Voicemail

[smilestopscars]

It's Ez. You know what to do, darling.

Comments

[smilestopscars]

"I can't make promises," Ezra said, with some faint soft quality. "It's not as if I set out to do it the first time."

But life had intervened in ways he was not willing to dosclose. It had taken him long enough to talk about it even to Dante and Kathy, and they'd been directly affected.

"All I can say is that I'm trying."

[not_every_mage]

"Can I ask what happened?" Anders wondered. "All I know was that one day you were their best friend, and then you were just nowhere for a long time. And now you're trying again."

[smilestopscars]

For a moment, the only sound down the line was Ezra's sigh. If only because the way he rubbed one eye and then the bridge of his nose probably made no noise.

"It's a long story that was exhausting to live through," he said, finally, "and that's exhausting to tell."

[not_every_mage]

"And I didn't call hoping to exhaust you," Anders said, after a long and thoughtful pause of his own. "But it's over now? Mostly?"

[smilestopscars]

"Yes."

Well, the part where he freaked out and had panic attacks in secret was over. So, good enough.

[not_every_mage]

"Good," Anders said.

And then, sheepishly: "I'm glad you're doing better."

[smilestopscars]

"Darling, I have never been anything short of amazing."

He was quickly running out of his allotted time to be open and genuine for the day. Hence the light, quipping tone. It also served as a nice counterpoint to Anders' sheepishness.

Still, he dropped it for another second. "But thanks."

[not_every_mage]

"Of course," Anders said, which went for both bits of what Ezra had said. "And you're welcome."

[smilestopscars]

"Now, to circle back to an earlier point... See you when the mood strikes, I guess."

It was a solid a plan as he ever had.