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Post by Cross on Apr 7, 2018 4:16:04 GMT
Rain poured down in thick heavy sheets turning the garbage dump that was Shibuya river into a deluge of mud and wet trash. Cutting rivets in the muck and turning the footing slick and deadly leaving Cas to pick her way across the edge of the river bank with care. The white knuckled grip she held on her umbrella kept the worst of the downpour from her skin, but her boots had quickly become crusted with filth as the rain and dirt soaked into the edge of her white doctor's coat turning the hem brown as she walked. The good doctor's nose seemed to be eternally scrunched up in disgust, but her eyes were hard and dull with a muted sort of acceptance that spoke of having seen all the filth and horror the world had to offer before and finding herself eternally unsurprising by the new depths humanity might sink.
The call had been your average one for Animal Control. Reports of noise from what was believed to be a distressed animal likely caught or trapped in the refuse of human garbage that had flooded their once habitat. The only reason Dr. Cross was the one picking her way through waste in the pouring rain rather then some poor government smuck was that unlike Animal control she needed the data. Her research on animal adaption and evolution in the face of hostile artificial forces such as irradiation and human incursion wasn't going to write itself. More importantly if her research meant less work for Animal Control then they were more then happy to throw calls her way.
Yet Cassandra's lack of surprise at the sheer disgusting torrent of sewage both literal and figurative in terms of human and trash alike did not mean apathy or lack of anger. Perhaps if it did she wouldn't feel red creeping in at the edges of her vision as she froze shaking with fury at the sight she'd unwittingly stumbled upon.
Three teens dressed as wannabe thugs and punks that she pegged to be around eighteen or nineteen respectfully were huddled around a dented in and twisted metal dumpster that had likely been discarded here after it had been hit by a car. The metal frame was shoved up against the back of one of the buildings lining the river of garbage and thus mostly shielded from the rain by it's roofs over hang. Two of the teens where crouched in front of a small rusted hole in the dumpster's side blowing on a small trash fire and funneling the acrid smoke into a hole while the third teen had found some sort of metal firepoke and was prodding it into the darkness. The trio were clearly trying to smoke and torment out whatever was hiding within the metal remains of the trash container into exposing itself since the dumpsters door was so dented and twisted there was no way it could be feasibly opened with anything, but force. What truly made the woman mad, her breath catching in her throat in her fury, was the small panicked pathetic noises echoing from within the metal depths that spelled out nothing, but absolute pain and terror.
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Post by Cross on Apr 7, 2018 4:49:40 GMT
"What~" Cas spoke her voice cutting through the static of the rain like a blade, "Do you think you are doing?" She asked with narrowed eyes and a tone as cold as glacial ice as she allowed her left hand to slip down to her medical kit to finger the tools within. Quietly she hoped the teens would simply scatter upon being discovered, but she found her hopes were for not as the one with the firepoker turned on her squaring his shoulders with an ugly scowl that left her bemoaning the fact she would likely have to dull her good medical scalpels on fending off violent nit-wits once more.
"None of your F-in business!" The teen snapped as he stepped towards her using his superior height to loom over the petite woman.
"Oh I think it very much is and you'll find the authorities are already well aware that there's an issue in this area." Cas spoke bluffing as much as she told the truth as she held the teens gaze with a steely one of her own. The other two behind him shifted slightly to their feet somewhat unsure at the mention of 'authorities.' Of course she wasn't going to spell out to them that said 'authorities' were just Animal control and they'd hardly go looking for her for another hour if so if at all.
"I ain't scared of no cops and I certain ain't scare of no two bit bitc~" The wannabe thug began reaching out to grab Cas's right arm which held the umbrella with his free hand only to be cut off as quick as a snake the woman struck. Drawing the scalpel from her kit in one smooth motion she stabbed it deep into the meat of the punk's inner elbow prompting him to release her with an ear shattering scream of pain and surprise as he dropped the firepoker to grasp at his injured arm in shock. Only to find himself doubled over as Cas slammed her knee up into his groin bringing her foot down to hook his ankles and send the teen toppling into the mud with a wet thud.
"You should be." She spoke voice flat and dull as she let her gaze drop to the whimpering pile of human refuse at her feet and up once more to his two companions by the dumpster pinning them in place with the coldness of her stare. Her tone giving away no fear. No remorse. Monster...
