victory_road | fifth feather [Video] backdated to the 16th

[The video opens on the carpeted floor of an inn room in Ecruteak, swerving in definitely shaky hands. The person holding the camera is unmistakably Rakka, even before the Pokegear is facing her fretful visage.]

O-okay I know this is happening all over, and it's all people who were... gone. And I guess I thought it wouldn't happen to a Haibane. B-but then it did, and now she just follows me everywhere and...

[Breathe. Okay. Trying to control herself now. Over what? Well to the point, Rakka finally positions the camera until it's focused on her bed, where a young woman is sitting. The simple (and admittedly old-looking) clothing is one thing, but the adage of angel wings and a halo may definitely raise alarm. She's definitely not a threat... but that's not stopping Rakka from shaking.]

I-It should be fine. If I talk to her, I mean, right? I know her. We always talked to each other...

[Which she isn't right now. Silence permeates the air. It's fine.]

Can you say something? Anything? We're... we're friends!

[......]

So, just... tell me what want, I'll... I can...

[As quiet as the visitor is, Rakka's pleading does not fall on deaf ears as it would first appear to. The ghost tilted her head, and finally lifts herself from the bed, stepping towards the screen.

Rakka bolts. The video remains a blurred and jolted mess until, miraculously, she switches it off.]

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[Oh, he remembers this voice.]

Are you all right? She didn't hurt you, did she?

[It should be a familiar voice, and now it's attached to a face! Granted, one partly obscured by a lack of light reaching the pokegear. But it's her, Rakka, and she's not having a good time by the looks of it.]

N-no, she--! [She stops herself. Shouting could only make it worse so Rakka's voice lowers to above a whisper.]

...She wouldn't hurt me. We're friends. We... we were friends.

[Everyone is having such a bad time...]

Okay. That's good... can I ask why you ran away from her?

[Just keep calm and be as reassuring as humanly possible.]

[And it all got better before it got worse.]

...I [Something about it just causes her attempts to speak just tank. Her face is slowly dipping out of screen, like she doesn't want to look at it straight on. Like she doesn't deserve that.]

I didn't know what else to do. I mean, at the moment...

[At the moment it made sense.]

Just... breathe for a bit, okay? Sometimes it helps clear your head.

[He'll just. Keep trying to talk to her. Because yes, breathing helps, but also sometimes, so does hearing someone's voice.]

[At least, if you're him, it does.]

Would it be easier if I put this on audio feed only?

[On Rakka's side of things, it's quiet. Very much so, coupled with the lack of good lighting. Still, if Shiro looks, he can hear and see Rakka doing what he asked: breathing. It's an easy instruction to follow, she's done it before.]

...Maybe. Yes. [Is it alright to not want to be seen right now? At least by people she doesn't know all that well?]

Okay. Here...

[He'll switch it over to audio. Because it feels wrong just to leave things here. Like he shouldn't just abandon her.]

Any better?

[It's not a moment after Shiro switches over that Rakka does the same. Her voice comes through a bit easier now.]

...Yes, I think so. [At least she doesn't have to look as bad as she sounds. But she does sound... better. As well as she can feel in this moment.]

I'm sorry if I'm worrying you.

Edited 2016-09-01 09:50 (UTC)

Good. You sound better, too.

[No harm in telling her. Maybe that will help a little. Stabilize her confidence some.]

Don't worry about it. I'll be fine - you're not the first person to be afraid in the middle of the night. [Or day.] You won't be the last, either.

[Her nod would go unseen but, yes. There wasn't a bit of harm in telling her that much, Shiro. And, well, past this point, she's not thinking too much about being embarrassed.]

...I just thought we could talk. And... I couldn't.

[And admitting it doesn't make her feel any better.]

My throat felt like it was full, and nothing could get out.

That's... I think that's pretty normal for stressful situations.

[You'd know all about those, wouldn't you, Shiro.]

Take some time. See if you feel up to it later.

Mmh. [A small sound of agreement. Rakka and stressful situations weren't strangers, that was for certain.]

This was going to be the time I tried. She's been following me all day, and... I blew it.

[She can mope about it forever, or she can just swallow her anxiety and nod to herself.]

But I-I'll try, Shiro.

Maybe she'll still be there when you're ready.

[Hopefully, something about this conversation will be helpful. It's hard to just watch events unfold, and not be able to do anything about it, other than talk.]

[He nods, even if she can't see it.]

Just try. That's all you can do.

Unless she follows me in here. S-she might do that.

["Kuu" had a strange habit of that now. Sometimes, even with doors and walls in her way.

But she appreciates it. She really does.]

Maybe if that happens... you can try talking.

[It'll be okay new friend!!]

...Yeah.

[She hopes so, new friend!!!]

Good luck.

... and, there's not much I can do, but if you need an ear, I'll listen.

fifth feather [Video] backdated to the 16th

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