Third Song | Video | June 30, Late Morning

[gonext]

[When the video comes on, Karina's not really on the feed, but instead, there's a very empty unit in Fatality Condominiums. Some sand had blown into the living room. It was clear that someone actually braved through the storm to get through to the place. There's some coughing heard, as well as a few sounds from animals: two cats, to be precise. After a moment, Karina picks up the device from where it was sitting. She definitely looks disheveled. And a slight puffiness around her eyes betrays the fact that she cried a little. Or that could just be all the sand that got into her eyes.]

Hey... has anyone seen or heard anything from the Kaburagi family? Everything they own is gone, and I couldn't get in touch with Kaede or Kotetsu. I couldn't get in touch with Barnaby either. All that's left here is their pets: two cats, a dog, and a rabbit.

[For once in her life, Karina felt absolutely powerless. Much more powerless than those days when she was too scared to really face off against criminals back home. The people she cared about were suddenly all gone.]

I... I really don't know what to do.

Comments

[the_great_hero]

Don't know who those guys are. But if you're scared, you can come visit Uncle Hamel.

[gonext]

[There's a bit of a sharp glare directed at Hamel at that very moment! Karina might be sad... heart-broken, really. And feeling very lonely, now that the people she knew had gone away. But she was no damsel in distress!]

I am not scared, thank you very much.

[the_great_hero]

[Hamel is not phased by that look.]

Offer still stands.

[gonext]

If you're trying to comfort a girl after losing her friends from back home, you're doing a poor job of it.

[the_great_hero]

[He looks baffled.] You want to be comforted?

Video

[pishirogane]

[Ah... it must be a first. Or just people from her own world... Both perhaps?]

When their belongings are gone, it typically means they've been returned by BREW. Animals don't travel. My apologies, Lyle-san.

Video

[gonext]

I... I guess I should be glad this wasn't because of the sandstorm but...

[It's taking a lot from her to not curl up into a ball and cry now that she felt so alone.]

Video

[pishirogane]

[When it's people from home, the first loss is tough]

Do you need help returning home?

Video

[gonext]

I can't leave these animals alone here.

Video

[pishirogane]

Where would you like to take them?

[video | private]

[3rdbest]

[ he is no good at this. But instead of text, she gets his face this time. ]

I'm sorry, Karina.

Where are you?

[video | private]

[gonext]

Fatality Condominiums. On the first floor.

[video | private]

[3rdbest]

I'll be there in a moment, alright?

[video | private]

[gonext]

Alright.

[A beat.]

Thank you, Matt.

[action]

[3rdbest]

[ Matt arrives as fast as he can, though honestly he has no idea what he will say or do. He isn't used to these situations and he never really comforted someone before.

But he does find the place, knocking at the door ]

Karina?

voice

[sombrero]

[This sounds exactly like what happened when Minako's friend disappeared.]

You can't leave their pets there unattended. Are you confident enough that you can look after them yourself? Because I'd suggest that you have someone watch them for the time being.

As for the Kaburagi family, they might have left. I've seen this happen before.

voice

[gonext]

I can look after them. It's just... I can't go out to get things for them with the sandstorm outside.

[Also means she can't get food for herself either. The whole condominium unit was bare.]

voice

[sombrero]

That sandstorm's no joke either. Anyone with common sense would stay inside under these conditions.

Hopefully it'll let up soon so you can do whatever you need to do to take care of this. [At least Raiden's being realistic about this.]

voice

[gonext]

I hope so, too. Maybe I could see if I could get any help from the people living in this building in the meantime.

voice

[sombrero]

Yeah, I'd check that out. I'm starting to see why the city's laid out the way it is.

Isn't it much more convenient to get stuck with a bunch of people than it is to get stuck alone? When worse comes to worse there's always someone nearby who can offer a hand.

I work for the Watch so hopefully we'll get everything under control soon.

voice

[scatterflower]

[ Chika can't help but be a bit depressed, though she's pretty sure it's probably a good thing that Kaede isn't here anymore. ]

If... if all their stuff is gone, that means that BREW sent them back home.

Are... are you okay, Karina?

voice

[gonext]

I see.

[Somehow anger was beginning to well in Karina's heart against BREW. She truly hated it now for not just pulling her away from home, but also from making her all alone like this.]

I'm... I'm alright.

[She's stern, but calm.]

voice

[scatterflower]

You sure? I mean, if you want to talk about it, I'm here, you know.

[ She's not sure if she believes if Karina was fine or not, but either way, she's not going to say anything about asking her about her feelings beyond what she already did. Last thing she wanted to do was upset the other girl if she was fine. ]

voice

[gonext]

I'm really alright. I'm more concerned about the pets the Kaburagis left behind than anything else. I got in touch with Naoto, at least. She said she'd help me get them to the shelter.

voice

[scatterflower]

Yeah... it's a good thing that she said she'd help you out with that. If you two still need help with that though, give me another call and I'll help you two out also.

[ Sure, it was horrible out, but honestly, the thought of those animals starving because they couldn't get to anywhere with food didn't sit well with her at all. But it did renew her determination not to get any pets in Death City. Who knew if or when BREW would decide to send her away, after all? ]