~thirty-nine~

[glowing_science]

[Phone; Filtered from drones and the higher-ups]I really hope everyone's recovering from all the... everything. And I hope those of you who were stupid enough to fall for it are happy with yourselves. This town never, ever gives anything up so easily. They're just messing with our heads

Comments

[Phone; Filtered from drones and the higher-ups]

[lunawolves10th]

I am already undertaking a project of this nature, I'm taking down everyone's accounts and recounting the story to our town historian, of sorts.

[Phone; Filtered from drones and the higher-ups]

[glowing_science]

Oral accounts are good evidence--great thinking! I'm not trying to step on anyone's toes, I'm just trying to get everything organized so we don't end up doing redundant investigations.

We have a town historian?

[Phone; Filtered from drones and the higher-ups]

[lunawolves10th]

Aye. Yuki Nagato. Do you know her at all?

[Phone; Filtered from drones and the higher-ups]

[glowing_science]

I've heard the name, but I've never talked to her.

She has records of everything that's happened here?

[ooeeooahah]

[ Knock at the back door. Ilsa's got an oddly shaped something wrapped in kitchen towels in her hands. ]

[glowing_science]

[Gets up to see who it is, then opens the door and gives Ilsa a small smile.]

Hey there. You okay?

[She feels like she should say more, but... well, what do you say to a woman who watched you be murdered?]

[ooeeooahah]

I went to my default and started cooking again.

[ She hands over the bundle, it smells of cinnamon and is still warm. ]

Is everything back to normal for you?

[glowing_science]

[Ema accepts the bundle and gives it a sniff. Mmmm.]

You didn't have to do this, Ilsa. But thank you.

I'm doing as well as can be expected. I've been in Mayfield for a year; it doesn't get any easier, but you learn how to cope and recover.

[1_21jigawatts]

[BURSTING IN.]

Hey, Ema. A friend of mine from home just showed up so I'm having her stay over a couple days, okay?

[glowing_science]

[Ema almost spills her coffee all over herself.]

S-sure, that's fine. Who is she?

[1_21jigawatts]

Her name is Kuroko. She was my roommate back in Academy City so...yeah.

...though, I probably should warn you...

[glowing_science]

Kuroko. Got it.

[Wait. That's not a promising lead-in.]

Warn me about what?

Phone

[mansfirsttrap]

Hmhmhm. Greed and power can certainly do things to twist a man, don't you think? But when your own life is on the line here, do you honestly think many people would be rational?

[glowing_science]

They can. But I don't approve of it.

What other choice do we have but to be rational? Getting stupid and emotional does us no good.

[There's a touch of hypocrisy there, although Ema herself doesn't realize it.]

[mansfirsttrap]

Yet the results has shown how many people had let their emotions get the best over them even in a logical situation. A very human thing to do by nature.

But we live, we learn and we go on in life hoping that there is a lesson that was discovered through all of the mess.

[glowing_science]

... that doesn't mean it's the best course of action, letting ourselves get carried away. I mean, look what happened a couple of weeks ago.

I can't imagine what lesson there is to be learned besides 'don't trust Mayfield.' Which, honestly, they should already know.

[b_as_a_criminal]

[a thoughtful hum over the phone line, and then:]

Consider it considered. But, Miss Skye. Would you describe this endeavor as a proactive or a reactive investigative group?

[glowing_science]

Right now, it's reactive. We're just responding to what's already happened.

If I can get things well-organized, we might even be able to get some proactive investigation going.

[b_as_a_criminal]

Then it's tentatively both.

Good.

[glowing_science]

That's a good thing?

I'm glad you approve. [She guesses.]