[color=f26522][h3]Gregory Irving[/h3][hr][hr][/color] A bit surprised to hear the greeting, Gregory resisted the urge to immediately turn and look. He took in the world that laid past the rather thick pane of glass for a moment, and then turned towards the woman. It took a few moments for him to take in the details, and he frowned a bit as he tried to remember exactly who she was. Her appearance was a bit familiar, but his mind wasn’t fully co-operating just yet. He quirked a brow at her expression, not quite sure what to make of it. She certainly seemed pleased with herself, but he wasn’t exactly sure the feeling extended to him… His grip on the stand tightened ever so slightly as the names, or at least one of them, finally made his memories click. 

Being suspicious of her didn’t make Gregory any less hungry, and it was something he became more aware of at the mention of food. [color=f26522]“Uh, th-”[/color] The moment of hesitation was more than enough for her to grab him and steer him away from his random wanderings. Though as she barrelled into a locked staff lounge with him in tow, he figured this turn of events was probably for the best... Doing his best to ignore the looks he got from the others and the tension his presence injected into the atmosphere, he breathed deeply and then joined the woman at her table.

Arranging the IV drips so the tubes rested on the table took a few moments, but Gregory relaxed a bit as that was done with before he reached out to take one of the food boxes. [color=f26522]“You’re Rosa Schur? Freddy and Grumpy are Fredric, and the Commander?”[/color] The public database was basically non-existent of any actual data, but the appearance certainly looked like it fit. Without waiting for a reply, he opened the box and began to spread the contents in front of him. [color=f26522]“Huh…”[/color] Laid out entirely, there was a rather substantial amount of food…. And there were two more boxes? Jeez. Before he actually dug in though, Gregory looked towards the woman, wondering if she had anything to say.

She laughed, clapping her hands together once before correcting him.

[color=f7976a]" 'Grumpy' is Director Zhang."[/color]

Cracking open the main course, he stared at the pasta for a few moments though it might have been more trying to associate the Director as Grumpy. [color=f26522]"I guess,"[/color] he murmured as he reached for an utensil. [color=f26522]"Seems like No-fun-allowed, or Takes No Shit would be more fitting though."[/color] Going silent as he began to eat, he eventually leaned back from the table and sighed in satisfaction. [color=f26522]"Right, uh thanks for the food, but what'd you mean earlier? Why didn't they think I'd be up so soon? Or does that have to do with why all the other Aberrations are drugged up to hell, or whatever?"[/color]

[color=f7976a]"Because you got shot in the stomach?"[/color] she grinned at him, eyeing him up and down with her power before nodding in satisfaction. [color=f7976a]"But I'm glad you survived! Grumpy would be, too, if she bothered expressing those kinds of emotions. Need more of your kind--the ones we can actually send out to the field."[/color]

Clicking his tongue, Gregory tapped his foot a few times before he shook his head and returned to the food. Finishing the rest of it in short order, he looked around the spread before he began to work on the fruit salad. [color=f26522]"So, throwaways,"[/color] he muttered as he set the empty bowl on the table. [color=f26522]"Assuming you've read my file, you know my "power","[/color] his tone growing sarcastic at the word, [color=f26522]"is pretty garbage as they go. A gun would be better..."[/color]

[color=f7976a]"Bullets are expensive,"[/color] she joked, before leaning forward, the lines around her eyes growing brighter, [color=f7976a]"besides, your power is way better than any gun. Except maybe for guns made by that one student--the other new one, what was his name?"[/color] The woman leaned back in her chair, tapping her chin thoughtfully. [color=f7976a]"Oh, right! Brent! He can make some neat things. But if we're talking stopping power,"[/color] she leaned back towards Gregory conspiratorially, [color=f7976a]"you'd be ballistic."[/color]

[color=f26522]"What, they aren't free when used on monsters or subnaturals?"[/color] He paused, thinking about what he'd just said, but shrugged afterwards. Not thinking before speaking, brilliant. The name wasn't familiar, but he made a note to remember it anyways since they'd probably see one another soon enough. Well, assuming he hadn't been sent out to deal with the emergency. He closed his eyes to push the thoughts aside, but his expression scrunched at the quip. 

