scruffy, graying man stepped out of the shadowy treeline and onto the path. “It’s just not like that here,”

“There has to be something of worth here, I know you’re holding out on me.”

Ryan let out an exasperated sigh.

“No, Dad, no I’m not.” Ryan responded, “Look, these are genuinely good people, they aren’t after money or wealth, just a place where we can be,” She pleaded, “There are people here who can help you, just please stop asking me to steal from them. I’m not going to do it.”

“What about your tutor gig, aren’t they paying you?”

“No, Dad, they’re not.”

“She’s lying.” Another voice interjected and Ryan turned to see Lance smugly approaching. “In fact, Mr. Clarke, ” He smiled, “I know she’s getting paid and she’s working for the richest family on the island. And I happen to know where they live and exactly how to get anything you want out of them.”

“And just who is this charming young man?” Ryan’s father asked while putting an arm around his daughter and squeezing her tightly.

“I’m her boy-”

“He’s not,” Ryan interrupted, “He was just leaving.”

“No, babe,” Lance smiled, extending a hand to the older man, “I don’t think I am.”

“Sullivan,” Ryan’s father smiled.

“Lance Patterson.”

Wraith's Little Workshop of Horrors

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Commencement: A Foundation Institute RP

Lorcán sat outside the infirmary, his hands between his knees while his head hung low. Lance had been rushed inside, his injuries deemed life-threatening. On either side of Lorcán sat his parents, his father, Aiden was completely stoic, his expression grim while his mother gave Lorcán a reassuring squeeze before reapplying the ice pack to the back of his head.

The Pattersons had been notified the minute Lance’s injuries had been discovered. Third-degree burns covered his body, inflicting mass trauma that left him incohesive and desperately clinging to life. He was found nearly naked, any residual clothing burned and tattered, melded with the melted skin that barely covered the sinew and tissue beneath.

“I came as fast as I could,” The grandfatherly voice of Dr. Jonas Lehrer broke the tense silence as Lorcán lifted his reddened eyes towards the bald man.

“It’s not good, Jonas,” Aiden replied, “It’s worse than last time,”

“And our boy has no recollection of what happened?”

“No,” Lorcán managed to croak out before his mother leaned over to put a hand on his back reassuringly.

“He took a nasty blow to the head, Lorcán stated he blacked out and woke up to find Lance in the condition he was in. The doctors have already looked at le petit prince and found that he has a minor concussion.”

“Talk me through the events that led to this moment,” Jonas replied as Aiden stood and put an arm on his mentor’s back, leading the older man away from his wife and child.

“Why don’t we take a walk?”

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_{Location: The Office of Dr. Miranda Rivers - Pacific Royal Collegiate & University, Dundas Island, Pacific Ocean}

Dance Monkey #4.022: Viva Las Vengeance

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_{Interaction(s): None}

Previously: House of Memories

Miranda’s mental projection sized up the Apparition. Whatever it was, it had grown powerful, feeding on Lorcán’s guilt and self-pity, indulging those emotions to the boy and then siphoning those feelings back into itself and taking further root within the younger Roth’s mind.

But any guilt that Lorcán felt for how he looked at Amma was trite compared to that which leached out from behind the mental barriers. The Apparition leaned on the projected walls of Lorcán’s mind, the emulated tendrils of red and silver coming from its hands injecting themselves into every crack and fracture before shattering the artificial blockage and freeing the guilt inside.

Miranda watched it grow, feeding as Lorcán further retreated into his own mind. Everytime it became stronger, Miranda could feel herself having to fight harder to stay within the boy’s mind, let alone preventing Lorcán from losing himself to whatever entity had claimed him as its own.

“What are you?” She asked. It looked like Amma, but it wasn’t her, more like a version of the girl viewed through a mirror darkly. The eyes were uncanny, almost inhuman, and there was an insatiable hunger radiating from the visitant.

“So many repressed memories,” The Apparition spoke, “Each filled with more guilt than the last, who knew the golden boy, the prince of P.R.C.U. could hold so many secrets.” It smiled wickedly.

“Could have such a pronounced darkside!” It suddenly shouted as the Apparition disappeared, Miranda finding herself falling through glimpses of memories before landing on a hard surface. Fractures spread beneath her before suddenly it gave way and she found herself back at a moment she already knew.

“Yeah,” Lance interrupted, “I’m her boyfriend you little punk.” He winced while opening and closing his hands. “C’mon, Ryan, let's get out of here, the twerp is putting me off.”

“I didn’t think we put a label on it yet,” Ryan muttered, her eyes shooting daggers at Lance. It was in that moment that Lorcán saw his opportunity, ducking under Ryan’s arm and kicking Lance straight in the groan.

The older boy dropped to his knees, his face twisting into a snarl before lunging forward. Lorcán suddenly found himself gripped by the shirt before his feet left the ground and he was tossed into another corner of the woodshed. A small whimper came out of Lorcán's mouth before his fingers touched the back of his skull. Something warm and moist stained his fingertips but before Lorcán had a chance to react, he felt the wind go out of his lungs courtesy of a boot to his gut.

“Lance! Enough!” Ryan yelled, trying to restrain the older boy before he stretched his hand out and pushed her back with a pulse of his abilities.

“He started this fight, I’m finishing it.” He warned before approaching Lorcán further. “You’re a persistent pintsized punk, but you’re out of your league, and Ryan is out of yours,” Lance cracked his knuckles before balling his hand into a fist.

“And I’ll make sure you remember it-” His words were interrupted by an agonized yowl. His wide eyes looked down to his foot where Lorcán had stomped on it before superheating the air around himself and pushing the older teen back.

“Lance!” Ryan shouted, moving forward to stop him before Lance simply turned and sent Ryan flying out of the shed.

“No!” Lorcán cried, frantically flicking his hands open trying to ignite a plasma blade just like Ryan had shown him.

“Heh,” Lance sneered, “Watch how a real man uses his abilities.”

A pulse of vibrations erupted in all directions, spreading outwards from Lance as the woodshed was reduced to splinters. Debris was scattered in every direction before Lorcán was tossed alongside it. Tools impaled the grass on all sides, narrowly missing the small boy while Lance stood triumphantly among the wreckage.

“Did you really think you could win?” He boasted. Taking a step forward, Lance rolled up his sleeves before reaching towards the fallen boy. Suddenly a blazing beam of red burned a line across the ground, halting Lance in his tracks.

“Ryan, Lorcán, inside the house now,” The voice of none other than Aiden Roth bellowed before the papa wolf turned on Lance with a guttural snarl, “You! Get out of here, I don’t want to see you around my son or Ryan again,”

“Your son’s a real piece of work,” Lance shot back, spitting on the ground. Aiden’s eyes glowed red as he reared himself up, his gaze unwavering as he watched Lance suddenly back and slink backwards.

“I’m going, I’m going,” He raised his hands, motioning towards Ryan, “C’mon, babe, let’s let the baby go wth his daddy.”

“No,” Ryan replied shrilly, barely masking the horror in her voice. “One, I’m not your babe, two I’m not going anywhere with you, and three, I, most importantly,” She stopped, helping Lorcán to his feet before putting an arm protectively around the young boy.

“I decide what league I play in,” She retorted, “And it certainly isn’t whatever that display was.”

“House, now.” Aiden interjected, his tone made it clear he wouldn’t repeat himself again as Ryan quickly obliged.

“This isn’t over, babe!” Lance yelled before disappearing into the distance. Aiden watched the older student, his eyes continuing to glow red while Tori helped Ryan and Lorcán into the house.

