Freda
Stan just shrugged
"Since you two got this figured out I'll... Do the fence maybe? Honestly that little bit of magic got me a bit hungry so I'm gonna stop by the kitchen first..."

He very much had the sense of being the only normal person around here, but didn't mind it much. Still, one question lingered in his mind:

"Sooooo..."

Now, how to phrase this to smoothly transition into the question...

 "Owen, uh, what superpower do you have?"
Jim
A rather large woman is standing at a kitchen counter looking rather distraught at the large pot in front of her. In the pot is hot chocolate which Valio has made too much of. Valio is currently hunched over the pot so she stands straight, moving her hands from the stove to smooth out her tank top and move her hair back over her shoulder. Her brow furrows as she moves to open a cabinet or two looking for mugs. Once she'd found them she pulled out six mugs, she took two and filled them up with an alarming amount of marshmellows she bought at a convenience store. She hopes she did this right. 

She takes one of the mugs which is filled with marshmellows and a ladle, which was in the pot, and pours it into the mug filling it with the warm drink. She sets the mug off to her side and once again stares at the pot. 'why did she make so much'.

"Tiaavuluk." She hisses. "You don't need to feed the whole place." She mutters to herself. The dorm kitchen is rather homely looking with moonlight filtering through a window into the kitchen. Rays of shaded sun illuminating Val's back slightly. She looks like she's about to commit a crime. As if she hasn't already.

There's an arched doorway to the kitchen that allows anybody to enter. And hopefully those she has beckoned for do come, she would hate for this to have gone to waste but she worries it already has. She drums her gloved fingers on the stovetop and turns to the doorway out to the dorm hall. They should be coming about now.
Jennifer
Light fingers rapped against the side of the wall as a signal of entry, a head of semi shaggy white-blond hair poking around the corner. The figure stepped past the doorway on soft steps, calling a greeting in French. 

"Ah - have I found the right place?" Finley asked. 

A few colorful mugs dotted the countertop, apart from the giant lady stirring a pot. She hovered over the kitchen with a masterful presence tinged with anxiety. 

"You must be Sprite, correct?" Their voice was somehow soft, perhaps more than expected. Finley didn't approach her directly, instead choosing to hover by the entrance. 

A long winter's coat clung to their body, thick, gray, and almost woolen in appearance, a pair of clunky white platform Docs hitting against the floor. They looked windblown, maybe having just come inside, a battered copy of some classic novel dangling between in their fingers, cheeks ruddy from the wind. 

"I'm Finley."
Judith
The next entry wasn't so quiet.

Something flew past just outside the door to the kitchen, briefly pulling at Finley's coat. Then again, then again. Finally, though, it stopped!

About ten feet from the door. *Oh, well,* Mel thought, *Close enough.*

She walked the short distance, then burst through the door, completely ignoring the fact that Finley was still *Standing in the doorway.* Those kinds of details weren't her problem.

"*Me voilà!*" She announced, arms outstretched, to the nearly empty room. "Here I am! Hello! Sprite, right?" She didn't leave time for an answer. "Yeah! Sprite! I'm taking this spot..." She walks through the room, counting up good places to sit, eventually landing on the middle of the nicest-looking couch. "Here!"

Hot chocolate. She *Couldn't wait.* Was it really worth the trip? No, but it was a social thing-

She was almost lost in thought when she turned her head toward Sprite - and, consequently, toward the doorway. "Oh, hey Finley! Did you just get here?" 

She didn't wink, but with the look on her face, she might as well have.
Wai
The muffled sound of sturdy boots betraying soft footsteps preceded the next arrival. Owen had passed the doorway a couple of times, flip-flopping nervously; evidently, though, he had made his choice firmly enough, squaring his shoulders and striding into the kitchen. 

He looked like he had just woken up from an impromptu nap, his dishevelled hair spilling over his shoulders and half-tied back into a ponytail over the ruddy cascade. One of his earbuds was tucked into the collar of his hoodie, the other blasting hopeful confidence into his over-thinker skull. A hand patted a pocket in his cargo pants one last time to make sure that he didn't forget his key card, yielding a short breath of relief. 

