( * --- NATALIE ANDERSON )

Mordecai cocked his head slightly at the girl, humming softly. “Is that Natalie?” He mused, already knowing it was but it was always a little fun to remind people he couldnt see them. “I am sad to hear the passing of students have been people you know…loosing a friend is never easy. I wish I could say it lessens over time…” He drifted off as he moved to hang his coat back up. “Would you like some coffee? tea? I believe I have some coco if you wish.”

"It is, sir." There was something about Mordecai that Natalie had always been fond of. Perhaps it was because she didn’t feel as though he was afraid of her, like everyone else seemed to be. When you have the ability to warp reality, or at least change people’s understanding of reality, it doesn’t give you many friends. Hence why she’d been so affected by the ones she’d recently lost. “That's what happens here though, isn't it? You just constantly lose people. Then again, that happened on the outside too.” She replied, before sliding into the seat opposite his desk. “Coco?” Her eyes lit up with a smile and she nodded, before remembering his situation. “I’d love some. Do you want any help?”

Mordecai was just getting ready to leave his office for the day when he heard someone open the door, not stopping his movements as he pulled his jacket off the hanger and folded it over his arm. “Afternoon.” He glanced over at them, milky blind eyes gentle with a kind smile on his lips. “How my I help you?”

Natalie didn’t usually enter into places that she’d never been before, but today was different. She was feeling spontaneous, and needed a place to escape from the drama within the walls of the institute. She hadn’t expected the office to still be occupied. “Oh, I’m sorry, Mr. Killian. I didn’t think --” she sighed, deciding against telling him that she was hoping to casually ‘chill’ in his office. “I was just looking for someone to talk to. A lot of my friends... they’ve left, like literally left. I find myself with no entertainment these days.”

“Yeah, you see were off to go see that movie right.” He said to the guard pointing at the other. “The movie, you know, where they go into that game and have to find keys.” He said hoping the other would help him out 

What on earth was this guy on about? Natalie quirked a brow, before turning towards the guard with a relaxed expression. She let her eyes wander into his, before she used her power to manipulate the government employee’s mind. “I have no idea what this guy’s talking about, but you’re going to leave us alone. You’ve been instructed to never bother us again.” Once the guard complied with her demand, she gave a mock smirk to her companion. “You’re welcome. Now what are you up to?” 

Dominic’s quick to start the jeep once she’s inside, in case she decides that his attention isn’t worth her time. After all, he knows exactly who Natalie Anderson is. “Unfortunately not.” He replies to her question about a lift. “However, I’m sure once we’re done, I’ll do the honourable thing and deliver you back to your house.” He supposes. Despite what his critics believe, he wasn’t entirely cruel… only when he was in a bad mood, which was more times than he’d like to admit.

He glances towards the redhead, his head dipping towards the unfastened seat belt. “Seat belt,” he reminds her, “I don’t want to crash and you end up dead.” Although, he did want that; one less monster to deal with. Pressing his foot down, the accelerated jeep began it’s descent further into town and towards the security office. 

He was never very good at small talk. “So Anderson, good day at college?”

Natalie slumps into her seat, with her eyes observing the passing scenery as she tried to understand why she was here, and not some other unfortunate soul. “Seat belts are shit.” She rolled her eyes. Maybe she wanted to live on the edge a little, maybe she didn’t care if she ended up somewhere that wasn’t Grimstone. Yet, she pulled across the belt and clicked it into place at his request. 

His attempt at making conversation was noted, but she didn’t care for it. She shrugged in response, not giving him the satisfaction that he’d succeeded in getting anything out of the redhead. Instead, she leaned forward and started fiddling with the radio, trying to find a channel that suited her tastes.

“Perfect!” She exclaimed, when she found a station playing a hit. “'Cause if you think I care about you now, well...” she sung, tapping her knee in rhythm. “Boy, I don’t give a fuck.” She enuciated the last word, removed by the radio, but wanting to annoy her driver.

for @natvlic

Dominic has been meaning to get into contact with Natalie much sooner than he was planning to, but falling victim to circumstance, he’s unable to pull himself away from his busy work schedule. It’s not like he wants the young girl in his presence, but she’s required for what he needs to do; or more so, her power is. How else could he convince unruly residents that their place was here? Despite his hatred for this cage and the creatures within. However, he pulls up in the jeep that he only uses for official business, for an unofficial purpose. His eyes, hidden behind dark shades, view the college and he can’t believe that the government is allowing these monsters to be educated, as if they would be able to use a degree outside of Lake Grimstone.

Beeping his horn, he narrows his gaze and inspects each student as they leave the building and turn to hear the noise. “Oi, Anderson.” He says as soon as he catches a glimpse of a maiden with vivid red hair. Once he’s gotten her attention, he lifts his finger and gestures her to come forward and towards his vehicle. “We need to talk. Get in.” He commands. Propping his elbow up onto the window frame, he twists the key into the ignition, ready to drive whenever she’s seated.

Shit. What did he want? Natalie turned to face the guard with a frown, mostly at the insistence on using that damn horn to get her attention. Slowly, she made the decision to humour him, and quickly sped towards the vehicle to avoid more attention from her fellow classmates. If he was going to ask her about his sister, she had no idea where she was -- she had no idea where any of her old friends were.

Opening the passenger’s side door, she climbed into the seat with a huff, slamming the door shut with a strength to show the annoyance that she felt that she had been summoned so abruptly. “What do you want?” She asked, throwing her bag into the backseat, along with her books. “Let me guess, you’re not here to give me a lift?”

The calmness around town made Adrian think of the calmness before the storm. Did TRP really do all that way back when only to disappear months later? He didn’t think so, he actually thought that something bigger was coming, he just didn’t know what or when. “I can’t explain it, I don’t know if it’s my power or not… but I feel it in my bones that this calmness won’t last.” 

