{*_*^*_*^*_*^*_*^*]*~Multiverse Mysteries~*[*_*^*_*^*_*^*_*^*_*}
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-Pseudo Psychic Verse *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
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Chapter 8:
Call Off Or Call To Action
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*-Simon-*-Simon-*-Simon-*-Simon-*-Simon-*{****************}
"Hey, you've reached Desi. Leave a message and if I think you're worth it I'll get back to ya – Beep…"
Raphael huffed, brow quirking pointedly, glancing from the far back seat over at the driver. Desi scoffed exasperatedly, brow raising right back, waving towards the phone in the dashboard holder.
Simon glanced over, catching Raphael's eye pointedly, unable to totally quash the little quirk of a smile. Raphael sighed, holding his hand up, flashing an apologetic smile. Simon chuckled, nudging his shoulder, reaching over, casually resting his hand on Raphael's knee, squeezing. On Simon's other side Magnus chuckled, flashing a faint smile at the couple.
Beside Desi in the passenger seat Alec fought down a faint chuckle of his own, shaking his head at the lot of them before leaning over to turn up the speakers volume as the message begin to play.
There's silence for a moment followed by a muffled rush of movement and a cacophony of quick footsteps, rustling papers and the thump of something either being thrown down or knocked over before a voice cuts through the white noise. It's barely there, kinda tinny and muffled, breathless and rushed and keeps fading in and out as if he's speaking through a tunnel or keeps moving closer and further away from the phone.
"Oh damnit voicemail." He groaned, cursing softly under his breath, the words are ineligible but don't entirely sound like English though Simon can't really place the language.
There's more rustling, the dull thump of multiple objects being tossed onto a carpeted floor and an odd, squeaky hinge type sound. It's really difficult to make out too much of anything as the connection is staticky and barely there. Simon picks up a faint mumbling like someone talking to themselves under their breath, the words totally inaudible followed by even more movement, some clattering and an odd sound like a heavy object or furniture being moved followed by the rustling of papers and an odd metallic sliding accompanied by an echo like sound and still more clattering.
The man takes a shaky, shuttery breath, gulping audibly before finally beginning to talk in earnest. His voice is quiet, rushed and slightly breathless as if he's winded from a strenuous run- or scared out of his mind.
"Desi something happened with my assignment. Something big. I think I screwed up. Really Bad- God damnit, where is it!" he rushed out exasperatedly, voice almost a whisper, though that could also be an effect of the crappy connection.
There's more shuffling of papers, a click of a lock, more rustling and a cacophony of odd, hollow thumps, bumps and clatters.
"Desi, I don't know what's gonna happen. I think they found out- they know who I am-WHAT I am- why I'm here. I-I don't know how they found out. I thought I was doing good, covered my tracks right but I must of missed something.
I think this is really bad. I don't know wha…onna happen. I'm probably gonna have to go away for a while. I-I don't know when I'll be back- IF I'll be back. I'm sorry Desi. I never meant for this to happen. I never wanted to do this to you, never wanted to hurt you like this.
I really do love you.
Please don't look for me- -oo dangerous. I don't want you t-et hurt. Please Desi? Just let this go. Let me go. Don't look for me; don't ask questions, j-just leave it.
I really need you to just leave it. I don't want to draw any more attention to you than I already have. Don't want to make you a target any more than I already did. I'd never forgive myself if something ended up happening to you and it was my fault.
I don't know who I can trust here. I thought I had everything covered but someone figured it out. I don't know who or how but you can't trust this to anyone.
I'm so sorry Desi, I re-y am. I don't know what's gonna happen, what this is gonna turn into but I know it's gonna be bad. It's gonna be dangerous and I don't want you to get caught up in it. You're way too close to this. Too close to me.
It was a mistake, my mistake. I was working. I should have stayed focused on my work. I never should have gotten involved with you in the first place. I'm really sorry for dragging you into this Desi. You weren't part of the plan.
I need to do this, need to go. I have to. It's the only way- only way I can keep you safe. I hope if I'm gone they'll leave you be. I just want you to be safe. That's all I want. All that matters.
I'm so sorry Desi.
I should have just left you alone. Should have tuned you out. I'm good at that…I'm always good at that. At least I always was before I met you and you threw a monkey wrench into everything. I was stupid and weak. I should have been better, stronger. I shouldn't have involved you. It was a mistake- a rookie mistake.
