[RL (sort of, WHO WAS PHONE) with Setsuna and later the Doctor, backdated to Worst Fear virus]

[lockon2urheart]

[It was pretty clear from Setsuna's post that for some reason (the community, almost definitely), comments either weren't registering with him or weren't getting through at all. Lockon decided to cut out the middle man and just call him, and prove that he and the others were alive that way. He paced as his communicator called, waiting for the connection.]

Comments

[doomedyouth00.livejournal.com]

Setsuna remained silent as he thought that over; a virus? What sort? He didn't feel any different - but then, you usually didn't when you were affected. Still, he couldn't think of anything that had happened recently that was unusual. The past ten months had been pretty uneventful, for the most part.

Still struggling to wrap his head round the whole idea - he wanted to believe the Doctor, he really did - Setsuna struggled to find words]

So he's... Lockon's alive? He's there?

[timey_wimey]

[Simply:] Yes. [And then, almost as an afterthought:] Actually, he was the one who called you first, not me.

[doomedyouth00.livejournal.com]

[still uncertain] I couldn't hear anything.

[lockon2urheart]

"Tell him I was talking, Doctor. He just couldn't hear me - or rather, the virus wouldn't let him hear me."

[Lockon was really starting to hate this virus.]

[timey_wimey]

[He nodded at Lockon and turned back to the phone]

"He says that he was talking, but you just couldn't hear him - or rather, the virus wouldn't let you hear him. His words, not mine, by the way."

[doomedyouth00.livejournal.com]

[Setsuna kept quiet, trying to sort through his thoughts]

[timey_wimey]

[The Doctor gave him a few minutes, then cleared his throat] "Setsuna? You still there?"

[doomedyouth00.livejournal.com]

[speaks quietly] Yeah...

[timey_wimey]

"And...?"

[doomedyouth00.livejournal.com]

"I guess I don't need to worry anymore. If it's just a virus, it'll be over soon."

[He says that, but his tone is flat; no indication that he's either pleased or unsure about this knowledge]

[timey_wimey]

"Is that what you're really thinking?"

[doomedyouth00.livejournal.com]

"..."

[He wasn't sure how to answer that, his thoughts were all still so muddled]

[timey_wimey]

[a sigh]

"I know it's difficult to believe, but I promise you that I wouldn't lie. Not about something like this."

[doomedyouth00.livejournal.com]

[with a tiny bit more emotion in his voice] "I trust you."

[he hesitates before speaking again] "So they... the Gundams... they can be fixed?"

[timey_wimey]

[Subconsciously, although he knows Setsuna can't see it, he nods in thanks to that trust. It's something he appreciates, perhaps more than Setsuna realises it.]

"I'd think so, yeah. At least, last time I checked, Tieria was definitely up to something, and when Tieria's up to something, things usually happen." [He smiles wryly as he says this, throwing a cheeky, knowing glance towards Lockon, like a shared joke.]

[doomedyouth00.livejournal.com]

[Despite firmly telling himself that Ten was right and the others were all alive, hearing him say Tieria's name so easily still made Setsuna's breath catch in his throat a little.]

"That's...that's good, then."

[timey_wimey]

"Mmm. I thought you'd think so."

NEITHER OF YOU SAW THAT FAIL

[doomedyouth00.livejournal.com]

[After several more minutes of awkward silence: ]

"I'm sorry I didn't believe you before. And tell Lockon I'm sorry I got annoyed."

SURRRRE

[timey_wimey]

"He's standing right here, I don't need to." [Looks at Lockon expectantly, nodding his head at the phone; does he want to pass on a message to Setsuna through the medium of Ten?]

I KNOW I SAW IT 8]

[lockon2urheart]

"Tell him he doesn't need to apologise, for a start." [Sort of smiling with relief that Setsuna believes them now, even if it's tinged with sadness - both that he had to do this at all, goddamn virus, and that he can't talk to Setsuna directly.]

"And...just, reassure him that the others are okay too, will you? Tell him Tieria and Allelujah, they're both safe. Ian too, which means Exia can definitely be fixed."

[timey_wimey]

[Nods and relays the message back] "He said that you don't need to apologise, for a start. Also, he says that the others are completely fine, Tieria and Allelujah are safe and so's Ian, so no worries on the fixing Exia front."

[doomedyouth00.livejournal.com]

[Nods, even though they can't see it]

I'm glad everyone is okay. I guess I'll talk to them once... once the virus is over.

[it still feels weird to think that this is all a virus, but he's trying to force himself to believe it]

[He closes his eyes briefly, imagining Exia as she's meant to be: whole and completely fixed. He exhales slowly]

Good. Because I don't think the duct tape is going to do the job, sorry.