[There's a longer pause than usual, because the old fart is really still not used to talking to machines. Not like this, anyway.]
...oh! Yes, hello. Hello to your answering machine, I should say. [Grandpa 5eva.] My name is James Patrick March. I keep a hotel here in Maurtia Falls, the Hotel Castile. I was calling because...
[The thump of fingers against a desk, and that polite trail turns into a short, breathy laugh. No use beating around the bush any more!]
I've wanted to speak with you, naturally, the reason anyone calls anyone else. Seems to me we have something in common.
[They like shooting people. A lot.]
That's about it, yes! You can reach me at this number or the Castile's any time. Day or night, morning or evening. I'm not in the habit of sleeping all that much. [Ghost humor!!!!] I do wish you a very wonderful day and hope to hear from you soon, at your earliest convenience.
The man in black listens to the message three times before he scrawls the number down, and it’s ten minutes, an internet search and a lit cigarette past five before he picks up the landline to dial. ]
This is William Walker, [ he says, to whatever answer, ] returning your call from earlier.
[You know that catpig emote on plurk where it's dancing in place, more or less? Yeah. That's March when the call comes back. Oh boy oh boy gonna make a new buddy gonna shoot people gonna maybe see what's between him and Chilton but mostly murder pals. It's Christmas in March!]
Mister Walker, yes! Thank you very much for getting back to me. I know my reaching out may not have been expected. [He's like the fucking Spanish Inquisition.] I confess I'd been hoping for something of an appointment with you. I'm terribly old-fashioned, I've been told. I always prefer to be with someone when we speak of important matters, and the matter is quite dire. Would you be amenable to this?
["What the fuck," William thinks.
"Hey boo can we chat irl kiss kiss poop emoji," he gets in return.]
Old-fashioned, huh? [ The natural warmth in William Walker’s drawl is set in deep despite the chill of the rest of him, like an asphalt road hours after the sun has set. James Patrick March sure as hell sounds old-fashioned, if not necessarily in the way William’s accustomed to. ]
I’m amenable.
[ Might as well be, with the way Mister March has come sailing for him out of far left field. Thrown, most likely. He scrolls across the screen of a clunky tablet with his cigarette hand. Hotel Castile. ]
Sounds like you know where I’m officed out of.
[ ...Isn’t a question, really. Sideways smiley face. ]
I would certainly be willing to come to you, yes. [Sideways smile face with mustache right back at you buddy. March doesn't mind giving up the home team advantage, at all. More thrilling this way. He'll get to see Willy ShootEmUp in his natural environment and he'd be an idiot to turn that down.] When would be best for you, Mister Walker?
[Do not worry. He will become "dear" and "darling" soon enough.]
[ William grins past the receiver at March’s italics, tongue wetted past his teeth. What’s the point of being trapped in an alternate universe if you don’t get some roaring twenties weirdo ringing you up out of the blue for a private audience every now and again. ]
How’s tomorrow afternoon for you?
[ He checks his communicator while he waits for an answer, and carefully deletes an existing appointment. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
the classiest voicemail;
...oh! Yes, hello. Hello to your answering machine, I should say. [Grandpa 5eva.] My name is James Patrick March. I keep a hotel here in Maurtia Falls, the Hotel Castile. I was calling because...
[The thump of fingers against a desk, and that polite trail turns into a short, breathy laugh. No use beating around the bush any more!]
I've wanted to speak with you, naturally, the reason anyone calls anyone else. Seems to me we have something in common.
[They like shooting people. A lot.]
That's about it, yes! You can reach me at this number or the Castile's any time. Day or night, morning or evening. I'm not in the habit of sleeping all that much. [Ghost humor!!!!] I do wish you a very wonderful day and hope to hear from you soon, at your earliest convenience.
[audio]
The man in black listens to the message three times before he scrawls the number down, and it’s ten minutes, an internet search and a lit cigarette past five before he picks up the landline to dial. ]
This is William Walker, [ he says, to whatever answer, ] returning your call from earlier.
no subject
Mister Walker, yes! Thank you very much for getting back to me. I know my reaching out may not have been expected. [He's like the fucking Spanish Inquisition.] I confess I'd been hoping for something of an appointment with you. I'm terribly old-fashioned, I've been told. I always prefer to be with someone when we speak of important matters, and the matter is quite dire. Would you be amenable to this?
["What the fuck," William thinks.
"Hey boo can we chat irl kiss kiss poop emoji," he gets in return.]
no subject
I’m amenable.
[ Might as well be, with the way Mister March has come sailing for him out of far left field. Thrown, most likely. He scrolls across the screen of a clunky tablet with his cigarette hand. Hotel Castile. ]
Sounds like you know where I’m officed out of.
[ ...Isn’t a question, really. Sideways smiley face. ]
no subject
I would certainly be willing to come to you, yes. [Sideways smile face with mustache right back at you buddy. March doesn't mind giving up the home team advantage, at all. More thrilling this way. He'll get to see Willy ShootEmUp in his natural environment and he'd be an idiot to turn that down.] When would be best for you, Mister Walker?
[Do not worry. He will become "dear" and "darling" soon enough.]
no subject
How’s tomorrow afternoon for you?
[ He checks his communicator while he waits for an answer, and carefully deletes an existing appointment. ]
Say, two o’clock.
no subject
Splendid! [The roaring twenties weirdo is happy.] Absolutely splendid! Yes, you can expect me then.
[Even if some disaster befalls the city, lol ghost powers. He'll be fine.]
Thank you very much for being so obliging, Mister Walker. I do look forward to meeting you in person.