[video]

[scotch_egg]

[when he appears he looks more like an unmade bed than usual. His eyes are red rimmed and bloodshot. There's an obvious hotel room behind him and more than one empty bottle of something someone with a heart condition really shouldn't be drinking-- and it shows]

Congratulations,

You win. You've got it all. Magic, reincarnation, astral fucking projection for all I know. You don't really belong in this normal world, you're not just another bloody sheep, you're something better. Something more.

Good for you and I hope it doesn't blow up in your bloody face.

'Bye.

[and he hangs up. Or at least covers the phone with his hand which is the same thing]

Comments

Video

[scotch_egg]

Sod off. [he ends the call and then crawls into bed.

He didn't have it in his back pocket but in his coat pocket which was close enough. Anyway he was going to sleep so go bother someone else]

[darkenedmoon]

Oh, yes! Dozens of times. Just not usually into the bottom of a bottle. [Despite the fact that a drink or seven sounded wonderful, so often of late. Yotsuyu can't entirely blame him, but of all the people she knows, he was the one she'd trusted to have more than a modicum of sense. Yotsuyu would never breathe a word, but she's shaken, just a bit.]

Not to mention I likely could have sent you to a better place than that shithole you've chosen to hole up in, if you're concerned about your budget. [There is a hint of pride there. No matter how low she may sink, there are some places she wouldn't want to go. Seems he's chosen one.]

I'd be worried someone might cosh you over the head for the change in your pockets!

[temptationaccomplished]

[He's not making any promises in that regard. He stubbornly tries to think of a comeback.]

I don't see how you intend to stop me.

[scotch_egg]

[he'd had sense his whole goddamn life and it hasn't sent him anywhere but down. Even knowing that, he knows he'll just keep digging until he cant any more.]

S'not abbout the place, s'bout the company. [a joke but it doesn't sound like one]

They won't get much.

[scotch_egg]

Rughnnn [he flops onto the bed, pulling the pillow over his head, but the phone is nearby]

I will literally pay you not to.

[darkenedmoon]

[And for Yotsuyu's part, she snorts. The joke isn't that funny, and she can't help but frown a little. On one hand, she can understand the desire to be alone, but from how much is absent from his glassy little friend, there, she's not quite happy about it.]

That's not the point, you know. I'm aware that you likely give no shits, as they say, about this, but! You are one of the few folks I can stand, and I'll be right cross if you disappear without a trace!

[She makes a sour face for a moment.]

I shan't come blustering down there, but could you at least let me know where you are? If only an exchange of numbers or some bloody thing? I won't go blathering it to all and sundry, either.

[One thing Yotsuyu does pride herself on is being discreet.]

[temptationaccomplished]

Bribes? [He gives a tiny smile. And then, knowing he doesn't deserve it:]

Pay me in your words? Please keep talking to me. Please don't shut me out.

[scotch_egg]

Hm. Thanks. You're not bad yourself.

[even if she hardly bloody knew him. That was fine]

I'll give you my number when I can see straight. [which might not be for another few hours]

[scotch_egg]

[a groan]

You don't even bloody know me. Just pretend I don't look like Anthony. Pretend I'm not even related.

[traceofeffort]

[When Lisa finally connects to say something, she's shaking, looking horrified and sounding worried bordering on "form a search party," not that he'll see any of that with his hand in the way.]

No! No, don't you dare, this isn't the way it's supposed to go! What the hell do you think you're doing!?

[scotch_egg]

[shit, he should have seen this coming. Shit, shit, shit. He tries to pull himself together]

Don't worry, M' fine, just drunk.

[traceofeffort]

[No one expects College Girl That Cares Too Much! ...which is a lot less dangerous than the Spanish Inquisition most of the time, mind, but she depends on that knowledge.]

You are not fine, you'd at least be home then, and not trying to leave what may as well be a damned farewell letter! What happened? Memories? Bureau morons? I will go kick someone's ass right now if I have to! Even if it's yours!

[temptationaccomplished]

Pretending all that doesn't change that I care about you, Alec. And I would know you better if you would let me in.

[scotch_egg]

I'm fine. Not everyone wants to stay at home all the time. [and he didn't want to get into this conversation. She was passionate and he could appreciate that but, God, was she loud.]

Nothing happened.

[less than nothing happened. He didn't want to think about it.]

[scotch_egg]

Not interested. [Fell had other things to worry about and he wanted to be as far away from that as he could possibly be. As far away as he could without making Anthony weird about it. Bloody hell he was tired of being mixed up in this drama.

but then softer because he didn't really want to hurt Fell's feelings]

Sorry.

[temptationaccomplished]

[That stung.]

No. That's fair.

I'm sorry I involved you in all this. You didn't deserve that.

[scotch_egg]

It wasn't you, it was Anthony. He's always like a storm wherever he goes.

[a sigh]

Trust me it's better this way.

[traceofeffort]

You can't expect be to believe that nothing happened and everything is fine. We can't go from opposite opinions about... this- [gesturing around her room, which probably implies Different stuff-] to the same opinion without me thinking something's wrong.

[scotch_egg]

Don't worry about it.

[He appreciated her concern, but there was nothing he could say or even tell her]

[temptationaccomplished]

[It wasn't Anthony crying on your shoulder and telling you he wished it was you.]

Is it, though? Do you really believe that?

[scotch_egg]

[it was still because of Anthony that it had happened. And aren't you glad that wish never came true]

I really do.

[temptationaccomplished]

[That's a complicated statement with a complicated answer.]

[a sigh]

Right.
Well.
If you should need me...for anything... [he tries for a smile and there's a rise in his inflection, hopeful] just, ah, give me a ring on the phone? We could go for coffee, since, uh, cocoa was clearly not your thing. You needn't even say anything. Just, you know.

[scotch_egg]

It's fine.

[he wouldn't]

But just so you know, you're a good man, Fell.

... I appreciate it.

[because no matter what Anthony decided, he would be happy. And that sort of happiness was rare and absolutely priceless]

[traceofeffort]

Too late. I'm already worried. I'm always worried.

[scotch_egg]

I'm sorry.

[and he was, but he was tired of being pushed around by the concern of others. Tired of everyone hovering over him and nannying him to death. He could look after himself and make his own choices, as bloody stupid as they were]

Good night.

[and he'll end the call. She's welcome to message him but he probably won't answer]