Sword of Damokles falls [Open, phone back on]

[gattaca_boy]

The press conference is called with less than five minutes notice, giving not much time at all for the media to hightail it back to the Osborn property and to the front gates

Comments

[angela_love]

At some point after Angela sees Julian on television, she decides to try his phone. She sits on her bed upstairs, chewing on her lower lip, listening to the phone ring.

[gattaca_boy]

The phone rings for a while but, rather than switching over to voice mail, it's actually picked up.

"... hello?"

[angela_love]

"Hi, Julian. It's Angela. I'm so glad you're okay, I just wanted to sort of...let you know things are okay here. Your mom was glad that you replied to my journal entry, too."

Angela doesn't have much to talk to him about, really...but she just needed to call.

[gattaca_boy]

"Oh. Hey. I tried to call but..."

Richard picked up.

"You know. Stuff. Is mum all right? As all right as I should expect given the circumstances?"

[angela_love]

"She's better. Still worried, though. It helps that all the idiots left the front lawn. Slobs."

She chews on her bottom lip. "If you want, I can get your Mom on the phone probably. She'd come upstairs if I asked."

[gattaca_boy]

"I'm glad they've left. You... can if you want. Or you can tell her I'll drop around tomorrow when Richard's at work. Maybe just do that, don't raise his suspicions. Would you?"

[angela_love]

"Yeah, I'll do that, it'll probably be better."

She looks at herself in the mirror, makes a face, then looks away. Would it be selfish to talk about herself? She just...feels like shit about things.

"I finally talked to my grandmother."

Angela's gran could be the Pittsburgh area distributor of Guilt and Related Feelings.

[gattaca_boy]

"Whatever she told you, it isn't true." It's a reflexive answer, but heartfelt. "You've done the right thing, and I promise, I'm still looking into getting your father home."

His voice is quiet and serious. "I promise. And if she said otherwise, go and get a hug from my mum."

[angela_love]

"I know you will." After all, he said it, and she tends to trust people. "I'm still waiting for him to call me, but I gave Gran the number..."

And yeah, he hasn't called yet, which is a worry. But it's always iffy, when he'll call.

She sighs. "Believe me, your Mom is more than great with the hugs." Before this, she was never a very huggy person, but...things change.

[gattaca_boy]

"I know she is. But if you ever need it, she's there." There's a small sigh. "I hope your father calls soon. But not so soon that I haven't worked out something to help you here.

"I need to go soon, I have other calls to make. But I'll be by tomorrow, okay?"

[angela_love]

"Okay. Thanks, Julian. I'll make sure your mom knows you're coming. And thank you. I'm really glad you're safe and everything."

[gattaca_boy]

"Thanks, Angela. I'm fine, I promise. And I'll get back onto chasing up the situation with your dad. Promise. See you tomorrow."

[angela_love]

"See you."

No goodbyes, Angela hates those.

After she hangs up, she goes downstairs to find Amsha.

[gattaca_boy]

Amsha is cooking.

Enough to feed an army. She's also stopped talking to her husband.

[angela_love]

Angela comes up to her and places her hand on Amsha's sleeve. "Hi," she says. "I need to tell you something secret, okay?"

[gattaca_boy]

Amsha looks up at Angela with a weak smile. "Of course, dear. Anything you tell me stays between us."