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[center][img]https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/736241819054112823/748855087501279455/Cici_ID_V1.png[/img]
[img]https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/736241819054112823/748846011077754918/Bella_ID_V1.png[/img]
[img]https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/736241819054112823/748856424163180655/Cade_ID_V1.png[/img]
[img]https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/736241819054112823/748849667420454962/Elsa_ID_V1.png[/img]
[img]https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/736241819054112823/748850904719032360/Samad_ID_V1.png[/img][/center]
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[sub]
Location: Cafeteria 
Time: Some point before the Throwdown collab 
[i]Collab Between Rina, Fallen and Ryver[/i]
[b]Of Mind Links, Baking and Things[/b][/sub]
[hr]

[i]Nothing makes me happier than brightening your day with some homemade love. You are doing a remarkable job at being Wednesday Addams. Something's bothering you.[/i]

Cici intended to start with a cheerful "what shall we have for lunch" but her plans changed when she encountered the thick fog emanating from Bella. It was a new, and interesting, development. She thought this level of perception was exclusive to linked Asylums. That or Bella sinking into a new level of despair. She remained a warm presence at the back of the Palladino's mind, conveying her supportive patience. It was [i]usually[/i] the best way to lure this mouse out of her current funk. 

[i]Marmite toast and hot tea. How does that sound? Goes perfectly with what I'm bringing to you. Please air your thoughts until then. This is the most private we can get, I'm afraid. Not sure how much the 'prisoner' can bug our private conversation.[/i]

Her mind rattled off random recipe instructions, their code when an eavesdropper was suspected. She hoped her friend would respond in kind. [i]Shifting the flour to prevent lumps. (Who is making you uncomfortable?) I used that new sieve you bought. (Is it the new person?) I swapped out the white filling with cocoa. (Or could it be Kannon? Something else entirely?)[/i]

There was a long pause as Bella thought over Cici’s questions. There was a part of her that didn’t want to respond knowing that her friend would try to cheer her up and feeling a bit guilty about inconveniencing her friends yet again. Brushing the thought aside Bella responded while being mindful of the code Cici was using.

[i]How do you keep the oven from burning every single thing you put into it?[/i] (Every single thing I’ve tried has turned out bad/how do you deal with things when nothing goes well?)

Bella’s cheery disposition lacked in her response as her mind replayed every negative interaction since they arrived yesterday. As she shared she surveyed the crowd for the other duo they were to meet for lunch before her gaze returned back to Zane as he approached the table. [i]Zane and I tried to make an afternoon snack yesterday which not only burnt to a crisp but caught on fire. (Zane and I tried to help yesterday with the incident and not only did that turn out bad, we are in a worse state than expected with Kanon). Zane has already brushed it off but there are still pieces to clean up (Zane is not worried but there is still more to do with this incident). Not only that, I also tried to be adventurous and bake something on my own this morning. (I stepped out of my comfort zone this morning by teaching) I thought I got all the measurements right and prepped everything but it still came out bad by the end of things. [/i] (I prepared everything for it and thought things would go well but my teaching session was a big flop) Bella paused for a second as she thought over what she shared about yesterday’s incident and how mentoring went for her before interjecting again. [i]Sorry, that was a lot at once.[/i]

[i]Relax, Bella girl. You've improved a lot. Last time you wouldn't even think of trying to bake something on your own. No, I mean it, Miss Crabby. I wished I could have tasted that crisp before you binned it (I'm sorry I wasn't there to help out and I'm still not sure what to think about the incident with Kannon).[/i]

Cici toned down the sunshine after turning into the main corridor. If she remembered correctly, the cafeteria would be at the other end. She tapped her chin. [i]Elsa, you there?[/i] She quizzed after briefly telling Bella she was inviting another person into the conversation. [i]Have you and Samad met up with Belle and Zane? I want to ask you about yesterday too. I … bollocks! Back with you soon![/i] She exclaimed hurriedly before disappearing. Her feet carried her towards the boys' room up ahead. 

