Hi hi, Crimson here!
Wow, how long has it been since I've opened with that?
...Yeah, it's really weird writing as myself again. God, when was the last time I did a proper author's note?
...ONWARDS!
There weren't many things that she could depend on here, but one constant seemed to be the excessive noise that followed meal times. Granted, she couldn't care less when there was a conversation or two around her; no, it got irritating when she was surrounded by mindless babble.
"Hey."
4242 scoffed at the stifled giggles and forced whispers around her, barely able to keep her attention on the sludge in a bowl before her.
"Yeah?"
She knew they'd ignore her, but 4242 glared at the two girls chatting anyway, shooting them a narrow eyed look over her shoulder. Of everyone around her, those two were easily the loudest.
"Did you hear?"
"No, and I really wish it would stay that way." 4242 muttered to herself, keeping her head down regardless of her tone. She was sure she wasn't the only one that was thinking it, but that didn't mean much when her popularity was lower than dirt.
"Hear about what?"
Come to think of it, she was pretty surprised she hadn't been jumped yet. Normally, someone would have tossed her bowl out the window by now.
"You know, about 5580?"
God, she was kinda hoping someone would come along and start something with her now. It would be optimal compared to this stupid conversation.
"God no, I don't talk to them. Froggie's group is better seen from afar, especially with that new attack dog of hers."
If you really wanted to, you could easily ignore it.
With that thought in mind, she turned back to her bowl of mush. She stared down at it, mentally trying to piece together how she wa supposed to force this rubbish down-
"I heard a little rumor from her and that whole group; apparently, 5580 was called into Ms. Chrow's office recently."
Wait.
"Yeah, so?"
She felt as if her ears had perked up, despite the boring high pitch whine coming from the two of them. Honestly, she wasn't sure what triggered that sudden spike of curiosity, but she was rarely ever wrong about things like these…
"So, when the girl came out, she said she saw something interesting in Ms. Chrow's office. Something odd."
"Come on," 4242 muttered, glaring down at the brown mush as if it could do anything, "Get to the point."
"Would you stop pussy footing it and just tell me what it is already?"
Now isn't the time to be hurried. No need to become testy.
"I heard…"
Just wait.
"I heard that 5580 found a gun."
4242 went still, unbelieving of the word she'd just heard.
Bingo.
"No way, that's totally a lie."
But is it really?
"No, I'm telling you, 5580 said that Ms. Chrow left for a bit, so she had time to go digging around the desk. Popped open a drawer and found a pistol."
4242 hadn't noticed she'd dropped her spoon until she was staring down at it from her seat. A gun. A gun. There was no way that there was something that dangerous within an orphanage, right?
"You best believe it."
4242 nearly jumped at the intro of a new voice, nearly whipping around to watch the new girl sit with the other two. It was only then that she noticed the silence; everyone else had gone silent, as if they two were waiting for what this new girl was about to say.
"Yeah, I saw the old hag's gun." 4242 didn't need to turn around to remember that voice: it was one from Froggie's entourage. A part of the group that had urged on that stupid "attack dog". God, what was her number again? "Pulled it out of the draw and everything. Held it for a bit before the old thing crawled back into the office."
"Oh? What was it like?" 4242 could practically feel the energy rolling off of her shoulders, envisioning the tiny girl leaning over the table in order to hear whatever detail she could.
"Heavier than I thought it would be." 5580 hopped onto the table the moment 4242's curiosity won out, finally turning around in order to watch the older girl grin down on the others beneath her, "Felt powerful, like I could take on damn near anyone. God, if it had bullets in it, you better be damn sure I would have-"
"Put the gun down and left it there."
4242 wasn't the only one to turn to the doorway, watching as Froggie strode right in. 4242 ducked her head down as Froggie walked by, not wanting to make eye contact. She didn't need to turn around to hear this part.
It would be fun to watch, though. If only Froggie wasn't prone to random violence, maybe she'd let others in on the fun.
"Oh. Ah, hey there, Froggie." 4242 nearly laughed at the trepidation in her voice, easily imagining 5580 shaking in her shoes. "What's going on?"
"Oh, you know how it is." 4242 nearly jumped when the attack dog sat across from her, making a point to pretend she wasn't really there, "Heard from a little birdy that you wanted to tell me something."
