002 — audio. [iphone]

[argents]

[ What first rips across the audio post is deafening silence. Fitting, as it's late—not terribly so, but enough that all smart people were either currently sleeping, or otherwise cramming for finals, in most of his acquaintances' cases. But this particular silence is tense, and smothering, and dark. As if it's currently awaiting something that's never going to happen. In realization of this, a slow, shaky exhale reveals the presence on the other line, stirring the otherwise quiet post to life. A whip of sheets, footsteps, the flick of a light switch.

A quiet mumble, if only to himself:

Just once?

Whatever Banagher was hoping to capture via audio, or prove the existence of, he's missed his chance. So instead, he brings his phone up to a proper speaking distance. ]

Hey, those werewolves. The ones from the Dead District, a few weeks ago. They... they're all supposed to be gone, right? There's howling, somewhere outside. Or, a howl. I only heard it once, but there was no mistaking it, it wasn't normal.

[ Distantly, a the tinny echo of another voice joins him, distinctly mechanical: Banagher! Didn't hear anything, didn't hear anything! A dream? ]

I heard it, Haro! It wasn't some dream!

[ A heavy sigh, to blanket the nervousness. ]

And it wasn't only the howling, either.

Comments

[Text]

[shiromadoushi]

What else was it?


And what was that other voice?

( text 1/2 )

[argents]

I can't shake the feeling that I'm being watched, somehow.

[argents]

Other voice... you mean Haro?

[shiromadoushi]

The thing that sounded like a robot.

You think something's following you?

[twopercent]

[Sleeping, what is that even.It's not unusual at all for Jack to be restlessly awake, and this is no exception.]

Where was it coming from?

[argents]

Outside, I think. But it sounded so close... I can't be sure. I already looked and there was nothing to see.

[ Sparse traffic. Streetlights. Nothing really horror-movie worthy, since he did the smart thing and looked out his window anyway. ]

[twopercent]

[Jack's still trying to heal up, shouldn't be going out, but... taking no chances.]

If nobody else is checking it out, I can probably go scout the area.

...uh. 'Haro' didn't hear anything, though?

[What on earth is Haro even.]

audio

[reckless_fire]

[Cramming for finals? Yeah right. As. If.]

Yo, what's going on? You okay over there, man?

[argents]

[ You're the special delinquent snowflake on his roster. ]

...I'm fine. Thanks. [ Well, now that he's forced himself to calm down. ] I just didn't see or hear the werewolves, the first time. But the howling didn't sound like normal neighborhood dogs, not at all.

[reckless_fire]

[He'll do his best to live up to that.]

You think it was those wolf-things? I thought they stuck pretty close to the DD? If they're coming out, that's... Yeah, not really a good thing.

audio

[angelskills]

[ Howling...? She hadn't heard anything herself, but if he had heard it then she believed him. What did it mean? Briefly, a conversation she had about the wolves she had some time ago pops up in her mind. They were trying to capture us. She breathes slowly and shakes her head. No, she can't worry about that -- not right now. She had to make sure he was all right.

And it wasn't only the howling, either.

What else had there been?

She responds, her voice low and what she hopes is soothing. ]

Banagher?

[argents]

Colette? [ Admittedly, not who he was expecting at this hour. ] What are you doing awake?

[angelskills]

Studying for finals.

Ah -- but don't worry about me. Are you all right?

[Text, early the next morning]

[professorwolf]

I don't think all of the dog-mutants were killed, no. Can you tell me more of what happened Banagher? If you're in danger, I want to do what I can to help.

[Like, y'know. Call somebody else. Or something. He doesn't even know, man, but it's been typed and sent so there's no going back.]

[argents]

You don't think they're in the city, do you? [ The way he asks runs together a little quickly, but he wills himself to keep it together. Answer straight. ] I—was trying to fall asleep. For some reason, tonight's just felt off, and I thought it was better to just pack it in. But then I heard this howl, like... something was dying.

It didn't happen again, though. I don't think I'm in any danger.

[ Just kind of severely weirded out. ]

[Audio]

[professorwolf]

[Switching the microphone on his laptop on again, now that he knows Banagher is awake, Lyall replies in kind.]

I don't know about the dogs. I haven't smelled them around, but they could just have... gone back to being people again.

[Yeah, he's pretty sure now that the "dog police" are actually more of those funny-smelling cops... it's the only thing that fits. The simplest solution.]

You didn't hear anything else all night, then? Probably you're all right... but that is a little weird. And scary, I bet.

[ audio; cellphone ]

[secondcomingof]

[ ...does everyone he warns not to get into danger then go and decide to immediately do it anyway? Seriously now. But he can't sound too aggravated with Banagher, given their last conversation.

Instead, he just sounds concerned. ]

What happened?

[ Yeah, never mind all that awkwardness lingering between them. He's setting that particular issues (series of issues) on the backburner, at least until he knows the boy is safe. ]

[argents]

[ It takes him by surprise, the clear cut of that voice through his phone. Of course it does. How could it not? Several minutes pass, each a miniature tug-of-war between neglected logic and sorely abused intuition, before he finally responds. ]

Right as I was going to fall asleep, I heard this terrible noise. A howl, like something was in pain. Like...

[ He doesn't want to finish that. Like something being killed. ]

I can't get it out of my head. It was too close.

[secondcomingof]

A howl of pain...?

[ Well that's not troubling. At all. And thus Casval doesn't immediately sound troubled. At all. ]

What kind of howl? [ Please don't let it be, please don't let it be... ] ...like a wolf?

audio

[redelivers]

[ No, Toshirou, do not in any way, shape, or form suggest that the kid start smoking or drinking to cope with his problems. Toshi, don't do it. Don't do it. Finally he sighs, having convinced himself to actually try and be helpful. ]

Hey, kid. And your weird robot pet.

You okay? Crazy shit like what happened down in the Dead District-- That crap's got a way of making you feel like you're remembering it in real time. If your pet's not hearing it, either he's broken or your head's playing tricks on you.

[ Toshi would know a thing or two about that, after all. His arm still feels like it's been freshly cut open now and then. ]

i had a doki. a little one.

[argents]

[ Out of all the people to reply, this, this right here, might be the one that gets him the most. Banagher is convinced he's gone mad for the fraction of a second it takes for his mouth to override his brain. ]

...Toshirou? [ A+ ENTRY. ] Um, well. No, I don't think he heard it. Lately, I don't know how much I can just write off as mind tricks, though.

[ A tinge of concern colors his voice. ]

Does this happen to you?

text, like the next day or so

[struckout]

Are you alright?

[ She can't help but ask, can't help but worry that- even if nothing happened immediately after he made this message, the wolves busting in and tearing him into tiny pieces may only be delayed.

... She's not the most optimistic person, lately. ]

( text, afternoon )

[argents]

I'm okay. I didn't get much sleep, but that ended up being the worst of it after all.

[ As freaked out as he was, now he feels pretty bad that people are still checking up on him half-a-day later. ]

[Texted]

[espigeonage]

Well that's creepy. I thought they stayed in that area.

( text )

[argents]

Julien, right?

That's what I thought too. Unless we've forced them to move, somehow.