Eventually, a small smile did break the feigned pained expression and he huffed as he sat up a bit straighter. [color=f26522]"Right..." [/color]Trailing off as he looked towards what remained on the table, he decided to reach for one of the other boxes for better offerings instead. [color=f26522]"So, do you do this every year? Bring food to the casualties of stupidity?"[/color]

[color=f7976a]"Yup!"[/color] she pushed the third box towards him as well. [color=f7976a]"Least I can do. Things are going so wrong we have to send out the new kids, too, but at least while they're here I can stalk them with Grumpy's giant map and trackers and keep them fed."[/color]

Digging through the contents of the box, he blinked in confusion for several seconds before adopting a contemplative expression. He hadn't missed the fact that he'd essentially lucked out on getting sent out on a Suicide Squad run on account of being shot, but the box's contents really were interesting. What sort of cafeteria served up surf and turf, or was it exclusive to the staff? 

[color=f26522]"So Menagerie is the one responsible? And all staff have access to the Eye of Grumpy? Or just the sneaky ones?"[/color] Figuring it had waited long enough, he cracked open the container and poked at the steak and then the tail before he hummed in appreciation. Well, if he was to die in the following hours at least his final meal was quite nice.

[color=f7976a]"Oh, been keeping an ear to the chatty nurses? Yes, supposedly Menagerie,"[/color] she replied, looking away briefly. [color=f7976a]"Doesn't read like that to me, though, but what do I know? I'm just a staff mage."[/color]

The nurses nearby turned to look at the woman when she referred to herself as a "mage."

[color=f7976a]"What? Gonna report me to the Director?"[/color] A hearty laugh followed her dare and the hospital staff turned away, warily glancing back at her sporadically. [color=f7976a]"As for the 'Eye of Grumpy,' I like it. I'm going to use that from now on. And I'm not going to answer that question. Just know she has Sauron's giant flaming eyeball and don't screw around too much." [/color]

A few nods sufficed for agreement, approval, acceptance, and understanding as Gregory busied himself with polishing off the surf & turf lest it somehow disappear. The empty plate nudged aside, his fingers drummed against the table before he asked, [color=f26522]"Any more advice? Don't think bad thoughts around that guy because he can read your thoughts, things like that?"[/color]

[color=f7976a]"Ugh,"[/color] the staff mage shook her head and threw her hands up in the air, wiggling her fingers dramatically, [color=f7976a]"way too much advice. Not enough time to give any amount to matter. Probably the biggest thing off the top of my head would be 'don't alienate yourself.' That kind of thing destroys high school life with normal kids, so what do you think might happen here where all the kids have powers?"[/color]

She faked a shudder of terror to emphasize her point.

[color=f26522]"Got it. Make friends, or at least allies, that might want to save your ass when shit inevariably goes wrong."[/color] He began to pack away what food hadn't been eaten into one of the empty boxes, and shrugged at her question. [color=f26522]"Sure can. You're the one that's staff though. Any horror stories? Some dumbass starts a fight, and everyone dies when the Director catches wind of it?"[/color]

A quick shrug masked the sudden fall in her expression at the mention of "horror stories."

