GBG Session 13.5: Wading Through Weird Waters

<Darkling> You're still in the base. It's been three grueling days of anguish, with no end in sight. You've been told that repairs on the dome are going dteadily, and most of the roads are getting clear, but it could still be too dangerous and hectic to not stay at the base.
<Darkling> Agent Weaving just arrived, and brought some of your supplies from the apartment. She sets down the duffel bag on the coffee table.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja stares at the bag with bloodshot, barely open eyes. Obviously someone hasn't been sleeping well. By relative standards, of course.
Rasia tears into the bag. Not literally, but the zipper just barely survives her.
<Darkling> Her book is in their, amongst other things.
Rasia snatches it up, bounding over to her bunk (notable for the prominent wear and tear already inflicted on it) and creating a hiding place.
Wilhelm_Faustus wanders over to the duffle bag, peering inside.
<Darkling> "I fed your centipede while I was there." Weaving notes to Wilhelm.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "I appreciate it."
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He pulls his books from the bag, looking them over as he returns to his bunk.
<Darkling> She lifts a carrier up onto the table beside the bag and opens it, Hel crawling out giving a mewl. "And brought along this little fellow."
Rasia :3's from a distance.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "I was just about to ask about that." Lahja says, looking to the bag and then to Hel. She doesn't seem in a hurry to visit the bag, but she does wave to the cat.
Corrin rumages through the bag, giving Hel a quick look before going back to searching.
<Darkling> Hel sits on the table and starts grooming.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> The book are, oddly, forgot on the bed as he returns to see Hel. "She is intelligent after all. Aren't you?"
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "Intelligent kitty is intelligent! Yes you are!" Lahja says in a baby-talk voice. If she didn't look so tired she might give the impression she was going to pinch the cat's cheeks. And probably bleed for it.
<Corrin> "They're survivors." Corrin mutters, still rumaging. There has to be a tablet in there somewhere.
<Darkling> The kitten sits up pawing the air in front of Wilhelm.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He picks Hel up with care, holding her close as he rubs between her ears.
Rasia drops back down, satisfied with the safety of her book. Wilhelm's seat sags with her nearby presence.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "What are you looking for in there, Corrin?" Lahja asks, slightly annoyed and suspicious. She wanders over to the bag to watch Corrin rummaging. "You're not after my spare clothes or Rasia's, are you?"
<Darkling> "I am to also inform you that you will be back to the apartment in two more days, Once all the roads are clear."
<Rasia> As if he could make Rasia's figure work on him. The announcement gets Rasia's attention.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> The roads, sure. But what about below them? He keeps the thought to himself, though.
Corrin straightens, tablet in hand. "What?" he responds, jerking around to face Agent Weaving a moment later. "Yes, ma'am."
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "That's good news. Is miss Pilon still stable?"
<Darkling> "I have some duties to attend to. The gym is reserved for you all from noon til three. And yes, Captain Pilon is out of medical and working again.:
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja nods, giving Weaving a quick salute. Not exactly the news she was hoping for.
Rasia grunts disapproval, but doesn't move further.
<Darkling> Weaving gives a single nod and leaves the room.
Rasia licks her teeth, pulling a leg up. It sends her chest off-balance. "Lit. Soon."
<Wilhelm_Faustus> Wilhelm continues to pet Hel, mind wandering and gaze distant.
<Darkling> Ivy comes out of the bathroom. "What was all that about?"
<Corrin> "That's probably not going to happen. Pilot Rasia."
Rasia turns to look at Corrin. "?"
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "Agent Weaving was here to deliver some of our things." Lahja gestures to the bag, beginning to go through it herself and retrieve a few things.
<Corrin> "Agent Weaving brought some of our stuff over." Corrin adds, then looks back at Rasia. "Remember what the Commander said? We'll probably be seeing Captain Pilon again soon."
<Rasia> "Hmf." Her gaze wanders elsewhere, stealing a bite of Wilhelm's hair on her way to the kitchen.
<Darkling> "Oh." Ivy walks over to the bag and looks down as Lahja sifts through it.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "I hope Rasia is right. You'll have to try Lit's food sometime." she says to Ivy, finishing her sorting.
Wilhelm_Faustus sets Hel aside on his bed and starts rummaging around in his pockets until he pulls out his multitool.
<Darkling> "He sounds wonderful from what I have heard, not like Miss Pilon."
