║ ninety-second stanza ║ voice / action

[mumbled_truth]

[ open action ]

[Todd has gone out to the Hall of the Missing this evening, after Justin didn't come home and didn't respond. The City has pulled Justin in and tossed him back out so many times already that he couldn't help how quickly he became concerned.

Certainly he was hoping not to find Justin's portrait in the Hall, but that was not the case. For a long moment, he lingers in silence and looks at the likeness of his friend.]

[ voice ]

[When Todd returns home, he makes the following audio post:]

Um... I'm sure there are a lot of people who know Justin Pendleton, he's- he's been here a long time, coming and going. I just figured I should let everyone know, he um... he's left the City.

[Give him a moment there.]

He's left before, for months, and... and he's come back, so... maybe he will again. But for now, well. I just wanted to make sure everyone knew, that's all.

[End.]

Comments

in ur house on ur sofa

[had_not_lived]

[Neil doesn't bother answering on the Network for obvious reasons. Obvious reasons being the fact that he is sitting on the couch, holding a book and not reading it. He's looking at it, mostly, but not turning the pages.

Justin has gone and come so many times; maybe it won't be final. But Neil has never been good at being an optimist when he's upset.]

ew what are you doing on my sofa gross

[mumbled_truth]

[It's pretty obvious that Neil isn't actually reading the book - you wouldn't need to be Todd to pick up on that, though Todd is certainly more adept at pinpointing Neil's moods than most.

Putting his device aside, he crosses the room to the couch and slumps down next to Neil. He doesn't say anything, just leans lightly on him.]

it's my sofa too god i'll be where i want

[had_not_lived]

[Flighty and unpredictable as his moods can be, it's good that someone can read them. Neil's lows have always been extraordinarily low.

He drops the book-- well, he sets it on the arm of the sofa, because even in poor spirits he's not crazy-- and leans back against Todd.]

god rude

[mumbled_truth]

[The reciprocation encourages Todd more solidly into his nestling against Neil.]

He might come back.

[His voice is small, quiet against the other boy.]

whatcha gonna do about it huh?

[had_not_lived]

[Having Todd here is no small comfort; were he alone, Neil would likely be inconsolable. As it is he's making the most of it, slipping his arm around Todd's, letting his eyes fall shut.]

Do you think he will?

incomplete.

[mumbled_truth]

I hope he will, I just... I can't let myself think that he will.

unfulfilled?

[had_not_lived]

Mmm.

[That's not a real answer because he doesn't have one. He'd say he hopes Justin is happy, but-- well. Neil has always projected, just a little, when it comes to the thought of Justin leaving; having nowhere to return to himself, it's doubly uncomfortable to wonder where the young man is. Whether he's anywhere at all.

So he steadfastly doesn't wonder about it.

Much.]

is that even your blood?

[mumbled_truth]

[That's what hurts the most - Todd has projected, too, always worried about Justin's coming and going with the City and the implications it had that hit so close to home. It's hard not to think about where he is, about where... others in the situation might go if they leave.

He presses himself close against Neil, pressing his face into the other boy's shoulder.

He looks for words, but... what is there to say? There's this - this moment, and they have it. So he hods onto it, grounds himself in it, and in the feeling of Neil, here and solid, as he anchors himself to him.]

how can you be sure?

[had_not_lived]

[Burrowing into each other is possibly not the most mature way to handle the situation, but it's the best bet Neil has.

He almost says I love you, but he hates saying it when he's sad, so he doesn't. He thinks it goes without saying, anyway.]