He had no doubt about one thing, that boy was the worst kind of trouble.

Commencement: A Foundation Institute RP

E P I S O D E T H R E E A W A R D S:

Best Post (Solo): GM's Choice 3 . 0 1 6 @Zoldyck Player's Choice 3 . 0 6 9 @Roman 3 . 0 7 0 @Zoldyck __________________________	GM's Choice: 3.016 Mirror Mirror - @Zoldyck Player's Choice: 3.069 It's So Hard To Be - @Roman Player's Choice: Every Rose Has Its Thorn - @Zoldyck The 'Best Post' is given to the player and post that was found to be overall the pinnacle of the current episode. Did it break the tension with its humourous antics at the right time? Did it bring the characters closer together? Was it full of insightful reflection or did it extrapolate on previously unknown elements of that character's backstory and how it ties to the greater overarching narrative? Katja has been through it the last two episodes and this post really drives home the amount of inner turmoil that the usually cheery woman is dealing with. Mirror Mirror is a real treat into the inner workings of Katja's mind, her struggles, her personal philosophies and general outlook on the hand that she's been dealt. Zoldyck has done an excellent job of rolling with the punches as Katja has been put in a predicament that no one else can relate with and we're all looking forward to seeing how this particular plot thread continues to unravel. Honorable Mentions: Wraith's Choice: 3.048 sugar - @Rockette If it's not apparent by now, I really enjoy Amma's character and her fleeting grasp on her humanity. Episode 3 in particular has been a lot of fun to watch as Amma comes to terms with feelings she previously thought banished to the deepest recesses of her mind. Amma Cahors cares about people. In 'sugar' we get the wonderful, and detailed inner workings of Amma's mind with Rockette reminding us why she's a consistent winner in these awards. Her grasp on prose and use of imagery leads to posts you can't help but re-read and seeing the budding romance with Gil constructed with fleeting feelings for Lorcán is a lot of fun. Roman's Choice: 3.035 Know Your Enemy - @webboysurf Rory's got a lot on his plate in Episode 3. Still reeling from the Trials and the revelation that there are malicious forces with odorous designs upon him, he's tasked by the Chancellor himself to root out the suspected Orcinus agent within Blackjack's midst, pushing him into a leadership position he's not quite comfortable with in Lorcán and Tad's shared absence, and then Haven gets abducted. 3.035 shows the weight of these troubles and the new responsibilities on Rory, as he begins his investigation in earnest, and traumatizes himself by proxy through willing exposure to the Trials footage. It's a strong emotional pivot for Rory, and locks him into a darker path for the rest of the episode to come. Rockette's Choice: 3.009 Welcome to the Jungle - @Lord Wraith This being my first, official, award, it only felt right to decide on a post that started a chain of many heartfelt responses through the entire episode. Some that are not limited to just Aurora and Lorcán, or even my own character that is caught up in the very end of it. It also provides a glimpse into a world that I have been excitedly ready for ever since Wraith first brought it about to my attention. To read about the potential creatures such as a Wendigo was exciting, only for the post to end on a cliff hanger as Lorcán collapses.
Best Post (Collaborative): GM's Choice 3 . 0 2 1 @Melissa & @Qia Player's Choice 3 . 0 2 1 @Melissa & @Qia 3 . 0 5 0 @Melissa & @Rockette __________________________	GM's Choice: 3.021 Daylight - @Melissa & @Qia Player's Choice: 3.021 Daylight - @Melissa & @Qia Player's Choice: 3.050 Blue - @Melissa & @Rockette The 'Best Collaboration Award' is given to the post and players involved in crafting a collaborative narrative that goes beyond the regular back-and-forth posting of forum RPing. A well-crafted collaborative post should read as though it has a single author but artfully capture the interaction between two player characters and enhance both of their direct narratives, developments and the long-term relationships between those involved in the collaboration. Whenever you have two strong writers opt to work together, you know you're in for a treat. Melissa and Qia both have exemplary mastery over the voices of their characters and seeing Aurora and Harper come together in this very emotional and heartfelt post was a treat. Both characters get an opportunity to shine, with the weight of the situation bearing down on them. Harper has proven over and over to be a cornerstone for the Team and Episode 3 really gave her a few chances to shine in that regard. She was Aurora's shoulder to cry on, she was the one to lead the charge to save Haven, all while dealing with her own struggles. Aurora brings the emotional aspect and Melissa is no stranger to wonderful weaving words in such a way to pull at heartstrings and warm cockles. A beautiful post build on the foundation and characterization established thus far through the RP. Honorable Mentions: Wraith's Choice: 3.050 Blue - @Melissa & @Rockette 'Blue' was probably the most unexpected collaboration for me, but by far one of the most impactful both how it connected into the plots and themes I was working with but also the intimate relations to my own character. As a stand-alone post, you can't get any better than 'Blue', both Melissa and Rockette are stellar writers that I've gotten to know throughout the game and can't imagine not going on to do other RPs with. The post itself is full of character nuances as you see the two women come together and compare perspectives while also challenging the other. It's rich and content and characterization that makes me look forward to the next interaction, or better confrontation between Amma and Aurora. Roman's Choice: 3.011 No Expectations, No Pretenses // 3.014 Beneath The Surface - @Qia & @PatientBean Harper and Calliope both are in a strange spot post-Trials, haunted by their experiences and some core relationships shaken at their foundations; Harper struggling with her feelings about her family and notably her estranged sister, and Calliope's previously-stable relationship with Banjo buffeted against rocky shores. This two-parter collab features a pairing we haven't seen before, both girls coming together to try and retake some sense of control against the storms they're currently being swallowed by. It's an extraordinary exploration of both characters individually and their dynamic as a duo, showcasing that while both women are (were? will be again?) stoic, determined, and emotionally unflappable, that energy comes from very different places for the pair, and means very different things for them. Rockette's Choice: 3.037 When Doves Cry - @Skai & @webboysurf It's more so the ending that really captured this for me, the promise that Rory makes, only for the very next post to be Haven's kidnapping. It was a heartfelt moment that is the epitome of Raven as a whole that established the disbelief in following the next series of posts as everyone struggles to find and save her. When Doves Cry paves the way of desperation as they run against the clock unknown, with the establishment of Rory and Haven opening up to one another to further develop their unwavering trust, entirely captured in the chemistry that Skai and webboysurf have as writers.
Best Character Dynamic/Ship: GM's Choice H A V E N x R O R Y @Skai & @webboysurf Player's Choice A M M A x G I L @Rockette & @Roman __________________________	GM's Choice: Character Name - @Username Player's Choice: Amma Cahors x Gil Galahad - @Rockette & @Roman The 'Best Character Dynamic/Ship Award' is given to a pair or group of characters who display exceptional chemistry, and compatibility. They are who you genuinely sit there and cheer whenever they're on the page together. These two characters are each other's endgame, they're ride or die and you can't get enough of their highs, lows and otherwise cutesy antics. This is not limited exclusively to romance but extends to rivalries, platonic friendships and even a sibling-like relationship. Haven and Rory have officially defined their relationship and taken the lead as the roleplay's current alpha couple. Still a relatively new couple, they're exploring what that means and it has been fun to watch the pair face trauma after trauma and successfully bond themselves to overcome the adversity they're facing. It'll be interesting to see how that dynamic affects both the team moving forward as well as they're friendships with the other characters and if Haven and Rory growing closer puts any distance between them and the others. Honorable Mentions: Wraith's Choice: 'Gamma' Gil Galahad x Amma Cahors - @Roman & @Rockette Shipping is a lot of fun and as much fun as it is to start an RP with a pre-established dynamic, those often fall flat because there's no chemistry. Watching a dynamic develop out of a single small interaction is a lot like watching a fire grow from a spark. That's 'Gamma' for me, the