thefolder | As we roll down this unfamiliar road

Entry tags:

As we roll down this unfamiliar road

Who: Campbell Saunders (

headup_stickontheice), Warrior of Light (

shinebrighter), and Ratchet (

rustypistons)
What: Cam's got a new set of roommates. Oh boy.
When: August 7th, 2013, morning
Where: Apartments, F1 002

Cam's been alone in his apartment for awhile. It's not like he really likes to think of it like that, with Maya coming over so much and checking on him, and him going to her place, and now Miss Shepard being back...

But it's true, when he really sits down to acknowledge it, and it's weird. Like, billet family in Toronto weird. They didn't have any kids. They were nice enough, but he was always really disconnected from them. And after growing up with a very hands-on mom and at least one sibling in the house at all times... Well, he's pretty sure, in hindsight, that might have contributed to how bad he got.

So he doesn't like to think about it, see. And Lucette, bless her, tries her best to keep him from thinking about it by being as much of a nuisance as possible, keeping the TV on, chattering away, the like.

He's just gotten back from morning breakfast with Miss Shepard, and Lucette's already flipping through channels. Idly, he scratches the inside of the cast on his left arm by slipping a pencil inside it. Maya's out playing in the park today, he remembered her saying that. Maybe he should go visit her sometime, but the desire to just lay around is already setting in.

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Ratchet had almost forgotten that he'd been assigned a room to live in, apparently with some roommates. And he can't, unfortunately, stay at Arcee's. At least, not all the time. Drafted, she had likened it to. He can't imagine someone like Bearmon going through a boot camp or fighting in any wars. Or fighting at all. Maybe, he thinks glumly, that's why they're meant to be paired together.

A little walking around the city (after that breakfast, apparently the first meal he was to have of the day) would do him some good, fresh air to cycle through and stretching his too human legs. It doesn't make the situation he finds himself in any better, but at least it doesn't make it any worse, either.

He glances at the doors, double checking the room number he was given, and--hesitates. Should he just go in? Should he knock? He exchanges a look with Bearmon, then decides, to pit with it, he lives here now; he can just go.

Lo and behold, someone's already there. "Hello?"

The Warrior had risen remarkably late that morning. Perhaps it was his injuries which forced him to do so - perhaps it was the fact sleeping in a bed was actually pretty comfortable. Even the fact that his dreams had tormented him through the entire night hadn't done anything to alter his state of unconsciousness. His body needed the rest.

But the Warrior eventually rose, the sound of Cam's shuffling, the TV, as well as the new voice waking him sharply. Coronamon was still fast asleep - annoyingly enough on his shield and brastplate. So, he checked his bandages before dressing, choosing only the maille he wore under his armor and his skirts. And he moved silently through the apartment, barefoot - yet with his sword. Of course with his sword. While he'd worked out from the things lying around the apartment he wouldn't be alone - the knock at the door could be anyone else.

Coming upon the youth and the older man, the Warrior remained just as silent as he glanced to them, his spare hand moving to push some silver hair from his face - occupied hand moving to silently place his sword on the nearest counter - indicating simply that he had little intent to use it after all.

"..."

The response is almost instant. Cam sits up with a start, the pencil dropping from his hand and...sliding into the cast, great. The old man walking in is a surprise enough, but seeing someone come from one of the other rooms? And to that end, with a sword?

His mouth opens and closes and he looks from one to the other. Great, last time this happened, he had Hope to greet the new roomie with him, and even if neither really did a good job of it, at least they managed. Now?

Lucette chirps. "Oh! It looks like we have new roommates, Campbell!"

To his credit, Cam can manage a response that is amazingly coherent for the situation. "H-huh?"

Well, this is going to be fun. A child and someone who felt it necessary to carry their weapon within their own residence out in the open. Ratchet raises an eyebrow slowly at both of them before closing the door behind him. This is the right place; he checked. Wouldn't it just be easier if all of the team could live together like they already did?

Bearmon would, like Lucette, take the lead for his Chosen. "Morning, everyone! Sorry to intrude, but we only just showed up yesterday. It's nice to meet you!"