Another fist impacted Cade’s diaphragm.

The impact knocked the air out of his breath, his cry stuck, and died in the back of his throat. His teeth gritted tightly when he fell onto his knees. The sting of the landing rattled through his body. On instinct, his body curled forward and his forehead pressed into the chilled floor. It jolted him back into reality. A wet, sticky sensation traveled along his face side. It licked at the edge of his vision, but he couldn't identify the source. Deep down, he already knew what it was.

Breathe now, Cade demanded of his body.

As expected, it didn’t work. He leaned there gasping helplessly for more breath. A phrase from class wormed itself into his mind. A down man was a dead one. It drove him to place his hand onto the ground then started to push himself up. His toes barely got underneath him before a well-aimed kick sent him onto his side. He slammed against the wall. The sounds of footsteps caused him to glare at his attackers. Through blurry vision, he could identify them as a small group of boys. Most of them were close to his age and all of them were satisfied with their victory.

The oldest, dark-haired and lanky, stepped forward. His right leg lifted then pinned Cade’s shoulder against the wall. A sharp yell exited his throat finally. The pack leader just pressed his foot harder into the joint.

“I. Said. Mind. Your. Own. Business.” Each word was punctuated with more weight ground into his shoulder.

Cade just glared back. He didn’t like individuals that felt entitled to something they wouldn’t. When he witnessed the group harassing a female student, he couldn’t simply sit by and let it happen. He foolishly asked them to back off. The leader didn’t like that and they stalked him into the boy’s restroom. There, they started to plummet him. Cade failed to put up much of a fight. The boys had both numbers and years over his own experience.

A recipe for disaster.

Cocoa, butter, and icing sugar made a mouthwatering combination but it was completely out of place in the loo. Cici's blonde hair draped downwards as she poked her head through the door. She tucked her hands behind her back and clicked across the tiled floor. Bella and Elsa would get an explanation later as to why she needed to end their mental conversation.

"You lads are sure in high spirits. Rowing like good boys do. Not a fair fight, I see, most unfortunately," she remarked. There was a hint of steel underneath her fluffy tone. An invitation almost to throw a blow in her direction.

Her blue eyes kept averted from Cade to give him enough time to salvage his pride. She noted that the scrawny boy had fight left in him and that won her respect. She beamed and encroached into the leader's personal space.  She tensed her knees in anticipation now that she was bringing the fight into enemy territory.  Not that she expected them to be much of a challenge. Bullies were generally all bark and no bite even in Innocence.

"I might be kind and let you have a late lunch if you're under me buuuuuut I shall not speak for the rest. So, your choice, lads. Fight or food? I know I won't want to go hungry during what comes next. It might be your last supper."

As cocky as some students could be about their skills, these boys were smart. Smart enough to know who and when to target. This woman was one of the new asylum teachers which made her a high threat. They still had another year or two before finals. When she entered the leader's personal space, she drew his eyes into her direction. His tongue rolled against his cheek in the debate. As a sign of resistance, he pushed a bit more weight into Cade's shoulder then stepped back.

"He followed me in then decided to pick the fight by throwing the first punch. I decided to show him why he shouldn't pick fights with people stronger than him. The others can confirm it." The boy's words could've been butter if it wasn't full of shit.

In this situation, from any teacher's perspective, it was his word against Cade's. The odds were tilted in the other boy's favor only because more eyes would have sided with him.

He started to stroll around the teacher toward the exit. A single hand raised then gestured for the others to follow him, their figure followed him.

"Given what I heard, maybe it's best I don't hear the rest about what happened."

Cici grinned as she waved to the retreating students. She doubted it would hurt to let them think they managed to hush things up. She had, of course, heard about the harassing when she walked passed the girl and her friends in the hallway. It was the reason she was here instead of sitting in the cafe.