emerging relationship between Gil and Amma as expertly depicted by Roman and Rockette. In a world of 'Lorora' and 'Raven', Gamma is notably different and since it contains one of the most sought-after romance partners, I don't expect this ship to have an easy time getting out to sea, but smooth sailing rarely makes for a good story and we're all here for the drama. Roman's Choice: Aurora Mitchell and the Roth Family - @Melissa & @Lord Wraith I'm just simply in love with the sheer purity of love portrayed in the found-family dynamic between Aurora and Lorcán's extended family, showcased throughout this episode as 'Rora grapples with Lorcán's volatile mortality and grieves alongside Aiden, Tori, Cassander and Ripley. It's something that continues into Episode 4 through the wholesome and heartbreaking surrogate mother/daughter moment between Tori and Aurora, but this is a payoff that wouldn't have felt so organic or emotionally resonant if it weren't for the work put in during Episode 3. Rockette's Choice: Harper Baxter & Haven Barnes - @Qia & @Skai A dynamic I believe that has been named before, but where I acknowledge it is in the easy friendship found between the two characters, where Haven reaches out to Harper who, struggling with her own trauma, doesn't hesitate to help her find out more about her past and the mysterious girl that Haven wants to find. For it all to end with an emotional embrace as Harper continues to struggle with control over her own emotions. With an episode that had plenty of collaborations and plenty of developments, this one stuck out to me the most and that I kept thinking back to for this award, and I eagerly await the result to find out who Anabel is.
Took A Level in Badass: GM's Choice H A R P E R @Qia Player's Choice A M M A @Rockette __________________________	GM's Choice: Harper Baxter - @Qia Player's Choice: Amma Cahors - @Rockette The 'Took A Level in Badass Award' is given to the character who has displayed the most development in this episode and bonus points if they had a particular scene that put that growth on display. This doesn't mean the most improved, nor does it have to be positive changes in the slightest, this is the character journey you're enjoying the most whether it's a slippery slope or an uphill battle. Harper really stepped up in Episode 3 putting aside her own personal struggles coming fresh off the trials and immediately jumping to the rescue of her friend. I feel like Harper often gets overlooked due to having less flashy abilities, but she's arguably one of the smartest characters on the team and often acts as the Team Heart. In Episode 3 alone you saw Haven, Aurora and Rory all confide in Harper which puts her in a much better position as a leader moving forward. Will be very interested in watching Harper's continued growth. Honorable Mentions: Wraith's Choice: Haven Barnes - @Skai While I still don't personally know where I actually sit on Miss Haven 'Questions' Barnes, reading how Skai had Haven handle and navigate her torture at the hands of Daedalus cinches this category for me. I think Haven proved herself to be a very resilient young woman and I look forward to seeing how this experience continues to grow her moving forward and the effects it has on her both good and bad. Even while spending half the episode chained to a gurney, Haven proved she's no slouch earning her 'Level in Badass'. Roman's Choice: Katja Kruger - @Zoldyck Following the Trials and the fallout of House Orcinus' exposure, Katja's been understandably torn, her previous well-intentioned (if extreme) membership with the so-called 'traitor house' now thrown into new light as she re-evaluates her beliefs and principles, and the ways she might have accidentally betrayed not only her teammates and friends, but also herself and the memories of those she fights for. Naturally, it's probably something she wants to keep under wraps - but then Haven's life is in danger, and Katja has a choice to make: keep quiet, keep her secret, but risk Haven's death, or give up what she knows, potentially expose herself, but help rescue her friend? Katja doesn't think twice. A character like Katja, we can expect a hundred 'holding up a collapsing building' moments - it's a different kind of strength you've got to look for, and Katja showed she can step up. Rockette's Choice: Gil Galahad - @Roman Really, maybe I'm biased, but Gil is an enigma through episodes 1 and 2, the ending of the latter revealing more layers to his character than initially given. Through episode 3 we witness more and more of that mask crumble away into nothing, the fallen star, as it were, that realizes that he doesn't want to be Mr. Hollywood and sheds the persona that he puts forth every day just to get by. From his abrasive visits with Calli and Harper, to the developing tension with Amma, to the back and forth with Banjo during physical therapy. I'll admit, I'm a sucker for Gil and with the beginning of episode 4, I'm waiting for the next post to drop even more.
Love Triangle: GM's Choice R O R Y x H A V E N x A N D R E W @webboysurf x @Skai x @Hound55 Player's Choice A M M A x L O R C Á N x A U R O R A @Rockette x @Lord Wraith x @Melissa __________________________	GM's Choice: Rory Tyler / Haven Barnes \ Andrew Olyphant - @webboysurf, @Skai & @Hound55 Player's Choice: Amma Cahors / Lorcán Roth \ Aurora Mitchell - @Rockette, @Lord Wraith & @Melissa The 'Love Triangle Award' is given to the players and characters who are entangled in romantic tension with multiple people and whose relationship could be redefined in a single post. This is the classic Archie Andrews with both a Betty and a Veronica. Bonus points if the love triangle is actually a love pentagon or even a dodecahedron. Multiple sides, multiple ships, all with their own fans and supporters. Probably one of the most memed on love triangles, the dynamics between Rory, Haven and Andrew are rather bizarre in and of themselves with Rory and Haven being a clearly established ship, while Andrew despite belonging to another ship has shown far more emotion over Haven than he has his own partner. Their somewhat established closeness and the way they've interacted leave the relationship just ambiguous enough to argue there's more than meets the eye and it will be interesting to see if any of that changes moving forward. Honorable Mentions: Wraith's Choice: Katja Kruger / Amma Cahors \ Gil Galahad - @Zoldyck, @Rockette & @Roman Keeping with my best ship, this is the next evolution with another leg added to make up an Eiffel Tower. However, if Gil starts using his powers again, it's all over. That said, this triangle has everything from two damaged people who naturally gravitate towards one another, to another who wants so desperately to find a kindred soul she's willing to bear hers to an unconscious body. The tragedy of this triple pairing is what keeps you invested and while there are numerous outcomes to cheer for her, I'm still cheering on Gamma to win out in the end. Roman's Choice: Katja Kruger / Amma Cahors \ Rory Tyler - @Zoldyck, @Rockette & @webboysurf Looking at romantic connections between the members of Blackjack right now has me ending up feeling like Always Sunny's Charlie Day mapping out Pepe Silvia, but Rory and Katja's combined optimism and warm-heartedness are such a powerful tonic to Amma's volatile nature that it's a compelling criss-cross of threads when the three weave paths around each other - whether that's Rory and Katja's lingering 'what-if', or Katja's struggles to express herself to Amma. Rockette's Choice: Katja Kruger / Rory Tyler \ Haven Barnes - @Zoldyck, @webboysurf & @Skai This has arguably been a hook for me long before this episode, which we see a glimpse of throughout the scattering of posts as Rory leads an investigation that has him on the edge of who he can trust. You have your Raven moments with small glimpses of once upon a time feelings for Katja and the implications that she could be the traitor, to where Rory can't even look at her and Katja hesitating to approach him, her own feelings a chaotic mess. Though it has been made clear where the ship lies, and Katja is supportive of Haven, there are still so many 'what-ifs' and 'could-have-beens' that linger between them that I eagerly read every time.
