FOURTH INVESTIGATION

[bathymetric]

It's certainly been another interesting week here at the bottom of the ocean. You met what may or may not have been a ghost, you made some discoveries, but mostly you all kept yourselves busy against the crushing... well, pressure of your situation. The motive again seems to have hit a few of you, and it might not be too hard at all to think that this week isn't going to be any different than the last. But you've all been keeping yourselves busy against the looming Friday, and, well...

It's time to see if that paid off, or if what they say about idle hands is true, I suppose.

Comments

[bogwife]

[Zerinda can hear the clamor of people from all the way down the hallway and she books it toward the aquarium, all but throwing herself into the room to see what could have happened this time. Almost on habit she's already taking off her cloak and metaphorically rolling up her sleeves, eyes keen and scanning to find Ema in the cluster of people- until she finds her]

...No. No no no no no-

[bolderfell]

Zerinda.

[Therion, making his own rush towards the aquarium after that announcement, grabs her by the arm. It's worth noting his color's not too great.]

Just. Don't. If you can't... then don't.

[bogwife]

[She feels him grab her arm but it doesn't fully register for her for a few more seconds when she turns to look at him, her face bordering on grey and tears already rolling down her cheeks.]

I-I have to. Ema is always the one to do it and I always helped her. She needs my help, Therion, her and Shelley. They- she- [She can't finish her sentence before her voice cracks and she has to lean against him to keep from falling over, letting out a soft, broken sob.]

[bolderfell]

[Um. He stiffens at first--too close, she's too close--and he doesn't at all know what to do with the crying. He doesn't--he's not a comforting figure. He's barely even a reliable physical support, though he's strong enough to hold her weight.

Slowly, though. Hesitantly, he lifts his hands and puts them on her back. He doesn't say anything, because he doesn't know what to say.

But he's strong enough to hold her, for a little while.]

[bogwife]

[If she were feeling more coherent she would be thanking from. For stopping her from rushing in and likely ruining evidence, for letting her press her face into his shoulder to block out everything else happening, just for being her friend right now. But words aren't coming and all she can do is cry for Ema and Shelley until the shock finally wanes.

She pulls away enough to wipe her eyes, inhaling shakily before she finds her voice.]

Sorry. I- thank you.

[bolderfell]

[He steps back and nods, not yet trusting his own voice, eyes averted so she can pull herself back together without a witness to her vulnerability.

It's what he'd want in her position.]

I... she showed me how to use her tools. If she had them with her, I'll need to...

[Will Zerinda be all right, if he goes?]

[bogwife]

[She's nodding before he can even finish his sentence.]

Go. [She takes another breath and bends down to pick up her cloak off the floor to wrap around herself. She's hurting but she'll manage.] Do what you have to do.