[audio/video]

[absinthe_eyed]

[An audio feed begins. Dull scratching sounds, muffled but hurried words. After a moment, the words become clear...]

--where I dropped--

[...only to disappear in a buzz of white noise. It gives way to a video feed featuring the too-close face of one Justin Pendleton, although he may not be recognizable as such. The typically fastidious boy is

Comments

[dreamsofnoah]

You look very happy for someone who disappeared for a whole week.

[audio]

[absinthe_eyed]

You have no idea. No idea.

[audio]

[dreamsofnoah]

You can't just say that and not explain!

[audio]

[absinthe_eyed]

I can't explain right now. My head is--I don't know what he did, but it was a nightmare and I'm alive and I don't know how.

[audio]

[had_not_lived]

Oh my God, Justin!

[Equal parts panic and relief, there. He doesn't even know what to make of your expression. But the rest is kind of worrisome.]

Are you all right? Where were you? Were you under the graves, I talked to Rosella but she said she hadn't seen you and...

[audio]

[absinthe_eyed]

Neil. When is it? I was--there were caverns underneath, and they were full of--but I didn't see anyone. No one human and alive. I was running from everything I heard because I knew I couldn't fight them, I could only outrun them or outsmart them...

[He sounds far more scattered and excited than usual. Understandable, under the circumstances. Justin also sounds positively giddy.]

I'm starving, Neil, and everything hurts and it's beautiful. I forgot what it--but you know how that is. Shilo's going to murder me.

[audio]

[had_not_lived]

So you're all right? I mean you--

[He pauses, because though he's more or less followed this-- Rosella has told him about the mazes and the monsters, more or less-- it take a minute for the meaning of the latter bit to really hit him. And he sounds cautiously thrilled.]

Wait, you-- you didn't-- you're alive? How?!

[audio]

[absinthe_eyed]

Entirely, yes. The--everything healed after I... after I came back.

I don't know how! There's a man under the cemetery--or one of the powers that the deities can't control--and he did it. I don't know. I don't know how. He was there when I--after I'd... he was in a chamber, and I'm not sure what happened.

It's amazing. I can't--even before when I was alive, I never felt it. Never felt alive. It's like being alive for the first time.

[audio]

[absinthe_eyed]

I'm in trouble. I don't know how much work I missed, and I told Shilo I'd be back home--

There are caves underground and they're full of--they're... it's a nightmare underground, but I'm not there. I don't know how. I don't know why or what but I'm going home and I'm alive. I don't know why.

[audio]

[absinthe_eyed]

Heartbeat, headache, everything. I've never been so tired or hungry or alive, not even when I was--before the City, I mean. I hope it's permanent. I hope--but it should be, after the monsters. It's a fair trade.

[audio]

[justcautious]

Bloody 'ell, Justin. Y'didn't get eaten again, did What're you smilin' fo You alright?

[audio]

[absinthe_eyed]

I missed work again! Beckett's going to kill-- [Pause. What might be a slightly hysterical almost-giggle.] She wouldn't. I'm alive, Chris, and it's amazing--everything's amazing. Being hungry and hurting and tired, and it's all amazing.

[audio]

[justcautious]

Oh, blimey! Well...congratulations? Dunno what t'say for...'m glad for you.

[audio]

[absinthe_eyed]

I'm sorry for--for all of the talking. I hardly talk to you. I'm sorry.

audio;

[chasingmorning]

Justin!

audio; [1/2]

[absinthe_eyed]

Shilo!

audio;

[absinthe_eyed]

[Oh, wait. Someone just remembered that he's in trouble.]

Wait until I'm home to scold me for getting into trouble, please?

audio;

[chasingmorning]

[For the second she's far too relieved to think about being angry. For the second.]

Get here first. Then we'll think about anything else.