Nathaniel Orion's Story

---

Leo had been cooped up in Spencer's room for a long time playing video games in his pajamas. This was a pretty normal thing considering the devil's spawn, also known as Nathaniel, was his roommate and tormentor. Ever since Leo got here a few months ago, he's been hiding from Nathaniel and staying way too close to his sister. At least he tormented him less out of fear of Spencer's wrath.

He put his headphones on once Landon entered the room. He knew exactly what would come next and definitely didn't want to hear any of it. Leo continued to play video games until he feel his phone begin to buzz in his pocket. He pulled it out to read the text and his heart nearly skipped a beat.

{From: Mei♥}
Hey, where are you guys?

She texted him! It was to multiple people but she still texted him! He jumped up and responded lightning fast to her:

{To: Mei♥}
I'm coming

He threw off his headphones and ran to the door like a maniac on a mission until he heard his sister. "Hold up, pipsqueak." Leo stopped dead in his tracks right at the doorframe. He was used to the nicknames and insults by now but he still found it weird how differently they talked from one another. Spencer still held a small amount of her Birmingham accent even after coming to the states. It wasn't as strong as it used to be but it was still noticeable enough. Leo on the other hand, lost his accent and gained a subtle southern one from living in Kentucky Part of the reason why he still gets called a country hick around here.

"Where's my goodbye you little shit." She teased him with a smirk and he sighed before teleporting next to her and giving her a kiss on the cheek. Just like he'd been doing since she took on the 'motherly' role thanks to their flakey, drunk dad. "Goodbye, big shit." Leo teleported away with a laugh and began to teleport all throughout the school trying to find Mei until he over exhausted his powers and needed a break only to realize he had no idea where she was. Leo took out his phone and texted her while he caught his breathe.

{To: Mei♥}
Uh... Where exactly are you?

There was so much going on at once. Men attacking the shapeshifter known as Ella, Sam hitting one with a chair, Synth mouthing off, and Leo trying to play hero for Mei. Others joined in to help fight the goons that decided to crash the 'fun'. But then something changed. One bye one... Each attacker froze in place. They all looked the same. Wide-eyed with fear and sweat slowly dripping down their ugly faces. That could only mean one thing... Nathaniel had arrived.

He walked past a table and grabbed a green apple that was sitting on it before tossing it in the air and catching. He was always one for a dramatic entrance. "Well, well, well..." One corner of his lip curled upwards into a vicious looking smirk as he tossed the apple from one hand to the other. He stopped and looked at one of them. "What do we have here?" He took a bite out of his apple and chuckled. Granny smith. His favourite.

Each attacker was stuck in the alternate reality Nathaniel created and each one of them was being tortured by the thing they feared most. Nathaniel's specialty. Normally he wouldn't have helped out but these idiots decided to start destroying one of the few places Nathaniel thought deserved his glorious presence.

"Let us go, man." Nathaniel was the only one they could see that wasn't their fears. Though he would become one of them after today. He responded to him. "Well, 'man'." He put his hands up to form air quotations before taking another bite. He held them there in silence as he savored that bite. "You were idiotic enough to crash one of the few places around here that is decent enough for someone as high class as me. So when you crashed in like a bunch of buffoons and harmed a fair lady..." He stepped in towards him and smirked. "You made me upset and since you made me upset, I'm going to torture you until the police arrive."

Chris followed behind Synth, and smiled slightly when she informed him of what was going to happen to Lucas. He followed her to the garage, and rode with her to the Bistro. He was slightly surprised that she actually let him in one of her cars. Considering that he has a pension to breaking them. But he did his best not to screw it up. He didn't really want to deal with another one of her lectures, and her calling him a brute. Just because he's a little techno-phobic doesn't make him brute, but to Synth that's all the same.

As they entered the Bistro Chris glared at the man who threatened Synth. He didn't know what was going on but no one threatens his friends. No one. As the man lunged at Synth, a lightning bolt flew past Synth's head, and struck the man in his chest, tossing him back quite a ways. "No one talks to my friends like that." He growled as he stepped forward. The man got back up, and pulled out a knife since his gun wasn't working. Chris merely chuckled at this, and held up his finger, motioning for him to bring it. As he lunged at Chris he merely grabbed hold of the wrist holding the knife, and twisted it backwards, and began squeezing.

