Side-Write: Missed Calls

I told myself I wouldn't let it slide to the end of the month, but the whole last week things kept getting in the way, and here we are! My general goal with these side-writes is to try and give a little extra insight into characters or the worlds I'm building, things like that, so there's a lot of flexibility for that. I don't consider them strictly canon, so things you see in these may end up being refuted later as I put more polish on the games themselves, but I guess that means they're a little bit "behind the scenes" as well on how I'm thinking on the story as I'm developing it!

I feel like this one was a decent way to do a little world-building and develop the player character for Matchmaker a touch more. v0.01 is hitting advance release in just a couple days, so this should be a nice lead up to that! Hope you dig it!

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PLANETARY COMMUNICATION SECURITY
INTERCEPTION ARCHIVES
CONFIDENTIAL DOCUMENT

PERSON OF INTEREST #J003782
PERSONAL VOICE INBOX
TRANSCRIBED WITH NOTES

DAY 865 OF RECORDING

TRANSMISSION #1
FROM: [REDACTED]
TIME: 1021
-----
[Six seconds of silence]

...Hey, Saphron. I... yeah. I just heard. I, uhh... Look. When you get this, don't flip out and call me, just... listen, okay? I...

[Laughs]

I didn't know I was getting down and dirty with royalty all this time. Or... maybe you really will be royalty now? I don't know. But um...

[Four seconds of silence]

I mean... You know, you told me you don't believe in fate. When you were talking about dropping out? That, uhh... That kinda bugged me. I mean, I don't know if we really have our destinies all laid out for us ahead of time, and I don't know if there's anyone out there that really knows what the hell they're doing and has any plans for us, but... I do kinda feel like we...

[Seven seconds of silence]

Like fate's got something in store for each of us. And I mean... maybe there's a few times we get a choice in it. I... when I heard about this, all I could think about was... w-when you popped the question on me, and I just... I mean, neither of us were ready for that. You know? And... And I thought we'd have time, we could just... We...

[Four seconds of silence]

If I'd said yes, then like... they wouldn't have still tapped you for this crazy scheme, right? They would've had to find somebody else, if you were already married. So it got me thinking, just... how much life can change with every little decision. ...I mean, that wasn't a little decision, but it was... pretty small compared to all this. And so I guess... that was one fork in the path of fate, and I didn't know it was a one-time thing at the time, but...

[Sighs]

Okay, none of that matters now, I'm still just... Well, I guess I still don't know how to say it, but I don't wanna fill up your inbox with my... Yeah. The point is, all of this has me thinking that... that we really do have fates, you know? Like, we can feel the hand of fate moving us in crazy times like this. I...

[Clears throat]

I heard, from a friend of yours, that you'd been taking it pretty hard. Our... break. That guy with the scar? He still works in that Tafo shop. He looks kinda scary, but he was really worried about you. He had some very... creative suggestions for getting us back together. A-anyway, I... Well, I figured that with all this going on, you might be worried about, um... us. And... I mean...

[Sighs]

When the hand of fate moves you, there's no sense getting worked up over it, you know? You've got like... a duty now, I guess, and everyone is counting on you, and I can't imagine how hard that's gotta be for you right now, and... I'm sorry I can't be there for you. But... I just... I wanted to tell you that at least you don't have to think about me anymore. Don't worry about me, just... focus on doing whatever you need to do out there in...

[Laughs]

In space! Kinda jealous for that part at least. Not, um... Gods, I keep getting off track. You know I'm a mess when I'm... I...

[Sighs]

What I'm trying to say is... Saphron... I had already found someone, a week back or so. And... it's going pretty well, so far. We're... happy. And... I didn't know what to do, how to... tell you, I knew I should-- I know I should've said something sooner. But... that's why I feel like this is fate, you know? Like... we've just... got our own destinies, and this is us... getting a-- a clean break. I...

[Brief, soft crying]

Fuck. I'm fine. I... You know I'm bad with this stuff. I can't even watch romances. I just... I don't want you thinking you're... betraying me or anything, going out there. You get some dumb ideas like that sometimes. If anything, I'm the one that was... I'm sorry to tell you about it like this. I hope you get this before you worry too much, or... that maybe I'm just worrying about nothing. I... We'll probably talk again sometime, right? But just... don't worry about me. That's, uh... That's what I'm... That's the point of all this, I guess. I'm gonna be worrying about you, though. I guess everybody is. Just... do your best, up there? Gods, that sounds lame. I don't know what to say. I...

[Rustling, movement]

I hope you're happy. Both of you. Honestly. I have no idea what that could even be like, but... you deserve a good relationship, and someone you can really... treasure, in your life. Who knows, maybe this... Mala? Will be just what you need. So... good luck. Sincerely. And, uh... sorry I can't be there for the wedding.

[Silence, then sighs]

Alright. I should go before I make any more of a mess. Shoot me a message sometime. If you need something from your place, I can grab it for you or whatever. We can still... hang out sometime, when this all blows over, you know? ...If you're ever... coming back.

[Six seconds of silence]

Alright. Um... yeah. Good luck. And... uh, congratulations!

[Weak laugh, disconnect]
-----
[NOTES: May simplify some secondary concerns. Keep an eye on this one, passive pattern 8.]

TRANSMISSION #2
FROM: [REDACTED]
TIME: 1200
-----
[Voice is electronically distorted]

You don't know us, but we know you. You cannot find us, but we can always find you. The will of the people demands that the Keamaka fall. Your circus show marriage must fail, for the safety of the people. The war must be finished. Comply, or you and those you care about will be in danger. We cannot be stopped. We are the will of the people.

