GBG Session 7.5: Getting Back

<Darkling> It's a little before noon still. Lit's instructed the pilots to make the best of their time before they have to leave. He has some business to discuss with the twins.
<Darkling> So what to do then? There's the beach, the forest which sprawls up a rocky hill and the cabin to explore.
Rasia pulls another salt-scab from her cheek, tongue lolling out as the heat starts to set in.
Wilhelm_Faustus groans, stretched out on his bed as the A/C blasts away at max. Why would people want to go to a beach? He understood the attraction of scantly covered females but...what else was there?
Corrin wanders back and forth, leaving rows of footprints across the pristine sand, occasionally veering into the water.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja is in the cabin prowling around. She's pretty intrusive about it, opening whatever drawers and cabinets she may find and then doing her best to make it look like she never touched them.
<Darkling> There isn't actually that much to find Lahja. Changes of clothing branded with NERV decals, changes of linens and towels...
<Rasia> Out she goes. Corrin might spy Rasia running along the beach. Rather, across it, straight into the water. She doesn't stick nearly as close to the beach this time around...
Corrin comes to a stop as he finally reaches his starting point again, looking up at the cabin. He's disheleveled and sweating furiously, but there's still that grin on his face.
Corrin sees the other pilot run, looking away again a few seconds after the inevitable splash.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Eventually Lahja's search takes her to a closed door. She puts her ear to it, and when no giggling or otherwise suspicious sounds are heard she opens the door and barges in.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "Oh... Wilhelm. I didn't know you were here. Should I leave?"
<Rasia> Faster, faster. Like running, but she didn't get nearly as hot. And you could do so much more underwater... Twisting and diving, she kept close to the seafloor, swimming out as far as she could.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "...you can stay, just close the door."
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja looks out the door, then closes it behind her. She seems a bit uncomfortable. "I was getting a little tired of my search anyway. I'll stay."
Rasia bursts from surface, gasping for air. Forgot that part.
Corrin stands still on the beach, hands on his knees as he looks out "to sea".
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He sits up, but doesn't move off the bed. He looks better than he did outside, anyway. "...nothing of interest is kept here I suspect."
Corrin sees a splash in the water.
Rasia turns to get her bearings on the beach, able to pick out Corrin even from this distance.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "It's not like I was looking for secret documents or anything." Lahja says, moving over to a corner to curl up there, holding her knees. "Just a trashy romance novel, a stupid photograph..."
Corrin looks at the beachfront one last time, straightening, then heads off for the cabin. Enough exploring for one day. Maybe a drink if he's lucky...
<Rasia> Bloop. Back to her quest.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He tosses one of the blankets from his bed at her, should the air conditioning prove to be too much. "...are you liking it here?"
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "Thank you." She wraps herself up in the blanket, looking a bit less tense. "I did for a while. It's pretty, but now I miss Berlin. I think I even miss the threat of a Jotun attack. That feels distant here."
Corrin staggers up the hillside towards the cabin.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "...hrm. Is...Rasia having fun? You were speaking to her the other day." He moves around, leaning back against the wall as he looks to Lahja.
Corrin grapples with the doorknob, pulling. He almost jerks back at the sudden gust of icy wind that wafts out, but peers inside a moment later.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "I couldn't tell." Lahja shrugs. "I was trying to get to know her. I don't know if she's really having fun or just being natural."
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "...what?"
Corrin steps inside, the door clattering closed behind him as he drops into a chair.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "...so. Where did we leave off last time?"
<Darkling> You can see Lit and the twins in the living room with a laptop out and a lot of paperwork Corrin.
<Corrin> "Cap-" Corrin begins, reconsiders, and heads off. Coming to the first door in the way, he opens it and steps inside.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "She doesn't really fit in the city environment. Or maybe I'm just not trying hard enough." She shrugs again, almost annoyed with herself. "But here there's no school, no worries about what happens after you punch someone in the face. There's no cage."
<Darkling> Dark closet Corrin.
Corrin steps back out and closes the door.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "But I think last time..." She goes on. "We were talking about blood and your home."
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "Mmh." He runs a hand through his hair. "There'
<Wilhelm_Faustus> 's a base there."
Corrin wanders across the cabin, giving the living room a wide berth.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja's eyes widen a bit. "A base... has it been there long?"
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He nods.