I'm better than that damnit.
I don't want you to get caught up in this. I don't know what's gonna happen, how this is gonna play out, how it's gonna be or look when I leave but whatever it is, however it falls? Please Desi, just leave it. Just let it be. Let me go. Don't question it; don't question them.
The more attention you draw to it the more attention you draw to yourself and I really could never forgive myself if something happened to you because of me.
Whatever happens, however it goes down; I'm fine. I am. I can take care of myself; I'm a hell of a lot tougher than I look. I got this Desi. I really do. I'm not worried about myself. Whatever this turns into I've dealt with worse.
I just have to make sure you are safe. That is all that matters to me right now. I'm okay; I am, I swear I am.
Don't come after me. Don't look for me. Please Desi? J-just leave it.
I'm so sorry Desi. I never meant for any of this to happen. I sh—'ve told you the truth. You were never sup-ed to be a fact-ever should have involved you. Should have never put you in d-er.
Don't believe what y—ear. I'm sorry I—ove—y-u, so sor—I should hav-ld you the truth. I'm not a r-gnt. I-Oh!" Tyler gasps, voice catching, there's a whirl of clatter like something being knocked over, dropped or broken and the static suddenly surges even more, intensifying to a near earsplitting volume, all but completely obscuring every other sound on the call.
Through the static and the white noise there's an odd thump, a metallic bang, what could be the sound of breaking glass and what could be a scuffle or just more static followed by an odd crunching sound and an ear piercing, whining electronic feedback type whistle followed by total silence as the call drops altogether, the hollow, tonal beep signaling the end of the recording.
Desi swallows, casting a glance over at the others, gesturing towards the phone, giving a somewhat hopeless wave and shrug.
"See? It sounds like he's in a lot of trouble."
Magnus sighed, settling forward, glancing at the others, catching each of their eyes before shifting near apologetically over to Desi.
"I-honestly…it sounds like he left you."
Desi starts, blinking, gaze flickering from Magnus over to Simon and Alec, adamantly shaking his head.
"I-what? No-I-I mean yeah I know he said about leaving and all that but at the end it sounds like something happened-something really bad. There was something falling and I think glass breaking and that weird whistling, crunching sound-"
"Was likely his phone being smashed." Alec finished, nodding, shifting sideways in his seat to better see the others.
Desi nodded animatedly, gesturing towards Alec.
"Exactly! See? He's in trouble."
Magnus nodded, head tilting concedingly.
"Possibly…or he just wanted it to sound that way."
Desi blinked, head shaking in faint confusion.
"What do you mean?"
Magnus sighed, shrugging, giving a fluttering little wave.
"Well it did seem somewhat over the top. He's not going undercover to get the dirt on the mob or the Hell's Angels; he's investigating corporate malfeasance and possible cove-ups. Big? Yes, absolutely- but life and death, having to flee into the night and warn people off investigation so as not to make themselves a target?
Unless what he uncovered was that the corporation was a front for the mob or some kind of terrorist group I really don't see this level of panic coming from being caught investigating. I mean the way he was talking you'd of thought he was some kind of covert spy or government agent- especially the phone smashing at the end." He shrugged, glancing around at the others before settling back on Desi.
"Sorry, I know that's not the take you were expecting but it really felt like it was played for effect to me- and you did say how you at first thought he was purposefully playing up the whole secretive part of his job cause he knew you thought it was hot and exciting. This feels like it could very well be along that same vein- an exciting, dramatic send off."
Raphael nodded, shifting forward, gesturing over to Magnus.
"Yeah, that's my read too. I mean admittedly it does sound like he was in trouble…but it also feels really staged to me."
Desi scoffed, shaking his head, turning the rearview mirror to see Raphael seated behind him.
"Oh of course you'd think that."
Raphael sighed, giving a faint, near apologetic shrug, placatingly holding up his hand.
"I get why you think that but this really isn't some vendetta type thing or me wanting to disagree just for the hell of it. It's really not. I-just…Everything seems to go so perfectly for the effect. The static, the clatter, the breathless, rushed whisper, the repeatedly begging you to just leave it alone, let him go, stay out of it. The way it cuts in and out just enough for it to seem like the connection is going and yet you get all the important information clear as day. It just seems so perfectly choreographed.
