Stephenson shakes his head.
[i]A girl. I remember a girl. She saved my life. Twice now. First time I've loved someone in...[/i]
He trails off.
[i]She's gone, like Evelyn. And I can't remember her face.[/i]
English
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[i]Hmm. She might have escaped the fight you two were in. I saw a trail of blood and some missing clothes. I found you in the corner of the room, bleeding out. She must have thought you were dead.[/i]
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Stephenson grimaces. [i]It's likely. I shot that... thing that was after us. He's dead, right?[/i]
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[i]Whatever it was, it's nothing but a pile of dust. Also, I made sure to grab as much as I could before the authorities came. It wasn't much.[/i]
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Stephenson nods. [i]Good. Dust means dead. Permanently. A body would just disappear. Now, [b]where[/b] exactly am I?[/i]
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[i]Neo-Centra. An old base of mine. Try to keep it intact until I come back. Also, I'm bringing company.[/i] *The comm tab falls silent with that final remark* [spoiler]You know that post with 233 replies? Moving to there for now.[/spoiler]
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Stephenson sits back in the swivel chair and flips the holovis. [b]On this episode of [i]Hoarders: Buried Alive...[/i][/b] [b]Them Li-zords is a-comin' for mah kitties!! Even the dead ones in the fridge![/b] [i]Ohhh, that's disgusting.[/i]
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[spoiler]I'm back.[/spoiler] *In the front of the warehouse, something makes a muted -thump-*
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[spoiler]Good to hear.[/spoiler] Stephenson perks up. [i]Hello? Anyone there?[/i] He pats his pockets for his pistol and finds nothing. After a frantic few seconds, he secures a rubber camping mallet and begins to search the apartment.
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"Put that down, it's not like you could hit me with it." *The voice from the comm tab comes from right behind Stephenson. As he turns in surprise a cloaked figure, two red eyes staring down at him, leans against the doorway* "Well? Aren't you going to thank your host?"
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Stephenson whirls. [i]Oh.. uh... Sure! Thanks for letting me stay. Did you find her?[/i]
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"Unfortunately, no. She was nowhere to be found. Unless you count a masked klutz. I much doubt your friend was her."
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[i]I'm afraid not. That means she's... dead, then.[/i] The detective deflates slightly and sinks into a nearby chair. [i]Dang-nabit. Just when I get my life back together.[/i] He chokes up and stares into the air in front of him.
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"Dead? Highly unlikely. But, yes it is possible." *The figure nods* "Now, can you remember my name? Or is it still just a blank in your mind?"
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[spoiler]Hue hue.[/spoiler] The detective looks confused. [i]Sorry. It's all gone up here.[/i]
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[spoiler]I couldn't resist.[/spoiler] "Well, just call me Blank. You can fill it in later."
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Stephenson starts in his seat and gets up. [i]Actually, I think I know where the girl is.[/i] He moves slightly closer.
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"Really? Do tell." *The figure reaches up and flips back the hood of their cloak, revealing a full-headed, skull-shaped mask.*
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Stephenson peers at the mask. [i]Interesting.[/i] He grins. [i]Look behind you.[/i]
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"Hmm?" *They turn, a hand moving towards the pistol at their hip...*
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Stephenson slips up behind the figure and deftly unhooks the mask, tossing it into a corner, before grabbing the figure by the shoulder and spinning them around to face him. He grins again as their face comes into view. [i]In fact, I think she's right in front of me.[/i] [i]Thanks for jogging my memory.[/i]
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"Took you long enough." *Shiroe grins back at Stephenson, then rushes in for a bear hug* "Welcome back"
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Stephenson returns the hug, then plants one right on Shiroe's lips. [i]I thought I'd lost you.[/i]
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*She returns it happily, and when they break for air, she grins at him* "Looks like you've been out of practice.."
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Stephenson grins sheepishly. [i]Yeah... these things happen. What've we got for food?[/i]
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"Not much here, but.... I do know a place with a lot of food."