leashed | Adstringendum voice mail

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voice mail

Adstringendum voice mail

If you require my services and have tried to contact me without a response, I may be unavailable. Please leave a message and I will get back to you as soon as I am physically able. Romulus Hart, 1st lieutenant

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

No. You are injured, you cannot climb by yourself without risking further injury.

[Rome jumps into the pit, rope in his hand, landing firmly several feet from Morgan.]

I don't need both feet to climb a rope.

[He's actually using the light of the PCD to illuminate the pit, shining it in Rome's direction.

His ankle isn't broken, at least. Sprained, maybe, at worst.]

And I don't need more help from you.

[There's a pause. Some small semblance of calm breaks.]

If you will kindly cease speaking and allow me to assist. I came this far, and unless you want to sit here in pain or make it even worse, you will cooperate. Sit down now, and I will investigate your injury.

Don't tell me what to do, you arrogant little prick.

[It's snapped, irritated, but he leans down and tugs up the hem of his pantleg regardless.]

Well then, allow me to extend my most humble apologies for saving you.

[He barely glances at it.]

That isn't broken. You lied to me.

It's dark and it fucking hurts.

[--but there's a note of relief in his voice. Recovering from a broken ankle as a dancer? Sucks.]

Are you sure?

[He huffs and crouches down, jabbing sharply at it with his finger.]

[And Morgan yells.]

What the fuck?!

I'm sure.

[He stands back up.]

[And Morgan growls at him, hobbling a little unsteadily to his feet and heading for the rope.]

You're going to make it worse.

[Huffing, nudging him ouy of the way.]

Get on my back.

I'm not going to get on your back. I don't need a piggyback ride.

[He's grabbing at the rope himself.]

You are going to injure yourself.

[Grabbing it away from him.]

I'm already injured. I'll be fine. [Grabbing the rope, yanking it hard.]

That's the point of-

[Snap.]

[And he holds the rope in his hand, staring blankly down at it.]

.. oh.

[There's a long pause. Romulus stares at the rope for a moment, before looking up at Morgan.]

...I am very tempted to punch you right now.

.. this wouldn't have happened if you didn't try to make me get on your back.

You cannot blame me for everything, Morgan.

[He thumps to a sitting position.]

Can, too.

If I were the person you thought I was, do you really think I'd have tried to help you?

[Quietly, as he starts searching for a way he can vault himself out.]

Yeah. Something to hold over my head, right?

[He leans back against the wall of the pit, frowning.]

Explain to me why I would want a pup like you in my debt.

[He jumps, feet catching on the soft earth of the side of the pit, forcing his hands into the dirt, before it crumbles and he falls backward, landing on his back in the bottom. Ow.]

[And Morgan laughs again, uproariously, as Rome lands solidly on his ass.]

Quit calling me a pup. I'm a grown-ass man, not a dog.

You are acting like one.

[Forcing himself back up, trying again.

It actually hurt a little this time, when he hit the ground, winded.]

-like a spoiled rotten pup, barking at the dog next door just because it's a different breed.

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