"Last warning." Cas stated slowly dipping to grip the thug's dropped firepoker in her left hand making it a point to never take her eyes off the latter two teens as she straightened. The one on the far right glanced nervously between the other and herself as he took a slight step back wariness written all over his face. The second one wore nothing, but a mask of rage as he bent grabbing a broken glass bottle and charged.
Clicking her tongue lightly in disappointment Cassandra waited for him to close into range.
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Post by Cross on Apr 7, 2018 7:10:48 GMT
As the angry teen charged Cas stepped neatly back watching with almost morbid fascination as the thug's foot caught on his downed mate sending him flying and causing him to over extend his strike. She wasn't fast enough to fully dodge the attack, the ragged glass cutting a shallow gash beneath her left eye that left the Doctor hissing in pain as the broken bottle snagged on her shirt tearing holes in it in the process on it's way down as the teen hit the mud on his stomach. She didn't wait for him to get back up though as she kicked the bottle hard out of his hand with all her might leveling the firepoker down at his nose as the boy made to rise causing him to still in his movements. Staring down at him as the blood sluggishly flowed from her cheek pooling into the folds of her turtleneck leaving the fabric uncomfortably wet and sticky against her skin Cas frowned.
"If I hit you on the back of the head with this it won't matter how big you are or how small I am. You will either be unconscious or possibly dead from blunt force trauma. So I strongly suggest you collect your friends and leave." She spoke tone clipped and cold, her eyes hard as she made her tactical assessment of the weapon she held in her hands. For a moment the boy glanced between her and the firepoker and looked as though he was considering grabbing it before his downed friend let out a low moan of pain.
"Leave the weapon in and if you get him to the hospital shortly there is a chance infection won't set in and he might not lose too much blood, but there's no telling what sort of filth he's lying in." The Doctor added allowing her face to warm with an almost affectionate smile as if she was assessing a patient rather then a boy that was barely a man that she had put on said ground.
Slowly the downed teen backed away grabbing his friends uninjured arm as the third member rushed up to support his other side. "Come on man. Let's just get out of here." The final thug whined glancing at Cas who stared at the trio with a narrowed gaze that only promised pain if they remained until the teens had limped their way safely out of sight. Shouldering her umbrella she slowly lifted her fingers to her face cussing softly when they came away red. Fishing the washcloth out of her pocket she held it to the wound to try to staunch some of the blood and dry the area as she made her way up to the dumpster leaning the firepoker against the metal before she dug a large bandaid from her pocket. Pulling back the washcloth she slapped it over the wound making a note to clean and disinfect it later. For now she just didn't want blood getting everywhere more then it already had.
"Sometimes I really hate teenagers." Cas muttered with a soft sigh ignoring that fact that she herself was barely out of teenage-hood as well as she moved to stomp out the still smoldering trash fire. Angling her umbrella she dumped rain water on to it in addition to doubly ensure it remained out before she crouched to peer into the darkness of the rust covered hole in the dumpsters side. Inside she could still hear small noises of distress and rustling.
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Post by Cross on Apr 9, 2018 5:51:56 GMT
Pulling her pin light from her pocket the Doctor clicked it on and shining it into the darkness. There she can see it glint off of two pairs of eyes, but can't get a good look at the creatures for all the newspaper and trash shoved inside the metal frame. It looks like a makeshift nest of sorts and straightening with a sigh she looks around for something to block the exit with. She doesn't feel much up to chasing young possibly injured frightened animals through the rain and finding a decently thick piece of wood drags it over to block up the hole before jamming the point of the firepoker between the side of the warped dumpster and the lid.
She's unsure if the thugs had just been idiots or enjoying torturing the poor animals too much to think to use basic leverage to pry open the metal. Yet pry it open she does as the top gives way with a groan and a clatter that nearly sends Cas falling onto her butt as she stumbles barely regaining her footing in the slick muck that permeates the ground around dumpster even if the dumpster itself remains relatively dry from the overhang. Pulling her leather gloves on to prevent being scratched or bitten Cas perches on her tip toes to carefully peer into the now illuminated depths. She is not prepared for what she finds.
