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[img]http://i.imgur.com/Fb1UXSA.png[/img] | [img]http://i63.tinypic.com/2h84geb.jpg[/img] | [img]http://i65.tinypic.com/28hztyw.png[/img] | [img]http://i68.tinypic.com/es3ewn.png[/img]
[h1][color=9e0039]Angélique[/color] | [color=8493ca]Christmas[/color] | [color=cyan]Sander[/color] | [color=red]Christopher[/color][/h1]
[color=silver][hr]𝕊𝕖𝕡𝕥. 𝟙𝟜, 𝟚𝟘𝟚𝟘   / /   𝕌𝕊𝔸ℝ𝕀𝕃ℕ 𝔼𝕒𝕤𝕥   / /   ℂ𝕒𝕞𝕡𝕦𝕤   / /  𝟙𝟜𝟙𝟘 [hr][/color]
[sub]Collab by [@Riffus Maximus] [@January] [@RedDusk] [@dragonmancer][/sub]
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As everyone from Experimental Unit B took a seat inside the truck that would drive them to Wisford, the doors closed and the vehicle shortly departed from USARILN. Whether it was because of their growing anxiousness, or simply to kill time and make the trip more enjoyable, some of the students inside were already starting to discuss among themselves.
 
Angélique, who was sitting the closest to the truck's backdoors along with Sander in front of her, she had remained silent for a bit, looking around to see where everyone was sitting. Much to her dismay, her teammates were sitting pretty much far from her. But it was probably better this way. Hiding her pooling nervousness was becoming more difficult by the hours. She would not allow herself to look like that in front of her team. The last they needed to see was an anxious mess. She wanted them to be inspired, or look up to her cool-headed behavior.
 
Having finished looking around, Angel had noticed the blond boy sitting across her, next to the tall lanky Blood Mage in front of her. Seeing Christmas, the raven-haired Aberration was reminded of the role he had been given in this battle, which led to the times the boy had healed her and her classmates in the past. Really, she still hasn't properly thanked him for the Flags and Seek game's aftermath, hasn't she?
 
[color=9e0039]"Christmas?" Angélique called out to the blonde Arbiter nearby, her concealed gaze setting upon the Healer. "Thanks. For healing me... and the others last Monday. And the other times before that too."[/color] Angel paused, letting the irony of such a late apology settle in with a light-heart chuckle hinted with a bit of nervousness [color=9e0039]"Sorry if it came out of nowhere. I figured I should be thanking you for what you are doing for us. It takes someone... quite selfless to just accept an injury to save others."[/color] Angélique paused another time, a grin forming onto her lips as she gave Chris, who was sitting next to her, an elbow nudge to his sides. [color=9e0039]"Especially when this guy here doesn't know how to pull his punches."[/color]

Christmas looked up at the Aberration in front of him, distracted from scrutinizing his shaking hand wrapped around Sander's forearm. He was surprised to be addressed by someone whose name he still didn't know. The tense atmosphere fattened on that kind of sincere talk as well, and he wasn't sure he wanted a reminder that in a few hours they could all die. People were true to themselves in times of crises, weren't they? He breathed in, his other hand finding purchase on the unnatural heat of Sander's skin as red smoke curled upward from his roommate's body.

The girl nudged a white-haired Arbiter sitting beside her, the gesture implying a friendly familiarity that was a small comfort to see.

[color 8493ca]"...Don't have to--to thank me,"[/color] he replied, looking back down. He didn't exactly heal others because he was concerned about them, but it didn't feel like the time to explain. [color 8493ca]"...Sorry."[/color]

The black-haired X-marked raised a quizzical eyebrow, confused and curious. Maybe Christmas was just one of those overly modest people. But why apologize for it? Perhaps there was something else, but Angélique didn't feel like prying, especially now of all times. 
 
Discreetly, her eyes scanned the two young men sitting in front of her, their arm locked to each other. They looked strangely close, that much she could see from the familiarity of the gesture. Ironic, for the Vampire Mage and Blood Mage to be bonded so closely.
 
Something bothered Angel however as her gaze set upon Sander. The red mist emanating from his body felt somewhat foreboding for the singing Mage. Actually, this was something she had never seen Sander do before. Was it another aspect of his power he kept to himself, or was is a trick he gained recently?
 
[color=9e0039]"Are you alright, Sander?"[/color] Angel asked, a bit concerned about the whole thing. [color=9e0039]"What is that smoke coming out from your skin?"[/color]

“[color=cyan]Huh?[/color]” -Sander blinked at his feet, slowly raised his head to look at the Aberration sitting across from him. He remembered her name, vaguely, from the flag football. But he remembered her comments on his power more –“[color=cyan]I’m fine. It’s just…my power. Not dangerous.[/color]” -He clarified quickly, gesturing to the red wisps of smoking slowly rising from his body. 

Not much of a talker, was he? Well, he was like that too last Monday, so maybe he really wasn't a very talkative guy. But seeing that display of his power, the pale screamer Mage couldn't help but feeling curious about it. Maybe she could ask for details, without being too forceful about it? She knew she was a bit obsessive about knowing her peers better, from what only her own hand notes showed.
 
[color=9e0039]"What does it do exactly? It reminds me a bit of Christmas' mist, if only less intense."[/color] 

“[color=cyan]It…[/color]” -A frown creased Sander’s brows as he searched for the words –“[color=cyan]…helps.[/color]” 
 
“[color=cyan]Not dangerous.[/color]” -He insisted again, hoping Angel’s curiosity could be satisfy with just these half-truths. 

Sighing softly, Angel dropped the matter. Obviously, the guy didn't want to speak about it. She wasn't really satisfied with this kind of answer, she was a tad frustrated even, but she tried not to show it. Now wasn't really the time to pry into everyone's little secrets. She had to respect their privacy, even if those details could really help into understanding one another.
 
