Day 28: Germaine Street

[sugarsweetblood]

Rhode didn't want to have to let go of Allen, not ever. It could be forever before she was able to be with him again! But the nurses were persistent in moving her off the big yellow thing, as was Allen for getting away from her. Even outside of the building, people were just determined to keep her from being with him! It wasn't fair

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[1imited_edition]

"That can be forgiven." Reinforce said after a pause, the words obviously an effort. The angry, defensive part of her that wanted nothing more than the vengeance the woman described rebelled against the words, especially the implicit comparison between the woman and her knights, themselves guilty of crimes in the name of a loved one, she drew on to steady herself... but she was better than that. She was Hayate's Blessed Wind... she had to at least make it clear they need not be enemies.

"But if you intend to carry on using us as you please, I will come for you." Those who had merely gone astray could be led back to a righteous path. But an animal who could see no wrong in harming others would be put down.

She stared after the woman's retreating back, noticing how she watched her even as she noted the position of the staff. Even trying to use their captors against her. She had her answer. The feelings that ruled this one might inspire sympathy, but they would move her to destroy all of them without hesitation if she thought it would achieve her goal.

Her respite from war against humanity had been too brief. But with Hayate behind her, Raine in front, and a measure of the old anger burning, it didn't bother her as much as it should have.

[per_ardua]

Raine blinked a little at the "lover" comment, but just sighed. "Considering how easily she took me down, I don't think I want to know what would happen if I came across any monsters while I was alone," she admitted quietly, after the Bride had left. Not that Reinforce was going to let her find out regardless.

"So, was there anything in particular you wanted to see?" she finally asked. "I'm curious about the architecture and technology here, but that can be observed from nearly anywhere in town." She'd want to explore the whole area eventually, but they had hours, and she didn't want to make Reinforce change any plans she might have made.

[thehellismycar]

[ from here ]

He'd screwed up. The mask had begun to splinter, and the weight of whatever crap was cloaked behind it seemed to leak into his features. Something in his pride remained present, though, strings of motivation lifting him to straightened stance. The man looked about at his surroundings, appearing to be in a slight daze as his bemused sights happened upon a familiar head of silky tresses nearby.

"Hey," he said in a tender voice, gently placing a hand on Rein's shoulder to alert her to his presence.

[1imited_edition]

Unfortunately the hand registered more strongly than the voice, and in response to the unexpected touch Reinforce spun to glare murderously at him, her wrath for the Bride written clearly in her features.

The expression softened as soon as she recognized him, and she immediately regretted the reaction. She needed to make amends for the strife she'd caused between them, and showing him precisely the side of her he had been unwilling to accept was far from the best way to do that.

But she had to press forward. Getting defensive hadn't done anything for her last time. "Dean..." she greeted him, a bit guiltily, then frowned. "Are you alright?"

He didn't look like it.

[per_ardua]

Well, it seemed Reinforce might have a distraction... Raine thought the name of the man she was talking to sounded vaguely familiar, but couldn't be certain. (The concussion she was trying to avoid admitting to did make it a little hard to think. She suspected Kratos could guess the extent of her head injury, but she found it unlikely he'd say anything to Reinforce.)

This conversation didn't have much to do with her, so for the moment she turned to get a good look at the town. Honestly, by this point she was glad for the glasses--even things fifty feet away weren't blurred in the slightest. It was minor, but she liked being able to see a new place and see it clearly.

Of course, another reason she didn't bother with them back home was being perfectly happy to have a motivation to get closer... anyway, they'd probably do that soon enough.

[thehellismycar]

Expression vacant, Dean didn't focus on the question right away, shifting sideways to take in the street. Least the air didn't carry that hideous stench anymore.

"Yeah, uh..." He turned to her, clearing his throat. "Rough night, that's all," he replied in the same gravelly voice, swaying on his feet a little. "Uh..." Lowering his arm, he finally returned his deadbeat gaze to her. "Wh- well, what about you?"

[1imited_edition]

"I'm fine." That answer would probably never change. She could never admit to weakness. Too much depended on her.

