duel 5. ( anon text. )

[puzzlingly]

You know what fucking sucks?
The Speakeasy
The owner is never around.
Just Who Does SHE Think She Is?!?!?!
She can't do shit right around here.
WE HAVE NEEDS!
HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO STAND THIS HEAT WITHOUT MY BOOZE?!

「Hey, hey, Rey's friends... yeah, he's calling you out, come defend your friend, come show you care about her! He needs you... She needs you. Please.
The clock is ticking.

Yep, this is ruse. It WAS HARD, OK?! He feels terrible. It had to be done.」

Comments

[video; private] It's one of my faves!

[tongueamok]

[That was unexpected. The camera cuts on the other end, so Carlisle does the same so he can... you know, be snitty without sending a dozen text messages because he's new to technology in general and no one ever told him he probably shouldn't send half a dozen of them all at once.]

Well enough to know you're slandering her good name for no reason! You think you can't survive without imbibing for a week, or a month, or however long it's been since you got to drink? Cisth, some of us have had to go longer than that, and we're doing perfectly fine without smearing someone's reputation all over the communicators! You think you could give her a moment's rest for all she's done, but noooooo that would be just too nice, wouldn't it? Too nice to let someone have a much deserved vacation from the madness that is this godforsaken city!

[Better stop him before he takes another breath and starts in again.]

[video; private]

[puzzlingly]

「You're one beautiful human being, dude, just see this one smirk a little as he goes on and on.」

I know, you're right. I want to help her.

「Hopefully that will stop him.」

[tongueamok]

[He stops just as he's about to start in again, his brow furrowing, nose wrinkling in bewilderment.]

You what.

[That wasn't even a question.]

[puzzlingly]

I want to help her. 「He sighs. A bit tiredly, it's the stress.」

She's not doing great right now. But, I can explain everything if you let me, can we meet in person?

[tongueamok]

You can explain everything now, starting with your abrupt change of heart regarding Miss Rey. As fantastic as the notion that you might've taken me seriously is, I'm not entirely delusional.

[puzzlingly]

Okay, that's fair.

「Where to start.」

I... I'm sorry about what I said about her, it was the only way I figured to find people who would actually care enough about her... I'd rather not explain everything over the network, about how bad she's been doing but, it's not good. 「He looks away, briefly —always trying not to show the left side of his face, if that's something to be aware of. 」

I've been to her home over the past days, and... if you're truly are a friend of hers, she needs you.

[tongueamok]

[They're not friends, Carlisle would normally insist. More like amicable acquaintances. Partial-construct and person who is occasionally called in to heal injuries to her organic bits. Soldier and someone indebted to her because...

Hm. Why did she look out for him regarding Shadow, anyway? Carlisle knows Rey's answer, but finds his own to be less sufficient.]

Next time lad, perhaps you will find better ways to ask for help in her stead.

[He pulls in a breath, calming himself down. Goodness, way to get him riled up. Not that they're friends, obviously.]

What's wrong with her now?

[puzzlingly]

Probably so, but I was growing desperate. What she's been doing is not for just anyone to handle, at least, if they don't know her enough.

「Again, like him... He has to remind himself that he got himself into this, and that he cannot backdown now, this is not a game, it's a person's sanity that's at stake. But that last remark calls his attention.」

What do you mean, now?

「He could so easily take what he wants from this guy's mind with the power of the Millennium Eye, but that's not the way to go. Right?」

[tongueamok]

Now. As in at this point in time. Capable as she may be, it's not as though she's never been in trouble before.

[This might be why he doesn't have many friends.]

[puzzlingly]

That's what I meant, what do you mean? What kind of trouble has she been in before?

「He'll be your friend... now spill the beans.」

[tongueamok]

What kind of trouble do you expect from a cave full of godless heathens and abominations?

[Boy, he must love Hadriel.]

[puzzlingly]

「Dude... focus.」

Please just tell me.

「He's awfully worried.」

[tongueamok]

[The worry in Atem's voice gives Carlisle just a bit of pause.]

She's fine now, lad. From past troubles, at least. The aforementioned monsters and what have you.

[puzzlingly]

「Because that's not worrisome at all.」

... Maybe she was never fine from that.

「Because the magnitude of her unwellness can't possibly come from one thing alone.」

My name is Atem. Do you think we can meet now? I don't trust the network.

[tongueamok]

[Carlisle also doesn't trust the network, but he also doesn't trust people he was yelling at not five minutes before. This is potentially for Miss Rey, though, and she hasn't answered her phone lately -- that seems to be enough to convince him to leave his home for a moment.]

Fine. Where?

[And then, on second thought—]

Actually, you know the park? Or whatever of it manages to survive in this awful weather?