The bone of his wrist could be heard popping as the man screamed in pain. The thug fell to his knees, and Chris delivered a single knock out blow to his head, and released him to fall over on the floor. Chris looked up to see what was happening with the thugs experiencing their worse fears thanks to Nathaniel. When he stated that he was going to torture them till the cops showed up he glared at him. "That's enough. Release them NOW." He demanded.

"They're just a bunch of wanna be hoods, they don't deserve to be tortured no matter what they did." Chris stated as he walked over towards them. He could see the joy this brought Nathanial, and knew that he wouldn't just let them go. So he'd have to snap them out of it. Chris walked over, and placed his hand on the shoulder of one of the men, and gave him a large enough shock to knock him out. He then proceeded to do the same thing to the other thugs under his sway. Once they were all out he let out a big sigh.

"There. Anyone got a problem with that you can take it up with me later. Now let's go before the cops show up." Chris stated as he stared at Nathaniel, clearly challenging him to do something in an Alpha-Male-like manner.

---

Spencer was practically dying of laughter over Landon and Synthia bickering. This was part of the reason she loved when Landon came over. He pissed of Synthia and then got them alone together so they could have their own fun. "So whatever shall we do?" He was not subtle at all about what he was implying and then added, "I mean it's only special occasions that I look this hot." Spencer rolled her eyes. "Hot might be an overstatement." She teased.

Landon got up and closed the door while Spencer turned to lay on her side. He turned to face her an dundid the buttons of his sleeves. "As I see it we have a few options... Video game, screw... Or strip COD." He smirked, crossing his arms over his chest while leaning his shoulder against the door. He then held his hand out towards her, "Unless you had a better option..." Spencer thought for a moment before answering, "My great idea is doing all of those at once. Perfect way to start the new year."

Just then, Spencer's phone buzzed with a text from her brother:

{From: Beowulf}
Bunch of thugs attacking bistro. Help.

Spencer jumped out of bed in Mama Bear mode now. She looked over at her best friend. "Leo's in trouble at the bistro. Some idiots decided to lay a hand on my brother." Spencer was raging at the thought of anyone laying a hand on her little brother but she of course was able to make one teasing comment at Landon. "Whoever hurts the most bad guys gets oral from the loser." She smirked and ran out the door her dorm was close to the entrance.

Once she got out, she knelt down and dug her feet into the ground while she used her power to build up enough energy to make her go racing forward to the bistro like a bullet. Spencer kept going until she ran into one of the thugs that tried to make a move at Leo. She crashed into him but didn't realize she didn't account for how she was supposed to stop and ended up crashing into a another body before flipping onto the ground. Spencer rolled onto her back. "Oh, fuck! That hurts!"

---

---

---

Having his finger laced with Mei's felt electrifying but that was soon cut short when they arrived at the bistro Stay right here, when I give the sign, teleport Ella out of here. I'll handle this, and don't worry about me I'm sure Sam and I can take care of each other." Leo didn't respond but he knew he was coming back so he might as well bring some reinforcements. He took out his phone a texted Spencer before Ella, who came shapeshifted as Mei, came running towards him. He grabbed hold of her and teleport them far enough away but close enough for him to still be at full strength once he got back.

"Please go save Mei before she does something reckless" She begged him. Leo nodded and grinned. "I'll be her night in smokey armor." He teleported away and all that was left of him was a tiny cloud of smoke. He reappeared next to Mei just in time for a guy to lung at her. Leo turned his body into smoke and entered into the guys lungs and made him collapse from asphyxiation. Leo left his body and stood next to Mei ready to take out the next guy when Nathaniel appeared. He may not like the guy but he was actually upset when Chris stopped him. At least Nathaniel had all of them stopped. Now all the thugs were back on their feet and ready to attack again.

And attack they did when one caught Leo off guard and had a gun pointed towards him. Out of the blue, came Spencer running towards the guy like a bullet and tackled him to the ground only to crash land into someone else before finally stopping. "Oh, fuck! That hurts!" Leo ran towards her and helped her up. Spencer grinned at him. "Thanks, pipsqueak." She then started examining him. "I swear to go if any of them knocked one hair out of place..." Leo laughed. "I'm fine I swear."

"That's enough. Release them NOW." Nathaniel frowned when Chris decided to kill his fun and shock his victims back to reality. "They're just a bunch of wanna be hoods, they don't deserve to be tortured no matter what they did." Nathaniel simply rolled his eyes at Chris's little 'hero' act. The only reason his party trick even worked was because Nathaniel was using his power on a large group of people. If the group had been smaller, Chris wouldn't have been able to release them. In fact, he would've just made things worse for them.

