Report 057 - [Accidental Video]

[followstheflame]

[The PCD turns on to show a hand pulling away from it.  Soon, it can be seen that that hand belongs to Riza as she moves to stand in front of the cabinets in the kitchen of the House of Love and Pictures.  Even though her back is to the feed, it's obvious she's unsure about something.  Her hands clench and unclench at her sides and she rocks back and forth, shifting weight from one foot to the other.

Finally, with a short exhale, she reaches toward one of the upper cabinets and pulls out a nearly empty bottle of brandy.  Standing on her tiptoes to peer into the cabinet, Riza then also pulls out a shot glass.  Well, this is a start.  She sets both on the counter in front of her and...hesitates before opening the bottle, but only for a moment.  Soon enough, the amber liquid fills the shot glass and Riza throws it back, then sets the glass back down (with a little more force than necessary) and shakes her head back and forth, cringing.

She breathes for  second, then repeats, though now the bottle is empty.]

...This isn't enough.

[Sighing, she leans over the counter, resting on her elbows, and lets her head fall into her hands.  She doesn't move and the feed switches off.]

Comments

[video]

[followstheflame]

And yet it seems to work sometimes.

[video]

[unreadability]

In all truthfulness, you look no less troubled than before wasting the remains of your cognac.

[video]

[followstheflame]

It's just a temporary fix anyway.

[video]

[unreadability]

And now, it is over?

[video]

[followstheflame]

I don't think it's started.

[video] 1/2

[unreadability]

[Mireille is about to tell her that it might never start at all. That running from your fears will only bring you down, but one look at Riza's expression and she holds her tongue.]

[video]

[unreadability]

My father... has a ritual when finishing lengthy negotiations. He stays in his study all evening, emptying the finest bottle of cognac in his collection. Most often by himself.

[video]

[followstheflame]

It's not uncommon.

[video]

[unreadability]

No, it is not. Problematic settlements rarely are, after all.

[video]

[followstheflame]

Mn.

[video]

[unreadability]

Something for us to agree on, I conclude.

[video]

[followstheflame]

It seems that way.

[video]

[unreadability]

[She purses her lips.]

A place to start, if nothing else.

[video]

[followstheflame]

...I'm Riza Hawkeye. I don't believe we've met.

[video]

[unreadability]

We have not. My name is Mireille Duroc.

[video]

[followstheflame]

It's good to meet you, Miss Duroc.

[video]

[unreadability]

Madame would be the correct title of address. I am a married woman.

[video]

[followstheflame]

I see. My apologies, Madame.

[video]

[unreadability]

And in your case - should I use madame or mademoiselle?

[video]

[followstheflame]

[...Well, that's a good question. She's technically married, yes, but when the other half is gone, what does that do to the equation? If he were to come back, Roy wouldn't remember any of this. He would be single.

That's not fair for Riza to think about.]

Lieutenant is fine. Though some call me Miss Hawkeye, as well.

[video]

[unreadability]

Lieutenant? Am I to understand that you are employed with the military?

[Video]

[followstheflame]

That is correct.

[video]

[unreadability]

An unusual field of work for a woman.

[video]

[followstheflame]

What makes you say that?

[video]

[unreadability]

War and strategy have always been more closely associated with the male... temperament.