[Distorted background noise, click]
-----
[NOTES: Copied to internal archives and deleted. Need a cleanup for secondary records on this. See Investigation File #TR04807 for more information.]

TRANSMISSION #3
FROM: [REDACTED] (PERSON OF INTEREST #J003781)
TIME:1842
-----
[Background noise identified as news broadcast]

Saphron, honey, you know you can pick these up? It's your magical day, we should talk! Aww, you were adorable though! I saw the whole thing on the holo, I hope you can keep that suit! That other one, though... It's hard to believe I'm mother-in-law to one of those things. I never thought I'd see the day! You know, you could have called me, I've had my headset on all day waiting! They didn't let me through when I called the ship, but I think that was just your father. You've got to be careful, he'll take all your choices away as soon as he's got a finger on you, and he's got a whole hand on you now. If you ever need a hand, you just give me a call, I know how to deal with bullies like him. We should talk, though! I know you two can't be going at it already, you've always been shy about that sort of thing, and you hardly know that... w-what was it called?

[Pauses, twelve seconds of background broadcast, ice clinking]

They don't say. I've forgotten, but I'll get it. The, um... I guess I shouldn't say slime anymore. Right? The Kyo... Something. God. You're safe, right? There are guards there? I don't want my baby alone with that thing. I don't care if you're married, you're still strangers. I'd be there to keep you safe myself if I could, but you know your father. I think he might have sent someone to tamper with my alarm, I wasn't even awake until after your ship took off! But you know I'm here for you, if you're scared, if you need someone to talk to, I'm always here. And if you need a way off that ship, by God, I'll find some way to make it happen. If you need a divorce, I can help you make sure you don't make the same mistakes I did. You just let me know! You haven't called in weeks, Saphron, I've already been getting so worried, and now all of a sudden, this! I just about fell out of my chair! Listen--

[Clears throat, ice clinking, swallows]

Excuse me. Used to be, they couldn't even do this sort of thing without the approval of both parents! Wouldn't that have just nettled your father to death? If he had to put his whole silly scheme on hold and ask for my permission first? That would've been a fine day indeed. But I guess that's not the case anymore. I wonder if he's actually registered me as dead. I don't think I got a ballot for the last vote, I assumed it was his doing, but you don't think...?

[Creaking]

I'll have to make some calls. Saphron? Don't let that thing bully you, no matter what. And don't let it touch you! Your mother's tearing up just thinking about it. Be safe! And whatever you do, wear protection! Gawd. Who knows what kind of diseases they have in space? Please be safe. I'll talk to you again soon. Call me as soon as you get this, alright? Bye, hon!

[Creaking, clattering, grunting, click]
-----
[NOTES: Added to her file as well. May need to up her observation pattern.]

TRANSMISSION #4
FROM: [REDACTED]
TIME: 2036
-----
[Heavy background noise: chatter, laughter, broadcast, chairs scraping]

Saaaphroooonnn! C'mon, you guys can't STILL be getting all good and gooey, can you? I really wanted to say congrats face to face! You're not sore about the last time we talked, are you? I know I maybe said some uh... not super chill things, but I was just having a bad day, I didn't mean anything about it. We should totally hang out again! It's been months already, let's just forget about all that, alright? Listen, we saw the whole ceremony down here at Blinky's, they put it up on the main flare and everything, we were all cheering for you! Even when you looked like you were about to piss yourself.

[Laughs]

Can't blame you, I'd be shitting myself coming face to face with one slime, let alone a room full of 'em, and let alone marrying one! You did good, seriously. And when I told 'em I knew you, they just about flipped! Listen, you should come down here next time you're planetside, just about everybody here wants to buy you drinks! I'm looking at a couple girls right now? Just got their draft papers a couple days ago, and it looks like they might just be dodging the bullet thanks to you. Past time we finally found a way to put an end to this, but nobody thought it'd be like this. You're a damn hero!

[Cheers in the background, some calls, questions, demands]

Right, right, I'm getting to it! Listen though, Saphron, uhhh, we all got to talking about it, and nobody know what it's really like to get it on with a slimo, right? So we talked about it a lot, and ended up taking some bets on what you two would be up to tonight! And as your friend, it is my great honor to be the one that settles this little gamble, with your help. I'm not asking for all the details or anything, but just, y'know, a kinda... an overview? Like, take for example, I put down a considerable sum myself saying you'd just grab two big handfuls of that slime, mount up on it and go to town! That's gotta be fun, right? And, uh...

[Clears throat, background noise partly muffled]

You know I've been having a hard time with rent lately, so when you get this, y'know... I'd never ask a friend to lie on a bet, but if you haven't tried that already, maybe it'd be fun for a quick round two or something? Just, y'know... do me a solid, and I can totally make it up to you later. "Comrades across classes," right? I remember!

[More distant shouting, noise resumes]

Yeah, yeah. No, leaving a message is all.

[Disappointed groans]

I'll find out, don't worry! We go way back. But y'know, wedding night, space travel... Alright Saphron, I'll let you get back to it. I'm sure you two are having lots of fun! Give 'em a good one for me, alright? ...Okay, that sounded weird. I'm drunk. Sorry. Just uh, hit me up! We'll be here all night, waiting for the good news! Talk to ya soon!

[Rustling, bumping, beep]
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[NOTES: Copied to internal archives and deleted per emergency preventative guidelines. Adding to block list.]