A little harmless communing. With nature.

[Byrna Cooper]

Bear was out in the woods, enjoying the return to old stomping grounds.

She was perched on a large branch, dressed in a long flowing skirt, a colourful top, and flowers in her hair.

Taking a deep breath in and out, she closed her eyes and enjoyed the setting.

[Brigid Plunder]

"...huh. Didn't think there would be anyone else out here," came a voice from up a tree.

[Victoria Valentine]

"Are you kidding?" a disembodied voice near another tree said. "I can practically feel the staff judging me if I do this up by the buildings." There was a telltale red glow and a puff of smoke, then nothing else to mark where Victoria was for the moment.

[Byrna Cooper]

Bear giggled, opening her eyes.

"Sometimes, it's a pretty popular place."

[Brigid Plunder]

"And here I thought I was out here to clear my head," Brigid said.

"No offense, I mean."

[Byrna Cooper]

"No offense taken. I think we are all here to clear our minds, actually."

[Victoria Valentine]

"Merciful Gaia, yes," Victoria sighed, fading into view as he skin turned white again. She took a long drag from the cigarette, a faintly spicy smell to the smoke as she exhaled. "I can practically smell the awkwardness back there," she said with a little smirk. In Victoria's world, apparently, today was fishnets and tank top day.

[Brigid Plunder]

"Well, you don't have to rub it in," she said to Victoria.

[Victoria Valentine]

"Who's rubbing it in? I wouldn't have expected it to be you, after all."

[Byrna Cooper]

"So, what's your name? I'm Byrna Cooper. But everyone calls me bear. And I throw things professionally."

She took a whiff of Victoria's fragrant smoke.

"And that.. Smells delicious."

[Brigid Plunder]

"Brigid. Brigid O'Hara."

"I... think I saw you in the Danger Room the other day."

[Byrna Cooper]

"I hope I didn't disappoint!" Bear replied, looking Brigids way with a smile.

[Victoria Valentine]

Victoria smirked. "It ought to," she said. "Faerie herbs, with a touch of dryad hair and the very, very finest tobacco." She took a hit, letting it out very, very slowly. "Goddess. It's like kissing a very, very slutty angel."

[Brigid Plunder]

"It was pretty good..."

"...and suddenly I don't feel like the weirdest one here."

[Victoria Valentine]

"Darling, I gave up trying to feel anything remotely normal about a year ago. It's just simpler that way."

[Byrna Cooper]

"Yep. Embrace your weirdness. And please pass me some of your mix, Victoria."

Bear stretched out against the tree trunk, and pulled out a small wood flute, and began playing a mellow tune.

[Victoria Valentine]

"Mmm... no harm, I suppose," Victoria said, handing it over for Byrna to take a try. "Just you, though. Last thing I need is to have them on my arse for giving a student some of this on school grounds."

[Brigid Plunder]

"Embracing my weirdness hasn't gone so well, lately."

[Byrna Cooper]

"Oh? Ho so?" Bear asked, pausing with her flute a moment.

[Victoria Valentine]

"Darling, you headbutted a girl in the cafeteria. I embrace my weirdness but that doesn't mean I hold fey orgies every night.". She took another hit, "That's only for holidays."

[Byrna Cooper]

"Oh, that was you?"

Bear chuckled at the recognition.

[Brigid Plunder]

"...well, I've already been punished for it."

[Victoria Valentine]

"All done with," Victoria said. "And you certainly don't have the 'my friends are all shunning me now because I'm a weird freak' look."

[Byrna Cooper]

"Don't worry about thinking you look wierd. It's not healthy." Bear added, picking up a little of Victorias special rolled herbs.

[Victoria Valentine]

"Oh, I don't think she has to worry about that," Victoria said with a little smirk.

[Brigid Plunder]

"People can be... weird in other ways."

[Byrna Cooper]

"Is this hypothetical? Or do you have someone in mind?" bear asked, producing a small box of matches.

[Victoria Valentine]

"Well, I'm here, do we need a better example?"

[Byrna Cooper]

"Hey, I'm here too!" bear replied, giggling.

[Brigid Plunder]

"What's supposed to make you weird?" She asked Bear.

[Byrna Cooper]

"Oh, the usual. Patchouli oil. Growing up in a yurt. Peace signs. Enduring insults combining 'dirty, filthy, liberal and hippie' with curses and vulgarity."

[Brigid Plunder]

"Okay, so how you grew up. I... can understand that, I think."

[Byrna Cooper]

Bear nodded. "Be proud of who you are, and where you come from."

[Victoria Valentine]

"Pfff... proud of where you came from. There are limits to everything."

[Byrna Cooper]

Bear shrugged.

"Everyone has to come from somewhere."

[Victoria Valentine]

"It's where you go that matters," Victoria pointed out.

[Byrna Cooper]

"I've found where you go is just as meaningful as where you came from. The journey is the primary."

Bear smiled, taking a drag.