Tackytaff

Ju-V

---

---

Sunita joined the others in silent compliance as they were shuffled from the first room to the next, one fewer in number. Nobody had rushed to the thin boy's defense, and he seemed to be forgotten about before they even reached their next destination. So much for solidarity. An uncomfortable knot of guilt had taken hold in Sunita's chest. Its cause she could hardly fathom.

No saving someone from their own idiocy

Besides, she did help; the real victim had been the pepper-sprayed girl. She'd helped her, or tried to anyways.

It didn't take long after their fellow in-mates welcome speech for Sunita's eyes to wander towards the bookshelves despite the two girls that had already made themselves comfortable beside it, but she'd done her reading on the bus ride over. It was time to at least make an attempt at being sociable. Even the newest arrival, who'd tried nearly disappearing into her seat moments before had stood to approach the winged girl. Well, someone in their little group was popular.

Could it be having such observable mutations make some more approachable to the others? It seemed a promising theory, until she came to consider the small rodent-type creature of their group that had somehow managed to be forgotten among the rest. A limit to their empathy for the weird maybe- or just an outlier; they still had no clear way to communicate with the animal-person. Whatever biases there were, Sunita herself preferred puzzling over the powers of the more conspicuous mutants among them. Most were surface-level, just normal young people. Only a few had revealed powers in their short time together. Her left hand twitched as she mentally began sorting through what she knew of each resident so far. Over the last few weeks, with the loss of privacy, came a newfound reliance on memory. Not that regular practice made the itch to jot down thoughts any weaker, as Sunita mentally inventoried what she'd witnessed.

The four they'd just met she kept separate in her mind for the time being. Until she knew their real names and saw the claims in action.

External Mutations
Bird Girl	Wings, very avian in appearance. Flight is an assumed given.
Rock Boy	Boy appears made of stone. Unusually large size more likely a bi-product than coincidence. Assumed durability and strength
Large Russian*	Tagged as only a potential external mutation. The physique could well be natural. Unsure which would be more intimidating.
Otter	An otter. Potential type of shapeshifter. Then, why choose the form of an otter for the entire trip?

Internal (Triggerable) Mutations
Asian Girl	Invisibility, seen in action
Rugged, tired boy	'Edge'
The quiet girl that had helped the one who'd helped the invisible girl.	Blood? Bleeding it? Sweating it?

Sunita's mind lingered on the detained boy again. The word "edge" shouted by the guard wasn't much of a clue, but somehow still enough to send a lurch of butterflies in the stomach despite herself. The thought of finding someone with a similar mutation to her own so quickly was too improbable to even dwell on.

It took a shout from the center of the room to bring hers back to the present. The heavily lip-sticked blonde was already having it out with one of their 'hosts'. It was the last bit of motivation Sunita needed to abandon her earlier reservations and move towards the bookshelves of the room. Let others continue to label themselves as trouble-makers the first day. She had more sense, or at least enough fear, to keep her nose clean.

Four more of the group occupied the small 'library' corner of the room. Sunita's attention was kept on the least conspicuous pair of blonde girls sitting closest to the shelf as she tried to at least appear interested in the selection. Internally, she struggled to find the words and courage to begin a conversation. The others around had done so easily enough, but socializing had never been a strength of hers.

"Revengeorescape?" The words rushed out of her mouth much too fast after she'd deciphered the title on the spine of the book the seated girl had been reading. She coughed uncomfortably before trying again.

"Monte Cristo," Sunita forced herself to take a breath. "Are you reading for the escape or revenge?"

An explosive force that knocked Sunita forward to her knees covered the other girl's response, if she'd even had time to give one. Again, one of her fellow arrivals had let their volatility get the better of them and sent another squad of armed guards on them. It was hard to keep her frustrations in the right place as she picked herself up to follow the shouted orders.

Just a bunch of scared kids that didn't ask for any of this, we can't start turning on each other the first day.

She tried to remind herself as she scowled at the wall, hands pressed over her head. Still, couldn't they act like they didn't belong in a detention center for at least an hour?

Shelter: A Zombie Survival Story

---

Ethan had a much easier time keeping his mouth shut after being so quickly corrected by the senior valedictorian. He'd never been much of a planner anyway. He joined the other in looking through the few possessions that had come into the classroom with him. Typically, he'd be a bit more embarrassed by the lack of school material in his bag, but for once being unprepared might actually serve him. A visored hockey helmet landed on the desk with a loud thunk, followed by a few pens, a wallet, and mouthgaurd all clattering to the desk as Ethan shook out the contents for the other to see as well.

