[center][h1]Back to School pt. 1[/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]𝕌𝕊𝔸ℝ𝕀𝕃ℕ 𝔼𝕒𝕤𝕥[/color][/center][hr]
[h3]October 8[/h3]

[hider=Ernie and Brent: Working Things Out]
[center]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/FWMorlL.png[/img] [img]https://i.imgur.com/jw3F1O9.png[/img] 

[h2][color 00a99d]Ernest[/color] | [color B0C4DE]Brent[/color][/h2]
[img]http:// i.imgur.com/3R5vYYi.png?2[/img] 
[hr][color=silver]𝕋𝕙𝕦𝕣: 𝕆𝕔𝕥. 𝟠, 𝟚𝟘𝟚𝟘   / /   𝕌𝕊𝔸ℝ𝕀𝕃ℕ 𝔼𝕒𝕤𝕥   / /   𝔾𝕪𝕞   / /   𝟘𝟝𝟘𝟘[/color][hr]
[sub]Collab with [@ERode][/sub][/center]

Staying up was...not a fun idea. Not that Ernie was tired. There had been something there for sure, something between weariness and the plodding monotony that came with having to practice anything. But he wasn't tired. Years in the kitchen had sharpened his tolerance and this particular drain was far from physical.

Practice. That was all he needed to do. Improve his dexterity with the blasted thing, lift more, move faster. Perfect practice makes perfect. Be prepared for the next time, be stronger, [i]braver[/i].

A crooked smile tore across his face.

Yeah. Next time those Amigos came at them, he'd still probably die alongside some unfortunate classmates, the barest bit more satisfied with himself than he'd been on the island. But for now, it was time for his workout. The smile faded with the memory of the argument on the island, the prospect that something had snapped between him and Brent. Something...nah, that couldn't be it. They were friends. He'd shared one of his biggest secrets with the guy and it had been respected. Things should be fine.

With that train of thought slowing to a relatively safe stop, Ernie strolled into the gym, whistling with an aura of joy that only seemed half-forced.

Crimen Culpae. Wisford. Washington. Bald Head Island.

Loss. Loss. Win. Loss.

Lift, pull, push, lunge, skip, [i]run[/i].

He'd gotten lax during that one win. Got it into his head that he improved significantly, when it was just more and more freebies from that garden of words. Had fallen into too gentle a routine, had treated everything as 'exercising' instead of actual 'training'. Got too mired up with relationship bullshit, spent way too much time nagging Siena, hadn't even bothered with picking up new skills of his own. First aid. He kept on thinking about learning that from Ernie, but he never said a word. Marksmanship. It was never enough, just to play around with a couple hunting rifles. Should have gone further. Gone until it [i]hurt[/i].

Metal clanked against metal as Brent lifted himself from the bench, back drenched, arms shaking. Took him a few tries before he could grab his sports drink without it slipping out of his palms. Somewhere along the way, he lost it, huh? That obssession with victory, and the purpose that it gave him. A guidepost in the quagmire, honing his thought process until it was lethal. Beneath him, the gym equipment disassembled, reassembled, form cooling back into the ordinary object it had been before.

Wasn't enough just to win once. Shouldn't aspire to just that. He took a deep breath, then another.

And when the door to the gym creaked open, the arbiter turned with a reflexive smile.

[color=B0C4DE]"Yo,"[/color] he waved, [color=B0C4DE]"Had something to eat yet?"[/color]

[color 00a99d]"Found some leftover snacks in my dorm,"[/color] Ernie replied, waving back with his own grin, [color 00a99d]"Nice to get my face into all that packaged stuff again."[/color]

[color=B0C4DE]"Totally done with high quality organic ingredients cooked by maids and butlers?"[/color] Brent laughed. [color=B0C4DE]"Gotta watch out for your macros, man."[/color]

[color 00a99d]"Mmyeah,"[/color] the Aberration glanced over the unknown term with a smile, [color 00a99d]"Doesn't help that we skipped training yesterday either."[/color]

Was that smart, bringing up that mess? Didn't feel like it.

[color 00a99d]"I mean, I heard swimming helps with muscle-work, amirite?"[/color] He tried a weak joke to tide the moment over.

[color=B0C4DE]" 's long as you're not diving headfirst to avoid the fireworks, yeh."[/color] Better off latching onto brighter memories, at least until things were in a better order. [color=B0C4DE]"Never was one for swimming myself though. Just the smell, you know?"[/color]

[color 00a99d]"Yeah, fair. Can only take so much seaweed. I always hear how sand gets in all your places but I didn't think they meant [i]all[/i] your places, y'know?"[/color]

[color=B0C4DE]"Woah, dude, careful with that mental imagery there. Too early in the morning for sandcrotch."[/color]

[color 00a99d]"Every time's too early for sandcrotch,"[/color] Ernie grimaced at the memory.

Another chuckle, before Brent went back to his sets, the comfortably familiar sound of metal clanking against metal disappearing as a joly of silver circuitry changed it into the same electromagnetic resistance device that he had made for Callan a long, long time ago. [color=B0C4DE]"Better start warming up now, eh? Aiming to reach the eight minute mile by next month, right?"[/color]

Ernie nodded happily. [color 00a99d]"It's gonna be great."[/color]

He meant it. Getting into this kind of routine had done wonders for so many other aspects of daily life, from nutrition to practical knowledge.

[color 00a99d][i]Shame it's not worth a damn in a real fight, eh?[/i][/color]

Ernie slackened his grip on the machine, pausing, then glancing to Brent.

If Brent noticed the glance, he didn't show it, nor acknowledge it. What was present instead was a single minded focus, bordering obssession without the emotional weight of passion, as the magnetic bar went up and down, biceps bulging and veins popping as amethyst eyes burned into something that wasn't there.

Miffed that he'd been unacknowledged, even if he hadn't said anything out loud, Ernie frowned.

[color 00a99d]"Do you..."[/color] he tried to put it gently, [color 00a99d]"do you think we could have done better?"[/color]

Brent paused.

[color=B0C4DE][i]"You could have done better."[/i][/color]

[color=B0C4DE]"Yes. Always."[/color]

Ernie had been expecting that. The frown deepened.

[color 00a99d]"For real, though. Even if we had ten times more proper training, if we had an actual functioning team, would we still be alive if they had sent just one more of their Brazilian douchebags at us?"[/color]

He sighed.

[color 00a99d]"I'm not talking about how we worked yesterday. I'm wondering if it was even possible for us to get a 'win' scenario in the first place. It's a goddamn miracle we only lost two."[/color]

There was something deeper there. Of course victory was possible. If they could get this far, through a month of shitty, hellish incidents without any real training, then in ten months, Unit B could become a force to be reckoned with. They had so many options in terms of pure destructive power, and two arbiters that had functionally infinite versatility. But it wasn't a matter of reason, was it?

Brent turned, that weight-lifting machine reassembling into its natural state, eyes locking onto Ernie's. There was no malice there, just a steadfast...something.

[color=B0C4DE]"It is possible."[/color] A nod. An assertation. [color=B0C4DE]"We're not all at that point yet, but we could get that 'win' scenario against the Amigos."[/color]

Even in their current states. Even as wretched and ill-prepared as they were. But he didn't need to reach that far.

[color=B0C4DE]"It would require the entire unit to be an actual functioning team though, instead a dysfunctional group of kiddos."[/color]

Ernie barked out a laugh, a sarcastic retort escaping before he could stop it.

[color 00a99d]"Yeah, that's gonna happen."[/color]

[color=B0C4DE]"Who knows?"[/color] Brent replied noncommitally. [color=B0C4DE]"Miracles do happen."[/color]

[color 00a99d]"Dumb luck happens,"[/color] Ernie corrected him, [color 00a99d]"Not miracles. Even then, this group's shit might be too much for even a miracle to handle."[/color]

[color=B0C4DE]"Well, here's to hoping that they flush that shit out of their systems sooner rather than later. Campfire bonding certainly didn't work out in that favor...like, at all."[/color]

[color 00a99d]"Yeah..."[/color]

Ernie felt awkward tinge of responsibility there. It'd certainly been his prodding at the campfire that escalated things but...c'mon, how was he supposed to know that pasty fucker had [i]burned[/i] someone?

[color 00a99d]"It's not just that drama stuff. There are too many of us that don't plan at all outside of 'run at them and fight'."[/color]

Brent laughed at that. [color=B0C4DE]"Yeah, everything's a hell of a mess. Thought Lawrence or Grant would try to get a handle on the situation, but they were just cold fishes the entire time too. But..."[/color]

He recalled Washington. All their 'real' powerhouses running off into danger immediately. Hazel disappearing at the start. Callan seeking heroism and redemption. Sander god knows where. Chris doing things the only way he knows how to. Zoe drunk on her bloodlust.

[color=B0C4DE]"...hard to rein in people whose powers are so straightforward and strong. Hell of a mess,"[/color] he repeated. [color=B0C4DE]"Could say that they just brute forced their way through last morning, huh?"[/color]

[color 00a99d]"Or it was just dumb luck. But brute force is probably more accurate."[/color]

Ernie was going to regret this. It needed to be said.

[color 00a99d]"It's not just the ones with straightforward powers. Siena was about to jump out there if I hadn't stopped her. And you were going to run back to the mansion with zero information."[/color]

[color=B0C4DE]"Yeah,"[/color] Brent nodded, [color=B0C4DE]"Went retard mode even from the get go, thinking that the Amigos wouldn't have arrived at the estate that soon. Didn't take into consideration the flash that accompanies Siena's teleports as well. Should have, considering what I saw in Wisford."[/color]

A shake of his head. Genuine regret. Obvious mistakes he made in the heat of the moment, for the sake of someone he hardly knew, and wasn't sure if he cared about THAT much. Lost his focus, lost his sight, and after awhile, probably lost his fucking mind.

[color=B0C4DE]"Lots to work on for sure. Hah, maybe Lawrence and Grant staying still and being out of the way was the best move to make."[/color]

Ernie nodded too, but the stern expression remained. Something had happened back there, even if Brent wasn't willing to talk about it.

