♛accidential video;

[meritocracy]

[the feed blurs in, shaky and uncertain. there's grass, sky, and there's blood. there's golden curls and a familiar brown headband and there's blood.

the video screen is smeared with red fingerprints and there is suddenly white skin, spasming fingers reaching for the screen but there is not a single word. not a single sound.

it moves, slowly, the fingers twitching as if in agony before it moves to a face, blood smeared at the top of the chin, dirt speckled across the cheeks and eyes barely open. for a minute there's the flash of a horrible red, gaping wound beneath the chin but then it's back to a pale face, lips parting but no sigh coming out. then the video spirals upwards, once, twice, red fingerprints and all.

and the fallen woman hasn't uttered a single word. ]

Comments

[voice]

[relinquishing]

[Never mind that he's at the apartment recovering from his own Malnosso-inflicted wounds. Never mind that he's already bandaged from elbow to shoulder and should probably not be moving.

When that video pops up on his journal, Guy's last thoughts are on his own set of injuries.]

Natalia...??

[Where was she, what--

...a quick glance showed Asch had already left a response, as well as Tear. So at least people who were able to get her some immediate care were aware and on the move. Still, Guy can't help but lift himself to his feet as he keeps talking, making his way to the apartment door.]

Natalia, can you hear me? Is someone there with you?

[If not, he wasn't about to hesitate wandering out to look for her himself, even if Asch was bound to beat him to it.

Ghhk. Damn these scientists.]

[voice]

[meritocracy]

[Natalia doesn't speak. She can hear Guy and there's a stab of guilt. Guy sounds worried too--

Before I started that journey--I would have demanded him to come like a servant--I was cruel..--wasn't I..why am I thinking about this now?

Her chest feels warm even if it's cold, the blood, the grass--it all feels cold. Despite all her mistakes her friends were still here--she could still be here--even for a while.

Sadly she can't say these things. Instead it's only silence. ]

[voice]

[relinquishing]

[Guy waits for a long, drawn out moment, his jaw tightening at the sounds of nothing but the wind, the grass... everything, it seemed, but her voice, or the voice of someone nearby....]

Natalia...

Natalia, if you can answer, please - let me know that you can hear me. Say something, do something. Anything.

[voice]

[meritocracy]

[there's pause, and there's a quiet tap. it's against the feed and it takes all her energy to raise her arm but it's something. she feebly does it again, lips pursed with frustration as she blinks furiously.

i'm sorry..]

[voice]

[relinquishing]

[The noise, as quiet as it was, forces that pit from Guy's stomach, even more so as it is repeated. Alright... alright, so she was coherent, at least. He leans against the doorframe, a hand clenched to his arm, letting out that breath he wasn't quite aware he'd been holding.]

Stay awake, alright? Keep your eyes open - stay brave. You've got help on it's way.

[And whoever gets there first better make it there in good time. Until then, he's keeping the audio open, hearing the faint sounds of both Tear and Nephry speaking to her. Damn, he didn't want to just sit here and do nothing. But at least they could provide her company. That, in itself, was care. And it would have to do for now.]

[voice]

[meritocracy]

[That's right..Guy is always--telling me it's going to be alright. He's always telling me that I'm strong--..even when--

She wishes she could speak and thank him, for this, for so many things because she just wishes--right now as she's in pain and bleeding out she wants to apologize as well.

So many things she had kept pent up in Auldrant after that day--how many things left had she to tell them? Asch, Luke, Guy, Ion..

But it's nothing but silence and empty spaces and words--words that she didn't realize she needed to say so desperately as she did now because there's so much red, Guy--and she still has so much she has to do for everyone..]