[IC] voicemail

[handsomefoil]

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NAME
HENRY
@BROKEBACKSTAB

VITALS PRIVATE
LOCATION PRIVATE

Comments

Arthur

[handsomefoil]

WHO? Henry & Arthur
WHAT? Two dudes sipping alcohol strong enough to dissolve their esophagus lining
WHEN? A bit later in the evening after hanging out with Joel
ANYTHING ELSE? Just alcohol I guess??

[handsomefoil]

No sense in drinking heavily during the daytime when you're also very much aware of a meeting you planned later on in the day. Well, technically it's the evening now, but details. Much to his surprise, hanging out with a grumpy lumberjack of a man wasn't as unpleasant as he'd imagined it to be.

On his way back to his usual post, he taps out a very short message (just coordinates, really) to @POINTANDKICK, whatever the person's name is. His assumption is that it's a man just from tone alone. It feels like tone actually gives him a good idea of how the person will look, but he's been wrong about that sort of thing before. Joel, for example, is pretty much what he expected.

He scales the house he'd made into his own little roost, quietly and stealthily like a cat, thankful that even if he couldn't ever bring out his cross saber that he could put his parkour skills to some use. Not that he'd ever call it that. One leg hanging off the edge of the roof, he rests his arm on his other knee. Careful to keep himself out of the remaining light from the setting sun and soon to be moonlight, he keeps a watchful eye out for someone that might match the description he'd created in his head.

He takes a small sip of the incredibly strong absinthe he'd brought with him. In his jacket pocket, there's also another bottle of something that could've passed for rubbing alcohol. There's no label. A mystery drink. Even Henry hasn't tried it yet, but the smell was enough to convince him to bring it along.

[pointedlook]

[ Having had nothing but coffee and various bread-like items, it's probably a bad idea to go drinking. He did manage to get some watery stew in his system after going back and forth on the network, but it's settled already, body trying to work through whatever nutrition it gets.

He's always metabolized fast and right now, it's a detriment. Still, he powers through it like he does with everything else. Sheer force of will vs the body and he has a strong sense that will wins out in this scenario.

So far, so good, because as he gets to the coordinates that @BROKEBACKSTAB had sent, he feels alright. Could be better, but alright. Peering at the building, he notes that fire escapes aren't really thing, so there's gotta be another way up. On one side of the building there's some crates and then a trellis; he uses both to make his way to the roof. He's sort of loud about it, since the person on the network would likely be a paranoid type. Once up, he waits for his eyes to adjust to the drastic lighting difference, wishing not for the first (nor last) time that he had his phone to at least put the flashlight app on.

There, in the shadow of the building next door, is the outline of a person. Arthur makes his way over, announcing his arrival by way of: ]

You know your username is one word off from Brokeback Mountain?

[handsomefoil]

I lied, this was definitely NOT Just Alcohol.

1792, Paris - a day or so after the Rooftop Excursion

[pointedlook]

>> FROM: @POINTANDKICK

Just in case you were curious, apparently we don't have to worry about contracting venereal diseases while with COST.

[ And then another message a few minutes later: ]

>>@POINTANDKICK
Or knocking anyone up. In case you were concerned about that sort of thing.

[ He doesn't really know which way Henry swings??? ]

excursion

[handsomefoil]

[ a good ten minutes later ]

@POINTANDKICK Interesting
@POINTANDKICK Why's that

[pointedlook]

@BROKEBACKSTAB Some magic science mumbo jumbo
@BROKEBACKSTAB I'd ask for details but I'm honestly not sure 1. I want to know 2. Would understand any of it.

on base

[pointedlook]

@BROKEBACKSTAB So you know how I was describing that device we use in dreamshare?

ATTACHMENT: IMAGE_001.JPG

[ The case is open, clearly sitting on the military regulation bunk in his room. ]

[handsomefoil]

[ Ooh, fascinating. Immediately upon opening the file, Henry is super curious about it but in true Henry fashion he downplays his excitement by like 80%. ]

@POINTANDKICK It's a lot smaller than I imagined.

[pointedlook]

[ And contrary to how Arthur usually downplays his excitement as well, he's. Well. He's a wealth of information about this technology and he's going to yell about it. ]

@BROKEBACKSTAB It used to be larger, when it was a lab machine with the military.
@BROKEBACKSTAB Then some guy tried to transport it onto the field for a test run and broke his foot so they poured money into making it less unwieldy.
@BROKEBACKSTAB Sometimes it's unreal how much technology they managed to pack into this suitcase. Could be designed even better since it's a pain in the ass to clean.

takes up your inbox more, jfc // sometime before the PASIV thread

[pointedlook]

[ They're on base, he's had time to unpack (mentally), and do a cursory check on the PASIV. Maybe tomorrow he'll clean it. But for now, he figures some more time between time-stepping and dreamsharing would be good on their nerves.

So instead of messaging Henry about more dreamshare crap, he messages him about something unrelated.

It's the middle of the night (probably) and he can't sleep, don't hold this against him. ]

@BROKEBACKSTAB Hey. You awake?

(B (B (B

[handsomefoil]

[ Henry doesn't sleep all that much but it's still the middle of the night, so give him a minute. Compared to the month sleeping on roofs and other random places, this is the best sleep he's had in a while. He is a light sleeper, however, so it literally takes him a minute. ]

@POINTANDKICK Yes
@POINTANDKICK Something the matter

[pointedlook]

[ After the first few seconds, he puts his device down, closes his eyes, and tries not to think. It doesn't work. He wonders if Henry's asleep, which he probably is, since that's what normal people do at this hour.

(Nevermind that neither of them are normal but anyway) ]

@BROKEBACKSTAB I didn't wake you up, did I?
@BROKEBACKSTAB Shit, I did.
@BROKEBACKSTAB Everything's fine. I'll talk to you later.

[withimagination]

>> TO: @BROKEBACKSTAB
>> FROM: @CHIPPER

henry! handsome fellow! light of my life!

[handsomefoil]

Hello Eames
This is Eames, correct?

[withimagination]

yes of course. unless arthur is getting very generous with compliments.

sooo... arthur, hm?

@ACHEELIES

[chariotry]

If you don't answer me, I'll assume that you ate one of the shapers and died.

[handsomefoil]

I'm not dead.

@BURGERKING

[dipolar]

From what I've seen of you in training, you seem healthy.

(what the fuck is this.)

[handsomefoil]

Thank you?

@NIGHTLIGHT

[fessus]

Is this Henry?

[handsomefoil]

This is Henry.

[agogenpc]

To Kern of COST,

I am writing on the event of your tragic loss in the arena of my mother, the High Queen. I wish to speak with you, and would be honoured if you would join me in watching the matches, simply present this letter with my seal and my guardsmen shall admit you.

My fondest wishes for your return to health,

From Her Grace, Princess Chch

The letter also comes with a comb that is a beautiful filgred design of silver against gold. However, each and every tooth of the comb is actually a stiletto blade. Sharp enough that even just lightly brushing skin when going to brush your hair with it, instantly draws blood.

( ooc: please either write a letter to decline the offer here, or head on over to the appropriate top level here. )

@BUCKET

[handsomefoil]

I know this is a stupid question but
Was it as bad as I think it was?

[lefthandfree]

Yes.