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 Posted: Mon Jun 20, 2011 8:46 pm
Jerry's giggles slowly died into a half hearted series of noises as his ears caught up with his brain. "... G-girlfriend?" The smile faded, eyes darting from one Fact to the Next, Robert's hold, Petra's expression, the words pouring from Jordan's mouth.
Oh.... dear.
"I... OH! Er! How uh! I'm sorry I shouldn't ha- I mean, that is to say I er... I didn't know that you.. well I mean I guess I SHOULD have known, the way you two always um... y-yes, that- OH! I seemed to have spilled my coffee I should just go and um...!" Coffee masterfully knocked over by a trembling, flailing hand, Jerry snatched up the cup before making a break for the coffee urns if only to hide the flush that was as red as the blood smudging his lip.
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Posted: Mon Jun 20, 2011 9:01 pm
Ennéa squeezed between Jerry and Robert, utterly ignoring the scene that had just occurred. She glomped onto the smaller man, "Z-Four!" she squealed, swinging around off his neck in her happiness.
She had forgotten about her old 'singing partner' in all the excitement of the past couple of days: waking up from that pod; reuniting with so many of her other squad mates; dealing with that stupid unfair test; Ennéa had been so distracted by everything before her that she didn't really have time to think about things (and people) that were missing.
But she suddenly remembered after hearing the other man say his name. It was a big 'OH, DUH!' moment. She stopped wiggling enough to beam up at him. "I'm glad you made it!" she said.
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Interesting Conversationalist
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Posted: Mon Jun 20, 2011 9:06 pm
She wasn't sure whether to be offended or pleased that he 'recognized her cold voice anywhere,' her expression shifting to a bewildered, thoughtful one as she considered this. In the end, however, she didn't really have time to even respond -- within a few seconds, she found arms that were... well, not Robert's... around her, hugging her enthusiastically. Petra blinked once at the sudden embrace, not even really have time to feel awkward about it, although she did stare at him for a second in surprise -- it was like Four, she should have not been surprise. But even this thought was short lived. Because within half a second of the embrace, she suddenly found a soft, sweet pair of lips half against hers, and suddenly Jerry was kissing the corner of her mouth like he couldn't contain himself, he was just so pleased to see her. It was nothing short of adorable, picturesque of sweetness, something any girl would have been more than pleased to have received.
... if said girl didn't already have, not only a boyfriend, but a fiancee.
Petra teetered a little on her feet as Robert's punch sent Jerry flying, the man's arms still around her at the time of contact. For the most part, however, she stayed pretty straight, staring at the giggling form that was now on the ground. Only then, it seemed, was she able to respond to his FIRST compliment, as if her brain hadn't caught up with the situation yet, still needing to reboot after the hug. "... thank you?" Well THAT was only five seconds too late.
Of course, Jordan was there before anyone could even sneeze, breaking them up and starting to settle the fight. And, like the hand of god, things seemed to settle a little. She glanced at Robert as she felt him suddenly pull her 'subtly' against him. She responded with only a "Tsk," tilting her head up at him with a half-scolding look, although her arm did wrap around his waist soothingly. Part of her was a little pleased by the possessiveness, although it was the rational part of her brain that was scolding him now. But it was just a little scold.
Actually, it looked more like Jerry was the one who needed calming down, although in a much different way. She felt a little bad as she watched his smile fade, tilting her head a little as he fumbled over his words, so much so that as soon as he started to move away, she almost moved to catch him by the arm, instead speaking up.
"Fou-- ... Jerry," she started, her voice a little firm, hoping to stop him from retreating, "Would you kindly sit with us?"
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Posted: Mon Jun 20, 2011 10:30 pm
The humming had returned as Jerry was stopped, tight and quiet and almost inaudible in his throat as he was suddenly stopped by the bright eyes and excited hug from little Alpha Nine, who's name he hadn't learned just yet, but it was obvious just who she was. Countless hours spent trudging through the island singing with the girl, they had been some of the nicer times in that terrible place... even if it hadn't really happened, it had happened in spirit, hadn't it? His brain was still trying to wrap itself around the events that had taken place.
