wipesfaith | 03 [action/written] backdated to MONDAY 1/27

[When Jean wakes up on Monday, it is with the heavy sense that something is missing. (Isn't it strange, how lacking can weigh more than having?) The skipped days - going to bed on Friday night and waking up to Monday morning - aren't what hits him first; these, he won't notice until he open his journal to send a message that won't be read by its intended recipient for a while.

The bed on the other side of the room is empty.

He's the only one in their apartment. This doesn't fall too far outside the normal rhythm of the day, but it drags him back to a few months ago when things were knocked off balance and disappearing was Marco's favorite hobby. So he sends that message, raises an eyebrow at the date, and gets ready for the day while he waits for a response.

It doesn't come.]

[Action]

[In the morning, he scours the village, walking the length of every road and checking inside every public building. He tries not to think about the last time he'd walked through still streets unable to remember with any certainty when he'd last seen his friend.]

Marco? [Cupping a hand around his mouth.] Marco!

[At some point, he dimly realizes that school started a while ago, but that doesn't mean shit to him right now. Two options have long since sunk into his brain: Marco has either been kidnapped for experimentation, or he has gone home to hit a dead end. Still, through wanting to prolong the inevitable, through wanting to feel effective in some way, he doesn't drop his search. He takes it out of the village, winding through the woods on horseback.

When he finally returns, with nothing to show for his efforts but exhaustion, a tightened knot of anxiety in his stomach, and questions, evening has settled in. He opens his journal - still no response - and starts asking.]

[Written]

Does anybody know of any missing persons cases that happened over the weekend?

Is there anyone who can remember anything that happened between Friday night and this morning?

[Then, because he doesn't know how to lock messages to specific individuals, he adds:]

Commander Smith, Captain Levi. I need to speak with you. If you're in your quarters, I can come up shortly.

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[...Jeez, it's some kid. The horse - Benoit - shifts in uneasy surprise, and Jean calms him by stroking his shoulder.]

A friend.

I've been out here for awhile and haven't seen or heard anyone.

[And from her vantage point up in the trees, she had a good view of the area.]

What does he look like?

[This is a disheartened sigh, but he answers anyway.]

About the same age as me. [It might be useless to say "height" when he's on horseback.] Same uniform, too. Freckles all over and dark hair.

[Uniform, dark hair, freckles, named Marco.]

I'll keep an eye out for him. I'm Rue.

...Thanks. [By this point, he's thinking that it won't do any good.]

...What are you doing all the way out here anyway? [Small child person. Never mind that he was twelve when he started training for the military, but you only realize how young you really were when you look back.]

Climbing trees. [The way she says it makes it pretty clear what she's doing.]

The trees are grouped really closely so it's easy to get around.

So what you're saying is it's easy to spy on people.

What? No! I just like climbing trees!

[...But okay, it's good for spying on people too.]

Sure, whatever you say.

I have better things to do than worry about what some kid is up to, so don't worry.

[Man, what a grump. Though he is looking for his ~~boyfriend~~ friend so whatever.]

I hope you find your friend.

[And with that, Rue silently climbs up again, disappearing back into the trees.]

...Me too. [But hoping ultimately doesn't amount to much.

Then she's gone, scurrying back up into the tree, and he's on his way. Sorry, Rue, maybe he'll stay and chat another time.]