[center][h1]Living the Suite Life pt. 2[/h1][/center]
[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/FWMorlL.png[/img][/center]
[center][img]http://i.imgur.com/3R5vYYi.png?2[/img][/center][hr][center][color=00a99d]𝔽: 𝕊𝕖𝕡𝕥. 𝟙𝟠, 𝟚𝟘𝟚𝟘   / /   𝕎𝕒𝕤𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕥𝕠𝕟, 𝔻.ℂ.   / /   ℍ𝕪𝕒𝕥𝕥 ℝ𝕖𝕘𝕖𝕟𝕔𝕪 ℍ𝕠𝕥𝕖𝕝[/color][/center][hr]

[hider=Ernie and Lily: Breakfast for Two]
[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/FWMorlL.png[/img] [img]http://i67.tinypic.com/2pzxlvr.png[/img] 

[h2][color 00a99d]Ernest[/color] | [color lightcoral]Lilianna[/color][/h2]
[img]http:// i.imgur.com/3R5vYYi.png?2[/img] 
[hr][color=silver]𝔽: 𝕊𝕖𝕡𝕥. 𝟙𝟠, 𝟚𝟘𝟚𝟘   / /   𝕎𝕒𝕤𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕥𝕠𝕟, 𝔻.ℂ.   / /   ℍ𝕪𝕒𝕥𝕥 ℝ𝕖𝕘𝕖𝕟𝕔𝕪 ℍ𝕠𝕥𝕖𝕝: 𝔹𝕦𝕗𝕗𝕖𝕥   / /  𝟠𝟘𝟘[/color][hr]
[sub]Collab with [@Kyrisse][/sub][/center]

Ow. Ow...ow.
 
Ernie groaned as he made his way to the breakfast buffet, arms hanging limply despite the screaming in the muscles beneath. The brief rest he'd gotten in the after-training shower helped slightly but man, Brent was a serious slavedriver. Ernie was gonna get those thick biceps in no time, most likely whether he liked it or not.

The line of haggard morning feasters dispersed as soon as the X-mark joined, much to his relief. Ernie scanned the displays for the keywords Brent had provided. Carbs, eggs, mangos, salmon and white meats. Hopefully not all at once. The Arbiter had said something about counting calories too but, fuck, Ernie was no mathematician. He began piling fruits and meats onto his plate, aiming for twice the height of his usual meal.

A yawning Lily walked into the breakfast buffet wearing a V necked t-shirt that showcased the X mark at the base of her throat. Those that noticed frowned and looked as though the teenager offended them just by being there. Those that she passed by moved away as fast as they could. The golden haired Aberration didn't mind. It wasn't exactly new to her. She merely began humming a soft tune as she grabbed a plate and looked delightedly at the spread in front of her. She was trying to decide whether to go for a plain croissant or a honey glazed donut as she walked and surveyed the rest of the food that she didn't notice the fellow mage filling his own plate.

It was a good thing she noticed him at the last minute that she only bumped gently into his back. It was also a good thing that her plate was still empty. [color=lightcoral]"Oh, sorry,"[/color] she readily apologized.

[color=00a99d]"Hm? Oh... it's no prob,"[/color] Ernie turned, his eyes widening slightly at the sight of the girl Aberration. The healer from that messy night. The strange one with no hesitation, [color=00a99d]"Uh, Lily, is it?"[/color]

At the sound of her name, Lily looked up and raised an eyebrow. Golden eyes met brown ones and she immediately recognized them. [color=lightcoral][i]Oh, hazel eyes... that boy from that night.[/i][/color] Outwardly, she gave him a small smile, trying to recall if she knew his name. [color=lightcoral]"Yup. Uhm... I'm not sure if I know your name and just forgot... Sorry."[/color] she apologized quickly.

[color=00a99d]"Don't worry, I don't think we've talked before. Ernest, but everyone calls me Ernie. Nice to meet you, Lily,"[/color] he introduced himself with a little nod, [color=00a99d]"Are you eating with anyone?"[/color]

A relieved smile settled onto Lily's lips. [color=lightcoral]"Oh, good. Nice to meet you too, Ernie. I was afraid I might have forgotten. Sometimes my memory isn't so good,"[/color] she said and then at his question, she looked around. The buffet line was almost empty save for a few people who were obviously staying at a safe distance from them. [color=lightcoral]"Nope. I don't think anyone would want to eat with me,"[/color] she said, finally deciding that she wanted the croissant today. She reached out and placed one on her plate.

[color=00a99d]"Well, I'm free. Can I join you then?"[/color]

Lily didn't expect that Ernie would want to join her and had started humming again as she began putting different kinds of cheese and fruits on her plate. When he asked, she looked at him, surprise evident on her face. Classmates were actually asking to hang out with her. Sophia, Emma, Angelique... and now this hazel eyed boy. It was a pleasant feeling.

[i]He just doesn't have anyone to eat with and is settling with you. Who would want to spend time with you anyway?[/i]

Of course the voice in her head would want to dampen her mood. She ignored it and nodded at Ernie. [color=lightcoral]"Sure,"[/color] she agreed.

With a quick [color=00a99d]"cool"[/color], Ernie led the two to a table far from the throng of Regulars. His gaze scanned the girl as he munched on dragonfruit, analysing the girl carefully. What was it that drove her to hurt herself so easily?

He nodded at her, [color=00a99d]"Are your hands okay? They looked pretty rough the other night."[/color]

Meanwhile, Lily wondered why she thought staring into his eyes would have helped her control the demands of her stigma. She figured she'd have to look into them again and figure out what was in them. Or was she just trying to grab onto the first person she looked at at that time? She placed her plate onto the table and sat right across from him. But at the mention of the injuries she had took on, her gaze darkened slightly. [color=lightcoral]"They're fine. I don't..."[/color] she paused, trying to find the right words. [color=lightcoral]...keep anything once I've transferred them."[/color] To prove her words, she lifted both perfectly healthy hands and showed them to the boy. [color=lightcoral]"As good as new,"[/color] she added in a low voice.

He grasped one of Lily's with his own, checking both sides and confirming her words. Fascinating. This team had some impressive healers. He leaned back and released the hand, content to just eat for the while.

[color=00a99d]"Wow, I'm glad you're okay. There's no way I could have done it if I had your powers. Doesn't it scare you when you take injuries like that?"[/color]

Lily dropped her hand when Ernie released it and popped a slice of cheese into her mouth. [color=lightcoral]"Hmmm.."[/color] What a strange question. No one asked her a question like that before. Everyone just told her to heal, to take injuries. And she had always automatically just done it. [color=lightcoral]"No... I don't think so. I suppose it just comes naturally? It's what I should do and I do it,"[/color] she explained. 

[i][color=00a99d]"What you [b]should[/b] do?"[/color][/i]

Damn, was she really that mentally strong? Ernie couldn't believe it. He refused to, his mind finding all sorts of other excuses in an attempt to justify his own misgivings.

[color=00a99d]"You're not one of those people who get turned--"[/color] Wait. Not a good way to phrase that for a girl of her age, if she was as young as was what he was assuming, [color=00a99d]"--who really like pain, are you?"[/color]

Lily wrinkled her nose. His questions were strange. Who in the world liked pain? [i]You don't like pain, you like hurting people,[/i] came that voice again.

While the blonde Aberration knew that to be true, she couldn't possibly tell Ernie that. [color=lightcoral]"No, of course not. But everyone's trying their best to fight. I suppose taking away pain is the only way for me to help out,"[/color]

[i]LIES. You take away pain to make someone suffer.[/i]

[color=00a99d]"Helping others at your own cost..."[/color] Ernie murmured in unseen dismay, [color=00a99d]"Guess you must be pretty brave then."[/color]

[color=lightcoral][i]Brave? No, definitely not.[/i][/color]

[color=lightcoral]"No, I'm not brave. I'm just..."[/color]

There was a roar of laughter in her head. [i]Still trying to pretend to be a good person when you're really a monster. Tell him. Tell him so that he'll stay away and leave you just like the people in your past did.[/i]

[color=lightcoral]"...trying to protect the only family I know."[/color]

It was true, wasn't it? She had no one else, no family to turn to, no memories to even go back to. Once again, her golden eyes searched out his brown ones. His eyes were really pretty.

[color=00a99d]"Ah."[/color]

Another tragic Aberration. There were too many these days. Some who deserved their sadness, but most who didn't.

More interestingly, her bravery wasn't all internal strength as he had naively thought. It was because she had nothing else to lose. For some selfish reason, the realisation made Ernie feel better about himself. Dismissing the rude thought, Ernie replied sympathetically.

[color=00a99d]"Your family is...gone?"[/color]

Lily shook her head, for a moment forgetting the food on her plate. [color=lightcoral]"I... don't have any memories of them. I don't know where I came from or what happened to me. A week before you guys came to USARILN, the doctors said they found me just outside the school, almost dead with a horrible head wound,"[/color] Somehow, recounting what had happened made her automatically touch the area where the wound had been.

[color=00a99d]"Damn..."[/color] Ernie mulled the information over, [color=00a99d]"That sucks. Sorry to hear that, Lily."[/color]

There wasn't much he could help with here, huh? He coughed.

[color=00a99d]"Well, like you said, this is your family now. I'm glad you want to protect us. Thanks, Lily, for everything,"[/color] he chuckled, scratching his head sheepishly, [color=00a99d]"Though we should probably protect ourselves better so you don't have to keep hurting your hands like that."[/color]

[color=lightcoral][i]Hurting my hands like that...[/i][/color] Lily looked at the boy in front of her. If they protected themselves better then that would mean that there'd be less people to take injuries from. But then at the same time, she won't be needed anymore... [color=lightcoral][i]Not that I'm really needed. Christmas is more than enough for everyone...[/i][/color] She popped a grape into her mouth and absentmindedly chewed on it. [color=lightcoral][i]Will I be kicked out in the streets when I'm no longer needed?[/i][/color] she asked herself.

And after a few seconds, she decided that she really didn't want to think about it. And so she turned her attention to the possibly new friend that sat in front of her. [color=lightcoral]"What about your powers? I don't think I ever saw what you can do..."[/color]

Perhaps it was better to describe it verbally instead of making a show out of it. But he wasn't at risk of capture or death here, unlike Reno. And he really couldn't give a shit what those Regulars thought.

The golden rope was summoned and held aloft for Lily to clearly see, though as predicted, a subtle gasp rang through the hall as his magic was unveiled. Phone cameras were taken out too, much to his chagrin. Fucking Regulars needed to mind their own business. It looked like he'd have to do this quickly before trouble came. As long as the Aberrations stayed in their spot and looked unthreatening, they should be undisturbed.

