[Video]

[histruename]

[Hellboy's been on the edge of making this announcement for the last few days. What happened during that fire was pretty terrible, but he's not so sure he wants to open that door. Still, people have a right to know at least a little about why the Sector burned before they start jumping to conclusions. He may not be the best public speaker for the job, but he'll try his best.]

I know people have been wondering about the cause of the fire in the Earth Sector last week. I was there, and I can tell you it was just an accident, not any kind of anti-foriegner terrorist attack. I'm sorry that people got hurt, but most of us made it out alive. That's the important thing.

[There. He'll leave it just like that. Some people might not buy it, taking into account that the first explosion of fire was more like a bomb and less like someone leaving the oven on, but he's using the term "accident" loosely. If they don't like it? Well... That's just too bad. The rest is Liz's personal stuff. If she wants to tell people that's up to her. But for now, this'll have to do.]

Comments

audio;

[ancillary]

There is no just an accident. If you or anyone had any pre-existing knowledge of that happening then not telling us was reckless and a lie by omission.

audio;

[histruename]

Jeez, lady. What do you want me to do? There's no way anyone could've known that would happen.

[Liz said things were getting better. She hasn't had an episode like that in years.]

audio;

[ancillary]

Then why would you feel the need to apologize?

audio;

[histruename]

Why not? People died in that fire. Just because it couldn't be prevented doesn't make that any less horrible.

[action]

[memoriesinsmoke]

[Liz is sitting in the same room as Hellboy, having carefully made sure that she was in a place where the camera wouldn't see her. She's become much more withdrawn since the fire, and the less people see of her, the better.

Another fire that was her fault, and while she was asleep, too. She's dangerous when she's awake, and apparently she's just as dangerous when she sleeps. It's given her a lot to think about, and none of it good. When she finally speaks, her voice is quiet.]

Thanks. [For telling people it was an accident, even if it won't make a difference.]

[action]

[histruename]

Sure.

[Though he's getting pretty miffed at the woman who responded who was busy twisting his words around.]

Guess I'm not much of a public speaker, though.

[He already knew this, sure. That's why the Bureau's PR always tried to make him keep his mouth shut to journalists. He's caused enough international incidents in his day. All he can do is shrug and try not to let these things bother him.]

[action]

[memoriesinsmoke]

I'm pretty sure Kate's the only one of us who ever was. [Good at speaking with the public, that is.

... She misses Kate.]

[action]

[histruename]

Yeah.

[Liz, you wouldn't believe how badly he wishes he could talk to Kate right now. She always knew exactly what to say.

Once the replies stop coming in, he's had just about enough of that. He pushes himself away from the computer and crosses the room to lay his normal hand, heavy and reassuring, on her shoulder.]

You're gonna be all right, kiddo.

[He really wishes he could do more for her. He's not even sure that message did anything to help.]

→ text :: private

[notahawkingbird]

[ Kate's been mulling over the way red-skinned dude on the video feed phrases his words and something about the way he words things prompts her to drop a private message.

She's the inquisitive type, after all, and from the talk she's picked up on, "accident" seems a little loose in terms of describing a blast that had all but leveled a chunk of the Earth Sector. ]

Thank you for coming forward with the information, sir.

Would it be too direct of me to inquire how you know it was an accident?
Consider this a query from a concerned fellow "foreigner". I had friends in
that building and helped with getting people to safety. I'm just asking
for information, no trouble meant by this message.

[ She doesn't really think it as prying, and sending a message instead of posting a video response is a lot less confrontational. ]

Audio; private

[histruename]

[Hellboy isn't offended by the message at all. In fact, he appreciates the calm, collected tone of it versus the heated confrontation he was given earlier.]

It's no trouble. I hope you don't mind if I talk to you this way, though. Never could get the hang of typing. [Because giant stone hands aren't exactly keyboard-friendly.]

A friend of mine lived in that building, and the fire started while she was asleep. You can understand she's pretty broken up about it. She just needs some time before she can talk about it. For now I'm just trying to fill people in with what I can.

[wholenewstory]

[Cass peers at him, but - she can tell he's being sincere, even if he's holding something back, so she nods.

But she needs to ask.]

Could it - happen again?

[histruename]

I hope not.

[That's... the best answer he can give, really. He'd be lying if he said no, but Liz's episodes are rare enough that they shouldn't have to worry for a while, at least.]

[wholenewstory]

Any way to help?

[audio]

[emasculates]

What caused it?

[Her question - well, demand really - is in a hard-edged tone. She doesn't care about the loss of life in the least, but she does like knowing the dangers of the area.]

[audio]

[histruename]

An accident.

[You're just gonna have to be satisfied with that for now, lady.]

[audio]

[emasculates]

See to it that it does not repeat itself.

[Yeah she so thinks he's covering for something. Like an illegal meth lab.]

video

[shootingshields]

[She's a littttttle more suspicious on what caused it now, because she knows Liz has the fire and she knows Hellboy is acquainted. Though she can tell there's more to it, and it doesn't look like he's lying about anything, she's a little hesitant to pry at the moment.]

I'm glad to know it was accidental. Undoubtedly there were terrorism concerns.

video

[histruename]

[Yeah. He figures she'd be suspicious. And he'd be okay with her knowing. He just doesn't want to get into Liz's personal business any more than he has to.]

Peggy, hi. Yeah, that would've been bad. I figured people might have been worried.

[Not that he's being all that reassuring at the moment.]

video

[shootingshields]

[It's not a malicious suspicion, at least. She knows Liz shared the suite, and she's not quite sure what happened to her either, regardless of if she caused it or not.]

I hope all parties are all right.

[It's a subtle thing, hinting at Liz. For her own confirmation and in genuine concern.]

[video]

[pyritic]

"Most of us made it out alive" means some died. The important thing.

[ +1 for the number of people not finding this a very satisfactory answer. ]

How did it happen?

[video]

[histruename]

Bad as that sounds, it could've been worse.

[He's seen far, far worse.]

And all I can tell you is what I said before - an accident. Sorry I can't be more specific.

[video]

[pyritic]

Obviously. I've been in worse. I don't want to see it happen again.

[ Hellboy's only making it sound worse, so it comes out terse, if flat. ]

video; encrypted 30%

[trainwrecked]

Is Liz all right?

[It took Bucky a bit of time to be sure he won't be busting anything that Hellboy's trying to do, but, hey. He wants to make sure. And it's not like he's linking the name with the statement made, right?]

video; encrypted 30%

[histruename]

She'll be okay.

[Right now? No, she's really not all right. But Hellboy has faith. She's pulled herself out of worse.]

video; encrypted 30%

[trainwrecked]

[Right. So... right.]

Got it. If she needs something, or - you know. Let me know?