Welcome to Gaia! ::

She was ready. Maybe she'd been ready for a long time, but she finally felt comfortable - really and truly comfortable - with her decision. There would be no reason for her to go back. No reason for her to ever, ever go back, and that along was thrilling.

A new start. A fresh beginning.

She waited for Jake where they'd last seen one another, feeling strangely at peace with herself and the world around her.

Lark's expression brightened when she caught sight of Jake. She was half-ready to tell him once more that she would not be swayed, her mind had been made up -- but thankfully, there was no need for that. Jake didn't try to convince her to turn back, and for that she would be eternally grateful.

"M'ready," Lark nodded, her voice quiet. "What 'appens next?"

Lark paused. He thought there was a chamber? Her mouth formed a line.

"Yer in charge, now, Jake, so all y'gotta do is lead th'way, shove me in th'damn chamber if there is one -- an' if there ain't, well, maybe we gotta ask someone what th'next step is?"

She was starting to feel nervous.

"You got someone y'can ask? Or someone who know's what's next?"

Lark fidgeted as she fell silent.

Lark watched Jake close his eyes, and she very nearly did the same thing. She felt a little bad for the hunter - he'd never been anything but nice to her, even brotherly - and so she very gingerly reached out to rest her hand against his arm.

"'S gonna be okay, Jake, y'know? Ain't askin' y'ta push a button'r do nothin' like that. Ain't gonna ask y'ta stay, r'watch, r'none'a that. Y'been a good mate, an' 'fore we keep on, I jest wanted t'make sure y'knew how much I appreciate everythin' y'done fer me."

That being said, Lark dropped her hand and watched him, concerned.

"Y'been a good mate," she reiterated, her voice soft. A little shaky, but soft.

"Let's jest take a nice, long walk. Real slow. On'r way to the labs. I ain't scared. I ain't in bad comp'ny. Been a nice day. A good day, y'know?"

His compliments made her smile, and in that instant there was nowhere she'd rather be. He'd changed her point of view, too, and had from the very beginning. Jake had been kind and understanding, which had not been what she'd expected.

It was nice. This wasn't an end, but a new beginning. A fresh start. She hadn't been the only one to make this decision, and Lark knew she wouldn't be the last. It was almost like being a part of some big, fanciful machine, and that thrilled her, too.

It did not take all that long for them to reach the conversion chamber, and as they drew to a stop, Lark once more reached out to rest her hand on Jake's shoulder.

"Promise me somethin'?"

Lark handed Jake a small, hand-written note that was folded up and tucked into an envelope. It was paper that was from the labs, and there was a single name written on the envelope.

Larkspur K.

"Gimme this. When it's all over, you gonna find me, an' you gotta gimme this. Don't open it, don't read it. Jus' find me again when I got me a hunter of my own, an' gimme it."

She gave him a smile and turned towards the door that led into the conversion room.

"Promise?"

The doctor never answered texts in kind. But not long after, a small girl in a modified Death hunter coat stalked toward them, chin high in a way that in no manner made up for the difference in height. By appearances, she couldn't be older than ten. Looking Lark over she asked, "Do you understand what you're offering? What you'll be gaining and giving up?"

To be honest, Jake wasn't sure WHAT to expect, but a tiny petite death hunter definitely wasn't it. Had he... texted the wrong person? Then again, he never understood much of how things worked among the higher ups. Maybe she was an assistant, or something.

He smiled back at Lark.
Well, that didn't matter now. This was Lark's show now, and he wouldn't interfere.