Ratchet doesn't look like he feels the same way, wary of everyone and everything in this new world.

And the Warrior had no digimon to take the lead, sadly. However, it was probably a good thing. He was quickly becoming acquainted with the small creature's amazing capacity to share anything and everything with anyone. The fact he was sleeping was probably luck.

This war was strange. Overwhelmingly so actually, he thought to himself as he observed Bearmon walk in, gaze lingering on his partner's facial expression. "Hello." He responded politely, at just about the correct time, but distantly. And he moved his head slightly, letting his neck click. And he turned to Cam. "I am sorry to have surprised you."

Unfortunately, a loud bump came from his room. Probably Coronamon waking, and falling off his shield. Soon enough, the digimon comes bounding through the halls. "Hi!! We only got here yesterday too! And we're gonna save a princess!!"

"As I have said, many times..."

"Awww. Can't we at least pretend?"

All the new people talking, though spreading a nice layer of anxiety over his nerves, reminds Cam that he has to talk now himself, make a good first impression, and be a normal kid, so he tries to jump-start his brain.

"Mm, n-naw, no, it's fine, hi, uh." That doesn't work as well as he'd hoped. To be fair, he's currently trying his best to slide his fingers into his cast to pull out the pencil, which he can feel rattling around in there. Seems like it's stuck, though. With a grunt, he raises it up, maybe that'll knock it loose."

Looks like Lucette has to do everything. She floats up and places a hand on Cam's -- increasingly shaggy, has to do something about that -- hair. "Excuse Campbell, he's jumpy. Welcome, the room closest to the door is taken, but the others are free! Oh, I guess not so much anymore, since..." She looks at the Warrior of Light. "My name's Lucette, and this is Campbell, and I'm pleased to make your acquaintance."

Some kind of affirming sound slips from Cam's mouth; he's still trying to get the pencil out.

"It's fine. I'll take whatever room isn't occupied." Ratchet's a little short in speech, though he's calmed down considerably from his arrival. How long that'll last is anyone's guess.

When it doesn't seem like he's going to say any more than that, Bearmon steps in again. "I'm Bearmon! And this is Ratchet." Who he elbows in the leg. Go on. Say something more. Be nice. (Haha, nice.)

"I cannot say I've seen any princesses in need of saving." That's not what Bearmon meant for you to say. Oh well. It's something, right? "But I admittedly haven't seen that much since arriving."

Gaze drawn to the cast, the Warrior almost asks what it is, his mouth parting- before Coronamon steps in, yet again. The little digimon puts his hands on his hips, as he paces around Bearmon. The Warrior's eyes simply follow him as he turns quite silent.

"There's gotta be some, somewhere. We can't save the world without a princess being involved! It's in every story book ever and I can tell you this now. They're gonna be writing stories about me and him. We're gonna be famous!"

Then the digimon looks up, to Lucette.

"Hehehehe. I like your style. You get to be a side-hero! Or a sassy miniskirt-wearing side hero! And you, Bearmon! ...Only not with the skirt thing. That's just too weird."

"Though you might wanna do something about that partner of yours. He's way too negative."

There's a bright smile coming from the little digimon at that! The Warrior, however, merely moves his eyes to the side, looking into the hallway.

"...At any rate, it is good to meet you all. Ratchet, I believe? The unoccupied room is the middle one."

Edited 2013-08-07 20:35 (UTC)

Lucette floats closer to the other Digimon, a soft "ohhhh" on her lips. She looks down at her waist and spins. "I accept! I think a mini-skirt would look fantastic, and I can assist the main heroes with all their needs!"

At that moment, Cam exclaims, "Yes!" and with his good arm, he holds up the now-free pencil. ...Then realizes how loud he was and tries to smile, though it might look a bit like a cringe. "S-sorry, about that. Um, y-yeah, hi." He finally stands, though he doesn't have anything to do, so he just sort of looks a bit awkward. "You can just...call me Cam, I, don't think I've seen any princesses around here?"

Ratchet is very close to saying something to Coronamon, but Bearmon takes point instead. "A side-hero? I don't know--I think we can all be heroes, with some training and practice, right?"

