#realdeadeye

[forgotten-retrouvaille]

@realdeadeye continued from here

[ txt : LK ] Always do .

[ txt : LK ] That was terrible , by the way .

[ txt : LK ] Also thought you would have learned by now .

[mothausa]

@realdeadeye

" Good you survived. Did the young girl grow up in peace? "

[separateways]

(txt): cic-ada?

[text] : what

[auratold]

@realdeadeye continued

[text]: sureeee coworkers.

[text]: you're coming to Atlanta?

[donserra]

@realdeadeye replied: "Yeah, researcher. You like the sea?"

"As a matter of fact, I do. I've got plans to retire by the seaside one day, Sancho. Something tells me this isn't going to be mai tais and midday naps, though."

He wouldn't admit that he'd been going stir crazy, itching to get back out there and working hands on in the field again.

[stealthkills]

@realdeadeye replied: "Nope. Asking for some sharpening of my skills." He huffs. "No problem. Start of a tradition for me I guess."

"Ah. A test then."

The knife he's sharpening is set aside to be finished later and he stands with a fluidity that few were afforded at his age in this profession. His eyes watch Leon quietly, taking in the signs of change on him - infection has not been kind to either of them.

"You must have been invited up to the lodge. We've been picking up strays for weeks now."

[forgotten-retrouvaille]

//CLOSED STARTER ❯ MEMORIES OF BLOODSHED

@auratold @realdeadeye

It all felt so unreal .

Jill Valentine , the B.S.A.A's finest , a mythical name to all of those in this business , and she was nothing more than a name carved into the marble statue that adorned the front of the organization's North American HQ . The woman who'd singlehandedly survived both Arklay and Raccoon , the woman who'd founded this very organization , and one of the only women out there who'd served with Delta Force . Chris had always thought her to be nigh indestructible - there was nothing she couldn't do , nothing she couldn't survive - and there she had gone. Saved his own ass when he'd been dumb enough to get caught .

He still couldn't get the sound of shattering glass out of his head, months later . Couldn't get the sound of wind and rain lashing the walls of the Estate as he fell onto his knees in front of the broken window , watching as his partner and their rival disappeared into the mist below . Couldn't get the sight of the empty beach out of his head - Jill Valentine was many things, and now , the final title she'd ever receive would be martyr .

She died fighting for them . For him . He could think of no better end for the woman that he'd grown so close to , could think of no other way she'd leave , but god did it still hurt . Chris still hadn't processed everything , hell , while writing that report up a week or two ago about the official status of the missing operative , he'd nearly broken down right then . He'd stopped himself, though - all he felt was numbness , spreading right through to his core .

This suit felt suffocating .

The tie felt like it would choke him out if he kept it on for any longer.

They could spare this one night for a woman who had done everything she could to ensure that they were here now , before they would all have to return to paperwork and deadlines and operations and all that bullshit .

Chris had prepared a speech earlier , but he didn't know if he'd be able to make it through it . Organized this whole thing, with Claire's help . He owed her that much , at least . The paper's in his pocket . Freshly printed , but worn from the thousands of times he'd gone over it .

A quarter's in his hand . He's studying it , fingers tracing the grooves in the customized metal . The meaning wouldn't be missed by anyone like him .

There's a flag on her casket .

An empty one , but one nontheless.

It's neatly folded . He'd spent hours ironing it , folding it so it was absolutely perfect for her .

He's going to carry it . Insisted on it . He's in the back of the hearse now , but he can't bear to flicker his eyes to the carefully engraved wood in the back . It isn't long until they reach the B.S.A.A's soldier's cemetery , where everyone else is bound to be waiting already .

Some of her old military friends had heard , and were coming. Same with the B.S.A.A , the D.S.O , anyone who meant anything to her .

Chris didn't know how he was going to be able to face them all and tell them she died because of him .

[forgotten-retrouvaille]

"Hey, Valentine. Where's my watch?"

"It's like I told you . Sewers and Jill don't mix ."

There's a suspiciously watch shaped outline on the wrist underneath her leather jacket, but of course , Jill would never draw attention to it .