Honestly it feels like one of those old radio plays. I half expect to catch a dramatic musical score or the sound of distant thunder to really hammer the atmosphere home."
Simon shifted, glancing over at Raphael, giving a bit of a shrug.
"Okay I know what you're saying- and I hear what you mean in it too but Desi did say his place is out near the Blackburn Hills preserve. Reception out that way is pretty much nil."
Raphael nodded concedingly but shrugged.
"And that definitely could explain some of it but not everything. The static seemed to kick up just when it needed to- cut out just enough words to be convincing but still somehow left exactly what needed to be left. I don't know, to me it just feels really contrived.
And it's not just the words or the crappy connection- it's the tone of his voice itself. He sounds panicked- his words and the verbal cues and all that but he ALSO sounds totally in control. There's very little faltering or stumbling over words, there's no backtracking or any clear distress cues besides the most basic- easiest faked- ones.
He's saying he has to leave, telling him repeatedly not to look for him, not to ask for him. Telling him whatever happens just to leave it, just let it go. He's making it sound like his exit is gonna be surprising and confusing and quasi suspicious." Raphael shrugged, giving a flippant wave, glancing over at Simon.
"Sorry Amore. It sounds like he's packing as he makes the call. Like he's getting ready to run. The entire message is him saying goodbye, explaining he has to leave and it'll be quick and probably confusing and without warning and that he knows Drake might not believe it and want to ask questions and dig into it but specifically pleading for him to ignore those thoughts and instincts and just let it go-let him go.
I-honestly it sounds like THIS is exactly the situation he was talking about." He sighed, catching Simon's eye, flashing a near apologetic look.
Desi scoffed, animatedly waving.
"Oh come on; that seems like one hell of a reach there." he glanced over in the rearview mirror, catching Simon's eye, brow quirking.
"Si, what do you think?"
Simon blinked, freezing a moment before sighing, giving a somewhat helpless shrug, reaching up, tucking a couple wayward caramel brown curls behind his ear, head tilting concedingly.
"I-honestly? I don't know Desi. I know what it sounds like- I hear all the things you do and I totally get why it raised all your alarm bells- but I also get what they're saying. I also hear the same cues they do...so...I- sorry Desi but I really don't know on this one." He started, setting up faintly, placatingly holding up his hand up, glancing from Desi over to the others.
"Though those cues can be pretty subjective. There are other reasons that could explain the disconnect besides just it's a put on.
I mean the way he talked he's dealt with some pretty tricky situations. He said he had it, whatever this turned into, however it went he had it- he'd faced worse. He was 100% truthful on that. He without a doubt totally believed that. Whatever else was there that specific thing was the absolute truth...at least that's how it sounded to me..." he paused glancing at the others, brow quirking questioningly.
Magnus looked over to Raphael, an entire conversation seeming to pass in the fleeting glance before shifting back to Simon, sighing, giving a faint nod.
"I agree sweetheart. He definitely believed that with all his heart."
Raphael nodded as well, shifting a bit closer to Simon, gaze shifting from Simon over to Desi, catching his eyes in the rearview mirror.
"He did. That and when he said he loved you. He was completely sincere there as well. The rest of it may have sounded staged but that was entirely truthful and it did not sound like it was especially easy for him to make this choice."
Simon relaxed faintly, flashing a warm, grateful smile at his boyfriend, nodding animatedly, reaching over, resting his hand on Raphael's leg, squeezing gently.
"Raph's right. He defiantly sounded like whatever was gonna happen it wasn't what he really wanted. It really felt like he genuinely didn't want to leave you. Even if it was a calculated decision I'm sure it wasn't one he made lightly." He paused, shrugging, reaching up, tucking a few wayward curls behind his ear, head tilting concedingly, catching Desi's eye, flashing a hopefully reassuring smile.
"And whatever is going on I do think it's a really good sign that he truly believed he had it under control. He sounds like he has a plan here- a system even. He talked as if this was just par for the course. If this kind of thing is relatively familiar for him than that could very well explain why it sounds faked. It could not so much be fake as just something that he is very familiar with and is really confident in his ability to handle." he shrugged, swallowing, shifting, again glancing at the others, gesturing over to Magnus.
