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Reluctantly retired roleplayer.

Except when I'm not.

Why are you here when you should be writing posts?

You can edit a bad draft, but you cannot edit a blank page.

Most Recent Posts

As Episode 1 will now end with the start of the Homecoming Trials, we're getting very near the end of this episode. An epilogue will be posted shortly as the last couple of posts trickle in and Episode 2 'Hope in Hell' will kick off with all characters in the Trial, suited up to run the course. Episode 2 will span the Trial, and then pending on how many posts that takes, it'll either include the first week of classes or segue into a new episode for that first week. The impending Dance will be the start or either Episode 3 or 4 pending the flow of the IC.

For the time being however, as @Roman already brought forth in the Discord, we will be doing Awards at the end of each episode and we GMs will be following this template:



All players are encouraged to participate, please PM/DM us your votes for each category. You need only vote for one person, post etc per category. Players are also more than welcome to create your own version of the awards, or even your own categories if there's something you want to highlight that Roman and I have omitted in ours.

Thank you everyone for a great first episode, and I am looking forward to seeing our characters in brand new situations and circumstances moving forward.

EDIT: We will also be adding a 'Best Character Dynamic' and a'Most Memorable Moment' category.
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I just want to give some appreciation to the RPers involved with Commencement - A Pacific Royal Collegiate & University

As of yesterday, we crossed the threshold of 100 posts after just only two months of the IC being active. So with special thanks to the following individuals, you all deserve all the praise for making this RP a success.

@Skai
@Qia
@Rockette
@PatientBean
@Roman
@Zoldyck
@Melissa
@Hound55
@webboysurf

Thank you for the time and investment you've put into my little world, I couldn't ask for a better group of players and friends.
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Location: Southern Plateau - Dundas Island, Pacific Ocean
Welcome Home #1.101: Chasing Cars
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Interaction(s): @Melissa - Aurora Mitchell
Previously: After Hours

It was no secret that Aurora had strong opinions about Amma. In fact, out of all of Team Blackjack, the redhead was by far the most vocal of the bunch about her apprehension surrounding the new girl. She knew trouble when she saw it, understood what followed in its wake, and had no interest getting tangled in whatever she had up her sleeve. She knew that Lorcán was the opposite though, he saw the good in everyone; he never had a reason not to. Aurora wasn’t oblivious to the way he looked at the transfer student, she’d seen how he admired her tattoos and always made the effort to coax her out of her shell.

The redhead put two and two together as the boy explained, and once she realized what had actually occurred when he and Amma had disappeared this afternoon, her heart dropped. She had been suspicious earlier, had heard the whispering, but hoped it wasn’t the case. He apologized but all she could hear was ringing in her ears. She had no right to be upset, react so strongly, and yet she was. Why was she taking this so harshly? They were just friends… nothing more than friends.

Right?

And then Lorcán continued, describing what he felt mere moments ago between the two of them.

It felt like I was whole.

The six small words took the breath from her lungs. His candidness captured everything she felt and echoed her innermost thoughts, ones that she’d never shared aloud or even realized until now. It was almost as if he had taken them straight from her mind since that was the way she had always felt about being around him, being near him. So many things about her past made Aurora feel like pieces of her were missing, but it never mattered when she was with him. Lorcán filled those gaps. He always had, long before their powers, their beings, intertwined.

But as close as they were, as close as they had always been, these were still uncharted waters. It scared her, terrified her even. He knew her better than anyone, but at the same time, fully opening up to someone, letting them in, was something she was still not sure she was capable of.

Even for him.

Her eyes drifted from his molten gaze down to his lips and back up again, her nose mere inches from brushing against his. The girl willed herself not to close the distance between the two of them, as tempting as it was in that moment, vaguely sensing her HZE’s reaching outward towards him and consciously reigning them back in.

“Lorcán, I-” Aurora swallowed, taking a deep breath and trying to calm her racing heart, “It’s been an eventful day, and emotions are running a little bit high with everything going on.” She deflected, squeezing his hands before bringing her left palm up to his face, cupping his cheek tenderly, her thumb brushing across his warm skin. “I know there’s a lot happening in that head of yours right now but,” The girl sighed, looking deeply into his eyes and choosing her next words carefully.

“...I think your mind will be a bit clearer once you get some rest.” Aurora paused, the tension between them palpable. “I promise you though, I’m not going anywhere.” She assured him, “Not now, not ever. Okay?”

