Blackwater Islands take me into your loving arms

Kalika seemed intent on looking Whip directly in the eye. He diverted his gaze after a few uncomfortable moments. It was nothing against Kalika in general (her angry outburst aside), but Whip found it difficult to look anyone in the eye for a prolonged period of time. Whether it be her, Galateia, or even his own siblings -- Whip found that single gesture to be the hardest of all to muster, as it seemed to contradict something instinctual. Whip took her apology in stride, just as he was supposed to. "Okay," he reiterated. "I forgive you." He would still, however, hold on to the faint threads of her anger in his memory.

He drew his gaze back to the pool for a moment, falling silent for a long, bloated beat. He then turned back with a question. "Are we going to do that thing we did the first time?" he asked. Part of him wondered if the pool was truly why she called him here. Or, had she other plans for him?