The main hallways. Good. And the coast seemed to be clear, so far. Link briefly wondered if the new clue would help the situation, or only make it more grim. He would know soon enough.
Nina hesitated for just a fraction of a second before taking Lana's hand. The gloves were like something a soldier might wear, she thought dimly, or a... prince? In any case, she found herself both admiring and slightly intimidated by the other woman's professional nature.
Still, the pump she gave Lana's hand when she did reach out for it was firm and decisive. Nina's grip was light but there was strngth behind it. Of course, she could have said the same for Lana too. Who was this woman?
Whoever she was, Ryuuzaki seemed to like her, and he was the best source of information Nina had right now. She'd trust his judgment, then. It wasn't like she had much of a choice, in a sense, but even so, Nina found herself wanting to like Lana, and she hoped that being on Ryuuzaki's good sign meant it was okay to do that.
When the other woman straightened up, Nina turned her attention to Ryuuzaki, listening to what she said. "Okay," she said, a dubious note in her voice. His proposed ideas made sense and were the best options under the circumstances. But that didn't mean Nina had to be thrilled by the possibility of abandoning him or Lana. She felt an inward twinge of nausea at the suggestion that by shooting at something they might be killing a turned human being and it was obvious, probably, in the way her whole body went stiff that she was in agreement with no killing things they didn't have to, even if she didn't vocalize it. In truth, killing a person-turned-monster was an idea Nina hated. She didn't relish taking a life at all, but that seemed like an especially nasty way to go and she didn't want to be the one to end someone's life that way.
But she'd do it if she had to. She was the only person in their group who wasn't sick, and as far as Nina was concerned, that made Lana and Ryuuzaki her responsibility to keep safe. They knew the layout of the institute far better than Nina, so she couldn't exactly take the lead outright, but she was on the alert anyway, and she found herself edging in front of them without consciously realizing it.
Gloves did give a certain chilly distance to any interaction, no matter how friendly the person wearing them might be. Chief Gant had always been good at balancing those -- intimidation through joviality, only shading into menace when he chose to take that route. But it couldn't be helped; she didn't want to spread the disease; if she'd had a face mask handy, she'd have been wearing that as well. That and, while she didn't mind Ryuuzaki and Nina knowing, she still didn't want to broadcast that she was one of the ones affected.
While Ryuuzaki was explaining the rings to Nina, Lana was fishing hers out from the breast pocket of her coat. She held it up, looking at it expectantly, waiting until she had their attention. "Likewise. Or if we're attacked by anything at all, this will take us to a safe location. My room, as it happens." Nina looked, and sounded, unhappy about the prospect; Lana frowned slightly. What had that man told her before dragging her along on this little jaunt? Ryuuzaki must have confidence in her abilities, or he was more ill than he was letting on.
She wouldn't mention the handgun, comfortably resting in an inside pocket. That was her last refuge, and she wouldn't ask anyone else to take that responsibility.
She tucked the ring back away and set off down the hallway, pulling in front of Nina in a few long strides.
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Still, the pump she gave Lana's hand when she did reach out for it was firm and decisive. Nina's grip was light but there was strngth behind it. Of course, she could have said the same for Lana too. Who was this woman?
Whoever she was, Ryuuzaki seemed to like her, and he was the best source of information Nina had right now. She'd trust his judgment, then. It wasn't like she had much of a choice, in a sense, but even so, Nina found herself wanting to like Lana, and she hoped that being on Ryuuzaki's good sign meant it was okay to do that.
When the other woman straightened up, Nina turned her attention to Ryuuzaki, listening to what she said. "Okay," she said, a dubious note in her voice. His proposed ideas made sense and were the best options under the circumstances. But that didn't mean Nina had to be thrilled by the possibility of abandoning him or Lana. She felt an inward twinge of nausea at the suggestion that by shooting at something they might be killing a turned human being and it was obvious, probably, in the way her whole body went stiff that she was in agreement with no killing things they didn't have to, even if she didn't vocalize it. In truth, killing a person-turned-monster was an idea Nina hated. She didn't relish taking a life at all, but that seemed like an especially nasty way to go and she didn't want to be the one to end someone's life that way.
But she'd do it if she had to. She was the only person in their group who wasn't sick, and as far as Nina was concerned, that made Lana and Ryuuzaki her responsibility to keep safe. They knew the layout of the institute far better than Nina, so she couldn't exactly take the lead outright, but she was on the alert anyway, and she found herself edging in front of them without consciously realizing it.
no subject
While Ryuuzaki was explaining the rings to Nina, Lana was fishing hers out from the breast pocket of her coat. She held it up, looking at it expectantly, waiting until she had their attention. "Likewise. Or if we're attacked by anything at all, this will take us to a safe location. My room, as it happens." Nina looked, and sounded, unhappy about the prospect; Lana frowned slightly. What had that man told her before dragging her along on this little jaunt? Ryuuzaki must have confidence in her abilities, or he was more ill than he was letting on.
She wouldn't mention the handgun, comfortably resting in an inside pocket. That was her last refuge, and she wouldn't ask anyone else to take that responsibility.
She tucked the ring back away and set off down the hallway, pulling in front of Nina in a few long strides.
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