005 ♦ Video/Open (backdated to Thursday)

[peacefulwinter]

[As the feed clicks on, Winter's sitting in a public park - it's not particularly crowded today, so it doesn't seem like there's anyone else nearby. Perhaps more noticeable is that she's trying hard not to laugh, and not really succeeding; there's a sports bottle sitting next to her, and there's a noticeable shaking to the camera, to say nothing of Winter herself. Raquel's sitting in her lap, looking more worried than anything.]

I w-wanted... hehe... to see what happened for myself. It's been- haa... weird to s-see pulses again... a-and- ha, ha... I think I saw a n-new one... [She bursts into a giggling fit, unable to continue for a moment.]

I think your priorities are a little out of order... but suit yourself.

H-hey, it s-surprised me... hehe... oh, my sides... A-anyway, that n-new pulse is... ah... a little unsettling... It's a-about... that pink-haired g-girl... and not-me... haa... I think she l-likes me...

[Winter falls into another laughing fit, the camera falling to the ground; Raquel evidently hasn't heard this yet, as the expression on his face as it drops is shocked. The feed cuts out after another few seconds.]

Comments

[lackinginfaith]

Love advice again?

[peacefulwinter]

W-what do you mean, again?

[lackinginfaith]

The blond vampire from the ice cream shop did it too.

[peacefulwinter]

O-oh... I didn't- haa... realize.

D-does it... matter, though?

[lackinginfaith]

The world is in danger, and we need to take that seriously.

[peacefulwinter]

I k-know that! B-but- ahaha... I c-can't stay on guard all the t-time. I'd... hehe... drive myself c-crazy.

B-besides, it m-might be important...! [Winter can't talk for a moment as she dissolves into giggles again.]

[lackinginfaith]

...get somewhere private now. A quiet place in the park won't cut it.

[peacefulwinter]

W-why? I d-don't understand...

[lackinginfaith]

Because nobody wants you dead!

[peacefulwinter]

[A good amount of the humor drains out of her.]

O-okay. I'll move somewhere. S-sorry. I'm j-just... confused.

[lackinginfaith]

I'm coming over there.

*Sigh.*

[peacefulwinter]

I'm s-sorry.

['Oh no, I made her mad, I don't even know what I did to make her mad and I made her mad...' Winter's almost afraid to move, for fear of being scolded, or worse, left alone.]

[lackinginfaith]

Don't be. Just stay there.

[peacefulwinter]

Okay...

[Absolutely, definitely not moving, and covering her mouth in case anything tries to bubble up.]

[action]

[lackinginfaith]

*Kari ends up there as quickly as she can and spots Winter.*

You.

[peacefulwinter]

Eep!

[Winter barely suppresses a sudden urge to hide under the bench as Kari finds her; as it stands, she flinches hard, a hiccup escaping her mouth.]

U-um... hi?

[lackinginfaith]

All right. You're safe for now. Did you see anyone else?

[peacefulwinter]

N-no? I-it's been j-just me for a while.

[lackinginfaith]

Good. Come on. *She offers a hand.*

[peacefulwinter]

W-where... are we going? [She's more confused than disagreeable on this.]

[lackinginfaith]

Out of the way. *Kari keeps walking, hiding her face with sunglasses and going out of the park behind a hill in one of those places no one looks.*

[peacefulwinter]

[Winter's allowing herself to be dragged along; she's aware that she needs to not be detected, but what exactly that means hasn't really caught up to her yet.]

Is t-this far enough?

[lackinginfaith]

Maybe. *She sighs and lets go.* Now, are you feeling better?

[peacefulwinter]

Yes... I'm okay. I'm sorry, I c-caused a problem... again...

[lackinginfaith]

*She looks level at Winter.* You're a nervous person, aren't you?

[peacefulwinter]

[The girl looks up at Kari, with a curious expression.]

I... t-thought that was obvious. Shy, mostly, but I g-get nervous too.

[lackinginfaith]

Anyone can get over that. Although it takes work.