"Umm, who'd you hear that from? 3265? I'm telling you, she just likes to-"
She was cut off by a loud slam coming down on the table, all the other girls nearly jumping out of their seats. The quiet murmuring was now silent, all eyes on Froggie as she got back up, a grin on her face as she walked over to the doorway. She spun on her heel, steely eyes glaring holes into 5580's head, "Come on, I want to make this quick."
You know what would make this quick? A gun.
5580's head drooped as she stumbled by, as if knowing and accepting what was to come. 4242 heard the chatter slowly rise back up, as if it could cancel out the wet thuds that were sure to echo through the hallway soon.
Believing that she's seen enough, 4242 was quick to dispose of her bowl before dashing back up to her room. She threw the door shut behind her, making sure to throw her elbow against it a few times before finally lying down on the sheet on the floor.
Now then, where is the office?
She moved to search the area for something to write with, finally pulling a pencil from her hidden spot in the wall. She pulled the sheet away, giving her some space to write out a crude map. She knew where the dining area was, as well as where the rooms were. So, ideally, if she put it all down, the empty space should be…
The office.
"Assuming I'm right, finding the office isn't going to be the hard part." 4242 muttered to herself, looking over her rudimentary drawing. She'd done her best to draw it out, but being how there were at least three known stories to this building, it was going to be a bit harder than she thought it was.
That won't be an issue though, will it? There's nothing better to do.
4242 shoved the pencil back into its place, too afraid that it would be taken along with the rest of her meager belongings. She pulled the sheet back over the map, lying back on it while staring at the wall.
How nice would it be, to have a gun? That stupid attack dog wouldn't be an issue anymore; hell, Froggie wouldn'y be an issue anymore. Take out the person on top, and suddenly there's a power vacuum.
"A struggle for control could be fun." 4242 mused to herself, fingers fiddling with the edge of the sheet before rolling over. Facing the window, she watched as the sun slowly but surely rose, nearing the top of the sky.
Lots of fun.
"It won't matter if I get caught." 4242 reasoned with herself, muttering to the wall before her like it could respond. She couldn't just run in blindly, no, this would require some sort of plan to be formed. This would take time to put together, time to properly work out.
First things first, she'd have to figure out exactly where the office was.
Finally, something to do.
A month later, the crude map drawing on the floor was now amid a multitude of other drawings, sketches, and details. All of which were only visible in the dim flickering light from the dingy lightbulb above her. She'd spent many sleepless nights like this; either looking over the plan or pressing her ear to the door, listening for the tap and drag of Ms. Chrow's uneven stride.
No, a "stride" isn't one leg being dragged behind by the other. That's more of a struggling shuffle.
She'd been planning for this night, relishing it almost. Every moment of every day was spent thinking about every plan from A to Z, predicting the worst case scenario while drawing designs with a stick and dirt, working to memorize Ms. Chrow's schedule while choking down her sludge.
Granted, she knew things would go wrong. Hell, she was positive that there would be something that didn't go according to plan. But, after a month of mulling it over, she was sure that, if push came to shove, she could figure it out.
And then the fun part starts.
"Fun." 4242 muttered to herself, flicking the light off before pressing her ear to the door. She waited for the step and drag pattern, keeping her ear to the door even as the sound grew quieter. That should be the last round she takes for at least an hour, assuming she didn't go to sleep late tonight.
With a deep breath, 4242 slowly twisted the doorknob, pushing the door open as slowly as possible. Damn hinges were going to squeak, but being how far the old hag was, it wouldn't be an issue.
Now then, the office should be on the first floor, past the kitchen, and to the left of the laundry room. The quickest way to get to the kitchen is through the cafeteria. It's Friday, so that means that the last person to be in the washroom would be either 7645 or 6849. They're small, taking them down won't be too much of an issue.
Her mind raced as she snuck her way down the wooden stairs, careful of the creaking parts in the wood. She tiptoed her way around the loudest parts of the floor, mindful of where to put how much weight. She turned into the cafeteria, eyes locking on the door at the end, she moved past the low hanging tables and lower benches, nearly kicking one on her way.
Almost ruined everything with that.
Rolling her eyes, she took a moment to look around the café before pushing the door open. She stepped into the kitchen, eyes taking a moment to adjust to the dark before she slowly moved in.
No sign of the witch. She must have gone straight to her room after going through the dorm hallways. We'll have the rest of the night to ourselves, or at least, without her.