[color=00a99d]"I summon this rope here, that I can--"[/color] he tossed one end to automatically wrap around the leg of an empty chair to his left, [color=00a99d]"--catch on something if it's in range. Oh, and there's also this."[/color]

Grabbing a clean knife from the table, Ernie swiftly stabbed it into his eye and felt his toughened skin deflect the utensil to the side. There was no damage, no mark to indicate harm. The rope dissipated with a shrug from its user and he put down the knife to continue eating.

[color=00a99d]"I get a lot of durability from it. That's why I was asking for half the injuries the other night. Thought I could take it, but if I'm being honest here..."[/color]

It was a close call. Some sappy emotion had made him stupid and hasty and he almost lost a hand because of it. He needed to watch himself. There was a fine line between cowardice and sensibility and he was sure this scenario fell on the side of the latter. Mostly sure.

[color=00a99d]"I'm kinda glad you didn't. Looked like it hurt for the immortal girl, but she seemed fine with it after, I guess. I also have a magic trap thing, but I don't use that much."[/color]

Lily paid rapt attention to Ernie as he demonstrated what he can do, completely ignoring the gasps from the Regulars that were in the room with them. She always found it fascinating to watch her fellow mages show off their powers. Her eyes were as big as saucers as she looked at the shimmering rope and watched what it can do. She cringed when he grabbed a knife and stabbed his eye, her whole body tensing up as her mind anticipated the gore that never really came. 

She blinked and then relaxed when the boy explained his durability but frowned when he mentioned Kusari. It brought back all the memories of what she did, how she wanted to hurt her classmate and how she felt both calmer and horrified after it. [color=lightcoral]"I can amplify the injuries I give out..."[/color] she murmured, unaware that she had really spoken her mind out. 

Another roar of laughter in her head. [i]And now he'll know what kind of monster you are![/i]

[color=lightcoral][i]Did I really...tell him?[/i][/color] Her eyes widened and she immediately looked down and stared at her mostly untouched food. [color=lightcoral]"I-I... didn't mean to... I didn't want to cut off her hand... no, no, I..."[/color] she tried to explain, a confusing mixure of guilt and pride running through her. What should she say? That the voices in her head urged her to? That if she didn't do it, she'd go crazy? 

[color=lightcoral][i]I am a monster.[/i][/color] 

The looks of horror and pain on the faces of the people in Ground Zero flashed through her mind. Blood, gore, death. 

[color=lightcoral]"I..."[/color] she started again but couldn't really find anything else to say. Those hazel eyes will look at her differently now. He'd regret thanking her now.

Ernie's expression hardened as he put the pieces together. Of course an X-marked healer would have some destructive aspect to her power. It hadn't been Zoe's rot that had made the transfer so severe. And the short girl didn't 'want' to do it. Something to do with her Stigma? A cold logic ran through his mind, an unjustified anger trailing after it.

Too close. Far too close that night.

Ernie stood, his breakfast finished. He paid no mind to Lily's still-full plate. [color=00a99d]"Let's not talk about this here. Come back with me to the Penthouse."[/color]

Lily sighed as she nodded. [color=lightcoral][i]Way to go making friends, Lily.[/i][/color] Meekly, she stood up, grabbed the croissant from her plate and began nibbling on it. Better to keep her mouth busy than to have it blurting out things she hadn't even thought through. [color=lightcoral]"Mmmkay"[/color] she mumbled as she stood up and followed after Ernie.

The pair took the elevator back up but remained in the hall leading to the suite to talk. Ernie didn't look any less severe than he had at the buffet.

[color=00a99d]"So Kusari's hand fell off because you amplified the injury?"[/color] he asked, crossing his arms.

[color=lightcoral][i]Ugh. Here it goes.[/i][/color] There was really no use denying it. What was it about this boy? First she thought his eyes could somehow enable her to control her stigma. And now she blurted out something about herself that she was never really willing to tell anyone. It would have made sense if his power was some sort of mind control but it wasn't even close to that. Keeping her head bowed as if a child getting scolded, Lily wordlessly nodded her head in answer to his question.

At the sight of a resigned Lily, Ernie frowned further. Was he of all people really about to scold a stranger about their Stigma? Him, the guy who fed someone garbage because he lost control? But this was more than just a bullying incident. People could get--had already gotten--hurt because of this girl.

[color=00a99d]"Am I the only person who knows about this?"[/color]

Lily shook her head. [color=lightcoral]"I'm sure that the people in USARILN knows. But in our group... I guess you're the only one who knows,"[/color] she admitted. Again, there was no sense denying it. Had she told Sophia, Angelique or Emma, she was sure they'd react the same way.

So it really was his responsibility. He was the only one that could have this conversation with her. Ernie took a breath. This was a big job he had now. If he didn't make things right then it might not be Kusari next time. Angelique, Cal, Brent...hell, even the classmates he didn't particularly like.

A petty, wicked part of him whispered that it would be fine to let Sander or Hazel take it but he forced it down. Tried to, anyway.

He had a clear objective here. He couldn't let his hatred endanger the whole class even if he wanted to [i]hurt[/i] those fuckers so damn much. Those two were powerful. They were needed. He was needed too, at least for this moment.

If he wasn't useful on the battlefield then at least let him be useful here.

[color=00a99d]"Was it your Stigma? Did you lose control and use more magic than you should have?"[/color]

The reaction Lily was expecting didn't come. She blinked and looked up. Was he not gonna yell at her? Tell her she was horrible or call her a monster? It was strange that his voice and tone were even. [color=lightcoral]"I've been trying not to let it control me. That was why I was trying to get away from everyone. But...but..."[/color] She sighed again. [color=lightcoral]"I suppose now it makes sense why I was put in the same team as Kusari. She can...take what I give out..."[/color] she trailed off, her mind wondering how much her immortal classmate can take and to what extent. [color=lightcoral]"It's not right to just give them all to her but... there's no one else... Unless I keep them all... or..."[/color] The next part she was going to say have been on her mind for a while now. But it really wasn't up to her. [color=lightcoral]"...they put me in the frontlines where I can cause the most damage."[/color] She wasn't as strong as Cal or Sander but she was destruction. Where else would she fit in?

[color=00a99d]"The frontlines are made up of mages who can take a beating and live. Even with your power you're still just a girl, Lily."[/color]

A moment of silence as Ernie processed it all.

[color=00a99d]"I...know how you feel. I've lost control plenty of times myself. I know the others in our class have too. But someone once told me that handling your Stigma means two things: endurance and direction,"[/color] Ernie recited as if reading from a manual. Old advice that had never really worked well for him. But he prayed that Lily would be able to get something out of it, [color=00a99d]"Most of the time, you just need to hold it in. But when it becomes too much to bear..."[/color]

He explodes. He couldn't let Lily do the same. Friendly fire was bad enough with Zoe and Hazel on their team. One of the only two healers turning on them was not good. Not good at all.

[color=00a99d]"You need to point it at the right places. Release it healthily. I know you don't want to hurt Kusari but honestly..."[/color] Ernie recalled the white-haired girl from that night. No hesitation, like Lily. Hell, she might have even more guts than the healer here. He'd have to talk with her afterwards, [color=00a99d]"I think she's okay with taking injuries for you. You can't hold them all by yourself. okay? You healed a severed arm, Lily, I can't thank you enough for saving my friend. But if you held that for too long, you'd definitely bleed out."[/color]

Another deep breath. His true ruthlessness was starting to leak out now. It was needed though. [i]He[/i] was needed.

[color=00a99d]"You're lucky that it's just me who knows this. You're lucky that Kusari was there for you to transfer your wounds. But I'm telling you this now. There's no going around it. You can't die. You can't let yourself get too injured to heal others. But you can't hurt someone who can't take it either. If a time comes when you can't control your Stigma, when there are no monsters or enemy mages nearby, you [i]need[/i] to use Kusari. Your power is more important than your feelings."[/color]

[color=00a99d]"Healers as strong as you and Christmas are rarer than you know. But Christmas is a useless baby. He can't move around well or heal effectively on the battlefield. I was there with him the entire time at Wisford, I saw. But you can do it. You need to stay alive, even if it means hurting Kusari. Because if we lose you, and if we lose your power, then the whole team is doomed, present and future. Do you understand me?"[/color]

It was cruel, loading all of this onto a stranger, two if he included Kusari. But it needed to be done.

Lilly expected to be scolded and to be looked down upon. She definitely didn't expect to be told that she was important and needed. [color=lightcoral]"Endurance and direction,"[/color] she repeated, listening intently to what was being said. Releasing her stigma healthily and pointing it at the right direction. Did that include wreaking havoc in Ground Zero? Was the right direction Kusari? But what if the immortal wasn't around? What then?

But even if her mind was so full of questions, she nodded.

[color=lightcoral][i]You need to stay alive, even if it means hurting Kusari. Because if we lose you, and if we lose your power, then the whole team is doomed, present and future.[/i][/color] Ernie's words echoed in her head. Strange that the voices were quiet.

Ernie looked at the girl for a moment more, making sure that she really was absorbing everything he was saying. Satisfied, he made his last point.

[color=00a99d]"One more thing. It'd probably be better if you kept your amping a secret between us. If the others find out that you've been losing control of your Stigma and hurting someone more than necessary, they might lose trust in their healer. And that can't happen. Okay?"[/color]

Projecting his own Stigma insecurities onto this girl. Pathetic. But Ernie remained steadfast in his words.

He was right. What would happen if the others lose their trust in her? No one would want to be around her. No one would need her. But... [color=lightcoral]"What about you? Would you still trust me even though you know what I can do?"[/color] she asked. It was a challenge in a way. If he were to keep her secret, then he should at least trust her, right?

Ernie blinked. He hadn't been expecting a question to be thrown back at him, especially one as...confronting as this. But his composure returned as swiftly as it had been lost. The Aberration placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder and mustered the brightest smile he could. Bright and dazzling and so horribly fake. No one but he would know.

It was simple. He had to trust her. That's why... [color=00a99d]"I do. So don't worry about me, yeah? Just remember what I told you. Use it and we'll all be fine. Trust me."[/color]

The small blonde teenager stared at Ernie, trying to see if she should trust his words. She should, right? He didn't seem disgusted by her when she told him what she had done and what she was capable of doing. He didn't push her away like she was certain he would. And he was giving her advice. What reason was there not to trust him? After a long pause, she finally nodded. [color=lightcoral]"Okay."[/color]

Green light. Safe. She hadn't suspected a thing.

