☢ 1 [Video/Open to Action]

[ardor]

[The feed clicks on, and the video shows a rather vexed young woman walking along the sidewalk or what there is of one. Her brows are drawn together, and her blue eyes are narrowed, displaying both suspicion and frustration at her surroundings. Finally, she grumbles and stops walking, looking directly at the screen.]

I don't know what sort of sick change this is, but I'm not laughing. What the hell is the Initiative, and why do I need a weapon now? There damn well better be some decent answers. No one's been very eager to explain much.

[She scowls up at the building behind her.]

New home, huh? We'll see. [Kallen sighs and directs her attention to the feed once more.]

It's doubtful anyone's been happy about arriving here, so it's a pretty safe bet there's no known way back yet, huh? That figures.

[Instead of going straight inside, the redhead simply sits against the wall of the building, still glaring at anything that meets her gaze.]

Just perfect.

((ooc: open to action right outside the apartment buildings 8D;))

Comments

video;

[ardor]

[So close, yet so far.]

Give me a direction. Or you come here.

video; -> action!

[helljumper]

[...] Stay there. I'll meet you.

[With that, the video feed quickly cuts off, before he's taking off at a run. For once not taking his time, but he couldn't help it. Something didn't feel right, and for that very reason it put him on edge.

So it wasn't very long before there's an armored soldier skidding to a halt a couple feet away. Silent, questioning looks being given in her direction, but also observing her to see if there was anything wrong that he might not have noticed through video.]

action!

[ardor]

[Kallen had stood up by now, and when he arrives, her face is solemn, sort of unbelieving. She closes the gap and looks up at him, eyes narrowing slightly.]

Take off the helmet.

[helljumper]

[That causes an involuntary step backwards, before he's quickly correcting himself.]

... All right. [Curious, almost, at the request, but he'll go ahead and move to tug off that helmet. Only to prop it delicately beneath one arm and stare at her with one eyebrow raised.

Never mind the fact he felt highly uncomfortable having his helmet off in a new location, but then again this was also Kallen.]

[ardor]

[Her eyes widen once again, and when she sees it's really him, she visibly relaxes as she reaches up to place a hand on the side of his face. There's a sad smile gracing her features now.]

You really don't know, do you? It's been four months.

[helljumper]

[There's a small movement to lean into her hand, something he did without thinking, but the smile he would have given in return to the action faltered at her expression.

Then he just seemed to freeze completely. Those eyebrows moving to furrow together when hearing her words, before Rookie was suddenly watching her very carefully. Near skeptically, even, as he searched for any hints that she was kidding. Toying with him - though there was a big part of him that was doubting it.]

What do you mean, four months?

[ardor]

Four months since you left the castle. It was late August for me, last I remember. You know, it really sucked finding your room empty.

[Kallen chuckles weakly, letting her hand fall to her side as she shifts under his gaze.]

I had your dumb Pokemon to look after, too.

[helljumper]

[Four months. He was gone that long? It didn't even feel like a day for him, but then again that whole nasty time line thing was never something to underestimate. So eventually, Rookie's eyes fell towards the ground. His shoulders appearing to slacken under some invisible weight, and all the while looking both defeated and guilty, if that was even possible.]

I'm sorry. If I'd known I would have -- [... Sigh.] I'm sorry.

[ardor]

Hey. [The redhead moves her hand once more, this time taking his ear and tugging very lightly.]

Stop it. We both know you wouldn't have left us all if you had a choice, right? Don't feel responsible. [She pauses. Since she knows him, she'll add an afterthought.] At least try not to.

[Kallen moves her hand back to his cheek and offers an attempt at a normal smile.]

Can I at least have a hug? It's... really good to see you again.

[helljumper]

[The tug gets a blink, before he's glancing up. Listening, for the most part, to what Kallen had to say. Didn't quite get rid of the guilt still plaguing him, but there was very little he could do about that for now.

So instead, he'll let that smile ease back onto his face and try his best to appear a bit more cheerful than he actually was.] Yeah. Yeah, I know.

[The request, then, gets a light laugh before Rookie was moving to give her a careful hug. Only to pause, before he was leaning down to brush a small kiss against her lips as well.]

But it's good to see you too.

[ardor]

[She gives a happy murmur into the kiss before it's ended. When he pulls back, she keeps her hand where it was before just because she can. A small, sincere smile now makes its way on to her face.]

Okay, I really missed you. [Kallen can't help but laugh a little sheepishly after she admits that.] Oh, by the way, you... sort of left these.

[She drops her arm and reaches behind her neck with both hands to unfasten something. A chain is pulled out from under her shirt, and attached to it are dog tags, his to be specific.]

I'm surprised they came with me, but here they are.

[helljumper]

Mm? [Head tilt. Watching her with an almost kid-like curiosity, because he had little idea on what she was referring to.

Though his eyes did seem to brighten when he saw the chain, before falling back into an almost subdued variety of emotions. Speechless, for about a second or two, until he finally gave a soft smile and reached a careful hand out towards the tags.]

You kept them for all that time? [A question that felt weird to ask, from his perspective, but he was still stunned by the idea of it.]

[ardor]

[Kallen immediately acquires a little red across her face as she nods and hands the tags over to him.]

Yeah, of course, I-- [She lets her gaze fall to the ground, suddenly feeling sort of silly.]

There was more, too. I never read your journals, though, and those damn puzzles were a pain in the ass. I gave up on those weeks ago.

[helljumper]

[He studies them. Turning the silver metal over in his hands to read the words stamped on there, before letting his thumb run along the grooves of his identification. Once he was satisfied, he'll move to place the chain around his neck. Only pausing to give a light laugh when hearing that last part.]

So, all of it? [Quirk of a smile, obviously amused.] And they were. It's a shame you didn't solve them. Would have loved to know what was hidden inside.

[ardor]

Most of what was left. I gave some back to York and everyone.

[She shifts a little again, clearly slightly embarrassed.]

Someone had to clean up.

[helljumper]

Good. I hope they end up finding some of that stuff useful.

[Even if it hurt a little to say that, because they were the closest thing he had to home when he'd been there, but he'll quickly throw that feeling aside in order to give a soft, almost heartfelt smile.]

Didn't mean it had to be you, but... thanks.

[ardor]

[She looks a little taken aback at his statement.]

Who else would it have been? I mean, York maybe, but... I'd rather it was me.

[MOVING ON!] Anyway, you have a room assignment, right?

[helljumper]

[Only a light laugh.] Never said I disagreed with you, Kallen. I'm glad it was you.

[Then he'll nod lightly.]

I do. Unit 201. Yours?

[ardor]

[She nods in silent agreement, and finally lets that topic drop. Really, she was just glad to see him again. Though, a scowl does appear when she hears his room assignment.]

407. Meet your roommates yet?

[helljumper]

No. Not yet. [A sigh, turning to glance over towards the apartment building with a frown.]

Still haven't decided if I want to.

[ardor]

If you need me to, I can hold your hand when we introduce you to the class.

[helljumper]

Ha ha. [Line face, before he's casually crossing his arms over his chest.]

I'll get around to it, eventually. Not like this place is giving me much of a choice.

[ardor]

[Kallen purses her lips, thinking over something.]

Gotta wonder how close the apartments are.

[helljumper]

Probably a lot closer than we're used to, considering the castle was pretty big.

[Then again, Rookie hasn't gone inside the place. So he's just taking a guess here.]

[ardor]

Yeah, but we didn't have roommates to worry about there.