Topic: The Screwtape Letters: Phonecalls and Text Messages

Brohkun

Date: 2016-09-24 16:46 EST
Otherworld Museum
It's Robert's voice, sounding very much like he was reading from an index card: You've reached the Otherworld Museum. Our hours are 10-6pm. Privately purchased tours of exhibits take place from 6:30 pm-9 pm and must be made at least twenty-four hours before the time which is booked. Students and teachers receive a 20% off. Please see the website for upcoming shows. Thank you.

Robert's Cellphone
An awkward pause, crackling over the phones speaker before he began: I'm unable to answer my phone. Leave a message after the tone.

Roach Lee

Date: 2016-09-26 10:48 EST
06.50am, Monday September 26th '16

Voicemail: Yooooooo. Roobbieeeee boooooy. God, I'm so fucking drunkkkkkk-ahh." A soda-pop laugh, exhausted and dazed. "Anyways, I got a call from some guy.."

Lots of static. Scratching. Then nothing for several minutes.

Click.

07.05am.

Voicemail: Yawning. "Um. Robbie, sorry, yo. Passed out. Wait, what the fuck is in my hair." Scratching sounds, muffled movement. Croaky skitters of laughter. "Oh my shiz, I got fucking gum in my dread." More muffled motions. Slam of a drawer.

Click.

07.10am.

Voicemail: Sorry. So's, some .. guy rang." Yawn. "He uh..." yawning, the sounds of a television going in the background. "Left me a message asking to meets up. It's about you? Knows a Gus? I didn't c--" Yawn. "Call him back. Letting you knows first 'n all. Thanks for the key to the room by the way, ended up needings it. Man, my head hurts..."

Silence.

Her voice distantly heard, like she's further away in the room. "Oi, fuck off, asshole!"

The sound of footsteps, clattering. "Sorry. Fucking gremlin ins the air vent was tryings to perve on me. Little fucker. Yeah sooooo, some guy, asked about youse? Gus? What I do, huh, know this guy? What's this 'bout? Also, smells real bad next door, kindsa like sulphur or some shiz. Or likes, someone died."

Muffled words, the racket of thin sheets against the speaker as she rolls over.

Silence.

Snoring....

07.14am.

Sleep talk, about a tree. Nose whistles, tired little growly snores.

Click.

Brohkun

Date: 2016-09-26 21:17 EST
After a series of voicemails, one being the ballad of Roach's snoring, Robert thought it over before sending a text. He didn't expect Gus to answer him as promptly as he did.

Robert to Gus (7:30 am): Let's meet up, just you and me.
Gus to Robert (7:31 am): Should be the both of you, I think you will both want to hear this. People R looking for U so let's do 2 am in the back alley. We'll be safer that way.
Robert to Gus (8:10 am): Dark alleys at unfortunate hours always are.
Gus to Robert (8:12 am): Come on, man, don't be like that.
Gus to Robert (8:20 am): Are you going to show up?
Robert to Gus (8:25 am): Yes.


Voicemail to Lizzie (8:45 am)
Lizzie, I don't know if you remember this but you called me last night and left me a message. A few messages. You said a man named Gus spoke to you about wanting to meet up-- about wanting to talk. He's the private eye I've hired in the past to help me find certain... people. Anyway, he's relatively harmless for a demon.

Robert thought it was best not to imply Gus was a coward, even if it was true. Roach would figure out on her own that he was there to make a buck and experience zero conflict.

He's been wanting to meet up with me. I'm going late tomorrow night. I don't know if you want to come, but I don't think it's coincidence that we've gotten ourselves into a situation and he's suddenly needing to talk to me. He could have nothing worthwhile to say, I don't want to get your hopes up.

Let me know.

Click.

Roach Lee

Date: 2016-09-27 08:59 EST
Voicemail: Squawks and squeaks of laughter. "You da reals OG now, man. Underworrrrrrldddd, look out." She starts beat boxing. "The Arr to the Bee to the Eee is heeerrrre-ahhh. Hoollaaaaah. You gots to get business cards made up for this shiz. Gus know your new title, huh?

Uhhh.. anyway. Sorry about that... earlier this morning. I was... yeah. So's, this guy, this what you mentioned to me likes, a week back? Why would he call me if he's already dealing with you? In any case..."

The sounds of footsteps and passing cars.

"..Looks, I'm down. I'll be there. At this point, I'm willing to try anything, man. Long as it isn't no dodgy ass two am alley way meeting. Laters."

Click.

KhaoticBliss

Date: 2016-10-01 02:32 EST
Text to Robert the Demon: Good to see you.
Text to Robert the Demon: Seriously, come to the show.
Text to Robert the Demon: You know. Once you're done *dusting*.

Brohkun

Date: 2016-10-03 19:12 EST
Text to Saila: I'll see what I can do.

Text to Delphine: It's been a while. Could you meet up with me sometime this week? I have more than an apology for you.

Delphine

Date: 2016-10-05 19:56 EST
Text to Robert: Holy frak. You still live. Sure, I guess. Just let me know when & where.