Person A: I have a riddle. What’s sweet and cool but too much of it gives you a headache?

Person B: A popsicle…?

“That’s almost exactly the opposite of what I meant.”

“Do you expect anything less from me?” Natalie said, sinking into the chair opposite Rhea. “Getting drunk solves everything. At least sometimes.”

“You’re special to me, Natalie Anderson.” Austin admits, however he doesn’t explain himself. He questions whether he would be able to without sounding like he was replacing his younger sister for a newer upgraded model, which was the last thing he wants to do. However, what he doesn’t know is what exactly the girl in front trying to hide and why. All he knows is that he really wishes he wasn’t here right now. For a much different reason than before. If she really is planning on making a break for it then he wants no part in knowing. He’ll have no choice but to really drag her back if that’s the case and he isn’t fond of that idea. It’s not like he’s some monster, after all. He’s just trying to survive in this world and protect those who cannot protect themselves. Especially from the ones dressed with firearms.

“Cut the shit, red.” He shuts her down with a roll of his eyes and a small shake of his head. “I don’t know what you’re planning or who belongs in Oakwood, but I’m willing to escort you safely home if you turn around right now and come back with me.” He explains. It’s obvious that she isn’t going to the ‘employee sector’ to return to her residence because, for one, she’s not an employee and, if she were, she wouldn’t be worried about a curfew, or at least thanking him for saving her ass.

“C’mon.” He urges. “I’ll take you back to mine and we’ll see if Aislinn is up. I’m sure she’d love a girly chat.” He adds as a persuasion attempt. Still, he doesn’t move because he’s waiting for Natalie to do it first. He isn’t about to turn his back and let her take off. For all he’s aware, she may be stealthy as fuck, despite her recent performance, and he could be shit out of luck. Plus, he doesn’t really feel like running, or chasing someone down rather. he’s more than exhausted. “If we could move this along a little faster, that’d be awesome. I’d like to get a little rest before I have to get up and save you again.” He tells her. He isn’t necessarily trying to be harsh with her, but he’s sick of playing this game already.

“Is this because I gave you all that math knowledge? Or is it because you know I could rip the entire world apart? Which one is it?” Her demeanour changed. There was growl in her voice, a pain that she’d experienced far too much for someone far too young. The act of being used for what she could offer, what she could take away, what she could give in terms of power and magic. “It’s got to be one of them, right?” She said, as if she was certain that her statement was fact.

“Red? Is that the best you could come up with?” She’d found the term amusing, and her slurred laugh proved it. “Oakwood is where all the important people live.” She stated, with a hint of sarcasm and too over confidently. “I was going to see if that guy was in -- uh,” she closed her eyes, trying to think of his name. “Don? Dom? Whatever. I know his sister and I haven’t seen her in forever. I’m starting to think she was abducted by aliens or something,” she hiccuped. “But that’s not true, right? Because we are the aliens.” She was drunk and she missed her big sister, the one outside Grimstone and the one in it’s invisible walls. “I’m going to ask him if he’s seen her.” Perhaps now, intoxicated, wasn’t exactly the best time to pay him a visit.

“As much as I want to see Aislinn, I’m not going until I find out what happened. Or I find someone.” She insisted. “Find someone that cares.” Did she really think Austin gave a damn about her? No, not at all. Most likely, he’d seen her out and decided to be the hero of the tale, saving her ass to be the good guy that she knew he was. But he was being selfish, because she also knew that there were very little people in Grimstone who cared about her anymore. “Go home, Austin. Or go to Larissa, or Summer, or India... whichever girl you’re with today. Just leave me alone. I’m not worth it.”

Roman was on his day off, and had decided to head out to the main part of the town. He was on his way to the training center when a noise caused him to turn around. “What the? I might not be on duty right now, but that doesn’t mean I can’t write you up for that. It breaks at least three rules.”

Natalie was deprived of enjoyment these days. With her friends disappearing off the face of the planet and no sign of this town picking up in the dramatics department, she had to create her own fun. Unfortunately, that meant the disruption of others. Throwing another glass bottle against the fountain head, watching the glass shatter and fall into the water below, she smiled -- a pained smile. “What? I’m having fun, and I’m not exactly hurting anyone.” Unless they decided to step into the fountain. “Write me up, I don’t care. I could do with some excitement.”

Uninterested, she frowned. “This anon, a summary: stop.” 

@living-magnet @genieinabcttle @stone-skin​

How had she managed to end up in this debacle? Natalie knew it was her own fault for the organisation of the humiliation she was about to receive if Caleb didn’t keep his cover. After she’d asked him to pretend to be her boyfriend, she had her doubts that Tristan would believe they were a couple. Why didn’t she just gather up the courage to ask Reece -- her go to guy for anything. Somehow she would have persuaded him to accompany her, whether it be to make false promises again or nag him until he gave into her requests. Regardless of the how, she knew his presence would be much more convincing than Caleb Vela’s. As sweet as the boy was, she didn’t feel anything for him that someone would perceive as anything more than a friendship. At least she was good at acting when it came to hiding herself, maybe she’d survive this ordeal if she could transfer those skills onto believing her and Caleb were in a relationship. 

Sitting alone in the restaurant, as she waited for the arrival of her first company, the redhead fidgeted with the napkin that had been left on the table. Tristan, Tristan, Tristan. Why did it have to be him? Why did she have to want his attention? Maybe it was due to her not having him any more, he wasn’t a toy she could play with and discard whenever she wanted. He was someone else’s now. The sound of a voice threw her off her train of thoughts, and she turned her head towards the source. “Oh, hey you.”