Friends Who Never Hang: GM's Choice A N D R E W & R O R Y @Hound55 & @webboysurf Player's Choice G I L L O R C Á N & R O R Y @Roman, @Lord Wraith & @webboysurf __________________________	GM's Choice: Andrew Olyphant & Rory Tyler - @Hound55 & @webboysurf Player's Choice: Gil Galahad, Lorcán Roth & Rory Tyler - @Roman, @Lord Wraith &@webboysurf The 'Friends Who Never Hang' is given to the players and characters whose characters' friendship is an informed attribute but who have never actually spent a lot of time together in the IC, or perhaps have not interacted even once but in their own posts have referred to the other as a friend. This is the award where you finally get to voice who you want to see more IC interaction between. Despite being established as having shared a team for five years now, we haven't seen any true interaction between Rory and Andrew in the IC, which given Haven's connections to both, is somewhat odd and really fuels the above love triangle theory. Andrew plays for his House's intramural league as does Rory and yet we've not seen any semblance of the rivalry displayed akin to that between Rory and Katja, nor the fleeting displays of camaraderie as displayed between Rory and the other boys. It will be interesting to see if this dynamic is explored moving forward. Honorable Mentions: Wraith's Choice: Gil Galahad & Rory Tyler - @Roman & @webboysurf Outside of an early post where I had Lorcán simultaneously smack both of their butts, I don't think I've seen Gil and Rory come even close to interacting. While Lorcán has a relationship with both, perhaps slightly strained after the events of the last two episodes, Gil and Rory have yet to have any semblance of a relationship with one another and given Gil's growing closeness with Amma, I can't see that changing anytime soon as Amma is quite the polarizing point for most of Blackjack. Roman's Choice: Amma Cahors, Aurora Mitchell, Calliope de Léon, Harper Baxter & Haven Barnes - @Rockette, @Melissa, @PatientBean, @Qia &@Skai Episode 3 has had a lot of pairings and even a couple trio collabs between the women of Blackjack, but the elusive Girl's Night has evaded us thusfar, initial plans for some retail therapy ahead of the dance interrupted by Haven's unfortunately-timed abduction. What we've seen between duos and trios so far has been promising and compelling - here's hoping Episode 4 and the dance gives us the opportunity for the full squad to gather and gossip. Rockette's Choice: Gil Galahad, Lorcán Roth & Rory Tyler - @Roman, @Lord Wraith & @webboysurf The three are supposed to be close friends, but you don't witness any of that, other than a tense argument between Lorcán and Rory before the Trials when the former is accused of abandoning his friend with all the work. Given the recent developments with each character mentioned, I look forward to a potential exchange of 'guy talk', so to speak, about how they've each been dealing with the recent events with the school year just having started. Each have changed gradually in their own ways and the friendship established in the last year may not be the same as certain things comes to light.
Deadpan Snarker: GM's Choice A N D R E W @Hound55 Player's Choice A N D R E W @Hound55 C A S S A N D E R @Lord Wraith G I L @Roman __________________________	GM's Choice: Andrew Olyphant - @Hound55 Player's Choice: Andrew Olyphant - @Hound55 Player's Choice: Cassander Charon - @Lord Wraith Player's Choice: Gil Galahad - @Roman The 'Deadpan Snarker Award' is given to the players and characters who has the most sass, the snappiest comebacks, the wittiest dialogue. The Deadpan Snarker is someone whose dialogue gives you a visceral reaction with how clever or cutting they are. A character prone to gnomic, sarcastic, sometimes bitter, occasionally whimsical asides. Alternatively, they may also play the straight man to the more zany antics of the other cast members. Of the true main cast, there's little argument when it comes to the character who is the most sarcastic, bitter and insufferable bastard. That honour is awarded solely to Andrew Olyphant as written by the talented Hound55 who pours as much of himself as he possibly can into Banjo to bring the colourful and divisive character to life. Banjo almost is never without a comment and when you can understand what he's actually saying, the content is generally quite snark-laden and we don't foresee that changing anytime soon. Honorable Mentions: Wraith's Choice: Gil Galahad - @Roman Of the player characters, Gil is easily one of the snarkiest and certainly so post his experiences in the trial. This is best on display whenever he's paired with Andrew as you can see Roman having Gil play off of Andrew's own cynical nature. It's fun seeing Gil with a chip on his shoulder and his teeth bared, so I look forward to more of him playing the straight man against the likes of Lorcán or even Amma in their blossoming relationship. Roman's Choice: Cassander Charon - @Lord Wraith It feels a bit cheeky submitting an obstensibly NPC character for my mention, but Wraith's not writing these characters in a bubble and Cass' dialogue - the patter, the back-and-forth, flirting with Qia, his sharp critiques of Lorcán - deserves its recognition. Definitely one of the driest members of the extended cast, his sardonic witticisms continue to entertain, and I'm personally particularly looking forward to some more snark-to-snark combat between him and Harper. Rockette's Choice: Cassander Charon - @Lord Wraith This one was difficult, but easy, as I eat it up every time he refers to Amma as Elvira or some other outlandish nickname. Call him an NPC, sure, but he's established enough into the IC from the talent Wraith possesses in seamlessly blending the character into the cast. Of which could be said for all of the non-player characters within his roster that help Blackjack through their own developments through the narrative.
Out of Character is Serious: GM's Choice 3 . 0 7 0 @Zoldyck Player's Choice 3 . 0 3 5 @webboysurf __________________________	GM's Choice: 3.070 Every Rose Has Its Thorn - @Zoldyck Player's Choice: 3.035 Know Your Enemy - @webboysurf The 'Out of Character is Serious Award' is given to the players and characters whose character had a moment that while it seems out of character for them, it was critical in the instance and was a serious moment. Many the zany character was suddenly the straight man, maybe the stoic had an emotional outburst? Whatever it was, this moment caught your attention at first because it was different from that character's usual depiction. Katja's declaration of her feelings towards Amma caught us GMs off guard and while many interpreted the moment as sweet, the three of us had a very different interpretation of the moment and took it as more of an admission of an obsession that is building within Katja. She's now without a mission, without an objection due to the dissolution of House Orcinus and so Amma has seemingly become that goal. What this means for Amma's fledgling relationship with Gil has yet to be seen, but it'll be very interesting to see what happens as more layers of Katja's facade are peeled away and Rory's investigation closes in on her. Honorable Mentions: Wraith's Choice: Harper Baxter - @Qia Seeing the usually in control and on top of things Harper trying to work through her issues on her own was one of the best examples of 'OOC is Serious'. You had her missing classes, having to swallow some humble pie, lie about hating her hair all while trying to work through what happened to her in the trials and the best way forward after that. Sometimes I worry I'm sleeping on Qia as a talented writer, but I'm grateful for moments like this where I do get to draw attention to the expertise she has in depicting her character and the slow-burn narrative she's telling with Harper. I suspect by the end of the RP Harper will be a character that is referenced for years to come. Roman's Choice: 3.055 Anger Management - @Hound55 3.055 gave me what I've been desperate to see: Banjo finally peeling back the layers. With such a carefully constructed anti-authority persona, Banjo's brand of blasé deflection and trouble-making has been consistent since the start of the game, but this comes to Banjo's own detriment as much as it does his protection. Therapy then is the perfect setting to show how ridiculous his default 'fuck you just because you're in a position of seniority and no other reason' stance can really be, as Lillian really is just trying to help him, and rebuffing her is as frustrating for Lillian as it is deleterious for Banjo. How refreshing then, and important, that something finally breaks through to Banjo, and he takes someone else's advice on board. Here's hoping that we get more of this Banjo, who maybe begins to consider that some authority figures are actually qualified professionals with nothing but good intentions, and might actually be able to help him when he needs it. Rockette's Choice: 3.052 Say Your Prayers - @webboysurf Rory has been through it with this episode, being handed reigns to an investigation that he is arguably not prepared to undertake, to having to deal with his own doubts as he struggles with the aftermath with the Trials. When we see Haven kidnapped, Rory suddenly goes from the boy who asked Amma if she was a literal dragon, to a man that steps up to rally the team to save the girl he loves. In Say Your Prayer, we see Rory attempt to step up to Amma, threatening the same woman who left scars on his arms, and though (sorry man, stay your lane) she brings him down, the two mutually agree to save Haven in their own ways. Rory is often seen as the 'golden retriever' character who cannot take anything seriously, so to see him adapt and overcome - as well as he can - in this episode was a side to him that I enjoyed reading.

