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video/ mid-afternoon

[This was bullocks. This was absolute bullocks. He felt like he'd stepped into a rerun of the bloody Xfactor or whatever it was. Reincarnation, memories from another life, nonsense. Absolute rubbish. Yet he couldn't stop dreaming about it. Every night it had happened. The girl in the water, pulling her out, some agony tight in his chest-- and-- incredible loneliness. Incredible grief. More than once he'd woken up in tears and so was running on as little sleep as possible.

So when he appears on the feed, he's looking haggard and cross. He's never been much for technology. He's also wanted to avoid touching this... supernatural disaster-- but he's exhausted all other possibilities short of going to therapy and if it is connected to this-- organization, maybe someone can give him a clue]

My name is Crowley. I'm looking for a missing girl, about eleven to fourteen. Shoulder length dirty-blonde or brunette hair, wearing a locket. Heart shaped. If anyone's seen her, or knows anything about her, let me know.

Or if anyone can tell me about the Bureau. The truth about the Bureau. Not the interdimensional whatever it is. How prevalent are they? How prevalent are 'we'? Is anyone doing any sort of investigating at all?

[and while he knew it wasn't a good idea to question so openly on their own network, he needed information. And it would be interesting to see what they did with this threat, if anything.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Oh shut up, Anthony, you're so bloody melodramatic. Can't you do anything like an adult? [which was why he was here. Why he had to be here. Always picking up after him. Making sure he wasn't doing anything stupid]

Where are you staying? I'll come meet you. And get the tantrum out of your system now because I'm coming whether or not you tell me where it is. I'd rather not have to look after your petulant arse but I will if I have to.

[ He gaped, opened his mouth to say something, partially closed it, and only succeeded in making a sort of shuddering yelping sound as the words tried to force their way out. ]

I... I'm an adult! I have a place of my own, a life, I don't need a babysitter! UGH! Did mom send you?! Just turn right back around and tell her, or Lilith, or which ever one sent you traipsing all the way over here that I'm fine!

And I'm not telling you where I live... What on this weird network that anyone can see!? They sent you, they know where I live, ask one of them!

[ So not tantruming!!! ]

[he pinches the bridge of his nose]

For fuck's sake. You can't even-- Do you even hear yourself? Yes, Aunt Evelyn sent me. As well as Dad and half that side of the bloody family. They're worried about you, moron!

[but alright maybe public sharing is not the best idea]

There's a bagel place on West 35th. St. Christopher's. Meet me there at seven. If you don't I'm going to share one embarrassing story across this network a day until you do.

There's no reason to be! I haven't done a thing to be worried about.

[ Except... maybe the whole regaining odd memories thing that he hadn't bothered to tell any of the family about. He's not going to bring that up.

He wanted to hang up and just ghost his cousin but he did know some truly embarrassing stories and would tell them. He was evil enough to tell them. ]

Fine! But be careful what you say, remember I know some interesting stories about you too! After 6? I have work until then.

The fact that you're on this bloody network at all worries the hell out of me. [what did you do?]

I'm willing to take that risk. [Anthony would care more than he would. Anthony has a reputation and friends. He hasn't had a fried group since 1982 and even then he wouldn't exactly call them friends so much as reluctant dorm mates.]

I said seven. Pay attention for once in your life.

[ RRR! He was so rattled he had missed the time. Family was fine... when it stayed at home where it belonged, it was a chore when it showed up on your doorstep demanding answers to questions he wouldn't even have. And that was coming, oh... he knew that was coming. ]

Whatever... seven.

[ He was going to be late. ON PURPOSE! He was going to be late. ]

I'll be there.

Fine. [he hangs up, then rubs at the tightness in his chest. What a day and it was only noon. He hadn't expected to run into Anthony so soon or the one who apparently had a crush on him. Didn't even want to think about that really, but there it was. He didn't know what the hell was going on, but now that his idiot cousin was involved, he knew he had to find out.

At seven then he was at the bagel place with a cup of rapidly cooling coffee, staring at it and waiting for Anthony to show up. He knew he'd be late so gave him a thirty minute grace period. When that was over he texted:]

You have ten minutes or your eighth birthday party comes up.

Hey, pinning the tail on the clown was an act of rebellion not a mistake!

[ It took nearly the entire ten minutes to find a parking space. Even with a motorcycle rather than a car there were times where one had to get creative with where they parked it. He eventually found a place between two cars, it was narrow, but he fit and that's all that mattered.

9 minutes and 58 minutes, he walked into the shop and waved away the girl at the counter who offered him a bagel or a coffee. Anthony slid into the seat opposite and gave his waiting cousin a greeting glare. ]

So, I'm here. What do you want?

[that's why you use public transport in big cities, you big git, instead of riding around like you're too much of a tosser to fit into a motorcycle gang.

He wasn't even going to comment about the clown or he might say something that most of his acts of so-called rebellion were just embarrassments.

Anthony hadn't changed much, he noted as his cousin slid in opposite. He still looked irritating as ever with perpetual scowl and wearing sunglasses when he didn't even need to.]

How long have you been involved with this... memory thing.

Edited 2020-04-13 03:44 (UTC)

[ Right to the point as always. No, hello... good to see you, love the hair, nope! Straight to the inquisition. ]

Little more than a month.

