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    1. Berlin 5 yrs ago

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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. Probably little Variant birds. 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.

“Shit, are you kidding?” 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.”
Nick was quick to play along with Ellie’s antics and had therefore earned her appreciation. She silently concluded that he would be the helpless soul she would stick with for the evening. Her battle buddy. Possibly willing, perhaps not. “Psh, do celebratory sashes exist? Why, of course. They’re only the best way to convince strangers to get you drunk for free,” Ellie shared this as if letting him in on a secret. “I will totally let you borrow my bride one if-” Her words were cut short as the speaker besides them suddenly came to life, a familiar voice spilling from within it.

Ellie was entirely shocked and impressed by what she was seeing of her roommate. He previously appeared to her as somewhat reserved and reticent, but what she had witnessed of him behind the microphone was quite the opposite. She looked towards Nick at the conclusion of the announcement, one eyebrow lifted slightly higher than the other. “I dunno what high school Rowan went to, but at mine, we would smoke in the back of the parking lot and sneak shooters into the pep rallies. We’re totally ‘getting high school up in here’.”

The young woman slid a few bottles into the crook of her elbow and urged Nick towards the lounge area. Her cheeks had warmed and it was apparent that only a few beers had softened her edges as she unabashedly approached those she saw isolated to themselves. She encouraged them each in that same direction, hooking their arms with her own if necessary, before falling back into a cushioned seat herself, curling her legs beneath her. She slid the alcohol towards the center of the table before scanning the small crown for their emcee. “Rowan, what are we playing, my friend?!”

Aye, I'm sold.
The atmosphere on the roof was growing brighter even as the sun continued to progress towards the horizon. Ellie had offered a hand and raised her bottle to both Nick and Xavi, pleased to be able to claim she had at least met two new people in the building should the night fall flat. She listened intently as Xavius told of his day and the frustrations that came with it, her head subtly nodding until he seemed to press the breaks on his own conversing. “No, no, no,” Ellie protested, stretching her hand out to fall on his shoulder and leaning in just slightly. “I’ve watched Pet Cemetery and Children of the Corn. Kids can be truly wicked, terrifying, filthy little things… I want six.” A wild grin crinkled the corners of her eyes, unwavering even when she pretended not to notice the man’s pained expression as he took a drink. She turned to Nick in an effort to subtly give Xavius a moment of privacy.

“Eventful, huh? Like I went to my ten year old cousin’s birthday party eventful? Or I woke up in a train station in Illinois wearing a sash that said ‘Bride To-Be’ eventful?” Ellie’s lips pursed and her eyes narrowed. “Not that, like, I’m speaking from experience or anything,” She relentlessly pressed into Nick’s concise answer about his day, unsatisfied with the lack of information she was given. As if the universe was handing him a free pass out of her grasp, however, Ellie’s attention was yanked to the stage where her roommate and one other had climbed behind the microphone. Her smile seemed to widen as she absentmindedly swayed along to the few songs she was able to catch.

Ellie reached for another beer as she drained her first, stretching it out to Nikola. “Can you do the thing?” She inquired as she gestured to the railing where she had seen him crack open his own. “My mom paid a lot for my teeth,” she almost seemed to snort at her own explanation, an inside joke with herself.
Gotta go with Reika.

“Might wanna slow down, Champ. You’ll get sick,” Jane warned, the inside of her eyebrows turned upwards as she watched Vinnie gorge himself from the platter. The young woman was leaned back in her seat, absentmindedly picking at a piece of pita, popping each darkened bubble on its surface, but never bringing any to her mouth. Her eyes had been glued to the television screen just prior to it being shut off, hoping that a newscaster would appear with some breaking news about the situation. Rather, they each spewed the same script accompanied by the same video clips. Those sitting alongside her knew more than anyone at this point.

The daunting, subtle message left by Kuso seemed to settle upon the table as he disappeared through the doors. It was an invitation, almost, and Jane was certain that there were others here willing to RSVP. There had been meetings before that caused her palms to grow damp as she arrived to them, but this was different. There was not a leader to pull them in one direction or another. What happened here would be entirely their responsibility. They had to call the shots now. Literally. Jane scoffed to herself at her own sick humor.

“Better watch your drink if you go pointing fingers like that,” Jane smirked as she referenced Alice’s knack for tainting edibles, shooting a wink to the young woman. Reika’s audacity hadn’t surprised her, but it did quickly alter the mood. They each would be on the defensive now. “I think we could very easily form a case for any of us sitting here. It’s not like any of us can boast a clean RAP sheet. Aggressively pushing and shoving is just gonna cause us to act irrationally and impulsively, though.” Jane brought herself forward, placing her folded arms onto the table. “We need to structure this somehow.”
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