[color 00a99d]"We've got enough dumbasses. We don't need pro-strategist Proteus of all people going 'retard mode' just like them."[/color]

[color=B0C4DE]"I'll try harder from now on,"[/color] Brent replied. [color=B0C4DE]"See if I can make the outlier that was Washington into the norm."[/color]

See if there was another 'leader' to be found, now that Grant was a bust.

[color=B0C4DE]"Gonna be counting on you to back me up though, yeah? You're the cowboy here, after all."[/color]

[color 00a99d]"I thought Tonto was the back up,"[/color] Ernie managed a small smile. It faded quickly. Somehow, his hand found its place on Brent's shoulder. No jokes here.

[color 00a99d]"You're right about Washington. I'm serious too, yeah? We can't afford this bullshit next time. You...really had me worried yesterday."[/color]

Christ, when did this become real? How the hell did he actually be this close to someone who may as well be his opposite? It had been so cheap before, so easy, simple even, but now...

[color=B0C4DE]"No bullshit, just winning,"[/color] Brent replied, [color=B0C4DE]"I'll do it properly from now on."[/color]

He remembered Wisford once more, that formation that Unit A had taken, even without their ace in hand. There was exhaustion, fatigue, but they had never buckled under the pressure of Factory's minions, even as such a small group. Had no significant injuries. No losses, even without a healer. There were so many more pieces in Unit B, so many Queens and Knights, but everyone just smashed their heads against the wall and solved it with their overpowered abilities instead. There had to be a better way.

There [i]was[/i] a better way.

[color=B0C4DE]"Thanks. For holding me back and all, Ernie. Retrospectively appreciate it."[/color]

Oh. He hadn't been expecting that. Ernie felt his heart grow a size, a grin growing along with it.

[color 00a99d]"What are friends for, right?"[/color]

[color=B0C4DE]"Right,"[/color] Brent replied offering a fist bump, [color=B0C4DE]"'fore I forget, teach me how to do those first aid things sometime, eh? Keep putting it off but hell, that shit's definitely gonna be useful one day."[/color]

[color 00a99d]"Yeah, of course."[/color]

Now that he thought about it, they couldn't have returned to the campus at a better time. Already he was coming up with ways to use Ground Zero to its full potential.

[color 00a99d]"Yeah, that can definitely work!"[/color] Ernie mused, returning the fist bump, [color 00a99d]"Just text me when you're free. I've got plenty to teach."[/color]

[color=B0C4DE]"Looking forward to it,"[/color] Brent chimed, happy that at least one bridge hadn't been obliterated during that rough morning, [color=B0C4DE]"Now get back to it, Ernie. Let's see you put some pro sprinters to shame by the end of this month."[/color]
[/hider]

[hider=Ernie and Zoe: Insinuations and Initiated Investigations][center]
[img]http://i.imgur.com/FWMorlL.png[/img] [img]http://i.imgur.com/ytozL8X.png[/img] 

[h2][color 00a99d]Ernest[/color] | [color palevioletred]Zoe[/color][/h2]
[img]http:// i.imgur.com/3R5vYYi.png?2[/img] 
[hr][color=silver]𝕋𝕙𝕦𝕣: 𝕆𝕔𝕥. 𝟠, 𝟚𝟘𝟚𝟘   / /   𝕌𝕊𝔸ℝ𝕀𝕃ℕ 𝔼𝕒𝕤𝕥   / /   𝔹𝕦𝕚𝕝𝕕𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝔹   / /   𝟘𝟡𝟘𝟘[/color][hr]
[sub]Collab with [@Lasrever][/sub][/center]

One good thing about the school getting crapped on while they were away: no classes.

One good thing about returning to the craphole: he could reunite with his precious equipment.

Ernie sighed with contentment as he plugged in the cleaner. The hallway had become quite the dump during his absence. The Reg janitors were always too spooked to stay in the Abe dorms long enough to do a decent job, and the tense atmosphere since the attack had only made things worse. No one could be assed to finish the job and it wasn't like Ernie was a particularly busy guy. The vacuum started with a vibrant roar. He got to work.

He'd been uninterrupted on previous shifts. Sure, there was the occasional glare and scream to [i]'shut that fucking thing off'[/i]. The standard fare, whether he was here or at West or in Reno. As much as he wanted to annoy Allison with the noise, it seemed like a dick move to do it so soon after what happened on the island. He moved past her room quickly, reaching the hapless halls of the second floor in no time.

Zoe groaned at the sound of the vacuum, tossing a notebook against the wall in frustration. After everything they'd dealt with, was some peace and quiet [i]really[/i] too much to ask for? It was too early for this, and too soon for it. There was enough on her plate without any extra irritation adding to it. Standing up, she was well aware that she looked like a mess, but also that she didn't give enough of a damn to change it.

So it was a fairly bedraggled Zoe that poked her head out into the corridor, blue eyes fixing on the culprit. She probably should have been less surprised to see Ernie, considering the guy's neat-freak tendencies, but this was seriously pushing it. [color=palevioletred]"I'm pretty sure they already clean the corridors, Ernie--"[/color] She grimaced, glaring at the vacuum like it had personally offended her. [color=palevioletred]"And why the hell is that thing so loud?"[/color]

[color 00a99d]"They don't, actually,"[/color] Ernie frowned, reeling from the fleshmelter's sudden appearance. The vacuum was temporarily switched off, [color 00a99d]"They don't do it properly. Of course it's loud, how else is it gonna get everything those stupid janitors missed?"[/color]

[color=palevioletred]"And there's [i]absolutely[/i] no way to clean without deafening everyone in a ten-mile radius, right."[/color] Zoe looked at him incredulously. [color=palevioletred]"Couldn't you just not go to the messy parts? There's a whole institute here, you can't just go cleaning it top-to-bottom."[/color] Sure, maybe it'd be better to just let Ernie get on with his weird cleaning thing, but she didn't really feel like the hearing loss today.

[color 00a99d]"The 'not messy parts',"[/color] Ernie scoffed, growing more indignant, [color 00a99d]"Please. This whole school's a freaking dump, I'd have to chew off my foot to get away without fixing some of it. Besides, I don't wanna get lectured on mess by you of all people."[/color]

Zoe looked at Ernie for a good few seconds before replying in a level tone. [color=palevioletred]"And what's that supposed to mean, exactly?"[/color] Of course she had an idea, but she'd be damned if she was going to be the one to voice those thoughts.

Those few seconds were enough time for Ernie to assess the degree of fucking up he'd just done.

[color 00a99d]"I meant..."[/color] he spoke slowly, as if that would stall the conversation for him to make a decent excuse, [color 00a99d]"that..."[/color]

Oh, what the hell was he trying to be nice for?

[color 00a99d]"C'mon, even outside of fights you're not so..."[/color] Nope, not going there. [color 00a99d]"A-and look at your room!"[/color]

He gestured dramatically at the space behind the door.

Zoe glanced back, unimpressed by Ernie's horror. Okay, so there were maybe a few things lying around, but she didn't see the big deal. Hell, most of it was fairly normal for someone to have out, anyway.

[color=palevioletred]"...the room's usually tidy. Just wasn't in the mood yesterday."[/color] Zoe looked faintly irritated. [color=palevioletred]"And I'm clean enough, but thanks for that."[/color]

[color 00a99d]"Yesterday..."[/color]

A lot of baggage there. His eyes narrowed as he remembered something. Something about Zoe in town.

[color 00a99d]"Yeah, that wasn't fun,"[/color] he replied, his mind replaying the detail he wanted to broach before he actually said it out loud, [color 00a99d]"At least we're back now, right? Must be good to have GZ again."[/color]

[color=palevioletred]"It helps."[/color] Didn't make the whole thing feel any less disgusting, but hey; at least she didn't want to tear real people's throats out as much. That, and it kept everything from replaying in her daydreams. She shrugged, trying to appear indifferent. [color=palevioletred]"Whole lot better than the alternative, anyway."[/color]

[color 00a99d]"Oh, for sure."[/color]

No need to discuss 'the alternative'. Ernie paused, aware of how awkward further conversation could be. They were far from friends. Wasn't as weird as the Emma situation but...still not great. There was a lot to say.

One thing at a time. [color 00a99d]"I--"[/color] Ernie glanced away. [color 00a99d]"You were right, by the way. The Brent and Siena thing. There were better ways to handle that."[/color]

[color=palevioletred]"Glad you realised it."[/color] Zoe frowned, thinking over the situation. It was honestly a little late to be having this revelation, but better late than never at least. Hell, with everything that had followed, she'd almost forgotten about that incident. Almost, but not quite; she had an impressive ability to hold a grudge. [color=palevioletred]"At least it didn't get them killed, but yeah. Just... don't let them do anything that dumb again, and we're good. Death happens, but shit like that's preventable."[/color]

[color 00a99d]"Me and Brent...talked. I don't think it'll happen again."[/color]

There was the question of how he was going to bring it up with Siena but that would be for another day.

[color 00a99d]"Same could be said for you, couldn't it? The 'dumb' stuff. I'm not talking about the 'alternative' you mentioned earlier, but the running out on your own and expecting no one to see you. Should I have done something there, too?"[/color]

The statement managed to get a bit of a rise out of her, though she was more uncomfortable than angry.

[color=palevioletred]"I know what I'm doing. Fact is, I'd rather be the one getting hurt than have someone do it for me."[/color] Zoe didn't want to go into detail on that one. Didn't want to try and have that discussion with Ernie - he'd hardly be sympathetic, judging from his reaction when she'd tried to go through with it herself. And more than that, admitting such a weakness was more frightening than she cared to admit.

[color=palevioletred]"They don't know how to handle a fight like I do. Shitty as it sounds, the difference between me and them is that I'm good enough to finish what I start."[/color] Admittedly, some of this was her ego talking, but that didn't make it any less true as far as she was concerned.

[color 00a99d]"I don't doubt you there,"[/color] he said, but he couldn't help but raise an eyebrow for the rest of the statements. Was it really so bad to want to keep one of the team's powerhouses alive? [color 00a99d]"Ideal situation would be no one having to take one for the team, though. Even you. Wouldn't the better thing be teaching the others how to handle a fight?"[/color]

[color=palevioletred]"And how often do we get an ideal situation?"[/color] Zoe chuckled, shaking her head.

