０１５ ☠ video

[jemerite]

[Good morning, Garden. Zinc is in the small rectangular courtyard of her little white house. She has a basket at her hip, plucking down the strange little fruits from its branches. They look like apples, but you may remember that's not quite right.

When she realizes she has the vines attention she pauses, looking pensive for a moment.]

Where have the birds gone?

[She is up frequently in the early morning, she is used to hearing them outside. She had even made them feeders, but they are all empty. She gazes at them sadly.]

Comments

[drinkswithminors]

Now that you mention it... that's a good question.

[jemerite]

[Oh. Zinc looks a little startled to see Akira, her chin ducking down. She's felt awkward around most of the girls she harassed...]

I... miss them.

[drinkswithminors]

... Hey, there's no need for that look. I'm not ashamed of what happened. You shouldn't be either.

[jemerite]

[She doesn't seem entirely convinced.]

I was... rough. I'm sorry.

[It had been an overwhelming and unfamiliar desire. She had always been a little possessive and controlling, but before she had died it had taken a more pleasurable form than what she had shown Akira. Zinc was not ashamed of sex... but certainly worried by how far out of control her anger had gone. She has spent years staving off that rage. It was disappointing to fall into it so easily. She has trouble enough articulating herself, however, and so she just apologizes rather than try to lay it all out.]

[drinkswithminors]

You're not the first gal to toss me around like that. Won't be the last. Try not to let it bother you. I won't pry into what was going through your head at the moment, but...

... I guess what I'm saying is that if you ever feel up to talking about it, I'm here.

[jemerite]

[Her chin lowers shyly. If it weren't already very obvious... She's really not all that much like the woman Akira had met. Much quieter, much more hesitant.]

Alright.

[drinkswithminors]

-She notices, certainly... but that's a talk for a different time.-

Until then, I guess we should figure out what's up with the birds.

[jemerite]

[The birds would definitely be easier to talk about.]

I have bird feeders. But they are empty today. Maybe yesterday too.

[drinkswithminors]

I'll head out to the orchards and see if I can find any.

[damaged_goods]

Perhaps they all died.

[jemerite]

Why would... the Queen let them?

[damaged_goods]

Who knows? Maybe she got sick of the whole goody goody act.

[jemerite]

[She looks troubled by this.]

Maybe. It wasn't the birds' fault...

[damaged_goods]

As that maybe, some need no reason to kill the weak.

[jemerite]

I know.

I hope they come back.

[damaged_goods]

May I ask the reason you care so much for dumb beasts?

[jemerite]

I liked their company.

[gun_cata]

They've disappeared, huh?

[ Larry didn't notice it at first, but it stands out now that it's been mentioned. ]

It's kind of ominous.

[jemerite]

[Her lower lip swells, not quite sulking but... she looks up at the trees again.]

It is. But... the Queen hasn't said anything.

[gun_cata]

She's a little slow on the draw sometimes. Hopefully it's not as bad as the feeling I'm getting.

[jemerite]

...it's probably bad.

[It always is.]

[gun_cata]

Probably. We should get ready for the worst.

[jemerite]

[She considers this. She's... really not a fighter.]

I could store food...

[She really wants to be helpful, ok.]

[gun_cata]

Anything would help, at least a little.

[jemerite]

Do you think so?

[She knows Larry just said it, but if it wasn't obvious already, Zinc is a tad insecure even on the best of days.]