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synthneon2026-01-25 11:26 pm
bubblesong) wrote in synthneon2026-01-25 11:26 pm
𫧠:rewrite 2.0 || β so let me go home, in our safehouse that we built out. β
[ Floating isn't so bad.
It's easy... and it's nice.
It's just not weightless like it used to be.
Little Mermaid opens her eyes and stares at the ceiling of the pool room. It's not really a pool room. Not like the Avengers Tower has or even the open pool the Malibu Mansion had. It's more like a gymnasium pool. Goddess HQ isn't outfitted or luxurious like Avengers Tower. It's cold and militaristic, minus the Deputy Chief's Office (at his own insistence). Even her own room is very bare, only with a few bubble ornamentations that float.
Goddess HQ isn't a prison like the cell underneath Stark Industries.
It's just not home.
She lets out a long breath and leans her head back against the edge of the pool.
Floating used to be nicer--when she could swim.
It's not that bad--not like that! Her legs are healing, just, slowly. Something about how Abe had worked the Goddessium to make the second generation of Fairytale Models makes it hard for the people at Goddess HQ to figure out how to program it. Almost like a language they can't speak. No one can seem to figure it out properly, so everything to this point has been her body healing itself and some simple nudges here and there to tell the Goddessium how to repair things.
It's not quite like nanomachines, but it's close, is what they say.
Still, she can move her legs now! The bones are all repaired. The muscles are on their way too. Her legs flex and bend, but not by much, and walking still hurts. Not that it stops her. She has to get better as fast as she can so she can leave. She has to get back to the Avengers Tower--to Tony.
Even if that lonely dark part of her wonders if he's moved on.
Her gaze at the ceiling softens.
He's been to so many events that she had said she'd go with him, including MIT...
Creeaaak, click.
Little Mermaid turns her head to the direction of the pool room doors.
Deputy Chief Andersen walks towards the pool. He's dressed more casual than she's used to seeing. A bomber jacket, jeans, and even a white t-shirt. He still wears the heavy combat boots and they echo in the pool room as he reaches the edge. A pair of aviators hang off the collar of his shirt as he looks down at her. ]
"Feeling any better?"
[ Little Mermaid nods. ] Huh huh. They still hurt, but, I can move them better now! The water helps too. Uhm... did you go somewhere?
"I did." [ The Deputy Chief pauses as if calculating his next moves; his next words. Then: ] "You have a visitor, Ariel."
[ The pool room falls silent minus the lapping water.
The Deputy Chief only calls her 'Ariel' when there are no officials around--no eyes around. He only allows himself to say what she considers her real name when nothing pertains to the missions of the Goddess Squad. Red Hood calls her Ariel all the time, but the Deputy Chief? He only says her real name when he knows it's completely and entirely safe to say it.
A visitor...? ]
"Two, in fact. Although one is more my visitor, I suppose. An old war friend." [ The Deputy Chief glances at her legs. ] "Do you need help getting out of the pool?"
I'm okay. I got it.
[ Little Mermaid rolls over expertly in the pool. Her legs stay afloat thanks to the black bubbles underneath them, almost like floaties. Her hands curl along the edge of the pool to pull herself up out of it. Then, she sits at the edge for a moment. The black bubbles form around her legs and feet, pressing against her skin, almost like a swimsuit. Her hands then raise, and between them a black sparkling bubble forms. The bubble is pressed to her lips that begin to glow red, issuing a command to it: ]
Stand and move. No matter how much it hurts.
[ Then, she takes the black bubble and splits it into two. Each smaller bubble presses to her legs, creating a second layer that acts as padding. Once settled, her legs give an unusual jerk. She spins on her bottom, moving her legs onto the floor. Then, she pushes herself up. Her legs twitch in a very noticeable way before she lets out a deep breath and looks back up at her commander. ]
Okay. I'm ready.
[ Andersen frowns at the display before handing her the thin bathing robe she brought with her. He continues to frown as she takes it and slips it on. ] "That tic is very obvious, Ariel. Don't stand longer than you have to. In fact? I'd rather you not stand at all with your legs in that condition. Sit on one of your bubbles."
[ Little Mermaid frowns. ] They look like my regular suit! It'll be okay. They don't look like braces at all.
"Trust me, your visitor is going to see it even if you hide it." [ Andersen sighs. ] "I want this to be as informal as possible, Ariel. Don't make me issue it as a order from your commanding officer. You can keep your... bubble braces. Just, sit down."
Aoooh... [ A frustrated sigh leaves Little Mermaid before she raises her hands again. A large pink sparkling bubble forms and expands. It floats to the ground and then she comfortably takes her seat. ] Like thi--
[ Creaaaaaaak.