[color=9e0039]"Oookay then. If you say so, I'm trusting you."[/color] Angel half-muttered, settling down more comfortably on her seat. 
 
Chatting sure was hard with all these closed-up classmates of hers. Really, the only guy she ever spoke so openly was Brent. Everyone else? They all seemed so distant. Even her training partner was somewhat odd. Maybe they had yet to adapt to this new life. Had she adapted to this prison herself? Who knows? Even Angel started questioning herself; how quickly she began building a routine here, how strangely accepting she was towards these suicidal situations she was thrown into.
 
Surrounded by not very talkative people, Angélique shrugged slightly. She might as well kill time and occupy her mind. Struggling to get her phone out of the jeans inside the baggy overlaying military pants, Angel shuffled on her seat for a bit, ushering a quiet [color=9e0039]“Sorry”[/color] as she felt herself bumping Christopher a few times. 
 
When she finally retrieved her phone, the panting Aberration removed her helmet and set it down on her lap as a cushion of sort for her arms. Riding the truck with all of this gear on made it uncomfortably hot. Her scalp was itching, and she could feel herself sweating in the suit. Maybe next time she’ll consider wearing fewer clothes underneath that military outfit, she thought as she took off her combat gloves and tapped gently the smartphone’s screen. 

Chris had been silent for the first moments of the truck ride. Each second that ticked grew dread. When Angelique started on her phone, Chris pushed the thoughts away to spark up a new conversation. He didn't like the idea that this could be the last time they'd talk, but if that was true then why let that keep in quiet?

[color=red]"Hey, Angelique..."[/color] He started, the arbiter had folded his hands over his lap. It took him for a moment to think of what to say. [color=red]"I want to thank you for that training opportunity we had the other day."[/color]

In the middle of watching a video about the guns she had grabbed from the weapons crate before they embarked on the truck, Angélique paused the screen with a tap of her index. She turned to her Dracomancer teammate and offered him a warm smile.

[color=9e0039]"Oh, it's been my pleasure. Really, I'm glad you joined us that time."[/color] The raven-haired Aberration's face turned slightly red in embarrassment after thinking just how much of a fool she made herself of that time. Screaming like a little girl because of her fear of heights and all the tumbling that didn't help it, it surely made a poor impression of herself to the eyes of others.

[color=9e0039]"I'm sorry if I had been rude to you and the others, and for being so pitiful after the flight. It had gotten a bit too intense, trying to conquer my fear like Brent suggested."[/color] Angel giggled nervously, trying to make light of the situation.

[color=red]"Better try to face them there then well, here."[/color] He mused with a smile. [color=red]"It was no trouble, really. This whole thing is stressful for all of us."[/color]

Angel's eyes lowered at the mention of stress, letting our a faint [color=9e0039]"Yeah..."[/color] as her gaze fell back to her phone's screen. Anxiety, stress, fears; there sure are plenty of that in the atmosphere right now, in this truck ride. Hopefully, hers wasn't leaking out too visibly. Figuring out talking would probably help in dissipating some of her raging anxiety; Angel's eyes went back to Christopher.

[color=9e0039]"How was your week? Did I miss much from the classes?"[/color] the fallen rockstar tried to make small chat, even if she despised herself the idea of going to the school USARILN pretended to be.

[color=red]"Well nothing important in class though..." [/color]Chris had paused for a moment, taking a look around his neighbors. He leaned closer to Angelique and talked a bit quieter as if it were some dark secret. [color=red]"I got on this date with this girl see..I-I'm not sure if she likes me or not."[/color]

[color=9e0039]"Really? Already? Damn, that's pretty cool."[/color] Unlike Chris, her voice was just as loud as usual, if not a bit more due to her surprise. But as she realized her comrade was looking around before speaking abd talked with a quieter tone, she giggled softly and lowered her tone [color=9e0039]"Don't tell me it's with one of the girls in our class?"[/color] 

[color=red]"Not sure if I'm comfortable telling you who it is but..uh..I'm not good with girls. I could use some advice."[/color] He was a bit alarmed with her initial volume. He didn't want people to know about his own business. He also didn't want the crush in question to find out either.

[color=9e0039]"Ah c'mon, I might look like a loud mouth, but I can keep secrets."[/color]  Angel chuckled at Chris' shyness, finding it cute of its own. [color=9e0039]"I'm no love guru though. I haven't experienced much romance in my life. I don't think I would be the best person to give you advices. Unless it's something very broad."[/color] 

He sighed. [color=red]"Its Siena."[/color]

Angel restrained herself from laughing too loudly, slapping a hand to her mouth as she slipped a faint laughter underneath the palm of her hand. [color=9e0039]"R-riding you had quite the benefits."[/color]  she stifled another laughter from her innuendo. After silencing herself, she let out a sigh and wiped away a tear from her eyes. "I-I'm very happy for you both though." Her wide grin returned to a more serene smile. [color=9e0039]"I can't say I know her that much. Hell, you might know much more about her than me. But if you are going out with her, then I have one advice."[/color] 

Angel's smiling face turned into a most sincere expression. Her mind went back to the time she had witnessed Siena's mental breakdown after abusing her powers. Through her hugging with the then distressed girl, she felt an unknown bonding with Siena. She could not place what was wrong with her classmate, but there was something that she had felt that day. 

[color=9e0039]"Support her from whatever she is going through. If you two dated, then there's something she likes about you. You're straight-forward and honest to others, so just remain true to yourself and everything will just unfold from there."[/color] 

He nodded, and returned to his seat in quiet. Thinking about that kind of stuff was a lot easier than the thought of not returning to the school in one piece.