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"How do you manage to swallow this crud?" Cliff returned in a half mortified, half amused drawl, the sound mumbled as he tried to cover his mouth as he spoke with it full. For a second, he actually looked like he might swallow it, his eyes squeezing tight and his adam's apple bobbing a bit, but after a moment he seemed to abandon this plan, laughing again as he made mock-gagging sounds. The giggle from Zoey earned her a grin in her direction, his green eyes sparkling a bit at the sound. They worried about her, they both did, so it was always nice to hear her speak up a bit, relax and not be such a quiet thing. Giving Isaac a little shove, he pushed away from where he'd been leaning their shoulders together, extending a hand to take the napkin from her. "Thank you ma'am," he replied to Zoey, taking the procured napkin and immediately transferring the ketchup-drenched food from his mouth to it. As if to really accentuate his displeasure, the blonde made a face, making sure the other man saw it as well.

Of course, Isaac wasn't going to take this lying down. Cliff would expect no less of him either. So when the retort came, the southern boy made sure to give him an adequate response, eyebrows lifted high, not even bothering to keep the smile from his face.

"Oh. Oh I see. It is on now, huh?" He teased, standing up in his seat and lifting his arms, puffing out his chest, "You wanna fight, chicklet? Huh? Is that what you want?"

The only thing that likely saved the cafeteria from a bro-tussle was the fact that Zoey raised her voice, which stopped Cliff dead in his tracks in shock. The girl was normally so soft spoken, the sudden announcement was enough to shake him enough into hesitation, looking remarkably comical where he was standing with his arms lifted. Of course, after this second of hesitation, he used it to his advantage, clearing his throat as he addressed the rest of the table. He was already standing, he supposed he might as well use it. "Cliff Austin," he introduced himself, before clapping a hand roughly onto Isaac's shoulder, leaning down a little with a grin and a wrinkled nose, "And this is 'Dumbass.'"

(Entering the cafeteria)

Profe didn't enter the cafeteria through the simple entrance doors that it offered – no, he climbed in through the windows, crouched with his knees bent to observe the crowds that had amassed in the cafeteria. What a rare sight.. He remarked inwardly to himself, twirling the lollipop stick in his mouth. He noted the most significant fact; the forced cooperation of runic and fear hunters? The interactions between the two types were limited at best, trivial and bothersome at worst. Not that Profe was concerned one way or another. When it came to the worst case scenario, hunters could simply work independently of each other regardless of if they were paired for missions and what not.

He jumped down from his perch, and easily strode to where the food laid. Picking up a bread roll, he held it in his hand while finishing his candy. The only reason that he hadn't gone to the dorms was .. well.. He had no desire to be in his dorm room right now. The last time that he had seen his room, it had been a suspiciously blue room. His best guess was that somebody or something had inhabited it in his absence. Profe was not a fan of co-habiting. Not with somebody or something.

He leaned against a wall and couldn't help but calculate -- What kind of mission could possibly be so important to gather this many hunters? To bring them back from their respective missions? It must've undoubtedly been a high risk. Which lead to the important question, how many of them would yet again die? But even as he thought about these statistics, Profe couldn't help but ease into the friendly atmosphere.

Noticing a fellow life hunter on the side, he walked up to wave at her with a grin. "Yo! I've seen you in the laboratory. How is it going?"



[Please feel free to interact 8D ]

Jonathan was a patient man, listening as the kids around him (to the Moon Division Leader everybody was a child he would have to wrangle in at some point in time, even Liam, the Death Division Lead) as they chattered their introductions to each other, and some of the cozied up to their friends. Others tried to figure out what would be happening if this was big enough for them to be called back from their posts.

He just sat, listening, waiting, sometimes prodding at the food on his plate and even shoving a couple sunflower seeds into his mouth to bide the time. He'd eventually realize if Ferdinand wasn't coming and actually eat, but listening to the gossip at least gave him a handle on things - it relaxed him, and John liked getting a sense of ease the night before they had to go off and watch everything go to hell.

It wasn't unusual, after all. Almost thoughtfully he played at a small scar that swiped his less marred cheek, thinking over that night, then moving to another and playing it through his head as well. It wasn't a mental berating, but rather he was a reminder to himself that he'd lived through too much to let himself be stressed out and worried about everything all the time. He left that to the other heads - John would worry if things actually got bad, but only then.