"Sorry," He said quickly, anticipating a reprimand for the noise he was making. Before joining the others in their search of the classroom. It felt a larger than he remembered, with only the five of them inside and searching different corners of the room. Ethan opted to look in the back cabinets, only to find little more than the expected supplies of a home room teacher; papers, pens, textbooks, blank composition books, and various other stationary items. He walked back with two pairs of scissors. "Not sure if it's a good idea to get so close to actually be useful but..." He looked towards the short-haired blonde with a forced smile, "better than nothing."

"That is, if you're sure we should leave." His eyes drifted towards Hera, who seemed to have taken command of the group, much to his own relief. "We're safe for now, and help has to come eventually. Right?"

Ju-V

---

---

The bus was empty when Sunita boarded, save for the driver; a man who refused to make eye-contact even after being offered a greeting. Instead, he was busy selecting an unfamiliar song for the vehicle's stereo system. Sunita sighed and took one of the front most seats, somewhere she'd easily be able scope out anyone who came aboard. They began moving without warning, and the Palo Alto suburbs Sunita had called home for five years started blurring past her window. She redirected her focus on the bag she'd brought along. Pulling a journal out, she opened it to a book-eared page. It was one of the three sole-surviving journals that documented her life. From the age of 9, she'd taken to recording her innermost thoughts and notable events. She swore never to make such a stupid mistake again, having burnt the first six earlier that same morning. The smell of smoke still clung to her pressed skirt, blouse, and scarf.

It wasn't a long wait before they came to a stop again, taking a small East-Asian girl aboard. Sunita briefly looked up, giving a short hello, before turning her gaze back towards the book. A similar greeting awaited the boy with white streaked hair, and the others following him. Not for the boy in cuffs picked up from the courthouse, though. When he boarded, Sunita's grip only tightened on her journal until he took a seat; a comfortable number of rows away. At least she could always rely on her off-putting energy to keep strangers from prying into her business or sitting too close. The humiliation of having multiple police and AEGIS agents reading through her private life was still fresh in her mind. The idea of one of her soon-to-be peers getting a peak was too much to bear.

The bus pulled away from it's stop at the airport, and she had just fnished reading a particularly mortifying passage of her 14-year-old-self gushing over a celebrity crush. Needing a break, Sunita lowered the pages to look out the window while they passed through the downtown San Francisco area, heading for the docks. Her family had rarely visited the city, and such a long journey alone was forbidden by her parents for most of her life. Tight streets, packed even tighter with aged buildings, caused her to reminisce about her first home one the other side of the world.
It was a quiet, almost somber, bus ride. No more than a few whispers made their way to Sunita's ears above the noise of the driver's dated choice of music. Eventually they came to a stop, the ocean in view. Sunita stood, eager to be off the crowded bus and free from the music. Pausing in confusion as she recognized the sight outside of the window. There had to have been a mistake.

"Excuse me," She began, attempting again to gain the attention of the driver, to no avail. Instead she turned to the other young adults on the bus. "We're at the wrong harbour." She explained to them, "The Ferry to Alcatraz Island doesn't leave from the Historic Ferry Building. What are we doing here?"

No sooner had she posed the question than it was answered by the arrival of their final member. If they could even be called that. A small, furry animal scurried past the front rows, beelining to the back seats. Sunita quickly sat herself down again, tucking her skirt underneath her and willing the heat to leave her cheeks. At least she didn't cause a commotion like someone further back, but then again, they must have all been thinking it. Whether it be streaked hair, inhuman skin, even wings; all were to be expected when dealing with Metahumans. Sunita was familiar with research of mutated genes; but an animal without visible human traits, unable to even speak in a language they could understand, was staggeringly strange. Her eyes returned down to her journal again until they arrived at the true destination of their journey; remaining withdrawn even after they'd left the bus and crossed the ferry to the island.

While reading worked to keep anybody from approaching her, it caused uncomfortable levels of motion-sickness. Feeling ill kept her from putting up much of a fuss, as once again, her belongings were taken away to be searched. After all, what were another dozen pairs of adult eyes peering into her deepest secrets. Sunita just kept her head down and moved along with the crowd, happy to just pass by unnoticed. A snide comment from the stone-skinned boy made her cringe, and then all hell broke loose. Her own attention had been focused on the warden, missing the start of the scuffle. She managed to catch sight of the winged girl smacking one of the boys, and the Japanese girl vanishing into a cloud of pepper spray.

Sunita watched impassively, lips pressed in an indifferent thin line. The warden continued his speech, though it took on a much different tone than the first; all while the pepper-sprayed girl laid crying on the ground. It was too bad, she'd been hoping for an uneventful first week. Then again, what more could anyone expect from a bunch of teenagers sent to Alcatraz?

