[There are two reasons Percy chooses to use audio over text. First, he's been paranoid about triggering another migraine since the last one hit him with the force of a battering ram, and secondly because Hiro might recognize his voice in case he doesn't remember Percy right away.
It takes him a few tries to get something that doesn't sound excessively apologetic, though--it's been long enough since he saw the kid, promised to check up on him and never followed through that he can't quite keep the guilt out of his voice.]
Hey, man, it's Percy, the harpy from Pandemonium a while ago? Um, I'm just following up with you, checking to see how you're doing. I'm really sorry it took me so long, by the way--with the fire and everything, it's been a little hectic, and I just took on my first tenant. Not that I'm trying to make excuses, or anything, I just. [Here, he pauses and rubs his hand over his face.] I want to make sure you know it's not you, I just can't keep track of anything lately.
Anyway, come by for coffee sometime if you want, and we can chat. I'll either be at work or at the hotel.
Take care of yourself, okay? I'll be around if you need me for anything.
[What comes through in reply is only text, brief and worrying. Hiro had been doing a little better until the start of July, when he woke up to something even worse than his crush vanishing.]
Listen, I know it's hard. I know it seems impossible.
I lost my mom for a while when I was twelve. I eventually got her back, but it was hell when she was gone. But listen to me, your brother wouldn't want this for you. It's okay to grieve but you can't let it totally consume you or you'll get swept away.
I'm going to bring you some food. You need to eat before you lose control and hurt yourself or someone else. What's your address?
[He's already swept away, drowning in flood waters and mudslides of pain. He can't muster the energy to do much of anything, bathing every few days just so his housemates don't bug him about being smelly but otherwise sitting in one corner of his room. His, not theirs. Not theirs with Tadashi gone.
He doesn't reply right away because he doesn't want Percy to see him like this, how thin he's gotten in just a few weeks, how hollowed out he looks. He doesn't want to eat, might not even have the strength to berserk anymore anyway. He's afraid he'll just gag everything right back up again.
But he knows from that one previous encounter that Percy will hound him out of worry, maybe ask around about him until everyone he knows is in an uproar and bugging him. He can't stand the thought of his pain broadcast to the network, even by a good Samaritan.
So he sends the address, followed by one other message.]
[Percy signs off and grabs a backpack, which he fills with a bottle of water and some frozen meat from his last hunt--he'll have to go out again soon, his supplies are starting to dwindle, but he can worry about that later when he isn't preoccupied with memories of Nico crying outside the Big House.
When he reaches the address, he raps on the door and waits for the answer, lips pressed in a tight frown.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
>>SEAWEEDBRAIN has posted an audio message.
It takes him a few tries to get something that doesn't sound excessively apologetic, though--it's been long enough since he saw the kid, promised to check up on him and never followed through that he can't quite keep the guilt out of his voice.]
Hey, man, it's Percy, the harpy from Pandemonium a while ago? Um, I'm just following up with you, checking to see how you're doing. I'm really sorry it took me so long, by the way--with the fire and everything, it's been a little hectic, and I just took on my first tenant. Not that I'm trying to make excuses, or anything, I just. [Here, he pauses and rubs his hand over his face.] I want to make sure you know it's not you, I just can't keep track of anything lately.
Anyway, come by for coffee sometime if you want, and we can chat. I'll either be at work or at the hotel.
Take care of yourself, okay? I'll be around if you need me for anything.
TEXT
everything went to hell
woke up start of month and brother is gone
havent left apt in 3 weeks
cant handle this dont know what to do
wanna go home
<seaweedbrain>
I'm so sorry I didn't check in before now.
Can I bring you some food or something?
<hirobot>
keep having nightmares
brother has nothing to go home to
hes dead back there
lost him all over again
<seaweedbrain>
I lost my mom for a while when I was twelve. I eventually got her back, but it was hell when she was gone. But listen to me, your brother wouldn't want this for you. It's okay to grieve but you can't let it totally consume you or you'll get swept away.
I'm going to bring you some food. You need to eat before you lose control and hurt yourself or someone else. What's your address?
<hirobot>
He doesn't reply right away because he doesn't want Percy to see him like this, how thin he's gotten in just a few weeks, how hollowed out he looks. He doesn't want to eat, might not even have the strength to berserk anymore anyway. He's afraid he'll just gag everything right back up again.
But he knows from that one previous encounter that Percy will hound him out of worry, maybe ask around about him until everyone he knows is in an uproar and bugging him. He can't stand the thought of his pain broadcast to the network, even by a good Samaritan.
So he sends the address, followed by one other message.]
dont tell anybody else whats wrong with me
<seaweedbrain> > action
[Percy signs off and grabs a backpack, which he fills with a bottle of water and some frozen meat from his last hunt--he'll have to go out again soon, his supplies are starting to dwindle, but he can worry about that later when he isn't preoccupied with memories of Nico crying outside the Big House.
When he reaches the address, he raps on the door and waits for the answer, lips pressed in a tight frown.]