[hr][center][color=darkviolet][h1]Kerianne Morley ~ Nightwatch[/h1][/color][/center]
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[@Aerandir] [@Nyahahameha] [@Heartfillia]

When she heard the sudden voice behind her, Kerianne's reaction was instant. The constantly alert girl spun round, diving for the shadow of the upside-down figure and vanishing. A few feet away, she reappeared next to a trolley of gym equipment. As the room lurched, she gripped the side of the basket, accidentally tilting it. [color=darkviolet]"Ah!"[/color] She managed to steady herself and the storage unit, but not before footballs, tennis rackets and hoops had scattered across the floor. Not daring to lean down, she crawled on all fours to gather everything up.

[color=darkviolet]"Nice try, Yi,"[/color] she called, trying to sound as cool-headed as possible. [color=darkviolet]"I see you've learned a thing or two from Hayes. Although it'll take more than that to startle me. I'm just, uhh..."[/color] She caught a rolling football, staggered to her feet and dropped it in the trolley. [color=darkviolet]"Training my reflexes."[/color] Picking up the rest of the supplies, she hoped her cringing wasn't as obvious as the bad lie. What a sight she must look. At least a good laugh might be just what people needed right now, and might help Gabby feel better about her own mishap.

Kerianne turned to Gabby, glancing from her to Yi, her face as solemn as ever as she considered his question. If the wrestler had been venting her anger at a person, it could only be... [color=darkviolet]"Let me guess. Whoever hurt Sofia,"[/color] Kerianne said, voice hushed as she addressed Gabby. [color=darkviolet]"If that's the case, I can't say I blame you."[/color]

Whether or not it was, Gabby didn't say. Instead, she stood up, announcing she had something for everyone to hear. As even Eira turned round, Kerianne listened to the uplifting speech, directed at the person who needed it most. Renard. When it reached its end, Kerianne nodded, with the faintest of smiles towards the brooding blond.

[color=darkviolet]"You know, as grating as that constant goofing around is..."[/color] she commented. [color=darkviolet]"Things just aren't the same without that person here to drive everyone round the twist. I mean, Yi had to be the one to pull a prank just now."[/color] Slowly, she approached Renard. [color=darkviolet]"I was told the other day that everyone who gets into this school gets in for a reason. That includes you. You're probably never going to let me forget I said this, but under that class clown exterior, there's quite some heroic potential."[/color]

That smile widened ever so slightly. [color=darkviolet]"Thank you. For making sure those who went on that visit got out."[/color]

[hr][center][color=khaki][h1]Freya Leander ~ Cait Sith[/h1][/color][/center]
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[@Aviaire] [@Nyahahameha] [@Heartfillia]

As Eira made yet another snippy little comment and strode away from the group, Freya's mouth dropped open. Eira knew how many people had nearly died. She knew several had been hospitalised. Dammit, she'd SEEN Renard's breakdown. Couldn't she show some consideration, like when she'd allowed that tiny thaw in her icy shell back there?

Freya couldn't help herself. She stood up, running a few paces, watching Eira head to the door. [color=khaki]"Y-You're not going to help people out of Gloomtown if that's where your permanent address is!"[/color] she called, then covered her mouth, wishing she hadn't spoken. While the frosty girl had more heroic qualities than were immediately obvious, that attitude... To Freya, it could be just a little familiar at times. Yet just now, by getting so unusually confrontational, had she sounded any better?

Slumping her shoulders, she trudged back to Renard's side at the bleachers. [color=khaki]"You'd think she could be more grateful after you saved her,"[/color] she said in a mutter that Eira wouldn't hear, trying to remind him just how much he'd accomplished that day. Not that it was likely to work. She doubted he'd even have any more to say about Kerianne's blunder just now than about Gabby's.

Somebody, however, did express gratitude, and in the most motivational way she could. Freya raised her head, listening with rapt attention as Gabby made it clear just how much he'd done for her. How much he'd done for everyone. Tears prickled Freya's eyes, and a grin brightened her face. Once Kerianne had added what she had to say, the catlike girl took her turn.

[center][youtube]https://youtu.be/LRkvLuB191s[/youtube][/center]

[color=khaki]"Do you see it now?"[/color] she asked Renard. [color=khaki]"How much you mean to people? And how you've helped more than you think, so, so much more. Like I said, if not for you, I'd never have gotten out of there. And Sofia... If she wrote to you, surely she included you in the list of people she says are her heroes. I was only able to reach her because of you. Hell, even Eira's got to be thankful on some level. She did care enough to go check on you, do her best to get you out."[/color]

Again, Freya shuddered at what her own carelessness had brought about - the full extent even worse than she'd known - but went on. [color=khaki]"And it's not just that. Like Gabby said... You just have this way of lifting people's spirits. Cheering her right up. Encouraging me to train and push myself. You're even set on making Eira smile. So of course we're going to return the favour."[/color]

She crouched beside him with a pleading look. [color=khaki]"You'll accept that, won't you? If you don't..."[/color] She curled her hands in front of herself like paws, tilting her head and doing the best mock sad eyes she could. [color=khaki]"I'll look at you like this until you do!"[/color] She crawled around him, making mewling sounds. [color=khaki]"You can't say no to the kitty stare, can you?"[/color]

In spite of everything, a laugh left her tight throat. [color=khaki]"You're our hero, Renard. Don't you tell yourself otherwise."[/color]