[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/6PAtRMC.png[/img][table][row][cell][sup][color=gray][b]𝚌𝚞𝚛𝚛𝚎𝚗𝚝 𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚎[/b] - it's morning[/color][/sup][/cell][cell][sup][color=gray][b]𝚕𝚘𝚌𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗[/b] - New York City: The Rookery[/color][/sup][/cell][cell][sup][color=gray][b]𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚊𝚌𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗[/b] - everyone[/color][/sup][/cell][/row][/table][/center]
[color=lightgray]Before the elevators opened, the ninth child hummed lightly and swayed on the balls of its feet. Its hands were clasped casually behind its back and its eyes were closed while it watched the security staff move in and out of the monitoring room through the little camera in the corner of the elevator car. They were all so [i]serious[/i] today, scampering around like mice in and out, in and out, throughout the building and over the grounds. Always looking over their shoulders for the cause of the chill on their backs. Nine looked a little closer, glancing over the screens in the room of its mind's eye. It saw corridors and meeting areas, entrances and exits, the lawn and the roof. It saw humans and other animals, lined up neatly or congregating in rough crowds outside. And if it looked really, [i]really[/i] hard—[/color]

[i]Ding.[/i] [color=lightgray]The car's doors slid open at the same time the ninth child's unsettling eyes did. They stepped out of the elevator as Orwell, dressed in tweed slacks, brown shoes, and a slightly rumpled light dress shirt. A bow tie that matched their trousers almost as well as the shirt matched their messy hair tied the whole outfit together. Orwell made a motion like they meant to hook their thumbs into the straps of overalls, but given there were none they just blinked and frowned lightly.

Right, that's what they'd forgotten this morning. They could still clearly see the overall clips sitting on a bureau in their assigned quarters. With so much [i]work[/i] to be done they'd been distracted. At least there would be time to play soon. Hopefully. 

Orwell smiled at O'Brien as they approached him, giving him an enthusiastic nod of their head.[/color] "Aw, like I'd be late today."

[color=lightgray]They shuffled over next to him, a good head shorter than their handler. They glanced up when he mentioned keeping an eye on things and rolled their eyes briefly. During the action those eyes seemed to glow for a moment.[/color]

"Not a problem, but..." [color=lightgray]Orwell stood on their toes, pressing their mouth to the shell of O'Brien's ear. 

They lingered there for just a moment before whispering,[/color] [i]"...just don't forget what you promised~"[/i]

[color=lightgray]For his part O'Brien did not seem phased. As Orwell let themselves fall back onto their feet he spared them a look. [b]"I haven't,"[/b] he told them.

Both of their attention moved to the front of the lobby as the esteemed guests began to filter in. Orwell beamed at Valentine, happily closing the rest of the distance between them as they pulled the jar out from somewhere.[/color] "Awww, look at her! She's beautiful!" [color=lightgray]Orwell cooed, putting their hands on their knees as they bent over to be eye level with the heart. Their gaze traced the ring around the organ a few times.[/color] "Here, let me-"

[color=lightgray][b]"Orwell,"[/b] O'Brien said, a hint of chastisement in his voice. The ninth child slowly stopped reaching out to the jar and sighed. They looked over their shoulder at their handler with a pout that they couldn't convincingly keep on their face for long.[/color]

"Fine, fine. Perimeter. I'll be back soon." [color=lightgray]O'Brien watched his charge go, headed for an adjacent hall. He knew that they could technically keep an eye on things from here, but with the rest of their siblings about to arrive it would be a big distraction. Even... [i]people[/i] like the miracle children were not infallible, after all. 

It was back to watching now. Thankfully it liked watching. Its ethereal gaze catalogued every face reflected in its eyes until the final armored cart pulled up the Rookery's gate.

It wasn't until all of the other 'Numbers' had arrived and the building was locked down to prevent any uninvited guests that Orwell reappeared in the lobby. Once more alone, unattended, Orwell entered from the same hall they'd left from and rejoined O'Brien at the back of the room where they could see everyone and everyone could see them. It really was nice to be able to focus on all of the 'siblings' at the same time, that way no one had to be left out!

They could see Three's subtle shift in posture when he looked at them, and turned from O'Brien to set their actual eyes on the older man, along with a spreading grin. Orwell may not have met any of the other Numbers before, but they knew them. Their ages, code names, miracles, and especially their faces - Orwell had memorized all of them as part of their research long before this gathering was conceptualized. How many knew the other Nine, Orwell wondered. How many different relationships had they inherited? 

Or, perhaps, were their reactions meant for this current Nine? It was nice to be recognized, they guessed, especially as it was the older Numbers whose attentions lingered on Orwell. Their smile grew and their eyes twinkled before their eyes -if not their gaze- moved on from Three. They really didn't need to move their head to see everyone, but since it was their first meeting with the rest they figured they could at least do this, as a courtesy. And so they looked over the quiet ones who stood off to one side and waited or brooded or huddled close to their assigned humans. They looked over the more friendly ones who were glad to make the acquaintances of their siblings, and to these Orwell smiled even more brightly.[/color]

"Good morning Twelve, Fourteen~" [color=lightgray]Orwell said, raising an arm to wave at them. What nice kids. While keeping their gaze on the younger girls they greeted the rest, if only to be polite.[/color] "And... Three, Eleven, Seven, Thirteen, Eight, and... Five!"

[color=lightgray]Counting Two there were still a couple missing then. Ah well, in time. As Five approached to greet Two, Orwell's eyes trailed him, bright and curious. At the same time, the cold feeling of being watched that had clung to every handler as they entered had grown uncomfortable. Not quite harsh but not gentle either, almost like if it was possible to be picked apart with a stare it would have already happened to them.[/color]