Appointments Post

[intangible_girl]

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[intangible_girl]

[ After Ingrid dries her tears, she opens up the journal again and calls Robert. She doesn't know what she's going to say to him, but she knows she needs to talk to him.]

R-robert?

[i_speak_softly]

[Oh. He has no compunctions about being passive-aggressive towards Ingrid, but he definitely doesn't want to cause Robert any more distress.]

She wants to know if you're okay.

[semper_cogitans]

I-I... ... [Softly:] A-Alright, I... I can s-speak to her if... if it would... e-ease her mind.

[Proof. It's proof that he's alive.

... Mostly.]

[i_speak_softly]

[Don turns the Voice function back on, and passes the journal to Robert.]

[semper_cogitans]

[Tiredly, Robert holds the journal to his chest and almost murmurs, questioningly:] Ingrid...?

[intangible_girl]

[Deep, relieved breath in and out.]

Robert! Are you alright?

[semper_cogitans]

[Robert's voice is soft and low and impossibly sad.] No.

... I am alive.

[He grits his teeth and shuts his eyes against the mental images assailing him.]

[intangible_girl]

Do you want me to come over?

[You sound terrible.]

[semper_cogitans]

[Right now it's all he can do to resist the urge to curl up and sob forever. Even talking to Ingrid is hard.]

... It... it m-may be best to... defer that.

[... Though he still can't muster up a straight negative.]

[intangible_girl]

[....oh.]

Alright. I... understand. [Even though it's painful.] Be well, Robert.

[semper_cogitans]

Th-thank you.

...

[Softly:] I... I will see you s-soon, Ingrid... p-perhaps...

[He's sorry, Ingrid. He doesn't mean to hurt you... not like he can tell he did, right now.

For now, he's... just going to hide his face.]

[i_speak_softly]

[Don gently takes the journal away from Robert. If Ingrid doesn't say something quickly, he'll close it.]

[And then he turns his attention to his partner, who seems to be much in need of a soothing presence.]