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The Wandering Doctor [Cas]
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Post by Cross on Jan 2, 2019 5:58:50 GMT
The soft whistle of the kettle cut through the lingering silence in the room as Cas fetched down some mugs from a cabinet. Pausing as she opened another to reveal rows and rows of tea. "What type would you like Mikemon? I'm partial to english breakfast myself." The Doctor murmured fetching down one of the labeled metal tins to scoop a spoonful into a teabag before pouring herself a mug of hot water and placing the bag into it to steep.
"Does this drug happen to be made from a sort of rainbow colored fruit? I had a patient a while back come in due to eating an unknown psychedelic flora." She explained, the symptoms sounding like a more brief, but similar effect.
"I believe I've got some bread and eggs around if you'd like an eggy in a basket. I was going to pick up breakfast on my way to the market, but~" And she'd shrug lightly as she shifted about the kitchen drawing out a pan as she rustled around locating said bread and eggs and eventually finding the toaster. The small smile he'd seen upon her lips before slowly returning as she relaxed into the routine of cooking and easy conversation only partially aware of Mikemon's tension, but chocking it up to new surroundings.
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Post by Dr. Mikemon on Jan 3, 2019 0:43:37 GMT
What kind of tea? Honestly, Mikemon was more a coffee person, but if pressed: "Black's fine. I'll need a bit of sugar to go along with it, though."
That aside, the tension in the room was no more palatable than it was a moment ago. Despite Cassandra's unusually uplifted tone, the cat could feel an almost crushing pressure around him, feeling the enormity of what this city meant. As Cassandra asked her question, Mikemon answered, almost mechanically: "Potentially. I only focused on the chemical component to make that detective chemical. And, um, eggs are fine."
... Why was she still smiling. Did she realize what him even being here meant - how close she was, at all times, to someone potentially picking up on her trail? Heck, the cat even being here was a risk for her! Mikemon grit his teeth - wanting to say so many things, but feeling uncharacteristically hesitant about doing so. Eventually, however, his old habits got the better of him.
"... Cas. You've done enough."
His tone was considerate, but also remarkably blunt, the doctor's eyes resting calmly on Cassandra's frame. It was clear, just from the tone, that he wasn't just talking about this city, or about breakfast. No, this was the voice of a truly concerned friend.
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Post by Cross on Jan 3, 2019 1:04:36 GMT
Cassandra nodded along absentmindedly as she put together another teabag and starting it steeping before setting it in front of Mikemon. Turning to dig through the drawers for a spoon for him to stir with as she grabbed the sugar jar for him. That done the Doctor had just fished out the eggs to begin cooking, her back turned to the cat when he finally spoke once more. Cassandra wasn't a fool. She had tasted joy for the first time in so long, but she was not so blind as to think it could last. Slowly she set the eggs down, the carton unopened and carefully turned off the stove as she laid her hands flat against the counters shoulders hunched as the happiness seemed to drain out of her with a sigh.
"We both know Mikemon that no matter how much good I do it'll all be forgotten." Cassandra murmured as she carefully schooled her face into a blank mask.
"Virus type refugees are pouring out of the Dark area like a bleeding wound with no where to go. They huddle in slums, live off of other Digimon's scraps and when they try to make a better life for themselves..." Well they had all heard the rumors and facts. All seen what happened to those who dared to rise above their station. They were either collared not unlike Mikemon himself or...
"Something worse than Tenebrous was going to crop up sooner or later. I merely gave it a structured outlet and ensured that should things get nasty the city could run." The Doctor admitted turning around to meet Mikemon's gaze with those blank off-blue eyes.
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Post by Dr. Mikemon on Jan 3, 2019 1:25:42 GMT
Cassandra understood it quite well: the game she was playing was quite a risky one. The more she succeeded, the more eyes that were on her. Eventually, she would hit a point of no return - and possibly, even go way beyond that point - where things would start to catch up with her. For as much as she could help the world, each push she gave was forceful, and inspired the minds of ne'er do wells.
To see Cassandra, or to see any friend, put into such a state was a devastating thing to see unfold. "I won't deny that this city is an improvement. Heck, I won't deny the good that you've done, with the red cards and in dragging out one of the most problematic foes this world has known," an obvious reference to that Wisemon.
"But all of this comes at a cost. Luminas is even starting to change, more prominent voices speaking out against the old hierarchy. Its possible that their relations will improve with the surface again - something undoubtedly good for the world. But its not as if your position will change, Cassandra: even this 'nicer' Luminas will still only know your group as a menace."
Because, historically? They were a menace: a problematic General who didn't think twice about collateral damage, a spirit user with a ghastly spirit beyond compare, even that murderous Meicoomon, all shared their own ability to destroy the world around them.
"I'm blunt. You know I am. But if you press this any further, Cassandra, you're going to be entering a maze with no exit."
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Post by Cross on Jan 3, 2019 1:47:10 GMT
"Tell me honestly Mikemon if I were to cut ties with Metal Drive, hand over all my research and work, lay myself bare before them do you truly think any city even Tenebrous would have me?" Cassandra asked her voice soft, but empty her eyes staring at some distant point beyond Mikemon's left ear as she leaned back against the oven her hands tightening around the handle just to feel some sensation of pressure.
"Because I think no matter the fact that my infection was not my choice. No matter the fact I destroyed myself fighting the D-reaper to save the best chance this world has at stopping it. No matter the fact that I have worked tirelessly to better this place to my own detriment I do not think that even before my association with Metal Drive that they would have shown mercy." The Doctor murmured as she picked up her own untouched mug of tea and came to sit down across from Mikemon. She did not look at him. Did not reach out to take his paw and squeeze it in assurance as she might have once done. Instead she stared into the darkening depths of her drink her blank mask taking on an air of despondency.
