『 capeandcowl • contact 』

[invoking]

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

Comments

[retropolis]

[ A little huffily: ] Why don't you want me coming by? Is it so wrong that I want to pay my friend a visit?

[invoking]

It has nothing to do with you, Mr. Nelson. I feel better, but I may still be contagious! Germs are a serious hazard!

[retropolis]

[ He sounds on the verge of hysterics. ]

I don't care about germs. For goodness sake, I know how to keep myself healthy. I-if you're avoiding me you could at least do me the decency of just saying so.

[invoking]

[ And he's fretting on his end. ]

I'm not avoiding you! You're jumping to strange conclusions, Mr. Nelson.

[retropolis]

[ He tries to calm down, taking a deep breath. ]

I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I've just been-- well, it isn't important. [ A beat, as he takes another deep breath. ] What is the matter, then?

1/2

[invoking]

Just been...?

2/2

[invoking]

[ He forgets his question for a brief moment, pausing. ]

I um, it's no big deal. There was a slight... accident.

[retropolis]

An accident? What sort of accident?

[invoking]

It's rather old by now, so it's honestly not that big of a deal.

[retropolis]

What happened? You can tell me.

[invoking]

[ He doesn't want to hurt Nelson. ]

I slipped on some stairs.

[retropolis]

[ A beat. ]

Are you all right? You didn't break anything, did you?

[invoking]

About that... you see... [ He gulps. ]

[retropolis]

[ He exhales. ]

You should let me come over and take a look. I'm very good with first-aid.

[ He needs to be... ]

[invoking]

There's really no need for that, Mr. Nelson! I took care of it already.

[retropolis]

How bad was the break? Did you set it all right?

[invoking]

It wasn't too bad. Most of the swelling has gone down.

[retropolis]

Are you sure? [ Fretting. ] Was it your nose? I know how to splint a broken nose right up, you really want to make sure it sets right or else it will be crooked.

[invoking]

[ Wait a second. ]

Crooked?

[ Shit, he hadn't thought of that. ]

[retropolis]

Yes, on the bridge. Are you sure you don't want any help? [ A pause. ] Did you land on your face?

[invoking]

... Yes, I did.

[ Regrets not shooting HJ. ]

[retropolis]

[ He sighs, trying to imagine what kind of break it must be in his head. ]

I'm coming by, Gilbert. I want to make sure it's healing right.

[invoking]

Huh?

[ Uh oh. ]

You don't need to trouble yourself!

[retropolis]

[ He's already putting on his coat, glad for the excuse to leave. ]

I'll be there shortly. Don't go anywhere.

[ Hangs up!! ]

[invoking]

Wait -- Mr. Nelson? Are you still there? He hung up?!

[ He stays connected for another minute before he shuts off his phone and panic sets in. He should have said he wasn't home. Should he leave instead? But the doorkeeper will inform Nelson and it will look too suspicious...

He paces back and forth before he rushes into the bathroom to try and deal with the nose himself. ]