An Announcement. [Network - Audio Only]

[iamnotgod]

Date: January 2nd
Characters: Walter Weekes, via some still-unwritten Number

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[There'd been several seconds' worth of internal debate, whether to put this on the Network at large, send it to everyone's known Number individually to make it less public, or even to mention it at all.

Walter's voice is clear, but it's obvious there's effort behind that. He sounds... resigned, exhausted, generally unhappy.]

Has anyone else tried to contact Jim? My own attempts have been... unsuccessful. Including through his Number.

[He'd checked at Jim's workplace, too, but the only answers there were annoyingly vague. Either the man'd gone ghosted, or he was out of the country.

And Walter can't shake the thought that he could have had something to with it, as irrational as it might come across. (At least Jim won't have to remember dying, anymore, unless until he comes back.)

What a way to begin the New Year, huh?]

Comments

He hasn't gotten Sadie's message by this point.

[iamnotgod]

[Walter shakes his head.]

No sign of the car.

[They hadn't really driven or ridden in the same vehicle since that first 'date', anyway.]

makes sense

[scarsolderthanyou]

Then he might have gone outside the boundary. Forgot about all this. Didn't bring a cell phone, or else doesn't recognize the number on it anymore so isn't picking up.

[He looks and sounds apologetic.]

[iamnotgod]

Just that, then...

[He sighs, suppressing a few more thoughts of Is someone after him? Was it an emergency? Why do so few people care-]

Thank you, Mr. Stone, for the help.

[Not 'Sam'. Not at this time.]

Clarification, really.

[scarsolderthanyou]

Sorry, kiddo.

[He gives Walter's shoulder a sympathetic pat.]

I could try to give him a call, if you like. He knew me before all this shit started, though he might be surprised to hear from me.

[iamnotgod]

[Walter takes a deep breath at the pat, then another.]

That- that would be nice.

Don't think it'd be fair to mention me, though; I only knew him while he was here...

[Since the night all this Numbers business started, more accurately.]

[scarsolderthanyou]

We'll see how it goes.

[Sam heads back to his car, where he left his cell phone.]

I'll at least leave him a message even if he doesn't pick up. He ought to still have my number-- I gave him lessons, once, in flying.

[iamnotgod]

[Normally, he'd love to ask questions about that - how it went, whether flying in America was anything like piloting in Britain, and other such inquiries.

There's something in him resisting even taking part in those lines, though.]

He may be a while in replying, even then.

[If it had been his family, focusing on much else might well have been out of the question for a good while, Echo-induced abilities aside.]

I- thanks. Again.

[He doesn't yet make to follow Stone.]

[scarsolderthanyou]

Hey, it's not like I've got anything better to do.

[He does flash the kid a sympathetic sort of smile over his shoulder, though.]

This shit is messing with all of us in its own ways.

[iamnotgod]

[All he can do at the moment is nod to that.]

I suppose we're to see ourselves home, now.

[He looks away.]

[scarsolderthanyou]

Unless you need company.

[He's offering, if Walter wants it.]

[iamnotgod]

I- I should, yes.

[At least he can admit it.]

But I need to check on something first.

[Because Stone's response on the Network can't still be the only one... can it?]

[scarsolderthanyou]

You go for a little walk, then, and I'll wait here at the car. I can take you somewhere for ice cream or whatever the kids these days like doing.

[He's only about half-teasing there.]

[iamnotgod]

[Walter briefly freezes.]

I- you don't need to do that.

[But he doesn't say no, or exactly turn the offer down outright... He's not very certain that Stone is teasing, is the problem.]

[scarsolderthanyou]

Doesn't mean I won't do it if it looks like you could use it.

[He shrugs, as if it's no big deal. (It's not, really, but.)]

I'm retired. I don't have a lot else to do, so it's no trouble.

[iamnotgod]

Oh.

I'm-

[Hesitance, guilt, embarrassment and anxiety - they're all still evident on his face and elsewhere, to some extent.]

not hungry, precisely.

[And he Does Not want to get drunk as an alternative; blackouts may not even be possible for him anymore, setting aside that he's never had any to begin with.]

[scarsolderthanyou]

It's up to you. I'm not going to force you to go anywhere with me if you don't want me to. But if you need somebody, I'm offering.

[Last chance. He'll let Walter go, if he gets turned down this time.]

[iamnotgod]

[He stops. Milliseconds, full seconds tick by.]

... Okay. Just, not for long?

[Being in any one place too long might not help him just now. Even if he gets drawn back to this one later.]

[scarsolderthanyou]

[That gets him a nod and half a smile.]

Hop on in, then.

[He pats the hood of his car.]

Unless you'd like to take your walk first.

Thread-fade from here? Or should we thread ice-cream?

[iamnotgod]

[Just once, briefly, Walter's gaze flicks back to Jim's house.

Then he walks to Stone's car.]

Thank you.

fade-out is good! :)

[scarsolderthanyou]

[Sam gives him a couple pats on the shoulder in response, then heads around to the driver's side.

Ice cream, here they come. With luck it'll even make Walter feel better.]