Archive Log: 11

Doing a disappearing act before anyone else appeared, seemed like a good idea. Being in the garden, Walter had yet again lost sight of Onora in amongst all the greenery. Hearing what could be considered a stutter, he stepped away from the plants he was looking down on and walked down the lines of foliage until he turned the corner to find her. "Is there something the matter?" He asked as frankly as ever, she had her back to him so he couldn't see what she was eyeing up.

Eventually she turned and nodded her head to the side, her arms crossed over her chest tightly and she frowned. "Cannabis? Really?"

"It is good for medicinal purposes." Walter said and tilted his head when she double took and even mumbled out a few intangible words. "It is not uncommon for it to be used when in pain."

"Are we expecting pain?" Onora slapped a hand to her forehead, why did she even bother asking that? "I mean...you know, you wouldn't smoke some to cure a headache...or get rid of womanly aches and pains...and why're you looking at me like that for?" Onora trailed off awkwardly when Walter just started smiling, it was disturbing in a way. He had just been listening intently, only to end up smiling. "What?"

"You disagree with its usage." Walter walked over to her and looked down at the offending plant.

"I just think it gives people an excuse to go get stoned." Onora wasn't even going to lie. Why couldn't people just stick with painkillers and whatever? Was there a need for drugs to be present? She side eyed Walter sceptically, "Can you get high?" It was an incredibly odd question which caused him to tense and look down at her with confusion. "Like...you can eat, and drink, right?"

"I can. Though the effects of eating are different for me, it does not bring any nutritional benefits." Walter paused, "Why do you ask?"

"No, I don't want to get high with you, Walter. I was just curious."

"It wouldn't affect me like it would you."

"Them. Not me." Onora tended to try and keep her lungs clean of anything. Sighing and shaking her head she decided to just ditch the plant and leave its presence. Walking along she paused and crouched down to look over the vegetable section. Reaching out she turned a tomato around on the stem. It was interesting really, how even without being outside everything could still grow and prosper. She scratched her head in thought, be fair, tomatoes were usually kept in green houses anyway, weren't they? She definitely remembered her grandad keeping some in a green house to keep them away from nibbling pests.

"You look lost in thought." Walter looked down at her. "Would you like one?" Her nose scrunched up at that, thinking of the pros and cons. The plant needed to be at its fullest, not being snacked on by hungry passer-by's. Onora looked up as he knelt down, he easily popped a smallish tomato from the stem and held it out to her. "No?" He questioned, she just smiled and shook her head. Walter looked to it sadly before looking back at her, as if secretly imploring her to eat the fruit in his hand. She still shook her head, with a sigh he popped it in his mouth, stood, and walked away. He left Onora laughing quietly behind him as he tucked his hands into his pockets and just looked around himself. He did like the garden, the ever eternal peace and quiet at being surrounded by slowly growing organisms.

Hearing pattering footsteps, he looked over his shoulder just to see Onora stop by his side. "Nice?"

He rolled his eyes and shrugged, "I suppose."

She slapped a hand to her eyes, sliding it down her face she grinned. "Not the most expressive guy, are you?"

Walter frowned, "I do not believe that was part of the deal when I was created. Being too expressive caused problems. It was a problem. No one liked a synthetic with too much emotion."

Onora looked at him with a small frown, "That's sad." Walter tilted his head, as if the sadness point of it didn't even cross his mind. As if not being expressive had ever crossed his mind before now. "So...no emotions?"

"I understand emotions, but I do not express them." He looked at her quickly, "It was the expressing of emotions which scared people. Too human." He took a hand out of his pocket and pushed the door open when they reached it. Holding it open for her, he shut it afterwards and turned to her. She waited for him and once he made sure the door was locked behind them, he took up walking again. Onora instantly picked up walking too. She looked at him expecting for him to continue onwards from what he was saying.

"I think you're lying."

