01-09-2015, 04:37 PM
There's nothing I can do...
The look in his eyes when he mouthed the words was a mirror, and she turned her gaze aside with a blink. It stung. Frustration simmered beneath the marble of her expression. The enclosing walls of the cage incited a need to push back; that need to fight off the impossible. It rose up in her chest, making each breathe short. Because there had to be something.
Lt. Kamenashi interrupted her thought processes. She watched him and his men herd the children with a flicker of surprise quickly suffocated. The sudden reprieve relieved much of the tension built up in her colleagues, diffusing the need to rebel. They settled quickly to the compromise, knowing their charges would be safe -- Laurene shot her a brief, grateful glance before she began to soothe the frightened children into accepting their impromptu guardians. But, selfish or not, it was not just about the safety of the children for Natalie. Her arms remained curled tight against her chest. Jacques played the game yet coaxed the best result he could. But it still felt like running away.
"There's one missing."
Which was true, but not entirely why she moved away from the wall. Her thoughts sunk insular. Kamenashi needed time, and Jacques was taking a risk with the whole stunt in the first place. Not to mention there were not enough trucks to see the Red Cross workers and their charges safely back to Freetown. Begrudging gratitude saw her willing to play her part to prolong the distraction, though she detested being tangled in the knots of others' games. If Jay had ever intended to enforce Danjou's decree that she was simply not allowed to risk herself in this camp, he lost his chance now. She moved at a pace unkind to his injuries, in pure intent of appearing defiant.
There was a man hovering who she assumed was among the reporters; a foolish one, if he wasn't already back to his own car already, but Natalie's flat glare pushed away any attempts at being addressed. She kept an eye on her surroundings as she walked back out of the makeshift offices, but only in search of Azu. Or Ayo. The girl was Mende. If worse came to worst, she would be safe enough in Azubuike's care, so long as the man kept his head down.
It was towards Danjou she walked. An obvious frown furrowed her brow, not entirely feigned. Pale eyes searched his expression for any insight into the machinations within. If he required a distraction, she would provide one. Her peripheral caught the flash of guns, the casual arrogance of their wielders; she realised for the first time just how out-manned they were should things turn sour. "The Red Cross has a duty to these people. On what grounds are we being forced out?"
The look in his eyes when he mouthed the words was a mirror, and she turned her gaze aside with a blink. It stung. Frustration simmered beneath the marble of her expression. The enclosing walls of the cage incited a need to push back; that need to fight off the impossible. It rose up in her chest, making each breathe short. Because there had to be something.
Lt. Kamenashi interrupted her thought processes. She watched him and his men herd the children with a flicker of surprise quickly suffocated. The sudden reprieve relieved much of the tension built up in her colleagues, diffusing the need to rebel. They settled quickly to the compromise, knowing their charges would be safe -- Laurene shot her a brief, grateful glance before she began to soothe the frightened children into accepting their impromptu guardians. But, selfish or not, it was not just about the safety of the children for Natalie. Her arms remained curled tight against her chest. Jacques played the game yet coaxed the best result he could. But it still felt like running away.
"There's one missing."
Which was true, but not entirely why she moved away from the wall. Her thoughts sunk insular. Kamenashi needed time, and Jacques was taking a risk with the whole stunt in the first place. Not to mention there were not enough trucks to see the Red Cross workers and their charges safely back to Freetown. Begrudging gratitude saw her willing to play her part to prolong the distraction, though she detested being tangled in the knots of others' games. If Jay had ever intended to enforce Danjou's decree that she was simply not allowed to risk herself in this camp, he lost his chance now. She moved at a pace unkind to his injuries, in pure intent of appearing defiant.
There was a man hovering who she assumed was among the reporters; a foolish one, if he wasn't already back to his own car already, but Natalie's flat glare pushed away any attempts at being addressed. She kept an eye on her surroundings as she walked back out of the makeshift offices, but only in search of Azu. Or Ayo. The girl was Mende. If worse came to worst, she would be safe enough in Azubuike's care, so long as the man kept his head down.
It was towards Danjou she walked. An obvious frown furrowed her brow, not entirely feigned. Pale eyes searched his expression for any insight into the machinations within. If he required a distraction, she would provide one. Her peripheral caught the flash of guns, the casual arrogance of their wielders; she realised for the first time just how out-manned they were should things turn sour. "The Red Cross has a duty to these people. On what grounds are we being forced out?"