He pressed his mouth against the base of her palm, Lorcán held it there for only a moment before releasing her.

“I’m not either.” He replied, moving his mouth back. Tracing her arm, he locked eyes with her. It wasn’t quite a rejection, but it wasn’t exactly the reciprocation he had thought he would hear.

“And if I ever do, I want it to be because you’re coming with me.”

Despite her words, Lorcán felt like he was thinking clearly for the first time in a while. At the very least he felt better getting the stuff about Amma off of his chest. Being honest with himself, the experiences had left him feeling guilty and while he knew he didn’t actually owe Aurora an explanation, he had always been honest with her.

“My name’s Lorcán, Lorcán Kendall Roth.” The young boy said, sticking out a lanky arm he had yet to grow into. The small freckled girl in front of him shyly smiled back.

“I like you,” The boy stated without hesitation. “I think you’re totally rad. Want to be my best friend forever?” A wide toothy smile followed the question as the boy led the girl by the hand.

“C’mon, I’ll show you my castle, it’s just an old garage but it’s where I keep all the secrets and if you’re going to be my best friend forever, then you need to know all the secrets.”

His hand moved to his pocket, only to find the smooth, silky material of his crimson boxer briefs, remembering once again that he had been having this heavy talk all while sitting in bright red boxer briefs. It would only have been more comical if they were heart-printed.
His eyes widened as he suddenly scrambled, looking for his shorts.

Fishing them off of the floor, Lorcán dug around in the pocket before producing the small, smooth object that Jonas had gifted him earlier.

“For a second I totally thought I had lost it,” He explained to Aurora before relaxing a bit. “I still have no idea what it is.” He muttered, the object pulsing in his hand again. It brought his thoughts back to earlier in the day, before he met with Jonas.

“Y’know earlier,” Lorcán started, leaning back onto his cot, “Y’know how I said things will never change between us?” He stared at the canvas suspended above them, tossing the black object into the air with one hand before catching it with the other.

“I meant that as in you’ll always be a part of my life, Lady Dude, and you’ll always be my closest friend.” He explained. “But I totally don’t see us as static either, we’re still evolving” He fished a bit.

“Do you like, know what happens when a motorcycle stops moving?” He asked, not waiting for an answer to the rhetorical question. “It falls over, even at slow speeds they sometimes become unsteady. But movement makes the bike balance.”

He tossed the object again.

“I think relationships are similar.” He continued while stifling a yawn, “The journey keeps the relationship growing, even without like, knowing the ultimate destination.” Lorcán rambled before smiling towards Aurora with a wink.

“Even for best friends forever.”

His hand missed the falling object as it caught him square in the face.

“Ow.”

The air around Aurora quickly turned cold as Lorcán moved to his side of the tent, the hairs on her arms standing up at the sudden change in temperature, but also because of what he had implied about them being together. Not dwelling on it, she swung her legs up onto the cot and laid back, her red locks fanning out behind her, hands clasped resting on her stomach. The girl turned her head to look at Lorcán as he spoke, holding the object that Jonas had gifted him in his palm. “Maybe you’re not meant to know right now,” She pondered, “Could be important for later, or something.”

This morning had felt like a lifetime ago, but she remembered the boy’s words as he recounted them. A lot was changing right now, and she had thought at the time Lorcán had only meant it that nothing would come between them. But, ever full of surprises tonight, he took a turn she wasn’t expecting. For someone she thought she knew well, this was a side of the sandy haired boy that she hadn’t seen before. Sure, they had practically grown up together on the Island, the both of them having matured significantly since their youth, but what he was implying wasn’t about them individually.

He winked, and Aurora felt a flush grace her fair skin. Things were evolving, alright.

And as Lorcán clumsily inflicted more harm to himself, she tried to stifle her delicate laugh but failed. Sure, things may have been shifting, but there would still be some things that never changed. “You really need to work on your coordination, hot shot.” The redhead teased, turning her head and letting her gaze rest on the canopy of the tent above them. She reflected on his previous words and a small smile appeared at the memory the phrase triggered.

“Do you ever wonder what life would be like if we never met?” The girl asked before continuing her thought, “Like if one thing was different, we wouldn’t be here together. Do you think about that at all?” Aurora took a breath. “I do. I think about it all the time.” She admitted, bringing her hand up to her necklace, and twirling it.