But he wasn't alone.
He wasn't alone.
"I'm just... really happy to see everyone..." His smile was back, at least, one hand still clutching the empty coffee cup while the other patted the back of that pink hair tenderly. His voice was trembling, though, his expression crumbling around the edges, and Petra's gentle invitation seemed to be the final straw.
He inhaled sharply, blinking away the tears, plastic smile planted firmly on his face "Of course! I just... need a refill, ahah... I'll just be a moment..." He carefully untangled himself from Ennea's embrace, hurrying to the coffee urns to refill his cup, staring at the black liquid for several moments as he breathed in.... breathed out... and regained his composure.
Just a little embarrassment. Nothing... nothing to worry about! They were all friends here.
He had friends here.
That alone warmed his heart as he headed back to the table to take his seat amongst the rest.
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Posted: Mon Jun 20, 2011 10:47 pm
Madison finally managed to swallow her bite of toast and jam, washing it down with some of her coffee (inasmuch as mostly-milk with coffee in it could be deemed 'coffee'). Everything had happened so fast that she'd barely been able to take it in, but regardless: this Jerry dude was Z-4, and therefore Phoenix, and therefore In. Yes.
She offered him a smile when he returned to the table. "I'm, um, A-Two. My name's Madison," she said, hoping she'd gotten all of the strawberry jam off of her nose.
(She had.)
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Posted: Mon Jun 20, 2011 10:52 pm
Jordan was quietly grateful for Ennea, cheerful, sweet, and enthusiastic person that she was. He might have been vaguely dismayed during the test to find some of his team distractable and frivolous, but now he thanked God, or whatever else, for Ennea's affectionate welcome. Whatever distractions and frictions might arise, so far she had ignored them (deliberately or otherwise) and gently reminded them all of the connection they shared, beneath the frictions that had begun to rise.
He'd be sure to thank her later, privately. He couldn't do it now, in public, among the strained edges of relationships old and new, but he resolved to give her her due when he could.
He'd need to talk to Robert and Jerry individually, take the edge off the resentment or dislike that had sparked accidentally between the two men. Phoenixes all, but a misunderstanding had started a seed of antagonism that could create a rift among them all. He remembered his own grave mistake during the test, the situation that had split Alpha and Zeta into opposing factions, where he'd wanted unity, though perhaps that had been doomed to fail from the start.
Robert felt intensely, acted on impulse; perhaps Jerry did as well, though he'd not known Z-Four as well. Jordan regretted that, a little. They were - they were his friends, both of them, both of importance; that they listened to his orders, commands, suggestions, that was secondary. He was Jordan Miller, A1, Boss; he was Jordan Miller, friend to Robert and Jerry. He didn't quite know how to balance the two roles. He'd need to learn, and learn fast.
When Jerry returned to the table with a fresh cup of coffee, Jordan patted the spot beside him on the table, giving the other man a friendly smile. "S'alright," he said. He smothered the faint grumpiness in the back of his head - were all the other guys in Phoenix older than he was? How was that fair? Why the hell did they even listen to him?
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Posted: Mon Jun 20, 2011 10:55 pm
"And I'm A-Nine." Ennéa said, bouncing into the seat next to Madison and almost upsetting her friend's coffee mug. "My name's Ennéa." She beamed.
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Posted: Mon Jun 20, 2011 11:07 pm
Madison hurriedly reached out to steady the mug before it could tip over. "So that's... who's missing?" Her forehead wrinkled a bit in thought. "A-Four, A-Ten... A-Twelve... um. Oh, Z-Three. Is that all? That's more than half!" Her face lit up. "We're, like, the best, guys."