<Darkling> Not much else to explore in the cabin Corrin.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "I wonder what it would be like shooting someone on the moon..." She muses, probably more to herself than Wilhelm, her tone getting a bit dreamy.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "...no one would hear him scream."
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "Really? The sound doesn't travel well out there?"
Rasia stalks a ray from above, eyes peeled despite the salt. Three...two...a flurry of dust and splashes!
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "Well, inside it does. You can only have small calibur firearms inside, or risk puncturing the structure. Even a small hole..."
Corrin starts looking in the various rooms.
Corrin appears in the doorway. "Oh. Hello, Pilot Lahja! Pilot Wilhelm."
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "I see. Maybe alternative ammunition would be more practical. Like if you could shoot acid or..." She pauses abruptly as Corrin shows up.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "...something you want?" He looks to you Corrin, eyes narrowed.
<Corrin> "Just looking around. Exploring." Corrin replies briskly, tone cheerful.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "Pilot Corrin!" Lahja suddenly rises, keeping the blanket wrapped around herself. Her tone is a bit sharp. "Don't you knock?"
<Corrin> "Oh. Sorry, Pilot Lahja."
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "Or at least stop and listen first. We could have been doing something private, Pilot Corrin." She pauses deliberately, then drops her harsh tone. "Like talking about you behind your back."
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He smirks, settling back in.
<Corrin> "Ah. Um, right. Got it. Pilot Lahja."
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "...so. Go."
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "You need a giant hat, Pilot Corrin." Lahja sits, adjusting the blanket a little.
<Corrin> "Really?" Corrin says, relieved at the change in topic. That and all that exploring's addled his brains more than usual. "Why?"
<Rasia> Enough sea! ...Wonder what's in the forest. I hope it's deer.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He groans and hangs his head. You're letting the heat in you ass!
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "Cultural pride." She pulls the blanket over her head.
Corrin doesn't realize and probably would just grin and babble if he did.
<Darkling> Mostly small animals scurry away from you Rasia. Might have to go farther in.
<Rasia> Fuck the buddy system. She stalks deeper into the forest.
<Corrin> "You think so, Pilot Lahja?"
Corrin looks thoughtful. Miracles never cease...
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "Just get the hell out of here!" He snaps, pointing the way out.
<Darkling> Trees, trees, more trees, and something stalking you Rasia.
<Rasia> "--!"# Her nose scrunches.
<Darkling> It's keeping in perfect pace with you, and if not for your sharper sense would likely have gone unnoticed.
Corrin looks back at the pilot but steps out of the room, the door closing after him.
Rasia bites back her instinct to growl, twisting her head, ears straining. It's near a tree that she jerks out of view, stopping.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> ". . ." He glares at the door for a moment.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "That was a mood killer." Lahja remarks flatly. Then she slowly tiptoes toward the closed door, standing there without saying anything further.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He stands and steps off the bed, following behind her.
<Darkling> Silence Rasia.
Rasia sprints out from around the arboreal block, hoping to flush it out.
Corrin has wandered off into the kitchen, thoughts of giant hats inexplicably cropping up.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> His hands rest on the door, an arm on either side of you Lahja.
<Darkling> Nothing there. Could you have actually lost track of it?
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja waits, mentally counting to twenty. She seems about ready to open the door, then she notices Wilhelm's hand. "I can almost hear him listening."
Rasia growls, grabbing onto a tree trunk and climbing up to get a different view. Heart pounding in her ears, her core's boiling.
Corrin is in the kitchen.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "We could trick him into thinking someone else is going on in here." He whispers, in close enough to almost suck the warmth right from the blanket.
<Darkling> Something snaps behind you.
<Rasia> "RAGH!" And she jumps at it.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja ponders this for a short while. Then she giggles, perhaps for the sake of the illusion, or perhaps because it amuses her. She nods in agreement.
<Darkling> IT lunges too, tangling with your body and a growl.
Rasia wrestles and bites, scratching any flesh she can find.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He manages a laugh, to accompany hers, or because hes nervous. Those lips of his are rather close now.
<Darkling> It does the same. Fur, flesh and blood fly.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "You're so chilly, Wilhelm. Isn't that uncomfortable?" She asks, probably meaning it now that he's so close.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "...it feels natural enough. It's just the heat that bothers me now." Fingertips touch under her chin.
