065 ☣ fish for fallen light

[fridgetothefire]

If you know me, I probably miss you. And maybe even if you don't.

[She repeats this Romani, and then Russian, and then German. And then ASL.]

Comments

[surfaceshine]

There she is.

[Warm, smug, and relieved. In that order.]

[fridgetothefire]

Hey, boss.

[It's the kind of slantwise cracked-wide grateful smile that means Anya's had a rough few months - but it's different than it used to be, less pinched, more open, more settled despite the haunted coves around her eyes. It's really good to see him.]

Everybody staying on their circuits?

[surfaceshine]

Hey, princess.

Looks that way. Not sure I'd notice before it was too late, but we're gonna go with probably I would, and so far I haven't.

[It's not that he doesn't see it, because contrary to popular belief he does; but last time the Barge came charging onto his phone line she was in a coma, so he's mostly just grateful to see her eyes open at all.

Everything else can be fixed from there, but nothing if that's not true.]

How about on your end?

[kissthatgoodbye]

[He doesn't respond right away. He's the one minding the channels when the weird transmissions start to come through and he's been considering some of them, but this one stops him cold, makes him glance surreptitiously around him, pack up the computer and move to a more secluded spot.

Not that anything but the last is obvious when his side clicks on: so much of his world is ruined but he is sitting in a dimly lit ruined part of even that, mold and crumbled cement and something damp dripping nearby, him in his fitted motorcycle jacket and soft sweater and the bright, easy line of his smirk.]

Bit qualitative, isn't it? Whether or not you know someone?

[fridgetothefire]

Is there a reason a qualifier shouldn't be qualitative?

[kissthatgoodbye]

Clarity.

[wecanavenge]

[He understands bits of the Romani, half remembered memories. He doesn't recognize the ASL at all, but it's clear in three languages and by the time he turns on the feed he's holding up a pair of socks and looking very very grouchy. And very very fond.]

You left these here. I have no idea what you expect me to do with them.

[fridgetothefire]

Well, I hope you've washed them by now.

[wecanavenge]

Absolutely not. I see far too much laundry here as it is. You should come back and take care of them yourself.

[Hi come back he misses you etc etc]

[Voice]

[smilingbluff]

You sure can speak a lot of languages. I'm very impressed.

[Voice]

[fridgetothefire]

I know more than those.

I just have a good ear for them.

[Voice]

[smilingbluff]

But it must be a lot of work for you to learn so many.

[omaera]

[A familiar throaty, creaky little chuckle.] Upupupu... so talented! So many different ways to say something so trite! Have you ever written a commercial?

[fridgetothefire]

[She can't help it. Her face cracks open, surprised and delighted. That laugh.]

What should I sell?

[omaera]

With words like that? Mmm... Valentine's chocolates... or Christmas cake... something equally meaningless.

[nobelist]

[She's scrubbing the blood of her arms when the television flickers on by itself. She only stares for a moment, though; rolling with the punches is what you do at Xavier Institute.]

Afraid I don't, lass, but I appreciate the sentiment.

[fridgetothefire]

Don't worry about that.

Are you okay?

[dividedloyalties]

I doubt that very much.

[fridgetothefire]

Do you know me?

[grounded_marine]

Are you sure?

[fridgetothefire]

If I were sure, I wouldn't have said 'probably'.

Video; ASL-only

[velocette]

[He has no one he wants to hear from, personally, but her ASL message gets his attention.]

Who do you miss most?

Re: Video; ASL-only

[fridgetothefire]

It depends on the day.

But Alex probably.

[Spelled out, since she never gave him a name sign.]

[magnetic_magpie]

[ He remembers that voice. It's enough that he bolts upright, a phone - some cheap smart phone - falling, him muttering unintelligible curses in languages not English as he fumbles for it.

Anya, hopefully, won't mention the red mark - bruise and black eye soon - that slashes over his face. ]

Communications troubles again?

[ Whatever else he wants to say, needs to say, he has to start there. It's safe. ]

[fridgetothefire]

Essentially.

[This time, she was ready for the possibility. She wonders what he's gotten into, but - well. For once it is truly not her problem.]