Chris finished bringing them all back since Nathaniel allowed it and then turned around like he was o high and mighty for what he did. "There. Anyone got a problem with that you can take it up with me later. Now let's go before the cops show up." Nathaniel rolled his eyes and simply laughed at him. "Are you done yet?" He asked him. "Really Chris, this whole 'alpha male' act is rather idiotic, don't you say? Acting like a brutish hero for the attention of a girl." He pointed at Synth. "Isn't going to work on someone who has an IQ that weighs more than two of you." He shook his head and laughed again.

"And one more thing Chris..." He took a step towards him. "Do remember I'm the one who knows what keeps you up at night the next time you try to play alpha." Nathaniel winked at him and took a bite of his apple and was about to turn away when just his luck, an annoying blonde crash landed into Chris right in front of him. Nathaniel nearly fell over from laughter at the site. Happy New Years, Nathaniel.

█
█
█
█
█
█
█
█
█
█
█ █
█
█
█
█
█
█
█
█
█
█

---

Landon smirked when Spencer replied, "My great idea is doing all of those at once. Perfect way to start the new year." He began to step towards her while his hands started unbuttoning his shirt. He had gotten his shirt completely unbuttoned to reveal his muscular torso when she got a text. "Leo's in trouble at the bistro. Some idiots decided to lay a hand on my brother." His eyes widened as he moved across Spence's room, grabbing his jacket off her office chair. He knew that they'd be off to go help or whatever you want to call it. "Whoever hurts the most bad guys gets oral from the loser." She was out the door before he was able to grab his car keys from his pocket. "Well... I was going to offer to drive us..." He sighed to himself, slipping his jacket on and running out of her dorm with his shirt still wide open.

Landon ran down the stairs, skipping 3 at a time until he reached the ground level and bursted through the door. He ran over to his truck, yanking open the door and sliding into the driver seat. Without putting his seatbelt on or anything, he put the key in the ignition and started the engine. Within seconds he was barreling down the road to the dinner.

Usually a 15 minutes drive and he made it there in a few minutes. Thankfully the school was sort of in the middle of no where because if it wasn't he probably would have wrecked or gotten a ticket by then. He pulled into the parking lot, seeing the action inside and outside the Bistro. He parked his truck in a spot near the entrance. Just as he went to exit his truck, he saw one of the gang members or whatever they were run out into the parking lot. Just as the guy was going to pass his truck, Landon opened the driver's side door, slamming the guy in the chest and knocking him to the ground. He smirked to himself as he stepped out of the truck, closing the door. "Timing is everything."

Apparently timing is everything because he arrived in time to see Spencer run right into someone. Typical. Landon shifted his gaze back to the guy on the ground before him. "You should probably get lost." He grabbed the guy by his shirt, lifting him up off the ground and pushing him in the direction away from the Bistro. Once the guy was gone, he made his way into the diner coming up to stand beside Nathaniel who seemed a little too pleased with himself. "Scaring the shit out of people per usual?" Landon lifted his arm to rest on his friends shoulder as the guy bit into the apple he was eating. He flinched slightly as he felt a breeze on his torso. Glancing down he realized his shirt was still wide open, he merely shrugged his shoulders not caring.

---

---

█
█
█
█
█
█
█
█
█
█ █
█
█
█
█
█
█
█
█
█

---

The guy sat up, "Hi." Well that's a start. Gisele thought to herself when he responded to her. She didn't realize how strange it probably was having a random girl come knocking on your door. But on a positive side he wasn't ignoring her. ”Aislinn, Aislinn, Aislinn… Sorry, I actually don’t know an Aislinn,” He said in response to her question. She sighed softly, nodding her head in understanding as the guy got up from his bed and moved towards her. She tried to snap her fingers in a dang-it type of way but her gloves just muffled the noise. "Dammit..." It wasn't long before she slightly regretted asking if he saw anyone pass by his door. She could tell by the way his eyes never seemed to really focus on anything that he was blind, she felt bad but something about him felt like he still had his perceptions which made sense as to why he could see her.

