St. Andrew’s Academy Official Thread

[ChayChay05]

Braxton smiled as Ezra told him happy birthday. He also listened as Ezra talked about how it was better for him and Thea. “yeah. I get that. Thanks for the late birthday wishes.” Braxton smiled at Ezra as he put his shoes on. “Let’s go.” He smiled as he got up and headed for the door.

Camila smiles as they start walking. “yay. I’m super excited. Got it you have to get your meds.” She said as they walked and she thought about life. She used to hve a hard time with Mateo going from her sister to her brother but now it’s like he hs always been a brother.

Leo listened as they both talked. His face probably showed his shock. Leo was a little confused. “Wait. Killian you’ve liked me for that long? And Madi what do you mean you knew? How did you know something I didn’t even know?” He was so confused but not in a bad way.

@bpalmer Killian, Mateo, and Ezra

She smiled as they walked and talked. She couldn’t believe that Koda didn’t even notice her. She kept a smile on her face though. “I’m super excited for this little town.” She said as she looked around. She had always live in the big city and rarely went to small towns. So this was all new to her. Yes she was a city girl, but she was a country small town girl at heart.

@idiot.exe Roux

Finn walked in. “Thanks. I like that one too.” He chuckled as he sat beside Kayden. “So how was your day? Did you have fun?” He asked with a smile as he looked at Kayden.

Lorenzo smiles at Chloe. He stands up after paying for their food. “well let’s go play some basketball.” He smiles and holds the door open for her.

@Kate Madi, Koda, Kayden & Chloe

Liv took a deep breath as Evelyn told her to she was ready to hear her side. Her phone went off. “One second. I need to respond to this message. Then I’m all yours.” She said as she looked and saw it was Victoria her roommate.

Victoria

Well tryouts aren’t until Thursday and Friday. Practice starts next week. The team is pretty cool. As for Coach he is cool. I’ll go into more details with you later. At a meeting.

Liv hit send and turned back to Eve. “okay so let me explain to you. I didn’t tell everyone Evelyn. I told Sally. Sally was suppose to be a close friend of mine. She then told everyone however I got the blame for her telling everyone. I understand why since I’m the only one you told. However I told one person in confidence. Thinking I could trust her, asking her for her advice… I didn’t think she would spread your business like that.” The part Liv didn’t want to tell Evelyn was that she had a crush on her last year. So she went to Sally. She wanted to know if she should tell Evelyn she had a crush on her since she said she was a lesbian. However she never got the chance since everything blew up in her face.

@Tina.G Evelyn

Lila smiled and blushed as they talked. She was so happy to be in this moment. She now had a boyfriend. “Thanks. I’m so happy to be on this journey with you as well.” Then Owen told her to open up as he tried to feed her some food. So she opened. He slowly put the skewer in her mouth and she took the meat off of it. She closed her mouth and chewed the food taking in every flavor.

@Jass Victoria & Owen

[LunaticLeviTheSecond]

As night came and Lav Coltrane finished his usual duties, he walked to his desk to see if he has anything else to do. In his notebook it said he had an egagement he has to prepare for. At the end of the page with today’s date it said.

Self - defense with Professor S.R.

He was a bit tired from the day, but he wasn’t about to go back on his word. Before it was time for him to go out there and teach her self defence he wanted to refresh his memory on self defense. He didn’t want a big gap from when he last learned something on this subject to be the reason why she doesn’t get a useful lesson. That’s why before going out there, he watched a few short videos and read a bit upon it instead of relaxing on his break.
When it was getting close to the time he was to meet her, he walked into the gym, which was now empty and almost completely dark except for the light he just turned on, and he prepared some of the things they might get to use. One of those items was a punching dummy, which he started punching as he waited for her arrival.

@Tina.G - Sadie

[Kate]

Madi just smiled at Leo, it was kinda cute that he doesn’t see how they both look at each other. “Like I said Leo the way that you look at each other, you can tell you like each other and I am not going to stop you from trying it out or whatever y’all are going to do.”

Kayden sat on his bed and looked at Finn. “It was good i just woke up not long ago cutie. Brex and I were just eating breakfast and talking and getting to know each other. Yes I had fun love did you?”

