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?

[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?

audio

[reckless_fire]

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

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

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?

[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.]

( text 1/2 )

[argents]

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

[argents]

Other voice... you mean Haro?

[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. ]

[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.

[shiromadoushi]

The thing that sounded like a robot.

You think something's following you?

[argents]

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

[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. ]

[argents]

That's him. He's kind of like a toy, or a pet, I guess. I "recovered" him? Whatever we're calling these things.

[ Banagher snaps a shot of the little spherical robot and passes it along via text. ]

That's the way it feels, to me.

[shiromadoushi]

[[Oh hey, that was really neat!]]

That's really cool! Does he change form or anything? Or is he just always round?

[argents]

[ This is actually soothing his nerves a lot, small talk. ]

He's always been round, so far. He has ears though. Or arms. I can't really tell. But his AI seems really sophisticated, for a toy.

[angelskills]

Studying for finals.

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

[shiromadoushi]

Maybe he's more than just a toy?

You should bring him to school so I can see!

[argents]

Maybe, I don't really remember anything about him. If I can get him to keep quiet, I'll try to let him tag along. My teachers might think I'm cheating though, with the way he learns things.

[shiromadoushi]

That might be a problem, if he's talkative...

Maybe we can meet somewhere instead?

[argents]

[ Managing another steady exhale, he makes a noise of affirmation. Keep calm. ]

Yeah. It's just been a weird night.

[argents]

Well, he mostly repeats things, but not things I necessarily tell him.

He likes the park?

[shiromadoushi]

I can meet you there! Just say when~

[angelskills]

It sounds like it.

Um, if it's okay to ask, what else happened? Aside from the howling.

[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.

[argents]

Friday?