[color=palevioletred]"Listen, while I'm [i]sure[/i] everyone would leap at getting fighting instruction from the team psychopath, I don't know how to teach anyone about making the right decisions. Even if they trusted me as far as they could throw me."[/color] Of course, she wasn't really objecting to that view - hell, she'd be the first one to admit that she was unstable, even broken. That the Stigma was stronger than she was. But that didn't make it any less of an obstacle.

[color 00a99d]"Something's gotta be done,"[/color] he muttered, not expecting any input from Zoe. Brent hadn't offered any solid answers either. [color 00a99d]"There were too many mistakes yesterday."[/color] Many, including his own.

[color=palevioletred]"You're right; we're lucky we only lost two."[/color] Zoe scowled. She could have done more, so much more, if she'd been better. Stronger.

[color=palevioletred]"If it were up to me, I'd say they need someone to tell them what to do, but they're never gonna listen. I can't help anyone by thinking about that shit."[/color] It was strange, but she could talk about this frankly where Ernie was concerned. Perhaps because she knew he was capable - at least mentally - of the same things as her. [color=palevioletred]"All I know is I'm gonna do whatever it takes to try and spare them the worst of it."[/color]

Always the resolve with this girl. Even when she was borderline-slaughtering teammates on every mission, somehow he still didn't doubt her. Weird how that worked.

[color 00a99d]"Yeah,"[/color] he scratched his head, mulling over her words. Couldn't have a team leader telling them what to do without them listening to each other. Couldn't have them listening to each other without someone who could lead. It was a cycle of complete dumbfuckery. [color 00a99d]"I guess I'll do that too."[/color]

A pause as he worked out the best way to approach what he really wanted.

[color 00a99d]"Yeah, uh, while I'm here, there's something I gotta ask. What did you get from the Amigo you found?"[/color]

[color=palevioletred]"From him? Nothing. Don't get me wrong - I [i]would[/i] have,"[/color] Zoe grimaced, frustrated, [color=palevioletred]"but he got out of my range. Only had time to catch up before I killed him automatically, and he passed out before I got the chance to question him."[/color] The whole thing was far from an ideal situation, and there was more than one reason it irritated her. The delay in getting any info was the main part, of course. But beyond that, there was the undeniable feeling of disappointment that she wouldn't get to ask the questions.

Not that she planned on mentioning that, though she didn't make an effort to hide it either. There didn't seem to be much point, considering who she was talking to.

[color=palevioletred]"That staff mage, Margot, said I'd be the first to know if they get anything."[/color] Zoe continued. [color=palevioletred]"So it's better than nothing, at least."[/color]

An unexpected anger coloured his expression. Nothing. Really? He searched her expression for any signs of lying but found nothing. He couldn't think if any reason Zoe would lie either.

[color 00a99d]"Dammit,"[/color] Ernie sighed, [color 00a99d]"Margot. The chainsmoker scar lady?"[/color]

[color=palevioletred]"Yeah, her."[/color] Zoe narrowed her eyes at Ernie's anger, though she was hardly worried by it. [color=palevioletred]"I think she'll tell me; as much as she can, anyway."[/color] It was hard to pin down why she felt sure of that. Whatever the reason, she didn't think Margot would hide anything she didn't have to.

[color 00a99d]"Sure, if she even knows the right questions to ask."[/color]

There was something off about her, like she knew a lot more than she needed to let on, but Ernie still didn't think much. She was a USARILN dog. Not a Senator.

[color 00a99d]"Do you think you can let me know when she gets to you? This shit seems important."[/color]

Something about Ernie's statement didn't sit right with her, and after a few seconds she gave him a faintly confused look. [color=palevioletred]"I figured they'd know a hell of a lot more about all this than we do."[/color] And she wasn't quite sure how telling a classmate would help. Still, Zoe didn't take long thinking over her answer. 

[color=palevioletred]"It depends what she tells me. And I'd need you to keep your mouth shut to the others."[/color] For what it was worth, she figured Ernie was more than capable of doing that much. Though how much she'd risk telling him was still up in the air.

Ernie scoffed. [color 00a99d]"Like the others would even know what to do with Amigo intel. Don't worry. if you feel like it needs to be a secret for whatever reason, I've got no reason to blab."[/color]

A pause before he continued. He didn't like that Margot.

[color 00a99d]"I dunno. Would you ask a baker for plumbing tips? I don't know how long that lady's been with USARILN but the Amigos are still out there [i]because[/i] the Institute doesn't know their secrets."[/color]

Another thing came to mind.

[color 00a99d]"Did she use her teleporting clone thing to take the guy?"[/color]

Zoe nodded. [color=palevioletred]"Yeah. She carried him back from town - well, one of her did anyway."[/color] At least from what she'd been able to tell; it hadn't taken long for Margot to exit her sight, so the thought seemed to make sense. 

[color=palevioletred]"And yeah, they don't know the Amigos' secrets, I'll give you that. I suppose this is the part where you tell me you're secretly a South American crime lord."[/color] The statement was mostly sarcastic, but a hint of suspicion had crept into the redhead's expression. Not of that, obviously - she had a really hard time seeing Ernie as the lord of anything - but something about this wasn't sitting right.

[color 00a99d]"Pfft, nah. Crime lords need a surprising amount of math skills, y'know?"[/color]

Quip aside, back to the topic.

[color 00a99d]"Did she check his mouth?"[/color]

[color=palevioletred]"Not that I saw."[/color] Zoe frowned. [color=palevioletred]"Why?"[/color]

[color 00a99d]"There's a thing they do. Good way to check,"[/color] he shrugged, [color 00a99d]"I dunno, we only knew they were Amigos cos Aldrich told us. But we don't know how he knew that. Did he just notice they were really tan and assume the worst? That's not reliable. Having someone confirm would make things better. Or worse, I guess."[/color]

[color=palevioletred]"Amigos were already up to something major before, but I don't know what. Figure the institute had some way of knowing who they were."[/color] Zoe sighed, remembering her first encounter with Andrew. But the uncertainty was irritating, and anger sparked in her expression. [color=palevioletred]"I'm just sick of being attacked by all these groups without knowing who the fuck they're working for. It was the same in Wisford, and far as I know those Animi in DC could've been with someone too."[/color]

Ernie's brow furrowed sharply. [color 00a99d]"Wait, how do you know what the Amigos were doing?"[/color]

[color=palevioletred]"There was a guy in town on the estate. Same one that told me where to find the straggler. He sees stuff, said they're bringing in a bunch of supplies."[/color] She shrugged. [color=palevioletred]"Couldn't give me much detail, 'cause they had subs blocking what he could see. Whatever it is, doesn't sound good."[/color]

Ernie cursed inwardly. Letting that shit happen under their noses. What the hell were the Senators doing?

Staying in the Estate the whole time had been a dumb idea after all. He sighed and fiddled with the vacuum cord. [color 00a99d]"Guess we just gotta sit around and wait for the next disaster. Like you said, it'd be nice to get any sort of detail."[/color]

There was one very possible reason this group was the one under attack. He just didn't know how they were being found so easily. It's not like most of them outside of Sander and Zoe were very strong.

[color 00a99d]"Wisford and D.C. were the same guys, if you need to know. The ones David tried helping."[/color]

[color=palevioletred]"Right. So they were following us."[/color] It could have been a coincidence, but paranoia seemed like the safer option right now. [color=palevioletred]"Shame David didn't seem to know shit, though. I'd kill for the chance to know what's going on with all this."[/color] Well, she'd kill for a lot of things, but figuratively speaking. [color=palevioletred]"I just want to be able to fight back. Right now, it seems like we're waiting around to be picked off one by one."[/color]

[color 00a99d]"That just brings us back to the class bullshit we were talking before,"[/color] Ernie rolled his eyes but he definitely agreed.

[color 00a99d]"I dunno about the following. Might have just been wrong place, wrong time. D.C.'s a perfect place to hit if you're looking to cause some chaos."[/color] And chaos was definitely part of what Fracture was aiming for. [color 00a99d]"Maybe it was just coincidence we were there to stop it."[/color]

[color=palevioletred]"Maybe you're right,"[/color] Zoe sighed, [color=palevioletred]"but I'd rather see us paranoid and alive than dead for putting shit down to coincidence."[/color]

[color 00a99d]"Understandable."[/color]

Looks like he got everything he wanted. For now, anyway. There were still some questions he wanted an answer to. Ernie hoisted the vacuum cleaner.

[color 00a99d]"Well, I guess I'll be cleaning further down. Keep me updated, yeah?"[/color]

[color=palevioletred]"Right."[/color] Zoe nodded. For what it was worth, the discussion had at least given her some questions. And more than that, motivation. Part of her had been willing to sit around and wait for answers, but he was right; the staff didn't know everything about all this.

[color=palevioletred]"See you around, then. Figure I've got some investigating to do."[/color]
[/hider]

[hider=Ernie and Callan: Barely Aware]
[url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/4568692]Link[/url]
[/hider]

[h3]October 9[/h3]

[hider=Ernie and Siena: Shopping and Not-So-Much Truth Dropping]
[center]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/FWMorlL.png[/img] [img]https://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]𝔽𝕣𝕚: 𝕆𝕔𝕥. 𝟠, 𝟚𝟘𝟚𝟘   / /   ℂ𝕣𝕚𝕞𝕖𝕟 ℂ𝕦𝕝𝕡𝕒𝕖 𝟙   / /   𝕊𝕙𝕠𝕡𝕡𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝔻𝕚𝕤𝕥𝕣𝕚𝕔𝕥   / /   𝟘𝟡𝟘𝟘[/color][hr]
[sub]Collab with [@PapiTan]
About two thirds of this is an inconsequential shopping montage so read at your own risk.[/sub][/center]

It was fucking cold.

Cold for the Westerner, anyway. Not quite chilly enough for the dumbass store attendant to turn the heating on. As he examined a rack of sweatpants by the storefront, Ernie could feel the hairs on his legs standing up, his calves bared by the glory of his khaki shorts. Standard West fashion. Helped him fit in with the bros but he might as well have been in his underwear in this North Carolina weather. The sentiment applied to pretty much his whole wardrobe. East had not been on his yearly schedule, for sure. It had been a while since he'd last gone shopping. Now it was nipping him in the ass. And his legs. And his mitten-less fingers.

Fuck, he hated Eastern weather.