"Here," Sunita stopped the brunette that was helping the spray victim towards the guards. In her extended hand was the silk scarf that had been tied around her shoulders up until now. "I think you're..." She trailed off while pointing to her own forehead when she realized it wasn't actually blood on the other girl's face, but something else entirely. She almost inquired further, but stopped after a loud sneeze from the Japanese girl. Stepping out of their way, she fell back in with the rest of the group. They were on the wrong side of the bay to start picking fights and fussing about their situation now. Sunita could only hope to be forgotten and left to her own devices, for as long as she remained on the island.

Shelter: A Zombie Survival Story

---

Ethan had never experienced anxiety greater than the customary dread of any unprepared student around finals. Sport plays-offs and close matches could cause some stress; that was always scondary to the exhilarating adrenaline that came with any game.

The end of the world starting in his high-school was a level he was ill prepared to handle. So he didn't. From the moment he'd found himself in the temporarily secure classroom, Ethan hadn't spoken a word, only looked between the odd group that had managed to find safety. The ones they hadn't locked out. It was all he could do to keep from letting his mind wander to what was happening on the other side of the door.

More than a few times, he opened his mouth to speak, but failed to find words for the situation. There weren't any encouraging sentiments to help in a time like this, and he was self-aware enough to know his opinion on strategizing wouldn't mean much. Not in a room shared with the valedictorian, student president, and two of the athlete captains. And... Ethan looked over to the blonde with short cropped hair. Not in his year, but vaguely familiar all the same. He caught himself staring too late, he offered her a shy smile out of reflex, then grimaced at the inappropriateness.

Hera began the discussion between the group of surviving students, and within a matter of seconds, Ethan could see a plan forming between them.

"The roof," He repeated aloud, over-eager to have something useful to contribute. "Sorry I just mean, it's kept locked, ever since-" As quickly as he started, Ethan's mouth snapped shut as he looked at Aaron with an embarrassed smile. "Well, you all probably remember the incident at the end of basketball season last year..." He let himself trail off there. Typically, the memory of hauling a barrel of lube up to the school roof to dump on an opposing team's bus during the semi-finals would be one he'd be happy to retell to any who'd listen.

"Point is we'll need keys. Unless any of you know how to climb, or pick a lock."

Ju-V

F O L D

---

^{S U N I T A C H A U H A N ◼ September 06, 2004 ( 1 8 ) ◼ F E M A L E}

▼ A P P E A R A N C E:

---

//STATS:

◼ HEIGHT | 5'1

◼ WEIGHT | 109 lbs

◼ BUILD | Scrawny

◼ HAIR COLOUR | Black-brown

◼ EYE COLOUR | Black-brown

◼ OTHER | Colour code: C1FF57

▼ B I O G R A P H Y:

---

While clearly of South-Asian descent, no one from the Chauhan family has been to their ancestral home of northern India for over a decade. Sunita's parents met abroad while studying for their thesis at Oxford, where they would remain for eighteen years. Their family and portfolios both grew considerably. Sunita and her younger brother, Ishan, along with a long list of accredited research into the human genome. It was the latter that instigated their move across the Atlantic.

Dr. & Dr. Chauhan were offered positions at Stanford, and the family was uprooted and moved within a matter of months. Only 13 at the time, Sunita had little understanding or care for the move; seeing it only as a great opportunity to shake off her awkward adolescence and blossom into a mature American woman.

Instead, she found disappointment. The move had failed to either ease her parent's stereo-typically strict rules, or change her awkward and unpleasant demeanour towards her peers. Most of her time was spent the same was as in England; alone in her room, over-studying, playing music on a keyboard, or practising yoga. It was during one of her meditative exercises that Nitya walked in on her daughter melting into the floor.

Only after this discovery of Sunita's meta-human ability was she let in on the true purpose of her parent's research. Their specialization in the human genome went far deeper than she ever expected. The jobs at Stanford were far more important than simple research positions; a very generous grant had been given to them and a few other scientists with specific goals to goal: find a humane solution to the meta-human problem, or evidence to counter the grim projections found in government-run simulations. It didn't take long for the small team to fracture into pursuing different methods in their search for an answer. But Jaspreet and Nitya Chauhan never shifted from the same stringent value they'd ingrained in their children: there can be no fear where there is understanding. In their methodical search for understanding, what could be luckier than to have their very own daughter to learn from.

Starting at the age of 15, Sunita began assisting in her parent's work. Never more invasive than questioning and the occasional blood sample, it always felt a more wholesome family activity than a scientific endeavour. While she never fell into the same organic-based passions as her parents, she had found an interest in something greater: the magic of her father's preliminary calculations for what it was that her ability was. Thus, she was introduced to the concepts of higher mathematics and physics. Always a model student, Sunita excelled in theoretical concepts and following proofs. She had even begun to perform her father's calculations faster than he could keep up in the last few months before they were discovered.