<Rasia> It isn't as big as her, rare as that is, and before long she's got its throat, albeit feeling every scratch and bite it got in on her in the melee.
<Darkling> It squirms in her iron grip, trying to growl.
Corrin drinks from a glass, sparing the main room a glance. He snorts a moment later, and empties the glass with a gulp. Oh well. At least he has something else to think about. Why'd Texans supposedly wear giant hats, anyway? He'd never seen any NERV dome personnel wearing giant hats, and he'd been there since...for four years. Something to think about.
<Darkling> Lit is still in discussions with the twins. You can catch snippets of "funding" and "technology" here and there.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja tilts her head a tad and shudders. After a moment or two she looks slightly sleepier than usual. "That's so strange."
<Rasia> Crrk. Before she can even think about it, she bites down, feeling it go limp. Releasing the neck, she watches the head thump against the soil. Silence.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "...does it bother you?" He doesn't give her a chance to answer, lips pressing to hers.
Corrin decides not to head into the living room for now. The Captain's obviously busy. Now what? After a moment, he shrugs and heads for the door. Might as well go back outside. Pilot Wilhelm might enjoy being frozen, but he knows he certainly doesn't. The cabin door bangs closed again after him as he steps out, hats still drifting across his mind's eye.
Corrin looks at the waterfront again, squinting in the light.
<Darkling> Your kill lies lifeless. Now what?
<Rasia> Eat pussy.
<Darkling> Seems the only sensible option.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja tries anyway, her initial reply muffled by the kiss. She shivers again. Probably the cold. She's compliant enough, even mildly experimental, but comes off as a bit distracted. What's she thinking of? Maybe if moon aliens reproduce by kissing? The cold? Or God forbid, maybe Corrin? Probably not.
<Rasia> Then why does it make my stomach churn...? She curls up around it as she eats, the satisfaction at a successful hunt absent.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> Well...at least she didn't bite him. He pulls back, eyeing her. What was she thinking about? Maybe if they moved out of the icebox he called his room.
Corrin looks away after a bit, glancing inland, then just sitting down in the shade of the cabin. All of the warmth, and the vista, but the sun isn't baking directly down on him.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Her expression is a bit indecipherable for the moment. She unwraps the blanket from around herself, then tosses it onto the bed. "I'll tell you something outside."
Corrin shifts after a moment, unable to relax. Eventually, he gives up the attempt and just stands, head bobbing once, a bit like a pigeon. Or a seagull.
<Darkling> No seagulls in sight though Corrin. Not even that dead one that was bothering Wilhelm. Maybe Rasia ate that too.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He seems reluctant about leaving the safety of his air conditioning, but ends up nodding in agreement.
<Corrin> Wouldn't be a surprise. Her and Pilot Wilhelm...
<Rasia> Back the way she came. Leaving the unsafe bowels, she takes the pelt and bones with her. The first for fun, the second for marrow.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja opens the door, stepping out into the hall. She inhales deeply and then breaks out into a light jog, but a very slow paced one.
<Corrin> One thinks he's a genius, the other's insane. And undisciplined.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> ...he'll walk, hands in his pockets. Thanks.
Corrin stares at nothing in particular, frowning. Lost in thought.
<Rasia> Insane and undisciplined is coming for you, Corrin.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "It was interesting." She remarks, matter of factly. "You told me a bit about your home. So I'll tell you something about mine."
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "Alright."
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "When I was a girl, just around five or so, my father took me out of the house. It was the first time leaving the house that I remember vividly. He said we were going on a special trip, and we were!" Her tone becomes a bit whimsical. She sounds like someone reading a story to a child.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He listens intently.
Corrin hasn't noticed Rasia yet, still looking around distractedly.
<Rasia> An ocelot bone cracks. The aroma of marrow wafts up to Corrin's nose.
Corrin is suddenly aware, head snapping back fast enough for a cracking noise. He doesn't react to this, having noticed the bloody mess that is...
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja gets a bit twitchy as she jogs toward the living room. She closes her eyes and smiles, putting on a very proper ^_^ face. "We went to a place where a man was on a table. I thought he was just asleep until they took the blanket off of him."
<Corrin> "Pilot...Rasia?"
Corrin stares for a moment, then breaks into a sprint.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He can already see where this is going. "He wasn't asleep, was he?"
<Corrin> "Pilot Rasia, what the hell..."
