[Video/Action] First Tower Murder

[not_heavens_adam]

[Every single night, Johnny would patrol the bubble and, specifically, check on his friends to make sure they were all safe. Sometimes he wouldn't go by the people he knew could take care of themselves if he were pressed for time, but there was one house he always checked on.

Last night, when Jacob's Cabin was dark, he didn't think much of it. There was nothing that seemed amiss and the man often wandered around, it seemed, so Johnny didn't even think twice about it.

It was the scent of blood that drew Johnny from his walk to his tavern. It was faint, at first, but as he walked it grew stronger...and more familiar. By the time he got to the opening of the alleyway, the vampire was a blur on the street. However, he stopped cold when he got to the body. His knees gave out beside the man and trembling hands reached out to touch the wounds, not caring about the blood that would get on him.

How? How had this happened? When? Who? Last night when Johnny thought everything was right with the world and didn't question Jacob's absence? There was nothing. The blood was stale, that gentle heart long since stilled, and the only scent in the alleyway was bleach...even that scent he'd come to love and associate with his father-figure had left the cold body.

Cold flooded him even as hot tears prickled his eyes and ran down his cheeks. The vampire took the man into his arms, not noticing the black-bordered card that slipped from the folds of the sheet Jacob's mutilated corpse was wrapped in.

Quietly, he reached for his SFC and turned it on, not bothering to hide his tears even as he let the venom and steel coat his voice.

When the video turned on, Johnny's murderous glare and Jacob's peaceful face could be seen. Just at the edge, the jagged and bloodied flesh of a slit throat was the only indication the peace was not caused by sleep.]

To those it may concern:

The man known as Jacob is dead.

[...]

To whoever did this....?

Step forward now and I'll attempt to not rip your throat out with my teeth before you've had a chance to explain why you would end this man's life.

And then, afterwards, I will make it quick.

[His golden eyes flash dangerously.]

If you don't step forward within the hour, I will find you, and the one thing I can promise is that your death will be agonizing and slow.

[More tears escape his eyes as his rage begins to give way to grief and he cuts off the video.

The make-shift wall he'd built from rage and pain broke and grief flooded him, causing him to soak the once warm and supportive shoulder he would lean against. Brokenly, the vampire sobbed and cried out, the pain in his heart too much.

He knew, he knew this wasn't permanent. Jacob would be back....but that didn't matter. It didn't change the fact Johnny had failed the one person who mattered more than anything ever. He had failed his one Saving Grace.]

Comments

voice;

[aim_exorable]

[Murder is becoming more than common in this little city, isn't it? Darkleer's hasn't been oblivious to it. He wonders if it signifies anything at all, the slow ascent to a full-out war, or if it is simply a string of mindless murders.]

[Either way.]

Mister Rayflo...?

voice;

[not_heavens_adam]

[Voice. Voice he can handle easily enough. It means he doesn't have to look at anyone.]

Darkleer....

[What was he supposed to say?]

...do you know him?

....Jacob...

[video]

[evilisfabulous]

Jacob...? The man who reads minds?

*who would want to kill that guy? Sure, he's annoying. And a little unsettling. But not worth the trouble.*

[voice]

[not_heavens_adam]

[Sorry, dude, he doesn't like you enough to justify video. Instead you get voice.

After he's calmed down enough to speak, anyway.]

There's only one Jacob in this city.

[Oh, also, he doesn't really like you enough to be polite, either.]

[sorcery_fledgling]

[Oh God. Oh no. No no no no no...

Although she felt horrible for the man - Jacob - as she's talked to him before, it's Johnny she's more worried about. The dead man isn't the one suffering right now.]

Johnny...

[not_heavens_adam]

[Johnny has to wait long enough for the tears to not kill his voice before he answers.]

Rinoa...I-

[What's he supposed to say? he doesn't-]

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

[Voice] [Private]

[bakegarasu]

Where are you?

[Voice] [Private]

[not_heavens_adam]

....Lower district. In an alley three blocks from my tavern.

action

[replicatedcourage]

[Sola's a late riser. Not naturally, just simply because living with nocturnal people has made his own internal clock sync up, so it's no wonder that he was still asleep when Johnny left early that morning for work. It's also no wonder that it's nearly noon when the Hylian finally rolls out of bed and checks the network over a bowl of cereal.

The cornflakes are still crunchy when Sola bolts out of the apartment and takes the stairs three at a time, racing to the tavern and the side of his matesprit. He knows Jacob, he likes him, and how anyone could do that is beyond Sola but his first concern, his very first priority is Johnny.

He bursts in through the front door, panting and out of breath, looking around the dim tavern hall for the vampire.]

Johnny?!

action

[not_heavens_adam]

[Sola wouldn't find Johnny at the bar. It would be empty and devoid of the smells of baking that usually filled it. Instead, there's a note on the table closest to the door that says in Johnny's swirly handwriting: 'The tavern will be closed for a week at least. I apologize for any inconvenience.']

[Voice] and I keep spamming you into forever

[needsmoregreen]

[Not again...! She was mumbling a bit now]

...People going to keep dying here aren't they?

[Voice] I like spam all of the spam! <3

[not_heavens_adam]

[He tries to sound a little comforting because she's young and he's sorry she saw that....but it comes out a little strained.]

