lovesickkiller | IC Voicemail [RtE]

[No sooner is he in the door than she's opening it and pulling him bodily inside, nearly spilling the cocoa in the process. He's able to set it on the counter, and it only overflows a little before she's beginning to rant and pulling him into a welcome and relieving (but highly confusing) hug.]

Uh, n-no. I don't think that word has gotten out. He just told Cesar.

[He watches dazedly as she paces.]

We were talking on the Network. We moved to a private channel before it got serious or specific but...he must have suspected that something was up. He has a sense for that.

Do you have any Tylenol?

[He sinks into the sofa, pinching the bridge of his nose and resting his elbows on his knees.]

And that idiot believed him.

[She does not have a single thought to devote to Cesar's feelings right now. The man reappears in their lives out of nowhere after a year, and in the course of one day he has already ruined everything, and gotten them all involved to boot.]

Stupid, dumb idiot.

[Misa directs her pacing toward a cupboard and throws a pill bottle in Lazarus's general direction, still muttering angrily as she fetches a glass of water for him.]

How many times is he going to get played by that thing? At this point it's his own fault!

Hey... that's uncalled for, he's not an idiot. The doppelganger's been deleting my Network messages and... all right, I think it's ridiculous that he's ignoring my texts, but... he's upset. And he might be drinking...

[He dodges the bottle rather than catches it, then sheepishly stands to pick it up off the floor.]

He's hurting. He's an easy target. The same thing happens with cults... they recruit people at their low points.

[He dumps about fourteen Tylenol into his palm, not paying particularly close attention to the process.]

As if I would get pregnant like this! And how would it know anyway?? It's always making up lies, Cesar has been fooled enough times to know that!

[She slams the cup of water down next to the hot coco, eyes the pills in Lazarus's hand, and walks over to take the bottle from him. She proceeds to flick all but three of the Tylenol capsules back into the bottle.]

Don't defend him. He has no right to be upset about us... He left, you two broke up. We didn't do anything wrong. And it was over a year ago.

Well... I mean, it's not like it's a biological impossibility. We're a male and a female participating in intercourse, and that's how we both got here. And we're hardwired to react to things that we're afraid of...

[He compliantly allows Misa to take the pills from him.]

I don't think he has the right to be angry, but... if he was hoping to get back together at some point, you can see how this would be kind of crushing. I asked if it was awkward, and he said it was very awkward.

I don't know what his litmus test is, but... considering it's me, it must have been pretty awkward.

And we're smart enough not to let that happen!

[Misa's frown deepens as Lazarus brings up the possibility of Cesar wanting to get back together.]

Well he can't have you back, so he'd better get over it. Or go back to not saying anything.

[She flops down on the couch next to him, still angry but also exhausted by it. A quick breather is needed before her next shouting/pacing session.]

Well... I mean, our parents weren't dumb, I don't think...

[He downs the pills, looking confused and sad and somewhat lost.]

This is a mess. Tell me something good to hold onto and then we'll think of what we're going to do. There's a kid who's smitten and a desperate man who's probably going to make some really bad decisions tonight, so... gameplan. Right.

[She is about to counter that their parents wanted them so that is an entirely different matter, but enough cans of worms have been opened tonight without touching on the subject of parents. Best to let that conversation fade away.]

Something good...

[It's a tall order. Misa grabs the hot coco and tucks her legs up on the couch, leaning her head against Lazarus's shoulder.]

I have a boyfriend who brings me hot chocolate. That's pretty good.

[She smiles, and takes a sip- and abruptly spits the liquid back into the cup, gagging. The bitterness is unexpected and jarring, to say the least.]

[For a second, he's worried that she won't be able to come up with anything, and then she's offering something that's actually pretty sweet and undeniably true. He starts to smile palely, and then she's gagging and spitting and he's sitting up in sudden, anxious alarm.]

What? What's wrong, what is it?

It's- nothing, just- a little bitter-

[She gets the words out between coughs as best as she can, wincing and sitting back up to put the mug on the table. How hard is it to make hot coco? She knows Lazarus was in a hurry, but really.]

It, ah... was still nice of you to bring it.

[He watches with helpless, forlorn concern as she sets the mug down, going for it himself and tasting it. She's right; he spits it back in the mug.]

Shit. I forgot the sugar.

[That might be the straw that breaks him. He hunches forward, staring straight ahead catatonically.]

Don't-!

[The warning comes too late. Lazarus has already had a taste for himself, and though they have certainly swapped spit and more on many occasions, Misa is still a little disgusted by him drinking from the mug she spat in.]

H-hey, it's fine!