The two mud and blood covered creatures huddled among the trash are not tanuki, or foxes, or stray cats, or dogs like Cas had first assumed. The first looks almost like a raccoon, but what fur she can see that isn't encrusted with gunk is purple and it has a metal helmet on it's head with two pointy horns and a bleeding cut across it's left eye that looks painful and infected as though it hadn't gotten out of the way of a swipe of the firepoker the thugs were using in time. The second one is a little cleaner, but only barely and because it looks almost as though it is made of sleek brassy metal with two blades atop it's head like ears. They are both most certainly not animals.
"Oh..." Cas murmurs softly in surprise as she lets the firepoker she had used like a crowbar fall from her fingers in a mix of shock and surprise. She is unsure if the digimon, for what else can they be, will attack her not, but as they remain staring at each other for a long drawn out moment her blue eyes clashing with their golden she quietly sighs. Gazi hadn't been too bad after all and the pair are clearly tired, filthy and hurt making Cas loath to leave them.
"It's ok. I won't hurt you." She murmurs softly as she slowly reaches over the rim of the dumpster to offer them a hand in peace as she might a frightened animal.
"I ran off those thugs. You're safe now." Cas assures them gently and despite her nerves she keeps her hand and gaze steady.
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Post by Cross on Apr 10, 2018 2:23:01 GMT
The mud covered digimon that looks a bit like a raccoon is the first to approach her inching towards her with wide gold eyes as it slowly leans the uninjured side of it's face into her palm. Despite the muck Cas strokes it's fur gently as the brass colored one inches close to sniff her hand before turning towards her.
"They're gone?" The little creature asks in a small still slightly frightened voice taking the Doctor slightly aback as she blinks at it. Having forgotten somewhat the at Digimon could talk or worried that these two were perhaps too young to do so.
"Yeah. Yeah they're gone." She assures them both offering a small tentative smile. She can feel the slight shudders whether from fear or cold wracking the purple digimon's body from where it's leaned into her hand.
"I can help you and your brother if you'll let me." She explains watching as the two digimon glance at one another before the one leaned into her hand slowly nods. Carefully Cas retracts her hand and for a split second the little creature looks bereft without it's presence before she fishes her Doctor's coat off and drapes it over the edge the unopened side of the dumpster intent on turning it into a makeshift carrying sling. Perching on her tip toes Cas leans over the metal side reaching in to first fish the purple digimon out, then the brass one as she sets them atop the white fabric and carefully bundles it around them like a blanket. With her umbrella hunched over her shoulders she hopes it will keep all three of them dry enough till she can get them home.
"Ok. I have to hide you in order to take you home. I need you both to stay quiet until we get back to my clinic all right?" She asks earning a pair of nods as she covers them up with one flap her her coat and clutching them close to her chest begins the trudge back towards the subway station through the rain. The train ride home is thankfully far less exciting allowing Cas to lean back against the seat and doze. Only awakening to check on her patients every so often to find them drifting in and out between sleep curled up against each other for warmth much like herself.
"Not far now." She whispers as she gets off the train and has to shuffle them to one arm in order to reopen her umbrella. Passing one of her neighbors she lifts a hand, the old woman pausing to peer at her not recognizing her at first without her Doctors coat, before recognition sets in and she gives Cas a nod of greeting. Miss Tylana though harmless in appearance often served as a lookout for easy marks for some of the local gangs in exchange for neutrality. She also was the person Cas alerted when she came and left the district on the off chance of an emergency people wouldn't come looking for her and just call.
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Post by Cross on Apr 21, 2018 13:10:16 GMT
Cas chose to venture into her home through the backdoor as she carefully nudged the fence gate open with her hip kicking it shut as she passed and doing her best to hunch low with the umbrella to keep the worst of the rain off of the two tiny Digimon in her arms. Huddling under her porch though she was able to let her umbrella slide from her back doing her best to close it and hang it near the door as she shifted the injured bundle in her arms a tiny bet to get her keys out and unlock the door. Kicking her boots off on the porch she stumbled up stairs in damp socked feet.
