It was almost pleasant. Waking to this other side of the institute, wearing clothing with a smiley face, of all things, was a far cry from everything Leanne had experienced over the past two days.
A cheerful voice on the intercom, nurses instead of soldiers, real food (maybe it was her own less than ideal cooking or the two days with pink gruel, but she could have sworn that breakfast was one of the best she'd ever had), so this was what it was like without the military breathing down their necks. Still organized to the point of frustration, but calmer somehow, more like the place she'd grown up in. It could have been enough to lure her into a false sense of security, were it not for the fact that she was still effectively a prisoner
( ... )
There was a bit to think about from that, but this was only a movement, and yet a movement forward. She had spoken to Badou, and Leanne had promised to meet. With that in motion, there was only the follow through. If she could show a better side of herself than she had to the man. Her steps came surer than they did the shift prior; she consciously inhaled to exhale tension. There was nothing to be done about the fact of the night before. If she held onto it, the only thing she would be doing was sabotaging herself. And breaking promises all the same.
Luckily a distraction and a focus was present before Renamon even came into the room. Leanne was easily spotted, and the Digimon made her way to the other girl, pausing briefly to eye the bulletin board. Nothing of need to consider, and so she continued along to the other, stopping in front of her. "Leanne," she gave, inclining her head. "Thank you for meeting with me."
"Renamon!" Leanne grinned, rising to her feet as soon as she spotted the other girl. "It's good to see you again!" she said lightly, waving away her thanks. No need for that. A friendly face was probably just what she needed that day, to keep from thinking too much on things that were better left forgotten.
Dropping back down on the chair, she nodded toward another one, hoping Renamon would take a seat as well. "So what's going on?" she finally blurted out, no longer able to keep all of her questions in. "You said nothing was wrong, right?"
She really was curious and couldn't even begin to deny it.
The girl's enthusiasm was nearly catching, and after the night and morning, it was something to be grateful for. The Digimon nodded again, giving a quick smile in return. "It's good to see you as well," she offered in return. "You look well."
Well enough, at the least. Which meant that Leanne had been settling in well enough. Renamon was curious on what the girl had been doing in the days since she had seen her, but first things first. Renamon had a promise to state her fulfillment of. "Nothing's wrong, no. I actually succeeded in what I set out to do for you." She paused, then smiled lightly. "I have a handgun and an extra clip for you."
"Yeah, I guess I got lucky last night, huh?" She shrugged, smile turning sheepish as she took another look at Renamon. What had she had to deal with during the night? Sure, Leanne had run into a few monsters herself, but... It wasn't like she and Zero had even gotten that far in their exploring, not while neither of them knew the institute that well yet. But Renamon, she seemed like she knew a lot more about the place, possibly even about just what had happened the night before.
Resolving to ask later, Leanne settled back in her seat, looking up at the girl... and promptly jumped out of the chair as soon as she processed what Renamon was saying. "Really? How'd you get it? I--" She cut herself off, eyes wide. "Thank you!"
Once upon a time, she was sure, the thought of getting a handgun would have horrified her. But that time was long gone now. Surviving was the most important thing now.
Leanne read as human, so lucky might be the definition of the night prior for her. If she was skilled with the firearm, perhaps her nights would go a little smoother. At least Renamon would be grateful if it eased Leanne's time here at all. When the girl jumped up, the Digimon blinked in surprise, then cast a look around the room, sitting down slowly. She had no want to call attention. Not now. She tilted her head at the other's seat in a hint, then waited until she was settled.
"The town we visit on Sundays. An associate and I located a few, so I've been able to fulfill a few promises that I made." And then she shook her head. "It's not a problem. I told you that I would check. And if you want to make us even, you could accompany me tonight-- If you want to," she reiterated firmly. "This isn't something I'm giving you to make you do things."
Almost immediately feeling the blood rush to her face, she dropped back down on her seat. Ah, how embarrassing! What was she, some kind of kid? There was no reason at all to get that worked up, especially over something like a gun. ...Though, she couldn't deny that the thought of having some control over her own fate again in this place was more than a little relieving.
"S-sorry!" she whispered, a little louder than she'd intended and attempting an apologetic smile. "I got carried away a little, I guess..."
Leanne shook her head, listening intently to the other's explanation. "You've been really helpful to me..." she began softly, smiling up at the girl. "I'd love to help you too. Because I want to!"