Rasia offers a piece of broken bone, the other half in her lips. The pelt hangs on her shoulder, bones in her arms. The whole girl is a bloody mess from head to toe, sporting wounds. Pulling her snack out, she offers a simple, "Hunt."
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja nods in response, still smiling. "He was all full of holes. I got to poke around and watch while they cut him open and took the bullets out. It was interesting."
Corrin skids to a stop, doing his best not to breathe the smell in. It's a lost cause. His gaze flickers from bloody streak to gash before he speaks. "Wha...what did... Stay here. Don't move. I'll get the Captain." he forces out through his teeth, then runs for the cabin.
<Rasia> A growl, and she comes after, chasing out of reflex.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "...a first-rate education in anatomly it sounds like."
Corrin sprints to the cabin, pulling the door near off it's hinges and throwing himself through. Have to tell the Captain. Get someone with medical training.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "It could have been. They just gave me different numbers to memorize. Said the parts normally moved, too. That gave me some funny ideas." She almost pouts, settling down on a chair.
Corrin stumbles into the living room, tracking dirt everywhere as he skids to a stop. "Sir! Pilot Rasia's been badly injured!" he yells.
<Darkling> Well that certainly got Lit and the twins attention. They drop what they are doing, Lit bounding past Corrin.
<Rasia> She's reached the deck by now, still carrying her spoils, looking up at Lit with a deer-in-headlights look.
<Corrin> "She's outside!" Corrin yells just as Lit and the others reach the deck.
<Darkling> Lit skids to a halt. "Rasia?" He looks a little confused.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Off the chair she goes. Lahja dashes off after Lit, losing her formerly pleasant expression.
Corrin is running after the Captain already.
<Rasia> If anything, she looks confused and startled at the spectacle she caused.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> Well...she'll be getting plenty of attention. So he retreats back to his room.
<Darkling> He takes off his open dress shirt and drapes it over her in one movement.
Corrin watches stiffly. It's vaguely like a bizarro reenactment of the pedobear scene.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja stares for a few moments. Then she blinks.
Rasia licks at her mouth, eyes darting from person to person. Her eyebrows push together. She studies Lahja.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> As soon as the initial shock and confusion are over she notices Rasia's gaze. She offers a brief smile and a thumbs up, trying to keep it from being too obvious to anyone else.
<Darkling> "Nothing to see here pilots. Mind your business and off with you. Rasia, come with me."
<Rasia> Froooown.
Corrin just stares, finally looking away. "Yes...yes, sir."
<Darkling> He takes her to get cleaned up and look over her wounds, not allowing Freyja the chance to even offer her medical expertise.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja salutes Lit. Quite a bit more seriously than usual, then she returns to the living room to plop down on the chair again.
Rasia struggles like a child, incapable of filling the void with queries, but eventually she's 100% less bloody.
Corrin wanders in distractedly a moment later, looking straight ahead. Good thing he didn't trip over that table.
<Darkling> She may have won the fight in the woods, but she got clawed and chewed on enough that it takes some time before Lit is satisfied with her condition.
<Darkling> "You should get dressed and join the others. We'll be heading home soon." He tells her.
Corrin takes a seat absently. There're dirt stains in his wake.
<Rasia> Sure enough, ten minutes later she enters the living room, wearing proper shorts and tee. "..."
<Darkling> Lit follows, in a new shirt. "Pilots, you should pack what things you brought, we'll be heading home in a bit." He heads over to where the twins are on all fours picking up paper and collect his laptop.
<Corrin> "Yes, sir. Right away." Corrin says, gaze darting momentarily to the now-clothed Pilot then back.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja moves to pack up her things. She seems pretty eager to get going. "See you soon, Berlin! I hope you didn't explode in our absence!"
<Wilhelm_Faustus> Wil, with his bag packed, makes an appearance in the living room. He drops his bag and takes a seat.
<Darkling> Another three hour train ride back to Berlin, this time accompanied by the twins, then a ten minute drive back to the apartment, and up they rise in that familiar steel coffin of an elevator.
Rasia fidgets the whole way there, staring at her toes. Why do I feel ashamed all of a sudden
Corrin just stares at the mesh across from him. What little of it isn't obscured by the other Pilots and the Captain, anyway.
<Darkling> The doors to the apartment open. It's quiet, enough that you might notice is no more construction noises.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "Good to see you're still here." Lahja pats the wall affectionately.
