soul_campaign | An Incident [May 1; Video]

[Private to the Troll Hive]

[A smiling Aranea flips the camera to herself. She's waiting in line for the cashier and seems to have taken this as a good opportunity to address the guide.]

Hi Di and Sign! I was in the neighborhood and remembered that we were out of some medical supplies. So I took it upon myself to procure some. Hehe. Since I'm here, do you know of anything else I might be--

Hey, what's that you got there? [And voice comes from behind the counter.]

Huh... [Aranea looks away to address him.] Oh, it's just some supplies for me and my--

You're one of those "guests," huh? Well, you better get out of here. We won't take your credit.

Oh, um... but I was here just a few days ago--

We're changing our store's policy. So just, get out of here, okay, horned freak?

Okay. Sure. There's no need to get excited. I'm leaving.

[The camera shakes visibly as Aranea sets her mirror inside a handbag. In the process of doing so...]

[Video to all -- from Aranea's bag]

Just where do you think you're going with that?

Oh, um. I was just going to put it away.

Liar! You were trying to steal it!

I did not lie, nor am I trying to steal! In fact if I were to attempt to leave right now I would be stealing!

Little bitch. You want to steal my stuff now that we're not serving guests!

No, really! I was just--let go of me!!

You're not so tough without your partner, huh...

[There's a second of struggling and not a second longer the sound of fist contacting face...]

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[Naoto nods to Kanji. He can't look either of them in the eye, but he nods to Aranea. The partners are willing to escort the young troll to the clinic for a check up.]

[It's one more wordless glance to the owner before Naoto walks over to both of them so they can head out properly. The shaking isn't missed, but it will be addressed later.]

Self-righteous bitch! Things were better before you got here! Don't you talk down to me! I've been help providing you stuff for you guys for almost a year! I've done my part! I'VE DONE MY PART!

[Aranea leaned into Kanji and whispered something to him.]

Just... ugh ...ignore him.

[Kanji does seem ready to turn around, but managed to refrain due to a combination of Aranea and Naoto boring holes into him. The shopkeeper is ultimately ignored, not even given a glance.]

We'll be at the clinic shortly, Aranea-san.

[She paused a bit and looked over at Naoto.]

Can you... ugh ...give me a minute?

I need to ugh stop the blood.

[Both stopped, Kanji giving a gruff " 'course" and offering to examine her nose. He's more than familiar with broken noses and trying to coax Aranea into tipping her head slightly and pinching her nostrils and breathing through her mouth. In the meantime, Naoto pulls out a handkerchief and holds it out to them. She always made sure to carry one, but not specifically for bloody noses.]

Try using this so you don't have to dirty your hands further.

ugh Okay, thanks...

[She was grateful, and a bit embarrassed. She wasn't used to this kind of attention.]

You're welcome.

[Well, she's Kanji's friend and Naoto knows her well enough. It's just what they do.]

If we could've arrived sooner to prevent this from occurring...

[She shook her head.]

That would... ugh ...require more... ugh ...precognizance than... ugh ...BREW would permit.

Of course, but still.

[Naoto sighed. This was a common habit of hers. Kanji does shoot a look in her direction. Yes, now wasn't the time to sulk over what couldn't be done.]

[Aranea tried to be encouraging too, but ended up just looking hurt.]

What changed? ugh He was... ugh ...fine three days... ugh ...ago.

[Kanji shook his head. Obviously, no more of that right now Aranea.]

It's currently under investigation. Multiple reports of increased aggression and hostility throughout the city suggests something unnatural is occurring again.

[It doesn't seem precisely like the black blood incident, but can't set it aside yet.]

*snnk* ugh ...he's not the only... ugh ...one?

No, he isn't and unfortunately, this won't be the last case. Until this is solved, it will only spread.

I'm gonna... ugh ...have to... ugh ...talk to Kid about... ugh ...this.

A'right... this should get the bleeding under control. S'gonna swell and bruise, but a pro at the clinic can make sure it heals straight.

[That son of a bitch...]

Did 'e hit you anywhere else?

[Aranea shook her head, pressing Naoto's handkerchief against her nose.]

No.

He was quite... ugh alarmed at my... ugh ...blood.

Kind of lucky.

I'm not surprised.

[He probably didn't pass high school biology though. Naoto shook her head to clear her thoughts]

Are you ready to press on?

[Aranea nodded. She thinks she had enough talking for right now, thanks.]

[To be fair, all anyone's seen is red blood around here. ...But to some, they'd also seen black, but he wouldn't make mention of it.]

[With a sigh, he looped an arm with Aranea's and was ready to head onward as support. Easy does it, now...]

[Aranea just needs to focus on breathing until they get there which shouldn't be too long. Perhaps they should've warned the clinic ahead of time about the situation.]

[Aranea takes the looped arm and walks close to Kanji. Though she has no trouble walking, she feels more consoled by his presence.]

An Incident [May 1; Video]

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[Action] Thanks, VG!

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