GBG Session 19: Reunions

<Darkling> It's the third day after the school incident. You're sitting in a rather comfortable chair beside Corrin's hospital bed in the base. He hasn't moved once since he's been in here, comatose and his face covered entirely with bandages.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja has been quietly reading a thoroughly bizarre story in a quiet voice. It's a bit dark, but curiously lacking in any gratuitous descriptions of graphic violence. She looks like a complete wreck.
<Darkling> Lit walks in after knocking on the door. He looks no better. The past few days have been pretty horrid for most around the base.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "Sir." Lahja quickly responds, offering a quick, sharp salute. She doesn't look at Lit for too long, deciding to focus on the ground afterwards
<Darkling> He takes a long look at Corrin. "Get your things. You're coming with me today to see Rasia."
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja nods. "I'd like that, sir." She rises, and then after some hesitation she continues as she gathers what little she has with her. "I'd also like to ask for some advice, sir."
<Darkling> "Sure, what can I help you with?" He starts leading her down the hallways.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja follows along, rather sullen. "I'm not happy with some of my recent behavior and aspects of myself, sir. How I see and treat other people, mostly."
<Darkling> He leads her to an elevator, taking them down into the base. "Well, how you would rather act then?"
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "I'm not entirely sure. I'd rather not smile when I see someone I called family is hurt. I'd rather not be jerks to them. I'd rather my behavior didn't cost me anything more than it has."
<Darkling> "Well, making or breaking a habit takes some time. You'll have to remind yourself at first when something like that happens. Scold yourself somehow if you do the thing you don't want to. reward yourself if you do it right."
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja considers that, nodding. Easy enough to catch. But how to put into practice? She perks up ever so slightly, though she's still a long way from being remotely happy. "I'll try that, sir. Maybe I can manage some solitary confinement substitute in my room."
<Darkling> The elevator grinds to a halt and opens up. A few security guards look up from a post and then are back to work after seeing Lit.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja gives them a salute in greeting, but one lacking enthusiasm. She's out the door afterwards.
<Darkling> Lit leads the way again, you're going past some containment cells. Finally he stops at one and looks in.
<Darkling> "Rasia's been doing a bit better, but she was hurt pretty bad." He taps his forehead as if there was any question as to where she was damaged.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja nods with a sigh. She mentally prepares herself, imagining a glowy eyed Rasia chewing on someone's leg bone.
<Darkling> He unlocks the door with his security pass and steps in.
<Darkling> Rasia's at least been released from he restraints, even if she is still being kept in solitary confinement most of the time.
<Darkling> "Rasia?"
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "Hello, Rasia." Lahja says it quietly, stepping in. She's almost hiding behind Lit at first, but she soon steps off to the side, making herself completely visible.
Rasia jerks her eyes up, mismatched eyes taking a moment to recognize Lit, longer to take in Lahja. Her mouthguard's in place again. She rises, eyes continually moving between the two of them.
<Darkling> Lit closes the door behind them and it locks in place.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja takes a long look at Rasia, relaxing her initially stiff posture. She tilts her head slightly, her morbid curiosity settling in. "It's really us, Rasia."
<Rasia> Was that really wise, Lit? Rasia's attack stance eases off, ever so slightly. "Rr..." She takes a hesitant step forward.
<Darkling> "I've brought a few things for you, and news."
Rasia cocks her head to the side.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Do you hallucinate in this kind of environment too, Rasia? What are they like? Does every real and imagined sound register as impending doom? Does having the lights off make it pleasant for you too? Lahja looks like she has a lot to say.
<Darkling> Lit moves over to the table. his movements are slower in here with Rasia, though he tries not to show it.
Rasia moves around the flank of the room as Lit does. Lahja gets a lingering look before focus returns to Lit.
<Darkling> He sets a few things down on the table, which is notably bolted and welded to the floor.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja manages to force a small smile as Rasia looks in her direction. She tries to shake the questions out of her mind to focus on the person instead. "I hope they let you out soon."
