DUPLICITY ➤ IC INBOX

[shavedaway]

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text | @J.IRVING

[extramuralise]

Thomas, have you seen what's been going on round the Up? What's Happened to bring this on so suddenly, do you think?

[ ❌ MESSAGE DELIVERY FAILURE ]

I'm finding all this Chaos to be Extremely Disturbing. I Sincerely Hope you're Safe indoors somewhere. Please Respond when you can Thank you

[ ❌ MESSAGE DELIVERY FAILURE ]

Are you getting any of These Messages Thomas! PLEASE RESPOND!

[ ❌ MESSAGE DELIVERY FAILURE ]

Please Let me know as soon as you Read This it's been 3 Days now with No Word from you

[ ❌ MESSAGE DELIVERY FAILURE ]

You're not at your Flat. Where are you?

[ ❌ MESSAGE DELIVERY FAILURE ]

For Heaven's Sake

[ ❌ MESSAGE DELIVERY FAILURE ]

[ 📞 3 MISSED CALLS ]

Tell me are you SAFE Thomas

[ ❌ MESSAGE DELIVERY FAILURE ]

People are being Jailed Left and Right here over the most Insignificant of Infractions, it's been COMPLETE Madness. I've heard others have been Abducted, Please Respond AS SOON as you Read This!

[ ❌ MESSAGE DELIVERY FAILURE ]

They say they might not be releasing anyone until Everything's Settled Down again. Have you been Abducted Thomas because I can't come after you while they're still Detaining me in the People Zoo but I'm Very Very Worried ,

[ ❌ MESSAGE DELIVERY FAILURE ]

I don't know if any of my Messages are going through,

[ ❌ MESSAGE DELIVERY FAILURE ]

[ 📞 1 MISSED CALL ]

Please Respond to confirm you're Alive 🆘🆘🆘

[ ❌ MESSAGE DELIVERY FAILURE ]

If you're ignoring me I'm going to be Very Cross with you Thomas.

[ ❌ MESSAGE DELIVERY FAILURE ]

[ Jopson will only receive these messages once he's back within range of network service again and happens to check his device, each one pinging in direct sequence -- although they were neither written nor sent that way -- as they finally land in his inbox. Freed at last of limbo!! ]

[shavedaway]

[ A reply comes the morning after the kidnapped return to Duplicity. He hadn't even considered looking at his device until he'd gotten a good night's sleep, though now he's thinking that may have been a misjudgement. ]

I'm alright, John. I'm home.

[extramuralise]

[ Granted, the urgency at the time had been spread out over the two (or so) weeks people were either jailed or kidnapped, but still, that doesn't change the fact Irving is tremendously relieved to finally hear from him. ]

Thank God.

[ Not a blasphemy, in this case. ]

Are you all right Thomas?

[shavedaway]

I'm not the worst off. I just need a few good meals and some rest. Less than I needed when I first arrived, certainly.

[extramuralise]

That's quite a relief to hear. I'm glad for it.

Do you need anything? You or Mr Day?

[shavedaway]

Stephen's more shaken than I am, I think. But no, we don't need anything.

[ after a small delay-- ]

I am now more certain than ever that we are in some sort of purgatory, and less sure that we're safe from the pit.

[extramuralise]

No. I fear we're not safe from anything here. Body, soul, mind, and heart.

[shavedaway]

You don't mean it how I mean it.
I can't think of any explanation for what's happened other than the true devils got in and tried to take us.

[extramuralise]

I have been saying as much from the start, haven't I?

If this city's not a part of Hell itself, then it's surely still as God-forsaken as either Sodom or Gomorrah had been.

[shavedaway]

We've had different experiences John.
You can't truly believe that everything I've been granted is God-forsaken.
This was something different.

[extramuralise]

Everything we've both been granted.

But no, of course not all of it. Surely you can still acknowledge, however, how hard-won is any good that does come.

[shavedaway]

It was hard won before we arrived. I've not hard to work very hard for it here. It feels very much like I've been rewarded, as much as it don't feel that way for you.

[extramuralise]

You misunderstand me, Thomas. I don't feel as though I'm being punished.

[ Not as such, anyway. Not anymore. ]

There is much for which I am grateful here, now.