Right.....Wrong.....I don't know

Returning downwards

Cleveland sat in the cafe she had seen several days before. She and Elma were the only ones that were inside and it didn’t look like it was about to change anytime soon. Every person that entered, immediately turned around and left again after seeing them. Elma who sat facing the door at first found it funny but by now was annoyed by it.

“That's the fifth girl in a row that left immediately.” Elma commented as she drank from her cup. She stood up and walked to the door. She opened it and shouted outside. “That’s our reward for saving all of you!? I get why you don’t like us but…you could show at least the slightest bit of gratitude!”

She got no answer from anyone outside. “I swear. All of them are idiots if you ask me.”

Cleveland didn’t even stand up to respond. She just grabbed Elmas shoulders and torso with three tentacles and dragged the Siren back to the seat she was in a few seconds ago. Miraculously she did it without Elma spilling anything from the cup she was holding.

“Just leave them be. It's like if one of them would show up in one of our bases unexpectedly. They must be generally paranoid that we snuck in here Like we would be, given they seem to have done everything to prevent that. We also just appeared before them suddenly, so some shock is understandable.” Cleveland sighed. She was mentally at the end of her game. “It will take time but then they will accept our existence here and not panic when they see us.”

“I guess so. Also interesting that you say that about our bases without knowing many of them yourself. You would find some of them quite beautiful I assure you though.” Elma smiled and held Clevelands hand. “I would even show you around everywhere if you want to. In the bases that I know of course.”

“You know what? I accept that proposal gladly. Someday I will have to fit in there anyway since….I am now one of you. But that will be done when this whole war is over.” The Observer genuinely smiled for the first time in a while. Someday she will have to live with them after all. So having a guide to show her the ropes would definitely be helpful. 

*You will by then be Siren enough to not stand out or be surprised by anything. I assure you that.*

Cleveland gave a little snicker at Alpha's response. 

“Nice. I will show you so much there.” Elma smiled. She let go of Cleveland's hand and leaned back in her chair. “Well what else do we do now then except wait for them?”

“Keep drinking coffee or tea I guess.” Cleveland shrugged. She leaned back and rocked the chair back and forth as she drank her own coffee cup with another tentacle. She was glad she could use her abilities again since now she no longer had to hide.

“You sure must have missed using them, huh?” Elma pointed to the tentacles Cleveland was using. The Enforcer shook her head. “But at least we no longer have to hide now, having spoken and revealed everything to them. I sure hope the two leaders there explain that to their people now because I really wouldn’t like explaining everything a second time. It already took this long with those two and they genuinely understood it.”

Cleveland nodded.

Elma slumped her shoulders and relaxed. “At least those two now know the truth.” She stopped and judgingly looked at Cleveland. “Or half of it because you did not mention any of the stuff about you being a former shipgirl to them.”

Cleveland groaned and stopped with the chair to address Elma more directly. “Look. Soyuz was already about to strangle the both of us back there for what we discussed. They are obviously rather pissed off so stirring that fire even more by telling them that was not a good idea. And it’s not that important compared to the rest anyway. I will tell them in due time when the time is right. Just let us work through one crisis at a time first.”