”Probably doesn’t help that I’m new here. Galen Lewis. What’s your name?” Gisele chuckled softly at his comment seeing his hand extend towards her as he introduced himself. She quickly brought her hands up to remove her glove from her right hand, before gently placing her hand in his. Regardless if he was blind or not, she glanced up into his eyes with a smile. Eye contact was important in her opinion. "It's ok... I haven't been here much longer than you. I know just enough to get myself lost, obviously." She laughed softly at her own comment before adding, "I'm Gisele... Gisele DuBois."

Gisele glanced over the guy as she slowly retracted her hand and put back on her glove. He was definitely attractive and didn't seem to be like a douche bag like half the guys in the school. But it was weird... When she tried to listen to his thoughts to see what was really going on in his head she only heard fragments, like radio static. Her brows pulled together as she tried to focus. She half raised her hands to reach out towards his face but froze mid way and let her hands drop. That'd probably be a hard first encounter to explain, not to mention invade his personal space. She was just curious why his mind seemed so different.

After a little bit of silence, Gisele cleared her throat. "So I'm assuming being new... You haven't met that many people. I was actually heading outside to play in the snow... Because I'm 5." She grinned while chuckling. "It might be more fun then laying around by yourself listening to music." She pointed towards his dorm room, "You're more then welcome to join. I just have to warn you... I'm like a world champion in snow ball fights, and I don't play fair." She smirked, "Or if you asked me really nicely, I might consider joining forces."

---

"Guys, all of us should leave, NOW!" Leo nodded and started going towards Mei so he could teleport them out when a guy came running towards her. He was about to help when she took care of herself and took that guy out with he boot. Leo's jaw dropped with amazement. "That was so cool!" Leo was all giddy with excitement at this point. He felt like he was watching a bunch of superheroes battle it out with the villains like in his comics.

Leo was brought back to reality when Mei took hold of his hand again. he looked down at their hands and then back at her. "Take me to Ella, I have a bad feeling. After you can go home where it is safe. I'll explain later," she told him. Leo nodded but not before retaliating just a tad, "I'll take you to Ella... But I'm not leaving you." He grinned and pulled her close as they began to teleport. "I made a promise." The two teleported away from the bistro to a few blocks away where he took Ella.

He looked around and saw she wasn't anywhere in sight meaning that she went back to the mansion. Leo sighed and teleported the two to the entrance before letting go of Mei and steadying himself against the wall. He over exerted his powers again teleported too far. It would only take a few moments to recuperate but he was still upset. He was supposed to be strong. Not weak and panting. He looked up at may and smiled rather foolishly. "I guess we have to walk from here."

---
---

[ song; arabella ] [ outfit; the immutable cold ]


---
---

XXX"I should like some large fries with chilli mayo and a strawberry float."
XXX"Uh..." The chef stood with his hand frozen on the handle of a frying pan he'd been about to bring over a hulking man's head.
XXX"You are open for business, are you not?" Synthia prompted.
XXX"Well, yeah, but..." he mumbled, shifting the pan to his other hand.
XXX"Keep the change," she said, placing a fistful of notes in his hand. His eyes nearly bulged from his head as he raced into the kitchen. He whipped out his knife and sliced into a basket of potatoes faster than seemed humanly possible. Perhaps he was like Sam. He handed Synthia her chips and drink with a splitting grin on his face, before untying his apron and bolting out the door with a stream of praises in his wake.
XXX"Really Chris, this whole 'alpha male' act is rather idiotic, don't you say?" Nathaniel's voice carried over the battlefield as his eyes slid over the writhing bodies to land on her. "Acting like a brutish hero for the attention of a girl." This last part he seemed to say loudly, as if wanting her to overhear.
XXX"Well, don't look at me. I have a penis," said Synthia, her voice devoid of any inflection that might belay humour. "You just fail to see it beneath my layers of self-doubt and crippling anxiety."
XXX"Isn't going to work on someone who has an IQ that weighs more than two of you," Nathaniel continued.
XXX"I am humbled. Alas, IQ cannot be quantified in weight." She waved a chip at Nathaniel as she made the noise of a buzzer in a game, declaring an answer incorrect. "Try again."
XXXSynthia slipped the french fry between her lips, stepping around sprawled bodies and fighting men. The door burst open and a gold-haired blur flew towards Synthia. She easily pivoted from the onslaught and took a sip of her drink as Spencer collided into a gunman instead, before hurtling into Chris. Synthia ate her chips.
XXXShe walked towards them until she towered over her portable generator. She did not offer a hand to help him up.
XXX"Will you look at that," she mused. "I think I like you better helpless and immobile. Let's go. Here, I procured some fried potatoes." She slipped a fry between his lips and turned to Nathaniel. Her eyes flicked to the apple in his hand, before returning to meet his gaze. "Did you know the seeds of apples are poisonous?" She quirked her head. "It would require approximately 87.33 grams of apple seeds to kill someone of your size."
XXXSynthia smiled. A dimple appeared in her left cheek.
XXXAnd without another word, she left for her car.