<Darkling> Also, the wall where Lit's room was is gone.
Corrin steps out, moving to one side and just standing there.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> This gets Lahja's attention. She makes a mad dash for her own room to see if anything has changed.
Rasia skulks out, doing the same with far less enthusiasm.
<Darkling> None of the pilots' rooms have been touched, but Lit's room is now a corridor to another section of the building.
<Darkling> "Ah, looks like the work is done." Lit points out the obvious.
<Corrin> "Sir?"
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja exits her room to rejoin the others, relieved. So long as her room is fine she can live with whatever inconveniences anyone else has to put up with.
<Darkling> "Well, seeing as there are some people still outraged at the video of the Aesir, I convinced the base to build you a small gym for training purposes, so you wouldn't be seen going to the base as much."
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "Outraged." she repeats. Flatly.
<Darkling> Sure enough, if you walk down the new hallway there is a fitness room with weights, some treadmills and ellipticals, and other miscellaneous things.
<Corrin> "I don't understand, sir." Corrin frowns. "Why would they be outraged?"
Rasia checks the weights, curious of their scale.
<Darkling> "The Aesir weren't publicly known. They could be simply scared of what they are, or what they could imply."
Wilhelm_Faustus smirks ever so slightly.
<Darkling> There are some weights that will give even Lit and Rasia a hard time together.
<Darkling> "Even though there is no thought that you can be traced to the Aesir, the safety of the pilots is foremost of import, and so we built this for you."
<Darkling> Looks like around the corner there is a gun/archery range, and some fighting dummies. They spared no expense.
Rasia purrs a little, and returns to her bedroom, leaving the door ajar to keep listening to Lit.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja overcomes whatever annoyance she had, making her way into the gym. She looks pleased. Almost like a kid in a candy store. If only there were automatic weapons...
<Darkling> "Of course I did have to convince the Commander that you would also use this on a regular basis, so he's hired a trainer.
Corrin has eyes only for the range.
<Corrin> "Thank you...thank you, sir." he stammers, not looking away.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja moves in closer, joining in on the conversation. "Thank you, sir. I'll do so... but how are we going to shoot things?"
<Wilhelm_Faustus> A yawn and he slings his bag over his shoulder, heading for his room.
<Darkling> "Under supervision only. None of you are cleared to carry firearms at this time."
<Rasia> If Wil bothers to peek, she's busily scribbling in that book of hers.
Corrin slumps. "Yes, sir..."
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "Is there an implication that one day we might be cleared?" She asks hopefully.
<Darkling> He smiles and shrugs.
<Darkling> "Make sure you get some rest, you're back to school tomorrow. I need to finish my paperwork." He heads for his new room.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "Yes, sir. May you never suffer from an infected papercut." Lahja salutes Lit, then goes back to her room.
 Corrin obeys, after a last, long look at the range.
---------------------------------------------------
<Darkling> It's been another week and a half now, since your weekend getaway that is. Back to school and training, back to the norm of things. The pilots are at school today, save for Corrin who seemed to have disagreed with last night's dinner. You've just started your science class before lunch now.
Rasia stares out the window, even more spaced than usual. She may or may not be sitting in the second-back seat on the right.
<Darkling> The teacher is lecturing about thermodynamics right now.
Wilhelm_Faustus keeps to the far back as always, paying only as much attention as is needed to keep up with the lesson. This class was starting to bore him.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja appears to be paying attention to the teacher. In reality she has her mind on science. Science fiction, rather.
<Darkling> So must the kid behind you Lahja. If you hadn't noticed, it was that boy that ran into you full steam a few weeks back. He's sketching away in his binder.
<Darkling> Penelope, Art and Brina occupy the back corner away from Rasia, chatting quietly and snickering.
Rasia drags her eyes towards the snickering noise.
<Darkling> The teacher must be used to them and drones on relentlessly. "...of heat engines concerned mainly the thermal properties of their 'working materials', such as steam."
<Lahja_Ilvainen> After a while Lahja stops speculating about the dreaded Grundlefly. Maybe the noise snapped her out of it. Maybe she caught something in the lesson that pertained to firearms. Probably not. Whatever the case, she glances about, eventually turning and noticing the kid.