It had taken everything in his power to keep his hand from clenching on her shoulder in that pause. The hand dropped from the girl's side as soon as the confirmation reached his ears but the smile remained eerily still. Overcompensation.

[color=00a99d]"Cool. Thanks for telling me this. And sorry for making you listen through a lecture from someone like me. Must've been a total yawnfest."[/color]

A smile made its way back on to Lily's lips. This meant that she just gained another friend right? And not just a friend but a friend who actually knows what she is and doesn't mind. [color=lightcoral]"No, it wasn't. Thank you. It's nice that I finally got to tell someone. I was afraid you'd end up being afraid of me,"[/color] she said, taking a happy bite out of the half croissant still in her hand. 

The boy nodded, shuffling back slightly to avoid the pastry crumbs fluttering to the ground. He'd have to sweep that up afterwards.

[color=00a99d]"No, I don't think I'm afraid."[/color]

Not while he had this emotional hold over her. She trusted him. He was safe now. 

[i][color=00a99d]"This feels familiar, doesn't it? You slimy, manipulative fuck."[/color][/i]

Ernie rolled his shoulders, still feeling the soreness from his morning training.

[color=00a99d]"I'll let you finish your breakfast. Thanks for giving me your time. I'll see you around, then?"[/color]

Lily nodded, mood up but stomach complaining about her interrupted breakfast. [color=lightcoral]"I'll see you around,"[/color] she parroted before turning back towards the elevator, fully intent on going back to the breakfast buffet. She wondered if they had cleared her plate already.

Ernie waved the girl off before settling his troubled gaze back onto the area of floor dusted by croissant crumbs.

How did he keep doing it? Making people unravel for his own gain? It was an uncanny strength of his, one of the very few he still had. And he just kept refusing to use it for the right reasons.

The boy frowned as he strode back to the Penthouse, trying to remember where the brush and pan was kept, if this ritzy place even had one.

He was needed? He was [i]needed[/i]? How fucking delusional was he, that he had just forced his insecurities into a little girl's head? Into Lily's head, an integral part of their class unit. Unlike him.

Because that was what it had all been about wasn't it. He wanted to feel important, like he held some power over others, for that brief moment. And it worked. He felt smart, like he helped people. There was something dependant on [i]his[/i] actions and he succeeded in making it better, even if it meant lecturing a stranger on something he had no right to brag about. But now he wasn't even sure if he had fixed anything.

Secrecy was a double-edged sword. People could die because of misplaced words. He was supposed to know that better than anyone. Then why did he believe that his actions were so [i]right[/i]? Like he'd actually protected the class from something?

Once again, it was simple. He had to. That's why he did.

In a way, it was the same as Lily's 'nothing else to lose' mentality. But he had a choice today. He just had to pray that it was the right one he took.
[/hider]

[hider=Ernie and Kusari: Feud Network]
[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/FWMorlL.png[/img] [img]https://i.imgur.com/55cuDim.jpg[/img]

[h2][color 00a99d]Ernest[/color] | [color 662d91]Kusari[/color][/h2]
[img]http:// i.imgur.com/3R5vYYi.png?2[/img] 
[hr][color=silver]𝔽: 𝕊𝕖𝕡𝕥. 𝟙𝟠, 𝟚𝟘𝟚𝟘   / /   𝕎𝕒𝕤𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕥𝕠𝕟, 𝔻.ℂ.   / /   ℍ𝕪𝕒𝕥𝕥 ℝ𝕖𝕘𝕖𝕟𝕔𝕪 ℍ𝕠𝕥𝕖𝕝: ℙ𝕖𝕟𝕥𝕙𝕠𝕦𝕤𝕖   / /  𝟙𝟙𝟘𝟘[/color][hr]
[sub]Collab with [@Piercing Light][/sub][/center]

He needed to find the other person he'd implicated in his mess today. Find her before the consequences became too big for him to shove under the rug. Ernie wandered around the Penthouse, hoping to catch sight of a gangly albino girl. If he recalled correctly, she was probably the only person left in the class that he hadn't interacted with to some extent.

Ernie cringed. Asking so much from a stranger was going to be a bad idea. But he needed to try at least. So he continued searching.

She didn't know why she was doing this to herself, but Kusari was currently watching the news while eating a bag of chips. Hearing them speak about subnaturals as if they were less than human only fed into her bias against regulars. Once the same stories began repeating she changed the channel to a cooking network, they were cooking steaks, she could go for a steak right about now. She looked at the phone sitting on a table, she [i]could[/i] just order something. As she got up to walk to the phone she nearly bumped into Ernie. 

[color=662d91]"Ernest? What's up? You look like you're looking for something."[/color]

[color=00a99d]"Oh, you know my name,"[/color] he replied, genuinely surprised. Oh fuck, did she know what he wanted?

A different person, a smarter one, probably would have answered with the truth. Ernie was not that person. He glanced at the TV, seeking an excuse to join her.

[color=00a99d]"Eh, not exactly,"[/color] he nodded to the screen, [color=00a99d]"Are you a Guy Fieri fan too?"[/color]

Kusari glanced back at the TV. [color=662d91]"...Not really, his hair pisses me off for some reason."[/color] walked past Ernie and picked up the phone. She called in an order of steak and fries. [color=662d91]"And make sure it's medium rare."[/color] She said before hanging up. She let out a sigh and sat back in front of the TV. [color=662d91]"This place is so fancy it hurts to look at, but it's better than that motel I guess..."[/color]

"Haha, at least the hot water works here," he chuckled, not bothering to ask for permission to join her on the sofa.

"Kusari, right?" he asked, knowing full well that he got it.

[color=662d91]"Yeah, Kusari Bloodworth."[/color] She said, not looking back at him as she continued to munch on old bay flavored chips. 

[color=00a99d]"Ernest Mars,"[/color] he continued with the full name thing, [color=00a99d]"But everyone calls me Ernie. Nice meeting you."[/color]

Now that the pleasantries were out of the way...

[color=00a99d]"Um, how are your hands? It looked pretty rough for you on that night with Zoe..."[/color]

Kusari turned to Ernie, still chewing. She didn't know if this guy was just awkward or trying to say something. He couldn't be afraid of her could he? After all the horrors they'd seen so far that would be quite the insult. She narrowed her eyes when he mentioned Zoe, that was obviously a mood killing subject so she wondered where he was going with this. She wanted to pop more chips in her mouth, but she wasn't the type to talk while eating. She was getting a little impatient because of this.

[color=662d91]I've been shot in the heart and constantly have my limbs cut off, yet I'm still around. Come on you know what my ability is by now."[/color]

[color=00a99d]"Good to know I had nothing to worry about,"[/color] he laughed, trying to keep the tone light. Though he cringed at the mention of lost limbs, recalling the amount of mess it always made, he kept his focus on the objective, [color=00a99d]"Yeah, but that doesn't make the whole thing any less painful, does it? Or does your power give you some kind of numbing perk?"[/color]

Kusari's eyes drifted away from Ernie. This almost felt like talking to a regular that was trying hard not to piss her off. [color=662d91]"I just have to get used to the pain, my power doesn't make it any worse."[/color] She said with a sigh. She looked at the inside of the bag of chips with a frown. [color=662d91]Don't want to eat all of these yet, should be good with the steak... Well I could just get another bag, not like I need to watch my diet.[/color] She thought to herself, her attention going back to the TV.

[color=00a99d]"Hah, now [i]that's[/i] a perk. I'd save them to eat with the steak if I were you. Sometimes fries just don't add that crunch factor properly. 'Course I could make the noble sacrifice of taking care of that bag for you, if you'd rather not have them after all."[/color]

[color=662d91]"Huh? Oh, no that's fine man."[/color] She said, rolling the bag up and sitting it on the table in front of her. Was he being this dull on purpose? She wasn't really trying to add anything to the conversation either, but she wasn't the one that started it. 

[color=662d91]"Did you want something?"[/color] She bluntly asked, she wasn't a fan of being strung along.

[color=00a99d]"Besides the chips?"[/color] Ernie raised an eyebrow. Man, was he really so transparent?

Kusari just stared at Ernie. She was not doing this, he'd have to find someone else to mess with if that's what he wanted.

Oh, that was a bad sign. If he was going to ask a favor, he needed to do it now. The boy slouched further into the sofa, keeping his eyes on the TV to avoid looking at the immortal girl. 

[color=00a99d]"Yeah, you're right. I wanted something. From you,"[/color] he sighed. This was going to sound pretty fake after that nonsense earlier, wasn't it? [color=00a99d]"I'm worried about Lily."[/color]

[color=662d91]"What's wrong with Lily?"[/color] Kusari stood from her seat, at the same time realizing that she might be overreacting. She was borderline paranoid at this point, between monsters, enemy subnaturals, and out of control Aberrations she was on edge. [color=662d91]"Spit it out already."[/color] 

[color=00a99d]"Whoa, chill!"[/color] Ernie leaned away, his hands raised in an attempt to calm the girl, [color=00a99d]"Nothing bad at this moment. It's just her behaviour is concerning."[/color]

He looked at her warily for a second. Was this why Lily didn't want to transfer to Kusari?

[color=00a99d]"You were on her team at Wisford, right? Was she trying to hold all the injuries on her own there too?"[/color]

Kusari let out a groan, and facepalmed. Lily wasn't exactly subtle in her desire to hold onto injuries. [color=662d91]"Is she still going on about that? It's like she has a damn messiah complex, that or she thinks she deserves it."[/color] She lowered her hand and sat back down. The last thing she wanted was for Lily to end up dying due to some misguided morality or self imposed rules. [color=662d91]"As long as I'm around she doesn't have to worry about that, I wish she'd get that through her thick skull already."[/color]

[color=00a99d]"That's what I keep saying!"[/color] Ernie bounced back up, agreeing vehemently, [color=00a99d]"Honestly, she's gonna kill herself if this keeps going. That's...actually why I came here to find you."[/color]

Gaze pointed towards the TV once more. He knew this was a big ask but he needed to try.