<Rasia> "Lit kind." Rasia confirms from the fridge, biting into frozen pizza.
<Darkling> "I would hate to think he is mean to any of you. You've all been so nice to me so far."
Corrin looks up from his bunk, tablet in hand. Ivy's words seem to have broken through the slump he's been in since the second day.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "He's a good leader." Lahja wanders back over to her bed, stuff in hand. "I was starting to think of him as family."
<Darkling> "I hope to meet him before I have to be leave." She smiles and pulls out a swimsuit from her bags. "Are we going to the gym today?"
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "Yes. It's reserved for us between noon and three."
Corrin drops the tablet onto his bed and stands up abruptly. "So all we have to do now is wait." He starts to pace again.
<Darkling> "Well," Ivy looks at the clock. "It is almost noon now. I suppose we could walk there and it'd be noon!"
<Wilhelm_Faustus> Wilhelm changes into one of his hooded t-shirts, something like a small bag strapped tight to his stomach before he pulls it on.
<Rasia> Rasia, still favoring the 'winterwear' look, joins the group.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "I'll be right there." Lahja wanders to the bathroom, some clothing in hand. She's out in a minute or two, dressed for a workout.
<Darkling> Ivy holds her swimsuit and goes to wait by the door.
<Corrin> "Come on, then!" Corrin announces. "Let's go!"
<Rasia> To the gym!
<Darkling> The gym is vacant and quiet. Ivy jogs across it to the change room.
Rasia gravitates towards the pool, flumpfing down and doing stretches, in spite of her heavy clothes.
<Corrin> "It's big." Corrin declares, grinning.
<Darkling> Ivy comes out of the change room after a few minutes and runs and cannonballs into the pool with a shriek.
Wilhelm_Faustus paces along the outer edge of the gym, stopping any time he sees a grate for a vent.
<Rasia> Raz slinks into the water with nary a ripple. As always, she takes swimsuits as a gentle suggestion. It's like watching a crocodile lurk.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> Finally he kneels down next to one, reaching up inside his shirt. He digs around, then pulls out and unfolds a piece f paper.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He traces his finger along the paper...
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja wanders over to the running track, keeping an eye on Ivy as she jogs about.
Corrin is jogging on the track, still grinning. He raises a hand as Lahja approaches, not stopping. "Hey, Lahja."
<Darkling> Ivy's head pops up out of the water and over the edge of the pool watching Wilhelm.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He moves along to another vent, kneeling as he did before.
<Rasia> Kick, kick. Drift... Paddle. She's looking lean by now, a lot of fat burned off to reveal the mildly grotesque musculature underneath. The approach is nearly silent.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He checks his watch. pressing a button on the side. The sheet of paper is tucked away in favor of his multitool.
<Rasia> Ivy might hear some familiar music in the back of her mind.
<Darkling> Ivy inches along the edge of the pool following the boy.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "Hello, Corrin." Lahja waves in return, picking up the pace of her run to keep up with Corrin. She catches sight of Wilhelm, but quickly looks away. "Do you believe dreams have any meaning?"
<Wilhelm_Faustus> The multitool sets to work removing the screws that hold the vent cover in place.
Corrin has slowed to a quick stride, head moving between the pool and Wilhelm. The grin's fading again. "Dreams? Nope. No meaning at all. You were right about them, though."
<Rasia> "Fight!" Rasia bursts from the water, grabbing for her copilot. Her tone of voice isn't...completely playful.
<Darkling> "Ahggbllp!" She goes down under the water arms flailing up.
<Corrin> "Ivy!"
Corrin sprints for the pool.
<Rasia> The wrestling is nonlethal, for what that's worth with Rasia.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> A glance over his shoulder toward the others...bah. He looks back to the vent, continuing his work. Have they no ambition?
<Darkling> At least under the water and lubricated she has some squirming room and manages to get free, bursting up a few feet from Rasia and gasping for air. "Not fair!" She sends a splash of cold water towards Rasia.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "I had this one dream last night where my head got bigger and lighter, and I could feel my consciousness expanding. Then it detached itself like a balloon and drifted off." Lahja jogs along after Corrin, not seeing much harm in Rasia's activities.
Rasia catches her breath, snapping her jaw at the splash.
<Corrin> "What the hell are you doing?" Corrin shouts, stopping at the pool's edge as Ivy bobs up. "Ivy, you alright?"