Chloe gets up as well from the bench and she holds Lorenzo’s hand and they walked to the basketball courts. She always had fun and that was a place they would go back home when they were together. Sometimes it was a a stress reliever for them. "Yes baby I am ready. I haven’t gone to the courts in so long. After we broke up I never went back to the courts.

@ChayChay05
@bpalmer - Brex mentioned

[bpalmer]

Brex was ecstatic to see Jasper and he blushed a little when he let it slip that Jasper was his favorite person. Honestly Brex had come to the realization that in the very least he had a crush on Jasper. He didnt want to ruin this friendship they had started but he couldnt keep that information to himself either. Saying it outloud in front of Kayden and Finn though seemed wrong.

“Yeah how are you doing with your roommate? I mean if he is friends with Kayden im going to guess he is pretty sweet.” Brex didnt want to assume or if their had been problems discount Jasper’s experiences he had just realized that Finn was probably a pretty nice guy. If they were all getting along it would be nice to have Finn around to hang out with too.

Brex listened to Jasper be open with him yet again. He could understand feeling a bit all over especially his emotions. “I get that man and absolutely I will always be concerned about you if you give me a reason to be. I get it though I honestly was kind of in the same place. Had some stuff rattling around in my brain that I didnt really know how to say of know if it was the proper time to say.” He admitted with a little shrug. He so badly wanted to tell Jasper he had feelings for him but was now the right time. Brex took a deep breath and decided he would try and casually bring it up but when he looked at Jasper he looked like he was a panicking mess. “Jasper?” He asked softly before reaching out to him. Brex gently touched his cheek trying to get Jasper to focus on him and not whatever he was so in his own head about. Brex had always been one for the risking it life and he had stepped away from it a lot but he needed this off his chest. If Jasper wouldnt have looked so panicked he would have said it right then and there but it was fortunate that Jasper calmed down a little and asked Brex what was on his mind.

Brex bit his lip as he tried to make the thoughts swirling in his head into a coherent thought that wasn’t just word vomit about liking Jasper. “Well what is on my mind that I need to sort out I think you could actually help me with a lot.” Brex took another deep breath and had to look away from Jasper for a second to get this part out. “I was asking you on a date last night when I said we should get coffee or something but I realized I might not have made it sound like that. I mean if you arent interested its all good Im more than happy with friends but I admittedly have feelings for you. Ive never had feelings for someone this fast but with you everything is eary everything feels right and I just want to be happy and you have made me happy in the short time Ive known you.” Brex sighed still avoiding eye contact with Jasper as he beat himself out for the word vomit that just kept tumbling from his mouth and making him look like an absolute fool.
@Jass

[bpalmer]

Ezra was glad to have Braxton around he was used to Ezra’s high energy and sometimes nearly mean sassy personality. He was so glad that Braxton had been ok after his tumor and that he seemed to be recovering really well. “No problem I mean you know you are important to me and that if I would have had a phone I would have called to bug you on your birthday.” He smiled softly at Braxton. Other upside to foster care is usually more space. I mean the trailer is fine but most foster parents live in a house so its got more space to just exist." Ezra was trying to make his frequent foster stays sound as good as he could to Braxton he didnt want him to worry about it. Ezra kept a hold on his hand and smiled as the headed out of their room and to town. “You been through town yet? I mean I saw a little when I got off the train but not much.”
@ChayChay05

---

“Yeah I mean Im excited to explore though. I have heard there are a bunch of cool little stores in town so I really want to see what those have to offer. Maybe we can find others there too which would be fun.” Teo smiled at her and nodded as they headed out and he tried not to take off running like an excited little kid even if every part of him wanted to.
@ChayChay05

---

Killian nodded he had liked Leo for longer than that. “Um actually longer than that but that is when I told Kashel I liked you. I mean thats who I was on the phone with.” Killian knew exactly what day they were talking about. Killian blushed he was glad that madi was ok with them trying them out. “That mean you are still ok with being friends Madi. I mean I dont have many friends and you were pretty great to hang out with.”
@Kate
@ChayChay05

[Jass]

Jasper

Jasper responded with a light-hearted and playful tone to Brex asking about his roommate, “Oh, Finn? Yeah, he’s a ripper bloke. We’re getting along just fine. Seems like he and Kayden hit it off well, too.” He gave Brex a small smirk, hinting at the fact that maybe Finn and Kayden seemed to have a vibe that went beyond friendship. “So far, no roommate horror stories to share, which is always a good sign.”

