Inbox (Edictum)

[cantilevers]

TBD

Comments

voice —

[victus]

Vander. [ ... yes, that's it. The fun of using walkie talkies without any private lines of communication! ]

voice

[cantilevers]

Viktor. Do you want to meet, or is this a conversation to be overheard?

[victus]

That is your choice. I was hoping to check on you, but I am content with this if you prefer.

[cantilevers]

Ah. We can do channel 5 then.

[He switches to a lesser viewed channel, since he expects this will be a short check in. Little does he know Viktor at the moment.]

I'm fine, just carrying on and helping some people out. How are you? I see you're putting together an infirmary?

[victus]

[ Oh Vander. You won't dodge him for long. ]

As you are assembling a bar, or so I hear. It seems we are both keeping busy. [ A beat. ] Is there anything I can offer to help in your efforts?

[cantilevers]

[This is a difficult lesson he may even learn in time. For now, keeping it casual.]

Yeah, me and two other guys are working together on that. It's good as a future meeting place. [He pauses to think.] I don't think so. We seem to have it well in hand. Need help with your place?

[victus]

I'm not surprised. You always had a talent for bringing people together.

[ In a tone that sounds like he's perking up: ] That is kind. If you have a moment, I could use help moving a few things. [ He could levitate them. But then, that would go against his plans to get Vander to visit. ]

[cantilevers]

[Viktor talks like they are old friends and he finds that interesting. It doesn't fit with his memories but Viktor clearly did know him if that memory was any indication.]

Well that is the gift of the gab for you. Always pulling people in.

Oh yeah? Lifting and carrying is something I am profiencent at. When do you want me to do that?

[victus]

A gift too often overlooked. [ He does feel like he knows Vander, but then, he really needs to get better at reining some of that in.

He's about to respond when his conversation with Jayce unexpectedly happens. Viktor is quiet for a bit longer before he returns. ] I apologize. There is — [ some static, or is that him? He's feeling off. ] Something I need to do first. I appreciate the offer.

[cantilevers]

Ha, you're just full of compliments. I haven't been ass patted this hard in a long while. [He used amusement to cover over the faint discomfort knowing that Viktor knew him better than he knew the younger man. It was difficult to flip conversations when the other knew more about him, though he could.

He looked at the walkie-talkie when it went quiet, listening for Viktor. Was he hurt? Was someone else there? He grew concerned as the length of time extended, and he was almost about to rise to go in search to be certain Viktor was safe when the younger man returned.]

Wait, are you alright? Do you need back-up?

[victus]

[ Viktor never gets to respond to this. Mostly because he's an idiot. Vander, you are unintentionally the last person he spoke to before this! Congratulations? ]

[opheliac]

[ — during this. ]

Peek-a-boo, knock-knock, who's there? It's me.

[cantilevers]

[There was a smile in his voice.]

What did you want to talk about off the main channel?

[opheliac]

Uh, right! Yeah...well.

[ there's a small pause, and he can hear her shuffling around through the feed.]

The thing is, Vander, I just... wanted to talk to you 'cause I.. miss you. And just wanted to know how you've been holding up. Got any friends yet?

[cantilevers]

Kiddo, I'm available for you any time. You've made friends here, yeah?

[He chuckled good naturedly.]

I'm doing alright, though I wish we had some fish in this place! I'd even take shellfish. [The plights of an old world trencher.] As for friends, yeah, I have a few. I'm friendly with most, but there's a couple of guys I rub elbows with a lot.

[opheliac]

[ just with him mentioning fish, his daughter exhaled a long and dreamlike sigh. ]

Haaah, Jericho. What a man! I would do anything just to see his rotten smile as he hacks away at an eel and serves us its tail drenched in his secret special sauce. — I never found him attractive until now.

[ it's somewhat of a joke. she's not actually talking about his looks, but more so his cooking. ]

But that's great! That you've made some buddies, I mean, aaand you're doing fine. I've heard Miller is one of those chums. He's kind of one of mine too.

[cantilevers]

Agreed. He's a staple of the Lanes since it's inception. How I miss his fried frog legs.

[He let out a big sigh of his own, reminiscent of eating that food. It was vastly different when rock worms being their only large source of fresh meat.]

He is yeah. He tells me you set up a café and ran it in some town called Aldrip.

[opheliac]

D'aww, the old man remembered! Guess his mind isn't too far gone yet, ha ha!

[ she's touched, really, especially when everyone's memories seem to be a haze or scattered like a tornado made its way through. sometimes, she thinks if it was all on purpose. ]

But yep, I had a café! You'd snag yourself a cup of joe, pet a kitten, and then you'd be set for the day.

[cantilevers]

Yeah, he told me a few things about it. What made you think to open a café of all things? I thought for certain you'd open a tinker shop.

[It sounds like a nice place, even if there was an undercurrent of unease knowing that Silco had been involved. Miller didn't say much about it, but there were inferences in the silences.]

[opheliac]

I don't... remember, actually. [because it's unusual for her to start a coffee house business, and no matter how hard she tried to remember, she comes up empty. but then she quickly adds: ] — Oh! But I had that too! It was downstairs. I was running two shops all in one.

[cantilevers]

Did you? You always were an overachiever, just needed the opportunity to spread your wings.

[As much as all the stories coming from Vi were distressing for him, he could see that his daughters had come into their own.]