Drift Fleet IC Inbox;;

[postocular]

This is Carl. 'm not here, leave a message.

Comments

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[outstandingbalance]

That's new. A gift?

[She hasn't been waiting long, for whatever it's worth. She comments on the bone as casually as she'd comment on a new watch.]

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[postocular]

[ His fingers brush up against it and he nods. ]

Leilani gave it to me.

[outstandingbalance]

Seems kind of her. Does it mean anything?

[postocular]

I'm not sure what it means to her, but I know it's special. She never took it off.

[ So neither is he, because that's how he roll. ]

[outstandingbalance]

[Carl. So serious.]

C'mon. Let's get some ice cream. They better have some, at least.

[They deserve it.]

[postocular]

Sounds good.

[ He falls into step next to Natasha and stays silent most of the way there, but glances at her with a frown. ]

I'm sorry I didn't say anything.

[outstandingbalance]

About what? You don't owe me anything. I'm just... checking up.

[postocular]

I know, I know.. I just. [ He sighs, rubbing the back of his neck. ]

Feel like I have to explain? Especially since you were there.

[outstandingbalance]

If there's anything you want to explain, I'll listen.

[She won't say she's happy to listen because she's not.]

[postocular]

[ Who could be happy to listen after being thrown into that nightmare? ]

I really don't know where to start.

[outstandingbalance]

What happened?

[postocular]

I remembered more from home.

[outstandingbalance]

That sounds like a good place to start. What did you remember?

[postocular]

..A lot. Um. Negan came to attack Alexandria. We set it on fire. Got people into the sewers.

[outstandingbalance]

Smart. Rough, but smart. [The Russian in Natasha understands that kind of strategy. Burn your own resources rather than let them fall to someone else. Retreat with what you could.]

[postocular]

He's not going to stop, but it should slow him down for everyone, at least.

[outstandingbalance]

So you were able to get away? [Priorities.]

[postocular]

[ Boy that silence sure does speak for itself, doesn't it? ]

[outstandingbalance]

[Yeah, it does. Natasha gives him a long few moments of silence before she speaks.]

So when you remembered, you didn't just remember.

[postocular]

..Yeah. It wasn't anybody's fault, it just happened.

[outstandingbalance]

Makes sense. [But it doesn't make it okay.] So that's what happened.

We'll have to be careful it doesn't happen again.

[postocular]

Kinda hard for it to happen when you're already dead.

[outstandingbalance]

Kind of lively for a dead man.

[postocular]

Yeah. Maybe.

[outstandingbalance]

I'd say until such time as you're actually dead, probably for the best to keep trying to stay alive.