<Darkling> He doesn't notice and keeps scratching at his lined paper. Looks like a rough sketch of Null Drei, arm lifting into the sky.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He looks toward Penelope, pencil tapping against his desh and the gears in his head turn.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja stares at this, actually cracking a little smile after a few moments. Maybe next time she'll have Null Vier strike a dramatic pose...
Rasia wiggles her ear, ignoring the scribbling and other sounds of idleness.
<Rasia> Ahn? Rasia creeps closer, taking advantage of her stature.
<Darkling> More snickering.
<Rasia> Unmolested, she'd cross most of the classroom to listen in, if only to practice her approaches. That ocelot caught her off-guard...
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "That one won't protect you if you don't pay attention in class." Lahja whispers, scolding the kid. Hypocrite.
<Darkling> He starts and blinks at you Lahja.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He leans back and takes off his glasses, eyes closing as he pinches the bridge of his nose.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "Just kidding." She whispers again, giving him a thumbs up. Then she turns around, paying some degree of attention to the teacher.
Rasia wiggles her nose, listening ignorantly but listening all the same.
<Darkling> He goes back to sketching, albeit half paying attention to Lahja now.
Rasia picks up a piece of paper, scribbling words in rushed Arabic. At least she's taking notes. Not on Thermodynamics...
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja pretends to take notes. In reality she's doing a sketch of her own. It's as quick and sloppy as can be... and has a copious amount of hearts and smiley faces.
<Darkling> Finally it seems the teacher has had enough. "...and if you would all return to your seats and stop talking we won't have to test how even more hot air will effect your empty heads."
Wilhelm_Faustus snorts.
Rasia scampers back to her desk, vaulting over the back of its chair rather elegantly.
<Darkling> "..thank you." And the lesson drones on uneventfully, lunch bell ringing.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> Lunch time? Well...lets begin, hm? He slings his bag over his shoulder and heads for the cafeteria.
Rasia slinks towards the cafeteria as well, chewing on her tongue.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja stares at the teacher throughout the lesson. It's a thoughtful look, and not an entirely friendly one. But when the lunch bell rings she's quick to evacuate.
<Darkling> Everyone else has the same idea, if not already at the cafeteria eating they are on their way.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> With his tray full he seeks out one specific person. Icelin, sitting across from her.
<Darkling> Icelin tries not to look like a deer in headlights, and fails, sandwich half in her mouth and eyes gaping.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "...something wrong?" He picks at his food, waiting for her to recover.
Rasia cocks her head, carrying a tray in either hand. Both for her, of course.
<Darkling> "I just didn't expect company." She takes a bite before stuttering anything else out.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja, meanwhile, seeks out the class artist.
<Darkling> He's also eating on his own, refining his picture.
<Rasia> Hhhuh. With no pack, so to speak, Rasia finds a spot to seat herself and stuff her face.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "...are you free this weekend?"
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja sits down, looking over the picture. "So you saw the news, too?" She asks.
<Darkling> He starts again, his pencil sailing across the table at you. "Y-y-yeah..."
<Darkling> "For what exactly?" Icelin inquires.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "...talk...get to know one another. I know a few things that might interest you." He smiles across the table at her, the sort of smile that says he knows something you dont, and its pretty damn entertaining to him.
<Darkling> "Oh. I'm busy, sorry." She looks awkward.
Rasia looks around, an apple trapped between her jaws, before the whole thing disappears, cyanide-laced apple seeds and all.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He sighs a bit. "Thats alright. I was hoping you'd have a look at Hel too, but nevermind." He resumes eatting.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "I think those giant machines are so interesting." She smiles, then casually begins to poke at her food.
<Darkling> "I have to watch my grand mama on the weekends, and can't go out." She looks a little sad now.
<Darkling> Oh, despite scaring him twice today Lahja, you have his attention. "They aren't really machines though. There's no way anyone could engineer something like these."
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He taps his fork against his plate. "Could I bring Hel to you? She's a stray I picked up, but hasn't seen a vet. Money, you know. Maybe you could make sure she's healthy?"
<Darkling> "Oh, well, I will have to ask."
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He gives a weak, hopeful looking smile. "Of course, thank you."
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja stares at the kid for a while. "They're not machines?" She asks, clearly surprised. "How can you tell?"
<Darkling> "If you watch the video, their movements are too fluid, and there is no way that a machine of that size could support it's weight with such small legs." He points at his picture. "This thing's legs are way too scrawny to be load bearing robotics."