"Bathes. Need to get you two clean and warm so I can see how bad that cut is." Cas murmured as she glanced down at the Caprimon and Sakuttomon she still carried wrapped in her Doctor's coat. She could feel them shivering through the thin fabric as she nudged open the hall bathroom door and carefully set them down on the bathmat. The pair eyed their surroundings with interest only jerking lightly in surprise at the sound of water as Cas leaned over the small tub and turned it on running her hand under the downpour till it felt warm before plugging the tub.
"What's that?" The little brass digimon asked slowly getting to his feet as he inched over to the rapidly filling porcelain pool. The Caprimon did not yet move instead watching Cas and his brother with wary tired eyes as Cas eyed the still sluggishly bleeding injury that had nearly bisected his eye.
"It's a bath. Like a self-made pool only warm. I need to get the dirt and grime off of you too so I can see how bad your injuries are." She explained fishing a smaller home first aid kit from beneath her sink cabinet. She didn't think the Caprimon needed stitches, but some butterfly bandages were certainly in order once she got the dirt off of him and could disinfect the wound.
"Ok you first. Don't worry I won't drop you and your brother is right here." Cas assured the small silver helmeted Digimon once the tub had filled enough to hold a small occupant. Very carefully she scooped him up, the Digimon's little tail wrapping tight about her arm in panic as she gently lowered him into the water. Causing his fur to fluff out and the liquid to turn dark with dirt and blood as Cas took a wash cloth gently to the small Digimon's form. Earning a slightly disgruntled squeak from the Caprimon and a blush from it for making such a noise earning an amused chuckle from Cas.
"It's ok I know this is all probably new to you." She murmured her voice warm and calming. Lulling in a way like the heat of the hot water that slowly soaked into the Caprimon's bones and eased the terrified tension from it's form.
"How is it?" The little gold Digimon asked peaking over the edge to glance at his twin.
"It's nice..." The Caprimon spoke softly voicing his thoughts for the first time, but his eyes were on Cas rather then the water.
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Post by Cross on Apr 22, 2018 16:55:13 GMT
Scrubbing down the Caprimon Cas carefully lifted him from the water and toweled him dry before setting him atop the closed toilet seat lid. Draining the water she ran it fresh for the Sakuttomon letting the tub fill as she turned and eyed the very fluffy furred Digimon that now sat staring at her with those wide unblinking gold eyes, the cut over one of said eyes having finally ceased to bleed.
"All right let's patch you up." She murmured pulling her first aid kit over to her as she carefully applied some ointment to the cut. The little digimon flinched away briefly, but stilled as Cas gently patted his head. "It's ok I used the pain killing kind it'll kick in here in just a moment." She assured him as she peeled the tape off of some butterfly bandages and carefully set about closing up the wound with them. Having to take great care not to smear any of the ointment as she did so.
"I think..." She mused lightly scratching the digimon on the cheek as it hesitantly leaned into the touch closing it's eyes in pleasure. "I'll call you Cloak." Cas murmured even as the brass colored digimon bumped lightly against her leg waiting to be lifted into the tub.
"What bout me?" He asked with a tilt of his head as Cas turned ceasing her petting and earning a small disappointed huff from 'Cloak' as she scooped up the Sakuttomon and deposited him into the tub to get clean.
"Dagger since you are certainly pointy enough." She added her tone light and teasing as she turned off the water and set about scrubbing the little creature down. Thankfully it wouldn't take nearly so long to get the Sakuttomon clean though Cas had to take care of the blades on his head as she scrubbed and dried him off. Leaving her Doctors coat where it had fallen on the floor she scooped up the two digimon once more in her arms.
"You two can stay here tonight. We'll figure out what to do in the morning." Cas spoke resisting the need to yawn, the prospect of a hot bath and bed calling her with it's siren song. Carrying the twins out to the living room she settled them down onto the couch amidst a nest of blankets hoping that would be enough for now.
"Get some rest. I still need to get cleaned up. It's been a trying day for all of us." She murmured with a smile as the two digimon settled down, but she could still feel their eyes on her as she meandered to her own room and bathroom to get clean. Leaving her door just barely cracked in case they needed anything the woman didn't hear Cloak's soft exclamation.
"I think I'd like to stay here forever." The little digimon whispered as he listened to the quiet noises of the human woman bustling about soon drowned out by the noise of running water.
"Yeah..." Dagger added his eyes growing heavy. "I think I'd like that too."
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