She spun around, crouched, and bowed her head enough to land her chin onto the back of her head. "You don't have any backup," she observed. "That's your biggest mistake. I'd probably have done the same otherwise. Bullies are the most unfortunate result of our curriculum."

She paused to let Cade protest if he wished. His words would give her a better understanding of what sort of lesson she could impart to him. After all, training Asylums that get themselves blown up on the first mission was a ridiculous waste of resources. She rowed her head to one side, narrowing her eyes to a feline's gaze.

"Say, how good are you at patching yourself up? I've got a kit on me. We can work together while I listen."

She grabbed one of the charms off her bracelet and crushed it breaking the seal. A red first-aid pouch appeared in her hand briefly before it toppled into Cade's lap. Cici grinned cheekily smug that it landed where she wanted it to. She leaned forward to retrieve the green slime containing vials cushioned inside.

"Recognize this?" She prompted, hoping to chip away more of the ice. That "woe-is-me" frown was a ridiculous waste of such a cute face. She continued waving it tantalizingly in front of him. "Yoooooou know this better than anyone, don't you? Biiiiiig tank. Heaps of bloopy green stuff. Makes you feel like a fish in an aquarium. No? Yes?"

Cade groaned under his breath. His arm pushed harder off the floor and propped him into an upright position, his back pressed firmly against the wall. A subtle flinch etched across his surface when a new pain flared at his movement. His eyes casually glared at the boys as they exited one by one. Of course with the asylum arrival, they didn’t dare risk having their asses handed to them.

“...” He didn’t respond to her comment on having back up.

It was hard to depend on others when they saw him as a weakling for being a pacifist. Even the teachers were less than pleased with his avoidance of conflict whenever he could.

His eyes locked with her stare then pressed back into the cold tile. Cade couldn’t ignore the fact her odd movements unnerved him the longer he watched her. Like a child who had found a curious toy in a place she least expected.

Another sigh released from his lungs, but it flared with fresh suffering. When the adrenaline finally died in the fight’s wake, he noted how much difficulty he had in breathing. Each inhale seemed to collect shards of glass rather than air. With shallow breaths, Cade ran his fingers over his joints then the bones. He checked for deformities, swelling, and pain. He placed the painful breath to the side to note it appeared to be just minor bruises or cuts until he hit his rib. Searing hurt flooded his system and he doubled over, crumbled to the pain.

“Fuck... “ Cade hissed.

Sweat poured from his pale skin causing his shirt to cling to his surface. At this point, his face scrunched up into a winch as he sized her up.

“It’s… fish tank goo. And yes, I do. Teasing me… doesn’t help the pain.” He decided to point out.

Cici hummed her bafflement at his reaction. She figured he hadn't seen this version of the goop or he'd be snatching the tube from her hand. She hated having to prod this bespectacled hedgehog more than necessary. That stare earlier made her question her welcome.

"Edible fish tank goo. Go on, take a sip. Doesn't taste like lemon sherbet but it doesn't make you gag either. Win-win I say. Hopefully, you won't need a second tube."

She popped the lid open with a sharp twist and wrapped one of his hands around it. She kept her hand around his until she was confident the tube won't slip to the floor. "I'm serious. This version is edible! Want me to drink a tube to prove my point?"

Not in a mood to argue with anyone, Cade pressed his back against the wall. The simple movement caused him to clench his teeth and bite back a cry in his throat. He sucked in shallow breaths of air while he let her continue her talking. Sweat shimmered across his pores as it drenched his crumpled shirt, signs of shock started to take hold.

“Look…” Cade took another breath, “I don’t mean to be rude, but I’m sure my rib is fractured or broken. I might be going into minor shock."

He let his words trail to try to collect his thoughts. It was difficult to determine the exact extent of the damage without the proper equipment, but he feared the worst.

“I doubt a teacher wants to explain why a student is dead outside of class so there's no reason not to trust you.” He held a hand out for the tube.

"You doubt me after I helped you out earlier?" She teased while handing over the goo tube.