<Darkling> "My grand mama doesn't always like visitors, but she does sleep most of the time."
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "Whatever's best for you and your grand mama."
<Darkling> She seems to be mulling the idea over in her head Wilhelm.
<Rasia> One tray down, Rasia leans back to serruptitiously unsnap her pants for the second round, knowing it's this or be eating constantly the rest of the day.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He'll leave her to it, eatting a bit more of his food.
<Darkling> *click* that sounded like a photo being taken of you Rasia.
<Rasia> "--!" Her head jerks around, more because camera-clicks resemble snapping twigs.
<Darkling> Looks like Art took a photo of you with his phone while you were undoing your pants.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "Hm..." Lahja looks at the drawing at length. She occasionally shovels food into her mouth, but she turns pale after a few bites. Looks like she just got a taste of her own medicine.
<Rasia> A growl. More territorial than anything else. What did Lit say about cameras...
<Darkling> Something along the lines of photos could be used against them in numerous ways they couldn't think of.
<Darkling> "And besides, the things they did in the video..." He gives you an inquiring look as you pale.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "It's really impressive that you can tell. You must be pretty smart." Lahja sounds like she means it, though she's also a bit spooked. If those units are actually alive...
<Rasia> Right. Terminator Mode Engage. Rasia stands, speed-walking to Arthur with fists clenched.
<Darkling> It's a short walk, he's only ten feet away.
Rasia extends her hand, palm-up. Give.
<Darkling> "People just call me a nerd most of the time and that I'm crazy."
<Darkling> Art scoffs at her and puts it away into his pants. "You want it, you come get it," he teases to the amusement of some other boys.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> His gaze moves away from Icelin, narrowing as he watches Rasia.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "What you said makes sense, though..." Lahja gradually recovers, eating with more enthusiasm again. "Was that one your favorite?" She points to the drawing.
<Rasia> You absolute fool. Without even thinking, she drives her fist right for the silhouette of his phone, with the violently clear goal of turning his phone into so many plastic shards.
<Darkling> "Sweet Jesus on a moped!" Goal achieved, and he crumples as his leg gives out.
<Darkling> The boy turns looking at the noise.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> As expected. Why had he even bothered with the boy last time? Rasia can take care of it. His expression relaxes as he looks back to Icelin.
<Darkling> "That was your friend wasn't it?" She asks him.
Rasia leans over him, extending her hand again. Let's try this once more.
<Darkling> A couple of boys hesitantly move between them as Art pulls out his phone, cracked in half.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja looks in that direction as well. She lets out a sigh. Probably because she missed the good part.
<Darkling> "You bitch!"
Rasia bristles, baring her teeth.
<Darkling> He tosses the phone at her and attempts to get up, looking as if he's going to tackle her, and falls to his stomach instead.
<Rasia> She, just as politely, catches it. Grabbing the boy's hair, she gives the simple imperative. “Mine." And she breaks away from the group, if they'll let her, to return to eating.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "...always trouble for someone." He mutters.
<Darkling> They certainly are not following, and help Art up instead.
<Darkling> "She seems to be," Icelin mutters as well.
<Darkling> "He deserves worse," the boy says, returning to his picture.
Rasia looks a little pleased with herself, her banana tasting extra delicious today.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "You should have seen what Wilhelm did to him last time he started something." Lahja remarks. "Or maybe you did?"
<Darkling> "No, I just heard something about frostbite."
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "Sprayed him in the ear with something cold and potentially frostbite inducing."
<Darkling> And the lunchbell rings again, signalling the end of yet another fun filled lunch period.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> A brief smile to Icelin and he stands with his tray, heading along on his way.
<Darkling> The rest of the day goes relatively the same as before lunch. Boring and uneventful. Finally the bell rings releasing them all from their educative prison.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> Once his things are in his bag, Wilhelm slips off.
Rasia carries that phone in her back pocket, jogging a lap around the front lawn of the school to stretch her legs.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja wanders out of the building. She's quiet. Probably pensive. Or maybe tired.
<Darkling> Lit's waiting outside of the Jeep you've become familiar with since that night Wilhelm decided to take a walk.
Wilhelm_Faustus is making his way higher up the building. Eventually he reaches the door to the roof. He kneels down, pulling his tools from his pack, and picks the lock. Easier this time, good.
