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After much furious jackelope wrath, ye olde commons restored for you in all its original glory... |
Date: Feb 19, 2002 on 10:42 p.m. |
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(Wick) Wick entered the Commons. She'd only been here once before, on the way from the shuttle bay to her barracks, but the way this place was laid out made it appear that she'd be walking through here often.
There were a few other soldiers in here, but she ignored them all, walking towards the large wall terminal and pulling the small access keyboard from the wall. A small window opened exactly in front of her, and she used the guest login to request barracks information. After wrestling with the terminal for a few minutes, she finally got it to display the listings for the barracks postings. Jor wasn't among them. Frustrated, she almost failed to notice that the last line of the barracks listings had scrolled off the page. Wolf. Jor's name was halfway down the list, and with a silent sigh of relief, she mapped out the barracks location and returned to the Quad Halls. |
Date: Feb 19, 2002 on 10:43 p.m. |
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(Wick) Grinning, Wick tugged Jor out into the Commons - and froze.
Not 30 feet away, Dante was sitting on one of the benches with another soldier, smiling and talking. The thick waterfall of red curls was unmistakable. Her ex-commander looked taller, a little more slender than she had been before. She had been graduated 6 months before Wick and Jor, and looked the better for it - no apparent injuries, no smudges under her eyes from lack of sleep. Looks like she'd finally gotten over her fallen Angel, thought Wick with a smirk. Those curls shifted as she started to turn and Wick darted behind a post to avoid being seen, but Jor didn't follow. His look of confusion told her he hadn't seen Dante, but now it was surely too late. |
Date: Feb 19, 2002 on 10:44 p.m. |
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(Dante) Coming back from a military strategy lecture, Dante and Mitch strolled slowly down the corridors, into the Commons. She'd been at Command School for six months now, and she walked with a familiar air, wary yet comfortable in her surroundings. Two years had passed since her fight at Battle School, and Dante had grown in those years; taller, slimmer, but with a steely strength about her. Same long, curly fire-red hair, same straight-laced stance and calculated poise. And her eyes... far from being the mild-violet of times past, had settled into a cold quicksilver that never failed to keep those she didn't know at a distance.
With her old commander, however, she allowed a slight smile to flicker across her lips as he joked. She'd been in his army for a few months, as his second-in-command, and once she arrived here to find him again, they'd reverted to the semi-close friendship they'd shared before. He left her alone when she wanted space, and she left him alone. Worked just fine. "Let's relax before that class they call "math," eh?" Mitch slid onto a bench near the stone monument bearing the crest of the International Fleet. She nodded in agreement and sat beside him, leaning her back against the wall as she threw her books onto the floor. Dante grinned a little and glanced around, scanning the assembly of adults and teenagers rushing about. A sudden movement caught her gaze, and her eyes narrowed at the sight of an all too unwelcome face. Jor. Dante nudged Mitch hard with her foot, and he followed her look, spotting Jor standing slightly confused nearby. He was talking to someone she couldn't see; who, she didn't care. But how the hell had he managed to get here? Her eyes flashed ice as she watched him carefully, Mitch leaning nearer her with a protective air. "What the fuck?" He too remembered their little spat in Panther Army, back at Battle School. She pushed him away lightly, standing, straightening her shoulders as she stared at him. "Jor," Dante called out, tone low and cold. |
Date: Feb 19, 2002 on 10:46 p.m. |
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(Jor) Slightly bewildered as Wick practically dove for cover, Jor glanced around. "What is it, Wick, why are you..." Then he spotted her, now standing to call his name. Dante... unmistakably her, the same fiery hair and cold glances and husky silky voice. No wonder Wick slid behind a nearby post to hide. He wished, just briefly, that he'd been quick enough to do the same.
"Long time no see, Jélice." Jor folded his arms across his chest as he stood his ground, boots planted wide and face set resolutely as he stared, matched her silvery gaze with his own serpentine eyes. At least Nathan wasn't here too. This was some reunion party, Dante and... and Mitch, his old commander from Panther. He almost rolled his eyes in frustration, hissing quietly to himself. "And you, Mitch." This was torture. He wanted to leave, keep walking with Wick, but it appeared as if he were stuck. Thanks a lot, Wick, deserting me with this pair... he thought, just as she slid out again to stand by his side. Now he didn't feel outnumbered, and with a familiar smirk, he grinned at the two before him. |
Date: Feb 19, 2002 on 10:47 p.m. |
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(Wick) Wick tucked her arm around Jor's waist and gave Dante a cat's smile. "Ho, Dante," she said simply, and then tugged Jor away. "Come along, Jor-dan, don't want anyone delaying our tour, do we?" She let go his waist and took his hand, tugging him away to the other side of the Commons on the way to the Gaming Arena. "Just one big happy family," she whispered with a smirk to Jor as she led him into the new corridor.
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Date: Feb 19, 2002 on 10:47 p.m. |
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(Dante) Not Wick too... Dante tensed as the girl appeared beside Jor, slipping an arm around his waist with a little smirk at her, her false greeting rubbing at the edge of Dante's nerves. Some things never changed... and it looked as if all of the old gang was here. Who are they going to bring in next, Nathan?
