Network | Voice

[only_an_echo]

[Between rapid breaths, a low, almost gravely voice breaks through the network silence.]

Where am I? This isn't-

...How-

[A heavy pause hangs in the air as his breathing slows, suddenly quiet, slowly picking through the pieces before everything comes together.]


Wait. I know this place...




[OOC: Echo's been UPDOOT3d doot doot doot]

Comments

[ziedrich_bearer]

Welcome back, man. Guess you weren't lucky to get home for good. There was a little kid looking for you I think.

[text]

[mutedsuspicions]

_{[That voice sounds familiar to him, so Lerith picks up his device.]}

is that you echo?

[text]

[in_extremis]

[That might have been Echo's name, but he didn't exactly sound right.]

...do you?

[only_an_echo]

Gladio. [A beat. He's still adjusting, but it'll be fine.] ...Thanks, I guess.

[However. The second he mentions a kid, it clicks.]

-Omega? Where is she?

[ziedrich_bearer]

[Yep, it's sure Echo. Dude's been gone a while. Gladio was worried something ate him. Or worse, that Beck dude went after more people.]

Don't know where she lives, sorry. I can try helping you look.

[voice]

[only_an_echo]

Lerith?

[The name rings a bell, but he frowns as he continues to place it.]

Yes, that's me. Unless you were expecting someone else?

[voice]

[only_an_echo]

[He frowns. Two texts. Texting back is hard when he has one working hand to operate the device, but he deals with it.]

It's coming back to me. Agra 10. This is...Temba? And there's the other city, Sh'Ka...

Has it always looked like this?

[still text]

[in_extremis]

How long ago were you here?

[only_an_echo]

[He has certainly missed a lot! That just adds to how tired he sounds.]

I have a few ideas of where she could be, but I wouldn't mind having another set of eyes looking out for her.

...How long was I gone?

[voice 5ever?]

[only_an_echo]

...I don't remember. I can't remember.

-Wait. There was a storm. That felt like it lasted a while.

[ziedrich_bearer]

[Yeah, a bit of a lot. But he's also lucky he did in some ways.]

A while, man. You missed the attempted murder and everything.

Tell me some of the places she might go and I'll check.

[this actually makes him switch, gj, voice]

[in_extremis]

No, how long has it been since you were here.

Was it that long ago? Need to dust it off?

[only_an_echo]

Attempted murder? How did that even happen??

She may be at the hotel. If she's not there, then...the outpost.

[As he says this, he's already starting to move again.]

[woo, a win]

[only_an_echo]

That's what I'm trying- [He bites back a breath, holding it in for a moment.] I'm sure I've been here, in this city, for over a year...


Tony. Tell me I haven't been gone a year.

[in_extremis]

I don't know, handsome, only you can tell me that.

I haven't aged a day since the last time I saw you, though, if that's what you're worried about. You can still admire me.

[only_an_echo]

[He's feeling a headache coming on.]

I knew I could count on you to give me a straight answer.

[in_extremis]

I'm very reliable. I've never been on time once in my life. That's consistency you just don't get anywhere else.

Has it really been a year?

[only_an_echo]

Is that right? I can believe it.

[Sigh.] Yes. Maybe even longer. I'm still trying to catch up.

[text]

[mutedsuspicions]

no jsut surprised. you sound diferent. and yes, i am lerith.

_{[He frown as the device. It was like Echo didn't…remember him?]}

do you…remeber me?

[ziedrich_bearer]

Apparently some dude called Beck tried to shove Tony down a hole during the storm. Someone also mentioned something about speeding? Didn't understand that.

I'll check the hotel. Stairs ain't gonna hurt me.

[only_an_echo]

That's sudden. The speeding at least has to have some context to it- wait, you said Tony was shoved down a hole?

Thank you. Let me know if you find her. I'll keep you updated as well.

[voice]

[only_an_echo]

[He takes a breath. It sounds like a laugh, dry and fleeting, lacking energy until it settles back into its lower tone.]

I guess I do sound different. Everything's different.

[Another pause.]

...I think it's coming back to me. We've talked before. At the mural, and at...the beach?

[ziedrich_bearer]

Yep, the dude with the facial hair that makes stuff. Always touching his chest. Charmer. Tony.

Don't worry, I'll check in.

[only_an_echo]

Yeah, that's an apt description of him if I ever heard one.

I know Tony is...Tony, but there had to be a reason for it. And why is Beck involved?

[ziedrich_bearer]

I'm pretty apt at reading that.

From what I heard, Beck's jealous of the Tony in his own world, whose company he worked for or some shit? And apparently the dude didn't like the name the company put on a thing he designed? Totally obsessed with Tony or something. I think maybe he was secretly a spurned lover.