[color=00a99d]"Lily doesn't know that I'm talking with you about this. And I know I might be asking too much out of this. Hell, I'm practically asking you to commit self harm here. But I need you to...do whatever it takes to make sure that Lily transfers her injuries to you if she tries to hold them again. Even if it means threatening her, or something else. Is that okay?"[/color]

Kusari looked at Ernie as if he'd just stepped on her shoe. [color=662d91]"Let me get this straight. You want me to threaten to hurt Lily if she refuses to transfer her wounds to me?"[/color] [color=662d91]This guy is a fucking idiot.[/color] She thought, not hiding her disapproval at all. [color=662d91]"That doesn't seem backwards to you at all?"[/color]

[color=00a99d]"Not [i]hurt[/i] her, just do something that'd make sure she doesn't bleed out and die,"[/color] he glared back, not liking the girl's tone, [color=00a99d]"As shitty as it sounds, it's better to have her scared and terrified than dead from blood loss."[/color]

[color=662d91]"She needs to trust us, Ernest. I am not..."[/color] Kusari let out breath. She didn't want to be the monster people saw when they looked at her. She was better than that, she knew it. 

[color=662d91]"If I threaten her to do what I want then I'd be no better than Zhang."[/color] She said. Thinking back to the mission, she had lost her cool too many times, even physically forcing Lily to abandon regulars dying in front of her eyes. She had no problem making that decision, but how did Lily feel knowing that people may have died because she didn't help them?

[color=662d91]"We need her to want to cooperate, otherwise we'll be going around in circles all day."[/color]

No better than Zhang. That really did it. Ernie reeled back as if Kusari's words had physically him. Fuck. The Aberration spoke through grit teeth.

[color=00a99d]"You're right. We need to trust our healer, and she needs to trust us. Sorry for putting this all on you."[/color]

Trust was a two-way street. Ernie considered telling Kusari about Lily's amplification. About how her Stigma had gone loose that night. Hell, he probably should have asked Kusari to talk to Lily herself, instead of being a go-between, hiding important details like a game of Chinese Whispers. But he didn't have that in him. He couldn't count on either of them to act the way that was needed. Not because either of them were lacking in ability. No, the problem lay with him and him only. He was just very bad at counting on people for issues of this magnitude.

The only thing he could do was hope that Lily took his words well to heart. He hated how weak that faith was. Ernie groaned.

[color=00a99d]"Man, I didn't think this through at all,"[/color] he slouched further in shame, pulling his beanie down over his eyes, [color=00a99d]"Guess I was getting too worked up. Sorry for wasting your time, Kusari."[/color]

[color=662d91]"It [i]is[/i] something to get worked up about, you just need to think smart about it."[/color] Kusari turned back to face the TV when she heard the door buzzer. [color=662d91]"I'll see you later."[/color] She said, getting up to go to the door.

[color=f7976a]"Room service. Your um-"[/color] A shaky young woman with a platter answered as the door opened. 

[color=662d91]"Yeah yeah just give me the food."[/color] Kusari took the platter and closed the door behind her with her foot. Sitting down at the table near the TV she took the lid off. The steak was still sizzling, and the fries looked crisp. She cut into the steak with a knife, checking to make sure it was cooked properly. She then poked the steak with a fork, making sure no one had put something like a needle inside of it. At least she didn't have to worry about it being poisoned.

So that was that, huh? Kusari had made it pretty clear that the conversation had finished. Ernie waved goodbye with a small [color=00a99d]"Mm, catch you later,"[/color] as he took his leave towards the elevator.

He didn't feel any more certain of himself than he had before their talk. There was a good chance that he'd just made things worse too. The boy's eyes narrowed as he walked.

He wasn't sure he liked that Kusari girl either. So snippy, even before his stupid proposition. Not cooperative or easily swayed. Wasn't she the one who broke Marcus' arm and nose in Flag and Seek too? Ernie filed a mental note to keep an eye on her, preferably from a distance. But now it was time for lunch. At least the buffet had almost no chance of food getting tampered with to spite the Penthouse subnaturals.

[i][color=00a99d]"Enjoy your spit-steak, bitch,"[/color][/i] he thought as he approached the elevators.
[/hider]

[hider=Ernie and Angelique: No Strings Attached]
[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/FWMorlL.png[/img] [img]http://i.imgur.com/Fb1UXSA.png[/img]

[h2][color 00a99d]Ernest[/color] | [color 9e0039]Angelique[/color][/h2]
[img]http:// i.imgur.com/3R5vYYi.png?2[/img] 
[hr][color=silver]𝔽: 𝕊𝕖𝕡𝕥. 𝟙𝟠, 𝟚𝟘𝟚𝟘   / /   𝕎𝕒𝕤𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕥𝕠𝕟, 𝔻.ℂ.   / /   ℍ𝕪𝕒𝕥𝕥 ℝ𝕖𝕘𝕖𝕟𝕔𝕪 ℍ𝕠𝕥𝕖𝕝: ℙ𝕖𝕟𝕥𝕙𝕠𝕦𝕤𝕖   / /  𝟙𝟚𝟘𝟘[/color][hr]
[sub]Collab with [@Riffus Maximus][/sub][/center]

Dumb eyes stared blankly at the elevator doors. That workout had taken a lot out of him, more than he was used to. That talk with Kusari hadn't gone so well too. Whatever, he just needed to make it through lunch and then he could take a nap. A long, long nap. Just had to...lunch...
 
Despair filled his expression as he recalled the amount of food he now had to eat, and a sad groan escaped his lips. The Aberration slumped visibly.
 
Fresh from taking a shower and changing clothes, Angel had slipped into more casual clothes than the training clothing she had before. While Brent had been more focused on Siena and Ernest this morning, as they were new additions to their morning training crew, the man of steel sure kept his eye on Angel and made sure he still gave her a run for her money.
 
Muscles still sore from the training, the elevator doors opened to reveal a stretching Angel inside, trying to shake off the sore feeling away from her arms. 
 
[color=9e0039]"Hello there, Ernie. Ready to eat?"[/color] Angel called out to the slumped form of the buzzcut shaved Aberration standing in front of the doors. 
 
[color=00a99d]"Angelique..."[/color] he whined sadly. Another member of their little workout group, another person who saw how miserably he'd performed, [color=00a99d]"How does he do it? My whole body is dead."[/color]
 
Angel chuckled at the question, rotating her aching shoulders. [color=9e0039]"Hey, don't ask me that. I'm still aching all over from what he called 'a light workout to start up on those muscles'."[/color]
 
[color=9e0039]"We all gotta start from somewhere though, hm? I bet he's just as exhausted as we are when he's done. But that's just because he likes overdoing it."[/color] The young woman added, laughing.
 
[color=00a99d]"Oh yeah. The 'light workout',"[/color] Ernie cringed at the memory, [color=00a99d]"Man, I just wish that 'somewhere' to start was some place not so painful. But I'll get over it soon. Hopefully."[/color]
 
Hopefully. God, he was really gonna feel this the next morning.
 
[color=00a99d]"Urgh, yeah, I'm ready to eat. Dying for some relief, right now."[/color]
 
[color=9e0039]"If you don't feel pain, then you haven't been working out enough."[/color] Angel chuckled as she gave Ernie a light slap on his back, who let out a small groan in response.
 
Nodding to her fellow classmate, Angel headed towards the buffet room. Ernie followed close behind. White meats and carbs, more than he was used to, were what he had been instructed to eat. Pasta and meat were spooned onto his plate.
 
[color=00a99d]"So what do you think of this whole place?"[/color] he asked, making light conversation, [color=00a99d]"Spent any rockstar nights in penthouses like this one?"[/color]
 
Adopting a similar eating habit, Angelique had chosen a few slices of meat accompanied with vegetables and rice. 
 
[color=9e0039]"It's overkill. Makes us feel like living in a modern day castle or something like that. It's overwhelming, I'd admit. I'd prefer something simpler, but I suppose it makes good for a change compared to the piss poor motel we were staying at before."[/color] Angel commented on their current situation, before taking a large bite at her juicy steak. 
 
[color=9e0039]"I'm a bit used to it though. When my band didn't want to stay in a rackety motel right after a show in a big city, they always nagged me about going to spend the night at the biggest hotel. Not as fancy as what we have now, but penthouses are things that I am used to."[/color]
 
Ernie whistled, impressed.
 
[color=00a99d]"Man, sounds like a dream,"[/color] he remarked, before a mischievous smirk worked itself onto his face, [color=00a99d]"I trust you're doing your best to avoid another String Incident in this hotel though, right?"[/color]
 
Angel choked on her rice. Her face flushed red like it rarely had before. After her coughing fit, she didn't even dare look at Ernest in the eyes.
 
[color=9e0039]"N-no way! You saw that too? Oh my god..."[/color] the raven-haired groaned, suddenly feeling humiliated.
 
[color=00a99d]"Hrnk!"[/color]
 
It was the boy's turn to choke and blush furiously too. He pounded on his chest as some kind of self-Heimlich maneuver. Oh god, he'd totally forgotten that there were pictures of the incident. And that he may have taken a peek...not because he wanted to see a naked girl or anything! Ernie was sure that it was just misplaced curiosity at the time, and not...urghh, why did he bring that up? The image was seared into his brain now.
 
[color=00a99d]"I, uh, I-I...what? No, no way,"[/color] he stammered, trying to force out something supportive or comforting, [color=00a99d]"N-nah. Nah, nah, I, um, read it in...in an interview! Yeah, in the--ah, what was it--the 'Metal Planet' one? I-I think it was tha--yeah, it was that one!"[/color]
 
Nice...save...? Ernie groaned into his hands, feeling the ambient heat from his cheeks. Naked stuff was not his strong point.
 
[color=00a99d]"That was my bad. Can we just pretend this never happened?"[/color]
 
Angelique frowned as Ernie stammered a defense, mentioning the interview. But hearing him out, and now noticing every bit of nervous movements the younger Aberration made thanks to her newly purchased shades shielding her eyes, she could tell he saw it too.
 
[color=9e0039]"Ernest... you damned liar!"[/color] She called him out, still red from embarrassment. [color=9e0039]"Yeah... let's move on from... that."[/color] The ex-rockstar nodded in agreement.
 
[color=00a99d]"Mmph."[/color]
 
There was an awkward silence at their table, before Angelique decided to shake off the unease of the situation.
 
[color=9e0039]"Say, we talk a lot about me every time we speak to each other. But it just occurred to me that I don't know as much about you as much as I'd like to. Care to tell me a bit more about yourself? Share a bit of your story? You told me you were a Mage for a long time. Ever since you were nine years old, right?"[/color]
 
Ernie chewed on his lunch, assessing how much he could reveal to the songstress. She already knew a lot so the only thing he needed to do was make sure he didn't mention the S-word when talking about his past.
 
[color=00a99d]"Yeah. Awakened when I was nine. Looted around the city on my own for a bit before getting picked up by a gang. Lived with them and learned how to clean and cook and fix doors. Then got captured and sent to West. Then got transferred here, to East."[/color]
 
Strange, how he left out the part about his parents when he had so readily told Cal. Maybe that was because he didn't want that pity from Angelique. In the aquamarine girl's case, it had been a secret for a secret. Plus Cal was...Cal. Revealing things like that to her wouldn't have much consequence.
 
