021 [voice/video; forward-dated to around 8am]

[cheapblusuits]

[...at first, it seems as if Phoenix's Pokegear is transmitting by mistake, because at first, all that can be heard is silence. No static, no talking -- maybe a lght gust of wind, but that might have just been your imagination.

But, wait! Was that breathing? I think it was! and a sigh, even, before the lawyer actually begins speaking;]

...is that it

Comments

[video]

[totesaladder]

... Nick?

[she had wondered where he had gone, and something feels... off]

Mia... I like it.

[video]

[cheapblusuits]

...hey, Maya.

[Maya...is someone that should probably know about this. Really, she should have been the first person he'd told, but...he glances away, absentmindedly petting his new companion. He quirks a bit of a smile, though, when he hears that she approves of the name.]

Mia it is, then. [The Mareep bleets in approval.]

...how are things back in Violet? I'll be back soon.

[video]

[totesaladder]

Is... everything okay, Nick?

[a smile, soft yet encouraging]

We're okay here. It's quiet without you.

[video]

[cheapblusuits]

[...a shrug.] There's...[He pauses, still not sure whether he should be telling Maya this or not.]

There's someone here, Maya. Not...here, here -- I think she's still a ways away from us, I mean -- but... [He dwindles off into silence. He...isn't too sure of how to go from here.]

Good. I'll be back soon.

[video]

[totesaladder]

Someone...? [she's known Nick long enough to understand what he means by that]

Who is she?

[video]

[cheapblusuits]

Someone that could...that could potentially be very, very dangerous. [Another hesitation.]

I--I want to try and fix things. With her. Maybe that way, she won't--

[--maybe then she'll only keep hurting him, and stay the fuck away from his friends. That's his top priority, and always will be.]

[video]

[totesaladder]

Dangerous. [it's not a question this time, it's a statement]

I'm not going to let you do something dangerous by yourself, Nick.

[video]

[cheapblusuits]

[An affirmative nod.] Dangerous.

Don't worry, Maya. I'm not going to run out on you guys or anything.

[...a pause. He would never let Maya get entangled with this, that's for sure, but didn't he owe it to her to let her in on what's happening, at least?]

Maya...have you spoken to a woman named Dahlia Hawthorne?

[video]

[totesaladder]

Dahlia-- [her eyes widen in surprise] -- her?

[video]

[cheapblusuits]

...I guess you have, then. [Cue an awkward silence.]

She...was my girlfriend, back in college.

[video]

[totesaladder]

[here, she pauses]

What...

... what happened, Nick?

[video]

[cheapblusuits]

...

[He had no problem telling Heather. So why was it so hard to tell Maya, of all people?]

I--

[His expression falters, caught between confusion and regret and just sadness, looking at anywhere but the camera and fighting to find the words to even begin to describe the fiasco that was Dahlia.]

I just--I don't know. [This was the truth. How could that have happened?] We...I guess I must have made a mistake. It's...it's complicated, Maya.

[video]

[totesaladder]

It's okay, Nick... [she offers a weak, yet encouraging smile]

You can tell me when you get back, okay? [chipper as always, even in the most serious of times] You can treat me to a hamburger and we'll talk.

[video]

[cheapblusuits]

I...alright. [A nod.] I promise.

[video]

[totesaladder]

I'm holding you to that, okay? Don't break it! [she doesn't sound as indignant as she's trying to act, though. Just worried]

[video]

[cheapblusuits]

Don't worry, Maya. I won't. [He really means it. And, hey, maybe we could jump to action or something, so he actually CAN hold her to it? Before he disappears again, that is.]