Adstringendum voice mail

[leashed]

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

Comments

[danseur]

I told you it worked.

[ He notices the tension, but doesn't release him, sort of clinging to him. ]

I'm still me.

[leashed]

Yes, I know.

[It's hard, though- he's been so conditioned as something beneath humans, being here, in Morgan's human arms, breathing in his remarkably human scent (mixed with antiseptic, some strange surgical tools), it's... disconcerting. The familiarity is there in his conscious mind, but beneath the surface, on an instinctual level, it's just- gone, replaced by tension, panic.

He takes a deep breath.]

You should... you should get some rest.

[danseur]

[ Rome smells like -- nothing to him anymore. He can feel his warmth, smell his hair, but conditioners and perfumes are rare here. There's a spike of almost-panic when he realizes that he can't discern his scent at all, and then he quashes it down.

No, no. That's normal. ]

Lay with me?

[leashed]

I don't know.

[He tries to pull away gently.]

Can I sit on the floor instead?

[danseur]

[ This was why he hadn't wanted to see him, hadn't wanted to come home. He knew this was how it would be, and he releases Rome, hands falling limply to his own sides. ]

Yeah. Wherever you want to, man.

[leashed]

No- it's not that I...

[He runs his fingers through his hair.]

I just need a little while to get used to it.

[danseur]

[ He holds his hand up, palm out, taking a step back. ]

Don't have to explain shit to me.

[leashed]

No- Morgan-

[He moves forward for him then, reaching for his hand.]

Just... give me a little time. Please.

[danseur]

[ It's Morgan that recoils then. If asked, he wouldn't be able to say why, exactly, but he's bristly, exhausted, and he shoves his hands into his pockets. ]

I'm gonna finish my walk, 'kay?

[leashed]

Come home.

[He swallows hard.]

I'm sorry- just come inside.

[danseur]

Nothing to be sorry for.

[ His voice is a little raw. ]

I just don't wanna sit down right now.

[leashed]

Alright. We can- do something else.

[Rome tries to reach for him again.]

What do you want to do?

[danseur]

[ Morgan hesitates, then takes his hand, absently squeezing his fingers. ]

Walk.

[leashed]

...alone?

[His voice breaks, and he grits his teeth, hating the sound of it.]

[danseur]

Walking can be a two-player activity.

[ He tugs his hand. ]

[leashed]

[Rome nods, breathing a soft sigh of relief.]

I'll be very quiet.

[danseur]

You can talk. I like when you talk.

[leashed]

[He nods.]

Are you sure you feel okay?

[danseur]

I feel --

[ He doesn't know how to say it. ]

.. weird. Not bad, just - weird.

[leashed]

You have been one way for the majority of your life. Now you are another. I would be surprised if you felt normal.

[danseur]

.. not really the majority. Just - about half, yeah?

[ He's not defensive, just.. uncomfortable in his own skin. ]

[leashed]

Yes, alright.

[He tries to move a little closer to him, reaching for his hand again.]

...do you look down on me, Morgan?

[danseur]

[ Morgan frowns a little, hooking his fingers into Rome's. ]

.. nah. If anything, you're probably better.

[leashed]

[He shakes his head.]

That is not true.

[danseur]

I'm not shitting you.

[ He's staring forward. ]