[color=9e0039]"I see. So, what is it like being part of a gang? I never really understood the concept of living on the streets as part of something like that."[/color]
 
Well, maybe she knew. That feeling of freedom, surrounded by people that could understand her without being tied down by the responsibility of living with a family. But she wanted to know what was Ernest's point of view on that matter.
 
[color=00a99d]"Safety,"[/color] Ernie answered immediately though he knew that wasn't completely true. He spoke more to rectify the situation, [color=00a99d]"Everyone's got each other's backs. Living with a bunch of X-marks is a total nightmare sometimes but..."[/color]
 
It was better than being sent out to die every week, in a war that wasn't your own. It was better than being a government slave, cruelly experimented and ordered at their tyrant's whims. That was what he wanted to say. But he hadn't been sure of that for a long time.
 
[color=00a99d]"...everyone's got each other's backs,"[/color] he repeated, [color=00a99d]"It's just us against the Regulars so if we didn't have each other, we had nothing."[/color]
 
Not untrue, at least.
 
Angélique let out a soft [color=9e0039]“hmm…”[/color] as she listened to Ernie’s gang story. So he had been part of an Aberrations gang? Them against the world. It brought some names back in mind from what she had read over Death and Taxes’ old threads. There was something to be said about being against the ‘Regulars’ as Ernie said it so vehemently, but could she really blame him? Everyone was looking at them as if they were monsters in human disguise. Washington and La Plata were perfect examples of how unwelcomed the Subnaturals were. 
 
[color=9e0039]“Do you think that’s the reason those groups… Cat’s Cradle, Garotte’s old gang and that famous group nearby…  The Senators?... exist? Because they want to band up, look out for each other in a world unkind to who we are without being shackled by the Institute?”[/color]
 
Ernie's eyes widened at the mention of the Senators but he dug more intently into his lunch to cover the tic.
 
[color=00a99d]"Yeah, I've got no doubt,"[/color] his tone more serious now, [color=00a99d]"I mean...look at the ages of people who get awakened. Look at Sav and Lily and Sophia and Christmas. They look like they're barely teenagers. But they're being sent out against fucking monsters like Factory?"[/color]
 
His voice was increasing in volume without him noticing.
 
[color=00a99d]"It's all just DC's big, fat joke. Giving powers, giving Stigmas to children who can barely handle it. Then the government decides to go along with it and declare us as less than human. We're not people to them, we're hunting dogs. That's why people are so afraid of getting caught. That's why we needed to stick together."
 
"I'm not saying that some of these people aren't terrible. Cat's Cradle are completely nuts. But even if I can't understand why they do all...that, I know why they travel in a group instead of something else. There's just some sort of mindset you get with others after you keep getting beaten down enough."[/color]
 
[color=9e0039]"I can't really argue with you there. That's more or less what Padma and I said when we first step foot in here, back when we were staring at the very monster that brought us all at the institute and her body of lapdogs pointing their toys at us."[/color] Angel replied bitterly, remembering that first night as if it was yesterday.
 
[color=9e0039]"But you know, a part of myself can't help to think that we went along with what the Regulars did to us. We've let them shame us, demonize us, and we just kind of... accepted it, gave in to how they look at us."[/color] the fallen singer added, musing to herself. [color=9e0039]"Perhaps it's just the idealistic side of me speaking, but if we could just manage to shift that way of thinking back into our favor. Prove we're better than this."[/color]
 
Ernie's frown deepened at her words. She was a friend so he had to respect her opinion. Even if it was dumb.
 
[color=00a99d]"You can't accept what they say. Subnaturals aren't just their powers. We're people just like everyone else. If it's one thing I'm absolutely sure of, it's that."[/color]
 
Right, Angel had always been the inspirational type. That's what made her such a grand rockstar after all. But Ernie wouldn't be shaken from his views.
 
[color=00a99d]"I can see your point. All the kids on DnT are talking about how Marcus' interview is gonna make big steps for subnatural rights and stuff. I'm hoping it changes something too but..."[/color]
 
Why the fuck would he start having faith in those powerless overlords now?
 
[color=00a99d]"Proving that we're 'better' always just means letting them step all over us. People aren't as noble as we wish they were, 'specially those Regulars. Again, the Marcus interview. He was as honest as he could get and there were still so many people bashing him online. Because the fact is, we already are better. Not all of us are monsters. But no one wants to acknowledge that."[/color]
 
Another memory clouding his thoughts. Seven years trapped in a Senators Den, living in fear. More years since the Slumber.
 
[color=00a99d]"Ten years of magical children getting slaughtered for others' gain. If anyone up top was gonna give a shit, you'd think they would have done it by now."[/color]
 
Angel fell silent to Ernest's words. She could hear it, feel it. The hatred. That same emotion that fueled her stigma. The very thing that she had always tried to avoid all of her life, but was now an integral part of her being. She wished she could do something to soothe it, but Angélique felt like she was in no position to be the one lecturing about hating. 
 
Instead, she only nodded slowly, her fingers crossed over each other. This talk kind of brought a bitter taste to the food she was eating, and suddenly appetite was lost to the flow of the discussion.
 
[color=9e0039]"Again, I agree with you. But still, what can we do? Do you want to keep on fighting for those assholes like a good little soldier all your life until your use comes to an end? I sure won't. I'm fighting for myself and for the other folks here I care about. I can take orders, but if there's even the slightest opportunity to turn on the table, then you can be sure as hell I will be taking it. If Marcus' interview heralds something like a change, then I'm not just going to idly sit by and let this opportunity be wasted. I'll work my ass off to make, or at least help in the making of that spark turning into a raging inferno."[/color]
 
Ah, there was the rockstar attitude he was used to. Ernie smiled, another spark of admiration lighting up in him. Even if he couldn't put his heart into it, he was somewhat glad that there were people like Angel who could. Even if it would inevitably fail in the end.
 
[i][color=00a99d]"Pretty naive, right?"[/color][/i]
 
Yes. But that didn't make her vigor any less impressive. To him, at least.
 
[color=00a99d]"I'm with you there. Gotta grab these things with both hands. Can't get anything from sitting still after all."[/color]
 
[color=9e0039]"Yeah."[/color] Angel affirmatively replied, glad she could get Ernie to see the brighter side of her ideals.
 
[color=9e0039]"I can't help but notice how relentless you are when it comes to janitorial knowledge and know-how. Did you learn all that back in West, Ernest?"[/color]
 
[color=00a99d]"From before West. Can't exactly call over the cleaners and plumbers and repairsmen when you're a bunch of Aberrations squatting in a lounge. Had to learn to do it all myself,"[/color] he said, honestly this time, [color=00a99d]"I've got a question for you too. How come you keep calling me 'Ernest'? Everyone else is fine with 'Ernie'."[/color]
 
[color=9e0039]"O-Oh? I'm sorry, I didn't think it would bother you. I'm just used to calling people by their name. Like Christopher and Callan."[/color] Angel apologized, twisting a strand of hair around her index finger. [color=9e0039]"I can try and remember to call you Ernie if you insist about it. But I've got to ask, why does that seem to be bothering you?"[/color]
 
Because he needed to keep all of that behind him. Because he didn't deserve the name his parents had given him. Because it was mocking, the way Liam and Devon would order him around with it.
 
Because it was Owen who had given him his current name.
 
[color=00a99d]"Because it sounds so fancy, like that old-timey author or that play about rich people,"[/color] he shrugged, leaning back, [color=00a99d]"I ain't smart enough for that nonsense. Plus Ernie was always my favorite Sesame Street character. More fun that way."[/color]
 
He felt a little guilty for making Angelique feel bad, but he knew that he would feel even worse if he kept hearing it.
 
Angélique chuckled slightly from hearing the second reason for his nickname. [color=9e0039]"Strange, people would instead rather not be associated with a character of that show. You know how kids are, making fun out of each other using shows meant for kiddos."[/color]
 
[color=00a99d]"Naw, people don't make fun of me. I'm great! It's only the first couple of jokes you have to sit through before they get used to it. Did you know that when I first met Brent he introduced himself as 'Bert'? Like Bert and Ernie?"[/color]
 
[color=9e0039]"Oooh, so that's the deal behind 'Bert'. Can't say he introduced himself that way to me when we first met, but I heard that nickname once or twice I believe."[/color] Angélique giggled as she had the mental image of the two of them replaced by Sesame Street puppets.
 
[color=9e0039]"You know, speaking of Brent and names, you noticed how he keeps calling me 'Angelic'? I have to admit, I kind of feel weird to have introduced myself that way to him. Because you know, 'Angélique' is a bit hard to pronounce for English folks, so I told him he could use the English variant of my name. And he just stuck to it ever since, instead of calling me 'Angel' like everybody does."[/color]
 
[color=00a99d]"Hahaha, yeah, he's pretty weird sometimes,"[/color] Ernie chuckled, wondering how many times he himself had butchered the French pronunciation.
 
Conversation flowed easily, the rockstar and the gang member enjoying each other's company even after lunch had ended.
[/hider]

[hider=Ernie and Siena: The Piano Guys]
[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/FWMorlL.png[/img] [img]http://i.imgur.com/EqVwCQa.png[/img]

[h2][color 00a99d]Ernest[/color] | [color ff57ff]Siena[/color][/h2]
[img]http:// i.imgur.com/3R5vYYi.png?2[/img] 
[hr][color=silver]𝔽: 𝕊𝕖𝕡𝕥. 𝟙𝟠, 𝟚𝟘𝟚𝟘   / /   𝕎𝕒𝕤𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕥𝕠𝕟, 𝔻.ℂ.   / /   ℍ𝕪𝕒𝕥𝕥 ℝ𝕖𝕘𝕖𝕟𝕔𝕪 ℍ𝕠𝕥𝕖𝕝: ℙ𝕖𝕟𝕥𝕙𝕠𝕦𝕤𝕖   / /  𝟙𝟞𝟘𝟘[/color][hr]
[sub]Collab with [@PapiTan][/sub][/center]

At least the TV wouldn't bum him out.

Ernie absently flicked through the channels on the monster screen, hanging upside down on the couch. News, informercial, [i]lawn bowls[/i], bleh. Time to exploit those prepaid movies. More scrolling through the catalogue as he tried to recall the list of movies everyone kept telling him to watch from the last decade or so. He'd missed out on a lot apparently. The boy corrected his seating, cringing slightly from sore muscles, as the opening credits to some Australian movie about creeks started blaring.

