Razoric
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Razoric
She can't feel her cells being reprogrammed, but with a bit of imagination she can imagine what amount of work they'll be going through soon to put her all in order. From Seshat, her spirit and powers, from Pharmacon her body.

Her parents had been told that her appointment was at 11, and it wasn't a particularly long prep session, so there is a bit of waiting done, which gives her a chance to gather herself and think of what she'll say.

It's a little after 11:35 that a familiar looking car pulls up tentatively into the parking lot, seen through the window of the clinic's lobby. Her father steps out first, Parrish looking over his phone and comparing it with the address to make sure he's got it right. The two of them are in more utilitarian travel clothes. Given the 10-12+ hour drive, it's quite possible they're mostly just arriving.

Once confirmed, they head for the doors - Ruby spotting her through them and hastening her step.

Jachra
Sam hangs back a little bit with the unseen Ishte, not interfering with this most important meeting until they've had a chance to see each other.

Solana
She steps out the front door of the clinic, gripping the handle behind her tightly. She's still wearing her suit, but once again it's accentuated with casual wear - shorts and a t-shirt, the same as last night. She doesn't from her spot, letting them come to her.

Razoric
"Sif!" Her mother, teary eyed, comes to a stop before her, putting trembling hands on her shoulders as if to just confirm she's there before pulling her into an embrace. She makes a noise, like she had something to say, but it dies in her throat, replaced with a sniffle.

Parrish stops near her as well, and he is slumping in relief - tension in his shoulders that had been holding up since her mother called him.

Solana
". . . Hey Mom." She murmurs, moving to wrap her arms around her.

Parrish sees it before anyone else is. The metal hand is completely twisted where she'd been gripping it a few moments earlier.

"I hope the drive wasn't too stressful. . ."

Jachra
Seshat squeezes Ishte's hand, less for her comfort and more because she is deeply touched by the scene - and that she got to help Sif be more herself.

Razoric
Ishte watches, and while her face is impassive, she is paying close attention. This is an important moment in someone else's life.

"Traffic moved too slow for my taste," she mumbles before finally withdrawing. Parrish looks down at the handle, his brows coming up. And while Ruby doesn't see it, she does end up noticing something else instead.

She withdraws from her daughter to feel first at her shoulders, then down at her arms. There used to be little more than bone and skin there.

Solana
". . . Something wrong?" She asks, frowning.

Razoric
"You look... you look great! You've filled out?" She asks, astonished.

"I'll say." Parrish reaches out to feel at the handle, and there's a 'clonk' as it comes off in his hands. "What have they been feeding you?" he asks jokingly, though he is looking at her with wonderment. It's the army all over again, only it's his daughter.

Solana
"Neh. . . I had pizza and cola last night, and pitas this morning." She says a bit nervously. "It's nothing to get alarmed about, though. It didn't make me sick or anything. Sam's suit has been helping a lot." She gestures the other girl over.

Jachra
At her cue, Sam offers a large smile and steps forward. She shakes hands with Mr. Adalfieri when offered and embraces Ruby when she offers.

"Sif's been a friend of mine for a while - it's the least I can do. It's pretty amazing, but she worked out my identity and the location of my lair all by herself."

Razoric
The two of them look out towards Samantha at once. Not often you see a super with a secret identity wander out unmasked.

"Sif's sharp as a tack. I'm not surprised." Parrish gives her hand a welcoming grip, and Ruby does indeed give her an embrace.

"Thank you for taking care of her," she murmurs. She looks back at Sif. "It... it seems to have done more good than years of experts."

Jachra
"It's really only just begun. It's gently pulling her shard back together, so to speak. I know this is probably a lot to take in after everything, but I think this could help a lot."

Jachra
She squeezes Sif's hand

Solana
Sif squeezes her hand back, although after the door handle, she's certainly more careful than she was before.

"I need to come back at around 7 for another treatment. In the meantime, should we go get something to eat? Maybe you could show us the sights, Sam?"

Razoric
Ruby takes a deep breath and lets it out, breaking out into a smile. She looks far more relaxed with Sif in her sight, especially since, clearly, they're where she needed to be all this time.

"We could do food. We've mostly been running off of coffee. Anywhere you recommend?" Parrish wonders.

Jachra
"I'd love to! Haven's a great place. Tell you what - my treat, since you're all guests. Sif, what kind of food have you always liked to try but couldn't?"