“So sure, we might not know what’s coming next and how the journey may change things, how we may evolve, but what won’t change is how lucky I feel to have met you when I did.”

The tent’s temperature rose again as Aurora’s words reached Lorcán’s flushed ears. It wasn’t quite a mutual admission of affection, but he’d take the words as a win for now. A smile spread across his face before giving way to a tired yawn. The day had been exhausting both emotionally and physically.

It had been a long day.

From the announcement at the ceremony about the loss of degrees and the displayed animosity of the Foundation to his encounter with Jonas and the mysterious object. From there, the day had only been more complicated after he chose to shirk his duties and go off with Amma into the woods. His best friend took that personally and was now unusually upset at him. Dinner had been eventful with the campfire between both teams and the prying into the conspiracies of the Foundation and then his rollercoaster of a heart-to-heart with Aurora.

It had been a very long day indeed.

“I try not to think about my life without you in it,” Lorcán finally replied, “I definitely don’t want any future that you’re not part of.” He smiled softly, rolling the smooth object around in his palm.

“My life kind of sucked before you, and yeah I realize it could have been a lot worse, in many ways I’m spoiled, but it was lonely. It was the lowest low I’ve known and then you came along.” Lorcán sighed wistfully, “And then things got better, and they keep getting better each day you’re still here. No matter what kind of day I have, I know you’re always there, excited to listen,” He stifled another yawn.

“Rory and Gil are both cool, they’re great friends, but they’ll never trump you.”

Aurora shook her head, “I don’t think you’re spoiled. Sure, you had a very different upbringing than most of us, and you’re lucky for that, but that doesn’t mean you’re completely immune to any kind of hardship.” And she meant that. A lot of people looked at Lorcán’s life, herself included, and were envious of the way the boy grew up. Two loving parents and a community who accepted him for exactly who he was seemed like something out of a storybook. But the grass was always greener, and that didn’t mean the boy didn’t have troubles of his own. “I was lonely too, for a long time. And then I had you and I wasn’t lonely anymore.”

The redhead smiled softly, “Don’t worry, I won’t tell them. Your secret’s safe with me.”

Lorcan smiled fondly back, before placing his head on his pillow, his eyes closed as the gentle lull of Aurora’s voice comforted him. His thoughts raced back to earlier, the near kiss, the hands on her hips.

It hadn’t been real, but in that moment, it had been everything.

“‘Rora,” Lorcán mumbled half asleep as he reluctantly laid back on the cot. Rolling onto his shoulder, he turned to look at Aurora. A smitten smile crossed his face as wandering thoughts pictured waking up beside her.

“I really-” He spoke again, his words slurring slightly as sleep began to take hold of the exhausted young man. His eyelids fluttered, as he struggled to maintain consciousness.

“-really want to take...” Lorcán’s eyes were closed at this point, sleep taking a firm grasp over the young man only for one last act of rebellion allowed him to spit out another sentence fragment.

“...to the dance.”

Aurora had been drifting off as well, but was snapped back awake at Lorcán’s words. Her eyes widened, and she sat up quickly, looking over at his now sleeping form. She watched the steady rise and fall of his chest as he peacefully rested as if he didn’t just say something confusing and leave it up to interpretation before dozing off to dreamland.

Take who to the dance? Her?

Based on the evening's events, she assumed he’d meant wanting to bring her, which opened up a can of metaphorical worms. In fact, the entire night had put them in a bit of a predicament if she was being honest. But then again, he had said many things that evening, he could very well have meant someone else…

Lying back on the cot, Aurora tried to quiet the swirling thoughts that had now overtaken her mind. She didn’t sleep that night.

Not a wink.
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Location: Southern Plateau - Dundas Island, Pacific Ocean
Welcome Home #1.092: Supermassive Black Hole
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Interaction(s): @Rockette - Amma Cahors, @Melissa - Aurora Mitchell
Previously: Howlin' For You

"Do you feel better now?"

The question itself was like a knife, it was thrust into his chest like an opportunistic assassin disappearing into the crowd while Lorcán was left to bleed out. The multitude of students continued about their meal and conversations, oblivious to the wounded boy left fending for his life.