That would be in the future, for now it was just time to get in some good ol' final meals-for-a-while and see what individuals gravitated towards whom.

Seth smiled and waved back to Dominic since he didn't know who the man was but it was always good to be polite. As one didn't want to piss too many people off if you need to have your butt saved and went back to eating his food as he didn't know that he had been this hungry, but it was so much better than what he had been eating at his outpost.

He truly was fixated on his food right this second that he didn't realize that another hunter had come near the table and bumped into it until another plate of food that was on the other side of him near the edge of the table and it went plop onto the floor. Seth sided a little when he looked to see the plate on the floor as he was just about to eat that, oh well he wasn't going to get mad over it as its just as easy to get more. "It was an accident and don't worry about it," he said to Gabby as he pointed to the floor, but he didn't look all that upset about it.

"Well if you must know, I was in my room." Billie played with a strand of her own hair, unused to be able to wear it down. Most of the time it started down but eventually worked it's way up into a ponytail or bun. She just couldn't stand if falling in her face while she worked and the feeling of hair on her neck could get annoying she was trying to concentrate.

"It's like being a museum or something." She chuckled. "Do you know I lost a couple pounds from the last time I was here?"

The plain brown shirt she wore was a bit loose but she was happy to be able to wear a nice, crisp uniform coat. One that had been dry cleaned. It was kind of like being on vacation. "Coffee any good?" She asked him idly.

For the most part she was eavesdropping. At the end of their table were a group of slightly younger hunters who for the most part seemed acquainted. She could recognize the slight awkwardness, the unsure words here and there, that were a sure sign they'd all been off doing their own thing. Her head turned further around to scope the crowd and she gave a smile to Jonathan. He was her division lead and while she didn't know him very well they had contact once or twice and had definitely been in the same room multiple times in the past. He had a patience she could identify with.

"I can't help but think," She leaned across to Warden, her light expression darkening only for a moment. "That we are waiting for the hammer to fall. This whole gathering is just plain weird."

[ Warden Victors ]


Warden gave a little snort of laughter in spite of himself.

"I guess that makes you King Arthur, does it?" he asked Issac, the tone lightly teasing before the other turned away, lost in the midst of conversation with those around him. It felt slightly claustrophobic in here, like there were too many people and too many voices.

Warden turned back to Billie.

"Your room?" he repeated, lifting one dark brow. Truth be told, he hadn't even thought about going back to his room. He wondered whether it still looked the same, the walls a plain tan color, the decorations minimal in response to the hunter standards. Warden had not kept very much in there, but there were small touches that he had done to make it seem more inviting; a couple of books here and there, a blanket from home; and, on his desk, a framed picture of his family. The only other picture besides that one that he allowed himself was the one he carried with him constantly, tucked inside of his shirt, of the woman sitting directly across from him.

"You still look just fine to me either way," Warden replied easily, the twinkle of mischief light in his eyes as he glanced at her, but then he looked down at his coffee and grimaced.

"Not in the slightest."

-- Tell her I said hi. --

"And Tee says hello."

Warden's gaze drifted around, following the path that Billie's eyes made. He sighed a little, the pounding in his skull not getting any light, and her comments were just what he was thinking and had just not voiced aloud.

"It's too much," he admitted, with a slight frown, idly taking another swallow of the terrible coffee. "The division heads are plotting something, and I can't help but feel overly anxious about. We've got both sets of hunters here - Runic and FEAR - and that's just odd in and of itself."

Warden rubbed his temple with his fingers. "It's too...tense in here."

(( Entering the cafeteria ))

Moore peered around the cafeteria, taking in the flirting, the d**k-waving, the friendly chatting. Hell, some folks were even actually eating. Deus Ex filled with people. He didn't think he'd ever see the place like this again.

He had stopped by for a quick bite on his way to his room, not anticipating the sheer number of other Hunters that would be here as well, many of whom he hadn't seen in years. This must be some mission they were getting thrown into. The Mist Hunter shrugged mentally. A job was a job. He'd throw himself in the line of fire for anyone, even if they had hazed him once upon a time.

All right. In and out. He would have preferred to eat alone, but every table seemed occupied to one extent or another. That pair of Lifers would have to do. Hanging out with the research kids was almost like being alone anyway. He plopped down near the pair, offering them both a nod before tucking into his chicken.