[Action + Audio] IC-CHECK IN

[the_horror]

Ben feels sick when he sees the TERMINATED photo on the wall. He'd woken up alone in the room he and Klaus had shared. Now, he sat in a hall way, feeling sick. Feeling like this place truly was hell. With his back pressed to one side of a wall, he let his head tilt back and he stared at the image projected on the wall of Klaus. His eyes moved to the 'Good Bye' tattoo on his one hand, frowning at it.

Ben could be found in the hallway outside of the bedrooms he, his little group and others had started to share. To gather in. He was seated there, feet on the floor, knees up, eyes red and staring at the picture. This was hell. That was for sure.

Sometime later he's collect himself and make a audio post for everyone on the network.

---

[He did audio because he didn't want anyone to see him. Not like this. He started softly, but cleared his throat and spoke a bit louder.]

You might have noticed there is another face on the wall this week. That's my brother. He was actually here, and now I don't think he is anymore. [He took a moment to take a breath.] I can... actually say I know he was here. Terminated has me worried. I think we need another check in. And I think we need to do it more often.

So, I'll... start. Ben Hargreeves, still here.

Diego? Where are you...?

---

[He's leaving a text of everyone who has checked in]

C H E C K E D I N:
Ben Hargreeves
Rikki
Cleo
Derek
Carrie White
Jared Jacobs
Lydia Deetz
Malach
Betty
Carol
Diego Hargreeves

Comments

[the_horror]

He was silent for most of this. Listening to her story, about her Ex who wasn't her boyfriend at the time, and about spark plugs and boats, a island called Mako, the girls, and the moon pool.

It was a wild story, but it also seemed more believable than sudden births of 43 random children with powers. Which he hadn't told her all about yet. It was strange though. He stayed leaned there, hand in hers, fingers curled into hers, and listened, smiling faintly.

"It's a good origin story. Believable, I think. You're lucky you haven't been caught yet. It's got to be so hard avoiding water all the time." He said, using her story as his distraction for sure.

Better than dwelling on where Klaus went. What Terminated meant in this case, or if Rikki or Cleo or Derek will be next.

[justaddh2o]

Rikki gave him a sheepish sort of smile, looking over at him. "Well," she countered, drawing the word out, a little higher pitched than her normal voice. "There are a handful of people back home who know. But yeah, we've had loads of close calls. It's hard sometimes."

She realized belatedly that she'd been telling him the story to help distract him from his upset and that she'd nearly unwittingly outed Cleo while doing it. She'd only just managed to leave names out of the story. Her stomach clenched with discomfort at that. What if she did slip up? Rikki was sure Cleo would forgive her the error, given the reason it had happened. She looked over at Ben. "Please keep that story between us, yeah?" If he thought Cleo was ignorant to it, then maybe that would buy her friend more time to tell him on her own if she ever felt so inclined.

Her eyes moved back to Klaus's face on the wall. "D'you want to go for a swim?" she asked, looking back at Ben once more. It was what always helped her relax. It likely wouldn't have the same effect for Ben, but one never knew. Maybe it would. "Or we could just stay here a little longer. Whatever you want, mate."