This place...is usually very safe. Sometimes...bad people do bad things...and it's up to us to make them never do it again.

[Video]

[double_edged]

[Murder was not a kind, pleasant thing for the General to have to see. He would even admit that it still unnerved him to this day, to see one's life taken so brutally. But he's able to push this aside to address the situation at hand, swallowing hard before he's finally able to respond.]

...are there any specific methods to the murder itself? They must have left some kind of a trail.

[Video]

[not_heavens_adam]

[The tears have stopped and the blood is off of him when he answers, but his voice is lifeless and bland.]

Apparently, a sharp knife was used on his throat and torso...after he got knocked out with some sort of chemical.

There was a card next to him.

[Video]

[fightforastar]

[She doesn't know him well enough to offer consolation, nor can she really help tracking down the culprit, but it's an awful thing to see and she wants to say something...]

I'm sorry.

...please, try not to do anything dangerous finding the murderer on your own.

[Video]

[not_heavens_adam]

Thanks.

His tears have dried, but his tone is even and empty. He nods at the condolence, but a harsh, slightly crazed, laugh escapes him at her request.]

This man....he meant more to me than the sun itself.

...I was supposed to protect him...

[That dangerous flash returns to his eyes but dies almost as quickly.]

As much as I don't like killing people...I think I can make an exception when it comes to whoever's responsible.

[Video]

[closedcircuit]

Johnny...

I'll do my best to find the murderer, I promise.

But don't make things worse.

[Video]

[not_heavens_adam]

[He laughs, but it's humorless and has a slightly crazed edge to it.]

'Make it worse?'

Ky....I've lost my angel. I failed to protect the one person I had to protect the most.

....Tell me, how are things supposed to get any worse?

video;

[flared]

[And the death toll rises. It's not out of concern why he replies, but curiosity.]

Did he have any enemies?

video;

[not_heavens_adam]

[He shakes his head.]

No...I can't imagine anyone hating him. He never did anything.

[Johnny was fairly certain Jacob would apologize to a spider for stepping on it, how could anyone hate or want to kill someone like that?]

video;

[keepsthefire]

[Rin never got his name, but he recognizes the man he was having a short conversation with about superstitions the other day. Given what happened to his friends not that long ago, this still manages to hit a bit close to home.

He looks pretty shaken by even the small ammount of gore that can be seen, too, a hand over his mouth for a moment as the video turns on.]

Geez--! Who the hell coulda done somethin' like that?! 'sfucking barbaric...

video;

[not_heavens_adam]

[Johnny shook his head, significantly calmer than before, if only because he was putting up a barrier and bottling everything away. He could deal with it later.]

Dunno....a few days ago, I would have said no one in this bubble...but I guess I was wrong.

[VIDEO - PRIVATE]

[applepies]

[Asato knows the pain of loss. He wishes he could hug you, Johnny.]

Johnny... Johnny, I'm so sorry...

[VIDEO - PRIVATE]

[not_heavens_adam]

[He spares a glance and a highly forced smile for the shinigami. He would probably take that hug if you gave it, but he's also glad you can't...he knows he's barely hanging on as it is.]

Thanks. I...I just wish I knew who did it.

Or, more importantly, why...

video

[f8tal]

He'll come back.

video

[not_heavens_adam]

That's not the point.

[theinfamous1412]

[ Man, Conan sure picked a BAD TIME TO TAKE A NAP. Stupid Detective. ]

...

I'm sorry to hear that.

[not_heavens_adam]

[Gosh, Conan, rude.

He's significantly calmer now thanks to a few people, but he still sounds low.]

You and me both.

[ V O I C E ]

[cheapshinigami]

Rayflo-san... I am sorry about your friend. If you allow me to, I offer my service to find the murderer.

[ V O I C E ]

[not_heavens_adam]

Thank you...

If you think you can work with nothing, then please..

[He sighs.]

I'll take whatever help is offered.

action ::

[fakegod]

[Aizen felt the dying soul of Jacob and this is why he is out at this hour of the night, looking at Johnny, hidden in the shadow. He feels no pity or compassion for the man's sadness. Those are only for the weak.

Something then catches his attention and he walks to the crime scene, his eyes fixed on the card now lying on the ground.]

Sir...

action ::

[not_heavens_adam]

[The vampire's head whips around to look at the new person. He must have missed his scent because of the blood. Blood always trumped every other scent for him, even stale blood like this.

His grip tightens a bit, as if he could protect the corpse in his arms still.]

...What do you want?

video

[fintastic]

Oh--! No, please don't kill anyone. Revenge won't help.

video

[not_heavens_adam]

Hey, princess....

I'll try to behave myself...

It's just hard to do when you've lost someone.

voice

[bufudine]

[Serph can't immediately identify the area Johnny is in. He's not even back for one day, and this...]

Where are you? Let's search together.

voice

[not_heavens_adam]

There's nothing here, Serph!

[But getting angry about it won't do anything...and maybe Serph could find something Johnny hadn't.]

Sorry....just a couple blocks from the entrance to the Lower District.

[Video]

[crackpotcrocker]

WHAT?! NO!! ^{I was starting to get fond of him.}

[Twitch twich twitch. See that paranoia? As his man curls up into a ball onto the floor. Can't sleep going to die. Can't sleep going to die]