・ • ● • ・


XXXWhen she arrived at the mansion, she was pelted with a snowball. She could not tell from whom it had come, but it had surprised her. She stared at the splatter of white that laid just above her heart as if she could not for the life of her, comprehend what it was for. She raised her head to find a gaggle of students running about. The sight was bizarre.
XXX"Katherine." There was no "happy new year" or "how have you been." Synthia seemed to think her name was greeting enough. She was likely the only person under the age of 50 who called Kat by her full name, but Synthia had never been liable to shortened epithets. She even called Chris, Christopher, some days. Synthia looked at the dark-haired girl, who'd been standing nearest to her when she'd arrived. "Are we partaking in a practice drill? I do not recall a notice in the Academy's schedule. Should I retrieve the cannon?"
XXXA year before, she had developed a snowball cannon that propelled ice at incredible velocities and with maximum reload efficiency. Synthia had reasoned that "rolling spherical clumps of ice" to be "rather tedious," and had built a machine that did so for her instead. Needless to say, it was clear who won the snowball fight that year. Many a bruise had been imparted that day.

Chris' hand tightened into a fist as electricity began to surround it. He was ready to punch that smug ass grin off of Nathaniel's face. He moved forward a little bit but was stopped by the sudden.....arrival of Spencer as she barreled into him. He groaned as he pushed her off of him. "Dammit Spencer! You are just hell-bent on proving that dumb blonde stereotype aren't you!?" He growled. When Synth leaned down, and forced the fry into his lips he acted like a child at first when their mother tries to spoon feed them before he finally accepted the fry.

"Shut. Up." He merely responded to her as he got up. He was too pissed to give her some clever comment. He glared at Nathaniel as he laughed at him. "Do remember that fears can be conquered. But over a thousand volts of electricity surging through you is a lot harder to deal with." He stated in a threatening manner. "Fun fact, it only takes about one tenth of an amp to kill a guy. I can produce much, much more than that. Keep that in mind the next time you decide to be a bigger douche than you already are."

Chris then walked past Nathaniel, plowing through his shoulder, almost knocking him down as he followed behind Synth to return back to the mansion. Once they returned to the mansion, and saw Synth get pelted by an snowball he laughed out loud. "Nice shot Kat-Kit. But be careful, she has my jacket." He stated, acting as if he cared more about the jacket than Synth. "Well I'm going to go inside, and get away from the snowballs of terror. It's still water, just frozen water, but it still stings like a bitch." He stated, reminding them of his weakness to water.

Before he started his way inside he turned to face Synth. "Oh, you weren't hurt back there right? I was a bit too pissed from that asshole to ask. You're alright right?" He asked with a clear note of genuine concern for her. No matter what he'll always worry for her safety after all. She's the closet thing to family he has anymore.

---

"Dammit Spencer! You are just hell-bent on proving that dumb blonde stereotype aren't you!?" Spencer rolled her eyes and folded her arms at Chris's comment. "Next time, don't get in my way when someone decides to hurt my pipsqueak!" She yelled at him when she walked away. Her gaze followed Synthia while she walked to the car. "God damn... It's really unfair for someone that hot to be such a prude. It's a good thing I like a challenge." She smirked and turned to the boys to hear Landon's comment towards Nathaniel. "Of course he is. Torturing people is what he does best. He just sucks at choosing victims." She stepped towards Nathaniel and grabbed a handful of his shirt. "By the way, fuck with my brother again and I'll knock you into next week, understood." Spencer let go of his shirt and grinned. "Well now... I'd say race you back but I don't feel like running." She pointed at Landon. "You're driving me back and we're finding something fun to do. I also won." She winked at him and started walking to his truck.

