epidemiology | open | left behind crew

CHARACTERS: Riza Hawkeye, open
DATE: over the span of the week after the storm
WARNINGS: talk of dead bodies, will update with anything else
SUMMARY: general prompts!

I - INVESTIGATION

[As if sliced open dead bodies weren't bad enough, there's talk of sacrifice and worship to go along with them, whispers given credence by the offerings appearing all over town. Some are mundane and nearly missed, others are so obvious she can't help but stop and inspect.

Her fingers reach out, following the path of the elaborate seashells circles carefully placed in the dirt. Like and yet unlike the all too common alchemical circles from home. A thought strikes her, shivers down her spine and freezes her fingers in place.]

No....

[There's no way it could be such a thing, could there?]

II - WELCOME TO THE GUN SHOW

[The offer's a long time coming but necessary (to her) in the wake of magic rapidly seeping from the land - and the Nalawi slowly losing their grip on rational thought as a result. Away from the main village she sets up a temporary base of operations, though it's nothing more than a few well-placed coconuts and an old torn sheet with a target drawn across in dirt.

As for Riza herself, she sits with a small box open next to her, giving the gun her one hand one last good polish. Faint circles color the skin underneath her eyes but her posture is straight as ever when she unfolds and stands up, chin lifted and shoulders parallel with the ground.]

Ready?

[Her tone is all business, matching the hard glint in her eyes. Hayate sits with his tail curled around him at the base of a nearby tree, dark eyes watchful for unwelcome passersby.]

III - OBLIGATORY DOGE PROMPT (TWO DOGE FOR THE $$$ OF ONE)

[Even ash-filled skies part ever so often to let in a few momentary rays of sunshine and the same goes for Riza's mood - mostly dark but peppered occasionally by bright moments, most often brought about by a pair of four-footed furballs.

Sieglinde might be missing but Isengrim certainly isn't, and Riza's hardly about to leave him without spending at least some time in his company whenever he elects to appear. (Fend for himself he might be perfectly capable of, but he'll get no love from any of the Nalawi in their current state.) Hayate seems glad for the company too, and the sight of the two playing with each other is enough to bring a smile to her face.

Isengrim bounds up, tongue lolling out of his mouth, and she leans forward to give the large skulldog a few scratches behind one ear.]

(ooc: Riza would have made a network post about offering to teach people basic martial arts and how to use a gun in self-defense in the wake of everyone's magic being MIA but I ain't got time for that so feel free to handwave that your character learned about it there. Or just have them randomly show up, that's also okay. If you wanna do something else, shoot me a PM or pp me at

speedforce and we'll chat! Or just leave me a starter, I'm easy like Sunday morning.)

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Yep, this woman definitely knows Gintoki. She doesn't need to say anything at all, really. Tsukuyo can't quite help the skew smile that briefly crosses her lips, though she doesn't really try to stop it. ]

He ain't really any kinda person. Don't think he was the one who decided to get a dog, though.

[ Sadaharu seems to be getting mildly unsure of what to do with these tiny things running between his legs, though, and barks at them as he tries to step away. ]

[(The answer is play!, Sadaharu.)

The woman's description of him seems oddly spot-on - backed by years of astute observation, no doubt - and Riza's quick to let out a mildly annoyed exhale.]

Was it more of a 'the dog decided to adopt him' type of situation?

[Though why anything would want to adopt Gintoki of all people she'll never know.]

[ (But they're so tiny! He will start sort of jumping around after a few moments, though, with his tail wagging, so he seems to be catching on.)

She shrugs, because she honestly doesn't really know. ]

I never asked, but there's this girl, Kagura, who's usually always with him - with the dog, I mean - so I'm guessin' she had somethin' to do with it.

[She really shouldn't ask, she really shouldn't ask but—]

Girlfriend?

[The tone of her voice is light, at least, with no emotion betrayed whatsoever by the absolutely nonchalant expression on her face as she watches the dogs play.

(She's not even that curious anyway but still...one has to know.)]

No, no. More like a ... He kinda looks after her. She's pretty young.

[ So more like a daughter. Or a younger sister. ]

[Despite all she's seen here, the news still comes as a bit of a surprise to her. Gintoki, carefully collecting an assortment of younger people to look after. An image that goes at odds with the uncaring exterior he puts up, but aligns perfectly with the hints she's managed to catch here and there of his softer interior.

She lets the information linger in the air before speaking up again.]

Does he do that a lot?

[Watch out for the younger ones?

Meanwhile, Isengrim's found a branch the size of Riza's arm and is wiggling it at Sadaharu in yet another invitation to play.]

[ At first, her inclination is to say it's not exactly a thing, but then she remembers that there's also been Seita, as well as Otae and Kyuubei. The last two may be grown adults in their own right, but still considerably younger.

Gintoki looks after everyone, really, but she can't exactly say it isn't a pattern. ]

Yeah. Guess he does.

[ Sadaharu seems to catch on, as he bends to bite down on the other end of the branch and pull. Think you can win this, tiny dog? lol ]

[Tiny dog's gonna give it his best effort, ok!!! This fight isn't over yet.

Meanwhile, the other woman's affirmative is an interesting tidbit to note, one that Riza tucks away for later. For now, she smiles, some of the solemn expression vanishing off her face.]

I never did introduce myself. I'm Riza Hawkeye. It's a pleasure to meet you.

[She extends a hand out for a customary shake.]

[ Yeah okay, sure. Sadaharu's going to lift him if nobody stops him but o k a y.

Tsukuyo returns the smile, barely, and grabs Riza's hand. ]

Tsukuyo. Pleasure's all mine.

Edited 2016-05-15 15:11 (UTC)

[Tsukuyo. Yet another name that stumbles awkwardly across her tongue as she mouths it to herself, but such a thing is expected now, a given. Better that they come from all walks of life than be a homogeneous set. ]

I'm guessing you haven't been here long?

[ Honestly, it's one of the trickier ones. ~~Just ask Fidgey.~~

She shakes her head. ]

Got here in time for the genius idea to blow up a volcano.

Edited 2016-05-18 16:52 (UTC)

[That has her lips quirking back down again, frustration and annoyance mixed together. It definitely hadn't been one of their better ideas, but it'd been the only one they had to go of off. Still:]

You'll find that those types of ideas are the standard here. [For better or for worse.] Our superiors either don't have the time to send us detailed mission briefs or they just don't care.

[50/50 on which reason is actually correct.]

[ There's a pause, and then she just sighs. ]

Well, can't say I dunno what that's like.

[ Needing to give orders with limited info. It's not that she doesn't understand. She's just usually not on the receiving end. ]

open | left behind crew

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