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Posted: Mon Jun 20, 2011 11:54 pm
"Ennea is a very pretty name!" Jerry bubbled to the girl, smiling encouragingly before nodding to the even prettier one beside her, flushing a bit, "As... as is Madison! It's a pleasure to er... meet you again!" He laughed, drumming his fingers on his coffee before fidgeting with fresh creamers. Ennea. Madison. He committed the new names to memory. He didn't know Madison very well, but she had seemed alright as far as he could recall. At her next comment, though, his expression fell, "Not everyone woke?" Guilt bubbled up in his chest, but he quickly dismissed it, pausing as he spotted red on his coffee cup. Ah. Robert's blow. He could numbly feel the sting of the split lip once the blood was in front of him, and he politely snatched up a napkin to quietly blot at it. He avoided Robert's gaze... and Petra's too, trying to not make a big deal about his minor scene.
It could have been worse.
It always could have been worse.
At least he was here, now, in relatively safe company.
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Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2011 1:32 pm
"I don't think so?" Ennéa said in response to Jerry's question. She reached out and took a couple of the creamers. "There were tons of pods in the room I woke up in and judging from what I've seen, not nearly as many awake hunters." She fidgeted with the creamers and began stacking them into a pyramid, adding in the table's salt and pepper shakers for additional height.
"But who knows?" she continued airily, most of her attention focused on her creamer tower. "Maybe they might wake up later."
Ennéa nudged the tower a bit too hard in her stacking and it collapsed, scattering creamer everywhere. She stared at the mess for a moment before looking at Madison and Jerry. "Oops." she giggled. She shot a guilty glance at Jordan just in case he had noticed and was about to scold her as her brother used to.
"Anyway." she said quickly, turning her attention back to Jerry, "Didn't you wake up later too?" She tilted her head, "I don't remember you at the meeting or at the test. But then the test was really distracting and had these icky zombie monsters -- hundreds of them! And a giant plant monster, and everyone was fighting. Oh, and I nearly died." Ennéa shrugged carelessly and leaned back in her chair. "But it wasn't really real, so... I guess it's okay. Not a test I'd care to retake though!" She laughed.
"What was it like when you woke up?" she asked Jerry, looking curiously at her friend.
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Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2011 10:40 pm
The more Ennea recounted her adventures since awakening, the paler the man's face became, a finger anxiously drumming on the table. The way she seemed to dismiss "almost dying" as common place was a bit of a warning flag, but, his brain interrupted his panic, perhaps it was just... a bit of a video game? They had all died at least once, after all...
And some had risen again.
They were called Phoenix for a reason, weren't they? What sort of outlook was Coma-forever? If they didn't die now, they'd die sometime. It might as well be doing something productive and worthwhile. Someone had to.
Jerry relaxed a bit, smile returning although a bit tamed, and punctuated with blood. "That's right... it's all a bit of a blur, myself but... well, if I of all people woke up, then, well... ahah.." He shrugged, pushed his glasses up his nose and busied himself with the napkin dispenser.
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Posted: Wed Jun 22, 2011 2:58 pm
"Maybe they're trying to collect the whole set," Jordan put in dryly.
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Posted: Wed Jun 22, 2011 10:29 pm
"It would be neat if they did! The whole Phoenix squad, back together!" Ennéa said guilelessly to Jordan's comment. She rested her elbows on the table and looked dreamily off into space, lost in her own little world. "We would kick so much a**, shadows and monsters wouldn't even know what hit them."
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Posted: Sat Jun 25, 2011 2:40 pm
Words he had spoken long ago, back in the Zeta tent came ringing back into his memory and Jerry blinked down at the napkins in front of him, a quiet hum building up in his throat as he distantly murmured in a distracted manner, "It would be nice..." The hum overtook him again as he hovered over his work, slowly and carefully folding the napkins as best he could for his ultimate purpose.
What that purpose was... who knew?
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Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2011 10:41 pm
"Look out, monsters, here we come." Jordan shook a dramatic fist at the world. The effect was somewhat spoiled by the banana he had just picked up, however.
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