2023-07-04: Nunnally Makes A Connection
- Log: Nunnally Makes A Connection
- Cast: Chloe, Nunnally Lamperouge
- Where: Ashford Academy, Nagoya
- Date: 2023-07-04
- Summary: Some last-minute studying for finals gets interrupted when Nunnally meets someone much like herself -- or at least, someone more similar than she is different. Coco and Nunnally connect over their hopes and shared understanding, and though Nunnally has a sense that something's not normal with Coco... she's not lying about anything, either.
<Pose Tracker> Chloe has posed.
It's late afternoon and the grounds of Ashford Academy have quieted somewhat with classes over for the day. Some students still mill about performing club activities, or enjoying the last couple hours of sunlight before returning to their dorms.
Not all those still on the grounds are students though, or even staff. Two unfamiliar faces are making their way down a path, passing by the Student Council building. Given that they're making no efforts to avoid detection, they probably belong here, for some reason or another.
One of them, a young woman, walks at a rather sedate pace to maintain step with her companion. Her expression is fairly neutral, though her eyes-a strange mixture of red and blue, suggesting genetic manipulation-are often darting around, as if on alert for something. Her attire is also somewhat unusual, though most noticeable bears an insignia that reads 'Prometheus'.
The other, also a young woman of about the same age, moves herself along in a motorised wheelchair. Her face has a far softer feel to it, including a smile. Her eyes though, remain firmly closed. Her clothing is also more simple, a long white dress with a thin black ribbon tied around her neck. Matched by a larger black bow on her head.
The young woman in the wheelchair takes a few obvious sniffs of the air, before turning her head in the direction of her companion, "The air here is so much more... Natural. It's nice, isn't it, Chloe?"
The other, apparently Chloe, is silent in thought for a few moments before replying, "I hadn't noticed, Miss Coco. But it makes sense. The Underground City uses filtered air, to reduce the possibility of contaminants."
Coco nods along, "I know... We deprive ourselves of such a simple connection to the outside, even though we don't need to. And I find that sad..."
<Pose Tracker> Nunnally Lamperouge has posed.
Enjoying... the last hours. Yes, let's go with that.
One girl, sitting at a table outside, traces her fingers over a braille tablet. Her brow is knit in consternated concentration, lip quivering just so. She doesn't think she did well in her science exam today... she has to do better with the tests scheduled for tomorrow! If she doesn't pass her final exams...!!
(Well, not that a lot of the people around her don't expect her not to do as well as her peers. Nagoya isn't Britannia, but Britannia has come to Nagoya, anyway.)
Finally she sighs, and puts the tablet back down. She looks utterly aggrieved, for a moment, privately -- until she hears the murmur of other students; she can't see that Chloe and Coco aren't dressed in the Ashford's uniform, after all. (Their voices are unfamiliar, but Nunnally doesn't know everyone at Ashford.)
She looks in Coco's direction, though it's more a case of turning her head. And then her wheelchair -- thankfully, C.C. didn't have to abandon it to the whims of that tree, after they realised it wasn't as dangerous as they thought -- pressing her palms to those circular psycommu controls and reversing it to turn it about.
"Ah..." She starts, a shade uncertain of herself. But there's something about these passing people... "Hello?"
<Pose Tracker> Chloe has posed.
It's about at the same time that Nunnally turns in their direction, that Coco stops and turns her head in Nunnally's. Noticing the sudden stopping, Chloe turns to look, seeing Nunnally. Clearly a student here, which is no surprise. Her expression doesn't change much, remaining quiet while Nunnally greets them.
Coco is far more happy to respond though, "Ah, hello!" She turns in her wheelchair, using a far more conventional set of touch controls.
Rolling over closer to Nunnally, Coco says, "It's a wonderful day, isn't it?" She tilts her head a little, "We're not disturbing you, are we? The headmaster gave us permission to explore the grounds. I've never been to a proper school before."
Coco gently claps her hands together in front of her, "Ah, but where are my manners? My name is Coco. Coco Coconoe. It's a pleasure to meet you!" Beside her, Chloe remains quiet. She occasionally glances around, looking at their surroundings. But then simply returns to watching Coco and Nunnally.
<Pose Tracker> Nunnally Lamperouge has posed.
Nunnally is all smiles, now someone's here. Of course she would offer a smile to someone else, particularly in these trying times.
(All the world conflicts? Yes, but finals, too.)
Her head tilts, just so, as she hears the familiar noise of someone wheeling in. She's glad, for a moment, that Ashford took such pains to become accessible for her; it only helps other people, too. "It's beautiful," she smiles. "The sun feels so nice..." It's her turn to tilt her head, though, as Coco explains --
But first, of course, manners! "It's nice to meet you, Coco!" Nunnally smiles, polite but warm to say it. "My name is Nunnally -- Nunnally Lamperouge." Supportively, she says, "And don't worry at all, okay? I was just thinking about our exams... it's better for me to take a break, really." A breath of a pause, and: "Ah -- final exams are a set of tests you take in school to make sure you learned what they were teaching you. This is the first time I've had high school exams, since I just graduated from middle school, so..." So she's worried about doing well, though she leaves the sentence to trailing implication.
