[center] [img]http://i65.tinypic.com/21o8tg4.png[/img] [img]http://i67.tinypic.com/2njvpci.png[/img] [h2][color 33ec06]Marcus[/color] | [color=ff57ff]Siena[/color][/h2] [hr][color=silver]𝕊𝕖𝕡𝕥. 𝟘𝟟, 𝟚𝟘𝟚𝟘 / / 𝕌𝕊𝔸ℝ𝕀𝕃ℕ 𝔼𝕒𝕤𝕥 / / 𝕊𝕠𝕞𝕖𝕨𝕙𝕖𝕣𝕖 𝕐𝕠𝕟𝕕𝕖𝕣 / / 𝟚𝟚𝟛𝟘[/color][hr] [sub]Collab with [@Chasers115][@PapiTan][/sub][/center] It was later that night when Marcus excused himself from Suite 430. While he wasn’t [i]too[/i] concerned about Siena and Callan eavesdropping, there were other reasons that he didn’t want to have his roommates privy to his conversation. Max was family, probably the closest he had anymore, and there were just some things that he wasn’t willing to talk about to anybody else. Questions he didn’t want to have to answer – and he wasn’t sure if he just wasn’t ready, or he was actively avoiding them. He sat on one of the couches in the library, typing out a quick message on his phone: [quote][color 33ec06]Alright! Long night, but I’m free for a call now![/color][/quote] He sat there for a few moments, thinking, before mentally kicking himself in the head. He’d meant to ask Emma about drinks at dinner, but it had completely slipped his mind. Wouldn’t hurt to send out another message while he waited on Max. [quote][color 33ec06]So, I'm willing to bet you'd really be appreciating that drink right about now; got any place and any time that you prefer over any other?[/color][/quote] … Should he have mentioned who he was, just to be clear? Would it seem weird to text twice in a row? All he was doing was clarifying his identity, so it wouldn’t be super awkward? Right? [quote][color 33ec06] This is Marcus, by the way. The super not-smooth one. Just in case you have a million guys knocking down your door for drinks![/color][/quote] It had been an eventful day. Siena couldn't lie about that to herself, much less convince herself otherwise. She'd trailed after her roommate's exit shortly after, bringing her phone, the wallet containing her I.D., and the smallest of her e-readers, tucked safely away in one of the carefully stitched pockets of the beige coat that she'd decided was more comfortable and distinctly less smelly. Opting for a pair of flats that [i]hadn't[/i] been dipped in sewage, the girl had settled in a spot of her own. Too tired and too overwhelmed to check the blog, but at the same time too occupied to do the smart thing and just [i]sleep[/i]. So she settled, flicking through the applications on her phone despite not having any reason to. Contacts, music, call history, then in reverse, then back. The girl barely even realized her eyes flicking away from the screen whenever her "call history" came up. It wasn’t too much longer before his phone started vibrating. The number on it was one he recognized, but he’d neglected to actually put a name to it in his haste to punch it in before something terrible happened to his only method of contacting Max. “[color 33ec06]Howell residence, Marcus speaking![/color]” He said, putting the phone up to his ear. “[color f7976a]Marc! What’s been going on you little dork? Gain super powers and suddenly you’re too good to talk to your big sister?[/color]” came the familiar female voice. Upbeat and cheerful, much like his own, with a slight firmness to it that would be expected from her background. “[color 33ec06]Oh, you know, abducted by the government, put into a special little school facade, same old same old![/color]” “[color f7976a]Oh yeah, business as usual, I bet. Alright you sarcastic little punk, serious talk: what happened since last time we talked?[/color]” So, Marcus explained everything that had occurred over the last week or two, about the ride over, the little escapade that had happened upon arrival and his two roommates. “[color f7976a]Ooooh, little Markie’s stuck with two girls! Are they cute?[/color]” “[color 33ec06]You can shut up right now, you hear?[/color]” came the reply, and although Max wouldn’t be able to see it, his face did flush slightly. He paused for a moment, as one of his aforementioned roommates came walking through the building with impeccable timing. Callan, with Sander in tow, shortly followed by Kusari. This was not a safe place for him. “[color 33ec06]Hang on a second, an ass-kicking conga line just went past, and I’d like to move before it gains momentum.