[There's no hesitation at the start of this call. Toby's obviously anxious from whatever it was that had him so on edge during his last call.]
Sorry about last night, darling. I hope I didn't scare you too much. I know that's easy these days. [Toby sighs and drags a hand through his hair before his pacing can be heard in the background of the call.]
Something happened to the Solace Trees. They're wrong now. Terribly so. I didn't know it when I went to investigate from afar on my way to work the other night, but they... something about them made me...
[Another sigh.] I'm sure this is making it harder to hear, and I'm sorry. I'm still trying to figure out what happened.
[Silence stretches for at least sixty seconds before he continues.] I had the urge to go to the beach. To go and watch the sunrise. Made Kazu go with me when he asked what was wrong after I stepped into the bar. He didn't know better, and that's what I wanted. I wanted to give in to that same urge from the 80s and just--
[Another few seconds of silence.] You know how it goes. I'm sorry. I won't say more on it.
But even with my ability to charm and talk my way into whatever I want, I didn't die. For months, Kyle's been trying to get me to take what he calls a "sunlight ring." Makes vampires impervious to the sun. He and Kazu have been talking about me, clearly, because Kazu managed to catch my hand and force the damn thing on before the sun could come up.
So... here I am. Alive. I called from the yard yesterday. Did you hear it? The birds and all else we hear from the garden? It works, darling. I can put it on and step outside, no two ways about it.
[He inhales through his nose and drops his head. His voice is muffled when he speaks again.]
I don't want it without you. I can't give it back, but I'll not use it. I'm going to throw it in the attic and get so drunk I forget I've done that. Unless you come back to me... I'm never going back out into the sun. Ever.
November 3, 2023 - 1:52 AM
Sorry about last night, darling. I hope I didn't scare you too much. I know that's easy these days. [Toby sighs and drags a hand through his hair before his pacing can be heard in the background of the call.]
Something happened to the Solace Trees. They're wrong now. Terribly so. I didn't know it when I went to investigate from afar on my way to work the other night, but they... something about them made me...
[Another sigh.] I'm sure this is making it harder to hear, and I'm sorry. I'm still trying to figure out what happened.
[Silence stretches for at least sixty seconds before he continues.] I had the urge to go to the beach. To go and watch the sunrise. Made Kazu go with me when he asked what was wrong after I stepped into the bar. He didn't know better, and that's what I wanted. I wanted to give in to that same urge from the 80s and just--
[Another few seconds of silence.] You know how it goes. I'm sorry. I won't say more on it.
But even with my ability to charm and talk my way into whatever I want, I didn't die. For months, Kyle's been trying to get me to take what he calls a "sunlight ring." Makes vampires impervious to the sun. He and Kazu have been talking about me, clearly, because Kazu managed to catch my hand and force the damn thing on before the sun could come up.
So... here I am. Alive. I called from the yard yesterday. Did you hear it? The birds and all else we hear from the garden? It works, darling. I can put it on and step outside, no two ways about it.
[He inhales through his nose and drops his head. His voice is muffled when he speaks again.]
I don't want it without you. I can't give it back, but I'll not use it. I'm going to throw it in the attic and get so drunk I forget I've done that. Unless you come back to me... I'm never going back out into the sun. Ever.