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

[hellionated]

You're from the place where people pull chainsaws out of their asses, I've gotta be honest. I was expecting something weirder.

[aliveandticking]

Well, Sollux and I saw our friends off on a three-year journey through the furthest ring on a meteor! Nobody would throw a corpse party with me though.

[hellionated]

Yeah, there it is. I knew I could count on you, Aradia. Do I want to know what a corpse party is or do I just figure it's the same thing as a wake and move on?

[aliveandticking]

No, nobody woke up. That would be pretty unusual if they did!

[hellionated]

[ It takes him a second. ]

I don't mean wake up, I mean that's what it's called. A Wake. A party when someone dies. It's like a really morbid after-party to a funeral. And they suck so I don't go.

[aliveandticking]

Oh! Then, kind of? I forgot everything everyone told me, when I went back, so I still thought a funeral was like a party. I thought it would be a nice way for everyone to bond.

[hellionated]

[ Oh God she's making him want to laugh, what even. ]

So did it work, or did someone start crying?

[aliveandticking]

No, Sollux told me I was really morbid? So it didn't happen. But Terezi and Rose thought it was funny so in the end we did bond! And Dave went off about death and cotton candy and then Karkat yelled at us all for not taking things seriously, but he does that kind of a lot.

[hellionated]

Yeah, I kind of picked up on that. The guy's an ass here too.

So is your whole world in the City, or what? The only name I don't know there is Sollux.

[aliveandticking]

Not really. I guess there's maybe sixteen of us, give or take? So we're still missing six or seven people.

Did something happen at home? You seem... I don't know, calmer.

[hellionated]

Was I pissed with you?

[aliveandticking]

No, just generally ornery and making fun of me as usual!

[hellionated]

Plenty of shit happened. You're gone what, hours? I'm gone months. Home sucks, I fucking hate it there, end of story.

Here's better.

[aliveandticking]

Maybe twenty minutes. Time doesn't really mean much there, though. And I'm sorry to hear that.

[hellionated]

Yeah? Don't be. I'm not there anymore. I wouldn't have gone this time if I got the choice.

[aliveandticking]

Okay, then welcome back! We should hang out or something, if it's been that long for you.

[Voice; Filtered]

[hellionated]

Yeah. Look, when I say shit happened--

[ Crap. Privating this now. ]

I don't exactly look the same, sweetheart. Things changed.

[Voice; Filtered]

[aliveandticking]

So? Remind me to tell you what happened to me some time.

[Voice; Filtered]

[hellionated]

[ So it'll probably freak her out and that won't go well for anyone. ]

...What do you mean?

[Voice; Filtered]

[aliveandticking]

I was a robot for a while. Kanaya's got a big hole in her stomach. You don't know Tavros, but he got his legs chopped off and replaced with prosthetics! People not looking the same is pretty normal for me.

[Voice; Filtered]

[hellionated]

[ wait no back up here ]

What the hell do you mean you were a robot for a while?

Re: [Voice; Filtered]

[aliveandticking]

I'll explain it when I see you! Now you have to come.

[Voice; Filtered]

[hellionated]

[ Damn it. ]

Come where? Your place is crowded.

Re: [Voice; Filtered]

[aliveandticking]

How about Central Park? That clock by the zoo.

[Voice; Filtered + action??]

[hellionated]

[ Quiet for a minute. She can be really freaking insistent. He'd forgotten that. ]

Yeah, okay. I'll be there.

[ He clicks off, and switches direction to go to the park instead. He'll wait for her beneath the clock, hands in pockets. ]