Solana
"Ugh. . ." She frowns, considering. "Curry?"

Solana
"Too many spices before."

Jachra
"Indian it is." She adjusts her purse and heads out. She invites them to take her car, since parking in downtown can get a little dense at the lunch hour, and they head off.

Driving along the highway for a short distance, she chats a little bit about the YPA. The names go by quickly, but apparently the kids have a strong comradery that makes it all worthwhile. That she herself is only a member because of a plea bargain to stay out of massive fines and prison time is something she glosses over, but Parrish already knows, having checked up on her before they came.

They exit and step out on the pavement, not far from an Indian place next to a bank. It doesn't look particularly fancy, but Sam swears by it.

Solana
"It's gonna be a little weird at first." She admits. Then, she frowns, looking to her father.

Solana
"Not that I'm going to let myself just be some puppet. I haven't forgotten what you taught me."

Razoric
They gladly accept the ride out - getting someone else to drive after that long is a good way to rest his focus a little. He did read up on the Seshat VS Whip incident, though he decides not to bring it up for this. That's the only niggle in what has been a world of good fortune.

Speaking of Seshat VS Whip - they've finished patching the pavement where her walker made a crater, though the corner store is still missing its top left corner. But they're open, so there's that.

"I know you won't, Sif." He smiles out at him while stepping out of the car. "You're too headstrong for that to begin with. You'll know to learn who is worth following."

Jachra
"Yeah - believe me I've had my share of conflicts with the establishment. For a while they were trying to prohibit me from equipping the team members, but I just decided that it's better to seek forgiveness than ask permission."

She pauses, looking at the corner store, and other signs of her plasma cannon wrecking parts of the area, and presses on, going to open the door for them. "Man, I have such better aim now..."

Solana
She nods, keeping close as Sam leads the way.

"I should hope so." Sif murmurs, continually surprised by just how many scars are left behind by one bad day. It's something to learn from at least.

Solana
Accompanied by her mother and father, she takes the invitation and steps inside.

Razoric
"Better aim?" Ruby wonders, following her inside.

It's a pretty cozy place. The walls are simili-brick with wooden beams, and they favour wicker-style chairs with cushions. It's around lunch time, so there is a short line to contend with, but it's not such a popular place that they wait more than a few minutes before being shown to a table for four and have menus laid out.

Ishte brings a chair in closer from an unused table to join them anyway.

Solana
Sif smiles and winks at her, passing her menu over once's decided on some green curri and some bread, along with a pomegranate lemonade.

Razoric
She looks down at it curiously, beginning to poke through it. It's unlikely she'll order anything, but food is an interesting topic for people. Especially with nearly lurid-like descriptions for the meals.

Jachra
Sam gives Ishte a light grin. She picks herself a fairly spicy lamb gosht. "If you want mild, I suggest the butter chicken," she asides to the folks, ordering a pomegranate lemonade for herself.

Razoric
"Haven't had spicy food in a while," Ruby admits. Given their daughter couldn't hold such a thing down - they weren't particularly gastronomic. "I think I'll take that recommendation."

"I'll go with a Seekh kebab myself. We'll call it a celebration." He grins. "We dared ourselves to see how hot we could go when we had a day's leave in Iraq."

Solana
"Oh yeah? Did you win?" Sif asks, sipping her water while they wait

Razoric
"I usually got bronze. Corporal Heidiss had an iron stomach."

The waitress comes by and collects their menus. Ishte hands Sif's over and the waitress looks a bit confused, as if wondering where she collected this one from. But she shrugs and is soon gone with their orders.

It's a few moments after that that someone stops by their table. It's a girly boy - or a boyish girl, depending - of rather stunning looks. Dark hair - tied in a long pony tail - that looks so soft it almost moves like water, skin of mixed descent, and he's clad in a button up shirt with skinny dark slacks.

There's just something almost elf-like about him, everything in its proper place, skin smooth enough to be sculpted and sanded down.

He reaches up to tip some slim glasses down his nose. "Good afternoon, Samantha. Misses and sir."

Jachra
She laughs. "Admittedly, this is a long shot, but did you ever serve with a Gary Wright?" she asks.

Jachra
She pauses, and for a moment she's visibly flushed and speechless, even though she's seen him many times before. "Oh, hi Kenan~" she says, her voice rising in pitch. "Fancy seeing you here today."

