Chicago, in the near past.

[2020sight]

You don't see people using payphones much nowadays, but they are still around if you look for them.

The drunk sleeping it off in one of the little phone cubicles wakes up and blinks groggily as Epimetheus steps into the next cubicle, picks up the receiver without putting any money in the slot, and says, "Meda."

The phone purrs in his ear. He leans back against the Plexiglass wall and give the drunk a cheery finger-waggle.

Comments

[2020sight]

Dry: "Few thousand years is a long time to put something off."

Then he shakes his head, adding hastily, "Not that I blame you! I mean, I'm as guilty of that as anyone."

Possibly more than many.

[mycursedface]

"Well, I don't-" And then he finishes talking. There's a silence for a moment, then she sighs.

"Yeah. But you know, it was really only two or less, given I was a little...crazy, and you went AWOL..."

[2020sight]

"Huh. Yeah. Fair point."

Awkward moment of phone silence.

"Hey -- did it help any? What I told you then?"

[mycursedface]

"Oh! Um. Eyeh. I mean, yes. It helped...so much. Thank you."

[2020sight]

Epimetheus blinks, and then fist-pumps silently.

The drunk gives him a Look, which Epimetheus waves off. He helped someone. This is worth a victory dance.

"Good! That's good to hear." He leans back, grinning. "So're you gonna come to the States to visit me one of these days, or am I gonna have to drag my sorry ass out to Morocco?"

[mycursedface]

"...I don't fancy the flight. As much as I love you...no."

Beat. Beam.

"You have to come here!"

[2020sight]

"Aw, I'm not worth a few thousand miles?"

He is Hurt.

[mycursedface]

"Well, I can't exactly fly by plane, and a trans-Atlantic flight on my own? And swimming is a pain when I have to go out that far and fight with sharks."

[2020sight]

"Pshaw. Just drop my name and they'll leave you alone."

[mycursedface]

She laughs, wickedly.

"Or my mother's." It's entirely possible that baby sharks are told in no uncertain terms that Ceto is going to gobble them up.

"The trouble is, getting them to listen..."

[2020sight]

"Yeah, they do tend towards single-mindedness, don't they."

He sounds fond.

Of course.

[mycursedface]

"Just a little."

She likes sharks. When they aren't trying to eat her.

"There is always Milliways if you are desperate to show me the grand old US of A."

[2020sight]

"I will take you up on that, y'know."

[mycursedface]

"I'm terrified. Really."

[2020sight]

"You should be. Chicago is a wild place. Mobsters, you know."

[mycursedface]

"Oh, wonderful!"

[2020sight]

"Was that sarcasm, Meda?"

[mycursedface]

"No? Mobsters sound neat..."

[2020sight]

"Oh! Well, then, I'll make sure to drum some up when you visit."

:D?

[mycursedface]

:D!

"Thank you. You are the best cousin ever."

[2020sight]

"I know, I know."

Humility, thy name is . . . not Epimetheus, that's for damn sure.

"How're Stheno and Eurayle?"

[mycursedface]

"Ali's flitting about the south of Spain being a...thief, I think. Her last call was a little garbled. She sounded like she was having fun, though. And Stheno's the same. Snarky, sarcastic, grumpy-"

Distantly, there is a yelled 'I heard that'

"- and of course utterly delightful. Making a new chest and it's beautiful."

Making their own furniture is only...practical, really.

[2020sight]

He laughs. "That's great."

Epimetheus approves of making things, even if he doesn't do it himself anymore.

"Tell them I say hi, yeah?"

[mycursedface]

"Sure, I will. Could always come over and say 'hi' yourself one of these days, though."

[2020sight]

"Well obviously, but it'll be a lot quicker if you say hi to them now."

[mycursedface]

"Oh, fine. I will. You take care, mm?"

[2020sight]

"Don't I always?"

Beat.

"Well, don't I usually?"

[mycursedface]

"Mmmm, I'm not commenting."

[2020sight]

"You can't see it, but I'm making such a face."

[mycursedface]

She laughs.

"I'm sure you are."

[2020sight]

Laughing: "I'll do my usual stellar job of taking care of myself, okay?"

[mycursedface]

"Okay. Talk to you later."

[2020sight]

"Talk to you later, Meda. Stay safe!"

He hangs up, tips the drunk a cheery salute, and heads off into the streets of Chicago.