( ɪɴʙᴏx. )

[decelerate]

DALLEN S. TEXT/VOICE/MMS

Yo. Obviously I'm not here right now, so leave a message, etcetera. If you're my sister, just dial again.

code by jerky.

Comments

[duette]

[ NNNNNNNNNNN LOOKING AT HER PHONE SO HARD. ]

I know how it sounds! But I really did do something terrible because I

I freaked out, okay?

[decelerate]

for what its worth i dont think itll bother them too much to lose their arms. plus if they freaked you out they kinda deserve it

[duette]

*Why* do I think you're still being facetious with me.

[decelerate]

no? come on sis im taking you pretty seriously right now.

1/2

[duette]

*Pretty* seriously isn't going to cut it! I could have *died*!

[duette]

I took a picture.

[decelerate]

pics pls.

[duette]

You can't send them to anyone else or post them anywhere if I show you! Promise me!

[decelerate]

pinky swear i wont.

[duette]

[ ...Good, pinky swears were sufficient. ]

Okay, pinky swears. Here.

[ INCOMING MMS. It's a little blurred because she'd picked up and bolted about .02 of a second after taking it, but there's a very blue, very undead looking girl on the ground, what appears to be a detached arm next to her, and three sets of quite shambly looking legs gathered around. ]

[decelerate]

[ so as soon as he receives the mms, he lets it download right away. he couldn't believe his eyes once he finally gets a good look at the picture. it's either his sister had a run in with a pretty convincing film prop, or that's a legit zombie right there. ]

holy shit harper.

[decelerate]

[ then, a few moments later— ]

want me to come get you??

[duette]

See, I told you!

[duette]

[ She fidgets on her next reply, because she'd been really shaken up. It was why she'd texted, instead of called. ]

I ran all the way back to the school because I didn't know where else to go. So...

Yes. I want to go home.

[decelerate]

[ now he feels like a dick for not believing her at first, but he probably can make it up somehow. ]

be there in a sec. want me to grab anything though? ice cream, cupcakes, etc

[duette]

No, I have a ton of homework and it's late! What am I going to do if Mom calls to check up?

[ HARPER SUTHERLAND LOGIC

>ATTACKED BY ZOMBIES
>THAT ATE UP WAY TOO MUCH TIME ]

[decelerate]

tell her you had a run-in with the undead. but yeah ok im coming asap.

[duette]

Don't even joke like that!! I don't need her thinking *I'm* crazy!

[ SIGH. STEEL YOURSELF, GIRL. ]

I'll be waiting here.

[ At Starling-Chandler's courtyard, which is spacious, and entirely empty now. ]

[decelerate]

nah she wont. ill vouch for ya.

[ that's the last message he sends before getting in his car and driving all the way to harper's school. finding a parking spot isn't so hard when everyone's gone back home already, and it doesn't take him forever to find his sister either.

in his hand is wintermelon bubble tea that he hands over to her as soon as he's close enough. ]

Ready to go?

[ he'd ask her if she was okay, but he doesn't want her thinking about the incident any more than she already has, so the sugary treat is his sneaky way of saying he's concerned. ]

[duette]

[ Harper's dubiously quiet for a while, even when she hears the car pull up, and the approaching footsteps. She can't stay mired in her pit of drama forever, though, and looks over at the offering of sweets. Her motions are almost ginger as she takes it, given that she knows how she reacted. She's not sorry, but she is aware, at least, and smiles haplessly. ]

Mmhm. Really ready.

[ Shouldering her bookbag, she cups the drink in her hands and stands. ]

...Thank you.

[decelerate]

No big deal.

[ the smile that appears on dallen's face is immediate, small, and it stays even when he turns to head for his car. he makes sure he stays close to harper, because he's seen her freaked out before, and this is one of those moments where he's going to be the one to make her feel safe. no zombies would get to her while he's around, okay. ]

So you said you had a ton of homework.

[ he even opens the passenger side door for her. ]

Can you ditch it so we can watch movies or something?

[duette]

[ Harper ducks into the car, and the safe familiarity it provides. She doesn't pass up the chance to shoot Dallen an aghast look, albeit one that's completely unconvincing. Despite what she might like to say, there were some things that still remained unchanged, in all their honesty.

She tucks her skirt in primly and shuffles her bag to her side. ]

No horror.

[decelerate]

[ they're twins, after all, so whatever look harper tries to throw at him isn't something he'll fall for. one of the things he's gotten really good at is reading his sister, so—

there's a smile playing on his lips as he starts up the car, pulls out the parking space and gets on the road. ]

So we're watching Love Actually. You're making the popcorn.

[ heh. ]

[duette]

[ Harper thought as much, cradling the wintermelon tea in her palms, rested against her lap. Swiveling to look out the passenger side window as the city flashes by, her expression may or may not match his, but she's not sure she feels up to being so transparent with it.

Instead, she chimes matter-of-factly: ]

Kettle corn. With cinnamon.

[decelerate]

Sounds awesome. I'm game.

[ he follows the usual road that'll take them home, driving safely because hey, his sister is here and he doesn't want to spook her unnecessarily. when he stops for a red light, he glances her way and notices the drink on her lap. ]

You don't like the slush or—?

[ maybe the whole zombie thing is still bothering her? ]