[these are running noises] Lenalee?! You weren't in there, were you? Oh my God, if you took my advice I could've killed you. I really am the worst. [breathlessly]
I'm going in -- call me! I might not answer right away, I'm not hearing very well after all that noise, but keep calling.
[much quieter; he's taking a breather from digging] Hi, Lenalee... It's Allen. I'm all right. And you're -- not, probably. I know that you'll be back, because there's still this little picture of you on my telephone. I've been looking at it a lot.
There's a lot of work that needs to be done here. Everything is -- kind of a mess. I'm sure that you'll call me when you can, so I'm going to go back to work. On the off chance that you're in there now, and because I know lots of other people are.
So I'll try not to leave you another million messages. I've already embarrassed myself thoroughly, no doubt. [probably not as bad as the ones Lavi got, though, lbr] Just know that I'm thinking about you, and I'll be here.
[she listens to each and every message, one by one, over and over again. each one sinks a little deeper in her chest, and she's hard pressed not to cry by the end of it. She really disappeared then, she left Allen alone, she worried him when she promised to stay by his side.]
[She couldn't keep that promise at all. She could only imagine what happened in her absence, bad things, dead things. Waking up in the remains of the apartment left her heart pounding her chest and the growing fear that that was all that remained to greet her. So in a way, she's glad to hear Allen's messages, if only because it meant that he was still around.]
[But what if he wasn't?]
[then it's what she deserves, for leaving him behind. so she calls him, after staring at the picture on his phone, wondering how he could have possibly felt]
...Allen? [i'm sorry] ...Where are you? [I'm the one that left you, but now I'm the one who needs to see you. She's selfish, she knows, and she won't ever deny it]
[he answers the phone unthinkingly, bringing it to his ear and -- there's a swell of relief and worry when he hears her voice] Lenalee! You're here.
I'm nearby -- I went to the church. Are you all right, how are you feeling? [he's already heading for the door so that he can go to... he's not sure. the apartment wreckage?] I can come to you...
...I'm -- [not okay. she's physically fine. she can wiggle her fingers and toes. but that's only the tip of the iceberg she's feeling right now.] I woke up at the ruins. I'll meet you half-way.
[he beams at her as he draws closer, his gaze flicking over her to take her in quickly. she looks all right -- there's nothing visibly wrong with her, no visible wounds or blood, but he knows that's not nearly enough]
[he keeps running up to her and gathers her right up into a hug]
Don't be ridiculous. [he's not going to let go until he thinks she doesn't need this anymore to feel okay] You didn't leave us. You would never do that. You mustn't blame yourself.
...Thank you for staying with me. [for waiting, for still being alive. while she had cried and sobbed out loud the first time she met Allen in Haven, she does her best to keep it quiet and short. It's silly to cry when she's already back... She only draws back once she's sure she won't start crying again-- ] Were you okay? I heard that the ghosts destroyed the building...
[he shifts enough to smile at her warmly, staying close] Yes, I was fine. Most of us were still at the school when it happened, so I think few people were really injured. It's just been a little difficult finding shelter, but everyone's looking out for each other.
That's good... [that everyone's cooperating and not running around like headless chickens.] Then -- that means it's all over, right? No more ghosts or people acting strangely...?
No. It all seemed to stop after the apartment complex went down. I haven't been back to the school since then, but... [but he's avoiding it now, even though it makes him feel guilty]
[she stills a bit, looking up at him. if it was anyone else, then she wouldn't say. there had to be a reason. there had to be. she wasn't sure what she'd do if there wasn't. but it's Allen, and he's only worried for her sake, and she owes it to him.]
...A boy. Cain -- but he was possessed. He wasn't acting himself at all. [...aha] It was... a little scary to see, to be honest. But I know it wasn't him.
[a breath. Cain. he doesn't know the name, but the sentiment is clear: someone here hurt her. one of the other victims, like them. someone who should have been on her side lashed out at her when she was probably only trying to help and killed her]
[but he makes himself swallow the angry response to that, and manages a murmur] You're saying -- he wouldn't have hurt you, if he'd been in control...?
I’m sure he wouldn’t have. He didn’t sound like himself at all. [but he hadn’t sounded like an old Irish man either] …I should talk to him. Since it’s not his fault…
[she’s being hypocritical now, she knows. Offering an idea like that, while her face pales at the thought. Is it too soon? Maybe it’s too soon]
No. [quick, and then, more gently] Don't rush it, okay? Let everything -- settle a bit before you try to do anything that might not go the way you want. I just got you back. [smiling a bit for her]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
[voicemail] 9/KABOOM
I'm going in -- call me! I might not answer right away, I'm not hearing very well after all that noise, but keep calling.
[voicemail] 10/death, doom, destruction acheived
There's a lot of work that needs to be done here. Everything is -- kind of a mess. I'm sure that you'll call me when you can, so I'm going to go back to work. On the off chance that you're in there now, and because I know lots of other people are.
So I'll try not to leave you another million messages. I've already embarrassed myself thoroughly, no doubt. [probably not as bad as the ones Lavi got, though, lbr] Just know that I'm thinking about you, and I'll be here.
[...click]
[voice] beautiful
[She couldn't keep that promise at all. She could only imagine what happened in her absence, bad things, dead things. Waking up in the remains of the apartment left her heart pounding her chest and the growing fear that that was all that remained to greet her. So in a way, she's glad to hear Allen's messages, if only because it meant that he was still around.]
[But what if he wasn't?]
[then it's what she deserves, for leaving him behind. so she calls him, after staring at the picture on his phone, wondering how he could have possibly felt]
...Allen? [i'm sorry] ...Where are you? [I'm the one that left you, but now I'm the one who needs to see you. She's selfish, she knows, and she won't ever deny it]
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I'm nearby -- I went to the church. Are you all right, how are you feeling? [he's already heading for the door so that he can go to... he's not sure. the apartment wreckage?] I can come to you...
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[and he's going to hurry, because he doesn't want her to be alone]
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Allen...!
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[he keeps running up to her and gathers her right up into a hug]
I'm sorry.
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...No. I should be the one apologizing. [and gripping him tight] I didn't mean to leave you and Lavi, Allen. I'm -- sorry.
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...I really came back, didn't I? [voice wavering] This isn't a dream...?
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...Thank you for staying with me. [for waiting, for still being alive. while she had cried and sobbed out loud the first time she met Allen in Haven, she does her best to keep it quiet and short. It's silly to cry when she's already back... She only draws back once she's sure she won't start crying again-- ] Were you okay? I heard that the ghosts destroyed the building...
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...I'm glad you're okay. [even if the entire building is gone]
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...A boy. Cain -- but he was possessed. He wasn't acting himself at all. [...aha] It was... a little scary to see, to be honest. But I know it wasn't him.
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[but he makes himself swallow the angry response to that, and manages a murmur] You're saying -- he wouldn't have hurt you, if he'd been in control...?
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I’m sure he wouldn’t have. He didn’t sound like himself at all. [but he hadn’t sounded like an old Irish man either] …I should talk to him. Since it’s not his fault…
[she’s being hypocritical now, she knows. Offering an idea like that, while her face pales at the thought. Is it too soon? Maybe it’s too soon]
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