Rasia climbs into the van, proudly presenting Lit with the phone.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja lazily makes her way toward the vehicle, nodding to Lit. "School was interesting today, sir."
<Darkling> "You'll have to tell me on the drive." He looks in a good mood still, hasn't changed since the cabin.
<Darkling> He takes the phone from Rasia looking it over before slipping out a memory chip.
<Darkling> "Where is Wilhelm?"
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He opens the door and steps out onto the roof, already loosening his tie. His shirt is stuffed into his bag, leaving him with his tanktop. Not as hot now. He sits on one of the vents and waits.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "Wilhelm?" Lahja looks about. Come to think of it, she hadn't seen him. "I don't know..."
<Darkling> Lit frowns.
<Darkling> At the same time the door to the roofs opens, a mane of pink hair emerging.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "Maybe he stopped to chat with a girl? He was with one at lunch..."
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "...I wasn't completely sure you'd come." He sits back, resting on his hands.
<Darkling> "I haven't had to wait weeks for a boy to show interest before."
Rasia scratches her nose, looking at the other two.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He laughs. "I'm a little different. I do apologise for the way I treated you last time, though."
<Darkling> Lit looks at his watch "Well, we'll give him a few minutes."
<Darkling> "You should be." She walks towards you, confident in her stride.
Rasia growls, her patience running out faster than the beer at a Tennessee wedding.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He can't help but smirk. This one was too easy. "What can I do to make it up to you?"
<Darkling> "Flowers. Maybe some jewellery." She smirks, completely serious.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja nods. She doesn't seem to mind the waiting too much.
<Darkling> Art limps towards the Jeep, stops, and limps across the grass giving it a wide berth.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "I'll admit your confidence is attractive."
Rasia watches him the whole way, the whole time playing out a wounded-gazelle fantasy.
Rasia nudges Lit, pointing at the injured boy and signing 'chase'
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He reaches into a pocket, pulling out an SD card in a plastic case. "Something for you, since I don't have flowers on me." He holds it out in her direction, not moving from his spot.
<Darkling> "Is that why it was an interesting day?"
<Darkling> "Not the prettiest gift I've been given, but it's a start." She takes it.
<Rasia> ...Rasia nods. That wasn't my question, Lit. Rasia booooored.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "Appearances mean only so much."
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "Partially, sir, but there was also a child in school who made some interesting remarks about the news."
<Darkling> "Leave him be. I'm sure you'll get to play with him again." Lit turns his attention to Lahja, "Oh?"
Rasia climbs into the back of the Jeep to curl up and sleep, then.
<Darkling> "Is that all?" Penelope looks bored.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He hops off the vent. "This was only an apology." He runs a hand through his hair, then takes her hand and kisses the back.
<Darkling> "Ugh.." She pulls her hand away, and steps back. "You're cold. You sick or something? If you get me sick I will have ARt beat the living crap out of you."
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "A boy was drawing that little scene on the news. When I showed some interest and asked about his interest in robots he told me there was no way they could be machines." Some of her earlier apprehension returns. Not quite so bad as during lunch, though.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "I'm not sick. Like I told you, I'm different." He slings his bag over his shoulder. "Keep me interested...and I'll show you just how different. And Art...well...he doesn't scare me. I wonder how his ear is?" He adjsusts his glasses, smirks, and makes to leave.
<Darkling> "Whatever." She turns and leaves.
Rasia wiggles an ear, eavesdropping on Lahja. Oh the tales Rasia could tell...
<Darkling> "Ah. Well, the Aesir aren't completely machines you know." Lit explains.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> Eventually Wilhelm shows up, opening a door and loading into the vehicle without a word.
Rasia growls reproachfully at the Aryan, from out of sight behind the back seat.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> Uh huh, yeah...thats nice.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He was busy trying to plan three steps ahead. That was the problem with people though, they had a nasty habit of surprising you and doing the opposite of what you expected.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "I wouldn't have guessed. We're not at risk of being... digested, are we?"
<Darkling> "Not in the least bit. You are completely risk free of digestion." He moves around the jeep to get in the drivers seat and fires it up.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> This news puts her at ease. She'll shoot so much better now, knowing that. Maybe.
<Darkling> "Shall we head home?"
<Wilhelm_Faustus> No answer seems as good as agreement from him.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja nods. "Yes, sir."