maskormenace | ( video o2 )

[ It's been two days.

D'Artagnan has been missing for two days.

And Athos knows this happens, of course he does. He's seen the recent slew of posts about missing persons, he's watched them even if he hasn't replied to them. He understands that it's something that just occurs around here. But that doesn't mean he accepts it. Which is why he's here, video rolling. He looks ... angry is the main thing. Angry and maybe just a little lost. Tired too, but that's par for the course when one of your dearest friends up and disappear leaving you to drink away your sorrows.

He had other questions -- ones about gunpowder mostly -- he didn't expect this to be the subject of conversation. ]

I need answers about the people who disappear. [ Short, sharp, and devoid of emotion. He doesn't slur his words, he isn't that far gone but his hand clenches around a cup out of shot. ] I know that many have vanished recently. But I want to know if there's a way to be sure they have returned home and not been taken. [ It's the usual response to something like this. But his suspicion of those in charge of this place hasn't faded at all. If someone has d'Artagnan then he wants to know about it. And he wants to run them through. ] Have any of you attempted to track them down? With all the ... technology in this place, surely there is a way. Can you be absolutely certain they are no longer in this world?

( ooc: so fair warning, athos will never ever reply to texts because he doesn't read his letters! if you text him i'm not ignoring you, he's just a failure. )

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If their names can no longer be found on the network list, then they were Ported out. If it's permanent or not, it's matter of waiting to see.

Why would they be ported out? What reason would there be?

[ He is not a patient man. Not when it comes to d'Artagnan. ]

We don't know the reason. The Porter decides, but it won't tell us why.

The machine?

[ With an irritated sound. ] Is there no one I can speak to in person about this?

They will tell you exactly what I'm telling you.

The Porter decides it and nobody controls the Porter.

And it is guaranteed that home is where they are sent? [ Because Athos would probably burn the city down for d'Artagnan. ]

Many people have been Ported out and returned after, and all of them remember being sent to their homeworlds.

[ Athos is silent for a moment. Perhaps he could live with it if d'Artagnan were to return home. He would go to war without Athos but he would have Porthos ( and hopefully Aramis ) with him. He would survive.

And Athos could do his best to make it back. He could try. ]

I see. Thank you. [ He's not a man of many words unfortunately. ]

[She's not bothering to reply - instead she's just knocking on the door.]

Athos? Athos!

[ He answers the door but slowly, his glass in one hand and a haggard expression on his face. ]

Lucy. [ He takes a step back, allows her inside. ] I should have called you. I'm sorry.

I had been concerned when he-

No, it is no matter.

[She comes in, and today she's wearing a skirt, and she looks a little harried, like maybe she just threw on clothes and rushed over.]

Are you very drunk?

Not yet.

[ He lifts his glass and takes a deep swallow, draining it in one before he starts moving toward the kitchen. ] But I plan to be.

[ Athos pauses at the sink, his hand going to the tap but not turning it on just yet. He does not quite look at her. ] Is it true? Will he have gone home?

[She looks around a little. She spent time here without them, but now, after having had them for the span of two months, being without one is odd, perplexing. Like missing something that is just meant to be at the end of her fingertips.

It makes her sad.]

I suspect that yes, it is true. He will have gone home to his wife, and perhaps he is better for it, isn't it so?

[Her voice gets very small.]

I would like a glass of wine, please.

[ He finds a spare glass in the cupboards, filling that with cold water first. It takes a few seconds for him to touch the stem and turn the water a dark red. He hands it over without satisfaction. ]

Constance will take care of him. She is a good woman.

[ And yet Athos feels heartsick. He is not used to being without his brothers. For how long he has wanted to be left alone, he does not like it now. ]

[She takes it, and drinks a bit, and finds a chair to sit in.]

He is a good man.

[He truly is. The kind of man Lucy wishes she could fall in love with, the kind of man who she would be glad to spend her life with. Brave, and loyal, and polite. And smart, faithful-

And good.

She shakes her head.]

I do not wish to leave your side.

[ Athos nods and holds back his heavy sigh, leaning against the sink to continue his heavy dose of drinking. ]

You may stay. I would not turn you away.

[ A sip and then in a fit of energy. ] You must think me very foolish, my lady. I am happy that he is home. He would be better there.

Did you lose something?

[ What do you mean taking advantage of other people's pain. ]

No.

[ Do not test him today. ]

Technological tracking isn't really something I can do myself, but I do have a little experience in the comings and goings around here. I don't know if I can tell you what you haven't already heard, though.

Edited 2015-07-08 23:46 (UTC)

That there's no way to find him, yes I've heard.

[ He might be a little bit drunk by now, but at least it does not show on his face. ] I do not like being at the whim of something I cannot fight.

I never heard of anybody who does.

I went away and came back. Maybe the same will happen for your fellow.

Do you think me foolish for crying for my brother? I have been said to be as good as a boy, but I often weep for missing my royal brothers and sister.

[She says it with a bit of a frown.]

I do not think it is foolish to mourn when separated from someone you care deeply for, even if you know they are in better straits.

I went home when I was ported out, I can vouch for us actually going back. Uh, for me, anyway.

[ He's just so used to stabbing things when he's angry. Having nothing to fight is hard. ]

And where did you go? Home? Or some place else?

I have not been without him for quite some time.

[ His hand clenches and trembles around his glass, his face overcast with unhappiness. ] He has so firmly situated himself in my life that I find it -- difficult to not have him here now.

[ D'Artagnan saved Athos. He made him become a better man. Without that guiding presence, what shall he be? ]

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