Considering her relatively brief stint as one of USARILN East's cuffed subnaturals, Siena had found herself in need of new items an alarmingly high number of times. With much of her clothing having been at Zhang's estate during the attack and the loss of yet another e-reader, Siena was starting to think she would need the equivalent of a standing order at electronic shops and some sort of elite loyalty program for her preferred brands of clothing. Thankfully, even with the loss of her physical card case, the advent of technology had made it easy enough to obtain an alternate method of payment. 

Not that it mattered when the card case had only held the [i]preferred[/i] cards and not [i]every[/i] one, she supposed. 

Clad in fleece-lined stockings, a knee-length skirt had been a feasible choice even in the chillier weather. Coupling that with her usual attire of a coat and season-suitable blouse, and one might have been hard pressed to believe that the girl had to scrounge what was available in her wardrobe out of what remained. With that in mind, Siena couldn't help but feel a twinge of pity for a familiar face clad in clothing ill-suited for the weather they were experiencing. 

"[color=ff57ff]Ernie?[/color]" The question wasn't really necessary, she recognized the boy without much effort. "[color=ff57ff]I take it you're out replacing clothing too?[/color]"

[color 00a99d]"Hm?"[/color] Ernie snapped a picture of the sweatpants' label, noting the size, brand and ridiculous price before addressing Siena properly with a smile. [color 00a99d]"Less 'replacing' and more 'stocking up'. Didn't really have weather in mind when I was packing for East."[/color]

Not that he had much to pack. Not that he had anything, period, when he got tossed into West.

"[color=ff57ff]Oh...right...[/color]" For all the time that their class had spent together, it was easy to forget that Ernie hadn't come in at the same time as everyone else. If his current attire was the best that he'd packed for the colder months coming forth...Siena couldn't help but give a faint grimace at the thought of the boy literally freezing to death. "[color=ff57ff]I forgot you transfered.[/color]" 

Well, at least being unprepared for clothing was something she could help with. 

"[color=ff57ff]Mind if I join you in stocking up? Apparently clothing has a short lifespan here.[/color]" Siena gave a half smile to the boy before she continued. "[color=ff57ff]I can cover for you. Our allowance isn't exactly enough to [i]replace[/i] what we lose, much less stock up on anything.[/color]"

Ernie chuckled genuinely.

[color 00a99d]"Sure! It'd be nice to have a shopping buddy. Oh, and don't worry about the cover."[/color]

The Aberration displayed the photo gallery on his phone, swiping through the photos of labels he'd taken. They were fairly pricey items, certainly not a collection that would fit into a student's $500 budget. Among them were the sweatpants he'd just snapped.

[color 00a99d]"I don't actually buy things when I go out. The request forms accept all sorts of stuff! I just gotta write down what I see and I save some cash. Sure, it takes a while to show up and sometimes it's not even the right size but,"[/color] he shrugged, [color 00a99d]"it works. Mostly."[/color]

The smile faltered for a moment. He was using the requisition sheets? That wasn't exactly the most time-friendly method, and it was already starting to get cold...

"[color=ff57ff]Ernie, I...[/color]" A pause. "[color=ff57ff]I'm gonna have to insist that you let me cover for you today. I don't want our next briefing being about you freezing to death in your room.[/color]"

[color 00a99d]"Well, it'd be real flattering if they held an entire briefing about little ol' me but..."[/color]

Ernie quickly looked her up and down. It gave him a fair idea of how big this 'cover' would be.

[color 00a99d]"I have a feeling I won't be able to pay you back. Within this year, at least. Maybe this decade."[/color]

Siena couldn't help but blink once in surprise. Paying her back? What exactly was she going to do with money in their situation? After a handful of trips with her other peers, the brunette wasn't entirely sure what to make of Ernie's concern. The half smile grew a fraction warmer, confusion flickering across her expression for an instant before she regained herself.

"[color=ff57ff]You don't need to pay me back...?[/color]" Siena scolded herself internally for letting the claim trail off like a question. "[color=ff57ff]Believe me when I say the money's not going to be missed.[/color]"

Not gonna be missed? He looked her outfit over once again, noting her expression but unsure of what to do with it.

...Yeah, he could believe the money talk. He still felt the barest bit icky about the whole thing but in the end, he shrugged.

[color 00a99d]"Alright, you win. Since you're covering, how about you pick the first store? I'll hold the bags."[/color]

"[color=ff57ff]I haven't really explored, so we can always start here,[/color]" Siena claimed, her eyes drifting toward the display that Ernie had snapped a picture from, making a small gesture towards the sweatpants and offering an almost cheeky smile. "[color=ff57ff]Make sure you get those in your size and all.[/color]"

Ernie returned the smile with sloppy salute. [color 00a99d]"Aye aye, cap!"[/color]

His go-to store chains were the outdoor apparel outlets. Practical, fairly stylish from his personal perspective. Nothing that stood out too much. Ernie entered the automatic doors, ignored the slackjawed expression of the cashier, and headed straight for the jacket racks. Quick swipes made the process speedy, but he couldn't help but linger on one particularly blinding jacket. A mostly blue piece, hindered by the hideous, canary-yellow sleeves and hood. It was the kind of sight that'd make babies cry. An unbelieving grin lit up his face as he swished it in Siena's direction.

[color 00a99d]"This one's pretty wild,"[/color] he laughed.

With her upbringing, Siena couldn't claim to know much about outdoor apparel. The extent of her "outdoor" adventures, after all, had never really involved roughing it in anything more rustic than a rambling estate. That said, she had taken some interest herself in a few articles of clothing--most of it seemed as though it would be sturdier than her standard fare. It was worth considering. [i]Was.[/i]

Her opinion of the entire concept took a sharp nosedive once Ernie brandished an affront to both color and eyesight. A bright, blue and yellow article of clothing that could have passed for a biohazard warning sign. The girl's smile faltered for a moment. Was he going to--that wasn't--it was hard to bite back every protest she could muster. 

So hard, in fact, that she almost didn't succeed. 

"[color=ff57ff]It's...certainly eye-catching.[/color]" Not in a good way. "[color=ff57ff]It almost looks like it would glow in the dark.[/color]"

[color 00a99d]"Whoa, you think?"[/color] Ernie's eyes widened and he scanned the label for any mention of glowing. Wouldn't that be a fun thing to have, even if it was ugly as sin in the daytime. He cupped his hands around a patch of yellow, hoping the dark would prompt a reaction from the material. But there was nothing.

[color 00a99d]"Dang, almost,"[/color] he sighed, before replacing it with a swamp green down-vest. Not as outstanding as the yellow, but still pretty bad. Besides, Siena seemed to like this joke. [color 00a99d]"How 'bout this one? Like what you see?"[/color]

[i]Was he disappointed that it didn't glow?[/i] The thought was incredulous, and Siena almost found herself in disbelief that anyone would want to wear anything that garishly bright. Every part of Siena told her that she could probably get him better winter clothes from other places. Every. Single. Part. 

Still, the brunette smiled when he next atrocity came out, looking more like mud turned into fabric than an actual vest. The smile wasn't quite as well-humored as the first. 

"[color=ff57ff]I think you'd have to roll around in the dirt a little before it matches you,[/color]" Siena heard the words before she entirely realized she was saying them, grey eyes widening in surprise at the retort before she did the only thing she could: roll with it. Brandishing the best attempt as a mischievous grin that she could, Siena prodded at the vest a little harder. "[color=ff57ff]Though maybe if we have a marsh mission, it'll act as camo.[/color]"

A pause as something caught her eye, and Siena flicked aside a few more offending articles of clothing before fishing out an insulated jacket. Neutral, nothing entirely flashy or outstanding, especially with only black as its body, a shock of ivory fur trimming the hood. With a few other pieces...

"[color=ff57ff]I think you'd look pretty good in this.[/color]" The friendly smile returned again. "[color=ff57ff][i]Plus[/i] you could wear it now and, you know, not be cold for the rest of the day.[/color]"

At Siena's comments, Ernie laughed once again, though he couldn't help but sense that it wasn't a complete joke. Nothing major, right? It was a pretty ugly piece.

[color 00a99d]"Guess the Shrek costume can come another day,"[/color] he remarked before he accepted the jacket. Nice lines, plus black was a color that was impossible to goof up. Yes, this one would do great. He flashed Siena an approving thumbs up as they both head to the counter.

[color 00a99d]"Alrighty,"[/color] Ernie rolled his shoulders as they left the store, testing the feel of the purchase. It was good stuff, [color 00a99d]"Where to next? I'm guessing a place with no nuclear-yellow?"[/color]

"[color=ff57ff]Your guess would be correct,[/color]" Siena replied with a laugh. "[color=ff57ff]I hope you're not too disappointed by the lack of crossing guard couture.[/color]" 

Well, to be quite honest, there were a number of places that Siena had to stop by, but the mental image of Ernie turning in requisition sheets for something as necessary as [i]clothing[/i] refused to sit comfortably. Taking a moment to think over their options. Outdoor wear might not have been her forte, but...

"[color=ff57ff]I think I saw a Neiman Marcus on the way here,[/color]" the girl mused softly. "[color=ff57ff]Though I'm not much help on the men's fashion front. Maybe you have some ideas?[/color]" 

Ernie was about to make a quip on the name of the scarred boy but the tail end of her sentence threw him off more than he expected.

[color 00a99d]"Fashion...? Uh,"[/color] he adjusted his beanie. What was the point? He only ever needed to look passable so he could fit in on campus. [color 00a99d]"I don't really know, I just want some clothes."[/color]

[I]Um...?[/i] The moment of uncertainty from Ernie was matched in equal part by confusion from Siena. Grey eyes darted from his face to an unspecified spot on the floor, back to the boy. 

"[color=ff57ff]That was what...uh, I mean if you know clothing brands you like, we can...[/color]" The words trailed off, still fettered by Siena's confusion. "[color=ff57ff]Sorry, are you not much for the entire vogue thing?[/color]"

[color 00a99d]"I don't...read magazines?"[/color] He didn't read much of anything, really. Man, what was this weird feeling of dumbassery that he was starting to feel? Hazel eyes glanced around quickly for a lifeline, settling on the storefront of the one they'd just left, [color 00a99d]"I mean, Columbia is...that's a brand, right...?"[/color]

There was being out of the loop and there was being completely unaware. This moment was starting to seem closer to the latter, which was a first for Siena. At least when Gerwulf dressed badly, it was because he didn't care, and no amount of explaining would change that. This was...entirely different. 

