(011) Eleventh Report [>>Accidental Video]

[zerosuitjill]

[The feed begins abruptly: the picture spins before the tablet clatters noisily to the ground, providing an awkward but clear view of a long, shadowed alley between two stores in the market. Against the lefthand wall is Jill, her back pinned against the brick; all but on top of her is a rail-thin black woman a good several inches taller, her strong

Comments

[Video]

[satangotmylungs]

Jill! Jill! Where are you!?

[Yeah, John's got his, but they aren't trying to attack him. He didn't think they would, and they don't seem like the kind to do so in any case. If John sounds concerned...well, maybe he does. But it's more annoyance than anything. Really. Really.]

[Video]

[zerosuitjill]

[And being entirely unaware of the tablet, she reacts instinctively at the sudden voice: her gun hand snaps to attention, pointing squarely at the source.

Her head follows an instant later, and then she eases up -- and has to recover from her surprise.]

...The -- the east side of the market. [Her arm drops again; her flat voice matches the motion.] But that seems to be all of them for now.

[Video]

[satangotmylungs]

[Go on, shoot. He won't get any of it. It doesn't bother him in the least.]

Do you need anyone to come...?

[Video]

[zerosuitjill]

[Yes.] ...No.

[She's pretty sure these ghosts only go after their specific target, but... all the same, she has that thing about not wanting to burden anyone.

She presses the heel of her hand against her forehead for a moment.] No, I'm okay. Thank you.

[Video]

[satangotmylungs]

[Ah, yes, the not wanting to burden anyone thing. John knows this. Slightly.]

If you're sure, then.

[Video]

[zerosuitjill]

[She nods, distractedly.] Yeah. It's just... one more thing to get over. Like everything here. [Although even she doesn't sound all that convinced.]

[Video]

[satangotmylungs]

Some things, though, I don't think everyone can just "get over."

[See that face? It's slightly...soft. Maybe.]

[Video]

[zerosuitjill]

[She closes her eyes again, looking very, very tired more than anything.

When she opens them, there's a vulnerable flicker of pain before she gets most of a hold on it.]

No... [It's said in agreement.] I guess that's why they chose it.

[She looks over after a moment, and then finally, slowly, moves to retrieve the damn tablet, now that she's confident she won't do anything stupid -- like begin to break down.]

[Video | Private]

[satangotmylungs]

[He looks her over, one nostril flaring before he rolls his shoulders and turns the feed private.]

You need any help getting home or...

[Video | Private]

[zerosuitjill]

[As badly as she'd like some company right now, there's a doubtful pause as she straightens up again.]

...I've killed people and things a lot more dangerous than... those two. In case one of them shows up...

I'm just going to walk for a while, to make sure nothing follows me home. [Although it... probably doesn't matter. They'll likely find her no matter where she is.

And she doesn't say it, but it's a bit of a warning there: being with her probably isn't the safest idea while this is going on.]

[Video | Private]

[satangotmylungs]

[Pffft, John is a risk taker. An adrenaline junkie. Fuck does he care if bullets are flying and corporeal ghosts and running amock?]

I'll leave you to it, then.

[Video | Private]

[zerosuitjill]

I'll be okay.

But thanks, John. [It's not just a polite gratitude, either; she means it, truly, and what he's said and offered means a lot to her. It's not that she doesn't want to be with him -- she's just concerned, like always, putting others before herself.

Whether he'll catch any of that in her tone or face or her use of his first name, well.]

[Video | Private]

[satangotmylungs]

[John may not be a smart man, but he knows what gratitude is. And yes, he catches the usage of his name. But it's really not the time to smile.]

Yeah, no problem. Lemme know if you need anything.

[Feed end!]