Poi 05 - Voice

[firewalled]

...It's Rich.

[Might as well not bother with preamble, though that's certainly odd for him. Odder still that he has the video off, even if there's still the faint strumming of guitar suggesting that he's nervously plucking at strings as he often does.]

I'm 18 now, according to the roster. Guess I missed my birthday. I knew it was coming up, but I was kinda distracted with stuff.

[Like having a mental crisis for the better part of two months at least.]

Anyways, was just wondering like... what's the longest someone's been stuck here before they got to go back home? Maybe, uh, maybe it was wishful thinking? But I was kinda thinking with the whole Ministry investigation and how fucking useless I am on the missions that the train would boot me off by now.

[He's really trying to laugh, trying to make that sound like a joke.]

Just. Was thinking about it. At this point, my friends back home probably assume my dad stabbed me or shit... maybe they'll believe those messages we got to send at that river, but more likely they'll think I'm nuts.

[Just another certified Rich Goranski Comedy Routine. He'll be here all week, folks.]

Comments

[firewalled]

[Ugh. Why do people have to keep bothering him? It's better for him if he just deals with stuff alone, isn't it?]

...I'm sure I'm not the best company right now, so I don't know why you'd want to come see me.

[subcircuits]

Because I care about you, Rich, whether you're good company or not. [And because he'd fucked up, and he wants to try to make up for it.]

[firewalled]

I don't know why you still do. 'm not worth the effort.

[He sighs heavily but seems to relent.]

You can come if you want. I know I'm being shitty and listening to the voices in my head instead of you, and I'm sorry.

[subcircuits]

Where are you?

[firewalled]

Just in my room. I have one of the doubles.

[subcircuits]

Thank you, Rich.

[Sure enough, after a few minutes there's a knock at that door, just two doors down from Devero's own double cabin room.] Rich?

[firewalled]

[Rich might feel a little stupid about not reaching out when Devero was so close by, but he's still learning, unfortunately. He just doesn't know how to confide in people, even now when he opens the door to his room, standing a little awkwardly to one side, unsure whether to let Dev in or try to wave him off.]

Hey... Sorry, um, if you're busy or something. Or... you probably weren't if you came here, but.

[subcircuits]

[For now, Devero absolves him of having to make that choice. He slouches in the doorway, crossing his arms over his chest and looking anywhere but directly at the younger man.]

...You aren't hearing any actual voices, are you?

[firewalled]

Uh-

[Rich is taken aback for a moment, before he realizes his earlier mistake. He was used to just being blunt about his mental health, but after the experiences he's had here, with voices that were just a bit more corporeal... He winces and shakes his head.]

Not ones that can tell me what to do, no. Even if I think I hear her... it's not her anymore.

[subcircuits]

[Devero slumps with visible relief.] Thank the virtues. You had me worried.