开云体育

(Ireland, Chord, Harrison)

When Mia was done speaking she wanted to clap and shout yes! Finally someone who got it. But even though that was her character, even though that’s how she felt saying that would have been totally out of line. So she remained quiet.?

?

She also didn’t take her turn to speak “I was not in the room during the exercise so I don’t think it would add to the conversation for me to speak my thoughts on yesterday” she said softly.

?

Which was true. She didn’t think anyone wanted to hear how she thought they were all sexed crazed teenagers who were squandering a mass opportunity.

?

She wondered if Kat and Kites realized just how telling their behavior and innuendos were as they sat. It was a small conference room and they were all sitting at the same table. You would have to deaf and blind not see what was going on with them.

?

Even Brandon. Did he really just send her a text while sitting there. Really dude? She was a bit surprised when she saw him looking down at something under the table and realized it was his phone when her phone vibrated against her back side.

?

God...this guy.

It made her wonder just how old everyone was. They all seemed so young and a bit immature...everyone but Mia. She actually seemed to be the most mature out of all of them...even her.. even more so than Brandon and he was older than all of them and had been with Chord the longest.

When everyone was finish speaking Chord’s deep thoughtful brown eyes meet Harrison’s across the table. Although the look the two shared was unreadable, it would be obvious in the room that the two shared a moment.?

?

After a beat, he nodded his head. And steepled his hands. “I just want you all to know that I appreciate what all of you have said here today.??Really I do. We asked you to speak up because we wanted to hear your thoughts on the matter. Find out where all of your heads are. Thank you all for sharing so freely. ?

?

“Mia is right.??In everything she said. I explained that very same sentiment after Gen’s expressed her feelings yesterday. Thank you Mia, for not just hearing me but for taking the time to understand me through whatever hurt feelings my unfiltered honesty may have caused.”?He nodded a soft smile to Mia.?

?

“With that being said, After yesterday and last night and today, Harrison and I have come to a decision.” He paused,?“We have decided to disband this program effective immediately.??We realize that what we want for this program, what we want to accomplish is not properly lining up with the thoughts, ideas, goals, values and interest in the way we would like.?Knowing this, having a full understanding of the current and potential conflict this clash would cause if we continued would not be conducive to the necessary team growth needed to form strong long lasting bonds of trust, camaraderie and confidence between you and I and Ms Harrison and that would just be unfair and cruel to all of you. Contrary to what some of you may think. Cruel is never what I aspire to be... with anyone.

?

“Thank you all for the time that you have given. I truly appreciate it. It was a pleasure to meet all of you. My door is always open if you should need anything.?

Please stay and have your fill of breakfast. Whatever is left you are welcome to take with you. The clothing that has been provided for you for this week is yours to keep if you want it. so is the food in the mini bars. A car will be provided to you within the hour to take you anywhere in the city you would like to go.?Godspeed and Good Luck with you for you future endeavors. “

?

And with that he stood and moved towards where Harrison was sitting. She was about to speak, but Chord shook his head. And with that Harrison sighed softly and also stood.

Harrison nodded to the occupants of the table and moved to fall into step beside Chord. As she moved past Mia, she handed the young woman an envelope. Chord opened the door held it open so that she could pass through and then the two left.

Ireland looked up at Brandon. She was stunned but not at all surprised by what just happened.

?

"Wow. Wow. The three of you are just something else. And Brandon I am so disappointed in you.” She said she was going to keep her thoughts to herself. Damn but she failed miserably with that one.

?

(Brandon)?

Brandon looked at his sister and she seemed to want to go all in.? “Thank you!”? Was all he said as he stood up and left the room.? He made his way to his room.? Seemed his actions had really created more of a problem than anything.? He was not a natural born leader, he had try to put forth more effort.? He didn’t trust himself to lead beyond his head or his inner turmoil or his penis.? Since his father, his sister and Harrison seemed to believe that is where he was leading from.?

He wasn’t but that was neither here nor there, he had caused the rest of the group to lose what could have been a golden opportunity for all of them and he had single handedly messed it up and Ireland was even more disappointed in him.? Which was fine.? He lived in that place recently what was one more person being disappointed with him.? Right now he just felt the need to get away.

