itistolaugh | Mask or Menace IC Contact

You sound like hell. Where are you? I'm coming over.

Don't. [his voice is sharp and almost desperate] I mean- I'm. Not sure where I am, honestly. [he makes a 'hnh' sound, then - was that a laugh?] Just found the first payphone I could.

Robert.

[ She huffs in frustration and pinches the bridge of her nose. There's a million things she wants to ask him all at once-- are you hurt are you safe is anyone with you how the hell are you going to get home if you don't know where you are you loser-- but he doesn't seem in the mood for an interrogation. ]

Well. Okay. Let's talk.

[ How did he even find a payphone, and who even bothers to remember phone numbers anymore? She can't even believe that he remembered her number. And called her. Just to talk. Damn, that's kind of sweet. ]

[it's pretty easy to find anything technological right now, to be quite honest. all he had to do was find a town, get used to the noise, and, well. things followed from there.

this time, when Robert exhales, he manages to keep from devolving in to coughs. his voice still sounds pretty rough, though.]

I'm probably somewhere near De Chima. I didn't go that far, I don't think. Do you know what time it is...?

It's, umm, twelve something. Happy Saturday.

[ She flops belly down on the bed and kicks her feet. How much could she get him to say? ]

So how rough is rough? Scale of one to ten.

Twenty.

[at least he's not lying about it?]

Oof. D'ya wanna come over and talk about it? Or talk around it. Or totally ignore it. Your call.

[ But then, he might not believe her good and pure intentions. She doesn't exactly have a stellar track record when it comes to keeping her hands to herself. ]

Or we can meet up somewhere, if you figure out where you are.

I don't know. I need to figure out what I'm going to do. I think...I think I messed up, Harley, but I don't understand what else I could have done.

[ There's a long silence on her end, before she finally takes a deep breath. ]

What you're going to do, Robert, is come over here and let me make you some tea and then you can figure it out somewhere that isn't a random payphone that might be near De Chima.

[...]

Okay.

[beat]

Do you...have a first aid kit?

[ Oh, Robert. ]

Yes. I'm in the government housing. Number six. Do you think you can get there?

...not without using the teleporter. And I...I can't, I'm sorry, I just...

[Harley might now notice a quiet tnktnktnktnk, sounding like metal rustling along itself. it's actually been background noise the entire time, but now, since Callaghan's actually having them move a bit...

(mainly to support him as he sort of half slides to the floor of the booth)

deep breaths, Robert, deep breaths and a few coughs and don't say you can't, you've already fucked up so badly]

...it'll...take me time.

[ Robert. Robert, Robert, Robert, what did you get into? ]

Look, I can come up there. Do you want me to come up there and get you? Get a hotel so you can get some rest, drive back down after.

[iT'S NOT HIS FAULT GOD DAMN IT

but he doesn't say that, he just breathes for a few moments]

[a good few moments, where the only sound is that and the rustle of the microbots. finally;]

...I'll pay you back for the room. And gas.

[that's a 'yes please']

Okay. Call me back after you get yourself to somewhere findable. I'll come pick you up as soon as I can.

All right.

[in, out. in, o-coughout. in...]

Thank you.

[ Harley hastily grabs a bag and shoves the barest essentials in there, first aid kit included. ]

Don't mention it. Seriously, stop talking. You sound super crappy. I'll see you soon.

Mmm. Bye.

[and with that he'll have the microbots hang up the phone for him, and for a few minutes, he'll just be lying there. it's a very good thing that they're able to carry his weight, because really, he just wants to stay down and pass out and yet he knows that would be an awful idea.

so, instead- he thanks the fact that it's late at night and there's very few people around to notice a mass of microbots that just happens to be carrying a person, finds enough about the place to figure out where he is- and will pass that information along.

the sooner he can sleep, though, the better.]

[ There's no place to rent a car, not this time of night, and he probably wouldn't want her to steal one. She checks in to a hotel first-- two beds, please and thank you-- and gets a cab.

She hates sitting in the backseat, especially cars with safety windows, for the obvious negative associations. The things she does for friends. They had better be friends now, after this errand.

The driver waits while she goes to fetch. ]

Hi, Puddin'. Lookin' good.

[well, he wouldn't call just anyone.

Callaghan has tucked himself out of sight by a building, though he'd given Harley an idea of where he'd be. when she comes to find him, the first thing she'll notice is the textured mass of black, blending in with the shadows.

then said mass begins to split, separating and falling towards the ground and revealing a Robert who has most definitely seen better days. it looks like he'd fallen in to a half-doze, though he's clearly recognized her.]

...funny.

[at least he's not devolved in to a coughing fit?]

[ Awww gross, what is that? Ants? Metal ants? Robot ants are a definite turnoff, turns out. She tiptoes around them to get to him. ]

Cab's waiting. Are these ... things... Can they fit in the trunk or something?

[ C'mere, baby, lean on Harley. There's a good boy. ]

[on the bright side, they don't seem inclined to crawl on her? they push Callaghan to his feet, and he stumbles a moment before leaning on Harley and letting her help him.]

Yeah. I...they'll do it, I just...need to tell them.

[he furrows his brow in brief focus, and the things respond accordingly; lingering behind them both, and being quite discreet as they slide for the vehicle. other than weighing it down a bit, there's only so much to really note their presence.

Callaghan, with his clothing scorched straight through at his back, and visibly exhausted...well. he's a bit more conspicuous]

Edited 2015-06-27 14:38 (UTC)

Jeez, Robert. A first aid kit doesn't come with a burn ward, you know.

[ But she won't mention a hospital. She knows very well the many reasons a person would want to stay low, take care of their own business. She helps him into the cab and pulls him against her in the back seat, running her fingers over his hair. ]

We'll be at the hotel in just a couple minutes. Get you cleaned up and then you can sleep all you want, okay?

Antibiotic ointment and gauze. [it's not third degree, he doesn't think- it hurts like hell, which means there isn't nerve damage. at this point, though, the pain has settled in and he's been relying heavily on some mental exercises...which are. only helping so much. mostly it's just enduring, and reminding himself he's alive, it could be worse, he's alive

he leans against Harley with closed eyes, nodding at her words- and relaxing at her touch. ~~how long has it been since someone did that?~~]

I know how to take care of a burn.

[ She talks for the entire ride to the hotel about nothing at all. Describing the scenery, saying the names of stores out loud, asking mundane questions to the increasingly irritated driver. She has nothing to say, but hopes that it will help keep him awake. If he falls asleep in the cab she isn't sure she can wake him up, and it would be a huge pain in the ass to drag him up to the room. Her hands smooth down his hair, only stopping to give him a little tickle or lightly tug his ear if he's too close to dozing.

God, she's glad their room is on the first floor. She pays the driver (but no tips for grumps!) and goes around to Robert's side to help him out. ]

We're here. Come on, sweetie, upsy daisy. Not much longer now.

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time for action WINK WINK

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