84 [Voice]

[flameandpassion]

[There is a pause before the girl that was in a dozen pieces begins to speak. Her voice is quiet, free of the normal conviction and bravado that she would normally have in such a situation.]

Tell me where I'm needed.

[She has no right to call the shots when this is half her fault.]

Comments

[video]

[iceandivory.livejournal.com]

[He doesn't say anything about her outburst, and the video on his end is still depicting the landscape rather than himself.]

Of course.

[video]

[flameandpassion]

[She stops, at the simple agreement, before the camera lowers to the ground, to show stone stairs, leading up to a trap-door. It stays there, for a few seconds, before she speaks quietly.]

Toushirou -- I didn't --

[And she stops herself, before she grits her teeth, trying to focus on what she wants to say. Apologies are shallow when spoken. There's little point in pointing out that this was a stupid thing to do. And even less point in pitying herself when there's work to be done. But she feels compelled to say something, and before she can think on what she actually wants to say -- ]

-- don't -- please don't die.

[It practically falls out of her mouth -- not with enough energy to be a command, but with enough quiet desperation to almost be a plead.]

[video]

[iceandivory.livejournal.com]

[He's quiet for a moment, though unsurprised that she would say something like that. She usually does. It's the way she says it that's telling. He wouldn't be surprised if many people lost their lives during this, himself and Hino included. Hino had already done so. And yet here she was, already back on her feet.

His reply is simple and just as telling as her plea.]

That would be stupid.

[Every moment spent dead is a moment of lost progress.]

[video]

[flameandpassion]

[It gets a small breath of laughter, but there's absolutely no mirth involved as she presses her hand against the floorboards above her, though the PCD camera is still focused on the ground. That would be stupid. Of course he would say something so stupid in response to her equally stupid demand.]

It would be stupid.

[A quiet agreement as she pushes outward into the fire, a quick burst of flame from her hand to create an orb around her, to protect her from the blaze.]

Good thing you don't do stupid things.

[After this, should the city survive, and everyone live, Hino Rei will never say a single word against him or anyone else again.]

[video]

[iceandivory.livejournal.com]

[He would tell her the same, but. Instead he snorts. As much as he hates it, Hino Rei's abilities will be needed for this.]

You do what you have to.

[video]

[flameandpassion]

[She almost appreciates the lack of retort. She much prefers honesty over pretending nothing stupid happened. This is her fault. So she's going to fix it.]

I will. Stay safe.

-- and thank you.

[And, with another pause, as if she's going to say something else, she cuts the feed. She needs to hunt a witch.]