Commencement: A Foundation Institute RP

A handful of flowers were tightly grasped in the young man’s hands as the thirteen year-old Lorcán Roth returned from the meadows that dotted the inner of Dunira Island. It was his two-year anniversary with Ryan Clarke and he wanted to bring her something special. He had overheard his Mom and Ryan talking at one point and the young redheaded woman had alluded to wildflowers being her favourite.

So naturally, Lorcán went and picked her a whole bouquet.

He had spent most of the morning finding as many purple wildflowers as he could. Ryan always wore a lot of purple when she wasn’t in her Gulo uniform, it really brought out her hair. She had always been kind to Lorcán, helping to hone his abilities and more importantly, she didn’t treat him like some little boy or a nuisance.

She laughed at his jokes, she liked his family. Lorcán really thought there was something between them. How could he not after all? She was the first girl to show him any sort of affection who wasn’t his mother.

Ryan always met Lorcán out by the woodshed before they started their training and today was no different as Lorcán happily made his way behind the house, a bounce in his step and a look of pride upon his face. He had never made a bouquet before, but he had looked some images up online and was pretty proud of his handy work.

A giggle caught Lorcán’s attention upon entering the backyard. He could hear it come from within the woodshed and a smile suddenly lit up his face. Was Ryan waiting inside with a surprise for him as well? Did she remember today was exactly two years to the date they had met?

Excitedly, hurrying over to the woodshed, the young boy took hold of the doors and threw them wide open. Shoving the bouquet forward, he threw his other hand towards the sky before shouting.

“Surprise!”

The word died in his mouth as Lorcán felt the repulse of embarrassment. A wave of heat suddenly radiated out from him as his eyes began to register exactly what was happening.He could see Ryan in front of him, her jeans undone, hands belonging to an older boy intertwined with the thin red satin strap riding above her well-defined hip bones. Black lace peeked out from a shirt nearly completely discarded as Ryan’s tongue darted in and out from between the older boy’s lips, her hands firmly clenched around his jaw while their hips gyrated together.

Lorcán looked down at the wilted bouquet in his hand, before tossing it aside and lunging for the older teen. His molten-eyes practically engulfed by flames as the rage filled boy tackled the larger male to the ground of the woodshed.

“Get off her!” The younger boy roared, pulling back a fist and slugging Ryan’s suitor in the face. He pulled a fist back to strike again before the older teen managed to block the onslaught. Pushing Lorcán off him, he pinned the boy against a nearby shelf before trying to speak to him.

“Calm down little man,”

“She’s not yours!” Lorcán shot back, suddenly superheating his hands. The older teen cried out in agony, releasing Lorcán before stumbling backwards and looking down at the freshly reddened skin of his palms. There was a small rumble before a vibration filled the air that sent Lorcán backward, slamming the back of his head hard against the shelf as the older teen retaliated.

He lifted his hand to strike only for Ryan’s hand to land on his chest.

“Lor, my little man,” Ryan interjected, pulling her shirt back up over her bra and hastily fastening her pants, “Look, it’s sweet you want to protect me, but it’s fine, he’s not hurting me.” She tried to coax Lorcán down, bringing herself down to his height as she kneeled beside him.

“This is Lance,” She said, introducing the older teen formally, “He and I have been seeing each other for a bit.”

“Yeah,” Lance interrupted, “I’m her boyfriend you little punk.” He winced while opening and closing his hands. “C’mon, Ryan, let's get out of here, the twerp is putting me off.”

“I didn’t think we put a label on it yet,” Ryan muttered, her eyes shooting daggers at Lance.

She turned to Lorcán, patting him on the head. “Why don’t you head inside, my little man. We’ll talk about this later.”

Lorcán nodded agreeably, standing up and dusting himself off.

“Sure, thanks Ryan.” He replied before walking out of the woodshed. The faint smell of smoke behind him.

^{________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________}

_{Location: The Office of Dr. Miranda Rivers - Pacific Royal Collegiate & University, Dundas Island, Pacific Ocean}

Dance Monkey #4.020: House of Memories

^{_{____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________}}

_{Interaction(s): None}

Previously: Ready to Go (Get Me Out of My Mind)

“No.”

Miranda suddenly pulled back, reeling at the intense emotion surrounding the memory only for it to end nearly void of any. It was as though she had hit a wall. A barrier blocking not only her, but also Lorcán from experiencing the fullness of the event.

She had felt mental blocks like this before, especially during her time with the Hyperhuman Investigative Tactical Unit. Most recently, she had found them in Hyperion’s followers. A mental block, put in place primarily to protect the affected by the trauma of their own mind.

So what was Lorcán’s hiding?

“Lorcán, what can you tell me about Ryan Clarke?” Miranda asked, sitting back in her chair while Lorcán gave her a confused look.

“Uh, I don’t really mean to question you, brah, but like my dreams haven’t been about Ryan,” He offered as Miranda first nodded before shaking his head.

“I realize that, but the intensity of your emotions, they link back to a particular event with Ryan.”

Lorcán rubbed the back of his head sheepishly, his eyes trying to avoid Miranda’s before he finally spoke again.

“I guess you say she was like my first crush. Ryan was my first friend who wasn’t related to me somehow and I thought she was hot. She was kind to me, she laughed with me, it was easy for a young boy to confuse that for some sort of mutual connection. But she had a boyfriend and I was too young for her to be interested anyways.” He finally spat out,

“Y’know puppy love, kid stuff.” Lorcán added dismissively.

“Would you say you’ve buried those feelings,” Miranda asked, “Or have you projected them onto… someone else?”

“There’s only one Ryan,” Lorcán replied, “She’s a totally just friend, and she was a mentor, but my feelings for her are like strictly platonic these days, kinda like an older sister.”

“Is the person you’re dreaming of also just a friend?”

“Yes,” Lorcán answered, “At least, that’s what I want but there’s also like some sort of tension I don’t understand.”

“Are you really going to lie like that? I see the way you look at me,” Amma suddenly interrupted, slinging an arm around Lorcán’s neck before wiggling her way into his lap. “Tell the doc, I was your first and you’re crazy about me.”

“Get off of me,” Lorcán blurted out. He attempted to remove Amma from his lap, but the girl only held on tighter, nuzzling her face into the crook of his neck. He felt her cold tongue against his throat while teeth playful grazed his skin.

“Is your friend in the room with us right now?” Miranda asked, her eyes looking straight at Lorcán, exactly where Amma would have been had she been real. Lorcán froze, the words failing to come out of his mouth.

A pale hand wrapped around his chin, pulling his face to look into her own as Amma held a finger to her lips and shook her head. Crackles of red and silver danced across the fingers holding Lorcán’s face and the scar running the length of the right side burned suddenly.

“Lorcán, if you don’t answer, I can’t help you.” Miranda insisted.

