[ Voice 005 ]

[knows_it_all]

Sh-Shiva...what happened to Patrol Headquarters?! Is everyone okay?

What a mess...but, um, I guess that means help will be needed for cleanup, huh? Hey, Priscilla, let me know if you need a hand with that. Because I could kind of use the work...

Comments

[voice l private]

[halcyonthird]

[Caught in it? Well, yes. Surprised by it? Notsomuch.]

I seem to have avoided the worst of it.

[She's not really talking about her room. That is unsalvageable. She might be smiling a little bitterly as she surveys the wreckage. Is it symbolic? Maybe. But there's not a trace of bitterness when she replies.]

It wouldn't be any trouble?

[It's not as if she's going to eat much of your food or truly need sleep, and the extra patrol shifts (especially now) might keep her regularly absent.]

[voice l private]

[knows_it_all]

It's not a problem at all, especially if...

[ Wait. ]

You were in it?!

[ What I wouldn't give to see Odin stomp all over that Abyssal bastard! ]

But you're okay...there's that, at least. That's good. I'm glad.

[ Relieved. ]

Ah, so...if you want to stay with us, as I was saying, it's no problem at all. Might be kind of nice, in fact.

[voice l private]

[halcyonthird]

[She headtilts a little, mostly because she's not feeling particularly worth concern at the moment.]

I don't believe I was targeted. [If he wanted me dead, I'd be half ravaged by Mist already. She doubts whether he even noticed her at all, really.]

I'm ...glad that you are [???] ...glad. Perhaps this cycle of worrying after one another can be put to rest for a little while. [A few days, even.]

Only kind of?

[How you manage to elicit any sort of teasing at a time like this is anyone's guess. But there you go.]

[voice l private]

[knows_it_all]

...Good.

[ That you weren't targeted specifically, because he does ridiculous things when it comes to protecting his friends, whether those things make his legs feel like limp noodles or not. ]

If we could escape the worry for a few days, that'd be great...but I don't know how comfortable I'd be running away from the problem, you know? Did that a lot back home, er, to a point. Never solved anything, just gave the negative feelings more room to grow.

[ Pause. ]

Ah...I guess kind of nice is an understatement. I'd really like it if you stayed with us. You make Zack happy, and right now I think...it might be a good idea for him to have friends around.

[ Because things are going to get worse before they get better, Irene...and a woman's touch, warrior or otherwise, is sometimes just what the doctor ordered. ]

[voice l private]

[halcyonthird]

No, it rarely solves anything, Kunsel.

[Still. Been there, done that. And while it is a regret, it's less so now that she has seen Clare.

Have a very long silence. And then a low murmur, a little surprised, maybe? Amused? Both?]

Very well. I would [echoes his word choice] really like it too. [Was there supposed to be a question mark at the end of her sentence? It almost sounds as if there is.]

You make him happy, Kunsel. You are brave, loyal and always looking after his best interests. Perhaps between the two of us we can give him enough shoulder to lean on, should he need it.