[network] day 051, night - voice - @claytonator; NOT DEAD AGAIN [open] [descriptions of injury]

[dr_unconscious]

...Ah. Hey!

[If Clayton sounds a little out of sorts, it's because he is. Nearly three days locked in a bathroom with a concussion will do that to a person. Three days in a bathroom with the beginnings of cabin fever and compounded paranoia will make things worse. And if he sounds a little distracted and hoarse, he sure as hell looks the part, too.]

[Hence, voice only. The idea is to calm everyone down--they've all had enough time to panic and worry and think ill of one another. Here's Clayton's chance to try and smooth that all over, in the best way he can think of.]

Sorry fer not checkin' in. Suppose it ain't no secret that I, uh...ran into some trouble a few nights ago. [There's a rough scratching noise as Clayton itches his beard.] Jus' wanted t' let y'all know that everybody's fine. It was a big misunderstandin', me 'n my buddy with the camera talked it out, we went our separate ways. Wouldn't a been able t' work it out with 'em if it weren't fer Zack 'n Kain, bless 'em. We're all back together now an' doin' okay.

[Hint: The best way he can think of is to lie like a cheap rug. There's a pause, a small cough as Clayton clears his throat.]

Anyways, I'm lookin' t' get some sleep sooner 'n later, but didn't hardly seem right t' not check in first. Any a y'all wanna ask 'bout what happened 'r yell at me fer runnin' out at night, I'm listenin'. [He chuckles weakly.] Sorry ahead a time. Happy t' be back on the network, no matter what y'all got for me.

Comments

Audio; @hotstud_xxx

[rubikscomplex]

[Okay. As long as he's doing this in public, it's not breaking his decision to go to Epps privately.]

Dude. If you bullshit any harder, you're gonna leave a mess all over the network. And we just had the cleaners in. Since you are alive, ever heard of a NIMA specialization for a Nurse Practitioner.

[Yes, Clayton, your capture and epic rescue are surely diverting, but House has more important things to do than yell at you or fawn. He's certain others will get to that for him.]

audio

[dr_unconscious]

[r u d e]

Nice t' hear from you too, doctor.

[Sure he could tease House a little more, but Clayton recognizes the sound of someone on a mission. A House on a mission is a House that is marginally more tolerable to deal with, possibly. Clayton will humor him.]

"NIMA"...naw, don't ring any bells. Acronym, sounds like? Where from? [A beat--it's easy enough for Clayton to connect the dots.] ...You been rootin' 'round the hospital?

audio

[rubikscomplex]

Yeah. Found an SD Card in the admin office down here. Just an NP's name and her specialties: Jia Xú. @jiaxú's a valid username on these things, but no response to messaging.

[Miraculously, a House on a mission may actually be more tolerable. He's more direct, anyway. Not bothering to mock. For the moment.]

It's definitely an acronym, but unless she's from India's National Integrated Medical Association, I got nothing. She worked in Emergency and Critical Care, so maybe the 'i's something for Intensivist. Though, the way this place is set up, that might have been everyone's department by the end of whatever plague ran through.

@Spoiler; private video;

[spoileralert]

I want to know exactly what happened.

private video

[dr_unconscious]

[Ah, shit.]

[Clayton thinks he knows exactly what's going to happen when he shows his face to Steph. She's headstrong, hotblooded--she's going to see that he's hurt and she'll be very unhappy about it. She's one of the main reasons he made this announcement voice only to begin with. She's smart enough to know that Brian was responsible, and she's resourceful enough to figure out where he could have gone. She does not appear to care about Tim's opinions. She will hurt Brian if she finds him.]

[...But for pretty much all of those same reasons, hiding too many details from her won't work, either.]

[For a minute or so, Clayton doesn't answer--just takes a bit to consider his options and a believable way to divert blame away from more sensitive parties. Then, reluctantly, he answers in video. It's obvious that he's not well; he's leaning back on the headrest of a bed, the tablet is propped on his knee, showing mostly the several wraps holding a bundle of rags to the side of his head and something else tied around his neck, most likely the top part of a sling. He's smiling sheepishly.]