"[color=ff57ff]Um, yeah, that's right...[/color]" Blinking her uncertainty away and masking as much of her distress and confusion with a smile as possible, Siena dared for another attempt. "[color=ff57ff]If you have a list of clothes you need, I can try to find the trendy stuff that matches you.[/color]"

Did he really need 'trendy'? Ernie looked to Siena again, noticing the way she kept trailing off. It was sorta like...she actually felt [i]bad[/i] about the whole thing. And that sorta made him feel weird. All this awkwardness wasn't worth some fancy scraps of fabric.

So Ernie nodded. Not like he had any other plans today. [color 00a99d]"Yeah. Yeah, that works. Lead the way. Oh, before we go, do you think you could..."[/color]

He pulled a tube of concealer from his pocket, looking apologetic.

[color 00a99d]"Less hassle this way, y'know?"[/color]

It took a moment for Siena to understand the need for the concealer when subnaturals were commonplace, but it made sense. Sort of. Hopefully any recognition would be dismissed as coincidence without the mark. She returned the apologetic expression with a careful smile that showed little more than a faint comprehension. 

Closer to a human disguise, she supposed. 

"[color=ff57ff]Don't look like you shot me or something, I'm used to it.[/color]" Siena responded while accepting the tube. "[color=ff57ff]Make up is a girl's best friend or something like that.[/color]"

Did he look like that when he shot people? Ernie smiled, relieved. [color 00a99d]"Huh. Marilyn always told me it was diamonds."[/color]

"[color=ff57ff]When diamonds make girls ageless, I'll believe that.[/color]" 

[hr]

Shopping for men's fashion had proven to be an enlightening experience--well, shopping for men's fashion with different limitations than she was accustomed to. Deferring to Ernie had been easier, even if Siena couldn't [i]quite[/i] understand the appeal behind some of the...[i]creative[/i] choices that many had chosen to unfortunately display in their windows. She'd figured out early on that Ernie was about equally educated in fashion as most of her peers (read: almost not at all), but that didn't make trying to work with what there was any less enjoyable. To an extent. 

Casual men's fashion was much more difficult than the uniform formal wear she typically saw males in. No set rulebook, and only advertisements to base things off of. 

[i]And who or what was a Billabong?[/i]

She fingered a dubiously colored jacket, impressed by how soft the exterior was, but unimpressed by it looking more like it belonged in a gym, its grey hues patterned in a manner that screamed "stretch me" over "wear me". In a nice cobalt shade, it could be a nice intermediate between a full blown jacket and no jacket at all, even if it did look more like it belonged on the beach than in the autumn. Then again, those words applied to almost the entire store--maybe it was a new trend for men. Siena wasn't entirely certain. 

[color 00a99d]"Oh, you like that one?"[/color]

Ernie appeared next to her to examine the jacket. Slung across his arm was a baggy pair of trousers that was far more suited to mountain expeditions than anything more formal than a late-night Mcdonald's run.

"[color=ff57ff]It's a little masculine for me, don't you think?[/color]" Siena claimed with a helpless shrug of her shoulders, but she turned the jacket over to look at the back. No obnoxious designs, at least. "[color=ff57ff]But maybe I can convince Marcus to replace his torn up hoodie with it.[/color]" 

Her eyes drifted to the trousers over Ernie's arm--she [i]swore[/i] they looked like another set's older cousin. 

"[color=ff57ff]Trying those on?[/color]" Siena set the grey jacket down, opting instead for one that held a little more color than "light neutral" to it. As if Marcus needed [i]more[/i] grey outerwear. "[color=ff57ff]By the way, did you need anything other than clothing? We might as well tackle it while we're out here.[/color]"

[color 00a99d]"It looks handy for snow missions, if we ever go on any. What do you think?"[/color]

He held them aloft for Siena to revel in their baggy glory.

[color 00a99d]"Eh, I heard they were starting clearances at Costco. I was gonna check them out. Not sure if I'll actually get anything but,"[/color] he shrugged, [color 00a99d]"it's Costco."[/color]

"[color=ff57ff]Is...is it going to keep snow out of your pants?[/color]" Siena questioned, eyeing allt he extra space that it seemed to provide. Perhaps it was meant to be worn over another pair--she'd never know. Excessive snow had never been on her checklist of things to prepare for or ask about Offering a playful grin, Siena couldn't help but add to the thought. "[color=ff57ff]I feel like you could fit another pair of legs in there.[/color]"

The distraction was not enough to keep the faint light of confusion from showing on Siena's face at mention of "Costco". It almost sounded like Cosco, but wasn't that a logistics company?

"[color=ff57ff]Um...Costco?[/color]" Her turn to be the one in the dark, it seemed. 

[color 00a99d]"Yeah, apparently the one in this city is pretty good. Have you never been there?"[/color]

"[color=ff57ff]I'm afraid not.[/color]" Giving a sheepish smile in response to the inquiry, Siena did her best to explain--she thought she did a pretty good job. "[color=ff57ff]I'm not actually sure what that is.[/color]"

Ernie's mouth dropped open.

[color 00a99d]"You don't--oh my god. Okay. After we get all our clothes, I'm gonna take you there. Might as well have lunch there to get the full experience."[/color]

He giggled in delight.

[color 00a99d]"Ah, I remember my first time. I think you'll love it there."[/color]

Ernie's reaction was nothing short of delight, and Siena suddenly wasn't certain whether Costco was a shop or something else entire--wait, [i]lunch?[/i] She hid the confusion behind a smile.

"[color=ff57ff]I'll take your word for it,[/color]" the girl replied, a sense of satisfaction coming from Ernie's own excitement. Her eyes drifted back to the baggy pants. "[color=ff57ff]But we really have to get you some clothes that don't imply 'mountain climbing expedition' everywhere you go.[/color]"

[hr]

Exactly thirteen shopping bags later, Ernie slumped his arms into a trolley, watching with satisfaction as their haul tumbled into the metal basket. Brent would be proud of the arm work he'd done today. Man, they really weren't kidding when they said 'shop 'til you drop'. They'd probably stocked enough clothing for the next three winters. With a content hum, he pushed the trolley to where he'd left Siena to admire the bunker-like splendor of Costco's exterior.

[color 00a99d]"So you've really never been here?"[/color]

Siena wasn't entirely certain what she was looking at as she examined the exterior of Cotsco. A bunker? A warehouse? It reminded her, vaguely, of the type of building that she expected to see weapons in, but there was a steady stream of people decidedly [i]not[/i] bringing firearms or other death-inducing devices into or out of the facility. In fact, glancing into the entrance made it look like a storage unit--if storage units were well stocked with items that were up for purchase, at least. 

Glancing towards Ernie as he approached, Siena gave a sheepish smile. 

"[color=ff57ff]Not a single time.[/color]" Her eyes drifted once more to the entrance. "[color=ff57ff]It looks kind of...imposing?[/color]" That seemed to be the right word, or at least close enough to it. Her eyes then fell on the trolley--they'd purchased a lot already, true, but was an entire trolly necessary? Curiosity seared at her again, making her want to dive headfirst into their expedition, but the girl held herself in check. "[color=ff57ff]I mean, it looks like they have guards at the doors. What exactly are they selling here...?[/color]"

The boy flashed a knowing smile. If eyes could actually sparkle then they'd definitely be doing it now.

[color 00a99d]"Everything you could dream of. And more,"[/color] he chuckled, and with a flash of his membership card they were in.

A sprawling laneway of widescreen TVs greeted them first. Storeys-high, industrial shelves peeked over the array of electronics, hinting at the unimaginable size of the store chain's stock. Families bustled past them, pushing trolleys filled to the brim with items of all different categories as Ernie breathed in the atmosphere.

[color 00a99d]"Isn't it incredible?"[/color] he sighed and turned back to face Siena.

Incredible was certainly one way to put it. Siena wasn't entirely certain what she'd expected, but it really looked like Costco had [i]everything[/i] as a selection. Towering shelves, palettes of items that the girl both could and couldn't identify, electronics, [i]jewelry[/i]? The brunette had to take an extra few seconds to take in everything before she could formulate a response, eyes turning back to her companion. 

The expression on her face was one not entirely unlike someone experiencing snow for the first time.

"[color=ff57ff]I don't think I've ever seen a single store with [i]this[/i] much selection.[/color]" Her eyes drifted over tablets, cameras, caught sight of a sign that had the word "seafood" printed over it far in the back of the store, then returned to Ernie. Siena felt her mind try to reject what her senses told her--there was [i]no way[/i] that they were selling seafood in the same place as tablets and televisions. None. No way. "[color=ff57ff]I...have no idea where to even begin.[/color]"

The Aberration chuckled sagely.

[color 00a99d]"It's not just a store, Siena,"[/color] he said as a nearby family argued over how many crates of dog food they were bringing home, [color 00a99d]"It's the happiest place on Earth. Also it helps if we move counter-clockwise."[/color]

He gestured their path with a sweep of his arm.

[color 00a99d]"Shall we?"[/color]

"[color=ff57ff]I'll defer to your lead, good sir.[/color]" It seemed like a smarter idea than wandering off on her own and never seeing Ernie again. 

Taking her place beside the Aberration, Siena let her eyes trail over the cases of goods, the literal palettes full of items that the girl wasn't entirely sure anyone would need in bulk. A bitter voice sounded off in the back of her head, reminding her again that she was still struggling to figure out the world outside the walls of her gilded cage. One even darker than that demanded to know whether she missed the empty estate. 

Siena refused to acknowledge the self-aimed question. 