"Evening," He blurted, evidently a little tired of himself. "Valio! And Finley, and, ah, I've never seen you. " Looking at the unfamiliar blonde practically bouncing in her seat, he nervously grinned, one corner of his mouth always tugging higher than the other. He seems to have forgotten that one usually introduced themselves first in situations like these. 

"Smells incredible," He yawned, finding a seat on the couch and anxiously relaxing himself against an armrest. Might as well.
Pauline
Ares had been procrastinating on actually getting up and heading down to the kitchen, but once he finally got out of bed his normal air of confidence restored itself. He would definitely be showing up a couple minutes late, *Fashionably* Late as he liked to say. 

The boy made his way down to the place they had agreed to meet. A loose back hoodie was pulled over his chest and rolled up at the sleeves. He didn't bother to get shoes and was looking rather casual in sweatpants and socks. The only thing setting apart his otherwise disheveled demeanour was the silver necklace hanging around his collar bone, and rings adorning his fingers. If someone looked close enough, his palms were decorated with rough callouses from his many nights spent slaving over his guitar. His hair was messy as usual and his undercut overgrown. He never took his piercings out either, so along side his other jewelry those sat pretty along his ears. 

Ares found himself standing underneath the arched entrance, he scanned the room with his deep brown eyes. Four people stood in the kitchen, all in respective spots. Ares quickly realized he had no clue who was who. The only one in the room who struck a sense of recognition in him was the very large woman standing over the hot chocolate pot. Ares new Valio was 6'8, and everyone else looked too short. Must be her. The rest were lost on the boy. No matter to him, he'd just have to figure it out as he went. The atmosphere was rather calm, whatever was there was very quickly going to be ruined. Ares boomed into the room with a shockwave of undeniable confidence, his feet striking the ground with purposeful movements. Brushing right past the blonde kid hovering by the entrance without acknowledgement. 

"Sup fuckers." He turned his attention to one of them. "You must be Val."
_ _

His tone was loud and echoed through the otherwise quiet kitchen, it wasn't malicious and more lighthearted. Making his way over to Valio, Ares stood on the other side of the counter, separating himself. He leaned over in curiosity to stare at the giant pot of hot chocolate and mugs lining the counter in front of him. A smug smile pulled on Ares' tan features. He was incredibly self assured and it was very obvious to anyone who had the *Pleasure* Of meeting him.
Jim
Valio watched with one eye as four entered the room each with a different sort of... Flair. At the end where a rather loud boy came in which caused her head to snap to him as he entered. As he walked through the kitchen acting like he owned the place she stifled a laugh. 'It seems like he's playing favorites' she thought as he planted him on the other side of the counter. While each of them entered she filled each of the she had set out.

She greeted eat of the arrives with a smile and a wave. Saying their names as a greeting. She turned back to the stove again. And, so.

She lifted one of the mugs which had an unholy amount of marshmellows in it to the boy with a soft grin. "Yes I am Valio." She says with a light chuckle "And you must be?" She asks him as she gives him his mug before giving the rest theirs as well and returning to the pot. Her hair slides over her right shoulder like molten magma as she once more turns to Ares. 

Her features were relaxed even though she was slightly worried they wouldn't like it. Though her features betrayed nothing. It's hard to figure her out when she only has one eye. At least she now has the pleasure to say she has met everyone. But, she might just make good friends with Ares just yet, he seems like quite the fellow.
Jennifer
Finley, who had been more or less shuffled out of the way, bristled like an angry cat. They shot a glare to Ares, ducking out of the entryway to perch on a chair.

They bit the side of their fingers as they watched the pair interact, glancing half-long at Mel and Owen, the rich smell of chocolate hovering in the air. They looked down at their feet, clacking their boots together against themselves. 

At once, their social battery seemed to curl inward on itself, a sense of awkwardness stifling their lips and their words. Unease pricked their stomach. Socializing had never been Finley's strong suit, so they started leafing through their book again to find where they left off.

Nadias voice chirped in the back of their head - *"Fin, get outta your own way, and make some friends!*

Ha.
Judith
Mel watched the procession of people entering the room one after another, and... Didn't recognize any of them. That was fine, right? She was supposed to be making friends.

