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

Day 188 | Very late | Action

[goddamngrenades]

"We kept him safe. He's alive, North." Alive unless he got sent home then he's just gone. Alive unless they wanted to pick him apart to see how he worked.

No, a mind like theta' they'd wanna test. They'd want to understand. What kind of scientist would wanna kill that kid? Not a good one. Not a sane one. He hooks his arm around Andrew's waist and squeezes him tight, nosing into his shoulder.

Day 188 | Very late | Action

[bothbarrels]

"Alive, yeah, for them to take and screw around with," he says. By now he doesn't believe for a second that anyone gets sent home and he definitely, definitely doesn't believe anything good happens to those who get taken into custody. He's miserable. Miserable. He drops the ball and clenches his hand at York's waist. He doesn't want to cry again, not here outside.

Day 188 | Very late | Action

[goddamngrenades]

Duke snuffles his way up to the ball and York flips it into his hand with his foot, tossing it out for him to chase. Give him and North a little time. "If you think about it you'll go crazy. You need to not. I know it's impossible and it won't ever get easier."

Day 188 | Very late | Action

[bothbarrels]

"Tell me you could manage not to think about it if you were me," he mutters.

Re: Day 188 | Very late | Action

[goddamngrenades]

"I had to. Last time you went missing. When Wash went missing. When Connie went missing. I've been here longer and seen you guys come and go more times than I can count so you know very well. That I manage as best that I can."

Day 188 | Very late | Action

[bothbarrels]

"I'm not inured to it yet," he says. "And it's Theta. I handled it when it was Wash, when it was Connie. But this is Theta."

Re: Day 188 | Very late | Action

[goddamngrenades]

"And next time it'll be Delta. It'll be me. It'll be Carolina. It's gonna keep happening." ANd there's no way to stop it. Not a single way.

Day 188 | Very late | Action

[bothbarrels]

"That's not helping, York." He bends his head. "Give me time."

Day 188 | Very late | Action

[goddamngrenades]

"...I'm sorry." It just- he gets tired of being resigned sometimes. Now's not the time to take it out on North. "You want something to help you sleep?"

Day 188 | Very late | Action

[bothbarrels]

"That might be best." Though he's already arranged not to have to work tomorrow.

Re: Day 188 | Very late | Action

[goddamngrenades]

"Lemme get the chem cube. You can have my dose of sedative for the night." He'll be okay without it. He's managed to sleep on his own for the past few days, it shouldn't bug him too much tonight to not. "...I'll probably have to dial it up for you."

Day 188 | Very late | Action

[bothbarrels]

"Your dose'll be fine," he says. He doesn't want to be completely knocked out, he just needs the edge taken off. He turns this time when the dog comes back to open the door.

Day 188 | Very late | Action

[goddamngrenades]

"Yeah. Yeah it should. I'll have to leave you for a sec to grab it- okay? Gimme five seconds. I'll be right back." He doesn't actually leave till North gives him the okay, though. It's easier to not.

Day 188 | Very late | Action

[bothbarrels]

"Okay." He lets York go in first and once they're inside he walks to the couch and lets the dog some sit up next to him. He scratches the dog's ears and puts an arm around the dog and nuzzles his face up against the dog's neck and oh god it's Theta's dog and Theta's gone and what is he going to do? His eyes close and he just sort of...remains there, breathing in the scent of dog and trying to remain numb to the sensation of crying.

Day 188 | Very late | Action

[goddamngrenades]

York's not gone long, jogging up to fetch the cube and back and. If that's not a miserable image he doesn't know what is. A man and his not quite son's dog. After said son has gone.

THe shit is this place and why does it keep fucking with them?

He sets the chemcube on the table and keys up the sequence for the sedative, tucking himself along North's free side.

Day 188 | Very late | Action

[bothbarrels]

He lets his weight sag in York's direction, just a subtle shift in his posture, eyes still closed. "I fucked up," he mutters.

Day 188 | Very late | Action

[goddamngrenades]

"Not your fault." Just. Not even going there. "Not even a little."

Day 188 | Very late | Action

[bothbarrels]

That's it from him. He doesn't have the emotional energy to turn it into a debate. He knows he could have stopped it and he didn't. He just remains in the same position, his hand still moving gently in Duke's fur.

Re: Day 188 | Very late | Action

[goddamngrenades]

"here we go, bud." He offers over the pills as they pop out of the cube and a bottle of water to wash them down. "It'll take about ten to fifteen for them to kick in."

Day 188 | Very late | Action

[bothbarrels]

"Fast-acting, huh." He ought to go lie down as soon as he gets them swallowed, probably. He feels a little sluggish, a little unreal, as he reaches to take them and tips them into his mouth. He swallows them back with some water and then takes a couple deep breaths.

Re: Day 188 | Very late | Action

[goddamngrenades]

"Mhmm. Come on, bud. Let's get you to bed." It feels like a bit of a role reversal, offering North his shoulders and getting ready to take the bulk of his weight so he can get up there and actually sleep. It won't be the msot restful sleep but it'll be sleep. And that's what he needs more than anything.

Day 188 | Very late | Action

[bothbarrels]

"Yeah. Okay." He stands slowly, and the dog jumps to the floor and lets out a wuffling little bark. North's face falls just slightly at the sound, though it's hard to tell if he's merely looking down at the creature. He treads heavily to the stairs and starts making his way up, hand on the railing.

Re: Day 188 | Very late | Action

[goddamngrenades]

It's slow going to get upstairs- but between herding Duke and keeping an arm tight around North's waist, York's attention is pretty well taken up till they finally hit the top and he starts guiding North to his bed. "...do you want me to stay with you till you fall asleep?"

Day 188 | Very late | Action

[bothbarrels]

"Ah...yeah. I think that'd be nice. Just give me a sec to brush my teeth and change." Once that's accomplished he opens the bedroom door and lets York in. Then he turns and pulls the covers back and lays down.

Re: Day 188 | Very late | Action

[goddamngrenades]

He sits on the bed next to North, rubbing circles into his back- avoiding the implatation site and the ports for very obvious reasons. "DOn't worry about Duke. I'll take care of him if he needs anything while you're sleeping."