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[It's strange, this place—or, at least, the little blonde girl wandering through the Gardens thinks so. But, then again, she hasn't ever been allowed out of the laboratory where she was born—or grown, to put it more accurately, but it's not as though she knows the difference—and no one ever thought it necessary to teach her much of anything about what "outside" might be like. Of course she thinks it's strange, this much color and space and freedom.]

[It's a little scary to suddenly be somewhere new with no idea where she is, of course, but at the same time it's a lot more frightening to be where she was before. After being trapped in the lab for so long with no hope of escaping, finding herself where she is— It's confusing, but at the same time she feels relieved. She pays no attention to the direction she's moving in as she wanders through the trees, taking in her new surroundings with wide eyes.]

[She almost doesn't notice when the footsteps first draw close enough for her to hear. When she does, though, she freezes in place, holding her breath as she listens. They're definitely coming toward her— What if it's someone that's come to take her back?! She makes a panicked dive behind the nearest hiding spot she can find, which, in this case, happens to be the trunk of a particularly large tree. As the sound of the approaching person draws closer, she peeks out ever so slightly from behind the tree to find...]

[It's someone she has never seen before. Which, at least in her mind, probably means it's not someone coming to drag her away again. It's also the first person she has seen in this place so far, so curiosity wins out over fear and she shuffles out from her hiding place. She's a rather pitiful sight, to be honest, rail thin and barefoot and clothed in something that's closer to a smock than a dress.]

H— Hello...?

[ ooc: So, Lambda has been wildcarded into bitty!cyborg mode. Feel free to run into her just about anywhere! As a warning, her past deals heavily with human experimentation and abuse related to such, so those topics are likely to come up somewhere in this post. Replies will be coming from

minimurakumo. ]

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I am not a 'sir'. That is reserved for men. I am a woman, the Head of the Tohno family. You will address me as 'Akiha-sama'.

Understood?

[She almost makes an excuse for herself, but then stops herself. She has learned that the best way to avoid getting hurt—or at least avoid getting hurt as badly as she could—is immediate and unquestioning compliance.]

Yes, Akiha-sama!

Much better. What is your name?

Lambda.

[That makes Akiha stop and turn back to look at the girl. So this was Lambda as a child? Pre-cyborg, she was assuming since the girl didn't sound like the cyborg Akiha knew. Curious.

Akiha then continues on her way.]

That's a pretty name. It's the eleventh letter of the Greek alphabet. The Greeks were known for their culture, especially the arts and philosophy.

[She freezes when Akiha stops and looks at her, briefly panicking. Maybe she only just realized who she is now and now she really would take her back to the laboratory and—]

[—And then she turns back around and keeps going like that never happened. Lambda stays rooted to the spot for a moment, wide-eyed, then hurries after her once again.]

Uh-huh. The scientists call me that 'cus I'm the eleventh specimen.

[This is said without either any particular pride or bitterness.]

You are not a specimen; you are a young lady, Lambda. Regardless of what the scientists say. No matter the reason one's name is chosen for her, a lady will find a way to take pride in her name.

My name - AKIHA - means autumn leaves. And that is what of my name I embrace. You need to find something of that for yourself.

Lambda was a pattern once used on the shields of the Spartans. They were the fiercest and strongest of the Greek warriors in ancient times. Even their women were strong and capable in a fight, unlike in many other cultures.

[That reply catches Lambda by surprise, and it's apparent from the way her eyes go wide that she has been taken aback by it. As strict as Akiha seems, she's certainly nothing like the scientists that call her "it" more than "she." She feels a little bad for ever making the comparison, even to herself.]

[Of course, that speech can't undo the fact that she has been treated like a particularly interesting culture in a petri dish for quite literally as long as she can remember. She isn't at all sure what to say to something like that. Eventually, she ventures,] Do you really think that fits me?

[All things considered, she doesn't feel very strong, and she doesn't have much understanding of what she is being made into.]

Perhaps. You're still young. Is that what you want to be?

[Truth be told, she hasn't ever thought about what she wants to be. That was never something that occurred to her, and certainly no one ever suggested she consider the topic before. She squashes down the urge to ask what Akiha thinks she should want to be, mulling over the question in earnest instead. After a little while, she mumbles out a reply.]

...I don't know.

[It's the most honest answer she can give.]