<Darkling> "I'm fine Corrin." She splashes at Rasia again.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He sits, putting a foot to the wall for leverage as he yanks the vent cover free.
<Rasia> A hard splash in return, eyes darting to glance at Corrin before she wades towards Ivy for another go.
<Darkling> The vent rattles to the ground free.
<Darkling> Ivy lets out a squeal and begins to swim away.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He replaces with multitool with his penlight, turning it on before holding it between his teeth and crawling in.
<Rasia> A growl dissolves into bubbles during the underwater chase, and she manages to get a hand on Ivy's ankle.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> A hand reaches out to pull the vent cover back into place leaning over the hole.
<Darkling> Ivy splashes at Corrin, "Stop being such a doahhh!" She goes under again into the water.
Corrin drops into the pool with a splash, clothes dragging him down as he swims towards the two.
<Rasia> Rasia surfaces, nearly sitting on the girl. Her head jerks, searching--"!" Ivy's let free as she kicks off.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "Captain Ivy's orders, Corrin." Lahja continues to look on, quite deliberately not looking in the direction of Wilhelm.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He stops in the vent, covering his nose to suppress a cough. Dust and chlorine in large amounts.
<Darkling> Ivy jumps up out of the water again sending a spray of water at Rasia that doesn't get her wet, rather drifts down in small white fluffy flakes.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> Eventually he presses on.
Corrin stops as Rasia swims off, clothes soaked through as he paddles in place. "Ivy?" he coughs, blinking. This pool's definitely chlorinated from the taste and the way his eyes are watering.
<Rasia> "..." Her neck strains to look in two very different directions, watching the snow melt as it touches the water.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He slows his crawling pace as he approaches vents facing down. He inches up on them, peering down.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja stares at the snow, shivering just a bit. Absolutely no way that can be healthy.
<Darkling> Tiled floor below, some lockers and feminine voices.
<Darkling> "I'm fine Corrin. Relax a little. Rasia wasn't hurting me."
<Rasia> A look locks solid on Ivy. Cold like Wilhelm--right! Wilhelm! Rasia pulls herself out with a hand, resolving to deal with Ivy's nature later. For now, she searches.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> There was money to be made here...another time, perhaps. With care he crawls past.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "See? Perfectly fine." Lahja says, putting on a forced smile. Considering how easily Rasia could hurt someone accidentally...
<Darkling> Showers under you now, and some pipes in the way going through the vent. The voices are louder.
<Corrin> "Right. Got it." Corrin coughs sheepishly, and swims for the edge. Scrambling up, he drips with each step he takes.
<Darkling> "-I'll be glad when they aren't at the base anymore.. they creep me out." .. "I know what you mean Doris. I hope all this mess is over with so we can get rid of them."
<Rasia> Vwip. After some water dripping on metal, Ivy, Corrin and Lahja are left alone.
<Corrin> "I guess so." Corrin replies, unconvinced, dripping in place.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He hesitates to listen.
Corrin frowns. "The water's too cold, anyway."
<Darkling> "I heard they are shipping one of them away to another base at least." ... "Good. Can't be soon enough."
<Rasia> Hey, hey Wilhelm.
<Rasia> *Bump*
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He tries to look back over his shoulder.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "Is it really?" Lahja leans over to dip a finger into the water, keeping focused on Corrin rather than Rasia.
<Darkling> The water temperature feels quite nice to you Lahja.
<Rasia> Four nails scratch at Wilhelm's leg as she tries to worm past and next to him. ...Not happening, at her breadth. "Left."
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He puts a finger to his lip and motions forward, then starts crawling.
<Corrin> "You were right about dreams, though. What you said, about not all of them being bad." Corrin blathers, looking up and around. A wave to Ivy, a few lanes down.
<Rasia> Away we go!
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "It must be your Texas blood. The water is nice." Lahja says dismissively. Then her eyes widen. What if it really is cold and she's been infected by some moon alien virus?
<Corrin> "I'm not sure if I have Texan blood."
<Darkling> "It's quite refreshing, you should come for a swim Lahja!" Ivy's looking quite content floating on her back.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He stops crawling on occasion to consult his slip of paper, a map? Then its back to crawling.
<Rasia> Lazy noises whenever they stop, the sound of dripping water chasing them for a while.
<Corrin> "Hey, where'd Rasia go?"
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "Maybe I will after I run around a bit more." Lahja says absently, debating whether it's worth the risk or not. "The water's always better after a little exertion."
