S a l e t é I V

XLIII - Décoloration - Huit

"Klavdiya, you okay? How's your leg?"

"It's... It could be better, but I'm okay. I can manage."

"You sure? Let me know if you need anything, yeah?"

"Mmh, thanks."

Klavdiya gave Shipshape a genuine, if small smile in gratitude as he took his turn with her, the lad moving around the group that was forming as he made an effort to determine if everyone was alright. 

They'd not been at the factory for very long that day. Even so, preparations had already been made for their arrival, two hours now between them and the supposed charity event that was going to be taking place over at the Sabre depot. 

No time had been wasted on their part, with Chief and Sunshine now hurrying to ensure that everything was ready for one final chat before any action was taken.

"Cassie, you good?" Shipshape asked, continuing the rounds he'd chosen to do of his own volition.

"Huh? Oh, yes, thanks sir." She replied, trying to sound at least somewhat light hearted, failing to strike the note she'd wished to hit.

"You were kinda spacing out a bit there." He said, the manner in which he addressed such a point directly worrying her slightly, if only because she didn't wish to concern him.

"I'm fine, really. I was just thinking." She assured him.

"It's okay to be nervous, I'm kinda worried too." He replied, rubbing at the back of his neck in a motion of ever so slight embarrassment, though that didn't prevent him from going on.

"Chief's got a plan though. I think you'll like it."

"A plan?" She asked, immediately curious as to what it might have entailed, the mere notion enough to deal a blow to her ongoing fears.

"Yep. I'm surprised we didn't think of it when you were over here yesterday, to be honest, but hey. Just wait and see."

He moved on once again, this time to give Sleeves a pep talk of her own, leaving Cassia with that newfound shred of what might have been hope.

Zisel, Sunshine, Sleeves herself, Swoopy - none of them appeared comfortable with the arrangements that were being presented, the knowledge of what might have been coming still unnerving them even if all but one of them were aware of what this so called plan consisted of. As such, Cassia tried not to let that spark of something better grow too much yet, lest it be snuffed out in an all the more painful move.

Their trip over to the factory that day had been a quiet one, save for Taya and her usual oddities. 

Cassia hadn't spoken to Monet like she'd wished to, her adamant nature from the previous afternoon thoroughly withered, the apprehension eating away at its foundations until she could no longer sustain it. What could she have done or said, anyway? Monet probably had enough on her mind as it was, without her getting in the way as well.

Being back with everyone had lifted her spirits again, albeit not as much as usual thanks to the aura of uncertainty that now pervaded their next task. She tried her hardest to keep her chin up. 

Judging by how Shipshape had questioned her, it sounded as if she wasn't doing particularly well in that regard. 

She didn't have to fret for very long, as it looked as if Chief was now ready to talk them through a few final matters, the young man taking his seat at the head of their new circle.

"Thanks for turning up so early Monet, I figured you would." He said first and foremost, the presence of the girl in red going some way in reassuring the other girls, something that shaved another portion of that edge off for Cassia.