[ It might be a little creepy, but Stein outcreeps Beckett even at his creepiest.
And he's not really against murder when it's someone who has screwed him over. As long as he's not the one getting his hands dirty. Though, in this case, he's not sure he'd be able to stop himself from doing something stupid if Stein got close.
Wiping eye again. Steadying voice. We don't talk about what Angel had to do, no sir.
We move on. ]
But we have more important things to worry about. T-to focus on, I mean.
[That particular morning was anything but good. But by the time Beckett answers England, he's at least gathered himself enough to answer with something other than the bitterest of cynicism.]
[He's not sure, personally, if we talk about it or not. Angel probably needs to, though that is for her to say. For all he knows, Rhys might not even remember. He could ask, but - fussing aside, he doesn't want to raise what might not be there. Beckett knows a thing or two about mercy killings and slitting the throat of things that are left of people you once loved. And he knows about things your head understands but your gut might never.
Give it a while. Let things rest. They need a rest, all of them. So very badly.]
Yes... I suppose we have plenty. [Though he's having a hard time thinking about any, right now, beyond the immediate things that Rhys has brought up. It's been happening to him a lot, these moments of finding himself in a white fog. Something, something...] What about Fiona...?
Well enough to be somewhat alarmed that you're still keeping tabs, thank you. Angel and Rhys have been practically force-feeding - do you have pancakes in your world?
Yes, there are pancakes in my world. I've made a few attempts at them myself, though I'm not sure anything I produced was worth bragging about. You've never had them before?
[There is definite interest in Kunsel's voice. Yeah, there is absolutely no reason to be embarrassed about liking chocolate, Beckette. He is hardly the only one.]
Although, speaking of good discoveries, I think we've got another one.
Having nothing but wit left to your name will do that to you. I can't complain, though it might be nice to have a little less gallows and a little more humour occasionally.
Maybe it's better this way. I have a sneaking suspicion it would more likely result in violence.
[The pause is echoed by a longer one. It is not impossible that Beckett would have preferred to keep talking about chocolate. He'd been avoiding the network - avoiding everything that day. Trying to rest. It had even worked, to the degree it could. Now Kunsel comes and dangles this right under his nose. And clearly expects him to bite.
It had worked, resting. His mind is clearer than it's been in weeks. He can think of what to do next. He can wonder why.
His voice is subdued.] Do you suppose it might be the edge of town? That is rather a lot of empty space.
Maybe. Or maybe it's just another part of town. But either way, it's somewhere new. If it's not the edge, then it's still someplace we haven't already combed over looking for clues.
[That's enough for Kunsel right now. Anything is better than the feeling of just sitting around and waiting for the end.]
[It's not that Ecks has a particular grudge against Beckett at the moment...but of the people she knows, he's one of the ones she doesn't mind subjecting to this.]
[Silence again. Long. Drawn. It occurs to him that he's making his doubts obvious. Can't help it, though. He can hear Kunsel's hope, and reacts to it instinctively.]
Thank you for telling me. I might head there. I'll... think about it.
[Even if Kunsel hears those doubts, he's not going to call them out.
But maybe he's not above trying to do something for Beckett, even if it's something as little as trying to lure him into finding something to do.]
We could definitely use the help in exploring. An experienced eye to help us look for anything useful here. And there's hot water in the sinks in the aquarium.
Ecks. You have received this message from a man who calls himself Captain Invincible and has on multiple occasions claimed to be the one behind our situation for mysterious reasons. If you are trying to conceal your age, not being so gullible would be a good start.
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