savetheearth | Entry #A-9: "Albatross" [Audio, Action for Employees or Anyone who would drop by ]

[L sounds pretty calm and detached, as per usual. Rather than sounding natural, though, there's a vaguely forced quality to that calmness.]

Unfortunately, Espresso Yourself will be closed for the next few days, to reopen on Thursday of next week. I regret the inconvenience for employees and regular customers.

[He finishes recording the message, lowering his phone and staring at what happened to his business over the course of just one night. The espresso machine is smashed to pieces, and the cash register is open with the empty drawer chucked across the room. The mural painted by Solana is tarnished with anti-numbered slurs and threatening graffiti asserting the control of "Albero's Family" within Locke City.

Glass from the broken windows and the vandalized bar crunches under the soles of his converse sneakers as he drags a chair across the floor, grappling with a pair of wire cutters. It's enough of a problem that his grip is clumsy, but his hands are also shaking; though the features of the mannequin hanging from a noose in front of the mural are blank and generic, the large letter "L" carved into its chest is a message that's difficult to miss.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[He's wincing a little bit - that could be either exasperation or a sign that this is plain a bad time, but he'd best not use up an excess more, in any case - ]

Do -- you think that there's anything I could do, uhmm. I could - see if it'd be possible to -- come by tonight... Or - tomorrow night.

If -- ...

[If, on the off-chance, there'd be anything he could possibly do.]

It would be very kind, Anthony. It just might not be...

[He clears his throat. Takes a sip of something.]

It might not be very safe, right now.

Sir, I can't even -- get hurt - normally - usually -- I... wouldn't mind.

[He's trying to sound as little as possible like he's pressing the issue instead of just humbly stating the fact. If L would still mind, of course, well, he'll need to resign.]

[Normally? Usually? L wonders just how much that covers, and how far it might extend.

Eventually, a selfish streak wins out. The shop isn't a very happy place to be right now and he's practically crawling out of his skin, with evidence of danger and hatred smeared everywhere.]

How soon do you think you can be by?

I -- have to ask Mr. Burkhardt -- [But ideally:]

As soon as you'd like me to, sir. If -- you'd like me to.

[Let there be no mistake in the mental rushing along!]

Yes. I'd like that.

[For all the things Anthony is and evokes, danger and hatred are not among them, and L's a man sensible enough to appreciate this.]

["Like" that, now.

That gives him an inexplicable flicker of a relief. He twitches and releases a smile and then lets his head drop a bit for a pseudo-bow.]

-- Okay. [Which is really noncommittal for any kind of justice.] - yes, sir. Should I... uhhm. Let you know when I'm. -- Arriving, or - is that not necessary...?

Actually... you know, a heads-up would be great. I guess being a little jumpy is more than understandable, under the circumstances, but it's still not particularly convenient.

Yes, sir - I'll -- [Swallows, voices a hard throat-clear.] -- be back. Here. On-on the network when I get dropped off. If -- that's okay.

[Another bit of compulsive re-insuring; hoarse and drying up as it's acknowledged it's probably not strictly necessary.]

Yes, it's fine. I'll see you when I see you.

[When Anthony arrives, L will have abandoned his efforts with the rigging for the present time, focusing on sweeping up some of the broken glass. It makes soft, shifting, clattering noises; with the broken windows, they can likely be heard from the street.]

[Sounds of... cleanup, he's assuming. Of course, without description of the damages or direct statement once he's inside, there's little way to tell whether or not the cause was accidental.

In either case, L had said, it might not be safe. He swallows to a small passive shiver and his back stiffens as he fishes the usual connected sheet of paper from his pocket and presses it unfolded.

He lets a bit of voice creep into dry preparatory breaths and clears his throat - ease into speaking, lest it minimize any abrupt distraction.]

-- It's Anthony. I'm um - outside.

[The heads-up is deeply appreciated, since every little sound from outside is cause for vigilance.]

Got it... I'll let you in.

[Not that it's saying much; the busted door practically hangs off its hinges and it merely requires a half-hearted nudge to open. That's also all it takes to break it entirely, and it falls flat on the pavement, what's left of the glass shattering.

L stares at it for a second before noticing a jagged little piece still clinging to the frame. Leaning forward, he meticulously pushes it free with the sole of his sneaker.]

[Quick, polite "Thank you, sir -- 'sorry if it's inconvenient... -- "

He hears someone opening the door and turns his head up to attention - and then he hears the door, and the simple unexpectedness of it sends a crawling under his shoulders, he edges a step back automatically -

Then a flat crash and shattering crash shoots that both ways vertical into rigidity and his nerves ringing like a whack to a bell.]

Was that - was that -- was that the door...?!

[L takes a deep breath, exhaling slowly, before answering.]

Yes, that was the door. I'll add it to the long list of things that need to be fixed by Thursday. It's long enough that it won't look much longer...

[He sits down on the edge of the front step, resting his forehead against the back of his stiff, cramping hand.]

It'll get fixed, though. My deadlines don't slip past me, no matter how ambitious they are.

Uh -- how -- what...

["What's broken?"

The door is broken. There is a long list of things to be fixed, says L. "What happened?" is utterly useless to what he'd been given clearance to come by for.

Trailing:]

What's the damage...?

[That's right... so much has been going on, and so many people have contacted L, that he'd forgotten Anthony didn't know much about what had actually happened.

The zombie had a way of looking morose, and L didn't particularly want to distress him further at any given time. But he swallowed, and made the conscious decision to answer Anthony's question as honestly and completely as possible.]

Last night... some people attacked us. They broke in, and they smashed a lot of the store up and left... messages. Threatening messages. I don't think they like what I'm doing with Espresso Yourself.

Entry #A-9: "Albatross" [Audio, Action for Employees or Anyone who would drop by ]

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