[FUN GHOUL ➜ AUDIO 006]

[tooghoulforschool]

[It's stupid to be back on the network publicly so soon after the incident. Especially when he knows Jesse's back and he told Galen he'd stay away. But he needs to know. Can't ask anyone to ask for him when he's hiding out around the church.

So he'll just use audio. Make it quick. Hope someone gives him answers before anyone has time to notice. Don't make a scene.]

... Missin' some people. Not answerin' my calls, just wonderin' if anyone's seen 'em. Cassandra and Conrad. Cute little girl that could probably kick your ass and a prissy, pale dude that probably couldn't.

You know where they are, just leave a message or somethin'. [He sniffs, mumbling something inaudible before quickly saying,] Thanks.

Comments

( private audio )

[rigging]

[ Ooh, yeah, that is not a fun voice to hear, and when he does, his immediate reaction is to try to get the communicator off his wrist. No, no no. He doesn't want to listen to it, stop. Please.

But it keeps on, and Jesse's stomach flips and twists, and it takes a good while for him to calm down again.

He'll just. Climb up on the roof. And at some point, Ghoul is going to get a reply, rough and quiet and strained. ]

Did you mean it?

( private audio FOREVER )

[tooghoulforschool]

[No, Jesse, goddammit. You weren't supposed to hear this. You weren't supposed to say anything! The hell kind of a question even is that? He seriously thought-- well ... it had been pretty convincing. Pretty sudden. No time to explain.]

No. None of it. Want more than anything to take it back. Didn't mean it, Finch, course I didn't fuckin' mean it.

[rigging]

[ The reply takes a long time. ]

It'll be okay. [ It isn't now, and it might not be for a while, and Jesse's not making any false promises. ] ... Did y'hear from your friends?

[tooghoulforschool]

[No it won't. Ghoul's not betting on it, anyway. Not after what he did. Guy's probably just still in shock.]

No. [A beat.] But I'm glad you came back.

[rigging]

Yeah. [ Jesse says quietly. ] Didn't even notice being gone.

[audio; private]

[afallenstar]

Are you okay?

[ She's just going to keep it short and simple for now, quiet and careful. She's worried, but she can also figure out a lot more for herself than by asking questions.

Like for instance where he is, but she's giving him a chance to move before he gets himself on Lucifer's radar. Please don't start a family war for her, Ghoul. ]

[audio; private FOREVER]

[tooghoulforschool]

Fine. Not me you should be worried about.

[Like that's gonna stop her. And like he can go anywhere else! It's a public place. Can't go home right now.]

[afallenstar]

I'll look for your friends. [ But really though, she's never met either of them and never had any intentions of. She'll look hell she'll scour this whole damn town - but that's not nearly as important to her as what's going on with Ghoul. ]

You know you're roaming in dangerous territory, don't you?

[ It's a joke, she's even laughing and everything, see? Except it's strained, she's clearly pretty genuinely concerned here. Just because he helped her with the angels, doesn't mean that her and her biggest brother here are exactly on friendly terms. ]

[tooghoulforschool]

Yeah? Thanks. [And then he scoffs.] Dangerous don't mean a thing, Chiquita. Just like bein' back home. Don't worry, none. I told you. Anyone got a problem, they can take it up with me.

[Which is totally why he's hiding from Jet.]

[enchangement]

They're gone. Have been gone. May or may not return.

It is the same as it ever was and as painful as it ever has been.

[tooghoulforschool]

[That... huh. That made about as much sense as Jet talking in his sleep. He doesn't recognize the voice, barely recognizes the words, so he switches to VIDEO to peer into the screen.]

You're sayin' they're both gone? You knew 'em? Both of 'em?

[enchangement]

[ Video it is, then. River blinks - this is not!Jesse, and she's not sure what his name is, but maybe Jet knows him?

Or maybe they're thinking about Jet and made her think about Jet, it's hard to say. ]

Promised Cass to teach her to dance, slept back to back in a place called home that wasn't isn't is no lying empty and abandoned and very much not. Saw her, saw her as a ghost, saw and wasn't sure what eyes were being lied upon but she is gone. Cass is gone.

