Memo 004: Thank Yous and Loose Ends (Backtrack to day after zombie outbreak ends)

[prpl_assistant]

A. Phone (Filtered away from The Doctor, The Major and Schrodinger)

Thank you to everyone who came by the hospital and defended it. It wasn't easy, but we did it, and I'm really grateful for everyone's cooperation.

B. Phone (filtered to both the RED Spy and the BLU Spy)

Would it be possible for me to see the two of you today? Sometime before lunch?

C. Phone (filtered to the BLU Sniper, hackable)

Mr Mundy, I was wondering whether you'd like me to take you around town today? If it's not too much trouble, I can meet up with you after lunch.

D. Action (around 1337 Benny Road)

(Miss Pauling seems to be busy with something, being up early in the morning. It looks like she's baking...something. However, based on the annoyed look on her face, it doesn't seem to be working...there's a strong smell of cookies in the kitchen, with just a tinge of a burning smell. Anyone who happens to be awake at 8am in the morning and around 1337 Benny Road may just get a free sample cookie with some crumbly black bits.)

E. Action
(If anyone's around the neighborhoods, they'll see Miss Pauling holding a slip of paper as she navigates through all the houses in the hope of finding one. She's got a bag of something that's emitting a nice smell, if a bit burnt. Approach her?)

F. Action (726 Anderson Lane)

(With some help from the Spies, she found out where Miss Susan stays at. With a bag of cookies (only slightly burnt on the edges) she finds herself at the doorstep. She looks a bit anxious, but eventually she gets enough courage to knock on the door.)

Comments

[strike-you-out.livejournal.com]

A year and one month.

[He moves a few paces down the stairs before seating himself on a lower step where he's no longer looking down at her.]

[prpl_assistant]

That's a long time. It must've been difficult at the start to get used to everything here.

[strike-you-out.livejournal.com]

[His socks become the focal point of his attention.]

I don't like thinking about it...

[Or talking about it, or remembering it, or accepting that it happened. Worst experience ever.]

[prpl_assistant]

(Suddenly, Slugger looks less like a menacing threat, and more like an awkward teenage boy who just got caught doing something embarrassing.)

I'm sorry. I didn't mean to remind you of it.

(She does mean that. She actually feels pretty bad it. Hence why she will try to change the subject.)

Did you come from Miss Susan's world as well?

[strike-you-out.livejournal.com]

[Glad to have changed subjects, Slugger shakes his head and continues in his quiet voice.]

My home was Musashino, Tokyo.

[prpl_assistant]

(Tokyo? But which Tokyo? That was the Golden Question.)

That explains the baseball bat; baseball is a popular sport in Japan, isn't it? How long have you been playing, Slugger?

[strike-you-out.livejournal.com]

I never played... until I got here.

[His head is still bent and gaze directed down; however, the hint of a smile is evident at the corners of his lips. Perhaps he's amused by the irony of this. Perhaps it's something else... One could guess that a bat as heavily warped as his would be next to useless in a game of baseball.]

[prpl_assistant]

(Or it could be that he broke his bat. Which is more of what Miss Pauling suspects is the case, until Slugger points out that he never played till Mayfield.)

Do you know the BLU Scout then? He plays baseball a lot, I'm sure he'd be willing to have a few rounds with you.

[strike-you-out.livejournal.com]

[BLU Scout happens to be the "father" of a very close acquaintance of his.]

He taught me how. But I've always had the bat.

[prpl_assistant]

That's good of him.

How did you break your bat though? Was it at the zombie outbreak?

[strike-you-out.livejournal.com]

It's always been that way.

[The angle of the bat's barrel is vaguely reminiscent of a reaper's scythe--divergent from what should be a linear path. Slugger's partially obscured grin seems to grow incrementally.]

[prpl_assistant]

(Is it just her, or is the atmosphere around them getting heavier and heavier?)

That's...too bad. It must be hard to play with a broken bat like that.

(She's got a feeling that bat is really REALLY special to Slugger. Asking him to get a new one might be a bad idea, considering that creepy grin he's giving her.)

[strike-you-out.livejournal.com]

[It's definitely gotten a little darker. Her initial instinct may not be so far from the truth; he's most certainly a strange child.]

Not the way I play.

[He looks up at her now, eyes wandering all over her face before settling to meet her gaze. His grin has faded almost entirely, but small traces of something akin to amusement still remain.]

Did you watch Miss Susan reap the man's soul?

[prpl_assistant]

(Somehow, she had a feeling that she doesn't want to know HOW he plays.)

Yes, I did. I...I would have preferred if things didn't lead to that, but it couldn't be avoided.

(She had to suppress a shudder. That was one memory she didn't really want to recall.)

Has Miss Susan done that before?

[strike-you-out.livejournal.com]

[Slugger nods, looking the least bit unnerved.]

It's her job. [His eyes slowly vanish beneath his cap's visor as his head dips lower.] We both have one.

[prpl_assistant]

What's yours then Slugger?

(Somehow, she has a feeling she's going to regret asking this, but curiosity gets the better of her.)