<Rasia> Out. Cage. Trap! Rasia leans forward, craning her neck to see the objects. No. Cage. Out. In. In cage.
<Darkling> A blanket from your bed at home, your journal, and a tupperware container with a cooked steak in it.
<Rasia> BOOK. Her hesitation disappears as she leaps for her journal, snatching it up despite her gloved hands. ...man. She looks to Lit, lured in close by his gifts, briefly relaxed. Briefly. The tupperware earns a mystified stare, her nose and her eyes telling her two different things.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> What else to say that isn't rude or inappropriate? Why did saying that feel so stupid? Lahja looks at what Lit brought, feeling inadequate by comparison.
<Darkling> A small sigh from Lit. This wasn't easy, but she was making much quicker progress than last time.
Rasia fusses and beats on the tupperware, slamming it into the table fruitlessly.
<Darkling> Despite the beating, the tupperware holds firm and doesn't break apart.
Rasia growls, though it isn't too intimidating with her mouth sealed.
<Darkling> Lit looks to Lahja, then to Rasia. They need to get reacquainted, but will Rasia let them?
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Curious. What happened to cause this? Lahja doesn't seem to notice the look from Lit, being too caught up in thought.
<Rasia> Well...it might not be hallucinations, but it's definitely trauma. Could there be kindship to be found, Lahja?
<Lahja_Ilvainen> After a while Lahja opts to take a chance. She gets down on the floor, lying there belly up. She makes quiet meowing noises a few times to get attention.
<Rasia> OHGODLitshe'sgonnakillher. Rasia responds to the mewling almost immediately, hands slamming on either side. She stares down at her copilot, bewildered and attentive.
<Darkling> Well... not What Lit expected..
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja goes quiet at that, a little startled, but maintains the position. She points toward the tupperware container very slowly, then just as slowly she goes through the motions of opening it. "Help open?" She asks quietly, half expecting to end up like Corrin in a few moments.
Rasia narrows her eyes, a moment passing before she lets Lahja up, her attention shifting to Lit and gesturing at her mouthguard.
<Darkling> Lit signs to her. 'You going to play nice?'
<Rasia> A quiet nod. Better hope he didn't just tell her to eat every bite, Lahja.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> That was entirely too reckless and retarded. Sure, gore is nice, but do you really want to look like Lit or Corrin, Lahja? Probably not. She lets out a sigh of relief.
<Darkling> Lit moves over to her and releases her mouthguard.
<Rasia> Well. That's it, then, Lahj. You're in the tiger pen, and the safety net is gone.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> She can't help but feel a little apprehensive as some sense of self preservation kicks in, but she tries not to let it show. She slowly moves to stand, taking her sweet time.
Rasia drools on herself, patience running down as her growls start to wind up. True to her word, she doesn't lash out no matter how long Lahja takes, though.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja makes her way over to the tupperware. No point in looking over her shoulder, given the close quarters. She opens the tupperware slowly, uttering a few words before moving out of the way at a faster pace. "Sorry. Rasia. Person."
<Rasia> Person... Per...son... Rasia. Person. She trots over to the meat, biting into the cooked steak without a second thought. She almost looks like a dog, her head buried in the bowl.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Another sigh of relief from Lahja. That's one potentially face-eating Israeli bullet dodged tonight. She starts taking slow steps away from Rasia, stopping halfway to her intended destination. People metaphorically backing away hurts, doesn't it? No, not really. Well, yes. Some people. Even after you get used to it.
<Darkling> A bit of a smile as Lit watches. Silverware was still out of the question though.
Rasia laps up the drippings and spices, lifting her head to lick her chops. Turning her head, the distance Lahja put between them did register a moment of hurt. Or maybe gas. But she isn't growling or sizing up Lahja's edible pieces, so progress!
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja looks to Lit, then back to Rasia. No smile here, just a thoughtful expression. She'd feel entirely too stupid plastering a smile.
<Darkling> "I will be back later to see you again Rasia." He holds a hand out for the empty tupperware.
