snowblindrpg | [network] @LELRIC; audio; night 242 [open]

Uh, hey everyone.

[Someone sounds sort of sheepish, mostly to hide the distress that comes from being on the receiving end of being revived.]

I wish I could say that I'd died doing something really worthwhile to help out, but I didn't, it was an anomaly. But I'm-- I'm okay now, I can't even figure out what I've lost. I've tried thinking through all my life but none of my memories seem to be gone, and I've still got all my senses, and I still look like me. I'm kind of scared that there isn't a cost, that would mean they're getting more powerful. Maybe they even have a bigger stone? Maybe they've sacrificed more people?!

[There's a brief pause, and then a more subdued voice continues.]

Okay, so-- maybe I figured it out after all, please forget what I said then. I didn't mean to talk about it so publicly where anyone could hear, especially not when the Admin really might be using philosopher's stones to resurrect people!

[Damn it! Again!]

I mean... I don't think I can lie, and it's like I'm just speaking without getting to think about it first, which is really awkward! What if I end up having a conversation with someone and I don't want to say something to them, and it comes out anyway? What if I tell Steph that I think she's really pretty? OH! Oh no...

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[ Cue some laughter on this end. ]

Wow, you presented that in the worst way possible, didn't you?

You want me to distract anyone away from something they're asking about, you just let me know.

[He could not sound more embarrassed.]

Thanks, I really appreciate that. See, it's things like this that prove you're not a monster, no matter what you say. There's still a person inside you who cares about others, and that's worth protecting.

[ He means to laugh about that too, but- well. Knowing it's the truth, and hearing it so shortly after hearing about Al's death...it all hits him unexpectedly hard. So instead of laughter, he coughs out a disbelieving gasp. ]

Stop making me think I have a chance.

[ He's stuck in between a sarcastic tone and a sincere plea, and that's no good. He moves on. ]

But yeah, sure. I care about you, after all. And I know what a pain in the ass the truth can be, even for straightforward kids like you.

...Steph already knew you liked her, right?

No.

[He wants to talk about Sylar some more and the chances that he definitely has, but he gets caught a little on that last question. He sounds miserable as sin.]

She knows I like her as a friend, but I never told her that I like her in other ways. It wouldn't be fair to her, I'm this big idiot that's not even got a real body and she's still in love with Zach.

[ Whoops. He'd meant that to be reassuring, because he figured it was probably something they'd gone over already. ]

You know, she's pretty observant. She might already know. I don't think she's going to give you a hard time about it, regardless. It'll be okay.

And I'm going to stop asking you questions, too. Forgot that's what's causing the problem for a minute there.

You're kidding, right? You clearly don't know Steph if you don't think she's going to give me a hard time over this, it's going to be humiliating.

[If he could cry, he'd so be crying right now.]

I know she knows you pretty well. And if it's really going to bother you, she's not going to go the humiliation route. Trust me. I haven't exactly been on my game here, but I know about pushing people's buttons.

[ And Steph's definitely the sort to push buttons- just not with her friends. ]

[He really hopes Sylar is right, but he doesn't think that's true.]

It's going to be so awkward, she's going to have to turn me down and it'll change things between us.

[ Okay, that he doesn't have a response to, really. ]

Yeah, that part might be rough. Guess you'll just have to see how it goes. If anyone can power through something like that, it's you two.

[ Shrug. It's not a big deal, Al! It'll be fine. ]

So, okay. One question. Is there anything else you'd rather talk about more right now?

I don't think I want to talk about anything, I can't trust what I'm going to say and I don't even know what it'll be until I've said it.

[That makes literally any conversation a danger zone.]

[ Yeah, that makes sense. It still rankles a little- his recent memories have not exactly endeared him towards being considerate. So there's a pause before he speaks again, as he tries to decide what to do. ]

Okay. Well, it looks like House is going easy on you, so- I'll talk to you later.

Thanks-- and you will talk to me later, just hold on. I still meant what I said about helping you, you're my friend, nothing has changed about that.

[And he hangs up.]

[network] @LELRIC; audio; night 242 [open]

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