IC contact for wethelost

[devoutish]

Solomons & Melborn
1108 Sweet Cream Street

[Feel free to use this space for letter/package deliveries as well as visits/knocks on the front door!]

Comments

[devoutish]

Nah.

[If Phil's response hadn't had that edge, it would have read as naively optimistic to Alfie, and he would have been sorely tempted to be a little more teasing and baity - but he respects the caution.]

Still, it's not the sort of profession you'd likely be happy about.

[voiceinthephone]

Fair enough, at least you can settle here and be somewhat safe.

The somewhat being up to you of course. Zephyr's a good kid but they can't just shut down our free will.

Or the worst impulses.

[devoutish]

I don't follow my impulses with that sort of thing, mate. If you ever do see me do something awful, you can rest assured that there was thought put into it.

[voiceinthephone]

Were you a hitman?

[Phil asks point-blank, unafraid of the criminal underworld. After all, he had his dealings in Eros to keep himself alive.]

[devoutish]

Gangster. Gang leader. I had my own hitmen.

[voiceinthephone]

Ah, that explains the thinking through of the impulses. I'd ask what you dealt with but that's none of my concern either.

[He shrugs.]

I hope you were somewhat kinder to your subordinates than my mistress was.

[devoutish]

Your mistress?

[His brow furrows, questioning.]

[voiceinthephone]

Well, female master sounds awkward doesn't it? She and her sisters owned my body, what else would I call her?

[He sighs as he clears out a few things.]

[devoutish]

What were you, then, some sort of slave?

[Alfie asks, looking more and more baffled by the minute.]

Where was this - the place you were before here, or home?

[voiceinthephone]

Oh God the place before! [Whoops, didn't explain that detail]

I was basically set to die in my home world, got swept up and the word they used was "servant."

[devoutish]

[Alfie harrumphs at that.]

If they owned you, you were a fucking slave, mate. Doesn't matter what words they used to pretty it up.

[voiceinthephone]

...A [it's still a problem for Phone Guy to curse but...] "fucking slave" sounds about right to what I did.

[Hey look at that cake, it's suddenly so interesting.]

[devoutish]

Yeah.

[Alfie doesn't need to know the details to agree.]

How long have you been out, then?

[voiceinthephone]

A year since last March...everyone got wiped out in one swoop. I only got out because Zephyr found me before they did.

Was it similar to you escaping Norfinbury?

[devoutish]

No. Not to my knowledge, no. What do you mean, they got wiped out?

[voiceinthephone]

[A haunted look takes over Phil's expression as he cuts a slice of cake]

Murdered, sacrificed, no longer living. I dunno if my friends survived. One was stolen before the massacre.

[devoutish]

Have any of the dead found themselves here, alive again?

[voiceinthephone]

None of them as far as I know. I keep an eye out anyways, might need a good meal and a familiar face.

I'm sorry for laying all this on you.

[devoutish]

Well - try to keep things like that inside, and it all comes dumping out sooner or later.

[At least, that's how Alfie is assuming this is going down for Phil. He's pretty used to men being really into repression.]

You're wanting to stay here for good, then? Keeping an eye out for your people?

[voiceinthephone]

You bet I'm staying here for good. I'm not letting my old mistresses take me so easily...just like you're not going to let Norfinbury steal you right back.

For a mob kinda guy, you're all right.

[devoutish]

You barely know me, mate.

[voiceinthephone]

I know enough to know I can trust you. Don't be too much of a hard-ass...the fact that you're here says a lot more than your words.

[devoutish]

[Alfie gives an incredulous little scoff.]

We've talked for ten minutes, you've heard I'm a gangster, and you know me well enough to trust me?

[voiceinthephone]

Are you willing to prove me wrong?

[Phil isn't afraid of Alfie or any reactions that could with his questions. He'd be disappointed though]

[devoutish]

No, no, that's not my point. But you're overly trusting, aren't you. Were you always like this?