NationStates Jolt Archive

The changing rooms are all filled, with a short, orderly line of people waiting to make use of them. Ceilia sees a few swimming suits hung over the tops of various screens, but the rational assumption would be that they belong to the occupants; Olink is one of the more socially liberal cities on Renku, but it's still not a good idea to steal.

Seeing that there was nothing for her to borrow, Ceilia returned to the pool area and began to disrobe. Ceilia stripped down leaving only her pale blue undergarments on. A toe dabbed at the water quickly to test the temperature before Ceilia eased her body in.

She looked around at the others to see if there was any methodology to their practice. Seeing that no one was really following any routine, Ceilia took a dunk and swam a lap underwater.

Seeing Ceilia disappear underwater, Flitch climbs out of the pool and grabs her clothes, running to hide them behind the sanitation machinery. Andrew, having just finished changing, sees the little elf as he trots arount the other side of the pool. Frowning, he goes to see what the pint-sized mischief maker is up to.

Ceilia stayed underwater for a good while before breaking the surface. Her hands ran over her soaked hair, pulling it back behind her pointed ears. She looked around, most of the team seemed to have little groups that they stayed in. Supposedly friends. It really didn't bother her any that no one swam with her.

Instead, she simply kept her head above water and moved her arms through the water to propel herself forward.

To say that nobody swims with Ceilia would not be entirely accurate. After all, with so many people in the pool it could hardly be said that anyone is alone. Ceilia does get a few funny looks and frowns, but she gets smiles as well, and occasionally gets a chance to field a ball or other toy. There are some groups that seem to be training, but the majority are just here to unwind.

As Flitch skips happily out from the cover of the pool machinery, he finds himself suddenly suspended in midair. It's certainly not the first time, but that doesn't make him any less furious. He struggles and kicks and claws at the hand holding him by the scruff of his neck.

"şăni," Drew says, exasperated.

"leutkosi wą!" the elf demands.

"sĭl el kəl ŧur təl?"

Flitch goes limp, crossing his arms and sulking. "əpi ĭlnəp Ąbąl."

Andrew sighs and places the elf back on the ground, none too gently. "zəke keb tu splăşi. splăşi."

Flitch takes off for the water while Drew fetches Ceilia's clothes, brushing the dirt off and taking them back to the pool, setting them close enough to be seen clearly from the water but far enough from the edge to prevent them from getting wet. He spots Ceilia easily by her hair and wades in to intercept her. "Hey! ...you?" Drew trails off, realizing he never got the abh girl's name. He moves in closer and touches her shoulder to get her attention instead.

Ceilia senses someone wading in beside her. Even without her tiara on, her froch can still sense close quarter movement and the ripples from Drew is a dead give away.

Ceilia pops up almost instantly he touches her shoulder. She shakes the water from her face and pushes her blue wet hair back. "Yes? What is it?"

"Flitch hid your clothes, I put them over there for you." He points. Drew lowers his voice, speaking confidentially. "I think you should be nicer. You won't make many friends acting haughty all the time."

Unflinching, Ceilia stares back at Drew. "It is your friend, Flitch, that should watch his attitude. I have done nothing to him during this brief time among you. But, I thank you for returning my clothes."

"No, no. I'm not talking about Flitch;" Andrew clarifies. "You just seem so... I don't know. Haughty."

"I know who it is you are referring to." Finished with the conversation, Ceilia wades out slightly deeper in the water and takes up a gentle pace for a lap.

Drew looks on with a troubled crease in his brow. Maybe it's okay where she's from, but... he retreats to the shallow end of the pool, lost in thought.

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"No, seriously. It's been a year already? You just got here!" Mark pouts in his usual animated tone. A break in the rain common in this season has gifted Olink with a pleasantly bright, dry, and warm afternoon to see off its Abh guests. "Couldn't you at least finish the grade? I mean, c'mon!"

Ceilia, Andrew, and Cymrik stand together, ready to get into a special car sent to bring them to the spaceport. The building they've lived in for the past year has been cleared of personal items, cleaned, and locked up and now stands silent with curtains drawn, ready for its next tenants. A few of the neighbors watch curiously from windows or yards, but their real audience is Caranthir and Mark, who have come to say goodbye. "I have enjoyed attending you, Ceilia. I hope we will continue to correspond."

"Aww," Mark says, falling to his knees and throwing an arm around the elf's shoulder. "You two are so cute, ya know?" He looks sly, lowering his voice to a whisper. "You gonna kiss her or what?" Mark leaves Caranthir blushing furiously to stand up and walk forward.

He stands before Andrew with hands and arms open, poised for a full embrace. "Seriously, dude. I'm gonna miss you. Sure you don't wanna run off with me? I've already taught you how to stand up to the pointy-ears, together we would be unstoppable!" He peers into his friend's eyes earnestly. It's not quite clear whether or not he's joking.

OOC: LOL I guess you're ready to end this madness.

IC:

Ceilia surprisingly smiles at their two companions. It had been an interesting year and educational to say the least. She is somewhat surprised by Caranthir's response, though it doesn't register on her face. "I don't see why not. We've learned in the Labule that it is necessary to maintain correspondences with friends and family. I will have plenty of time and can spend it writing letters every so often."

Andrew most likely had the best time here than Ceilie, but he was still missing home like Ceilia missed space. He had made friends here that he would miss and Mark most of all. Even he is not sure if Mark is serious or not though he hopes Mark is not serious. But, Andrew returns the hug with a full embrace and pats the man on the back. "Wouldn't that be something? My picture on every wanted page and flashing over every space port. Mom and dad would be so proud."

"Responsibility is for losers," Mark affirms, letting go of Andrew and standing back. "You take care, don't let the blue-haired buzzkill get to you on the trip back. Remember what I told you: they feed off our misery!"

Caranthir sighs. "I thought we were here to say goodbye."

"What? That's what I'm doing!"

Cymrik looks over the students with his usual haughty disinterest. "We will be late if you do not hurry,"

"Er... yeah," Mark replies, looking over at the official and then between Ceilia and Andrew. "Well, we wouldn't want that. So, goodbye then." His cheery demeanor wavers a bit as he says it. He has become rather attached to the visitors, after all.

Cymrik opens the passenger door of the car and sits inside. Caranthir is visibly holding back tears as he bows to Andrew, then Ceilia for, if not the last time at least a very long time to come. Sometimes it's easy to forget that as mature as he acts, he's still just a child.

Ceilia stands there hardly phased by Mark's idea of beginning a revolution within the Abh Empire. Andrew gives Mark one last hug and says his goodbye before heading over to the car. Ceilia lingers about longer. "Cheer up. I imagine we'll be back this way one day. And there is nothing saying that you cannot come visit us in the Frybar."

The Abriel princess curtly bows and then turns and makes her way over to the car.

OOC: I don't see you on AIM much these days, so I'll just ask here: do you want to stop now, or follow them up to the spaceport and onto a departing ship?

OOC: Heh, I'm on now and don't see you. Well it is completely up to you. We can end it or keep going to the spaceport.

OOC: In that case, I think we'll just stop here. Going on isn't going to accomplish anything new. So... whew! A year and a month of roleplaying brought us to a not-so-spectacular conclusion, but you know what they say: it's the journey that counts. And I have a feeling what we did here will come up again in the future. Good show and all that. 'till next time, then!

Indeed. The ending may not have been so great but in truth it really is not over. These four may have greater roles to fill in the future and only time will tell the rest of their story. It is a good beginning though.