"[color=ff57ff]I know it hasn't been long, but how has your piano practice been going?[/color]" The question came as naturally as Siena could manage it. Anything was better than letting her mind stew, after all. "[color=ff57ff]I thought of ordering some sheet music, so if you had any preferences, I'd love to hear them.[/color]"

[color 00a99d]"Uhhhh,"[/color] Ernie looked like a child caught skipping class, [color 00a99d]"well, I've been sorta busy lately. Squeezed in a few sessions at the mansion but since we've gotten back...not so much. The music rooms are a bit of a walk from the dorms."[/color]

"[color=ff57ff]Hmmm...[/color]" Siena allowed the note to hang in the air for a moment, looking contemplative, but acknowledging that she was letting it steep for her own benefit. "[color=ff57ff]I guess not having a keyboard on hand makes practicing kind of harder...[/color]" Still, the girl gave a half-grin. "[color=ff57ff]I guess I can let it slide [i]this[/i] time if you haven't forgotten everything.[/color]"

[color 00a99d]"Sorry, Miss,"[/color] Ernie clapped his hands in front of his face in a mock begging position, [color 00a99d]"I'll do my homework next time."[/color]

'Not sure if I'll actually get anything' turned out to be a blatant lie. An hour or so later, Ernie was pushing a trolley filled to the brim with items. The most notable items were two large cardboard boxes: a fabric steamer and a new vacuum cleaner. Assorted snacks and cleaning utensils were also included. Siena, too, had a trolley, though rather than the equipment Ernie was boasting, her load was mostly made up of two electronic keyboards. 

Ernie gulped down a bite of pizza, keeping an eye on their purchases as he ate.

[color 00a99d]"So? Did you like it?"[/color]

"[color=ff57ff]Indubitably.[/color]" Carefully peeling back the foil from her own food, Siena gave a quick look over her own purchases--a few electronics, a few pet care items, a few variety packs as far as snacks went for the dorm...the girl had to say that it had been a productive shopping trip. Moreso than she'd expected, even with the intention of "stocking up". Costco's vast size and selection left an impression that she was certain wouldn't be fading anytime soon. "[color=ff57ff]The convenience is undeniable. I can safely say it's been a pleasant experience.[/color]"

Carefully taking a small bite into what the menu had only vaguely described as a "chicken bake", Siena was...pleasantly surprised by the flavors. Nothing offensive, and she could taste the main ingredients. 

Siena failed to notice that the opposite end of the oblong delicacy was starting to leak white fluid, the first of many drops precariously clinging to the foil only by the grace of some hygienic greater power. 

"[color=ff57ff]How'd you find out about this place?[/color]"

[color 00a99d]"Mm, yes, in-doob-ly,"[/color] Ernie nodded solemnly, hoping his guess that it was a positive word was correct. When the question was raised, he smiled at the memory. [color 00a99d]"It was one of my first weeks at West. Bunch of guys took me out since I didn't have clothes then either. I swear, the first time I went to a Costco, I bought double what we both got today. Almost used up my whole allowance!"[/color]

[i]In-doob-ly?[/i] The word came to mind, an attempted recreation of her own diction, but missing just a little something. Siena did her best not to let the moment of confusion fluster her, instead taking solace in what seemed to be a pleasant memory. 

"[color=ff57ff]Are you always without clothing?[/color]" The girl questioned, a light, joking tone lacing the inquiry. "[color=ff57ff]But managing double what we bought on the allowance the school gives? That's quite a feat.[/color]" Allowing herself the comfort of an almost genuine grin, the Arbiter gave a quiet, light laugh before she spoke again, biting back the question she wanted to ask at the last moment. "[color=ff57ff]I'm afraid I'm not much company in comparison, but I'm glad that the metaphorical torch of Costco introductions was passed to you.[/color]"

[color 00a99d]"I guess I've never had much to pack,"[/color] he shrugged with a smile, [color 00a99d]"And maybe 'double' was a little over the top. It was still a lot though."[/color]

[color 00a99d][i]Meta--what now?[/i][/color]

Ernie kept his composure. [color 00a99d]"Spreading the magic of retail is the best honor a guy could have,"[/color] he grinned, [color 00a99d]"Don't worry. You were great for a first-timer. I had a lotta fun today."[/color]

Fun. It was hard not to feel surprised, given her tendency to assume the worst of a situation. Her grin grew a fraction warmer, a step closer to [i]genuine[/i]. 

It was nice to have at a few moments of peace.

"[color=ff57ff]I'll take a compliment where I can get it. The entire 'going out with a friend' thing is still new territory to explore.[/color]" She offered a hapless shrug of the shoulders along with the words. "[color=ff57ff]We should do this again next time you need to stock up on anything.[/color]"

[color 00a99d]"Yeah, definitely!"[/color]

Ernie didn't even want to look at the receipts they'd accumulated. He definitely wouldn't be able to pay her back by the end of the year.

[color 00a99d]"What do your parents do anyway, for you to have so much to spend?"[/color]

The smile faltered for a moment.

"[color=ff57ff]Oh, my father evidently developed some sort of software.[/color]" Siena did her best to trivialize the matter as it were. It wasn't as though she was [i]completely[/i] lying. "[color=ff57ff]I wasn't given much detail on it since he married up the social ladder. I think most of the money has been in the family for a few generations.[/color]"

[color 00a99d]"Wow, that sounds fancy."[/color] Ernie gulped down another bite of pizza. The old money stuff had never made sense to him. [color 00a99d]"Does that mean you're like American royalty or something?"[/color]

"[color=ff57ff]I wouldn't say royalty, but I suppose my family is prominent in the high society circuit.[/color]" It certainly felt like it with how many events she read of afterwards with her parents in attendence. Thinking on it only reminded the girl of things she preferred to view as passing flights of fancy. "[color=ff57ff]The opportunity to ask in detail never really came up.[/color]"

'High society', damn. Ernie supposed that made their current location even more fun than it was before. Like putting Big Mac sauce on lobster. He gestured to the two trolleys.

[color 00a99d]"I bet the Founding Fathers or whoever your ancestors were are glad that their money is being put to good use,"[/color] Ernie laughed, [color 00a99d]"Oh, your bake is dripping something, by the way."[/color]

"[color=ff57ff]I'm certain that Hamil--oh, shit...![/color]" Hissing faintly in disapproval, Siena held the bake away from her, over the table where small trail of white droplets followed it, but not before it had left an inopportune spattering of mystery sauce along the thigh of her pants. The girl grimaced faintly. At least she had plenty of time to change when they got back. "[color=ff57ff]Well, it could have been worse.[/color]" 

A pause. 

"[color=ff57ff]It could have been about four inches to the left and much harder to explain.[/color]"

[color 00a99d]"Yeah, what's even going on with this wrapping?"[/color] Ernie leaned closer to squint at the bake, [color 00a99d]"I swear, even some cling wrap and a rubber band would've worked better than whatever this foil is."[/color]

"[color=ff57ff]I [i]sincerely[/i] do not want to test that theory,[/color]" Siena claimed. "[color=ff57ff]I'd rather keep my pants salvageable today.[/color]"

Which was more than she could say of her clothing in the last few combat encounters they'd had, but Siena kept that thought to herself. Not the point. 

"[color=ff57ff]Though it wouldn't be the worst idea I've ever gone along with.[/color]" 

For real? Ernie could think of a lot worse.

[color 00a99d]"Heh, yeah. Worst would be scrambling into an underground tunnel when you see a tsunami coming. Or teleporting back into danger [i]knowing[/i] that there were Amigos coming to tear the whole place up, righ--"[/color] Ernie chuckled before coughing violently, realising all too late what he just said.

Again, Siena's expression faltered, unpleasant memories of the island coming back to mind. Broken bodies, people gone. Bad ideas. The girl winced when words didn't come to mind immediately.

[i]'[color=ff57ff]Third worst, actually.[/color]'[/i]

[i]Not[/i] the right words.

"[color=ff57ff]I--[/color]" Didn't have a response, so she quieted the half-assed protest and averted her gaze instead. 

[color 00a99d]"Shit, that was a dick move. I didn't mean--"[/color] He couldn't finish that sentence honestly.

"[color=ff57ff]It's...it's fine.[/color]" Because she probably deserved it in some measure. "[color=ff57ff]There were better countermeasures than going along with a bad idea.[/color]" 

[color 00a99d]"...Yeah, there were,"[/color] Ernie muttered in agreement. He'd already talked it over with Brent. But this was necessary too, right?

An ugly pause lingered in the air.

[color 00a99d]"I thought you were gonna die out there."[/color]

"[color=ff57ff]...I'm sorry.[/color]" Even though it wouldn't have changed anything that already happened. 

[i]'[color=ff57ff]I expected to die out there.[/color]'[/i]

"[color=ff57ff]I was just supposed to be an escape route.[/color]"

Rescuing Gregory had never been part of her perogative. 

"[color=ff57ff]I won't say I have any excuses beyond that.[/color]"

Ernie stared at her, trying to make sense of her words. He...got most of it, hopefully. Probably. In the end, he just let out a tired laugh.

[color 00a99d]"I...understand, I think."[/color] He sighed. Keep it simple, stupid. There was a very easy explanation to it. [color 00a99d]"You just really care about Brent, right?"[/color]

"Care" was a strong word, but it wasn't entirely wrong, Siena supposed. She would have done the same for the few faces that had managed to endear themselves to her. Granted, most of them weren't stubborn enough to have a believable image of trying to throw themselves into danger even with plenty of obstacles in the way, but...

She offered a half-hearted attempt at a smile.

"[color=ff57ff]Something like that.[/color]" 

Oh. That shy awkwardness. Reckless dives into danger. Ernie could recognise that immediately.

[color 00a99d]"Mmhmm, I geddit."[/color] Relieved, he flashed a knowing smile. [color 00a99d]"Don't worry, I won't blab about it. It's good to see you guys are so tight."[/color]

Had Brent told Ernie about their prior conversations? Unexpected, but not something she would argue against. 

"[color=ff57ff]Thanks. I appreciate it.[/color]" It wasn't as if she wanted more people to know exactly how twisted she was. Gingerly trying to readjust her meal in its aluminum confines to prevent further leakage, Siena did her best to at least put the topic at ease again.

"[color=ff57ff]By the way, did we actually have a plan for carrying all this back?[/color]"

Ernie was silent. Unmoving. Slowly, his eyes shifted to the sheer bulk that was occupying the two home aquarium-sized trolleys, if the aquariums were made to fit a pet shark.