Solana
She's not the only one speechless. And while Sam eventually manages coherent speech, Sif does her level best to make herself look smaller.

Razoric
He has the voice of a singer, too. Parrish and Ruby look at the two girls, then back at the strange boy, then at each other. High school all over.

"Well, hello," Ruby greets. "Friend of Samantha's?"

He glances to the group, and Sam recognizes that look in his eyes; he's checking something, maybe body language. Finally, he seems to catch what he was looking for. "We met as colleagues, but we've gotten to know one another beyond work. Kenan Inas, pleasure to meet you." He cuts an old-fashioned bow, arm folded over his waist.

Solana
"I'm Sif." Sif tries to manage, but it comes out an embarrassed squeak.

Jachra
"Yeah, Kenan was the sole occupant of the workshop before i showed up."

Jachra
"This is Sif!"

Jachra
She laughs, accidentally speaking at the same time.

Jachra
"She's a friend."

Jachra
"And a colleague."

Solana
"I'm new." She says, sipping water to wet her throat. "It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance."

Razoric
"Colleague," he repeats, and turns to Sif. He gives a smile, and maybe it's her imagination but it's like the sun decided to pass behind some leaves right this moment to cast a few god rays near him. "I'll look forwards to seeing you as a regular around the facility, Sif."

Jachra
"Are you here with someone? You can pull up a chair if you'd like if not."

Solana
"Absolutely." She says, in a kind of distant, emotionless way, just above a whisper.

Solana
"Yes, you should stay."

Razoric
"I'm not, no. Garra and Tezca bullied me out of the workshop so I decided to get some lunch."

Razoric
"If you don't mind my joining you, then I'd quite like to."

"We don't mind at all, please, sit, sit."

Jachra
"Bullied? Like, teasing or actual bullying?"

A few blocks away, the eyes of several scarabs go red.

Solana
Sif sips from her water, finishing it off, before glancing around for their food every other minute or so, massaging her hands.

Razoric
"Teasing." He waggles a hand at her. "Stand down, soldier."

Solana
"Sam has a workshop." She offers. "You could always use hers."

Too late to stop herself, her cheeks turn red.

Jachra
She reddens as well.

Jachra
"Welp."

Razoric
"Far be it of me to invade someone else's sacred workspace uninvited." He sets his chin in his hands, smiling. "Not that I'm surrpised she does. I'm more surprised she only has 'a' workshop."

"So, you're an inventor too?" Ruby wonders, curious about this strange, pretty little creature.

"Yes, but unlike Samantha, my skill is self-learned. I learn very quickly, but I can't quite pull off her wizardry. It was a hobby turned profession."

Jachra
"He's got very impressive analytical sight so I give up on hiding most things from him."

Solana
"I just know medicine." Sif says. "I am also self-taught."

Razoric
"I wouldn't say knowing medicine is 'just knowing' something. Don't sell it short."

Jachra
"I've learned a lot about medicine just listening to Sif," she comments.

Solana
She frowns, tilting her head at Sam.

"What are you doing?" She asks, genuinely confused.

Jachra
"What do you mean?"

Solana
She takes her bread when it's presented before her, her lemonade as well.

"Thank you." She says, waiting for the woman to leave.

"I mean that you clearly have a crush on this boy, but you are also behaving like a wingmare."

Solana
Her tone of voice isn't mocking, or agitated, it's completely plain and to the point.

Solana
"That seems like the wrong approach."

Jachra
Sam seems caught off-guard by the comment. "I'm not really doing that," she demures. "I'm just complimenting you because you're my friend."

Her parents slow to watch this. Ruby in particular looks to her daughter, her eyes considering.

Solana
"I guess that's so." She says. staring down at her plate and focusing on that.

Jachra
"Also, wingmare?" Sam asks.

Solana
She shrugs.

Solana
"Wingwoman sounds awkward, and has too many syllables. Winggirl is mollifying."

Solana
"Wingmare has a more pleasant flow to it.

Solana
"And because you do not identify as male, you cannot be a wingman."

Jachra
"That's kind of adorable."

"Sif, are you feeling all right?" Ruby asks.

Solana
"Of course," she says. "I'm feeling just fine. Our food is taking a bit longer than is appropriate, though."

Razoric
Kenan actually looks a little embarrassed (a little bit) scratching at his cheek with a finger.

"Your waitress got held up by a water spill. She should be along in a minute or so," he mentions at the change of topic.

