D A Y 0 8

[founds]

CHAPTER 2

NOV 7TH | 54℉☀(windy)

▸ Parka up for a cold an--*CHSKSSS--*- windy day in Blackwell folks! I sure do hope--*CHSKSSS--*-search team down at the lake won't--*CHSKSSS--*---*CHSSK--*-trouble out on the waters. Professional divers have been going in since dawn, let's give it up for the professional --*CHSKSSS--*-!!

▸ Old Lady Petunia has paid me to say DO NOT SEEK OUT THE ANGELS--*CHSKSSKK--SK--SSSH--*- In fact, there are no such thing as angels. See how easy that was? No angels, no problem.

▸ And now back to our --*CHSKSSS--*-regularly scheduled programming.

THE RISING IS NOT IN EFFECT

Comments

[eternalboy]

[ yeah he stopped listening like 5 minutes ago. that was too detailed. who cares about your only friend. ]

[ better cut in before it gets out of hand. ]

You haven't asked about the new flat yet.

[espish]

[stops before launching into further exposition and looks at Ben. it's not completely an annoyed expression. not completely.]

Tell me about the new flat, Detective Vaughn.

[appropriately flatly.]

[eternalboy]

Just call me Ben.

[ the surname is too much. ]

It's a real bargain. In Blackwell though, but that's no problem. It's no new house, but new closets and the walls haven been painted recently.

[ aaaand one more thing. ]

[espish]

Closets and paint, huh? Sounds fancier than my place back home.

[sometimes you just have to accept you're not driving this conversation. crosses his arms on the table and watches detective Vaughn. Ben.]

[eternalboy]

[ and this is where he drives the conversation off the cliff. ]

Fancy that because I need a roommate.

[ clearly something he should have figured out before signing the deal. ]

[espish]

Kinda put the cart before the horse there, didn't you.

[neutrally.]

I'm guessing this place is a little small for craigslist, huh.

[that's rough for you


...wait. ]

[eternalboy]

Half the people here don't probably even know what that is.

[ so.... ]

[ looks expectantly at him across the table. ]

[espish]

I bet.

[an awkward pause in which Sam slowly comes to a realization.]

Oh. Me? I'm not– I'm not going to be here that long.

[well, neither was Ben. Detective Vaughn.

...Ben.]

[eternalboy]

[ he didn't say no. ]

It's cheaper than the resort.

And I don't see these cases being done in a week. Do you?

[espish]

[no he didn't. looks down at the table, but he don't even bring over his empty coffee cup from the other table so he has nothing to stall with.

Am I really gonna stick it out in this dead-end town?

glances back up at Ben.]

Well, what's the rent like?

[eternalboy]

Cheaper than the resort if we share it.

[ can't remember the exact sum. sure it wasn't much. anyway moving on. ]

So you'll do it? I'll owe you one, Sam.

[ great? great! he's already standing up, time to start the moving. ]

[espish]

Sure, why not. They were starting to know me by name at the hotel bar anyhow.

[not even a joke. still looks kind of surprised when he stands up and grabs his hat, like maybe some ventriloquist had come up and agreed on his behalf to move in with Ben. Detective Vaughn.]

Now, huh?

[this is such a bad idea.]

[eternalboy]

[ you'll regret it a lot. meanwhile Ben will refer to it as the best time of Sam's life. ]

No time like present, eh? [ not to mention he was supposed to move out ages ago. ] Have you got lots of stuff?

[ happy it worked out and he didn't have to spend another 5 minutes planning about it. ]

[espish]

[such. a bad. idea. ]

No, I travel pretty light, and I wasn't planning to be here long. It might take a minute to gather my notes, though.

[they're currently kind of spread out all over every available surface. he's even got red yarn tying some of the key points together. it's very creepy-looking, actually.]

[eternalboy]

[ he won't mind as long as he can take a look. wonderful, a roommate and someone to come up with theories. he's slowly realizing he made a good deal here. ]

Maybe get an iPad next. It'd save you paper and space.

[espish]

No thanks, I like being able to lay hands on the information. I've got a system.

[sets his hat back on as soon as they're outside and turns his coat collar up against the wind. definitely not enough coffee in that single sad cup that never got refilled. ]

You got a lot to move?

[eternalboy]

There's a few boxes.

[ rubs the back of his head. a lot of boxes. for someone who doesn't reminiscence he sure drags the past with him. ]

[espish]

You gonna take them on your bike?

[please tell me I don't have to try to hold on to both you and your stuff. I will die.]

[eternalboy]

I borrowed a van from Dale.

I think that's his name.

[ maybe it isn't. takes out the key from his pocket and recklessly tosses it in the air and catches it. ]

Should be fine with one load.

[espish]

Well all right.

[smiles thinly at Ben. you got this all figured out, doncha.]

So why'd you ask me? Not to incriminate myself to an officer of the law here, but I could be a psycho killer for all you know.

[eternalboy]

That [ points at him with the key. ] would be a problem.

[ lowers it and turns away, leading him to the van. ]

I don't know. You were the first I saw today who could use a roommate and I've got a good feeling about you. [ shrugs. yeah that's his whole 5 minutes of planning right there. ] Does it matter?

[espish]

[yes it would be

watches ben without following for a few seconds, then glances past him to the van. snorts.]

I guess not. Here's hoping you're not a psycho killer.

[follows the near-stranger to his van.]

[eternalboy]

[ and then he murdered Sam. ]

[espish]