[right. Because Anthony's hello, how are you, good to see you had already taken up a good chunk of time]

And you didn't think to tell anyone that you're two seconds from an extended holiday in the psych ward?

Now who's being over-dramatic. It's nothing like that!

You must have had one too? You were on the network and you couldn't have been if you didn't.

[ Unless he was working for the Bureau... Which didn't feel out of character for the snitch. ]

Edited 2020-04-13 03:57 (UTC)

Of course I had one. What kind of question is that?

It's something that shouldn't be happening. Not to more than one person. Not supposed government agencies saying it was bloody aliens or whatever. Something is going wrong and you didn't even think to question it?

[he shook his head]

What did you remember?

How dumb do you think I am? Of course I questioned it! I've been questioning from the beginning and avoiding those meetings... The first time I appeared on the network was when you showed up.

[ That late night texting convo he had so didn't count. ]

What did you remember?

Avoiding isn't questioning it's being bloody stupid. How can you find out anything if you're not there? But then assuming you would be where you should is always too much to bloody ask isn't it?

[he winced as his ulcer flared up. Not that he could do anything about it but hope it went away. Bloody American healthcare. He massaged the spot and leaned back against the booth]

You first.

You wouldn't understand.

[ And he didn't want to talk about it. Oddly enough... he had only spoken of those memories to Mr. Fell and that seemed right some how. ]

You talk about it on the network?

[ He picked his phone out of his pocket and waved it in the air like a tease. ]

I could just go see what you said.

Tell me anyway.

[he's not afraid of it being on the network. If he was he wouldn't have shared it. Anthony could read it and take his own thoughts on it]

I need to know.

Missing girl and pulling her out of the water? So you saw this girl, you have no idea who she was, and you rescued her?

[ Sounded like a very simple sort of memory, not like the one he had ended up with... or the other one with Mr. Fell that some how seemed even more personal. ]

No, she was dead. Three days dead in the water. And I went in the water to get her. [and he knew Anthony knew how he felt about water. He wouldn't even go out to wade normally.]

Tell me, Anthony.

[ He did know how Alec felt about water... He vividly recalled the great wading pool freak out though there might have been other factors at play then.

There hadn't been a dead girl. That was an amazingly sobering thought. He was sorry that he had brought it up at all. He couldn't say he was sorry but, he could be a little more forthcoming. ]

It was probably just a remembered story that felt vivid... I was the serpent in the garden. I slithered over to Eve and got her to eat that apple.

Fine. Don't tell me. [he couldn't even believe that. Couldn't even believe to begin that. It wasn't a memory it was a fairy tale. But fine. He never expected to get a straight answer out of him anyway]

I don't like it, this thing. It's too surreal. Too bizarre. Like I've stepped into Twilight or wherever that is. [he rubbed his stomach absently under the table, feeling the acid build up and knowing he wasn't likely to get any sleep tonight either]

I'm glad I came to watch your back. [because he didn't trust Anthony to watch his own.]

[ See! What the Hell! He could be perfectly honest and straight with his cousin and nothing he said would be believed! ]

Zone. Twilight Zone.

And I'm not. I don't need anyone watching my back. I'm doing perfectly fine here! You're the one looking like shit.

[ Something that was actually concerning... ]

You sick?

[they weren't even religious! How could he believe it? And if it was some weird kink thing he didn't even want to know]

You're never fine anywhere for long. [he's seen who you're falling in with. It's invariably the wrong crowd.]

Ulcer. Nothing to worry about. It'll go away on its own.

[he hoped]

Tell me about your life here at least. Where are you staying? What are you doing with yourself?

[ Speak for yourself! His side of the family was, especially mom... God Lord, if she had any idea what his memory had been! It was probably a good thing he hadn't been believed. ]

Do they go away on their own? Don't you have to diet, eat right... give up coffee, that sort of thing?

[ What did he know really, he had never had one. ]

I have an apartment out in the Bronx. It's one of those refurbished places, brand new everything. And I'm the Director of Living Collections at the New York Botanical Garden.

[ Which he said with a smile as there was no way such a grand title could be found wanting! ]

Met a girl about five years ago. I wrote home about her. Grace. We've been dating steadily since then.

[ And no one could find anything terrible to say about Grace! She was practically a saint. So... memories aside, the report home ought to be a good one. Nothing to worry anyone about. ]

What about you? Last I heard you were a teacher?

[fair. He tends to avoid that side of the family. Mostly since they usually only call him about Anthony.]

Sure.

[or at least he was hoping that's how ulcers work. He drank his cold sludgy coffee as Anthony talked and regretted it. It seemed that Anthony really did have his life together. A girlfriend, too, that was a new one. Especially the dating steadily.

So what the hell was he doing here?

Nevermind. He was glad he was. The twilight zone was one thing and Fell was another. If he believed in divine intervention, which he didn't, he might believe he came at the right time to stop it all from falling apart]

Nothing's changed. Except being in this bloody city. [a faint smirk]

You've actually done something for yourself.

[he looked away]

God, I hate compliments. Why do people have to compliment each other? Isn't it enough to just be told when you screwed up?

[which is to say he's proud of you]

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