Stumbling away from Haven, Lorcán couldn’t stop his eyes following Amma. Watching her sneakers trod away on the grass, her long pale legs seemed to endlessly climb to a slender torso gifted with curves in all the right places. Her cropped sweater revealed those beckoning tattoos that appeared to reach out towards Lorcán, those tentacles threatening to pull him into her shorts, burying him beneath her toned navel while the beetle crawled down his throat, consuming his last breaths.

Mumured rumours and mocking laughter bit at the back of Lorcán’s head. His fiery eyes darted from side to side, looking for the source of the voices, but there was nothing, the whispers were fleeting, evaporating as his molton gaze fell upon them.

Burn them all.

Lorcán turned again, swearing he had heard a voice crawling over his shoulder before its seething tone breathed hotly into his ear.

Burn them all.

It gnawed at his earlobe, a tingle of anticipation running the length of his body leaving every hair erect and stiffened with excitement. Intrusive thoughts filled his mind as he surveyed the campsite seeing only tinder and chaff where he ought to see friends and colleagues. The fire flared momentarily as he closed his fists, turning to look at Amma again as the wind howled through the Hype-made cliffs.

A primal call, but was it mating or war?

Bodies wrestling in the shroud of darkness, scratching, piercing, sucking and pleading. As the horizon suffocated the setting sun, so too, did the darkness drive Lorcán deeper into disparaging thoughts and further distanced from his friends. Something was inside him now that wasn’t there before. Something festering and growing, eroding with each ebb and flow of the storm that was Lorcán’s emotions. The tide was coming in, washing away the torn-up beach and revealing a new layer of sediment beneath the trampled surface. The old was smoothed away, replaced by something new, something identical but different.

But through the storm cut a blazing ray of warm light and the clouds parted before dissipating. The bathing warmth of copper spilled over Lorcán’s view as brilliant sapphire whirlpools softened his heart, relaxing his hands and a calm washed away the storm inside. Smoked-filled visions of ruins fell away from his eyes like the scales of a blind man gifted his sight. Kindling became kin and kindred souls alike as Lorcán was transported from the darkness directly into the light.

“-eat that?” Cassander asked again, this time giving Lorcán a playful elbow to the ribs as the latter dropped the plate laden with an untouched taco until his lap with a startled jump.

“Bro, what?” The daze still had a firm hold on Lorcán as he looked around, unaware of when he had made it back to his seat. His eyes drifted to Aurora and an involuntary smile floated on his lips.

“The taco,” Cassander repeated for a third time. “Are you going to eat the taco? I can’t abide wasted food, man.”

“Go to town, dude,” Lorcán nonchalantly replied before handing the plate over and looking towards Aurora again. He still needed to talk to her, but he didn’t want to do so in front of everyone, yet it might be better to rip that bandaid off before they were in the tent together.

A Westerly chinook blew through the campsite, Lorcán silently cursing the ethereal forces over the warm wind. A cold night might have enticed Aurora to come closer and find herself in his embrace. Standing once again, Lorcán conspicuously inconspicuously made his way towards the empty seat beside Aurora before sitting down and picking up a stick topped with a marshmallow.

“Can I introduce you in your usual shade of golden, Lady Dude?” Lorcán asked while playfully twirling the gelatinous treat on the stick.

“I missed you this afternoon, Rora, and you know I can’t stand to see you sitting here looking so sad, Lady so this guy right here figured what better to cheer up the Lady Dude than s’more marshed mallow on a stick pressed onto chocolate and graham cracker.”
Deleted
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Location: Southern Plateau - Dundas Island, Pacific Ocean
Welcome Home #1.086: Howlin' For You
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Interaction(s): @Skai - Haven Barnes, @Roman - Gil Galahad, @Garden Gnome - Mei Hisamatsu, @webboysurf - Rory Tyler
Previously: A Bridge to Build, or to Burn?

Rory’s outburst was still bothering Lorcán by the time Tad called the group for dinner. Even working apart, he, Rory and Amma had managed to make their quota for their assigned work.

Apparently, anger was a good motivator.

Still, Lorcán didn’t enjoy feeling like a turbulent sea was being tossed around inside of him. He had half a mind to sit Rory down and talk about whatever happened, but whether it was stubbornness or pride, he couldn’t bring himself to do it. He understood Rory being upset about being abandoned, perhaps that what all of this was about was just the simple fact he had been excluded from the excursion to the woods.

