→ o1. [video]

[aperfectthird]

[The feed opens quite abruptly on a young man looking into the device with a combination of consternation and confusion. A finger appears and taps on the screen, then the view promptly swings around to a pair of perfectly polished dress shoes. The view shakes for a moment before coming back to Percy's face, brow still furrowed.]

Oh, I think it's one of those communication devices - felly - no - telly - telephones? Is it on?

[He speaks loudly now.]

Hello?! Can anyone hear me?

[Beat. He looks worried, biting his lip, then squares his jaw, thinks for a moment, and continues. His tone is firm and authoritative, though those who know him well might be able to spot a very fine thread of fear running through it.]

If anyone can hear me, then I demand safe passage back to England immediately. I am employed by the British government and I guarantee that the Minister will not be pleased to find I have been taken.

I await your response.

Now how do I turn this off?

Comments

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[onlyholey]

[George switches their conversation to private. The network doesn't need to see what's just about their family.]

They'll all want to see you.

private;

[aperfectthird.livejournal.com]

[He shakes his head.]

I would love to, but. I don't know if it's really the best idea.

[Beat.]

Fred.

Is that really ... ?

private;

[onlyholey]

[George pauses for a long time. Then very slowly a smile tugs at the corner of his mouth.]

Yeah. He's here.

private;

[aperfectthird.livejournal.com]

Oh.

[There's that look of being sucker-punched again, before it's pushed back down. He couldn't believe it from anyone else - hell, he couldn't even believe it from Fred. But to hear it from George? He would never lie about that, would never even dream of doing anything close.

But it's impossible. How can the dead and the living walk in the same city? How can the dead be brought back?]

It's. Really him?

private;

[onlyholey]

I have no idea how, but yeah. It's really him.

private;

[aperfectthird.livejournal.com]

It's impossible.

[There is notably less conviction in his tone now, and he rubs a hand over his forehead.]

It doesn't make any sense.

[A beat, then, quietly:]

I thought he was a hallucination.

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[onlyholey]

We've seen a lot of impossible things in our lives, Perce.

[A certain speccy acquaintance of theirs that was supposed to be dead, too, remember?]

So did I. I was certain this place was a dream, at first.


It wouldn't've been the first time.

private;

[aperfectthird.livejournal.com]

I'm still not entirely convinced it's not.

[He looks down at his left hand, out of frame of the camera, a line of bloodied red half-moons decorating his palm where his nails have dug into his hand to keep himself calm during all of this. It stings, so he can feel pain, but that doesn't necessarily mean anything.]

None of it feels real.

private;

[onlyholey]

Give it time. It'll start making more sense soon enough.

private;

[aperfectthird.livejournal.com]

Maybe.

[He pushes his glasses up for a moment, rubbing the bridge of his nose with two fingers.]

Where can I stay, for the time being?

[onlyholey]

You seriously don't want to stay with us? Come off it, Percy!

[aperfectthird.livejournal.com]

I don't think it would be the wisest course of action. It's been some time since I've lived with other people.

[Especially dead people. Who are mad at him.]

[onlyholey]

You can't live on you're own in this place. The ticking drives you mad.

[aperfectthird.livejournal.com]

The tick -

- oh. I thought there was a clock nearby; is that not the care?

[onlyholey]

There's always a clack nearby, yeah. It's under the city. And you can be enough of a twat without being bonkers on top of it. You're coming home with us.