02

[desertdaggers]

[He's too shaky to trust himself in audio or video, so this messages goes out as text.]

Has anyone been able to make sense of the past week or so? Are there any signs of people other than us?

Comments

[text]

[wind_of_reason]

I'm sorry, Hawk. I should have brought myself to talk to you again sooner.

Things make even less sense than before. Perhaps when everyone shares what they've learned, it will. But for now... it's such a tangle.

I've seen a librarian come back, but she's mostly interested in the preparations for the festival.

If you like, perhaps you could come talk with me? I'm at the library, in the open reading area. (Somehow, it feels really... comfortable here. Like it's the only relaxing place left in the world. ^.^)

[text to action]

[desertdaggers]

No, I think I understand. It's fine.

I hope so.

The festival… so that's still going ahead. It'd be hard, without anyone attending or holding stalls.

…I could do with some relaxing right now. All right, I'll see you there.

[and after another round of checking over himself that everything's all right, he heads out and to the library's reading area.]

[action]

[wind_of_reason]

[On the second floor, the reading area is bright and open, looking out over the town square. On one of the plush couches Fuu is curled up with her journal. Although there are still dark circles under her eyes she looks relaxed. And as Hawk enters the area he will feel so as well, as if his stresses have melted away.]

[She looks up at his approach - few other people have been around, after all. She smiles welcomingly and gestures for him to take a seat on the couch beside her as she puts her feet on the floor.]

I'm so glad to see you, Hawk. And- I cannot apologize enough for... what happened at the Chrysalis. It was... my worst fear. In more ways than one...

[desertdaggers]

[It's much better than staying in the townhouse- there's still the smell of burning, even after opening the window. Hawk relaxes a little, shoulders dropping, body language becoming less guarded, though his steps are still cautious as he comes over and sits down, as though everything else could drop away too. He only really relaxes on the couch after a minute or so of sitting on it and being sure it's there.]

Don't- don't apologise. It wasn't something you could have helped. I'm just glad you're all right. [reaching for her hand and grasping tightly.]

[wind_of_reason]

Thank you... [Blushing, she squeezes Hawk's hand. Then, she looks into his face with concern.]

Has something... happened to you, too?

[desertdaggers]

[Under his fingers, her hand is warm, and if he puts his fingers against her wrist he'll feel her pulse- proof that her heart's beating, that she's alive. He breathes- he can, it doesn't hurt-, and raises his gaze to meet hers.] Yes.

[wind_of_reason]

[Looking at his face, she recognizes her face from when she'd first woken up. Haunted, disbelieving.]

I'm sorry. If you can - if you want - you can tell me. But you don't have to.

[desertdaggers]

I don't- I don't think I want to. I'm sorry. [Because what he remembers seeing- he doesn't think he can stand sharing that with one of the people involved.

Instead, he moves to hug Fuu.]

[wind_of_reason]

[As Hawk envelops her in a hug, her heart skips a beat (or two). She gasps slightly in surprise - then slowly brings her arms up to hug him back. It feels terribly awkward and her face is hot with her blush but... at the same time, she's glad. She's... hugging a friend.]

It's all right. It's all right, Hawk. I understand.

[desertdaggers]

[Hawk's fingers tighten in her shirt, and he presses his face against her shoulder. It's awkward, and his face is heating up a little- but she's hugging him back, and it's also comforting.]

I'm sorry. I wish I'd been able to do something.

[wind_of_reason]

No... no, you're right... nothing could have been done...

[Unless... he wasn't apologizing for something else, was he?
Tentatively she rests her head on his shoulder and with one hand strokes his back. (It just... seemed a comforting thing to do.)]

[desertdaggers]

…no.

[It's definitely comforting, and he relaxes again, grip less desperate. It's embarrassing to be the one being comforted, but no one else is in the area to pay them any mind.

Once he's feeling better, Hawk straightens up a little.] I'm sick of this place's tricks.

[wind_of_reason]

[Glad when his grip loosens, she patiently keeps it up until the subtle cue of him straightening. She draws back a bit, so she can see his face.]

I am too. Very much. But all we can do to fight back is try and make sense of the clues given us...

[desertdaggers]

It's not- fair. [His expression turns bitter.] Just to have what's tossed our way…

[He shakes his head for a moment, furious, and then draws away a little.] Though. I did find this, when I… woke up. [He takes off his boot, and shows Fuu the drawing of a sun on his ankle.] And I remember seeing someone with long hair in the sunlight… I don't know what it means, but Croix said he saw someone's hair, too. The same person, I'd be willing to bet.

[wind_of_reason]

[She nods her agreement.] It's so frustrating that we can't pursue our own clues...

[She gives a start at seeing the image on his ankle.]

This has to be orchestrated. [Quickly, she rolls down her sock and shows him the flame on her ankle.] I wondered why flame, when my element is wind. But perhaps it will become more clear if others have designs like this.

I didn't get an image of a man, but... I did get this... [Her voice suddenly uncomfortable, she brings out her Guide to show Hawk the pictures she'd taken of her hands before removing the purple nail polish.]

It's the same as Miss Audres' in the video. Ichijou confirmed it.

[desertdaggers]

I doubt it's personally tailored to us… the Thieves' Guild worked in the shadows, after all. [He nods.] It's probably part of a theme. A flame and the sun… heat, perhaps? We should ask after that, too.

[He leans over for a better look.] That's… a little disturbing. Doing that while… [He stops, choking on the words.]