"not here right now.
leave a message. will get back to you soon.
probably."
TEXT
CALL
VIDEO
NOTE: As of 12/2016, Rey has adopted the alias "Fiona Stransky" when working with the Guard. Something to keep in mind, as Rey maintains a low profile with her involvement in the group. Other than what is mentioned in the Guard records, there is no trace of a "Fiona" identified on the network.
[Rey isn't stupid. Her entire time here, she hasn't sensed the presence of a synthe from her world. Then she does, and now Nick is busying himself with work? Seems pretty damn fishy, especially since his message came in shortly after she felt that same lingering presence gone again. But she'll play ignorant, for now.]
[He checks his phone, illuminated by only its light and that of his cigarette.]
Yes.
[He really should elaborate, but he'd rather not have Rey here, having to deal with this woman. He's taking care of it in the way he deems best. He won't have another Jenny.
He sends another message a moment later, just to hopefully alleviate any concerns.]
I'll be home when I'm done. Just keeping an eye on a few things.
[But no, really. It doesn't take a genius to know that everything is not fine. And it isn't just Nick's absence, which continues over the next several hours. Though it's been a while, and her intuition isn't what it used to be -- since normalizing all five of her senses had come at a small price of her sixth. Not that Rey is one to complain, since she has grown rather fond of the ability to taste and enjoy food.
[It's the nightmares. The harrowing feeling of being watched. Of never being alone, even when she is. Paranoia. Cold sweats. Waking up screaming from the pain in every fiber of her being, before fading away like frozen embers. Times like those, it comes as a blessing that Nick has decided to take some extra time for "work".
[Not much more time passes before something feels wrong. Terribly. Whoever the synthetic is, there's no way for Rey to track them down beyond just being aware of their presence in the city. Even then, this one has a way of eluding her.
[What can't elude her is Nick. Thanks to their devices (and the damned synthetic that's around for not having one), it doesn't take much for Rey to find out where he's been.
[By the time she arrives at Hope's temple, she is paler than usual. Perspiration beads down her face as well. If it were possible, she'd almost look sick. And Rey has never been sick a day in any of her actual many lives.]
[Though Nick's been watching the temple like a hawk, even he has to step away from time to time -- there are still patrols to make, newcomers in need of help, people looking for answers as to what's going on and where they should go. While Hope's temple is usually a sanctuary, Nick's not so sure it's safe. Not until she comes back.
If she comes back. Can Hope bring back synths like them? He doesn't really know, but he doesn't want to take that risk. Not when he has so much to lose.
As he comes back to the nearby stores after making a quick sweep of the adjacent streets, he comes face to face with his roommate. Not the synthetic he was hoping to find, but one who surprises him, given her apparent condition. One doesn't have to be a detective to notice her pallid color.]
[While she hasn't looked into the mirror lately, she doesn't have to in order to know that she looks like shit. And she feels as if she's been crushed by a steamroller multiple times. Somehow, she manages to stay on her own two feet when Nick arrives, turning to him with a dizzying twist reeling in her head.
[Again, she has never been sick. All she has are vague memories of false childhoods, which entail the occasional symptoms wrought by poor living conditions. Otherwise, Rey has been the image of perfect health throughout the near century that she has existed.]
I'm fine. [Well, she wants to be.] And I could say the same for you. This is an interesting place to be out for "work".
[She isn't mad that he's been gone. Hell, she's almost grateful that he hasn't had to be around her while she's feeling the pressures of that synthetic's presence the last couple of days. She just doesn't like being kept in the dark.]
[He can worry about having kept her in the dark for too long later; for now, Nick closes the gap between them, putting a hand on her arm.]
Come on. You shouldn't be out here.
[Especially not when IV might be back. He doesn't want to abandon his post, but he can't have her out here, especially not when she's more ill than he's ever seen her.]
[She resists the immediate impulse to pull back when Nick reaches out, the primal, fighter instinct nearly taking over. But Rey manages to hold herself still, calm for now. Trying not to feel too nauseated so not to topple over from exhaustion and the memories goading her.]
[Nick considers insisting she go home; he considers a lie, anything to get her away from there. In the end, he knows better to do that to her. They're partners, and there's only so long he can dodge the truth, especially when she already knows it.]
[It truly does come as a relief that Nick doesn't try to lie or dodge the question. No matter what he says or does, she wouldn't have bought it anyway.]
Figures.
What happened?
[Rey can take a guess, but she'd rather hear it from Nick.]
And now she's somewhere in the city again. I can feel her.
[Her sense for such things isn't as strong as it used to be, but it's there and it's under her skin. And probably the reason for her sorry state right now. Not because this is what's supposed to happen.
[No, she has only herself to blame for getting this bad. Got herself all worked up. Having damn nightmares. Not being able to eat. Even the thought of food makes her want to throw up.]
[To Rey, Nick's logic make less than any sense. It was supposed to be her purpose to kill things like IV. She's failed in that before, and she has failed again.
