Envy's Apartment (That She's Now Paying For), New York, Tuesday

[whenshewasnice]

Envy had been back in New York for a few days. A few intense days, someone - not Envy - might have added. It was taking a fair bit of work to see just how Gideon's untimely demise affected all of her planned appearances and the state of her contracts in general. Turned out Gideon hadn't been interested in making all of his affairs easily accessible

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[kirked]

Pretty Jim sent back, grin on his face. It didn't beat his view, not when they were in orbit around some glittering planet but it was a nice view for an apartment.

Who's is that? he sent a few moments later.

[whenshewasnice]

It wasn't so long ago that the answer would've been 'technically Gideon's'. But that time was over now.

She smiled faintly to herself.

Mine. New York.

[kirked]

Pretty. Surprised you're home. No concerts tonight?

Lately, he hadn't really known her to take a day off. Maybe there was a party happening in another room.

[whenshewasnice]

My solo debut launch was a couple of weeks ago. Gideon died.

Okay, she hadn't meant to drop that in a text but maybe it'd stave off the questions, to deliver it so nonchalantly.

Tour starts next week or so. Not sure where home is anymore, anyway.

[kirked]

Wait, what? What?

That was not the thing to just say in text message.

Call me. Stop texting me and call me.

[whenshewasnice]

Envy sighed and rolled her eyes, like he was being over-dramatic. Just to get it out of the way and out of her system before she called him.

Which she then did.

[kirked]

"Are you all right?" Jim asked when his phone rang. "Are you okay, Envy?"

He'd almost slipped up and called her Natalie, barely catching himself at the last minute.

[whenshewasnice]

"I didn't say I died," Envy told him mildly. She appreciated his concern, though, so it wasn't a dry sort of mild. "Although it did leave my career in something of a disarray at a pretty crucial moment."

[kirked]

"No, you didn't say you died but someone close to you did so I was concerned," Jim told her quietly. "People close to you dying hurts pretty bad. I just wanted to make sure."

[whenshewasnice]

"He also turned out to have kept his past girlfriends on cryo-freeze," Envy shared, and now was dry. Because, wow, Gideon. Wow. (Also what was up with her latest boyfriends turning out to be amazingly assholish right before perishing?) "I'm getting over it."

[kirked]

"That's...not good at all," Jim said, wincing. "How long ago did this happen? Did you find out about the girlfriends before he died?"

And the big question was, "How'd you die, anyway?"

[whenshewasnice]

"All of this was at my album release party slash his new club opening back in Toronto," she said, not sounding like it pained her much. "So, a couple of weeks ago."

Time was a relative concept when you hopped between universes, so she wasn't entirely sure.

"Scott and Ramona sliced him up with swords, then he burst into coins. It was a mess."

[kirked]

"Jesus," Jim said, sitting back and rubbing his eyes tiredly. "Envy, that's...you've been dealing with a lot of shit, haven't you? Have you been able to relax at all?"

[whenshewasnice]

"I was in Brazil for a few days right afterwards," Envy replied, shrugging, even if he couldn't see that. Some day they might have to consider video calls or something. "Does that count?"

[kirked]

"Depends on what you were doing," Jim said, sounding slightly chiding. "Were you working for Peter?"

[whenshewasnice]

Seriously. Video calls. He was missing out on some prime eyebrow-raising right now.

"Don't take that tone with me," she replied, though without any heat behind it. "I was hanging out, playing the piano, and going out to lunch with Peter. I was replaced in an official capacity when I moved away, Jim. I don't work for him."