"Perfect." 4242 whispered to herself, constantly taking glances over her shoulder as she stalked her way through. She'd only been inside the kitchen a few times before, most of which because of dish duty. She knew every nook and cranny in this grimmy mess. Granted, they weren't clean nooks and crannies, but if push came to shove-
She nearly jumped out of her skin when the door was swung open, quickly moving to dive into the nearest nook.
Of dear. Don't look, but that's something cold and sticky on the floor.
4242 went dead still as footsteps echoed through the kitchen. The hand that wasn't absolutely disgusting found its way over her mouth, eyes narrowing as she tried to make sense of what she could in the dark. She nearly jumped when someone entered the kitchen, the door squeaking shut.
It can't be the hag, there's no dragging. They sound light but stupid, they aren't doing much to try and be quiet. Good chance it's 7645 or 6849.
Taking a moment to steel herself, 4242 let out a huff of breath before a leg crossed right in front of her. She didn't think, her hand reaching out to grab the girl's ankle before sliding her leg up and out, kicking right behind her knee. There was a grunt and a curse on the other girl's lips as 4242 finally slipped out of the spot, using her foot to keep the other girl down.
Looking down, she couldn't help but curse her luck. It didn't matter that it was nearly too dark to see, she felt the spark of realization between them the moment the attack dog's eyes narrowed.
Ah, what luck.
"Fuck, of course it's you." 4242 growled, head whipping about. She thought that she'd be prepared for anything, having a way out of any situation.
Of course this bitch had to appear just to make things harder.
She didn't realize it until a hand came down on her ankle, ripping it to the side while also pulling down. 4242 yelped, falling on her side just as 2130 pulled herself back up, grabbing her shirt collar before throwing and pinning her down onto the countertop, "Of course you have to show up here. Make shit harder."
Hand is still cold and sticky.
"I'd love to hear your excuse." 4242 spat, before throwing an open palmed slap at 2130's face. She made sure to rub whatever was one her hand all over 2130's face.
"Eww, what in the actual hell!?" 2130 spat, finally letting go of 4242 before backing up furiously. Her back rammed into the counter as 4242 pulled herself up, eyes going wide as the pots and pans behind her clattered about, "You absolute moron, what the hell are you doing!?"
2130 gave her an odd look, turning around to the dishes, before a snicker crossed her mouth, "Oh, don't like that, do you?"
There's no way she is this dumb.
2130 grinned as she grabbed the two nearest pots, hands tightening around the handles before swinging them at her.
Ah, no, it would appear as if she is.
"You're going to give us away, you idiot!" 4242 hissed as quietly as possible, doing her best to dance around 2130's wide swings.
2130's eyes widened too little too late, unable to stop her downward swing as 4242 dove out of the way. She brought the pan down hard on the counter, 4242's eyes going wide as a large crack spiderwebbed across the fake marble.
Now would be a good time to run.
4242 agreed with that sentiment, already moving towards the door to the cafeteria, only to jump when a familiar step and drag echoed down the hall.
Oh, fuck.
4242 felt as if time stood still, eyes furiously looking around for a way out. The only other door leads to the laundry room and the office, both of which are in a dead end hallway. She couldn't go out into the cafeteria, that's where Chrow would be walking in through.
4242 ducked under the sink, into the shelving underneath before pulling the thing closed. She didn't care for 2130, hell, it would probably be better if the attack dog did get caught.
Her mind raced to try and put the pieces together as the kitchen door was pushed open, the step and drag echoing from the dirty floor. No matter how hard she tried, 4242 couldn't think of a concrete reason for 2130 being down here. Maybe Froggie sent her down here for something? She was sure that 2130 couldn't think on her own at this point, needing someone to tell her what to do constantly.
Like a mutt.
She had to stifle a giggle when the steps came to a stop right in front of the sink, the points of the old woman's shoes peeking out from under the door. 4242 could practically feel the woman's gaze on the flimsy piece of wood between them, sweat going cold when her old fingernails dragged against the sink top, "Strange, the pans weren't on the floor earlier."
She nearly bit down on her cleaner hand in order to keep quiet, heart beating so loud she was amazed it hadn't given her away yet.
"This crack wasn't here earlier, either."
At this rate, she's going to inspect everything but the sink.
