caughtinanetwork | Ninth Case [Audio/Action] (slightly forward dated to May 18th at 4:30 to 5:00 in the morning)

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Ninth Case [Audio/Action] (slightly forward dated to May 18th at 4:30 to 5:00 in the morning)

[Some clattering is heard, along with some groaning. There's a little bit of shuffling before a tired voice is finally heard.]

What on earth is that noise?

[As more shuffling is heard there is the distinct sound of scratching and scraping at the walls. There's also small sounds of squeaking. Does the young detective's apartment have wood floors?

Grumbling is heard distantly.]

I really hope that someone's not trying to break into my apartment... They should know I have a gun and-

[The distant sound of a light switch clicking on is heard.]

What... is...

[GOOOOOOOOOD MORNING VATHEON! Your wake up call is a blood curdling scream before the audio shuts off after the sound of a thud, some skittering and a soft squeak.]

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I can leave... Let... let me grab some of my things... I'll... I'll try to get the rest later...

[Ah. This is where Argilla would nod, but since they can't see each other . . .]

All right.

[Hmm, but where to meet?]

I can wait for you by the Coral, if that's not a problem.

I'll be there soon.

[It doesn't take but about twenty minutes for Naoto to make her way into the coral area. She's still very much in her pajamas, but she has a small duffel over her shoulder. She looks more female then male right now.

As soon as she gets there, she looks around. She lets off a soft yawn, coughing softly as well]

[If she's going to be there soon, Argilla will need to get there even sooner. After hanging up, she takes but only a moment to walk around their base and see if any of her comrades are awake, to ask them about this --

But since they aren't Argilla just leaves.

When Naoto arrives, Argilla is there; and immediately she's holding out a hand to offer with the duffel, especially since she seems to be coughing.]

May I?

[Naoto looks up at her. She offers a weak smile, and hands over the duffle - it's extremely light, so she probably only grabbed what she needed. She realizes that the over is made because of her coughing and gives a soft blush.]

I... I'm getting over something minor I had earlier this week. I'm not contagious though.

[She yawns again. She's become too used to sleeping until eight or nine here, and she knows that's not good for her.]

[The duffel is surprisingly light -- a good thing for Argilla, though she's pretty strong in the first place. She takes it in one hand and starts to lead her back to the forest.

She can sense the apology in Naoto's words and shakes her head.]

It's all right.

There's room at the base, but . . . things are still a bit damaged.

[They're still working on clean up . . .]

[Naoto still is a little on edge, and feels bad for having to ask for a place to stay until she can find a new one.

At hearing about the base, she looks up.]

If you need some help, I'd be more than willing to help.

[Anything to help keep her busy so that way she doesn't get bored or start thinking again. Even with her senpai here.]

[Ah . . . that's not what she meant at all. She meant it more as a warning for what, not as a request for help. She won't refuse though, when it really comes to it.]

Thank you. You should get some rest first, though.

[Naoto still looks pretty shaken up, if she's honest.]

. . . What was the infestation, exactly?

[Naoto gives a weak smile. She was glad her offer was taken.]

I'll try to.

[And then the question. Oh this was gonna be fun.]

It... was rats... and I tried a couple of times to shoo them out or get rid of them... They just kept coming back...

Rats . . . ?

[Oh, boy. Not that she personally considers their presence anything scream-worthy, but that would really inconvenient. Especially with how territorial people like the Embryon can get.

It's not like there was just one, either; there were most likely a lot.]

They're persistent, then. How odd.

[And Naoto doesn't seem like an untidy person . . .]

[She nods.]

Rats... Strangely persistent rats... It was like something was keeping them there.

[She hugs herself a little. Her voice is small.]

I've faced shadows. I've faced gods. I've faced world destroyers. And I scream at rats...

I'm pathetic.

[Shadows . . . gods and world destroyers. Argilla hardly knows what to say. It's so far from what she's expecting -- but it hits close to home also.]

You can hardly compare rats to any of those. These are different circumstances.

. . . I wouldn't be so quick to put yourself down.

[With that, she puts her free hand on her shoulder as they walk, as a (hopefully) encouraging gesture.]

[Naoto felt the hand on her shoulder. It was much like her senpai's hand, but different. Someone always seemed to be there when she needed.]

Thank you.

[Good. That's the appreciative tone Argilla wanted to hear . . .

She gives her back her space then, letting her hand fall back to her side as they keep walking.]

Still, it is strange. You've never had this problem before until tonight?

[Naoto shakes her head.]

Never... And I've lived there since late September.

You haven't done anything differently? Maybe tried a new food or something else that might attract them?

[Not that it really matters, but . . . just shooting off ideas.]

[Naoto shakes her head again.]

I've done nothing different.

I see . . .

[She leaves it at that, trailing off in thought. It's silent for a while; ahead of them, she can see the forest.]

Perhaps I should come with you later when you go back for the rest of your things.

Only if you wish to. I do not wish to be a burden.

No, it'll be all right . . . is there a lot?

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Ninth Case [Audio/Action] (slightly forward dated to May 18th at 4:30 to 5:00 in the morning)

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