While they had done their best to keep the source of their accelerated research and consistent findings a secret, it was inevitably discovered by their colleagues. With little recourse on how to punish the guilty parties without exposing the work done, the Chuahan doctors were stripped of their positions and their daughter was sent away to San Francisco.

▼ M O T I V A T I O N / O B J E C T I V E:

---

Sunita considers herself a good person. It might be lost on some with her short way of speaking and impatient tone, but that only stems from poor people skills and hyper-focusing on her own goals. However she might come across to others, her motivations and intent are nearly always benevolent. She follows the same dream as her parents: to unite humanity and solve 'the meta-human problem', though her methods differ greatly from their own.

▼ A B I L I T I E S / S K I L L S:

---

//ABILITIES:

◼ Dimensional Folding | Sunita's meta human ability allows her to collapse and expand her body into multiple dimensions. Early in her power's development, she can only change between a 2-D or 3-D shape.

0th Dimension: ????

1st Dimension: Thus far only entered once by accident, this dimension leaves Sunita the most vulnerable. All of her mass is folded down into a perfectly straight line, capable of being extended long enough to reach the other side of the planet. In this state, any object colliding with her impossibly thin thread would be enough to physically shatter her. As such, it isn't a shape she is keen on trying again; though the potential use for teleportation-like movement (folding into a long line at one location, and then unfolding at a separate location along the line) is worth more investigation.

2nd Dimension: Her figure becomes a flat, micro-thin surface; the area of which is proportional to her body's total volume. While this shape can be quite massive, she has learned to fold this dimension further in order to make herself smaller. This results in the ability to transform into a flat surface of any size, incuding sizes to match an 8x8 meter wall or a standard sheet of letter paper. While in her two-dimensional form, Sunita finds it wise to attach herself to a surface, to prevent her from falling over from her own mass. Attaching to another object is also the only way she can achieve movement in a 3D space; otherwise she is limited to left and right, or as she sees them in this dimension: forwards and backwards.

3rd Dimension: In this form, Sunita is nothing more than a perfectly ordinary young woman.

4th Dimension: ????

//LIMITATIONS:

◼ Novice | Thus far, Sunita has only managed to fold between the second and third dimensions. She's sure with more practice and study, she'll be able to get herself down to the first, becoming an atomically small point. The fourth dimension, on the other hand, is a fantasy nearly as tempting as it is terrifying.

While 'unfolding' into a larger dimension is almost instantaneous, collapsing into a lower dimension requires immense focus and concentration; something she has only achieved through deep meditation.

◼ Navigation | As one would expect, nothing looks the same when compressed completely flat. After a great deal of practice, Sunita has taught herself how to move in two dimensions, but still struggles with recognizing shapes from the flat perspective.

▼ N O T E S:

---

//SUPPORTING CAST:

▼ ALLIES

◼ TBD | Test

▼ FRIENDS

◼ TBD | Test

▼ ENEMIES

◼ TBD | Test

//STOMPING GROUNDS

◼ USA | Stanford, California
◼ England | Oxford (2004-2017)

//PARAPHERNALIA

◼ TBD | Test

Ju-V

FlatStan

F O L D

---

^{S U N I T A C H A U H A N ◼ September 06, 2004 ( 1 8 ) ◼ F E M A L E}

▼ A P P E A R A N C E:

---

//STATS:

◼ HEIGHT | 5'1

◼ WEIGHT | 109 lbs

◼ BUILD | Scrawny

◼ HAIR COLOUR | Black-brown

◼ EYE COLOUR | Black-brown

◼ OTHER | Colour code: C1FF57

▼ B I O G R A P H Y:

---

While clearly of South-Asian descent, no one from the Chauhan family has been to their ancestral home of northern India for over a decade. Sunita's parents met abroad while studying for their thesis at Oxford, where they would remain for eighteen years. Their family and portfolios both grew considerably. Sunita and her younger brother, Ishan, along with a long list of accredited research into the human genome. It was the latter that instigated their move across the Atlantic.

Dr. & Dr. Chauhan were offered positions at Stanford, and the family was uprooted and moved within a matter of months. Only 13 at the time, Sunita had little understanding or care for the move; seeing it only as a great opportunity to shake off her awkward adolescence and blossom into a mature American woman.

Instead, she found disappointment. The move had failed to either ease her parent's stereo-typically strict rules, or change her awkward and unpleasant demeanour towards her peers. Most of her time was spent the same was as in England; alone in her room, over-studying, playing music on a keyboard, or practising yoga. It was during one of her meditative exercises that Nitya walked in on her daughter melting into the floor.