"I mean Mags, you said it's not like he's trying to infiltrate the mob or some gang or whatever but maybe that's the kind of reporter he is. Maybe he is the kind of reporter who throws himself into it and goes to crazy lengths to get the real story.
If that's the case than this could entirely be pretty standard for him and maybe because he was close to someone here he's following his usual protocols for that kind of assignment because he doesn't want to take any chances." Simon shifted forward, bouncing in his seat, animatedly nodding, glancing at the others hopefully.
"That would fit yeah? And it'd explain all the other stuff- even the over the top, seemingly choreographed call...right?" he glanced over the others once more, settling on Raphael, warm honey eyes wide and oh so hopeful.
"Right?"
Raphael paused, beginning to shake his head before sighing, giving a somewhat conceding shrug, begrudgingly nodding.
"I-I don't know Amore. Maybe...it is a possibility I suppose. And you are right if that were the case it would explain what we're hearing. Normal is relative. A person's fear response to a situation is usually heavily influenced by their personal experience. If this is a relatively standard type investigation- maybe even mundane by his usual standards- than that could absolutely account for the disconnect that we are picking up on.
It is a good theory but gotta admit I'm really not sure, definitely an avenue worth examining though. And there is always the possibility that he's just good under pressure and has a good hold on his emotions and it is all in fact totally real and he's just the type that plays things close to the vest." He paused, hesitating, giving another somewhat unsure shrug.
"I don't know but something about it feels really off to me."
Desi huffed, brow raising expectantly
"Yeah, he's panicked."
Raphael glanced up, catching his eye in the mirror, brow quirking.
"Or he's just really good at seeming panicked because it's his best play here."
Desi huffed, shaking his head.
"That doesn't make sense."
Raphael shrugged, settling forward.
"No actually it would make perfect sense. You said the man's a reporter. Reporter is just another word for a writer. He has to know how to craft a convincing narrative, tell a convincing story, make it believable and make it stick.
He'd have to know how to put on a decent show and if he's been undercover for nearly two years he's clearly one hell of an actor. It could be real. It could be exactly what it sounded like. It could be what Simon said. He could be some flashy, firebrand reporter used to taking his life in his hands for the sake of a story." Raphael shrugged, head tilting concedingly.
"But honestly? It could also just be a kiss off."
Desi scoffed, shaking his head, brow quirking, catching Raphael's eye in the rearview mirror.
"Oh come on, you really think someone would go through all of that just to ditch me?"
Raphael quirked his eyebrow right back, gaze flickering dismissively over him, giving a sharp, sure nod.
"Absolutely."
"Hey!"
Raphael huffed out a faint breath of a laugh, shrugs unconcerned, settling forward.
"Look, just saying. It'd fit…"he paused, head shaking faintly, catching Desi's gaze in the mirror, giving a somewhat careless shrug.
"I mean let's look at this another way. We are all in agreement that he genuinely sounded sincere when he said he loved you. It doesn't feel like leaving was just a casual decision- it feels like it was a very difficult choice for him to make but going by the majority of the message it IS the decision he ultimately made.
He was planning on leaving you; he had made the decision. He knew he loved you- he knew you loved him- that you were in love with him, that you genuinely cared about him." He huffed faintly, brow quirking, again gesturing towards Simon.
"You spent nearly a decade pining over your first love. And I know it's Simon- I get it. I really do. I couldn't possibly imagine how difficult it would be to try to get over him. But even so he was gone for nearly a decade and when Tyler arrived in town you were STILL clearly still caught up in your high school sweetheart.
It's pretty clear a quick, simple kiss off isn't really gonna do the trick with you. You're obviously not big on giving up or taking a subtle hint- or even multiple years' worth of clear as day romantic indifference and flat out fleeing into the night- or sunrise- whatever you want to call it." he swallowed, shrugging, giving a somewhat flippant wave before continuing.
"Tenacity is an admirable quality to be sure but there's a fine line between being tenacious and being obtuse and dismissive to the wills and desires of others. Some people simply cannot deal with rejection. They dig their heels in and are like a dog with a bone." He shrugged, giving a flippant little wave.
"Just saying if he decided to end things the guy may have figured he needed something a bit more to shake you than a 'it's just not working out' or 'it's not you, it's me."
Desi huffed irritatedly, shaking his head.
