( o1 - AUDIO )

[halves]

[Deep breaths, Lou, deep breaths.

He's still practicing this exercise about a split second before the recording begins, shifting his focus to it immediately, superficially ready to laugh and quip at this silly challenge someone has proposed (forced) him to take part in.

It's nothing but pure nerves, he assures you.]

This is really fucked up. Just thought I should let you know.

[There's an exhale, not quite a laugh. See? Nothing but nerves.]

I guess I'm supposed to say hi now.

Hi. I'm the new guy.

I'd like to know what the fuck you've done to my cat.

Comments

[synanthrope]

Did he come with you?

Is he dead?

[halves]

[He isn't sure he likes these questions. The buzz in his head says no. The buzz in his head would also very much like to watch him freak out - but thankfully there are more immediate matters at hand.]

... It's a she.

And that's what I'd like to know.

[synanthrope]

You can look in the animal shelter.

[halves]

[His tone should be dry, but his voice comes out too quiet to play the part.]

Thanks. Does this thing have GPS?

voice;

[dignity_misery]

[ A familiar voice? She wonders if it's him, or if she's being ridiculous. She and Lou had never been close by any definition of the word, talking hadn't really been at the forefront of anyone's minds except for those strange conversations over breakfast where she would laugh and run her shoes up the inside of his leg while he tried not to choke on his coffee, while she told him that he was worthless--(but that he could be better, if he would just break free.)

She wonders if it's him. If she wants it to be him. What good would that do her? What good is familiarity going to do her besides remind her of a woman she can't be anymore. Her heart is going to stop. (Deep breaths, Carla, deep breaths.)

There's only one way to find out: ]

Hiding your face?

[halves]

[His brows pinch behind the device for a split second. It could be an accusation, but it he thinks he hears curiosity.

Lewis wouldn't get it either way.]

What?

[dignity_misery]

I want to see who you are. Show me.

[intheblanks]

That's one for Shrodinger.

[halves]

[Ha.]

As long as they're both happy.

[intheblanks]

I think the point is that no one gets to know.

[There's an attachment with this, a kind of tourist's guide to the city. Chase hates giving the introductory speech.]

voice;

[beifongbandit]

Hello new guy, welcome to your kidnapping. If your cat is lucky, he stayed home.

[halves]

Good think someone else has the keys.

[beifongbandit]

They won't notice you're gone, anyway. Time is weird here. Everything's weird. You're lucky you showed up on a quiet day.

audio;

[boutant]

What's your cat look like?

[halves]

[It isn't the quickest answer - Lou actually has to think for a moment to remember the name.]

She's a Russian Blue. Do you know what those are?

[He didn't, not before he had one in his hands.]

[boutant]

If I don't, my roommate probably does. [ Yusuf and his affinity for cats is sometimes a bit frightening. ]

They're the really pretty dark gray ones, right?

video;

[skypsalms]

Is...everything okay? [ maybe stating the obvious here, but she's worried since he doesn't exactly sound like he's alright. ]

[halves]

I'm either more brain-damaged than I thought, or I've been kidnapped. [There's a quick exhale, not quite a sigh.] So.

[skypsalms]

I... I don't think it's the brain damage o, or well I hope not. [ and give her a moment to consider the fact that they've been technically kidnapped. ]

B, but it isn't too terribly bad here.

[waitedforyears]

I bet no one did anything to your cat. Welcome to the City.

[halves]

Yeah.

[Lou isn't the kind of guy who'd feel heartbroken about it if they had. He was with her one moment, either one or both of them gone the next - so maybe seeing her around would make this less bizarre. He thinks.]

Still don't get the name.

[waitedforyears]

The City? 's a pretty stupid name, yeah.

voice;

[hexuality]

I feel like loads of people here have cats. Nice to know that they're popular in most worlds, I suppose. What's your cat's name?

And yours, for that matter, since we're being introductory and all.

[halves]

[It was a case of needing motivation to start the day and get some type of routine going. Cats dying of starvation in his apartment wouldn't quite do, would it. Not even Lou could be that indifferent.]

Blue. [A beat. He almost regrets mentioning her now - people seem to be more worried about her whereabouts than he actually is.] I'm Lewis.

[hexuality]

[Clearly the City is full of cat people, probably because having pets is the second best way to get the ticking to stop, roommates aside. She sounds rather amused.]

I knew someone named Blue. Hullo, Lewis, I'm Ginny—the City hasn't been rude, I hope.