Text;

[shifting]

It looks like I've been gone for a week, so I'm sorry to anyone that troubled. Mostly my employees. Thank you, Maeve, for holding the fort down while I was gone.

But I'm back and I'm all right. Just thought I should give some sort of notice.

[he hadn't wanted to. He Ported in early this morning, and beyond a surprising interlude with a helpful hotel owner, Sam's spent the rest of this day's slow, winding hours at home. It took the most resilient sense of duty just to drag him from his bed. And honestly, typing still feels like too much effort.]

Sounds like I just missed some personal-ghost bullshit happening here though, so I'll count my blessings.

[one: one blessing. There, he's counted.]

Comments

text;

[maevelous]

[ This very public thank you is not entirely welcome what with the Man in Black skulking about and Chilton as well. Buuut, it's there. So Maeve acknowledges it. ]

Don't you fret over that part, darling. I'll take care of things as long as you need. You just take care of yourself. You have someone who returned from home inquiring about you as well.

[shifting]

I'll be in tomorrow. You can catch me up then take the next two days off. You need a break.

That's Sookie. She's a good friend of mine.

[he's been putting off calling her, but he needs to.]

[maevelous]

She's sweet. I like her.

[ It's much harder to read text than a person. But knowing men the way she does... ]

Are you actually ready to come back tomorrow? If you're worried about me and my stamina, don't. This is nothing compared to what I can do.

[shifting]

It's hard not to.

I'm fine, I'll be there in the morning. And I've got all the faith in the world in you after this, don't worry.

Any issues while I was gone?

[wordaday]

SAM

[Oh, thank Jesus. Sookie's scrubbing her bathtub when she sees the message, and she nearly drops her phone into the water in the scramble to reply. It's slow going, texting one handed.]

Are you okay? In one piece? Are you home?

[shifting]

[it's odd, having to navigate both relief and reluctance at seeing Sookie's name on his screen. He's glad she's back, of course he is.

It just means he won't be able to hide anything, either. That's always been a fool's errand with Sookie.]

Yes to all three. When did you get back? Are YOU okay?

[wordaday]

about three days ago? not long at all, i don't even have my fridge restocked yet.

[Eeeuurgh, yikes. If that question were any more loaded it'd be covered in cheese and bacon bits and served at the bar. The way Sam gets, she's going to have to tread gently and be as reassuring as she can. God knows, he overreacts. Though, if she could hide all of it from him she definitely would.]

okay so first things first everything is OKAY. i'm going to be FINE

but i did get shot a few days. it was at home, and i left the hospital and then woke back up over here. it JUST creased my shoulder.

[shifting]

What the hell do you mean you got shot? Who shot you?

[maevelous]

Mostly the usual drunken riffraff. Nothing too crazy happened. I think most everyone has been preoccupied. Personal-ghost bullshit, as you said.

[audio] private

[wordaday]

[So that means they still aren't at the same place, time wise. Dammit.

It takes her a few minutes to figure it out, but after a while Sookie replies with a private message. No one else really needs to know about Bon Temps business.]

Okay, so the deal is that there's a shooter loose in town, seems like to everyone else that it's been random shootings, but really they've been targeting shifters. And me. [She pauses for a moment, swallowing nervously.] You got shot, too. You're fine though, just got a broken leg.

[audio] private

[shifting]

[Sam swallows. Suddenly, there's a lot to wrap his head around.]

I did get shot. ...So did Luna. By some men targeting shifters, like you said. [he's speaking slowly, carefully, the confusion plain in his voice.] But you never did. And I didn't break my leg.

...You did end up kidnapped by 'em at one point. I was able to save you, but they'd planned on killing you on video.

[shifting]

Have you had to deal with that?

[maevelous]

I have not, no.

[ Probably because she's a robot. But she's quick to get off the topic. ]

I can work tomorrow and the rest of the week as planned with the caveat that you allow me to have off this weekend. There's a personal matter I need to attend to.

[shifting]

Not a problem. Feels like the least I can do.

[audio] private

[wordaday]

What?

[That's...well. There's some stuff to unpack there. The thought that someone would try to kidnap her and kill her is upsettingly less surprising than she'd like it to be, but the rest? Who is Luna? The name does ring a bell—Luna Garza, the werebat that helped her escape in Dallas—but she hasn't heard the name since last summer.]

Sam, that doesn't make any sense. You've got a big ol' cast on. And I definitely got shot, right in the library parking lot.

text;

[marriedmedium]

Welcome back, darling. Don't think I've forgotten about that drink.

text;

[shifting]

Not to worry, I haven't either. I'll be in the rest of this week if you want to drop by.

[audio] private

[shifting]

Then it has to be someone different you're thinkin' about. Some - future fuckin' instance, maybe. 'Cause that's all wrong. We talked in the hospital when I visited Luna, you were fine then. And you were still fine when I rescued you, just with a knock to the head.

[audio] private

[wordaday]

You're the one that's got to be in the future. So far I've managed to not get kidnapped.

[Couple'a near misses though.]

Who's Luna?

[audio] private

[shifting]

[it takes Sam a moment to answer, feeling like the breath's been knocked out of him.]

...Luna. Luna Garza. She's - Jesus, Sookie, the shapeshifter I've been datin' for more'n a year now!

[a painful pause. He corrects:]

Had been.

permatext;

[slightlyoffchilt]

Look what the cat dragged in.

[shifting]

Disappointed?

[slightlyoffchilt]

Not by much. I have a few things to catch you up on regarding our mutual friend.

[shifting]

Can it wait?

[slightlyoffchilt]

I suppose so. He dropped the cowboy getup anyway.