"Raphael? I told you I'm sorry about how I acted, okay? I get that I was way out of line and I have apologized to both of you repeatedly and I did mean every word of it. I messed up- I know I did. I get the urge to take pot shots at me and situation reversed I'd be doing the same damn but I'm kinda really spinnin' here thinking someone I love is in real danger. I get the urge but being vindictive isn't gonna solve anything."
Raphael scoffed, shaking his head, waving him off.
"I'm not being vindictive, I'm being honest. It's just that sometimes the truth hurts."
Simon sighed, glancing over, nudging his lightly, disapprovingly quirking his eyebrow.
"Raph?"
Raphael sighed, holding his hands up placatingly, giving a somewhat helpless shrug.
"What? Look I'm sorry Amore. I know how it sounds but I'm not actively TRYING to be mean. I know why you'd think that and I'm not gonna sit here and try to play it off like that's not absolutely something I'd do because you know me way too well for that to ever fly but that's really not the case here.
I'm not trying to be cruel; I'm just saying how it feels to me." He shrugged again, settling closer to him, giving a fluttering wave towards the front seat.
"I mean you said yourself you thought you guys had everything settled nearly a decade ago. You thought you were perfectly clear and on the same page and you're one of the straightest shooters I know and you're about as deceptive as Mags is demure. You spent a decade thinking you were nothing more than friends- best friends- you thought he was your Mags. Your support; your safe place.
I've no doubt you were perfectly clear with your feelings and desire for your relationship to stay purely platonic and yet he still held out hope that you'd just somehow 'change your mind' for nearly a decade.
For OVER a decade. You guys 'broke up' like freshman year of high school and yet he still held out hope that you'd somehow just change your mind and come back..." he shifted, giving a somewhat exasperated sigh, faintly shaking his head.
"I'm sorry Amore, I know it sounds like I'm trying to be cruel but that's really not my intention right now. This man was in a relationship with Drake. A real, legitimate, long term, romantic relationship that unlike yours was actually reciprocated. I believe he was in love with Drake- and despite my initial thoughts otherwise I do now genuinely believe Drake was and still is in love with him.
I do genuinely believe that.
That being said Tyler saw the way the townspeople thought about you and his relationship, how Drake reacted to your relationship and I'm sure unless the guy was a total idiot he had to see that Drake was still on some level carrying a flame for you nearly a decade later. Questionable taste in romantic partners aside that doesn't feel like the case with this guy."
"Hey!" Desi exclaimed.
Raphael huffed, rolling his eyes giving a flippant wave.
"Again- just calling it as I see it." he shrugged, gaze shifting from Desi's eyes in the rearview mirror back over to Simon.
"He was in love with you Simon. Tyler likely knew that." he paused, glancing up, once again catching Desi's eye in the mirror, giving a faint shrug.
"I'm sure he really thought you came to love him as well. If he decided that it wasn't working out and for whatever reason felt he had to leave you he also knows just how long you can hold a torch for someone.
I'm not even saying the man did it just to screw with you or as some kind of manipulation or whatever. He very well could have orchestrated this entire dramatic, theatrical disappearing act just to make it easier for you to let go so you didn't have two lost loves to pine for." He sighed, head shaking, giving a somewhat halfhearted wave.
"I'm not saying it's totally impossible this isn't all real and something did actually happen to him. I don't think any of us should really be rooting for that outcome as that's likely the most dangerous situation for Tyler but it is a possibility.
I'm just saying that to ME the majority of the call sounds like he was setting up for something pretty much exactly like this. He said you'd be confused. That you wouldn't believe it. That you'd want to look into it. He may have thought this was the best way to keep you from doing the same thing with hims that you did with Simon."
Desi huffed, shaking his head, waving him off.
"Okay, you seriously think he'd go through all of this crazy set up just to ditch me? Just to somehow spare me a bit of heartache?" he started, something clicking.
"And hey, what do you mean 'despite your initial thoughts'? What the hell were you're initial thoughts?"
Raphael shrugged, brow quirking.
"That this whole 'disappearing boyfriend' thing was some elaborate, grand gesture to win back your 'lost love'."
Desi scoffed, eyes wide, looking at him in the rearview mirror in disbelief, brow nearly to his hairline.
"You seriously thought I made up a fake boyfriend and then faked a disappearing act in some crazy scheme to get Simon back?"
