followstheflame | Report 055 - [Accidental Voice]

[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.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

No. -=He's already working to lift up the body and carry it to wherever Riza instructs.=-

We have to dispose of the body properly and then in about a week they come back through the Gate.

[She watches protectively, but doesn't stop him. Once he's ready, she starts walking toward the clinic.]

I see.

-=He doesn't show any fatigue. Looks like hard labor in Veles has kept him extremely fit.=-

You're looking good, Lieutenant.

[Have a humorless laugh.]

I look like hell right now. You don't have to be kind.

-=There's no laugh from him, but a smirk.=-

Because I smell like roses, am I right?

I've smelled worse.

Yeah. -=He's pretty much following her.=-

Anything interesting here happen? With you, I mean, not the usual torture the prisoner thing.

[The words give her pause and she hesitates in her steps for a moment.]

...Too much.

[Unconsciously, she starts to fiddle with her wedding ring, not really worried if he notices or not.]

-=Oh, he sees it. But carrying the dead somewhere isn't the time to give Riza the third degree.=-

I've been here for two years.

[A few more moments of silence, then, quietly...]

I hate it.

I don't blame you. -=he really can't.=-

I'm not fond of my place either. But it's slowly getting better. I'm making certain of it.

...I'm glad to hear it. We've...tried to do the same here, but I think all efforts are on hold for now.

[She's just hoping to last through the rest of the month before she pretends to know what she's doing.]

-=He follows her to the clinic so Luca could be cared for properly. Once he's washed up and his special gloves are put away, he finally turns to her.=-

So who's the lucky guy?

[And once she is, Riza relaxes just slightly.

Until Hughes springs that question on her. She closes her eyes and touches the ring again.]

It doesn't matter. He's gone, now.

-=That makes him frown. Come on, Lieutenant, give him more than that!=-

He who? And it does matter. It always matters.

Why? Because love is supposed to last forever? Even if he comes back, he won't remember, and when I go home, neither of us will.

[She crosses her arms over her chest, looking away. That was...harsh, especially knowing that Hughes only cares and he himself is an incredibly loving husband.]

...I'm sorry. I'm just...not taking anything well right now.

Because it's supposed to last as long as you want it to. -=He steps forward, putting his hands on her shoulders.=-

I'm sorry. If there was a way to prevent this, I would have done everything I could to do it.

[She doesn't react at first, but then slowly, slowly reaches up to rest one of her hands on one of Hughes'. It's so good to see him again.]

There's nothing you could have done. There's nothing any of us could have done. The Colonel's gone. I have to move on.

-=.... Aw, Hell. He knew it! But now?=-

Riza...

-=And then a slow pull into a hug. Dammit all. This was just going from bad to worse.=-

Was I even here for it?

[Don't cry, Riza, don't cry. Crying's stupid.]

You were going to be. Then you disappeared the day before.

[Shut up, she's not starting to cling.]

-=He just holds her tighter. She's a sister in law--..of some sort, now.=-

I couldn't even rub it in his face?! -=He still can't. Roy's not here.=-

I should have been there.

You did while you were here, don't worry.

You wanted to be. That's what matters.

I'm here now. For however long.

-=Dammit, he hasn't seen any of his 'family' members in so long.=-

[She pulls back and offers a shaky smile.]

It's good to see you again. It always is.

And it's good to see you, too. -=On to happier things!=-

So tell me! Was there a cake? A garter throw? A bouquet throw? Who's getting married next?

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