Solana
"Oh, how inconvenient for her." She says, softening a bit. "I apologize if I'm acting at all unusual. My event was broken before it could seed, and I have to wear a suit now to bring it back together."

Solana
She tears some naan easily and pops it into her mouth, after covering it with hummus.

"If I don't wear it, I get terribly sick."

Jachra
"Hopefully, not forever, but it's a wait-and-see operation."

Razoric
"That's quite the advancement in shard tech, if so," Kenan notes, a bit surprised.

"Sorry for the wait," comes from the side as their waitress arrives, platter full of food, beginning to hand them out. Green curry, buttered chicken, seekh kabob, and lamb gosht handed out and laid out. "Enjoy!"

Solana
"Thank you.~" Sif says, smiling. She digs into her food immediately, and ravenously.

Jachra
"It's very particular to her, unfortunately."

Razoric
Between her body allowing itself to fill out, her having barely eaten anything through her life, and the upcoming treatment, she sure could use the calories!

Solana
"Her own purview isn't involved. It's more an advancement in the understanding of events themselves." She explains. "How they respond when affected by esoteric phenomena."

Solana
"In my case, astrology as a concept seems to have some weight with me. She managed to weave various metals representing the different planets into this suit, and the event achieves equilibrium on its own, as a result of the natural push and pull those metals exert upon it."

She takes a huge bite of curry covered naan.

"Through the metaphor of astrology."

Jachra
"That's interesting," Parrish notes. "I wouldn't have expected that to work, but I suppose the evidence is right there before us."

Solana
"There's a lot we don't know about so-called shards." She agrees. "I'm happy that my pain was able to further your understanding."

Razoric
"It's not without precedent," Kenan notes. "But this is a very different take on it."

Jachra
"Yeah, I have noticed that cultural factors are involved, sometimes in surprising ways."

Solana
"If you want to come by some time, you could look over the results we've collected?"

Razoric
Kenan looks to Samantha questioningly.

Jachra
"Oh! Yes, definitely. Sure."

Solana
Sif beams.

Solana
"That's good. I like Kenan."

Razoric
"Then sure. I'll come by, see this mythical one workshop of yours, and research results." He grins.

Jachra
She rolls her eyes fondly and grins. "Deal, then. You'll come to my actual house and I'll show you around."

Solana
Sif finishes off her dinner and sets the bowl aside, neatly stacking the empty plate of bread on top of it.

"I'm finished." She says helpfully.

Jachra
"You walked here, right, Kenan?"

Razoric
"Close. I took city transit." He sets his own bowl of mild rice aside. He doesn't eat much!

Jachra
"Come by later, then. You can ride your new bike~" She texts him the address.

Jachra
She leaves out her card for the check, the government's dime at last finding a use.

Solana
While Parrish and Ruby get to talking in the background, Sif's weary father accidentally strikes his glass of water with his elbow, tipping it over the side of the table.

A flash of motion, and then it's back where it was, if they'd been paying attention, they might have saw Sif reflexively reach for and catch the glass, lifting it at an angle to gather any of the liquid that had already splashed over the lip.

She yawns, sipping at her lemonade.

Solana
"He could always come with us, we still need to find things to do until 7."

Razoric
Kenan doesn't miss it. Kenan doesn't miss a thing. But her father only saw her catch the glass. "Whew... nice catch, Sif." He moves it further in-table.

Kenan ends up opting out of coming along - technically he is going to be on the clock in a couple of hours, but he promises to swing by Sam's place later.

Sam takes Parrish, Ruby and Sif to a few locations. Eden's Landing, as the tech center of Haven, is always worth visiting - they even repaired the bridge and there's a shiny new warehouse where the old one was, this time with 100% less homicidal super snipers. The outer hills of Haven are nice this time of day just for a drive through.

Finally, however, Sam parks them back in front of Pharmacon's clinic. It's getting darker out, the sun dipping below the horizon now, though the clinic is still nice and lit up, Cassidy manning the front desk at this point.

Jachra
"Welp! I'm heading home. I hope you all had a really good day, though. Also, Mrs. Adalfieri, you really need to teach me some makeup tips."

Sif's mother laughs. "I'm sure we'll find some time to manage that~ Have a good evening, Samantha."

Her parents watch her go, before joining their daughter.

Solana
Sif climbs out, satisfied after a long day, and makes her way back inside.