“Yes.” A feeble response came before searing pain rippled through Lorcán scar causing him to cry out. Miranda stood, reaching out as she re-entered Lorcán’s mind coming face to face with a twisted echo of Amma haunting the recesses of the boy’s psyche.

“What are you?” Miranda asked the apparition, the two women facing off in the void.

“Something stronger.” It replied, “And soon, this vessel will be mine.”

Wraith's Little Workshop of Horrors

C H A R A C T E R D A T A B A S E:
C H A R A C T E R D A T A B A S E:

_{S U P E R M A N}

ISSUE #01

In which CLARK KENT extolls the virtues of his morning commute and gleans some details from passersby about the mysterious hacker known as the ‘TOYMAN’. After a heated all-hands meeting with PERRY WHITE, Clark joins fellow press LOIS LANE and JIMMY OLSEN in the field to investigate an explosion at a Luthorcorp facility.

^{Character(s) Introduced: Perry White, Lois Lane, Jimmy Olsen
Key Antagonist(s): Toyman}

Ultimate One Universe: Emergence

^{________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________}

_{Location: Undisclosed - Classified Information]}

Shoot to Thrill #1.07: Hot Rod Red

^{_{____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________}}

_{Interaction(s): None}

Previously: Peaches

“Gentlemen set phasers to stun,” Hammer smiled, chuckling at his joke while Rhodes and Jordan exchanged unamused looks. Straightening his tie, Hammer cleared his throat, his cheeks changing to a shade of scarlet that made his tie look washed out.

“Ahem, more properly this is the Stark Threat Utility Neutralizer, or the ‘S.T.U.N.’, a de-escalation tool designed to numb and nullify enemies in a non-lethal manner. It directly attacks the target, primarily to immobilize them, but more specifically designed to immobilize the mutant gene to render their powers null and void.”

“Is such a weapon legal?” Karoline Farris piped up as Hammer fidgeted his foot uncomfortably.

“It’s uh, a gray area. Technically under current laws, mutants aren’t considered a minority nor a protected class, so they’re not protected from prejudice of any kind.” Hammer replied, “There’s also no way to prove the weapon is specifically designed for use on powered individuals. Our research and development team was very thorough in their keyword use on the patent.”

“With all due respect,” Danvers interjected, “I have no intention of breaking any laws or marginalizing a class of people who can’t help the way they were born. If you want these weapons tested, I’ll only do so with the express purpose of them being used against threats to the safety of the American people, not to subjugate an entire race.”

“My apologies, Captain I didn’t mean to imply-”

“Hammer, did you Hammer up the introductions again?” The snide comment echoed across the tarmac as Tony Stark approached the group, “Why’s everyone looking so hot to trot? Hammer, did you get antsy while I was gone, don’t worry, Daddy’s home?”

Stark smiled at the group, before leaning over and whispering in Hammer’s ear.

“And Papa’ll spank you later for your insolence.”

Spinning around on his heels, Tony took the weaponized gauntlet from Hammer before sliding his arm into it and giving it a couple of swings.

“The S.T.U.N. is incorporated into the gauntlet as a retractable beam weapon. You’ll find it on the rotating cuff. The palm contains the repulsor which is calibrated both for offensive capabilities and flight stabilization. A white glow is utility mode,” Tony demonstrated, pointing the gauntlet towards the ground before launching himself slightly to the side with a controlled burst.

“Orange is offensive,” He sneered, suddenly turning the weapon on Hammer who instantly froze. The collected pilots tensed up at the display. Almost every one of them was military and they knew better than to point a weapon at someone you didn’t intend to shoot.

“I’m just having fun,” Stark said, breaking the tense silence as Rhodes took a step toward his old friend. The palm of the gauntlet resumed its pale white glow as Tony removed his hand.

“The forearm contains another weapon slot, might I suggest a Stark Mutli-Phase Missle, but we’ll let you customize your payloads another day. For the time being, flight is the name of the game.”

Tony rubbed his hands together eagerly.

“Alright, callsigns, ladies and gents.”

“Highball,” Jordan replied as Tony rolled his eyes.

“Right, the alcoholic,” Tony turned and pointed to Karoline, “What about you city girl?”

“Star Sapph-” Major Major attempted to interject before catching a quick elbow to the ribs.

“Spitfire,” Karoline stated flatly, casting a side-eye toward Jordan.

“Yeah you are,” Tony replied before pointing to Danvers. “Your turn, space cadet,”

“Flamebird.” She replied as Tony looked between the two women.

“Did you two coordinate that?” He accused mockingly, “Hopefully the fire theme doesn’t extend to any other burning, Highball any comment?”

“No comment,”

“How about you, my patriotic friend?” Tony asked turning to Rhodes, “The pilot and the mechanic working together again, you must have a great callsign, why don’t we just call you Patriot?”

“Tony, you know damn well my callsign is Shellshock.”

“I’m just saying it’s a rebranding opportunity,” Tony smirked,

“That’s what I said!”

“Joint venture, you and me, the Iron Man and the Iron Patriot,”

“I’d sooner be called War Machine.” Rhodes deadpanned.

“Careful what you wish for, buddy,” Tony replied, slapping James on the back, “When you win this thing, sorry ladies, you might just be.”

“Tony, I-”

“No arguments!” Tony shouted, turning on Hammer, “Why aren’t they in their suits?”

“Jordan made some modifications and I needed to-”

“You Hammered it up again, didn't you?” Tony replied dismissively, “No matter, Daddy is here now, so let's make this right.” He whistled as the four prototype Personal Aviation Suits were brought forward.

“Really Jordan? This gaudy green?”

“Better than hot rod red.” Jordan shot back, smacking his gum as Tony raised an eyebrow.

“You’re entitled to being wrong,” Tony shot back, “Alright Shellshock, you’re in the blue and white, Flamebird, you’ve got red and blue. Spitfire, purple and gold and I guess Jordan you’ve got green and gold.”

“Sweet, we’re going to look like Power Rangers.”

“Jordan can you just,” Tony waggled a finger at the slightly younger man, “Can you just be cool for once.”

“I assure you,” Karoline smirked.

“He can’t.”

Wraith's Little Workshop of Horrors

The Atlantic Regional Center of Hyperhuman Education
A.R.C.H.E

A joint venture between the Alexandria Foundation and H.E.L.P., The Atlantic Regional Center of Hyperhuman Education seeks to bring a cohesive and complimentary merger between the Foundation Institute and the Pacific Royal Collegiate & University to deliver a new option for Hyperhumans looking for a place to belong. Located in the Southern hemisphere between the Atlantic and Indian oceans, the Center of Hyperhuman Learning of the A.R.C.H.E. is a cutting-edge venture built upon a Hyperhuman made island.

Commencement: A Foundation Institute RP

^{________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________}

_{Location: Pacific Royal Campus Beach - Dundas Island, Pacific Ocean}

Dance Monkey #4.016: Ready to Go (Get Me Out of My Mind)

^{_{____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________}}

_{Interaction(s): None}

Previously: Don't Threaten Me With A Good Time

Exhaustion plagued Lorcán as he made his way across campus. A hood hiding his face as he travelled to the beach and put his board out into the water. He needed to think, everything had felt so real, so intense but when his head had cleared Lorcán didn’t find any marks on his skin, no signs anyone else had been in his room.

The hoodie smelled of roses and peonies, the floral signature of Aurora. Lorcán had picked it up from his parents house while he had been there. Originally assuming it was his, it wasn't until he put the hoodie on did he realize that it was the one Aurora had borrowed during the Trials.

