004 ♒ Audio & Text [Atlantean], Encrypted

[relentlesstide]

[Encrypted Audio to anyone who might have known Mera or anyone on fairly good terms with Arthur, 60%]
[Arthur just sounds... tired. Resigned. He doesn't mince words trying to break the news gently, because he's the one who cares the most anyway.] Mera, my wife, has disappeared from Keeliai.

[Encrypted Audio to Kal-El/Superman, 80%]
I need to talk to you.

[Encrypted Text to Kaldur'ahm, Written Atlantean, Hackable]
[Feel free to have your character hack his text, but if they do, all they'll come up with is a bunch of odd symbols and glyphs arranged into what are possibly words. Atlantean is a fairly difficult language to parse through.]

Mera is... gone. There was no trace of her this morning, and I can't find her mental signature. Please come by when you get a chance, Kaldur, we need to talk about something important.

[ooc: He's being an antisocial douchebag, but anybody who knows him is absolutely welcome to just come by his place in the Water Sector. The first audio post I'm leaving pretty open-ended on purpose, feel free to just assume your character was included if they know him or Mera, or know OF them. Also feel free to hack it, it's all good.]

Comments

video; private; and encrypted with a bump to 80% on his encryption

[definingfuture]

Hey. I need to talk to you.

[This is totally important. He sounds serious.]

video; private; and encrypted with a bump to 80% on his encryption

[relentlesstide]

[It takes a minute for Arthur to respond. He doesn't really want to talk to anyone except Kaldur and, to an extent, Kal (business matters), but... It sounds like he's serious, so eventually he clicks on the video.]

I'm in the Water Sector, come by whenever.

video; private; encrypted > action

[definingfuture]

Good. I'm coming by. Send me a location or I'll make one up.

[That's all he's really got to say over the network for now.]

video; private; encrypted > action

[relentlesstide]

[Arthur just sighs and gives his suite number; it's not like it's a secret anyway, really.] I'll be here.

[And sure enough, he's around the suite when Tony gets there, damp and unshaven, looking tired and resigned. He's not in mourning, she isn't dead, but... They've been together the entire time they'd been in Keeliai. Now that she's gone... everything seems more lonely somehow.]

video - 60% encryption;

[zinthosmantra]

[ Raven hasn't had the misfortune of having anyone she's close to depart Keeliai yet but she was still sympathetic that someone else has to go through it; especially someone as close as a spouse. ]

Do you need anything, Arthur?

video - 60% encryption;

[relentlesstide]

[Arthur just shakes his head slightly. It's really not something he wants to talk about, but they do have some business to discuss.]

The kedan are giving me a day or two to move the egg from her suite. We can use mine, it's right next door and I don't- need the space anymore.

Re: video - 60% encryption;

[zinthosmantra]

I understand.

[ Short and to the point but then a genuine offer: ]

If you want some time, Mako and I can watch the egg.

video - 60% encryption;

[relentlesstide]

In a little bit, I would appreciate it. I'll probably head up to the turtle's head for a while.

voice; 60% encrypted

[bolthead]

I'm sorry, Arthur.

[Barry's voice is quiet, solemn. Part of him wants to ask how he knows, but at the same time he already knows the answer to that. And he can understand, a little, what Arthur's feeling right now.]

Do you need anything?

[He has a fair idea of what the answer to that would be, but he feels compelled to offer all the same.]

voice; 60% encrypted

[relentlesstide]

[He's a little surprised when he sees the face on the other end. He's been so wrapped up in his own little world lately that he must have missed this person's arrival...]

Barry, I didn't know you were here. [But he shakes his head slightly.] No, it's- it's alright. She's back in Atlantis where she belongs.

voice; 60% encrypted

[bolthead]

[Barry cracks a small smile.]

I was getting up to speed on a few things. Sorry for being late.

[Not that Arthur should even be surprised by that at this point. But his smile fades as the conversation flows back to Mera. He can't imagine what Arthur is feeling, to have had her and then lost her. Iris isn't here either but she never was, and he's only ever known being without her since he's arrived.]

Some might argue that she belongs next to you. Or you next to her. [But that won't make things better, will it.] Why was she the only one that left, instead of the both of you?

voice; 60% encrypted

[relentlesstide]

Some things never change. [He manages a slight, wry smile. This is Barry, after all, who might not be his best friend in the world (it's hard to say who that would even be, besides his wife and Garth) but... he was the first person that ever really seemed alright on the surface, besides Arthur's father. He's the reason Arthur got dragged into this life, and it hasn't been so bad, trying to bridge the two worlds.]

