audio;

[fadeling]

[Cole's been doing some thinking. Always a dangerous proposition, but unavoidable, really. It hasn't been all that long since the fire, but...well. Maybe it could have been worse, but it could have been a lot better too.

At least he's managed to make this audio. Probably entirely by accident.]

I can't tell if it's better. Is it better? [He doesn't specify what "it" is. But there's a pause for a few moments while he considers what else to say. It's hard to verbalize what he's thinking, his thoughts pulled in a thousand ways at once like they always are. He doesn't make sense at the best of times, and now he's trying to find words that probably don't exist.]

The whispers are worries, but the calls are clarion and confused. Did I do the right thing? Is it good at all?

[Another pause, longer than than the last one--almost long enough to wonder whether Cole has hung up.]

Maybe this time it's different.

Comments

[puzzlingly]

What is that you hear?

[fadeling]

The hurting. Whole but hollow.

[puzzlingly]

[ ?? ]

Whose...?

[fadeling]

Anyone's. It runs together.

[puzzlingly]

Does it.. hurt you? Why can you hear it to begin with?

[fadeling]

Sometimes. I forget later.

[A pause.]

So I can help.

[puzzlingly]

With the hurting... How?

[fadeling]

How they need it.

[puzzlingly]

[ There is a forced pause on this end. Could this person help him with the unbearable pain and loneliness down his heart?

...

...

... ]

How can we help you instead?

[ Hah. ]

[fadeling]

I don't know. Most people don't ask.

[puzzlingly]

Hmm... Well, find out.

[fadeling]

Why?

[puzzlingly]

So we-- [ no... he's just himself from now on. ] So I can help you.

[fadeling]

Oh. [That's strange to think of.] Who's your "we?"

[puzzlingly]

My... ah...

[ That's not fair dude, we were talking about you. ]

My partner. But, he's not with me anymore so, it's just me.

[ Damn this hurts, it really shouldn't but it does. ]

[fadeling]

[He is very sorry.]

Where did he go?

[puzzlingly]

[ It's cool, man. Or, it will be. ]

He stayed home. Where he belongs.

[fadeling]

Oh.

[Oops.]

Lost and lonely... Are you afraid your friends will forget?

[puzzlingly]

[ Ow, that describes him alright. ]

No. We'll always remember each other.

[ It doesn't make it any easier, though.

Hold on, pal. He sees what you're doing there. ]

But this is not about me, so, what's your name?

[fadeling]

But still apart. Friends at home and hidden. While we stay here, tied and tangled and toyed.

[Whoops. He thought he was sneaky.]

I used to be Cole. You can call me that if you'd like.

[puzzlingly]

It is supposed to be that way. It was my time to depart that realm. But, I was not expecting this detour.

[ That's weird... ]

Used to--? Are you...

[ A strained pause. Could he be...? ]

Who are you, Cole?

[fadeling]

They touch when it shouldn't be.

I'm me. And more than I used to be.

[puzzlingly]

And what would that be?

[fadeling]

Cole.

[Because that answers the question right.]

[puzzlingly]

[ Duuude...

Fine... he chuckes because what's this conversation even? ]

Cole it is. My name is Atem.