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Lydia round 2 rolllll

Oliver quickly shook his head in response to Hanna's questions, but neither was Jack entirely on the mark with his assumptions either. The source of the kid's hastiness when it came to fetching coffee was partly based on fright, and the other part... Well, it was just easier to be in the lab with another Life division hunter when you didn't give them extra reason to radiate disapproval.

Jack received a rather confused look. "Bonus?" He asked, and then pulled his phone out. "O-oh." He had jumped the moment the coffee was requested, and merely skimmed over the rest of the message. Now that he had the time to read it in it's entirety, plus Jack's follow up text, he began to blush brightly. Touch... his... no. Why did Jack even think he would consider that a reward? But the $50, that was pretty nice. "That's, um... one really... expensive... cup of coffee." He muttered, looking at his phone with a nervous and skeptical expression. He was definitely not accustomed to rewards.

Hearing his name, Oliver glanced up from the long list of short texts that had somehow accumulated on his phone during his coffee run. But his reaction was not so much a dancing monkey, as a timid, slightly confused forest animal that had decided to stay where it was instead of bolting. "Oh," he said, and then to Hanna with a smile, "Congratulations!" He wasn't entirely sure what her award was all about, but she at least deserved the congrats for getting on Jack's good side!

He was putting his phone back in his pocket, when his hand bumped the bottle of water he had grabbed for Ian. "Ah, e-excuse me! I should be going," He said, his expression apologetic. Jack had his coffee, but Oliver still had one more beverage delivery to make. "Sorry!" He chirped, and then hastily made his way back to where he was originally sitting.

S...Swimsuits. Sexy swimsuit contest. Oh no. Stormy knew vaguely it was going to happen, but to hear it straight from the judges? Oh no oh no oh no. She remained frozen in place with a savage new form of anxiety, the very idea of showing more skin terrifying. There were reasons she liked layers.

She distracted herself by watching the contestants, making soft, nervous laughter to herself as Noemi and Lex went. Lex's blue steel looks and overall unclothed torso in particular were enough to warrant her eyes to wander everywhere else but on him; it was now like watching a handsome older brother figure rather than her original puppy crush, which of course did nothing to combat the awkwardness.

But eventually Stormy's turn would be up. With a reluctant sigh, she dragged herself to Allan's spares and picked the least revealing one she could manage, tugging her boots and socks off with a wince. She hurriedly tied her coat around her hips like it was a lopsided sarong, but at least it provided a little coverage.

Stormy didn't know what exactly Gale had been thinking, but she was starting to lean towards defensive as far as her response would be after this embarrassment. Maybe another mission would happen again to distract him. Like right this moment. Yeah. She also had no idea what to do for her talent, so she took her time getting up before the judges, scratching at her scalp nervously; her cap had been left behind to help cement the look, but she felt utterly naked doing so.

Eventually she followed the swimsuit theme, cleared her throat, cleared it again more quietly, and then began singing "Part of Your World".



That's alright, Zoe. She was of the same opinion about herself.

Still, Stormy found herself slowly forgetting there were judges at all as she remembered the lyrics that were practically carved into her bones. They weren't underwater, but she began to fall into the part of Ariel anyway, slowly inching around as she used her hands to help convey emotion.



Mark's comment almost made her lose her train of thought, color creeping into her cheeks. Hopefully Gale didn't hear that. Hopefully. She got more and more into the part, her movements growing less hesitant and confined.



And at the end, she felt good about it. Not "contest worthy", but good. Singing always did; singing Disney was close to a miracle cure for her mood, although having an audience put a damper on that. Still, it was over and done with, and maybe she wouldn't have to worry about anything else.

Once back where her clothes were, she found her phone and tapped out a message before changing.

Milo had been cheering, letting out a shout and a whoop for all those he knew that crossed the stage. And honestly he couldn't say it was totally a bad thing at all being in the audience, not when there were some cute girls in bathing suits. Even if it was nothing new to him, growing up on an island that well... had cute girls in bathing suits. (Despite his resolve of only needing justice in his life, he was still a guy who could appreciate a good looking body).

And his cute little shy neighbor in her bathing suit (kind of a bathing suit). He couldn't help but grin.

This time around Peyton seemed quiet a bit calmer as she walked back out to face the judges. Her bathing suit was opalescent number. Stringy, but on her thin frame it worked. With a smile she came to a stop before the judge's table, rocking back on her heels as her hands clasped behind her back, and waited. Allan shouted out a question(What's your favorite Pokemon!), and she laughed, repeating her answer from earlier, then fell quiet again.

When the music started, so did the dainty Sun. Pey had never taken any formal dance lessons, though anytime a high school had it as an option for an elective she'd signed up. She wasn't fabulous, but she was pretty good for what little training she had.

Mark's commentary caught her attention. She chanced a glance his way, contemplated getting irritated, and instead decided to take his advice into consideration. She lightened things up!



Allan called at her again, the same question, and again she laughed. How could she not? "I already told you, Skitty!" It was a color thing. She liked her pinks and yellows.

There wasn't much left of the song, so she began to wrap it up.



When she was finished she bent at the waist in a quick bow before flashing the judges a radiant smile and heading back off stage.

Once out of sight she headed straight for America, and threw her hand up for a high-five as she walked past. Up high, and down low. "Nailed it." Both of them.

Noemi blushed as suddenly she was being hugged by...by...

"Miss....Cee!?!?" The girl flushed terribly now that she was being PRESSED BY THINGS, "Nice...Nice...What?!?!" Well of course Milo liked her as a friend, he wouldn't give her hugs and stuff if he didn't!

"Milo...Milo..." She tried to stutter out again because what Miss Cee. WHAT!??! Hair was primped, she was spun out of the curtain and and smack to the bottom had her toddling off the stage towards the sun hunter in a shocked and somewhat confused manner.

Soon as she got near Milo, her hands lace together and quietly she looked at him...

"Can I please borrow your jacket....I can't get to my clothes and Miss Cee told me um...come get you before she does?" Brutally honest...plus she was looking at the ground.

There might have been a rather audible 'hah!' out of Milo when he finally received her garbled embarrassed text message. Oh man, she was adorable. He began working on a reply (thankfully after he noticed Peyton on stage, because he needed to support the rangers after all) when the next one came in.

He had to take a moment to remember exactly who this 'Miss Cee' was, having only met her like fifteen minutes prior for him to realize it was that one dark haired girl with.. the assets. Why would she be looking for him...



Though, by the time he finally sent it off it seemed like a little wasted effort when the poor red head had found herself right next to him. Giving him full view of her swimwear. Still though, "aw, Noemi-chan, course you can!" He told her, already shifting in his seat to get it off for her - it was one of his more simple ones, black with a few pockets on the outside. Maybe a hand stitched decal on the shoulder that looked like a police patch but wasn't (dekaranger). "Surprised they let you up here." Would have figured contestants were supposed to stay back stage and all.

Then he thought about her phrasing, "you taking me backstage?"

- Milo didn't notice Cee at first. Sorry Cee.