Fourth Investigation

[grimgrinningghosts]

[Well good news for everyone, when you wake up this morning the elephants are gone. And even better news, everything on the first floor seems completely normal! Still, even the most optimistic of those living might be uncertain that nothing at all is awry.

But who knows! Maybe Randy decided to give you a break this week because you're all his friends!

Want to Investigate anyway?]

Comments

[hasit]

[Yeah so Leia's just about done seeing bodies for today so she's going to just...wander in here and see if there's anything to find. So she can be helpful and also not want to kill herself.]

[grimgrinningghosts]

[Beyond the... very obvious explosion, she might find some strange pieces of fabric on the floor.]

[hasit]

[sure fuck it let's see what this kriffing fabric is. Would Leia recognize it from anywhere?]

[grimgrinningghosts]

[It's impossible to tell the way it is. They've been charred beyond recognition besides the fact that it's fabric.]

[hasit]

[Great. Does it appear to be a part of anything, still? Maybe it was a shirt???]

[grimgrinningghosts]

[It does appear to be a part of something, but it seems a little sturdier than shirt fabric.]

[hasit]

[Is it like denim? Or, what, flight suit fabric?]

[grimgrinningghosts]

[It's still pretty hard to tell, all things considered, although it doesn't seem to be either.]

[hasit]

[GREAT THAT'S SUPER HELPFUL THANKS.

She tucks the fabric away and glances around the wreckage, looking for any other debris.]

[stanbyme]

[His first instinct when he hears about a fucking bloodbath is to go find His People.

And, well. Leia's one of His People now.]

Hey- hey, Lei', you okay?

[hasit]

[Leia turns at the familiar voice, the familiar nickname, and looks overwhelmingly relieved to see Stan behind her in the hallway. Without a word, she just sort of...goes and slumps against him. Hug your girlfriend, Stan, she needs it.]

[stanbyme]

[He has come to learn and appreciate that his arms are big and good for hugging. It's still a privilege granted only to few, but she is definitely one of the few. He wraps his arms around her and hugs her tight, pressing his face to her hair.] I gotcha.

[hasit]

[His big strong hugging arms are exactly what Leia needs right now; she exhales slowly against his chest, the only indication that she's crying the slight shaking of her shoulders. She hasn't cried this whole time, not in public; she's been trying to hold it in. Be strong.

But she can trust Stan.

[stanbyme]

[He doesn't...really know what to do when someone's crying. So he just holds her, resting one hand at the back of her neck and the other gently rubbing her back. He doesn't say anything, he just lets her let out what she needs to.

And he'll shield her from anyone else seeing, if that's what she wants, too.]

[hasit]

[After a long moment, after she's sure she can keep herself composed, Leia pulls away, wiping at her eyes as she looks up at him.]

I can't...I don't want the others seeing me like this. You understand, right?

[stanbyme]

[When she pulls away, he cups her cheek in his hand and wipes away the tear trails on her face with his thumb.]

'Course I do.

[What, do you think he's just been Completely Unaffected by everything so far? No he hides his emotions and takes them out with his fists like a man.

He mimes zipping his lips and locking it, then throws the imaginary key over his shoulder.]

[hasit]

[The pantomime gets a weak smile out of her, which is about as good as she can manage right now. Her hands run across the breadth of his shoulders, grounding herself.]

I knew I could count on you. [Another moment, and she's composed herself, the only clue that she's been crying the slight redness rimming her eyes.]

Time to go play detective.

[stanbyme]

[After determining that no one is looking at them, he sneaks her a peck on the cheek for good luck.]

Don't overdo it, alright?

[hasit]

[The kiss on her cheek is bolstering; she nods and gives him a wink.]

I don't know the meaning of the word.