Which isn't what he was going to comment on, but better than taking offense from a...flaming...well, digital creature, in the end. Lucette hadn't said that she and Cam were new. Did that mean they've been here for some time? Before he and Coronamon's partner arrived, anyway. He'll unglue himself from the doorway and motion to the cast and newly freed pencil. "What happened to you?" He's been around June Darby enough to know what a cast is, at least.

Coronamon seems pleased enough with Lucette's compliance, the biggest smile on his features possible at that. "Yeah. And if anyone tries to kidnap you? You can beat the hell out of 'em! Lucemon are all really powerful, right?"

And he turns to Bearmon. While with Lucette, he'd been practically inflating, he seems to deflate at Bearmon's words. And his eyes narrow. "Ah ah ah! No-one's dethroning me. There's always a main guy, and I'm your 'mon! Hey- you just wanna take over my spot because of Lucette, right? Well, I'm telling you! That ain't ever gonna-"

Finally, the Warrior interjects. He'd been thinking silently throughout all of Coronamon's little tirade, trapped in yet another strange feeling. Familiarity...? It would be, if he could remember. Finally, the digimon is loud enough to snap him out of it.

"Enough.Your arrogance is growing offensive. It cannot be tempered into anything of merit. I suggest you lose it."

The words are simple, not even insult - yet Coronamon instantly tears up. And he darts to the warrior, pulling on his skirts.

"Hey, hey! I didn't mean-"

But the Warrior chooses not to respond, instead bringing his eyes back to the humans, quite content simply to listen.

This is upsetting... Digimon and their partners aren't supposed to fight! Lucette tries to think of something to say, but she come up short, merely frowning and landing on the ground and patting Coronamon on the head, lightly.

Meanwhile, Cam's sort of oblivious that the scene even took place, as, well, someone's talking to him, and it's the oldest of them, Ratchet. Is it Cam's imagine or are his eyes glowing a little? "You mean, this?" He raises his left arm a little. "Um, broke it. Digimon attack. B-but it should be better soon, you don't have to, uh, worry about that."

He's so used to the Autobots' eyes glowing that he hasn't found his own, despite his human appearance, doing the same to be at all strange. Someone will point it out eventually.

Ratchet casts a frown in Coronamon's direction, and Bearmon just looks out of sorts--on the other hand, as far as Ratchet can tell, that's a fairly normal expression for the bear. "A Digimon attack? I thought these little ones were supposed to be our partners."

Bearmon awkwardly speaks up, glancing between Ratchet and Coronamon. Um...not really--I mean... We fight each other. We fight the bad Digimon that want to take over, or hurt people, or, um, kidnap princesses, I guess?

"That's...troubling."

You can't spar with a child! He's a kid!

Another feeling. A stronger one than the last, actually. With it, came a voice. Someone... angered. Very angered. And he.. unmoving. unflinching. unyielding. Yet not uncaring. Caring was the only reason he'd trained with...

I am merely preparing him. He is a chosen warrior, alike any of us. And like any of us, without training, he will be killed. They care not for his years. They would not think twice.

I know... but just let him go and do kid things!

When did that- What Cycle was... Who was-

His head hurt. He closes his eyes, lowering his head, and touching his forehead with his fingertips. Coronamon, of course, sees - and gives up on his attempt to make good with the Warrior. His ears and tail lower, and he takes a few steps back, quite morose. Unfortunately, the little digimon already knows. The headaches aren't ever good.

Finally, the Warrior raises his head.

"It is deplorable. But an enemy which seeks to end a world, all worlds, from what I have heard, often has little regard for such. You were fortunate to have not lost your life."

The concern on both of their faces...apparently neither of them have been told everything so far. Everything, that's a joke, Cam has a hard time keeping everything clear himself. And yet...

Cam's actually ignoring the lost your life comment. As best he can, that is, as the astute would notice his eyes flicker down and a momentary tapping on his cast as a result.

"It's, uhm, a little complicated... Like, uh..."

Lucette pitches in. "Bearmon."

"Right. That one's simple. Like he said, there's bad Digimon, but these seemed um...we think they were infected, with some kind of virus. Scope Virus? Yeah."

