2022-09-11: A Kinder World
- Cast: Alouette Pommier, Renais Cardiff
- Where: Orbit Base - Orbit Cafe
- Date: U.C. 0096 09 11
- Summary: Although Alouette has been seeing Renais a lot recently, they haven't had the chance to properly chat. After Alouette's release from the hospital, they take the time to rectify that.
<Pose Tracker> Alouette Pommier has posed.
Starting earlier today, Alouette has finally gotten the clear to leave the hospital. There were no long-term complications, but release took a bit longer than expected due to prior contact with Kikuho, the lunch lady who contracted Algernon. They were mainly looking into its status as a potentially memetic transmitted condition, combined with the shock of injury. Nothing out of the ordinary was sighted though, except the boredom expected of a genius away from her work.
In spite of that, Alouette hasn't quite settled back into work yet, she's still not wearing her 3G Blue uniform, instead her blouse-and-blue-skirt plainclothes. Before she settled back into her routine, there was someone she wanted to speak to, someone who hasn't been able to contact her since the battle and was probably worried sick. She also possibly has questions for her...
Waiting for her guest to arrive, she sits in Orbit Cafe, a tea for herself, and a coffee currently brewing just the way she remembered Renais liking it.
<Pose Tracker> Renais Cardiff has posed.
Between the Algernon incident and Alouette's crash during the Mecha-Ghoulghilas fight, Renais was, indeed, *very* worried. Not mortally worried, but... the news that Alouette had been discharged was a relief, and she jumped at the chance to visit her.
She steps into the cafe after an uneventful shuttle ride, hands shoved in her pockets. She's dressed as ever, the unflattering cooling coat draped over her body. "Madamoiselle Pommier," she greets, a faint smile on her lips as she takes a seat. "I trust all's well here? Any news regarding the Somniums?" Best to get business out of the way first...
<Pose Tracker> Alouette Pommier has posed.
Renais arrives and Alouette smiles, switching to French. "It's nice to see you, thank you so much for coming." Alouette sets the coffee in front of the half-cyborg, and takes a sip from her own tea.
After which, Renais asks how things are on Orbit Base, regarding the Somniums. She reflexively places her finger on her chin, thinking. She has heard bits and pieces of what happened, but it's rare that Alouette isn't keenly aware of the going-ons of the homefront. "I'm not entirely sure, but as far as I know, the Somnium took the fruit that Kikuho left behind. I was still in the hospital room, and Ikumi and Mamoru stayed behind with me. They were never called to action, so I'd like to assume everything went smoothly, at least." She frowns. If the Somnium ate the fruit, that means Kikuho inevitably didn't make it, of course.
Alouette has her own question to ask, another one that was bugging her for a while. "If I may ask, is Miss Ma-" She stops herself, switching to the codename out of safety. "Heart-2 okay? She helped me during the last battle, and shared her data to me. But a few minutes before my unit went down, communications with her blacked out. I've been worried..." She assumes it's okay to mention Sayla's secret to Renais, after all, she was working in tandem with Sayla in the battle. She doesn't press Renais about anything regarding that secret organization, either. She doesn't see a reason to, if they've been allies so far, and Renais is more than trustworthy.
<Pose Tracker> Renais Cardiff has posed.
Renais nods once, "I see... as expected." She doesn't sound particularly happy with this. Algernon is invariably fatal, of course... "It's unsettling to think that this Betterman can simply come aboard as he pleases. It's bad enough that J can..." She lifts the cup to her lips, pausing a moment to take in the aroma before taking a sip.
"Mm. Perfect... did you make it, Alouette?" she asks. "I'm glad to hear the boys were with you, as well... they've grown into fine warriors."
J would be proud of Kaidou.
She looks surprised at the slip, a look that only slightly diminishes at the explanation. "Yes, she's fine. The impact knocked her out, and she broke a few ribs... but Heart-2 will be all right. You know I'm working for her, then? I'm a little surprised she told you... Guy doesn't even know yet." Renais chuckles softly, taking another drink. She looks a little relieved... having someone to share a secret with is probably a load off of her shoulders.
<Pose Tracker> Alouette Pommier has posed.
"I agree.. it's hard to sleep at night knowing that we could face an attack from the inside at any time. At least the Somnium aren't hostiles but..." She doesn't add to Renais' worries by mentioning that now Akane can do it, too. "We got a new feature on our communicators that lets us know when a shift in weight in the station occurs, though. This lets us prepare for any intruders, at least."
"Everything was okay. I felt a lot safer having them with me. Not to mention, I appreciated the company. Mamoru aside, even Ikumi can bring light to a situation, if you can believe it."
"I'm glad to hear that.. she's very strong, isn't she?" Alouette has only seen Sayla on the battlefield, but she has a lot of respect for the woman. She almost wants to take responsibility for what happened, like with Guy, but knowing her recovery will be easy too eases her worries a bit. "She didn't tell me that, but I, well.. pieced it together. Your teamwork in that battle was wonderful!" She softly laughs along with her.
It is very good to see Renais smile like this, and to an extent, this feels like a moment that BioNet tried to rob from them both. Stirring her tea, Alouette hesitates for a moment, hoping what she asks isn't a touch too naive. "You know.. I could never make it to that Deculture Festival event I wanted to take you to, but I still want to do something like that one day. Maybe once the world is a friendlier place." She thinks that aside from herself, Renais deep down needs something like this, too. A world where they both have a place in it, even if it will take a lot of work to create it.
<Pose Tracker> Renais Cardiff has posed.
'At least the Somniums aren't hostiles.'
Renais thinks about what Guy told her... about Lamia telling him he's the root of all evil.
She makes a noise. "I'm not so sure... but... well, they're not likely to kill everyone on board."
No, just one person.
She grins a little. "I can. I've seen J do it... if he can, anyone can. And Sayla... it feels a bit like she... needs to be strong. Like she's set herself up to take everyone's burdens." She's definitely not projecting. Even if it's true of both of them, she's *definitely* not projecting at all.
She looks thoughtful at what Alouette offers, looking into her coffee. "I'm not sure the world will become friendlier," she replies, seeming at first that she's about to shoot her down for being naive... but then she looks back up at the blonde girl. "We shouldn't wait for it... so, let's keep an eye out for something we can do now."
<Pose Tracker> Alouette Pommier has posed.
Renais contemplates a bit at the mention of Somniums being hostiles, and Alouette continues her thought. "...But we shouldn't ignore them either." If the Somniums do try to harm someone Alouette holds dear, then they are her enemy too.
At the comparison of Ikumi to J, Alouette smiles. They weren't on Earth while she was a part of 3G as a child, but she wishes that Ikumi can truly re-unite with J soon. He doesn't talk about it but it's clear he's longing for it. And one day, it will happen.
About Sayla making herself strong, she nods. "I hope it's her turn to be taken care of, then. It sounds like she needs it."
They shouldn't wait for a friendlier world, that's true. Alouette has never been one to enjoy waiting around. "You're right, I'll do everything I can. This is why I joined 3G Blue after all.."
Finishing the last of her tea, Alouette sets the cup down and looks at Renais. "I'm really glad we could talk. And.. if you can, let Heart-2 know that I wish her the best."