GBG Session 21: Home and Gone Again

<Darkling> It's morning, hazy and dull. You're in an APC, being moved from the base to your apartment. Lit is sitting at the end of the APC watching the children.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Looks like Lahja is still having emo fits. She's keeping to herself, giving the interior of the APC the thousand yard stare.
Wilhelm_Faustus has his eyes closed, arms folded over his chest.
<Rasia> Rasia looked troubled earlier, but she's got her arms around Wilhelm's waist now.
<Darkling> If you bothered to look out the window you'd notice the dome had been reconstructed again. Maybe not to the same quality as before, but that hopefully would be fixed soon enough.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> Until the next Jotun comes along and damages it. How long down humanity think it can hide?
<Lahja_Ilvainen> It earns little more than a passing glance from Lahja, the repairs only registering as no more snow for her. Quite inconsequential compared to feeling like sludge.
<Rasia> The predator lifts her gaze from Wil's side, studying Lahja. At least things were quiet, and they were together.
<Darkling> Soon enough though, the APC stops outside their apartment. The back opens up and allows them out, though there are two large body guards standing and waiting to escort them.
 <Rasia> "Rr?"
<Wilhelm_Faustus> Well that's new. Fingers run through the hair on the back of Rasia's head as he eyes the bodyguards.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> She looks about as pensive as an angsty teenager. Just without the benefit of bad poetry and self injury. It takes her a few moments to notice they're back. "We're home." She says in a delayed response.
<Darkling> "Come on kids." Lit shifts in his seat.
Rasia walks carefully, keeping close to her chilled boy, but making sure she's between him and the bodyguards.
 <Darkling> The whole block is devoid of the public.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> Some new NERV security restriction?
<Wilhelm_Faustus> His eyes narrow ever so slightly, eyes the bodyguards as they pass them.
<Rasia> This probably isn't all for Rasia... If they wanted her caged she'd still be caged. Could this be for all the pilots now?
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja exits the APC, glancing around very briefly. "Home." She says flatly, not seeming to like it much. How much would it take for some interested party to bribe or coerce just one of these guards to be a few seconds too late or look the other way while some poor pilot gets a bullet put through their head?
<Darkling> Soon enough the bodyguards are behind them as they are in the elevator and up into their apartment. The doors open with a bing to the silent halls of their living quarters.
 <Wilhelm_Faustus> Recalling a cat should leave here he leaves to find it and check on Nidhogg.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja walks in quickly, but it would be a stretch to call it enthusiasm. She goes straight to the fridge and opens the fridge, peering inside.
<Rasia> Rasia pokes her head in beside Lahja's boob, eager to see the home food.
<Darkling> Lit lumbers in and heads to the fridge. He hadn't had good food in some time.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "My scouting efforts indicate that there are no dead people in here, Rasia." she says in a strange tone, at once disappointed and relieved. Then she's off to plop down on the couch.
<Rasia> Blink.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "If there are bombs in the couch then I've failed to detect or inadvertently trigger them."
<Rasia> "..." Lahja's acting weird. Rasia stalks after her, jumping onto the couch to stare at her.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> Wilhelm reappears with Hel, Nidhogg fed and room examined.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "Your assistance in searching for couch bombs is appreciated." Lahja gives Rasia a halfhearted salute.
<Darkling> Lit pulls a package out of the fridge tsk'ing and goes to preparing them a meal.
<Rasia> "...sick?" Rasia checks Lahja's temperature with her hand.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> Wilhelm sits at the other end of the couch quietly, watching Rasia and Lahja. Though from this angle, mostly Rasia's rear.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "Maybe in a way." Lahja says with a brief glance to the kitchen. "Now I'm thinking about how easy it might be for someone to take advantage of a social event or other opportunity and put bombs in the couch or poison our food or something."
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "You can't worry about everything." He pets Hel absently, the little white ball in his lap purring.
<Rasia> "Safe." Rasia leans closer, pointing to herself.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja nods to Rasia, not feeling particularly inclined to argue with her about it. "I suppose I can't. Not unless I want to turn into an old lady before I'm old."
<Rasia> "Old...before old..." Don't hurt yourself, Rasia.
<Darkling> The stove closes. "I think I need a shower." Lit lumbers off to the bathroom.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "Stress does that. Remember when we met the commander? He looked really old. He's probably got a lot of stress." Lahja closes one eye and narrows the other.
<Rasia> All of a sudden Rasia frowns, scowling at the couch.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "Something wrong?"
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Interesting reaction. Then again, it might just be delayed indigestion. Lahja opens her other eye.
<Rasia> "Commander sick."
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "Is that so?"
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Sick like me? Lahja decides against saying that. "Sorry. I guess that explains a lot."
<Rasia> A quiet nod.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "How do you know he's sick?"
<Rasia> "..." Rasia touches her neck, considering things. "Talked."
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "I see. Did he tell you anything else?"
<Rasia> A shake of the head.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He nods slightly and returns to petting Hel.
