Report 055 - [Accidental Voice]

[followstheflame]

[At first, the post is quiet, the sounds of Adstring at night evident on the feed, but as one listens longer, heavy breathing can be distinguished, as if from a distance, intermixed with some moaning and a shuffling of feet.  Next, a louder sound of metal sliding on metal, followed by a click, is heard, and anyone who knows firearms will immediately recognize it as the sound of a magazine being put into a cartridge.  If one listens even longer still, a high-pitched whining can be heard from even farther away.  Is that a dog?

Of course, for anyone dealing the zombies as of late, this scene probably will be easily discernible, though still strangely calm.  Whoever is in charge of the weapon clearly has done this before, or something like it.

The pained breathing is getting louder, closer.  A shorter click sounds as the gun is cocked.  And then, a familiar voice, though it's quieter than usual.]

I'm sorry.

[Riza fires the gun, the echo of the shot reverberating for a few long moments.  The breathing has stopped and finally, finally, there's the tell-tale thud of the body falling to the ground.  A few small steps and then another cocking of the gun before a second shot is fired, the sound echoing again, though the bullet makes more of a dull sound this time.

The dogs inside bark tentatively, then return to their whining.]

Comments

[Offline]

[mere_shopkeeper]

_{[Hello Riza, guess who's walking towards you. Here's a hint, the clicking of getas.]}

[Offline]

[followstheflame]

[She hears those geta, but it's as if her world is in a haze, dull and unimportant. She focuses on her task of cleaning up the body as best as she can, her hands already bloody.]

[Offline]

[mere_shopkeeper]

<sub>[He crouches down next to her with a quiet 'Let me', holding out a wet towel for her to wipe her hands clean with before he cleans up the mess himself. With gloves. It was always best to be careful with mutations.

The bundle of cloth he brought with him gets rolled out next to Luca's body before he carefully carries her over onto it, wrapping the fabric over the discolored face.]</sub>

The clinic?

[Offline]

[followstheflame]

[Slowly, she accepts the towel and halfheartedly wipes her hands. She's more focused on watching Urahara work, making sure he does everything right.

She should be the one doing this, she was the one who killed Luca. This is her responsibility.

But she kneels there and doesn't have the heart to interrupt him. Until he covers Luca's face, that is.]

Don't...she'll suffocate when she comes back.

[As to whether or not they should take her to the clinic or not, Riza wants to say no, wants to keep her at home, but she also knows she won't be able to offer any kind of comforts she'll need. Reluctantly, she nods.]

[Offline]

[mere_shopkeeper]

We can remove it when we reach the clinic.

_{[It's best to give her the dignity of death, no need to flash her face around the city as they go. Picking her up, he cradles the wrapped body in his arms before turning towards Riza.]}

Do you think you are well enough to move at high speeds?

[Offline]

[followstheflame]

I can run, if that's what you mean.

[Offline]

[mere_shopkeeper]

I meant shunpo. It's much faster than running.

[Offline]

[followstheflame]

[Her head tilts toward one side slightly in confusion.]

[Offline]

[mere_shopkeeper]

_{[Smiling slightly, he wiggles the crook of his elbow at her.]}

Hold on tightly and I'll show you.

[Offline]

[followstheflame]

[She stares at his elbow for a few moments, and then slowly grabs onto it, hoping this won't be a mistake.]

[Offline]

[mere_shopkeeper]

_{[And ooooooooff they go. Two seconds later: the Clinic.]}

[Offline]

[followstheflame]

[Woah WOAH WOAH she is going to be sick, hold on.

No, seriously, she has to find her land legs again because what.]

[Offline]

[mere_shopkeeper]

Deep breaths, Riza-san... The feeling will pass.

_{[He pat her on the back, but... no hands.]}

[Offline]

[followstheflame]

[She leans on him, eyes closed and forehead pressed against his shoulder, and takes those deep breaths, just as suggested.

A few moments later she chances sight again and pulls away slightly, still a little shaky.]

[Offline]

[mere_shopkeeper]

_{[Smiling gently, he tilts his head a little to catch her eyes before nudging open the door and nodding for her to go in first.]}

[Offline]

[followstheflame]

[Nodding after a pause, she does so, looking a little lost even though she had been there not too long before.]

I'm...going to be staying with Alphonse until all of this clears up. You don't...have to wait with me until he shows up.

[Offline]

[mere_shopkeeper]

I don't have to, no.

_{[He sets the body down in one of the rooms and uncovers her face a little, careful to keep the forehead covered. Stepping back out and placing a kidou barrier around the room, he burns the gloves on his hands and gently guides Riza over to the sink to make sure that all the blood is washed off her.]}

But I want to.

[Offline]

[followstheflame]

[She watches, still protective of the body, but lets Urahara move her. It takes a moment for his intention to sink in, but then she slowly responds, mechanically washing her hands.]

You're too kind.

[Offline]

[mere_shopkeeper]

_{[A hum as he holds out a dry towel for her before going to go make tea.]}

It is the very least I can do.

[Offline]

[followstheflame]

[She takes it and slowly dries her hands, her eyes automatically falling upon her wedding ring. It...looks clean enough, but she should probably take it off just to make sure.

...But no. She's not ready for that. Instead she just rubs at the edges, making sure it's good enough for now.

She makes her way toward the table and sits down, occasionally glancing back toward the hall where Luca's room is now.]

[Offline]

[mere_shopkeeper]

<sub>[Urahara doesn't miss the hesitation at the ring, but he has the tack not to comment and to pretend that he didn't. Instead, he just quietly sets a cup of tea in front of her.

He could say all manners of words meant to comfort, but he refrains. In the end, they're all empty.]</sub>

[Offline]

[followstheflame]

...Thank you.

[Riza brings the cup to her lips for a sip. The words are not only for the tea.]

[Offline]

[mere_shopkeeper]

_{[Another gentle smile.]}

You're welcome.

[Offline]

[followstheflame]

[And they fall into silence, at least on Riza's end. She's bad at small talk on a good day, but after everything that's happened this month, she really isn't feeling it at all. She gazes into the liquid in the cup, almost as if staring long enough would help everything right itself.]

[Offline]

[mere_shopkeeper]

_{[Urahara doesn't say anything, instead just sat there, providing his silent company as he nursed his cup of tea. He doesn't talk, but his silence isn't one that seeks to stem words, but rather one that makes room for others to talk if they need a listening ear.]}