[color=f7976a]"Yeah, sure. Dumbasses start fights, either the guards or another mage ends it. The students here tend to know that--at least for now--this is as good as it's gonna get. People who don't get that? They get beaten down pretty quick. Most of the staff don't usually have to lift a finger these days."[/color]

The box closed with a click, and Gregory scratched the back of his head as pursed his lips and leaned back into the backrest. [color=f26522]"Figures..."[/color] Presumably there was a time where the staff did, but that didn't seem like a topic easily broached. [color=f26522]"Well, thanks for everything so far. You prefer Ms. Schur, or?"[/color]

[color=f7976a]"Rosa,"[/color] she stood, offering Gregory a hand. [color=f7976a]"Stay safe. As best you can."[/color]

[color=f26522]"Gregory then. Or whatever you have to call me as staff."[/color] Taking the hand, his other propped itself against the table to help him to his feet. [color=f26522]"That's the plan. I heard something about a "Ground Zero" though. Mind giving directions to it?"[/color]

[color=f7976a]"Ooooh, yes,"[/color] Rosa made a face, like she had just eaten something disgusting, [color=f7976a]"paperwork."[/color]

She rummaged around in her breast pocket for a while before finally pulling out a crumpled piece of paper that had been folded enough times to fit. After several long seconds of squinting at her own handwriting, she finally understood what she was reading.

[color=f7976a]"Your room's, uh, 302 in Building B, with the other X's, and all the [i]paperwork[/i] is there, too."[/color] Rosa sheepishly handed Gregory the wrinkled sheet with a crappy, hand-drawn map on it. [color=f7976a]"Well, then, I guess I better get goooooooing..."[/color]

With that, she barreled through the hospital staff in her way like a bull in a china shop, heading outside with a loud shout of [color=f7976a]"HEY, WHERE'D YOU PUT MY LONGBOARD!"[/color]
[hr]A few more blinks summed up his reaction at the news before Gregory looked down at the crumpled paper and just squinted. It wasn't quite doctor chicken scratch just yet, but still pretty hard to make out. By the time he looked up from his deciphering attempts, all that was left of Rosa were a few annoyed expressions from her departure. Left alone in the staff lounge with a bunch of people that didn't really like him... Yeah, it was time to leave. Naturally the wheels squeaked annoyingly as he dragged the stand with him, other hand clutching the piece of paper, and he went off in search of someone who could discharge him from this depressing place.

One harried nurse with "Margaret" on her name tag scurried up to Gregory, grumbling about Rosa and her "lack of consideration for anyone and anything." Without even greeting the boy, she simply proceeded to remove the IV, peeling off the tape a little too roughly and yanking out the needle just a little too viciously. [color=f7976a]"[i]Ms. Schur[/i] says you're free to go,"[/color] she spat the name out like a curse.

Clicking her tongue in annoyance, she took the IV stand from Gregory, ignoring standard protocols about taking care of patients and leaving him with a pinprick of blood beginning to drop down his arm. Another nurse, taking pity on him, took Gregory aside, applying antiseptic and gauze before patting him sympathetically.

[color=f7976a]"She's not usually like that, though if the Director finds out, she'll lose her job. Mind not being too hard on her?"[/color]

Grinding his teeth as the needle was yanked out, he flexed his fingers slowly and ignored the blood that welled up in response. Margaret had already disappeared by the time he cared to look up, and he glanced around in the few moments before one of the other nurses came over to help him out. 

He poked the fresh gauze carefully a few times before he nodded slowly. [color=f26522]"She does her job I guess, hard as it probably is."[/color] And given the death rate he had read about for the school, it probably was one of the worse hospitals to work at. WIth a nod, he thanked the nurse before he wandered back to his room to pick up some more suitable clothes than a hospital gown. 

Surprisingly, his shirt hadn't been discarded into the trash. Sure there was a nice bullet-sized hole near the bottom, but otherwise it had been laundered clean and folded with everything else. A quick change, another frown as he looked at the other Aberrations in the room, and then he took his leave of the hospital, hoping he wouldn't find himself in one of those beds anytime soon again. Probably wishful thinking though...
[hr]Rosa's map was rather unhelpful, though bless her heart for trying he supposed. A few minutes of wandering around with paper in hand was enough to draw a guard's attention, who was thankfully helpful rather than an asshole, and get him pointed into the right direction. The two buildings were easy enough to spot, and so was the one he belonged in out of the two. A look towards the marble-clad building, and then Gregory wandered into Building B. 