Rasia hands it back, disappointment appearing for a second or two. A look to Lahja.
<Darkling> "Lahja can come back too, if you'd like."
<Rasia> A nod.
<Darkling> "Good. Say goodbye."
<Rasia> "B...b-bye."
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja forces a cheerful look that fortunately looks more stupid than bloodthirsty. "Rasia. Family." She states it almost as a question, a certain degree of uncertainty in her voice. "Get better."
<Rasia> Her smile doesn't look much better, Lahj. Dem teef.
<Darkling> Lit opens the door for Lahja before turning back to Rasia. "You will be good if I leave your guard off?"
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja manages an exceptionally halfhearted salute to Rasia, making it a point not to leave too quickly despite wanting to bolt. That was all very nice, but she doesn't feel like any less of a lousy excuse for family.
<Rasia> She does pick it up, putting it to her mouth. Better to be a pessimist, one supposes. Though she does look sad about it.
<Darkling> Another small sigh. He doesn't look happy about it either as he reattaches it.
Rasia settles down back into that corner they found her in.
<Darkling> Lit drops the tupperware off at the security counter and leads Lahja off. "We're going to pick someone up now, and I think the fresh air will do us both some good."
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "Agreed, sir." At least her mood has improved a little outwardly.
<Darkling> Back up the elevator and through the halls they go. "Thanks for seeing Rasia. She needs the support right now, needs to be shown she's still family, still a human being."
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "Do they actually believe solitary confinement will help, sir?"
<Darkling> "No, but until I can convince them she's safe to herself and others it can't be helped." Into the APC and out into the streets of Greater Berlin.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja nods, her expression growing annoyed. Irritation beats the hell out of depression. Then she's out after Lit.
<Darkling> "She's making good progress. It took three months to get her our of restraints and into a room last time she started a rehabilitation process. enough about that though, I need to talk to you about something else."
<Rasia> Three months of Rasia thrashing, howling and snarling...
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "Yes, sir?" Lahja asks curiously, mentally filing away that information.
<Darkling> "What do you know about Wilhelm."
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "I know he's not normal, sir. Cold, he glows, his blood is strange, he cares for Rasia even if it isn't obvious. And he's changing." She pauses there, sending a strange look at Lit.
<Darkling> "Anything else?"
<Darkling> He didn't flinch at any of that, or even your strange look.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "He's talked about the Aesir and the Jotun like he knows things about them. I don't know what to make of it, sir, but for a while I thought he was an alien. I thought Ivy was an alien, too, though. Still, he's usually right."
<Darkling> "Ivy is less of an alien than Wilhelm. He's not from around here, and we're going to pick him up right now."
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Less of an alien. That's something to remember. "Do you believe there's something wrong with Wilhelm, sir?"
<Darkling> "Not exactly wrong, but he's not the same as us. He's a genetically manufactured organism designed specifically to pilot the Aesir."
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja slumps a little, finding that information very heavy. "That explains Null Drei's behavior, I suppose. And it raises a question."
<Darkling> "I'm sure it raises a few."
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "I've wondered if an Aesir could influence a pilot's behavior outside of the plug lately. But is there anything I should watch for or be aware of?"
<Darkling> "As far as I, or the scientists at NERV are aware no. They shouldn't be able to influence your behavior at all."
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Troublesome. "Or communicate?"
<Darkling> "We are unaware of Aesir or Jotun being able to communicate with humans. We assume they have some form of communication, but it goes beyond what we are capable of."
<Darkling> The APC pulls into a parking lot outside of the train station.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "I see, sir." Lahja seems a little dismayed at that. The train station proves to be a semi-welcome distraction.
<Darkling> "You seem rather unperturbed about Wilhelm's origins."
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "There's been a lot leading up to it, sir. If it had come out of the blue without me seeing things like him floating around or bleeding silver it would be more of a shock."
