video ✪ 09

[notjust_risette]

[G'morning Somarium! How's your morning been going? Good, bad? Regardless of that, you may be able to catch this rather distressed message coming from a usually rather chipper Rise on your Dreamberry if you take a gander at the device. She looks a lot more serious than usual as she carefully bites on her lip, unable to let out the question she's

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[video]

[rise_to_caesar]

Don't worry, Rise. We'll find her - she couldn't have gone too far.

[He's doing his best to keep his brave face on and encourage the girls, even if things are looking pretty grim.]

Keibi and Noireau made it back... Sam will too.

[video]

[notjust_risette]

[She appreciates it but she just can't help but worry over the welfare of her pet.]

Well, she's not at Dusk. I went here just to see if she came back.

[rise_to_caesar]

Noireau and Keibi were out there and they came back - Sam will too.

[Of course, the state Keibi and Noireau came back in was another matter. Both cold, wet and dirty... But upon being reunited with their people, both dogs had their tails wagging. He needs to keep Rise thinking positive.]

I bet someone else has found her and is taking care of her right now, keeping her safe until the city's repaired.

[notjust_risette]

[That thought does bring a small smile on her face. It might be wishful thinking but just the possibility of Sam being cared for by someone somewhere was reassuring.]

Imagine that, huh? She might be somewhere nice and toasty while we're out roughing it in tents.

[rise_to_caesar]

Exactly. [He smiles, relieved that she seems to be thinking positive.] I bet she's got a full belly too - you know she's always had a knack for finding where food is.

[notjust_risette]

Yeah. It didn't matter if it was dog food or not with her.

[She was still smiling but the truth of the situation was that there were a lot of things happening right now that make it a little hard to look at things with an optimistic perspective. But she could at least try, right?]

Hopefully she's been having better luck than we have.

[rise_to_caesar]

[He doesn't blame her for finding it hard to keep her spirits up. He really doesn't.]

When I get back home [...to the tents. It's awkward thinking of a tent as "home" but it's an unfortunate reality] tonight, we'll take Noireau and Keibi out to Sam's favourite spots. Sound good?

[notjust_risette]

[That did sound good. She had a few of them the night before not with much luck but just maybe Sam will decide to head there tonight. And it was at least something to look forward to.]

Yeah, that sounds great.

[It was nice to have someone worrying about her. But at the same time with everything that had been going on, she had to be sure that Akihiko himself was all right too.]

Do you have a lot to do at work today?

[rise_to_caesar]

Yeah, the police are pretty much swamped... We need to oversee repairs and continuing sweeping the area in case there's still someone trapped. [He reaches around to scratch the back of his neck - he's doing his best not to run himself ragged, knowing he has to go back and sleep in a tent after a long day.]

They're trying not to tire us out too badly with it though. I should still be home at my usual time. [The usual "not working overtime" time. It's been a while since he's done that.]

[notjust_risette]

Hopefully no one got caught right? You didn't really find anyone stuck somewhere, did you?

[She hadn't even thought about that. Look at her, being all worried about her dog when there could be other people trapped. But that could also mean--]

Oh gosh, what if Sam's stuck somewhere in the wreckage too? [Panic mode is a go.]

[rise_to_caesar]

If she's stuck somewhere, Keibi will find her. [He says this in a very determined, matter-of-fact sense.]

I won't let anything happen to her.

[notjust_risette]

[You're really serving as her rock right now.]

I know you won't. [She purses her lips and her eyes are downcast.] I'm just scared that something already did.

[rise_to_caesar]

[He's good at doing that, isn't he?]

I'm going to find her, Rise. [And he says this in all seriousness] I won't rest until I do.

[notjust_risette]

[He is. And she's thankful for that.]

Okay. [She somehow manages a nod. She doesn't doubt his promise or this capability to find Sam in the slightest.] Just don't overwork yourself, all right? We can't have you collapsing because of all the things you're doing too.

[rise_to_caesar]

Yeah... I'll do my best.

[But he's not promising anything.]