02 || [action/video]

[break_the_past]

//Video//

[What appears to be a man sleeping peacefully, his back against a tree at the forest's edge is recorded on the journal's video.  It's hard to tell at first, the angle is strange, as though looking up at him from the ground.  And what seems peaceful repose is cast suddenly into suspicious light by the blood dotting his clothing and skin.

Comments

[mikangirl]

[She'd like to say that's a sight you don't see every day, but this is Luceti. Nami pauses on the street long enough to take in the state of his clothing and the blood.

...well, maybe he'll be okay. But just in case.]

Hey. You need a hand?

[break_the_past]

[The fact that he's made it far enough into town to be on cobbled streets is a small comfort. It means he's close at least. The next matter is finding a landmark. He turns at the sound of her voice and smiles pleasantly, despite the blood and tatters.]

Well enough, if a little disoriented. A bit dizzy, but if you could tell me which street this is, I'm sure I can find my way. I was dropped rather rudely in the forest a few moments ago. Not for the first time and I'm sure it won't be the last, unfortunately.

[He puts a hand to his head for effect. While he isn't feeling his best, certainly, a dizzy spell hardly has anything to do with it.]

[mikangirl]

[Hmm... willing to bet there's more to it than that, but he can at least walk. And she lives with someone who makes nonchalant bleeding an artform.]

You're on the northwestern road, heading plaza-wards. [Just before the river, actually.]

[break_the_past]

[He nods and smiles faintly and hopes she's telling the truth.]

That'll more than do.

[ledbythewind]

[It's hard to escape noticing a battered and bloody man making his way slowly through the streets; while he's clearly all right enough to be mobile, Richard can't in good conscience just leave this man alone, even if he is a stranger. A kidnapping victim, most likely...]

Are you all right?

[break_the_past]

[He's feeling his way along the street, hand reaching out to touch the wall of a nearby shop. It's easy to hide the gesture behind weakness, feeling too faint to stand properly or weakened by the kidnapping rather than blind and completely lost. He is tired and weak and more than a little exhausted, but he'd rather collapse in his own room instead of the streets.]

Aha... more or less, more or less. Just thought I'd take a walk, see if the fresh air did me any good.

[ledbythewind]

[Weakness or blindness, Richard has taken note of it either way, and is ready to lend an arm if it may be needed. But he won't offer just yet, because he knows quite well how stubborn pride can make people.]

Forgive me for saying so, but it doesn't look like it has.

[break_the_past]

[He ignores the offered arm, though he can at least sense that the man is near enough to notice if he slips up. Instead he sends a smile in the man's direction and continues walking.]

Oh not at all! You should've seen me before!

[action]

[etreici]

[Oz was about to reply to the feed but changes his mind and decides to head out to try to find Break instead.

One by one.

Still no Gil - but Break's here now, and if his and Elliot's returns are anything to go by, he's probably not in the best shape.

He eventually comes across the other man and calls out to him.]

Break!

[action]

[break_the_past]

[The sound of footsteps, the pacing, the general aura of the one walking toward him is enough to tell him who it is before he actually arrives, a credit to his senses. He's relieved at least, that it isn't Vincent or that Baskerville or someone equally offensive that has found him in such a state.]

Wretchedly cheerful as always, aren't we?

[action]

[etreici]

You'd be disappointed if I wasn't.

[He sounds a little worried though, and he comes to a stop beside Break. He's not panting but he's breathing a little harder from the run.]

Are you okay?

action.

[isntyourfriend]

[Knowing that Oz had gone out to try and retrieve Break, a certain Nightray and his servant have decided to wait up for either one's return to the house. Elliot doesn't have much of a choice given the state he came back in, meaning that Leo likely wouldn't let him leave, but waiting for Break was the least he could do.

...hopefully it doesn't take too long, though. Elliot has found that trying to read to pass the time is just a real pain in the ass right now.]

action.

[ishisfriend]

[Where Elliot is Leo won't be far away-- and he's probably seated somewhere across his master though as much as he's reading, he's probably watching Elliot as well.

...come back, Break, before this Nightray gets too stir-crazy.]

Re: action.

[break_the_past]

[It's a while before he returns, rumpled and bloodstained and certainly not in the best shape, but alive and well enough. His eyesight (or lack thereof) makes it difficult to tell who is home, if there's anyone at all. He leans heavily on the door though, ears tuned to the sounds of life; breathing, a rustling of pages, the movement of fabrics...]

Back to the old homestead. Did anyone miss me?

[He calls out to the open air, a chord of sarcasm in his tone.]

action.

[isntyourfriend]

[Elliot stands up when the front door opens, almost eager to toss the book aside in favor of something, well, different. He doesn't acknowledge the sarcasm or anything like that-the man's condition warrants some concern instead.]

Are you all right?