<Darkling> Lit gives you a funny look this time Lahja. Then the back of the APC opens up, and standing there is Wilhelm.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He holds a suitcase in one hand, the other in a pocket. He looks annoyed...bored...it's Wilhelm alright. But how much of him is made up of the last one?
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja looks right back, not bothering to look toward Wilhelm immediately. When she does look back toward Wilhelm she ends up feeling a rising animosity. Cow gas? Sure. Torture? Maybe. But that sure isn't the way someone who's been tortured recently looks. Wafflefaced bastard. You probably already know, don't you? "Wilhelm." Lahja says calmly after a few moments.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "Lahja." A glance to Lit and he steps into the APC, quickly finding a seat.
<Darkling> "Come on, get in Wilhelm."
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He sets the suitcase on the floor next to his legs and sits back, hands folded in his lap.
<Darkling> The APC closes, and starts up again.
===================
<Darkling> It's a bit silent, sitting in the back of the APC as it cruises through the streets of Greater Berlin back towards the base.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja doesn't seem especially talkative, but it's obvious she's lost in thought. Or stewing. It's probably not anything good.
<Wilhem_Faustus> Much like #2, it seems #3 is content to stare outside in silence.
<Darkling> "Well." Lit breaks the silence. "This is pleasant."
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "I'm still feeling off, sir."
<Darkling> "We're all feeling a little off." Lit looks to Wilhelm. "How was you trip back?"
<Wilhem_Faustus> "...noisy, cramped..." He utters in a flat monotone.
<Darkling> Lit coughs, and that's the end of that conversation. The APC continues on.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Trip back. She looks at Wilhelm again and sighs. Not exactly an encouraging response with her last memories of him in mind.
<Wilhem_Faustus> "Which of you have been feeding Nidhogg?"
<Darkling> "I have, Lahja has been staying at the base."
<Wilhem_Faustus> Looks like that's everything he wanted to know. Back to silence.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "It's been difficult. Corrin saved me at the expense of his consciousness."
<Wilhem_Faustus> Believe it or not Lahja, he's rather lucky not to be conscious for what's coming. Not that he says it. "Hm."
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja twitches slightly. Hm. That's not even a smug remark. "I hope you've been alright since what happened." Her tone is neutral. With maybe just a slight hint of annoyance.
<Wilhem_Faustus> "I have...of course I wasn't the one that died."
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Spoken like a true genetically engineered organism. This will take some getting used to. Lahja just nods to that, going quiet.
<Darkling> "Right..."
<Darkling> After and indiscriminate amount of time the APC finally arrives at the base and Lit escorts the two to their temporary living quarters. The same ones they were staying in before it seems. Rasia's old bunk hasn't been repaired yet.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Ah, NERV. All the money in the world for propaganda, engines of Jotun destruction, and silly experiments. And nothing left to fix a bed. With a salute to Lit Lahja makes her way to her bed to sit.
<Darkling> "I have to check on a few things. I'll let you two catch up." Lit leaves them alone in the room.
<Wilhem_Faustus> Catch up, huh? He drops the suitcase on the bed and slips his hands into his pockets, gaze falling on Lahja.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "Have they filled you in on Rasia?" Lahja asks quietly.
<Wilhem_Faustus> "More or less."
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "I saw her for a while today. I think there's hope."
<Wilhem_Faustus> "Is that so?" He scans the rest of the room.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "She didn't bite me after I did something stupid. I think she was happy to see me."
<Wilhem_Faustus> "You should be more careful. She may look like Rasia...but if she let it out once, it may come out to play again."
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "I'll keep it in mind. Maybe by the time of the next visit I won't be feeling so lousy and reckless." Feeling lousy and it shows!
<Wilhem_Faustus> He approaches Lahja slowly, hands slipping out of his pockets. "A pity the way the second died. Unlike the first it wasn't a stupid mistake. Or perhaps it was."
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "Even NERV didn't see it coming. But they could have. If it was a stupid mistake it was a stupid mistake on my part." There she is going all stoic again.
<Wilhem_Faustus> "On your part, is it? As I recall you helped to free the other children, and Corrin's sacrifice was his own doing."
