Spring Month: 3 
Day 
Cherry Hall/F/Bi/Ambi/A+/Angst/Muted Noise/M: Jass, Open
“Yeah, none of those sound familiar to me." Cherry nodded slightly. She wasn't really surprised, honestly.
“I do like fantasy though. Especially the ones with gay love stories. I especially loved ‘Girls of Paper and Fire’ by Natasha Ngan or ‘Huntress’ by Malinda Lo. But hey, good to know you don’t let other people put you down. I love meeting people like that… Sometimes it just seems like the whole world is just ready to conform and listen to what everybody else wants. So meeting people that think differently, especially when it’s someone that has a fiery attitude and looks to match. Are you, by any chance, a fan of romance stories between women? The straight ones almost never work- Either they’re too much about the woman having to conform or too much about how the woman is totally more than the man but then still has the man save her. Like, what? Is this the twentieth century?”
Cherry actually took a minute to process the words, analyzing. 'But hey, good to know you don’t let other people put you down. I love meeting people like that... So meeting people that think differently, especially when it’s someone that has a fiery attitude and looks to match. Are you, by any chance, a fan of romance stories between women? The straight ones almost never work-'
Random comments about Cherry's attitude and looks followed by a question about her reading lesbian books. Right. And Cherry had really thought they were actually having a conversation. She should have known better.
"If you wanted to know my sexuality, you could have just asked," Cherry stated not bothering to let the annoyance slip into her voice, but carefully guarding the mild pain. "I'm bisexual and not currently interested in dating anyone. If you actually care about the books, I don't mind lesbian books, but I have not read the ones that you mentioned. And, for the record, even the strongest people sometimes need saving. I think you'll find that the majority of protagonists find themselves in situations that they cannot get out of without the help of another regardless of gender, though I understand your point. If you are looking for under-representation or... misleading or incorrect representation, though, as you seem to be so concerned about, I would actually point you towards the people who identify as genderfluid, trans, intersex, and non-binary. I have rarely seen books on them that paint them in a positive, proper light, have you? I'm not saying you are incorrect in your... complaint, but I also believe there are people who are less privileged still, and, personally, I will always put them ahead of myself. It seems only fair."
The auburn-haired girl looked at the other coldly, hands held in her lap, laced together. Her face was unreadable and her words had a slight edge to them, though they were mostly just matter-of-fact. Inside, however, she was scolding herself for that sliver of hope that had been present at the start of her and the other girls 'conversation.' Of course, the other was really just interested in Cherry's looks. She didn't really care about her. It was to be expected.
Ash Cadman/B+/Non-Binary/Demi Panromantic/Ambi-Mono/Angst/Boomerang/M: Ami, Open
“Well, it’s nice to meet you too, Ash! If you change your mind about seeing the nurse, you’re free to tell me. Or, if you just want someone to hang with, I’m down for that too. Just don’t feel pressured to do anything you don’t wanna, alright? Well anyways, I’m going to get to my chair before class starts. I hope you have a good day, Ash!”
Ash dipped their head again as Ami walked off, muttering a small 'Thanks.' that they doubted he could hear. Nice to meet them? Really? That definitely wasn't right. No one was happy to meet Ash. No one except August. And have a good day? Seriously? That couldn't be right either. Even if it was genuine, it wouldn't happen. Ash never had a good day. Right now, they were already having a shit one.
Taking a deep breath, Ash tried to steady theirself. They'd avoided being yelled at. That was good at least. August wouldn't be as mad. He'd still be mad that Ash had managed to open an old wound during school, though. That was their own mistake. They'd been stupid. Too blinded by pain to even notice what they were doing. August had told them not the let that happen.
Anxiety started creeping back up into Ash's chest, clawing at their throat. August would probably punish them. They didn't want to be punished. Even though it was their fault. Maybe they could just apologize. August was kind and sympathetic, he was gracious, he might forgive them for just a small mistake... Right?
Starting to panic a little again, Ash started tapping their fingers lightly on their knee. They wanted to scratch, but that would be too noticeable. Especially if Ami was still watching. He probably was.
Loreto Avian/M/AB+/Pansexual/Fluff/Mimic/M: Adbrei(Ind.), Apache, Dendritic, Open
“Yeah, chasing skunks is never a good idea. A few of the smaller kids in the area learned that lesson the hard way a few weeks ago, actually. Man, I heard that they were still stinking the place up. Ya’know, more than it already is and all. Didn’t you already ask us? No, wait- That was with a different boy… Atlas! Yeah. Why’s it always the A names dude? But yeah, I have a class with him, sixth period. He’s super anxious, easily overstimulated I think. And super sarcastic, rude, defensive, and huge aversion to touch. At least from what I’ve seen and heard. How come?”
Loreto nodded thoughtfully, smiling slightly at Den's joke. Anxious, easily overstimulated, and aversion to touch added up quite well, Ret thought. Maybe defensive too, but, from what little he'd seen, Loreto wouldn't consider Adbrei rude. Just... unaccustomed to human interaction. He'd seemed nervous and confused when Ret reached out, if he was correct, then Loreto figured that Adbrei and Atlas weren't very different at all. Neither really wanted to be alone (at least, not all the time.), but neither wanted to let people in either. Because if you let someone in, they'd either walk out, they'd hurt you, or you would hurt them.
Trauma response. Simple psychology.
"Oh, no reason, just saw him in the library today and was curious. I think I've heard his name from somewhere else, but I'm not really sure where. Well, thanks for the help! Anything interesting to talk about? New stories?" Loreto prompted Tic, knowing well that his friend enjoyed socializing and often had stories of some sort to share.