Then the conversation had gone on, and they were on their walk. Jasper had been quite zoned out by his insecurities, and not really heard what Brex had said until he reached out and said his name. Jasper, feeling Brex’s gentle touch on his cheek, initially was a bit startled, but then he appreciated the grounding gesture. He met Brex’s eyes and offered a small, grateful smile, acknowledging the comfort in Brex’s touch. “Brex, mate, I… wow.” Jasper’s eyes widened in surprise as Brex talked about his feelings, and a smile gradually spread across his face as he processed Brex’s revelation. It was not that it fully came unexpectedly, Jasper had felt there was something between them. But it was still quite something to hear Brex being so straightforward about his feelings. It brought him a sense of clarity, and helped him figure some of his own thoughts out.

“First of all, thanks for being open with me.” Jasper could appreciate how brave Brex had been by being so honest with him “I appreciate it. And you know what? I’d love to go on that date with you. No confusion about it. I’ve been figuring things out in my head too, and you just made it a bit clearer.” He took a deep breath, and encouraged by Brex’s honestly, he let out some of his feelings, “I have feelings for you and you make me happy too. Let’s give this a shot, yeah?” Jasper’s tone was warm and genuine, back to his usual self, and happy that Brex took the leap. He was excited about the potential for their connection.

His hand wandered to Brex’s arm without thinking about it, at this gentle touch and while looking Brex in the eyes, Jasper couldn’t help but feel a bit overwhelmed by his feelings for Brex, but this time in a positive way. In that moment, he wanted to scream out what he was feeling for him. Grinning, Jasper teased, “If someone told me I’d be planning a date second day back from summer break, I’d have thought they were joking. But here we are, making plans and being all ‘relationshippy.’ sharing our feelings and stuff”

---

@bpalmer | Brex

[LunaticLeviTheSecond]

Even her name sounds elegant. Like one of those names that come with a motto, a family crest and a reputation to uphold. Well, Shiloh knew all the well about the reputation and how stifling it feels to keep to one that you don’t like, but the other things could be anybody’s guess.
She kept silent as Victoria typed away, the only noise coming form the taps on her phone, but soon enough her phone was away and her attention was back with Shiloh.
When Victoria matched her excitement, Shiloh was happy to find out her enthusiasm didn’t come off as too eager and weird. Elated, she kept on moving towards her dorm, but suddenly she stopped and turned around and made an observation. “You know, there might be an elevator. I don’t believe this school is cruel enough to not have an elevator on a residential building for students where each year a ton of stuff has to be carried up and down … Considerin I’ve seen a wheelchair in the audience yesterday at the assembly, there should be one, but I’m new to this school so I have no idea if there is one. Are you also new to the school or just new to the sport?”

@Jass - I forgot it was on me! Sorry!

[Jass]

---

Izzy responded with a combination of playfulness and concern, recognizing Adrian’s attempt to deflect the conversation. “Oh, Adrian, you’re always ready to charm the world, aren’t you?” Izzy played along with his banter, offering a light-hearted response to his comment about his appearance. “I mean, it took you hours to get ready, and here I am, effortlessly rocking the ‘just spent the day painting’ look. Clearly, I’m the real style icon here!” Her tone would carry a teasing quality, showing that she’s engaging in the playful exchange.

However, her empathetic nature wouldn’t let the moment pass entirely. Her expressive eyes softened, conveying a deeper sense of care and understanding. The playful energy from before transformed into a more genuine concern, and her gaze lingered on Adrian with a mixture of empathy and warmth. “But seriously, if there’s ever anything on your mind, you know I’m here, right? Because, you know, we’re friends, and friends care about each other.” She playfully twirled a strand of her hair around her finger, adding a touch of lightness to the moment. Her smile would transitioned into a warm, comforting one, and she maintained eye contact with Adrian. “We all have those days where things aren’t as okay as we’d like them to be.” Her words were accompanied by a gentle smile, conveying reassurance and a shared understanding of the ups and downs of life.