As far as Lorcán was concerned, it was her hoodie but he was happy to have a piece of her with him today. Much happier than he had been to run into Haven this morning. He genuinely was happy for the pair, perhaps even envious that he couldn’t seem to find the words or the timing to have a similar situation.

Now, he felt as though his mind was poisoned and the only thing he wanted to do was run away from it all.

Floating on the Pacific had always been his favourite way to think through his problems. His feet dangled into the cold water as Lorcán sat straddling his board, riding the waves as they bounced him up and down, lulling the exhausted man into a meditative state.

His head suddenly dropped forward.

A pair of tattooed arms suddenly emerged from the water, coming to rest on the edge of Lorcán’s board. He sleepily turned his head to the side, met by bright blue eyes outlined in a heavy cat eye makeup. To no surprise of Lorcán’s, the siren seemed to have forgotten her swimsuit.

“Amma?” Lorcán looked down at the woman with surprise, “Brah, why are you here?”

“Because you want me to be,” Amma replied, batting her long eyelashes towards Lorcán. “You should come in, I’m getting cold and I could use someone to warm me up.”

“You’re not real,”

“I know you want to,” She insisted, raising a hand to beckon him with a single finger.

“No, the only one I want is Aurora,” Lorcán protested, “We totally both know that, but you like did something to me. You’ve twisted my mind somehow,”

“You don’t mean that, that’s just what everybody else wants you to say. You tattooed your arm to impress me, don’t lie and say you don’t want me.” The raven-haired siren purred, batting her eyelashes again. “I want you, Lorcán, and I had a lot of fun last night.”

She began to climb onto the surfboard. Her wet hair perfectly spilled down her back as she tossed her head back, ensuring she gave Lorcán a view of everything before positioning herself on all fours. She slowly crawled towards him, the vixen ready to pounce.

“I bet there’s more than enough room for both of us up here.” Amma whined playfully, “I saved your life, Lorcán, the least you can do is give in to your succubus.”

She stretched towards him, her lips hovering above his, Lorcán tilted his head forward as Amma moved to meet him before Lorcán suddenly pulled away.

“No, this can't keep happening” He protested, “I don’t just like Aurora, love her. I can’t keep hurting her like this.” The lion found its voice before it roared in return, “I need you to get out of my head, like now.”

“Sorry, Lover,” Amma withdrew coyly, “I’m part of you now, and I’ll get what I want.” Those pouty lips curled into a cruel sneer.

“If not now, then inevitably.”

“Get away from me!” Lorcán thundered, moving to push Amma off the board.

Red and silver tendrils crackled from the corner of his eyes, flickering in colour as they pulsed orange and blue before snapping back to their previous hues.

Hands moved through the empty air and the cold water washed over Lorcán as his hoodie became soaked and threatened to drag him down into the depths of the drop just beyond the campus beach.

The shock hindered Lorcán’s usual abilities as he flailed about underwater trying to free himself from the baggy garment. His chest began to burn, his oxygen supply rapidly depleting from the panic.

Scrambling free of the hoodie, Lorcán swam for the surface, bursting through the waves while gasping for breath. Looking for his board, Lorcán froze, his eyes dating back to the depths below. Taking a deep breath, he dove back under the water, popping his eyes open before diving after the sinking sweater.

He couldn't lose it.

He couldn't lose Aurora.

His legs kicked harder as his hand reached forward, fingers wrapping around the heavy fabric before immediately pulling upwards and shooting from the surface again. Lorcán chased the bright light of the sun before bursting forth from the frigid deep and swimming hard towards his board.

It was time to stop running from his problems.

^{_{__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________}}

A knock of the frame of her door alerted Dr. Miranda Rivers to the presence of the long haired young man who was currently dripping on her welcome mat.

“To what do I owe the honour of the young Mr. Roth at my door?” Miranda asked as Lorcán entered the office, “Your parents speak very highly of you.” She stated, smiling softly at the young man.

“I heard you have had quite the week and a miraculous recovery to boot. How are you feeling with all of that?”

Lorcán hesitated for a moment, the shadows in his brain shrouding his mind as he thought back through the last couple of weeks. His trip to the woods, his fight with Rory. The sabotaged trials, facing off against Raze and the haunting visage staring back at him every day.

He winced as the scream of the horrific creature echoed in his ears, the pain searing through his arm. His soul fighting to leave his body, the slow death of his every cell. He felt Amma inside him, wincing as the familiar tendrils traversed his body, darkly lined eyes staring back at him promoting Lorcán to close his eyes.

He tried to picture Aurora, her smile, her eyes but every time he did, a cold, shrill laugh reverberated through his skull and Aurora was dragged away before a swarm of moths and beetles gave way to the form of Amma.

A scream of agony filled his mind and suddenly Lorcán was a helpless child again, watching an older boy writhe about in utter despair while his flesh and muscles were melted away by the flames attempting to consume him. He winced again before swallowing the hard lump in his throat. Pushing the images aside, Lorcán finally opened his mouth, pausing once more before answering Miranda.

“I think,” His throat croaked, “I think, I like, came back wrong, Dr. Rivers,” Lorcán replied, “I keep seeing people that aren’t there and feeling things that aren’t right.”

“Shut the door, Lorcán, take a seat and let's talk,” Miranda stated, standing from her desk to pull a chair out for the young man.

“Who are you seeing and what makes you say they aren’t right?” She asked, taking a seat directly adjacent to Lorcán.

“I don’t want to see her, the guilt that comes with seeing her makes me want to throw up. I can't eat, and I can't sleep without feeling her inside me, just waiting for my mind to give in to her.”

“Lorcán, I want you to look at me and take a deep breath.” Miranda requested, her calming tone bringing some ease to Lorcán who did as he was instructed.

“If talking is too difficult, there is another way,” She suggested, Lorcán understood immediately what the telepath meant. He briefly contemplated it, moving to shake his head before hesitating. Words wouldn’t form in his mouth, his throat felt rigid and unable to move. His heart began to beat rapidly instead of his chest before Lorcán started forcing himself to take a deep breath. His right thumb moved to his thigh as he tried to slap a beat against it to calm him.

Miranda immediately recognized the coping method; she had seen it in the boy in previous sessions, though they hadn’t had an official session since before his sixteenth birthday. Still, the familiar ‘air-bass’ playing was a sure sign that Lorcán was suffering from anxiety.

“Lorcán,” Miranda asked softly, “May I help you?”

He managed to nod his consent as Miranda reached forth, feeling the turmoil of his mind. Digging through the memories, she brought forth one that elicited calm and Lorcán immediately heard Aurora’s voice again.

“Lorcán,”

A hand touched his shoulder bringing an overwhelming sense of peace over Lorcán before she suddenly recoiled at the temperature of his skin. He quickly turned to Aurora, grabbing her hand, Lorcán gave it a gentle squeeze before turning it over and inspecting for burns.

“Dude, I’m sorry, I just wanted to tell you everything-”

“Hey, hey, breathe, talk to me.”

“I keep trying but the words won’t come out,” Lorcán stated aloud as Miranda gently nodded.

“There you are, welcome back, Lorcán.” Miranda smiled, but her eyes didn’t smile with the rest of her face. While inside Lorcán’s mind, she felt the touch of not one.

But two.

Commencement: A Foundation Institute RP

In his time at Pacific Royal, Cassander Charon had been in more than his fair share of fights. Some of the faculty saw him as a troubled youth, while others saw a history of abuse leading to poor coping skills and an unhealthy need to leap before he looked.

