☞ 029. (audio + text)

[wouldnotkindly]

[At first, the only sound is a loud, heavy breathing. Then comes a deep, low groan, a huffed breath, and the noises of someone quickly fumbling with the device before it shuts off entirely.

A few minutes later, a text post appears on the network:]

Hello

This is the city right ?

Can someone please bring me a coat its very cold out here and i landed in the fountain again

Thank you

[Meanwhile, anyone passing by the fountain might notice a large man in a sweater and jeans ensemble — bruised, bloodied, and soaked head to foot — and trying to figure out what to do with what looks like pieces of an old-timey diving suit. Be careful about getting too close, though, as a thick, briny stench surrounds him.]

Comments

Text

[rianofski]

Yes, this is the City. I won't 'welcome' you, as that would be vaguely insulting to your intelligence; I imagine you're well aware that you are now trapped here.

[Yeah, he... has no idea who he's texting. Which may be for the best, really.]

Text

[wouldnotkindly]

[Lucky for you, Ryan; neither does he.]

I thought so

Ive been here before so i know about that already

Thank you anyway

Re: Text

[rianofski]

I see. And now you've returned again. How unlucky. I don't imagine things have changed much, overall. We're still plagued by curses, of course.

Text

[wouldnotkindly]

I dont know if its that unlucky

Its better than where i was before anyway

[Then again, he's not sure if that's something he wants to talk about so soon after coming back.]

Re: Text

[rianofski]

In that case, perhaps 'welcome' wouldn't be amiss after all. Or welcome back, in this case.

Text

[wouldnotkindly]

Maybe

What day is it ?

Re: Text

[rianofski]

December the 15th, I believe. Why?

Text

[wouldnotkindly]

I dont remember what day it was when i left but i think its been a long time

[He wonders, though briefly, if anything's changed. Or if any of the people he knew are even still here.]

Re: Text

[rianofski]

Perhaps some of the people you knew then are still here, now. They could explain to you just how long you'd been gone, and what had changed.

audio;

[beyourarmy]

I'm near the fountain and have a jacket you could have. I'll be there in a bit.

[waitedforyears]

don't freeze your ass off before someone gets you a towel yeah?

Text

[wouldnotkindly]

Maybe

I dont know if i would like to see all of them though

text;

[wouldnotkindly]

Thank you i would really appreciate it

Im not going anywhere so i will just wait here

[wouldnotkindly]

Im trying my best

If it gets really bad i guess i can go inside somewhere but i dont know where to go

actoin?

[beyourarmy]

[He shows up no longer after that, smiling, at first. Then he gets wide-eyed at the smell and backs away a little, holding his jacket out.]

Whoa! What were you doing before you came here?

[waitedforyears]

guess you could come over here if need be. you've been here before, right?

[wouldnotkindly]

[Jack had gotten used enough to the pheromone stench that he'd almost forgotten about it, but now he remembers. Whoops.

Still, the most he can offer as he takes the jacket is a nod and a sheepish, self-conscious smile. The bloodied bandage around his throat might not be immediately obvious, but it's the only visual cue he has to indicate that he's not exactly able to speak.]

[beyourarmy]

[It's the lack of speaking that causes Setsuna to give the guy a closer look. Suddenly, the stench is that important anymore. When the jacket's passed over, his eyes widen.]

Hey, man, are you okay? You're kinda a mess. We have a hospital here! I can take you there.

...also hope the jacket's big enough. [Setsuna is a little on the skinny and not very tall side.]

[wouldnotkindly]

At least twice i think

The city i mean

I dont know if weve met ?

[wouldnotkindly]

[He quickly shakes his head at that. He's not hurt right now...probably. Honestly, he'd sort of stopped keeping track of that at some point in Rapture.

Besides, with all that's happened, he's still not sure if he can bring himself to trust a doctor.

At any rate, he tries to pull on the jacket and . . . no, it's not quite big enough. Somehow he manages to look even more sheepish.]

[beyourarmy]

You sure? I can't feel good seeing someone like this and not do anything. But if you're sure, we can leave it at that. You gotta a place to stay?

Uhh... I can go get another one! I won't be long. [There was a clothing store not too far. And money's no issue with him. Setsuna barely spends it.]

[horseish]

[A small child is near the fountain, carefully and methodically collecting all the snow into piles. And watching you, Jack. Carefully from a distance.]

[wouldnotkindly]

[He nods to that first question, but then... It's been some months since he was last here, hasn't it? Wherever he lived before (and his memory is still fuzzy on that), there's bound to be someone else living there now.

Of course, were he in a better state, he'd balk at the thought of someone going to that much trouble for him. But he's not exactly in any position to refuse, nor does he even have the capability right now.]

[wouldnotkindly]

[Jack has dealt with plenty of small children, thanks to his time in Rapture. He's not quite as used to small children watching him, though.

He shivers and gives the kid a weak smile. It's the least he can do, and at this point, probably also the most he can do.]

[horseish]

[She doesn't give any real acknowledgement of the smile, but doesn't stop watching him either. She's used to spying on people, after all. She's had lots of experience being patient and watching.]