She then realised that she never went into the painting, she thought maybe it was a nice distraction in this moment, a way for her to leave it up to him whether he wanted to talk about what was going on, “And hey, I’d love to hear your thoughts on my painting. I haven’t quite finished the latest one, but I’d love to show you what I’ve got so far and get your opinion on it.” Her words carried a sense of pride in her artistic process, happy to be sharing it with Adrian.

She continued, “It’s a mix of the American landscapes surrounding us, with a twist of Mexican style art. I love blending different my different cultures and heritages, you know?” Izzy kept a friendly and open demeanor as she was explaining.

With a proud yet humble smile, she presented the artwork to Adrian, holding it up for him to see. It depicted a landscape of trees, a building scattered here and there, and some water, but mostly the spotlight was on the foreground with its vibrant wildflowers. While those colourful flowers were far from native to Delaware, Izzy had succeeded quite well at making the whole painting cohesive.

Izzy then spoke again in a soft voice, “See, the foreground with these wildflowers is the main focus, but I’m still playing around with the background. The trees and buildings need a bit more definition, maybe some details to tie everything together. And the water? I’ve been thinking of adding a subtle reflection, you know, to give it that extra touch of magic. It’s not quite there yet, but I love leaving room for the painting to evolve a bit more.” This way, she acknowledged the specific elements that are still in progress, creating a sense of ongoing creativity and inviting Adrian into her artistic process.

---

@idiot.exe - Adrian
Ughh, I am not fully happy but there’s hours in this post and no matter what I didn’t quite get it right

[Jass]

---

“Ah, you might be onto something there,” Victoria responded with a nod and a smile, her memory recalling a detail. “Come to think of it, I believe there is an elevator nearby. If memory serves me right, I spotted it over there,” she gestured in the direction she vaguely remembered. “Shall we explore that option? It would certainly make our task a bit more straightforward. And to answer your question, I’m new to the school, though not entirely new to the sport, I’ve played before in London.”

At that moment she got a message, “Pardon me, it feels rather impolite to check my phone in the midst of our conversation, but I do believe Liv may have responded.” She took a second to read the message herself first, and then she summarised Liv’s text to Shiloh, “It seems we have a bit more information now. Tryouts are scheduled for Thursday and Friday, and practice begins next week. Liv also mentioned the team and Coach in positive terms, which is reassuring.” She gave Shiloh a faint smile, before continuing to talk as they were walking over to where the elevator was, “It’s promising news, isn’t it? How do you feel about the upcoming tryouts and joining the team?”

---

@LunaticLeviTheSecond - Shiloh
@ChayChay05 - Liv (mentioned)

[bpalmer]

“Im really glad you and Finn are getting along. From what Kayden has said they are already pretty close and get along super well. I mean he kind of hinted at it maybe being a bit more than friends earlier but I have no idea,” Brex shrugged and he honestly kind of hoped there was more between them Finn and Kayden were cute together and had an obvious good vibe. “Same here and I honestly dont really suspect I will have any.”

Brex had hoped that he hadnt crossed a line when he reached out and rubbed his thumb over Jasper’s cheek gently trying to ground him. It had seemed to work and Jasper hadnt said anything so Brex assumed it was ok. Brex took a deep breath he wasnt sure how Jasper felt about what he had just said. His face seemed to be show that he was pleased and maybe was on the same page as Brex but what he had said hadnt exactly been a vote of confidence. Brex tried to stay as calm as he could but he was panicking about how he was certain that he had just messed everything up between them. Brex kept his eyes glued to the floor hair falling over his face as another layer of protection and he was fighting every urge to come up with a reason to run away. He should have kept his mouth shut and let Jasper lead on this if this was something he would have wanted too. Instead he opened his big mouth and messed everything up with the first and only person he cared so much about here.

What Jasper said after though had Brex almost dying. He could have sworn that he heard him wrong. It was the complete opposite of what he had expected and assumed in his head. He was at a momentary loss of words but looked up slightly at Jasper with a small smile. “I am trying to be open I just couldnt keep it in any longer.” he mumbled softly. Brex smiled even wider when Jasper had agreed to a date. “Ok a date sounds perfect. Coffee at the coffee shop in town you pick the day and time and let me know what works for you.” Brex was smiling wide and gently wrapped an arm around Jasper’s shoulers “Im glad you feel the same way and are willing to give this a try. Trust me you deserve a great guy and Im working on me so if I screw up please just tell me.”