Lorcán’s stomach had been in knots since he found himself alone in the forest. He felt like he had done something wrong. Like he was stained by something that he just couldn’t wash off. Marked by an invisible ink that everyone could see except him. He had seen the way some of the other teams’ members were talking about him. What exactly did people think happened in the forest? What actually happened in the forest?

His mind began to recall the events, the feelings, the sensations before he shoved them all back down. Why did their powers mingle like that? Was it possible with anyone and if so, why hadn’t it ever happened with Aurora before? He’d leant his powers to Rory numerous times, but never had their powers intertwined as Lorcán and Amma had now on two separate instances.

Nonetheless, it was only dinner time and the day felt like it had dragged on for weeks. Why did he abandon his friend and work to run off with Amma? Sure there was a genuine part of him that just wanted her to experience fun, but then there was the way their powers interacted and the feelings attached to that. Why did he act the way he did around her? It was more than sympathy, it was more than friendship.

Did he like Amma?

Lorcán almost gave his head a literal shake as he got in line for food. His eyes wandered around the two campsites, first finding Amma. They lingered for a second, narrowed in concentration. Why would he like Amma? He knew next to nothing about the girl, but he couldn’t deny that the French woman had a certain je ne sais quoi about her that made Lorcán want to know her. When Amma walked into the room, Lorcán was transported into an old black and white film. The raven-haired dame with a case he couldn’t refuse walking into his office, her seemingly endless legs swung over her desk.

He half expected her to walk up to him with a cigarette asking for a light.

But then his eyes shifted, landing on familiar copper hair and he felt his heart skip a beat. Suddenly it was like there wasn’t anyone else around as he watched the beautiful blue eyed girl tuck a strand of her fire-like hair behind her ear. Lorcán often forgot there was a time before Aurora was in his life. He was very accustomed to waking up in the morning and firing her a text inquiring if she wanted to meet for breakfast. Rarely did he fall asleep without texting her goodnight and far too often the pair were exhausted for the next day from talking all night.

That’s of course when they didn’t end up on the beach for one reason or another.

Lorcán never really considered himself capable of having the same affection for anyone else that he held for Aurora. But if he was being honest with himself, the sparring, the running off, it had been fun. Spending time with Amma had been fun. It was almost an odd admission, one that he couldn’t easily make to himself, let alone his friends.

Although, perhaps Gil would understand? If ever there was a man who found himself between two girls, Lorcán would put money on it being Gil. Normally he would talk to both Gil and Rory about this sort of stuff, he tried to always include both of them in his decision making. But Rory hadn’t exactly made himself available at the moment. Moving to talk to their resident movie star, Lorcán noticed Rory also in line for food as words from Calliope floated back into Lorcán’s head.

It didn't take much to see what Rory did, got to you.

He shot a subtle glare towards Rory. Indignation rising in his chest as he brooded on Calli’s words, replaying them over and over in his mind as he re-witnessed Rory ask Aurora to the dance. If Calli and everyone else could see it, why couldn’t Rory? He allowed himself to fume a little longer before he suddenly remembered something else she had said.

You and I both know he meant well.

It was only then that his perspective began to change and as Lorcán replayed the memory again, he realized Rory wasn’t asking for his own benefit, but for Lorcán’s. Rory hadn’t asked Aurora to the dance, he had tried to play matchmaker. Regret suddenly washed over Lorcán as he realized in the heat of the moment he had thrown Rory’s actions back in his friend’s face. Actions his friend had already tried to make amends for. Furthermore, Lorcán had only added insult to injury with his playful teasing. No wonder Rory had accused him of deflecting.

Taking his food, Lorcán walked over to Rory before speaking,

“Hey bro, look I can’t handle this storm crashing our mellow, can we hash this out?” He asked, “I was a grom earlier, what I did was selfish both because I shirked the work and because I left you to fend for yourself. Teammates don’t bail on teammates and we also don’t exclude each other. I was talking with Amma, and it turned out the Foundation had never let her have fun with her powers, so I wanted to give her that experience. One thing led to another and we ended up going to the forest where people used to spar. I should have asked if you wanted to come or if you were okay with us taking a quick dip.”

As Rory went to speak, Lorcán interrupted him,

“I also want to apologize for the way I spoke to you when I came back, I treated you like a total Benny instead of a bro and that’s been eroding away at me. I had no right to make jokes about your abilities or your relationship with Haven. I understand now that you were trying to help yesterday on the beach and I’m sorry I lashed out at you.” He apologized, sheepishly rubbing the back of his head before speaking again.

