Liv looks at herself in the mirror, running her bare hand through her curly hair, the finishing touches before she left.She had spent the time since her and her teams beating thinking on the crucial flaw they had– a flaw she had yet to find. She had a few ideas, mostly about her reckless attacks, but that had worked out before. It was frustrating, but it was just something to consider for later. Now? Now she had to get ready for her first mission. She's packed a bag with all the essentials she would need: changes of clothes, a toothbrush, one of the small bottles of soap the Initiative provides, and enough food to last her a lifetime. It was on the lighter side, enough to get by for a time without being a burden to carry. Sliding her gauntlets back on, she jogs out her bathroom, adjusting the bag on her shoulder as she bursts out the door, Charlotte and Donovan waiting just outside.

  “There she is!” Donovan calls, a smile on his face as he pats her on the shoulder. “You get everything in order?”

  “Mhm.” Liv nods, giving her hair another tousle before fully exiting, closing the door behind her.

  “There,” He says, giving Charlotte a cheeky smirk, "at least some of us don’t take too long.”

  Charlotte gives a tight smile, her eyebrow twitching as she crosses her arms. “I apologize if I took too long for you, Donovan. Unlike you, I have a suit of armor to put on.”

  “Hey, no judgement.” Donovan teases, reaching up to brush her shoulder off. “You take all the time you need. It's not like punctuality is important or anything."

  “Hm, I suppose you’re right.” Charlotte says, her smile growing more genuine as she reaches over, removing his hand from her shoulder. “I suppose that means I shouldn’t purchase any breakfast for you. We are on a time crunch, so it would be a waste of our valuable time.”

  Donovan’s smile falls, his hands coming out in a placating gesture. “Okay, let's not get hasty! I’m sorry, I’m sorry!” He repeats, his hands clasping together. Charlotte only chuckles, covering the growing smile on her face.

  Liv looks on, looking at their packs. They seemed... Heavy, even for her. Donovan's was the size of his leg, and Charlotte's was even bigger than his, nearly being the size of her torso. They knew what they were doing she supposed, but a different thought bubbled up in her head.

  “Where’s Anthony?” Liv questions, her eyes darting around. “Do y'all know?”

  Charlotte turns her head away from Donovan, her thumb jutting out to the stairwell. “I told him to meet us in the Initiatives parking garage.”

  Liv nods her head. It seemed everything was in order. With quick steps, she walks to the stairwell, Donovan and Charlotte still behind her. They continue to bicker throughout the entire descent to the parking garage, their words echoing off the walls, joke and jab alike. It was lively, a nice change of pace from the usual arguments Liv is subject to. To Liv’s surprise, there were hundreds of people descending the steps, the sound of conversation catching up as figures came into view. Fellow Group Z’s most likely, each coming down for their first assignment.

  After the long descent, the horde of recruits exit the final floor of the stairwell, the parking garage coming into view. It’s an expansive place, hundreds upon hundreds of lines of buggies lined side to side. The asphalt is a fresh, dark black with bright yellow lines running down their length. Liv gawks at the abundance, each group piling toward one of the buggies with a haste.

  “We get one of them buggies?” Liv questions, her feet planted in place.

  “Of course.” Charlotte confirms, walking up to take position next to Liv. “Not everyone in the Initiative has the means to travel at high speeds like we do." Her eyes land on Donovan, causing him to gasp in mock offense.

  "I'll let you know I can get around as quick as anyone else!" He states, adjusting the pack on his back. "Besides, drivings more relaxing anyway!"

  Liv looks to the buggies, a flicker of excitement blooming in her chest. She had wanted to drive one since she saw it; alas, the opportunity never sprung. Something about being "unqualified", and the buggy being an "expensive piece of equipment". If she had the chance to drive while having a relaxing trip?

  "I call drivin'!" Liv calls, taking the first sprinting step toward the buggies.

  "Hold your horses, slugger." Donovan chastises, stopping her dead in her tracks. "Has to be a group decision."

  "Oh?" Charlotte questions, a spark of amusement in her eyes as she leans forward. "I certainly don't mind. It would be a nice change of pace. I didn't know you knew how to drive, though."

  "W-well," Liv starts, her hopping gradually slowing down as sweat trails down her back. "I-I don't, but I reckon it cant be that hard-."

  Donovan stares at her with a thousand yard expression, his jaw locking as sweat begins to bead on his own face. "... You don't?"

  Liv gulps, her hands coming together as she pushes her thumbs together. "Nah, but I can learn as we go. I reckon-."

  "No." Donovan states simply.

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  "Aw come ON!" Liv cries indignantly, her hands raising above her head. "I can do it! Just gimmie the chance!"

  "Nuh uh, no WAY!" He responds, "If we're going hundreds of miles away on limited gas, I am NOT risking getting lost– or worse! I'll drive."

  "That ain't fair!" Liv cries once more, turning to Charlotte for support. "Tell him that ain't fair!"

  "That isn't fair, Donovan." Charlotte puppets, a teasing tone lacing her voice.

  Donovan slowly turns to her, his eyebrows furrowed as he scrutinizes her. "You don't even mean that."

  "I don't." Charlotte confirms, her smile growing wider as her eyes shine with further amusement.

  Liv continues to argue her case, Donovan shooting her down at every turn. In the end, she relents, her head hanging as she accepts defeat. It stung, but Donovan had promised to teach her the basics on the road, so there was an upside. The trio can do nothing but wait, however, as they still have another core member to wait for. After a minute or two, the larger man opens the doors behind them, a small camera jingling around his neck.

  "Hi." Anthony says, standing just behind Donovan, his hand raising just above his shoulder as he waves. "Hope I'm not late."

