Voicemail

[goddamngrenades]

You have reached the voice mail system of FOXTROT 12.

When you are finished recording, just hang up or press pound for more options.

To request a locksmith, press one.

To hear these options in Spanish, press dos.

To send a verbal confirmation of a written command, press three.

To send a written confirmation of a verbal command, press four.

For delivery options, press five.

To page this person, press six.

To locate your nearest operator, press seven.

To leave a call back number, press eight.

To repeat this message, press nine.

Press zero for other options.

To mark this message as urgent, press eleven.

Thank you for calling, have a nice day.

BEEP


Comments

[bothbarrels]

"She's a lone wolf. That's never going to change, it's who she is."

[goddamngrenades]

"Yeah well she can fuck off with that. I have too much on my plate to handle without worrying about her. And now I have to because she'll want to protect him and she doesn't have a power suit right now and she's very human so it's not as shit as it could be- but that is still shit I didn't need."

[bothbarrels]

He looks over at York and blows a breath out of his nose. "Yeah. Yeah, she's not doing anyone any favors right now." Other than the Director.

[goddamngrenades]

"I didn't sign up for this shit. Travel, save humanity, get cool armor. That I signed up for. Not a dysfunctional not family, angst, a codependent relationship with an AI and death. I really didn't sign up for the death. The rest, eh, I'll take it." He scrubs his hands through his hair and slowly tips over until he's on his side, head pillowed on North's legs.

[bothbarrels]

North sighs. He'd predicted York would want some kind of bolstering from physical contact. That's why he'd moved. He sets a hand on York's shoulder. "That's what I was talking about with living with the consequences. What-ifs do us no good."

[goddamngrenades]

"I'm beginning to think I should've stuck to how I did things when I first woke up here. Shit was simpler then." Party. Drink. Keep tabs on things quietly. Keep his head down, make some extra money. Invest in nothing and no one. He relaxes a little under North's hand, glad for the contact. "Sure I was hungover more often than not, but life was simple."

[bothbarrels]

"You wouldn't have. Not after the XXX stuff."

[goddamngrenades]

"...no I wouldn't have. But at least I got a good few weeks of 'fuck yeah I'm alive' hedonism in before it all went tits up."

[bothbarrels]

He smiles faintly. "That's what counts."

[goddamngrenades]

"Pizza, beer, and threesomes. The american dream. Y'know. When there's not a serial killer on the loose."

[bothbarrels]

"Do you want a break?"

[goddamngrenades]

"From what?"

[bothbarrels]

"Just a day to go do what you want and not think about this stuff." There were their plans to go out on New Year's...maybe that would be the time.

[goddamngrenades]

"...I'm afraid if I do that the dome will Implode and everyone will die horribly." Or something like that.

[bothbarrels]

"Then I think you need it. I know we were talking about New Year's Eve but what if we make it all day?"

[goddamngrenades]

"Will Theta be fine on his own that long?" He'd like that- it'd be nice. To hang out and not stress or worry and just be a dude with North for a little while. But only if it doesn't stress anyone else out.

[bothbarrels]

"Well, I might join you a little later in the day. But I intend to make sure he's okay with it however long I'm gone."

[goddamngrenades]

"That's the most important thing. Hanging with you for a few hours would be great. Just lemme know when you're available and we'll get you home before long so Theta won't be alone for long."

[bothbarrels]

He patted York's shoulder. "Will do."

[goddamngrenades]

"Can I just pass out here for a little while? Or do you have somewhere you need to be?"

[bothbarrels]

"I'll probably go meet up with South, but I have to contact her first."

[goddamngrenades]

"God. Call her? Make sure she made it home okay. I didn't even think, jesus."

[bothbarrels]

"I know she's okay." South was a big girl, she could handle this news, even if it made her upset. "I want to touch base, though."

[goddamngrenades]

"No, I get it. She got it as bad as anyone else." If not worse. Not that he's getting into that now.

[bothbarrels]

"Well. I'll just give her a call." He shifts to pull his glasses out of his pocket and puts them on. His hand comes back to rest on York's shoulder and he rubs it gently while the call is ongoing. Once he's done he gives it a squeeze. "We're meeting for a late dinner. I'll probably leave in an hour."