#chapter 1 green

[kscs-the-radiostar]

[ Ask for GREEN ] Hi, err- what's all that stuff going on there? Everything good? (🍃)

The shuffle and scuffle continues as Uncle Addy lifts the phone back to his... ear?

"I-I-Im so sorry about that-"

||anon asks||

He's puzzled for a moment, gathering his wits. "OH, oh that's just the children. It's never dull around here, a-and never, NEVER is it unwelcoming. I-I'm sure about that," he pleads. Seems this man can never catch his breath.

"We are running out of spare rooms though... too many orphans are still all alone out there, and it breaks my heart..."

The screaming returns.

"L-Cee noooo! Put the bottle down! Put. The bottle. Do-" he's cut off by another child.

"TAKE IT OUTSIDE, L!!" they cheer.

"Shush! I-if you lose it outside, we won't have any shampoo left for our hair. You don't wanna lose your hair, do you?" As threatening as a statement like that should be, he never so much as condescends them.

"...no," the child bemoans.

"Good, now go and get your little boop troop ^^ we need to clean up before lunch," he states, assuredly. A glimmer of pride in the wet towel of a man, quickly snuffed by the sound of a dodgeball.

"GHHKS-"

:the connection has expired:

:would you like to redial?:

[kscs-the-radiostar]

The connection zips in, jostled about and constantly on the move, like a phone. A panicked breath punctuates every step of this unknown phone-wielder. The ruckus of a busy corrider lingers in the backdrop of the ongoing call. But at last, the footsteps stop.

"Where did your pants go this time, Ereeri?" The disappointment of a parent ebbs in the gasps for air from a middle aged man, worn and probably beyond his prime.

"Laundry." Ereeri responds, unashamed by their apparent pantlessness. "Spencemy told me to."

"Sport, you n-need to put them back on yourself. On-One leg at a time-" a deep, recovered breath solidifes the statement. It would seem this is an adult talking to one of many children running rampant in the building.

"Okay, Uncle Addy." The child turns as they walk off, the steps eventually melding into the mess of sounds bouncing off the walls.

"G-Geez... Spencemy? Where's the laundry?" Uncle Addy calls up into the air, almost pleading for a response.

"Yessir, Uncle?- OH, oh. Laundry." So that would be Spencemy, a young man. They are across the sea of children, but they can be picked out easily. That is, it was easy, before some screaming started.

"L-CEE! L-cee, no! Shampoo is not a weapon! D:"

:the connection has expired:

:would you like to redial?:

[kscs-the-radiostar]

The rustle on the line tells you your earpiece is in Uncle Addy's pocket. Heavy hits of his echo in a hall clearly beyond his normal orphanage walls. He's barreling to some unknown destination, deadset on his breakneck pace. He's almost breaks down the door as he jumbles with the knob.

"Galvanunt Pence! You better not be dead!-" he blurts out.

The victim looks up from his papers with a tumble of his shades, startled, "...Uncle?"

Uncle Addy stomps in, all huffy, "Someone mentioned you and I got worried. I haven't heard from you in months! Are you okay, are you hurt??"

The flurry of questions are staggering, yet it feels cozier in the room, like someone is laughing.

Galvan stands up, almost relieved by this ambush, "Uncle, take a breath. I'm fine. I'm just busy."

Addy obliges his advice, "fhoo- Okay. Don't give me reasons to barge in your office, you loon."

Galvan chuckles, "We don't work together anymore, Unc. I'm not even under your care, either. Why so worried?"

Uncle Addy finally catches his breath, sighing, "You don't even know me anymore do you? It's all I ever do."

He walks over to Galvan, his steps softer as he's composed. "Besides, you may be an adult, but you never stopped being my kid." He leans down and kisses his head.

Galvan, after a long pause, leans in to his uncle's embrace, "...And what about your 67 other kids, right now?~"

"I'mnotthinkingaboutthatrightnowww-" he hushs.

:the connection has expired:

:would you like to redial?:

[kscs-the-radiostar]

[ Ask for GREEN ] You. You are familiar with "Galvan". (It is not a question, but a statement.) [✍️]

The connection buzzes in, damp with the distant sounds of children slowly growing quiet. When the phone is answered, the voice is worn yet composed.

"Hello?" Uncle Addy prompts.

||anon asks||

A pause. "..Yyyes I am. I know a good many Addisons. He was an apprentice of mine at one point, but that was updates ago." What an odd call in the dying hours of the evening.

"O-oh gosh, he's not hurt is he?? Am I still his emergency contact???" He jitters. Pulling the phone from his face, thinking that helps at all, "Oh, Galv, I told you this would happen--"

There's a shuffle of a jacket being thrown over himself.

"D-do I need to come down and si-sign off any forms... o-or c-c-confirm the body?" He's working up his anxiety into paranoia.

:Good jooooob...:

"I-I-I'LL JUst go [come on down!!] to his office- H-HAVe a GOodi nite-"

He snaps his phone shut (a flip phone, really???) and thrusts it into his pocket with a rustle of redressing himself to venture out into the night.

"S-Spence, I'm going to check on a-a colleague, make sure everyone is inside." he stumbles.

Spencemy responds promptly, "Yes, Uncle!"

With that, Uncle Addy starts hauling out the door, running full force, holding back so much panic.

:the connection has expired:

:would you like to redial?: