[Text]

[bashfulshifter]

[Needless to say, Rick has seen better days. He's had a chance to read his note and change and get a feel for the dormitory level of the tower, but no amount of acclimation is going to make him comfortable with the fact that everything he knew--everything he was comfortable with knowing--has simply vanished. Desperate to find some tangible connection to his world, Rick makes a call for the one person that he knows can support him. So far, he's found no evidence that she's even here; an open post is all he can think to do next.]

Codi? It's Rick. You're probably hiding, and that's okay--you don't have to say where you are. I just want to know if you're all right.

I love you.

[He might be starting to panic a little bit.]

Comments

[always text]

[bashfulshifter]

[Rick is, at this point, far too distraught to inquire deeper into who this person is, or how he's managed to check all the doors, or even how many doors there are, really. He pecks at the keys with fatigued despondence.]

Maybe she hasn't arrived yet? Maybe she sneaked in here with me and doesn't have a room, or something? I don't know.

I think I need to go lie down.

forevertext it is;

[unkindnessof]

they tell us that they can only bring one from each world. those who run this place, that is. everyone wakes up in the same way; if she were here they would have assigned her to a room. i'm sorry.

there is always the possibility she will arrive here in time, though.

[ Whether or not that's a good thing. Raven's not very sure of the matter anymore, because as gratifying as it is to be able to see the he cares about well at the best of times, it also means that their worlds have been drawn into this as well.

He refrains from saying so outright, however, even if he'd already implicated it.]

[bashfulshifter]

I hope so...they need to bring her here. I need her here.

[Rick knows he's sounding desperate, but it's true and he doesn't care.]

Are there multiple people from the same "world" in this place? It doesn't make sense that there wouldn't be. I think.

[He doesn't quite grasp the concept of "worlds" just yet. It'll take a few alien encounters for that to sink in, probably.]

[unkindnessof]

there are. that, or they're from somewhere similar enough that none could tell the difference.

several of my [ —charges? should he call them charges? ] charges are here, so it's not impossible for you to be able to find people you might know.

[bashfulshifter]

[The sigh of relief he breathes is almost audible in his writing.]

Okay. So that means she could still show up later...that's really great news. Thank you.

[unkindnessof]

i haven't done or said anything worth being thanked for, so that's unnecessary.

[ a moment's deliberation, and then another message. ]

good luck, though. i hope you find her.

[ just be pre-- just don't-- expect the w-- are all aborted thoughts Raven deletes before he sends the text. ]