Atlantis needs its queen as much as, or more than, I need my wife. [Their marriage has gotten stronger, but it's still a royal marriage, and they both have duties. But then he pauses, frowns slightly.] ...That I don't know. We arrived together months ago, I don't know why she left and I'm still here.

Encrypted, Audio, 80% - let me know if this hugely not okay?

[wherethestoryis]

[Because Superman doesn't have a separate hotline from Clark's, sometimes Lois happens to hit the answering machine before he does. Generally, if it's cape business, she just leaves him a note to get to it himself.

But this time, at least part of the message was for her as well, even if only by semi-association.]

I'm so sorry, Arthur. Let us know if there's anything we can do.

And if I see him before he gets home and sees it himself, I'll send him your way.

Encrypted, Audio, 80% - totally okay!

[relentlesstide]

[He's a little surprised to get Lois instead of Kal, but he doesn't seem too bothered by it. It's not like Mera never answered the phone for him before since they shared a suite. He resolutely tries to ignore that little pang in his chest that comes from the thought, Mera isn't around to answer calls when I can't.]

I'd appreciate that. It's... nothing serious, I just need to ask him a favor. And thank you, for the condolences, but she's at least back in Atlantis with our people where she belongs.

Encrypted, Audio, 80%

[andaway]

[Lois suggested paying Arthur a visit as soon as he'd stepped back into their shared suite, and Kal had honestly been tempted... but Arthur isn't like him. He isn't a recluse, exactly (at least not most of the time) but he definitely doesn't enjoy people's company as much as Kal does. He isn't sure if a sudden visit would be welcome, so instead he's decided to test the water by returning the call.]

Arthur? Lois told me about- about what happened. You must be tired of hearing this by now but do tell me if there's anything we can do. We're here for you.

Encrypted, Audio, 80%

[relentlesstide]

[Arthur doesn't seem much less solemn by the time Kal returns his call.] I'd like to ask you something in person, if you have time to come by.

[video; encrypted]

[bludhavenknight]

I'm sorry to hear that, I'm sure she'll be missed by everyone who knew her. [He just... wanted to say it. It seemed wrong not to, but it's also awkward as hell. So, he goes with that. No offers or anything, just saying he's sorry.]

[video; encrypted]

[relentlesstide]

It's alright. She's back home with our people. [She's not dead. She's not, and he won't hear it. She's home and she's taking care of Atlantis and it's okay because Atlantis needs its queen.] Thank you, though. How have you been holding up?

[private|text]

[apologiesmyking]

I will be there as soon as I can, Arthur.

[private|text]

[relentlesstide]

I'll be here. [It's not really a conversation he wants to have, especially not right now, but... he needs to have it with Kaldur because of Mera's disappearance. So while he waits for Kaldur, he sweeps his suite to get rid of any Bat-bugs, because he also wants this kept between them.]

[action]

[apologiesmyking]

[There is a sense of loss and sadness in his chest at the knowledge that the Queen has departed from this world. He had come to respect her as highly as he ever had his own Queen Mera and in some ways felt that he was more alike to her than this friendly and physical Aquaman he has come to know. And it is not less saddening to know what her loss must be doing to him.

Kaldur moves swiftly as their suites are adjoined and it does not take long before he is gently rapping on the door with his knuckles. Even though the invitation as ever been extended to him to enter as he pleases, he cannot help the polite formality ot waiting to be bid to walk over the threshold. He does not know what demeanor he will find Arthur in and wishes to give him whatever time he might need before they face one another.]

[action]

[relentlesstide]

[Arthur is in a bit worse shape than usual, but not as bad as he could be (has been) when he opens the door and lets Kaldur in, managing a slight smile - barely more than a tiny upturn of the corners of his mouth, and his heart's not really in it. He's unshaven, but he's not looking terribly unkempt yet, and he looks tired, resigned. Mera isn't dead and isn't asking for a divorce, she's just not here.] Hey, Kaldur. Come on in. I know this must have seemed... grim, but it's not quite that.

voice;

[kelpful]

[There's a moment's pause before Percy replies, sounding tired, and a little sad] I'm sorry, man. [And that's all, because he's pretty sure there's nothing he can say that'll help make this better]

voice;

[relentlesstide]

It's... alright. Atlantis has its queen back. I just thought people should know.

voice;

[kelpful]

[People Percy is not going to tell about Pepper's theory of people dying when they leave: this guy] That's a good way of looking at it. I guess I forget sometimes that not everyone-- [There's a pause. Because this isn't about him and what he and Annabeth are facing back home, it's about a guy who's lost his wife]

Maybe you could go up to Asti's head?