"It made all the Digimon that attacked us savage," Lucette adds, frowning. "And more powerful. Even if I hadn't been overwhelmed when Campbell got hurt, it would've been impossible for me to take them out had I not digivolved to Ultimate."

"Still. This is no place for youth." Granted, he doesn't know how young Cam is, but from appearance, he seems to be about the same age as the children he knows. And he and Arcee had already discussed, however briefly, how it was better that none of them were here.

On the other hand, digital monsters versus world-dominating machines the size of several houses at least...were they really that much safer at home?

"Despite this whole...Chosen Child deal. Who forces children to fight?"

"But...when we fight, we get bigger and stronger. We get better!"

Ratchet grounds out a rough sigh. "That isn't really the point. Besides, humans and Digimon are veeeery different."

The Ultimate comment certainly perks Coronamon up. Until that moment, he'd been eyeing the Warrior questioningly, mostly out of worry. The spacing out, the sudden headaches which faded just as quickly... what did it mean? His worry does make his tone a little less brash, but still, any amount of worry isn't enough to make him be silent for long.

"Wow, Ultimate? That's amazing, Lucette. Really amazing! So you've got a Crest too..."

"More importantly, If our enemy employs such tactics to control digimon, they are organized. Tell me, what organization does our side have? What intelligence? Who is leading this operation?"

Perhaps his words were somewhat direct, perhaps Cam didn't even know the answer. Yet the Warrior - at the very least - is nothing, if not practical. And the information needed to be disclosed.

Edited 2013-08-07 23:01 (UTC)

So many questions... Cam swallows. It feels more like an interrogation than getting to know new roommates, though that may be because of the age difference.

And Lucette's been around her partner long enough to know when he's getting especially nervous... "No one, really. We have no leader, just the earlier Chosen, and they're out collecting data, so I've heard, to be analyzed. We're sort of...fighting blind."

Cam wets his lips. "...No one really forces us to fight. But, even if I can't do much, I...can do something, and...I'm here, so I might as well." It's about now that he drops his gaze as well. "There aren't a lot older people here. So...I have to do something. We all do."

Way to make the thousands-if-not-millions of years old robot feel...well, old. Ratchet looks from the child to the other man, expression grim. "No leadership and no direction. That needs to change. Without a leader to look to, everyone is scattered and on their own." If only Optimus could be here...

But if the guys were going to make Cam feel out of place with the serious line of questioning, well, Bearmon will just have to try and shift things to a brighter perspective. "Everyone here has been dealing with that for a while now just fine. We can do something about it later, right? There's still so much to see and to learn!" Bearmon keeps a respectful distance from Cam and Lucette but at least closes the gap a bit. Have you had any other roomies besides us? Oh, what do you do around here? Maybe we should all do something together every day! To get to know each other better."

Of course, he notices the discomfort displayed by the youth - his gaze moving to Ratchet's face as he was looked at. His own expression remains fixed, set, and he shows very little reaction. The older one spoke the truth. Of course he did. They all stood alone without structure. Atbest, they were all merely part of a well-meaning rabble.

Alone, a child with a broken arm would be the very slightest incident for what was to come. The fact they didn't even appear to have their base- city- guarded was dangerous in itself. They would be slaughtered.

At Bearmon's words, he moves a few paces- merely to pick his sword from where he left it. If She was here, he would not let her get caught in whatever was to come.

"My apologies. There is something I must do... something which cannot wait any longer. Coronamon? I would welcome your assistance, should you wish to give it."

"Oh, we're gonna keep looking?

"Yes."

"Okay! You don't have to worry so much! We'll cover every part of the city today!"

"Thank you."

He moved, at that point, back to his room to collect two things. Namely, his cape, in case it turned cold. And his shield. He glanced to the pair of them as he returned.

"Cam, Ratchet. It has been a pleasure. Excuse me."

How fast that the other roommate left! ...And Cam didn't even get a chance to ask his name. He feels somewhat silly, honestly, not waking up last night to see him in. In trying to get him to stay, a few unintelligible noises that eventually resemble a goodbye make their way out of Cam's mouth.