Brex gently ran his fingers over Jasper’s arm as he touched Brex’s arm. “You can hold my hand and stuff if you want Jasper Im pretty big on physical touch honestly wouldnt bother me at all,” Brex just wanted him to know that since he seemed a little hesitant. Brex was more than willing to let Jasper try whatever he was comfortable with. Brex was pretty laid back when he was as comfortable with someone as he was with Jasper. Brex giggled at his joke and nodded. “I know its crazy to me too. I thought I was going to hate it here and hate the people here and ive been proven wrong again and again already.”
@Jass

[Jass]

---

Owen couldn’t help but feel a surge of warmth and happiness hearing Lila’s words. He looked at her with genuine affection, his own smile mirroring hers. “I’m glad to hear that, Lila.”

Owen couldn’t help but smile as he watched Lila enjoy the bite of suya. The warmth in her eyes and the way she savored the flavors made the simple act of sharing food feel remarkably special. It was a small, intimate moment that brought a sense of connection between them. “Good choice, right?” Owen grinned, appreciating the shared enjoyment of the meal.

After the delightful moment of sharing food, Owen took a moment, his expression turning a bit more serious yet thoughtful. “Lila,” he began, “we’ve talked about you coming with me to Chicago before, and I want to know how you feel about it now, especially considering that we’re officially together.”

He gently clasped her hand, his thumb brushing over her knuckles. “Would you be open to the idea of meeting my family as my girlfriend the next break? I’d love for them to meet the amazing person I’ve gotten to know and care about. But more importantly, I want to make sure you’re comfortable with it and that it’s something you’re ready for.” Owen’s gaze held a mix of sincerity and concern, eager to understand her perspective on this potential next step in their journey together

---

@ChayChay05 - Lila

[LunaticLeviTheSecond]

“Well we’re both new, but you seem to be a lot less new to everything here than I am. It’s thanks to you I know who to go to in order to ask questions about this place and the sport. Let’s get to that elevator.” She said as she took Victoria’s word and went in the direction Victoria pointed to. It struck Shiloh how quick she was to trust Victoria when she told her about the elevator and about Liv, and she chucked it up to Victoria having natural charm and charisma. Maybe we’re also so likely to trust her when she’s so effortlessly elegant. Shiloh thought.
She heard the pang of a message being delivered onto a phone and she turned around, hoping it might be Lizz, or Liv, or whatever Victoria said. “Pardon me, it feels rather impolite to check my phone in the midst of our conversation, but I do believe Liv may have responded.” So it is Liv, not Lizz. Shiloh was surprised at Victoria. Impolite? How could she think that was impolite? And who uses the word impolite instead of rude. “Of course it’s not ru… impolite, when I asked you to contact her. If anything, it’s doing me a service which is the opposite of impolite.” She said what the message contained and Shiloh sighed with relief. “Great. Thank you so much, you saved me from learning about it too late and not having enough time to prepare myself for the tryouts.” They entered the elevator and when they were both in, Shiloh pressed the button to close the door.
“Well, I’m not as excited about it as you are, I was actually hoping the try outs would go badly for me and for me to not be able to join the team, so I wouldn’t have to go there … But now I’m a bit more excited for it, I don’t know why.” She wanted to explain about her mother and everything to her, but they reached the end and Shiloh left the elevator as fast as she could because it’s tricky leaving an elevator with a heavy load.

@Jass - Victoria

[Jass]

---

Jasper grinned at Brex’s mention of Finn and Kayden, “Well, if they’re heading in that direction, good on 'em. Cute couples are always a joy to have around.” He made a mental note for himself, realising that maybe one day, they could either have a double date, or who knows, even unofficially swap rooms. He was already looking forward to the four of them getting up to all kinds of things like that.