Raphael shrugged totally unapologetic.
"Well either that or the guy was real and you were behind his disappearance."
Desi sputtered, trying to look over his shoulder, truck swerving.
"What?!"
Raphael again just shrugged, giving a flippant wave.
"Hey you called us here to investigate. That means we need to look at every possible angle, that's like investigation 101. Investigation 101-A is always start with the significant other and work your way out."
Desi scoffed, shaking his head, glaring in the rearview mirror before his gaze shifts over to Simon, brow raising expectantly, giving an irritated wave back towards Raphael.
"Do you believe this Si?"
Simon sighed, shrugging helplessly, flashing an apologetic wince.
"Sorry Desi- that is usually where we have to start." He shifted forward, eyes wide, holding his hand up placatingly.
"I was absolutely sure you weren't involved but if we're doing a proper investigation we do have to approach it the same way we'd do with any other case. We have to examine and dismiss every possible avenue...and unfortunately like Raph said more often than not the first place you're gonna start is the spouse, significant other or ex.
It's really nothing personal."
Desi snorted, shaking his head.
"Sure as hell feels personal."
Alec huffed out a faint almost laugh, concedingly tilting his head.
"Yeah it really does but it's the way it's gotta be done. And it does generally turn out to be a pretty solid lead to run down. Did with my case anyway."
Desi huffed, curiously glancing over. Alec sighed, shrugging, giving a bit of a wave.
"A few months ago my ex tried to frame me for murder. Did one hell of a job of it too. So good in fact that for a while there he even had ME convinced I'd done it." he glanced up, catching Simon's eye, smiling.
"Fortunately I had these guys in my corner and they believed in me enough for all of us. They rallied around me, investigated the case, turned over every rock, chased down every lead and got to the truth." He sighed, flashing a near reassuring smile Desi's way.
"I'm not gonna lie- an investigation focusing on you sucks. Sorry, you do seem like a decent person and I know how upsetting it is when you know someone is looking at you thinking you're some dangerous criminal but it's just part of the process.
Despite how much it may feel otherwise it really isn't personal. Best thing to do is just cooperate, let the investigators do their job and help with what you can."
Raphael huffed out a faint chuckle, shrugging settling forward.
"Ah it's really not that bad."
Desi scoffed, brow quirking, once more catching Raphael's eye in the mirror.
"What? Someone suspected you of an ex's disappearance?"
Raphael shrugged casually.
"No...But I was questioned briefly when the FBI thought I'd taken out one of the most evil, violent criminals in the entire country. I got out of it pretty quick though."
Desi froze, blinking, clearly thinking he screwing with him but still curious, head tilting.
"Got out of it? How'd ya do that?"
Raphael smirked, giving a relaxed shrug.
"By proving to them if I'd of been behind it they wouldn't have even known there was a crime to investigate."
Desi again blinked, huffing out a faint near laugh, rolling his eyes, clearly thinking he's being put on, gaze shifting over to Simon, catching his eye, brow quirking. Simon chuckled, giving a faintly apologetic shrug, gesturing towards Raphael.
"That's actually exactly what happened...scared the hell out of them." He chuckled, again settling closer to Raphael's side, squeezing his knee.
Desi blinked again, swallowing, eyes widening a bit, flickering over the shorter man in alarm before giving a quick, somewhat shaky nod.
"Uh huh...aaand here we are, Tyler's place. I still got my key, I'll go unlock the door." He rushed out, pulling the truck to a stop in front of a rather quaint log cabin style home, quickly unlocking the doors of the truck, hopping out, making his way up to the front porch of the house.
Simon sighed, glancing over at his boyfriend, brow quirking.
"Was that really necessary?"
Raphael held his hands up placatingly.
"Hey, he asked!"
Simon huffed out a faint chuckle, shaking his head, nudging his shoulder. Raphael nudged him back, flashing a faint smile.
"I know...sorry Amore- last one."
Simon outright snorted, brow quirking higher. Raphael tilted his head concedingly, shrugging.
"Okay probably not but I'll do my best to try and reign it in."
Simon chuckled, patting his knee.
"All I'm asking...thank you."
Raphael smiled, resting his hand on Simon's squeezing.
"Of course Amore- anything for you." He caught Simon's eye, smiling, leaning over, brushing a soft kiss on his cheek, nuzzling lightly.