The thought made her cringe, just slightly, and Mick pushed her back to sitting on the bench. "Shit, Jéli, Jor was the last person I expected to see here, especially after all the shit he's done." She nodded in acknowledgement, settling back again, but her outward calm did nothing to hide the glacier tumult in her gaze. "Tell me about it, Mitch. C'mon, we're going to be late for math." She stood suddenly, picking up her books from the floor and tugging on his hand. "Hurry up." He followed, and they both stalked from the Commons, matching frowns of irritated contemplation on their faces. |
Date: Feb 19, 2002 on 10:48 p.m. |
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(Jor) Jor wrapped his own fingers tighter around Wick's as she pulled him from the Commons. With a grateful smirk, he whispered back. "Yeah, who knows, I bet they bring Angel back up here too..." His voice rang with superior irony as he laughed a little, nudging her. "So where are you taking me now, Spark?"
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Date: Feb 19, 2002 on 10:49 p.m. |
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(Wick) Wick matched his grin. "The Game Arena, my pet. I think you just might like it." His fingers wrapped tightly around hers made her more aware of the ring on her fingers, and her grin widened into a smile. "Come on, now. Quite day-dreaming about Dante and let's go." The sting of his ancient history with Dante had much diminished in the intervening years they'd spent together, and she was bold enough to tease him with it, every now and then.
Leading the way, she stopped and palmed open the door to the Arena and drew him inside. |
Date: Feb 19, 2002 on 10:49 p.m. |
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(JOAT) Bloody hell, that was the only thought that went through his mind as Mat stepped thourgh the entrance way to the Commons. Why the hell did they stop? Those dice had stopped, this was bad, very bad. Now all Mat wanted to do was run and hide. I'm getting damn tired of this, I feel like a rag doll.
Yet he couldn't see why they stopped. OOC-anyone want to come in it would be appreciated-/OOC |
Date: Feb 19, 2002 on 10:50 p.m. |
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(Wick) Confused and in a bad temper, Wick walked out in the commons, not really paying attention to the flow of traffic around her beyond keeping out of everyone's way. Jor could be so damned confusing sometimes...
But she wasn't really confused. She was chagrined. He'd been ready to love her, to do what she knew people who loved each other did, and she hadn't even told him she loved him. Even that would have been something. Maybe he wouldn't have been as angry. Maybe that would have been enough for him, and she'd let him leave, desolate and frustrated. She pushed past a boy standing at the far end of the commons, not bothering to apologize, and walked towards the Gaming Arena. <ooc> Happy? </ooc> |
Date: Feb 19, 2002 on 10:51 p.m. |
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(Bianca) Bianca entered the Commons with Jor close behind her, nearly at her side. "The simulator is fairly simple," she said, her voice loud enough to carry to him despite the murmur of noise around her, but no louder. "The default vehicle is a one-man fighter, forward and reverse views, navigational and tactical displays as you'd expect. When we actually conduct practice, we have fourteen standard fighters, a scout, a supply ship and, of course, a command ship." She smiled a little. "We have a navigational major who flies our scout. He's pretty damned good. The supply ship I usually put a tactical weapons specialist in. It's slow, but it's well-armored, and if we lose it, our fighters can't refuel. The command ship is pretty similar to the one-man fighters, just a little larger and better armored." She looked up at him as they entered the Game Arena together. "You getting all of this, Jor? Or is there something else on your mind?"
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Date: Feb 19, 2002 on 10:52 p.m. |
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(JOAT) Mat whirled was he was accosted from behind, pushed to the side by an unknown assailant. Great, and just as the dice stop rolling, really beautiful. As he got his bearings he saw who had done it, a girl with snow white skin and raven black hair...
Hey, isn't that Wick from Fox? he thought to himself. And the dice had just stopped rolling as she pushed past him. "Bloody hell and damnation," he murmured under his breath if the dice had stopped, he was in for some real trouble, because it followed that girl like a vulture to a dead carcass. She was nothing but trouble, and it looked like he might get some more. "Bloody, bloody, hell!" was all he could say as he headed out to the simulator room. |
Date: Feb 19, 2002 on 10:53 p.m. |
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(Bianca) Taking Jor's arm, Bianca strolled through the commons. The muscles in his arm were tense, and she smiled quietly to herself. He was a little high-strung, but that would make him more interesting later, she was certain. For now it was time to be understanding.
"You want to tell me what that was all about, soldier?" she asked quietly, leaning a little into him to make sure he could hear her. She kept her voice unmocking, and gave it a small note of understanding. |
Date: Feb 19, 2002 on 10:54 p.m. |
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(Jor) Feeling a little uncomfortable as Bianca took his arm, leaning against him just slightly as they walked through the commons, Jor felt himself tense unwillingly. He was still having trouble understanding what was happening with Wick... during their interlude this morning, he'd felt more connected with her than ever before. And now, he was experiencing the same confused anger he'd felt that first time he'd beaten Wick. As if he could love her and hate her at the same moment. This was anything but a good situation.
Then there was Bianca, cozying up, asking him what had happened with a sympathetic tone to her silky voice. His frayed nerves soothed slightly, and he managed a half-hearted smile down at her, a grin that didn't quite reach his iced over eyes. "It's nothing, really, Bianca. Just... just someone I know. That's all." He hoped she'd accept his answer and leave it at that. |
Date: Feb 19, 2002 on 10:54 p.m. |
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(Bianca) Bianca looked up at him, a little frown of concern on her face as she felt him relax a little. The little girl had obviously frustrated him. She knew this line of attack backwards and forwards, knew exactly what to say.
"Oh, Jorry, it's easy to understand. You two knew each other in BattleSchool, right?" She sighed. "Some people just don't know how to grow up. Some people never do." She squeezed his arm gently with her fingers. "It's not easy coming here from BattleSchool when you hardly know anyone. It was probably a relief to you to have the familiar company...but now you'll make new friends. It won't be all bad, I promise." She stopped and smiled up at him as they reached the Quad entrance, and then palmed the door open and led him inside. |
Date: Feb 19, 2002 on 10:55 p.m. |
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(Asmodeus) When Mode left the Python Quad, he didn't even pause in the corridor. They would be watching him his first twenty-four hours. He had to play it safe until he knew they'd lost interest. Then he would deal with Wick.
