Rafael

Rafael

Serafíne's phone comes to life because somebody unlisted just texted her:

Hi Serafíne?

Serafíne

Whereever she is and whoever she is, the response comes a few minutes later and is very simple and very straightforward:

Sry. Your number's not in my phone. Who?

Rafael

The responses are prompt:

It's Rafael

You were trying to get in touch with me about Dad

Thanks

Serafíne

And now Sera's texts fall like rain, and rather quickly. First:

!!!! as soon as It's Rafael appears on her screen.

Then, in rapid succession:

HOw is he?

How r you?

they wont let me in to see him.

Or tell anything - R you in town

Rafael

Another prompt text:

I am I got in last night

And then a measure of silence.

And then, holy crap, phones still get phonecalls, not just texts? Sera's phone goes ringring or buzzbuzz or whatever it does when unlisted number calls her.

Serafíne

If she were faster with her fingers or understood really how the damned thing worked the number would already be programmed into her phone under the name Rafael. But she does not understand these things well though she can usually get new contacts added quickly she's mostly just sitting there watching the screen willing further updates to come in when -

(her phone rings. It is a Pixies song.)

- "Rafael?"

Rafael

The young man does not sound hesitant or hesitating, does not sound wrecked by grief or wary. Hard to get a good read on tone over the phone from a stranger, anyway, and his connection seems -- acceptable.

"Yeah, thought voice might be better. Dad's going to be fine if he takes it easy," and, he thinks, the Techs don't get him while he slumbers, but he doesn't burden the girl who has been described to him as 'crying', and who seems so invested in Pan with that particular bon-mot. As far as he knows, she's just one of his parishioners. "Went in and saw him and the old man doesn't look done with anything or like his Maker wants him back yet. It's just going to take some time."

Serafíne

"Okay."

--

She's outside in her backyard now. Slipped out of the kitchen when the texts started coming in. There's a joint in the ashtray that is yet unlit. She is near the cabana bed but not seated on it. She's walking. The phone is tucked by her ear.

And she was described to him as crying and there's this pause this deep break this break-in-her-voice. Sunlight on her skin and she looks up at the afternoon sky. Squints against the glare.

"Do you need a place to stay? While you're in town?"

And also and it feels like a nonsequitor because that is exactly what it is but: "... is he awake yet?"

Rafael

[Do I?]

Dice: 1 d10 TN6 (1) ( fail )

Rafael

Somewhere, a Euthanatos flips a coin, sends it glinting up and up and up after it weaves his fingers, in-and-out and then he catches it and looks. He has places to stay; but where's he gonna stay?

"Awake enough to be sedated," Rafael says which is: good news? "But not awake enough for visitors yet. He's going to be fine." Rafael has dealt with a lot of worried people, it seems. Or at least people worried about the death of a loved one. Hell, he might've been the death. But the point is he delivers the rote phrase convincingly, with an easy assurance.

"If you're offering me a couch, I wouldn't mind taking you up on that while I get some things in order, though... uh, is there anything I should know about you? You were with dad when he was attacked right? You physically okay?"

It's a polite way to say 'really who are you?'

Rafael

ooc: ahem, death or INJURY of a loved one, I meant to type. ZOMBIE DOGS lead only to death in my head tho. ugh, dogs. shudder.

Serafíne

"I have a spare bedroom. And I know someplace else where you can recharge. It's outside the city, though," she returns, still pacing, faster than she realizes.

Sera can feel the breath in her lungs and the downstroke of her heart pushing blood into her veins. Feels this terrible sense of displacement as she breathes in and looks up the sky.

"I'm fine. Physically."

--

And of course she hears the question in a question. Is there anything I should know about you. She wonders what they talk about, when they talk, if they talk. It is so fucking weird to hear someone call Pan Dad.

"He called you a couple months, right? Before he went to do something kinda serious. Outcome uncertain? I was with him that night too. We should probably talk in person, yeah? I'll text you my address. Or I can have Dan come pick you up if you need a ride."

Sera waits a moment for - agreement, disagreement, acknowledgment of understanding, then, before any sign-off, appends:

"Hey - next time you see him." A pause, a break in her voice. Tears on her cheeks in the sunlight, and though he cannot see these, he can hear the sudden thickness in her voice. "Tell him I asked about him. And that I'd be there if I could."

Rafael

"Address will be fine," Rafael says, having taken in the rest of what Sera says, and what it might mean, and then he says, "And I'll get there when I get there. Don't wait 'round, if you go out I'll just hang out front." Her voice thickens, and she'd be there if she could. There's a pause; it stretches a shade long. "I'll let him know his recovery's in your heart, but he probably already knows. Hanging up now for the text."

And then he does.