“I totally get it if you’re like still mad or whatever, but I wanted to extend a bonafide apology and explanation for earlier.”

Rory slowly finished chewing his bite of food as he listened, before simply nodding.

"I... I appreciate it, bro. I'm sorry I got heated and didn't talk it out. What you had said hurt me, man. I can take a fun dig, dude, but you dug a little too deep. A tackle is fine, targeting isn't." He paused for a moment, taking a deep breath.

"I'm sorry about the thing on the beach too. You know how things get when I try to be clever, but I'm more sorry I didn't apologize for that sooner."

He held out his hand towards Lorcán, mimicking the latter's motion from earlier.

"It's been a bad day, bro. Wolves stick together." Rory's eyes instinctively wandered, a glimpse of a certain pair of wings out of the corner of his eye catching his attention for a moment. He quickly diverted his attention back to Lorcán.

"Though, maybe not tonight. I think the gals have us starting for different teams tonight." He gave his bro a wink, hand still outstretched. Lorcán eagerly slapped his hand to Rory’s before smacking the back of their hands together and ending with an exploding fist bump. He gave Rory a quick half hug as relief began to wash over him.

“That goes for you too, Mei,” Lorcán added, turning to see their other housemate. “Wolves stick together!” He patted her on the shoulder while passing by before walking away.

Lorcán felt a little better at least getting things off his chest, but he couldn’t help but shake the feeling that the Foundation and its presence was already causing rippling effects through their team. Was Amma a mole for the Foundation? Sure her presence preceded Torres’ arrival by a year, but that could have all been part of the ruse. Lorcán still found it far-fetched after his discussion with Amma. Unless she was a better actor than Gil, she clearly hated the Foundation as much, if not more than the rest of them. Taking his food, Lorcán found himself a seat between Cassander and Gil. Normally he would have sat with Aurora, but given the events of the afternoon he wasn’t as keen to sit beside her.

His stomach was still in knots, feeling like it was eating away at itself even after his resolution with Rory. Lorcán wasn’t really familiar with this feeling. Was it guilt? He looked towards Aurora again and his stomach tightened. Calli had said something else yesterday that was still replaying in Lorcán’s mind.

You're smart, you're attractive, and you are one of the sweetest guys I know. She likes you too, trust me.

Would she still like him after today though? It was no secret how Aurora felt about Amma. Given the implications and adding to that abandoning Rory. Lorcán’s head sank a little in shame as he silently ate his food. He hadn’t taken the news this morning well, but he could have acted on it better. Admittedly the Team’s contributions to the Trial were more superficial than anything, he still jeopardized it for Rory, the twins and Ripley. No doubt his absence also put a sour note on Aurora and Haven’s visit.

Did he owe Haven an apology too?

It probably wouldn’t hurt to offer her one. Placing his plate down, Lorcán stood up again, turning to Cassander and Gil before springing to his feet.

“Watch my food for a second, I’ll be right back.”

Moving quickly across the campsite towards the pair of wings that Rory had eyed earlier, Lorcán tapped Haven on the shoulder before speaking.

“Hey, Sky Betty, I think I owe you an apology, brah.” He started, “I totally shouldn’t have bailed on Rory and I just don’t want you to get the wrong impression. This stuff with the Foundation is messing with my head, but I’m trying to work through it.” Lorcán looked around for a second before continuing.

“I’ve already made peace with Rory, but uh,” He paused, rubbing the back of his head, “How is ‘Rora doing?”
A blindfold was placed over the man’s eyes and his graying temples. He knelt on the ground, hands placed in his lap as he bowed his head. Though he could not see, the man heard the opening of several doors before expertly raising a hand and catching the foot of his first attacker.

“Weak.” He growled, tossing the attacker away before spinning around and redirecting a strike from another opponent into a third.

“Pathetic.”

Pivoting into a sweeping kick, the man spun himself about-face in time for his heel to connect with the jaw of the next assailant. Springing into a flip, he felt the air move beneath his airborne body as another attacker attempted to strike where his legs had just been. Landing, the blinded man raised his forearm, blocking a retaliatory blow before twisting it into a lock and then dislocating the striker’s shoulder.

“Sloppy.”

