[IC CONTACT]

[photophobic]

You should know where to find me.
But if you leave a message here, I will see it.

Comments

[photophobic]

[There is a very definite smile in Kylo's voice now, slow and satisfied.]

I don't often work blind. But I think... I'm beginning to get the measure of you. Yes.

[timestones]

Well, we all start somewhere. Or think we do.

[photophobic]

Mm. And some of us don't like to stay at the beginning for very long. Tired of your housemates already?

[timestones]

Am I expected to bring them everywhere with me? I’d have to answer some awkward questions at the kids’ parties if that’s the case.

[photophobic]

[Really now. Kylo's just going to pretend he didn't even hear that attempt at deflection, considering you chose to contact him via audio feed on purpose, Stephen.]

What was it was about exploring your new home that reminded you to contact me, I wonder.

[timestones]

Multitasking.

[photophobic]

Having so many dangerous individuals in one reality must make it difficult. To choose which to observe.

[Which is absolutely a deliberate swerve back to pour scorn on the rest of the imPort community, who are clearly not so observant. Or discerning. Kylo's disdain is not at all subtle.]

... though it seems you might be the only one to have grasped the threat.

[timestones]

That selection process really is the least of my occupational hazards. Have you ever tried to clear interdimensional hex fungus from old heating pipes? Now that is difficult. And disgusting, I might add.

[There's a lot going on here and flippancy is a tactical choice for Stephen here, and not for his emotional preservation.]

The threat?

[photophobic]

[Why anyone would bother doing anything with heating pipes is beyond Kylo. Which is fine, as he's not particularly interested in following the diversion anyway.]

Any threat. You've seen it. They fixate on an irrelevant detail and miss the wider movement. And even when warned of a real and present danger. Even when their failure to engage with it has visible consequences. Instead of learning from the experience, they forget. They ignore or reject anything that doesn't provide evidence to support their own beliefs. Their own priorities.

But you're talking to me. So. We both know which threat I mean.

[timestones]

You're right, I have seen it, but it's not a reaction that's unique to this world. None of us as immune to feeling denial and refusing to accept what is in front of us.

To your earlier point, I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one to notice, but it was my job to protect my reality back home. I see no reason to alter that now.

So yes, I am aware of several potential threats. And considering who I am talking to, yes, that is one I'm also aware of.

But that wasn't expressly why I contacted you today.

[photophobic]

How do you protect reality if you refuse to do anything.

[timestones]

What makes you think I refuse to act?

[photophobic]

You could have spared him. [Yes, him. Not us, and definitely not me.
There's a clearly defined distinction being made here, not that Kylo himself would likely be able to explain it if challenged to.]

The choice over his head. The suffering and sacrifice. You came here. You saw him. His distress. You had what he needed. And you did nothing.

[timestones]

No, doing nothing would mean not coming at all.

I take my responsibilities seriously, Kylo Ren. There was a great risk coming to the Meadows that day and I gave him all that I could in that moment.

[photophobic]

[That Stephen isn't immediately met with scorn probably betrays more of Kylo's secrets than he would have chosen to reveal. Stephen's choice to confront them had meant something. Just as his choice to contact them now continues to mean something.

What, Kylo isn't sure. He has very little to measure against.]

...Did you know I wouldn't.

[You know. Try and take the future by force.]

[timestones]

[It doesn't really matter what Kylo is referring to directly, but Stephen can make several educated guesses.]

Not going in, no. There were several ways it all could have gone, each with their own ramifications attached.

There was no way for me to know going in which I'd be walking into, so I had no guarantee you wouldn't.

It was part of the risk.

[But he also knows how well many of those scenarios would have ultimately gone. And some of them were very not good.]

[photophobic]

And you feel like you got what you wanted. When you came here.

[timestones]

I could split hairs about what I wanted not exactly being the way I’d frame it, but yes, I did. And something in addition to that.

[photophobic]

[Force that... really is irritating, isn't it? He's not generally on the receiving end.]

Which is.

[timestones]

Incredible potential.

[photophobic]

[Well, it's hardly the first time he's heard that.
But incredibly, irritatingly, it still works. He hates it.]

For what. And don't waste my time with some useless, empty response that isn't an answer.

[timestones]

Chances are any answer I'll give will fail to satisfy. Whatever I would have to offer you right now is something that can't come from me.

[There's the sound of creaking metal and a faint clang, the noise of the ocean cutting off.]

Don't mistake me for somebody else.

[photophobic]

[Not quite useless enough to get Kylo to hang up. And he's very pointedly not snapping anything about somebody else.]

What do you mean, right now.

[timestones]

It means at another time, we can discuss this. But right now? I have another appointment.

[His footsteps start again, then stop abruptly.]

Oh, and before I forget, do you drink tea?

[photophobic]

What?

[No, he... definitely didn't mean to say that out loud.]