Jachra
"She seems nice." They have to stop in the lobby area, but they take her in hand.

Jachra
"We're both really proud of you, Sif," Parrish says.

Solana
She hugs them both gently, nestling in.

"I'm glad you came down here to visit me. I promise to find time to visit you both whenever I can."

Solana
". . . once everything's finished and I don't need regular treatments and all that."

Jachra
Ruby kisses her daughter's hair and hugs her close.

Razoric
Pharmacon himself emerges from a door in the back around this time, pausing when he sees Sif with two adults.

Jachra
"We love you. Don't know that I can say it enough," Parrish says, hugging the both of them. "Okay... we'll see you soon, promise."

Solana
"Yeah well - there's still someone you're supposed to meet." She says.

Solana
"But then things kind of got swept up in the moment."

Razoric
"Your daughter is in good hands," Dr. Bardem assures as he steps forwards. He holds his hand out. "Doctor Miguel Bardem, or Pharmacon."

Parrish turns to him, not having noticed him. "Oh! Hello." He takes the hand in question, giving it a shake. "We've heard a lot of about you."

Razoric
"I'm sorry for going over your head about the treatment, but between covering the material fees and the sanction, it ended up being the best solution."

Ruby purses her lips. "Well, it's hard to beat the price. And Sif assured us it's something she wanted to do." She smiles to her daughter. "So, we're following her lead on this."

Solana
"I think the YPA will be good for me, as well." She says. Then, she turns her gaze to her father. "And I'll be good for them. After all - someone needs to let them know they're more than just capes, learning to reinforce the status quo."

Razoric
That makes him smile, and he draws her into a hug. "You go get 'em, goddess."

Solana
"Demigod," She laughs, nudging him back.

"You two should get a hotel before you leave. I don't want you driving when you're this burnt out."

Razoric
"We already have one booked," Ruby promises. "And right on time, too, we're demolished."

Solana
She squeezes her arm gently.

"Then I'm going to work on getting better. I love you both, have a good night."

Razoric
"And you. Good luck, Sif. And see you soon - we want to hear of your progress. Oh! Also, here." Her mother holds out her phone. "We left in a hurry so we didn't pack your clothes, but, if you'd like we can bring them in next visit."

Solana
"I've got new ones, actually." She says. "You can leave them, they probably won't fit once I've gained a few pounds."

Solana
She accepts the phone, tossing it lightly in her palm before slipping it back into her pocket.

Razoric
One last embrace from Ruby, and finally she's left with Dr. Bardem, who guides her out to the R&D Lab 1. "So, the procedure is going to be quite simple. It's a bath, though it's also important to make sure your head gets its dose. There's a ladle, or you can simply submerge your head every now and again."

He removes the seal from the tub, setting it aside. "It will require you removing the suit, since it might get damaged or corroded."

"Expect results to really begin to be felt after the first half hour."

Solana
"Is it bad if I just dunk myself?" She asks.

Solana
"I seem to be doing pretty well lately in general. Powers kicking in." She scratches her fingers.

Solana
Once the seal is removed, she blushes, slipping out of her clothes and laying them out on the exam tabled, then the suit, a bit more slowly, as if taking apart a computer, or other sensitive electronic. Worried something might 'snap' and be irreplaceable.

Razoric
"No, dunking yourself is fine," he assures.

As the coins move away from her skin and she peels out of the assembly, she does feel ...weaker and lighter, the lightning alacrity she had earlier not quite coming to her fingertips.

But, on the flipside, her limbs don't suddenly shrivel up to skin and bones, and she isn't afflicted by a painful attack, and the food stays down. The pieces of her shard are, apparently, not suddenly reversing course without the suit holding them in place.

Solana
She should be fine, at least for a couple of hours.

Bashfully, she makes her way over to the tub, looks to the doctor one last time, then climbs inside.

Solana
"You know cauldrons are an important feature in ancient world mythology." She says.

Razoric
"Really now?" He is politely keeping his gaze on the readouts of the pump and filters to give her privacy. "I didn't exactly design this to be a cauldron, but I'm still interested in the symbolism."

The - ...fluid, is a little thicker than water, though not by much. It's warm, like bathwater, and the pump keeps the fluid moving along her body into the pipes beneath it. It really seems to soak into her skin, much more than water would.

Solana
"It's associated with women and magic, because cooking was magic, as well as other things. It's also indicative of a womb." She takes a deep breath, dunking herself underwater and holding it for as long as she can.

