#03; 2 Jul, evening. (forward-dated)

[paragon]

Sorry to spring this on the folks just getting out of the hospital. [ Not 'new people'. That would only be more cause for confusion than what he's about to say. ] It'll make more sense if you go back and listen to the recent messages from Dr. Rousseau. In her first message she asked us to accept the leadership of the people who brought us here in exchange for certain freedoms. That's not really how it works.

[ Boy, is it nice to be able to speak his mind again. It took a few days, as he was told, for the consequences of attempting to do so to wear off so he could get on the phone for this at all. ]

They were trying to save the people of this world. I understand that. But to do it they made some choices, choices that kept us from making our own. Made us think their choices were ours. That's something they're gonna have to live with. They don't get to make decisions for us anymore. It's not up to them where we go from here. That's in our hands now, if they really intend to make up for their mistakes. In my experience those with power don't tend to give it up easily, so they've got a long way to go to prove that. Half measures where they approve who goes outside the fence and when don't count. Neither does retaining the positions they've given themselves in this town. They need to offer their cooperation, not ask for ours.

[ That might sound like it's the end of it — short and sweet. It certainly has a note of finality, and maybe you've even hung up on your own by now. But after another pause, he continues: ]

Some of you may have heard my conversation with the doc after her last message. I could only confirm one person for myself with the restrictions they gave me, but I can tell you a friend I've been missing is still alive in one of their cryo units. If people you care about have gone missing too, I'm willing to take them at their word that's where they are too.

[ Now he's done. ]

((ooc: The phone lines throughout Wayward Pines are currently very fucky and unreliable due to the damage to the town and also Raven blowing up a house, y'all. So your character will not necessarily have to pick up the phone this time, since not all lines will be ringing. Please feel free to say they don't hear this message right away or at all if that's your druthers!))

Comments

[coy]

[ your sister missed all of this while in her not!coma, so she's still catching up. she's only been awake for a few hours and she's back home now, resting.]

You saw that friend? Did you see... anyone else?

[paragon]

They only let me see Sam. Not even in person, it was a live feed.

[ Did you tell your brother you were home, Caroline? ]

I'm sorry.

[coy]

[ He won't be able to miss the disappointment she's feeling about that.]

How do you know... [ It's real? That it's not a trick? ] Why did they let you see him? Would they let me see Elena or Stefan or any of my friends?

[ Also, no, she snuck her ass home.]

[paragon]

I don't. [ Answering the part of the question she didn't finish. ] I asked. It was the right thing to do, but I don't know how much that had to do with giving me access. [ The phone shifts slightly, an audible kind of shrug even if his shoulder doesn't move much in actuality. ] I couldn't say if they'd give it to you too, but I hope they do.

[coy]

I need it to be real, Steve. [ She murmurs softly, sadly. ] I can't... if what they are saying it's true, I don't want to think about how I might never see... any of my friends ever again. [ Nevermind her mother.]

[paragon]

[ This is the silence of a man who may have punched a hole in the wall of his bedroom when he found out about all of this. ]

I believe what I saw was real.

[coy]

Thank you. [ She speaks tiredly.] Thank you for standing up for all of us.

[paragon]

You didn't tell me you were home.

[coy]

[ Of course, he's humble and doesn't say anything to her thanking him. He's always been that way, she thinks.]

I just got home. I didn't want to make it a big deal and... I hate hospitals.

[paragon]

Figured you must've.

[ He was there every day, including earlier today. And of course she hates hospitals. He pushes out a breath. ]

I'm sorry I wasn't there when you woke up.

[coy]

Poe and the nurses told me you were there every day. [ There's gratitude in her voice that he has to be able to hear, if not...]

That means more than I can say. [ It means... everything.]

I know you'll be busy with this but... maybe you can stop by later? [ Because she's still alone in her big old house.]

[paragon]

Sure. Soon as this dies down.

[ He's glad she doesn't feel let down this time, even though he truly had no control over it the last time. ]

Y'know, we have a spare bedroom now, Care. If you wanted to stay here a few nights.

[coy]

[ There's a pause, one that's quite uncharacteristic of her.] Are you sure?

[paragon]

Why wouldn't I be?

[coy]

Then I'll come stay tonight, if that's okay.

[paragon]

Good. You okay to get here on your own?

[ Listen, he knows his sister's a vampire, but she was also just in a coma. Let him fuss, he does it rarely enough. ]

[coy]

Yeah, I'm okay. [ She sounds amused.] I'm pretty much indestructible, remember? [ At least, so they thought.]

[paragon]

I remember. [ A couple weeks of worrying's also pretty fresh in his mind. ] I'll see you when you get here then.

[coy]

I'll see you then, Steve. And please be careful.

[paragon]

You know me.

[coy]

Exactly why I'm asking you to be careful. [ she laughs.]

See you later. [ and without thinking about it, maybe because she's tired, maybe because it's honestly pretty true--] Love you.

[paragon]

[ It takes him a second to make the switch from opening his mouth on a wry retort to the way that catches him in the chest. ]

Love you, too.

[coy]

[ he'll probably hear the pleased intake of breath before she hangs up because as good as caroline is at running a good moment into the ground... she's happy despite everything. besides she has to start cooking that DELICIOUS casserole.]