[network] @LELRIC; audio; night 330 [open to those left behind]

[armoured]

[The first sound to come through is wind in the background, and then Al's voice sounding guilty.]

I, uh-- I may have made a mistake.

[A big one.]

I was looking for the people that went missing, and I kind of lost track of time. It's so stupid, I've never done that before, I guess I've just been here so long that I thought I would never get locked out now. Shows how much I know, huh?

[He tries for a little laugh there, but it sounds a bit choked.]

I'm-- I'm really sorry. I know I promised to be there for some people, but I guess that's another broken promise. It doesn't mean that I don't think you can be strong, or make it, you really can. Whatever happens, I'll be proud of you all, even if I don't see you again.

Comments

[swatsflies]

[ It's the wobbling that gets to him. It's knowing he's out in the cold with no else there...

Breathing out a heavy sigh as he rubs his eyes. ]

It's. [ He still can't bring himself to say it's okay. It's the opposite of okay. ]

You were just trying to find a clue.

[armoured]

But I knew it was getting close to lockdown, I've never-- I've never been this stupid before.

[He's been here more than long enough to know the dangers of getting locked out by now.]

And I didn't even find anything.

[swatsflies]

How would you have felt if you didn't go out? You would have kicked yourself for not going out there.

[ So he would have felt bad. Sure he would have been safe, but... it's Al. He always puts everyone else's well being first. ]

Don't worry about it. Let's focus on what you'll do when you're back.

[armoured]

Zell--

[It's a quiet and sad warning tone, surely he knows by now how Al feels about the whole revival thing. He doesn't want to talk about what he'll do when he's back, because he can't bring himself to hope for revival.]

[swatsflies]

[ shit he knows. He knows they will not see eye to eye about this... ]

I... [ He wants to argue or insist he's just going to sleep. But he can't bring himself to say it. ]

How about we talk about something? Something we haven't heard before. Or I play you something?

[armoured]

No, it's... it's okay, you shouldn't have to stay and listen to this.

[He wouldn't wish that on his worst enemy, let alone someone he cares about. Listening to someone die is something that never fades away.]

[swatsflies]

[ :( :( :( ]

You know, I've been in battles before.

[ Just going to chatter away anyways. Deal with it, Al ]

One of them was even my test to become a SeeD.

[armoured]

Zell, please.

[He'd appreciate the chatter any other time, but he really doesn't want his friend to have to be here and listen to this.]

Go and be with Jim, do something happy.

[swatsflies]

[ But friendo, he can't be happy :< ]

Alright. [ He'll starts to say see ya, but manages to stop himself.

Instead he'll just hang up. ]