[center][img]https://i.postimg.cc/TYxxRJnQ/Header-1.webp[/img][/center] The group followed the guard down the long Hall, remaining within the Recreation wing, passing by rooms of various purposes. Pool. Sauna. Steam room. The guard came to a locked door leading to a more open room towards the end of the corridor, opposite the library. He pulled a set of keys that were chained to his person and unlocked the door revealing a half dozen seemingly randomly selected, longer tenured Ju-V program attendees who had been locked in the room. These would function as a 'welcoming committee' of sorts to begin to 'ease them' into coming to terms with the wider body of youths involved in the program. The room had a ping pong table, two TVs with video game consoles, a small rack with a few select books (microchipped - with a scanner built into the door to prevent theft), central and side tables and chairs, and a book case full of board games, decks of cards and puzzles. All of which would seem to be surprisingly well kept... except for the fact that boredom runs wild in places like these, and damage to any of the meagre things they actually have to assuage that boredom would be met with severe irritation by their peers. In many ways, their peers were the most effective policing techniques within these walls, and the contents of rooms like this one were more respected than most of the rules in the facility. Not a person on Alcatraz Island, for example, [b]WOULDN'T[/b] know if someone broke one of the console controllers and exactly who that person was. Sat against the back wall, staring at the door as a kaleidoscope of fresh faces all entered, was Laura DiBiase. Her face appeared manic, and over-stimulated and she began to rock, to the discomfort of many of the new arrivals. Her pseudonym of 'Bright Eyes' was clear to see and understand, as they seemed to have doubled in size to take in all the new vibrancy. A pair of boys of comically contrasting sizes were playing a racing game of some kind or another on the console. The smaller boy would take off to a considerable lead only for the larger boy to grunt in frustration, before the smaller boy would shoot him a nervous glance, and then somehow mysteriously fall back into the pack. Neither had sensed the presence of the new program attendees in the room. Not so inattentive was a lone boy located in a chair in the corner, with an angle on the whole room. Billy Isaacs. He was well aware why he had been shut in this room at this time, and scored himself a seat which took in the whole vista, so he could soak in every breath and step of the new arrivals. He wanted to know what they were thinking before they even thought it, and the most worrying thing was that he could indeed do it. All he needed was time and information, and every second of the former gave him more of the latter. Libby Trainor stood at the window gazing out as her mind raced once more. Her singular focus had worked it's way back to the fore. It was a vicious cycle. She'd bust out, Aegis would find her, track her down, drag her back, she'd bust out all over again. The cycle had repeated so many times she could barely remember the starting point. Waiting to greet them was a shorter girl with blonde plaits that spoke with the world-wearied wisdom of a long-timer. This was Program-Attendee number #543 - the lowest number on the island. Known by most as 'The Kid', all of the people who shared her ferry to this place and knew her real name had long since left. [color=lemonchiffon]"Fresh meat, huh?"[/color] She chuckled raspily. An off-putting gesture for someone of her diminutive stature and general appearance. [color=lemonchiffon]"Don't worry. We'll settle ya in real good."[/color] She chewed roughly on some type of gum, with a knowing grin that suggested these raw newbies had no idea what they were in for. Whilst it was true, it was also one of the only real joys she had in a place like this, and above all else, you learn to savour the joys. Especially when you can't see how you'd be able to exist on the outside. [color=lemonchiffon]"You need to know anythin' just you come askin' me."[/color] She turned to share the same view of the room that the group held. [color=lemonchiffon]"This here's one of yer standard rec rooms, there's another round the other side. Screws've trickled in about half a dozen, so it seems, to try and eash your transition in terms of coming to terms with yer fellow program-attendees. Yer free to mingle, play at ping pong, vidya games over there... although ya might want to give ol' 'Bulk' over there a wide berth. Apologies for the nomenclature... His name's Brian McIntyre. You'll find a lot of people start goin' by other aliases 'round these parts. Don't you worry 'bout none of that. You'll find yours in y'r own time, or someone'll stick one on ya. Yours truly they call 'The Kid', for obvious reasons."