foolishwren | 106. [IMAGE: MISSING.POKE] (backdated to around the 5th)

[This little dried-up rattly thing? He's been wondering what that was.]

Of course I have. It doesn't work, but they've all been on the fritz lately. Piece of shit. What if she's been trying to call for help?

[In the background there's a "Snubbull. Snub." Blake's voice gets a little distant when he turns from the phone.] Then look more, dammit!

...

... Look... I hate to be the one to say this...

But... have you thought that she might have ... you know. Gone home?

_{[She says it slowly, and as kindly as she can. Because she's been in his position more times than she can even count and she knows how it is. Intimately.]

[And she also knows what it's like to not be able to handle it well or gracefully, because she absolutely can't.]}

[snaps back] She can't be gone. She was fucking kidnapped, the only place she has to go back to is--

She can't be gone.

[Blake remembers the picture she showed him of two men in black looming over her.]

[There's a crashing sound like things being knocked off a shelf]

I was looking out for her, goddammit!

_{[She heaves a slight sigh. Wonders for a moment if he can see the irony in all this, after he'd gotten on HER case for having a hard time when a friend disappeared-- but she doubts it.]

[This is one subject she's not willing to go into 'I told you so' mode over, though.]}

... I'll keep an eye out for her.

I hope she's not gone.

_{[But the way she says it makes it clear that hoping is different from expecting.]}

[He can feel it creeping up on him, and that just makes it worse. At the same time, maybe that's what made him pick up the phone, knowing she might understand.]

[Something goes "Gallade." Blake's voice gets a little distance as his head moves from the phone, but it is more than loud enough to hear.]

And what the hell are you doing here? You should be with her! You're fucking useless!

Fuck! Fuck!

[There's a thump and a crash as he kicks a chair into the wall.]

[For a time, there's silence except for his breathing.]

[There's a rasping sound as his hand rubs over his face.]

[His voice is low and rough as the hard, ugly truth hammers home.]

If she was still here, he'd be with her.

_{[In truth... Heather and Blake aren't all that different when it comes to how they handle loss.]

[There's a silence on the other end, because of course, she doesn't even need to say anything more for him to arrive at the realization in his own time.]

[But when she does speak, it's genuine. She's not consoling him as a courtesy or even really trying to console him at all, because she knows you can't really BE consoled over things like this.]}

I'm sorry.

[Blake lets out a long, long breath.]

[Sorry won't bring Emily back, but neither will yelling at Heather.]

I told her she was safe.

A kid should have something they can rely on.

... That probably made a difference.

Kids are smarter than you think, you know.

If she went back... if she remembers this place at all, who knows. Just knowing someone gave a shit about her might help.

_{[It had for Heather. It's one of the only reasons she's even alive, regardless of the crushing realization that there's virtually no such thing as a person you can rely on forever.]}

[He's quiet for a minute, and sounds a little different when he responds.]

You think so?

She's a smart kid. Real smart.

Think she'll even remember?

Dunno.

I've never gone home from this place, and everyone I know who's come BACK says something different about whether or not the memories stick with you.

... But if she's smart... _{[She wishes she could say 'She'll be fine', but she knows that's not true. Because she thinks SHE was always a pretty smart kid and look how she wound up.]} ... She'll know you did what you could and that it's up to her now.

Then there's a chance she'll remember.

[For once, Blake is low enough to look on the bright side.]

She said before there's a guy, the one this thing's named after. [A "Gallade?"] Yeah, you. She said he was looking out for her.

[The sound of knuckles cracking.]

He'd fucking better be.

If he doesn't, maybe HE'LL show up here someday and you can kick his ass.

Like a consolation prize. [Fuck, he wants to take this out on somebody, but Heather's a lousy target.]

[Blake mutters at the ground.] Fuck.

[there's the sounds of a footstep and glass crunching, and a recriminating "Snubbull."]

[tiredly, heart not in it] Quit bitching, I'll clean it up.

[His voice gets clearer as he speaks directly into the phone again.] Hope you find this Henry guy. I'll keep an eye out.

_{[She wouldn't let herself be a target, either-- she calls people out on that shit. ... And admittedly is bad about venting her spleen at people who don't deserve it herself, but there you go.]}

... Yeah. I'm sure we will.

_{[She knows he's not gone gone... she just doesn't know where he IS with all the glitching going on. ... If he were TRULY gone... well. She wouldn't be drawing stupid missing posters, that's for sure.]}

Thanks.

... Good luck.

[He's quiet for a while.]

Yeah. Thanks.

If you see Emily, let me know.

[He hangs up.]

106. [IMAGE: MISSING.POKE] (backdated to around the 5th)

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