THE SECOND INVESTIGATION

[strangerpeople]

THE SECOND INVESTIGATION

[As the Titled wake up in the morning, there is quiet. No crazy electrical smells waft in the air, no burnt flesh sears their nostrils. It's got to be a relief to everyone, as they start to stir.

Or, perhaps it would be a relief, until they look at their phones.

The countdown is gone...]

Comments

[beguiledcard]

[ Yeah... good thing he's being held back by two strong people???

He's gonna start fighting even harder to get away, to get over to her. His voice slips into an angry tone. ]

Let go!

[foolishjustice]

[He winces a bit at the way Akira struggles, but he doesn't plan to let go.]

Akira...please just leave this to me and Shuuichi-san. You...don't need to see this up close.

[byanyother_name]

[Kurama moves to step in front of Akira, between him and Torrithe body.]

Akira-kun... We'll see to her. Let us do this. We ask as people who care about you.

[beguiledcard]

[ Well... fortunately, he isn't going to be fighting much longer with that level of desperation, namely after hearing Goro's and Kurama's voices. ]

But, I-- [ Voice still isn't doing much better, but at least we're making progress on this. ]

I told her!!!

[ Uhhhh yeah, he's going to be fighting for a different reason now? Let him get over to that trashcan, please and thanks. ]

[foolishjustice]

[That he will allow Akira to do. Especially since he understands how badly this sort of thing can mess up your stomach...]

[comesaround]

[ Yeah he'd let Akira go too for that very same reason, but he doesn't look too happy about it. ]

...There hasn't been an announcement yet. I'm going to go take a look around if you guys can handle Akira-kun for now.

[ Somewhere along the way he'd shifted honorifics too. But with that in mind, he's going to head off toward the entrance of Yotsukoshi but not stopping this time. ]

[byanyother_name]

...I noticed that as well. We'll take care of things here. Text me or Goro-kun if you find anything, please, Karma.

[The look in Kurama's eyes is grim.]

cw: mild emetophobia

[beguiledcard]

[ Yeah, so... seeing death is definitely different when there's something between you and the body. Seeing it that up close and personal...? Seeing it after having been given more time to grow attached to them, to have made a promise to them, to have--...

That's probably why it's hitting this hard. Fortunately he hasn't eaten anything yet, and there's a dim feeling of gratitude that he doesn't spend all that much time with his new pal Trashcan.

Of course, he's still going to be standing there, hands against the wall to keep himself upright. ]

... I'll be fine.

[ He's not fine. ]

I'm gonna go--

[ ... look around.

Or try to, as him straightening up and starting for the door should indicate.

He can't just sit around and do nothing! ]

[foolishjustice]

[Nope nope nope. You're not going anywhere if he wraps his arms around you.]

If you're going to refuse to go sit down, I'm sure there will be evidence in places that aren't close to the body.

But...I do think you should rest, at least for a bit. Shuuichi-san told me last week about a drink that's good for an upset stomach...

[byanyother_name]

I agree. Take your time, Akira-kun. Recover from the shock. We-

[His face tightens as he feels his phone vibrate with a text. Kurama takes a breath before checking it.]

Fuck. Goro, look after him.

[beguiledcard]

[ He actually pauses after feeling those arms around him, going still and quiet at those words. There's an exhale. ]

Okay.

[ ... Then, he hears that swear, and he's turning his head quickly, brow furrowed.

He'd told Karma to text him if--

His stomach is sinking. ]

What?

[foolishjustice]

[Taking a glance at his phone while keeping one arm around Akira. Is it possible for his expression to fall any further?]

There's a second body. You...should stay up here.

[beguiledcard]

[ His teeth clench together, eyes widened as he turns his head to stare at Goro now. ]

Who?

[ Well... he's gonna find out, anyway, but he'd rather hear it from him? ]

[foolishjustice]

It's Katsuki-san.

[Just. Making sure both arms are around Akira now. Just in case.]

[beguiledcard]

[ Good. That's very smart of you, Goro. Because the second that name is heard, he's going to be pulling away a bit, in an effort to follow after Kurama. ]

No!

[ Well... at least he isn't going to be fighting quite as hard as he did last time... ]

Damn it!

[ After a moment, he does finally grab onto Goro, teeth clenched together.

Shit, there's something in his eye all of a sudden. Let him just. Bury his face in your shoulder for just a moment, Goro? And, hey, at least he's not actually crying, more than he's tearing up in some combination of anger and a swarm of so many other emotions...

...neither of them deserved this! ]

[foolishjustice]

[He holds Akira close, hands gripping the back of his shirt tightly.]

You should sit down. I'll get you something to drink, and...we'll find out what happened to them.

[beguiledcard]

[ There's a moment where he's just quiet as he lets his face rest there.

When he pulls back, his expression is firmer, eyes burning with anger... but.... he does nod. His eyes linger on Torri for just a moment, his gaze firming.

He's going to start towards another place -- anywhere but... here. He will be searching the rest of this area. They will find the person who did this.

Once they're somewhere he can sit, he's going to initially stare at the floor in silence. ]

[thegreenhornet]

[It doesn't take a genius to understand what they're implying]

Wait...what? You can't be serious! Why'd someone kill more than one person?!

[Only one was enough! But yeah, he's following Karma]

[steelmagnolias]

...I can think of a few reasons, but... you're right. Why.