[ 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

[empowers]

She likes you. It's all I can do to thank you for taking care of her.

[hostage]

You don't gotta thank me for that. She's the sweetest kid.

[empowers]

Yes, I do. [ Otherwise she'll owe him forever. ] She really is. She deserves the life she's been given here, more than any of the rest of us.

[hostage]

Exactly. I'm just glad I could do something for her.

[empowers]

You're a good person. [ It feels strange to say those words, because she isn't usually forthcoming with compliments of any kind, to any person, without being extremely fake about it. But for Rue... She means it. Sincerely and wholeheartedly. ]

[hostage]

No, I'm not. But thanks.

[empowers]

You took care of someone you'd never met before. No bad person does that.

[hostage]

[Well, he won't work hard to convince her otherwise. He doesn't actually want Rue out of his life, even if he knows better.]

I guess you're right.

[empowers]

I've met bad people. You don't remind me of any of them. [ She supposes now, though, that she ought to let him go. This is turning into a feely-feels conversation and she doesn't do well there. ] I need to go take care of some things now. But you take care of yourself, alright?