Audio | @silent, @parker, @riku | open

[callada]

[ It has been hours since the lighthouse crew returned to Beacon. You may have seen them around already - checking up on friends and strangers alike, making sure people are safe from the forest spirits and their violence. So it’s some time after that the audio file is posted to the network. ]

Riku: It’s done. The lighthouse is connected.

Peter: That’s the good news. [ a beat; frankly, peter’s tired and it’s reflected in the audible exhale of breath that follows the brief statement. ] Which means we can now communicate with the Lighthouse Keeper and she can communicate with us. I know— things didn’t exactly go as planned, at the lighthouse or — here, but Winters said there’d be a risk. [ the word’s enunciated carefully, with weight; it’s accompanied by the brief sound of movement. that they all knew there'd be the risk of death going into this doesn't change the gravity of what had happened, and though there's more to it than this, peter continues with: ]

—The spirits attacked once they figured out what we were trying to do. [ breath of a pause; amendment. ] Once they thought they figured out what we were trying to do—.

[ in person, peter's attention flickers between rosinante and riku. ]

Rosinante: They came for us immediately when they found us. We ran, but Winters was at the rear and they got him first. Five was first to try and help him, and they killed him too.

[ Said bluntly, matter-of-factly. There’s no desire to beat around the bush, though he does sound solemn as he continues. ]

I can’t speak for the others, but I’ll be here at the Invincible for now if anyone has questions, or needs somewhere to hide.

[ For now, all three are there around the tables by the bar, looking tired and covered in blood and dirt. Worse for wear, but alive. ]

((Feel free to either reply via network or come find them in person!))

Comments

@parker

[webshoots]

I'm sorry, Doc. [ peter doesn't know if they were friends — or if will even has friends — but the fact that it's will's first question says something. there's a 'we did our best' on the tip of his tongue that he doesn't quite get as far as verbalising, because it'd sound like an empty platitude and he knows it.

BUT THEY'LL BE BACK, RIGHT..... ]

[donttalktome]

[Unfortunately, Will's reaction doesn't exactly shed light on the nature of his and Winters' relationship. There's a noise that could either be a sniffle or an attempt to catch his breath, and then he sounds mildly offended.]

What are you apologizing to me for? You're not the one who let those things murder him. I'm not stupid, I know there's only so much you could've done.

[webshoots]

You— [ there's a pause followed by a huff of a breath that could either be a sigh or slight laugh, though it's not exactly amused. WHAT R U WILL. ] It's not an apology. It's empathy. I don't know how you felt about Winters, but you knew him for a while — and outside of her, you're the only person left who's survived a reset. [ like, you okay, dude? ]

—But fine, I withdraw my comment.