<Darkling> Ivy continues to float in the middle of the pool.
<Wilhelm_Faustus>  "...the heart of the beast, and no one wishes to discover its secrets..." He mutters just loud enough for Rasia to catch.
<Rasia> "Ask?"
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "...advertising my intentions in so simple a manner would invite interference from Corrin."
<Rasia> "Say orders."
Corrin is looking around the cavernous gym now, straightening. "Hey, Lahja. Look around. Rasia's not here, anywhere! And where's Pilot Wilhelm?"
<Rasia> It probably goes without saying Rasia wouldn't cover her tracks as well as Wilhelm. The vent is open.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "...he's too simple to fall for even that trick." He sighs.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "Rasia? She must have went off after you jumped into the pool. Maybe I should check the room and see if they went back there?"
<Rasia> "Rr." A gentle prod for more space.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "Best neither he nor Lahja follow. They did get me killed last time." He smirks and presses on.
<Rasia> Rasiafroooooown
Corrin is already heading for the open vent. "Look! It's an air vent, like the one..." he trails. "It's open!"
<Darkling> "You worry too much!" Ivy calls from the pool.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "...such vivid imaginations they have." A snort and he stops. He looks back at her, getting on his side and pressing to the side of the vent.
Rasia sidles up closer, still in her underwear from the pool dip. "Look for?"
<Corrin> "It's Pilot Rasia!" Corrin calls back. "Better safe than sorry!" He rubs his shoulder as he kneels by the open space. "Lahja, you coming?"
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja wanders over to the vent, the sight of it bringing back some unpleasant memories and prompting a twitch. "You're not intending to go in there, are you?"
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He stares at her for a moment. "...Grendel."
Rasia flinches, frowning again.
<Corrin> "Can't." Corrin stands, giving the open vent an irritated rap. He frowns. "If Pilot Rasia's in there, we'd better report it before someone else finds out."
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He strokes her hair. "You can turn back, swim some more."
<Rasia> A shake of the head. She gives his arm one more pull before nodding to continue.
<Darkling> "Maybe you should leave them? I'm sure they can't get into much trouble here."
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "... You can't? Do you mean you can't fit in there, or you can't from an ethical standpoint?" Lahja asks curiously, but with a hint of irritation in her voice that grows more evident as she goes on.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He nods, leading on to the science division's section of the base.
Rasia crawls behind him.
<Corrin> "It's too small." Corrin replies. "But if Rasia's in there, do you really want her to drop down somewhere else?"
<Wilhelm_Faustus> They pass over empty rooms, offices and the like. Wil makes a sound of irritation with each one they pass.
<Darkling> "I'm sure they'll come back." She says, then dives under the water.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "I'm sure Rasia can take it. That's not what I'm worried about." Lahja pauses an unnecessarily long time, either for dramatic effect or for stalling. Either way, she's steadily getting more riled up. "If you recall, a few days ago our tour guide mentioned a shoot first and ask questions later policy!"
Rasia licks her teeth, following close behind, wrinkling her nose at each vent out of curiosity.
<Corrin> "Pilot Lahja, did you check the room?"
Corrin nods at Lahja's statement. "That's my point! We'd better find her or let Agent Weaving know she's gone. Remember what Capt...Lit told us? After the bear?"
<Wilhelm_Faustus> They pass a few more rooms, occupied this time. He takes greater care in stealth, even scoffing at what some of the scientists are discussing,
<Corrin> *that's what I'm saying!
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "I'll check the room on the off chance that they're there. What about the bear?"
<Darkling> Ivy resurfaces nearer to Corrin. "Why such a fuss over them leaving?"
<Corrin> "We're supposed to watch Pilot Rasia. Remember?" Now it's Corrin's turn to get worked up. "After what happened?"
Corrin hesitates. "Pilot Rasia is...aggressive. She's a good Pilot. She has the right idea about our duty, but she nearly killed someone. And bites. Lit ordered us to make sure it didn't happen again."
<Darkling> "But we're in a safe location. No on is going to hurt her or threaten her enough to get hurt by her."
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "I don't know... we were informed about people being trigger happy in places here. At least if they're informed they know not to shoot, right?"
<Wilhelm_Faustus> Wilhelm comes to a halt, all but pressing his ear to the vent to listen to a conversation.