Of course, the moment that thought passed through her head, that's when the wood beneath her creaked. She didn't even realize that she'd been shifting ever so slightly, cursing her agitated restlessness as the wood was pressed in slightly, fingers slowly curling up and around the bottom of the door.
4242 all but forced down her dread, adjusting so that both legs were aimed right at the door. The moment she saw the woman's face she was gonna donkey kick her so hard-
Her apprehension quickly turned to confusion when something fell to the ground, the slam echoing in the small kitchen. 4242 could practically feel Ms. Chrow whip around, "Alright, who's in here? Show yourself!"
4242 only breathed when the kitchen's door had swung open once more, the step drag carrying itself into the cafeteria. She counted to ten, fighting to keep herself under control, before finally slowly pushing the drawer open.
She placed both hands on the ground before stepping out, keeping her body curled up and near the ground as she snuck around the counter, looking over her shoulder to watch Ms. Chrow stumbling about in the cafeteria before reaching for the door in front of her. She stared at the knob in her hand, the cold metal refusing to budge, "No way, are you kidding me!?"
It's locked. How lucky.
4242's blood went cold when something clicked behind her, illuminating the kitchen around her. She didn't think before diving behind the counter, hoping that the old woman hadn't seen her.
"This is enough for one night!" 4242 winced at the woman's screech, slowly sneaking around the island as the other shambled around the other end.
The moment she reached the end, she bolted out the open cafeteria door, slamming it shut behind her. Grabbing the nearest bench, she pushed it alongside the door, making sure to secure it before backing away. She just barely comprehend the muffled screams of the hag as she darted for the cafeteria doorway, making a mad dash for the stairs-
"Hey!"
4242 all but bounced off of 2130, the two of them tumbling to the floor. She didn't need to think, one leg coming up and over the attack dog before straddling her, holding her down with one hand while the other cocked back to punch her. She almost scared herself with how quickly she'd moved, already primed and ready to deck 2130 in the face.
She was so caught up in her own stupor that she almost didn't notice 2130 gripping her wrist, jerking her off with a sudden tug.
Almost pulled out a shoulder there.
2130 gave her a dirty glare, mouth open as if she were about to say something, only to go silent when the door to the cafeteria finally creaked open.
She'll catch you before you make it up the first step.
With that thought, 4242 dove under the tables, dragging herself completely under cover. She watched as 2130 did the same to the table across from her, the two all but staring each other down
"Damned rusted locks, rusted hinges," Ms. Chrow muttered to herself, staggered footsteps slowly growing louder as she got closer, "I know you're here somewhere, you damned imp!"
Imp? Is that the best she can come up with? How trivial.
4242 was all but ready to laugh at it before a metal broom handle came down on the table she was under, nearly throwing her head up as she jumped, "I AM NOT PLAYING GAMES, NOT AT 2 IN THE MORNING!"
Oh. Oh dear.
4242 crawled away, back towards the kitchen where- No, she couldn't lock herself in there. She'd checked the door, there was no locking mechanism, as well as nothing to bar the door with from the inside.
It wasn't like the door to the office was open, she'd have nowhere to run. All she could really do was wait and hide under the table, hoping that the old woman wouldn't risk bending down to look.
That would be a rather funny scene though, wouldn't it?
She was rattled from her thoughts when the table next to her shook. She looked up just in time to watch something fly out from beneath the other table, right as two wrinkly hands placed themselves on the floor.
"Hey, over here!"
4242 nearly lost herself in her sudden stupor, moving herself just in time to watch as a dark shadow darted out of the cafeteria and out the front door. Ms. Chrow followed as quickly as she could, grumbling to herself as she lurched after 2130, slamming the front door shut behind her.
For what it's worth, the attack dog doesn't seem to understand fear.
4242 snorted at that, whipping herself around the corner and up the stairs as Ms. Chrow's hollers finally died down, partially amazed that no one had woken up. She scampered up to the top of the stairs, not daring to look back as she forced herself up against the wall, breathing in and out deeply as she pressed an ear to the wall.
No, the shouting is coming from outside. Let Chrow be the attack dog's problem.
She stood there for a few seconds more, just to make sure the hag wouldn't pop up from behind her, before finally sneaking her way back to her room. She didn't realize how tense she was until she was safe in her room, the closed door pressed up against her back.
She stared down at her shaking hands, the cool breeze just barely breaking through to her senses.
That was close.