Unsurprisingly, the lobby was almost deserted when he entered although only one of the two students that were there bothered to look up. He raised a hand in greeting, only to sigh when the gesture went unreturned. The guards didn’t bother him in the slightest as he trudged over to the elevator, and so he didn’t pay them much attention either. 

Jarringly enough, a rather peaceful tune began to play once the doors slid closed and the elevator began to rise. Odd considering how short the ride was and he couldn’t notice any speakers either when he looked around. A ding pre-empted the door’s opening and cut off the music, leaving him a bit confused when he stepped out and into the third floor. There was an area that looked to be a living or common rooms before a hallway on either side led to the rooms. A sign atop each hallway entrance listed which rooms were down each, and without anyone to bother interacting with Gregory simply made a beeline for his own room. 
[hr]Taking a look inside the room reminded him of the pictures one of his brothers had sent back of the housing unit he’d lived in for a few months. It wasn’t a tiny room, but things were quite compacted. The table wasn’t cluttered from the stacks of paperwork on it, but the duffel bags took up most of the floor between the bed and dresser. Closing the door, he wandered down the hall in search of the bathrooms and frowned a bit when he found it. A washroom and then showers deeper into the room. There was a shower curtain that kept the exact layout hidden from him, but he figured they probably weren’t all that considerate. Lifting his shirt to prod at the wrappings, Gregory decided he’d figure how to shower with that on afterwards.

For the time being he returned to his room and began to unpack whatever had been stuffed into the duffel bags. Clothes, tablet, a few more personal belongings, hell his laptop was here too. Setting everything up as he liked took a decent bit of time, and it wasn’t helped that he had to pause in pain constantly as he moved in a way his body didn’t quite like. 

Slumping into his seat at last, he kicked one of the duffel bags by his feet aside with a sigh and picked up the pile of paperwork to begin signing away what remained of his soul. The “violent release zone” was probably “Ground Zero” and he quickly scanned through the document before signatures and dates were jotted down and that document tossed aside. The requisition form took a bit more thought on his part though, and he fired up his laptop to fill the room with some music as he thought about it. Rosa was hardly wrong about the stopping power he could generate, but he actually needed some equipment to utilize that effectively. The room, small as it was, was also a bit barebones… Looking down at the blank page, he twirled a pen before deciding to see just how much he could rope out of this.

[hider=Misc. Request Form, Signed Gregory Irving]
Mini-fridge for room. Appropriate equipment for bass guitar usage, instrument included. Touring bicycle because running everywhere’s a bit inconvenient. Sewing Machine because I couldn't lug that with me.

Access to soldier armoury and ability to practice with their firearms. Steel darts and javelins of various sizes and weights ranging from 100g up to several kilograms. Depleted uranium's cool too, but then I need a storage locker or something. [/hider]

Satisfied with the current state of his form, he moved onto the stack of tests with a resigned expression. A right pain in the ass, but maybe taking the academic side seriously might help them ease u- [color=f26522]“Pft…”[/color] Not likely, but fuck it couldn’t hurt to try. Not like he had any pressing issues to attend to at the moment. The sensation at the back of his head was just that, at the back of his head at the moment. He could take care of the Stigma either later today or tomorrow if there wasn’t enough time before curfew tonight. Flipping through the numerous pages of tests, he clicked his tongue as he stopped the pen and got to work. 

Most of the subjects were at least somewhat familiar to Gregory, and while he didn’t know everything, he also didn’t care enough to bother searching up the correct answers. Whatever he knew was whatever he filled in, and the ones that graded his test could sort through it. Finished tests were tossed aside to be collected later as he bulldozed his way through the core subjects, relying on what he remembered from classes. It was only a week or so ago that he’d been sitting in class, and the realization caused him to halt completely. Leaning away from the table, he tossed his pen aside with a heavy sigh. [color=f26522]“Jeez…”[/color]