For now, he would watch instead. Every soldier in the school passed through the Commons at least three times a day, usually more. If he spotted Wick, he would know her Quad by her uniform. After that it would just be a matter of waiting for the right time. As he walked into the Commons, he ignored the stares his armband earned him from the occasional passersby. He had spent enough time as a specimen to be completely indifferent to the attention of strangers. As long as he didn't start screaming or killing anyone, they'd lose their interest soon enough. He chose a pillar that afforded him a wide view of the commons and leaned against it, crossing his arms over his chest. Even as he did this, he made no attempt to hide the wide white line that encircled his upper left arm. It kept people away from him, and that served his purpose perfectly. He began to scan the crowd. |
Date: Feb 19, 2002 on 10:55 p.m. |
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(Dante) With a wave goodbye to Mitch, Dante strolled slowly through the Commons, humming quietly to herself as she watched the crowds of soldiers and officers scurrying around her. Classes were over for today, her tactical planning exam done, and she was in no hurry to go anywhere. And so she continued to walk, almost happy, until her eyes rested on a boy leaning against a pillar nearby. It was the white band around his arm that initially caught her attention, and then the lithe grace with which he rested, still wary and ready, like a snake always ready to strike. Unwillingly, her eyes traced over him, a slight blush on her cheeks until he turned slightly as his gaze connected with hers.
Shhh, Anjél, you're safe with me, I promise I won't let Jorry hurt you... Please forgive me, sir, for failing you when Jor attacked... Jet aime, mon ange... That's when it dawned on her, struck her so hard Dante almost back stepped in surprise. Those slate-grey eyes, the white-blonde hair, once in a long battle braid, now spiked. Same tall, carefully controlled strength. Nathan. It was Nathan. Her eyes flashed quicksilver as she stood frozen, staring, unable to move or even speak. A curl fell across her face, but Dante didn't even notice, wasn't capable of registering anything beyond the sight of Nathan, lounging nearby. A hand went to her throat as an unconscious gesture as she felt for her locket, and her eyes widened as recognition flickered across his face. |
Date: Feb 19, 2002 on 10:56 p.m. |
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(Asmodeus) If he had changed dramatically, she was exactly as he remembered her.
A little taller, perhaps. Her figure had matured, becoming both more slender and more full. Her hair was still the same mass of red curls. He could still remember the feel of those curls against his fingers. He hadn't bothered to inquire about her graduation status. Part of him had known she would be here, but he had blocked that out as best he could. She wouldn't want anything to do with him, and he didn't really want anything to do with her. It had been so easy for her to believe evil of him, to deny him a chance to defend himself with words instead of blows. He wasn't the only one guilty of unforgivable actions. Still, his heart ached dully somewhere below the ice as he saw her horrified surprise, saw her hand go to her slender white throat as if searching for something. The locket. Wick had taken it from his bedside after Jor had beaten him so badly...and after they'd tied him down. And before he knew exactly what Wick had done. An unwilling flush touched his cheeks, so long unused to any emotion but vengeance, but it was the only outward sign of emotion he gave. Everything else was locked down, out of the way, and had been for years. Even this apparition couldn't shake him. He wouldn't let it. He slowly nodded to her once and then looked away. |
Date: Feb 19, 2002 on 10:56 p.m. |
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(Dante) Two years is a long time to be separated from anyone, an impossibly long stretch of hurried days and painfully endless nights. Dante used to stay awake for days at a time, once an entire week, before she was forced to sleep... and even then, her fatigue did nothing to protect her from her dreams. She had hoped, wished, prayed that time did indeed soften old hate and rage and love. Her mother had always told her that, a little mantra when she was sent to battleschool, something to remind her that her homesickness would be forgotten soon enough, and memories would become muted.
No one ever told her it wasn't true. Because everything came flooding back at his icy glance, all those memories she'd repressed; kisses and touches and lingering glances they'd exchanged while together in their clandestine love. Even the pain from his blows, the letter he'd sent, his arms wrapped around her as he held her helpless, broken ribs stabbing into her flesh, tears of betrayal and rage pouring down her face. Dante ached in remembrance, finding her hand shaking slightly before she could stop herself. But she too had had two years to harden herself. She was no longer the naive girl she'd been before him, her violet eyes now permanent quicksilver, cold mercury that was as icy as her psyche. Betrayal had formed a shell around her heart, protective armor she had vowed she'd wear that first night as she lay drifting in and out of consciousness, still wavering from the anesthesia of her surgery. She'd loved and been betrayed twice, two times to many. Dante was no longer untouched or trusting. Nathan had changed all that. She too was ice. Her shoulders straightened as she regained her precise poise, withdrawing into herself once again with a possessiveness and calculated calm she'd perfected over the years. Without acknowledging Nathan's presence again, she continued from the commons, stalking silently past him as he lounged against the pillar. You don't love him anymore, Anjélice, she told herself sternly, as if the reminder would somehow burn her anger brighter. He's paid for what he's done... but your vengeance still isn't complete... |
Date: Feb 19, 2002 on 10:57 p.m. |
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(Asmodeus) Mode kept his eyes away from her long enough to let her turn around and then watched her depart the Commons. Her red curls fell nearly to her waist now, and her gait was the same as he remembered it, delicate but undeniably purposeful.