Razoric
With her lungs as they are right now from her suit drawing on her shard, it ends up being quite a while. When she emerges a good couple minutes later, she's soaked through and through. "That makes sense. This will be like a rebirth, too."

She does begin to feel a few tingles in a few locations along her body.

Solana
She massages her fingers, that nervous tick she always has, and wonders why they feel just a little bit numb. Probably just an effect of the 'bath', though. While biding her time, an idea occurs to her, and she settles onto her back, floating atop the surface, eyes closed, ears ringing with the soft roiling of liquid. It's not hard, the fluid is thicker than water. Then, she tries to 'let go', copying what Samantha did with her deprivation chamber.

Razoric
She mostly hears Dr. Bardem mention that there's a remote for the TV if she feels like it in the tray next to the tub, and registers it, though she doesn't quite get to the point of hearing him leave to give her privacy.

There is the muffled humm of the rushing liquid as her ears are submerged. Her floating there, in self-suspension...

It ends up not being easy. Besides that it's not something she's ever tried, that there's outside interference - traffic outside, light, and the sides of the tub can be felt - doesn't help. But her willpower and self-control manages to push past some of those issues.

And slowly, the darkness behind her eyelids grows darker, and slowly, she comes to realize she is standing on a platform in this void. To her left, Ishte. Far away across from her, the large figure of Cedilla and the red one. Far away to the right, the strange fragmented green figure.

Unlike Samantha, however, she doesn't get stairs to the middle disc (it's missing entirely, even) or access to the others. Then, down, far below, the roiling clouds.

It's not a perfect connection, not as crisp or clear as Samantha's recreation made it seem, but it might just be a lack of experience with it.

Solana
Maybe she doesn't need stairs?

Sif concentrates, feeling a tingling sensation at her crown, as if pushing something up through her spine and out her skull. She concentrates on moving forward, like in a dream, and steps off the platform, leaving Ishte and Samantha behind, moving toward the pillar with the green figure - as fragmented as she is.

Razoric
It ends up being difficult. Past the platform, the air grows thick and soupy, like it's not quite meant to be traversed.

Still, somehow, with force of will and concentration, she begins to form her own stairs. It's not quite the floating she hoped for, but nonetheless, she manages to forge, one step at a time, to a disc in the middle.

Red remains barred to her even now - she'd be at this all night, and the figure of Cedilla feels like it's a barrier of its own - but she's apparently unlocked Sam's stairs to the green figure.

Solana
She makes her way closer to the figure in green, and tries to speak.

"Hello?"

Razoric
She alights down the stairs to the figure. It's like she's trying to exist - green, square motes of light form to create a figure clad in a green bodysuit with dark skin and green hair. However, when some part of her solidifies, another breaks away, and when that part re-solidifies, the previously solid part breaks.

Parts of her looks stable-ish, but it's a mess. When she opens her mouth to speak, it's garbled and distant, like the source of the voice is far, far away trying to shout to be heard. But she can make out the occasional recognizable sound... 'Urgent', and 'archived' come up.

Solana
It is said that Odin hung himself from the branch of a massive oak - or the world tree - for nine days, with a spear lodged into his side. When he returned from the brink of death, he brought knowledge of the runes with him from the void, symbols that described and shaped the world.

Sif concentrates, and a small leather sack lifts up into view, held fast by the tingling sensation on her crown. She takes the bag with a hand and shakes it, trying to focus on the being's shifting eyes.

"Who are you?" She asks, drawing her hand out, stones in her palm. She tosses the stones, catching them with her opposite hand, staring at the rune-carved bones thoughtfully.

Razoric
Interpreted phonetically... the created combination would be pronounced ; Cesh.

Solana
She nods, looking back up.

"Cesh." She says. "I can hear you." She takes a deep breath. "I am establishing a link. My given name is Sif Adalfieri. If it helps you form a connection to this world, I offer it as an anchor."

She tosses the stones again, frowning. "Is there any way I can strengthen your connection?"

Razoric
She seems to have gotten her attention, at least, when her eyes appear they are looking at her, or down at the bones.

That one ... well, it's a symbol she recognizes. Unfortunately, it's one that represents the unknown.

Solana
She sets her jaw.

Solana
"What's urgent?" She asks. "Archived?"

Solana
She tosses the runes again, catching them with her hand.

