009 [ Voice ]

[hellionated]

[ So Julian's been gone somewhere close to a week. He finds that out from a newspaper stand. For him it's been a hell of a lot longer than a week, and his head is spinning now. Memories he hadn't known were there are rising to the surface, fitting back into place. Friends, enemies, people from other worlds. Events he'd thought he'd never forget. Skrulls, Vulcanus.

God, this is weird.

And last time he'd been here, he hadn't looked like this.

He's walking through the City, metal hands concealed in his pockets. Every part of this is a mess. His powers are holding the phone to his ear, and there's no video.

He sounds like he's bored. ]

This place has good timing. I was almost in math class.

So I'm back. You can all stop missing me now. Since nothing's in pieces I'm gonna guess no one tried to destroy the place this week. Did I miss anything worth telling?

Comments

voice

[girlverine]

Julian.

[A little pause.]

Welcome back.

voice

[hellionated]

[ He stops walking.

That voice...



Why the hell is she talking to him? And not only that but she's the first person to talk to him? Fuck, she's pretty much the last person he expected to hear.

But then it connects. Because she hasn't been home, she doesn't know.

She'd turned him down here too. Holy shit, he remembers it now. It was months ago. Almost a year. Back when he first got here, when she'd wanted Tom...

There'd been no Tom at home. There hadn't been anyone, but that didn't matter. Why couldn't he have remembered? He should have known.

Fuck, what does he even say to her? He should probably use words soon. ]

Laura. [ It's stiffer than usual, awkward. ]

Thanks. You've been here all this time?

permavoice;

[futureleader]

Jesus where the hell have you been?

I gotta hand it to you, you sure know how to scare the shit out of your girlfriend.

[and your bro but shoooooooosh. quentin totally didn't cry that you were gone.]

[hellionated]

I've been home, you asshat. I've just come from the school, where the hell have you been?

[ He falls quiet, though. Because Sofia, Jesus. ]

...Is she all right?

voice;

[borntobewildcat]

Dude, it's about time you got your ass back here.

[someone is happy, okay?]

voice;

[hellionated]

Hey, I've been gone for months. You think it's a week. I think I did pretty good.

Hey Tom.

permavideo

[neptunia]

[ sooo calmly: ]

Welcome back.

permavoice

[hellionated]

[ Yeah, he's not going anywhere near that video button yet. ]

Namora. Hey.

Thanks. It's been a while.

voice.

[crab]

Only the uproarious celebration that was had in light of your absence.

voice.

[hellionated]

Then I'm glad to break up the party. Did you miss me, kid? I'm touched.

Voice;

[themisfit]

Welcome back, Herr Keller.

Voice;

[hellionated]

[ Holy shit there's a voice he hasn't heard in a while... ]

Mr Wagner?


You're...still here. [ Welp you're dead at home, this won't be awkward at all. ]

permavoice;

[xenabutagrizzly]

Sofia was worried about you.

[hellionated]

[ Yeah, here comes awkward. ]

...That's what I hear. I need to talk to her.

video;

[professorlionface]

Well, you can always make up for that on Monday.

video;

[hellionated]

What, so I don't get a week off on compassionate grounds? That's harsh, Professor.

permavideo;

[sweetvalleygirl]

Thank god you're back, Julian. It was so boring without you.

permavoice

[hellionated]

That's what I thought. What'd I miss, Jess? I know you'll fill me in.

[professorstarchilde]

[Because she's Rachel and she's like that, she brushes up against his mind to see where or when he might be coming from this time.]

Math class?

[She thinks she has a pretty good idea, but it's still polite to ask.]

[hellionated]

[ He expects nothing less from a telepath. ]

Yeah.

Jean Grey School math class.

I caught up.

Video

[wind_dancer]

[The second that she hears his voice, Sofia abandons her customer and darts out to the back of coffee shop.]

Julian?

[There is so much relief and emotion in her voice. His sudden disappearance had scared her badly. There had always been a strong doubt that he would never come back.]

Where are you?

Video

[hellionated]

[ Oh, fuck.

He has no idea what to even say, and people told him she was worried, and they have...

A lot to talk about.

He has no idea where to even start. ]

I'm...walking.

I've been away a while, Sofia.

voice

[rulebreaks]

Hey, you.

voice

[hellionated]

[ ...

Okay, what.

One second while he checks the date of that paper again. ]

Buffy?!

What--when did you get here?

[aliveandticking]

I was gone too! But I don't think so.

[hellionated]

[ Oh yeah, he definitely remembers you. ]

Hey kid.

Been gone long?

voice;

[maggotbone]

You're lucky I didn't hire someone else to take your job, Julian.

Welcome back.

voice;

[hellionated]

Does that mean my job's still open? [ Best news he's had all day tbh. ]

I knew I could count on you, Callie.

[carbonite]

It's almost as if the porter never wants you to get a clue.

[hellionated]

Aw, is that your way of saying you missed me? I'm touched, Solo.