HA131A | Voice | Day 23

[clowngirl]

[Really? A walkie-talkie? Luckily for all involved, Harley knows exactly how these work thanks to years of overhearing police radios and watching a little movie called Smokey and the Bandit.]

Breaker! Breaker! Eggs and baker!

This is Burt Reynold's Moustache comin' in with a Whiskey Tango Foxtrot and requestin' a 10-20 on myself. We got some sorta 10-15, 5150 situation goin' on with a negatory on 420-69. Is this a good kidnappin' or a bad kidnappin'? I repeat, good kidnap-slash-bad kidnap-question mark.

Smooches. Seacrest out! Over!

Comments

[desperate_times_right]

I assure you, I would have braided you a very nice friendship bracelet.

[ichoosefight]

It's not too late, you know. I did help with your foot.

[desperate_times_right]

[Bringing up the memory of everyone talking about her over the radio while she was delirious with fear and pain in the jungle might not be the best friendship tactic]

I never asked for any of that.

[But at this point, it is what it is]

You're not a bad kid, but if you don't unclench a little you're gonna have a coronary before you're twenty-five.

[ichoosefight]

What, because I'm not afraid to defend myself? When my life's not in danger people tell me to take things more seriously.

[desperate_times_right]

Oh no, I’d expect you to do that!

All this thinking you're going to save everyone stuff is going to kill you either way.

[Also she's heard that ‘people think I'm nuts for talking about superheroes’ complaint more than once but never actually heard anyone scoff about it so it sounds like a grudge older than Chloe’s presence on the island]

[ichoosefight]

[ Muttered: ] Been there, done that.

Why does everybody make it such a big deal that I want to help if I'm able to? I think you're the fourth person to say that to me. Do I seem like I'm gonna have a mental breakdown the second something goes wrong? Cause, I mean, a lot of stuff has gone wrong. I feel like I've been pretty normal about it all.

[ Oh, Chloe. There are so many conversations you aren't privy to. ]

[desperate_times_right]

Maybe they all heard you telling me that if it comes down to kill or be killed you were gonna personally make sure everyone got out alive.

[ichoosefight]

Is that such a weird thing to say? I know you'd be fine with a Battle Royale, but isn't it a pretty normal reaction to want to put a stop to it? That was like, half of the entire movie.

[desperate_times_right]

Don't know if you've seen it recently but I think only three of those kids lived.

[ichoosefight]

So? It's a thriller, not a morality guidebook.

[desperate_times_right]

Hey, you're the one who brought it up!

I'm just saying, if your only success condition is to save everyone and you lose one, what are you going to do?

[ichoosefight]

Give myself like, half a day to mourn and then get on with my life? I mean, that's the goal of literally every emergency response worker: Save everyone. Losing one person doesn't mean you've failed at your job. I don't thinks that's really too hard a concept, you know?

I appreciate the concern and all, it's just starting to weird me out that so many people think I'm that fragile. I really don't get it.

[desperate_times_right]

I dunno if I’d say fragile as much as, like, brittle?

But this is a first impression based on you making threats and talking some big talk on my second day, I could be wrong!

I've seen people get hurt by that shit before though and it sucks.

[ichoosefight]

...Yeah. Me too.

Maybe I'm reading too much into it. Still, a fifth person would make it pretty freaky.

And you don't have to worry about me, okay? Whatever I might say, I'm pretty realistic. Living in the Murder Capital of the World tends to have that effect on people.

[desperate_times_right]

You kind of remind me of someone and - I love her! I'm saying this with love! - she’s the biggest idiot on the planet. She's still carrying around shrapnel from a grenade that was supposed to kill me.

[ichoosefight]

[ She snorts, though she wishes she hadn't by the time Chloe finishes talking. ]

Yeah, no, I get it. I'm not exactly known for making smart choices.

[desperate_times_right]

But you think it's weird that people are worried about you?

[ichoosefight]

I mean, you guys don't know me all that well. You don't know about all the times I almost got arrested for having water gun fights on private property.

[desperate_times_right]

You've given me no reason to suspect that you know how to have fun!

[ichoosefight]

But we talk so much! I am shocked. And offended.

[desperate_times_right]

You talk on here a lot! Easy to pick you out because you sound just like Mrs Save The World.

[ichoosefight]

Then clearly you just haven't been paying attention.

[desperate_times_right]

[Part of her laugh makes it into the button press]

Yeah sorry I missed out on your hopping social life when I was almost dying.

[ichoosefight]

Apology accepted. I hope you've learned your lesson.

[desperate_times_right]

Christ, me too. Second worst week of my life.