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]

Delphinian merpires.

[evenimprobable]

[blink.







. . . blink blink. Actually turns to look at her completely]

There are merepires here?

[soundsinsilence]

There are. Two—ones from other-me's past, in the memories we inherited. Other-me's and other-Poofy's, too.

Our great-great-great ancestors.

[evenimprobable]

I . . . wow.

[soundsinsilence]

It's a little hard for them, knowing me. But it's a lot harder to live here and be out of the water all the time. They aren't meant for that.

I thought, since the pool's here, and no one's using it, and since the lake's close enough to get almost-salty water . . . it would be nice, if they could have a bit of a real home here too.

[evenimprobable]

Ah . . . I see.

That's nice of you.

[soundsinsilence]

. . . nice . . .

I guess . . . I never really thought of it like that?

[evenimprobable]

No? Not many people would go out of their way to do something like this. It's a nice gesture.

[soundsinsilence]

But it's their life. It's not a nice thing the way flowers are nice. It's necessary the way air is to us, or food.

I know not everything thinks that the happiness of others is important. But if you could keep someone's life from being miserable, if it was something that barely took anything at all . . . wouldn't you?

[evenimprobable]

. . . it would depend on who it is, honestly.

[soundsinsilence]

A friend.

[evenimprobable]

Then yes, I would.

[soundsinsilence]

It wouldn't be nice then though, would it? It's just something you do because it makes sense.

Do you know much about sea water?

[evenimprobable]

It's still nice, though . . .

Ah - I know some?

[soundsinsilence]

You wouldn't happen to know the salinity of Earth's oceans, would you? It won't be Sabra's, but still . . . at least I'd know if I should start boiling more water now.

[evenimprobable]

Ahh . . . hmm.

[one sec, thinking]

[soundsinsilence]

[Waits!

. . . and sprinkles some more salt in the water.]

[evenimprobable]

[seems to be mumbling case details under his breath, something about faking an ocean drowning]

It's . . . 3.5% salt, I think? Around that.

[soundsinsilence]

Right now, the lake water is about fifteen parts per thousand. So it's probably about half the strength it needs to be, if Sabra's oceans were close to the same.

[evenimprobable]

Heeeh . . . they'll be able to tell, though, right? The merepires.

[soundsinsilence]

I hope so. Even if they don't know the numerical concentration, they should at least be able to tell when it feels right.

After that, I just need to make sure the pool has an aerator, or a fountain.

[evenimprobable]

Which one would work better, you think?

[soundsinsilence]

[Pavo fountain, or goldfish-bowl bubbling treasure chest . . .


Considers this very carefully.]

I think . . . it depends on which sounds better to them, under water.

[evenimprobable]

Ah. . . mm, that's important.

[soundsinsilence]

For that, one that's underwater would probably be better. It's less of a roar all the time.

What would you think?