The ache returned, and he watched her until she was gone. He hadn't really been prepared for her presence, not this soon after arrival. His mind wandered unwillingly through memories of their brief sweet time together in the BattleSchool, her gentle touch, the feel of her lips... And the ice took that emotion and threw it on the fire of his vengeance. That was what Wick had taken from him. He wouldn't let her take his revenge as well, not as easily as that. He quieted, withdrew into himself again, and continued to watch the crowd. |
Date: Feb 19, 2002 on 10:57 p.m. |
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(Wick) Still walking slowly, her muscles slowly acclimatizing, Wick entered the Commons and went to the big map grid on the wall. After a few clicks, she got it to bring up the pathway to the Library from the Commons. She hadn't been there yet, but looking at the scaled map it appeared huge.
Curiousity ate away a little of her hopeless confusion, sparked a little fire, and with a quicker step she walked out of the Commons and into the hallway, glancing back once. She felt like someone was watching her...but she didn't see anyone looking at her, and she left the Commons, heading for the Library. |
Date: Feb 19, 2002 on 10:58 p.m. |
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(Asmodeus) When he spotted her, she was moving slowly enough that he was surprised she'd gotten as far as she had before he saw her. Wick. She looked older too, though she still appeared more youthful than Dante. She was still slender, her incredibly pale skin still paper white. Her pallid complexion made her look ill to him, like one of the walking dead. Which was precisely what she was. The Hydra on her shoulder told him what Quad she was in. He watched her map a route to the Library. Why was she by herself? His eyes narrowed. This seemed too easy. Where was Jor? She turned and left the commons, but not before casting a glance back in his direction. He immediately looked elsewhere, and she shrugged it off and left. He'd learned enough for his first day. Standing away from the pillar, he cracked his neck with a jerk of his head and turned back towards the Quads. |
Date: Feb 19, 2002 on 10:59 p.m. |
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(Helen) Helen walking into the commons, little apprehenshive. Most of the people around her were a bit older than her, but that's the way that it was a lot. After the last little fight she'd been in with one of the Griffin soldiers, they almost iced her, but decided to graduate her about a year and a half early instead.
Her earthside leave had been anything but pleasant, it only sparked the memories inside of her that she had tried through all of battle school to cover up. The memories that not even the administrators had known about. They had sent her back to France, said it would be a healing experience... and she'd had taken no more than two steps out of the building. She was surprised that they didn't try to make her sit in with a psyciatrist for the rest of her stay. But they didn't, so she had spent the entire time in the gym and in the puny simulator games that they had there. She glanced about the halls, something about the way it looked said that it would be harder here. But she could take harder. She'd made it through battle school. She'd eventually been transfered out of Fox when they started a new army, been made a second and eventually a first. But it didn't mean much to her. The game didn't matter. The only game that she'd actually liked playing was the simulator, and only castor seemed to play that well. She wondered where castor was. She hadn't seen much of him after she'd been transfered from Fox, and hoped that he was here. After all he was the reason she, herself, was here. He'd gotten her through battleschool, and got her to realize what she wanted to do... not command but pilot. Helen smiled a bit when she realized that the simulators that they would have here would be a bit better than the ones at battleschool. The ones at battle school were for fun, the ones here were for actually training. If only Castor was around, they were due for another game. Realizing that she'd been standing in the middle of the hallway, she quickly backed to the wall. And stood there. She'd made it this far, she could get through, but it would be so much better if Castor was here also. |
Date: Feb 19, 2002 on 10:59 p.m. |
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(Cas) Castor was just coming back from AdNav II when he stopped and blinked, a grin slowly spreading across his face as he spotted Helen across the Commons with her little duffle, the same army issue that he'd carried up on his arrival six months ago. What a stroke of luck to catch her just as she was arriving! He could show her to her Quad, maybe get her settled in, and then they could hit the simulators. He couldn't wait to see what she could do in the streamlined pods they had here.
She'd grown up a lot. She was almost as tall as he was now, light blonde hair still cut boyishly short, but the rest of her looked much more girl-like now. He looked away for a moment, feeling a little embarrassed. Here he was, ogling her rudely when he should be over there talking to her. He hurried towards her. "Hey, pilot! Over here!" He grinned as she looked his way, pretty brown eyes lighting up. He'd grown up a little himself, learning how to deal with people, girls in particular. Helen had shown him that they weren't all what he had come to expect. He'd missed her company terribly. |
Date: Feb 19, 2002 on 11:00 p.m. |
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(Helen) Helen turned suddenly as she heard the familiar voice. Was it really him? He was taller, a bit more muscular but it was definitely him. His brown eyes beamingand he seemed to have lost some of the shyness that he had all throughout battle school. Her eyes lit up when she saw him rushing toward her. She didn't know if she'd be able to find him here... and definitely not this soon.
"Castor!" Her lips curved up in a small smile. Command School was definitely going to be a lot of fun now that she knew Castor was here also. She detatched from the wall, weaving through the people walking by, and met him half way. When she got there she gave him a little hug, hoping he wouldn't be too embarrassed by it. She broke away from the hug and shifted her duffle to her other side. "It's been a long time Cas. How are the sims here? We're due for another game. Couldn't find anyone back at battle school that can play half as good as you. It's boring when your wingman gets blown away straight off in the first level. You have to go throught the next fifteen levels all by yourself." Battle school was anything but the same after he left, and the whole earthside leave she had found herself thinking of him. And now he was here in front of her, and looking at his uniform she noticed that he had the same Panther on his uniform... he was in her Quad! |
Date: Feb 19, 2002 on 11:00 p.m. |
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(Cas) Castor saw her looking at his Panther. "Yeah, that's my Quad. Let's get you to yours and then I can take you to the simulator..." he paused and goggled at her patch. "Hey, alRIGHT, you're in my Quad! That's awesome! Just wait. Sasha's gonna freak when he finds out his newest Scout flyer is a girl!" He laughed delightedly, and then blushed and looked a little ashamed. "Uh...no offense, eh pilot? Come on, we can get you settled before I let you beat me at the simulator." He grinned, snatched her duffle and began to trot towards the Quad Halls.
