damned_institute | Day 28; Bus 3

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Day 28; Bus 3

There was, Naomi decided, some sort of cosmic irony in all of this. Not that she was trapped in a deranged and possibly other-worldly asylum with a man she'd idolized for years and a boy who was being investigated for - among other things - the murder of her fiance. No, at this point, those were perfectly normal occurrences. Rather it was the soft, pretty, feminine pink sweater dress she'd been stuffed into in the morning. A chance to wear normal clothes, and she looked like a soccer mom. The white blazer and white boots only made her look like a soccer mom who maybe hadn't given up gogo boots.

It was humiliating. Why couldn't she have jeans and a sweater? And sneakers? Something she would conceivably wear? Not this damned pink monstrosity. And her nurse kept saying how pretty she was.

She didn't care if she looked pretty.

Grumbling to herself, and taking it out on her muffin, Naomi was shoved onto an empty bus and told to 'sit tight'. Oh, she'd sit tight alright....

At least she was relatively certain L was alright. She'd spent the whole night with him, and other than falling on his ass, nothing had happened to him. And hopefully nothing would happen to him in town, either....

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Unfortunately for Gin, Rhode never took the subtle hints. She acknowledged them in her mind, but intentionally overlooked them each time. When dealing with people, she made sure they told her things flat out before pretending to pay any attention. That was the best way to play, after all. Even after being told, it would usually take something more before Rhode would decide to change her course of action. She would never just walk away from a plaything simply because it told her. No, never!

Currently, this tall guy with white hair that wasn't doing well to answer had her full attention.

"You should~" she whined a bit, though her smile was still persisting. She liked this kind of playful whining; it had been so long since she'd been able to use it due to the lack of both the Earl and Tyki. "But if you've lost count, then that means you're not human!"

Powers or not, Rhode was good at inferring. So, either he was avoiding her questions because he was human and just self-conscious about his age, or he wasn't. Yes, an easy guess.

Gin only smirked at the girl's deduction. Sure it was possible that he wasn't human, but it was also possible that he just didn't want to say. Either way he only shrugged his shoulders and smiled at her.

"Precocious, aincha? Half th'fun of havin' a secret is not tellin', ne?"

Oh, she liiiiiiiiked this guy! People who admitted to having secrets but who also didn't want to tell were the most fun to play with. Like the Earl! He was so much fun to pester whenever Christmas time came around! Of course, the Noah didn't celebrate it in the same context that the deluded humans did, but they still had presents! Rhode was always able to prod the contents of at least one present out of the Earl before it came time to open them.

"Then you do know!" she teased. She knew he had a secret now, so teasing was an open option for prodding him now, as were her own secrets. Of course, she'd still be a little tactful about those, but not by much. Scaring worked just as well as being a "precocious" (hm, what did that mean?) little girl. "I bet I'm older than you, Mr. Not-Human~"

Or maybe not. She usually just assumed she held seniority to most here, even the ones who weren't humans. If she wasn't the oldest after all, then she was the one that at least aged the best!

Was there some pheromone in the air that told children which people to annoy? Sometimes he wondered. Especially as of late, with all the young ones suddenly and inexplicably gravitating in his direction.

"Maa~ Well I'd have t'know jus' how old you are t'tell which one's older." He stated the obvious. If she wanted to keep playing the game, she might just have to tell him something as well. He didn't care whether or not she thought he was old, young, human, or not. Maybe the thought of giving up her own secret would be enough to get her to leave. Only one way to tell really, and that was to wait for the answer.

Rhode's wasn't about to give out her actual age; the Earl had taught her to leave the guys guessing. Girl's weren't supposed to give out their ages, even when asked, and if they did want to, they were supposed to lie about it. A lie would have been fun, but Rhode was quite proud of her age as it reflected her inheritance of the Noah genes. She knew how to play with her age while bordering between the truth and the lies. The starting point was already set for the game as well!

"You know about Noah's Ark?" she asked, grinning.

Gin was vaguely familiar with the story. Though, to save himself a re-telling from the little girl's point of view he simply replied, "Sure," all while trying to sink deeper into his faded army jacket. The child obviously wasn't taking any hints. He honestly didn't care how old the girl was so long as she left him alone to sleep for the rest of the bus ride.