His mind, however, drifted back to Adbrei. Loreto was, as some may suspect, a bit of a psychology nerd, he watched human behaviors carefully and was often able to figure them out. Though, of course, he rarely, if ever, understood to the full extent. There wasn't a way he could actually read someone else's mind, after all.
From what Dendritic had said, it sounded like Adbrei one, had severe anxiety (something Loreto had kinda already guessed), two, had some sort of trauma response or something to being touched. Not surprising either, considering how he'd pulled away when Ret sat next to him, and, three, was coping with said trauma through emotional defense.
In other words, Adbrei was more aggressive while Atlas was more passive. Both were emotional responses to some type of trauma. Both responses did the same thing while working in a different way. What Atlas did was called emotional isolation, the name is pretty self-explanatory, someone who is either unable or unwilling to express their emotions to others. This often results in a lack of communication with others. Atlas was using this as a defense, keeping himself from getting hurt by not allowing anyone to get close.
Loreto couldn't be quite sure what Adbrei was doing yet because he didn't know him well enough, but if he had to guess, his bet was on a mixture of his 'fight or flight' reflex kicking in when someone tried to interact with him, and Adbrei instinctively acting out, or possibly, he was using emotional displacement. A defense mechanism where someone takes a negative emotion from its original source, and, instead of acting out there, redirecting this anger in a less threatening place. Though he couldn't be sure what exactly was going on, Loreto did know this, Adbrei acted out with anger. Anger was never a primary emotion. It was used to cover up other negative emotions that were more vulnerable like anxiety, guilt, shame, embarrassment, or sadness. Anger, in a way, was its own defense mechanism.
So now one question remained. How should Ret approach Adbrei without crossing boundaries or triggering more negative emotions?
Atlas Blackwell/B-/M/Ace Panromantic/Ambi-Poly/Angst/Memory Freezeframe/M: Gen'ya, Open
‘Thank you for the information, and I deeply apologize. I do not aim to bring you any concern, though I do understand where it is coming from. I assure you, I am well aware of my physical state and am working on making it less vile. I apologize in the meantime for any inconvenience or negative feelings that my appearance brings you.’
Atlas blinked at the letter in front of him. So many apologies and no reason for them. Of course, Atlas understood the other's concern well, Gen'ya obviously didn't want to upset Atlas. That was fine, Atlas didn't want to upset Gen'ya either, but Atlas wondered faintly how he should respond. What was too far? What was crossing the line? Had he already crossed it?
The last thing he wanted was to hurt Gen'ya more.
Taking a silent, deep breath, Atlas started to write again.
'You don't need to apologize, really. I don't mind at all. And, for the record, I don't think you're vile in the least, your appearance doesn't bother me at all. I mean that genuinely.'
Atlas risked a peek at the person next to him, they were obviously uncomfortable with how they looked. In fact, they seemed to be trying to make themselves smaller despite the fact that they were already obviously underweight. Tilting his head ever so slightly, Atlas felt a ghost of a smile touch his lips as he returned to the paper. He'd never been attracted to physical appearance, it didn't make sense to him how anyone could be. Appearance meant nothing. Beautiful people could be seen as hideous in the eyes of society, and ugly people could be worshiped for the way they appeared. It was stupid. But, in all honesty, Atlas didn't think Gen'ya looked bad at all. Just scared. And hurt. Upon searching his mind, Atlas remembered seeing Gen'ya at lunch, they rarely ate. Things clicked. Eating disorders most likely, and shame and fear over gaining weight. Again, this wasn't something Atlas could understand, he'd never cared much about his own appearance, and, frankly, he saw absolutely nothing wrong with Gen'ya. Their eyes were beautiful, and their skin too, though a bit pale. Atlas understood not eating, he didn't eat well either, but the rest?
'I actually think you're quite pretty.'
Was that overstepping? Maybe? No, it was helping. Right?
'Sorry if I bothered you, though, I didn't mean to intrude, I was just nervous and wanted to know if anyone else felt something off. Thank you for your help though, and really, if you need something you can ask me. I don't mind.'
There we go, an apology for intruding should fix that problem, right? Maybe?
Biting the inside of his cheek nervously, Atlas handed the paper back over to Gen'ya, not giving himself more time to think.
Kage Virgo/M/A-/Fluff/Gay/Shadow Manipulation/M: Adbrei
“I-I’ll p-pass… I-I ha-have th-the f-first lun-lunch.”
Kage shrugged and shoved the cookie into his mouth, swallowing before speaking. "Aw, that's too bad. I have the second lunch. Oh well, I guess that can't be helped. Hey, my friend Micha has first lunch, though! I'm sure he'd be alright with you sitting with him. He likes people, and he's about the sweetest person you'll ever meet. Not nearly as annoying as me." Kage flashed a bright grin.
He could tell the guy was getting uncomfy, so he decided it was probably time to back off. He could always try again later.
"Well, class is about to start so I should probably sit down. If you change your mind and decide you want a cookie, though, I have more! I really don't mind sharing. Nice to talk to you, Adbrei!"
Kage waved and then trotted over to his seat across the room, greeting a few of the people in the seats next to him. Most ignored him, but one flashed a quick smile in response. Kage exchanged a quick word with him before sitting down. He didn't mind being ignored, he was used to it. It might bother him more, he thought, if he didn't have reliable friends to return to. He trusted that Micha and Ami would never leave him, and because of that, he was comfortable with other people talking him down or just pretending like he didn't exist. If they wanted to try to hurt him, fine. Let them try, they probably wouldn't get far.
If he needed help, he would talk to Micha and Ami. They would support him. If they needed help, Kage would give up his life for them. It was simple as that. He had friends that were the best people in the world, and, though he'd like to drag others into his circle, he didn't need anyone else. At least, not right now.
