Pool's Open

[soundsinsilence]

Who: Engineers and merpires and anyone curious
When: Day 126, afternoon
Where: 4th floor, east side—the abandoned swimming pool
What: The marvelous marvels of technology

[With the solar panels fully up and running, and the building's functions picking up (looks guys we have elevators!! don't get stuck) there's finally enough power flowing through the walls to siphon just a little off for a side project.

Those on the fourth floor might hear the definite put put put put vrrroooOOOOM of a motor starting up.

More surprising, though comparatively softer, is the hisssssss of moving water, the splash of it hitting dry, cleaned concrete. The smell of salted water, ever so faint, fills the empty pool room.]


Heeeeh . . . there really is enough pressure to get it all the way from outside.

I wonder what they'll think . . .

Comments

[soundsinsilence]

Salt water's better for a pool than chlorinated water, isn't it?


. . . it is for people here. But one of them is the kind of person that doesn't like being helped much. It's better if you pretend it's for something else.

[no_hero]

I see.

[knows that type.

... is that type.]

Any other projects going on?

[soundsinsilence]

Projects?

[no_hero]

Aside from this.

[gesturing to the pool]

[soundsinsilence]

This wasn't really . . . it's just for helping some friends.

The solar panels are up and running again. We coupled the last of them into the building's power grid this morning.

[no_hero]

[nods]

That explains a lot.

Mostly, if I would be of any assistance, I'd offer to help. However, electrical work...

[yeah, no. not with his origin. that's asking for someone to get electrocuted]

[soundsinsilence]

You sound a little bit like you're bored, Ojisan.

[no_hero]

I wouldn't say bored... just what I've been doing up till now has been keeping me busy.

Still...

[looking around the building again.

what is "sense of accomplishment"?]

[soundsinsilence]

It doesn't sound like that's been bad, though.

[Picks up the sack by her feet, dragging it away from the slowly rising water.]

[no_hero]

[tries not to smile too ironically]

No, it hasn't been.

[soundsinsilence]

The things we do here . . . it doesn't have to be for everyone for it to mean a lot.

If there's something you want to do that's like that, though . . . do you know anything about gardening?

[no_hero]

Mm, not so much. I've never been really good with cultivating or building things.

[trained assassin, almost-destroyer of the world...]

[soundsinsilence]

[Looks him over, gaze thoughtful.]

What are you good at?

[no_hero]

[. . . loaded question]

I would say... the opposite of those things.

[soundsinsilence]

So 'talking about yourself' isn't something you're much good at either.

[Ties the sack closed, walking out of the deep end and heaving it up to the side of the pool, pulling herself up after.]

[no_hero]

Sadly enough, I wouldn't have anything of interest or relevance to say.

[need any help with that?]

[soundsinsilence]

[Surprisingly . . . not. For a little thing, she's got no lack of strength.]

Mm. I've known a lot of people like that. It's really okay, if it's something you don't want to talk about.

[no_hero]

[nodding to that]

Though I will introduce myself belatedly.

Emiya Kiritsugu.

[soundsinsilence]

[And up, now standing to meet him properly.]

Sumeragi. Sumeragi Kururu.

It's nice to meet you, Emiya-san.

[no_hero]

Kiritsugu is fine.

[soundsinsilence]

But you're . . .

[Tries to find a better way to say this, tries . . . ]

. . . old.

[no_hero]

[okay, can't help but to laugh a bit after sighing]

I'm only thirty-four, and I'll take honorifics if it makes you feel comfortable.

[soundsinsilence]

If it's really okay . . .

Thirty-four isn't really an 'only' though, Kiritsugu-ojisan.

[no_hero]

[try saying that when you're thirty-four...]

Formalities and the like are really a waste, I feel.

[soundsinsilence]

[You say that like I didn't die at fifteen.]

It's not just formalities though. It's respect, isn't it?

Your life's been longer, and I'm sure there's lots of things you know that I don't. Lots of experiences you've had that I haven't, or that I never will. That means something, doesn't it?