Friends! That's right! Someone had asked for her name, and... Finley was still standing in the door looking kind of stunned. Still half-bouncing in place, she left her stuff in her spot on the couch and got up to socialize.

A mix of revulsion and excitement greeted her stomach immediately. A churning mixture, an odd pressure. An unpleasant feeling, for all of three seconds, and then it's gone, the same old dull nothingness washing over Mel that she's always known.

"I'm Mél!" She chirps in Owen's direction, making sure to be just loud enough to catch his attention. She's learned that volume pretty well. "Nice to meet you! You too, Vally!"

Next on the list, snap Finley out of stupor. She walks up in front of Finley, not trying to pull attention to herself, just being there. "Hey Fin. Fiiiiiiiin. Finny. Finleeeeey. Leyleeeeey. C'mon, come sit down! Chat! Reading a book at a party? Boooooring. At least talk to me?"
Wai
Relaxing a little at Mél's easy meshing with her surroundings, Owen laughed a little at her pestering of Finley. Not loud enough to be audible, but an amused chuff from his chest that let himself know he had nothing to fear here. Mostly. The lad who had just waltzed in gave off a sharper energy; not necessarily bad, but *Striking*, like the jarringly sour smell of one of those energy drinks his cousins liked. He hit his senses with a spike of intrigue, and definitely a little annoyance. 

And a green shot of jealousy, if he was honest with himself. It was beyond him, the thought of thundering in and talking to people like it was nothing, the old frustrations stirring in his gut with the usual nerves. The hot chocolate, though, reminded him that he's wanted here too, socially inept as he was- he felt a gulp of it spill down into his stomach and warm his chest, half-melted marshmallow coating his teeth. 

"Thank you, Valio, stuff's perfect," He murmured, sinking deeper into the couch. He certainly felt how he looked- which was the general vibe of someone who had lost a hard battle to a weighted blanket. A sweet, drifting melody danced in through his one earbud, perhaps encouraging him to give things a little effort.

Not just yet, though. Observation time. Maybe he'd loosen up enough to talk more if he watched how the rest of them conversed a little better- yes, that was a plan. Good plan. Not an excuse. Good, sensible approach to the unfamiliar social situation.
Pauline
Ares looked across the room once again. The lad sitting down with the red hair must be Owen, he recognized it from a blurry picture Valio had sent once. The next people to catch his interest were the two blondes conversing together. Immediately the voices rang through his head, connecting all the little dots. Maybe figuring out who was who would be easier than he thought. The androgynous looking figure must be Finley, and the other said her name was Mel. Ares couldn't help but let his eyes rest on them for a second, before turning them back to Valio. A cup with soft puffs of steam emanating from it was slid in his direction, marshmallows floated on top of the liquid.

"Ah *Gracias.*" The boy said as he tucked the warmed mug into his palm. "*Pleasure* To finally meet you Val, My name is Ares." 

His voice was smooth and had an underlying Puerto Rican accent, but it was clear english was a familiar language. The way he spoke was sturdy and sure. The introduction of Ares' name was loud enough that anyone in the room could hear, he wasn't necessarily *Trying* To be loud, it was just natural to him. Raising the cup to his lips, he took a sip. The hot chocolate was comforting and delicious. Despite never really enjoying hot chocolate, Ares had to admit this was *Wonderful.* The smile remained present on his features. He leaned on the counter for a second more before straightening his posture and turning to face the rest of the group. He wanted to meet the other figures floating around the room. Social interaction has *Always* Been his strong suit, even if not everyone could deal with his almost arrogant mannerisms. 

"The hot chocolate is perfect. You know how to make a good batch." Ares chimed as he tiled his head back towards Val. He took another sip, his septum piercing clinking slightly against the rim of the mug.
Jim
Valio let herself relax for a moment though she couldn't deny she was indeed nervous. She was turned around and now currently leaning against the a counter which was next to the shove. She lightly drummed the fingers of her left hand on the counter while flickering her eye to each one who showed up. She rolled her shoulders before taking a cup for her own and took a drink of the hot chocolate she made. Its taste more faded due to how burned away her nerves were. Also, She had been at the gym earlier this night so she hoped they didn't notice her twitching fingers. 'if course they wouldn't this is their first meeting' she reassured herself. 