[/color] The Kid looked over the group with a furrowed brow, counting heads. [color=lemonchiffon]"Must say, yer have me at a bit of a loss. You seem to be about three-- hup... didn't see the otter down there. Two short. When they normally give a bloc the ol' welcome wagon, they usually bring in a big ol' batch of twenty..."[/color] Billy Isaacs ran his eyes over the latest ragtag assortment of Aegis offerings. The most immediate thing to come to mind was the red eyes. They'd been pepper sprayed. At least a good few of them. His mind turned the information over in his mind. Likely wide dispersal, single use. There were only eighteen here. Normally a bloc of twenty would be introduced. Presumably two were removed. A fight between two was likely. Whether there were two true aggressors, or if one attacked the other and the second pushed the envelope in self-defense it was less easy for him to determine - Rowell was known to split the baby and punish both sides at the time. Some were immediately transparent in powerset. Otter. Wings. Stone boy. Another carried a large board of some kind - he presumed an elemental of some sort, controlling wind or waves. As far as could be told at this point. A Blonde from out of time carried herself with more weight than her diminutive stature suggested. He pegged her as a powerhouse strength type, despite her frame. Body shapes lie often. Body language? Less so. Another blonde looked muscular, but far more inscrutable - still a mystery. Billy Isaacs' lip curled just considering 'stripping back' that mystery. Her eyes held the red of the spray. She was in close proximity to the dispersal. Another in green it seemed took the brunt, he couldn't tell what her part would have been in any of this, though. A red-headed girl amongst them also had misty red eyes... but Billy could see the subtlety in difference. She hadn't been sprayed. This wasn't chemical based. It was emotional. Billy kept sniffing, he could smell vulnerability. What would have set that off... homesickness? Possibly, but it was early yet. She probably teared up from the trip, but this was more recent. On the facility. Security. She'd had something confiscated. She wanted something. And anyone who wants something... the possibilities. He watched her closer. The style of clothes, the probable expense, it didn't look like she'd ever wanted for much. The thin clothing, the posture. She had nipple piercings, he could tell. What form exactly, he couldn't tell yet, but he'd have her show him. She looked like she'd be willing to go along with a lot with him. He wondered at what point he'd hit her limits... and what would be beyond. Billy Isaacs' lip curled again, at the thought of the 'beyond'. [color=olivedrab][b]"Dawkins!"[/b][/color] He called. The young boy paused and jumped up from his video game at Isaacs' beckon call, much to the larger boy's frustration. [color=lemonchiffon]"--is 'Fingers'. Doesn't look like much, but the kid can get you [b]ANYTHING[/b], [b]ANY TIME[/b]. Like a one man 7/11. Well... boy. Price isn't too unreasonable either... but you wanna arrange costs up front. Not that he's particularly untrustworthy, it's just a good general rule across the board with anyone in here."[/color] The younger boy ran across the room, passed the girl at the back wall, whose gaze still hasn't left the group. Her face held a hanging vacant smile that left many looking uncomfortable. [color=lemonchiffon]"...And that one there, is 'Bright Eyes'. Now, best we can tell, not violent, but I'm not gonna lie, she's a special kind of crazy. Probably stil best to keep yer distance."[/color] Billy Isaacs kept his focus glued on the redhead, whilst he waited for Fingers to get to him, intent on cracking the rest of this mystery. She wanted something. Something that was taken from her that she wanted. Fill that need, and... He watched closer. Turned his head slightly, almost imperceptively, in stark contrast to the way that almost nothing escaped his own perception. He picked up anxiety on her, and her fingers tented at the knuckle, almost as if she was craving an eCigarette or... [color=olivedrab]"Vape pen."[/color] He flashed a wide grin in realisation. Hell, he bet that if he got close enough, he could probably even smell the flavour she was craving on her. Fingers finally got to where Billy Isaacs stood, he waited until he'd gone the whole way to him before he began to walk himself. [color=olivedrab]"Gonna need you to get me something. For a new friend..."