POST 6 | Video

[sniperking]

[The Forge turns out to reveal Usopp's worried looking face on-screen - in truth, he looks less worried than he actually is, but he's making a visible attempt to look at least halfway professional here.]

Hey, so... I dunno how many people know him, but I guess it's worth a shot. I live with a guy called Zhang Liao, and he didn't come back home a few days ago. I've checked just about everywhere I remember him going to, but nobody says they've seen him, not even at the Clinic. And I don't think he'd go back to the Mist, not so soon after he was lost in there.

[He breaks off to grab something from off the table, teeth worrying absently at his lower lip and holds a drawing to the camera - it's not as detailed as the one linked here, and is clearly simply a quick sketch, but it's a good likeness of him.

This is what he looks like, so if anyone's seen him, can you let me know? And Zhang Liao! If you hear this, stop making me worry, you asshole! And come home. [These words are said without much heat; Usopp has a pretty good idea of what's happened to him. He rubs his hands together.]

If not, well. I've heard about people disappearing here sometimes, and people going home. Is there any way of finding out if that's what happened?

[With that, he leans forward and cuts off the feed.]

Comments

[Video]

[justice_is_blond]

[He looks a little sad, even with arms full of hats.]

I'll keep my eyes open, Usopp. I haven't seen him, but maybe he'll turn up. I'll be... all over the city today, at least?

[Video]

[sniperking]

Thanks. I dunno if anyone's gonna find him at this point, but I appreciate it.

/video (I hope this is okay?)

[bladeofthelotus]

[This post confirms fears Xiùlián has been harbouring for a few days. First Benjen, now Zhang, both within the month. She almost doesn't respond, as if avoiding the issue might allow her to uphold a comforting lie for a while longer, but she knows better than that.]

I've been searching. Zhang-xiansheng did not respond to my calls, so I went looking, in Dismas as well, and... it appears his Forge is no longer in his possession.

I do not think he is in Anatole anymore, Usopp-jun.

video ; yep!

[sniperking]

That's what I was worried about. I want to search for a little longer, though. If he's not gone, then he must be in trouble.

[video]

[sinister_bells]

[He knows the name and the man. It's not a happy thing to hear though. He'd liked the young warrior and had even trained with him. Kenpachi narrows his eyes in thought, though only his one eye is visible due to the eyepatch.]

Haven't seen him. Best yeh can do is keep looking. I'll keep my eye out too.

[There's a beat. Maybe he thought he already turned the Forge off, or maybe this is actually meant for the other man.] 'S too bad. I liked him.

[video]

[sniperking]

Thanks. [And a literal eye at that. Usopp eyes the man with some caution, thinking privately that he's probably the scariest looking guy he's run into yet, and that counts the acquaintance of Zhang Liao's that was built like a veritable mountain.

But...] Like, [he corrects.] Even if he's not here anymore, he's still alive, wherever he is. And I like him too - he's a good guy.

text. private.

[punchmyface]

To answer your latter question... No. I don't think so. Not at this time.

[He might have looked into such things, back when he lost track of Lestrade. Yielding no results was just one frustation of many.]

text. private.

[sniperking]

[Usopp looks a bit confused when he sees the text wind its way across his screen, wondering why Allan bothered making this private. He doesn't like to talk out loud to texts, however, so he switches the modes.]

You've checked?

[Video]

[photosphere]

My, my. You're an amazing artist.

I haven't seen him, but at least I'll know what to look for.

As for your other question - if you come up with any ideas, I'd like to hear them.

[Video]

[sniperking]

Thanks. [He gives him a tight lipped smile.]

So you don't know either, huh? I don't really have any ideas at all. It feels like there should be some way of knowing, but if people haven't figured it out already, I dunno if I'll be able to.

[shinndocuirenn]

Zhang Liao?

I'll be sure to keep my eye out for him.

[sniperking]

Thanks, Neirenn. I think... well, a lot of people think he went home. But I don't really wanna take that chance.

Video

[moralltach]

So I'm not the only one that hasn't seen Zhang in a while...

I'd guess he went home, if you haven't been able to find him anywhere.

Video

[sniperking]

That's what some people are saying. And it's probably right, but if we don't have a way of knowing for sure, then I figured he might be in trouble. D'you work with him or something?

[video]

[petalpower]

I've never met him, but I'll keep my eyes open. Good luck.

[video]

[sniperking]

He kinda kept to himself. Thanks for keeping an eye out, Saya. You can't ask the plants if they've seen him, can you? Well. I guess they don't really have eyes. [He scratches the back of his head.] Maybe I should see if anyone knows how to talk to animals around here.

[Video]

[concasse]

... [To be honest, Sanji thinks Usopp's friend is gone, and he has absolutely no reason to think this besides Luceti having turned him into a staunch realist, bordering on pessimistic. But he can't bring himself to state what Usopp no doubt suspects, so...]

Oi. What do you want for dinner later?

[Video]

[sniperking]

[Usopp blinks at the Forge, momentarily derailed. He'd been pretty focused on parsing out what could have happened to Zhang Liao - if they assume he's gone, what if he's in trouble, if he's gone he's back in war, how will they ever get confirmation? - which means that Sanji's question takes him off guard.]

Huh? I dunno.

[Video]

[500men]

[George likes to watch the network-and seeing that image reminds him of the darkside of his job. The darker side-the side you couldn't fight with a shotgun or a group of guys.]

Do you have a copy machine? Maybe make copies and hand them out...have you seen me. That kind of thing?

[Video]

[sniperking]

A copy machine? Oh. You must mean whatever the marines use to make all those fliers. I don't think they've got any around here.

[moonofhislife]

[She hates to bring it up, but...] There...has been a rash of murders recently. Have you reported him missing to law enforcement?

[sniperking]

Not yet. I guess that's my next step. [He scratches the back of his head.] I've seen the murders. That's why I'd really rather not just assume he's gone back home.

Video

[starkgirlfriday]

What happens to people's Forges when they leave here? Do they stop working?

[Pepper is aware this might not be the right time, but she would really like to know.]

Video

[sniperking]

That'd make it too easy, wouldn't it? I've been asking around, and it sounds like the old Forges just get collected to be given to someone new.

[oathkeeping]

I haven't seen him.

[Roxas frowns, considering.]

Why do people think people disappearing means they've gone back home?

[sniperking]

Because some people who have disappeared end up coming back to Anatole after they spent time back in their own homes. That doesn't mean that everyone gets to go home, but I haven't heard of anyone going anywhere but home yet.

[Video]

[iattractmushi]

I'll keep an eye out for him.

How many days has he been missing exactly?

[Video]

[sniperking]

Around four days now. Everyone else thinks he's just not here anymore, and I think they're probably right... but everyone's also seen how that Lunatic guy's been running around.

Audio - Several days later

[brewglory]

[And Snape finally sees this.]

Has Zhang Liao been found?

Audio

[sniperking]

No. He's gone.