<Wilhem_Faustus> "Or so the report says."
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "I could have helped more, but that's not the issue. I'd informed Lit of a student having Aesir related knowledge that turned out to be correct." Her tone is still flat. "I suppose I should have pushed a little harder for him to look into it."
<Wilhem_Faustus> "Well, the second took care of Kurt, if it makes you feel any better." He pokes her shoulder, then her chest twice. "He begged, I imagine."
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja ponders that in silence for a while. She isn't smiling. "I see. It's good to know that instead of wondering if I'll run into him again and he'll have a gun pointed at my head. With more resolve behind it."
<Wilhem_Faustus> A few moments to look her over and he walks away, taking a seat on one of the couches.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "Do you remember what the second was thinking about when dying? If it isn't personal." The change in topic seems to improve her mood just a little.
<Wilhem_Faustus> "Anything he thought or did in the twenty-four hours leading up to his death are unknown to me. Memories must be uploaded in a specific process."
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "That's disappointing. But thank you anyway."
<Darkling> A few hours pass before Lit returns. He coughs to announce his presence.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "Sir." Lahja rises with a salute.
Wilhem_Faustus stands slowly, hands slipping into his pockets.
<Darkling> "Wilhelm, Lahja." He comes in and sits down on a couch opposite Wilhelm.
<Darkling> With a heavy sigh, he leans forward, clasping his hands together.
<Darkling> "I'd like to take you to see Rasia Wilhelm."
<Wilhem_Faustus> "What do you expect to come of it?"
<Darkling> "I'm not sure how she will react, which is why it took me so long to convince the Commander to allow it."
<Wilhem_Faustus> He actually smirks at that! It's almost like...he knows something.
<Darkling> "It's extremely risky, and you may very well be in danger if she doesn't react well, so it is up to you."
<Wilhem_Faustus> "There are always more." The smirk fades away.
<Darkling> "But there aren't any more Rasia's. This is a serious matter."
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja looks back and forth between Lit and Wilhelm, finding the conversation very peculiar.
<Wilhem_Faustus> "I'm aware."
<Darkling> "Your choice then?"
<Wilhem_Faustus> "...lead the way."
<Darkling> "Very well." he does just that, in a short ten minutes the three of them are outside Rasia's containment cell.
<Rasia> If Lit bothers to peek in, there's no sign of the girl, but the blanket is piled into a corner and familiarly lumpy.
<Wilhem_Faustus> He remains silent, waiting. He'd already seen the feed from the moon. She'd looking like a raving beast then.
<Darkling> Lit unlocks the door after looking in and holds it open for Wilhelm.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja looks a little more upbeat than she did before, apparently eager enough to see how it goes that it shakes off some of her bad mood.
<Wilhem_Faustus> You may be disappointed. Maybe not. He steps inside quietly, approaching the table. Unless unhooked she couldn't go beyond it, so that’s something to keep in mind.
<Darkling> The door closes behind you and Lit takes Lahja over to an observation screen.
<Rasia> The blanket snaps, and Rasia's out from under it, growling from under her guarded mouth. In an instant, she sizes Wilhelm up, eyes widening. A frozen moment.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja follows, watching from the screen with quite a bit of interest.
<Wilhem_Faustus> He shifts his weight, but does little else. Those cold blue eyes just stare at Rasia, comparing what he knows to what he sees now.
<Rasia> Well, she hasn't attacked yet, but that look in her eyes straddles murderous intent and astonishment. Had she already forgotten what Wilhelm could do? His immortality? Then again, she knew what happened to the terrestrials... Approaching in a thick slouch, she keeps a meter or so between the two of them.
<Wilhem_Faustus> How...disappointing. No, not disappointment. Something else. Sadness? This is what she's reduced herself to all over again. For what, a murder spree? Well...they made a weapon, it only makes sense they get it once way or another. He frowns, ever so slightly.
<Rasia> Bump. Her head meets his belly, and she comes to a stop.