<Rasia> Bump. Distracted, Raz backs up out of Wil's rear end and worms her way underneath so she can listen as well.
<Darkling> "So we're going to try revivification first?" "Yeah, and if that doesn't work, we'll begin an autopsy."
<Darkling> "I thought that was just in the lower floors that we weren't allowed in without escort.?"
<Corrin> "If she's in the vents, she could drop out anywhere. Like Pilot Lahja said, the guards have guns." He shakes his head. "Sorry about this."
<Wilhelm_Faustus> Tell us where it is now...tell us where damn you.
<Darkling> Ivy mutters and swims away, not understanding what the big deal was.
<Darkling> "Let's begin." The men exit the room.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He moves quickly, intent on following them as they go.
Corrin sighs. "Where's Pilot Wilhelm when he might be useful? Smug bastard." He kicks the vent opening, shifting uneasily waiting for Lahja to get back. At least he's almost dry now.
<Darkling> "Maybe they just wanted some private time, you know?"
<Rasia> --!
<Darkling> In the next room you can see them staring out past a control panel, but the view beyond is blocked. You might have to find another adjacent shaft to see what they are looking at. "Powering up the equipment."
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "If so I hope I don't walk in on anything when I get back to the room." Lahja says as she departs at a brisk pace.
Corrin scowls. "In the vents? Besides, Pilot Wilhelm wouldn't fit."
Corrin kicks the vent again, absently.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He looks around and moves, not as interested in the scientists as what they're looking at.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He manages to find a new shaft and a new angle, looking into the 'operation room.'
<Darkling> Below him, laying in a hospital bed with numerous tubes and other equipment attaches is the disfigured body of a boy. Numerous lesions and tumors grow across his body, some openly seeping ooze and puss. He appears to be missing one arm, and most of his face is charred black.
Rasia bristles and squirms, pulling away from the vent, unable to tear her gaze away completely. So that's the one...
<Darkling> The voices of the scientists carry through the vent, echoing ever so slightly. ""Power stable. Initiating.."
<Lahja_Ilvainen> A while later Lahja returns. She slows down once she's in the gym again, then shakes her head after approaching Corrin.
<Corrin> "Say, Ivy." Corrin begins after a while, now sitting at the pool's edge, stopping as Laha approaches. "She's not in there?"
<Darkling> The body jolts up and twitches before going limp again.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "She's hiding very well if she is."
<Wilhelm_Faustus> Revivification? Impossible. You can't bring the dead back to life. Not completely.
<Darkling> "I'm all alone in the pool! No Rasia sharks attacking me."
Corrin mutters something, then straightens. "Damnit. We'd better go find her then. Ivy, you coming?"
<Darkling> The body jolts again and goes limp. "Alright, affix the breathing apparatus, we're going to try and strengthen it's pulse."
Rasia bites her tongue, a low growl sneaking out.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He looks to Rasia, putting a finger to his lips.
<Darkling> "I really am not in any kind of attire to go around the base." She looks at her swimsuit in the water.
<Darkling> A scientist wearing a hazmat suit walks into view and attaches a breathing apparatus to the boys mouth and nose, red-orange liquid pumping through the tubing.
<Corrin> "Good point." Corrin bobs his head quickly. "Pilot Lahja?"
Wilhelm_Faustus stares, watching and...waiting.
<Darkling> He leaves the room shortly after. "Breathing is steady still, pulse unchanged. Let's try this again."
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "We can't go looking for them. It's not time efficient. Maybe you should just go find Weaving or someone else and let them know? And I'll stay here and keep Ivy company."
<Wilhelm_Faustus> ". . ." You mean that worked? He's alive again?
<Darkling> "We can't keep this thing on life support for long. Amazing it was still alive in the wreckage really." The body jerks again, for much longer this time.
<Darkling> Ivy splashes a bit in the pool.
<Corrin> "...On it!" Corrin calls, heading off. Where...well, if he can't find Weaving, use the tablet. Dammit, why can't Pilot Rasia just follow...not orders, but...procedure.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> His teeth grit, trying to formulate a next move.
Rasia bleeds from the corner of her mouth, tongue chewed past its resistance.
<Darkling> "Increasing output." The body jolts again, back arching at outrageous angels and threatening to topple off the bed if it weren't restrained. Ice blue eyes flash open a moment staring up into the vent before closing.
