missiondeterminant | [IC Inbox

[It has become routine for Oscar to monitor the contact list on his device throughout the tenth day of each month. He commits every new name that appears to memory. When he finds 'Connor' among the recently added names, the unbidden apprehension he feels is as unexpected as it is unpleasant. His normal reaction would have certainly been one of genuine concern; the Door's energy fluctuations do, however, seem to be amplifying it, increasing his already heightened worry for the android's welfare and causing him to experience a fleeting sensation that is similar in severity to panic.

He hastens to call him. He would have soon done so without the Door's influence, but it would have been with a less pressing sense of alarm.]

Mr. Connor? This is Oscar. You were absent from the communication network for approximately three days. ... Please call me when you are next available.

[Upon noticing Mr. Connor's unceremonious disappearance from the network, Oscar thought he might have been returned to his world of origin. Could he have been mistaken in this presumption?]

[Connor is, honestly, quite amazed by the number of people who seemed to have noticed he was missing. It isn't something he's used to, and it's kind of nice.

It takes a minute or two before he's certain he's composed enough to call back, having even more trouble than usual handling his emotions, but once he's sure he can sound calm he returns the call.]

Hello Oscar. I'm sorry if I worried you.

[The agitation begins to abate as he awaits a response. Oscar then considers the possibility that Mr. Connor mightn't have any memory of Hadriel. And what if this 'Connor' is simply another person with the same name? (Improbable, especially when one takes into account the absence of a surname, but there still exists a minute possibility.)

He responds to Mr. Connor's greeting without delay.]

What happened, Mr. Connor?

I'm not entirely sure, but it seems I left Hadriel at some point and returned to my world, then returned here.

[And it wasn't the same amount of time in each location, which was strange, and he also doesn't remember how he left.]

[The clinic has not received reports of new creatures being sighted on the west island yet, but it is only a matter of time. So he has to ask:]

Were there any creatures in the Colosseum?

[Did Mr. Connor sustain any damage?]

No, just flowers than can mimic sounds and voices.

[It had been a really fortunate time to come back, especially since he'd been so disoriented and shaken from what happened at home and the shock of returning here. And, guessing why Oscar asked--]

I'm not damaged at all.

You are very fortunate, Mr. Connor. I have not seen a single arrival day that failed to introduce some manner of hostile creature to Hadriel.

You are not the first to be subject to recapture. There are others undergoing their second term of imprisonment in Hadriel, myself included. For what length of time were you left in your world before returning?

[He'd heard of this happening before, but it's good to know--not good in subject matter, but in knowing--that there's another person who understands.]

A few hours.

[It wasn't long at all, and yet it felt like a lifetime; maybe it was, in a way, since it was his first few hours truly self-aware.]

A lot happened in those hours.

It gained the interest of whatever nature of being it is that wields the power of the Door.

It gathered the interest of the country, at home.

[If not the world. Somehow it isn't a surprise that the Door might've cared about it.]

An historic event?

We hope so.

[He'll explain more about it to Oscar later, if he wants to hear, but right now everything's still a little much. It's for that reason that he tries to shift the topic to a subject he already pretty much knows the answer to, and so he can handle it more easily.]

Did much happen here, while I was gone?

[Oscar's curiosity remains undiminished, but he shall respect Mr. Connor's wish to change the subject by letting the matter rest for now. He supposes, in their current situation, it is more practical to focus on what lies ahead...]

Nothing newly out of the ordinary, no.

[Well that's good to hear, but... Not the distraction he was hoping for. And now the awkward silence that Connor can't even really try to think about breaking; although he doesn't get tired like a human does, he can now understand the idea of mental exhaustion and he doesn't really like it.

So sorry for the sudden heavy silence; he knows he should say something or at least apologize for being a terrible conversationalist, but he can't bring himself to do so.]

[As the silence lengthens, Oscar deduces and accepts that their conversation might be coming to an end. But when nothing is contributed, he chooses to act upon his concern for the android.]

Is there anything that you need, Mr. Connor?

[Mr. Connor once asked the same question of him.]

[His initial reaction is to say no, thank you, he's fine, but then he remembers something Rose told him and he hesitates another few seconds. Finally, though, he responds hesitantly--]

Not right now, but... Later, possibly.

[...A+, Connor, elaborate.]

Rose suggested I spend time with people I like, to readjust to being here, and...

[And that's a very short list, because for an android made to bond with people, he's apparently terrible at it. Or, more realistically, he's been purposefully avoiding most people in Hadriel because he finds them horrible, but right now everything is mentally and emotionally terrible and so he might as well jump to the worst possible interpretation.

This is, relatedly, probably exactly why it's a good idea to spend time with other people instead of hiding in his apartment alone with his thoughts, but whatever.]

[He allows Mr. Connor more time to speak, but when nothing else is said, Oscar offers his response.]

You know you may call me at any time, Mr. Connor.

[He's silent another several seconds at that, struggling with keeping the mix of conflicting emotions under control. It's probably clear in his voice that he really, genuinely appreciates the offer.]

Thank you.

[IC Inbox | Hadriel]

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