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[bythewaves]

Hey, you reached Arnold Benedict of the Benedict Gallery!
Sorry, I can't answer the phone right now but leave a message and I'll get back to you soon.
Bye~!

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Phone call; 1:41 AM (The night in the clinic)

[arrowpoint]

[It's the middle of the night when Liam calls, and it's obvious from his voice that he's not feeling well at all.]

Hey, Dad? Can I talk to you?

[bythewaves]

Hm? [ Arnold yawns sleepily ]

Liam? [ slowly waking up ] What's the matter?

[arrowpoint]

[He hesitates, then when he speaks his voice wavers, like he's trying not to get too upset.]

...I'm really sick, Dad.

[bythewaves]

[ Waking up REALLY FAST NOW ]

Sick? Liam what's wrong?

[arrowpoint]

It's like a really bad flu, but they're taking tests. Could be something else.

[Something more serious is implied in the tone.]

...I really don't feel good.

[bythewaves]

[ On the phone the soft rustle of sheets and his mother's sleepy voice - Lisa is home, it seems - Arnold? Is that Liam? ]

Tests? What're they looking for? [ Yep awake and worried, and he's up and moving, with a kiss for Lisa Something's wrong babe, I need to go ]

Liam, what aren't you saying? What's the matter?

[arrowpoint]

[Hearing those whispers, Liam shakes his head but it can't be seen through the phone.]

No, don't come here, you can't. I'm in like... quarantine.

[Liam has to pull away the phone to have an unpleasant sounding coughing fit before he can reply.]

I don't know, the doc won't tell me, but it could be something bad.

[bythewaves]

[ Liam? Baby what's wrong? Arnold why can I hear him coughing? his mother's voice

I don't know love, I'm going to find out. Go back to bed, you had a long day ]

Liam, if you're in quarantine this isn't a normal cold. I'm on my way down. Where are you? In Las Vegas or Locke?

[arrowpoint]

[Part of him doesn't want to tell his dad where he is. He should stay away from people in case it's whatever Dr. Strider thought it was... but the other part of him, a stronger part of him at this moment, really wanted his dad. He thinks about it for a long time while the sound of his slightly labored breathing can be heard.]

...I'm in Locke. At this clinic on [name] street. But it's locked up, and you really shouldn't come anyway.

[bythewaves]

[ While he thinks Arnold kisses Lisa goodbye, and she calls out that Liam Get well soon, baby, okay? and gets dressed. By the time Liam answers, there is the sound of chopper blades audible ]

I'm your father. [ Firm, nothing of the usual ditzy airhead ] I'm coming Liam, the chopper is warming up, I should be there soon. Hang on, okay?

[arrowpoint]

[He groans.]

Dad... are you really taking the chopper? It's only three hours, you can take the limo.

[...Yes, your son is suggesting using the low gas mileage limo instead of the electric car. Something is wrong.]

[bythewaves]

The chopper is faster. I'll plant a tree after, okay? Liam... [ gently ] I'll be there soon, okay? You'll be fine.

[arrowpoint]

[Liam sniffles in either tears or from illness - perhaps both, as his voice is shaky when he speaks.]

I love you, Dad. And Mom and Keira too. You'll tell them later, right?

[bythewaves]

You'll tell her yourself [ almost yelling, as the blades whip up ]

Because you'll be fine. I love you, Liam. Your mom loves you, and so does your sister. You'll be fine.

phone; text; morning of the 14th

[hustru]

You told me that I could approach you anytime if you can help me.

-Siiri Pulkkinen. We met in Finland.

ring ring ring returning that phonecall a bit later~

[bythewaves]

Siiri! The lovely lady with the pretty blue eyes, yes, I remember.

Hello! What can I do for you?

[ Traffic noises in the background ]

[hustru]

I need to buy an engagement ring. Today.

Can I borrow the money from you?

[She hates to ask this - her parents have instilled the firm believe in never ever get yourself into a debt in her and she's always kept to it - but desperate times call for desperate actions, and all that. She'll figure out a way to pay it back later.]

[bythewaves]

An engagement ring! [ If Arnold were an anime character there would be hearts floating down the phone ]

Of course! Certainly - anything for True Love. [ You can practically hear the capitalization ] A Valentine's Day surprise, eh? Where are you at the moment?

[hustru]

Locke City. [And she names a location in a middle class quarter somewhere not too far out.

...and after long pause adds (and really, she could light things on fire with her head right now, because the True Love thought is distracting but it is so right):]

I can come anywhere in Locke, if there's public transport.

[bythewaves]

Excellent! I am done for the day and can be there shortly, meet me at the train station, I'll pick you up and we can go looking.

[hustru]

[!!!! She doesn't need to- she can look for herself, she thinks, but then she realizes that no, she really has no idea, and what Åsa doesn't like what she picks for her?

So she nods mutely at the phone and only after a moment notices that this will not really work.]

I'll be there.

[She's already called into work - she had to lie about being sick, but sometimes there really are more important things.]

text;

[highly_gifted]

I think they are simply lampstones. Artificially made gems that have light trapped inside them.

[Yes, this is the whole message. Make of it what you want.]

text;

[bythewaves]

Eh? You mean the Silmarils? I suppose they could be, but they're awful bright. You sure they arent some sorta torch or something?

text;

[highly_gifted]

I think the concept can be adapted to any kind of brightness desired.

text;

[bythewaves]

Can it be adjusted then? Or are they stuck at one level?