║ ninety-third stanza ║ voice

[mumbled_truth]

Um... Neil? Or-- I mean, I guess anyone in Building 10...

[ Awkward question is awkward. And embarrassing. ]

Can someone come open the roof door? It's, uh. It's locked from the inside...

[ Really embarrassing. ]



[ooc: please pretend this went up in the wee hours of the morning when poor Todd's mun was inconsiderately sleeping]

Comments

[misterblackbird]

And may I ask what you're doing on the roof?

[mumbled_truth]

[ :| ]

I was cursed yesterday.

[misterblackbird]

I see.

[No, he's not trying to hide a little laughter. Good thing this is text.]

[mumbled_truth]

Yeah.

[ The sigh is basically perceptible anyway. ]

It could be worse, really. But it's not great.

[misterblackbird]

Oh, I quite agree: it could be worse. Will be you be all right?

[mumbled_truth]

I think so. Somehow, I managed not to hurt myself, so I'm just... stuck.

[misterblackbird]

Well, stuck aside, I am quite glad you're not hurt.

[mumbled_truth]

I'm surprised I'm not, but I'm definitely not complaining.

voice;

[skintoskin]

Different Neil, I think. You okay? Other than being locked on the roof...

voice;

[mumbled_truth]

Uh-- yeah, different Neil.

And other than that, I'm fine.

voice;

[skintoskin]

How did you get stuck?

voice;

[mumbled_truth]

Well, I was cursed and... I'm actually not really sure I can explain it better than that.

voice;

[skintoskin]

Cursed to... think you could fly, maybe?

voice;

[mumbled_truth]

I climbed.

voice;

[skintoskin]

Uh, cursed to think you could climb? You didn't climb the outside of the building to the roof, did you?

voice;

[mumbled_truth]

Um... yeah. I sort of did.

voice;

[skintoskin]

Was there a fire escape or did you, like, scale the bricks like those cliff climbers?

[had_not_lived]

Is that where you've gotten to...

[He might have been worried, okay. Now, he might be amused. A bit.]

[mumbled_truth]

[ Sigh. One weary, worn-down, syllable: ]

Yes.

[had_not_lived]

How'd you get there?

[mumbled_truth]

I... I'm pretty sure I climbed.

[had_not_lived]

Impressive.

[He's serious! Even if he's laughing.]

[mumbled_truth]

Yeah. Thanks.

[ Neil. ]

[had_not_lived]

What? It is!

[gosh, it's a compliment. Besides, it's a long way up.]

You're sure it's our building?

[mumbled_truth]

Yes, I'm sure it's our building. At least I'm pretty sure it is. I... I remember doing it, I'm just not entirely clear on how I managed it.

[had_not_lived]

[Neil doesn't answer, but after a while the door down to the building creaks open.]

Hello?

[mumbled_truth]

[ Todd was perched against the raised structure surrounding a vent - he lifts himself off of it when the door opens, and looks rather properly meek about his presence on said roof. ]

Hi.

[had_not_lived]

[Neil has the presence of mind to kick a cinderblock in front of the door-- no use in both of them getting stranded-- before stepping out into the open air.]

[mumbled_truth]

[ He glances at that cinderblock, and then back up at Neil. ]

Planning to stay up here?

[had_not_lived]

Well, not too long,

[he laughs, glancing around. He hasn't been on the roof since-- well, probably since that time with the fireworks.]

But I figured I might as well have a look around.

[mumbled_truth]

[ Todd gives a small smile as Neil laughs. ]

It's a nice view. I'm a little tired of it.

[ It's starting to get chilly, after all. ]

[had_not_lived]

[It's a lot less chilly if someone comes and stands right next to you, though.]

[mumbled_truth]

[ And it helps if he leans in back against that someone. ]

I still can't believe I made it up here.

[had_not_lived]

I still can't imagine how you did.

[This is nice, isn't it? The truth is as tired as Todd must be of the rooftop, Neil's in no hurry to move. It's rare for them to feel comfortable being so physically close outdoors-- but there aren't so many prying eyes on a rooftop.]

[mumbled_truth]

Well, it's not the strangest thing I've done during a curse. Probably not the most dangerous, either.

[ Probably. And the rooftop, really, is far more bearable with Neil here. There is a way down, but for now... he has the most important part of home - in any sense - right here. ]

[had_not_lived]

[Like it's nothing at all, Neil slips an arm around Todd's waist. And it is nothing. Not a big deal.]

I don't know, climbing a building? What have you done that was more dangerous than that?

[mumbled_truth]

I did say probably.

[ It really is nothing - he feels a little exposed, but a glance around yields only empty night sky. So he lets the arm bring him closer. ]

[had_not_lived]

[That's really... all he wants, just to stand here and lean in against Todd.]