Mysterious music plays in the background [Mingle]

[saveournpcs]

Date: 2nd of July
Characters: Open

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When the Numbered arrive at the ruins on the Greens on the 2nd, as Mr Helpful requested, there... really isn't much to see. Everything looks as normal, the reddish walls of the structure sitting there in the afternoon ...okay, not sun, but at least it isn't raining. There's just clouds.

Mr Helpful is standing in a spot protected by the ruins, looking out over the Channel, a dozen binoculars hung from his shoulders and neck, and waits.

Comments

[faimommy]

Rune is still processing everything that was discussed today. Or... at least he's trying to. But it feels like there's a stopper on his brain and he can't get it to let him think properly.

He begins to wander around in what almost feels like a daze. And he finds Walter staring off somewhere. Oh, good. A familiar friend. He heads up to him.

"Ey. Qweht th'dey, iisn ii?"

(Hey. Quite the day, isn't it?) Rune throws on a smile, but something in it feels hollow to him.

[iamnotgod]

Walter seemingly doesn't pick up on Rune's presence at first, though he's perfectly aware that his friend is there.

"Yes, it is," he replies, voice quiet.

"I've been thinking, though - if he's contacting us now based on how dire he thinks it is, how much worse can things get? Or, do any of the other strange events that happened here qualify as not dire to him? How different are our psychologies?"

[faimommy]

Rune's eyes widen uncomfortably. How much worse can it get?

.....

Oh, no...

Rune's discomfort echoes in the hollow half-laugh he gives.

"Ah kint sey ah know. He simd frenly enoff."

(I can't say I know. He seemed friendly enough.) A beat, and Rune lets his fake smile drop. His tone becomes concerned, maybe even a little scared.

"Wehl, whit d'we do now...?"

(Well, what do we do now?)

[iamnotgod]

"Friendly, yes - but there is a disconnect. From the sound of it, he grew up - if that's the word, even - in not just a different country, but a different world. I'm not saying he's threatening," Walter continues.

"But it's what this could mean that troubles me. We're going to have to investigate, of course. Cautiously."

Some of the steel in his expression softens.

"We don't all have to, though; a risk is still a risk, and it wouldn't be fair to make everyone pitch in."

Not that whatever's assigning or activating Numbers gave us the same consideration, Walter muses, taken by some surprise by the bitterness of the thought.

But then, that made free will all the more important, didn't it? Choice...

[faimommy]

Rune thinks for a moment. Yea, it's pretty risky, isn't it? But still. He gives a half-smile to Walter.

"Well, ahm still hiir t'fahnd m'bruther. So, iif ii dohsn't threa'en mah life, ah'll help out."

(Well, I'm still here to find my brother. So if it doesn't threaten out my life, I'll help out.) Not that he thought he had much better to do anyway. Not for now, at least. He can't deny it's scary, though.

[iamnotgod]

That's... it should be reassuring to hear, that the mystery behind the Numbers isn't scaring away a friend.

But Walter's the one with reservations, now.

"That would be quite an if - but then, no one's died because of their Echoes so far."

And there had been no casualties from Mr. Evil's bomb.

[faimommy]

Rune zones out briefly, and then blinks. Harder this time. Then can't help shaking his head side-to-side a little. It's weird, and a little familiar. But he can't place it.

He reaches up to touch Walter's shoulder.

"Wehl, then therr's nuthin' t'werree aboot, right? Ahm still here."

(Well, then there's nothing to worry about, right? I'm still here.)

[iamnotgod]

Walter does pick up on that zone-out, but apart from narrowing his eyes he doesn't overly react.

Shaking his head, eyes widening again, he says,

"I'm glad for that, Rune. Truly."

He doesn't make to remove Rune's hand from his shoulder.

"Anything else you wanted to do while we're here?"

[faimommy]

"Here? Ah dinno iif weh kin." A beat and a soft smile. "Yuur more thn wehlkim fir tea aht mah plehs, though. Iif'n yuu want."

(Here? I don't know if we can. You're more than welcome at my place for tea, though. If'n you want.) Both because Walter looks like he could use the company, and Rune himself is not so sure he wants to be alone right now, either. Of course, Walter might want to stay behind, and that's okay, too.

[iamnotgod]

"I think we're done with the meeting, at any rate."

One more deliberate glance around, at his friends, out at the forts... then he sighs.

"Tea sounds good," he says, trying to etch a smile back onto his face.

[faimommy]

Rune manages a sincere smile, holding out his hand to Walter.

"Ah resentlee gaht sum frui'tea. Wuud yuu like t'try sum?"

(I recently got some fruit tea. Would you like to try some?) Whether Walter takes his hand or doesn't, he's more than happy to lead the way back to his place.

And just... get away from the trainwreck that is inevitably going to be his thoughts later.

Think this thread can be wrapped up here?

[iamnotgod]

"Yes."

There's an infinitesimal pause before he says it, but Walter certainly means it.

Sounds good to me ^^

[faimommy]

And with a smile, Rune leads the way, making his usual small talk on the way there.