004. [audio] ashes, ashes~

[everadolescent]

 
Ladybird ladybird fly away home~♫
Your house is on fire~♪ and your children are gone!
All except one and that’s little Ann~♫
For she crept under the frying pan~♪

[ The singing is interrupted now and again by uncontrollable giggling, but it starts back up every time, the sweet little voice only breaking up once or twice.

Once the song ends, there's a

Comments

[Audio]

[key_destination]

[Being a naturally curious kid, Roxas can only wonder what the girl is laughing about.]

What are you doing?

[Audio]

[everadolescent]

[ A light giggle, and then a sharp snap! in the background. ]

Playing~

[Audio]

[key_destination]

[Yeah, that's kind of creepy.]

What game?

[Audio]

[everadolescent]

[ She makes a shhing sound, very gentle. ]

One I'm not supposed to play~

[Audio]

[key_destination]

[He chuckles and lowers his voice slightly.]

Oh yeah? Why not?

[Audio]

[everadolescent]

[ Suddenly there's a quiet, desperate mewling sound. ]

Because Allen always gets mad when I do~

[Audio] K-kitty? ;A;

[key_destination]

[Roxas immediately picks up on the sound, and good thing the video isn't on because he looks shocked. There is a very sharp intake of breath though, but it's quiet.]

...Seriously, what are you doing?

[Audio] ;u; she has a cat-killing streak at scorched, lmao

[everadolescent]

Like I told you! Playing~

[ Now there's a sick ripping noise. For shame, Rhode. ]

[Audio] lksdjladj Poor things. ;w;

[key_destination]

Show me. I want to see.

[Audio]

[everadolescent]

But Allen will get mad! And he's always such a party pooper when he's mad~

[Private Video]

[key_destination]

[There's some clicking before Roxas changes his feed options.]

What about this?

[Private Video]

[everadolescent]

[ She'll go with that!

The picture cuts on, the screen a little shaky. It shows a teeny grey kitten, fur matted down with fluids and blood, its back end completely crushed beneath a rather large boulder. One of its ears is missing and lying a few feet away.

From somewhere off-screen, a small, blood-covered hand reaches around and pets the weakly meowing thing, the palm of her hand just sliding across the top of it head and across the bleeding spot where its ear used to be. ]

I think he's going to die soon~

[Action]

[key_destination]

[Roxas' feed immediately cuts, and it doesn't take long for him to open a dark corridor and connect the space. He can't waste time on this. Not too far away from where Rhode had turned on her video feed, the darkness begins to collect and grow into the exit of the black vortex as he steps out.]

I don't know who this Allen guy is, and I don't care how much fun you're having-- you need to stop.

[Action]

[everadolescent]

[ Rhode barely turns when another presence registers nearby. Not a threat... Not what she's been avoiding for the last couple days. She just gives Roxas an agitated look over her shoulder. ]

I might as well dye your hair white and try to cut your eye out.

[ The agitated look becomes a glare. ] I thought you wanted to play with me~

[Action]

[key_destination]

I do want to play, but your choice in games suck.

[The glare doesn't stop him from moving closer to get a better view of the cat, and he shoots one right back at her.]

Leave it alone, and I'll play with you.

[Action]

[everadolescent]

[ Another laugh, so innocent sounding. ]

But he's so small and helpless! He should die soon, so you don't have to worry~

[ A wide grin. ]

Or does misery love its company~?