[CENTER][img]https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/1070187379547176990/1108929068998594640/Jonna_Harlson.png[/img][/CENTER][indent][sub][COLOR=goldenrod][B]Location:[/B][/COLOR] [I]P.C.R.U Campus[/I][/sub][sup][right][COLOR=goldenrod][b]First Class #2.42:[/b][/COLOR] [I]Hive Been Busy[/I][/right][/sup][/indent][sub][hr][/sub]
[quote][color=fde1ef][b][i]"Cass was our friend,"[/i][/b][/color] Ariel replied. [color=fde1ef][b][i]"I didn't get to know him that well, different teams and all. It's just...really really sad, you know? One of our own lost his life because of some power-hungry lunatics? One of our own may never walk again because of the same power-hungry lunatics?"[/i][/b][/color]

Ariel wanted to say more, partly to let out their feelings in more eloquent words than being 'really really sad'. But their feelings were complicated and it was difficult to let them out without sounding like either a selfish pretentious cabrón or a gradeschooler. Still, where else would those feelings go if they stayed where they were? They struggled to remember what the campus therapist advised on this, but it was 'something something reach out something something you are not alone'. Ariel let go of the deep breath they didn't know they were holding in. Time to put that advice to the test.

[color=fde1ef][b][i]"And like...I'm scared about what comes next."[/i][/b][/color] Slowly, these words crawled out of Ariel's mouth. Words chosen carefully, tightly, not wanting overwhelm themself. Or Jonna, for that matter. [color=fde1ef][b][i]"There is simply no way this...'Hyperion' stops at that. It's just not how those kind of people roll. They'll do something crazy dangerous again. Lives will be at risk again. I hope we'll be ready by then."[/i][/b][/color] Just barely keeping themself together, Ariel once again relied on Jo's wrist to keep their feet grounded in the now. Only after the fact did she realize how rough their hand must be and eased their grip, muttering an apology under their breath.

[color=fde1ef][b][i]"I'm sorry for dumping all that on you,"[/i][/b][/color] Ariel then said, in clearer breath. Relaxing the tense posture they didn't know they had been holding, their hands began to fidget. On their hair, on their face, on their uniform fabric, on the trans flag pin on their uniform, anything to distract themself again.[color=fde1ef][b][i]"Hard to think straight in a funeral, you know? Nothing's okay and that's just...not okay, for me. Maybe other people can handle better, but I can't." 

"...Call me out if I'm wrong, but this is not okay for you either, is it?"[/i][/b][/color][/quote]
[indent]
Jo was quiet, not responding to Ariel's pry into the complex structure that was the Beehive. The only noise coming from her was the occasional worker that fled or returned from an expedition, the buzzing of their wings breaking up the silence. It had taken far too long for her to respond that the original topic might have even been lost but she'd never forget. The truth was, Jo didn't know what she felt. Fear for herself being pulled into this but what choice did she have? This pathway allowed her freedom to exist as she was. A promise that seemed to be showing more and more strings attached.

When Hyperion made his offer, Jo had really considered it but was afraid to take that plunge. She did not have the perspective that Ariel did. Cass was... a stranger, hardly met in the frantic happenings of her first day at Pacific Royal. Why did he recklessly throw himself out there? Him and the other boy? Didn't they know this Hyperion was a threat, a danger that could wipe the out? The idea frustrated her. Hyperion would have just let them lived if they didn't do anything. 

Weren't they scared like her?

Her and Ariel had put some distance since the original question was asked. Frankly, Jo didn't even have the bravery to even comment on the subject of Hyperion's purpose or debate the whole situation. Only one thing came to her mind on the subject:
[color=goldenrod][sub]"I don't want to die"[/sub][/color]
Jo quietly muttered, masking but not entirely disguising the fearful quiver of repressed emotions over the topic. It might have even escaped Ariel's notice if not paying attention. There was a danger to exposing yourself out in the open. Emotionally or physically, it did not matter. It was a place where predators often found their prey and Jo had no desire to be prey. Too many bits of her already had.

She inhaled through her mouth, loudly, to screen against any attempt to follow-up but also to steady herself. [color=goldenrod]"Do you like the sweets? I want to go find some. You are in, ya?"[/color] She steered away back to safety...
[/indent]
[hr][hr]

[indent]Anxious.

There were people all around and it seemed like they were all looking at her. They were muttering around her about the bees, swatting at them. Trying to kill them, Jo thought. She had an issue with public performances and grand presentations like these ones, even as a spectator, tore at her mind exposing the insecurities. It did not help that she hadn't resolved her conflict of fleeing Pacific Royal in light of offer and the potential threat that came from the future. She'd consider that one, too, however there was no guarantee of leniency should she return to civilian life. Her powers, should they be classified as hazardous by even mere complaints of others, would be restricted. Cut off from those she loved most, though in another interpretation of what Jonna was happy to be as. 

Besides, what did she even have outside of this, anyway? 

The stress of the day was enough to make her itchy with an easy trigger. More than once did she snap at someone waving a bee away for flying too close. [color=goldenrod]"Din jävla idiot!"[/color] She snapped at one person sitting by, waving her arm around. [color=goldenrod]"Don't swat!"[/color] The swarm was a low drone all throughout the speech with Jonna entering an agitated state. In many ways it was like Nuclear Warheads being on standby should DEFCON rise in level. Only with Jo, it'd be with a swarm of thousands of bees bursting from her. 

When she'd finally be set upon making her decision, she raised her Firebird band on instinct. Others were doing it around her so she fell in line. The familiar was safe and a known quantity. Why would she risk it by going with a new team? That was assuming she'd even have the same team after the Team Swap. In her head, she hated all of this. The randomness and unpredictability, but there was one thing that would remain the same, she'd be a Firebird... Whatever that team would look like after this. 

She shook her head, forging past even the idea of choosing a house right now. She peaked in the envelope as soon as she got it. That might end up being sudden instinctual choice as well. Jo never could quite get behind team sports so which one liked honey, again?[/indent]