Voice. (possible action outside of the wall) | un: ilikehorses

[shoplifter]

[It's been... a hell of a last two weeks for Laura. She had woken up with a chunk of memory inexplicably gone, uninjured as always, and yet — the faintest scent of blood under her scrubbed nails. She wasn't in a hospital, but some big room with heavy doors and Linda the social worker; her head was bandaged, her look one of bone-deep concern as she sits beside the girl.

Oh. The memory of her recapture sits heavy in her gut. The collar, the chair, the network recording, just before everything vanished from her mind. Linda runs a hand through her hair and explains things basically: Shiloh came, he took her, and he used something on her to control her. But it's fine now — all fine, his body was found, he can't do anything anymore.

Laura looks tiredly skeptical at the whole thing. She asks if she killed anybody. Linda dodges the question, which is answer enough. "We just... what he used might still be in effect, so we're making sure you're back to yourself." Linda knows her bad history with rooms like this. Maybe it's why it's so big and spacious.

But she stays, and days pass, and she's not sure what happens outside. She just knows people are dead, and she hasn't any clue who. There's something terrifying about not remembering if you took a life, even if such an act is too easy for someone like her.

When she's finally cleared to leave, there's a paranoia in her that maybe she isn't.

So she steers clear and packs a bag and runs away into the woods. But she at least leaves Linda little note this time, so she doesn't pull her hair out panicking. Out there where she can find comfort in isolation, she makes herself known on the network; she doesn't use text. It feels like an easy out.]

I do not remember... what happened. I know a man did something to make me hurt people, but...

[A pause, heavy and unsure how to proceed; but the guilt is there to carry her forward.]

I am sorry for any pain or suffering I caused.

I will be staying outside the wall for a little while, to make sure I am not a danger.

[She thought she'd maybe figure out something to say after that, but...

Her mouth just sort of freezes there.]

Comments

[shoplifter]

[Biting her lip, she contemplates that.

Because it's true, she knows normal human beings can be 'monsters'.]

It would still be hard, facing someone who hurt you, even if they did not want to.

It seems like something a normal person would be afraid of.

[jintetsu]

[He has no intention of visiting the hospital, but he'll just. not mention that. It's been a couple weeks, he's healing fine.

That offer's unexpected, though. He's not going to make her do something he wouldn't do himself, i.e. answer personal questions in public. But... there is one thing.]

whats your name

[jolting]

Good point. Like I said, you do what you need to do.

I'm Victor, by the way. I don't know if this helps, but I grew up in a land of horrors, so it takes a lot to scare me.

[shoplifter]

... I think I remember seeing you.

You were a doctor, after the kidnapping rescue. Yes?

voice

[shoplifter]

If you are asking if I'm physically okay, I am always physically okay.

[... But she figures he's not asking that.]

[shoplifter]

[She considers her for a moment.]

I wouldn't mind meeting.

... I didn't attack you, did I?

[shoplifter]

[The question is as unexpected to her as the offer was to him.

Of all things... It seems so simple. But she'll roll with it.]

My name is Laura.

[11calls]

No Laura, you didn't attack me. But even if you had, I wouldn't have blamed you for it, not when it wasn't your fault.

[She frowned a bit.]

Is there anything else you'd want?

Re: voice

[tempredmental]

Well, that's good at least.

[He would go along with it.]

I know you heal quick.

[But, he couldn't really let it slide completely.]

But you know what I mean. Don't you?

[jolting]

[Was this child kidnapped too? The idea is alarming]

Yes, I'm a doctor. I work at the hospital, though I do go out for field work in cases like the kidnappings.

[indigobird]

I can always run things out to you as well if you're in a tight spot. I'm in the Perimeter Guard so I'm near the wilderness all the time.

[Good thing she chose voice and not video, because at least the surprise on her face is hidden from Laura. Did they not...?]

Weren't you told? He's dead. They found his body in an alleyway.

[jintetsu]

[Laura. All right. Apart from that, though, he doesn't know what else to say. Or what to do, for that matter. He needs to be able to talk to her, and awkwardly tapping on a tiny screen is a poor substitute. This would be so much simpler face-to-face...

... Ah. Well, there's a crazy idea.

