ic inbox (mask or menace)

[prayercycles]

[ The default answering machine message plays. ]

Comments

[h2no]

Nah, it's okay.

[he says, clattering around, noisy yet somehow silent. he clearly knows the kitchen.]

Sorry for wakin' ya. Next time I'll call.

[prayercycles]

I was awake.

[ He won’t lie about that. He doesn’t like people to worry over him- he just hopes Archie won’t ask why he was awake.

Alf whines. Fortunato follows the noise and picks her up, suspecting that’s what she wants. ]

Magnus would give you a key.

[h2no]

[he knows better than to ask why, even if the curiosity is there.]

I'll make sure to ask him! Ah-- hey, how'd you learn to lockpick? [he raises his casted arm.] Gotta tell ya, doin' it one handed ain't that easy.

[prayercycles]

[ Well- the camp where I was trained to save the world isn't a real answer, is it.

He pauses, using petting Alf as an excuse for it. ]

I taught myself. [ He would have had to, eventually. It could have happened. ]

[h2no]

[he chuckles lightly-- this isn't a great attempt to bond but he sure is trying.]

Heh. Same. When I was a teenager.

[prayercycles]

[ Fortunato, at the very least, is aware that sometimes people have an easy time talking about themselves. He hasn't gotten good at making his redirection not obvious, but he can at least make an attempt. ]

Oh. Why?

[h2no]

Fun.

[he says with a shrug.]

Because I thought it was cool. Stupid reasons, really, but certainly a useful skill. [his tone indicates he's expecting fortunato to share more of his learning it...]

[prayercycles]

It is.

[ But you're not going to bait him, Archie! Nope! ]

...It would still be okay, if you wanted a key.

[h2no]

[damn! shit! foiled!

he blinks.]

Oh! Yes, of course, I didn't consider something! How could I forget to check in that the other people here would be okay with some random weirdo like me havin' a key! Ah...

[prayercycles]

[ Ah, that's a good point, Fortunato supposes. But from what he's heard, it probably won't be a big problem. ]

You know Tina and Angus. [ A pause. ] We could ask Sabrina.

[ Now that he thinks about it, he supposes it's kind of weird. But Magnus and Lucina like Archie, and it's not as if Fortunato is used to as much privacy as he has in this world, really. ]

[h2no]

[he nods.]

I'll ask her myself. Don't worry about it. Reckon you got enough on your plate.

[prayercycles]

No.

[ He never finished the school year, after porting back in. He doesn't plan to go back. There's still work, and so much time spent at church, but...he does come upon times, often, where his life feels a bit empty. ]

It would be fine. Have you met her?

[h2no]

Nope! I've seen her, but we've never spoken. So that'll be fun, tellin' her that's whats up. Hopefully I make a good second impression, am I right!

[prayercycles]

Yes. [ He's sure Archie will. Although... ]

What was the first?

[h2no]

[there's a long pause.]








Something secret. I think. Sorry! Can't say.

[prayercycles]

[ ...

He really can't judge... ]

Okay.

[ With that, he sets Alf back on the floor and gets up himself. ]

I should go. Do- do you need anything?