voice | @ m.murry

[loveconquers]

[ Meg wanted to just send out a text, quick and to the point. But, she needed this to be a little personal because that's all it was. He was her family and she'd gone four long years without him. Having him back for a little under 2 months was more than she could have had.

It could be all she will have. She doesn't know.

And that's why she needs to do this. She might not have bothered otherwise... Back home, she wasn't responsible for the announcements or notifications to family and friends, but her mother wasn't here. She spent a long time wondering if she should even do this or let people find out on their own, but it was the right thing to do. His leaving impacted more than just her. When he hadn't come back, she'd figured he might've been caught up with whatever was going on, but then the other pieces fell into place. He'd been sent away. This time, she promises to herself, she won't lash out and destroy what she's kind of set herself up for here. It hurts. It hurts, but it's a familiar pain.

At least she knows what to do with it now and that she can fix it. No, now that she will fix it. Her voice is even when she finally addresses the network, wanting to keep this as brief as possible. It was easier to internalize it than to scream and cry. Though, she can't stop a few tears as she can hear his voice in her mind. Just like she can't help the way her voice cracks at his name.

Be strong for me, Meglet. It'll all work itself out. You'll see. ]

For anyone who might have known him, Dr. Alex Murry is gone. He did wall research and development. I--

[ She's not sure what else needs to be said. Apologizing feels wrong. She can only hope that he didn't go back to Camazotz. Or if he did, he isn't there alone for long. There's a pause filled with a shaky breath as she searches for how to end this before just turning it off. ]

Comments

voice @L.Mills

[thestoriesarereal]

[Oh...that name sounds familiar, but the way that voice ends the conversation...she knows that pain. It's someone trying to be strong when they don't want to be.

So, she tries to reach out as softly and gently as possible.]

I'm sorry that he's gone.

audio un:pnwsalex

[11calls]

Oh, I'm so sorry.

[Alex sounds like she means it too, because she does.]

Are you okay? Well, I'm sure you're not but is there anything I can do? Do you need something?

voice @frankenstein

[jolting]

[Well. Shit. This place really does not seem to like letting kids have their families around. It seems needlessly unfair and cruel. But he's not going to say "sorry" or ask if she's okay, because these are pointless things to say at a time like this. Instead, he diverts her with one of his own personal favorite coping mechanisms]

So listen, next time Lucy and I do a science experiment, you're welcome to join us.

[loveconquers]

[ It’ll really sink in after a few days, the reminder of her seeming isolation. Being surrounded by people, but none of them her family. At least back home, when she’d have rough nights, she could always count on Charles Wallace being there to make hot chocolate and talk… Or not talk. ]

It’s okay. [ No, it’s not. But, she didn’t want apologies. No one apologizing could have stopped this from happening again. ] I’m just glad I got a little time with him.

[loveconquers]

I’m okay. [ And in a weird way, she kind of is. Ok, not really. But, she will be. She can get through this. It’s not forever. That’s what she has to tell herself. ] It’s not the first time I’ve been through this with my Dad leaving. [ And as soon as the words leave her mouth, she realizes how wrong they sound. He didn’t intentionally abandon her, even if it felt like it sometimes.

She just lets that hang in the air for a long moment, not really sure how to correct herself without spilling more information than the other person probably wants to hear. Also, she super sucks at asking for help, so… It’s fine. ] Back home, not here. [ Yup, that really helped. Sticking with the honesty track, she manages three words that are hard for her. ]

I don’t know.

[loveconquers]

[ Her kneejerk reaction is to politely decline, follow the path to self-induced isolation… But that’s not what she wants. Not really. The world is a lonely enough place without her making it more so. ]

That’d be nice. Thanks. [ Baby steps. She knows it’ll hurt less with time. She’s just gotta get there. ]

[jolting]

You're welcome.

[He tries to think of something else]

Do you like dogs?

[loveconquers]

Yeah, we have a dog back home - Fortinbras.

[ It's a good choice for alternate distractions. Animals will always have a soft spot in her heart. Who knows, maybe one day she'll get one here. She just has to make sure she can handle the responsibility of an animal on her own.

Even if it makes her ache a little, it's something to possibly work towards. ]

[jolting]

That's an excellent name. Ours is named John.

[11calls]

Oh no. I'm so sorry. I didn't know. You're a strong kid, though. I wouldn't be.

[Alex has adopted the idea that when she talks to kids, she's going to be as truthful as possible, and that includes when they're being strong or brave or when things suck. So, she's calling a spade a spade.]

I can offer you an ear or hot chocolate. Or both. I'm Alex, by the way, Alex Reagan.

Private | video

[thestoriesarereal]

[ Lucy turns on the video option and makes sure to make their conversation private. The video screen shows a young nine year old girl who gives a little wave. ]

I think this might be better...and I don’t like voice calls too much, if that’s okay.

[ A beat as she tries to gather her thoughts on this. ]

If it doesn’t feel okay later...and you need someone to talk to, I can be there for you. My grandma was here before...and it hurt a lot to lose her.

video | @arcarius

[angelic_archer]

I'm sorry that he's gone. [Alec hadn't met Dr. Murry officially but they'd spoken before about magic and science... which reminds him.] Are you the one he told me about who could portal places?

