do you have enough love in your heart

[somebadnews]

WHO: Five and OPEN
WHEN: After this mess and bounties are issued for Messalina's little helpers
WHERE: Various points around Ephes
WHAT: A boy plays fetch with a dog, gets targeted for murder, and has too much to drink, not in that order
WARNINGS: language, violence, dead hellhounds, and other typical Five-things

Prompts below, all taking place in the same day. (I'm sorry this idea started out so wholesome...) Open to action or prose, whatever your preference!

Comments

[matermali]

[ While there has been some curious effort in favor of Messalina, Vanessa's ultimate care is the livelihood of those in their group. Whatever pretenses she had adopted for the sake of blending in are just as easily abandoned where needed. ]

Is it so impossible for you to believe that I am here to ease your pain? My heart still beats.

[ She looks to what's left of his hound. ]

Go and see your friend off, and after, you can find some beer or whisky to toast it and pay respects.

[somebadnews]

[ A stretch of silence follows, as if he's struggling to absorb her words. Partly because he's at odds with the pity in her tone and the gentle nudging to do what he needs, presumably to help. Although he can't tell if her last comment is pointed, considering how he managed to get ambushed in the first place.

Lingering here is only going to draw more attention, and he's still too bloody to leave any ambiguity to what happened. He gives her a long look and frowns. ]

There could be more.

[matermali]

[ She isn't very concerned over being snuck up on, and she could take on a useful identity to be cautious, but his continued hesitation draws her attention away from the mess. ]

Better to leave them for their own to retrieve, then?

[somebadnews]

[ Five doesn't know what she intends to do with the bodies, but he could take a few guesses that not all of them would end up being dumped like the ones they harvested. ]

It might send a message.

[matermali]

[ Vanessa has been nothing but helpful, does she not deserve a little treat? ]

And likely make them far more aggressive.

[ She doesn't sound as though she opposes that at all, but she is pointing it out. ]

[somebadnews]

[ It's disturbing, but maybe he shouldn't object. It's not really cannibalism when Vanessa isn't human. What does he care? ]

They cut the head off my dog. [ Whatever, he's calling it that now, like it wasn't a monster to them. How much more aggressive can they be? ...And what is his objection, exactly? ] You know what, you can do what you like with them. If you want to put their heads on spikes, I won't say a word.