[ video ]

[istheknowledge]

[ It hasn't been long since Cambria's arrived. She's heard a very rough idea, and as much as it annoys her it annoys her she's here and Coheed isn't, it annoys her more that she can't do anything. It's why, after taking a deep breath, she fumbles with her NV and finds the video option, pressing her lips to a thin line. She's found her way to a

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[audio]

[thecrowingtobe]

[NOTHING at all was picked up before the name was staated. nothing at all. He herd it, he breezed past it, but hte NAME got his attention enough to make him return to the video, rewind, play again and ... stare]

[He had all the feelings. ALL the feelings, and he wasn't sure which just kicked him in the gut. It took another ten minutes before he managed a reply. NOT video though, voice, because... because he didn't want her to see yet.]

W-wh--[Oh, right, get a moment to find his voice again. He tried once more]

Where are you? [His voice is a bit small, uncomfortable, but it's two years older, a bit deeper but all the same, her son]

[ video ---> audio ]

[istheknowledge]

[ Cambria's expression shows it all before she snatches her NV up and switches to Audio, eyes wide. Her voice is shaking because it's deeper, sure, but its her son. The last time she'd seen him was the morning when Josephine ran in, proud and showing off her ring. When Coheed's dreams were on Claudio's paper, when Mayo Deftinwolf appeared and when--]

Claudio.

[ It's the only thing she can manage to say. ]

[ audio ]

[thecrowingtobe]

[He held his device tighter, finding himself suddenly sitting with a hard plop into a chair outside his work bench. Holy shit. It really is her...]

[His head spinning, he opened his mouth again and just sat there silent for a moment, heart aching. The Core plays some damn dirty tricks]

Y-yeah. Yeah it's me. [Ah, now what. He looked around, hoping no one was watching how utterly startled he was now]

You show up out of no where and go to a library? Seriously? [maybe it really was her...]

[ audio -> video ]

[istheknowledge]

[ The small, light chuckle is audible and familiar.]

She can't take it--she has to see her son and it's only fair she flicks on the video screen, too. He sounds older. More mature--which is strange, considering they'd only been away a day before...that happened. She sighs heavily and clicks the video on again, concern etched on her features. ]

You're alright, right? You're okay? You're not--you're not hurt?

[ He wasn't in the house. Not when that happened. She bites her lip, glancing around to see if anyone else is in the library. No one. ]

Claudio.. Let me see you.

[ audio ]

[thecrowingtobe]

[It's unfair, he knows, but he didn't go to video just. While he stared at her, still not believing it... she couldn't see him. Not yet. She can't see him like this. Rubbing his cheek he find a bit of stubble, moving up to rub the scar. She can not see him like this. The scars, the oil on his face and hands, the place on his neck where that slave chip had been, the fact that he was a MESS.]

N-no, Mom. [It felt weird to say that again... but good.] No, I'm fine. Safe and everything. Swear.

You... it's really you here?

[Or for the sake of all that is sane, PLEASE be real, please be real. Please don't be another voice in his damned head. He didn't want to deal with it being another ghost from his past telling him his future.]

[video]

[istheknowledge]

Claudio.

[She's well aware she's using her mom voice and doesn't seem to care.]

Let me see you.

[voice]

[thecrowingtobe]

[sonofabitch-- years of training just tried to kick him in the face and turn the video on but he stood strong (didn't go invisible) and said:]

It's been a while, is all. I'm a bit of a mess right now. You know, didn't expect to see anyone wandering around the library today or nothin'.

[video] sorry about the phone replies D:

[istheknowledge]

[Cambria's gaze softens, and she doesn't push it. Not yet. But she's going to want to see you. Right now, though, her gaze is focused on something else. Something looming. ]

Is your father here?

[voice] No worries! Better then no replies at all i say <3!!

[thecrowingtobe]

[Yes]

No.

[Only in my head-- He sighed, trying again.] Um... I mean no, he's not. It's just been me--seriously, where are you? [that last sentence was said fast, running the two sentences together.]

[video]

[istheknowledge]

A library. Wanted to learn more about where I was before charging in. [An undpoken 'because we both know your father would' is left in the air. She sighs, pushing a strand of hair away from her face. Tucking it behind her ear. She gives directions as best she could, before sighing. ]

You're safe, right? I heard about the monsters.

[voice]

[thecrowingtobe]

[He takes note of it. He knows where that is. He's not sure if he wants to go and meet her there or what. Looking down at himself he's frowning, suddenly feeling really... untidy.]

Yeah, Mom. I'm at home, safe. [Home? It came out odd sounding suddenly. As did the home sick. He stared at his mothers image a bit longer.]

I can deal with the monsters.

[video]

[istheknowledge]

Home? Claudio, how long have you--how long have you been here?!

[voice <--> video]

[thecrowingtobe]

Um... a bit, I guess. Um... [he held his breath a moment, pulling his hood up over his head and wiping his hands off on his jeans, as if they would be seen. She'd see him sooner or later, right? Hnng, he shifted the feed from just voice to video.]

[IT showed a image of her son, older by two years, looking a bit more like his father would if he had been young. his hood was up, his face shaded a bot, but could be seen. He leaned on his knees, hands folded. Behind him was a garage that had a car in it, that he was working on.]

Two years, maybe. [Or more like just over two years.] Hi.

[ video ]

[istheknowledge]

[ He's changed--sort of. The hood is pulled up like usual, the moody teenager, but she's struck by just how alike him and Coheed look in that moment. How they looked when Cambria fell in love with him--

No. That was a memory, but a false one. Her hand goes to her face, her fingers by her lips as her eyes widen. He's different, bu the same, and in that moment Cambria wants nothing more than the hundrum of the Kilgannon's morning routine, the clamor of the twins and Claudio's quiet sketching. ]

Hi.

[ There's so much emotion in that word, but Cambria manages a small, tiny smile. A false one, but a smile. Because now she's picturing what would have happened had Claudio not been late that night. ]

You've grown, but I saw you this morning...

[ video ]

[thecrowingtobe]

[He likes her smile. It reminds him of better days gone by, even if it's not a true smile. He didn't smile at all. He looked uncomfortable, keeping the one side of his face hidden for sure, slightly tilted.]

And I saw you over two and a half years ago. [he'd been on the run for a while before getting pulled here. But this was the point that the hood made his face look darker, tilted down a bit more as he spoke, not even sure where the bitter came from. He wanted to go and hug her, not feel upset like this...] Was everyone still alive when you saw me last, mom?

[ video ]

[istheknowledge]

[ Years? It didn't make any sense to Cambria--none of this did--and the fact that it didn't worried her. She was used to understanding, analyzing, and then getting the big picture right away. It's what she did. But now there's a bitter tone in Claudio's voice and the next words cause her to lift a hand to her mouth, unable to look at the video. ]

Everyone...

[ It's a no, and it's obvious even if she doesn't say the words. Her gaze snaps up, though, her voice rushed, emotions getting the best of her. ]

Claudio, you have to understand what happened, you have to understand why--