As Jasper had been reacting to Brex’s confession and sharing his own feelings, he paid close attention to Brex. He seemed so stressed and worried, which over Jasper’s reaction turned into a smile, and that was in a way quite endearing to Jasper. It showed him that Brex actually had feelings for him. “I made you sweat there for I second, didn’t I?” he said teasingly. Then Brex told him to let him know about the date, “Absolutely, I’ll hit you up with the details. Looking forward to our coffee date, mate. It’s gonna be legendary!” He added with a small smile, proud of himself for speaking his feelings more, “Actually, any date with you would be legendary, cause you are a more than great guy, don’t talk yourself down. We’re both a work in progress. We’ll figure it out together, and if one of us messes up, we’ll just communicate. No dramas here, yeah?” He chuckled a bit as he finished talking, “Let’s leave that for the stage.”

Jasper gave a small smirk at Brex’s remark about physical touch, “Noted. I’ll keep that in mind, and you’ll be the first to know if I decide to get all touchy-feely.” He teased, playfully nudging Brex. Yet, his playfulness went alongside actions that told something different. Jasper’s hand found Brex’s, intertwining his fingers with Brex’s. The warmth of feeling Brex’s hand on his, it was comforting yet exciting at the same time. He couldn’t help but feel a desire to want more of this. He wasn’t usually a physical touch person, but something about every touch by Brex felt special to him.

Brex’s comment about thinking he would hate it here, and being proven wrong prompted Jasper to share a bit about his own feelings. He responded with a thoughtful smile, “You know, I wasn’t too thrilled about coming back here either. Last year was a bit of a mess for me. But meeting you, Brex, has definitely made this return way better than I expected. Sometimes the unexpected turns out to be the best part.”

---

@bpalmer - Brex

[LunaticLeviTheSecond]

ORP: I swear I thought I replied to it, and I remeber making up a reply on my way home and planning what Robin will say, but I do not remeber posting that reply after I returned home

Robin sighed with relief. “Thank you Mr. Halstead.” He said, gleaming with admiration. “I’ve had these problems every since I was a child, and I’m not so keen on eating certain foods, but that is due to a traumatic event in my childhood, and it’s not a healthy habbit nor one I particularly like. I wish to be able to eat normally, but I cannot seem to do that. If I’m coddled in this remark I’ll never be able to break this horrid habbit, so I wouldn’t like to have it handled that way, especially considering it would be unwanted by me, and probably by the cooks who would have to deal with me instead of just print out a sheet.”

@ChayChay05

[bpalmer]

Brex thought about how if Kayden and Finn got together they could hang out with Jasper and him and honestly each could spend more time in one room over the other. It could be like each couple lived together and he honestly found himself enjoying that idea. It would be fun to even just hang out though too. Brex didnt really know Finn but he wouldnt mind getting to know him especially if Kayden liked him, since that meant that Finn was sure to be around often.

Jasper’s reaction at first had seemed negative and that had Brex’s heart falling as e panicked about it. When Jasper smiled though that worry melted and Brex smiled back he knew Jasper felt the same way. “You made me more than sweat there for a bit Jasper.” he said as he smiled and pushed a stray curl from Jasper’s face. “Ok that sounds absolutely brilliant that we can get our date set. Im honestly bloody excited for it.” Brex was really happy that Jasper seemed relaxed a lot more now that they both had their feelings out in the open. “We are a legendary pair.” Brex smiled gently elbowing him. "Ill try not too and Im working on being a good guy and staying one. You give me a lot of reason to be a good guy though. Im glad that if their are any mess ups that we will just talk them out because that is something I really like the idea of.

Brex giggled a little. “I was just warning you because I know its not everyone’s cup of tea but especially as we get closer I know Ill have a tendency to want to hold hands and cuddle and the likes.” Brex nudged him back softly and blushed a little. Brex smiled wide as Jasper took his hand. He rubbed his thumb across the back of Jasper’s hand. Honestly Brex was absolutely content. He leaned his head gently on Jasper for a moment. “You make me so happy genuinely. Im honestly excited for where this is going.”

“Last year was bad for you?” Brex was hoping that it wasnt too bad and whatever had happened Brex hoped Jasper didnt have a bad year again. “Im glad I could make this year better for you because you have made being here so great already and Im sure it will only get better.” Brex smiled as they walked having his feeling out like this was nice. It was strange but also freeing in a way that he hadnt even realized. He hadnt thought he was holding back as much as he now realized he had been.
@Jass

[Jass]

---

“Oh, it’s more a stroke of luck than anything intentional on my part. Having Liv as my roommate certainly helps, and the elevator was merely a fortunate observation.” She said it with a genuine modesty, she didn’t think Shiloh’s words were quite deserved. To Shiloh saying they should go to the elevator, Victoria gave a brief nod and said, “Off to the elevator we go.”

