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[righthemisphere]

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

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[righthemisphere]

No. Everything ok?

[suicidemission]

yeah, fine. can I call

[righthemisphere]

Do people call if there's nothing wrong?

Sure

[suicidemission]

[ omg whatever. He’s calling. Pick up. ]

[righthemisphere]

Yeah yeah, he's here, hi. It rings once before he picks up and clears his throat.

"Hey Chuck"

[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."