( video ) -- 1

[apostled]

[ Here’s the face of a girl smiling brightly as she turns on the camera. ]

Hello everyone. My name is Lenalee Lee.

[ Her smile relaxes some as she holds up the pamphlets that the Porter gave to her. Her face looks a bit confused but she’s still trying to keep a smile since she is addressing strangers! ]

I don’t think I understand what’s happening here. I’ve looked through the pamphlets, but it’s still very strange to me.

We were brought here… to help with something?

[ She considers this now. ]

I can help, then. So long as I can go home soon as well. I was in the middle of some important things back home. I shouldn’t be gone for too long. [ She hasn’t figured out that time doesn’t pass the same way here. ] But if I’m here… I can help! I’ll work to the best of my abilities to help until I can go home!

[ She smiles again. ]

If someone could direct me to where I need to be and who I need to report to, that would be very helpful. [ Someone’s too used to taking orders…

She gives a bow to the camera. ] Thank you for your time!

Comments

[apostled]

[ That sounds about right. ]

I'll wait here then. [ Then you can debrief her when you get there! ]

(ACTION.)

[ioudas]

(not ten minutes later, cross shows up looking absolutely modern with timcampy fluttering around. not that hard to miss him, he stands several heads taller than everyone. sadly, city laws mean that he can't be found by scent.)

(PERMACTION.)

[apostled]

[ What.... is he wearing. She blinks a few times, she's still in her Exorcist outfit after all. ]

Gen--- C-cross! [ She calls when she spots him and waves for his attention. SOWEIRD not calling him General!! ]

[ioudas]

(kinda weird seeing someone out of uniform, but he looks really happy looking like an absolute hipster.)

Heh, I kind of like hearing that from you. Com'on, lets get you to the MAC and get you out of that stupid uniform.

[apostled]

[ What.... even is a hipster. Cross WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU!

She runs over to catch up with him. Did he just call the uniform stupid?! jhriohjriow ]

Why do I need to get out of it? We're supposed to wear it no matter what, you know that.

[ioudas]

(listen tight jeans, boots and low cut shirts are all the rage. get with the program. cross huffs, getting rather prickly.)

It means nothing here. There are no Akuma, there is no Order, there is no Earl. I, for one, embrace my new found freedom.

[apostled]

[ No. Wait. What? This is even harder to swallow. She stops abruptly. ]

There's... no Order? [ Looking down at her ankles. ]

What do we do?

[ioudas]

What do you mean "what do we do"? We simply be.

(he looks back at her, lips pursed. he knows that all she knows is life at the Order.)

One step at a time, Lenalee.

[apostled]

[ She just found her Innocence. Just found her resolve. Now this?

She pushes that all back, though, and swallows before stepping up next to him to go with him again. ]

What's the MAC? [ Subject change time. ]

[ioudas]

(few people wear their contempt for the Order as openly as he does. he doesn't argue further, she's been through a lot, after all.)

Import - what we are - housing. It's free, but you get a room and an apartment to yourself. For now, you'll stay with me until I get time to go house hunting. I want to keep Exorcists closer so I can keep an eye on the behavior of your Innocence.

(he's straight to the point, acting like how a general should in this situation.)

What's the last thing you remember?

[apostled]

[ Oh thank god. Something familiar. Talking about taking care of Exorcists and Innocence. That sounds so normal to her and makes her feel a little more comfortable. She breathes a sigh of relief.

Even if it is strange that Cross is acting like an actual General.... ]

We were talking about moving Headquarters and preparing for that. [ After the compromise and destruction... ahem. ]

Are there others here? Other Exorcists? [ Allen? ]

[ioudas]

(maybe his secret that he isn't an Exorcist here will be kept closely to his heart. if she was to know that he didn't have Judgment or Maria here, she might freak out slightly.)

So, we're roughly from the same time period. Although, I was pulled in here more than six months ago.

(he scoffs.)

Do you think I'd be in this good of a mood if the others were here?

[apostled]

[ or a looooooooot. yeah let's just keep that one to ourselves for a little while. ]

You've been here that long? [ Her eyes go wide, and this time more in astonishment not soul-shattering shock. ]

Alone...

[ She smiles brightly. ] I'm glad I could come and cheer you up, then.

[ioudas]

I've actually been here longer than that. The first time I was pulled here, I was in the middle of the battle at headquarters.

(it's once they're finally outside that cross takes out a pack of cigarettes and puts one in his mouth before lighting it with a lighter rather than matches.)

Not really, you learn to adapt. Besides, when have I ever hung around?

(he sort of wraps his arm around her shoulder like a fond uncle rather than the lecherous intention that Allen often thinks of. mostly to let people on the street to know that she isn't someone that they want to heckle because of the giant man next to her.)

It's good that you're here though. As a rule of thumb, keep the Order on the down low. As revered as we are back home, we're viewed rather unfavorably here.

[apostled]

[ At least she's down here away from the smoke!

But well. Cross was always so much better at survive outside of the Order than anyone else. FOUR YEEEEEEEEEEEARS.

Lenalee doesn't feel weird when he wraps an arm around her, though. Cross has always felt like family to her, honestly. ]

Why are we viewed badly here? Don't we help people here as well? [ She puts a hand over the silver emblem on her uniform, partly clutching it for familiarity and partly to cover it. ]

[ioudas]

It's as we're viewed everywhere, honestly. We're not here to "save", but we're here to create problems under the pretense of saving people.

(....oh, he just realized that this is just their lives, only in the future. he hides the depressing fact with the inhale of his cigarette.)

For now, do what you want. People are still bound to give you problems, but at least here they aren't trying to kill you.

[apostled]

[ She gives a firm nod of her head, looking ahead and thinking. ]

If Cross can do it, then I can too. [ She affirmed.

Then looks up at him. ] I was lucky that you've been here for so much longer. I was lost...

[ioudas]

(he ruffles her hair slightly, still marveling at how short it is.)

I'll ask a lady friend of mine to help you out. First things first, lets get you home and food in you.

(he groans:) If Allen ever asks, I made crude advances on you and then I made you meet my mistress.

[apostled]

[ Komui got all the tall jeans!!

Lenalee can't help a laugh at what he asks of her. ]

Your secret is safe with me. I've kept them before, I can again. [ She thinks.... keeping things from Komui is easier than from Allen's sweet face... ]

[ioudas]

It has been a while since we spent time together. The last time we did it was .... before I left, huh?

(and even then, there was komui mouthbreathing over him.)

Lets keep it a secret that I'm a nice guy. People tend to take advantage of young maidens like me.

[apostled]

[ She gives a salute and looks very professional now. ]

I will guard Cross's innocence with my life!

[ Something about being around him always makes her feel safe. Probably because he always saved her as a kid... ]

[ioudas]

Oh how excellent, I have the most valiant of protectors.

(he moves her quickly through the city before they get to the MAC.)

Tell me you're in the mood to eat, I'm staying sober tonight in your honor.

[apostled]

[ HOLY CRAP seriously? That's a new one! ]

Can you cook? Something made from you would make me feel the most at home.

[ioudas]

(YEAH WELL, ENJOY IT WHILE IT LASTS.)

... Seriously? We'll have to stop buy and get stuff from the stores. I've been subsisting on wine and bread for a while.

[apostled]

[ FOREVER WOULD BE NICE. ]

Maybe I should try to make you a meal if that's the case... [ dot dot dot you can't survive like that cross.... she looks horrified ]