Only after this discovery of Sunita's meta-human ability was she let in on the true purpose of her parent's research. Their specialization in the human genome went far deeper than she ever expected. The jobs at Stanford were far more important than simple research positions; a very generous grant had been given to them and a few other scientists with specific goals to goal: find a humane solution to the meta-human problem, or evidence to counter the grim projections found in government-run simulations. It didn't take long for the small team to fracture into pursuing different methods in their search for an answer. But Jaspreet and Nitya Chauhan never shifted from the same stringent value they'd ingrained in their children: there can be no fear where there is understanding. In their methodical search for understanding, what could be luckier than to have their very own daughter to learn from.

Starting at the age of 15, Sunita began assisting in her parent's work. Never more invasive than questioning and the occasional blood sample, it always felt a more wholesome family activity than a scientific endeavour. While she never fell into the same organic-based passions as her parents, she had found an interest in something greater: the magic of her father's preliminary calculations for what it was that her ability was. Thus, she was introduced to the concepts of higher mathematics and physics. Always a model student, Sunita excelled in theoretical concepts and following proofs. She had even begun to perform her father's calculations faster than he could keep up in the last few months before they were discovered.

While they had done their best to keep the source of their accelerated research and consistent findings a secret, it was inevitably discovered by their colleagues. With little recourse on how to punish the guilty parties without exposing the work done, the Chuahan doctors were stripped of their positions and their daughter was sent away to San Francisco.

▼ M O T I V A T I O N / O B J E C T I V E:

---

Sunita considers herself a good person. It might be lost on some with her short way of speaking and impatient tone, but that only stems from poor people skills and hyper-focusing on her own goals. However she might come across to others, her motivations and intent are nearly always benevolent. She follows the same dream as her parents: to unite humanity and solve 'the meta-human problem', though her methods differ greatly from their own.

▼ A B I L I T I E S / S K I L L S:

---

//ABILITIES:

◼ Dimensional Folding | Sunita's meta human ability allows her to collapse and expand her body into multiple dimensions. Early in her power's development, she can only change between a 2-D or 3-D shape.

0th Dimension: ????

1st Dimension: Thus far only entered once by accident, this dimension leaves Sunita the most vulnerable. All of her mass is folded down into a perfectly straight line, capable of being extended long enough to reach the other side of the planet. In this state, any object colliding with her impossibly thin thread would be enough to physically shatter her. As such, it isn't a shape she is keen on trying again; though the potential use for teleportation-like movement (folding into a long line at one location, and then unfolding at a separate location along the line) is worth more investigation.

2nd Dimension: Her figure becomes a flat, micro-thin surface; the area of which is proportional to her body's total volume. While this shape can be quite massive, she has learned to fold this dimension further in order to make herself smaller. This results in the ability to transform into a flat surface of any size, incuding sizes to match an 8x8 meter wall or a standard sheet of letter paper. While in her two-dimensional form, Sunita finds it wise to attach herself to a surface, to prevent her from falling over from her own mass. Attaching to another object is also the only way she can achieve movement in a 3D space; otherwise she is limited to left and right, or as she sees them in this dimension: forwards and backwards.

3rd Dimension: In this form, Sunita is nothing more than a perfectly ordinary young woman.

4th Dimension: ????

//LIMITATIONS:

◼ Novice | Thus far, Sunita has only managed to fold between the second and third dimensions. She's sure with more practice and study, she'll be able to get herself down to the first, becoming an atomically small point. The fourth dimension, on the other hand, is a fantasy nearly as tempting as it is terrifying.

While 'unfolding' into a larger dimension is almost instantaneous, collapsing into a lower dimension requires immense focus and concentration; something she has only achieved through deep meditation.

◼ Navigation | As one would expect, nothing looks the same when compressed completely flat. After a great deal of practice, Sunita has taught herself how to move in two dimensions, but still struggles with recognizing shapes from the flat perspective.

▼ N O T E S:

---

//SUPPORTING CAST:

▼ ALLIES

◼ TBD | Test

▼ FRIENDS

◼ TBD | Test

▼ ENEMIES

◼ TBD | Test

//STOMPING GROUNDS

◼ USA | Stanford, California
◼ England | Oxford (2004-2017)

//PARAPHERNALIA

◼ TBD | Test

Again, I know this character and ability set are a lot and have alternatives.

Pacific Royal Collegiate & University - The Future Agents of H.E.L.P.

While I respect Wraith's hectic schedule and time, I do mine own as well. There's no way I'd be able to jump back in with any enthusiasm knowing that this RP may die at any moment on the whims of a mercurial GM. I'm not saying it to be snide, but as a player who was not privy to any 'backroom' discussions; this ride has given me too much whiplash, and I don't have enough faith it won't happen again to stay on.

