『 capeandcowl • contact 』

[invoking]

❝ At the tone, please record your message. ❞
[ beep! ]
【 call • text • voice mail 】

Comments

[invoking]

[ He answers hurriedly and almost out of breath. (Thanks Kenzi for giving him PTSD in association with phones now.) ]

Hello?

[retropolis]

Gilbert?

[ Nelson sounds a little hesitant -- it has been half a week since they last spoke, he's been putting this phonecall off -- but he continues quickly, speaking a little louder. ]

It's Nelson.

[invoking]

[ He's surprised since he didn't expect this call at all. He breathes in quietly. ]

Uh... hello, Mr. Nelson. [ ... What does he say. ] Um... yes, it's Gilbert.

[retropolis]

[ He clears his throat, hesitating again. He's tempted to take the coward's way out and just hang up again, but he feels it's more important the situation get closure. Things could backfire more easily, if not. ]

Um, how are you?

[invoking]

Fine. What about you? [ He says very slowly. He feels bad for yelling... and breaking down the door.

Oh right, the door. ] O-Oh, that's right. I still have to -- how much do I owe you for the door? I can call someone myself, if you'd like.

[retropolis]

Oh, just fine. I'm away for the weekend with my coworkers but I thought I should give you a call.

[ From a payphone. Less awkward that way, somehow. ]

Don't worry about the door, it's -- um, well, it runs about two or three hundred...

[invoking]

Away? On holiday? [ He pauses.

Then his voice is veryyyyy quiet: ] That much?! [ CLEARS THROAT. ] Alright. I can have it in cash if that works.

[retropolis]

Just for the weekend. They decided we should all go camping.

[ He says it with a little amusement, somewhat forced. ]

Are you sure? You could just pay half, I don't mind covering part of it. It's, um, it is a bit much.

[invoking]

[ ... He can't believe after what he saw, Nelson went camping. ]

Huh? No, no... I can pay for it all. It was simply surprising; I'd almost forgotten how costly things were in this world.

[retropolis]

[ But it's relaxing and manly Gil!! ]

Well -- all right. Thank you. That ought to cover it all, I can re-hinge it myself.

[invoking]

Are you sure? I could do that, too...

[retropolis]

I-I really don't mind. I know you probably aren't keen on seeing Hooded Justice.

[invoking]

It's not that!

[retropolis]

I know my way around a hammer, Gilbert, don't worry.

[invoking]

No! I mean that I broke it, so it only makes sense that I repair it!

[retropolis]

You're already paying for it -- really, I insist. It's hardly cheap as it is.

[invoking]

But you could hurt yourself! Those hammers are quite heavy... and the edges are sharp! Plus those nails... you could cut yourself on those alone!

[retropolis]

I'm not incompetent, I know how to use a hammer. Besides, even in the event of an accident I can take a little pain.

[ A pause. ]

Well... we could do it together.

1/2

[invoking]

Together? Ah...

[invoking]

Hooded Justice won't... Will he be there?

[retropolis]

I don't know. He keeps odd hours.

[invoking]

That man is... [ Ah, forget it. ] So, when will you be back from your holiday?

[retropolis]

Sunday evening. I patched the door up temporarily for now, but... we could do Monday after work.

[invoking]

... Alright.

Again, I'm sorry about everything. But should you really be calling during your trip? [ Won't someone overhear him? ]

[retropolis]

It's all right, most of them are swimming. Or fishing... I don't know. I've got some time.

[ He's speaking kind of lowly anyway, just in case someone comes by or someone else wants to use the phone, but at the moment there's no competition. ]

Please don't apologize, Gilbert. It's not your fault.