Man, at least when he was upside down he didn't have a view of the music room. His gaze constantly shot to the door of the insulated room, though he scolded himself numerous times for the act. He already knew he'd forgotten all his skills, why would he embarrass himself yet another time? This wasn't the music building at West where no one would find him. There were plenty of other, less disrupting ways to remind himself of what he'd lost.

The melancholy he'd felt the day before hit him hard and Ernie forced his attention onto the movie, which seemed to be severely lacking in both wolves and creeks.

So far, so good. After an early start and a comfortable relaxation period, Siena found herself growing closer to the state she would [i]prefer[/i] to be in. Not distressed. Not alarmed. Not constantly thinking about what she could have done better. 

Ah, damn...she was starting again. 

But she didn't deserve to be so relaxed, did she? As she walked, Siena instinctively pulled at the ends of her hair, twisting a few strands over her tips, tightening until she felt it cut off circulation before letting it go. Maybe she could relax like the day before with the music room. If it wasn't occupied, then she could do something that was more structured than the frantic ad libbing that she'd practiced then. 

Her feet took her down the path, only to see a familiar face, attention focused on the monstrosity of a screen.

...odd, had she never talked to Ernie without the presence of her roommates?

"[color=ff57ff]Ernie?[/color]" Not really a reasonable question when she knew it was him, but it was...harder to recognize him with his new hairstyle, she supposed. Glancing from the screen to the direction of the music room, Siena gave a nervous smile. Was he watching out there because...? "[color=ff57ff]Is the music room occupied?[/color]" 

[color=00a99d]"Oh, hey Siena. Nah, I hav--ah, fuck!"[/color] Ernie jumped as a gunshot sounded from the TV, nailing the on-screen codger in the neck. He decided to mute it momentarily, [color=00a99d]"I haven't seen anyone walk in. It's probs free."[/color]

Flinching slightly at the sound of gunfire, Siena sent her gaze to the television, her heart racing to catch up with the sudden motion. "[color=ff57ff]Ah, that's good news.[/color]" A pause as she considered the events of the previous day. "[color=ff57ff]Oh, um...do you mind if I use the piano in there a bit? I don't want to interrupt more than I have.[/color]" Making a motion to the screen to indicate her subject, the brunette gave a weak smile. "[color=ff57ff]I don't think Gersh--er, sorry, jazz, is entirely fitting.[/color]" 

Right. Not everyone was going to recognize artist names, especially not ones from years before their time. It was a wonder that Gerwulf had enough awareness of the genre to bring back the albums. 

Right. Of course Siena was a virtuoso. She had played pretty damn well in that jam session he'd witnessed. And Ernie wouldn't be surprised if her family had a dozen or so grand pianos lying around the 'estate'. With a polite nod, he was about to return to his film before a half-word ripped his attention back.

[color=00a99d]"Wait, wait. What was that you were gonna say? Before the jazz?"[/color]

"[color=ff57ff]Oh! U-Um...[/color]" Taken off guard by Ernie's sudden return to attention, Siena gave a cautious smile as she replied. "[color=ff57ff]Gershwin?[/color]" The name rolled off the tongue in a familiar fashion, bringing back memories of sitting next to someone much larger than her. Someone whose fingers had been more agile than they appeared until they weren't. "[color=ff57ff]Do you recognize them?[/color]

The boy's eyes lit up at the confirmation, even more at the mention of a 'them'. She knew both George and Ira's stuff then? A fellow fan?!

Something solemn, something guarded at the back of his mind, warned him to stop while he could but the excitement washed it out.

[color=00a99d]"Yeah, totally!"[/color] he hopped up, [color=00a99d]"American in Paris used to be the only thing I listened to for like a month!"[/color]

His mom started complaining after the third day. She'd listened enough of it with her lazy tenth grader class, why would her family make her go through it more? His dad had simply laughed and urged young Ernest to keep playing. Nicer memories.

Something about Ernie's sudden interest was infectious, and Siena couldn't help but light up in response. [i]Was that really her own reaction?[/i] It didn't matter. There were better things to look forward to. Letting the smile bolster itself, the girl couldn't help but feel...relief. Someone that didn't look at her like she should have crawled under a rock and died--it wasn't a terrible feeling after trying to spend time in more public areas of the hotel. 

"[color=ff57ff]Oooh, I listened to it until I picked up most of the numbers by ear,[/color]" Siena admitted with a laugh. Not a lie. Just a little omission. Thinking about the music room and how dreadful it would be to be locked in the room alone when there was company, potentially [i]willing[/i] company, just beyond the door, the girl latched onto an idea. A faint flicker of hope to stave off her hatred of the loneliness. "[color=ff57ff]I could play a few numbers for you, if you wanted.[/color]"

By ear? Damn, she must've been super practiced to nail all those jaunty jazz chords. Those random mish-mashes of black and white keys that his mom's hands would always home onto while his dad laughed from the kitchen.

Oh. That was why he should have stopped, huh?

Despite the familiar sadness in his chest, the superficial eagerness pushed him on. He'd never really talked to Siena like this before, not without Cal or Marcus with them. It would be a good chance to get to know the last member of their lunch group, one he needed more than ever after that Emma mess. Plus, a live piano performance from someone with Siena's skills? The jealousy would be unavoidable but the experience would disappear as soon as they left the hotel. Back to dreary USARILN East without a live performance of anything. No thanks.

[color=00a99d]"Yeah, I'd love that! Lead the way, Siena!"[/color]

"[color=ff57ff]Right this way, good sir.[/color]" The words felt natural, even if they were oddly out of place. It had been a long time since she'd played for anyone, and longer still since she'd asked if someone had wanted to be her audience. Usually, the ones viewing her performance were people she didn't know, or worse...didn't [i]want[/i] around. 

As she settled herself on the piano bench, Siena felt as if she had too much space. It had become rare for her to have anyone playing [i]with[/i] her, and rarer still to have a page turner when she had little more to do than practice songs until they became second nature to her, but something in her still longed for the familiar sensation when she was still learning. The mage tried not to think much on it as she let her fingers brush over the keys, her attention still on Ernie. "[color=ff57ff]Do you have any requests? I think I still remember how to play most of them.[/color]"

[color=00a99d]"Woah, most of them?"[/color] he repeated, visibly impressed, [color=00a99d]"Cool. Uh, how about 'I Got Rhythm'? That's a really fun one."[/color]

He pulled the chair from the harp's area to spectate without blocking her arm space.

Another distant memory of a voice more melodious than the owner suggested humming faintly through an open door with barely audible accompaniment. Siena couldn't identify whether the memory belonged. 

"[color=ff57ff]Yeah, that one [i]is[/i] fun to play.[/color]" Before she even finished the words, Siena's fingers found themselves positioned, a few jaunty chords escaping from the piano, her fingers lightly bouncing in imitation of the mood, the words weakly going along with the slightly faded muscle memory of where each chord belonged. Only a few weeks, and it wasn't quite as natural as second thought anymore...how soon would it be before she completely lost the ability to play?

Still, she hummed the tune softly to herself as her fingers began their lively dance across ebony and ivory planks. [i]Down, up, bounce, skip![/i] The smile was faded in the concentration, but not completely gone. 

[color=00a99d]"I got rhythm! I got music!"[/color]

His voice, though slightly flat when carrying the melody, conveyed the nostalgic joy he was feeling as the boy tapped his feet.

[color=00a99d]"Ooh, have you seen the movie, Siena? There's a part in French that goes--"[/color] Hm, did he remember it? [color=00a99d]"La mem shows on fron-say! Jay duh rhythm-uh! Jay duh la music!~"[/color]

It seemed that he'd keep going until the song ended if no one stopped him.

Hearing the sound of singing floating through the air, Siena felt her courage swell, the liveliness seeping into her playing as she turned her attention momentarily to Ernie as he started with what she assumed was French--close enough. Better than she'd ever heard Gerwulf speak it, at least. Letting a grin cut across her face, Siena found it more endearing than expected. 

"[color=ff57ff]J'ei de la cherie! Who could ask for anything more?~[/color]" She chimed in to join her companion, voice held in check, her pronunciation somewhat off, but her intention clear as the notes continued.

[i]Remember?[/i]

"[color=ff57ff]You remember the words better than I do![/color]" 

[color=00a99d]"It's only, like, my favourite movie. Used to watch it with my parents all the time. Don't know how they never got sick of it,"[/color] the Aberration giggled, apparently unaware of the information he just let out, [color=00a99d]"But your French sounds great! Did you actually learn the language?"[/color]

His parents...

The thought struck Siena harder than she wanted to admit. It was easy to forget in the midst of their battlefield hell that most of the students [i]did[/i] have parents in their life. Most of them probably even had normal upbringings before they were chosen, and she was forgetting that. 

She was the odd one out. 

As she ad libbed a few bars to extend the section of the song, Siena put those thoughts aside to be catalogued later. Instead, she gave a sheepish smile at the compliment to her own French. She'd never actually received a compliment on it before. "[color=ff57ff]O-Oh, not much. Just basics to deal with fancy rich people.[/color]" Letting one hand off the keys briefly to give a lopsided shrug, Siena finished the thought with more warmth than she meant to let slip. "[color=ff57ff]This is the first time someone's complimented it though.[/color]"

[color=00a99d]"Really? You sound great to the guy who only knows English,"[/color] Ernie raised an eyebrow at the improvised section, dazzled, [color=00a99d]"Learning a language sounds hard. My friends always just taught me swear words if I asked them to teach me stuff, heh. Do you know any others? Fancy rich people gotta come from all around the world, right?"[/color]

"[color=ff57ff]Hehe, thanks,[/color]" a few progressions and the song was back on track. "[color=ff57ff]It's...definitely not easy. My caretakers spoke a ton of languages though, so I had good teachers.[/color]" Good teachers with strict lesson plans. Only in the most proper of tones when she spoke words that were her own, and only words that--[i]stop[/i]. "[color=ff57ff]I can listen to German and French, but...not much else.[/color]" 

A pause as she considered telling more. About the added benefit of her DC-given ability. Not yet.

"[color=ff57ff]You know, if you want, I could teach you what I know.[/color]" Punctuating the statement with a faint laugh, Siena added to the thought. "[color=ff57ff]But I think I'd be able to teach you more piano than I could teach you language.[/color]"

[color=00a99d]"More...piano..."[/color] Ernie's good-natured smile faded as the suggestion reached his ears.

Did she make a mistake?

