Broken dreams [Mikemon]

Honestly, Mikemon could understand - or at least rationalize - K's off-put disposition at the moment. After all, it had been the first time that the cat had seen the Renamon in a week or so, and the first thing that he asked her to do was to help him move? Who in their right mind would be happy with that?

Still, Dr. Mikemon appreciated the help: K would pack away the books, while Mikemon would carefully sort his remaining antidotes and medicine in proper, cooled containers. Someone was watching Syre over in the club, and so he had all day to pack all this up before hauling it through the portal. His focus in this made it a bit hard for him to put too much stock in K's current distant, almost-aloof attitude.

It wasn't until K spoke up, that Mikemon would give a response: "Hm?" Carefully setting down that box, a light clatter of glass inside, Mikemon stretched out his back. "I know, I'm sorry I dragged you into this... I'll make it up to you, of course. Dinner wherever you want in the city, on me." Was that really all there was to it? Thinking it through, the cat walked it back just a moment:

K did say she had something more on her mind, right?

"Don't worry, I'm all ears. What's up?"

"Yes, anywhere you want." Mikemon gave a nod, but was immediately given a hint that something was off - usually K wanted to pay her share? Well, maybe she was just tired after all this packing, or maybe she just considered it a fair trade.

In either case, it earned little more than a shrug from the doctor. Taking a seat on one of of the more stable boxes, Mikemon blinked in K's direction. She was interested about the incident in the north? Well, it made sense - K was involved when the whole ordeal started in the Dark Area - but it seemed like something random to bring up, especially now.

"Honestly, I didn't think the news got that far spread out yet - just some travel restrictions as an expedition team set out to do... well, 'something'. Honestly, I've been too wrapped up in the aftermath to take a good look at the file." That much was true, even if the cat knew more about it. "I'm sure Luminas will release their own report sometime this week - might not be perfect, but it doesn't seem like anything too dangerous happened. Unlike the Dark Area - still dealing with the D-Reaper mess - at least the mountains are still, well, there."

And wasn't that the important part? The cat gave a shrug, figuring there wasn't too much important to say. So long as he kept the topic quiet enough, it would slip by easily enough, right? "Though, I should tell you something exciting - Syre just hatched a couple days ago. Right now, she's just a delightful Nyaromon - getting along well with the club, too!" Of course, that was about the only thing on Mikemon's mind, outside of work and the club. He just wanted K to see her, sooner rather than later!

"Mm? Oh, sure - so long as we stay away from the 'Sweet Heart' cake, I think that'll work." Giving a chuckle - though perhaps not sharing one with the Renamon, Mikemon gave another blink. Individually, none of these things would have raised an alarm on their own. But slowly, a bit of uncertainty built itself in the cat's head, almost wanting to ask if this even was K. What was this newfound confidence, her tone? She seemed much more direct, matter-of-fact, and 'certain' than she usually was. Granted, these weren't hard decisions, but still!

"Yeah, maybe... but on the surface it looked like just another Luminas job, even if it did get a little out of hand." Mikemon gave a shrug. K seemed rather interested in this 'something', almost as if she was hinting towards it? "Well, that's the gist of it. Far as I understand from the report, they repaired a limiter that was keeping the D-Reaper in a more 'normal' state in the north. It all went off without a hitch, but obviously they aren't disclosing what or where it is." Nor should they, obviously - and perhaps thankfully for K, finding Baihumon wasn't her goal!

Everything up to that point, Mikemon could have written off as K being tired, curious, or simply exhausted about dealing with the D-Reaper. However, the most damning point came near the end - about Syre. K's tone seemed almost flat, matter of fact, emotionless. She lacked the spark in her eye that she had when she first saw the egg, the nervousness of wondering just what it would be like to be a parent.

Mikemon blinked. He tried to piece together what was going on in K's head: "I mean... oh, no, no, K, I'm sorry! I should have let you know when I thought it was about to happen... but even then, she just showed up a few days earlier than I expected. Of course you can visit - heck, I think she'd be glad to see you! I can even bring her right on over..."

Was that it? Was this all perceived indignation about not being able to see her child? Somehow, on the back of the cat's head, he felt that wasn't the case - but in his heart, he wanted to believe that was all it was.

"Well, I don't like to give Luminas a lot of credit... but honestly, their line of work is more boring than anything else. Excitement like this is rare for the angels." He shook his head, understanding of K's criticism - but it still wasn't too much like her. Of course he largely agreed with her regarding the limiter, Baihumon's statue, but all of that went by the wayside.

