[voice] filtered away from: Lassiter, Pete, Aaron, Jack, Sheldon, Yusuke, Bond

[pacifisted]

[For what is probably the first time in... well, in ever, Trowa is breathing hard as he speaks over the comms. He's obviously not running right then, though--there's no wind in the mic and no footsteps.]

I can't go back to--[a pause; then, mildly bitter]--I need somewhere to stay.

It's... October 2nd now.

[Doesn't even bother hiding his

Comments

voice.

[tothecloud]

Oh my God.

You're back.

voice.

[pacifisted]

I...

[Softly:]

...I am.

voice.

[tothecloud]

Where are you?

voice.

[pacifisted]

Where everyone is when they're brought back.

voice.

[tothecloud]

S-Stay there! I'm... I'm gonna come and get you. You can stay at my place, okay?

voice.

[pacifisted]

[Trowa's about to say something when a snippet of conversation from the action thread down below interrupts it; the plea for him to wait and his initial response come through loud and clear before he closes the feed off.]

[When it picks back up some ten minutes later, Trowa is barely speaking loud enough to be heard.]

It might be better if I don't--the staying part.

He'll want to talk. With you.

I...

[Undecipherable sound.]

...And I should keep out of his way.

voice.

[tothecloud]

[ A long pause. She heard it. At length, she says with quiet stubbornness: ]

Please. Just let me help. I've-- I've just been so. Helpless to do anything for anybody, and I can help you now.

I'll ask Jaime if I can stay with him. He's-- just out of the hospital anyway, so. You can just. Stay at my place until you feel ready to go.

[ A beat. ]

And. If Quatre wants to talk, I'll be here for him, too.

voice.

[pacifisted]

[He just seems... tired. But his focus isn't on giving her an answer just now; intentionally or not, she's temporarily moved it off the issue of where he's staying.]

[Trowa remembers the blood on his paw and can't help but think back to the time he and the Beetle got their fight on in the middle of a street. Too sharply:]

Why was he in the hospital?

voice.

[tothecloud]

[ A hesitation. Like she isn't sure this is the time to discuss it, but... ]

He had-- some. Kind of panic attack. I think the news said it was a toxin that was making people hallucinate.

voice.

[pacifisted]

[Oh, come now. You know Trowa isn't going to discuss himself any more than he has to, if given the option. Anything to not have to think about what happened.]

Did he see a psychologist? Before the attack.

voice.

[tothecloud]

I-I don't know. I don't... Think so. Why?

voice.

[pacifisted]

...Nothing.

It doesn't matter.

[Tired.]

Just for tonight. I'll look for a place tomorrow.

[Glancing around, not that she sees.]

Mm. Four blocks east of the MAC. Sorry.

voice.

[tothecloud]

[ A little relieved exhale. ]

Okay. Do you want me to bring anything?

voice.

[pacifisted]

[Takes a second to think about that--but everything he wants is... is... well, he doesn't know where it is. Could be at the hotel. Or maybe the new place was finished. A lot happens in a month.]

No. I've got what I need.

voice.

[tothecloud]

Okay. Ten minutes. I'll be right there.

voice.

[pacifisted]

...Appreciated.