[It's several days before he can get word back. Things might have leaked to Steve's ears. They might not. They don't share regular social circles — Richie hasn't seen Diana in ages, and if Alan was always there and then gone, wisping out of sight like a shadow. Of those Richie's met independently only Byerly seems to have met him, and they're hardly bosom buddies to begin with.
He still delays writing. Three days down and a few spent back on his feet. Reeling. Unwilling to speak. Eventually it starts to wear at him and Richie caves. If only to stop any cavalries charging in.]
[ He knows Richie is home, knows he was part of the same hostage group as Bruce, but what Richie went through was likely traumatic for him. Something tells Steve he needs some space, to process what happened and to rest, so Steve gives him that. No longer than a week and luckily he responds before than that. ]
[He stares at this for a bit. If Steve was aware...well, judging from past experience, he'd be a bit more smothering. A man that took that many innocuous jokes and circumstances as cause for genuine concern would come running if their buddy had corked it on suffocating gas and resurrected three days later. Yusuke must have kept mum then (any kid might, the shock of having a body go limp on you and slough off like snow on a roof could put a cork in the chattiest tyke, and Yusuke wasn't plentiful with words to begin with). Or there wasn't any kind of official count made public, no obituaries in the papers. Lucky him. He's not exactly in the mood to discuss it.
He hasn't made effort to reconnect anywhere, truth be told. He needs the space. The right words to come back with. The right head to do it with, because Jiminy Cricket, he ain't feeling so fine. The bottom of a scotch bottle is the best friend he knows.
No, he decides suddenly. Firmly. He doesn't want to see Steve either.]
Not the worst. I'm all fixed up now, clean as a whistle. They're working real miracles up in that infirmary. Any word on Alan?
[The latter half of the message earns a bit more hesitation.]
Maybe later. Who'd you scoop up in those rippling, muscled arms? I'm sad I didn't have the privilege myself, I could have used a bit of your tender touch.
No. He definitely died but somehow he was brought back. This place is good at doing that.
Me? I'm fine, Richie, I wasn't the one who died. [ Again. ] You were the one kidnapped. Shouldn't we be talking about your well-being? [ Stop deflecting!! ]
Richie is just going to swing wide around that, give it a nice berth there.]
I'm gonna be fine, my old neighbors are taking good care of me. I got out pretty clean. You watched a kid pass away, Steve, that's not exactly a trip to the park.
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text | s.trevor | backdated
I'm sure you'll be putting up a fight against your captors. Just don't do anything stupid. Please.
We'll get very drunk once this is all over. I'll drink whatever you give me and not complain.
See you soon, Richie.
NO!!! IT WAS MY TURN TO INBOX YOU, ASSHOLE!!!!! (approx march 25th)
He still delays writing. Three days down and a few spent back on his feet. Reeling. Unwilling to speak. Eventually it starts to wear at him and Richie caves. If only to stop any cavalries charging in.]
all's well on the western front.
U SNOOZE U LOSE
How are you feeling, champ?
no subject
He hasn't made effort to reconnect anywhere, truth be told. He needs the space. The right words to come back with. The right head to do it with, because Jiminy Cricket, he ain't feeling so fine. The bottom of a scotch bottle is the best friend he knows.
No, he decides suddenly. Firmly. He doesn't want to see Steve either.]
I'm getting by. On a good mend. You?
richie you better tell him what happened :|
I've been better, but then I wasn't kidnapped, so I could be a lot worse.
You up for drinking yet?
let him finish his drugs first
[The latter half of the message earns a bit more hesitation.]
Maybe later. Who'd you scoop up in those rippling, muscled arms? I'm sad I didn't have the privilege myself, I could have used a bit of your tender touch.
n o
I was too busy being attacked by the hostages to scoop up anyone, but it wasn't their fault.
yes?????????????
attacked by them? were they blind, or brainwashed? Or just plain scared?
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no subject
is he still dead?
are you okay?
no subject
Me? I'm fine, Richie, I wasn't the one who died. [ Again. ] You were the one kidnapped. Shouldn't we be talking about your well-being? [ Stop deflecting!! ]
no subject
Richie is just going to swing wide around that, give it a nice berth there.]
I'm gonna be fine, my old neighbors are taking good care of me. I got out pretty clean. You watched a kid pass away, Steve, that's not exactly a trip to the park.
no subject
But I'm okay. It's a relief he's back. It could have been much worse. I've tried reaching out to him... We'll see whether he'll open up to me.