[ voice ]

[hostage]

[This is voice-only for once because he's a wreck right now, honestly, and even the lack of video doesn't fully disguise that. He sounds shaky, still recovering from a shock, and it's only worse that now he's gone almost 48 hours without a bump to pull him through the stress.]

H-Hey, um... Sam, I'm so sorry. I forgot to call last night. I'm gonna be out, like um, for the month? If you wanna fire me, that's cool. I get it.

And, like, don't got a lotta time so I'm just gonna say it all here for anybody who's looking for me: I ain't at home. I think most of you guys know I'm an addict. I was in recovery, I relapsed, and now I'm in rehab. They don't want me leaving for two weeks at least, so you won't be seeing me around. Just don't worry. I didn't disappear or anything.

Um... You need anything, Lisbeth's still at my place. She can handle all my business. And I got my NV, but it's turned off a lot 'cause I'm in meetings and all that. So... yeah.

Comments

[inthejunk]

[Snort. You can't see the eye roll, but you can probably kind of hear it anyway.]

Not to say the obvious thing, but if there's anyone you should take up on this it's probably me. You've already made a pretty bad impression, but apparently you were right about me being stupid because I'm still offering.

[hostage]

That's great and all, but I actually just don't need anything.

[...from you.]

[inthejunk]

It's not great actually. It's total shit. But I can't help it.

['Nother ridiculously long pause.]

If you won't tell me, I'll show up with something you don't even need. It's too bad if you don't want help, because I'm going to be there anyway. So just deal with it.

[hostage]

[Wow, that pisses him off spectacularly.]

I don't want your pity.

[inthejunk]

[He's really good at ignoring when he pisses people off, though.]

What are you talking about? I don't feel bad for you at all. It's your own fault, right? You'll just have to feel sorry for yourself, because that's not my problem.

[hostage]

Then step off when I tell you I don't need your shit.

[inthejunk]

I already told you. I can't.

[hostage]

Yeah, you can.

[inthejunk]

[Frustrated growl.]

This can't still be about me punching your face. You totally deserved that, you know.

[hostage]

No. It isn't about that.

[inthejunk]

Then what? Jeez. I think my scary homeroom teacher liked me better than you do, and he didn't even know my name.

..You do know my name, right?

[hostage]

You wanna screw around with my girlfriend, fine, but don't use my goddamn visitation hours as a way to get her pussy wet.

That's. What.

Asshole.

[inthejunk]

...What?

[Nope, that actually throws him. Not that it's especially hard to do.]

[Except even if it's wrong, it is a pretty good argument. Sleeping with a dude's girlfriend is a definite reason for him not to want to talk to you. Damn it. This really isn't going well at all.]

Look...that...

[Except, he totally panics and hangs up.]

[hostage]

[inthejunk]

[DAMN IT. That didn't help either.]

[Calling back...]

Look, don't make me say this again, but you won. It's like you said, no contest. She doesn't-she'll never...[swallow] but even that is better than I used to have. She's beautiful, and-

Anyway, that's not the point. For once it's not about a girl, okay?

[hostage]

Whatever, okay? Whatever it is you're trying to sell, I ain't buying.

[inthejunk]

It's not for you either.

[hostage]

Then leave me out of it.

[inthejunk]

No, I can't. Because you're in it. I'll leave you alone after if you still want me to, but not yet.

[hostage]

What the hell are you even talking about?

[inthejunk]

I want to help. It's not complicated and it's not about Lisbeth-san. It's just that.

[hostage]

You already helped, okay?

[inthejunk]

[That earns another silence. And then a shaky inhale, but when he answers, his voice is steady.]

See? I don't screw everything up.

[hostage]

I never said you did.

[inthejunk]

Great. So what do you need?