IC INBOX

[maskintape]

It's Tim. I guess I'm busy, so... Leave a message.

Comments

[maskintape]

Yeah, uh, I'm. Not sure it's a good idea. It's kinda complicated.

[ He's pretty sure Jay wouldn't be thrilled, for one thing. And... Brian probably wouldn't be, either.

WHY DO THINGS HAVE TO BE SO COMPLICATED. ]

You can, uh, tell him where we are? Then if - if he makes his way down here, it'll be on his own terms. He's, uh, like the other me. Kind of flighty, so.

[armoured]

Yeah, okay, I can do that.

[Anything he can do to help, however small, is the unsaid implication in those few words.]

This place might be hard to live in a lot of the time, but it could be a place for second chances too.

[maskintape]

Well, yeah.

[ The "duh" afterwards is heavily implied by Tim's tone.

And then he realises that he's being an ass and hasn't provided context for that. ]

He - he's like Jay. Dead back home. So. Literally a second chance.

[armoured]

[There's just a beat of hesitation, a pause in which Al swallows his response about the dead returning. He still feels the same way, but he took Tim's lessons to heart about projecting that onto others without proof.]

Oh.

[Oh, indeed.]

I'm sorry.

[maskintape]

[ Oh god. NOPE. Tim really, really can't deal with anyone being sorry for him in this. Not when Brian's dead because of him.

His voice is thick and strained when he finally responds. ]

Yeah. Me too.

[armoured]

[This is the part where he would pat Tim on the shoulder comfortingly, if only his dumb friend hadn't run off to indulge his guilt complex alone.]

I'll keep an eye out for him too, okay?

[You can always trust Al to mother hen everyone.]

[maskintape]

Thanks. Just - keep an eye on your stuff if you meet up. He has sticky fingers.

[armoured]

I don't think that's much of an issue here, there's not really anything of value for him to steal from us.

[Also Al is large and metal, he can punch thieves hard.]

[maskintape]

You say that now. Wait 'til you wake up with a foot missing.

[ HE'S KIDDING.

Probably. ]

[armoured]

I can't actually take my feet off here, so that's probably not going to be a problem.

[Not a good joke with someone who can usually dismantle their entire body.]

[maskintape]

[ S I G H... ]

Okay, substitute "foot" for "all your rations, good luck not starving to death." Better?

[armoured]

Right, right, I understand, I'll be careful.

[Pot. Kettle.]

I guess I better get back to him, I'll talk to you later, okay?

[Or not, because his brother will die and life will be horrible.]

[maskintape]

Alright. Thanks again for looking out for him.

[ LIFE IN SNOWHELL IS JUST

THE FUCKING BEST

A+++ ]