* Corrin holds the phone to his ear, scowling and resisting the urge to pace as he waits.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja waves to Corrin, then lies down on her back with her head hanging over the edge of the pool. She stares at Ivy with her eyes back at half mast now that the agitation has largely subsided.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> In that brief instant, what color is left in the boys face drains away. To have a theory is one thing, but to have it confirmed is something else entirely.
<Darkling> Ivy wades over and looks up at Lahja in the eyes. "He's a bit high strung don't you think?"
Rasia touches Wilhelm's arm.
<Darkling> The body jerks once more. "This isn't working. Cut life support and move him to medical bay eighteen. We'll begin an autopsy tomorrow. I need a drink."
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "A little. I blame the cow gas." Lahja pales a little, but controls her breathing as Ivy approaches. Nothing like facing a fear head on, right?
<Darkling> "He was always like that in Austin too. Always commands all the time, no time to relax." She pouts a little before smiling again.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "Lets...lets go." He whispers.
<Rasia> A nod and a nuzzle before she twists herself around like a pretzel to come back the way they left.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "It's nice to relax. It would have been nice to have been able to do it more." Lahja says with a mild disappointment. Then she closes her eyes. "Could I get some snow?"
<Corrin> "Ma'am? This is Pilot Corrin. Pilot Rasia's gone, ma'am." Corrin is in the Pilots' room, standing straight even though he's speaking into a phone. "I'm...we're not sure where she is, but she might have gone into the air vent at the gym. Thought you ought to know, ma'am." With that, he replaces the phone, heading off after a while with his tablet in hand.
<Darkling> "I can try... though I don't know how it happened before.." She cups her hands and lifts up some water before throwing it into the air, only to shower them both in cold droplets.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Still cold. That shoots the moon alien theory, unless it's just progressing very slowly. At least turning into a moon alien is no longer an immediate concern. "Thanks, Ivy. You have no idea how much better I feel now."
<Darkling> "Glad I can make you feel better! You sure you don't want to come in?" She smiles playfully up at you from the water.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> Wilhelm is silent on the way back, hard to say what he's thinking about.
<Rasia> They say objects swaying side to side in a rhythm are the best way to calm a troubled mind. And yet Rasia's nervous and tense the whole way back.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "Maybe I will." Lahja gets up, opening her eyes and flashing Ivy a brief smile. "It's not like you'll turn into a monster and eat me if I get in there, right?"
<Darkling> "I would never turn into a monster! I promise!" She crosses her finger over her chest for emphasis.
Corrin jogs down the corridors of the base, scowling. "So much for calm."
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He stops once to wretch, holding his stomach as if it hurt. He waves Rasia on though. "We should...hurry back."
<Rasia> She tries to see around herself, frowning. "Hurry." She still looks pretty comfortable, moving on all fours.
<Darkling> Ivy puts her hands on her hips waiting in the water.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He wasn't even sure this was the way he'd come, trusting Rasia and her instincts to get them back.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "That's good to know." Lahja gets up moves along to the changing room. One out of two worries about Ivy tackled, if she's to be trusted. Unfortunately it was probably the lesser worry. In either case she's back in her swimsuit before long and slips into the water.
Rasia pokes her head up against the pool room vent, coming to a stop.
<Darkling> "That's better!" She sends some splashes at Lahja.
Rasia pushes her way through and back out, getting out of Wil's way before stretching out like a cat, happy to be in open space again.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja squeals at the splashing, retaliating in kind before giving Ivy a smug look. "I'm immune! I'm a submarine!" And then she ducks under the water.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> Wil is out next, working to get the vent cover screwed back into place, though he drops the screws more than a few times.
<Rasia> Wil gets a gentle push and a whisper. "Okay?"
<Darkling> Ivy giggles and watches Lahja with intent.
Corrin appears through the door and jogs into the gym, mood brightening. There's a tablet under his arm. So far, he hasn't noticed the two returning pilots. "Hey, Lahja!"
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "I don't know." He shrugs, finally getting the last screw into place.
<Rasia> A lick to the cheek before she pulls away, turning to catch up on what the fuck her fellow pilots were doing.
Corrin shrugs at the lack of response and looks around. He squints, eyes watering from the chlorine fumes, as he notices Rasia approaching. "Pilot Rasia!"
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja stays under the water for a while, creeping closer to Ivy. Then when she's in range she reaches out to attempt a light poke to Ivy's stomach, surfacing at about the same time. "That was a nuclear torpedo." she says, a bit flatly.
