contact part deux

[bouchonne]

if this were modern times byerly would probably make you listen to total eclipse of the heart before you were able to leave a message

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[bouchonne]

[ For fuck's sake -

Byerly scrambles to answer at once. ]

Artemaeus? What?

[altusimperius]

I’m—

I—

[where to begin?]

—there’s a problem.

[bouchonne]

[ More stressed still - ]

So I assumed. What problem?

[altusimperius]

[yes, that is a bit obvious, isn't it.

With a distracted air, like he's looking intently at something while whispering hurriedly to Byerly:]

I... someone came with me to my room, and I thought-- I thought he wanted, [well you know] but he um, didn't, and I noticed almost too late, and he's,

[a heavy pause. Then, faintly,]

...well I think he's dead,

[bouchonne]

[ A three-heartbeat pause. And then, far more levelly: ]

Of natural causes?

[altusimperius]

…falling is natural.

[bouchonne]

Was he trying to kill you?

[ Please, maker, let him have been trying to kill Artemaeus. That will make this so much less complicated. ]

[altusimperius]

[Blessedly,]

I— I think so.

[bouchonne]

[ A breath out. ]

All right. Are there any other Riftwatch members in Antiva at the moment? Or is it just you?

[altusimperius]

I’m not sure, [in a breathless whisper,] I think it’s just me.

[bouchonne]

[ A breath out. ]

All right. Bar the door. And the window. Do not let anyone in or out until I tell you it's all right. I'll see if we can get someone there swiftly via the eluvian network - and, failing that, I'll hire some Crows to bodyguard you. In the meantime, tell me everything that happened.

[altusimperius]

Are you s-- [he catches himself before he can ask properly, because now isn't the time to dither.]

...he's down in the street lying there, somebody's going to find him for certain.

[A pause, then:]

He might have a note.

[bouchonne]

A note? Identifying you as a target, you mean?

[altusimperius]

Yes, or… something.

[Uneasily,] he had… there was intention.