capeandcowl | [ 3 ] [ voice; forward-dated to early saturday morning ]

[ He doesn't speak immediately, though there's the very, very faint sound of the radio in the background. A breath is drawn and when he does finally talk he sounds some combination of very concerned and upset while also trying not to be. ]

Um -- uh -- hello. I wouldn't normally use this thing for such a simple question, but I figured this would be the fastest way to get a real answer, since-- well, I know that protocol here doesn't always allow for just calling the police.

So: Has anyone else disappeared... recently? Unaccounted for?

[ He clears his throat and there's a pause as he takes a drink of something. ]

You see, I can't reach my friend Sally. [ Another pause. ] Jupiter. She's not normally very difficult to get ahold of, but it's no use. Now, my coworkers went missing for about a week last month without any warning, and they're all back now. But they weren't alone, either, and I know -- I know that these things can depend on if they're individual or en masse. That is, it's what I've heard.

But if anyone has seen her... or heard from her... I'd just like to make sure she's all right. I want to ensure that--

[ You don't want to know how many times he's tried calling her to bring him to the conclusion that, yes, something may be wrong. Like. It was a lot of times. Just in case: ]

Sally, if you're listening to this, I really hope you aren't just avoiding me.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Beat. He's not sure he knew Bradbury had daughters. ]

How old are they?

They'll be turning 11 on their next birthday.

Oh, twins? That's sweet. They don't match, do they?

[ The idea amuses him. ]

[ He snorts. ]

Well, they're identical, but my ex didn't go in for the whole matching outfits thing. They're still pretty cute, though.

[ He's restraining himself from going full-on gushing dad mode. Barely. ]

Edited 2013-03-14 04:11 (UTC)

Oh, I'm sure.

[ Because they've got good genetics. :|a ]

Uh -- what are their names?

Alice and Angela. [ His big stupid sappy grin is probably audible. ]

Couldn't get away from matching names, I guess.

[ A slight laugh. He doesn't actually... like... kids... but he doesn't mind hearing Bradbury (or Sally) talk about them. ]

Are they the sort to follow in your footsteps?

[ That actually gets a laugh out of him. ]

God, I hope not. They should actually get to do something with their life.

Security is doing something -- that's also what I did.

I like my job, but I'd kind of hope they never have to do anything like it.

[ He doesn't want them to have to risk their lives, he means. ]

Maybe something in just regular politics, then.

Gardner, my daughters turning into my boss sounds like my worst nightmare.

I don't mean Mayors. [ A pause. ] Maybe journalism is better?

[ His daughters turning into paparazzi... He should probably head this off before he starts shooting down every possible career Nelson suggests. ]

What they end up doing when they grow up isn't what matters to me.

I just want them to grow up happy.

There's quite a ways to go until that happens either way, I suppose. Sally's daughter was already training at around that age. It may not be the best idea, generally...

"Training" for what?

Sally was, uh... something of a celebrity in her younger days.

An actress?

Yes. [ Of... sorts... ] She did promotions, advertisements -- you know the type. Not like pictures.

So... a model? She must have been a looker, then.

Uh... indeed. She was the sort of women most of the fellows would have a poster of somewhere. Skirt and stockings up to there, you know the type.

[ He describes slightly dryly. Sigh, Sally... ]

[ Yeah, he gets the picture, and he has to laugh. ]

Yeah, had a few of those myself. I think I get the picture.

[ There's faint amusement in his tone. ]

I can't deny that she was good at it. [ A pause. ] She wasn't as old as I'm used to seeing her lately, when she turned up.

Yeah, time's a funny thing around here. You see people come from all over, even if you come from the same world.

Funny indeed. She called me f-- [ Wait he shouldn't tell Bradbury that. ] She made it very clear I wasn't exactly what she was expecting.

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