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Date: Feb 19, 2002 on 11:01 p.m. |
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(Bianca) Bianca grinned at Rhemi's obvious discomfiture at having spoken a little more boldly than he felt comfortable with. He seemed like the malleable type. He'd be a fighter pilot, nothing else, but at least he was a known quantity. Maybe he'd be a good fighter pilot. Indifference was disappointing, but tolerable.
"We'll see, Rhemi. For right now, why don't you just try to get the hang of the simulator, hmm? You might not be as ready to command as you think." She took him through the Commons and into the Game Arena. |
Date: Feb 19, 2002 on 11:02 p.m. |
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(Rhemora) Rhemi could barely keep his thoughts tuned to her while he tried to sort out what could be so drastic as to change his orders and his loadout midmission. And they were doing it *now*. His thoughts quickly turned to who else might be here under the same pretense he was..
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Date: Feb 19, 2002 on 11:02 p.m. |
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(Asmodeus) Mode walked Kat into the Commons area and smiled a little bitterly at the sensation their arm bands caused when they paused by the map station. "You see, dearest? They like us already," he whispered near her ear from behind her before he turned and brought up the schematics for the school. "It's all straightforward. No lockdown doors, no forcefields, just wide open spaces for us and all the rest of the cattle." He let her look at the schematics for a while as he tensed his arm muscle, trying to get the feel of her grip out of his skin. She was being a little too familiar. Could the kitten actually be a little nervous? He half lowered his lids and fought the urge to smile. Not bloody likely.
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Date: Feb 19, 2002 on 11:03 p.m. |
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(Kat) So many people...
Her home had been a tiny cell, only large enough to hold a half-cot and a basin for water. Even the Institute, although expansive in its towering intimidation, had been restraining. She hadn't been anywhere so open, hadn't seen so many people, hadn't been exposed to all the sounds and lights and voices around her for eight years. Too long. Kat hadn't felt even the mildest sense of apprehension until Mode brought her out here into the Commons. But his arm tensed as she unconsciously dug her fingernails deeper into his skin, and with a smirk to hide her anxiety, Kat dropped her hand from him and turned around, leaning gracefully against the wall as she watched the crowd. Her green-gold pupils contracted into slits as her eyes narrowed, and a low growl escaped her. "What a place we've found ourselves, darlin'. Haven't seen anything quite like this before... o' course, after eight years they stop taking you for walks outside like you got." She forced herself to be teasing, taunting, but the bitterness came through anyway. |
Date: Feb 19, 2002 on 11:04 p.m. |
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(Asmodeus) Mode looked down at her involuntarily, his eyebrows raising slightly.
She was nervous. His rusty sense of compassion began to leak out of its containment, and he crooked his arm enough to half-surround her for the briefest moment before he let it drop. "Just remember, Katera. They're more scared of you than you are of them." His voice was sardonic and he said it with a smirk, but a tiny flicker of concern made his eyes seem a little less frozen as he studied her before looking back up to the screen. |
Date: Feb 19, 2002 on 11:04 p.m. |
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posts: 272 since: Mar 05, 2001 |
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(Kat) Snickering at his comment, grateful for the distraction he gave her, Kat shot Mode a feigned withering glance. "That's supposed to be for animals, dumbshit... they can smell fear too. Better go take a shower, before they attack us helpless little things and I have to protect you again." She pushed away from the wall then, taking three short, sauntering strides into the Commons, her gaze piercing as the few people who dared to look at her glanced away nervously. Her poise, tense as if always ready to pounce, caused a group of soldiers to walk a wide circle around her, eyeing her armband with apprehension as she smiled flirtatiously in their direction.
"C'mon, sweetheart, let's go exploring..." Kat called over her shoulder to Mode, beckoning him over with a crook of her fingers. |
Date: Feb 19, 2002 on 11:05 p.m. |
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Premium member in Fleet Admiral
posts: 272 since: Mar 05, 2001 |
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(Dante) Stalking through the Commons on her way back to the barracks, Dante spotted an unwelcome figure in front of a computer terminal on the far side of the plaza. Nathan was with some copper-haired girl, and the wary familiarity with which he wrapped his arm around her shoulders briefly caused her eyes to flash silver. She clenched her fists, muscles tensing with jealousy. Not jealousy, she tried to tell herself, because you could care less who he's with.
But the fact remained that he was with another girl, and Dante froze as his companion turned and sauntered about, smiling with a flirtatious air at the passing soldiers. She too had a white Institute band around her arm, but it was her predatory gaze as she met Dante's eyes that caused her breathing to quicken. It didn't take much thought to decide that this green-eyed girl was a threat... a threat to what, however, remained to be seen. Still paused at the edge of the open room, Dante watched silently. |
Date: Feb 19, 2002 on 11:06 p.m. |
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posts: 272 since: Mar 05, 2001 |
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(Wick) Tugging Jor along, Wick sauntered into the Commons, still smiling, until she saw something that made her feel like someone had just punched her in the stomach.
