└ ᴍᴏᴏɴ ᴄʜɪʟᴅ ┐

► //: WED. 06.08.17 - 06:00 - DINING HALL

 &&. - Naturally, Imogen was up at ungodly hours of the morning. Her internal clock always goes off at 5:00 am, and she couldn’t sleep in even if she wanted to. But she prefers it this way. She feels more in control, able to get an idea for the day before everyone else. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that by arriving so early she doesn’t have to wait in line. The cooks have already learned her order by heart; spinach and egg white omelet, yogurt and granola, and the juice of the day. As tempting as everything else looks, Imogens habitual side always kicks in, her feet carving the way to the proper line. She normally sits alone, already showered and ready for the day, her notebook and binder usually by her side depending on what the schedule for the day is. She’d wish they’d keep to one somewhat similar everyday, but she supposes that consistency isn’t necessarily something a spy can count on.

After gathering her meal, she makes her way over to her normal table, fully prepared to sit and go over her notes all on identities. She’s used to having the dining hall usually all to herself, but she’s surprised to see another person sitting at the table directly across hers. Still, she goes and sits at her table, and sits where she can see them. The silence between them is unbearably palpable, the only sound to be heard are the cooks in the back. After a few moments, Imogen breaks the quiet, because what other time is better for homework than six in the morning?

❛ —— You an early riser too? ❜

After not having proper food from her beginning at Hudson, Juniper figured it was about time she put in her request. Her lack of doing so stemmed solely from her prior engagements. She was too occupied to worry about food. Though it had great potential, it wasn’t a concern until it had to be.  Energy bars and coffee could only go so far, after all. Juniper assumed the best time to file a request would be early in the morning. Normally, she woke up just as the sun began to bloom at six o’clock, but she had woken up thirty minutes prior and rushed to the dining hall. Simple as her request was ( an egg toast sandwich, just like eomma used to make ) they promised it would be deliverer promptly, as soon as someone else’s order was completed. With a somewhat tired smile she didn’t care to conceal, Juniper accepted this, and sat at a table she chose at random. Her elbows were placed upon it, her cheeks placed idly in her hands. 

She hadn’t heard someone enter; the sound of their feet was far too light for Juniper to even register there was another human in the room. Her focused remained on her fingers, which were tracing a doodle along the smooth, polished table. It wasn’t exactly engrossing, and perhaps that was why even her ear was so quick to hear the voice that had interrupted such tedious silence. Her eyes shot up, keen on applying a face to a voice. “Yes, yes. Well, not this early.” Afterwards, she took the time to glance around the room. It made a lot more sense why this woman was now interacting with her, Juniper was the only one available. Eager to connect with someone, she pondered if this woman was speaking to her because she, too, hated the isolation.  

“What about you, what time do you wake up?”

Where: Library When: June 7, 10pm

Schoolwork was as simple for Declan as it had been the first time he’d gone through it all, but that didn’t mean he enjoyed it. He thought he’d left all of this behind him when he’d graduated high school, but it seemed that among kidnapping him from his life, Hudson also decided coursework was in order. The fact that he was being forced to become a spy didn’t change his opinion on the fact that he didn’t want to be doing any of this. 

With a frustrated sigh, he tossed the book he’d been paging through for his newest assignment across the table and leaned back in his chair. Arms stretched over his head, he gazed across the rest of the almost empty library with a flat expression. Tucked away in a back corner, table laden down with books of all different shapes and sizes, Declan was in the perfect place to observe, just as he’d done since he’d been brought here against his will, but he still hadn’t learned anything more than he was stuck, with no way out. Shaking out of his thoughts, he turned back to the table and flipped a book open at random, focusing on reading, so he wouldn’t have to think about everything else on his mind.

Juniper had grown up studying in peace, though every once in a while one of her siblings would ask her a question she’d undoubtedly know the answer to. Even during college she was able to study alone, though by then, she preferred the opposite. As much trust as she lacked with Annie, she’d become familiarized with the socializing. The days that she wasn’t there? Yeah, Juniper was able to memorize a lot more, but she lacked the interaction she’d been craving since she was a child. So, she decided to do something about it.

