8th Letter; video [not long after sirens]

[hisdiscretion]

[Franz is sitting on his couch in his darkened apartment, drinking a glass of wine. He casts a faint glow, reflecting off his matched silk pajamas.]Albert, if you're out with some girl and forgot to tell me, good for you! Use lots of protection and remember to tip generously, but before that, please spare ten seconds to tell your dear old friend

Comments

video;

[topslug]

[ She can think of a likely explanation, but chooses not to voice it. ]

What does Albert look like? If I see him, I'll tell him you've been looking for him.

video;

[hisdiscretion]

Ah, thank you.

He's sixteen. Brown hair, bright blue eyes. Dresses a lot like I do and tends to have sort of a gap-mouthed, vacant expression.

video;

[topslug]

[ Not the most flattering description, and yet-- ]

Was he the one you spoke about before? The best friend you met at your father's funeral?

video;

[hisdiscretion]

...That's him alright.

[Video]

[gaveherwings]

[There's a longer hesitation, then, quietly-]

This is redirecting to the open network, Franz, if that was supposed to be a personal message.

[Video]

[hisdiscretion]

[dully] Perhaps he dropped his NV in a ditch somewhere and it's broken. Seems like something he'd do. [He doesn't really believe that, of course.]

[Video;private]

[gaveherwings]

[A slowed, careful sigh.]

Are you going to be alright?

We'll file him missing first thing in the morning, if you don't hear back from him by then.

[there's an uneasy breath, and then- well, some explanation for why he hasn't been in touch, in the past 24 hours.]

I... guess it was lucky I was on call Saturday. Re-l was admitted last night. Someone tried to poison her.

[Video;private]

[hisdiscretion]

[sharply] I'm fine. [Missing friend? Been there, done that. Mr. Muggles is going to end up his bestie by default at this point.]

How's she doing?

permavideo;

[showbizpanache]

How long has he been missing?

[hisdiscretion]

At least a day. I just called his work and it seems he didn't show up for his shift yesterday night either.

[Franz swallows hard, keeping his posture stiff and graceful. He pushes his hair out of his face, tucking it behind one ear.]

...What a pain in the ass. If this message sent to the network and not to his personal NV, his NV is either broken or he's gone.

[showbizpanache]

[Oh. Well this isn't something he's had to deal with yet.] I... I'm sorry.

[hisdiscretion]

--Thank you.

[siiiigh]

I might enlist your help. Considering I've lost three roommates since I've moved into this damned place, I might just convert the extra room into a study or something.

[It hurts that Albert is probably gone, that he is probably left behind again, that his boyfriend can't even be here to comfort him. But - ah, decorating! That's nice and cheerful! Already ready to pack his friend away into storage, if only because he can't stand to leave it all there like some kind of shrine for someone he feels will never come back for him.]

[video]

[axemeaquestion]

[Rochelle is quiet for a second to give a wave to Mr. Muggles and grin at him, becasue she hasn't seen that dog in forever.

ANYWAY--]

What's up, walking nightlight?

[video]

[hisdiscretion]

Rochelle, you must promise never to live with me. It's obviously dangerous to people's health.

[video]

[axemeaquestion]

I promise never to live with you.

Now why am I promising to never live with you again?

[video]

[hisdiscretion]

Claire, Didi, and now Albert.

My roommates keep disappearing. I've had this apartment since... last August or September.

voice | private

[proxysearch]

[She's well aware of his conversation with Daedalus. Instead of focusing on that, she focuses on him and Albert.]

I'll have a missing person's report filled out within the hour. I'll ask Jomy to go look for him, too. He'll know where he is before the day is done.

[And if he can't sense him, then they'll know for sure that Albert's gone.]

voice | private

[hisdiscretion]

[If how little he wanted to hear or even think about Re-l were a number, it would be 97%.] --Mademoiselle Re-l, you shouldn't stress yourself with these kind of things. Rest.

voice | private

[proxysearch]

Don't treat me like an invalid or a child, Franz.

voice | private

[hisdiscretion]

You were poisoned, doesn't that make you an invalid?