Conrad didn't want to be a monster, she told him she would fight his battles, she says that a lot. There were no battles but he's gone too. Hollow lack of sound for the off-kilter bell choir.

So many are going missing.

[tooghoulforschool]

[Shit. It's just a girl! Around Cass's age... yeah, okay, so she knew her. Sounds like they were close? And she knew Conrad. And they're both gone now. He shakes his head, looking down at his feet. He wasn't supposed to have to worry about Cass. She was tough. He shoulda been watching--]

Yeah. Too many. [A beat, and he looks up.] You always talk like poetry?

[magnets]

Yo, I ain't seen neither of 'em. [ He rubs tiredly at the side of his head, squints his eyes a little in thought. ] There's a, uh. Distinct lack'a screeching coming from my attic. [ Conrad's gotta be gone. ]

[ A beat. ] You ain't seen Cass neither?

[tooghoulforschool]

[Oh man, Pinkman, is he glad he didn't find you a few days ago. Not so glad about the news, and you can hear it in his voice.]

Nah, not for awhile now. This... there's a girl says they're gone. Like the others. S'what I figured, just thought I'd ask.

[magnets]

[ The same could go for you, Ghoul; sheepish, frankly weird things he's still not going to bring himself to talk about yet. ]

[ He goes for deadpan instead, an eyebrow arched. ] A girl. Just some random girl in the street you're gonna take credit from?

[tooghoulforschool]

Wasn't in the street, she called me up. Flows a little strange, but sounds like she knew the Bat Girl. [And then he nods, scratching at his cheek with his thumb.] Yeah. I'm takin' her word for it.

[audio]

[happytobleed]

I can help you look. I have abilities that may help.

[ This is the olive branch he'd meant to extend for a while and since Anna is, all of a sudden, the sibling he's getting along with most easily, now might be a good time to do it. ]

[audio]

[tooghoulforschool]

Huh, yeah, abilities like grabbin' people by their long, flowing hair and tearin' into their self esteem durin' the holidays?

[He knows that voice. Don't think he forgot about you, Cas. He didn't forget. No way.]

[audio]

[happytobleed]

I do owe you an apology for that. I was under the influence of one of those strange packages.

[ Though if Ghoul does hurt Anna, his friends will never find all of the pieces. ]

[audio]

[tooghoulforschool]

Listen, buddy, I don't give half a lizard's scaly ass about your strange package. But if you wanna apologize, I ain't sayin' no.

[His friends are pretty good at treasure hunts. You don't know that for sure, Castiel.]

So you ain't opposed to me seein' her? [Not like he really gives a fuck whether he approves or not. And as a matter of fact-- oh god he admitted it was a thing. HE SAID IT WAS A THING. GODFUCKINGDAMMIT. Oh well.]

( audio - oops this is late as fuck )

[retrograding]

I haven't seen them. And I haven't seen you, either, little monster. [ His voice is gentle, anyway. ]

( audio - RIGHT ON TIME KTHNX)

[tooghoulforschool]

[Yeah, plenty gentle. That just makes it worse. He sucks in a breath, avoiding eye contact with his wrist even though the video feed isn't on. He feels like Jet can see him anyway. Knows exactly what face he's making. Guy's omniescent sometimes. Most times.]

There's a whole mess of prettier things to look at, Spaceman. [He wants to go home. He wants to be there so bad, but he's not sure if he can... after what he did.]

[retrograding]

That is a blatant lie. [ Jet sounds a little amused, even. ] It isn't the pretty I'm searching for, in any case. I seem to be missing something from my orbit, and it's thrown me off center.

[tooghoulforschool]

[Don't-- don't say that. Don't make it sound like you need him.]

Yeah, yeah? Whatchu missin', a meteor? That shit go careenin' off into some uninhabited planet, crash and burn, make a crater? Better off without it. Meteors' just space junk anyway.