She dimly realized that she had stopped walking, and that Jor was looking at her strangely. She couldn't seem to tear her eyes away from the tall, well-built boy who stood facing away from her, looking at the map screen. She noted his companion peripherally, but his arm was what drew her attention. It bore the white band of the Institute. And she had no doubt whose arm it was wrapped around, impossible as it seemed. No one else had that particular brand of poise, the grace that showed even in the tiny movement as he hugged his companion briefly. The long battle braid was gone, short spikes in its place. Her words, crystal clear, flew through her mind as she stared at Angel's back. IMPOSSIBLE! her mind ranted at her madly, but she knew with sick certainty that it wasn't impossible, had passed the realm of possibility and into the real, a nightmare brought to life. ...Poor little fallen Angel," purred Wick, her voice dripping with pity before it turned feline and mean. "I don't think Dante will want much to do with you after this. Maybe they'll only transfer you...but I doubt it. They're going to ice you for what you've done here today, cherub. Just make sure you remember who helped you along... As he turned around at his companion's request and stared at her, his eyes told her he remembered quite well. |
Date: Feb 19, 2002 on 11:08 p.m. |
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Premium member in Fleet Admiral
posts: 272 since: Mar 05, 2001 |
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(Asmodeus) Mode turned away from the wall monitor and looked at the mass of red-gold curls, her fingers crooked in an undeniably arrogant motion of command. "You're a little on the cuddly side today, aren't you, Kat? Wouldn't they let you bring your teddy?" he asked sarcastically, but there was an edge of humor he knew she would catch. "But I digress. I've already seen the place, highness. Anything in particular strike your fancy?"
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Date: Feb 19, 2002 on 11:09 p.m. |
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Premium member in Fleet Admiral
posts: 272 since: Mar 05, 2001 |
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(Kat) She made a mock face of hurt as her eyes continued to sweep the room, settling on a pair on the far side. They looked vaguely familiar, the girl unnaturally pale, the boy tall and dark. Scanning her memory, Kat bit her lip in concentration, suddenly recalling their names; not from pictures, not from acquaintance, but from Mode's own stories. Wick and Jorry.
"You missed seeing my last toy, Mode... he was a cute one, too bad they locked him up in the infirmary when we got done playing. But, I too digress... is that the fantastic duo I've heard so much about? Miss Wick and Sir Jor? Looks as if they're pleasantly surprised to see you, my handsome companion." Kat nodded discreetly in their direction, her eyes hardening. |
Date: Feb 19, 2002 on 11:09 p.m. |
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Premium member in Fleet Admiral
posts: 272 since: Mar 05, 2001 |
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(Jor) He stumbled against Wick as she stopped suddenly in the center of the Commons, her eyes widening as she stared transfixed at a soldier near one of the far computer terminals. Confused, Jor shot her an odd glance, then turned his attention in the direction she was looking. The tall soldier with white-spiked hair was in her line of sight, but it wasn't until he did an about-face that Jor recognized him. Nathan. Dante's little fallen angel was here, a white Institute band wrapped around his arm, accompanied by a familiar girl with a matching band. She nodded discreetly in Jor and Wick's direction, and Nathan glanced up, his flat slate eyes connecting with Jor's serpentine ones.
Holy shit. No wonder Wick was frozen in place, her breathing ragged as her fingers tightened around his. He remembered their last fight, his taunting words to Nathan as the boy was dragged away by MPs... Jor's survival instinct suddenly kicked into overdrive, and before Wick could protest, he pulled hard on her hand and dragged her forcefully from the commons. |
Date: Feb 20, 2002 on 12:31 a.m. |
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Premium member in Fleet Admiral
posts: 272 since: Mar 05, 2001 |
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(Asmodeus) Asmodeus watched, his eyes narrowed, an unconscious satisfied smirk on his lips as Jor and Wick reacted with all the horrified shock he'd dreamed of. Then Jor was pulling Wick out of the Commons, her pale face disappearing as he dragged her into the hallway.
"Why thank you, Katera. That was something I would have hated to miss." His voice was light and playful and full of the satisfied expectancy of revenge close at hand. "But enough about my old friends. Shall we go?" |
Date: Feb 20, 2002 on 12:32 a.m. |
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Premium member in Fleet Admiral
posts: 272 since: Mar 05, 2001 |
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(Kat) His reaction didn't escape her sharp notice, and neither did the red-curled girl watching them with frozen eyes from afar. Mode's old girlfriend, it seemed, wasn't entirely too pleased to see him with another. A little possessive flame lit in Kat's eyes as she flicked her gaze from Dante to Mode, then back to Dante again.
"Oh, you are more than welcome, Nathan." Her voice dripped syrupy sweet. "Now, isn't that your little ex-girlfriend over there, shooting daggers at me? I think she's jealous..." Kat purred and tapped her fingers idly against his white armband with a smirk in Dante's direction. |
Date: Feb 20, 2002 on 12:33 a.m. |
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Premium member in Fleet Admiral
posts: 272 since: Mar 05, 2001 |
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(Asmodeus) Asmodeus turned and looked at Dante, his eyes turning to smoke for the briefest moment when they met her violet ones. A strange chill ran through him, and his smile began to falter...but then that chill melded with his vicious pleasure over Wick And Jor's reaction, and he smiled at her, too, a small tiny smile with a vicious edge to it.
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Date: Feb 20, 2002 on 12:33 a.m. |
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Premium member in Fleet Admiral
posts: 272 since: Mar 05, 2001 |
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(Dante) That wasn't quite the reaction she was expecting, and Dante's quicksilver eyes narrowed in response to Nathan's cold glance. He smiled viciously at her, and she returned the favor with a smirk, the self-same icy smile she'd given him when he was dragged away by the MP's his last night at Battle School.