[loveconquers]

I can’t take credit for it. [ Her parents were great and tended to be creative with naming, even if hers was kinda plain. She liked it. ] John’s a good name for a dog. [ There’s something so fun when it comes to dogs that aren’t called by the typical names. She thinks for a long moment, remembering something from when she’d first arrived. ]

Is John a German Shepherd?

[loveconquers]

[ She didn’t have a choice. Even without her younger brother here, she still needed to be strong for herself because she wasn’t sure what might happen if she crumbles.

The thought of hot chocolate manages to bring a smile to her face, the beverage a weakness for her to resist when she’s having a rough day. The ear, maybe. She’s bad at opening up to new people… But, she’ll try. ]

Meg... Hot chocolate would be nice.

[loveconquers]

[ Meg hesitates for a moment before flipping her own feed to video, her hair pulled back and glasses in place. ]

That sucks a lot... I thought this place would be better than back home.

[ Because it had brought her back together with her father and she’d been happy. For the first time in what feels like forever, she’d been able to let her emotional guard down and start to reach out, make friends… Be a kid. She should’ve known it was too good to be true. ]

[loveconquers]

Yeah. [ She’s not really sure how much he told the other person, but she knew her father… And she was pretty sure he thought she was a whiz at it. She’d only just gotten good at not sabotaging herself, kind of. Her emotions still very much controlled the outcome, though. ]

I’m still learning how to do it all, so I’m not an expert or anything.

[jolting]

Yeah, he is. You've already seen him?

[loveconquers]

He wanted to eat my sandwich, I think. [ Very sweet, but also apparently very interested in her food. It was memorable, just like the name. ]

[jolting]

Ah. I've been training him, but he does still do that from time to time.

[angelic_archer]

Your father and I were trying to figure out if the magic in my world that allows people to portal is the same as what you do. He thought that science and magic might be the same thing.

[Pausing, he tries to think of how to ask her if she's okay, if she has someone to care for her without sounding like a stalker.]

Do you have other family here?

video; @scarletwitch

[seeingscarlet]

['M. Murry.' 'Alex Murry.' It doesn't take a psychic to put two and two together, especially not for a pain that's so familiar.]

I'm sorry.

Do you need anything? Is someone looking after you?

[11calls]

Nice to meet you, Meg. And I just happen to know which cafe has the best hot chocolate and cookies in Riverview, so at least we can do that. Are you in communal housing?

[She hopes so, the idea of this poor kid going to a house alone is worrying.]

[loveconquers]

It’s okay. [ Besides, she was extremely distracted by the guy with the dog that was the spitting image of her father. Someone she needed to prepare herself to possibly see again. ] Fortinbras isn’t the best when it comes to following instructions.

[loveconquers]

[ Yeah, that sounds about right. And honestly, the more time she’d spent with the Mrs.’, the more she agreed with that idea. ] The way I do it works really well with some of the ideas of physics.

[ As for his question… ] No. [ While she knows she’s not alone and help is available if she needs it, this is the first time she’s truly been on her own and the weight of that will start sinking in later. ]

[loveconquers]

Yeah, we hadn’t had a chance to move into a house or anything yet. [ Her father had wanted to get settled with his work and she didn’t mind it. At least she got a stipend through school so she won’t have to worry about how to handle being alone and buying food for herself. ] Those both sound good.

Should I meet you there? [ She should probably get the name of it, too. She hadn’t really done much exploring, instead catching up with her Dad… But, she’d have time now. ]

video;

[loveconquers]

It’s okay. [ No, it’s really not. But, she’s not the best when it comes to responding properly to the word ‘sorry’. Exposed vulnerability isn’t something she excels at, though she’s getting better at dropping the front she tends to adopt in the name of deflection. ]

I… [ Does she need anything? Yes, but nothing anyone here can really provide. And in the name of not being dramatic right now, she just keeps it to herself. Something she wouldn’t have done a few months ago. ] I don’t know. And it’s just me now.

[jolting]

In any case, you're also welcome to play with him when you want. It'll do him good to get used to different people outside of work.

[11calls]

Yeah, I'm on the Ninth floor now, and can come down and meet you in the lobby if you want. We're going to be heading to The Coffee Shop. Funnily enough, it's kind of the only one with an actual name.

[seeingscarlet]

[Of course it's not okay, but if that's the mask Meg needs to wear to get herself through this, who is Wanda to call her on it? She'd hated adults telling her how she should be feeling or coping after her parents had died, and so she's not going to turn around and do the same thing to Meg.]

I am used to making meals for two if you want help with dinner?

[She remembers how overwhelming the sudden Responsibilities had been.]

[angelic_archer]

I've never studied physics and I can't do magic. Magnus might be able to explain how he makes portals. It might be similar to how you do it. [Even if the methods aren't the same, maybe Magnus would be able to help or at least point her in the right direction.]

Do you have somewhere safe to live? [Again, he worries about seeming like someone creepy, but she needs someone to look after her and he still had the contact information for the being who had checked in on Max.]

[thestoriesarereal]

This place...it has it's ups and downs. But...I get it. With my grandma, I never got to meet her until we were both here.

[Another pause as she tries to figure out what else to say to make things better...]

Do you...want hot cocoa or anything?

[When in doubt, go for food.]