<Rasia> "Rr? Corrin?"
<Darkling> "It was?" Ivy's eyes widen and she jumps in the air throwing her arms out and landing backwards in a giant splash as she makes an explosion sound.
<Corrin> "Great. Just great." Corrin mutters, glancing over his shoulder at the splash. "Where'd you go?" he demands.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja blinks after realizing how many other people are about. "You're all back. Hello again."
<Rasia> "Wilhelm." She nods, wandering towards the pool to see what all the splash was about.
<Corrin> "All back? Great." Corrin mutters, moving to the other Pilot. "Great thinking, Pilot Wilhelm!"
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "...go away."
<Darkling> Ivy reemerges from the water launching herself onto Lahja's back, before realizing everyone is back too.
<Rasia> She considers it, briefly, before yelling out. "Bomb!" And joining the tangle of girls.
<Corrin> "No." Corrin storms over. "Next time, let the rest of us know if you're going to run off and let us think Pilot Rasia's in the ventilation. Before Agent Weaving gets involved. And where the hell did you go, anyway?"
<Darkling> A shriek of glee from Ivy.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja suddenly goes stiff from the cold, flailing about in surprise, and consequently... "Sea mon..!" and then she's down under the water again.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "Shut up!" His tone his harsh.
<Corrin> "Make me." Corrin retorts.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "Ah yes, then I can be on the same level as you." He stands and turns. A few flicks of the multitool and a knife blade is sticking out. "You don't -know- anything you useless waste of resources. So shut your trap and stick to fighting. Leave the thinking to me, you'll live longer."
<Darkling> "That won't be necessary." Weaving is standing a dozen feet off, arms crossed.
Corrin freezes as he's about to speak. "Ma'am?"
<Darkling> "What would your Captain say if he say this sort of infighting?" Her tone is very serious.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He looks down, using the tip of the knife to dig dirt out from under his fingernail.
Rasia looks over at Weaving, restraining one girl in a headlock and wrestling the other with her feet.
<Darkling> Ivy squirms, a smile still on her face.
Corrin stands at attention, awkwardly. More so than usual.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja surfaces and flails a bit before she spits out a mouthful of water. She looks a bit clueless.
<Darkling> "I think perhaps you should head back to your bunk Pilot."
<Darkling> She glares down at you Corrin.
<Corrin> "...Yes, ma'am." Corrin replies stiffly, then obeys. One last look at the pool, a glare at Wilhelm, and he's gone.
<Rasia> "..."
<Darkling> Weaving gives a stiff glare to each of the other pilots in turn. "You're a team, act like one. You have a half hour left then I expect you back in your bunk."
<Rasia> "Rrrr..."
<Darkling> She stomps off, clearly not impressed.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> The multitool vanishes and Wilhelm sits.
<Darkling> Ivy slips out of Rasia's grasp finally, but the mood seems to be a bit killed at the moment.
Corrin is soon back in the Pilots' room, sitting and staring at the wall, scowling. It's quiet, but his thoughts aren't. Agent Weaving blamed him. That means it's his fault. But...
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He seems fine for a few moments, but his breathing becomes heavy. He's seething as he stands, making for the punching bag.
<Rasia> Rasia releases Lahja as well, drifting in the water to watch Wilhelm.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja's mood seems quite diminished as well, her expression somewhat blank. Then after a while she speaks up, her tone flat. "Maybe we should have been doing a synchronized swimming routine instead. That's a team thing, right?"
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He throws a punch, his form terrible as it connects. He yells at the punching bag in another language, Latin maybe? He strikes it again, then again, yelling at it each time. Clearly he wouldn't be a threat in any kind of hand-to-hand battle.
<Rasia> "Sink-sync..." Rasia struggles with the word for a bit, dropping it after it proves to be too much.
<Darkling> "Maybe." Ivy says. "I think I'm done swimming for now though.."
Rasia wades to the end of the pool closest to Wilhelm. When I'm mad I break stuff...
Corrin sits back and stares at the wall sullenly.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He's lost in his head somewhere, his anger getting to let loose even for a little while.
Rasia creeps closer, but doesn't interfere, thinking how she'd react if someone stopped her tantrum.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "I think I'll head back a little early, too." And then she quietly whispers to Ivy in passing. "You can eat the mean people if you like. I won't miss them."
<Darkling> ==============END==============