fourteen. voice.

[afeatherpillow]

[Katurian is breathing hard, and each of his breaths is audible over the communicator. The inhale. The exhale. Everything is sharp and raw.]

I am scared out of my mind. And I know what you're going to say: Katurian is always scared out of his mind. But not without reason

Comments

voice;

[wouldntthatbe]

[nonono don't go asking for wars son that is Not Good

ANYWAY Jerry sounds as... serene as one can try to be after hearing this, with an audible hint of concern.]

Please, calm down.

voice;

[afeatherpillow]

I am calm. I'm as calm as I can be.

[wouldntthatbe]

You'll have to forgive me, then, because I could have sworn otherwise.

[afeatherpillow]

As I can be, I said. [His throat is dry.] So you'll have to forgive me.

[wouldntthatbe]

[there's a pause; Jerry opens his mouth to answer and interrupts himself. How does one approach this...

Exhale.]

That was rude of me. I apologize.

[afeatherpillow]

N-No. I know. You're just trying to help.

[wouldntthatbe]

[He is.]

... I'd like to understand, too.

[afeatherpillow]

Are you new to this place?

[wouldntthatbe]

Yes, I am.

[afeatherpillow]

How are you, um. How are you settling in?

[wouldntthatbe]

Better than I thought I would, to be honest. [awkward pause.] Have you been here for long...?

[afeatherpillow]

Yeah. Not-- all at once, I left and then came back before, but, um, if you add it all together, something like a year and a half. [Pause. Quiet, half to himself:] A year and a half.

[wouldntthatbe]

That's... an awfully long time.

[afeatherpillow]

It's longer than I expected. It isn't all bad.

[wouldntthatbe]

I'd certainly like to think so. [he exhales. Then, carefully:] What happened to you, exactly...?

[afeatherpillow]

I don't know. That's the problem. Word is that people are being abducted and having their memories fucked with, and chances are I'm one of them, but I don't know. [Pause.] I'm sorry for the language.