She smiles to Chloe, and adds: "It's nice to meet you, too," but she won't press her for conversation if she isn't feeling chatty.
<Pose Tracker> Chloe has posed.
Chloe's reply to the pleasantries from Nunnally is simply to nod in response and say, "Ma'am."
Beside her, Coco giggles a little, before saying, "This one is Chloe. My loyal protector. She's a little on the shy side, but I've been trying to break her out of her shell."
Chloe looks at Coco, countering, "I'm not shy. It's just my purpose here is as your bodyguard. Conversation seems unnecessary."
Coco shakes her head, raising a finger as she lectures, "Not true. Words are important to expressing how you feel. How else will we know?" Chloe remains silent, though her expression is one of mild confusion. Coco simply mock sighs, a smile on her face and amusement in her voice as she turns her focus back to Nunnally, "I still have a long way to go, it seems."
More on topic though, Coco says, "I have heard of exams! They have them at the school back home. But it's nice to know they also do the same thing in other places. It just goes to show how similar we all are, despite all the things that separate us. I actually came here with my parents, who are currently speaking to the Headmaster about potentially creating a student exchange program." Coco definitely seems excited at the concept, despite apparently not being in school herself. She muses, "I think there's a lot our school can teach to others. And I'm sure the same is true in reverse. If we learn from each other, maybe we can reduce the number of those things that separate us, don't you agree?"
<Pose Tracker> Nunnally Lamperouge has posed.
Nunnally giggles, too. "It's okay," she assures them. "I can already tell that Chloe must be a wonderful friend to you." Nunnally knows this vibe quite well, after all.
It's wonderful to have people who care so much for you.
She has to smile at Coco's enthusiasm over exams, even if the exams themselves are testing her heart and her brain. "Ah... you know, my best friend, Milly, made a program to link the schools together before she graduated," she shares, all sunny with pride. Her hands curl to fists, and pump, as she declares: "The Gathering To Unite Transnational Schools! I'm sure your home's school would be welcome in GUTS, too!" Of course it's called GUTS. What else would it be?
"I think that sharing things with each other is the best part of meeting people," Nunnally adds, more calm, her hands curling on her lap again. "There are a lot of people I wish I could talk to... and a lot more people I'm happy I get to talk to, too. People are more similar than they're different, I think... yeah, you're definitely right."
<Pose Tracker> Chloe has posed.
"Yes! She is a treasured person I care about greatly. Though she can be quite stubborn sometimes. And a little clueless about social interactions." Coco teases, but Chloe seems unfazed by it. Coco nods expectantly, "I'm sure it's the soldier in her. I've been trying to work on that too!"
Nunnally explains about the GUTS program. And it is the name in particular which causes Coco to giggle, "GUTS? What a strange name... Though I must admit, it is one that inspires a strong upwelling of spirit within! Ah, but it's excellent to hear. That means there is indeed hope for future exchanges!"
Coco's mood lessens a little more though as talk of GUTS and meeting new people continues. This is evidenced by some sadness in her voice as she says, "It's unfortunate that I'm too old for school now. And, well..." She trails off. But then switches track a little as she explains, "I've not had many opportunities to meet new people. In fact, until Chloe was assigned to protect me, I'd never actually had a friend my own age. It's not like I was alone. I had my parents, tutors, carers, doctors..." Another trail off. Chloe actually looks at Coco with some concern, wanting to say something. Do something. But not actually sure what she should do.
Thankfully, Coco manages to pick her mood back up again as she says, "But I suppose all that is changing now! I have Chloe. And I'm travelling away from home for the first time ever! And meeting new people, like you, Nunnally!"
"So, thank you!"
<Pose Tracker> Nunnally Lamperouge has posed.
Nunnally giggles at Coco's teasing, though she doesn't contribute to it herself; she thinks it's probably different for someone like Coco to tease her than a stranger. Instead, she says: "You must be very brave, Chloe. Sometimes soldiers can be a little intimidating, but... I have a good feeling about you. Like that boy from Jindai! Ahh, he was... I don't recall his first name," she smiles, sheepishly, as her hand scratches at her cheek. "But it was Mr. Sagara, I think..?"
(There are other soldiers she thinks warmly of; Alto, for instance. But she doesn't think of Alto first when she thinks of soldiers with poor social skills. Poor Sousuke...)
She nods, all brightness and enthusiasm. "Mm!" She agrees, cheerfully. "I'll make sure to put in an official Student Council word for it! I'm a fully-fledged member, now," she boasts, chest all apuff. "So it's my duty to make sure these things go well!"
