[ 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

[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?

[hostage]

Nothing. I got everything I need.

[inthejunk]

Okay then tell me something you don't need so I can bring it anyway.

[hostage]

The point of being here is to focus on my treatment.

[inthejunk]

...Okay. Sorry. I don't-look, I don't know how it works. Last time everything just went wrong, so I don't know how it works.

[hostage]

Last time?

[inthejunk]

I meant...so far.

[hostage]

Things went... fine. Look, relapse happens. But, I mean, there's nothing I need from anybody. It's up to me.

[inthejunk]

Not even just someone to talk to?

I see people at their worst all the time at work, and you've already called me names, thrown me on the ground, held me at gunpoint, and laughed in my face. So saying you won't be at your best doesn't exactly scare me you know.

[hostage]

[Way to throw everything in his face to ensure he won't open up to you, Yosuke!]

Yeah, no. Talking is what this place is all about, so...