Yeesh. Don't waste no time, do ya Steph?

video, @lawbringer

[cloneprincess]

See, I told Enoch there was absolutely no reason to worry about you as soon as we saw that you weren't dead.

[ Miranda looks and sounds strange; maybe not enough for Clayton to notice it, given his current mental state, but her usual braid's only half done and she's talking fast enough to trip over her words here and there.

She was truthful in that she had never thought anything horribly amiss about the situation. Clayton was sensible enough not to be caught out by monsters or leave his tablet lying around, and surely no one here wanted to cause him serious harm. It had just been a minor kidnapping, was all. ]

A daring rescue, was it?

voice

[dr_unconscious]

[Wow, yes, that's noticeable enough for him. Miranda strikes Clayton as entirely too composed to fall into a state like this; her appearance, even after being here this long, has never been anything short of immaculate, and she chooses her words too carefully to trip over them so much. There's definitely something going on here.]

[...Unfortunately Clayton assumes that the something is just excitement. He's back and she's happy! Neat! He had no idea she cared so much. What good fortune. Clayton huffs a laugh.]

Yeah, sure--a real nail-biter. The kind you see in the movies, y'know? Had t' untie me from a set a train tracks 'n everything.

@greed; voice

[ossifragant]

[His first thought is that Clayton sounds awful, and he's clearly lying, but Greed doesn't really want to call him out on that.]

It's good to hear your voice again. People were getting pretty damn worried.

voice

[dr_unconscious]

[Bless Greed.]

Yeah, I'm sure. Not you, 'course. Too much of a tough guy fer that noise. [Clayton chuckles affectionately, in a not-at-all tough guy kind of way.] You holdin' up alright? Keep track a everybody while I was out?

@TW; text; private

[maskintape]

where's brian

[ Who has an extensive sponge collection and is still fucking seething over the things he's been told about Clayton and Alex?

THIS GUY ]

private text

[dr_unconscious]

[Huh, well that's. Oddly direct. Clayton on instinct takes it as anxiety; he'd promised to keep an eye on and help Brian, and after this whole debacle, it's only natural for him to be worried about how his friend turned out. It's worth telling Tim the truth about that.]

I'm sorry--he ran off as soon as Zack and Kain showed up. I made sure they didn't hurt him. I know it's not ideal, but he's not going to trust me enough to let me help him if I kidnap him back, either. I'll need to leave him alone for a bit until he calms down.

Private video @Enoch, morning 52

[warriorscribe]

Clayton...

[He'd slept deeply the previous night, and is still only half-awake and groggy as he pulls his tablet out from where he keeps it tucked under his arm as he sleeps. Even though his voice is slow and sleepy, even though one might think he wouldn't recognize the hoarseness in Clayton's voice...he does. And he knows enough to realize Clayton wouldn't want to give a straight answer to this publicly.]

You don't sound well. What happened? Are you all right?

private video

[dr_unconscious]

[It's a lot harder to lie to Enoch, especially when he's got him cornered like this off the main parts of the network. Empathetic as he is, Clayton knows Enoch will only fret at his appearance, too--it hardly seems like a warm welcome when they're so far apart. It's a hefty dilemma.]

[But ultimately, Clayton figures that Enoch's going to worry regardless of what he does, and will probably come find him sooner rather than later. No use trying to hid from him. He relents, with video. And just as Enoch suspected, Clayton is not well-off; he's better than he was the night before, looks and sounds considerably more lively after a full night's sleep, but his head is still wrapped to cover freshly-washed rags, and he's still adamant about keeping his arm in a sling for at least another day or so. It's not ideal.]

[At least he's smiling! Hey, that's a good thing, right?]

I been better, I been worse. [Clayton chuckles nervously and shifts, like he's trying to scratch his beard, but obviously with his one good hand occupied with the tablet he's unable to manage.] Worse off 'n anybody else there, an' I'm doin' alright, so there ain't too much t' worry 'bout. You?

[genreblindness]

Hey, Clayton! You're okay!

[Awesome! Now there's nothing to worry about!]