Of all of them only Mia got the fact or stated that they had all failed to see the bigger picture.? All he could do was apologize for his part.

He went to see his father, the best or the most he could do was give the rest of the group a chance.? Ireland deserved to be here and she made it pretty clear she was a better leader than him.? He would leave the team if it would give the others a chance to be better without him.

?

(Kat)

Kat sat for a moment, not sure she heard what she heard. She understood what Chord and them were trying to do. The big picture as Mia had said but in her mind he took it a little to far. There were better ways to get the point across than the way Chord had tried. Still to just give up was not something she had thought he would have done.

?

So, when Chord and Harrison walked out, Kat honestly couldn't believe it. She looked to Brandon, who just stood up and left. This made her even more confused. Not sure what to do she looked to the others. "I'm heading up to my room. I'm going to collect my stuff and head back to my old place. There is room if you all want to crash for a while."?

?

Kat stood and headed for the door. As she did she stopped and turned around. "I don't want to leave. This is the first time in my life that I have been around someone like me. I don't want to lose my friends."?

?

(Gen)

Gen nodded to what Kites said, happy to hear that the winged youth's sentiments mirrored his own. He wanted to give Kites a supportive kiss or hug when he sat back down, but contented himself with a smile and a playful shoulder nudge, not wanting to risk even more disapproval from Chord or anyone else.

?

He then listened to Mia say her piece, then glowered at the water controller as she sat down.? "I said I was sorry," he muttered, digging back into his food and stuffing his face angrily. "We can't _all_ be perfect."

?

The androgyne wasn't prepared though for what came next, nearly choking on his food when Chord announced that he was disbanding the project and that they were on their own as of this morning. Then Ireland seeming to echo him in blaming everyone but Mia for this.? And then Harrison handing an envelope to Mia as she and Chord left the room.

Gen felt sorry for Brandon as the man gave Ireland an injured look and a quiet "thank you" and then headed for the doors.? "It wasn't your fault!" he called out as the dejected man left the room, adding "Not all of it anyway" quietly to himself.

?

"Me too," Gen said when Kat announced her intentions. Impulsively, the androgyne got up and went to the cat girl and hugged her tightly.? "I don't want to lose you either," he said holding her close, his voice choking a bit with emotion.? "Not any of you," he went on, glancing back at Kites with longing. His expression glowered a bit when he added "Not even you two" looking at Mia and Ireland.

?

"The same goes for me too," he said finally, reluctantly releasing Kat and stepping back.? "I'm going back to my old place, and if anyone needs a place to stay, it's got plenty of room." He chewed his lip a bit, looking a little embarrassed.? "It doesn't have electricity or running water.? And you have to fly or swim or have a boat to get there. But it does have a great view of the harbor and the city skyline," he added, grinning weakly.? "Anyway, you're all welcome."

The androgyne hesitated, then walked up to Kites and hugged him impulsively.? "Come with me," he said softly, looking up into the taller youth's eyes.? "I'll take care of you. It won't be as fancy or comfortable as this place, but at least we won't have to worry about pleasing anyone else."

?

(Kites)

I hope that you won't give up on us either...? These words echoed in Kites' mind far after Chord voiced his desire to disband the program, thanking them all of their honest thoughts.? He was completely stunned at what just transpired and in utter disbelief that this was it.? That they have failed to such a high degree that the company decided all these fledglings were not worth their time.? Sitting at the table without a single twitch or move, his eyes unfocused and stared into the distance, letting everything fade into the background as his ears closed off to the outside, everyone sounding as if they were in slow motion and had cotton stuffed into their mouths.? Heart and mind warred within his body, emotions arguing with logic, trying to process everything from start to finish, to make sense of all this chaos.

?

A part of him had agreed with what Mia said, hating that he was admitting this to himself.? She had cut through the bullshit like she was parting water, precisely pointing out where and how everyone failed, making sure to single Gen out as a major pain point.? It made him feel angry, not just because he felt protective over the beautiful androgyne.? The way Mia spoke just felt so cold and unfeeling, very matter-of-fact that they all failed because of their inadequacies and she was the only one who was prim and proper.? Sure, she was the most mature out of all of them but all it did was make her seem uppity.? Add to their already hurting egos, Ireland also made her disdain clearly known as she spoke about her disappointment with them.? She who couldn't handle her own feathers being ruffled, expecting a total stranger to have known her weakness and walk on eggshells around it, well, this just further solidified his dislike of her and her presence.? It made his skin crawl, but it wasn't till Kat said something, turning to leave, and Gen's soft voice bringing him back from the edge, that he suddenly came to and broke out of the stupor in which he was in.