Best of luck to everyone again, good stories to be had and hope to see you around.

Everton University (Mystery/Slice-of-life)

Tentative interest dependent on my schedule. Curious to see what this is about.

Shelter: A Zombie Survival Story

_{16 - Cancer - Junior - 5'11" - Ashton Moio}

“When you feel alone out there, remember you're part of a team. There's a whole squad that's got your back.”

Ethan, motivating his teammates

---

Appearance Details

Still finishing what is likely to be his final growth spurt, Ethan retains a certain amount of teenage gangliness that keeps him from ever being mistaken for older than he is; despite creeping closer to six feet tall each day. His hair is always a few inches longer than an already 'boyish' medium length, leaving him perpetually looking severely overdue for a haircut. Despite having four older brothers to inherit from, most of Ethan's wardrobe consists of the latest GAP hoodies and jeans. The resulting look is unremarkable at best, and only Ethan's own outgoing attitude and social standing keep him from falling into Stockbridge's 'dork' category.

He has a soft face with kind brown eyes. Nothing about Ethan is guarded or stand-offish, and all his emotions are clearly displayed; even if only in one of three typical expressions: smiling friendliness, competitive focus, or mild confusion.

Characterization

The youngest of seven children, Ethan is the last thing that stands between his doting parents and an empty nest. Each of the Hubbard children have left their mark on Stockbridge High over the past decade and a half, as one by one they graduated, moving on to greater things out-of-state. Valedictorian, artistic visionary, student body president, varsity captain, tech-genius, activist; the school's faculty joked about what his contribution might be as early as his first freshman week. They'd stopped after he was forced to take retake math over the summer.

His youngest elder sister graduated after his first year, leaving Ethan alone for the first time in his life. He threw himself into the school's social life to combat the sudden isolation at home. Good looks as well as his family's shining reputation in the sleepy town meant he was never short of friends, despite his grades never improving. A sudden spurt of growth at the end of sophomore year along with goading from his friends eventually led to Ethan trying out for the foot-ball team, where he found further success in friendships and bonding. While never the star athlete or team captain, Ethan found himself an appreciated member of just about any sports team Stockbridge had to offer, eventually making it to the varsity teams his junior year.

His future is still uncertain in many ways, but unlike the rest of his siblings, Ethan had never felt any hurry to leave Alpena Heights behind. The Hubbard call of ambition seemed to have quieted by the time his turn came around. While his parents, coaches, and peers discuss college and potential paths to greatness, Ethan doesn't think a quiet life working for his uncle's construction crew sounds so bad.

Character Notes

- Ethan's father is a pediatric doctor at the hospital outside of town

- Ethan's mother works the front desk for her brother's company, currently set up in a portable at a construction site on the edge of town.

Inventory

- Smartphone
- Wallet
- House keys
- Backpack [Contains: 1 pen (not working), a blank notebook, multiple scrunched and forgotten handout sheets, one half-used roll of hockey tape, an uncontained mouthgaurd, and a hockey helmet.]

---

Pacific Royal Collegiate & University - The Future Agents of H.E.L.P.

incomplete post that i promised would see light of day

_{Location: Pacific Royal Collegiate & University, - Dundas Islands, Pacific Ocean}

First Class #2.xx: xx

---

_{Interaction(s): Adrianna Team Eclipse}

Previously: N/A

None from Eclipse were quick to follow Makenna towards the Strigidae banners. There were, however, two girls from Firebird that had given their names. One was a complete unknown, but how could any modern hyper-human not recognize Adrianna Dahl? She watched the blonde from a distance as a cape in the house’s colours was draped over her shoulders, trying to decide the best approach to take with the self-made millionaire.

“Walk to the dorms with me?” Ignorance, paired with casual friendliness and an eager smile, was what she went with as she approached Adrianna. They were nearly of an age when compared to the younger students in the H.E.A.T. program, after all.

“I’m Makenna by the way, names might have been missed with all that nonsense.” She offered one hand while waving the other in the direction of where the team swap had taken place, only a few yards away.

Adrianna hesitated. Did-- did she really not know who I--?

No. Can the ego. This is what got you those houses. You're here to make friends. Friends. Besides, it's not the worst thing in the world that this Makenna here is nice enough, and willing enough to be friendly without knowing who you are. Says something about her character, doesn't it?

Adrianna forced a smile around her mildly bruised self esteem, until the smile came through naturally. "Sure thing. Sorry, I'm Adrianna. Great to meet you."