[/color] He said. Fingers cowered slightly. He hated this. He suspected he knew the sort of thing he was about to be an accessory to. There just wasn't anything he could do about it. Between Bulk's muscle, and Billy's own power, he was all but untouchable in here. [color=olivedrab]"So walk with me, a while..."[/color] He said. Taking a solid glance in the direction of three cameras monitoring the room, and mentally timing his pace as he began to approach the group of fresh meat. [color=olivedrab][b]"Hey, Red! I think we might be able to help you get something you'd be interested in."[/b][/color] He called out to the redhead. [color=lemonchiffon]"--escape."[/color] The Kid stopped, when she became aware of Billy's call to one of the group. Her face froze. Billy killed any intention of warning her with a simple well weighted smile. The redhead was curious about the request and separated herself from the group to see what he was talking about, a pained look briefly flashed across the Kid's eyes before she moved on. This sort of thing had happened too often for it to be more than a momentary hangup. It was far from the first time he'd targeted some prime piece of fresh meat he fancied, wouldn't be the last time either. [color=lemonchiffon]"And with escapes from over a half dozen different Aegis facilities, Libby Trainor got sent down here to, if not stop her, at least slow her down. But it doesn't seem that's gonna happen anytime soon. Best they can hope is to catch her again quickly and bring her on back. Hell, she's probably over there thinking about what she's gonna do in the City in the few hours of freedom she buys herself [b]NEXT[/b] time she busts out..."[/color] As Billy Isaacs lured the red haired girl away for conversation, and his eventual proffer, The Kid gradually grew bolder and cut off her description of the girl at the window to describe the latest figure they'd just caught a passing glimpse of. [color=lemonchiffon]"And that one there, is Billy Isaacs. The Calculus. He has perception, pattern reading and recognition at a level so terrifyingly honed, that here in this place, he's practically precognitive. You take one thing away from anything I say today, you stay away from him. I'd tell you not to tell him I said anything, or warned you, but it wouldn't matter. He'd see it on yer face, just as soon as lookin' at yer... You don't want to get involved with that guy. Don't get on his bad side, Just best stay well clear..."[/color] The truth was The Kid knew he could warn the group all she liked, now that he had what he wanted. He considered himself far enough above the fray that he barely considered her warnings as having any influence on his ability to attain his goals and desires at all. And the scariest thing was, he was probably right. Bulk, having quickly grown bored, with the loss of his video game partner, decided to walk up and look over the fresh meat. Immediately catching his attention was a brassy shorter blonde with a very distinctive style of dress. Unsure how to go about greeting her he kind of stood over her, with a perplexed look on his face, as if trying to solve a puzzle. He wasn't like Billy, Billy just had a way of talking that seemed to flow easily, and generally ended with people giving him what he wanted, whether or not they wanted to. Billy had a way with people. With words. Brian noticed people tended to respond better, the less he said. Billy would even tell him to shut up. A lot. It was probably in his best interests. They really did work better when he said less. He'd seen it himself. So instead he stood there providing her shade. Maybe he'd smile at her if he finally drew eye contact. He hadn't really given it much thought yet. [hr] [hr] [center][h1][u][b][color=goldenrod]GM Notes/Directives[/color][/b][/u][/h1][/center] * The Program Attendees are Now in the [u][b]Opening Recreation Room[/b][/u]. In the [u][b]Opening Recreation Room[/b][/u] your characters are free to intermingle with other Player Characters and [b][u]UNENGAGED[/u][/b] NPCs. * In the [u][b]Opening Recreation Room[/b][/u] there is to be [b][u]NO VIOLENCE WITHOUT PRIOR GM APPROVAL[/u][/b]. * The Unengaged NPCs are [color=goldenrod][b]The Kid[/b], [b]Libby Trainor - Liberty[/b] and [b]Laura DiBiase - Bright Eyes[/b][/color]. For more information on any of these Communal NPCs - consult the Character Tab. *Engaged NPCs: [color=goldenrod][b]Fingers[/b] and [b]Calculus[/b][/color] - Noah 'Bombshell' Cypress [@Venus] [color=goldenrod][b]Bulk[/b][/color] - Brooklyn 'Black Betty' Vanderhaven [@PatientBean]