<Wilhem_Faustus> A slight step back and he looks down at her, expression blank. Looks like number three is trying to sort through quite a bit in just a few minutes.
<Rasia> --Oop that gets a reaction. She jerks forward to resume the position, grabbing his wrists.
<Wilhem_Faustus> "Do you think he really would have missed a few strips of flesh?" His tone is low and even, keeping monotone. "No, it was Jareth, wasn't it? You stalked him from one side of the school to the other."
<Rasia> "..." Her grip tightens. Not enough to hurt, but his fingers will start to tingle before long. He doesn't get to ruin you, too. He loses this time. I wasn't going to let him. That's the general sentiment, anyway.
<Wilhem_Faustus> He kneels down without a word, risking any numerous ways she could assault him now. "Let go of my wrists."
<Rasia> Giving an order so early? You must be confident in something. She disobeys, predictably.
<Wilhem_Faustus> She listened to the second easily enough. Part of him not being drowned out by the second was telling him to leave, quickly. Wash your hands of her, leave her to her cage. It isn't your place to train her all over again. SHUT UP! "Rasia. I need you to let go of at least one of them."
<Rasia> She gives up a wrist after a brief struggle, her grip on the other redoubling.
<Wilhem_Faustus> His brow furrows at the pain, but his free hand reaches up to reward her. It runs through her hair slowly.
Rasia whimpers, dropping to her knees. Not that she could deal with emotions when she was 'trained', but she seems to be handling them better than her first go.
<Wilhem_Faustus> "Can I have the other one now?"
<Rasia> Ahh. Her arms hang limp at her sides, and your freaky, freaky blood returns to your mutant tissues.
<Wilhem_Faustus> Who's the mutant here? His arms wrap around her, apprently not minding her limp state. He pulls her in tight, now stroking the hair at the back of her head. "You could try saying something."
<Rasia> "Mgh." Right. Wilhelm can die and come back. That is a thing I know.
<Wilhem_Faustus> Not exactly a word, but he isn't in the mood to play teacher. So he kneels there holding the girl and stroking her hair.
<Rasia> "..." Weight, as Rasia leans into him, rubbing that mouthguard on his shoulder.
<Wilhem_Faustus> He falls back onto his rear with the weight. They never had been too strong. More than enough brains, not enough brawn. He makes it seem like nothing to unsnap the mouthguard. Being bitten wasn't a new concept to him. More that he couldn't count the number of times.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Seeing this from the observation screen, Lahja uncrosses her fingers and looks thoroughly relieved. And thoroughly medicated, if the ^_^ is any indication.
<Rasia> Saliva drips onto Wilhelm's shirt, the Israeli gazing down at him. Her jaw opens slowly, and she bites at his chin and throat, quickly turning the skin red with irritation and scratches.
<Wilhem_Faustus> "What are you doing?"
<Wilhem_Faustus> He doesn't move, wanting to avoid any of those scratches becoming something deeper, bloodier.
<Rasia> Oh, sticking her tongue in the boy's mouth. It's brief, but apparently what she wanted, her weight dropping down onto him. Her gaze finally wanders to the other two in the room.
<Wilhem_Faustus>  Well, there you go Lit. She didn't eat me, or decorate the room with my innards. He keeps himself up with one arm, offering the other for her to chew on. Something about feeling secure, wasn't it?
<Rasia> She obliges, gnawing quietly. Though, she may not be willing to let you leave, by her behavior earlier.
<Wilhem_Faustus> "A cot would be welcome." He says loud enough for those observing to hear. If he wasn't leaving any time soon, he'd at least have a place to sleep.
<Darkling> A grunt from Lit.
<Wilhem_Faustus> He sighs as his attention returns to Rasia. Or at least his gaze does. His thought are elsewhere, wondering about Willow and Ragnarok.
<Rasia> She looks almost placated. Relaxed. Human. I have a family, I am a person...
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja wipes the smile off of her face with some difficulty as her buzz starts to wear off, gradually giving way to more serious thoughts.