16 Star Ball || Dende [in person]

[holy-pickle.livejournal.com]

[Dende had grown a bit worried about his friend Tom, as they had decided to make plans to see some movies together. Dende feared that perhaps Tom was worried that Dende already had plans, which since he's a total nerd he doesn't.

He walked through the halls to Tom's room and knocks on the door, causing the door to open a crack]

Tom? Um, are you in?

[The fact that the door wasn't closed leaves him a bit nervous, did someone steal something from his room or something? He pushes open the door and steps in]

I'm coming in...

[When he steps in and sees Tom lying on the bed he panics and rushes to his friends side. His eye's widen when he sees the injuries, broken neck and a hole in the stomach from some sort of laser or ki blast, he automatically knew that signature, but he refused to believe it. Shaking the thought of his mentor and friend out of his head he instinctively holds out his hands over Tom to try and heal him in vain. His powers didn't work on the dead.

He stumbled out of the room and into the halls, his hand over his mouth and his eyes welling up. He honestly felt as though he were going to be ill. He's seen worse injuries before, and he's also seen unfair murder before, but that never made it any easier...]

Comments

[truehappyending.livejournal.com]

Hello there. Is something wrong?

[holy-pickle.livejournal.com]

[Hearing an unfamiliar voice Dende quickly tries to pull himself together. He bites his toung and blinks back the tears before turning to Giselle with a very forced smile on his face.]

H-h-hello.... I-I'm al-alright Miss, there's n-nothing to worry about.

[truehappyending.livejournal.com]

You sure, if something is wrong maybe I can help.

[holy-pickle.livejournal.com]

I-it's n-nothing.... i-i-it's just that a [his voice cracks a bit] a friend of mine... he's f-fallen i-ill... and I just fear f-for the worst i-is all.

[Dende folds his arms as though he's cold when in actuality he's trying to keep his shoulders from trembling]

[truehappyending.livejournal.com]

Oh my, your poor friend must be terribly ill. Maybe something with lemon might help?

[holy-pickle.livejournal.com]

[he bites his lip, the forced smile just a bit more genuine. What a kind woman]

I... don't think that will help... but you are very kind Miss.

[truehappyending.livejournal.com]

How about some flowers?

[In Person]

[ginsengismyfave.livejournal.com]

Dende?

[Iroh, coming down the hall, sees his friend in a state of great distress. He runs to his side.]

Dende, what happened? Are you alright?

Re: [In Person]

[holy-pickle.livejournal.com]

[Dende quickly tries to pull himself together. He swallows the lump in his throat and tries to blink back the tears. He's supposed to be able to handle this sort of thing...]

I-I'm f-f-fine I-Iroh.... but Tom...

[He points through Tom's door at the body on the bed]

[In Person]

[ginsengismyfave.livejournal.com]

[Iroh peeks into the doorway, fearing the worst. He sees Tom's body, then shuts the door. He doesn't know Tom, but that doesn't blunt the impact of seeing the body at all.]

More senseless violence. Terrible.

I'm sorry, Dende.

Re: [In Person]

[holy-pickle.livejournal.com]

[He bites his lip and nods. Iroh was a close friend, he could let him know about his fear of who did it]

I... I'm afraid I know who did it... but... it couldn't... I mean, I know he's not all bad, he would do something like this... a-and I know Tom wouldn't have done anything to...

[He covers his face with his hands and shakes his head. And where was he when this was happening? He could have easily stoped it!]

[In Person]

[ginsengismyfave.livejournal.com]

[Poor Dende. Despite his inner strength and fortitude, he was so unsure of himself. If only he could see that.

Iroh puts a comforting arm around Dende.]

Say nothing. Take your time to mourn. If you know who did this, we'll deal with it later.

Re: [In Person]

[holy-pickle.livejournal.com]

[A choked sob escapes his throat before he once more tries to hold back. He folds his arms to try and keep his shoulders from trembling so]

I'm sorry Iroh... I'm always such a wreck whenever you see me...

[1ofyour5aday.livejournal.com]

[Just passing Toms room herself, Elphaba (literally) runs into Dende, catching herself at the last minute. However, before she can reprimand whoever it was, she notices who it is, and how upset he looks]

Dende..? What's wrong? What's happened?

[holy-pickle.livejournal.com]

[Dende stumbles backwards a bit, quite shaken up by the whole experience. He backs himself up so he's against the wall for some extra support, as he was feeling rather weak in knees at the moment]

M-Ms. Elphaba... I.... it's...

