Sixty-Eighth Cross [Video]

[ys_cant_die]

[The video feed starts with Cecil's harsh breathing and a nice view of dirt. Then finally, he pushes the device up. He looks horrendous, with a flushed face, dry lips, and a rash on his neck, but the unconscious, dark-haired girl next to him might also be cause for worry.We need help

Comments

[ voice ]

[no_holdsbarred]

The bridge?

[ ... ... ... ]

Which way?

[ voice ]

[ys_cant_die]

[FINALLY, AN ADULT!]

From the forest, go further out of the city and cross a bridge.

[ voice ]

[no_holdsbarred]

Past the forest. Got it.

[ And there's quiet for a few minutes as the communicator goes on running while Shizuo sets out. Then- ]

She gonna hold up?

[ voice ]

[ys_cant_die]

...thank you.

[He sighs softly.] Mm. Yeah. I won't let her die.

[ voice ]

[no_holdsbarred]

Aah. Good. [ another pause. then, awkwardly- ] Hold on.

[ And he's a-goin'! Should get there at a decent clip, assuming there's a path.

If there's no path, Shizuo the newbie gets horribly lost and Yuca will have to fetch a better adult. ]

[ voice ]

[ys_cant_die]

Alright...

[There's... kind of a path? More like the flattened part of grass and dirt as opposed to the springy part. Buuut Cecil will keep asking just in case assistance is needed!]

[ action ? ]

[no_holdsbarred]

[ But it's dead enough to look like a path! Which is the ticket to these things for certain bartenders.

About an hour later, a figure comes trudging up to cross the bridge. He's holding a branch in his hand and muttering ominously, but that's just incidental. Clearly, nature and Shizuo do not agree. ]

[ action! ]

[ys_cant_die]

[And on the other side of the bridge and a few feet away, Cecil's sitting on the ground with a sleeping ten-year-old beauty. This scowl is permanently attached to his face, but he does wave when he sees assistance!]

Careful!

[ action! ]

[no_holdsbarred]

Hm?

[ Already crossing by the time he notices that maybe he should be paying attention to that warning. Temper abating, Shizuo waves back. He tosses the branch to a side and gets across the bridge without incident. He stops just short of the two kids, hands still in his pockets. ]

This is her, huh?

[ action! ]

[ys_cant_die]

[Cecil nods, sighing as he watches the blonde approach them. Already, Cecil just wants to sleep but they're not far from the city, he can probably make it back and not pass out on this guy. After all, he's got to carry Rika, he'd probably hate it if Cecil added more to the load.]

Yeah... her name's Rika. We were heading back and she just passed out... I couldn't bring her any further than here.

...I'm Cecil. And you are?

[ action! ]

[no_holdsbarred]

Gonna need a doctor, then.

[ He stands over them briefly before crouching to pick Rika up. Fortunately, that's still relatively easy, despite the mysterious weakness that was surely in no way be related to the power-blocking chip Shizuo had heard about. ]

Aah-Heiwajima Shizuo. It's nice to meet you.

[ action! ]

[ys_cant_die]

[He nods at the question, reaching down to grab their backpacks.]

Likewise. I haven't seen you around the city before... are you new?

[ action! ]

[no_holdsbarred]

New?

[ Shizuo stops, both to consider this unusual thought and to wait for Cecil. Still, he's accustomed enough to walking beside somebody slower that he automatically sets his pace to match the kid's. ]

Hah... I guess so. Only been in this place for a week.

[ action! ]

[ys_cant_die]

[Backpacks on, and now he's set to go! He's actually rather grateful for the slower pace, but don't expect him to say it.]

A week... And you're already going on rescue missions? Impressive.