Unknown to the Mikemon, K made her play: why bring the child out here? She honestly had a decent point - it may have been safer to simply bring the Renamon along. At this, though, the Mikemon gave a small chuckle, scratching the back of his head.

"I would let you if I could, hun, but the Library's a bit of a ground zero right now. Unfortunately, a lot of the club got caught up in the mess. Between everyone's injuries, the reports we had to write, and everything else, well... honestly, Syre might actually be safer out here for a bit."

He chuckled: "Besides, the club is spoiling her rotten. A good day out with her parents might do our little Nyaromon some good."

K might get the hint: it wasn't that Mikemon didn't want K at the club, it was that he simply wasn't allowed to bring her over. Given the circumstances and his connection to classified information, it might have meant a hefty fine or sentence to the doctor to break that agreement! "What do you think?"

"Well, there is that, but they're still a political center. That means a lot of paper pushing." What was this sudden venom against Luminas? Actually, what was with the Renamon at all? It was still hard for Mikemon to pin a reason for this difference, but it was clear that there was definitely a bit of discord between the two.

When she was told why she wouldn't be able to go to the Library, K's expression notably worsened - a frustrated and sad look entered her eyes, even showing a bit of anger to the cat. That first response made Mikemon blink: fishing for excuses? "K, trust me that if I was allowed to bring you over, I'd do so straight away. I know you want to help - and some of the others know, too - but we've managed to stabilize as it is. I cheated the rules before, but the Council will have my ass handed back to me if I allow an outsider now." He sighed, shaking his head: "Especially since the expedition team's records been tampered with."

His tone was final, there simply wasn't anything he could do for that. As for Syre? Well, he gave a nervous chuckle: "I mean, in hindsight, its a bunch of humans looking after a digital kid? Don't worry, she's nice and healthy." But was that really about what her frustration was about?

No, it wasn't. Once more, she pushed for the Library. The cat's ear twitched, even missing the second half of that question.

"... Are you alright, K?" He tilted his head. "You seem... 'off'. Did you not sleep well, do you feel sick?"

Well, so long as K understood that most of Luminas was, well, harmless, the topic would pass along easily enough. In regards to heading out to the library, there seemed to be a bit of hesitation - and surprise - on the fox's end...

... But, eventually, she seemed to relent. "Of course, I know you mean well." Nodding in her direction, and with a break in the conversation, Mikemon moved back to the boxes, idly asking about her condition as he continued to work. There were still a number of things that could explain her demeanor - and that bit about an employer made the cat's own ear perk. "Oh, a job? Sorry, I didn't even realize!" He chuckled - it was the first he'd heard of it, and of course the added stress of such an obligation could make one feel tired all the time! "Don't work yourself too hard though, alright? I know you're capable, but that doesn't mean you should run yourself into the ground..."

Hm? The move? The cat shrugged: "Just a matter of wrapping up these few benches and the couch in plastic. Then we can lock up and treat ourselves to a nice dinner. So we need to tilt this one back..."

Right away, the cat moved right back into 'moving' mode, an idle hum escaping the cat's throat as he set back into work. "You mind getting the plastic wrap? Should still be over in the waiting room..." The cat shrugged, starting to pull away that sofa from the wall.

But at that, K's thoughts thinking that she might need to dig deeper, perhaps another realization would slip into her head: the cat knew where the Library was, right?

"Mm? Guess that's good... just don't let it ruin your sleep too much, alright?"

Strange - if the job was easy, then why was she still so off-put about it? Well, in any case, K seemed to go right back along in the groove with him. Once they wrapped up this last bit of moving, they could sit back, relax, and get back in their own groove, right? Well... hopefully.

K's little turn of the fur didn't catch the cat's attention: with the sofa pulled away, he peeled up the cushions of the sofa, tossing them on the floor as he dug a few loose coins out of the cushions. Yen, bits, buttons... "Thought I asked Stingmon to run the vacuum a little more." That idle thought aside, his ear flicked as K spoke up.

'A pity'. Something about her tone sent a chill down his spine, a small chuckle escaping the cat. "What, leaving this place? Its served well, but way too expensive." He laughed, hoping that joke would be enough to spur this one.

Looking back in K's direction, though, he gave a blink. "... You... you sure you're alright?"