Business as usual.<br/><br/>Strawberry brows raised and lowered, almost comically, as she watched the progress the Count made to put himself back together. It wasn’t dissimilar to some of the Shifters or Fae or other metaphysical beasts she had seen mid-transformation, albeit more transcendental in nature. Sharp hues narrowed suspiciously at the absorbing mass, studying it in a way one studied a Petri dish full of virus cells; know thy enemy. When the smell became overwhelming (as smells often became when coming from supernatural occurrences), Ziggy turned away and shuffled back in the direction of the tear.<br/><br/>She had a hunch the Count would hear her even from a distance, so she spoke as if he did, her half mumbled words crossing whatever space remained between them. Even with the sirens haunting the backdrop of the city, she imagined she had about a moment to peek at the handiwork left behind.<br/><br/>“Could’ve picked somewhere less populated, y’know.” Perpetually sucking the end of her cigarette, she let it dangle from her lips as she searched her pockets again. A habit, really. Something to take her mind off of that distinctly uneasy feeling riding her shoulders and upper spine. “Arseus Verdente? Never heard of him… or her.<i>Them</i>. Never heard of<i>them</i>.”<br/><br/>Slightly preoccupied, she found whatever it was she was looking for. A small vial was tucked to her palm when her hand removed itself from her slacks and, with it, she seemed to scoop right along the edge of the tattered wound of the laeline. The jar did what was intended, holding the ectoplasmic substance within its simplistic design, allowing Ziggy to reseal the vessel and return it to the pocket from whence it came.<br/><br/>“We gotta go now,” she murmured as an afterthought, her features turning slowly in the direction of the Shade. “We’re not alone right now. I can tell you that much- and maybe that was the case before you blew yourself up. Doesn’t matter. We gotta go.” Motioning for the Count to hustle, she added firmly, “<b>Now.</b>”<br/><br/><a class="username" data-user-id="7082" data-username="@Lurktastic" data-xf-init="member-tooltip" href="https://blackdahliaroleplaying.com/members/7082/">@Lurktastic</a>