The man didn’t have time to relish in the moment. Predictably, his opponents had opted for weapons to give them an edge. His hands reacted in expert timing, a palm coming to rest on either side of the cold, steel blade. Guiding the weapon away from his body, the man twisted it out of his foe’s hands, sliding it into a reverse grip before slashing its original wielder’s chest in a vicious swing. Flipping the point of the weapon into his fingers, he flung it behind him.

The scream of agony alerted the man he had struck true.

The deafening sound of a gunshot rocked the room, but the bullet flew harmlessly through empty air as the blindfolded man was already moving. Evading each additional shot as he perfectly predicted where the shoot would fire next. Suddenly, the gunman found his opponent on top of him, the weapon wretched from his hand before the magazine hit the floor and the butt of the weapon broke the shooter’s jaw.

“Have you injured enough of our brothers yet, Miguel?” The tired voice of an older man asked from a balcony overlooking the training room below.

“I’m certainly bored now,” Shiv replied, looking around the room at the injured bodies.

“Then you’ll be pleased to know that the Face has requested you among our body at Pacific Royal.”

“I’d hardly consider that an exciting assignment, respectfully of course.”

“No matter, it wasn’t a request. Your bags are packed. You’ll make landfall by dawn.” Nakamura retorted.

“As the Head wishes.”

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Location: The Southern Plateau - Dundas Islands, Pacific Ocean
Welcome Home #1.085: S'moregasboard
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Interaction(s): None
Previously: A Terrible Idea

“Quittin’ time y’all!” Tad yelled over the din in his best Jim impersonation as the collective graduate teams put the finishing touches on this year’s Homecoming Trail. The build had come a long way and the student contributions had ended. Throughout the night, other graduate students like Robert would inspect the work, correcting and adjusting anything that didn’t fit or could potentially cause harm to a new student. Most of the time was generally spent on adjusting the programming of the simulation.

“Come and get some grub!” Jessica added, joining in on the fun. “Firebird, we’re going to be eating with Blackjack tonight, and then in the morning we’re going to obliterate their time through the Trial.” She called to her team, winking at her fiancé, “Even if they do have an inside advantage.”

“Are you sure we can eat this?” Tad flirted back, “How do we know you didn’t poison us to gain the advantage?”
“We’re all eating the same thing, silly.”

“But your team could have the antidote!” Tad retorted in mock protest only for Jessica to ruffle his hair and slug him in the arm.

“If I wanted you dead ,Thaddeus Finch, you’d be dead.” She winked before gesturing to the tables erected before the two campsites. “Serve yourself, we’ve put together a bit of a taco buffet, there’s a couple different kinds of meats, vegan options, we have both flour and corn tortillas, hard and soft. Whatever floats your fancy.”

“There are drinks in the coolers, and for those of you who have been using their abilities all afternoon there’s P.R.C.U.’s own Hyper-Aid to help replenish those HZEs and electrolytes. Can’t have anyone running the risk of Hype-Psy.” Tad interjected pointing towards two large coolers.

“Grab some food, pull up a chair and circle around the fire. Don’t feel obligated to stay out here all night. And when people start going to bed, those who are out here try to keep it down, after all. You have a trial to test in the morning.”

“And when you’re full up on tacos,” Jess chimed in, “We have a bit of S’moregasboard for dessert.”

A collective groan could be heard from both teams at Jess’s pun.

“If I had said that, there would have a very loud-”

“SHUT UP, TAD!” Blackjack collectively yelled as Tad knowingly pointed to the group.

“In their own way, they do love you.” Jess replied, “And if they don’t, I can make them,” The empath joked with an exaggerated wink.

Team Firebird had roughly the same amount of students as Black. There were of course familiar faces in both Cassander Charon and Lucille Calder who had started their P.R.C.U. journeys as part of Blackjack before leaving during the team swap. Other faces included long standing members of the community such as Mira Falls, Noah Gallagher, Zebulun Michaels, Simone Richards, Eden Sherwood, Layla Schade and RJ Scott. Then lastly, there was Firebird’s own Foundation Transfer, the redheaded Alyssa Townsend. The nine students that comprised Firebird helped themselves to the spread before taking seats together. Alyssa found herself a seat between her best friend, Luce and boyfriend RJ. To the other side of RJ was Firebird’s other predominant couple in the combination of Zebulun and Eden, while beside Luce sat Mira, Simone and Layla. Noah as usual found himself a more isolated corner as the introverted shape shifter preferred.