[puzzlingly]

「Atem, for as young and crazy as he might seem (after this whole thing) is a people person, he's just good at reading them, he likes them, and he doesn't need to read his mind to see he did not make this guy happy. He will oblige, for a change.

...awful weather, huh... It's not for everyone, he must admit. He knows he loves it. Reminds him of home. Except the freezing pseudo nights they had now.」

Yeah, I do. I'll meet you there, hmm... And you are...?

[tongueamok]

Carlisle Longinmouth.

[Whose very name is a mouthful.]

Toward the river is my garden. I will meet you there shortly.

[And with all the lack of manners in the world, he hangs up. Well.]

[puzzlingly]

「It really is... But he also can't blame him for the attitude, he had it coming. As soon as he hangs up, Atem makes his way to the park, walking along the river until he finds a small different place. So, this is the garden. Never seen it. The small teen — covering his head for protection from the sun — looks around for Carlisle.」

[action from here on out!]

[tongueamok]

[Given the heat, the garden itself is surprisingly green, the vines of the coilers and fanged ivy still lush and fresh. That might be due to the fact that the whole area seems to have a faint mist of water surrounding it, an almost dewey atmosphere conjured again and again by the glyphs etched into the various pots and trees. Some the of lines surround entire plots; others are smaller, more focused in their use. The keen eye will notice that the sigils and arrangement of each one, big or small, is the same.

Apparently, he wasn't interested in the irrigation efforts going on at Sorrow's orchard, preferring to keep to himself and his own plants.

As for the master of the garden, Atem needn't look far: there's a small cottage, not much larger than a shed, within the center of the area. The door opens, and there is the man from the other end of the call: he's tall, kempt, and appears as peevish as before. Regardless of his temperament, he steps aside, motioning for Atem to come in.]

[puzzlingly]

「There is something in there that feels different from the whole place, though at the moment, Atem cannot tell what it is. Maybe when he's not awfully worried about Rey, he'll ask about this wonderful place.

Why he never noticed the little shack before? It doesn't really matter, he steps inside, welcoming the shade, once there he takes the hoodie off revealing that haphazard hair of his, and (probably, if Carlisle wishes to notice as Atem looks around) a fake golden eye in his left socket.」

You live here?

「It seems so small.」

[tongueamok]

Sometimes.

[He likely has done just that before, on occasion: though one half of the building has a worktable covered in gardening implements, the other is a bit of a home, complete with a bed, table, a couple of chairs, and chest for his possessions. The walls and bed are decorated with furs and skins, most belonging to creatures that look far more challenging than the clergyman himself could ever hope to be.

Carlisle gestures toward the chairs, taking note of his golden eye and his... unusual hair. Given the company he keeps -- his partner included -- he can't say much for the appearances of others.]

[puzzlingly]

「Only after the offer is made, Atem goes sit down. Right, there is a thing he came to discuss.」

I'm not... very familiar with Rey, I must admit. But I've been trying. I grew worried when she wouldn't answer her messages. I gave it a few days but she didn't come around. I contacted someone who seems to be close to her and he confirmed it. She's not okay.

「He gives a little shrug.」

I went to her home and... She needs help. I've tried for the past days but I, 「Saying this shouldn't be so hard, but for someone so prideful it still is.」 I'm over my head. Someone suggested I should tell her friends what is going on, so, here I am.

[tongueamok]

[For as annoyed as Carlisle was by Atem's methods, his look does soften when he hears Rey isn't doing well.]

Exactly what kind of help is it you're looking for, lad? What is it you believe she needs in this troubling time? What so ails her that she cannot handle it?

[puzzlingly]

I don't know, something is hurting her deeply, she's taking that pain on herself.

「His shoulders drop when he says that, he doesn't look up at Carlisle, but at the floor instead, as if it was some indication of what she might be doing. It breaks his heart.」

But, I think she needs to know there are people who care about her. That she has friends who will send a million of angry texts to someone who said something horrible about her.

「As he says that, he glances over Carlisle with a little broken smile. Come on dude, you know what you did.」

[tongueamok]

[Have another irritated look, Atem. Good intentions or not, Carlisle loathes being used. He keeps any and all remarks about it to himself for the time being, pondering over what he's being told. Rey doesn't seem like the sort who pines for the emotional support that friendship and camaraderie can bring; from what he's known of her, in this world and in others, Carlisle would assume she's the sort to bury any and all feelings regarding such commodities.

Which, of course, isn't healthy at all, and he knows it. No man is an island, nor woman, nor half-construct pyromancer. More than that, Carlisle owes Rey a great deal for having watched out for his own physical well-being within the city.]

Admittedly, you should be appealing to those who know her best rather than anyone who would answer your call on the network. Furthermore, she has to want help before she will accept it. Pride and guilt can be more dangerous to a person than any weapon.