When Shiloh said it wasn’t impolite, Victoria said, “I’m pleased to hear you do not consider it impolite.” She set up quite a fake smile as she continued talking, not wanting to necessarily show how much this way she had been raised affected her, “In my upbringing, there’s been a strong emphasis on refraining from phone use in the presence of others, a lesson instilled by my parents through a few gentle reminders, shall we say. Hence, I find myself feeling a touch apologetic when checking my phone during conversations.”

“I’m glad I could assist, Shiloh. Preparing ahead of time does make a difference, doesn’t it? Best of luck with your preparations for the tryouts.” Victoria hoped that Shiloh would make it on the team. She wasn’t too worried about her own place, she had some experience and was one of the better players in her English team, it would just be nice to have people on the team she knew already, and this far Shiloh seemed like a kind and friendly person, someone she could get along with well.

As they entered the elevator, Victoria offered a supportive comment, “It’s entirely normal to have mixed feelings about new endeavors. Sometimes, the anticipation can be a blend of nervousness and excitement. I’m sure you’ll do wonderfully in the tryouts, and who knows, it might turn out to be a positive experience for you.”

---

@LunaticLeviTheSecond - Shiloh
@ChayChay05 - Liv (mentioned)

[Jass]

---

Jasper’s smile widened at Brex’s words, relieved that the tension had dissipated. “Well, I’m glad I could make up for it,” he teased, enjoying the gentle touch as Brex pushed a stray curl from his face. He smiled back, genuinely happy about the upcoming date. “Bloody excited sounds like the perfect level of excitement for this,” Jasper replied, a gleam of enthusiasm in his eyes.

As Brex talked about being a good guy and finding motivation in Jasper, Jasper’s smile softened. “You’re already a good guy, Brex. And you make it easy to be one too.” The mutual understanding about talking through any mess-ups seemed to reassure both of them.

Brex’s warning about his tendency for physical affection made Jasper chuckle. “Well, I’ll be sure to brace myself for all the hand-holding and cuddles. Not complaining, though.” His playful nudge and Brex’s blushing only added to the lightness of the moment. Feeling Brex’s hand in his, Jasper found comfort and happiness in the simple act. As Brex leaned his head on Jasper’s shoulder, Jasper smiled. “You make me happy too, Brex. I’m excited too, mate.”

Jasper’s expression turned more serious as they talked about the past year. “Yeah, last year was a bit of a rollercoaster, you know? There were some personal challenges I had to face, the complicated dynamic with my parents, relationships that went south, and I struggled with some decisions. It felt like I was caught in a whirlwind, just trying to find my footing. But the worst part was feeling kind of lost, like I didn’t really know who I was anymore.”

Jasper hesitated for a moment, his gaze drifting away before he spoke, “And, well, I wasn’t feeling the best physically either. There was some health stuff going on that I hadn’t really shared with many people. It’s not something I like to dwell on, but it definitely added another layer of challenge to the whole mess.”

He paused for a moment, then continued with a hint of gratitude in his voice, “Coming back here, I wasn’t sure what to expect. But meeting you, Brex, and having the chance to start fresh this year, it’s been a welcome change. You’ve made a difference, more than you probably realize. I’m looking forward to making this year way better than the last one.”

As he spoke, Jasper’s body language shifted, his shoulders relaxing and his posture becoming more open, signaling a sense of relief and comfort in sharing this part of himself. “And hey, it feels good to share all this and be open with each other, doesn’t it?” he added, a small, genuine smile playing on his lips, acknowledging the newfound freedom in their openness.

---

@bpalmer - Brex

[Tina.G]

~

~

Yesterday, she had asked Coach Coltrane aka Colt to teach her self defense after her recent breakup of five years (even though she had really thought he was going to purpose). Sadie had just wanted to know she had her own back walking alone in the dark, and early hours of the day now that she didn’t have a man to protect her. She craved to feel safe in her own skin, and confident in her own abilities.

