[ 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]

[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...

[inthejunk]

[You didn't exactly give him a shortage of ammunition to work with dude. That's all from before he doinked your girl. Even Yosuke knows he deserved whatever came after that. But he thinks this over for a minute, anyway.]

[Longer minute.]

[Looooonger minute.]

[Eventually, he speaks.]

You can't avoid me forever. It's not that big of an island. People have tried it before, and it didn't work for them, either.

[hostage]

I ain't avoiding you. I'm in rehab.

[inthejunk]

[Well, that perks him up a bit.]

So when you get out I can help?

[hostage]

Help what?

[inthejunk]

Did I say help?

I meant...hang out.

[hostage]

Whatever.

[inthejunk]

[Okay, still kinda jerky, but he'll take it!]

Cool.

...No take-backs.

[hostage]

Uh, okay.

[inthejunk]

'K.

[Yep, you're so not doing drugs ever again. Problem solved.]