eba02 | interstellar5555 IC Inbox

[There are no hellos here.]

I can't find Gold.

[There's about ten different things that come to mind in immediate response. J discards the rude ones and picks probably the most important question he can think of.]

Why are you tellin' me?

[He's not being rude; he genuinely wants to know.]

[They sound genuinely stressed - more than they have when talking to any of them before.]

Because I don't know who else to talk to.

[That sure is a couple of very long seconds of radio silence from J's end of the conversation. He has no idea how to handle this, but...well, he's the only other person who knows why Gold is missing...]

[He has to try.]

You know 'em better'n I do - even if they're still coolin' off, they'll be smart about it.

[It'll be okay. Hopefully.]

I do know them, and that's why... They won't talk to me. They won't answer my messages. They're going to do something stupid and they don't want me getting in the way.

[Great! Perfect! The question now is, does Silver want him to do something or just listen?]

I'm guessin' you can't track his helmet.

They probably aren't even wearing it. Not right now.

[Their tone seems to intrinsically imply the fact that they are pacing as they speak.]

Even if I knew where it was, I know where they probably are, and it's somewhere I can't go.

[The idea of Gold with their helmet off - and potentially abandoned, even temporarily - is something J hadn't considered before. Huh.]

[Of course, the surprises just keep coming.]

Can't as in 'crossin' a line' or can't as in 'physically impossible?'

Probably both, when it comes down to it. Even if I could get there... If they don't want to see me, it'd be my funeral.

[Admittedly, there'd been some very small part of J that was considering offering to go, right up until "funeral." If Silver wouldn't survive, then J wouldn't be able to get in the front door. Great way to waste his protection boon and then probably die anyway.]

An' if you can't make it, nobody else really has a chance, huh.

[They sigh, frustrated with the situation, not with J.]

It doesn't even matter if you'd survive or not. If Gold... If Gold won't listen to me then there's not getting to them without getting killed, getting them killed, or both. There's a reason we keep all this shit close to our chests.

If any of it ever came out...

[At the moment, J doesn't know if Silver wants a solution, a sounding board, or somebody to lean on. It's making things a little tough to read on his end, and the subject at hand isn't helping.]

So...what now? Can we get someone they do like to talk to 'em? Is there someone they like? [J sure isn't on that list anymore, if he ever was.]

And...what happens if it gets out? I mean, we're already dealin' with the apocalypse.

I can't explain that, okay? If you knew the answer it would make sense, but you don't and you can't, so just-

[They make a sound of frustration like they are cutting themselves off.]

I can't do anything. That's what's now. They're...basically already gone.

...I don't know how to help you.

[It's quiet, and simple - he knows Silver is frustrated, but unfortunately, that's all he has right now.]

I'm sorry.

I know you can't. Dumbass.

[They take a moment to straighten out their voice.]

I never thought you could.

[...he doesn't know who else to talk to. Right.]

Just needed a voice on the other end of the line, huh.

[That much is obvious now, even without saying. Silver laughs, though it's sad and bitter.]

You're pretty much the judge and jury now, J. It doesn't matter what you do, it matters what you think.

Thanks for not addin' executioner to that list.

[There's no bite to it, but Silver might be able to hear his wry grin. That was a fun night for everyone.]

Honestly, when it comes to you two, I dunno what to think anymore. I thought you hated me, an' here you are callin' me to talk. I trusted Gold, an' he threw me under the bus. I got nothin'.

Well, I do kind of hate you a little bit.

[At least they are honest.]

Love you too, buddy.

interstellar5555 IC Inbox

[phone call]

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