{OOC: Sorry it's so short. Working on an essay.}

Nathaniel had no retaliation at the attempted insults and threats thrown at him. He'd heard them all before and simply chuckled at them as they thought they could scare him. He took another bite of his apple and watched Leo help Spencer back up. He had something planned for the little runt later... It wasn't that he disliked him or anything. Nathaniel simply enjoyed tormenting because he's such an easy target. Especially when Spencer isn't around to protect him.

"Scaring the shit out of people per usual?" Nathaniel's gaze drifted down to his torso and then over to Spencer when she spoke up. "Of course he is. Torturing people is what he does best. He just sucks at choosing victims." Nathaniel shrugged. "It is what I do best and I seem to remember a time when you didn't care whom I chose as my victim." Spencer took a step towards him and grabbed a decent handful of his shirt which caused him to frown. She was wrinkling it. "By the way, fuck with my brother again and I'll knock you into next week, understood." Spencer let go of his shirt and gave a grin to him and Landon.

"Well now... I'd say race you back but I don't feel like running." She was speaking to Landon at this point and completely ignoring Nathaniel's presence. "You're driving me back and we're finding something fun to do. I also won." He watched her walk away and thought back to when they used to have the same type of friendship she now has with Landon. He looked over at his best friend and put a hand on his shoulder. "Well lad, I suggest you go after that before you lose your window of opportunity to get the best New Year's shag. Or second best since we all know I'm the best." He winked and disappeared revealing that the him at the dinner was just little showcase of his ability. He'd been waiting in his car the whole time.

"Your version of showing off is almost completely idiotic and ineffective." Annabeth commented from the passenger seat as she turned her head towards Nathaniel who was in the driver's seat of his car. "You should've done the disappearing party trick when Chris was still around instead of standing there gawking at Landon's chest." Nathaniel rolled his eyes and started the car. "Now why would I need to worry about that..." He smirked and put a hand on her thigh. "When I've got you, Annie."

Annabeth arched her eyebrow at him and a surge of pain flooded to his head until he let go and began to scream. Annabeth smirked and let go. "Stop being an idiot and drive back to the mansion." Nathaniel mumbled something before pulling out of the parking lot and heading back to the mansion. Annabeth pulled out her phone and began typing away. "Stop at the liquor store before hand and get something good. Apparently everyone's favourite speedster is having a party in his dorm." She looked up from her phone. "Might as well make it fun."

Nathaniel rolled his eyes and stopped at the liquor store like she asked. He grabbed a few cases of beers, some vodka, tequila, and used his powers to make the clerk think he paid for it before getting out of there. Annabeth began to text everyone in her contacts list about the party going on and made sure to inform them there'd be alcohol. It seemed that booze was the only way to get a bunch of teenagers all together for a good time.

█
█
█
█
█
█
█
█
█
█ █
█
█
█
█
█
█
█
█
█

---

Landon couldn't help but chuckle at Nathaniel as he caught him checking out his chest. "Go ahead... Touch it... I know you want to." He whispered in a seductive tone to his friend before adding a wink and growl. As Spencer began to talk to Nathaniel, he moved his arm off his friend's shoulder and began to button his shirt. Once Spence threatened Nate, Landon took a step back, holding his hands up like he was innocent. "Dudes... I'm Switzerland." He motioned to himself, "Neutral territory."

Spencer then turned to him as she spoke, "Well now... I'd say race you back but I don't feel like running. You're driving me back and we're finding something fun to do. I also won." Landon smirked, "You lazy ass. Be prepared to work for that ride... I don't do charity." He then added as she started to walk out of the dinner, "And it's 1 and 1... Learn to count. I got one with my truck door thank you." As she walked out to his truck, he couldn't help but watch her ass. Nathaniel got his attention when he spoke up, "Well lad, I suggest you go after that before you lose your window of opportunity to get the best New Year's shag. Or second best since we all know I'm the best." Landon grinned, "Are you offering to be the best?" He raised his brows suggestively towards his close friend, "And I'm not worried about losing my window. I get the luxury of tapping that whenever I want... Thank god she has a high libido like me." He patted Nate's back before heading out to his truck, hoping into the driver's seat.

Landon started his truck. He heard his phone chime and dug it out of his back pocket. "Soooo... Party in Sam's room. You in?" He looked over at Spence as he asked the question. "We could always grab that crazy roommate of yours. I'm sure she'd be the life of the party." Before he drove them back to school, he started a new message.


He then put his truck into gear and drove them back to the dorm.

