Mia: I knew you would like it. Well its getting late. *gets under his sheets and embraces him* night pico.
Pico: *smiles then yawns* night Mia.
*the 2 pass out in each others arms as jasmine gets the light*
*in the office*
SB:So, torvek is playing the ref., interesting.*shakes his head amused* oh this will be fun. Ah, but I'm getting ahead of myself. I need to make a routine for “The Big Meet” next month. Best start jotting down ideas.*starts scribbling notes into the night*
*The following morning*
SB: well that should work. best have Rob look it over.

- Flashback -

- Elsewhere, yesterday, just after nightfall… -

Val: *sigh* Dimension S really was wonderful, but it feels somewhat good to return here, don't you think?
Snow: … I could've stayed there for longer. Much. Longer. *he scratches the back of his head* Eh, I know what you're heading at. Yeah, it's still nice to see our quarters again. But don't forget the blueprints resting in the archives. They still await their use.
Val: *puts up a contemplative expression* Yeah, yeah, they do indeed… Still, one thing after another. I think you properly deserve a reward. *she smiles as she locks the door*
Snow: For what?
Val: For holding out. For putting up with your penalty. See, you somewhat impressed me by forfeiting on the tourney. You could've ended that penalty with a bit of patience and willpower. Perhaps we would've met in the very first round. But you forsook that chance without caring of the consequences. You proved to me that there's more to our relationship for you than it.
Snow: *cheeky smile* I did?
Val: *moves in close for a warm hug* Don't ruin this for yourself now.

- This morning in the bathroom… -

Val: *standing in front of the sink, she stares at something in her hand* … (Negative? Again?) *she throws the object into the bin, along with three others of the same sort, and sighs depressed, then looks at her frowning self in the mirror* Why again? *she talks as if adressing the reflection* Even before the break, it's been weeks, months even! … What am I doing wrong?

Ann:*walks into Doc's labs* morning Doc! …doc?
Doc: *in the middle of “mad thought”*…then I'll give him a “drink” and durring the process I'll-
Ann: Doc!
Doc: *turns and his facial expression changes*oh hello,*runs his hands through his hair getting it out of his face*and good morning.
Ann:*worried*…you were doing it again.
Doc:…was I?*blinks a few times* …I'm sorry dear.*hugs her* its just this is a once and a lifetime oppurtunity.
Ann: I don't care. yeha he may have done some… a lot of bad things, however he still deseves a second chance like the rest. promise me you won't do anything to him*gives him a sad cute look*
Doc:(dang it.)*sigh* alright, you win I won't do anything to Torvek for the time he's here.
Ann: you promise?
Doc: promise.*smiles* so what's on todays agenda?
Ann: well first I'm going to see pico and ask him and Mia if they want to go swimming in the springs downstairs in the basement.
Doc: alright but be careful.*watches her leave*…well I best take my mind off my plans…I believe heard that Snow and Val are back. perhaps I should stop by and say hello.*gets up and heads out*

Val: *sigh* Can't help it now. Gotta go get to work either way. *she heads out of the office and down the hall, the grief well hidden behind a neutral mask*

pico:*is smileing*(i will ask her 1 day..)*looks at a wedding ring then puts it in his pocket*(but not yet)*hears a knock at the door*i,ll get it!*as pico ran to the door the ring fell out of his pocket makeing roll under his bedwithout noticeing makeing it go under the bed*

Doc: *heading down the hall and passes Val by and stops*…odd, usualy when a masked user passes me by I either get a good morning, or see them turn tail and run due to the rumors about me(not that most of them aren't true)…*looks over the user*(Val? yes, it is her! hmm judging by her posture she seems to be miserable about something. what, is the unknown factor. she's on duty so I won't interfere with that too much)…*reaches into his lab coat and pulls out a sticky note an pen. Writes something down and runs down the hall, placing it on her back left shoulder*
Val:hey what the-*grabs the note and reads it*“got a moment? -Doc”*looks up and sees doc now standing in front of her*
Doc:*he hugs val* Welcome back. how have you been?
Val: …oh you know, the usual.
Doc: why didn't you say hi eariler?
Val: …I was thinking about the tournament and really I didn't see you.
Doc:(well that's not true at ll. I've seen people with tourny determination. they're a lot more hyped)*smiles* Well if you ever have a moment, after your shift, come over to the lab and see me. We haven't visited in awhile.
Val:…alright we'll see. later doc.*goes back to her duty*
Doc: and now to see what Snow is all up to? *continues his stride down the hall.*
*over at pico's room at his door*
Ann: hiya pico!*hugs him* how've you been?

pico:im good just been thinking about yesturday…so your here to take me&mia to the hot spring right? ann:thats right pico:i,ll tell her to get ready*5 minutes later* WHERE IS IT?!! ITS NOT IN MY POCKET ANYMORE!!*searches the room but finds nothing*…crap