The reaction was endearing, and the Digimon swallowed a smile before it could form. "They're hard to come by," she offered with a shrug. "It's something to be glad for if it's your specialty." A kind of consolation for the apology read on Leanne's face. Renamon had retrieved that for her because it would be useful, and there wasn't supposed to be guilt or anything of the like attached to it
( ... )
"You really have!" She nodded quickly, voice earnest. "I didn't know what was going on at all!" If she were to be completely honest with herself, Leanne had no idea what she would have done if she hadn't run into someone so kind her first morning in the institute. Dropped into an unfamiliar place, told she was someone else entirely (it'd been disturbing, to say the least, when the nurse had called her Miss Ward this morning), and most importantly, away from Zephyr and Vashyron... Without some help, would she have just ended up killed by one of those monsters that roamed the halls? Would she have
( ... )
"No one really does," she replied honestly. "But it's best to know what's out there as quickly as possible." There were too many alternatives to a lack of knowledge. Too much that could go wrong, and Renamon had seen much of that here. She looked down before glancing back up at the girl's query. "It's hidden, actually," she said by way of explanation. "There's a trap door within the freezer in the cafeteria's kitchen. The trials range from many different things-- A test of aptitude with a weapon, a trials of the elements trying to hinder you, and an actual sphinx to give you a riddle to solve."
All of those, had a lethal option if they were failed, but the Digimon didn't move to share that. When it came up, she would explain further. Steps before leaps.
Leanne agreed, nervous but determined, and Renamon appreciated the girl for her honesty. She bowed her head to the girl. "Then I'm grateful to you. Thank you, Leanne."
Eyes wide, Leanne took it all in silently, nodding at intervals.
And she'd thought the institute had already gotten complicated enough as it was, with everything she'd learned over the past couple of days. First there was the military and stories of a takeover, then the monsters, and the hidden agendas, and... everything. But this... This was something else entirely. Even in Basel, she'd never run into anything like this, anything quite so bizarre.
Just what were their captors playing at? (...And where did they even get a sphinx anyway?)
"Got it. Sounds pretty tough, huh," Leanne finally spoke. After a pause, she continued. "I'm glad to help."
A cheerful voice on the intercom, nurses instead of soldiers, real food (maybe it was her own less than ideal cooking or the two days with pink gruel, but she could have sworn that breakfast was one of the best she'd ever had), so this was what it was like without the military breathing down their necks. Still organized to the point of frustration, but calmer somehow, more like the place she'd grown up in. It could have been enough to lure her into a false sense of security, were it not for the fact that she was still effectively a prisoner ( ... )
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Luckily a distraction and a focus was present before Renamon even came into the room. Leanne was easily spotted, and the Digimon made her way to the other girl, pausing briefly to eye the bulletin board. Nothing of need to consider, and so she continued along to the other, stopping in front of her. "Leanne," she gave, inclining her head. "Thank you for meeting with me."
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Dropping back down on the chair, she nodded toward another one, hoping Renamon would take a seat as well. "So what's going on?" she finally blurted out, no longer able to keep all of her questions in. "You said nothing was wrong, right?"
She really was curious and couldn't even begin to deny it.
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Well enough, at the least. Which meant that Leanne had been settling in well enough. Renamon was curious on what the girl had been doing in the days since she had seen her, but first things first. Renamon had a promise to state her fulfillment of. "Nothing's wrong, no. I actually succeeded in what I set out to do for you." She paused, then smiled lightly. "I have a handgun and an extra clip for you."
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Resolving to ask later, Leanne settled back in her seat, looking up at the girl... and promptly jumped out of the chair as soon as she processed what Renamon was saying. "Really? How'd you get it? I--" She cut herself off, eyes wide. "Thank you!"
Once upon a time, she was sure, the thought of getting a handgun would have horrified her. But that time was long gone now. Surviving was the most important thing now.
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"The town we visit on Sundays. An associate and I located a few, so I've been able to fulfill a few promises that I made." And then she shook her head. "It's not a problem. I told you that I would check. And if you want to make us even, you could accompany me tonight-- If you want to," she reiterated firmly. "This isn't something I'm giving you to make you do things."
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"S-sorry!" she whispered, a little louder than she'd intended and attempting an apologetic smile. "I got carried away a little, I guess..."
Leanne shook her head, listening intently to the other's explanation. "You've been really helpful to me..." she began softly, smiling up at the girl. "I'd love to help you too. Because I want to!"
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All of those, had a lethal option if they were failed, but the Digimon didn't move to share that. When it came up, she would explain further. Steps before leaps.
Leanne agreed, nervous but determined, and Renamon appreciated the girl for her honesty. She bowed her head to the girl. "Then I'm grateful to you. Thank you, Leanne."
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And she'd thought the institute had already gotten complicated enough as it was, with everything she'd learned over the past couple of days. First there was the military and stories of a takeover, then the monsters, and the hidden agendas, and... everything. But this... This was something else entirely. Even in Basel, she'd never run into anything like this, anything quite so bizarre.
Just what were their captors playing at? (...And where did they even get a sphinx anyway?)
"Got it. Sounds pretty tough, huh," Leanne finally spoke. After a pause, she continued. "I'm glad to help."
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