"Too close." 4242 muttered, slowly staggering over to her blanket on the floor, all but falling over onto it, "Way too close."
She pulled herself to stare up at the ceiling, the moonlight failing to grant the general ease it normally did. Her mind was abuzz, stuck between panic and self irritation. She had a month to think it all out, put into place everything she'd need, and this was the result? Not only did that IDIOT of a human get in the way, but she'd been stopped by a locked door?
How had she not thought about the possibility of a LOCKED DOOR!?
That does seem to be a rather basic piece of information.
4242 groaned, pulling the top corner of the blanket up and over her face, as if covering it would force her mind silent. As if failing wasn't enough, her mind just had to pick her apart for doing so, analyzing what went wrong to an almost miniscule level.
Granted, feedback was needed, but not right now. If anything, she was more than content with going to sleep and letting this become tomorrow's problem-
4242 was cut off by the sound of scratching on the wall next to her, throwing the blanket off of her head just in time to see something fall through her window. She rolled to the side, bracing herself on her hands as the dark figure landed on the floor, coughing and wheezing as she slowly pushed herself up, "You've got to be fucking kidding me."
2130's head whipped up as she said that, eyes narrowed as if her brain hadn't quite caught up, only to yelp when 4242 tackled her to the ground. The attack dog didn't even have time to wheeze, 4242 locking her legs around 2130's torso, pulling the other's arm through her legs in an armbar.
Excellent form. In record time, too.
"Oww, oww, oww! Hey, take it easy!" if she wasn't so irritated, she might have found 2130's whimpering to be entertaining. "I didn't mean to drop into your room, I promise!"
"This is on the second floor! How'd you even manage to get up here!?" 4242 whisper hissed, pulling tighter on 2130's arm when she didn't get a verbal answer.
"Oww, okay, shit, I climbed up! Now please let me go!" It was too dark to be sure, but she was sure that something wet was dribbling down onto her leg.
"Do you have any idea how easily I could kill you right now?" She snarled, her anger finally having some sort of outlet. She tugged harder on the arm, just to further make her point, "I could pop your arm out, and you wouldn't be able to do anything. And don't bother trying to call for help, most of us are so used to the noise by now that no one will bother to help, even if they hear you."
"You think I don't already know that!?" 2130 hissed, whether out of irritation or pain, 4242 really had no clue, "Come on, just let me go, and I won't do anything, I promise!"
"Liar."
"I-I mean it!" 4242 had just about enough of her bullshit, really. Maybe the feeling of power was going directly to her head, knowing that the attack dog wouldn't be able to do much in this position. Maybe the idea of sending Froggie a message was a little too alluring-
Stop.
"I didn't even know you were down there, I promise!" 2130 said, her other hand coming up to try and adjust 4242's leg, only to have the smaller girl kick her heel down into her wrist, forcing it back down, "Oww, come on, this has nothing to do with Froggie!"
"How would I know that?" 4242 did her best to keep her voice down, especially while not knowing where Ms. Chrow could be, but she was finding that harder to do as time went on. Her blood was boiling as she stared down at 2130, hands shaking under her own inner turmoil.
Don't.
"Because if Froggie knew I was out of my room right now she'd probably kill me!"
Ah, smell that? That smells like something useful.
"Oh? Is someone breaking a rule?" 4242 said, her teasing tone turning sour as her grip tightened, "Would be a shame if that got out, wouldn't it?"
"Stop, please just, please don't!" 4242 could almost taste 2130's apprehension: the subtle twitch of her arm, the stuttering breathing that escaped 2130's mouth, "I won't bother you, heck, I'll do whatever you want! Just please don't tell Froggie, please!"
How pitiful.
"Why not?" 4242 hissed, "Give me one good reason why I shouldn't-"
She's coming.
4242 cursed to herself, listening for the creaking, only to jump when that familiar yet haunting pattern rang out from beyond the door, "Alright, here's what's gonna happen…"
4242 kept her voice low and quiet, keeping her tone as stiff as possible as she growled out her orders. She watched 2130 nod with each word, eyes never seeming to blink as if she was too scared to do so.
Perfect.
"Am I understood?"
4242 released 2130 just as the footsteps came to a stop outside the room. She gave the attack dog one more pointed look before scampering over to the sheet. She watched as 2130 crawled underneath it, tucking herself into a ball so that she looked like a makeshift pillow.