Holding her ground, Dante slid into a bench nearby, closing her eyes in studied ignorance as she relaxed against the seatback. |
Date: Feb 20, 2002 on 12:34 a.m. |
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Premium member in Fleet Admiral
posts: 272 since: Mar 05, 2001 |
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(Asmodeus) Mode turned away, retaining his little smile by sheer force of will. "Looks like. We should leave before she embarrasses herself any more...and the view here is beginning to bore me. Let's go, Kitten." He put fingertips delicately against the small of her back and guided her into the hallway that led to the Game Arena.
Below the ice, his heart was tearing slowly. But he would be damned if he would give that icy bitch the satisfaction. |
Date: Feb 20, 2002 on 12:35 a.m. |
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Premium member in Fleet Admiral
posts: 272 since: Mar 05, 2001 |
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(Kat) His tension was duly noted as Kat smiled maliciously up at Mode, his fingers on the small of her back causing her to tense instinctively before she fought down her defensiveness and let him lead her. She let her green-gold eyes soften in muted understanding, but only for the briefest moment before they became sharp again and she nodded. "Lead the way, Asmodeus..."
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Date: Feb 20, 2002 on 12:35 a.m. |
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Premium member in Fleet Admiral
posts: 272 since: Mar 05, 2001 |
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(Dante) "Lead the way, Asmodeus..."
Dante's eyes flicked open in surprise as the Institute girl's silky voice cut through her thoughts. Asmodeus? Sitting up, she folded her arms across the seat back and leaned her chin onto her hands, watching Nathan and the girl saunter slowly from the Commons. Her eyes softened again, remorse striking her for her icy response to his smirk. But another, harder voice told her he deserved it; there couldn't be anything left there after so long, with his new feline girlfriend and the unfamiliar coldness in his demeanor. Sighing, she pushed herself away from the bench and stalked from the Commons, seeking solitude. |
Date: Feb 20, 2002 on 12:36 a.m. |
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posts: 272 since: Mar 05, 2001 |
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(Wick) Wick walked back from her classes and paused in the hallway, scanning the room carefully for Nathan. Only after she was certain he wasn't there did she proceed from the relative safety of the corridor and into the Commons.
She found a seat very close to some plants and took it. She was mostly obscured by foliage here. The only way to be seen was a direct line from the barracks corridor, and she doubted Nathan would be coming from that direction so soon after classes. She tried to relax. Jor had always made her feel a little safer. He was much bigger and stronger than she was, so possessive. Not anymore. She forced herself to focus. Trying to hack into the Charybdis mainframe had proved more difficult than she'd thought it would be. Twice the patrol worms had almost tagged her, and it took her all of her free period to finally get in. When she did, all she managed to find before she had to terminate connection was his class schedule. If there was an unarmed combat course he hadn't taken, she didn't know what it was. She preferred tools, herself. Weapons of any description were almost always better than bare hands. But they didn't have those here, except on the guards, and they were kept locked away at all times. Picking locks was not something Wick knew how to do. She needed someone who did, and had no way to find one. Still, maybe it couldn't hurt to survey the guard areas. If it could be shot, she could use it. Why couldn't they have iced him? She curled up, waiting to see Jor pass through the commons and into the safety of the barracks hallway before she paid a visit to the security station. He couldn't protect her - and wouldn't, now - but maybe she could still watch over him, for whatever good it would do. |
Date: Feb 20, 2002 on 12:37 a.m. |
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posts: 272 since: Mar 05, 2001 |
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(Dante) Entering the Commons, Dante and her friends made their way over to an empty bench surrounded by plants; a nice shaded nook that might shield them from any curious eyes. Sliding onto the seat, Rox climbed next to her, sitting cross-legged and planting her desk in her lap as Nico lounged lazily on the armrest. Logging in, Rox grinned up at Nicolai, nudging Dante with her elbow as she winked at the boy.
"Casanova Nico, I heard that you got beat by a green this morning... and a chica, no less. First your girlfriend, then this new scout disses ya? We've got some work to do on you, flashboy." "Well, after both you and Dante refused my offers, Roxy babe, my heart just hasn't been in my work." Nicolai's voice dripped syrupy sweet, while he smirked sarcastically. Rox just laughed, still typing, delving deeper into the mainframe. "Stick with that story, Nic, stick with it. Then maybe your black-haired beauty won't beat your ass like Helen did, eh? Heyo Jélize, I'm in. Whaddya want on Nathan anyway?" "That nickname bothers me. Asmodeus; I mean, I got the whole fallen angel reference, but... spirit of evil that accompanies wrath? If he's after me I need to know. Look up his class schedules. Find anything you can that we didn't see last night... and anything about that Kat girl too." Dante slid closer, watching as Rox hacked into the Charybdis system, scouting past the security blocks. "Okee... holy shit. This boyo has taken every unarmed combat class they offered... shit Jéli, we're stickin' by you, ain't that right Nico?" She hugged Dante's shoulders briefly before returning her attention to the screen, and Nicolai nodded solemnly at her. "Doncha worry, we won't let him get near you, neh? Besides, I don't know what I'd do with myself if something happened to ya, sweetheart. Pine away into nothingness, I suppose." "Find a new girlfriend, you would. Stick with Callenstrom, Nic. She's enough trouble for you without me." Dante's sardonic answer did nothing to hide her spark of fear. Nathan had had two long years of training, time to sit and scheme and plan whatever revenge he was intent on doing. Leaning her head back, Dante sighed and motioned for Rox to keep searching. But Rox shook her head. "Ain't much left we haven't seen... some infirmary records, that's about it. No real psychological evaluations. But Kat is certainly a treasure trove of disciplinary problems... I gotta get out. Shit!" She began typing frantically, backtracking through the system, muttering to herself as Dante and Nicolai watched, eyes wide in concern. "Out, thank God. Damn, that was close, those security trolls almost had me there this time. They obviously really don't want people in the records... but look, I managed to save the files onto my desk. I'll encrypt 'em, and send 'em to you after class, okay? We'd better get going, you have strategy and if I miss firearms again Captain Hillson is gonna have my ass." "Thanks Rox... we'll meet in your room later on today, neh? Go over what we found. Get yourself to class too, Nico, otherwise Phoenix be findin' a new scout who hasn't flunked everything. See you guys later..." Dante stood, shaking her curls out before walking away in the opposite direction. Nicolai gave Rox a quick peck on the cheek before taking leave, and tucking her desk under her arm, soon Rox made her way down another corridor. |
Date: Feb 20, 2002 on 12:38 a.m. |
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Premium member in Fleet Admiral
posts: 272 since: Mar 05, 2001 |
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(Wick) The Angel was Angel no longer.