Much as the wheels were turning in Makenna's mind, her face remained beaming at the acceptance of her offer. The practiced business woman seemed easily thrown by simple conversation. "Same to you. Everyone in Firebird seems lovely, had I know you'd have so many spots free up..." Her voice trailed off as her eyes searched for Lucas, Cooper, and Elodie despite herself.

"All painless at least- Came off looking much better than either Blackjack or Eclipse in that little display." Her smile turned to an embarrassed grimace. "Gave the staff something new to gossip about at least."

Adie considered what Makenna was telling her. She had held up the Eclipse band first, then Firebird. But if she'd assumed, like Adie herself had, that Firebird would hold firm, and a mass-exodus of her own team - perhaps not an unreasonable theory given their tumultuous penchant for drama - then it's possible her choice would have bounced back. Then it would have been first come, first served in a mad scramble for the free places in Eclipse.

Adie thought about how poorly Makenna's team handled people taking their opportunity to leave, let alone those who were forced back, and could immediately empathise with Makenna's position.

The only thing worse than being in a bad situation, is being stuck in one after they've seen you try and leave.

"Well, there's something to be said for someone having the good sense to leave a bad situation." Adie replied. Her smile warming more.

"And for whatever it's worth, I think you carried yourself with a high level of grace, given the circumstances the others tried to put you in." It was true. She carried herself with dignity, and her head held high. It was impressive.

"My father would probably say 'You had someone try and dump fertilizer on you and still came out smelling of roses.'" She added, citing her own best source of supportive advice. "Although there's a fair chance he might not have said 'fertilizer'. He worked in construction."

Speaking with Makenna seemed to come easy. And she felt her confidence returning, as she felt the nagging thought of the Gulo and Myotis invitations drifting further away. She seemed affable and open. Honest. Carried herself well. Adie's smile was not at all forced now.

There was another short pause, this time more deliberate. The pair had moved some ways away from what remained of the ceremony; and were more or less alone. About the highest degree of privacy one could expect at PCRU.

"An all the more apt comparison for Iñigo then." Makenna replied with a small wink before opening the first of the doors in the path. Adrianna's brow raised in curiosity.

"I wonder what he was going to do if that whistle hadn't gone off. From the little he told us, his enrollment wasn't exactly 'voluntary'. You'd think he'd want to keep on the administration's good side." They weren’t really details for her to be sharing but Makenna found herself unable to resist dropping a bit of gossip before changing the subject again.

"Though they seemed happy to watch long enough. Anything to distract and move on from Cassander. You notice how quick they were to blow the whistle after his name came up?" She shook her head, but not before first stealing a glance to ascertain Adrianna's reaction.

"Oh my-- I'm so sorry. I didn't even think to ask." Adie felt intense guilt and sadness as she saw Makenna's affable smile disappear with a morose shake of her head. "The dead boy. Were you two close? I feel so terrible for not even thinking to ask!" It was a perilous issue to broach, and so many people left it unspoken, it almost became forgotten from the social surface tension until it was specifically NOT being mentioned.

"Really, don't." Makenna waved the apology away with a weary sigh. Outwardly, she was taking a somber moment to reflect and collect her thoughts. Internally, she was kicking herself for falling into the trap of having to play through the charade all over again.

"The truth is I didn't know him as much as I'd have liked. We were all nervous and shy about opening up at first, right up until that first bonfire. For an hour or two there we really were a team, but then. You know the rest." She paused again, forcing her eyes to remain downturned until she deemed enough time had passed to emphasize her sincerity. Finally, she looked up to Adrianna with a pained smile.

"I at least won’t be making the same mistakes again." One more, she offered her hand, giving a single tight squeeze to Adrianna's before quickly releasing it. Adie returned the hand squeeze.

It was such a sad, visceral description. Adrianna could practically see it. Makenna's whole team gathered around the fire, trying to overcome their conflictive nature, Makenna being this same social affable self and trying to keep things harmonious, despite themselves. Perhaps talking down some of the more volatile members, the likes of this Iñigo troublemaker, or that Australian who shot his mouth off at the Hyperhuman terrorist Hyperion, or one of the others firing threats at the ceremony to try and keep the peace.

"How has your team been doing? Since the Plateau and all, even without losing a team-mate, it was... A lot."

Adrianna felt pleasantly warmed. Even with Makenna's own team woes, struggles and losses, she still had the selfless decency and concern to ask about her own situation. She thought more about what she could remember about House Strigidae. Dependable. Yes. A truly selfless, caring dependable friend. That must be what they saw in Makenna, she thought as she considered how to best answer the question.

"Well, it's hard to say. I think they all seem to at least get along well enough. Should be able to work together, certainly the parts which chose to remain. But even of the ones who left, one of them said they had a friend on another team, and that was his reason for leaving. I will say, Alyssa seemed bright, if a little... much?" She giggled. She'd never normally talk about another colleague or teammate like that, but something about Makenna, had her feeling at ease. It certainly didn't hurt that she'd been so honest with her own thoughts on her teammate Iñigo. "She'll be a great addition to your team, though. Disappointing to see her go."