[Teeth gritting, this time Rey does shake off Nick's hand on her arm, her brows knitting together in anger and frustration. Not with her friend, or even with IV, but herself.]
No, I have to make sure she doesn't come back this time...!
[How she plans to do that-- Well, it's a work in progress. But she has a few ideas. It's just hard to think things through when you can't even think clearly.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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[And by whenever that means he's still not home two days later.]
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still working?
[Rey isn't stupid. Her entire time here, she hasn't sensed the presence of a synthe from her world. Then she does, and now Nick is busying himself with work? Seems pretty damn fishy, especially since his message came in shortly after she felt that same lingering presence gone again. But she'll play ignorant, for now.]
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Yes.
[He really should elaborate, but he'd rather not have Rey here, having to deal with this woman. He's taking care of it in the way he deems best. He won't have another Jenny.
He sends another message a moment later, just to hopefully alleviate any concerns.]
I'll be home when I'm done. Just keeping an eye on a few things.
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[It'll be nearly another day before Rey's next message:]
you missed.
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[Or so she suspects. The timing between what she senses and Nick's absence is all too uncanny.]
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Give it a few days.
[You know, how long it takes for someone to come back from the dead in this town.]
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[Maybe not now, over text. But you will, Nicko. You motherfucking will.]
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I will. For now, everything is fine.
[... Relatively speaking. Don't mind him; he's just going to stay out here until he's sure everything actually is fine.]
► [action]
[But no, really. It doesn't take a genius to know that everything is not fine. And it isn't just Nick's absence, which continues over the next several hours. Though it's been a while, and her intuition isn't what it used to be -- since normalizing all five of her senses had come at a small price of her sixth. Not that Rey is one to complain, since she has grown rather fond of the ability to taste and enjoy food.
[It's the nightmares. The harrowing feeling of being watched. Of never being alone, even when she is. Paranoia. Cold sweats. Waking up screaming from the pain in every fiber of her being, before fading away like frozen embers. Times like those, it comes as a blessing that Nick has decided to take some extra time for "work".
[Not much more time passes before something feels wrong. Terribly. Whoever the synthetic is, there's no way for Rey to track them down beyond just being aware of their presence in the city. Even then, this one has a way of eluding her.
[What can't elude her is Nick. Thanks to their devices (and the damned synthetic that's around for not having one), it doesn't take much for Rey to find out where he's been.
[By the time she arrives at Hope's temple, she is paler than usual. Perspiration beads down her face as well. If it were possible, she'd almost look sick. And Rey has never been sick a day in any of her actual many lives.]
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If she comes back. Can Hope bring back synths like them? He doesn't really know, but he doesn't want to take that risk. Not when he has so much to lose.
As he comes back to the nearby stores after making a quick sweep of the adjacent streets, he comes face to face with his roommate. Not the synthetic he was hoping to find, but one who surprises him, given her apparent condition. One doesn't have to be a detective to notice her pallid color.]
Rey? What's wrong? What're you doing out here?
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[Again, she has never been sick. All she has are vague memories of false childhoods, which entail the occasional symptoms wrought by poor living conditions. Otherwise, Rey has been the image of perfect health throughout the near century that she has existed.]
I'm fine. [Well, she wants to be.] And I could say the same for you. This is an interesting place to be out for "work".
[She isn't mad that he's been gone. Hell, she's almost grateful that he hasn't had to be around her while she's feeling the pressures of that synthetic's presence the last couple of days. She just doesn't like being kept in the dark.]
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Come on. You shouldn't be out here.
[Especially not when IV might be back. He doesn't want to abandon his post, but he can't have her out here, especially not when she's more ill than he's ever seen her.]
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And you should be?
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It's important. You know I wouldn't be out here if it wasn't.
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I know there's a synthetic in the city. Who is it?
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The one you were hoping wouldn't show up here.
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Figures.
What happened?
[Rey can take a guess, but she'd rather hear it from Nick.]
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I did what I had to do.
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You have any idea how many times she's died? Before coming to a place where some all-powering deity just conveniently does it for you?
[She isn't trying to lecture him, but she's just sayin'.]
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I know it's useless, but I guess I hoped maybe they wouldn't be able to bring someone like her back.
[Someone like him, too.]
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[Her sense for such things isn't as strong as it used to be, but it's there and it's under her skin. And probably the reason for her sorry state right now. Not because this is what's supposed to happen.
[No, she has only herself to blame for getting this bad. Got herself all worked up. Having damn nightmares. Not being able to eat. Even the thought of food makes her want to throw up.]
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If she's out there, then you don't need to be. Come on.
[Though his tone is soft, the look he gives her is a stern one.]
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[Teeth gritting, this time Rey does shake off Nick's hand on her arm, her brows knitting together in anger and frustration. Not with her friend, or even with IV, but herself.]
No, I have to make sure she doesn't come back this time...!
[How she plans to do that-- Well, it's a work in progress. But she has a few ideas. It's just hard to think things through when you can't even think clearly.
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You look like hell, Rey. Let the rest of the Guard take care of it.
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