[/color]” He stood up, zipped up his hoodie and strolled out the door. Callan and Sander stood in the courtyard, which meant that Marcus was going to walk in the opposite direction. Curiously – Kusari was nowhere in sight. Probably a good thing, considering the righteous beating he assumed was about to happen. It was Marcus's voice that snapped her out of the mechanical daze that Siena had let herself settle into, a sidelong glance enough to tell her that he was on the phone. On the phone and she probably shouldn't be eavesdropping. [i]But didn't she want to know with whom?[/i] It would have been easier to ignore the gnawing feeling in her gut if the procession of other students hadn't come and gone. If there wasn't a curiosity that started to burn hot enough to sear the edges of her usual rationality. Maybe just for a moment--just until she knew it wasn't something fishy! No...that was a poor excuse, but that didn't seem to matter to the bookworm as her feet took her after Marcus, ears straining to catch even the faintest traces of her roommate's conversation. Probably someone familiar with him? The thought buzzed faintly, like thin vibration that tried to make itself noticeable. He continued telling Max about the week; the battle they’d been shipped out on the first day, the horror that had been Padma – a topic that brought only sullen silence from both of them – and the raw power some of the other kids had. “[color f7976a]See!? I knew that teaching you how to shoot was going to be a good idea! Bet you’re happy I gave you those lessons now, huh?[/color]” “[color 33ec06]I was perfectly fine with the lessons when you gave them. Of course, you did bribe me…[/color]” And finally, Marcus told her about the training game: How he’d been savagely beaten by Kusari, and dropped into sewage (accidentally!) by Siena. “[color 33ec06]You know, I expected a little bit of sympathy from you![/color]” Nothing on the other end but stifled laughter. Why didn’t anybody show any compassion for the poor sewage lad? “[color f7976a]Well…[/color]” came the reply after a long pause and the sound of Max collecting herself. “[color f7976a]…sounds like you’ve had quite the eventful few weeks![/color]” “[color 33ec06]More exciting than that shithole town of ours, that’s for sure.[/color]” Marcus said, a slight hint of sadness in his voice. “[color f7976a]You been feeling better, Marc?[/color]” There was no humor in this statement, just a slightly softer tone. Marcus paused for a moment, trying to find the words. He certainly thought he felt better, but his inability to get a good night’s sleep, and the realization that he was still anxious around Siena’s dog had shaken that thought. Still…it was nice to have people around him again, a chance to socialize and get back onto his feet, supporting himself on the others that surrounded him.. He felt like he could count on Callan and Siena wouldn’t be leaving anytime soon – probably the reason he’d grown emotionally invested so quickly. They could certainly take care of themselves, but he still wanted to be able to help; just to make sure nothing would happen. “[color f7976a]Marc?[/color]” “[color 33ec06]Yeah. I’m…I’m okay.[/color]” Another long pause, before Marcus spoke up. “[color 33ec06]But hey! What about you? Have you done anything interesting lately?[/color]” [i]'[color=ff57ff]You shouldn't be here.[/color]'[/i] And she knew it was true. She shouldn't have followed as far as she had. It wasn't just how [i]wrong[/i] it was to eavesdrop to begin with (it was, wasn't it?), but the feeling of a weight pushing in her gut. Of something dangerously close to pain as she caught the tones, if not the words. He was probably talking to family, and the thought left a gaping burn in the pit of Siena's stomach when it gave way to comprehension. She hadn't listened because she was curious, she had because she was [i]desperate[/i]. So Siena turned on her heel, less cautious about hiding her presence as she beelined her way back to the dorm, her mind suddenly catching fire from the flash of lightning, her hands buried deep into her pockets, slender fingers gripping her phone until the buttons were sure to leave deep grooves in her flesh. “[color f7976a]God no. DC isn’t interested in dog-fighting; at least not the ones we’ve been sent after. Hit the thing a couple times, make sure it stays down, and then we go back to the hangers! Been pretty quiet around here, at least.[/color]” “[color 33ec06]Hey, no news is better than bad news, right?[/color]” he said after a moment. He'd thought for sure that he'd saw something out of the corner of his eye, but there was nothing when he turned to look at it. A trick of the breeze, he convinced himself. “[color f7976a]Yeah, whoever made up that phrase never had to listen to their copilot bitch about ‘wanting to see some action’ every time we go out.