Sadie was quickly greeted by the sound of powerful punches reverberating through the air, filling her with a mix of apprehension and determination. She watched as Coach Coltrane, or Colt, unleashed his formidable strength on the dummy. Vinyl or leather clashed with great force, and frankly it was both an intimidating and awe-inspiring sight to behold.

Taking a deep breath, Sadie stepped forward, her eyes fixed on Colt as she approached. She couldn’t help but admire his raw power and unwavering dedication to this craft. He was the embodiment of strength and resilience, something she aspired to become. Sadie cleared her throat before calling out to him. “Hey, Colt! Sorry to interrupt, are you still up for giving me some self-defense lessons?”

---

@LunaticLeviTheSecond > Colt

[LunaticLeviTheSecond]

“As much as your parents might protest to using a phone in public …” In lieu of Victoria speaking so eloquently, Shiloh unintentionally picked up the fancy talk and kept talking more like Victoria. “If they asked you to send a message to somebody, like I did, they’d expect you to do it in front of them, and wouldn’t consider it impolite.”
Victoria tried making Shiloh feel less nervous about the tryouts, but the truth is that Shiloh wouldn’t have minded to thorw the practice so she could not get into the team, but now that she met Victoria when she is willing to participate and was so encouraged by Victoria’s excitement and self-confidence, that she’s worried her skills are not good enough even when she’s trying to get it.
“I’m not sure how positive the experience would be if I don’t get picked. I don’t know the first thing about the sport, all I know is that it’s one of sport my mother imagined I play. So you can see how I probably won’t get in, not knowing anything about it, detesting it becuase my mother likes it and not having any experience with it … Do you have any experience with this sport or any sport in general?”

@Jass - Victoria

The dummy was being punched with slow but strong hits from Coltrane for a few minutes already, when in the silence that was by now only broken by his hits, there was suddenly the clack of steps. He hoped it was Sadie since she was supposed to meet him, but he wasn’t facing her and couldn’t tell if it was her or not. Just as he was about to turn, she greeted him. The thing that struck him was the fact she called him Colt. He was about to protest, but he was stopped by realizing how he didn’t mind that name. He actually liked it, but he wasn’t about to tell her that. The only thing that he’ll let hint to the fact he doesn’t mind that accent is the fact he didn’t protest to it, unlike how he told her not to call him by his first name. “Welcome Miss. Rollins. I hope you’ll find this satisfactory. I have to ask though … Are you in any danger? Is there some fear that leads you to be on your guard more often? Or has something already happened and you want to keep from it happening again? I’m sorry for prying, but if you’re being harmed or if you have threats you believe to be real, I’m here to help and turn to.”
Let it be known, HE knew NOTHING about Sadie, but the way she engaged him, not wanting to go to professionals who might know more, he thought it was likely she was being hurt by a boyfriend or husband who might notice her paying for self defence and harm her worse. If that were the case he could help her make a case against whoever is abusing her. After all, he is no stranger to abuse and knows the best way to go about it.

@Tina.G - Sadie Rollins

[Jass]

---

“Ah, it seems you’ve caught onto the etiquette of polite society quite well,” Victoria remarked, a subtle smile gracing her lips. Her eyes reflected a blend of amusement and acknowledgment, appreciating Shiloh’s understanding of social nuances. “In essence, it’s about the context and expectation, isn’t it? If the situation demands it, then the act becomes less impolite and more a matter of necessity. Nevertheless, I cannot imagine my parents being pleased about it regardless.”

“It’s understandable to feel apprehensive about trying something new, especially if it’s not a personal passion. Your feelings are completely valid, Shiloh,” Victoria replied, her tone gentle and empathetic. “While I do have some experience with volleyball, I can assure you that everyone starts somewhere.” Her expression softened, radiating warmth and reassurance. “The most important aspect is your willingness to learn and give it your best effort. If you decide to pursue it, I have no doubt you’ll find support and guidance, as well as enjoyment, along the way. And if volleyball isn’t your calling, there are countless other avenues waiting to be explored.” She aimed to encourage Shiloh while also validating her feelings of uncertainty. “That said, if you want to give it your best effort, and you ever need any pointers or someone to practice with, I’d be more than happy to help and guide you through the basics.” She concluded with a gentle nod, indicating her sincerity and willingness to assist.

---

@LunaticLeviTheSecond - Shiloh