THE BOX || IC Contact

[arollingstone]

WASSSSUPPPPPPPP!!!

beep!

Comments

voice, 28th, noon

[polariity]

Don't look on the network, moirail'th orderth.

[Psii's voice is tight, barely under control.]

[ action - 28th ]

[slapdash]

[ Kirk is just going to come barreling into the shop, TJ. Don't mind him if it's obvious he ran here from wherever he had been, breathing hard and yelling out, looking around for him, ]

TJ?! HEY!

voice; 28th; around 1PM

[arollingstone]

[It had been a whirlwind of activity and stress in the literal moments after TJ first listened to the message, and it's an hour before he can respond.]

Too late, man. [Though he sounds remarkably unconcerned, weirdly enough.] Saw it.

[polariity]

[There's a lot of upset hissing before PSii calms down.]

Coconutsth. Get them ready.

[arollingstone]

[Oh Christ. TJ drew a hand down his face, letting the new tension roll off him.]

Dude! Dude, it's cool, I'm fine! [Without pausing to let Kirk respond.] I saw it.

[For added 'I'm fine!' emphasis, he felt over his chest with a strained grin. See? All here.]

[arollingstone]

[That made TJ laugh, for all this whole situation was giving him the headache of the century.]

Sorry man, we used 'em all for glasses yesterday. [In the space of a moment, his laugh turned to a sigh.] But you should come over.

[A beat.]

If only so I can keep you from doin' anything stupid.

[polariity]

Fuck, you're right. We need to uthe thomething elthe.

[And then there's an awkward pause, and the sound of things being shuffled about. An octocat meows.]

I'm not doing anything thtupid.

[arollingstone]

[He knows you, Psii. That is a lie, no matter what the circumstances, but especially in this case.]

Dude.

[polariity]

What.

[The meowing gets louder. Octocat #1 says 'hi'.]

[arollingstone]

[God, cue his hand meeting his forehead.]

What's the deal with the cats, Psii.

[polariity]

I can't leave them alone, there'th only Bram to take care of them and Cumhat doethn't like him.

[arollingstone]

[Going to let 'Cumhat' go uncommented on, because it honestly doesn't surprise TJ at this point. Under normal circumstances, it might delight him, but for now things were a little too tense to make come jokes.

Which, really, was the greatest tragedy of them all.]

Okay, so you are coming over, right? [A sigh.] I'll... see if I can get Amal to unlock the door here.

[TJ lowered his voice to a whisper.]

Dude's kind of intense right now, just a heads up.

[polariity]

I am, I have everything almotht all packed up. And don't worry, I can get that. You're hith red- I'd be flipping out too.

[Not going to mention that he's already flipping out.]

Want me to bring anything over?

[slapdash]

[ Hey, you can't blame him, okay. That... "crazy" doesn't even begin to cover the shit on the Network. He's relieved TJ is okay but that doesn't stop him from asking, ]

Have you checked the windows and doors? You sure it's just you here?

[ Because Jim was thinking, whoever this sick fuck was, this wasn't just a "welcome back". This was a reminder they were still out there. And if they could do it once, they could try for a second go. ]

[arollingstone]

Nah, I mean... shit, if there's any place to get locked in against your will, it's here. [TJ made a sound as if someone hit him -- not hard, just. Yeah. TJ actually sounded pretty sorry about it, too.] I mean-- yeah, don't worry, we're good.

Just get over here.

[arollingstone]

[The windows and doors? Amal was currently on a tear all through here, and TJ sure as hell didn't doubt things were in the process of getting locked the fuck down.

He honestly wasn't sure how he felt about that, but standing in the way would be as effective as politely asking a train to stop in its tracks.]

Nah, nah, Amal--he's floatin' around. Don't tell him I unlocked the door. [Guiltily, TJ went back and locked it again behind Kirk.] Just wanted to get some goddamn air. Don't see why this is such a... deal.

[polariity]

I'll be there thoon.

[He doesn't hang up right away, so for a while there's just an awkward silence filled in by double meowing before a click.]

[Soon enough, however- fifteen minutes or so- something apparently lands in front of TSO. There's that familiar faint glow of red and blue before it fades away and someone is knocking on the door.]

[godowntogether]

[It's not TJ who answers. And by answers I mean yells through the door.]

Who's there?

[polariity]

[That's fine, he can yell too.]

Thome lithping douthebag who wantsth to make thure you're both alright.

[godowntogether]

Are you alone?

[Can't trust anybody. Not now. Not with this.]

[polariity]

My catsth are in the car. Beyond that, I'm on my own. And before you athk, I am armed but who the hell wouldn't be? Four kniveth and that'sth it.

[godowntogether]

Well... that makes two of us.

[The lock clicks and the door opens, just a crack. Amal in indeed holding his crossbow, standing back just far enough that Psii can get in.

He doesn't even ask. Concern is written on Psii's face and he's pretty sure he looks the same, if not worse.]

[arollingstone]

Is that Psii?

[TJ rounded the corner out of the bedroom, only to see the two men standing with their weapons out. TJ brought a hand to his face.]

Aw, c'mon, man... I ain't the fuckin' Queen of England.

[polariity]

[Once he's sure that crossbow isn't going to go off on him, he slips inside with some knives on a belt and a kid's backpack flung over one shoulder.]

I'd athk if you two were okay if that wathn't a fucking idiotic quethtion. Tho- how fucked up do you feel?

[godowntogether]

[Amal makes a face at TJ, but doesn't protest. It's just Psii. No reason to argue.]

Better than the first time it went up, if I'm being honest.

But not by much.