VoiceMail

[zerointegrity]

You've reached Lelouch.

I'm unable to answer right now, so please leave me a message. Your call is very important to me and I'll get back in touch with you as soon as I can.

Comments

audio.

[maskmastery]

[There's a pause, before Lelouch will hear that familiar but perhaps unwanted voice.

Schneizel voice is very, very dry, and a little distracted.]

Have you ever noticed that situations have a habit of... escalating, around us?

audio.

[zerointegrity]

[Not expecting his older brother to leave him a voice-mail (or ever call him), Lelouch is a bit surprised when he hears his Schneizel's voice. He decides to call him back because, well, this must be relatively important... right?]

Indeed, it seems to be a common occurrence. Is there a problem, Schneizel?

audio.

[maskmastery]

[Another pause.

A soft sigh.

He smiles.]

Do you know, I just had to eplain the concept of a bank card to someone?

[guess who. go on. guess.]

audio.

[zerointegrity]

[A moment of silence]

I imagine that the somebody you had to explain the concept of a bank card to happens to be one of our relatives, for I don't think you would call me to tell me about such a conversation with any other resident who has no knowledge of modern finances.

[Positively ashamed.]

audio.

[maskmastery]

You have an astute and suspicious mind, Lelouch. I don’t think I need to confirm that.

[The smallest of sighs.]

At first I thought he’d paupered himself. I’m not sure which is the better outcome, but I suppose it matters little.

Sometimes it feels as if so much has happened and so many years have passed, but little if anything has changed. I wonder if you ever feel that way, Lelouch.

audio.

[zerointegrity]

I daresay I could have phrased it any better, Schneizel. The only thing that has changed in the years passed has been our appearances, perhaps a few other, minute, things.

[He pauses]

How have you handled this situation?

audio.

[maskmastery]

What can a brother do? I explained the reality of the situation to him and told him to be more observant.

One can never forsake hope, after all. [said so very flatly]

audio.

[zerointegrity]

Sometimes there is little hope to be had in certain situations. [This, in Lelouch's opinion, being one of them]

Do you think he'll actually make use of the monetary system in Somarium as he should have been doing all along? It seems the easy way to do things would be to continue as he has been doing.

audio.

[maskmastery]

[Schneizel doesn’t laugh, but for a moment, he feels like it.]

I don’t doubt that he shall try to avoid such realities as much as possible. But the fact remains that he cannot. Besides, he’d find having to work far more unseemly than having to watch his budget.

Unless, of course, he turns his creative talents to good use, but I am not sure that would occur to him right now.

audio.

[zerointegrity]

Speaking of his creative talents, I'm rather surprised that an "Art Appreciation Week" has not already been declared in Somarium.

audio.

[maskmastery]

I suspect it’s only a matter of time. Clovis can be very charming in the right circumstances, I don’t doubt he wouldn’t hesitate to make such a move if given a chance.

audio.

[zerointegrity]

[Lelouch lets out an audible sigh, his frustration easily noticeable.]

I honestly haven't the slightest idea how to go about handling him in a place like there where he has no checks put on him.

audio.

[maskmastery]

With a watchful eye and a tactful tongue, preferably.

audio.

[zerointegrity]

One can only be so watchful, Schneizel.

[If you could only see his face right now, dearest Brother.]

And what would you do should those measures not be sufficient? I know he seeks your counsel concerning a number of the projects he takes on as well as the predicaments he finds himself.

audio.

[maskmastery]

Very true. Still, he should be simple enough to keep in check... [not that Clovis hasn't pulled nasty surprises on him before, but at least, without their father here, Clovis is far less likely to go behind his back.]

Regardless, we can only deal with these issues as they arise. We have little other option. Unless you'd sooner lock him up somewhere. [he's joking. mostly.] But forgive me, that would be your headache to deal with.

audio.

[zerointegrity]

[A quick response said very matter-of-factly.]

I'd rather he be your headache to deal with. I want as little to do with him as possible.