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

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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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[When she takes the laptop out, he's not sure what he's looking at - something similar to the journals? Then the picture starts moving, and...what. The corners of his lips twitch upward in the faintest smile and he exhales softly.]

Mostly just funny looking. I'll give you that much.

I didn't know you had a horse. [Because clearly the only way she could have obtained such footage is to have recorded it herself.]

I don't, not here. [Not in awhile really.] Though a horse is next on my list of things to get.

Got more plenty more pictures if you want to see. Cute things too, I have lots of cute pictures.

[Because even cold-hearted hunters need a pick-me-up.]

I lucked out, got one for that christmas holiday.

Do I look like a guy who can be swayed by cute things? [Jean, please.]

Not a bad gift at all.

[Video]
[...Jean, please. Ginia scrolls through her folder of cute animal pictures to find a good picture. Aha! There we go. She'll pick up the journal to aim it at the screen again.

Come on, Jean, seal pups are adorable, you can't deny it.]

Yeah. Those assholes can be real generous when they're trying to curry favor.

[And he peers at the new picture.]

What's that supposed to be? A legless dog?

Seal pup. Cute and defenseless when they're young, but then they grow up into aquatic predators.

Admit it, it's cute.

It's fluffy. [That's as close as he'll get to admitting anything.] Looks like a big fluffy sausage.

They make cute little squeaky noises too.

Hey. Jean. Look, I'm not trying to make light of things, and I'm not going to pretend I know exactly how you feel. But I do know what it's like not sure if someone is okay or not or what might be happening and it's not good getting stuck in your head.

You have to be ready when he comes back.

[If he comes back. That line is always there, it's possible Marco was truly sent home. If that's the case, they need to prepare for that too.]

Don't give up keeping an eye out for him, but don't get caught up thinking of the worst.

[He just stares at the words on the page for a long, tired moment.]

It's hard not to.

I hate that I can't remember. He could have disappeared any time on Saturday or Sunday, but I didn't know until yesterday. [Just like before, when Marco was lying dead on the side of the street and he didn't know, he had no idea, nobody did, nobody saw.] Maybe if I'd known sooner I could have done something. I don't know.

It probably would have been useless but

I could have known something at least.

If no one can remember the weekend, it's possible you did do something, but can't remember. So you can't say you didn't do something. [Weak thought, but hey.]

Doesn't matter now. It didn't do shit apparently and I don't even know if he's coming back or not. [Although, would he know anyway? He knows that tose droids come for you when you're kidnapped, but what happens when you leave the enclosure for good?]

Are his belongings still around?

Most of his stuff is still here. His 3DMG is gone. His uniform too. He wears it most of the time. [But other clothes were left behind. Little things, here and there.] Haven't seen his journal around either.

[3DMG and uniform, those could be explained if he was wearing them at the time of the kidnapping (or departure). Journal too, though if he was still in the system, maybe it was still with him.]

I think the odds are in favor of him returning. The guide says when someone leaves the enclosure, most of their belongings disappear.

I'll keep that in mind. [It's something to hold onto, anyway.]

There is another option, though.

[Four possibilities for why someone could be out of the enclosure; mission, kidnapping, leaving, death.

If Marco went on a mission, it's highly likely he would have notified everyone.

Kidnapping they discussed.

Leaving seemed unlikely given all the evidence pointing otherwise.

Death...]

I know. But you probably shouldn't dwell on it.

It wouldn't be the worst. [Because death here isn't the permanent shutting of a door that it is back home.

But it would still mean that Marco had to feel pain he can hardly imagine. It would mean that when he comes back, something would be missing. He can't forget how Marco reacted to the news of his death, and he doesn't want them to struggle through that again.]

He'd be back in a week's time with a penalty that can be removed later.

[Clinical and blunt, but it's the truth of things. That death is not permanent is a sign of the strangeness of the world. It wouldn't make dying any easier, but at least it's not permanent.]

If that is the case, are you going to able to help him through things?

What the hell kind of friend would I be if I didn't? [What would be missing, though? A sense, like sight or hearing? Something else?]

I don't doubt you'll be there, but you have to prepare yourself whether he's coming back from a kidnapping or from death. What if he's badly injured? What if he's blind? What if he doesn't remember anything? [What if he doesn't remember you?]

If he's injured, I'll find someone who can fix him up. I know a few people here who can heal with magic. We have a first aid kit. Blind, I'll see for him. He probably won't want to rely on me too much though.

If he doesn't remember a thing [He pauses over that one for a while.] I'll still be his friend. See if I can remind him.

Be prepared for whatever may be thrown at you. Brace yourself for the things you aren't. Try to keep your head calm. I ['trust' she almost writes, but that word has too much meaning behind it.] know you'll do what's best for Marco, but take care of yourself too.

[A long pause.]

I can cut off the "mom" advice if you want me to.

It's fine. I probably need to hear stuff like that. [He feels a little awkward now that he's spewed all these emotions at her, when they barely know each other. But...it helps, a little bit.]

"Be prepared." I can only try. That's the thing about it.

Just remember you're not alone.

[It's what everyone keeps saying in the village. It's always so dammed cheerful and peppy, but it's true too. He has Erwin and Levi, him and Marco probably have other friends to help out.

...Hell, she knows she'll lend a hand with whatever is needed.]

While I'm dispensing mom advice, I could bring by some cookies and milk too.

I know. [Although comparing people you've known for a few months to someone you've grown close to over three years is comparing apples to oranges.

He almost declines her offer, because he doesn't know if he's in the mood for company. But what is he going to do by himself? Wrap himself in anxieties like a blanket? Yeah, sounds like a great fucking time.]

If you want to. I won't complain.

Flame Building, room 10. On the 2nd floor.

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