Torvek:*after a busy night of brainstorming and scribing inhis qurters.* alright; power source isclearly a non-problem, as is area of effect and dispersion. *sigh* thats enough to get the groundwork started. *shadowed forms creep from under hisoversized coat and stand at attention. Likebefore, they can only be seen if you dont look directly at them. Without a word, Torvek hands the darklingshis drawings and diagrams before shooing them off to do their job of scribingit. Torvek runs his hands through hishair and steps out into the hall* Come onMorphblade, lets get this over- *seesVal heading down the hall and Docs action.* Of course theyre back at Zot. *Hemutters to himself* on second thought,Morphblade, we will be surveying the tower for proper magical restraint in regardsto residue and ambient manna. Come along. *Heads in opposite direction*

MB:*walks alongside him*Alright then, best place to start would be the 12th floor seeing how its where the magic flows the most.*the 2 walk down the hall* So, tell me how does it feel to be inside our little home?
*in pico's room*
Jasmine:*watches him search* looking for something?

pico:*walks up to jasmine and whispers* hey jazz can you help me find somthing? i kinda lost a important ring

Jasmine:*blinks* you mean this one?*holds it out for him to see* I was cleaning and found it under the bed. If I may ask who is it for?

pico:*quickly swipes it off her and puts it in a little box but then he puts it in a draw which he locked* *winks* cant be to carefull so are you comeing with us?

- At the X-level labs… -

Snow: *makes an odd list of all his experiments*

Jasmine: I would however I do not believe this body was made for any water activities.
*in another room*
Mia: pico! are you ready yet?
*at snow's door*
Doc:*knocks* Snow, are you in buddy? its doc! permission to enter?

Snow: You know your security clearance level as well as I do, you need no permission, so come in already.

pico:uh yeah just a sec! cya later jazz..and thanks

Doc:*enters*Snow! hey bud*hugs him* how have you been? I missed you.
Snow: um, doc?
Doc: oh right*lets go* so what do you have all brewing here today?
*elsewhere nowdown in the basement*
Ann: alright you 2 be very careful its a bit tricky getting over to the springs. but its totaly worth it.

Snow: Nothing actually. Just an inventory of the experiments lingering here, which ones to cancel, which ones to take with me, which ones to entrust others with. After all, my access to this laboratory won't last long anymore.

*later* ann:and here we are..wheres pico?*mia looks around but pico was gone…until* pico:CANNONBALL!!*SPLASH*

Doc:W-wait a sec, your losing you lab?! How? why?
*at the springs*
Ann: * jumps in after pico.*
Mia:…
Ann: something wrong?
Mia: I, …never learned how to swim.

Snow: *pauses while writing and looks up to doc, the pen still airborne a fingerwidth above the paper* So shadowblade didn't tell you? Well, Val and I, we're soon going to step down from our positions to be nothing more but simple watchmen henceforth.

*pico gets out for a sec and grabs mias hand*then let me teach you*smiles*

Doc:*jaw drops and nearly falls over barely catching himself on the table*…While I respect your decision, I am curious to know more what the reason is behind it.
*at the springs*
Mia: alright. *steps in with him* What will we work on first?

Snow: Let's see. *puts the note pad down and starts counting on his fingers* More free time, less headache, not being dragged into Zot's politic, not having to think for shadowblade as well, not having to deal with all the insanity this tower has to provide… overall so we can live in peace. We're soon going to build our planned house and move out as well.

pico:lets just start off with this. mia:h-hey*grabs mias belly and legs* pico:im gonna move you and all you have to do is paddlealright*mia nods her head*ok here we go

Doc: oh I see…*reclines back* never thought this day would come. Moving out I could deal with, but even that I'm not ready for at this moment.
Snow: we'll still be around.
Doc: I know, but the fact that its happening. *sigh* …why not give the experiments you don't need to me? I'll continue your work.
*downstairs*
Mia: *proceeds do do as pico asked*
Pico: good, but keep your legs straight.
*a few atempts later*
Mia:alright what's next?

pico:ok now start kicking your legs*she does exactly that* *secretly lets go while she swims* hey mia looking good!

Mia: *notices that she's swimming* you let go of me? I did all this?
Pico:yep.
Mia: *smiles as she swims back naturaly adding arm movements and breathing on instinct*
Pico: your a natural.
Mia:*blushes*you think so?
Pico: yep.
*their eyes meet and as they go for a tender kiss water hits the bothof them*
Ann: come on you 2 are we going to have fun or what?*splashes them again*

pico:*vain pops out of his head*does she always have to ruin our moment?*splashes back*

Mia: aww can you blame her? she is a kid trying to make most out of life. besides,*splashes pico from behind and giggles* I was thinking it too.