[Voice]

[espigeonage]

[Dated to within hours of Wise Snake's demise. There are a couple seconds of nothing but his very deep slow breaths before Julien speaks. He sounds weary and ragged, with hollow trembling notes in some of his vowels.]

I guess this is goodbye, Numbers Club. See, I made plans to leave if I got too pulsed up to look human anymore, and. [paaause] Yeah. I'm sorry. I can't really help anyone like this, anyway. I can't-

My sister can put me up, out west. She agreed to it, I called her and everything. -I would like to see my niece again. [okay trying to focus] Um, Tater, I showed you where the outside key is, you can get someone to let you in. People who work at the LSR... I think I was recognized. -I know I was. So the cops might know. I'm sending Aaron a voicemail about that, we set up plans, but for you, just, if they talk to you, I'm some weirdo who worked there and had nothing to do with you, okay?

[Deep, deep breath.] Can I get someone to drive me out of the city? And get just the stuff I really need from my apartment? There's a motel out of the bounds where I've booked a room. I know, short notice, but I don't want the city border getting clamped down first. Things are still messy right now. It should be possible.

Please be safe. Everyone.

[This is not going to work quite as planned.]

Comments

[espigeonage]

No...

[he's quiet for long enough that it seems like he's not going to answer.]

An animal. Just - an animal. Ask your uncle or Gabe, or something.

[moreweaponsthanyou]

Alright. I'm not going to push. Maybe the elvish thing will become clearer. Or not if you're leaving the city. Just stay safe, okay?

[espigeonage]

It's simple enough. I don't know why I want to use it for... hello and goodbye.

But I had - I was - it was easy to teach it to me. Towards the end even words I hadn't heard before, I understood it when I heard them.

That's because it's a language animals understand. I've been using it to talk to them.

[moreweaponsthanyou]

[Fil really doesn't understand.] You were an animal-whisperer in your past life?

[espigeonage]

No. I only am... now, because I learned the language. And I learned the language fast because I've been turning into an animal.

[moreweaponsthanyou]

Oh.

[Fil's really not sure what to say to that.]

That...that sucks?

[espigeonage]

Yup.

So, so you can guess why I'm leaving.

[moreweaponsthanyou]

I probably would myself.

[espigeonage]

Right.

[Considering, this is a little more than he wanted to say. Well, it's not like it'll matter.]

Be good to your uncle and Gabriel, okay? They helped me out. I don't think I thanked them.

[moreweaponsthanyou]

I'll pass it along, no worries.

[espigeonage]

Good. Thanks. -They're both okay, right?

[moreweaponsthanyou]

Completely fine, no worries there!

[espigeonage]

...I'm probably not going to know who's dead for a while.


But, they're okay. That's good to know.

[moreweaponsthanyou]

Don't worry so much about other people right now? Just concentrate on yourself first.

[espigeonage]

I gotta do that while I can. I mean - it's not like I won't later. Just won't be the same.

[moreweaponsthanyou]

Caring is caring. That's not going to change. And we appreciate it.

[espigeonage]

-thanks. Again.

I feel like I should keep talking, but there's not really anything new I can say. Just fussing or self-pity, really.

...oh, my athelas. It'll be good on its own for a while, so there's not a time crunch or anything, but I don't want it dying or getting thrown out.

[moreweaponsthanyou]

Want me to move the entire thing over to my place? Uncle won't mind. Or I can drop by your apartment once in a while to keep an eye on it.

[espigeonage]

Either way, I'd be grateful. That thing's been a comfort.

[moreweaponsthanyou]

No worries, I'll take care of it.

[espigeonage]

All right. Everything else will just - take care of itself. I guess.