[/color]” “[color 33ec06]Tell Sammie she needs to shut up before she jinxes you guys into biting off more than you can chew![/color]” “[color f7976a]I’ll make sure to pass along the message! But, it’s getting to be late here and people are going to start complaining. It was good to hear from you again, snot! I expect weekly updates from now on![/color]” Marcus chuckled, turning around and heading back for the dorm. “[color 33ec06]Oh don’t worry, you’ll get more than that![/color]” A moment passed as they both laughed, before a thought crossed Marcus’s mind. “[color 33ec06]Hey sis, can you do me a favor? Do you remember that picture we took at the beach?[/color]” “[color f7976a]Oh; you know I hate that picture![/color]” “[color 33ec06]Yeah, only because I actually look older than you in that one! I think it’s cute, so suck it up and send it to me, you pain in my backside![/color]” Pictures. The easiest way to store memories, and the little things that you didn’t want to forget about. “[color f7976a]Yeah, yeah. I can do that. Talk to you later, then?[/color]” “[color 33ec06]Count on it![/color]” He lowered the phone from his ear and looked up at the sky. It was nice to talk about some of that stuff at least – made him feel better than he thought it would, at least. He missed Max, and as much as he didn’t want to admit it – he’d started to grow homesick. This little chat was enough to at least alleviate that problem, for the time being. He looked down to his phone, realizing that he’d gotten a text message sometime during his conversation with Max: [quote][color 8A3DFF] Oh, hey Marcus. I sure do have tons of guys flooding me after a week in this hell hole, but I guess I can make time for you. /s I haven’t really been into CC1, so I don’t really know any places… aaaaand I don’t really have anything going on, so I can go pretty much whenever… [/color][/quote] [quote][color 33ec06] Hell, wanna do tomorrow night? Gotta capitalize on those free in-between days they're giving us! I don't know anywhere on-site other than the cafe, unfortunately.[/color][/quote] No sooner had he sent the message to Emma than his phone buzzed again. This time it was from Max: [url=http://68.media.tumblr.com/aba8d60bf7cabf0e77ac31b1be3f0313/tumblr_inline_moz2vbSnO71qlv4f0.png]a single image attachment[/url]. [i]Little things that you didn’t want to forget about.[/i] [hr] The room was empty, bar for the presence of Chief Tater Tot, when Siena returned, blood pulsing in her ears and her grip on her phone tight enough by then that she could feel her case trying to give way. [i]'[color=ff57ff]Shouldn't have eavesdropped, stupid. Stupid, stupid, [b]stupid[/b]...![/color]'[/i] But still she tore the phone from her pocket flicking through her cycle again. Contacts, call history, music, camera, then all the way back until she hit call history the third time around. All outgoing. Maya, Gerwulf, Maya, Gerwulf. Then four more to Gerwulf. She tapped the number to send another call to him, a sense of dread and trepidation washing over her as a faint static filled her ears, an now-familiar tone, and then... "[color=f7976a]We're sorry, that number is no longer in service.[/color]" She tried three times more, as if trying to overwhelm that simple fact with effort was going to change anything. When the words taunted her the fourth time, Siena took a deep breath. It was fine. Gerwulf lost his number all the time, and Maya didn't even [i]like[/i] to answer her phone. It was fine. Absolutely fine. She whipped the phone across the room, only feeling a faint twinge of satisfaction when it crashed against the wall by her bed before falling out of sight. [i]'[color=f7976a]Temper, temper, Siena. You really shouldn't be taking names like that anymore...[/color]'[/i] Chief Tater Tot gave another whine, this one piercing through the frustration and bringing the appropriate levels of guilt to the surface. Releasing a soft breath, the brunette knelt to pick the canine up. Soft and warm. "[color=ff57ff]Sorry, Chief Tater Tot...I didn't mean to scare you.[/color]" A whine and a small tongue that reminded her where she was. More real than disconnected numbers and radio silence. Just as real as the exhaustion that was relentlessly trying to eat away at her. "[color=ff57ff]C'mon, Chief. Let's just go to bed.[/color]"