Of course, that didn't make her any more accepting of his answer. "You look tired." To put it very mildly. She grabbed ahold of his arm and started dragging him towards one of the benches lining Magus Park. "Come and sit down."

Her voice, while concerned, let little room for argument.

[per_ardua]

So she wasn't the only one Reinforce was so protective of... Raine half-smiled. She knew how the other woman felt, honestly. She was protective of Colette and Lloyd as well as Genis, and when any of them were hurt she got fierce. In her case, it was the mother in her; she didn't know what Reinforce's motivation was, but the few mentions she'd heard of Hayate made her think the girl was likely at least part of it.

"While we don't suffer as much as we technically should for lack of sleep, it's still good to rest while we can," she advised. Yes, he was obviously at least her age and probably older, but some people didn't know when to take a break.

Not to say that she didn't (frequently) push herself too hard... at least her injuries were fairly minor, and she wasn't half asleep on her feet.

[thehellismycar]

Her touch was soothing in itself, and damn he wanted some one-on-one time with her. She was an enigma, something Dean refused to dismiss until he could decipher her origin. But today wasn't the day for that.

"Nah," he said hoarsely, lightly prying her fingers from his arm. He grimaced, staring into her face for a moment. "... I'll see you 'round." The hunter couldn't manage a weak smile, so he gave a nod instead. Shoes scuffing on the ground as he turned on his heel, he then retreated down Main Street.

[ moving here ]

[1imited_edition]

And yet he refused. Worse, so ambiguously... Reinforcce didn't know what to make of his few words. He did not look well, but she had no way of knowing whether she was responsible, or could help.

She couldn't force him, at least. She knew that much. She would have followed to try at least to better understand, but she could not leave Raine.

Looking a bit defeated, she turned back to the half-elf.

[per_ardua]

"Is there anything you've been wanting to do?" Raine didn't have many ideas herself; she wanted to see what kind of wild plants there were to be had for possible ingredients, look at the town just out of curiosity, and... that was it. Put that way, it didn't sound like much.

The field trip wasn't a complete waste of time, though; the apple juice she hadn't been able to open anyway had been slipped into her sling (it made a nice pocket). She now had the main ingredient for Apple Gel; she just needed a few more, and she would get to see if they had an alternative to the injured having to find healers.

[1imited_edition]

Rein glanced at the bookstore across the street. "Just that..."

Of course, there was no way for her to buy any books, and she'd have to leave them so soon... and she doubted she could 'liberate' any. Too big to hide easily.

[per_ardua]

"That's a given," Raine pointed out dryly. As absurd as it sounded, something else that upset her about possibly being held here long was running out of reading material. She... had a feeling Reinforce felt the same.

"Before that, we should probably think about lunch." For the first time in a week, they could choose what and when they wanted to eat. The bookstore should possibly be saved for last, as well--since once they went in they probably wouldn't leave until the nurses dragged them out...

[1imited_edition]

A good point. Rein's enthusiasm for the whole 'eating' thing hadn't abated any over the last week or so, and she hadn't touched her breakfast on the bus.

"There are two food coupons..." Rein decided she'd leave the choice of where to eat to Raine. Whichever she chose, the food would probably be new to her.

[per_ardua]

"How familiar are you with towns like this?" Raine asked, a hopeful sparkle in her eyes. This was nothing like Derris-Kharlan, the most advanced place she'd ever seen (ironically, it was also the oldest place she'd ever seen), but Doyleton still held a lot of things she'd never seen before. If Reinforce knew about buses, she might know about the other new things here.

She did want to get a good look at the bookstore, but looking at what was right in front of her had priority for the moment--so many new things!

[1imited_edition]

"I'm not..." She knew a lot of different ways humans organized communities, but as with all her knowledge gained or stored as the Book it was a bit different from actual experience gained while Awakened, which for her consisted of an endless series of apocalyptic battles.

But she offered what she could regardless. "It's post-industrial, so there probably isn't as much craft and manufacturing as you're used to. But people have the same needs: food, tools, shelter, diversion... only the particulars will be different."