He hummed softly, pressing one more light kiss to Simon's cheek before squeezing his hand once again, pulling back, reaching over popping the door open, gesturing towards the house.
"Now come on. We better get in there before the country Album escapee tramples all over our possible crime scene with those god awful cowboy boots."
{*_*^*_*^*_*^*_*^*_*^*_*^*_*^*_*^} *****End Of Chapter Notes***** {*_*^*_*^*_*^*_*^*_*^*_*^*_*^*_*^}Aaaand as always anymore sorry for the rather abrupt scene ending.
Oh man guys I am SO sorry for the crazy long wait in between chapters. I got caught up completing the story for Verse 6 (it just randomly popped into my head with every remaining scene for all 5 of the remaining chapter so I kinda just had to play it through} and then we got into December and I work in retail so this month is a nightmare and insanely busy.
I set down week before last on one of my days off bound and determined to get this one done- I was all set- NOTHING was gonna stop me...
Aaand I open my computer to begin and it has a black screen with 'no bootable device'...yeah. My hard drive crashed and as I didn't have a backup bootable drive made because I have never in all my years having a computer needed one so I was just kinda screwed.
Thankfully my old computer still works and my new one was still under warranty so I'll be getting a new one in the next few days and in the meantime I can use my old one but I hadn't used my old one in nearly a year so I had to copy everything I could for my stories {all my notes, current copies, completed versions, my AUX characters and all the rest of the progress I've made in the past year} onto the old one. Thankfully because I frequently read/edit all my stuff on my phone I have backup copies saved in my emails but it was a pain going through finding everything and making sure I didn't lose or forget anything.
So yeah...sorry for the wait- some of it was me but a lot of it was kinda circumstances beyond my control.
Oh and I actually had this done to here a few days ago but because in my notes I had a ton more in this chapter I thought I still had a long way to go and I kinda stalled because it was just dragging on and I couldn't see how I could get all of it into the chapter...then I realized that was because I was trying to shove like 3 chapters worth of progress into one. So I went through my outline, cut some stuff, moved some around and fiddled with it and got it spaced out a lot better to where I'm not trying to fit half a stories progression into on damn chapter.
Anyways sorry about the rambling explanation but at least we finally have an update here. What did you think of the ACTUAL chapter? I like that we're getting into the case part of the production...and I liked Raph casually tossing in how he got out of being a suspect in a murder by proving he'd of done a better job of it lol.
We didn't have as much progress as I'd initially planned here but if we did this chapter likely would have ended up over 20k words so I think I made the right decision. The revised outline works better anyways. We're really getting into the home stretch with this round of stories.
Here's what we have left:
Picture Perfect {Verse 8} {Ch8}* Death Was Just The Beginning {Verse 3 {Ch9}*Nosey Neighbors {Ch9}* Picture Perfect {Verse 8} {Ch9}* You Can Go Home Again {Verse 1} {Ch9}* The Demon In The Mirror {Verse 4} {Ch10}* The Demon In The Mirror {Verse 4} {Ch11}* The Demon In The Mirror {Verse 4} {Ch12}* Nosey Neighbors {Ch10}* Nosey Neighbors {Ch11}* Nosey Neighbors {Ch12}* Love Bug {Verse 2}{Ch10} Love Bug {Verse 2}{Ch11} Love Bug {Verse 2}{Ch12}* Death Was Just The Beginning {Verse 3 {Ch10}*, Death Was Just The Beginning {Verse 3 {Ch11}* Death Was Just The Beginning {Verse 3 {Ch12}* Picture Perfect {Verse 8} {Ch10}* Picture Perfect {Verse 8} {Ch11}* Picture Perfect {Verse 8} {Ch12}* You Can Go Home Again {Verse 1} {Ch10}* You Can Go Home Again {Verse 1} {Ch11}* You Can Go Home Again {Verse 1} {Ch12}*
As you can see {Provided you can make sense of that tangled mess of info} we got nearly all of them to the final 3 chapters. All those I do one right after the other so we really should start clipping along now. Next up is V8- I really adore that one, it's so much fun.
So what do you guys think? How about with Tyler? You think the call was a cry for help or a kiss off or something else entirely?
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{*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^9*-Pseudo Psychic Verse*-9*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^}