Nothing Gained

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"Marian showed sympathy for a Rapture?" Anderson stared in disbelief.

Beside him, Ingrid was displaying clear disappointment in the development over the last two weeks of her rehabilitation and training.

"Can't say I expected that." She voiced. "For us, it comes so naturally, that I almost forgot she wouldn't understand."

Across from them, sitting coolly in the chair provided, the Commander gazed dully into space.

"Perhaps this is an after effect of when she was fused with a Rapture." Anderson surmised, but the Commander shook his head.

"Is it so strange, that someone new to this lifestyle questions their actions?" He muttered.

It didn't take a psychologist to tell he was feeling the wear and tear of is biggest failure being reworked from the ground up. The sunken look on his face and blank, hazy look in his eyes spelled depression.

"The fact that she doesn't have any NIMPH is turning into an inconvenience. Please continue to monitor the situation. If she starts caring for Raptures more than us, intervention will be necessary." Anderson gave him a solemn stare, but a reassuring smile to show he didn't find the possibility that probable.

"Rolling the ball a bit further, I have to address this with you, Commander," Ingrid's nonchalance contorted to a stern aura. "There's been some suspicious activity in the Ark. Troops are on the move. There is a high chance they're after Marian."

The Commander's gaze sharpened and it didn't go unnoticed.

"As a part of the Counters Unit, she has our full support. That means no one can touch her. Nevertheless, greed can make people do unimaginable things. Considering her uniqueness..."

Anderson's idea was finished by Ingrid, "someone coming for her is a possibility that we can't ignore. We can never be too careful."

The Commander nodded, knowing full aware of the potential threats that loomed. He stood up, biding farewell to his superiors.

With a small yawn, the Commander opened his office door to a unique conversation.

"No— underwear is supposed to be worn underneath your clothes! That's why they call it underwear!" Anis' scolding was filled with exasperation.

Across from her, Marian had a pair of undergarments over her sleek and dark design. "No. I want to wear it on the outside." Her voice was just as sleek and deep, but lacked any tone.

"Literally why?!" Anis shouted in annoyance.

"Because I want to." Marian urged defiantly.

Anis stared in disbelief, "Rapi... help me out here."

Slinking behind the distracted Anis, the Commander opened his fridge and grabbed a soda as Rapi tried to trick Marian.

"Sick?" Marian wondered.

"Yes... they call it... Underwarts..." Rapi's lie earned a smirk from the Commander as he passed by, which she noted to punish him for later.

"What happens if you get that?" Marian's inquisitive nature didn't falter in the slightest.

"You can never take your clothes off again... So you can't shower. Can't swim. All sorts of things." Rapi had switched to a prideful tone to further deepen the growing anxiety from Marian.

"Re—Really?" She stammered.

"It's true." Rapi said with a smirk, thinking she got through to her.

Marian nodded, but smiled despite the 'news.' "I'm still going to wear it on the outside. I can swim and shower with my clothes on."

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