[color 00a99d]"We...we'll figure something out..."[/color]
[/hider]

[h3]October 10[/h3]

[hider=Ernie and Allison: Hallway Hassling]
[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/FWMorlL.png[/img] [img]http://i68.tinypic.com/mhf02b.jpg[/img]

[h2][color 00a99d]Ernest[/color] | [color a187be]Allison[/color][/h2]
[img]http:// i.imgur.com/3R5vYYi.png?2[/img] 
[hr][color=silver]𝕊𝕒𝕥: 𝕆𝕔𝕥. 𝟡, 𝟚𝟘𝟚𝟘   / /   𝕌𝕊𝔸ℝ𝕀𝕃ℕ 𝔼𝕒𝕤𝕥   / /   𝔹𝕦𝕚𝕝𝕕𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝔹   / /   𝟘𝟡𝟘𝟘[/color][hr]
[sub]Collab with [@VarionusNW][/sub][/center]

It was a damn good thing they finally got back to East. The Building B hallways had never been cleaner and Ernie made sure everyone fucking knew it.

As the morning sunlight trickled through the windows, a group of X's flipped him off as they walked past, familiar faces who'd complained about the noise plenty of times during the week. Fuckers. If the ensuing sneer he threw their way made them feel any better, they definitely didn't show it. The boy continued vacuuming, one machine in his hand while another was maneuvered around by a floating, golden rope. It was a seriously productive way to practice. Honestly, he didn't know why he hadn't thought of it sooner.

Allison's eyes shot open, a wall of noise crushing her head from every side. A phone rang incessantly from upon her desk, mingling with the constant whir of vacuums coming from the hallway. It probably would've given her a headache if she didn't have one already. Half of Allison wanted to smash the phone and break the vacuums for denying her sleep, but she needed to wake up anyway. She removed herself from the bed, slowed by aching limbs and sweat-soaked clothes, and slinked over to the desk. She fumbled for a moment to grab the phone, rejecting the call and squinting at the screen. Seven missed calls, all from the same number. She weakly threw the object onto the bed before focusing on changing into something clean.After a few minutes, Allison had made herself at least somewhat presentable, just enough so that she wouldn't look like a complete mess.

She stepped towards the doorway, and looked back at the phone on the bed. No, this wasn't the time to deal with that. Not with Angel still missing. Allison needed to focus, but first that meant dealing with the loud distraction filling the hallway. She opened the door and the noise only got louder, prompting Allison to massage her temples in a vain effort to quell the headache. The boy had gone and outdone himself this time, using his power to manipulate a second vacuum. He certainly had a talent for turning the aberration dorms into a noisy, if relatively clean hellscape. It was almost funny, a similar scenario had been the first time that Allison found Ernest to be kind of amusing, rather than a complete dick. Maybe he would be able to miraculously redeem himself again? Or at least lie well enough to pretend that he could.

[color=a187be]"Hey, Ernie!"[/color] Allison called over the din, slowly walking in the direction of the guy who had stabbed her in the eye, become her friend, and given up on Angel immediately, "can you hurry up and cut that out, or are you trying to give everyone in the building a headache?"

The boy rolled his eyes as the familiar face made herself seen. [color 00a99d]"Better a headache than dust allergies!"[/color] he shouted, clearly not thinking that she was important enough to turn the vacuums off for now. [color 00a99d]"Just sit tight, I'll be out of your hair in a sec."[/color]

[color=a187be]"Alright then,"[/color] Allison said as she winced at Ernest's yelling, her voice ringing with a tinge of annoyance. She didn't want to take him at his word, but she did have more important business to tend to than making sure the clean-freak gave the floor some well deserved silence, if one could call punching a bag and running around until one was exhausted "business." Then again, she'd probably need to talk to Ernie eventually, at least to clear up the Angel-shaped rift that had been opened between them, and at most to get someone reasonable onto her side. Though, she had no illusions that getting Ernest on board with an Angelique rescue mission would be a simple task.

She decided to wait him out, shuffling towards the wall and leaning back against it, trying to ignore that she clearly placed next to the room that belonged to Angel. 

[color=a187be]"I think,"[/color] Allison shouted, [color=a187be]"that I'll just wait until you're done."[/color] With that, she resigned herself to the wall and the humming of the machines.

But he wasn't going to be done for a long while. Ernie made his way past Angelique's door quickly, like he was avoiding it, but that seemed to be the peak of his haste. There was a particularly stubborn spot the other door down. The machine ran over it again and again but no result. Yet. Before he knew it, Ernie had completely stopped his movement down the hall, working away at the same spot.

Allison wasn't sure how long she had been watching Ernie vacuum the same section of the floor. The beating of her head had mixed with the whir of the machines, the rhythmic throbbing resulting in a sort of trance-like state. Eventually, though, she realized it was getting rediculous. She removed herself from the wall, moving back towards Ernie on unwilling legs.

[color=a187be]"Hey,"[/color] she shouted as she approached, [color=a187be]"How many of those things do you even have?"[/color] The question seemed innocent enough, Ernie was using two vacuums and probably had more stashed away.

[color 00a99d]"I bought a new one yesterday. Why you ask?"[/color] he responded cluelessly.

[color=a187be]"Oh, no reason,"[/color] as she spoke, a purple sliver appeared above her shoulder.

The vacuums shut off immediately. Ernie brought them both closer, shielding them with his own body. [color 00a99d]"H-hey, don't fucking do that,"[/color] he warned.

[color=a187be]"I'll think about it,"[/color] Allison held back a laugh, dissipating the shard. She kind of felt bad for the gesture, but it was certainly effective. [color=a187be]"Don't worry, I wouldn't actually destroy your stuff, not so easily at least. I mean, those can't be easy to repair, right? It would be better to break something simple and easy to fix, like an eye."[/color] A memory of the pain in her eye socket resurfaced as she made the comment, a hand reflexively reaching to make sure the eye was still there.

Arms protectively poised between the girl and the vacuums, Ernie glared back, obviously not sharing the same humor she had about the almost-prank. But as she went on he released a bitter sigh, his shoulders slumping. A childish [color 00a99d][i]'I said I was sorry!'[/i][/color] almost escaped his mouth but he restrained himself.

[color 00a99d]"Okay,"[/color] he muttered, [color 00a99d]"I definitely brought that on myself. Sorry...for trying to keep things in order around here."[/color] The half-apology came out with a huff.

[color=a187be]"I mean, maybe you could try to find a better time so you aren't enraging most of the floor?"[/color] Allison thought for a second, [color=a187be]"actually, now that I think about it I doubt that would work. Every time's a bad time. Oh, maybe you could hand out complimentary earplugs?"[/color] She proposed it as a joke, but it almost seemed like a good idea. [color=a187be]"Anyway, thanks for trying to make things slightly cleaner, but I don't know if it's really worth the noise pollution, or the death threats, or the extreme likelihood of murder."[/color] Allison scratched her head before walking away slowly, still facing Ernie. [color=a187be]"Just, try not to wake me up and give me a headache next time, alright?"[/color]She stopped, remembering the entire reason she decided to wait for Ernie to finish, [color=a187be]"Oh, by the way, do want to meet for a drink in the next few days? I kind of want to talk to you about some stuff."[/color] The cautious way she spoke those last few words made the topic in question obvious, as did Allison nervously glancing towards Angel's door.

[color 00a99d]"Yeah. Sure I'll do that."[/color]

It seemed like Ernie heard her advice at least. Whether he'd actually follow it was a different matter. He shared her glance at the door, immediately feeling like a shithead for being so unnecessarily obnoxious. Stupid, immature. Even if he didn't agree with her choices, he could empathise with the hurt of losing someone.

[color 00a99d]"Drinks is...sounds fine,"[/color] he tried a nicer smile, [color 00a99d]"I know the last time we talked wasn't great but if you need to like, [i]talk[/i], I'm just a text away."[/color]

[color 00a99d][i]Plus, it wasn't you I had the problem with.[/i][/color]

[color=a187be]"Oh, right, of course. I'm still not used to using a phone, I guess."[/color] That was only half of it, but Ernie didn't need to know about the calls. It was already enough of a problem that she had mentioned [i]him[/i], even slightly, to Ernie previously. Still, Allison had to solve that particular issue sooner or later, before anyone else realized what was going on. [color=a187be]"Tomorrow, 9 or 10-ish sound alright?"[/color]

[color 00a99d]"Yeah, I should be free,"[/color] Ernie nodded, [color 00a99d]"I'll see you then? Mix you another few?"[/color]

[color=a187be]"Yea. See you then,"[/color] With that, Allison left Ernie to his own devices, those being two vacuums that she had no doubt he would turn on again as soon as she was out of range of the noise. In that case, Allison made sure she was as far away as she could get, and headed to Ground Zero. Maybe Ernie would listen to reason.
[/hider]

[hider=Ernie and Emma: A Pleasant Chat]
[url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/4564410]Link[/url]
[/hider]

[hider=Ernie: Vent]
[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/FWMorlL.png[/img]

[h2][color 00a99d]Ernest[/color][/h2]
[img]http:// i.imgur.com/3R5vYYi.png?2[/img] 
[hr][color=silver]𝕊𝕒𝕥: 𝕆𝕔𝕥. 𝟡, 𝟚𝟘𝟚𝟘   / /   𝕌𝕊𝔸ℝ𝕀𝕃ℕ 𝔼𝕒𝕤𝕥   / /   𝔾𝕣𝕠𝕦𝕟𝕕 ℤ𝕖𝕣𝕠   / /   𝟚𝟛𝟙𝟝[/color][hr][/center]

Plastic, like a takeout container. People's faces weren't meant to feel like that. Maybe when they were dead with that rigor mortis stuff but it was nothing Ernie could speak of from experience. Liam had always cleared them out before it was his turn to clean. The girl hadn't moved at all. Hadn't even flinched when she was prodded again, just so he could make sure she really was [i]the[/i] time-trapped doll. Plastic all the way. The forums were right after all. Apart from that whole 'displaced, looping city' stuff, there really wasn't much else to Template.

The harsh wind made him rub his tired eyes. Perhaps he should've just gone to sleep after all. Head to that mysterious ocean and let that mind-eating presence consume his everything, just the way Emma warned it would. Would that be better or worse than trying to get a rise out of a doll person? Ernie sat by her and looked out over that fake city. Broken, weary buildings. No lights apart from the occasional dumpster fire. Barely any people too. He tried looking where she was looking. Perhaps there would be some crazy Ground Zero secret that even Zhang didn't know about. But there was nothing, nothing that looked important anyway. Which meant that he'd come all the way up here for nothing. Which really sucked cos it took him ages to do it without floating up at a really lame speed or faceplanting on the edge or cartwheeling and overshooting the damn girl.

