The function lounge was only a few corridors down from the standby lounge. Normally used for conferences, meetings that were administrative based and other boring things; at the sudden announcement that Captain Tides of the larger subdivision was leaving the Wasps after forty two years of service, the place had been given a quick makeover to throw the old well loved timer an early retirement do.

And not to brag, but Atlanta thought she'd done a fine job doing so. Especially given the short notice. Honestly if she hadn't joined the service she might have been a wedding planner.

It had been a swell evening. And better yet,most of, if not all of the rubbish plates and glasses had been sorted that night. Thank goodness they'd gotten the canteen to do the catering. Now the morning after, all that was left was just a general tidy up. Taking down decorations and the like. And undoing the fabric they'd draped here and there to give the corporate room a more elegant yet informal effect.

The boys ferried back and forth. Once Troy's car was full, Phones grabbed a sweeper-vac out the cupboard and stared on the floor. Atlanta sorted through the table ornaments and rolled up table clothes. Marina was up and down a short step ladder; reaching above her head taking down the fairy lights and streamers. Before getting down the ladder and moving it across to next hanging.

Tinsel might have been somewhat out of season but they'd made do with what they had. much of it had been the least Christmasy looking things from the both the control towers, and the Shore's own Christmas decoration boxes hurried out their bungalow's little loft. As such Marina was being very careful and diligent with the decorations. Marina had even bunched and tied her skirt up at her middle so as though to move about a bit easier, shimmery leggings underneath.

Though maybe not careful enough.

It'd been nothing really. While Phones was on the other side of the room, Atlanta just happened to be glancing up at the right time. Marina had been climbing back down the ladder again, a bunch of fake flowers in hand when Atlanta had called out.

"Oh, darn! hold it Marina Don't move!" The girl from the sea froze obediently, one foot on the floor. Head whipped around to look at her.

"Watch your step- look you're all caught up like a bird in a line." Atlanta explained. She had spotted the rouge serpent of red ribbon and silver foil that had somehow snagged about in a loop over Marina's foot and the ladder's a-frame. Thankfully it had stood out the green material of Marina's leggings. Atlanta thought nothing of setting down the box she'd had hold of and coming swiftly over, crouching down at Marina's feet to help. "It's wrapped up here. I mean you'd probably have been fine but better safe then sorry, right? Let's get you free now."

Atlanta had kept talking as she worked the decoration free with deft fingers, and as she took hold of Marina's ankle all gentle like to guide her friend where to step. She had just got it looped big enough to lift Marina's foot through and unhook it….When Atlanta froze too. For a split second. Froze in horror. And found herself struck as dumb as Marina was silent.

The fabric of Marina's clothes was strange to her. Almost like a wetsuit about the girl but softer and finer and shimmied without the scratches of sequins. But that wasn't what had given her pause. Because the fabric had ridden up, just to under Marina's calf. And there in Atlanta's palm, encircling and over just above Marina's Achilhillies heel, was a scar.