Lucette pats him on the back. You tried, Cam. You tried.

"Campbell and I have had three roommates before this, two of whom were...quite friendly, but one of them disappeared from this world in early June, the other a few weeks later. And the other, he was gone a few weeks ago, kept to himself."

It's around now that Cam feels able to speak again. "Bonding every day? I uh, dunno, I, don't really...do much..."

Whoops.

"Campbell's more of the quieter sort."

Thanks Lucette.

Keep looking--he'd ask what for, but it's really none of his business what tall, dark, and mysterious was up to. Not yet, anyway.

"We can be quiet about it, if that's better? I just think that if we're going to live together, we should make sure we all get along, right...?" Bearmon punches the air a few times playfully. "We could spar together! Training will make us more prepared for anything we run into. Maybe nobody will get hurt then! Or, um, maybe we can just all sit around reading, I guess, quietly, in the company of each other..."

"Bearmon." Ratchet gives a single shake of his head. "You're pushing."

Bearmon's dedication is...admirable. He's now taken the spot of "little kid" in Cam's head, so that's easier to deal with. He looks down at him and jeez, his baseball cap and everything. Cam manages a smile, that's good enough.

"Getting to know each other wouldn't be bad. And when my arm's better, there's a really cool arcade here." It's like someone's flipped a switch or something. "And there's always music."

"Campbell seems to make friends with people who like or play music in some capacity," Lucette explains to Ratchet.

"I know someone who has a fondness for creating noise on an instrument. Whether one would call it music or not is up for debate. Though I suppose so long as she isn't here, the point is moot."

He really didn't intend for that to sound dismissive. But Miko's brand of, what did she call it, heavy metal wasn't Ratchet's favorite thing in the galaxy.

Ratchet lets out an awkward breath of air and sits himself in the nearest chair. This is small talk, isn't it, getting to know one another. Bearmon seems much better at it, not that Ratchet feels like he should mind. But allies, the more the better, can't be something to pass up. "I'm afraid I don't make any kind of music myself."

"Buuut maybe we could listen to some. Or learn to play! Or sing? I could be a backup singer, maybe. We could start a band~" Bearmon gives an excited spin, then settles down, laughing at himself. "I guess that's getting a little carried away."

"A little," Ratchet scoffs.

That's a little more relaxing, this kind of conversation. Cam sits again as well and takes to scratching the inside of his cast with that pencil again.

"My girlfriend's in a band. Well, they're not here, her band, I mean, but she is. I bet she'd like to be in one." That's right. Get Cam talking about Maya, that's a comfortable topic for him, except it might just end up being blah blah this girl's the best.

"Campbell has a very good singing voice too!" And Lucette is met with the pencil flying at her head. She ducks.

"No."

"Awwww..."

"I don't really make music either," Cam corrects. "But it's fun to listen to."

Hey, at least without that pencil, he won't get it stuck down his cast again.

"...I haven't listened to very much. That I enjoy, anyway. Not for a long time. But I will admit that, at a reasonable volume, it can make for good background noise."

Which isn't something he thought he'd ever miss, just the noise of the children around the base. Being children. Playing games with Bumblebee or working on their schoolwork ~~that Ratchet was no longer allowed to help with ever~~--even their music. Not like any Cybertronian music, but perhaps music in general is one of those universal languages.

"I bet she would like a band. You could entertain people around the city and maybe even get paid for it." He's feeling so smart, like this is the greatest idea. "What are you doing now? Anything cool? Anything you can still do with one arm right now?"

Though Cam's about to follow up on the first point, Bearmon's sort of overwhelming. Gosh, he's like his sister turned up to eleven, which Cam never has thought possible before this moment.

However, he does bounce back pretty fast. "I'm not doing anything right now except letting this heal. I'm pretty boring."

"That's very true. Lately Campbell just hangs around with Maya and makes gooey faces."

Alas, Cam does not have another pencil to throw, but there is a pillow. Lucette catches it.

"Most things that're fun you kinda need more than one hand for."

"So is it true love?" Because Bearmon is very interested in that. Or interested in making fun of that. Any more pillows to throw?