Valio despite the worry looked comfortable. Her cheeks dimpling with her smile but unable to be notices due to her scarred features. She nods at the boy introducing himself to her with a grateful smile. Ares seems to be quite adept at socializing when the only socializing she got was from prison, and well you can see how well she turned out. Her fingers twitch as she recalls prison, she should put that on a Back burner. She snorted at Owen saying he was thankful. And, well to Melodie? She threw the girl off a roof. She raises her brow into her direction before she started pestering Finley.

She seemed to space off looking at the window to the kitchen before registering what Area had said to her.
"I appreciate that you think I did well with the hot chocolate." 
Her voice was soft and deep rumbling her throat. It had a tinge of a European twang to it that caused it to roll deeper. "I could only hope it was to your standards, ares." She spoke jokingly. She looks to Finley with an expectant eye. "Care to properly tell me about those theory's you have, itty bitty?" She says the nickname with a soft affection, she is rather soft spoken. The joke name wasn't meant to be taken seriously.
Jennifer
Finley startled from their book, glancing between the group. They'd previously considered ducking out of the entire affair until Valio spoke to them. The book rested on the table, their thumb settled between the fraying pages. 

"Oh," Finley said, glancing between everyone. Their eyes lingered on Ares for a particular moment before they cleared their throat and looked away. "I forgot you're interested in those as well."

They shuffled in their chair, glancing at the stove. "I don't mind telling you, but may I have some hot chocolate in the meantime? My theories mostly involve the involvement of the European Union with the school and the hospitals in the area. There's no way the Swedish government doesn't know we're here. We're all from vastly different countries. So what's in it for them to have us here? We are hardly a case worth asylum - unless they had another purpose for us in mind."

They paused a moment to gage the reaction of their listeners, before glancing down at their book.

"I don't know about you, but I want to know what they'll do with us."
Judith
As if on cue, Finley's mention of hot chocolate has Mel rushing to grab some. And spilling a fair bit on herself. She just pretends she didn't. It's not like *It won't wash off.* Ah, well. Future problem for future Mel.

Everything tends to be a future problem for future Mel.

She its down at her chosen spot, gesturing for everyone else to sit somewhere around her while Finley lectures them all on their conspiracy theories. Truth be told, Mel is interested. A growing sense of dread is beginning to develop with the whole thing - *What they'll do to us. Another purpose.* Why was she taken to Sweden to begin with? Why here?

She sipped the chocolate. Delightfully sweet, a little bitter but with plenty of milk to mellow it out, leaving the earthy, floral subtleties of the chocolate to blossom in between the sweetness and the heat. It was good hot chocolate. Worth the trip.

Granted, Finley was too.

She turned her eyes to the two people she didn't know yet. A brash young man with a fierce personality that reminded her of herself, and a calmer one, less socially adept, that made her feel strangely envious of his approach to the environment. She really wanted to just sink into the couch, but something in her hind brain said no.

Still paying a little attention to Finley, she turned the rest of it to Ares. "Hey, nosering! Didn't catch your name!"
Wai
Perking up a little at Finley's concerns, Owen sipped some more hot chocolate and leaned forward. He was probably staring, but that didn't properly occur to him. His deep brown eyes flashed with hints of amber and intrigue at the mention of something that he himself had been wondering quietly. 

"I've been puzzling over that too," He dared, his voice much clearer this time. "In particular- why the secrecy? Evidently the knowledge of people like us is known enough to *Somebody* For a place like this to even exist, but outside of my family, I've never heard a word." Wow, he'd been holding back more than he thought. This seems as good a setting as any to release some of his own questions. "It's not just if we're being used for something, but.. Who's using us? Who's got the power to keep us from the world?"

A splintering jet of nerves spiked through his torso, ricocheting through his limbs; one of his legs began to tap along with the rhythm of the song currently bringing him some semblance of calm. His piece nervously spoken, Owen leaned back into the couch; alright, talking successful, connection perhaps underway? A few grains of un integrated chocolate swished around his tongue, and his eyes darted around quickly. Something perplexing on Valio's face.. No, nothing. Overthinking it. 