"I'm older than that~" she explained. This white-haired non-human was trying to avoid conversation. Rhode didn't like it herself, but it worked when she wanted to play. Or, at least, it was supposed to work, but he wasn't helping one little bit.

She about had the thought to leave him if he got any more boring but wouldn't without asking one of her favorite questions. "Do you like blood?" Right now she was really asking to see if he could entertain her any more.

The last person she'd asked that too had been much younger and had panicked. Little Phibbi was oh-so-scared of blood talk! Maybe an adult would be a bit calmer in response. Maybe he'd be just like Phibbi. He didn't seem to be at all like Phibbi, but humans could surprise. It would make her laugh if he did have such a reaction though.

If the child was not simply trying to play with him, an option he hadn't yet discounted, she would have to be at least a couple thousand years old. Which would indeed, make her older than he. He couldn't imagine why they would insist on acting like a child after so long, but perhaps she had her reasons. It wasn't unheard of.

"That so~?" he replied, though his voice wasn't as curious as it ought to have been.

Her other question didn't so much as startle him. He just smiled easily and replied, "Betcha you'll win that one too. Somehow I doubt I'd like it much's you, ne?"

"Mmmhmmm!" she nodded. He hadn't answered in either belief or disbelief, so she had no reason to be upset at him. By his voice though, she knew he wasn't very interested in comparing ages. Why not? It was fun! Especially since now she knew he wasn't human. Even those weren't so casual about a little girl claiming to be thousands of years old. The nurses scolded her for it, and the Exorcists she told never believed her until she showed them she was a Noah. Poor things, so naive and so weak.

She cocked her head at his second response, taking a moment to filter through the accent of his. It was still weird no matter how she looked at it, but Skin had kind of brought one from America, and this guy didn't talk all that much. She was getting used to it and to deciphering it without having to pause for too terribly long. "Mmmmm, but you do like it~?" Well, of course no one compared to her in bloodlust, but she wanted to make sure he liked it too before announcing her claim to fame.

He hadn't jumped though, and that made her pout inside. So much for that expectation. She hadn't actually expected it, per se, but it still would have been amusing if her question had produced such a response.

Interesting. If the girl were telling the truth, it was possible she knew something of value. The fact that it might be stuck in a childlike mind, however, was not all that pleasing.

"All depends on who it b'longs to," a smile grew across his lips. There had been something utterly delightful about stabbing that creature last night. He wasn't one for wanton destruction, but there were times when it was necessary, even enjoyable.

Well now, that was an excellent point he had made! Rhode should have specified herself, though for her, any blood was satisfactory when it came to this place, even her own. Sometimes there was no choice but to draw her own to satisfy her own cravings. The nurses would probably get upset if they ever found out her masochistic tendencies - i.e. biting a finger and sucking on the blood juuuuuust a little. No, not an acceptable action where these humans were concerned.

"Hmmmm, any works when you're bored, including your own~" she answered casually while she thought of which blood she actually did like best. "But if there's a choice... then human preferably. There's monsters too, and Akuma," a dangerous grin came to her face, "and of course, Exorcist blood is the sweetest."

Now Rhode had lost a bit of tact. Her child-like mentality was now too delighted with the talk of blood - the delicious memories of it in every form she was listing - for her to really think that perhaps the white-haired man actually didn't like blood in her own twisted way. Maybe he was also one of those types that only liked his own when it meant not having to spill others - the sickening martyr. Or maybe he was one of those sacrificing Christians with their oxen and chickens and lambs...

But she had determined he wasn't human, so for now, he wouldn't be treated as one until she got some semblance of an answer.

Gin could not say he'd ever been bored enough to consider spilling his own blood. Nor did he spill it just for the sake of spilling it. Most of the time it was carefully calculated out before a drop ever fell.

And exorcists? First Noah's Ark and now this. He supposed if she thought a holy man's blood was... sweet, then she probably fell into the category of "not well liked by the good guys," but who knew? Perhaps they were duped by her innocent looks. Perhaps she said all this simply to get a rise out of people. Perhaps...

