[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.

[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.]

[afallenstar]

[ She's actually going to start looking now, but beyond a soft rustle that may or may not sound like wings depending on how hard he's listening, how much attention he's paying, she doesn't announce that. She could ask for descriptions but it's not strictly necessary. She'll know if she finds them. In the mean time, addressing more important issues, like how closely her undetermined person of importance is to her brother with a very personal issue with humans. Like, on his doorstep close. ]

I know, I know, tough as nails. I get it, but that's my world territory. You remember that banishing sigil?

[ She really doesn't want him to use it, honestly. It'll probably just piss Lucifer off more than anything, but worst case scenario it's something at least. If Ghoul can keep himself safe, then maybe she won't get caught in a war between her family and the friends she's made here.

Maybe. ]

Be careful, please. He's not the most reasonable guy around.

[ A.k.a. please consider relocating. Anywhere but there. ]

[rigging]

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

[tooghoulforschool]

Makes sense. That you didn't--


[He hates this fucking word, but if anyone deserves to hear it, it's Jesse. Just gotta ... gotta psych himself up. Get it out. For fuck's sake, just say it.]

Sorry, Jesse. So fuckin' sorry. I can't even say how much. Need you to know it shouldnta been like that. If I can fix it, if I can do anythin' to fix this, you gotta tell me.

[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?

[tooghoulforschool]

Yeah, yeah I remember. [He's not brain damaged, Anna. That's Kobra. He scoffs AGAIN.] He don't own the place. You see his name written anywhere? Not gonna start shit for you and yours, but it's not his. Place is for everyone.

[And then he sniffs.] Just feels better t'be here. Right now.

[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.

[magnets]

[ It's a better lead than he's got, and anyone else'd probably know better than him. Maybe he's just a little upset she's gone. Irritated, he's playing it off as. ]

Strange like what? Strange like Cass strange or strange like schizoid strange? [ Probably important information, probably none of his business. ] Sucks, man, she wouldn't'a taken off without tellin' anyone neither.

[tooghoulforschool]

Strange like musical. Strange like a storybook. [He likes it. Probably schizoid.]

Cass didn't take off, she got taken. [And he didn't know. He didn't do a damn thing about it. Shoulda been watching her closer, shoulda fought to keep Party close. Fuck this place. He sighs, and it's heavy.] Really don't wanna deal with this shit right now. If I had my blaster, if I had my fuckin' gun, they wouldn't be takin' anyone. We'd be long gone, blowin' in the wind, lookin' straight down nothin' but highway and broken glass for miles on all sides.

[He's rambling. He's tired.]

[rigging]

[ It - it helps. Ghoul didn't actually want to. It was the thing that he was, it - but Jesse can't stop himself. He's still scared, he's so absolutely fucking terrified of - everything. It's frustrating. He doesn't trust. He can't. ]

Not -- not yet. [ He swallows hard, inhaling shakily. It's loud, over the communicators. ] Not yet. Look - I can't. This, right now, is bad enough, but - just for now, alright, just. [ Eventually it'll be okay. But not now. ]

[magnets]

Strange like crazy, then. [ Jesse doesn't have time for your POETRY and your well-spoken SIMILES. ]

I'm pretty sure if you had a fuckin' gun, man, you'd be just as helpless to stop this crap just like everyone else. We ain't ever seen anyone get taken, we don't even know when they do it or why. So don't go blamin' yourself over somethin' stupid that ya can't help. [ Huff puff not like he gives a crap or anything. ] Guess this ain't really a Killjoy-friendly kinda environment.

[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. ]