Colin's posts

Ash nodded in response.

"Cool. I'll get it for you." he told her.

-Some hours later-

She was still looking through some news feeds on the tablet, when her cell phone went off. Specifically, the tone chimed, signalling she had a text.

Yo. Lindsay's off work. it read.

You good for that visit? the next one asked.

And you still want me there for it? a third asked further.

Ash just sighed in response.

"Yeeeeah." he muttered.

"It can sneak up on ya." he said.

"Want your tablet?" he asked.

"You can connect to the WiFi here and try and get reacquainted with... well, the world." he offered.

"And it might give you something to do while waiting for Lindsay." he added with a shrug.

Ash just nodded in response.

"Yeah, sure." he said.

"I'll see about getting him here ASAP." he told her.

"Might not be until this evening, though." he warned her.

"I think he's a bit full up with appointments until 7ish." he said further.

"I know you essentially told me time's a major factor here, but is about 6 hours from now, like, cool?" he asked.

Ash raised an eyebrow.

"Wait, what?" he asked.

"Violently?" he asked her.

"That... doesn't sound like the Lindsay -I- know..." he mumbled.

"But... all right, I'll bring him here, then." he told her.

"ASAP, I assume?"

"You won't drown." Ryker said.

"I promise." he told him.

They continued to walk, before Eke was up to his waist.

"Ok, stop, stop." Ryker said.

"Now, let your hands just fall into the water." he continued.

"Gently let them sink down until they stop."

"...ah right, whatever that project is that he's working on." Ash said.

"Wait, you think THAT'S the issue?" he asked.

"Geez, what the hell IS it?" he murmured.

"He's told NO-ONE about it." he continued.

"How do you kn-" he started to ask, before pausing.

"Right. Future knowledge." he said.

"....oh. That explains it." he replied.

"Huh. That's... kinda cool." he then said.

"Vicki was quite pleased and eager to show she could do it." he commented.

"Guess you're proof she CAN." he added with a chuckle.

"That's SOME good news, I guess." he muttered.

"So what are you waiting for, right now?" he then asked her.

"....again, not good-sounding." Ash said.

"You specify Alice, and having her mana, and I already can guess what THAT means." he commented.

"And it angers me." he said bluntly.

"As for Hollie's mana... why?" he asked.

"Why would you get HERS as well?"

"Uh... wow." Ash said.

"That's... heavy shit, already." he told her.

"You're saying LINDSAY caused something to make him go into hiding." he commented.

"And if that wasn't bad enough, it's so bad that you're here to STOP it." he went on.

"Wow." he repeated.

"The future sounds like an effing mess."

Ash just crossed his arms over his chest.

"I see." he said.

"That's ominous, and confusing." he told her.

"Given the fact that you said you know me as 'Joe' because it's a more 'blend-in moniker', indicates that the future is... not good." he commented.

"Also, Eddie?' he asked.

"Who's Eddie?"

Ash just pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Even in MY position, I can still change the timestream by knowing things." he muttered.

"I hate that." he said.

"At least I know you're not from another dimension or whatever." he went on.

"Guessing you're from the future." he added.

Ash was silent as she said what she did, and looked at her.

And she could tell he was LOOKING at her. As only he could.

"...mmhmm..." he mumbled.

"Yeah, I can tell something's off." he told her.

"There's a certain... discordance... inside you." he went on.

"Care to fill me in?" he asked.

"....right." Ash said.

"About that." he muttered.

"I dismissed it over the phone because of the distress you were in, but this is the second time." he said.

"Joe?" he then asked.

"Why are you calling me 'Joe'?"

Ash said nothing.

Instead, he made his way to the door and set a small box down on the bed.

"Pair of bracelets." he told her.

"Put 'em on. NOW." he went on.

"I can FEEL that mana." he said further.

"And it feels like it's ready to just burst. Literally."