Ratchet pinches the bridge of his nose. Sparkling romance. Yes, that's a topic he can definitely speak about, good job, Bearmon. "I apologize for my partner. I think he's a little overeager to make friends."

"Oh, but it's a very wonderful topic! Campbell loves her ver--"

Lucette should honestly stop being close enough for Cam to pull into a headlock, because her really only needs one arm for that and this is the second time. It shuts her up and she whines.

"Mine's a bit too nosy, so it all evens out." He's able to keep her there quite easily; idly Cam wonders if he should take up wrestling, that's a sport he hasn't touched yet... "Sorry, I know small talk with some kid's probably not what you had in mind when you got here...or, before you got here."

"In some ways, Campbell, it's actually better than what I was caught up in before. ...Buuuut that would be a bit of a stretch to say with certainty. It was not a good time to take me away."

Short answer: no, small talk with a kid is not what he had in mind. Bearmon idly scratches at his cheek, considering the situation. He doesn't know the whole scenario, though some of the other Digimon were helpful in their chatter to fill him in on some of the details.

"Um, there's kind of a war going on, where he's from."

A scoff. "Kind of."

"B-but I guess where everyone came from doesn't matter so long as we're here. Right? There are plenty of issues that need worked out, or--or else none of the Chosen would all be coming at once like this! And so many people to meet. Like Campbell's girlfriend! Does she come here? Can we meet her, too?"

A war? After all the people Cam's met here so far, he shouldn't be surprised, but he still is, and it probably shows on his face. It's probably a good thing that Hurricane Bearmon storms on through his line of thought, because he realizes a moment later asking questions about that would probably be a very bad thing.

And yet the conversation is turned back to him! Alas, can't win them all. "Y-yeah, she does, but she's, out today, I'll...introduce you later. There's, uh, probably more people coming, if this is like the last...three times, so, uh... The D-Terminal helps? For quick...meeting people."

Lucette, who has now slid out of the headlock and is fixing her short hair, adds, "A lot of Chosen have found friends through it, so I'd recommend doing it fast. Who knows, you may run into people you already know."

"Oh, yeah! Apparently that's how a lot of people find each other. We were pretty lucky that one of Ratchet's--someone he knows found us right outside. Showing the ropes." He does not say the word 'friends' because, well, awkward things happened that he's not entirely sure he understands.

Ratchet will not, of course, comment on that. What he will do is shrug and pull his D-terminal out of a pocket. "I am certain it will come in handy, as all comms do." Small talk is not his thing. Small talk doesn't seem to be Cam's thing, either. "We can...give you space, if you're not comfortable." He means Bearmon can back down and stop wanting to be immediate friends with everyone who is friendly in return.

"You've found familiar people? Oh, that's good! That's very good, isn't it Campbell?"

Obviously, Lucette's trying to keep Cam in the conversation...but he appreciates Ratchet's offer and smiles to show as much. "It's fine. Thanks, I...just am a little..." He laughs, a bit exaggerated. "Weird sometimes."

It doesn't help that people tend to...vanish. Getting close to them is, honestly a little worrisome because of that.

"Good that you found people you know. They can probably help you out, getting adjusted, better than I can."

"They've been helpful so far. Still, if we're going to be seeing a lot of each other, I suppose we have to work on getting along."

Or Ratchet has to work on that, anyway. He'd rather all of the former robots could live in one place, but this place isn't keen on giving anyone what they want.

"Oh, but, we won't be that much of a bother, right, Ratchet? We won't throw loud parties in the middle of the night or anything." Especially since Ratchet doesn't seem the party type, but hey, Bearmon wants it to be known that they'll be the very best behaved roomies.

Edited 2013-08-14 16:45 (UTC)

A small snort sounds, and Cam half-grins. "If you do, I'll have to ask for a roommate reassignment."

Is he making a joke? He is! ...Looks like he's not as confident in it as he could be, though, because a moment later he evenly says, "I mean, even if you did I'd just spend the night somewhere else, uh. Yeah."

"Campbell means getting along will be no problem." The dutiful Lucette translates and Cam mumbles his thanks.

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As we roll down this unfamiliar road

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