There weren’t many options to choose from, Juniper realized as her eyes surveyed the entirety of the room. Her pen was steadily tapping against her own textbook while one rested behind her ear, and a few more within her book-bag. She was just in time to witness the apparently exasperated young man toss a book across his table, which happened to be four tables from her own. As she noticed his eyes beginning to do what hers had done only seconds ago, she quickly fixed her gaze back to her book. Within the short time frame, she’d had a personal conversation, reminding herself he was troubled and she shouldn’t back away from a challenge simply because he intimidated her. That in mind, she slipped her belongings into the floral-print bag, and ventured to his table, hesitance gripping her the entire way.  

“What are you reading?”

Never in her life had Juniper been lacking. Not in academics, and certainly not in benevolence. She thrived in situations where others expected her to falter. At Hudson, she more hoped than expected that this would remain the same. For the most part, it did. She found herself eager to wake up early, gathering her textbooks within her hands and later spread them across a table in the library. It had basically become a ritual, something she was content with..and yet, she was lacking. In an academy where she naively anticipated she could get by based on her brain alone, she’d all but failed any sort of physical test she received. For the first time in her life, Juniper hadn’t received an A. Well, at least I got to try something new, right?

Juniper never had a reason to fight. In fact, she couldn’t imagine herself ever physically hurting someone. It may have been due to her petite frame, her sole interest in academics, or her discomfort with causing others pain. Either way, the thought made her uncomfortable, but apparently her delicate hands swiftly making their way to someone’s face was necessary. Necessary, the word they repeated when they noticed the way her eyes widened when it was her turn. Like with anything else, Juniper was determined to prove them wrong. She’d never be Onyx, or Inferno, or anyone else who almost made the act of violence appear beautiful, but she’d endure as Juniper — just a version of herself that didn’t wince whenever she threw a punch.

She knew just who to go to. The woman she’d often speak to from across the table whilst simultaneously studying.  Annie, or rather Phoenix. Though a part of her curiosity had been piqued as to how she received that particular code-name, even Juniper knew not to ask about someone’s history. Their conversations were awkward at worst; she found herself ashamed to admit she was slightly suspicious of Annie. Now, she yearned for her aid. If it helped her figure out just what Annie’s objective was with her, that’d just be an added bonus. 

As per usual, with her math textbooks   — this time, it was Combinatorics — in hand, she strolled towards what she could classify as her table. Well, their table, seeing as Annie was across from her more often than not. As expected, she spotted the familiar head of dark hair almost immediately, which evoked a grin of enthusiasm and not an arched eyebrow as she’d reluctantly become accustomed to. 

 “Annie.” She spoke gently, as she always did. Though usually their conversations would begin with a hello, Juniper needed to get right to the point so as to avoid stringing her along. She didn’t want to use Annie ( the woman deserved better ), but if a certain arrangement could be made, it’d be ideal.  “You’re an exquisite fighter.” She said this more so as a fact than a compliment. “Ah...would you —  would you mind teaching me?”

Lunchtime at Hudson gave of a strange high school vibe- or at least what Sabina reckoned high school must have felt like. People lazily walked in and wandered around, alone or in groups, filling their trays with food that undeniably looked tastier than anything a school could ever offer. Sabina stacked her plate with spaghetti and cheese, making a mental note to find the nearest coffee machine as soon as her empty stomach stopped complaining, and made her way to her usual spot, only to find it occupied by one of her new classmates. “That’s where I sit,” she said, probably a little harsher than she should have been, but she had stopped caring about what she sounded like a long time ago.

Lunch might’ve been Juniper’s favorite time of the day, now. It wasn’t particularly about the food, though that was meant to be a bonus, but it was a time she’d be able to socialize with her peers, and truly connect with them. The mere thought of an opportunity to create friends was enough to keep the smile on her face, unable to contain it otherwise. She didn’t wait in the line, not exactly into the food the academy offered after being raised on completely organic, vegetable-friendly Korean food. Because of this, many of the seats weren’t occupied and she was forced to sit at an empty table and await someone's arrival. Someone did end up walking her way, causing Juniper’s grin to grow. What she was met with was an icy glare and coarse words she was able to read through the perfectly sculptured lips. Her facial-reaction was initially one of shock, but she composed herself, unable to leave any neutral expression on her face for too long. “Oh — um, I’m sorry. Can we share?”