IC Contact - Snowblind

[phaseshifter]

This is Angel. Leave a message.

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@lockhart; audio; Day 63

[powersouls]

Angel? It's Tifa. Jack said that you and Rhys ran into a monster, and... Are the two of you all right? Where are you?

[Annnd here come the assumptions. Thank Jack and Kunsel!]

If you don't want him to know where you are, I won't tell him. I'm just worried, and I want to make sure you're safe, okay?

night 65; @guardian; audio;

[phaseshifter]

Hello - sorry. For worrying you. I'm here, so is Rhys. I'm fine.

[ Angel sounds... pretty okay. If a little tired. Which is understandable, since it's pretty late. ]

Are you alright? And your friends? I'm looking through the network and - I missed a bomb? Dude.

night 65; @lockhart; audio;

[powersouls]

[Tifa's not sure why Angel wouldn't have gotten back to anyone right away if everything really was fine, or why she would have missed so much on the network, and she doesn't want to push, but... Still. It's undeniable that Tifa is still overly sensitive about everyone because of Cloud, so there's a clear note of concern in her voice.]

Angel! We're okay. Did something happen?

[Maybe she's just being paranoid. It was only two days, right?]

[phaseshifter]

[ Well. She's not going to lie. This is bound to come out anyway, especially if Jack does get dragged to that town meeting thing.

Ugh. ]

Yes. My father locked us in a basement. Me and Rhys, and then Doctor Epps.

[ ... ]

He wasn't lying about the monster, at least.

[ ANGEL PLS. ]

[powersouls]

[Tifa's tone goes from concern to incredulity and anger in one message. Impressive!]

He did what? Why? Are you sure you're okay?

[phaseshifter]

I'm fine, honest. And the why is - it's complicated.

It mostly boils down to him trying to protect me, but also him being really dam-- really darn stupid. He doesn't trust anyone or anything - including his own ability to keep me safe in a sane way - so. The best way to keep me away from danger was to just make sure none of it could get to me.

Rhys and Doctor Epps just... kind of got caught in the crossfire. I guess.

[powersouls]

[There's a pause for a moment as Tifa absorbs that information, and when she speaks again, the anger has mostly drained out of her voice.]

Oh, Angel... I'm sorry. Is there anything I can do?

[phaseshifter]

There's no need, really, I'm -

[ Used to it?

That's just going to sound even more worrying, isn't it. True or not, it isn't something Tifa needs to hear. This was supposed to be a reassuring call, gosh darnit!! ]

I mean, it's okay. Really. Has, um, has Rhys contacted you? He's the one who could really do with cheering up. You know how he gets.

[powersouls]

Not yet. I'll message him if you think it would help. And, hey... You know if you need anything, you can always ask me, right?

[Need anything like her dad punched in the face, honestly. Or just to talk. WHICHEVER.]

[phaseshifter]

Oh, I know! I don't mean to push you away or anything. It's all just pretty - pretty complicated and, uh. I'm not too sure of myself or what I want right now, I guess?

But if I do think of anything, I promise I'll call on you. Honest.

[powersouls]

I understand. But even if...

[SHE IS SO BAD AT THIS?]

If you want to talk about anything, I mean, or you need cheering up.

[phaseshifter]

Oh, that. Really, don't fret! I'm - um - good at coping with this kind of thing.

I don't sound off, do I? Or miserable? Oh geez.

[powersouls]

No, no! You don't. You just sound tired.

[She sighs, more at herself than at the conversation.]

I'm sorry I'm being overprotective. I know you can take care of yourself.

[phaseshifter]

Oh, it's fine. I'm getting fussed over by pretty much everybody, way worse than just... you know. Offering an ear. It's so dumb! Especially when I'm the only one who didn't get hurt. Not even a broken nail.

[ Grumble grumble jagoffs grumble. ]

[powersouls]

[Tifa knows all about people being condescendingly overprotective! So she's going to switch topics to try to avoid doing it any further herself.]

Rhys and Clayton were hurt?

[phaseshifter]

Oh... shoot.

[ Way to let the skag out of the bag on that one, geez. ]

Um, yes. My-- Jack, too. Something happened to Rhys while we were locked up, Iunno if it was the isolation or a port malfunction? But he kind of maybe sorta tried to rip his own arm off a little.

[powersouls]

[So it's interesting that Tifa seems to be freaking out about this situation way more than Angel. And here she is, doing it again.]

What? He didn't do it, right? He's okay?

[phaseshifter]

He hurt himself pretty badly, but he's okay. Ish. I mean, as okay as you can be with a smushed up rib and an arm wound.

[ Wait that still sounds alarming doesn't it aboRT ABORT ABORT ]

I mean - he's awake and talking and - you know. Rhysing. He just has to take it easy for a little while.

[powersouls]

[Well! A broken rib and an arm wound is far better than what she was expecting, so she lets out a relieved breath.]

Okay. That's good. And what about Clayton?

[She should ask about Jack, too, probably. Angel doesn't seem nearly as furious as Tifa thinks she should be, and it would be polite, but she just can't bring herself to do it.]

[phaseshifter]

Uhhhhh, Clayton fell --

[ lmao ]

-- down the basement steps and hurt his arm, Iunno how bad it is. And, um, he kinda got clipped by Rhys' arm --

[ rofl ]

-- by accident while he was freaking out, so, um. But he says he's okay! I guess face wounds just bleed a lot. Like, a lot.

[powersouls]

Well... If he says he's okay, I'm sure he is.

[He's a doctor, after all.]

Um, you wanted me to cheer up Rhys, right? I don't know him very well. What usually works?

[phaseshifter]

Oh, Rhys is easy!

[ YES GOOD. MUCH BETTER SUBJECT. ]

Basically, um. Just pay attention to him? And don't needle him for whining too much. A little is acceptable, he can. Go pretty overboard. He likes being appreciated, you know? And mistaken for someone who's actually cool.

[ Angel pls ]

[powersouls]

[Tifa laughs quietly at that.]

You don't think he's cool?

[phaseshifter]

Of course not! He's the goofiest dork who ever dorked. He willingly wore a tie tucked into his pants.

I mean, um. Not that he isn't awesome. But so not cool.

[powersouls]

[OKAY that is... an interesting aesthetic choice...]

Why would he tuck it into his pants...?

[Please give her insight on this, Angel]