Video (intended to be Voice)

[ysobritish]

[The video screen flickers on, focusing on white bandages before tilting. It shows the sky, trees, then finally the NV drops to the ground. Liquid apparently doesn't even realise it's on video. Otherwise he wouldn't be sitting in the position he's in; bandaged arms wrapped loosely around his knees and head tilted carelessly downward. He looks

Comments

voice;

[topslug]

They're gone?

voice;

[ysobritish]

[It's a moment or two before he picks up the NV, fixes the way it's set and replies.]

Dead, most likely. Or perhaps they just got sent home. Who can tell?

voice;

[topslug]

It's-- [ It doesn't take a great deal of empathy for anyone to hear that she's also stricken; for all that her acquaintance with Kazuhiko was briefer than Liquid's and Shinji wasn't on her list of favorite people, well-- ]

Do you have any idea who they went to meet?

voice;

[ysobritish]

Yes. They sent me a message beforehand. But I need to speak with them to find out whether they actually met him or not. It's possible someone simply saw them and attacked out of revenge.

[Dammit, Shinji... what part of "stay undercover" didn't you get?]

voice;

[proxysearch]

[She's already been down to the station to see Kazuhiko. They told her what SERO had done. Her voice is very carefully devoid of as much emotion as possible but there's a noticeable strain there.

Whether it's because she's speaking to one of her kidnappers or because of Kazuhiko is anyone's guess.]

I'm right here.

voice;

[ysobritish]

[Liquid is, for once, almost hesitant in his response. He hasn't felt this awkward since Wolf joined the team and refused to ever zip up her jumpsuit. But this isn't the sexy kind of awkward, sadly. This is just... awkward.]

Re-L Mayer. I've been speaking to a friend of yours.

voice;

[proxysearch]

[For once, she's pleased he's using her full name. It's a sign of respect in Romdeau. He may not know it, but it's a step in the right direction. At least he's not calling her "woman".]

Which one is that?

voice;

[ysobritish]

[He doesn't know it. It's simply a habit he has whenever he speaks formally.]

Before I tell you, I ask that you not reprimand her for dealing with terrorists. She aided me out of kindness.

[Voice]

[gaveherwings]

After everything, you have the gall to dare try and speak with her?

[But that's as far as he'll go sounding angry as well- the rest is a forced calm of detachment...because he's upset about Kazuhiko too, but Shinji did an unspeakable thing to his beloved Re-l. And so his remorse is a little double-sided by grim satisfaction. That man can't hurt her, or anyone else, anymore.]

No one here has anything to do directly with what appears to be repossession- and possibly termination, because I don't suspect they have the patience to rehabilitate, this time. Has he ever shown you the terms of SERO's contract? Why he was permitted to walk the streets free after murdering officers and civilians, not one hour here in the city?

It would appear that they have not cured him of that which makes him a danger to society. And it would appear that they have no long-term tolerance for corporate liabilities. Especially those that tangle with police, holding officers of the law hostage. Torturing them.

[Voice]

[ysobritish]

You'll find I have quite a lot of gall.

[Liquid's almost expressionless in his response.]

No, as a matter of fact, he spoke very little of SERO. I doubt they were even trying to cure him of anything. But the fact remains, that if he is dead, he has been murdered. Likely more than two people, in fact, have been murdered; Shinji referred to others within his head. If someone here has killed him, then they will regret it. If SERO did it... there is little I can do.

[Don't go against the companies. One of the rules his Father set up. He will abide by it.]

[Voice]

[gaveherwings]

What you've done- it's unforgivable.

I doubt anyone murdered him while in police custody- which is the last I've heard of Shinji's confirmed whereabouts, as of last night. And given custodial rights of his rehabilitative sentencing, there's only one logical transfer which could have happened.

[Voice]

[ysobritish]

I've done a lot of unforgiveable things. In the end, all you can do is live with yourself or drown in your guilt. And I'm remarkably good at swimming.

Then he was arrested, then summarily executed... then essentially, the arresting officer has sentenced him to death. They, in turn, are to blame for his loss of life.

Do you want me to die also, sir?

[video/private]

[deathlessness]

[Dead.

It's a while before Urick responds, mulling this over. Shinji had backed Urick into a corner and forced him into a meeting, but beyond that, he hadn't tried anything tricky... Not really. In some odd way, Urick felt like he had betrayed the man's trust, in spite of what Shinji had done. He was already swamped with guilt after Re-l was tortured for the sake of Yaha- made worse by the fact he still felt responsible for how Yaha was to begin with. Everything added up to layer upon layer of self-blame.

He takes a moment more to school his voice to his usual light-hearted tone, before finally replying.]

You may. What is it you need?

[video/private]

[ysobritish]

Shinji told me he was going to meet you.

[Liquid watches him almost expressionlessly. He can't picture Urick being the type of person to do something like that, and Re-L said she'd arrested him. But he has to know.]

Urick. Did he ever arrive?

[video/private]

[deathlessness]

[With the skull helmet obscuring his face, it's impossible to read Urick's expression, and his cheery façade was well-practised. He's not giving anything away.]

He did. We met yesterday, though it sounds like you're aware of that.

[video/private]

[ysobritish]

Then, I wonder... do you think he was caught on the way back from there?

[Liquid's voice holds only the barest of emotion. Could it or couldn't it? Urick didn't seem the type, but Liquid trusted nobody.]

[action]

[argentcruelty]

Brother.

[Guess who's finally tracked you down, Liquid? Shouldn't be much of a surprise by now. Kadaj is hard to get rid of.]

[action]

[ysobritish]

...Kadaj.

[Liquid doesn't look up.]

Did you miss me so much you had to come look for me?

[action]

[argentcruelty]

What do you think, idiot?

[He sinks down to sit beside Liquid, just close enough to be touching.]

You should have told me where you were going.

[action]

[ysobritish]

[The faintest of relieved looks flickers across his face for a moment.]

You could have asked. I didn't want you to get caught if someone tracked me down.