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The Lake Vista shore in Bywater was not an uncommon place for Aria to disappear to after a challenging shift or when the morning sun yanked away her chance of daytime sleep. The absurdly colored buildings and never ceasing music spilling within their open doors made it easy for her to slip into an imaginative state far from her own life dealings. This was a community she would have thought up as a child, modeling it after the small towns she would construct on the living room floor out of knick knacks she had collected from around the house. A Tupperware shopping center, a coffee mug cafe, a jailhouse constructed from books. Today, however, she had found herself there, sitting criss cross at the water's edge, in an attempt to separate herself from her own thoughts. 

It was cruel, the way The Apex had suggested that their own Ciphers should step in as local law enforcement fell short. If even they were losing numbers, why was The Apex tossing their own people in with nothing more than a “Do what you have to do and goodlu-”. Aria caught herself in this musing just as she would bite her tongue mid-sentence. She very deliberately brought her fingers to the back of her neck, tracing over the palpable lines of the tattoo there. Done with a sewing needle and ink from a supermarket in the bathroom of a fellow cipher when she was only sixteen, it was inevitable that the tattoo would scar. Aria never minded this, however, as physically feeling the markings there often grounded her and served as a reminder of the commitments she had made to herself and those within her cell. She knew the others would be gathering tonight to discuss the message they had received. They were aware of Aria’s work schedule, but they would leave a seat open despite her absence. They would update her on the discussions they had and still ask for her input. They would make a purposeful effort to still include her in their dealings. But they certainly would not doubt The Apex. 

The commitment of the gulls as they dropped down into the shifting waters certainly deserved admiration. The trust in themselves and their wings to hold them just out of the swift current had to be innate instinct definitely encouraged by a fear of starvation. Aria’s eyes trailed along with them as she contemplated why these particular ones had settled near the river, rather than Lake Vista that wasn't far at all. Especially not to a bird. [color=7bcdc8][i]Probably little Variant birds.[/i][/color] Aria snorted at her own nonsensical thoughts, glancing to her watch as she noticed the placement of the sun. 18:35. She silently praised herself for coming to the neighboring district already dressed in uniform as she rose to her feet, brushing grass and dirt from her pressed pants. She would have time to stop in for a coffee and quick bite at one of the local cafes before dragging herself to the station. 

[color=7bcdc8]“Shit, are you kidding?”[/color] Aria was peering around the doorframe of the breakroom out into the station lounge, having just swiped her badge in front of the time clock. She was two minutes late and the universe was spiting her, she just knew it. She watched as her coworkers rose from where they rested at they sound of the callout tone, some shoving down recliner footrests, others piling in a few more bites of whatever they had reheated for dinner before they scrambled to their feet. Aria glanced momentarily to still hot cup of coffee in her hand, contemplating if the disposable cup would make it through the call. “10-70 Commercial structure fire. Engine 1. Engine 3. Engine 5. Water 4. Water 2. Rescue 1. Battalion 3. Battalion 2.” The speaker positioned in the center of the room continued to spew assignment after assignment, sending Aria rushing out of the door with coffee still in hand. Mercilessly, the radio hooked to her belt continued, “All EMS units respond.”