<Rasia> Rasia's focus returns to Lahja, a rock-steady stare.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Definitely interesting. Does he look forward to dying? Or anything, for that matter? "I hope he gets better." Lahja says with some difficulty, the glumness making it seem a bit more genuine than it would otherwise.
<Rasia> "Wrestle?"
<Darkling> Lit walks out into the common area in a bathrobe, dripping slightly as he checks on the progress of the food.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja ponders that for a while, eventually nodding. It's a distraction, if nothing else. "Alright. It might help me work up more of an appetite."
<Darkling> "Dinner's going to be a little late tonight, but it will be worth it." Lit offers a weak smile before heading out of the room.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> Wilhelm watching Lit with his neutral expression.
Rasia bearhugs Lahja and throws her off the couch, jumping down to get the game going, a happy rawr slipping out.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja hits the ground with a squeal. By this point she's getting less prone to random flailing and actually experimenting with some workable techniques. She's still not that great at it, but it's an improvement.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> Lazily the boy pulls his phone from his pocket, taking pictures now and then.
<Rasia> A leglock! Armbar! Pretty sure that one wasn't a standard wrestling hold, but it left a bite on Lahja's wrist.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja ends up on the defensive, often trying to wriggle her way out of various holds. Another squeal comes from her at the bite, and despite the situation she ends up going somewhat broody again, seeming distracted.
Rasia checks on her wrestling partner, making sure she isn't hurt or tired.
 <Lahja_Ilvainen> She doesn't seem overly hurt, albeit maybe tired. "That was a good idea." She says a little absently.
<Rasia> "Rrrrrr."
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "I guess I'm just a little worn out from all that's happened lately. I'll get better." She takes a casual look at her wrist. "Maybe someday I'll  be able to wrestle a cow or something if I keep getting better."
<Rasia> That coaxes out a laugh, as Rasia imagines such a thing. She rolls off, petting Lahja like a dog.
<Darkling> ---------------Six hours later---------------
<Darkling> Lit is serving the pilots dinner, the first in awhile now. He's cooked a few full racks of ribs for them with some salads and raw veggies.
Rasia salivates violently, her stomach and throat growling in unison.
<Darkling> "Come on, dig in." He urges.
<Rasia> Om chom chom! Rasia tears into a plate of ribs like they're trying to escape, getting sauce all over her hands and face.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> Wilhelm smirks at her before picking at his own ribs. He seems intent on not making a mess of himself.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja eyes the meat, tilting her head and giving it a long and peculiar look. Is she trying to move it with her mind?
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "The Force is not strong with you."
<Rasia> Crunch! She sets the bones aside, saving for later.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> Rasia gets the bones from Wil's ribs as well. Why not?
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja cracks a smile at Wilhelm's remark. Little does he know she's imagining him on the plate. And the rest of her little family. Corrin cube steak!
<Rasia> Rasia would make such a fatty slab. Very indulgent. Vegetables split apart in her teeth, skin and all torn apart with ease.
<Darkling> "So, I have some news to share." Lit says between chewing. His beard is a mess of sauce.
<Rasia> "Rr?"
<Wilhelm_Faustus> That gets the boys gaze but not much else.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja looks up from her imaginary Ivy barbacoa after poking it with her fork. Food that still has its eyes is a lot harder to think about eating.
<Darkling> "We're getting sent away on a mission."
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "Where to, sir?" She asks, her stomach rumbling ominously.
<Rasia> Rasia boggles at Lahja's hunger. Who wouldn't eat with such a feast?
<Darkling> "We're making a visit to the UN dome. Some new technology they've made they want to show us. Transporting the Aesir and everything."
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "Rasia, Wilhelm, you might get to meet my parents." Lahja says before leaning over to whisper to the ribs.
<Rasia> Rasia leans in to hear the whispers.
<Darkling> "We're leaving next week, once they have everything packed up and ready to go. so we've still some time at home until then."
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Sounded like "Will you be happy to see me again even though I'm full of bad news?". Probably not very healthy.
<Rasia> ...very sick. But Rasia isn't a nurse... Better ask Wilhelm later. She sits up to devour another bowl of salad, almost without chewing.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "Enjoying yourself?" Wil smiles weakly as Rasia, chin in his hand.
<Rasia> "Foooood."
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Eventually Lahja picks at the vegetables. She's either trying to smile or trying not to. It's hard to tell. "How long will we be there, sir?"
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "Right, of course."
<Darkling> "The whole trip will likely take a month, we will be there for approximately a week and a half. I've already arranged you time to see your family."
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "Thank you, sir. I've been hoping to see my father again."
<Darkling> Lit finishes up, pushing his chair back. "I could use some rest. I'll see you kids in the morning."
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "Pleasant dreams, sir."
<Rasia> "Bye." Wave~
<Wilhelm_Faustus> Wilhelm sits back in his chair, keeping his thoughts to himself.
<Darkling> ===========END===========