[ The next time Lortel puts on her mask, she'll be greeted with a somewhat familiar connection gently reaching out to her. There's a sense of hesitancy, as if she doesn't wish to intrude. ]
Hey, Lortel? It's Sharon. [ It's been a while since they last spoke, but she remembers Lortel's request: tell her when she finds a safe place. ]
[ Lortel feels like a pop of color in a gray landscape of noise. When they'd first spoke, she'd found it unsettling. Now? It's pleasant. Friendly without any bite to it. Sharon warms instantly. ]
I'm good. I thought I'd call, for lack of a better term, to tell you I found a place. Safe, and only three stories. [ Lortel already knows she's wary of the skyscrapers and towering apartments. ] Are you? Safe and well, I mean.
[ if you asked her straight out, she probably couldn't tell you why she's fond of Sharon. maybe it's that the other girl seems so free of pretension or agenda. that she's straightforward and quietly kind, without putting too fine a point on it.
she's an easy person for Lortel to like. it's nice, not to have to keep her guard up a mile high for a simple conversation.
a sort of pleased relief blooms in the murmur. ]
Good. I'm glad to hear it. I was going to share with you a ground-level dormitory I've been holding onto, if you hadn't found something solid yet.
I am. I'm in... it's called a penthouse, I believe? It's a bit of a pain to get to, but that it's so remote makes it a little more secure. We haven't had to worry about many animals.
The knowledge that Lortel had even thought to share a space with Sharon is so touching that it takes her a moment to respond. In the middle of surviving absolute insanity, and people can be so fucking thoughtful. Kind. It's so nice it almost hurts. ]
Thanks. [ For even thinking of her. ] You went rich rich, but I think the climb would kill me. [ Lortel is stronger than she is. ]
I've been staying with... friends, I guess. [ She doesn't even know if she can call them that, but she trusts them. ] We managed to clean out a place, and hunker down. They're both a little more knowledgeable than I am. I really lucked out.
Until you've got a broken ankle—knock on wood. [ she is not trying to speak it into existence, okay! ]
I—[ she makes a small sound of uncertainty and perhaps there is a hint of embarrassment trickling through the murmur. friendship is weird. ] It's the only thing I can think to call them. A pair of former military guys, Freddie and Arthur.
Oh, you're living with Arthur? We're acquainted. He's been treating you kindly, hasn't he? If he hasn't, I'll have to talk to him~. Freddie I don't know.
I wouldn't share a roof with someone who didn't treat me kindly, Lortel. [ Quiet amusement echoes through the Murmur. She's touched, really. ] Freddie's cool. I like him. Hell, you might like him, too. He's reliable.
[ God knows reliability is important in a world like this. ]
[It's vague and hard to make out but with some effort a voice can heard whispering across tethered connection between Lortel and Ash. It's a low gravely voice that certainly isn't something Ash could mimic.]
I freed him from his binds, can you not feel him? Oh poor girl, you aren't free either.
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sometime mid july
Hey, Lortel? It's Sharon. [ It's been a while since they last spoke, but she remembers Lortel's request: tell her when she finds a safe place. ]
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she is genuinely glad to hear from her, and that gladness threads into the murmur. ]
I'm glad to hear from you. Are you well? Safe?
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I'm good. I thought I'd call, for lack of a better term, to tell you I found a place. Safe, and only three stories. [ Lortel already knows she's wary of the skyscrapers and towering apartments. ] Are you? Safe and well, I mean.
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she's an easy person for Lortel to like. it's nice, not to have to keep her guard up a mile high for a simple conversation.
a sort of pleased relief blooms in the murmur. ]
Good. I'm glad to hear it. I was going to share with you a ground-level dormitory I've been holding onto, if you hadn't found something solid yet.
I am. I'm in... it's called a penthouse, I believe? It's a bit of a pain to get to, but that it's so remote makes it a little more secure. We haven't had to worry about many animals.
How have you been getting by?
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Oh.
The knowledge that Lortel had even thought to share a space with Sharon is so touching that it takes her a moment to respond. In the middle of surviving absolute insanity, and people can be so fucking thoughtful. Kind. It's so nice it almost hurts. ]
Thanks. [ For even thinking of her. ] You went rich rich, but I think the climb would kill me. [ Lortel is stronger than she is. ]
I've been staying with... friends, I guess. [ She doesn't even know if she can call them that, but she trusts them. ] We managed to clean out a place, and hunker down. They're both a little more knowledgeable than I am. I really lucked out.
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her?
nice?
it doesn't even occur to her. ]
The climb kills me, [ she laughs, slightly. ] But it's worth the tradeoff in security.
Friends?
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I—[ she makes a small sound of uncertainty and perhaps there is a hint of embarrassment trickling through the murmur. friendship is weird. ] It's the only thing I can think to call them. A pair of former military guys, Freddie and Arthur.
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[ but she laughs, amused ]
Oh, you're living with Arthur? We're acquainted. He's been treating you kindly, hasn't he? If he hasn't, I'll have to talk to him~. Freddie I don't know.
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[ God knows reliability is important in a world like this. ]
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Good! I'm glad to hear it. I was really only teasing. He's far less brusque than he actually comes off.
Oh? I'll have to introduce myself sometime, then, if you like him.
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I live with several people, myself. It's been more chaotic than I expected, but not bad.
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Who are they?
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Oh! I live with Sunny, and Noah. Ivan and Till also joined us quite recently. Do you know any of them?
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Sometime late at night through October
I freed him from his binds, can you not feel him? Oh poor girl, you aren't free either.
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[ it's not Ash's voice, but it is her presence. Lortel would know her anywhere, at this point. ]
Ash? Ash, is that you? Are you alright?
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Huh? Lortel?
Tired- And kind of wish someone was smothering me with a pillow, but okay otherwise.
...What about you? Why are you up so late?