Razoric
They fall in her hand.

Event.

Thunderstorm.

Solana
That's odd. Wasn't she born in a thunderstorm? It was the outward reflection of her own event. But, before she can ask another question, her jaw locks, and her muscles spasm with pain. The mental image of her is jumbled, much like Cesh is jumbled. One moment she has an awakened horses head with a horn, the next, human. Half her nose is changed and the other half isn't it. The hand holding the bag of runes loses its grip, replaced by a hoof that flickers back and forth between a human hand, and said gleaming white hoof.

Her suit. She could barely see Ishte before it, and now she's been without it for at least an hour. Her shard must be slipping back out of equilibrium.

Solana
She emerges from her trance, trembling, and sits up in the tub, arms wrapped around herself.

Razoric
When she sits up, the room is subtly dimmed - more than enough to see by, but dim enough to sleep if she felt like it. There's just the humm of the machine and filter, and her heartbeat pounding in her ears.

She finds that the liquid has been doing its work in spades already. The skin on her limbs is a bright, fresh pink, anew. Her bones, hips, chest, and her biological masculinity are feeling tight and compressed. Her hair and nails are longer than they were going in.

Sadly, her muscles are complaining as they have been wont to do for 14 years.

Solana
She shivers, teeth chattering, searching around for a clock, a timer, something to show her how much time is remaining.

Razoric
She's been down for longer than she anticipated. There's a timer on the main console and it indicates that she's got a scant 20 or so minutes left before imbibing is to end.

Though there is a nurse-call button too, if she prefers to abandon early.

Solana
Hell no. She's handled episodes like this for years. She can manage it again.

She settles back into the pool, taking a seat. If anything, the itchy soreness of her chest and hips helps distract from the tightness in her muscles.

And what was the deal with that vision? The way she kept flickering, changing. Did Cesh infect her somehow? But the equine artifacting wasn't something observed with her. Not Cesh.

She flexes her fingers, remembering the moment where, briefly, she'd had a hoof instead of separate fingers.

Maybe that's why she's always in pain? Maybe that's why her hands and feet always used to cramp up without warning. Was her 'event' supposed to have changed her? Is that the urgent message, because things went wrong?

Thunderstorm, represented by the rune Haegl.

Solana
She wraps her arms around herself, and winces when her elbow bumps the puffy red tissue surrounding her nipple.

This is going to be a long week.

Razoric
And handle it she does, as she's done for a decade and a half. What's 20 minutes more?

It's shortly before the timer itself dings that the nurse Cassidy comes inside, carrying a big bundle of towels in her arms. "Oh, hello." She sets them down on the tray next to the tub. Though at the look of concentration on Sif's face, she frowns slightly. "Was there a complication? How are you feeling..?"

Solana
"I'm fine." She says. "I've only been wearing my suit for awhile, so after about an hour and a half, the shard fragments fell out of sync again."

She alarm beeps, and she methodically pulls herself out, her testicles barely noticeable - and apparently receding back into her? She'd never spent a significant amount of time going through male puberty, so her penis isn't much more than a nub, either. Still there, still enough to make her feel loathsome. As for the other changes? She makes her way over to a full length mirror to look.

Solana
"Have you and Dr. Bardem ever used this method until now?" She asks.

Razoric
She holds one of the towels out. "Blot, don't rub," she recommends. "And we have, though not for sex re-assignment. So this is pushing the tech into an experimental phase, but it has been tested for genetic changes."

Hair, longer (if wet.) Skin, fresh and pink. Nails, longer and supple. ...her hips are flaring out a little bit more from her waist, though things are looking pretty bony right now. Chest looks tender, but it does feel like it sticks out more.

More shocking, though, is her face. It's subtle, and she recognizes herself, but... she looks softer. Cheekbones higher, chin narrower.

"The solution is largely a kickstart, and keeps up a momentum. You'll find the changes keep going on their own, and slow down after 24 hours. Hence the need for additional soaks."

Solana
"Yeah." She says, brushing her long black hair over her shoulder. It was just above her shoulder blades, but it's now a good few inches longer than that, and the weight suits her. At least, she thinks it does.

She follows Cassidy's advice, allowing the towel to soak up the excess liquid without scrubbing off skin - or precious magical regeneration soup, now soaked into said skin, right down to the tissue.

"Can you help me get back into my suit?" She murmurs. "I don't want to be too abrasive with it."