4242 put her head down on 2130's back just as the door creaked open. Her eyes stuck to the wall, watching the shadow that shifted from the doorway. Each second felt like an hour, her whole body almost quivering as she tried to force herself still. The wooden floor behind her creaked as the woman got closer, 4242's nose twitching as Chrow bent down behind her.
She could practically feel the old woman's breath down her neck, one hand grasping the other in an attempt to keep still.
Ms. Chrow's within attacking range. Do it.
Her fist shook, trying to escape her own grip.
You could take her own with one good punch. Do it.
It took a lot of effort to keep herself from jumping when a foot nudged the back of her head.
She knows, it's too late to try anything. Do it.
If she hadn't been so caught up in her own head, she would have marveled at how still 2130 managed to be.
Do it.
Right before 4242 could snap, something crashed in the hallway. She watched the shadow whip around, a round of curses falling from Ms. Chrow's mouth as she wobbled out of the room, pulling the door closed behind her.
4242 didn't breath until she heard the step drag pull away from the doorway, sucking in a deep breath as she lifted off of 2130. The other girl pushed off the sheet, seemingly shaking off her own dread before shooting her a smile, "Wow, that was horrible! Granted, it could have been-"
"Shut it." 4242 muttered, fighting to calm the mess in her head. She flicked her hand in 2130's general direction, glaring the other girl down. She didn't need to throw threats, not after their earlier interaction, "You just shut it for a moment."
So, 2130 sat there, eyes wide as she kept looking over the entire room, as if trying to keep herself from going insane.
How cute. I wonder, if told to do so, would you sit and bark?
4242 shook her head, teeth threatening to break under the pressure. She hated to think too hard on this, but she knew there was something she could do here. Something that could be… exploited.
SHE can be exploited.
"Why were you downstairs?"
"W-what?" 2130's eyes finally snapped back to her, head tilted to the side.
"I want to know why you were downstairs." 4242 said, voice low as her eyes darted over to the door. Part of her mind kept its attention on the door and the hallway, the slightest noise seemingly echoing with the attention on it. "You said you didn't follow me, so that means you were down there for something else. I want to know what it is. Now."
2130's gaze locked onto the floor, her hand tugging and twirling around her hair, "I, umm, I was looking for something."
Wow. How astute.
"No shit. Details, attack dog."
"Stop calling me that!" 2130 hissed, only to cower under 4242's gaze, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I just… I… I wanted to get into Ms. Chrow's office. I wanted to find my file."
Had she not been so tired and annoyed, she would have rolled her eyes, "What the hell are you going to find on that?" 4242 nearly slammed her hand against the floor when 2130 mumbled, her other hand dragged down her face, "Speak. Up."
"I wanted to know if I could find my name!" 2130 said, face going red, "There, happy?"
…She can't be serious.
"What the hell is that gonna do for you?" 4242 couldn't believe what she was hearing. A name wasn't going to do anything, much less your birth name. And that was assuming that the old lady received and/or kept those types of records.
No one around here cared for their name.
"I don't want to be a number." 2130 mumbled. At this angle, 4242 couldn't help but liken her to a stubborn child, completed with the crossed arms and pouty lips. "I can't, I don't, I'd just rather not, okay?"
4242 couldn't help but stare at 2130. She was sure that, at this point, her eyes were going to fall out of her skull. A number of other alternatives crossed her mind faster than she could comprehend them, each even more straightforward than the last.
She wanted to ask why, why not just make you own name? Why not just choose one that you might like and go from there? She was treating this as if someone had stolen something important from her, something irreplaceable.
She can't honestly be this hung up over something as trivial as this.
"I know, it sounds stupid," 2130 muttered, still unwilling to look away from her spot on the floor, "But… It's my reason, okay? You asked and I told and would you stop looking at me like that!?"
It was only then 4242 noticed the small changes on her face: the slight tilt of her head, eyes just a little too wide, and a smile that was beginning to hurt her cheeks.
You know what to do.
"...Okay." 4242 finally said, taking a moment to reel herself back in, before shooting 2130 a pointed look. She almost grinned at 2130's confused face, only to repeat herself. "Okay."
"O-okay?"
"That's what I said, twice now, yes?"
"Well, I mean, yeah, but…" 2130's mouth seemed to run without her, a stream of inconsistent babble trailing out of her mouth, "What do you mean, 'okay'?"