"I think at their kindest they would kill me. At their cruelest they will shove me into a cage and the only contact I will ever know will be from behind a break-proof glass window and a reinforced sealed metal door." Cassandra spoke laying her thoughts bare before she finally lifted that empty gaze to meet Mikemon's eyes.
"Please tell me I am wrong Mikemon."
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Post by Dr. Mikemon on Jan 3, 2019 2:04:50 GMT
"I'm not asking for you to lay yourself bare to them. I'm not saying you have to do any of that, Cassandra." Mikemon's tone was firm but careful - but here, finally, he was putting forth his words on the table.
It was true, of course: there was a risk that the doctor would have been made a test subject, but even that would not be an act of cruelty. Hearing her speak of her own self-destructive nature only made Mikemon's ears fall flat, as she came to sit down across from him.
... Could he really say she was wrong, though? The cat mulled that over in his head: "Its not a desirable existence, I'll give you that. But your case would be a famous one, past its own age." That was his best guess, anyway.
There was another bit of silence. There was one more thing he had to point out.
"... Cassandra. This time, I simply came down here to deliver a reagent, tasked to do so by Terminus' medical board. The very fact that I told you what I did was a breach of my duty. Given the situation, well, take this under the table."
He sighed, very much detesting these next few words.
"If you ever mess up, there's a real possibility I'd be tasked with locating you."
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Post by Cross on Jan 3, 2019 2:19:16 GMT
"I don't want to sit back and watch the world burn Mikemon," Cassandra murmured soft and low a flicker of helpless sorrow flashing through her eyes. "And I don't want to have to choose between a safe life and those who make living my life bearable." The Doctor whispered her mask cracking under the weight of it all her eyes glassy with tears that would remain unshed as she stared across at her friend.
"What would you have me do Mikemon?" She asked, begged, finding herself tired of their careful dance.
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Post by Dr. Mikemon on Jan 3, 2019 2:37:33 GMT
... Damn it.
Damn it, what was the answer to that? What would Mikemon possibly do in Cassandra's position? Though he had been put through the ringer himself, her situation was at least somewhat different to his own - and that moment of self reflection revealed the truth.
What had he done when he needed to do the impossible, to remove the aspect of being a 'Demon Lord' from his very core?
He did everything he could to make that possible. At the cost of his own health, his sanity, his happiness, he knew it was a road that he had to see through to the end. And wasn't Cassandra down that same path?
The cat's eyes closed. His expression leveled, ears slowly rising as he let a long breath out through his nose.
"... I would defy everything and press on, regardless of my own well-being."
His tone was directly contrary to what he was just saying, but there was a weight to it - that of someone who knew just how difficult this path was.
"I wouldn't be satisfied." I couldn't be satisfied.
"Even if my bones break." Even when I retched in pain.
"Even if I was alone in the end." Even where no-one could hear me cry.
"... I'd press on." Until the impossibility of the world finally gave way.
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Post by Cross on Jan 3, 2019 3:26:14 GMT
"Then you understand why I can't stop." Cassandra spoke as she held her friends gaze knowing very well that this might be the last time they ever met truly face to face. "I can't stand idly by and watch the D-reaper ruin even more lives. I can't...I can't ignore the destruction of the Dark Area." She admitted before she slowly stood motioning for Mikemon to walk with her.
"There's something I want to show you." Cas explained leading him out into the hall and down several long and winding corridors into an area which the group had clearly yet to reach to even begin the process of cleaning as she stopped in front of a locked and keyed door. Carefully the Tamer typed in the code the door sliding open to reveal a small room lined with sealed glass growpods in which grew a number of strange plants. The most numerous being an entire wall of smaller pods filled with vibrant bright red lillies. One pod of which Cassandra gently picked up cradling it with reverent gentleness to place into Mikemon's paws.
"This is the Firebreak Lily. It mimics the D-reaper in feeding off of damage and corruption and healing the area while reacting hostilely to the D-virus. It grows like mad so long as it has a source of corruption to feed off of with the spread tapering out once it's purified the source." Cassanda explained the soft glow of the lily's petals reflecting in the off-blue of her own eyes.
"I believe this may be the key to slowing the D-reapers steady spread across the Dark Continent, but I have one last favor to ask Mikemon." The Doctor murmured gently returning the sealed growpod with it's content back to the shelf once the cat was done with it.
"I need to speak with Calumon. I need to ask him where exactly sovereigns go when they die." Cas requested knowing full well the weight of for what she asked.
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Post by Dr. Mikemon on Jan 7, 2019 1:41:52 GMT
"... I understand that you can't. I just wish that you could."
Mikemon's answer was as much somber as it was sincere. As Cassandra made that motion, the Mikemon stood - leaving the untouched cup of tea in front of him - and followed as Cassandra lead down both the hall. His ear flickered as Cassandra opened the door, stepping back as the doctor revealed a small greenery, with several fibrous red plants growing on the right wall. Of course, Mikemon waited for the explanation:
Firebreak Lily.
A plant built from - and to counteract against - the blight of the D-Reaper.
"I wonder how much a plant could hold back a nest... hm." He seemed faintly in thought, but Cassandra didn't stop there. She needed to know more.
... She needed to speak to Calumon. The cat blinked - realizing the weight of the question, before managing a slow nod. "... Then 'send Argent'. I can make it happen."
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