video ● third reflection

[sweeperesque]

[FILTERED TO NOEL VERMILLION]

Noel, I believe there is one - counted again and it's definitely one - unconscious lug on my couch. I think he belongs to you. Would you mind picking him up when he wakes? I don't mind having him around, but I figure you'd be better with him. All his injuries have been treated so you don't have to worry about that,

Comments

[lackinglady]

[Well this is unexpected]

E-eh!? W...w-who is he?

[sweeperesque]

Oooh. I wasn't clear, huh?

[Well hold on, Noel. Saya's going to direct the camera towards Ragna's sleeping form on the couch. Ain't he just an angel?]

He ran into a bit of trouble, but I figure he's all good to go home now.

[lackinglady]

[Awww, he looks so innocent when he's not cursing everyone and their mother's off]

R-ragna! Oh, th-thank you so much for taking care of his wounds, Saya. I'll come over as soon as I can. Where is your home?

[sweeperesque]

[That's what she thought! She laughs a bit and hold on, Bree. Pressing a few buttons aaaaand her coordinates should be coming through on the SFC now.]

There you go! No big rush. I just figured you'd be the best person to contact.

[first_scorned]

Really, now, Saya... taking in homeless apes? He's Rachel's pet, I'll have you know. You really ought to just leave his care to Miss Alucard.

[ Hi, I just hacked your entry. 8) ]

His condition isn't the best, is it? Such a fool... hah. The girl, well, she's currently in the care of the nurse here.

[sweeperesque]

[... alright, this wasn't completely unexpected]

Don't be mean, Naoya. He was hurt. What did you expect of me? But he's patched up for the most part. It'll take a while to heal, but he's better off than if I didn't find him.

[She sighs with relief at news of Nodoka.] Is she? That's good. Well, that's one of my worries relieved.

[first_scorned]

Quite a few people have helped her, so I would not be too worried about the child. Frail and naive as she is, she isn't dead. Though apparently, from my gathered information, she was strangled... she may be injured for some time.

Personally speaking, I can tell you that the demon's injuries are not from a fight with this girl, however. They do not match up... I can also tell you for certain he is not your culprit behind this. As annoying as he is and as much as I'd love an excuse to teach him a lesson, I'm quite sure at this point he is not the one behind her attack. ... I'd rather be the one to get the honor of killing him, but not like this.

[ Anyway. ] And I assume you've removed that bullet lodged within the barbarian's foot? There isn't much one can do with the damage internally if it is still intact. However, if it has been removed, there may be a way to expedite the healing process...

[sweeperesque]

Yeah, that's what it sounded like to me too. Bruised neck and all... I hope that she recovers well enough, though. She didn't deserve that but then again... who does?

That so? Thanks for the info, Naoya. I can always count on you to be informed, huh? [What'a a sweeper without an informant anyway?] But I'll keep all that in mind. I hope to get some evidence to back their case, seeing as he seemed really distraught over it. [a pause] ... And you know, I'd really rather that you didn't kill anyone? Just makes more work for me. [In more ways than one, actually.]

Yeah, dealing with bullet wounds is always a pain. Speaking from experience, I always found the worst part to be the waiting- think you could tell me the secret behind speeding it up? Because Ragna and myself, I figure I'll need to use it a lot.

[behisstrength]

It is their own choice whether to act or not. Your ideal of showing restraint is someone else's idea of complacency.

[sweeperesque]

Heh, I guess so... But even if they're allowed that choice, mobs tend to be a bit barbaric, don't you think? I'm just looking to seek a peaceful negotiation as opposed to something dangerous.

[behisstrength]

That depends. Not everyone who chooses to fight does so irrationally. Compassion is a fine trait, and it is good that you act according to your conscience. But rebellion also has value.

It will be difficult to keep things neutral when tensions run so high, besides. What foundation will you build peace upon? Are you capable of finding the necessary balance? How will you maintain it? I do not envy you the task.

[sweeperesque]

Maybe it does, but rebellion with reason. I'd prefer that we get an exact criminal without argue before anyone starts an attack. As long as there is another possible suspect, I can't condone the violence.

Those... are questions that I'm not completely sure I can answer. But the fact of the matter is that when it really gets down to it, all of us here need to start cooperating so that we can work on finding a way out as a united effort.

sob

[cantataofgrace]

[ ... Carl looks more than upset. ]

I-I... I don't understand it. Why are adults so horrible...? I... I...

[sweeperesque]

Because they don't think all the time, Carl. It's what people are prone to doing. We're going to do something about the problem, but you shouldn't resort to violence or anything crazy right away. It could be even more dangerous.

[cantataofgrace]

[ Wiping under his glasses, give him a moment. ]

... I'm sorry. I respect your opinion... but I can't agree with it. My father was exactly the same! I believed that being nice and not acting and talking would fix it--but... but it doesn't! If we do nothing, this scum is going to hurt someone!

[ ... Whoa. That is some EXTREMELY HARSH prejudice against adults for a kid his age. ]

[sweeperesque]

[She'll listen and... well, he does have a point. Crowley's going free and no one's doing anything about it. She was so caught up in other problems that she failed to really acknowledge that. After a bit of silence, she nods.]

Alright. I think I see where you're coming from. But tossing around words like 'scum' will get you in trouble one day, you know. It's not that we're not acting, we're more trying to gather evidence first. It would be bad to kill him and it turns out later that he was telling the truth of it being someone else, right? You can't prove that his story is completely false without jumping to conclusions.

So... how about this? Instead of letting him go around, we should try taking him into custody first. In a secure place where he won't cause any trouble while we find answers. We don't want to do anything that's irreversible.

[pristinestar]

I'm not...

[he's not involved with any of this yet, but he could feel that he's a bit responsible since he's not much different from any of the ones involved]

I'm worried, though. I don't know what I should do. [sitting still just won't cut it]

[sweeperesque]

You shouldn't go attacking someone when there is still the possibility that they're innocent, for one. I understand people are upset, and I am, too. But people hurting each other never really leads to anything good.

Hey, if I can convince one less person out of it, that already makes a difference.

[pristinestar]

I mean... I wasn't going to...

So, don't worry...

Though, I'm worried that when someone least expects it, something might happen again...

[sweeperesque]

Oh! Yeah? Well, that's good to hear. The more level-headed people around, the better.

You're right, though. It's a little worrisome. I didn't think this place could be all that dangerous...