The First Meeting

[adstring_npc]

Characters: The scientists, and those Carmen has given coordinates/location to. [Currently: Kakashi, Killua, Kanzeon, Unohana, Negi, Roy, Ling, Rhode, Alucard, Spike, Ai Ai, Tsunade, Tieria, Cloud, Carmen.]
When: November 18th, evening
Where: An old, abandoned restaurant, with the tables and chairs spiffed up.
Rating: PG-13 at this time
Summary:

Comments

Caroline

[adstring_npc]

Caroline is fidgeting. She’s in a blue t-shirt and jeans, and keeps messing with a bracelet on her wrist. It’s obvious she’s nervous and not sure about being here. Her cup of water is mostly gone, she keeps sipping it. She also keeps pushing her hair back behind her ears as it slips forward.

[kannon_sama]

Kanzeon approached the pretty blond girl who looked like she was about to jump out of her skin at any time. Kids were kids no matter the situation, and she had an inling that some people weren't as confident about the situation as the hierarchy obviously was.

"You'll cut your wrist if you keep doing that, sweetcheeks."

[adstring_npc]

Caroline looked up and blushed a brilliant shade of red. She looked back down, trying very hard not to stare at the woman's translucent top. "Yeah, I guess I will."

She stopped spinning the bracelet, still staring at the table. "Was there... was there something you wanted, ma'am?"

[kannon_sama]

"Just getting a feel of the place. I like humans," Kanzeon said with a wink. "They're interesting, and the way they mess up things is always a blast."

The bodhisattva sat down, putting her chin on her hands.

"I just have to wonder what they keep telling you in there to make you believe life is happy and sunshine out there. Hierarchy is the same everywhere, I guess.

[adstring_npc]

Caroline shrank back into her chair just a bit. So this wasn't a human, and the words didn't imply she was happy. "I don't... I know it's not. I know it's rough out here. Really rough."

[kannon_sama]

"Well, to be honest, I don't think you can know without having been out there, but ... I don't blame you for staying in."

She smiled lazily at the girl.

"Relax. I'm not gonna bite your head off."

[bunny_flower]

Unohana recognized Caroline as the girl who had made and shared the blankets. She came closer to the girl and bowed her head in greeting.

"Ara, I wish to thank you for your gift, miss. It was very thoughtful of you, and we might come to need them greatly."

[adstring_npc]

Caroline bowed her head back a little awkwardly. Her eyes were slightly wide and her gaze flickered toward Donna for the briefest of moments. "I'm not sure what you're talking about. But you're welcome, if I did know. I mean, if I did anything, or..."

She shut her mouth and swallowed, taking a moment to regather herself. "I hope your needs aren't too bad."

[bunny_flower]

Unohana caught the glance, and understood. They had done this without telling their superiors. Well, far be it from her to get anyone in trouble, especially when they had helped everyone outside.

So she simply smiled, and changed the subject.

"Our needs are probably greater than you could imagine, unfortunately. The city is in ruins, monsters are roaming, and winter is coming. We will get by, as we always do, but it will be difficult."

[adstring_npc]

Breathing a sigh of relief that Unohana had dropped the topic, Caroline listened. She frowned, not sure what to say. "They... they probably are. Walking here... We ran into a few things that weren't nice. I guess that's the other reason for having soldiers along."

Caroline took another sip of her water. It was nearly gone, but that's what she got for sipping it so much. "I don't... I don't have much. Resources. I have plants, but..." She looked around. "Someone told the Chairman, or Professor Miles, or Professor Malkovich or Professor Johnson something. Most of my free time vanished after I made the color-changing blanket, and Greg checked for me - no one inside the walls saw that. Someone Outside told them something. And I don't know how much."

[bunny_flower]

"I am very sorry to hear that. I hope we have not compromised you through rash actions."

Unohana's voice had gone low, barely above a whisper.

"We appreciate any help, in any shape. Do not trouble yourself too much."

[adstring_npc]

"I don't know," Caroline said. "I'm a little out of the loop." She studied the table. The woman at the clinic had always seemed nice, but many things seemed what they weren't.

"What I can... I just know plants. I just play with plants." She didn't see why just plants could get her in danger or trouble, but it was clear she was being watched now.

[bunny_flower]

"Well, I do hope that your plants will be able to help us in some way. Some of them out there are certainly strange enough to warrant investigation. I am sure that must be rather interesting."

Unohana smiled gently. Caroline was one of the few who had shown genuine concern for them, and it would do no good to put her ill at ease.

"I look forward to seeing what your works show. Hopefully we might be able to go back safely, and with more knowledge than before."

[adstring_npc]

"I hope so. I enjoy the plants." She ran her fingers through a lock of hair, trying to remember to be social. "There's a lot of good that comes from them. Not just nutrients, either."

Caroline nodded with a small smile. "That's what science is about, learning."

[bunny_flower]

"And that is a good thing."

Unohana was quite sure that she woud not get anything of importance out of Caroline. Not when the girl was so obviously watched. But it was a name to remember, just in case.

"Well then, thank you for your time, miss. I look forward to working with you."

[notamageiswear]

Caroline was the first that Negi approached. She was the one that he was more familiar with, and she was also one of the more amiable ones out of all of those that he recognized. But she looked nervous...

"Hello, Miss Caroline."