thefolder | As we roll down this unfamiliar road

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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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"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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