007 ☯ Alma [VOICE]

[alma_karma]

[ooc: Backdated to not long after midnight on April 1st.]

[The feed clicks on to the sound of panicked, raspy breathing. Small fingers fumble at the device for several long seconds before words come, halting and strained.]

A-Allen! I-!... I was back in the l-lab and then I woke up here a-and- [Alma cuts off, coughing wetly away from the feed for a minute before he manages to gather himself and continue]

Yu's not br-breathing and he's not getting b-back up!

Comments

[voice]

[churchninja]

[After hearing the tale once more, this time a little easier to follow without the upset stuttering, Link's voice softens slightly:] Try to keep him warm. How badly is he injured? Are you hurt anywhere?

[voice]

[alma_karma]

His ears are bleeding. [He sniffs lightly, and there are some shifting sounds in the background.] He's awake now...

I'm healing.

[voice]

[churchninja]

[A tense pause. After recovering from his own trip home, he can't deny this newfound knowledge leaves a terrible taste in his mouth. By 'healing', did Alma mean to say he'd been subjected to lab testing? Is this what those 'synchro tests' were all about? Nevertheless, now is not the time to mull over his own thoughts; keeping Alma calm takes top priority.]

You are doing a good job, Alma. Make certain he doesn't move about too much. Where are you?

[voice] wow, that was not even close to the right icon up there XD;

[alma_karma]

[Ah, praise is always a good angle with this one. Good job, Link.]

I will... we're in Credinta. I think Allen's coming.

[voice] i thought alma was just being reassuring :|a

[churchninja]

[Walker is on his way? Good. Allen could handle a scared little boy much better than Link.]

Is he? It should not take him long to get there.

[Until Allen arrives, all Link can do is try to keep Alma calm.]

Credinta, however? Why are you there?

[voice] ack, i thought i replied to this. /full of fail today

[alma_karma]

Yu brought me to see the city. I'd never been here before...

[voice] it happens!

[churchninja]

[Well, isn't that sweet of Kanda? Rather unfortunate their visit took place during Libitina's surprise.]

I see. Perhaps you will be able to return for another stay once you both have healed.

[voice] ♥

[alma_karma]

[Quite so.]

Maybe... it's not that important.

[But his tone says it is. He's wanted to visit the city for so long and all the recent events have made this... not the best trip ever... but he's not going to complain so long as everyone is okay.]

[voice]

[churchninja]

[Link can hear a vague hint of disappointment. He's not sure what to say, so there's a moment of quiet on his end.]

Walker has given us apple seeds. When you return, we should plant them.

[He doesn't even know if they'll sprout, but it's something to focus on.]

[voice]

[alma_karma]

[Even something so small is enough for Alma.]

It'd be really great if we could grow apples, huh?

[voice] b-baw why does this little boy break my heart

[churchninja]

Indeed. As soon as the time is right, we will plant other things as well.

[Awkward silence now. Link really is bad at this.]

[voice] because that's what hoshino created him to do /b'awws with

[alma_karma]

We can all do it together.

[No worries, Link. Alma hangs out with Kanda. He's used to the silence.]

[voice]

[churchninja]

That's right.

[Allen should be arriving at any time. Now that he's certain Alma has settled down and Kanda's awake and moving, Link should probably make sure everything is all right elsewhere.]

In any case, you should go keep Kanda company. Take good care of him, Alma.

[voice]

[alma_karma]

I will. [The soft shuffling sounds in the background continue, along with a quiet murmur from Alma that might be 'don't move so much'.]

Thank you, Mister Link.

[VIDEO]

[tothelastbreath]

[Look Link, Allen's checking in. Voluntarily, even. He would've done it sooner if he wasn't in a hurry to make sure no one's falling apart. Seeing as Alma has already filled you in, all he says is:]

Kanda's awake now. It'll take a while to find them, but we should be back soon enough.

[voice] > [video]

[churchninja]

[He's so pleased... not that his grim, unsmiling face gives it away. Allen's kept his word to check in more often.]

Is he well enough to travel? Do you need help escorting them?

[Then again, he knows three's a crowd. When sneaking through Credinta, an extra body might draw attention. He awaits Allen's verdict.]

[video]

[tothelastbreath]

[Consider this for a heartbeat, but the image of all four of them―five if Karkat joins them―hopping their way across Credinta's rooftops makes him discard the idea just as quickly.]

You know Kanda, nothing keeps him down for long. I reckon he'll kill us all if we both show up.

[Or hears you using the word 'escort'.]

[video]

[churchninja]

[Yeah, well, somebody has to say it. What else do you expect him to call you guys? A gaggle of ragtag heroes? 'Escort' sounds much more professional.]

Very well. Should I handle any preparations for your return?

[You know, fetching water, warming the rooms, hiding the buckets so Karkat won't see...]

[video]

[tothelastbreath]

[All of the above, Link. Especially the buckets. Allen's too preoccupied to think of everything, so all he says is:]

I don't think there's much to be done, but if you could warm up Kanda and Alma's room, I'm sure they would appreciate it a lot. It's rather cold out tonight.

[Later, he'll be glad one of them had the presence of mind to hide those buckets.]