[He lets out a choked sob and the tears begin to flow. He closes his eye's tight and looks away, ashamed by his own tears but powerless to stop them]

[1ofyour5aday.livejournal.com]

[Turning him back gently, she envelopes him in a hug, allowing him to calm down in his own time. After a few minutes, she pulls away a little, her voice gentle]

What's happened, hmm..?

[holy-pickle.livejournal.com]

m-my friend Tom... he's been... he's been... He shouldn't have! H-he's so young and good natured... he hasn't done anything to deserve this... nothing at all but...

[Dende wimpers a bit hugging her back. For once honestly not caring if Piccolo would throw a fit, he could beat him up all he wanted, but right now he really needed the comforting]

[1ofyour5aday.livejournal.com]

[Tom? The young officer..? Elphaba glances at the door behind Dende, before pushing it open slowly. Seeing the body, her eyes widen..what had happened..? Who would do something this meaningless?

Stepping into the room to look at the body closer, her heart and stomach seemed to switch places when she saw close up just what had happened. It wasn't the gaping hole through the abdomen that gave it away for her. The broken neck, and the way it was broken..the bruising around the throat, let alone the size of the grip marks..]

..Oh my God..

[She then speaks to Dende, but doesn't take her eyes off of Toms body. She finds she can't]

..This was Piccolo, wasn't it?

[So this was why he'd been acting so strangely? She'd known something was wrong..but she never thought it'd be something like this]

[holy-pickle.livejournal.com]

[Oh just the words dende didn't want to hear. He may have kept his distance from Piccolo in the manor not wanting to cause him unneeded confusion, but he still considered him a close friend and mentor, even if he was taken from a time in his life when he was so conflicted]

N-no, it couldn't be! I-I've known Piccolo for decades, he's mentored me and been a good friend! He's not a bad person! H-he wouldn't kill someone for no reason! He j-just wouldn't! He stopped killing needlessly after the reincarnation... He couldn't have done this to Tom....

[Dende covers his face with hands trying to frantically wipe the tears away]

[In Person]

[passes-out.livejournal.com]

[Ichabod had his nose in a book and saw the forming crowd around a familiar face. The taller Namek, well taller than himself, was looking inside a door of someone's room and his brow furrowed. He dogeared the page, closed his book and approached his apprentice.]

Dende? Is something the....

[Then the sight of the young officer laying in his bed caught his attention and his breath hitched. He pushed his way inside to take a look at the body.]

Oh dear.....

Re: [In Person]

[holy-pickle.livejournal.com]

[Dende shut his eyes with his hand still held tight over his mouth. The feeling of being ill had not washed over him completely. He leaned heavily on the door frame for support. He wanted to just collapse and sob, but his position as Guardian of the demanded he held himself better... probably better than the snivelling wreck he was now, but it was the best he could manage]

[In Person]

[passes-out.livejournal.com]

[Kneeling, Ichabod takes a closer look at the injuries, stealing his own resolve. He would perform an autopsy but the evidence is relatively clear the cause of death. He gently pulls down the collar of the deceased shirt and the bruising took on a sickening hue. Carefully, he lifts Tom's head and gasps.

He furrows his brow once again and gently lays the head back down. The angle from which the head fell was not natural. He tries to readjust Tom's head on the pillow still not knowing the deceased's name.]

Did you know him?

Re: [In Person]

[holy-pickle.livejournal.com]

[Dende took a deep breath and tried to swallow the lump in his throat so that he could speak and meekly looks up to answer but when he sees Ichabod handling his head he lets out a little gasp and has to close his eyes and look away. It takes him a minute to gather himself again, when he responds he doesn't look up]

H-his name i-is Tom... h-he's a friend of mine...

[In Person]

[passes-out.livejournal.com]

Then I must treat him with dignity.

[Being especially careful not to cause any unnecessary incisions or stress on Dende, he nods and continues the physical examination, combing every inch and this included removal of clothing to better understand the trauma that Tom had to endure before his death while gathering his evidence.]

Dende, I need to ask you to close the door please. You do not need to stay here and watch though I may need your assistance.

[He pulls out a knife and begins cutting away at the shirt, pulling the material away.]

Re: [In Person]

[holy-pickle.livejournal.com]

[Dende stumbles into the room and closes the door.]

I-I'll stay.... I just need to sit down... I feel ill...

[Dende makes his way to a chair and tiredly sits down, hunched over with his head in his hands]