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[righthemisphere]

You've reached Raleigh Becket, please leave a message.

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[suicidemission]

“Hey. What’re you doing?”

[righthemisphere]

"Nothing really. What can I help you with?"

[suicidemission]

He laughs.

“You sound like a customer service line.”

[righthemisphere]

Scoff. Shit, you're right.

"Shut up. What's up man?"

[suicidemission]

He’s still chuckling to himself.

“Have you heard the radio ads for that fear thing?”

[righthemisphere]

"Uh, a little bit. Like a task force or something?"

So no not really he wasn't listening.

[suicidemission]

“Kinda. First Encounter Assault Recon. I guess it’s sorta like the local military?”

[righthemisphere]

"Oh,"

This is not what he was expecting to be called about but it is not surprising at all that Chuck would have sniffed this out.

He takes a breath and grunts as he moves, like he's shifting on the couch or bed and not totally happy about it.

"Sounds like there's a lot to defend against here."

And that's very on brand for you. Maybe him too, once upon a time.

"Are you thinking about it?"

[suicidemission]

“I already joined. Supposedly we’re protection and...” he looks down like he’s reading something.

“And we ‘capture, secure, and investigate supernatural creatures and examine phenomena’. Whatever that means. I’m a combat specialist.”

[righthemisphere]

Raleigh almost laughs. Almost. There's a smile in his voice.

"Sounds perfect for you." Ffh, hiss. Ow.

"When do you start?"

[suicidemission]

"Uh, I think it's pretty much effective immediately. I'll get my armor later. Are you okay?"

He noticed that hissing, Raleigh.

[righthemisphere]

"Ngh, yeah. Armour, huh. Sounds cool but I remember that first fitting for my drive suit."

Deflecting wth a laugh and a soft joke.

"I hope they're paying you for the pleasure. They don't know who they've just enlisted."

[suicidemission]

"It looks pretty badass, I'll send you a picture. And yeah, the pay is actually pretty good." He'll fumble with his phone before sending it over.

"Ray, you sure you're okay? You takin' your pills?" He knows Gipsy was nuclear. He knows the drive suits were part of the protection. He also knows from what Raleigh said that he had to manually override the core.

He has some concerns.

[righthemisphere]

And that Raleigh said he's pretty sure the reactor shield took damage in Pitfall.

There's a pause while he looks at the text, but he's also stalling slightly.

"I would if I had them. Kinda doubt the hospital here has metharocin."

[suicidemission]

"Raleigh." So. Exasperated. "Have you even asked? Jesus Christ. I have some. Are you home? You giant idiot. I'm coming over."

[righthemisphere]

Jsbdbddjis

"Why do you-" exhale. No one has aggressively cared about him like this in a long fucking time.

"Yeah.. yeah I'm home."

Kinda lucky they're literally next door neighbors despite all the farmland separating them.

[suicidemission]

You aren't allowed to die on him. You're his closest friend and that is Saying. Something.

"Good." He hangs up on Raleigh, shoves his feet into his boots and grabs his jacket and a bottle of the pills before stomping over and banging on his door twenty minutes later.

[righthemisphere]

Jesus Chuck. How is it you always manage to make his head spin. You're too fast for him.

So much energy.

It takes him a minute but Raleigh appears at the door. He doesn't look super hot but gives a thin smile and lets him in.

The fire is lit and there's incense burning both inside and from some pumpkins that have appeared on Raleigh's porch. Thy seem to give an air of calm and protection.

Raleigh himself looks tired. In sweats that are way too small for him and his undershirt that will never be white again after surviving two blood closets.

It's chilly but he can't face wearing his sweater today, he just can't. He hurts too badly and the wool on his throbbing skin is like torture.

His hair and stubble suggests he's been in bed all day. The air around him suggests he does not want social visits.

"Hey," stepping back to let Chuck in. Uncomfortable being seen in a low moment.

[suicidemission]

Jesus Christ, Raleigh. You look terrible. Aren't you lucky you know someone like Chuck Hansen who doesn't take no for an answer?

He barges right in, avoiding the pumpkins and making himself at home.

"Do you not have any other clothes?" He asks, a little critically but he's not trying to be an asshole. "Why the fuck does it smell like a temple in here? The fuck did these pumpkins come from?"

[righthemisphere]

Jesus, he's already regretting answering the door.

Raleigh gives a look as he closes the front, counting on his fingers as he lists answers.

"No, it's incense and it's supposed to keep monsters away, and the pumpkins do the same apparently but someone said they're haunted so I dunno yet."

[suicidemission]

"Incense -- haunted pumpkins--" He chuckles a little, shaking his head. Weird. "I've got some clothes you can borrow. I'm sure they'll fit you."

God Raleigh, you look awful.

"Cmon." He gestures Raleigh further in. "Sit down before you fall down. Want me to make you some tea or something? I brought a bottle of the pills. They're leftover from when Dad was in Lucky 7. Got about four more bottles, but you should really check the hospital. Sit. I'll get you some water, too."

[righthemisphere]

Yeah this. He isn't sure how much he can take of this. Someone barging in guns blazing to take care of him is a very very foreign feeling.

He moves a little, coerced into following Chuck towards the kitchen but he's slow and dragging on his right a little. It's annoying.. he'd been alright the last two days. Mostly.

But none of this is new to him.

"You don't have to do all this, I'll be okay. I'm used to it," as he watches Chuck come in and take over like he owns the place.

"I'm grateful for the pills, though. I've been a little worried."

[suicidemission]

"You need to check with the hospital here," he says again. "Get a scan or something. Okay? Promise me you'll do that."

He fusses about quietly for a few moments, giving Raleigh time to sit down and absorb the fact that someone actually gives a shit about your sad, broken ass. He brought some chamomile tea because he wasn't sure what Raleigh had, and he'd been weird about the grocery store, so the likelihood of there being much was slim.

He'll get a kettle on to boil, the teabag fished from his pocket. A glass from the cabinet, some ice, and some water -- that's getting pushed in front of Raleigh himself.

"You need to stay hydrated."

[righthemisphere]

There is so much happening.. but he has to admire Chuck's energy. He's a man of action in anything he does.

Raleigh takes the glass and drinks, not sure what else to do. No real reason to say no exception stubbornness and this is a small hill to die on for the sake of it.

"Yeah I will.. but the town seems pretty old fashioned. When were scans even invented?"

[suicidemission]

Good. Drink your water, wait for your tea.

"1967. But there's gotta be something or someone who can check you out. I mean it, Becket. Ask around."