Andersen and Little Mermaid look over as the door to the pool room bursts open. ]
It's easy... and it's nice.
It's just not weightless like it used to be.
Little Mermaid opens her eyes and stares at the ceiling of the pool room. It's not really a pool room. Not like the Avengers Tower has or even the open pool the Malibu Mansion had. It's more like a gymnasium pool. Goddess HQ isn't outfitted or luxurious like Avengers Tower. It's cold and militaristic, minus the Deputy Chief's Office (at his own insistence). Even her own room is very bare, only with a few bubble ornamentations that float.
Goddess HQ isn't a prison like the cell underneath Stark Industries.
It's just not home.
She lets out a long breath and leans her head back against the edge of the pool.
Floating used to be nicer--when she could swim.
It's not that bad--not like that! Her legs are healing, just, slowly. Something about how Abe had worked the Goddessium to make the second generation of Fairytale Models makes it hard for the people at Goddess HQ to figure out how to program it. Almost like a language they can't speak. No one can seem to figure it out properly, so everything to this point has been her body healing itself and some simple nudges here and there to tell the Goddessium how to repair things.
It's not quite like nanomachines, but it's close, is what they say.
Still, she can move her legs now! The bones are all repaired. The muscles are on their way too. Her legs flex and bend, but not by much, and walking still hurts. Not that it stops her. She has to get better as fast as she can so she can leave. She has to get back to the Avengers Tower--to Tony.
Even if that lonely dark part of her wonders if he's moved on.
Her gaze at the ceiling softens.
He's been to so many events that she had said she'd go with him, including MIT...
Creeaaak, click.
Little Mermaid turns her head to the direction of the pool room doors.
Deputy Chief Andersen walks towards the pool. He's dressed more casual than she's used to seeing. A bomber jacket, jeans, and even a white t-shirt. He still wears the heavy combat boots and they echo in the pool room as he reaches the edge. A pair of aviators hang off the collar of his shirt as he looks down at her. ]
"Feeling any better?"
[ Little Mermaid nods. ] Huh huh. They still hurt, but, I can move them better now! The water helps too. Uhm... did you go somewhere?
"I did." [ The Deputy Chief pauses as if calculating his next moves; his next words. Then: ] "You have a visitor, Ariel."
[ The pool room falls silent minus the lapping water.
The Deputy Chief only calls her 'Ariel' when there are no officials around--no eyes around. He only allows himself to say what she considers her real name when nothing pertains to the missions of the Goddess Squad. Red Hood calls her Ariel all the time, but the Deputy Chief? He only says her real name when he knows it's completely and entirely safe to say it.
A visitor...? ]
"Two, in fact. Although one is more my visitor, I suppose. An old war friend." [ The Deputy Chief glances at her legs. ] "Do you need help getting out of the pool?"
I'm okay. I got it.
[ Little Mermaid rolls over expertly in the pool. Her legs stay afloat thanks to the black bubbles underneath them, almost like floaties. Her hands curl along the edge of the pool to pull herself up out of it. Then, she sits at the edge for a moment. The black bubbles form around her legs and feet, pressing against her skin, almost like a swimsuit. Her hands then raise, and between them a black sparkling bubble forms. The bubble is pressed to her lips that begin to glow red, issuing a command to it: ]
Stand and move. No matter how much it hurts.
[ Then, she takes the black bubble and splits it into two. Each smaller bubble presses to her legs, creating a second layer that acts as padding. Once settled, her legs give an unusual jerk. She spins on her bottom, moving her legs onto the floor. Then, she pushes herself up. Her legs twitch in a very noticeable way before she lets out a deep breath and looks back up at her commander. ]
Okay. I'm ready.
[ Andersen frowns at the display before handing her the thin bathing robe she brought with her. He continues to frown as she takes it and slips it on. ] "That tic is very obvious, Ariel. Don't stand longer than you have to. In fact? I'd rather you not stand at all with your legs in that condition. Sit on one of your bubbles."
[ Little Mermaid frowns. ] They look like my regular suit! It'll be okay. They don't look like braces at all.
"Trust me, your visitor is going to see it even if you hide it." [ Andersen sighs. ] "I want this to be as informal as possible, Ariel. Don't make me issue it as a order from your commanding officer. You can keep your... bubble braces. Just, sit down."
Aoooh... [ A frustrated sigh leaves Little Mermaid before she raises her hands again. A large pink sparkling bubble forms and expands. It floats to the ground and then she comfortably takes her seat. ] Like thi--
[ Creaaaaaaak.
Andersen and Little Mermaid look over as the door to the pool room bursts open. ]