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

Are you sure?

[It was odd hearing L like this, considering it was the first time in a while she'd heard from him.]

Do you need any help?

It's... really a mess over here, but I don't want anyone to feel like they have to come over. It could still be dangerous.

[His way of saying that he shouldn't ask for help, but wants it desperately.]

[Hmm.... she worries.]

Well... I mean if it's not safe I could come later to help.

[She doesn't like the sound of you working alone.]

There's a lot of glass. So if you could, that would be... that would be really appreciated.

It sounds like there's a lot to clean up.

[Considering her tone, she was happy that he was accepting her help at least.]

I'll come by later to help, alright?

I will be here.

[He sounds depressingly certain about that.]

Bring sturdy shoes. As I said... there's glass everywhere.

Okay, I will.

[And she shuts off her feed following that. It's sometime later that she finally arrived at the coffee shop, the cacophony of broken glass underneath the work boots she found signaling her arrival.

Needless to say, she was shocked by what happened around her.]

Wha... why...

[By the time Rakka arrives, others have come and gone, bringing with them various degrees of aid and reassurance. L's stunned and humbled by the help he's received today.

He's also exhausted. It's been a horrendous night and day, and he stopped being productive a few hours ago, just sitting by himself, tired but hesitant to leave the shop alone.

He glances up.]

Oh, it's... believe it or not, it's actually better than it was. A few people have helped out today. I told them I'd take care of the rest but I...

[The heel of his hand presses against the sleeve of one arm, kneading into the sore muscle there.]

I guess I'm having some trouble getting my motivation back for now.

Oh...

[She looked at the mess. To hear that other people had come along to help was nice, but it looked like there was still work to be done.]

Ah, well, I came to help too. Even if the mess was sort of cleaned up.

That's very kind.

[And he means it absolutely. Rakka was under no obligation to come to this godforsaken place and yet she's taken the time and trouble to do so, as well as offering what help she can.

He picks himself up, going for the broom and the dustpan. There are two, so if Rakka is anxious to assist, there's an obvious and immediate way to do it.]

[As bad as it was, Rakka wasn't about to leave L to deal with the rest of the work. It went against her good nature to do something like that.

So, the moment she sees the other dustpan, she goes for it and it's not too long later that she's sweeping up some of the broken glass.]

Did people... really do this?

[He runs a hand through his tangled hair, fingers snagging on the rats' nests until he gives it up and starts sweeping on the other side of the store from Rakka.]

I'm afraid so. As you can see from the graffiti...

[He gestures vaguely toward the mural Solana painted, tarnished hideously with threatening lettering.]

"Albero's Family" is not very happy with me.

[She looks at the mural sadly. To think, that people would do something like this to something nice like that. The mere fact that people had wrecked the coffee shop made her anxious. What would push them to this.]

Uh... So, who's Albero?

[She frowned, brushing down some of her hair.]

I, uh, still haven't been here very long.

Albero's...

[He pauses, trying to think of how to put this.]

I think he's the leader of the Mafia in Locke City. His "family" are the goons who did this, so. The fact that he knows my name is obviously a little bit worrisome to me.

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

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