"I do not think I am capable of lying." Walter responded evenly while they turned the corner and made their way towards the shooting range. It was safe to say that by now everyone had left, and had either returned to their rooms, or were busying themselves socialising. They had all got rather used to Onora skirting on the outside, they got it, she spent more time in her own headspace than with people; and they respected that enough to not try and push themselves and their company on her. Even more so when most of the time, if she wasn't on her own, she was with Walter. It seemed in some way, he had grown used and fond to the time spent with her.

"You lie, Walter." She said lightly, Walter frowned, disagreeing with facial expressions but not words. "Think about it, when you read, you look content. Yes, sorry, not to sound like a freak, but the odd times I've caught you reading you look so peaceful. With peace can come a calm sense of happiness, that, that is an emotion. An emotion in which you've already shown, and even more so when you were cloud watching earlier. And especially a moment ago when you were looking over the flowers." Onora said while pointing a finger and wagging it with a smirk, Walter just frowned and contemplated over everything that she had said.

"Perhaps." Onora grinned and clapped her hands, though Walter still looked blank faced. "There may be something wrong." She tilted her head, completely confused. "With me, if that were true." He looked at her slowly, pausing in the corridor as she turned and looked up at him.

"I think you're okay, Walter. Just how you are, you're fine. There's nothing wrong with you. Nor is it wrong or bad if you can feel." Onora rocked on her heels and nodded her head slowly. Looking to the side she nodded, "Want to help me actually hit a bullseye?"

Walter nodded, he walked past her and opened the range door and walked along the line of cubicles, grabbing a gun and ammo as he went. Onora just trailed behind watching how fluid and efficient his movements seemed to be. She wasn't stumbling about earlier, she wasn't shaking or anything, but there just seemed like a natural flow of movement with Walter. She frowned, he was able to shift his character relatively easily. Laid back to serious, it was strange really.

"How are you meant to get better, from way over there?" Walter looked over his shoulder at her. She was still hanging near the door. Letting out a quiet 'oh' sound, she stepped forwards and walked quickly over to him. She wrung her hands before sidestepping and standing in front, a new target was already awaiting her attempts at shooting. Being tapped on the shoulder, she looked to Walter, he handed the gun over. He already shook his head, "You're likely to shoot yourself in the foot if that is how you're going to handle it." Walter scolded, she raised an eyebrow. Actual scolding, it did make her lips quirk up a little. Regardless, she changed her hold and got a nod. Now that he seemed pleased he stepped back and just gestured loosely, getting the hint she took aim and fired. Much like earlier, her aim was a little off. "Don't be discouraged," Walter said, catching how her head hung and a sad sigh came from her.

"That's easy for you to say," Onora said with a small pout, "Your vision is perfect."

"True as that may be-"

"You can't do that, Walter. You can't agree and then come up with a statement that backtracks. You especially can't do that." Onora said simply with another look sent in the targets direction.

Walter stepped forwards, "If I may?" Onora just nodded, she was giving up on this whole target practice thing. Some people seemed like naturals at this whole thing. She relented to the fact that she simply wasn't meant to hold a gun, let alone fire it. Walter stood behind her, much like earlier and placed his hands over hers. He raised them up, which made her arms and the gun level out too. Leaning down, he looked at the target ahead. "Perhaps this so called perfect vision can come into some use," he said while placing his finger on the trigger too. "Like so," the centre of the target was rather easily shot at, and otherwise obliterated. "Try again," Walter let her go and stepped back, she remained standing in the same position he left her in, and after a moment, and once the target was replaced, she fired.

After the slight smoke had receded it could be seen that the centre of the target wasn't hit, but it was close enough that it could still prove to be fatal. It seemed good enough for Onora, who quickly put the gun down on the table in front of her cubicle, clapped her hands and let out a rather achieving sound before turning around to him and throwing her arms around his neck. Walter got tugged down to her level, not totally expecting this reaction. He didn't quite know how much she was putting on this, on something so simple. It wasn't like she didn't have enough time to practice. Was there a distinct need to be good right away? As soon as possible? Walter doubted it hugely. Yet, he reached up and patted her on the back gently.