---

---

█
█
█
█
█
█
█
█
█
█
█ █
█
█
█
█
█
█
█
█
█
█

---

Gisele was glad that Galen didn't seemed phased by her as she examined his head. ”My ability is perception. I’m hyperaware of nearly everything around me, including telepathically.” She grinned once she understood, "That makes so much sense... That's why you move as if you're not blind at all... Fascinating." She was truly intrigued by him. It's amazing the capabilities of the body to adapt to compensate for it's weaknesses and turn them to strengths. She then had noticed that he allowed her own mind to slither into his for only a moment to wish her a Happy New Year. She giggled. ”It is nice isn’t it? I can’t really hear yours either…” "Wow..." She whispered, "It's crazy to think that we are probably the only other people in the world that we can have utter silence with." She liked that idea, someone she could spend time with and actually enjoy company with silence, like she was normal. She could see herself, in the future, finding sanctuary with him her personal oasis of peace.

Galen nearly stopped dead in his tracks when she mentioned classical music, ”Do you really listen to Back and Mozart or did you ask my brother what music he downloads for me?” Gisele chuckled, "You know... Popular to contrary belief I have never met your brother. But, I am far more interested in you." Quickly after saying that she realized it could misinterpreted, "I mean as a... not like what you think... Ummm..." She began to ramble as she brought her hand up to scratch her head before quickly recovering the conversation. "I uh... play the piano. So I have had an appreciation for classical music since I was young." Gisele was surprised, Galen was the first person she was able to have a genuine conversation about classical music with. ”As odd as it sounds, I love listening to Tchaikovsky, and I know it’s weird since he wrote ballets, but they just… I don’t know, they’re classic.” "I don't find it odd at all." She walked in step with him, "I'll tell you a secret... I listen to the score from Phantom of the Opera when I do gymnastics." She smiled as she glanced over at him.

---

It wasn't long after they were outside that Gisele realized she chose the wrong side to be on. Only a few seconds after she saw the waterfall of snow fall onto Sam's head, Chris sent a wave of snow towards him as well. And of course, Gisele was standing in the range of fire as well. With only a second to think, she ducked her body behind Galen's just as the snow hit them. She clapped her hands together as she laughed softly. They had only been outside for maybe a minute or 2 when she heard Ella shout, "Party at Sam's dorm!!" And just as quickly as everyone poured out into the snow, then all filed back into the dorm building.

Gisele sighed, "Man... Barely got to enjoy all the fun." She caught sight of Ash and Reed walking inside hand and hand. She couldn't help but smile slightly. She was happy for her friend. There's nothing easier then having fate push your towards a guy because he saved your life. Gisele hoped that someday she'd be so lucky... To find a guy, not almost die. She slowly turned around to face Galen. "Well now I feel bad. I dragged you out here and then the battle ends the second we arrive." She laughed half heartedly. "I'm sure Ash would want me to go, but I don't know if I'm feeling the whole third wheel situation.... Wanna join and keep me company so I don't go insane from everyone's minds?" She smiled towards him. She still had a lot to get to know about him, but so far she enjoyed his company. Plus having someone there for her to talk to so she didn't have to sit back and watch Ash make goo-goo eyes at Reed was always a bonus.

---

"You lazy ass. Be prepared to work for that ride... I don't do charity." Spencer rolled her eyes. "And it's 1 and 1... Learn to count. I got one with my truck door thank you." She could feel both their eyes on her backside when she walked to his truck. Normally she would make a comment but all she wanted was to go back to the mansion and grab a nice bottle of whiskey to warm her right up. And maybe fool around with Landon or try her luck with one of the many attractive women that attended this fine school of freaks.

She waited until he got into the driver's seat and then spoke. "For the record, I also took down Chris so that has to count for something." She smirked at him. "But I guess we could call it a tie..." She shrugged and both of their phones went off at the same time with a text from Annabeth. The hot Orion sibling.

"Soooo... Party in Sam's room. You in?" He looked over at Spence as he asked the question. "We could always grab that crazy roommate of yours. I'm sure she'd be the life of the party." Spencer grinned. "Of course I'm in! I need some girl action in my life!" She laughed and began to form a text on her phone for her roommate as they arrived back at the mansion.

{To: The Robotic Princess}
Party at Sam's. You're going. I'll make Leo bring you lots of coffee.

She hit send and jumped down from the seat after she opened the truck door. Spencer made her way to the boy's dorm rooms with Landon behind her until she found Sam's door and barged in without knocking. "The fun has arrived!"

