54 // video/action // introducing alex kralie: season two!

[40410]

There's a handheld communicator lying in the snow at the edge of the woods. For several minutes, the feed is just a worm's eye view of white sky and grey branches criss-crossing overhead

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[paper_knight]

Mark hasn't heard from Alex for a few days, and his room had been empty when he'd checked. So this transmission comes as a considerable relief, right up until the video screen fills up with snow.

"Alex? Hold on. Alex!"

If he doesn't receive a reply within the next minute or so, he'll grab a pair of coats and head out toward the woods.

[40410]

He doesn't get a reply. His voice is familiar, but for once in his life Alex is actively trying not to remember things. It's like every returning memory ties him even closer to this place where he very much does not want to be.

Luckily for Mark, Alex isn't pausing to scrub out his footprints, so once he finds the communicator there'll basically be a glowing neon arrow pointing to where Alex is hiking hurriedly away. He has both arms around his body against the cold, though it's not working too well. First time in ages he's worn short sleeves around the mansion, and it had to be in the dead of winter.

In person, the ringing noise will only be notable for its absence.

[paper_knight]

The communicator ends up in Mark's pocket, and he starts actively calling for Alex as he follows the trail. Even by daylight, with the Operator long gone, he doesn't like the idea of losing Alex out here.
He sees movement ahead and picks up his pace.

[40410]

There's someone behind him. This is way too familiar, especially with the fractured recollection he has of the tunnel and the man and...

"Stop following me!" he yells over his shoulder. He doesn't look back to see who it is; he doesn't care who it is, he just wants them to go away without his having to make them.

[sadfreezingbrit]

Alex sent him a text message. Philip replied with a question. When no answer came he went up to his room, just in case. What happened during the event was--

Well. It was what it was.

Still, Philip's kept score of everything horrible and awkward for a while now and in his eyes that particular encounter didn't place high enough on the list to influence their friendship for the worse. It was better to clear the air right away.

As it turned out it wasn't the air but Alex's room which had been cleared and abandoned. Too bad. Too bad, really.

A while later another room cleared.

One that prompted Philip to monitor the network for hours, hours and yet more hours that finally turned into days. Around that time desperation turned into depression and the snowy feed almost went unnoticed for its lack of performers and speaking parts.

But then Philip noticed Alex. Actually he almost didn't, but-- Alex!

He was here! He... he'd been gone, but now he was back at the mansion!The routine was shaken, the spell broken and excitement burned right

actually never mind he'll be in his room at some point

[40410]

It'll be a while before Alex replies, since he's off gallivanting with Mark and re-acclimatising and kicking trees and doesn't expect to have to check his communicator for messages so soon after getting back. But reply he does.

Okay as it can be
Back to playing the waiting game
It's only been a few days for you right?

(And in only a few days, people have noticed and cared that he was missing. That's...

That's at odds with his determination to hate everything about this place.)

Wheeeeeeee! \o/

[sadfreezingbrit]

Philip will likely have forgotten about the message by the time he finds it answered. Still, his reply is almost instant, what with having been glued to the device with nothing better to do.

Not more than|

Erm.

This is where he should make an attempt at distilling how long he's been sulking to himself now, right?

Right.

Not more than three days.

Give or take one. Or two. Or something like that.

How long were you gone?

In your world is what Philip thinks is the obvious addition here.

[40410]

No pause on this end, since Alex already worked this out when Mark asked the same question.

Eight months

Which knocks out the obvious topics of conversation, because you can't say you've missed someone when you didn't remember they existed, and you can't ask how they've been doing or what you've missed when it's barely been any time at all for them.

Long time no see.