"[color=ff57ff]I-I mean...if you wanted.[/color]" It would be hard to pull it off back at USARILN East, as far as she knew. Well...she supposed she could put in a request for a keyboard...maybe it would be nice. A full sized keyboard with headphones...? They'd managed to give her something as whimsical as a Squishable, surely the powers that were could get her a keyboard. "[color=ff57ff]After all, you'll...probably always be able to find me around.[/color]"

[color=00a99d]"Oh. Oh, right,"[/color] Ernie grimaced at his reaction. Stupid, letting it get to him in front of a sort-of friend. Of course he wanted to learn again. Piano was nice, a fun challenge. He had so many beautiful memories attached to it. It was neat little skill that brought him closer to his parents, the old-fashioned cinephile and the music teacher.

That was exactly why he had to avoid it, right?

Unsure of what to do but knowing it would be rude to flat out refuse, Ernie spoke again. [color=00a99d]"Oh, you're offering me actual lessons? Like, regular ones?"[/color]

"[color=ff57ff]Well, as close to them as I could give you.[/color]" Why was she offering? She wasn't the one that was supposed to teach. Perhaps it was because she was starting to feel that the bench was a bit too large for her again. Siena thought briefly about sitting next to someone that felt larger than life, his fingers playing deft notes and a brilliant melody as he laughed. A happy laugh that Siena rarely heard.

And then she thought of the same fingers slowly losing their nimble qualities, the notes becoming messier and messier until one day, they stopped entirely, and she was left alone on the bench.

"[color=ff57ff]You don't have to answer right now, of course. It's not a limited-time offer or anything.[/color]"

A silence as Ernie mulled it over. He missed it, really. He missed the delight he felt when he finished a whole song without mistakes, the payoff from hours of hard work. He missed the music itself, the stupid rhythms he'd play that made his mother's smile waver but his dad laugh like mad. 

Ernie smiled sadly. So much emotional bullshit tied to a single object. He was starting to feel gross about it all.

The thought of questioning why Siena was offering in the first place hadn't crossed his mind but he felt like he wanted to clear some things up before he gave an answer. [color=00a99d]"Why'd you take up piano, Siena? Just really liked the sound of it or a family member suggested it?"[/color]

Despite her best efforts, Siena couldn't stop the hollow smile that formed on her face in response to Ernie's inquiry. Nobody had really asked her before--they said it suited her. Said that she had a pianist's fingers and that it was an elegant, charming instrument, then left it at that. 

A surprisingly honest answer escaped from her before she could catch it.

"[color=ff57ff]I thought it would make someone happy.[/color]" 

Someone? The barest hint of curiosity appeared but was smothered by the other shit rolling around in his brain.

[color=00a99d]"I can see how it would. You play really nice."[/color]

Fuck it. Just stop thinking and go for it already. A hand reached out to the keyboard, hesitantly. Fourth from C, watch out for the black key by B. The melody from that jaunty song chimed beside Siena's playing, the notes sharp and quick when the rhythm demanded it, held when syncopation was needed. Though it didn't sound nearly as grand as Siena's flourishing chords, and though he occasionally missed the right note in his simple melody, it felt...good. Ernie could feel a familiar smile growing on his face.

[color=00a99d]"Yeah, I getcha,"[/color] he talked but it was somewhat hard to do while playing, [color=00a99d]"I used to play too, for the same reason. But I, uh, [i]we[/i] had to move. Had to stop learning."[/color]

His hand fell back into his lap. He already got his answer, there was no need to embarrass himself on the keyboard like this any more. Ernie returned to his friendly demeanor but there seemed to be something more genuine this time.

[color=00a99d]"Do you think we could have a trial lesson? Like, right now?"[/color]

Before Siena was able to fully process that she'd been complimented, she was given a pleasant surprise as for the second time in as many days, she was playing [i]with[/i] someone again. A flicker of surprise followed by a flash of delight and a shadow of pain were quickly drowned out by the sound of piano notes playing together. Not perfect, but a nice feeling all the same. 

A warm, comfortable feeling that reminded her of days long past. 

"[color=ff57ff]You have good foundations,[/color]" Siena found herself saying as the song began to end. She hadn't missed the slip, hadn't missed that moving probably wasn't the reason why he'd had to stop learning...but she let it lie. Instead, she scoot herself down the bench, patting the empty space beside her at the boy's inquiry. Giving Ernie a smile that might have passed as cheeky, she gave her response. "[color=ff57ff]Well, I don't have anywhere to be if you don't.[/color]" 

With a hearty chuckle, Ernie sat himself next to Siena, acclimating himself to the height and feel of the bench. Shorter than the one in his house, or maybe he had just grown too much. But he didn't mind. It felt like old times. That was meant to be a good thing.
[/hider]

[hider=Ernie and Hazel: Nightmare Scenario]
[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/FWMorlL.png[/img] [img]http://i66.tinypic.com/m7tcpe.png[/img]

[h2][color 00a99d]Ernest[/color] | [color fff79a]Hazel[/color][/h2]
[img]http:// i.imgur.com/3R5vYYi.png?2[/img] 
[hr][color=silver]𝔽: 𝕊𝕖𝕡𝕥. 𝟙𝟠, 𝟚𝟘𝟚𝟘   / /   𝕎𝕒𝕤𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕥𝕠𝕟, 𝔻.ℂ.   / /   ℍ𝕪𝕒𝕥𝕥 ℝ𝕖𝕘𝕖𝕟𝕔𝕪 ℍ𝕠𝕥𝕖𝕝: ℙ𝕖𝕟𝕥𝕙𝕠𝕦𝕤𝕖   / /  𝟚𝟙𝟘𝟘[/color][hr]
[sub]Collab with [@GreenGoat][/sub][/center]

Another night spent front of the TV. Ernie slouched on the sofa, half his attention spent on the rerun of Kitchen Nightmares and the other focused on an article on his phone covering the arrival of the USARILN East subnaturals in the nation's capital. Complete lethargy. Now this was the way to spend a break.

The second day, and late enough to have little to no people where it was. Hazel had been eying the minibar since she found it during their first day here. Having already discarded her dirty clothings and the chainmail, she wore only one of the maroon silk robes she found in the closet. Silently she crept into the minibar, her lack of shoes, socks or any other footwear aiding her endeavour. Green eyes scanned the shelves, until they locked onto a bright blue bottle, of a cuboid shape tapered into a long neck, sealed with a cork, and with a label she did not bother to try reading. 

She was usually weren't curious enough to simply drink liquids in odd containers, especially considering what those usually contained where she came from. But the combination of colourful bottles, the glass containers obviously used for drinking, and the fact that this was some place new and highly magical for her made Hazel curious enough to try.

Popping off the cork with her teeth, Hazel simply wrapped her mouth around the opening and started downing the contents of the bottle.

Though Gordon Ramsay's screams had drowned out what little noise the girl had made in her approach, Ernie caught sight of the berserker in the reflection of a decorative vase. Alarmed, his head whipped around, tracking the collared Aberration as she grabbed a bottle of Bombay Sapphire and...chugged it?

...

Why did this situation feel so eerily familiar?

Ernie watched on in a mixture of fear and concern but unlike his encounter with Sander at East's bar, he remained silent.

Hazel frowned slightly at the bottle, finding its content strangely biting and bitter. Not something she wanted. Thinking it would be rude to simply spit what was already in her mouth onto the floor, she simply spat it back out into the bottle, corked it, and grabbed a shinier bottle, sleek and with some sort of golden foil around the cork. Pulling that off, she took a swig at it, feeling highly satisfied no one spotted her yet. Until she turned around and noticed Ernie staring at her.

Surprised, she choked on the wine, spraying the contents of her mouth all over Ernie's direction.

Unsure of what to do, Hazel froze in place for a moment, before putting back the wine, and slowly sinking back into the cover of the minibar's counter.

Seeing the impending spray, Ernie had jumped in the opposite direction, trying and failing to dodge the girl's surprise. He felt the spray settle on his legs, much to his chagrin, as his face planted firmly into the far cushion of the sofa. Urgh, why did he choose to wear shorts today of all days?

Feeling something between mortification and fury, the X-mark got to his feet and stomped over. It was tempting to just vault over the bar and scream some profanities but that priceless bottle needed to be secured first. He grabbed the liquor and jammed a bottle stopper into it, but not before thoroughly cleaning the rim. If anyone felt like getting tipsy later, it would have to be their problem. As soon as he was done, Ernie turned his seething glare towards the girl.

[color=00a99d]"I can see you, y'know."[/color]

Hazel was sure he was lying.

After all, she was behind the counter, well hidden, and without any sort of observation device she could see around. Was the bar some sort of one way mirror? In any case, he didn't seem to be stopping her from doing anything. The drink just now tasted slightly better than the last one, but she didn't want to take it again considering he took it very aggressively and corked it back.

Popping her head out from behind the counter, she reached over, instead, towards a large cuboid container, clear as a crystal, with contents seemingly made of the same. Having no idea what the cyrillic on it meant, she popped that one open, and tried chugging that one.

Almost immediately she regretted her decision; the drink seemed to burn her throat as she dropped the bottle on the counter, its contents pouring out merrily all over it. As if to add insult to injury, the sash on her robe came undone again, plopping neatly into the steadily growing puddle.

[color=00a99d]"No! You can't drink it like--"[/color]

Not fast enough. The toppling of the crystal bottle and the unravelling of the robe seemed to progress in slow motion. Ernie could do nothing but watch with his mouth agape as another priceless substance spilled outwards and the girl's robe opened like a theatre curtain to reveal...oh god.

[color=00a99d]"Ah...uh..."[/color]

Ernie's shattered mind took a few moments to compute everything. Too many moments. The boy remained frozen, his gaze stubbornly fixed on a painting behind the girl as he struggled to conjure up a course of action. Inside his mind raged a war of attrition between two priorities: the expensive liquor and the importance of looking anywhere but [i]there[/i]. Variables such as liquor cost, cleaning time, and the countdown until Hazel inevitably beat his head in for such a sight, rolled about but did nothing shake him from that unsteady trance. So he just stood there, horrified and frozen.

Still coughing from that last bottle of vodka, Hazel grabbed the still wet sash, and tied it haphazardly again on her waist, though it did little to her robe other than tightening it around her waist. 

Emboldened by Ernie's lack of action, she reached behind the counter, towards a rather elaborate bottle on the top shelf. Jumping towards it, she inadvertantly toppled a roundish bottle full of deep amber liquid, sending the contents of that bottle spilling out as well. The bottle she grabbed had a glass top instead of a cork, heavy, with a very intriguing aroma coming from within. Intriguing? Odd? She felt a little lightheaded, but attributed it to the myriads of suppressors they attached on her.