This new rope was really something. At first he'd wanted to liken it to having a third arm to control. But it was far more than that. It was strong. Flexible. Far more dexterous than what he could achieve with his normal hands, and he was still far from reaching the limits of its uses. He was getting better with it with every passing hour. First day back, he could barely peel a carrot with the magic cord. Now he could dice onions at a rate that would make Ramsay himself blush. The added removal of the need for skin contact meant the Ground Zero folks were at his mercy, now that he could practice without fear of blood splattering his clothes. Then there were the new mobility options.

Flying had taken him much longer to figure out. Wrapping the rope around his torso like a harness and moving around that way had the most control but was also...embarrassingly slow. Golden glow or not, he was still far from being another Sparrow. He tried prioritising speed next, having the rope fling him like a baseball pitch. Ten times faster. Ernie could cross the grounds in seconds but the nature of the flinging mostly resulted in mis-throws and motion sickness. Arguably more embarrassing than the harness method. He figured out a relatively fool-proof flight method eventually but...man, maybe he should've asked Siena or Brent for help figuring this out. But he wanted it to be a surprise. He also didn't want anyone seeing him throwing up.

[color 00a99d]"Aaargh,"[/color] he yawned loudly, not caring who was listening in, [color 00a99d]"Training is freaking haaarrd."[/color]

No response. Not that he was expecting any. Ernie turned to the girl. So eerie. Human, but so...not.

[color 00a99d]"No time for chit-chat, huh?"[/color]

Again, nothing. C'mon, he knew that was a good joke. It looked like he could say whatever I wanted with zero consequences, positive or otherwise.

[color 00a99d]"Did you know Siena's got a thing for Brent? I had no clue! I mean, I knew they were pretty much bros but...yeah, that's it. I'm really happy for them."[/color]

No result. He tried one that would raise more eyebrows.

[color 00a99d]"A classmate's dog died because of me. Guy was being a prick so we broke into his dorm and put laxatives in the bowl. Like in that Mr Bean movie, right? The plan was just to have it shit all over the place but...heh, guess the little thing didn't take well to all those chemicals. Don't tell Siena."[/color]

Template was a good listener. Hadn't even turned and given him a judging look.

[color 00a99d]"Once in the bathroom, when I was six, I accidentally peed on Jordan Werrett's shoes and told everyone he did it to himself."[/color]

Silence. All the more encouraging.

[color 00a99d]"I'm pretty sure I killed a kid here. Made her--[i]him[/i] fall through the ground. I barely even think about it, with everything going on. Isn't that awful?"[/color]

Great crowd.

[color 00a99d]"I keep telling everyone my fabric softener's ten times better than the ones they have in the laundry rooms but that's totally not true. The ones they provide are fine. I just think mine's smell way nicer."[/color]

An excellent audience.

[color 00a99d]"The only reason I keep using the loud one to vacuum the halls is cos I'm waiting to see which one'll try to beat the shit out of me first. It's been ages since I've gotten in a fistfight with someone that's actually in my league."[/color]

The Aberration dorms had indeed gotten rowdier during our time away. The class cancellations combined with an open campus and five hundred dollar stipend was a recipe for trouble. West had a problem like that too. Of course, Building B did have its gems. Just going down the hall, Ernie had Rose in 304. She liked his cooking. Peyton in 303. 302 was Gregory. An unfortunate soul. Ernie hoped he didn't have to suffer long. Allison was 301. Her views were...not great but at the end of the day, Ernie didn't mind her too much. Then Room 300...

He wrapped his arms around his legs. It was starting to get chilly. His mouth opened before he realised.

[color 00a99d]"I miss her,"[/color] he eventually muttered, almost unwillingly, [color 00a99d]"I hated her because...man, how could I not? But I never wanted her gone. Well, now I don't. I just...miss her. A lot."[/color]

Quiet, in the air. The wind was tickling his ears so he pulled his beanie down. The ensuing warmth was sort of comforting.

[color 00a99d]"And I...I miss a lot of the others too. I never thought I would. Most of 'em were such...[i]assholes[/i]. But they, at least, never made me fight Dreamcatcher monsters. Or even any Amigos, for that matter."[/color]

There was danger everywhere. The monsters. The mages. Fracture and Amigos and maybe even Cat's Cradle. Regs too. Hell, they couldn't even go to a club without getting shot at. Danger, [i]everywhere[/i] we went. Even on campus. He couldn't ever let his guard down, not when people like Zoe and Sander slept less than a five minute walk from his room. Now, even his dreams weren't a safe place. Everything that could end him kept following or lurking or getting stronger or building its forces where he couldn't see. And he knew--he fucking [i]knew[/i]--that one day they'd get him. Because he'd make a mistake, or someone else would make a mistake. Or the plainest and simplest reason: because he was weak. Weak in every fucking way that mattered. So he spoke out again.

[color 00a99d]"I don't think I have long to live."[/color]

Silence.

[color 00a99d]"I'm not okay with that. I'm not okay at all."[/color]

He was probably shouting by that point.

[color 00a99d]"I wish..."[/color]

Then he stopped. What was it [i]exactly[/i] that he was hoping for? He wanted to run, yes. It was the first thing that came to mind. Skirting around in this nightmare of an Earth gave him a better chance of survival than having Kardos directly propel him into dangerous missions. Maybe he could find another group to join or just loot old buildings and live off those shattered cities. Maybe he could locate another Senators cell, try to get some pull there. The world would continue to break down from the inside out, eaten alive by monsters and mage gangs, but he would be fine at least, right?

Ah. Still the same old stupid, selfish Ernest.

He didn't belong here. He was a dumbass. A coward. Everyone else was acting like the chosen ones they apparently were. Or at least fighting more like one. Everyone could handle it...everyone but Ernie. And yet, he was still part of this fight. He still had friends to keep alive, a future he needed to work towards. A long, long lifetime of paranoia and regret would be the only waiting for me otherwise.

Elvia had said it plain and simple. Actors and observers. Those with the power to act [i]had[/i] to, or they'd lose everything. And, like it or not, he had that power. He'd live and breathe and fight and die as an actor. Because that future was something he wanted even more than that brief escape from this cursed school.

So he spoke his wish. Quietly. It was like something his mother would say. If someone's really listening, you don't have to raise your voice at all.

[color 00a99d]"I wish I could be more. Not just for them, or even myself. For...everything. And everyone."[/color]

Maybe that way, he wouldn't be so afraid of people knowing the truth about him.

Template remained silent. He didn't mind that. Some wishes were just something you'd have to deal with yourself. Ernie grinned, more genuine than usual.

[color 00a99d]"Still not talking? Good. Guess now I can tell you all about my--"[/color]

[color=f7976a]"It is 11:30."[/color] A stony male voice rang out over the cuff channel. [color=f7976a]"Students are to begin departing Ground Zero for the midnight reset immediately. Stragglers will be forcibly removed and may face further reprimand."[/color]

Ernie sighed. Looked to Template.

[color 00a99d]"Later then."[/color]

She bid him goodbye by continuing to stare into nowhere and remaining silent. Still glowing, he hopped down and departed. The soldiers watched him as he crossed the Ground Zero barrier, their brows furrowing when his steps slowed outside.

[color=f7976a]"Why aren't you moving?"[/color] one of the guards called out, hands firm on his weapon.

[color 00a99d]"There's no curfew on Saturday, right?"[/color] Ernie frowned.

[color=f7976a]"Curfew doesn't apply to the Ground."[/color]

[color 00a99d]"Huh? I swore that you could head back in--"[/color]

[color=f7976a]"Curfew doesn't apply to the Ground [i]now[/i],"[/color] the guard spat, [color=f7976a]"If you have no further business here then leave."[/color]

[color 00a99d]"But I'm just standing here,"[/color] Ernie scoffed right back, [color 00a99d]"I'm not even inside the freakin' place."[/color]

The soldier merely rolled his eyes and nodded to two other guards beside him, the pair subsequently striding towards Ernie with their weapons pointed.

[color=f7976a]"Take him back to the dorms."[/color]

A harsh jab later and Ernie was grumbling forwards. Trudging slowly didn't stall much as the escorting guards were more than happy to motivate him with the barrels of their rifles. It was a fucking lousy way to end a Saturday, for sure. But as Ernie walked, he caught something in the corner of his eye. It was bulky, rested on a nearby bench and...

Was that a blue-ish green or a green-ish blue?

The dim lighting wasn't offering any favours. Ernie only stopped to look for a second before a sharp pain in his shoulder made him hiss.

[color=f7976a]"Keep moving,"[/color] the guard growled.

The Aberration rubbed his shoulder but otherwise complied.

Whatever she was doing there, it probably wasn't worth him getting shot over. Probably.
[/hider]

[hr]
[h3]GZ Funtimes[/h3]

[hider=Ernie writes notes on his fancy new rope cos it's neat and will help him remember things good.]
[quote][u][b]ROPE NOTES[/b][/u]

Writing words = Yes but messy
Drawing pictures = Yes but messy
Coloring inside the lines = No
Choping food = Yes
Diceing unions = YES (no more goggles!)
Vegetable carving = No
Trimming meat = Don't know if rope is clean for that
Vaccuming = Yes
Scrubbing = Yes
Ironing = Yes but dangeruos

Flying = Yes
Flying fast = Only a bit faster than GZ guy running from me with a gun
Flying with people = Not yet - awkward and squirmy
Throwing things = Yes but need to grab propperly and practise accurasy
Throwing people = Yes
Throwing me = YES. Faster than flying but make me sick. NEED PRACTISE
Lifting car - yucky GZ sedan = Yes
Throwing car = No
Lifting bigger car = No

Hurt people = Yes
Strangle people = Yes
Smash people = Yes
Shoot gun = Yes and funny
Throw knifes = Yes but not accurate
Cut off arms = Yes
Cut off head = Yes
Punch through chest = Yes but gross
Very good for the slow stuff

End Note = [i][u][b]NEED MORE PRACTISE!!![/b][/u][/i][/quote][/hider]