Getting to her feet, Cici pulled out a handkerchief from one of her hidden pockets and wet it under running water from the closest basin. She crouched down beside Cade again and started sponging his clammy skin. Her lips peeled open as a second thought occurred to her.

"I don't know much about healing or how effective the goo is. Say, would you like a second tube? It may knock you out somewhat but I can get you to the infirmary easily."

She fished out a second tube in anticipation. Silently, she took one of his shaking hands and made him hold the damp cloth against his temple. Her own fingers wrapped themselves around the stopper.  "Don't tell me you're already dozing off. I know this has some alcohol in it but you'd have to be a lightweight to get drunk this quickly."

Cade sighed, then took a moment to examine the ‘goo’. His mind replayed the facts as he noted he had drained a considerable amount of energy and thankful he didn’t titter on the edge of insanity. The young man shuddered. Alchemy was still a ‘science’ he knew very little about.

With a deep breath, he downed the first tube. A strong favor of Grey Earl invaded his tongue chased down by a hint of lemon. The texture reminded him of watered-down custard filling. He nearly choked on it from the surprise. Cade tightened his mouth shut while he forced it down, the sensation slid down his throat and settled into his stomach.

When she took his hand and used it to keep the wet handkerchief to his temple, he watched her outside the edge of his vision. She immediately reached for another tube.

“I will admit, I don’t know if I’m a lightweight or not. I’ve never drunk anything stronger than soda.” A light rush started to billow from his middle and spread across his veins. It centered on his wounds where they gradually began to heal.

Cici could already hear Elsa nagging. Her friend had always been skeptical about the 'goo' after the tasting session three months ago. The seemingly innocuous goop in plastic cups had turned many unsuspecting Asylums into roaring drunks by their third sample. A miscalculation in alcohol content, according to the staff,  a claim which was still met with lots of skepticism to this day. Especially, after they realized that for lightweights, a second tube would be the equivalent of downing three-fourths of a bottle of vodka. A claimed side effect of all the energy thieved off the body to help it heal itself.

The lady appraised the injured student again, weighing the pros and cons of feeding him the second tube. She personally hadn't experimented with its efficacy since she seldom needed to get up close to her enemies. Samad was the only one she knew who had actually used it recently. She tugged at his consciousness only to back away.

"Well, this calls for an experiment, doesn't it? I'll feed you the second tube and we compare notes afterward. You don't have to down the whole thing, mind." She remarked as she popped the cap off. "This should taste like lemon curd and fresh butter scones."

She offered the entree to the tea party in front of the teen. Her mind now more fascinated by the prospect of seeing this serious boy drunk. Was he going to be a noisy drunk or asleep one? Or better yet, a gung-ho one. The prospect of him getting daredevil-like in the heat of battle was highly entertaining.

"Up, up. Lean on me please. I'll be getting you to the infirmary."

"I'm not sure I want to try another. The texture is so slimy and I barely got it down." Cade stated as he moved his arm and wrapped it around her neck.

"Just help me up and I can likely limp to the infirmary if I can manage to keep my balance. I'm sure you have places you need to be and lunch will be ending soon." He didn't want to inconvenience her. The woman didn't have to help, but he did appreciate it even through the pain.

"Not the last time you're gonna taste it."

Cici downed the tube to not waste it. A lopsided smile formed her lips as soon as it blossomed in her head. She smacked her lips in appreciation while hauling him up. "Steady," she warned. "Also try to keep it in when we arrive."

She focused her mind on the infirmary down the hall. Her brow scrunching slightly as she could feel the alcohol talking. She waved off any concerns the student had and she asked him to jump. She hiccoughed from the sudden rush of activity.

The world pulled apart in glowy threads. Spinning like a made spool on Aurora's spinning wheel. Cic whooped merrily, dancing around as they hit the firm ground. She waved to the shock medics chatting in the corner over their AO frappucinos from the coffee shop.