So everything's cool with Brian, too?

voice

[dr_unconscious]

[Shit yeah, that makes one of the harbles group that's not terrifyingly mad at him! Score! Good ol' Jay. Clayton's not even suspicious of this, he's just too damn relieved.]

Yeah! Yeah, I'm alright, Brian's alright. [Things that Clayton pointedly does not mention: The fact that Brian is cool, but absolutely not with him, and also in possession of a steak knife. These are problems.] We had a disagreement, it was my fault. It happens, y'know? He'll be fine.

voice; @haurchefant

[silverfuller]

Ser Clayton?

[Haurchefant's normally cheery voice has an edge to it.]

What manner of trouble? Is there aught I can do to help?

voice

[dr_unconscious]

[Haurche, a pleasant but new friend, is much easier to lie to. Clayton does so effortlessly.]

Taken care of, Archie. I appreciate the offer, but there ain't nothin' else t' worry 'bout. Jus' a disagreement, that's all. Hope I didn't worry ya too much, did I bud?

day 52, voice; @starspangledhero

[fifty]

[America only checks on his tablet after some of the effects he was suffering from have worn off. He'd been kind of distracted before.] Hey, looks like you're not dead again. I hope you got some sleep after you posted this, though, 'cause you sound kind of out of it, dude.

voice

[dr_unconscious]

Heh. Yeah, got enough. Sleepin' don't take too much work, y'know?

[Amazingly Clayton is actually telling the truth here, for once in his miserable life. He sounds a lot more energetic and alert than in the previous night's message.]

There weren't bets goin' 'round on that 'r nothin', were there?

video; @prettypinkflowers

[lacecase]

[Ginger's been pretty out of it with the network, so she hasn't been making much of an effort yet to comment on much even if she does check out the posts. Since Clayton seems so nice, she can't let herself skip on by!]

Oh my goodness, you sound totally tired!

[She gives him her most pouty, concerned look, as if this makes her obvious statement more meaningful.]

I, like, have no idea what you're talking about that happened but I'm glad you're okay now! It seems like you have a lot of concerned friends.

voice

[dr_unconscious]

[Bless Ginger, too. Clayton's definitely not letting her see what he looks like right now. The shock would probably kill her. He chuckles weakly, trying to play along.]

Been a long day, I suppose. Jus' need a nice nap, that's all.

[There's a pause, like he might be trying to shrug, but obviously this does not work out for him. Groan.]

...Lucky t' have so many folks lookin' our fer me 'round here. Nice folks. [Everyone except Tim, apparently. Unseen, Clayton winces. Quick, engage flirting to feel better!!] 'Specially you, Ginger. You been doin' alright yerself? Make a man worried, ain't heard from ya fer so long.

@newangle; text

[baymaxing]

welcome back. glad to hear you're okay. zack and the others were pretty worried but it sounds like they managed to find you and all.

text

[dr_unconscious]

Thanks--glad to be back. Zack and Kain took their sweet time getting here, but it's been nice to see them, too.

[...Among other things. Look, I think we've established that he's not exactly in a good position to be giving out details. At least, he thinks he isn't.]

They left you and Jim alone over there? You two behaving yourselves over there? No wild parties?

[armoured]

[There's a definite relief that he isn't dead or mutilated somewhere, but it's tempered by the continuing concern and worry.]

What happened?

[He could dress it up in other words, could be more delicate, but he just wants to know. There has to be more than is being said here.]

[dr_unconscious]

[Al is one of those parties that Clayton specifically had in mind when he decided to make this post voice-only. The amount of worrying this kid does is incredible--Clayton anticipates that if he came on the network all head wraps and slings, Al might burst a pipe from stress. He's not doing that.]

What, details? Alright. [He pauses, clears his throat. How convincing can he make this...] We were travelin' together fer a few days, an' I told him I could find...somethin' important to 'em, ain't my business sayin' what on the network. Well he started thinkin' I was leadin' 'em on some kinda chase, so he told me t' meet up in one a the nearby houses, we did...he locked me in a room an' we camped out fer a few days. He thought he was in trouble, y'know? I don't blame 'em none.