Time to listen again. Owen did actually want to know what "Nosering"'s name was.
Pauline
Ares leaned against the counter while Finley rambled on about theories. The boy never really cared for such suspicions, but Fin had a way of making it sound interesting. Ares continued to slowly sip his drink. Appreciating the deep rich flavour of the chocolate.

"Thats cool." Ares chimed in between thoughts, finally acknowledging Finley.

The voice of Owen made Ares' head turn towards him. *So he talks? About time.* Ares wasn't much of a listener, *He* Much preferred to be the one talking. However, he decided to just sit back on this one. This was definitely worth getting out of bed for. Pulled back into conversation, the one who introduced herself as Mel prompted Ares for his name again. The same smug smirk present on his features, Ares cocked his head to the side in interest.

"Nose ring? Thats a new one." He let a chuckle slip out from under his breath. "My name is Ares."

When he introduced himself, it was very obvious he had quite the ego. Simply the way he talked was enough giveaway of the boys own self righteous thoughts. Beneath a strong brow, his gaze remained on Mel and Finley. He noticed Mel carried herself with a similar confidence as him, but it seemed softer. Perhaps the two of them would get along. 

"And you're Mel, the one Val over here threw off the roof, yeah?" Ares nodded back to Valio when he mentioned her name, before returning to look at Mel. The warmth of the mug seeped into his sore calloused fingers as he spoke.
Jim
Valio placed her mug down before taking another mug and taking out jumbo sized marshmellows then pushing them down into the cup. Valio got to about 7 into the cup before she filled it with hot chocolate and walked over to give it to Finley. She taps the rim of the mug while giving it to him, then raises a brow before returning to the counter she was leaning onto. She moves her left hand upward to brush some of her thick hair from her only remaining eye and picks up her mug with her right taking another drink of it. 

"The Swedish government does know this exists. I'm quite sure the jail I was at contacted the government before it passed on to the cradle." She spoke aloud letting Finley know.
"They didn't know how to deal with me but at least they made a point to try. Took them years to finally admit they couldn't handle it." She spoke in a much quieter tone, while in an idle motion stirring the hot liquid contained in her mug with her finger. She hums taking the finger out and just letting it sit on the side of her mug the residue liquid dripping slowly down her mug. 

"There is secrecy because there are people who want to use us. Kill us maybe. But, who's to say we arnt being used here?" The muscles of her finger pull back and tap her mug. She frowns looking between Ares and Melodie. 
"Did I not say I was sorry? If not I'm sorry Melodie." She says that a worried note dancing into her tone. She shifts leaning more into the counter looking away from the group.
Jennifer
Finley thanked her, taking the mug with the corners of their mouth turned up in gratitude. They took the drink back to their seat.

Ares. The name caught them off guard for a moment. 
"Greek God of War," They said. "It fits you well, doesn't it? You're terribly arrogant."
The words weren't entirely harsh. They took a sip of their drink, thinking on it for a moment.
"This is wonderful, Val. Thank you so much for making it."

Then, they registered her words regarding their theory. Warming their frigid fingers on the mug, they continued.
 "I'm nearly sure we'll be used here. There's no way. You don't loop all of us into one place, in a country rather far from where most of us are from - and just assume nothing will come of us. We're here for a reason, but I dread learning what it is."

Their voice fell on the last phrase, eyes landing on the marshmallows plopped on top of the rich cocoa. They took a sip, letting the bittersweet taste roll over their lips. 

"Forgive me if I'm boring you ‐" Fin cast a glance at Ares and Melodie "-But I just want to know why we're here. I can't stand the not knowing. And this whole thing with Annika - it doesn't sit well with me. There's no way they haven't done something with those three. I didn't see the Swedish government before I came here - surely not as much as you did, Sprites."

Finley relaxed against their chair, looking up at Valio, and Owen, with trepidation in their gaze. 
"You understand what I mean, don't you? You've seen it. There has to be more here. I want to find out what it is - I can't stand the not knowing."
Judith
Mélodie is listening in rapt attention. Finley is certainly not boring her. Every moment seems to bring more questions than it does answers - why are they all here? What does the government want from them? What's going with on with Annika - whoever Annika is?

