Voice | Dated to before sirens

[ysobritish]

[It is rare for Liquid to sound truly shaken.

Shocked, angry, even, rarely, miserable, yes. But it takes a lot to shake him. First Yaha and now-]

Shinji Nishizono is dead. By correlation, that also means Kazuhiko Amamiya and Murata are dead too.

[His breathing comes shakily and for a moment his words come out muffled, as if against someone's

Comments

voice; later in the evening?!

[topslug]

That's... [ not fair, she almost wants to say, but when has anything in this place ever been?

The first thing to come to mind, though, is someone else who'll find this news just as upsetting as Liquid: though perhaps for vastly different reasons. ]

I'm sorry to hear that, Liquid. [ Her voice is quiet and steady, but heavy with sadness and exhaustion. ] Can I ask what happened?

voice;

[ysobritish]

[It's a while longer before he responds, voice almost expressionless. In the background there are the sounds of the monsters.]

There was structural damage to the building - prior to the earthquake. When the quake hit... part of it just collapsed.

voice;

[topslug]

I see. [ Her throat tightens, making her voice sound odd and strained. Would Shinji find it funny, to be killed by something so insignificant, after so long fighting against his death? Would he just find it annoying, to die from something that could happen to anyone else?

She doesn't know the answer. ]

Thank you, for letting us know. Is there... are you planning to give him a funeral?

voice;

[ysobritish]

I... I don't know. I'll need to talk to Undertaker, maybe.

[A choked growl of pain, the gun fires and there's a low thud.]

Ngh... [The NV clatters to the ground and there's silence. It's a few moments before he comes back to it.]

Don't thank me.

[action]

[argentcruelty]

[Kadaj isn't far away-he'd been helping to search, if only to shut Liquid up-so it doesn't take him long to get back to the man when he hears him screaming. He keeps his distance at first, just watching Liquid, his emotions as clear on his face as ever... but confused. Maybe he was sad, maybe he was angry, maybe he was still a little jealous. Maybe Liquid's words only served to reaffirm what the Remnant was becoming more and more fearful of as time passed: that one day, he would disappear too.

His hands are curled into fists at his sides, and he neither moves closer nor turns away. But he does, eventually, speak.]

You're loud. [He sounds sullen. A shrug.] I could hear you screaming.

[And maybe he was also worried, in way. About Shinji, about Liquid. He just wasn't sure how to express it.]

[action]

[ysobritish]

[For a long moment he just stays there, listening to the words. Then he moves, setting the body down on the ground slowly and turning to look at Kadaj. There's pain in his eyes, anger and misery and he crosses the distance between them in a moment to tug Kadaj into his arms and embrace him tightly.]

...

Sorry.

[His voice sounds shaken still.]

[action]

[argentcruelty]

Mm. [The look in Liquid's eyes is disconcerting to say the least. Kadaj may not avoid the embrace, but he doesn't seem too enthusiastic about returning it, either.]

So now what?

[action]

[ysobritish]

...now?

[He sounds confused. His words are careless, but confident despite the pain in his voice.]

Now we go on. Like we always do. I can't do anything else, after all. Just have to keep going.

I need to get the body to safety. But there's time. It's still light. After that, I have to get back to work.

[voice] LATEST SOB

[acemedium]

Mr. Liquid...

[voice] YOU ARE NEVER TOO LATE, SIPP. /loves on

[ysobritish]

Maya... What is it?

[voice] /LOVES ON <3333

[acemedium]

Sorry. About Shinji.

What are you going to do?

[voice]

[ysobritish]

And what, I wonder, do you mean by that?

[His voice is curt, but there's a tremor in it that sounds almost like he's crying.]

voice;

[redpeacock]

[Because there's a severe lack of Pie in my inbox~]

Liquid... I'm sorry to hear that.

[The way Genesis speaks is awkward, as if he has a hard time expressing condolence or grief for that matter.]

voice;

[ysobritish]

[It almost gives off the impression of a malfunction.

Even Liquid's breath is silent for a moment or two. The seconds tick by and still he stays mute.

Then, finally, he speaks.]

Thank you.

[The stiffness of his words is a stark indication that he doesn't know how to respond, either. A hitch in his breath is the only sign of his distress; his voice from that point onwards is surprisingly normal. The emotional shutdown is one he'd developed a long time ago and one that responds best to the presence of other soldiers. People who are not expected to tolerate such weakness.

Odd. The feel of this dried blood on his skin seems to be the same as back then.]

It was my failure. I will do better in future, if I am given another chance.

voice;

[redpeacock]

[It's strange hearing two soldiers try to speak to each other about feelings. Genesis' tone goes right back to normal as well.]

I am certain you would, Liquid.

If you need anything, I am around.

voice;

[ysobritish]

...I don't think you'd be happy with what I need.

But I appreciate the offer. [The crunch of gravel beneath his feet stills as he leans against a wall.]