Brohkun

Date: 2016-10-05 20:10 EST
Text to Delphine: Sooner than later. What are your thoughts on coffee?

Delphine

Date: 2016-10-06 01:30 EST
Text to Robert: As long as it isn't late I am down for it. Otherwise I won't sleep.
Text to Robert: In the morning?

SouthernDaylight

Date: 2016-10-29 17:33 EST
Voicemail left Oct 29th 2am

"Ey, Robert. M'name's Lucien an' I been told t'get in touch witchu t'see if I can't 'elp out some wit gettin' a certain blonde troublemaker back an' safe, ya? D'girl a friend a mine too. Shae lemme know dat she been kidnapped an' Salome tell me dat she an' yoself fixin' t'figger out a way t'get 'er back as well as bring on d'pain t'dem dat make dis error a deirs. I ain't been back t'Nawlins since Oh-five an' Katrina but if dere any a ting I can do t'elp. Lemme know, ya? Call me back at dis number. Poolin' resources sound like a good idea t'me. Night."

Brohkun

Date: 2016-11-18 21:50 EST
Reply voicemail to Lucien:

Lucien, this is Robert. I'm not intending on going back to New Orleans, as it is likely that I am the one being targeted. I am expecting that when having Roach doesn't get me that they will come here for me-- in which case I will do my best to act naturally while planning for their arrival.

I don't want anything to happen to her, but it's more complicated than just finding her. You said you wanted to pool resources. What are your resources?

SouthernDaylight

Date: 2016-11-25 01:23 EST
"'Ey again, we playin' phone tag it seem. Is Luc, Lucien. Ah....was more a figger a speech 'bout resources. Most a mine is European or a part a d'Fair folk sort. D'fae. Doh...dat might be a good use yet. Fae magic certainly potent stuff, just cost some favors on my part but certainly someting t'be considered given d'circumstances."

A teeth sucking sound is heard over the receiver before he continues, "If she bein' used as bait an' y'all ain't bitin'...wha's a better way a baitin' 'em back an' bringing 'em on dis a way? Level d'playin' field an' all dat jazz. Or, let udders go in yo place t'collect so as y'ain't in d'trap t'be sprung none in d'first place, ya?"

Brohkun

Date: 2016-11-25 09:57 EST
Robert had been reached out to before by trusted sources. Gus. This was a stranger, speaking smoothly and believably as if he meant well. The sense of unease, of not wanting the share the "this is how we beat the bad guy" plan was a gut instinct.

He would differ to the help he had called upon. The warlock who had draw a hard line down the front of his chest.

"Lucien, this is Robert. I received your message... There is a woman named Salome in town, she is making preparations. I would speak with her. Carefully."

There was a pause. For people that knew the chimney, they might have thought it was the point where he was taking a draw from a cigarette. He continued.

"Sometimes she's at the inn. Things are happening, and it feels like... soon. If you are able to help... I'm glad." He hung up. Had Roach managed to make friends in this world, people who would reach out when word of her trouble spread? Or were her friends would-be collectors of her?

SouthernDaylight

Date: 2016-11-25 15:38 EST
He made a face at the response and could have sworn he'd started the message trading with mentioning that Salome had been the one to tell him to contact Robert in the first place.

"Ya, I know'er. Guess I jus' keep sittin' round til someting 'appen. D'moment it do, y'all gimme a ring an I be dere." A sigh and grumble of 'I 'ate waitiin'' was heard before the last message ended.

ShiftingSands

Date: 2017-05-29 22:38 EST
Voicemail to Robbie:

Hey, c'est moi. Are you totally sure you want to keep this museum open? The exhibits are looking all sad and dusty and the kitchen doesn't have anymore coffee in it.

I drank it. I'm sitting in the kitchen. Anywaaaaay, lemme know because I got people keeping eyes but if you're not coming back here, I say set it on fire and start over.

Like, not the museum on fire but you know what I mean. Oh wait, you probably don't because you think I'd set this place on fire. Well, I would for funsies but not while you work here. So there's that. Gold star for me. So yeah, lemme know if you're gonna be a perm rez in Nola because I just don't think this place is worth waiting for, yanno? Later.

Brohkun

Date: 2017-06-11 16:54 EST
The test came late: I have just the idea.

Moments later: There will be a next exhibit. What are your feelings about the stars?

ShiftingSands

Date: 2017-06-11 22:28 EST
Omg, that was super late. If it weren't for threading, she'd have forgotten her original message. He probably needed help working his phone. Sigh.

Voicemail to Robbie:
Robbie-cakes, as usual, I don't know what you're talking about. What about the stars? How is that an exhibit? I thought your museum was about magical u-nee-corns and shit. The stars are real, you could fly into one if you wanted. Sure, you wouldn't survive it but is that really the point? Use your words, Cupcake

Brohkun

Date: 2017-07-10 17:55 EST
Voicemail to Kate, preceded by a sigh: Everything in the museum is real. His tone picks up. But I was thinking more in terms of what it means to travel through space. Unless your species has a substantial lifeline, you forfeited all of your relationships to be a space pilot."

His pause is long and then, finally, he continued, "I'd need your help with it."