[ 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

Private, video

[ladyofthesouth]

Hmm. I suppose this means your little infatuation really is over with, is that right? What a pity.

Oh, but... if I was more humane, we could still share something. And how might you expect me to do that?

Private, video

[knows_it_all]

...Y-yeah. Uh, it kinda is. But you probably don't really think it's a pity, huh? In fact, it's probably better for the both of us.

[ Cough. ]

Well...if you were more humane, maybe you could find a really nice life for yourself here, you know? Have something you couldn't have back home. It's possible with willpower, and I know you have some because, er...I'm still alive.

[ Not that I can figure out why, exactly... ]

[ He scratches the back of his neck awkwardly. ]

Voice

[i_love_squats]

You hear anything about it? About what happened and if anyone was hurt? I'm headed that way to see if I can help.

And... if you need work that bad, I might have a pretty decent opportunity. If, of course, you can handle working for the nicest, best looking, strongest, and smartest hero in all of Anatole.

Voice

[knows_it_all]

I'm looking into it.

And for the record, I'll take whatever work I can get right now...but working for a hero sure does sound special.

Voice

[i_love_squats]

You forgot the "handsome, smart, and brave" part of hero, you know.

Voice

[knows_it_all]

Um...th-that...

[ CLICK! ]

[ He hung up. ]

Voice // Private

[chairyontop]

[Hey, he can understand the sister thing (See: Amy), so he might cut the guy some slack. A little. After all, he was probably ashamed of his own hideous face which is OBVIOUSLY the reason why he wore the helmet. Disfigured at birth. Or a car accident when he was saving a herd of nuns from rabid kittens or something. Poor guy. Dawn was probably all he had left.]

Yeah, yeah. Look, she's a little young for my tastes, and yours too I hope, so I'm not offended. Hands off, hands off, I get it.

Though, it's gonna cost you.

Voice // Private

[knows_it_all]

Dawn's way too young for me...and, thanks. For hearin' me out.

...What's it gonna cost, then? Hopefully not ivories, because I'm running a bit short.

Voice // Private

[chairyontop]

Tell me about the terrible nun and kitten accident that forced you to be so disfigured that you have to hide behind that helmet like some [Elephant Man. Man in the Iron Mask.] Wall-E or something.

Voice // Private

[knows_it_all]

Um, nothing as exciting as that.

[ Do you mean an E-wall? An internet wall? Firewall? ]

The helmet's a part of the uniform I wear as a member of SOLDIER.

[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

[wellsuited]

That was really weird! If you find out anything, you'll tell me, right?

I wonder if Aizen was anywhere nearby...

Voice

[knows_it_all]

Yeah, I'll fill you in.

...Somehow, I don't think Aizen had anything to do with it this time, though. It doesn't look to be at all like another Arena mishap.