- IC CONTACT POST FOR MASKORMENACE -

[slightlyoffchilt]

"Hello.

You've reached the direct line of Doctor Frederick Chilton. As I am not available at the moment, you might assume I'm quite busy with something pressing. State your name and business, and I will return your call."

Comments

[heartstings]

Only a li'l.

[slightlyoffchilt]

I hardly want my concern for your liver to preempt a hearty welcome back, so --

Welcome back.

[heartstings]

Thanks, Freddy. [Oops.]

[slightlyoffchilt]

Frederick.

[It's quick coming, but lacking the usual patronizing tone.]

I can forgive that, I'm not heartless. This whole ordeal must be so stressful, Kenzi.

[heartstings]

Oops, sorry.

Ordeal? What ordeal? There was nothing, just nothing. I'm missing two weeks and there's nothing to show for it. No Valhalla, no bright lights, no singing angels. Just nothing.

Being dead blows. [She's speaking fast, rambling mostly, forgetting he doesn't even know her situation back home.]

[slightlyoffchilt]

You -- ? [His voice dropped off, shattering into silence. Like a glass slipping between idle fingers, onto the floor.]

Kenzi.

[Strained, soft syllables on a sharp tongue. The contrast had him shivering.]

I didn't know.

[heartstings]

[She's quiet for a moment before there's a string of curses in both English and Russian.]

I...didn't want you to know. Didn't want anyone knowing.

[slightlyoffchilt]

[He doesn't speak immediately; he gives her a moment of reprieve, allowing her to collect her thoughts, to express her anger.]

Have you been living here with that knowledge, all this time?

[He imagines how terrifying that situation would be, to know that this was the second chance. This world.]

[heartstings]

Since my last port out. [Wow this talk is depressing and making her feel like she's sobering up but she's too lazy to get up and get more to drink.]

Kinda did the heroic thing and sacrificed myself to keep Hel from spilling into the world. [She says this like it's no big deal, because really it's not. She's not angry about it, she's not upset. Although going back to nothing does worry her.]

[slightlyoffchilt]

[Ah. Heroic sacrifice. The sort of thing that Chilton was immune to -- but that didn't make the concept less interesting.]

But you succeeded? You didn't -- didn't die in vain?

[heartstings]

I dunno. All I know is I'm dead and I hope it worked. Gonna be kinda pissed if it didn't, y'know.

[slightlyoffchilt]

And there's no one from your world to verify.

[It's a statement, rather than a query. He's aware that there isn't.]

You don't want to discuss this.

[Another statement.]

[heartstings]

Yeah...

[To both statements.] There's not really much to talk about.

[slightlyoffchilt]

Are you in Heropa, or Maurtia Falls? Is there someone you can be with?

[Solitude and alcohol, after this revelation, was a sudden concern.]

[heartstings]

Maurtia Falls. I'm at Cu's. [No telling where he is.]

[slightlyoffchilt]

And you can depend on him?

[A somewhat painful question.]

[heartstings]

He's saved my life before so yeah. [He's also really attractive and her type so there's that.]

[slightlyoffchilt]

Then it isn't illogical to assume you'll be safe enough?

[heartstings]

I'm safe here. He won't even do anything inappro-- naughty when I'm drinking. [She's tried is what she's saying there.]

[slightlyoffchilt]

I doubt that a continuation of drinking is advisable at this point.

[heartstings]

Yeah, I'm done. Getting up is a chore at this point. [Although she should probably drink a lot of water...]

[slightlyoffchilt]

Most crucially: are you going to be all right?

[heartstings]

I'll be fine. If I go home any time soon Gil will make sure I don't get sick. [Or he'll try.]

[slightlyoffchilt]

Promise me that you'll be all right, Kenzi. Promise me that.

[heartstings]

Aren't I always a'ight?