  “Not at all." Charlotte comforts, her hands clasping at her waist. "We were simply having a live discussion about who would get to drive. I believe Donovan has taken that privilege."

  "Oh." Anthony says, rubbing the back of his neck. "I don't mind, I guess." He says awkwardly as silence claims the group. After a moment, a thought seems to dawn on him, a flush creeping over his face, "I-I haven't introduced myself, have I? I'm Anthony Bouiour," he says, his hands clasping as he shifts nervously, "and before you ask: yes, I am related to Uriel Bouiour, but I'm not nearly as strong."

  Charlotte nods, bowing with a quick curtsy. “I have heard of you, Mr. Bouiour. I am Charlotte Arcille, first daughter of Clement and Louise Arcille. It is a pleasure to meet and serve with someone of your caliber.”

  Donovan takes one look at Charlotte before dramatically bowing, a snobbish tone infusing into his voice. “It is a pleasure to finally make your acquaintance, your lordship! My name is Donovan Orinthow of the house Orinthow. I do hope someone as handsome and smart as thou will consider adding me to their rapidly evolving list of contacts!"

  Charlotte shoots Donovan a glare, one he responds to with a cheeky smile. Anthony can only chuckle, his awkward smile only growing.

  “Uh, thanks I guess. You don’t have to do all that though.” Anthony says softly, his nervousness a bit more subdued.

  “Respect is an important thing to establish,” Charlotte grounds out, her eyes flitting away from Donovan, “So respect I shall give.”

  “Indubitably, young master!” Donovan chirps, his voice still filled with the same mocking, snobbish tone as before. His cackles vanish as Charlotte’s fist knocks against his chest, stealing the air from his lungs.

  “Mhm.” Liv confirms, her own hands coming to her hips as the two enter another fit of bickering. Liv shakes her head, her hair swishing with the movement. She was a bit defeated, but at least they'd be doing something. "Aight, we're outta here. Cmon."

  Turning foot, Liv begins to walk away, waiting for a few of the now occupied buggies to pass before snaking through the cars. Anthony follows right behind, Donovan and Charlotte joining a few seconds after, their bickering mostly dying down. Liv pats around her pocket, a jingling sounding out as she pulls out the key she was given in the night, a number emblazoned on the side. “192”, the number corresponding to the buggy her team got. It didn't take long to find, especially with the efficient numbering system the Initiative seems to employ. They each pile into the buggy, Liv– with another sigh of discontent– takes the passenger seat, kicking her feet up. Donovan settles in the drivers, Anthony and Charlotte each taking a spot in the back.

  Charlotte, clearly taking note of Liv's discontent, reaches forward to give her a small squeeze on the shoulder. "If it makes you feel any better," She starts, her voice soothing, "I haven't a clue how to operate one of these either."

  "You don't?" Donovan questions from his own seat, turning his head in time with Liv's.

  "Not a clue." Charlotte confirms, seeming unembarrassed by the revelation. "I assumed one of my teammates would have gone through the prerequisites. The assumption allowed me to focus all my attention on my true strengths."

  “So it's just me and Anthony.” Donovan says, his mood dropping drastically as he puts the car in reverse, backing out of their spot. They begin to drive out, stopping just at the end of the long, long line of buggies trying to exit the parking garage. Liv squints, her eyes locking on the jeep just in front of them, the number thirteen emblazoned on the side, just barely visible at her vantage. In the driver's seat is a man dressed in an elaborate get up, a bright white montsuki lined with black shining in the morning sun. A katana juts from his hip, his hair tied in a high bun.

  “Do y’all know who that is?” Liv questions, gesturing to the car in front of them.

  "Hm?" Charlotte hums, her eye turning to the car before them. A glint of recognition passes her eye, her hand instinctively coming to grasp the hilt of her blade. “Arata Hyoudou. Our blades met briefly during the combat test, though his skill is regrettably higher than my own.” She says, a tint of excitement entering her voice in spite of her supposed loss. Liv hums, her head cocking to the side. He was the one in the third spot, was he not? He seemed strong, though the people around him seemed to be almost… Unremarkable? Not in the sense that they seemed boring, they just seemed weak in a strange way. Not that she believed herself above them, they all just didn’t seem to be all that powerful looking.

  "Hyoudou?" Anthony pipes up, his eyes turning to the car before them. "Really?"

  "Is he super rich or something?" Donovan calls back, his free hand draped across the back of his seat.

  Anthony doesn't respond for a second, his attention elsewhere, caught between the present and the past. He eventually speaks, his voice a controlled neutral. "Something like that."

  Donovan furrows his brow, his face scrunching with confusion. "What the hell does that even mean?"

  "He's important, and that's all you need know." Charlotte responds, her voice still laden with battle hardened excitement.

  Donovan looks to her before sighing, shrugging his shoulders. If it was important, he'd learn it later.

  The line finally permits them to leave the garage, the sun streaming down on them as they putter through the Buggy filled streets. Liv can only blink as people cheer… Cheer for her, cheer for her team, cheer for something she’s a part of. They line the streets, throwing candy, confetti, and kind words their way. They must've cleared the street for them. Liv feels a swell of pride, stunned by the wave of support. Charlotte waves respectfully, easily responding to the accolades. Donovan's response is in between, nervously waving to the crowd around them; though, his eyes seem lost elsewhere. Anthony looks down, unphased, but unresponding as well.

  The crowd slowly peters off as they reach the end of the road, the Hellfire's exit before their eyes. The Buggy's split off as they leave, each taking their own paths to their destination. Their own Buggy turns northward, headed deep into the unknown.