digitaldatacenter | The Grand Entrance

The Grand Entrance

[ When you awaken, it's in a bed. But it's not your bed. Someone is hustling and bustling nearby--multiple someones. They seem to be working hard on something. When you awaken, it's in a very clean room, but you're inside. When you finally open your eyes, you're safe in a nice bedroom with five identical girls running around and keeping the place nice and cozy. Yes, that's right, five identical girls running around. For those familiar with it, they could be cosplayers. But they're not. ~~Also, unlike their original design, they have obvious ball joints to make them more puppet-like.~~ What do you guys do? ]

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I'd like to see you try.

[He may not have the Spear, but Eric has too much pride to simply accept being told what to do by something out of a Beatrix Potter nightmare. He's not going to start a fight, but he is bristling.

And withdrawing to the furthest corner of the bed he woke up on.]

[Well, Lotor is smoothly standing up and stepping forward with a hand out to either block Tureimon from going toward Eric or Eric from lunging. Right now probably the first, but whatever.]

And you can guarantee our safety if we go with you to meet this mistress?

If we wanted you hurt, you wouldn't be in the Sistermon Blanc Hospital. But right now, Our Lady wants to talk to all four of you and since you're awake and probably have questions, it's probably the best time for it. But if I have to, I will use force so she doesn't have to repeat herself to a straggler.

[ Don't worry, Turuiemon is not making a move, but just speaking very firmly. ]

[ A pause, and he steps forward. ]

... Of course. If this is a hospital, we'll be treated fairly, won't we? It would reflect poorly on your leader if any of us were hurt.

[ Planning to mash betray ASAP? Sure is. ]

Fine. Take me to her. You all can stay here, but you cannot assess the situation unless you know the scope of it, you realize.

More hands on the elephant, that's the saying, isn't it? You shouldn't go alone. [And then, to the... irascible rabbit creature....] If we've really no choice, lead on.

[There's a vague sense that the last words ought to have been in something not the common tongue everyone is used to, but a language more comfortable than English for this boy.

~~By which I mean he lapses into Spanish when he gets pissed off, canon was written by cowards who didn't want to put the work in.~~]

[Lotor at least relaxes at that, although he is...staying kinda close to Eric to keep an eye on him.]

I do not believe force will be necessary.

[He's actually more charitable than Lelouch here, in that his assessment of the likely reasons includes possibilities that are NOT horrible.]

Okay. Ciel, Noir, keep this place safe.

We will.

[ and then he turns to lead the way out. Where they exit is... It's a foresty village, that seems to be hidden among the trees. And not too far is a giant tree that seems to have been converted into a castle almost. ]

That's where we're headed. My Lady will be there, so if we for any reason get split up, head for there.

[ Following, following. But he's trying to memorize the terrain, just in case. ]

...

[Lotor is following, with his attention between trying to get an idea of the local inhabitants and ... a little bit still keeping an eye on Eric in case he needs to scruff the kitten.]

[ The population is strange. You name it, it exists. There's a number of Mons out and about, but all seem on edge--and all of them stop and stare in awe like they've just seen the most beautiful thing ever as Turuiemon lead the small group of four past and toward what serves as a castle. As they near, someone else is waiting there. They probably don't inspire confidence in any of this being okay. Especially to poor, poor Eric. ]

NeoDevimon, they're here. Anything happen while I was gone?

No. Everything remains unchanged. It seems our enemy hasn't made a move in some time. Our Lady is worried about that.

[Eric does not scream. He does not run. He just takes a deep breath, and steps neatly back, once, twice, three times.

The rest of the population is strange, to be sure, but nothing like that.]

What is your enemy?

[ Well... this is it, Lelouch reasons.

He's finally lost his mind.

Perhaps he was hit during a mission in his mech. Maybe he's finally lost it. This CANNOT be real. He's hallucinating, surely. Well... if nothing else, he prides himself on his ability to roll with the punches. ]

It must be rather terrifying, because you're no angel yourself. What counts itself as an enemy to a devil?

