[network/voice] morning 066 - @claytonator; BACK AGAIN [open] [likely descriptions of injury]

[dr_unconscious]

[There's a pause as the post starts, the sound of Clayton clearing his throat so he sounds less hoarse and generally horrible. He is marginally successful. There's really no avoiding it unless he goes straight to text, and that feels far too impersonal for the situation at hand.]

Hey there! [He'd be waving if he could. Hello Norfinbury! Nothing to worry about here!] Good Lord, it's been a while...ah, sorry fer that! We were all awful anxious 'bout trackin' down Angel 'n Rhys, so I ain't been keepin' up much with the network while I was searchin'.

[Oh, and then also because he ended up trapped in a basement with them for a couple of days. Details, minor details. No one needs to know about this.]

Found 'em, though! They're both safe 'n stable. Takin' 'em up to the house with the hot water 'tween the school 'n the funeral home--think it's jus' south a where Jane's havin' that meetin'? [A beat, like he's quietly waiting for others in the house to confirm or deny this.] --Gonna watch 'em fer a few days, make sure they get some rest. It's been...stressful. But they'll be alright.

[And that's as much as Clayton's going to speak on the matter unless he's pressed for it. Nothing about how hurt Rhys is, nothing about how they've also got Jack with them, nothing about needing to be rescued. It's a nice, vague sweep under the rug, and Clayton prefers it that way.]

Now, ah...I've managed t' do a bit a skimmin'. Looks like y'all 've been busy! Got some new folks in, I think? 'Bout time fer another round I suppose. If we ain't met yet--hey! Doctor Clayton Epps. Y'all need anything checked out, jus' wait 'round by the lil' house with the shower an' comforter out by the west wall, make yerself comfy an' I'll catch up sooner 'r later. I've left some rations in the house over 'case anybody needs 'em. Anybody's in the area an' lookin' fer somethin' t' do, I'm hopin' t' get another mattress 'r two in there? Set up somethin' more permanent. Any places nearby that could spare 'em, I'd appreciate havin' 'em over. Jus' don't go hurtin' yerself tryin' to drag somethin' from 'cross town 'r nothin'.

'Bout t' do a lot a walkin' t'day--won't get back t' this 'til t'night, I'm thinkin', but I could do with some readin' 'long the way. So! What've I missed?

Comments

@Spoiler ; private voice

[spoileralert]

I'm going to take a random, off the wall guess here and say that whatever happened is going to make me very, very angry and I'm gonna go ahead and blame Jack, because I hate his guts.

night - private text

[dr_unconscious]

[Oh my god. Clayton passes Angel an apologetic look across the shed before quickly switching to text.]

Or you could take my word that everything is fine, we're all safe, and there's no need to go hunting down Jack for it.

night - private text

[spoileralert]

[ She's just, she's really angry, okay? ]

Sure, that sounds likely. Definitely doesn't end with me setting anything on fire.

God what I wouldn't give for a flamethrower.

[dr_unconscious]

Fire is not going to solve your problems, Steph.

[spoileralert]

It would solve the snow problem.

[dr_unconscious]

Temporarily, before the next blizzard rolls in. I'm not a meteorologist or anything but I'm pretty sure that's not how the weather works.

[spoileralert]

You know what problem it really wouldn't solve? The one where you seem to think I'm a dangerous, psychopathic idiot with a death wish.

[dr_unconscious]

Don't. I never said that and I would never even think it. What is your major malfunction Steph?

[spoileralert]

[ She wants to shout at him, but then she would upset Ed and Al. So instead she goes for vague misanthropy. ]

Must be genetic.

[dr_unconscious]

Then let's pretend I'm a geneticist. Why do you think I'm trying to paint you as the bad guy?

[spoileralert]

When have you ever made me think you're not?

[dr_unconscious]

Do you really believe that I think that way about you?

[spoileralert]

Yeah, a little bit, I do.

[dr_unconscious]

I'm sorry--I really am. I promise that's not what I think. You're headstrong and you're protective, but you're brilliant, way too kindhearted to go out of your way to hurt people. I would never say anything different.

[spoileralert]

I'm not that kindhearted. But I'm not going to go out of my way to get in a fight with someone twice my size if I can avoid it.

[dr_unconscious]

Exactly my point. You're too smart to do that. And I've seen personally that you're compassionate and that you care for other people's safety--we wouldn't even be having this discussion if you weren't worried about me. I appreciate that. I'm sorry if it ever came across as anything different.

[spoileralert]

You and Angel. So was it Jack?

[dr_unconscious]

[Clayton's heart breaks a little bit.]

No, it wasn't Jack.

[spoileralert]

Good.

[ This feeling of relief is going to be very short-lived. ]