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[dishonests]

☏ call. ≔ text. 💻 video. ✘ action.

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[dishonests]

Aye, I know that, sure as I know the stars. [ which is to say, very sure. knowing he can talk to claire and jamie has never been an issue. it's his self-sabotaging, more than anything, that gets in the way.

after a moment, he says, ] Is there aught wrong, you mean, besides your leaving?

[ because that's a pretty big part about what's been wrong with him lately. but surely jamie divined as much when he broke the news, and would've told claire about it. ]

[nineteenfortyfive]

I'm sorry. [What else can she say but that? It was hard for her to swallow, too. Going back to pain, and potentially losing everything--but it's a risk they need to take. They can't stand idle, stagnant, forever. But--]

It doesn't need to be goodbye forever. Well--depending on your plans. You do want to go home one day too, don't you?

[dishonests]

There be no need for apologies. [ they're all here for a short time, some shorter than others. they fulfill a purpose, and then they leave. ] I'm happy for you both, in very truth.

[ and sad for himself, but that's besides the point. he takes a deep breath, inhaling the smoke from his cigarette, and turns his head from the phone to exhale. ]

Aye, I do intend it. I've matters to attend to in my own time. [ after a moment, he continues, ] If it's not goodbye forever, it is, at the least, goodbye for a long while. Surely you'll not deny it?

[nineteenfortyfive]

[She's been in his shoes before. It's bittersweet.]

No. But there are ways to visit, once you go home. Ways provided by the city.

[dishonests]

[ that gives him pause. he may have heard tell of such a thing before, but likely dismissed it at the time. ]

Aye?

[nineteenfortyfive]

There are these--beads. When exchanged, and both parties have gone home, they allow visiting. I'm not sure how it all works in actuality but I've done a few of these exchanges.

[Maybe it doesn't work. Can't say when you have to both be gone to see. But it's worth a shot, isn't it?]

[dishonests]

[ more silence ensues, broken only by a thoughtful noise. punctuated by another inhale, exhale. ]

That so? [ it sounds too good to be true. then again, he thought that about this place as a whole the first time he came, and in the end it made good on its promises. still, always better to approach with skepticism. ] Pray tell, what do these beads cost?

[nineteenfortyfive]

Nothing. You can ask any representative for beads, and the bracelet that goes along with them.

[A pause on her end.]

I hope you do.

[dishonests]

[ nothing. as expected. his small, self-deprecating smile isn't visible, but it's there in his tone when he says, ] Perhaps I will.

[ he takes another drag on his cigarette. ]

If I do, will you exchange with me, Claire Fraser? [ this time, his words are lighter. teasing. but he doesn't doubt she'll be able to sense the sincere question behind them. ]

[nineteenfortyfive]

Gladly, Cassidy Hawking. You've yet to annoy me so much that I want to say goodbye.

[If her voice sounds a little thick, well. It's the phone line. Totally.]

[dishonests]

Well, that's not something I often hear from women as fine as you.

[ he'll ignore the way her voice sounds if she ignores the crack in his. ]

Of course, I've not met many that can compare, and even when I have it were but briefly.

[nineteenfortyfive]

Far too brief. I wish I'd met you sooner.

[Had more time.]