Waving forward his team, Tad invited Blackjack to follow Firebird’s lead.

“Come on, team. Let’s get some food.”
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

As the teams had sat down with their food, the roar of an engine could be heard coming across the plateau towards the campsite. The large SUV was emblazoned with the school crest, distinguishing it as a vehicle used by only one person.

Coming to a stop in front of the shared meal site, a tall man stepped out of the driver’s seat before affixing his signature Stetson atop his head.

“How’s my favourite team doin’?” Jim asked entering into the Blackjack side of the campsite. There was a certain fondness for his old team, Jim had taken each of them through the Homecoming Trials at one time or another. A fire crackled in the middle of the campsite as the team was gathered around to share a meal after a hard day of work.

More so for some than others.

“I know y’all are pretty on edge after what happened earlier at the ceremony,” He started, grabbing a seat beside Rory before he continued to speak.

“Rest assured I’ve secured accreditation for all the graduating students affected by the sudden news. So hopefully that helps raise some spirits around here. There will be some other changes happening, but for now, I hope that news at least brings you some solace.”

He looked around the campsite, spotting the two students had had come looking for.

“Look Tad, pretty sure you all have this handled. I need to borrow Miss de Léon and Mr. Galahad if ya don’t mind.”

“Who am I to tell the Chancellor, no?” Tad replied with a small smirk.

Motioning for Calliope and Gil to follow him, Jim waited until they were away from the rest of the team before he began speaking.

“As y’all are both well away, this year has been complicated by the Foundation. Unfortunately with things in the state they are, I’ve been forced to play civil with them until H.E.L.P. can properly rectify things. Which means I need a favour, and I can’t think of two people more qualified to help.”

Jim drew a deep breath before continuing.

“I need y’all to put together a themed dance. Foundation’s first priority is that the students get to express themselves individually so after the Trials are complete, the dress code is going to be nullified. As such, dress uniforms will not be required for the Senior Homecoming dance, meaning we’re looking at doing something a bit more… Hollywood.”

The concept was clearly foreign to Jim as he tried to articulate it.

“So who better to help than Hollywood and the glam,” Jim added motioning to Gil and Calliope respectively.

“Y’all have the A.R.C. at your disposal to program in any environment you see fit for the dance. Full fabrication at your disposal too. If there’s anything else y’all need, let me know and I’ll see what I can do to set y’all up.”

Looking between the pair, Jim tried to gauge their interest while waiting for an answer.
“Now, Mr. Galahad, I know you’re more than accustomed to the particular politics of these sort of situations, we need our best foot forward here. Miss de Léon, I know with your upbringing, y’all are no stranger to them either, and I know right about now you probably want to stick it to those Foundation bastards.” Jim smiled softly.

“Let in y’all in a little secret, I would too.” He added, “But no matter which way the wind blows, it’s our reputation and the school currently at risk. So while you might want to go and shock everyone and burn it all to the ground, all I ask is that if y’all are goin’ to flip the bird to the Foundation, at least try to be subtle about it.”

He stopped, taking the Stetson off his head and extending his arm towards the pair.

“So can I leave it with the two of you?”
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Subject: Career Plans

Mr. Roth,

I would like your help to schedule a meeting with H.E.L.P. sometime in the next week or so. I need to discuss career plans given my watchlist status and recent developments at school.

It's about time I follow my parent's lead.

- Rory Tyler '29
rtyler23@student.prcu.edu


Subject: RE: Career Plans

Rory,

I’m excited that you reached out to me. I can have a meeting scheduled with Nicholas Locke, the current Deputy Chief of Staff at H.E.L.P. to explore some career options for you. Given your performance both in the H.E.A.T. program and your current ambitions in psychology, I think you’ll find that there are plenty of doors available to you.

I had the honour of working with your father. He and your mother were both exemplary agents and would be not only humbled and honoured to know you’re looking to follow in their footsteps.

Right now, I’m looking at early Friday morning, the same day as the Homecoming Dance. There are available slots at 9:45am and 11:15am. Let me know which works better for you and I’ll make sure we have that time reserved with the Deputy Chief.

Thank you and best regards,

- Aiden Roth

Professor of Practical Ability Training
Primary Administrator of the Augmented Reality Center
Faculty Representative for House Canis

“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts.”
– Winston Churchill
aroth@faculty.prcu.edu
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