[Akiha gestures for Lambda to draw next to her as she's tired of talking back to the child.]

Think about it. Many of us are born into families, into futures, we have no say in. But we can take something from it and make it our own. And that thing is a purpose.

There will come a time when you will come into your own and won't have to listen to those scientists.

[And she does so, apparently enough at ease by now to be within arms' reach.]

Do you really think so?

[She doesn't sound disbelieving, exactly, but the idea is obviously foreign to her. Still, the more she thinks about it... She sounds positively optimistic when she next speaks.]

If they don't know where I am... Do you think they'll be able to find me here?

I do.

[Akiha looks down at Lambda with that last question and offers the slightest of smiles.]

No... They won't. You're safe from them.

[Lambda might not know Akiha very well, but she can tell this smile, as slight as it might be, isn't something people see very often, and that makes her happy too. She beams up at her.]

Really?! Is this place really safe from them?!

[She barely knows how to react to that idea. She had long ago resigned herself to being those scientists' pet project for as long as she lived. To suddenly find herself free of something like that was overwhelming.]

It is. And should they find their way here and demand you back, if you wish to stay, I won't let them take you.

[She gestures to the mansion on the hill, now that they've cleared some of the trees.]

My home, Lambda.

Ahh—! Thank you, Akiha-sama!!

[Unthinkingly, she reaches out and grabs Akiha's hand with both of hers, tugging on it. When she speaks again, her voice is half-pleading and urgent.]

I don't ever want to go back there! Not ever again!

[Going back means returning to the experiments and the neglect and the terrifying visits from that strange masked man the scientists all call the Puppeteer. The thought of it is enough to make her want to cry, but then Akiha gestures toward the distance and she turns to look. She's never seen a house like that before, so her half-frantic are derailed, at least for the moment.]

Ah...! It's really big!

[Akiha looks down as her hand is taken.]

Then as long as you are well-behaved, you may stay with me. But you will need to learn to be a proper lady with good manners.

[That's met with a hurried nod.]

Mm-hm! Whatever you want!

[And there's another one of those slight smiles.]

Then its time to get you cleaned up. In you go. [opening the door]

[She scuttles inside obediently enough, eyes going wide as she looks around the interior of the home. It's just as different from the lab as the outdoors had been, so she tries to take in as much of it as she can while still following Akiha along.]

[Akiha leads her upstairs to the bathroom. It's big with a large claw-footed antique looking tub. She starts the water running, testing it with her hand before letting it fill the tub. Then she looks through her bath salts.]

Leave your... clothes outside the door. My maids will take care of them and bring you something more fitting for a lady. [and burn that rag Lambda was wearing.] Make sure to scrub well and pay special attention to your hair.

[There. Nice lavender scented salts. Akiha adds that to the bath water.]

[She's never seen a bath like this, either, so she creeps up to its edge when Akiha starts to fill it with water, standing on her toes as she peers inside it. She snaps attention again when addressed again, though, nodding hastily.]

O... Okay!

[With that said, she undresses quickly and efficiently, apparently not one to care about the presence of another person. (If Akiha cares to look, there's a lack of the bruises and scars one might expect, the only mark on her skin being the symbol (http://i.imgur.com/RJTrG.png) tattooed beneath her collar.) With the clothes left where instructed, she pads back over to the tub and sets her hands on its rim, glancing up at Akiha as though waiting for permission to get in.]

[Akiha does look, just to check for any signs of physical abuse. She'd seen enough in the past on another to know what kind of abuse might have been suffered, but there isn't any. Whereas she knows this is Lambda-11, she also knows that right now she is a child and so doesn't care about decency.]

Do you need help into the tub?

[The lack of marks is more a testament to the medical technology of the late 22nd Century (and the fact that she's still too young for them to perform any serious remodeling just yet) than it is to any sort of kindness on the scientists' part, but she's not going to be particular forthcoming with that information. It's not something she enjoys thinking about, after all. When Akiha speaks, she shakes her head—] Uh-uh! [—and moves to climb in.]

[Akiha watches, ready just in case, but once the child is in the water, she turns back to the cabinet. Out comes a white fluffy towel probably as big as the girl and it's set on a chair nearby. Then Akiha gathers that... rag up.]

If you need anything, call for either me or Kohaku.

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