Her bravado fades, though, when she considers Coco's dimming mood. (She can't see her face fall, of course; the temperature just feels like it drops a few degrees, metaphorically speaking. A little more ambient sadness.) When Coco mentions carers and doctors, she feels like she understands a little more of her situation; she must be someone who needs a lot of help, Nunnally thinks. (And she can understand that very well. She gets around the Academy fine enough on her own, but...)
Nunnally smiles, though, as Coco realises the bright side herself. She wheels her chair a little closer, fumbling as she reaches out for her hand. "I'm glad I got to meet you," she smiles, warm. "You sound like such a thoughtful person...! I hope you get to meet many, many more people, now you're going on this trip."
The warmth in her voice travels through her fingertips, if she manages to find Coco's; her goodwill and hope for Coco's happiness is almost a tangible thing, carried in the touch. With it, too, her understanding -- her empathy -- for a situation which sounds so familiar to her ears.
Brightly: "I think we're definitely... similar people!"
<Pose Tracker> Chloe has posed.
"Thank you, ma'am. But... I'm not sure I'd call myself brave. I'm just doing that which I've been trained to do my entire life. It's no different than any other job." Not that Chloe's ever actually had any other job for comparison. But it's how she assumes it is. Nonetheless, Chloe makes a mental note about the name Sagara.
However, Coco clearly disagrees, saying, "Nonsense, Chloe! You're definitely one of the bravest people I've met!" Turning her head back towards Nunnally, Coco explains with a hint of pride in her voice, "Despite still being just a Cadet with Prometheus, the military organization that protects our home, Chloe has participated in missions against not one, but two Angels!" Back to Chloe, "You should be proud! You've saved many lives."
Chloe... Should be proud? She doesn't understand why... But she doesn't vocalize her confusion either, letting the other two continue their conversation while she considers it.
Indeed, the conversation continues, Coco letting out a soft gasp in pleasant surprise, "You're with the school's Student Council? Then clearly our meeting must be no coincidence, but fate."
Nunnally then reaches out to Coco. Coco had considered doing the same, when she thanked Nunnally. But she had decided not to. Despite her outgoing personality, there are still parts of her that remain reserved, especially amongst strangers. Likely a result of a more isolated childhood, compared to Nunnally. Even Coco cannot match the other girl's capacity for empathy.
Nonetheless, when Nunnally takes her hand, Coco accepts it warmly. And in much the same way, her own warmth radiates through that touch into Nunnally, "Yes! I get that feeling too. I would love to be able to meet you again, in the future. If you don't mind, shall we exchange contact details? I'm sure it will come in handy too, in regards to the exchange program."
... However, as Coco is speaking those words. Nunnally will notice something unusual about the feelings expressed through their contact. Coco's inner voice is... Strange. There's no signs of deception. No hostility. And Coco herself appears unaware of this weirdness. It's barely noticeable and difficult to put a finger on. It just seems...
Not normal.
However, the moment soon passes and Coco says, "I think we have distracted you from your studies for long enough. I expect my parents will be finished with their meeting soon anyway, so we should return. It was a pleasure talking with you!"
As they begin to leave, Chloe likewise says goodbye with a simple nod to Nunnally and, "Ma'am."
<Pose Tracker> Nunnally Lamperouge has posed.
"Two Angels... Chloe, that's amazing!" Nunnally claps her hands together. Clearly, she's on Coco's side, vis-a-vis Chloe's bravery. She doesn't belabour the point too long, either, though, given how Chloe herself describes it.
Nunnally thinks she ought to give her a little space there, is all.
She's willing to reach out and close that gap -- and she squeezes Coco's hand, gently and calmly, before she pulls back to pull out her phone. Oh, to be sure, she felt that strange detail, but... Coco isn't deceiving her. She isn't lying, so Nunnally smiles, as she grasps her big-buttoned device.
"We can definitely do that," she says, and holds her phone out, a touch meekly. "Um -- Chloe, can you..?" Chloe will find that when she inputs the number into Nunnally's phone -- whose display screen is sparse and very large-lettered -- the phone reads its screen out verbally to her, and the buttons are all emblazoned with braille. ... even so, it's much quicker for someone sighted to enter the number. "Thank you," she adds, of course.
(She'll rattle off hers, too.)
"You're right," Nunnally sighs, finally, with a smile and a hapless little shake of her head. "But I'm really glad I got to talk to you, Coco. I hope we meet again! And you too, Chloe!" She waves, cheerfully, in the direction of their voices, before she turns her chair around until it gives her that imperceptible alert that she's able to run into something. She reaches out, with a hand, fumbling until she feels the edge of the table, and navigates her chair the rest of the way to it. A little more feeling around, and she grasps her braille tablet, again.
A little more studying before tomorrow. She's got to have guts..!