It seems she isn't exactly sharp, is she?
"I'm not going to hold this against you, nor am I going to tell Froggie about your stupid name infatuation." She couldn't help the slight sneer that grew across her face when 2130 rolled her eyes, hissing something under her breath as she threw her arms onto the floor, "But I'm not going to do that for nothing."
2130's eyebrows furrowed, before giving 4242 a look, "...What do you want?"
Now she's beginning to catch on. Wonderful.
"Simple, really," Standing up, 4242 dusted off her knees, before offering 2130 her hand, "We're gonna be friends."
"...What?"
"You heard me." 4242 pulled the other up, helping to dust the girl off under her bewildered stare, "We both have a similar goal: to get into the hag's office. I have no problem helping a friend, but I refuse to rely on an enemy. I'll keep your little secret and all that, but in return, I'd like to… start over, if you will."
When 2130 didn't respond verbally, 4242 sighed, giving her a blunt look before shooting her hand out, "Hi, I'm 4242, and I'm pleased to meet you. I hope that we will become good friends."
…If that wasn't a dry delivery, I don't know what is.
2130 seemed to share in that sentiment, if her skeptical expression and darting eyes were anything to go off of. She stared at the outstretched hand, glancing down at her own, and then back to 4242's.
"Come on, my hand doesn't bite."
"For some reason, your blunt tone seems to suggest otherwise." 2130 muttered, scratching the back of her head with one hand, before finally reaching out to shake with the other, "Hey, I'm 2130."
"I already knew that, idiot."
"But you just- You know what, okay, fine." 2130 said, shaking her head before heading over to the door. She braced a hand against the knob, seemingly stuck for a second before turning back to 4242, "So, you're willing to help me?"
"That's what friends do for each other, yes?"
"...Yeah." 2130 murmured, almost looking lost in thought for a moment, before shaking her head, "So, ah, I guess I'll see ya tomorrow at breakfast?"
"Yes." 4242 said, the corner of her mouth twitching as she pulled her mouth into a smile.
2130 gave 4242 a weird look, "What the hell is that?"
"Is what?"
"On your face. What are you doing with your mouth?"
"Um… smiling? Attempting to show friendliness?"
"You look like you're about to bite someone."
"I do not." 4242 scoffed, smile dropping in favor of a scowl, before making a shooing motion with her hand, "Whatever, get out." 2130, oddly enough, laughed at that notion, finally pushing the door open slowly. She was careful to look down the hall before sneaking out, offering a small wave goodbye before closing the door behind her.
The moment that door was closed, 4242 felt herself deflate almost, all the frustration and stiffness all but evaporating from her.
How interesting.
"How tiring." 4242 corrected, finally dropping to her knees, falling face first onto the blanket. The blanket offered little to no cushion from the cold wooden floor, not that she cared all that much honestly.
That entire interaction had been more than she bargained for, but honestly, she was content. She'd managed to take care of multiple birds with one stone, and honestly, she hadn't even really tried to throw it too far.
It would be wise to keep the attack dog on a leash.
4242 waved the thought off, too exhausted to think any further on the subject. She bundled up some of the blanket to rest her head on, letting out a huff of a yawn before burying her face into the sheets.
While weird, it was ultimately a smart move to have 2130 as a friend, 4242 thought to herself, eyes slowly growing hazy as she yawned. Keeping the attack dog close would surely only make things easier, especially with her new connection to Froggie.
Not to mention, it'll be much easier to take out a trusting friend rather than a spiteful enemy.
4242 hummed in agreement before finally succumbing to her mental fatigue.
Regardless of how the prior night had gone, 4242 nearly hunted 2130 down to throw her through a wall when she woke up to Ms. Chrow's screaming. That morning was spent washing dishes and scrubbing the kitchen floor with the others, all while listening to all of them hiss and bicker about who's fault this all was.
For what it's worth, at least it's entertaining.
Complete side note: Turns out, even when you've gone and taken time to write out guidelines, things will STILL CHANGE whether you like it or not. Cause NO MATTER HOW MUCH TIME I PUT INTO GUIDELINES they either end up COMPLETELY IGNORED or changed SO DRASTICALLY that they might as well not bother existing in the first place.
The stories write themselves, I am nothing more than a conduit.
...Thanks for reading, see ya next chappie.
Bai bai!