Aiden had introduced Cass to boxing during his time at Pacific Royal and a couple rounds with the sandbag was exactly was Cass needed to work out some of his emotions after watching not only his sister and cousin, but also Aurora be put through the wringer this week.

Cassander had never really seen what Lorcán had saw in Aurora, at least not the way he had been so hung up on the girl for the last seven years. But having gotten to know her, to talk to her, Cassander finally got it. She had a great smile, a calming presence, her hair smelled amazing.

He struck the punching bag even harder, fighting back the thoughts. He was going to the dance with Harper. Harper was a lot of fun, she had held her own in snark to snark combat, but she seemed different after the trial. Or maybe it was Cass himself, trying to treat Harper like some kind of girlfriend instead of someone he was hoping to get to know to explore the possibility of romance.

Spacing his wrapped fingers, Cassander focused his abilities and created a small orb in each of the gaps before pulling his arm back and striking again. A shockwave erupted from the strike, staggering Cass backwards as a small alarm went off inside the gym.

“Charon!” The attendant roared, “No excessive power use, you’re out for the day. Hit the showers.”

“Don’t get your panties in a wad, I was done anyways,” Cass roared back, wiping the sweat from his brow before turning and heading for the locker room. He almost physically gagged upon walking in to find Chadwick Patterson and his goon squad polluting the air with bargain bin body spray while they bragged about their body count.

“You should have seen the way she batted her eyelashes at me, practically begging me to put her on her back right on the picnic table. Pretty sure I saw her lick her lips after eying me up.” Chad boasted while his lackeys cheered him on. Chad had quite the reputation that preceded him among the males at Pacific Royal. Affectionately known as the ‘Deflower’, Chad often sought out virginal, or even just innocent seeming woman in order to add another notch to his belt. He could appear sweet when he wanted to, but his trips to the woods to pick wildflowers were anything but.

“I still can’t believe you got Aurora Mitchell to say yes, I thought she was practically married to Roth’s snotty brat.”

“The only thing she’s married to is the idea of gagging on Chad’s dick from the sound of it.” Snickered another.

Suddenly a blinding flash filled the change room followed by the sound of a wet towel making contact with skin. The slap was followed by another, and another before eventually drowned by a chorus of yowling jocks.

“The hell, Charon?” Chad asked, rubbing his eyes before looking up to see Cass standing over him.

“I can’t stop you from asking Aurora out,” Cass sneered, “But I suggest you keep her damn name out of your mouth.” Cracking his knuckles, Cass motioned with his head towards the door. “Now if you ladies are done your jaw waggling, some of us mean to use the locker room for what it’s meant for. Hate to see you boys waste your time in here instead of not wiping down the gym equipment or failing to re-rack your weight.”

“You’re not worth it,” Chad muttered, “C’mon,” He ordered motioning for the four other water polo players to follow him.

Rage seethed off of Cassander as he quickly got changed and texting Lorcán. When a few minutes went by with no response, Cassander tried calling. The other device rang, and rang until eventually going to voicemail. Hanging up and trying again, Cass found himself sent directly to voicemail before he let out a heavy sigh and waited for the beep.

“Look cuz, you need to know that Aurora never left your side the entire time you were out. I get wanting some distance. Between the Trials and your experience in the forest, you’ve been rushed from one danger into the next without any time to process. You’re probably thinking to yourself right now that maybe a night off from Aurora, Amma and dying is exactly what you need.” Cassander said, rubbing the back of his head while he kept talking to Lorcán’s voicemail. With a sigh, Cassander hesitated before speaking again. He knew he couldn’t let Aurora go on the date with Chad, but he also knew the girl was stronger than she appeared and wouldn’t let the Deflower get what he was after. Still though, it was definitely worth at least warning Lorcán.

“But you need to know that Aurora has a date to the formal and you’re not going to like who it is. Hit me back when you can, I’m not saying this to your voicemail.”

^{________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________}

_{Location: Recreational Center - Pacific Royal Collegiate & University, Dundas Island, Pacific Ocean}

Dance Monkey #4.014: Don't Threaten Me With A Good Time

^{_{____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________}}

_{Interaction(s): None}

Previously: New Perspective

The dorm was almost foreign to Lorcán after a week of the sterile air and white walls of the infirmary. The hastily decorated dorm was almost an eyesore in comparison. The air smelled of the cheap cologne Rory had been gifted by another girl a few years back and was too polite not to wear.

It has been an exhausting day and Lorcán was glad to not have to come up with any chit chat as he stumbled through their shared space and into his own bedroom. Pulling his phone out of his pocket, he tried to unlock the screen only to find his own reflection still staring back at him.

The phone must have died at some point while he was visiting his mother. He had wanted to send a message to Aurora, but it would have to wait now as he placed the device on the charger, hoping it would reach sufficient charge quickly.

Lorcán wasn't sure if it was his injuries from the Trials or the circumstances of his recovery, but he still felt off. There simply was no better way to describe it than that. It was as though there was something inside of him. Shivers raced up and down his spine and sweat dotted his forehead, an unknown craving plagued the back of his mind haunting the young man.

And then as suddenly as it had started it was gone.

He quickly stripped, making no effort to put his clothes in the hamper before flopping on top of the bed completely nude. Slumber came quickly as Lorcán felt his pillows embrace his body. His mind drifted off, darkness taking elsewhere and Lorcán departed consciousness.

That's when his eyes shot open.

Someone was in his room.

A lithe silhouette wrapped in a lacy garment so translucent the moonlight passed through it leaned on his door frame before crackles and slivers of red and silver bidden themself to Lorcán. Encasing his legs and arms, he writhed momentarily, embracing the euphoria that accompanied next as his own abilities sought the tendrils that caressed and restrained his own limbs.

Moonlight danced upon the pale face, illuminating the raven-coloured hair and blue eyes that were like endless pools. Their unfathomable depths threatened to swallow Lorcán whole as pursed lips twisted from pout into a small smirk.

The tie at her waist came undone, the robe softly hitting the floor as her ink covered form glided across the room towards Lorcán. No secrets were left between the two as she pounced atop the young man. Warm breath against his skin, every part of him standing erect out of both fear and pleasure. He felt his hands wander while her teeth found his bottom lip. That taste of his own blood danced across Lorcán’s tongue before Amma’s own hungrily lapped it up, a feeling of pure pleasure dancing across Lorcán’s spine and limbs leaving his body rigid with pent up anticipation.

Amma’s mouth suddenly departed from Lorcán’s as she agilely repositioned herself. He felt her body suddenly straddle his own hips before letting out a surprised gasp as Amma’s nails dragged down his chest. Blood flowed from his scar, the freely flowing crimson billows staining her nails scarlet.

“I’ve already been in you,” She purred, “Now I want you in me.” It was an order, one Lorcán found himself obeying. And in that moment, what was once secret and fleeting became revealed and then fully known.

Lorcán expected to be quick, but instead what should have been moments lasted hours. The two moved as one and soon had left mutual marks across each other, handprints, bitemarks, scratches and burns until Lorcán collapsed back onto the mattress, practically melting into the scattered pillows and blankets.

There was hardly time for sleep however as the dawn’s first light roused Lorcán from his very temporary slumbed. His body was sore and anything but rested. Sweat covered him from head to toe leaving the young man feeling sticky and wet while his bed was spread across the room. His head was spinning, throbbing, while his throat felt dry and raw.

But he was alone.

Stumbling out of the room, he looked around, rubbing his tired eyes before softly calling out.

“Black Betty?” He asked, his call met with nothing but silence. “Amma?” Lorcán asked, this time slightly louder and with more urgency. Again nothing.

“Amma are you still here?”