Edited 2019-09-16 06:41 (UTC)

[Well, he's not used to being short. Granted his current working interpretation of the tableau is "A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT SPECIES SHARING SPACE?" because he's used to this sort of thing, just, you know. With people from a bunch of different planets.]

I take it the local populace is not equipped for whatever is threatening them, yourselves included?

[They're definitely guards, and... he's quietly glossing over Mister I Don't Believe In Gods's dodge into interpreting other races via religion.]

[Why did the reedy one with the complex about his face being seen have to say something like that? Eric was trying not to think that, and now -

Well, leave it to another nonhuman to just breeze on by that business, he supposes.]

If that's why we're here, why are we unarmed?

[ The many eyes blink in unison, as if he's caught off-guard. ]

I am NeoDevimon. I am a "devil" in some ways, yes, but only by birth. I assure you, were we not in need of anyone and everyone strong, I would be tending the local library instead. I'm sure many of the children miss storytime...

[ He is. At least making an effort? To seem smaller than he is? ]

You've got what you all arrived with. There were no weapons. But you won't be unarmed forever. You just won't be fighting the way you're used to.

[ Okay, soft devil. Cool. But like. That's not what he's interested in. ]

... In other words, you want us to fight your battles for you. We've been drafted.

[ He doesn't sound happy. ]

And I assume that we've no choice in the matter?

[Eric doesn't have any arguments to make against Tall Dark And Apparently Shy Or Something's questions, so he'll simply ask his own.]

What do you mean "no weapons", I do not wander after dark unarmed, and that is the last I can remember before waking here. And what do you mean we will not fight as we are used to?!

Edited 2019-09-18 03:29 (UTC)

[Lotor's looking between both of them and glancing back at the crowd...]

You need outsiders for some reason - something your people can't use themselves.

[He's actually less suspicious and hostile than the others, somehow.]

You think we want to rely on other people!? If we could handle this ourselves, we would! But all it's done has--

Turuiemon. I'm sure your brother is fine. Lady BelleStarmon wouldn't let him fall so easy.

[ The rabbit stops and nods. ]

Listen. Our Lady will explain it better than we ever could. She knows a lot more than me, but... If you want an idea of how bad it is, then ask why we have the local librarian playing palace guard?

[ He doesn't wait for them to answer and just starts inside. ]

[ Lelouch looks deathly serious. He's going to grab rabbit man by the hand-- ]

Nobody fights a war without knowing the war's details. We may help, we may not, but I think we deserve to know what it is we're dealing with and why you deemed to pull us away from our prior obligations.

[ Nunnally. He has to find some way to get back to his sister and clean up this awful, awful mess. ]

[If nothing else, these... creatures? have managed to find some very sharp people. Eric isn't sure if he can include himself alongside them, but he'll die before he admits that out loud.]

Beings that can pull anyone they choose from outside space and time are one thing, but this - but this does not have the same feel as - oh, never mind. If we are to face a losing war, we do have the right to know what it is and why it must be us, right?

[He's following Tureimon with a nod to Eric, hoping that following along to meet the leader is understood.]

I think the only reason people would drag complete strangers in abruptly and throw their fates to them would be abject desperation.

Listen. You want answers, she'll explain. All right? I'm just a grunt and don't understand half of it. I'm more like... A teenager, I think you guys call it?

[ Digimon age weirdly. Once Turuiemon can free himself of Lulu (and even if not, because Lulu is small and scrawny and light), he's definitely leading them deeper in. Gotta get to what counts as a throne room. But he'll lead them there nonetheless. It's a beautiful room, like it's entirely crystalized in the middle of the tree. And a giant crystal is floating higher up, and there, floating at the other end of the room over what probably counts as a throne is... Well. She seems important at least. ]

[ He lets go pretty quickly, but he follows and then.

Stares.

This woman seems like a cosplayer who couldn't commit to one or the other. But Lelouch isn't one to be intimidated by anything. He's fucking Zero, damn it! ]

... We were told you have answers about our situation. What is it that made you so desperate as to pull in complete strangers? I'm not a fighter, if you're looking for someone to wage your war for you.

It's clear to me your choices have been... somewhat chaotic. Random. Why?

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