She needed to ask some of the questions herself. She needed answers. Or, more accurately, she *Wanted* Those things. She had a limit to how much she could care, one significantly lower than Finley's, or, she suspected, anyone else's in the room.

She nodded as Finley finished their spiel. "I, uh... I guess there's probably something going on. We should try to find out what..."

She took a break from bouncing excitedly and took a sip from her drink. The bitter notes really made themselves known. 

Looking around the room, she took a very rudimentary sort of headcount. There was her. She could hide things. There was Valio. She could hit things. There was Finley. They could think up theories, probably. There was Ares and the other one. She didn't really know them, but she figured more hands wouldn't hurt.

"Let's work together! I'm sure we could figure it out so much faster that way!" Sort of. "I can grab stuff we need. Evidence, that stuff. Anything. It's safe with me. They won't get close. 'Ley knows more about all this than the rest of us, so they're the brains. Valio can, uh, throw people, I guess? Doesn't matter! We're gonna figure out what's going on here. Who's in?"
Wai
Owen couldn't help but grin a little into his mug. Strange company there, that was for sure, mildly unsettling in places, but he got a sense that he would be seeing a lot more of them after this, which made him happy. And maybe they would actually uncover some of the secrets of this place; his first few months had been spent idling, sleeping his nerves away in isolation. But now, he had found people sniffing the same trail that he found himself on, so why not join them? Can't stay holed up forever. 

Valio was strangely nice to him, which was comforting even though she scared him just a little bit shitless; Mél had this magnetic current around her, one that drew his attention and compelled him to follow her rapidly zipping thought process; Finley, though a little difficult for him to read (then again, wasn't that everyone to him?), seemed twice as articulate as he was, sparks practically flashing from their eyes as they spoke; and Ares, the striking boy he couldn't quite make heads or tails of, equal parts annoyance and intrigue. 

"I'm- I'm in, if you'll have me," He responded, finding the courage to perhaps insert himself where he wanted to be. "I've seen too much at this point to just go about the next handful of years *(years)* Of my life with my head in the sand. Also, uh, maybe it'll get me out of my room a bit more." A nervous chuckle as the ether in the hand holding his mug jarred itself awake, passing through his skin and hardening into a glove of living red crystal. It made a pleasant *Clink*. 

"Also, could I, uhm, have another couple marshmallows?" Couldn't hurt to ask.
Pauline
"Oh yeah *God of War, Arrogant Blah Blah.*" Ares mocked. "Its a cool name, zip it Finny." His tone in person, despite still being bastard-like, was a lot more obviously lighthearted. Over the intranet those words would've sounded hostile. 

Ares let his deep auburn eyes bounce between people as conversation continued. He couldn't deny his intrigue on the subject, even if he had never thought about it before. Even with their *Annoyingly stupid* Face, Something about Fin drew Ares' in. The boy wanted to know more about them, but the urge to dip his feet into the water was tantalizing. The thought left his mind almost as quickly as it came. *Whatever.* He took a sip of his drink and let his gaze fall into his cup for a moment, watching the puffy marshmallows swirl in an almost empty mug. He almost forgot about the dull sting in his finger tips. 

His expression remained content yet confident, letting his back lean into the counter top. He tapped his foot slightly in unrest, but he definitely wasn't bored. The hum of Finley's words was quite nice to listen to. Their voice was soft yet sure, maybe they were *Boring* But they had some interesting thoughts. Ares' eyes raised from his glass and up to Mel. His eyes lit up, while a smirk pulled wider on his face. He raised his mug to his lips, tilted his head back and chugged the last bit. He slammed the cup onto the counter with a satisfying clink. 
_ _

"Hell yeah i'm in! Sounds like a shit ton of fun." 

He chimed in. This group seemed like a good time. No harm in sticking around right? Its not like Ares had anything better to do. He looked to the rest of the group for their responses. It seemed everyone was pretty much on board. Ares' eyes scanned from Valio to Owen. Owen was... *Interesting.* Valio seemed to get along with Ares well, and could tolerate his behaviour. Mel was intriguing and Fin was increasingly interesting. This group was a riot, and Ares was always down to jump into anything head first. Plus, he got hot chocolate out of it. Consequences later.