"Well done," though he honestly didn't see what he did. She could've done this easily on her own. He, if anything, merely corrected her stance and hands, that was it.

"Only because I can, doesn't mean I want to." Onora whispered while looking at the blank room from over his shoulder. She absentmindedly stroked a hand through his hair, she felt him nod as if he understood what she meant. She didn't want to become some trigger happy lunatic, only because she could. "Thank you, Walter."

"I didn't do anything." Which he was certain he didn't.

"You may think that, if you wish. But you did." Onora said quietly, it was good to have someone who wasn't blatantly obvious about the minor flaws. It was also nice not to have someone who wanted to get into a competition, like Jacob and Tennessee. It was especially good not to have someone present who was practically breathing down her back, Ledward.

"Are you okay?"

"Why?"

"I do not think hugs are meant to go on for this long. It is not entirely uncomfortable, just a little perplexing." Walter stated. He had viewed the couples and their moments, and even they didn't latch onto each other like this in front of everyone. Walter frowned, private business could stay private; what they did out of the way was their own business, not his. But then, he supposed, they were not around other people either, so what was the exact harm? It was comforting, in a way, to be held close. There was something quite soothing about his hair being stroked that Walter actually tensed a little when her hand suddenly disappeared, only to reappear. It was all a bit confusing. The enjoyment of the sudden moment, that is. He was treated mostly as a helping hand, servant if being blunt, but this...this was not only being treated in a friendly manner, but something a lot fonder.

"Sorry, sorry," Onora stepped away, not too far, "I was just miles away." She explained while tapping a finger to her temple.

Walter just nodded and looked around, "You have done what you set out to do. May I suggest returning for dinner, and then bed? I believe weapons training may have been only part of the security teams idea."

Onora winced, "Combat?"

"Potentially."

"You can fight, right?"

Walter sighed, "Yes. But I cannot watch everyone's backs. There is only one of me."

Onora rolled her eyes, "I meant can't I just train with someone who's already got a backlog of fighting in their brain?"

"I suppose," Walter replied slowly and uncertainly. "I think it would be beneficial if you learned from them though."

She inhaled deeply, exhaling just as much she shrugged. "Fine." She turned and picked up the gun, walking over to the rack she replaced it and looked to him.

Walter watched her before following suit, "I can't help but feel like I have offended you."

"No. I'm fine."

"The increase in heart rate would-"

"What?! Stop listening to my heart! That's weird, I'm not lying. Honestly, I'm not. It's just...I'm the only one without someone. They're all going to be together training, I don't have anyone. You aren't asked to take part in these things, because you don't need to. But, Walter, I sort of need you to." Onora said while kicking her feet along, her pace was slow, not rushing in the slightest to return to everyone being jokey and whatever. The eternal happiness of being surrounded by loads of people who were in themselves happy, was doing her head in. Not saying she wasn't happy, just...other people's happiness could get quite sickening.

Walter went over the pros and cons to this, in the end he couldn't help but relent. She was ultimately right, what was she expected to do? Sit on the sidelines and switch partners with someone? That wasn't a progressive way to learn. "Fine."

"Really?" Onora looked up at him with wide eyes.

"Yes, but I believe you may have chosen your partner unwisely." Walter admitted, he was stronger, faster, and as she earlier stated: equipped with backlog information of fighting. He could lessen things for the sake of not causing harm, of course he would, but it still didn't help the fact that everyone else would be in the same boat, not wholly knowing what they're doing, she however would be with him, who would know exactly what was going on and even perhaps what move she would attempt and try to do.

"I don't care! Thank you, Walter! Thank you! You are the best!" Onora clapped her hands together happily and even threw her arms around him again. Walter tensed a little when he felt a soft pressure against his cheek before it was gone and she dropped down from her tiptoed position. She had kissed him, gently and softly as if not at all, but she had kissed him. Walter blinked several times and looked down at her, Onora just smiled sheepishly before turning and nodding her head to the side. They were close to the main living space, might as well close the distance and go inside to see what everyone else was doing.


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