?

"What?? Wait, Kat, no...please stay," Kites pleaded, suddenly jumping up from his seat as the chair fell to the floor with a loud bang.? He reached out for her hand but suddenly hesitated, stepping back.? He stood in the middle of the room, his hands balling up into fists.? Just as there was a side of him that agreed with the fiery redhead, there was another part that was decidedly unaccepting of this conclusion and the more he thought about it, the more he became incensed.? No...no...no, he was not leaving.? _They_ were not leaving.? Not Kat, not Gen, not him.? Chord.? He needed to talk to Chord, but not now and certainly not in the enraged state of mind that he was in.? Not if he wanted to deal with this calmly and logically.? He needed to get away, he thought, just as the androgyne approached him and enveloped him in a hug.

?

"No," he sharply said, looking directly at Gen and at the same time through him, as if he was still lost in his own thoughts again.? When he realized how angrily he addressed his lover, he softened a bit.? "No, I...I need...I need time to think.? Sorry."? He returned the shorter boy's hug, but it was stiff, awkward and cold, especially with Mia and Ireland watching.? As much as he wanted to admit that he didn’t give a flying fuck about them, he didn’t want their fraternizing to be yet another point of contention.? Gripping Gen by both shoulders, he somewhat roughly?pushed him away and turned to head out towards the elevators.? It wasn't till later that he realized his fingers were digging into the palms of his hands, producing red, angry welts in his skin.? Whatever, it didn't matter anyway.? His feet took him past the training room, past the elevators, past whatever else this place held behind each wall, till he stood in front of the glass doors that led out into the city.? Hesitating for just a second, he decided to step out and as he did, he was hit with the hustle and bustle of the busy metropolis, myriads of sights and sound that assaulted all his senses.? Without a further ado, he disappeared into a nearby alley and took to the skies, wings beating harshly to lift him higher and higher, not stopping till he had cleared all of the towering skyscrapers.

?

As he soared on the rising hot pockets of air, he closed his eyes, spreading his arms wide as he let the air envelop him in its warm embrace, closing his eyes.? Here, there were no expectations, no sense of failure or disappointment.? No, here was just the sky, the wind that gently ruffled his feathers, and the serenity that he so sorely lacked these days.? Some time had passed before he floated down, alighting with the roof of Chord's company building and found a bench upon which he sat, letting his wings droop as he pensively watched the city skyline. ?Going over his own actions, he suddenly realized how hurt Gen looked when he pushed him away that he felt like an idiot, bringing his hands up to his face and then screamed in frustration. ?He continued sitting there for a while, head supported in his hands, elbows on knees as he tried to calm himself down.

?

(Mia)
Mia felt the sudden shift in the room from those around her after she spoke.? They would never accept her fully as one of theirs since she didn’t have a flirty affair going on with anyone.? She did find Ireland attractive and even tried flirty with her on the roof a couple nights earlier, but the woman didn’t seem receptive.

?

Then Mr. Chord said something about disbanding the project all together.? She knew they had failed, but really that badly.? She overheard Gen’s comment about being perfect, “I am far from perfect.”? She said in response as Ms. Harrison and Mr. Chord left the room and she was handed an envelope.? She got up from the table and went to a window away from everyone else and opened the envelope.? Simply said, “Meet me on the roof, please.? Ms. H”? Mia wondered what she had done to impress the woman who only a few days ago had more or less told her she could leave.

?

She turned to the group as she folded the note and slipped it into her pocket, “Well, it seems that you all clearly don’t like me for whatever reason.? So, I am just going to say my goodbyes, thank you, and good luck.”? With that she left the conference room and headed for the elevator.? She just didn’t understand why she never fit in anywhere and she was tired of trying when others wouldn’t take the time to get to know her.

?

Tag: Kat, Gen, Kites, Mia, Ireland, Chord and Harrison, Brandon

?