"Can't say I've much taste for it," he admitted. "But it does have a nice color I s'pose." Were it an adult, the conversation would be decidedly awkward about now. Gin wasn't uncomfortable, though he'd rather spend the ride sleeping. He didn't have enemies to worry about on the bus, at least not of the shinigami variety.

She peered up at him again, "Awwww, but it tastes good! You should try some!" Rhode wasn't lying one bit in her declaration and was completely sincere in her suggestion for him. Blood-licking was one of her most cherished hobbies, so she'd licked her fair share of other beings' blood. She knew which tasted the best and which was not worth the effort to draw (which was a very small group). Even Akuma were tasty so long as torture was involved. Jasdebbit had always had a problem with Akuma blood though. Strange for a Noah...

What he added after admitting his lack-of-taste left her smile in place. "Blood's really pretty. Especially when it's stained against white~" as she said that, she drew a quick, though playfully slow finger along the side of the man's hair. Only a few strands caught on her small finger, sliding right back down into place as though she'd never touched them. "Your hair's just like Allen's!" she cooed, pulling her finger back when done and setting its tip to her grinning lips.

Though the talk of blood was still present, Rhode made sure to note how he'd responded after he explanations of bloods. Still calm, and now he wasn't even attempting to avoid the conversation with half-answers or returned questions either, nor did he seem the least bit uncomfortable. She wished she had just a little bit of her abilities right then to possibly get a reading on what heart he may or may not have had. Analyzing on sight was a lot more difficult, and far more annoying than simply peering inside another.

At least she could still play regardless.

It was a rare one indeed that would sit next to him out of the blue. Rarer still that they would actually reach out to him in a gesture that might be considered, even morbidly, as affectionate. The only person that actually got near him without being prodded to was Ran, and on occasion Izuru.

Since there was no real animosity behind the gesture, he didn't still her hand. Though if she'd any intention of making good on putting red to white. He wasn't keen on having his blood spilled, nor trying to get it out of his hair. It was not the easiest of tasks when your hair was silvery white.

"Ara~ don't think'm quite your type lil' lady," he paused. "Or is't old lady?..." Gin shrugged his shoulders. "Maybe you'd be best off findin' this Allen fella. M'sure he's missin' ya n' all that, ne?" Pity whatever poor fool that might be.

She only grinned happily, like a school girl might have. "Don't worry, Allen Walker's the one I like. He's so kiiiiiiiind~" Talk of Allen kept her from paying much attention to his comment on her age. She was old, but unlike most women, she took pride in that fact. She was the first child after all, which made her the most special! Except for Tyki, but that was another thing entirely. "And so easy to play with!"

At his suggestion, she finally remembered that it had been Allen she'd been looking for at first! She turned her head a few times to look for the white, but found that she couldn't see past the much taller people that were sitting in their own conversations. After a pout, she looked back up at the white-haired man with another innocent smile. "If you can find him for me, I'll go play with him~?" she asked. After all, he was tall enough to see over the mess of ~~oddly colored~~ hair.

If Allen was here, she knew he would be much more fun to bother, even if this one had proven at least somewhat entertaining. Allen was more important, more vulnerable.

Finally an opportunity for an out. He didn't envy the Walker kid, but better him than Gin. Besides, he probably knew... whatever or however it was she liked to play. Much more than he did at least. Gin sat up in his seat a little, trying to get a good view.

"There's a couple other kids up by the front with th' same kinda hair color." He counted at least three with light, white, or silvery hair. "Dunno which one's y'boy. Might be a dif'rent bus."

Rhode looked up towards the front, then peered out from the seat down the aisle. If this white-haired guy could see a few, then Allen Walker was probably one of them, right? Hopefully.

She grinned back at him. "If he's not up there, I'm coming right baaaaack~," she warned before slipping out of the seat to move forward.

One of the nurses scolded her a bit for getting out of her seat, but a quick puppy dog pout and an explanation that her friend was at the front of the bus - if not, she'd be forced to sit with what was bound to become another plaything - got her a quick escort up to an empty seat. Right next to her most favorite toy.

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Day 28; Bus 3

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