"Check on this kid here. He had goop for his injury. 'Spect he might be suffering from overuse too." She informed them.

Rubbing his back slowly to dull potential nausea, she gave him a goofy grin. "Soooo you good if I left you here? I'd be happy to keep you company otherwise."

Cade’s stomach twisted in his midriff. His arm tightened briefly before he let her go suddenly. He turned his head and his mouth open. In a wave of color, all the contents of his stomach spilled out across the floor into a putrid liquid. The strong soured carrot taste lingered at the back of his raw throat. Already a few of the medics started to move to guide him to a chair while another went for a mop. 

“I think I’ll be all right. Thanks again. However, I don’t think I’ll ever get used to teleporting…” Already his stomach clenched in on itself threatening to purge more of his last meal upon the floor.   

Cici wrinkled her nose and danced further away. "I - well, I gotta run. Take care, okay? I'll stop by to see if you are here in the evening. Bring you some soup, maybe." Curling inwards to avoid the medics touching her, the Asylum made for the door. She wasn't the type to overstay her welcome.

[i]What did I miss? Bella … Elsa?[/i] She chirped into the echoing silence. She reached out again to no avail. She blinked slowly, realising that something must have happened.  

She took off. The whizzing corridor barely leaving an impression on her conscious mind. And, she skidded through the door, made a sharp turn and slipped into place beside Bella. An empty chair appearing at that spot as if by magic. She sank down after a round of cheery nodding and non-verbal hellos. Crossing her legs, she leaned across Bella and scrutinised the strange man. 

"You look like you could use a cuppa," she proposed after seeing him wolf down more cake. What she really thought of Angel underneath the friendliness was hard to deduce. 

Removing one of her charms from the bracelet, she rolled it against the surface. The seal burst open, depositing a large thermos flask, a stack of plastic cups and a flat cardboard box, similar to the ones used to package donuts. The box she pushed towards Elsa before she poured out two cups of tea. She floated one towards Angel using telekinesis. 

After settling it in front of him, she held her cup between both hands and inhaled the fragrant steam. "Mmm, dark roasted Samatra Oolong. I remembered you were impartial to it the last time I brewed some for you, Samad. Want a cup? Zane?" 

She rested the edge of the cup on her lower lip. The sip never coming as she waited to see Elsa's reaction to her latest creations. She couldn't help beaming. "Chocolate not coconut just the way you like it. Made enough for [i]five[/i] of us." Which five, while unsaid, was obvious to the outsider in the group. She wondered if he would be bold enough to help himself without permission. She expected him to since the way he carried himself suggested that he was the rebellious sort. 

The man's presence lit all their tensions on fire as they each reacted differently to the situation. An unsettled silence proceeded and lingered after Zane's last comment. When Cici's question flitted over her mental link, Elsa didn't answer. She suspected the prisoner's specialization to be related to the mind because of how easily he deduced when she discovered the location. He didn't even bother to hide it afterward. Another red flag to add to her ever-growing pile and another reason to stay far away from him.

Cici's arrival broke the growing apprehension. Elsa gave her a raised eyebrow at her friend and questioned what took her so long. Instead of an answer, Cici set out treats and offered drinks to Samad then Zane. Her partner glanced at her. Understanding his hesitation, she smiled then reached out to slide the small package back to her.

"Yes, please." He turned to Cici and asked politely. His arms still remained crossed over his front, but his alchemy ready for unwanted surprises.

Meanwhile, Elsa began to open up the box lid and smirked at the treats inside.

"I envy your baking ability. Most of my efforts wind up becoming charcoal." The woman reached in. 

Between her fingers, she pulled two snowball shaped cookies covered in powdered sugar. She passed one to Samad who examined it for a moment then took a small bite.

[i]I trust Cici not to poison you, Samad. Enjoy it, not judge it.[/i] Elsa teased him. 

[i]It's too sweet, I prefer savory and fruit favors. I will never understand your addiction to chocolate...[/i] He retorted only to continue eating it.