When Haganemaru realizes what he's planning, he's vocally opposed, of course. "Are you out of your mind, Jintetsu?! Your arm's still wrecked from the last time you saw her! Need I remind you, there's supposed to be monsters out beyond the fence? What are you even going to do if you find her, huh? ... Hey, don't just ignore me!"

But realistically, what's he going to do about it? In the end, Jintetsu's the one with legs. They head out first thing the next morning.

Given his line of work, he's got some experience tracking down people who don't want to be found. Asking around narrows down which gate she left through, and from there - overgrown urban ruins aren't exactly his favored terrain, but there are still signs. Even so, for a while he's uncertain he's on the right track. The trail doesn't venture all that far from the fence, certainly not as far out as he'd have gone, if it were him. But he stays on it, and his persistence pays off. It took most of the day (which, admittedly, is several days less than he expected), but - here she is. Keeping to what he thinks is a safe-ish distance, he tries to call her.

Nothing happens.

He glances down at the sword. Come on. Haganemaru sighs, and mutters, ] I hope you know what you're doing.

[Then, at a more audible volume: ] Laura?

[shoplifter]

[She hums.]

I would not have blamed you. It's fair to be angry at someone who caused you pain.

[... Anything she'd want? She didn't feel much like she could enjoy anything at the moment. But that's just wallowing, isn't it? She bites her lip, unsure.]

... Playing cards.

voice

[shoplifter]

[She breathes out tiredly, and really, doesn't that just say wonders?]

No matter what forks I take in the road, it ends with the same thing. I hurt people.

Sometimes if feels inescapable.

[shoplifter]

I see. It's good that you help people. I am... not good at doing that, myself.

But I'm working on it.

[When people aren't manipulating her into murder, or she's not getting scared and lashing out on accident. This is such a mess; she's not even sure how to clean it up yet.]

[shoplifter]

... I heard he was dead.

They did not tell me how, or who.

[... It had been on her mind, though.]

[shoplifter]

Sí, estoy aquí.

[The response comes after a short walk. She hadn't gone too far into the woods. After all, she wanted to be close enough to traverse to a store, and if there was any trouble for any of her friends... well, she wanted to be able to redeem herself a little and rescue them.

Where did the voice come from, though? Well, from up higher, in a tree. The girl's sitting on a branch with a tattered green backpack on, watching him with wary eyes; it's not malicious, not the eyes of a bloodthirsty killer like when he'd first seen her. Instead of her face being twisted up in rage, it's strangely stoic now, passive, attentive.]

You are 'Jintetsu of Steel'.

[jolting]

Well, you're a kid. I don't think anyone should expect you to be great at it yet. Even adults aren't always good at it.

[He nods] That's what's important. Now you've got at least one person believing you can do it. Hopefully knowing that helps.

[indigobird]

[Ah.]

I don't think it's public knowledge - if it's known at all - about who killed him. As for how, word is it... wasn't pleasant.

[jintetsu]

That's right.

[He tilts his head slightly.]

... You don't seem all that surprised.

[He was half expecting her to get spooked and jump him, to be honest.]

Re: voice

[tempredmental]

[It says an awful lot, to be honest, and Keith was worried.]

This wasn't your fault, though. Someone forced you.

Do you know why it happened?

[11calls]

Yeah it is, but it's not fair to be mad if someone else is the person who did it.

[But that's the last that Alex is gonna say about that before she sighs softly and considers:]

Playing cards. I think my ipad has some movies on it, if you want them. I don't know how well it would work out there, but we can try?

[Alex is gonna bring it. And an extra battery charger thing. And a shit ton of food.]

voice

[shoplifter]

[She's quiet for a moment.]

He was one of the men who helped kidnap me. When the cult was taking people.

I killed his friend and took his arm, in the process. He did not like me much after that.

[This is hardly the first time he'd shown his hatred.]

[shoplifter]

[She shrugs.]

It feels more important for me to learn quickly.

It is — a way to prove I am something better than what some people see.

[shoplifter]

I could smell you coming.

[Either that's an insult to your hygiene, or this kid has a pretty incredible sense of smell. It's probably the latter, because her expression relaxes into something perhaps a little concerned; she cocks her head to the side. Her nostrils flare again.]

Where are you hurt?