IC Contact

[cursestained]

[There's a moment of silence, before Naoya's voice starts, as if he didn't really want to leave a way to be contacted like this.]

This is Naoya. I'm busy right now, but leave your message and I'll get to it when I have time for it.

[Click!]

Comments

voicemail;

[topslug]

[ She hasn't spoken with him since the incident at the NCC, and she's been meaning to do this earlier. Her voice is a little hoarse, still: ]

Thanks again. For last week, I mean.

Though if you don't mind me asking... you would have helped even if I hadn't asked you to, right?

voicemail;

[cursestained]

Who knows? [He doesn't really think about it, honestly.]

I might not have even stayed there that long. I tend to keep moving in these kinds of situations.

[He's not entirely awake yet, or he wouldn't have let on that much. The Lockdown...he doesn't intend to recreate it. It hasn't left scars on him, because there's nothing left to scar, but why talk about it?]

voicemail;

[topslug]

[ Could she really have expected a different answer?

And yet she's a little saddened by it, anyway. ]

I see...

[ A pause, and offhandedly: ] Today's the last day of the cafe. Do you mind coming and helping us clean up?

voicemail;

[cursestained]

...Don't sound so disappointed. I'm not a nice person. [He can't be anymore.]

I suppose I could.

voicemail;

[topslug]

Well, you've been nice enough to me. That counts for something, doesn't it?

I'd appreciate it. [ A stifled yawn-- ] It's going to be busy at the NCC later.

voicemail;

[cursestained]

I suppose.

...Tired, Katsuragi?

voicemail;

[topslug]

A little. I guess I'm still reco--

[ Oh, wait, he doesn't need to know about that. ]

-- have a lot of stuff on my plate.

voicemail;

[cursestained]

...'Recovering'? What did you do.

[NII-SAN IS NOT AMUSED.]

voicemail;

[topslug]

[ Scream why is she having this conversation for the second time today--]

I didn't do anything! I just, um. Kind of ate something that was bad for me, so I ended up in the hospital Friday and Saturday. But I'm a lot better now.

voicemail;

[cursestained]

...You don't just end up in the hospital for something that disagreed with you, what happened.

[There's a sharp undercurrent in his tone--he fucking dares you to evade it a second time, Yako. He. Fucking. Dares. You.]

voicemail;

[topslug]

[ asdfjkl; he can't see her but that tone makes her jerk up ramrod-straight in her bed, babbling-- ]

Someone left poisoned cookies at the bake sale! I, um. Ate a few? So it was kind of terrible and I felt really bad for a while but at least I'm not dead and also I don't think they were meant for me...

voicemail;

[cursestained]

...Poisoned cookies at the bake sale. [He just--sighs, sounding weary more than angry.

At least until he finds out who did it.]

And you've no idea who did it, I presume?

voicemail;

[topslug]

[ Her voice somehow conjures the image of someone pushing their forefingers together sheepishly. ]

Officer Mayer's looking into it, and we haven't had it happen since. We know who the cookies were meant for... but that's all. No one remembers who left them there.

voicemail;

[cursestained]

You know who they were meant for? Mmm...

[He breathes out, and there's a weight to his words, as if he's measuring the value.]

...I doubt this'll be the last such incident.

voicemail;

[topslug]

We found the note that was supposed to be attached to it when we were cleaning up.

The NCC makes an easy target, because it's so visible. [ But her voice firms with resolve. ] It's going to be the worst today, though.

voicemail;

[cursestained]

I see.

[There's a hum in his voice.] After the cleaning, how busy will you be?