OPEN

[soul_mods]

Characters: Open
Location: Death City, Clinic
Rating: PG
Time: Jan 17 onward
Description: Missions 151 and 152, crossposted to LJ



The clinic is a buzz of activity from beginning to end, with the doctors and their staff preparing everything that could be needed by their agents in Europe, and clearing away the unnecessaries. Food is cooked large-scale because no one will have time to do it later, and hospital supplies are moved around to make more space for beds.

Shibusen's scouts and supportive agents are in charge of dragging the wounded back to Death City, and they come and go for random errands. The atmosphere is understandably tense, and things don't get better when the first of the injured are brought in.

[ ooc: Just pop up with your thread(s) in the post. Please follow this format in the subject header: [Characters][Date and Time][OPEN/CLOSE] ]

Comments

[pishirogane]

At the knock, Naoto gave a small start. Being halfway between consciousness and unconsciousness could certainly be annoying.

"Good evening, Kuzunoha-san..."

She didn't shift from her position on the bed, but just turned her head and eyes in his direction. Right now, she really wished she had her hat back... though, wasn't he supposed to be somewhere else today? Perhaps Alucard would collect him for that thing later.

...yeah, I totally thought this was on the 17th. /headdesk

[timelessummoner]

"How are you feeling?"

Raidou stepped in and pulled up a chair by her bedside. He felt a twinge of sympathy, both for her injuries and the loss of her hat.

/pat pat

[pishirogane]

Well, her hat is fine. It was taken away to get the bloodstains out.

"Well enough. Mostly tired instead of in pain fortunately."

Let's just say he came to visit after the party, yes?

[timelessummoner]

"I'm glad."

Looking her over, he could tell she had been rather severely hurt. But she was alive and recovering... Thank goodness.

Sure! Buut... oh nevermind. She's lost track of the time anyway

[pishirogane]

For a moment, she remained silent, watching him.

"... It will take more than this to kill me. The Kishin got lucky momentarily..." And then they chopped off its head.

:3

[timelessummoner]

"...I know it will. But you know my tendency to worry." He made an attempt to smile, even if it turned out rather weak.

[pishirogane]

"Hm... I know."

But he shouldn't worry today. It's his birthday.

[timelessummoner]

"...Well. We all made it back in more or less one piece. That is good enough for the present."

It wasn't the best possible result, but it wasn't the worst, either.

[pishirogane]

She nodded in agreement with that statement.

"How did everything fair for yourself and Alucard-san?"

[timelessummoner]

"We fought off three Kishin Eggs that had invaded one of the shelters." He paused, frowning. "I... very nearly succumbed to the Madness again, but we managed to escape mostly unscathed."

[pishirogane]

A pause from her.

"You were affected by the Madness prior to this mission?"

[timelessummoner]

"Back in December, when we were called to support Europe."

The thought of that mission brought back unpleasant memories. The sense of failure, and the guilt of letting Alucard get hurt... And he didn't even want to think about the experience of the Madness.

[pishirogane]

"Ah..."

She remembered that if only because he was injured at morning training and they had sparred together.

[timelessummoner]

The injuries had not been the worst part about it. Physical wounds he could deal with, even if they healed too slowly here for his liking. But Madness could leave an entirely different kind of mark, one that lasted a long time...

"...What about you? Are you... alright?"

The way he said it suggested it wasn't her injuries he was referring to.

[pishirogane]

"... Frustrated really. Still, I believe the Madness could've shown something worse..."

What it did was enough to paralyze her now, but she managed to break out. If there was a next time, what would it do?

[timelessummoner]

"The fact that the Madness wavelenght can exploit our emotions is something we will have to prepare for every time..."

It was something he worried about as well. Even if he had been able to resist it now, it could very well bring out something else next some. Some deep-buried weakness he didn't know he had...

[pishirogane]

"Yes..."

If she can help it, there will be no repeat of this incident.

[timelessummoner]

"Well, that will be a matter to consider on future missions. In the meantime, strenghtening our partnerships seems to be the most effective way to make progress for now."

[pishirogane]

"... Then I'll have to ask Arisato-san why he was distracted during the mission."

[timelessummoner]

"Was he?" Raidou mulled over that. "If it affects his performance, then the issue should be addressed as soon as possible."

[pishirogane]

"I'll confront him on the matter in private, most likely when I've been discharged."

[timelessummoner]

He nodded. "If it is something that particularly bothers him, talking about it might be helpful even outside of battle."

[pishirogane]

"Indeed."

Still, nothing seemed to be bothering him before they went. If it turns out be something ridiculous... She will not be a happy agent.

[timelessummoner]

"...I'm sure he had his reasons."

Hopefully. Arisato-san could be a little difficult to understand sometimes.

[pishirogane]

"I won't know until I speak with him."

She still appeared to be cross through.