[She leans over to rub his shoulders, trying to sound encouraging.]

That's just a little thing. We'll take of everything, okay?

[No, no it is far from fine, and everything in Lazarus' expression and posture say so.]

I don't know where he gets it. So much energy. So much drive to just... destroy everything I stand for and care about. He gets off on it, I know he fucking gets off on it...

[He rakes a hand through his hair.]

There's Blaise, who I don't think he'll touch. Yet, anyway. Then there's Cesar, who he... will. Definitely. Touch.

[Misa tenses at that, uncomfortable with how much Lazarus doesn't seem to want Cesar being touched. It's a unique situation, what with the man in question being his doppelganger, but still... should he care so much about what Cesar does? Is it a warning sign that he's this distraught?]

[She realizes that she stopped rubbing his shoulders, and resumes.]

Lazarus... Cesar is a single guy, and he's an adult. I know you don't like it... [And she doesn't like that he doesn't like it.] ... But it's not up to you who touches him now. I can make sure he knows I'm not pregnant, but he's going to do what he wants.

[It might be that he doesn't want him touched by his awful doppelganger, but... from Misa's perspective it's certainly understandable that she'd be concerned about the other possibility, that Lazarus is jealous and he can't let go.

He seems to relax a little more as she resumes rubbing his poor, curved, stiff shoulders.]

Yeah, I... I know. You're right. It's not appropriate that I'm so wrapped up in his business, considering we're not together. I'm just not a fan of the idea of him going out and doing something impulsive and harmful.

How are you going to let him know...?

[Misa considers that for a moment. He isn't checking his phone, would he be checking the network?]

I can send him a message over the network, the doppelganger wouldn't be able to delete that. Or...

[She hesitates to mention it, not wanting to see him at all, but if Lazarus is really worried then she should at least offer.]

Do you know where they're meeting?

[Lazarus looks hesitant to even say.]

...it's really not your kind of place. I looked it up and it's...

There'll be a lot of people doing drugs and having sex. That's just how it is.

[Misa makes a face.]

Are there bouncers...?

[She is not going to risk being assaulted for Cesar's sake. Now is one of those times it would be really nice to have Tony around. She doesn't know anyone nearby who is the least bit threatening; Nux looks like a strong wind could take him out, and Nathan would likely die of shock the moment they arrived.]

It's not like I've been there. I don't know. I guess I'd assume there are...

[He's sounding tense and overwhelmed again.]

At any rate I don't think you should go alone. If you give me a little bit of time to put myself together, I'll come with you.

[By that, he means sobering up a little. Because of course he started drinking during that 43 text streak.

...maybe he shouldn't go, but he's not going to be the one to say that.]

No, you're not coming.

[Not only does she want to avoid a face to face meeting between him and a probably drunk Cesar at all costs, he would be absolutely no help in the protection department.]

I'll find someone. Just text me the address.

[Misa stands up decisively, wanting to get this over with as soon as possible.]

You stay here and... clean, or take a shower, do something to relax. No more texting Cesar and no drinking.

[She has no idea that he has already started, but she has a fair suspicion that it's going to be his first course of action when she leaves.]

[This doesn't sit well with him for several reasons. For one, he doesn't think he'd be no help whatsoever. He might look brittle, but he's stronger than he appears.]

Tell me who you're getting, Misa. I won't text you until there's a reasonable plan in place.

[Misa pauses for a moment before answering, hesitant.]

... Nux.

[She doesn't know him well at all, and all that she knows of him indicates that he is reckless and well as skittish, but he is quite literally the only man with any muscle mass she is acquainted with who lives nearby.]

Lazarus, if you want me to do this for you, I will. But I'm going to do it now, and then it's going to be over with, and I don't want to have to see either of them again. I need you not to hurt yourself while I'm gone.

[Because he didn't agree not to drink in her absence, did he?]

[The answer at least seems to satisfy Lazarus, even if it's not thrillingly ideal.]

I'm not going to hurt myself. I'm sorry you even have to worry about it. Do you want me to contact Luca and get him up to speed?

No drinking, either- yes, do. Does he prefer Luca? I thought it was Nux.

OK... OK, I won't. And... I think he prefers Nux but I don't want him to fall into what I did. With L. With falling in love with a life just because it isn't his.

[He pinches the bridge of his nose before reaching for his phone. After a short conversation, he hangs up.]

...he's absolutely thrilled about the opportunity. Great. Promise you'll be careful?

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[Action] suddenly blonde

[Action] What what do you mean suddenly

[Action] she's been blonde the whole time you saw nothing /waves hands

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