IC CONTACT

[blowfish]

"Yo, there's no beep on this thing."

[ VOICE, VIDEO, ACTION ]

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[blowfish]

[ Jesse lets him ramble, does nothing but watch him with worried eyes. ]

Right. You're right. [ Not just humoring him-- yes, there is death and rebirth and Haven. Yes, Cecil's contract with Yao will afford him special privileges, along with special consequences. Pointing that out now is, of course, a stupid idea. Jesse's hand finds Carlos' shoulder again, an awkward pat meant to guide him back to the present. ] In the meantime, why don't you clean up and get some rest?

[ Spoken with all the tact and sensitivity he can muster up, definitely a little awkward, but definitely genuine. ] It'll help.

[thelabcoat]

[It is sensitivity enough.

Carlos is a scientist, and a scientist is self reliant. He has always been this, he has never been anything else. It is new to him to have Cecil to rely on, to need to think of and consider, he does not think he is ready for his friends to be bastions of sympathy and sensitivity too.]

Clean?

[He's covered in blood. He barely noticed, and now that it has been drawn to his attention, he can't take his eyes off the sticky red fluid drying all over his hands.]

Yes, I will do that. Thank you. While I am gone, please... please continue to listen for me. When he returns, it will be over the airwaves, I know that much.

[blowfish]

[ Whether he's ready or not, Jesse will continue to attempt to offer it. Carlos offered him help despite barely knowing him; he's not about to forget that anytime soon. ]

I'll stay right here. [ Radio's broken. When Cecil returns he'll be in his apartment, and if he chooses to broadcast anything, it'll be through the network. These are the facts that he won't point out. There's a soft edge to his voice, one that is trying to be reassuring. ] If I hear him, I'll tell you right away, okay?

[ It's not empty reassurance. As soon as Carlos leaves, Jesse will dig his phone out and watch for Cecil. But-- ]

You gonna be okay? Alone?

[thelabcoat]

A scientist is self reliant.

[He murmurs the words by rote, in a voice which is dry and barren as the scrublands he misses dearly. He murmurs them as a half hearted reassurance that he will be fine alone, he murmurs a lie.

But he does not stay any longer to discuss it. He leaves Jesse with the radio hissing static, and he goes to the bathroom to wash away the evidence of Cecil's silent plea from his skin.]