Razoric
"Of course." She collects the folded up three piece, unfolding it and bringing it out to Sif. With some careful maneuvering and gentle tugging, she soon finds the coins once again touching her and the neoprene wrapping snuggly about her to keep it all in place.

This time - with her feeling hyper-sensitive from the bath - she actually feels the 'lifting' effect, the way her muscles start to unlock as the pressure from her shards deviating from their intended path is removed. Cassidy zips up the last piece up, then smoothes out the flap.

Solana
A bit of Velcro holds it firmly in place. Crude, but effective. Only the body piece has a zipper, in the back. The 'arm warmers' and 'socks' she just slips on, with the nurse's help.

Solana
She scoops the rest of her clothes up in her arms, not bothering to put them on. After all - she's going to be going to bed soon, anyway.

Solana
"Thanks. . ." She says. "And thank Dr. Bardem for me, too? . . . again."

Razoric
"I will." She smiles. "Miguel should be there tomorrow morning. For now, why don't I show you to your room?"

Solana
Honestly, the sensation of somehow being 'lifted' is far less noticeable than the comforting 'hum' inside of her, as though some discordant element of her very being were slipping back into balance, putting the painful dissonance to rest.

Solana
"Please." She smiles, following after her. "I'm exhausted."

Razoric
She gestures down the hall, then leads her on over to one of the stairwells. Up, and down the hall to the recovery ward. She uses a keycard to swipe next to the door and it opens. It looks pretty cozy, though it's still a little hospital-ish.

"If you keep going after lab 1, you'll get to the breakroom. It's where I'll cook some breakfast. Miguel should have some supplements for you to take."

She motions to the buttons next to the bed. "If you need anything, don't hesitate to call."

Solana
"Supplements?" She asks. "Should I take any now?"

Razoric
"They are specifically meant to be mixed into food. If you're hungry, though, I can get you your first dose with a sandwich!"

Solana
Her stomach growls, and she pulls the reasonably clean hospital blanket over herself, blushing.

". . . I am a little bit." She admits.

Solana
Honestly, her body deserves some credit just for being such a good sport through all of this. Regeneration baths, and armis henostica.

Razoric
"One sandwich coming up," She chimes before stepping out. It doesn't take her long (did she have one ready?) to return. A big, seasoned cold cut sandwich with plenty of stuffings, a big glass of water, and a little bowl of chips.

"These are your supplements." She lays a couple little packets - a bit like what you use to hold wetnaps. "The blue one with the drop is for liquids. It's tasteless, so you can put it in juice, but it'll thicken it up a little. The red one with the sandwich is for solids. sprinkle it on anything. Again, tasteless, though you might feel it. I hear it's best ignored when it's sprinkled into a condiment. Ketchup, mayo, etcetera.

"One of each per meal."

Solana
"Thanks." She says, pulling the bread off the top of the sandwich and sprinkling it into the mustard before laying it back flat. She drops the blue supplement into her glass of water.

"What time should I be up for breakfast?" She asks.

Razoric
"I'd say anywhere slightly before or after 8 is good."

Solana
"8AM works for me." She says, digging into the sandwich with a vengeance. "Thank you for the food! Good night!"

Razoric
"Good night, Sif. Have a good rest." She clicks off the lights - leaving the bed-lamp for now until Sif turns it off herself - before leaving the room.

Solana
She tugs her phone out of the pocket of her shorts, unlocking it and pulling up the messenger client. At least her folks charged it on the car ride.

[Hey Mom and Dad, just wanted to say good night! First treatment went great! I'll take pictures tomorrow at lunch. First batch is still doing its thing!]

Solana
She finishes the food quickly enough, setting the glass and plate on a stand near the bed, stretching.

She almost doesn't need the blanket. Her skin is all warm from the solution - and tingly. It's like that time her mom bought the really expensive thermal skintreatment, with the little colorful beads in it. She'd rubbed it into her face on a whim, and it's like her face had just been soaking in the sun.

It's a bit comforting in this context, really. Helps her remember nothing is going away yet.

Razoric
Lights out. The only sound she hears is the occasional car in the distance outside. Otherwise, things are still. As she drifts off to sleep, her body uses as much fuel as it can to force mitosis of new cells and force old age and recycling of the old stuff. From bone to flesh to skin to follicles and fat.

8 some hours of sleep will make a very distinct difference.
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