Adie considered the question again. "Yes, I'd say it's pretty difficult to say. At least with the team you came from, they were kind of in the eye of the storm. And nobody would leave anyone wondering where they stood. If you're close, but outside of it, it's a lot harder to get people to talk about it and get a sense of where they are exactly and how they're feeling."

"But enough about teams, how are you coping with everything that happened?"

Makenna nodded, silently filing Adrianna's opinions in her mind. There would be time to reflect on it all later, after she'd ensured a friendship with ‘the’ Adrianna Dahl. A feat much more easily accomplished than she'd anticipated.

"Lonely." She said flatly, absently twisting the ring on her left hand as she spoke. "Before, I always had my fiancé to talk to. Never about anything this serious before, but having someone in your corner, someone you can really open up or discuss anything with, means a lot." Her hands stopped fidgeting and feel to her sides again.

"I can't talk to him about Cass though. Or Hyperion. Or anything else that goes on here, really." Makenna's lips pursed together in a hard line. It was uncomfortably close to the truth that bit, even if she had omitted some details of her and Carson's struggles. She forced her face back into an embarrassed smile. "Did- Do you have anyone like that?"

Adrianna furrowed her brow as she considered how to answer. "Well, if you're asking if I'm seeing anyone, then No. Not presently. But I can sort of relate to not being able to discuss things about this place with those I'm closest to. My best friend Alexis… she knows I'm a hyperhuman, and seems cool, or at least not bothered by the fact that I am. But it's almost like she's too cool about the whole thing, and just outright doesn't see anything about Hyperhuman issues at all, bounces off of her like a brick wall. It's almost like she's so tolerant she doesn't see anything, she assumes everyone else is like that. Call it the California bubble." She stopped before considering how best to phrase the next part. She was enjoying the balanced status of talking with Makenna and her having no idea who she was, and didn't want to drop any big clues, but she also wanted to answer her question honestly since she'd been so vulnerable with her. "As for the school and things that happen here, no, I don't really have anyone I can talk to about that either. I have too much… invested in this place, as horrible as this has been, I don't want to see anything bad happen to the people here. I know they try hard, mean well and are doing a good thing in a situation where they often have to rewrite the rule book as they go along."

Makenna didn't let her mind reflect back to her own friends. She instead nodded along with Adrianna and she spoke about her past life, and new one. Vague enough not to reveal too much of her identity; a modest little millionaire. So deft at masking her intentions and motives in fact, Makenna would have thought herself caught in her own game had Adrianna not come across so earnestly in describing a desire to better the school. Why someone like that would invest in PCRU begged further questions still. Not that this was at all the time or place for that.

"We'll show them what we're made of." Makenna replied with great optimism as they eventually reached the Strigidae dorms. "Next thing you know, we'll be ones rewriting the rules." This struck the ultimate chord with Adrianna. The optimism, the camaraderie, the thought of two strong bold women forging the future. Makenna couldn't have picked a better sentiment to strike at Adie's heart. She was enamoured. Even as the returned presence of other students halted any further meaningful conversation she need say no more. The pair were given a brief run-down of the living-quarters layout. Individual rooms, but four to a living space.

"Hope you don't me taking a room across from you," She said as their guide left them alone in the barren living room of one of the unoccupied dorms. Adie was about to joyfully express her delight that she would do just that, before Makenna raised her own offer even further, completely unprompted. "With the way this day has been going, I'd like to leave as little up to chance as possible when it comes to assigning groups- And I can make it worth you while!" Her eyes remained on Adrianna after she'd finished speaking, silently analyzing the girl a moment before continuing. She saw excitement and anticipation in what her new friend could possibly mean to make this great new development even more enticing.

"Do you know your measurements? Or size at least?" She'd begun to raise a hand to stop Adrianna from answering before she'd even finished. "Sorry, you don't have to answer that. I just have a toile dress that runs just a hair short on me, but I think I could make alterations so it could work for you."

"Ohmigod, you're amazing!" Adie exclaimed, before dialing it back. She wanted to return the offer, before remembering that the vast majority of her wardrobe was custom-fit and tailored. "I'd offer the same thing, but I just culled my wardrobe right down before I came here. But if you see anything you'd like to try and think could make work, let me know? And I mean that, anything. I'm not much with a sewing machine myself - maybe the only machine I fall short with..." She said with a giggle. "But anything you want to try, and think you could make work for you, let me know. Even with the cull, I probably still brought too much."

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