Still, Ernie said it was not to be drunk like so. Then how was it supposed to be imbibed? Turning towards Ernie, she shoved the bottle towards him, waiting expectantly for him to do something.

The boy blinked, staring cross-eyed at the bottle presented to him. At least she was trying to cover up now? At least alcoholics had some kind of pattern. This girl was just...

Inconsiderate? Weird? Did she really not know what was in these containers? Swallowing hard, Ernie finally began to correct the spilled bottles.

[color=00a99d]"You, uh, don't like that one, Hazel?"[/color] he asked tentatively.

[color=fff79a]"How do I drink it?"[/color] she spoke, referring to his earlier outburst.

Hazel refused to believe people voluntarily drank something that bit them back, especially when they're all in these fancy containers. Perhaps if it tasted something like that mapo tofu, she could understand, but this sort of bite was ferocious and seemed to eat into her very throat. As if she was trying to drink liquid fire that burned only in her insides. Ernie seemed to know the secret, and she wasn't about to just let him go without telling her.

[color=00a99d]"In a cup...? Not straight from the bottle, that's for sure. It's better if you mix it with other stuff. Um, lemme..."[/color]

He reached out for the bottle, cringing as his hand passed over the puddles on the bench. Within minutes, he set up the bar, mixing bright but measured liquids from various other bottles into a shaker until it was finally strained into a cocktail glass. A fruity mix for the strange girl. Hopefully this wasn't going to result in his head getting smashed in.

[color=00a99d]"This will taste better,"[/color] he said nervously as he pushed the glass towards Hazel. Man, what was it with the weirdo Aberrations in this class and alcohol?

Tentatively she took the glass, noting its odd construction. 

She was, of course, skeptical about the taste. How would simple mixing of several bitter and biting liquids improve the taste? Nevertheless, she took the glass and gulped down the content in one go. It still burned slightly, but it did taste a whole lot better. 

[color=fff79a]"I see. So simply mixing these liquids together create a vastly superior drink."[/color]

Hazel started reaching over for more of those colorful bottles, leaving one perched precariously near an edge, while another, more plain looking bottle, crashed onto the floor. Surely if it wasn't colorful or curiously shaped, it was not worth drinking.

She didn't know what alcohol was but she used words like 'vastly superior'?

Ernie didn't have much time to dwell on that little note before a violent crash of glass triggered a yelp from the boy. Farewell, poor Absolut. But there were still some he could save.

[color=00a99d]"No, Hazel, you can't take these either!"[/color] he shouted trying to nudge her hands away, [color=00a99d]"I'll show you how to drink all of them, just please stop spilling these!"[/color]

[color=fff79a]"Eh?"[/color] She turned, knocking one of the bottles on the top shelf over. Perhaps the knock loosened up the top, or perhaps the glass top wasn't properly fitted in the first place. But the end result remained the same; the bottle toppled over, popping out its glass top, before pouring all its content over Ernie.

[color=fff79a]"I understand. Then, I will take a seat in front of the counter."[/color]

Hazel walked around the counter, obvlivious to the fact her sash had caught on the corner, undoing the flimsy knot. Pulling up one of those rounded seats, she sat at the bar and waited patiently. The seat felt a bit cold against her rear, but at least it was comfortable.

Ernie took a deep breath and closed his eyes, feeling complete and hopeless resignation as the fluid seeped all over his head. This was a mental and emotional test to rival even the likes of Wisford. It was a good thing he was too horrified to be angry, otherwise he probably wouldn't even be alive enough to stand here under this alcoholic waterfall. Ernie coughed violently as some of it got into his nose when he reached up to correct the shelf. Urgh, he was gonna feel this later.

...Perhaps death wasn't such a bad idea after all. Bah, at least he didn't have to wash his hair this time.

Once the situation with the shelves was sorted, Ernie worked quickly, despite the stickiness coating his entire body. Soon, two glasses sat in front of Hazel: a large tumbler full of cold, plain tap water and the brightest, pinkest Sling Ernie could make at the moment. 

[color=00a99d]"You need to have this in between drinks so your head doesn't feel like it's getting hammered tomorrow morning, so drink that one first. Slowly,"[/color] he instructed carefully, pointing to the water, [color=00a99d]"After that, I'll let you have the pink one. But you need to drink that slowly too. Don't touch or spill anything else while I clean up, okay?"[/color]

His tone was serious but his eyes were diverted to the opposite wall in a feeble attempt to avoid the girl's Danger Zone. Ernie backed away slowly, patting at the benchtop behind him to find the handtowel. Once he did, he began wiping off his head, then away at the spills.

Hazel, of course, was not oblivious to Ernie diverting his eyes. But why he was doing that was beyond her understanding. But, she did understand that gave her an opening.

As soon as Ernie turned away, she discreetly poured away the water onto the floor, and started gulping down the pink drink. If anyone comes to hammer her head in the morning, she was sure she can beat them down, as long as she stayed alert. It was getting harder to think clearly now. Were they turning up the suppressor?

[color=fff79a]"Another one, please."[/color]

That was...fast. Suspiciously fast, but Ernie was in no position to speak up against the berserker. If there was anything he learnt at Reno, it was that refusing a drink to an angry Aberration generally resulted in bad news. At least the benchtop was wiped down. He could fix up the shelves now.

The water glass was filled again. He was mildly pleased that she had actually followed his instructions, though the speed that she had chugged down that Sling was concerning. A Blue Lagoon was offered to the girl now. 

[color=00a99d]"Same instructions as before. Drink [i]slowly[/i]."[/color]

Ernie tried to keep his eyes on her a bit longer but the need to wipe down more of the spills overtook him. He turned around once more, reaching for the shelves to empty and wipe them.

Once again, she waited until he turned his back, then doing the same once more. Hazel wanted to try all of the drinks; drinking them slowly might leave her with little time to try the rest, especially with all the bottles she could see lined up. Who knows when she will be able to try such a thing again?

She drank the blue liquid quickly, appreciating its flavour, and the bite that was becoming slightly more endearing now. Spilt water was puddling around her feet, but she was sure he wouldn't notice. Not if he wasn't looking her way.

[color=fff79a]"Another one... please."[/color] she repeated, with a noticeable drawl — small, but there — in her voice.

Okay, that was definitely not a healthy speed to drink a Lagoon at. Ernie narrowed his eyes at the bangs concealing the girl's gaze as if he could decipher the mystery that way.

[color=00a99d]"I need to clean the floor first. Here, have some orange juice while I get the brush and pan. Don't touch anything, remember."[/color]

Ernie moved out from behind the counter, glancing sideways at the girl. That was her bare ass was on that chair, wasn't it.

[color=00a99d]"Wear that robe properly too! I don't want to see any...nngh, uh... Just stop letting everything hang so loose, please?"[/color]

That was a lot of liquid on the ground for one bottle. He stared with suspicion once again before disappearing around a corner.

She had no idea what was hanging loose. Her robe? It was too much of a hassle to tie it back up, not when her knot keeps getting undone.

[color=fff79a]"I see."[/color]

In one smooth motion, she took off the robe and set it down on the counter. Hazel was feeling giddy from her smart idea. Actually she was just feeling giddy now, but she wasn't about to go off or give up, not when there was this sort of drink in front of her. Orange juice was familiar; it was one of those small rewards they gave her back in that facility whenever she did something especially good.

Frowning, she stared at the glass of orange juice. It seems oddly hard to hold, as if the glass was resisting her. She took another sip at it before it slipped out of her hand and crashed onto the floor.

She stared at it for a while before realizing Ernie probably wouldn't like the mess. Focusing on her ability, projecting only the smallest part of her finger, she tried to just disintergrate the mess away with a wide sweep. Inebriated as she was, it was no surprise her aim went wide, knocking off one of the supports on the shelves, the bottles placed there slowly sliding down the now askew shelf and crashing onto the floor one by one. A bit of liquid splashed onto her eyes, causing her to yelp and fall over the sofa, smashing her still active projection onto the TV.

Utterly defeated, she sighed and stayed where she was on the sofa.

Ernie had rushed back from his bathroom as soon as the crashing of glass resumed, the armful of towels he was holding almost dropping from his shock. It took him a long while to process everything that suddenly changed. The messiest, and easiest, game of Spot the Difference he'd ever played.

Hazel, completely naked now and upside down on the sofa. The beautiful 103-inch television, destroyed by a deep, vertical groove down the middle. The shelves, all askew and completely bare. Was this actually a test? Was he supposed to see if he could withhold his anger through all these trials? Because if it was, he was fucking acing it. There was no way to get pissed if he was so freaking amazed. As a soldier walked over to the phone to call room service and a repairsman, Ernie pieced together the sheer impossibility of the events that had occurred in that minute-long timeframe.

Yet another deep breath. As much as he wanted to clean that entire mess himself or mourn the loss of that gigantic TV, his presence was better used elsewhere. Numbly, he eased Hazel's legs off the end into a more comfortable position on the sofa, and threw a towel over her like a blanket.

[color=00a99d]"Hazel,"[/color] his voice croaky and stiff as he failed to navigate that whirlpool of emotions, [color=00a99d]"Are you okay?"[/color]

[color=fff79a]"Yes. I am un...unharmed."[/color] Hazel turned towards the now bare shelf. [color=fff79a]"Thi... with the she.. shelves.. With no more bottles of those liquids, I am afraid you cannot make any more drinks."[/color]

There was a tinge of regret in her voice, as she wrapped the towel around her. It was getting oddly hazy, a lot more than usual. Perhaps it was the suppressors getting stronger again, but she just felt like crawling to bed now. She tried to stand up, walking a few steps before her legs collapsed, and she tumbled onto Ernie. 

The girl was caught with both arms, held up in an awkward and clumsy embrace. Ernie frowned at her words, sensing no malice in them. Nothing that reminded him of the monster that had smashed open the Collector and attacked them. The girl was strange and most likely dangerous but after everything that had happened, he decided that she wasn't much like Sander at all. She was too damn stupid to be an asshole like him.

Adjusting their positions to get a better grip, Ernie asked. [color=00a99d]"Should I take you to your room so you can sleep now?"[/color]

[color=fff79a]"Ye-"[/color] Without warning, she upchucked the contents of her stomach onto his feet. [color=fff79a]"Yes, please..."[/color]

Ernie merely blinked in response, miraculously still holding in the horrified scream he'd been repressing the entire time.
[/hider]