Asmodeus. She didn't even like thinking that name. It had a strange twisted sort of phonetic that made her shiver. If she had ever entertained far-fetched notions of Nathan not holding a grudge, his new name and what it meant would have wiped them away. As it was, in her current state, she began trembling and was forced to grip her hands together in front of her to make them stop shaking. She couldn't wait for Jor. She had to get to that supply closet now. She stood up and walked towards the hall that would take her to the security department. |
Date: Feb 20, 2002 on 12:39 a.m. |
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Premium member in Fleet Admiral
posts: 272 since: Mar 05, 2001 |
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(Swede) Huffing quietly with irritation, Swede stalked into the Commons, Pallas following calmly behind. They wound their way toward the center, passing a few groups of soldiers, until a shouted "Swede!" caught their attention and they paused, confused, in the middle of the clearing. Swede glanced around, spotting Mik and Rox jogging over anxiously, and with a frown she nodded toward them. "Vatz goeeng on?"
Mik shot Pallas a greeting glance as Rox panted with exertion. "We've been trying to find you forever! Nathan attacked Wick and burned her, she's in the infirmary... then Dante took off after to see him or something and we haven't been able to find her! I hacked into records and they said he was arrested then released... we don't know where she is, have you seen her?" "No, vee haveen't, vee haft been ztook in zee areena playeeng..." Swede bit her lip in concentration, turning to scan the Commons area. A flash of red caught her eye as someone skirted past through the trees, and without thinking she left the group and sprinted after the retreating figure. Dante was hurriedly storming away, but Swede called out. "Dante, vait, coomere!" Dante turned and sighed, waiting until Swede was before her. "What is it, Aria?" "Uh, evereevunz been lookeeng for yoo, aftaire vee heard vhat Nadan deed, are yoo okee?" Dante nodded, beginning to back away to continue on her way. "I'm fine. Tell the others not to worry, I'm just gonna go back to the barracks. I'll meet you all for dinner later, I just... I just need some time alone, Nene." It was Swede's turn to nod in agreement, and she turned and made her way back to the group in the center. "Was that Dante? What happened?" Rox nudged Swede on the arm as Mik frowned. "Yah eet vaz, zhee zayz doncha vorry, dat evereeting eez alrite. Vhy doon't vee zeet down zumvhere?" The girls followed her toward an empty table near an outcrop of trees, and sliding onto the benches, Rox leaned her elbows onto the table as Mik tried to smile at Swede. "So what have you guys been up to?" Pallas grinned, and Swede smirked in return. "Vee juzt beet zum Jayde azz in zee zim, how aboot yoo?" The two other girls crowed with laughter, Rox almost falling from her seat. "Oh God, Mik has two of 'em as new roomies, you should have seen the looks on their faces! Haha... aw shit, look, here comes some now! C'mon..." she dropped her voice to a conspiratorial whisper. "Let's have some fun with these boys..." |
Date: Feb 20, 2002 on 12:40 a.m. |
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Premium member in Fleet Admiral
posts: 272 since: Mar 05, 2001 |
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(The Jaydes) Erik and Adam had eventually wandered out of the Game Arena after a few hours... they dragged Liex along with them and met up in the hall with Bryo and Mika as they made their way into the Commons. It was an impressively open space despite the crowd of people gathered there, and the scattered decorative vegetation gave the place a nice ambiance. Erik and Adam ambled in comfortably if strutting a little, quite confident of their number and the knowledge that the sight of Liex towering over them would be enough to intimidate anyone from pushing around the greens like they had stupidly tried to push them around when they were launchies. Bryo was striding assuredly ahead of them, bantering back and forth with Mika as they glanced around for a table.
Suddenly Bryo sensed that Erik and Adam behind him had frozen in place; he turned back to look at them and Mika abruptly cracked up at the looks on their faces. "Jaydes! Erik, Adam, what the hell is the matter with you?" The boys' eyes were glued to a certain corner of the commons... Bryo swung his gaze in that direction and suddenly understood. A group of very lovely young women were gathered at that table... but hell, these amateur brothers of his. When a guy sees a foyneass shawty, he's not supposed to tense up like a goddamn queer, he's supposed to go up to her, holler at her a little. So, taking a fervently refusing Adam and Erik by their collars and pulling up a disarmingly trademark smile, Bryo led his brothers over to the tableful of CS girls. |
Date: Feb 20, 2002 on 12:41 a.m. |
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All times are CST -8. |
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