---
---

[ song; gasoline ] [ hex; #779F6D ] [ outfit; the immutable cold ]


---
---

XXXXXX"She isn't," Blair responded. Her voice flowed like liquid sugar, warm as it struck, but crystallising around the hearts of the unsuspecting when it touched. "Not really the New Year's kiss I had envisioned, well, I didn't really think of having one but if I did it wouldn't be like that, reeking of alcohol." A smile played on her lips. "Honestly I didn't think miss nose in the books could even get drunk, I was taken off guard, an attack on an innocent Scottish girl!"
XXXSynthia followed every syllable, every minuscule shift in eye movement. Every rhythmic breath, every cadence. Every inflection in her voice, every twitch of a finger. She saw everything, all the time. And she analysed. She read. She searched for lies woven beneath the truth. She searched for insincerity.
XXXBut it didn't seem to matter how extraordinarily intelligent Synthia was.
XXXBecause she saw what she wished to see, anyway.
XXX"How about you, how has your New year's been?" Blair asked.
XXXSynthia took a lingering sip of the black coffee before resting it soundlessly on the side table. She was still looking at the movements of her hands when she began to answer, flicking her gaze to meet Blair's only with the third sentence. "Oh, you know. The usual. Spencer and Landon insisted on partaking in beastly ministrations. Although, Christopher did not electrify any machines, surprisingly enough. He did electrocute a few people though." She paused, thinking, before continuing with a nonchalant shrug. "But who cares. Someone had a gun to my head and I am almost certain Reed and Aislinn are on the verge of reproduction." She narrowed her eyes, lips curling in distaste as if nibbling on something foul. "Like I said, nothing important happened."
XXXSynthia sighed, crossing her arms over her chest as she leaned into the pillows.
XXX"Honestly," she began. "Adolescents should be careful or homosexual. The earth is overpopulated." Synthia shook her head in disapproval. "Did you know the world's population is estimated to reach 9.6211 billion in 35 years? I suggest eradicating the old; they are a burden on the healthcare system."
XXXHer eyes shone with a sudden, quiet excitement.
XXX"I have been endeavouring to construct an incubation system for youths as well as a synthetic hormone to hasten the speed of human development," she said. "Infants are virtually useless and very ugly. I saw one the other day," she asserted, almost with surprise. "It merely laid there."
XXXSynthia quirked her head to the side, her eyes staring into another space.
XXX"A party is undergoing in Samuel's dorm," she informed Blair. "Do you wish to partake in their group activities? I have read that socialisation is healthy in selective amounts. However, humans carry with them many strains of bacteria, but I am approximately 87.21% certain you will not contract a grave virus from Samuel and his companions. Landon's, Spencer's or Nathaniel's, on the other hand..." she considered seriously, her eyes flickering as she performed a series of calculations. "I estimate a 99.14% possibility that you will contract nausea from their very presence."

Nathaniel made sure to park his Aston Martin in the best possible spot for someone not to be dumb enough to park their unworthy car next to his and quite possibly scratch the only thing he loves. He killed the engine before stepping out and making his way over to the passenger side. Annabeth wouldn't get out unless Nathaniel held the door for her. He opened the passenger door and let her step out. She put her hand on the side of his cheek and smirked at him. "Good boy." She winked at him and walked passed him to the back of the car. Nathaniel sighed and closed the door before opening the back of the trunk and grabbing all the liquor. "Are you sure this is enough?" He asked her in a joking manner. Annabeth rolled her eyes and spun on her heels. "Keep up, brother."

Nathaniel followed behind her into the mansion. He was still expected to hold doors for Annabeth despite the fact that his hands were full. He would've retaliated but he really didn't want to feel like his head was about to explode again. They reached Sam's door and Nathaniel opened the door for Annabeth again. She walked in and then Nathaniel right after. Annabeth had a large grin on her face. "We come bearing gifts." Nathaniel looked rather displeased with the current crowd expect for one person, Landon. At least he could stand his presence even if Spencer was around. Nathaniel set the alcohol down and walked over to his best friend. "So instead of shagging the dumb blonde... You decided to enjoy a party with half wits?" Nathaniel teased and Annabeth walked past him. "Nathaniel, do play nice." She commanded him as she went to go fix herself a drink. Nathaniel rolled her eyes and looked over at Landon. "Women."