almost there

[mute_clay]

Clay goes straight to Orlando’s after having left Alexander’s place. There’s a mail for him. He is too restless to type a long answer and settles for telling Orlando that everything is fine. Almost fine. That he will be all right. And that he wants to tell him about what happens but that he doesn’t have the words.

If I find them I will tell you.

He takes the key for Walker’s bus and gets a coat before leaving a note for Jimmy telling him that everything is all right. Still a lie. But he isn’t sure what to say otherwise.

The walk to Alan’s is uneventful. He has to drop of the key for David. See him if he is home.

It is – almost – time.

Comments

[mute-clay.livejournal.com]

Clay shakes his head, grinning. Coming here was a good idea. He gets a better hold on the little cat and walks closer to David so he can drop the gift in his hand.

It's a set of car keys. With a colorful mushroom-shaped keyring.

[davidshaw.livejournal.com]

He looks at them. "But what are they for?"

[mute-clay.livejournal.com]

Clay grins at him.

Walker's bus. I have to make you promise that you won't set it on fire though.

He sits down on the couch. The cat has relaxed a little and is now busy climbing Mount Clay.

[davidshaw.livejournal.com]

"Do you want me to make a promise I might not be able to keep?" He is only half joking. "The cat's pissed on you."

[mute-clay.livejournal.com]

Clay looks down at himself.

It'll dry.

Then he looks back at David.

As long as you promise me to get out if there is a fire, I'll be happy. And don't crash the bus. Too much.

[davidshaw.livejournal.com]

David hands Clay his own gift. "This is TOO COOL, Clay. TOO COOL."

[mute-clay.livejournal.com]

Clay opens his own gift.

He looks at David, smiling.

What is it?

[davidshaw.livejournal.com]

"Duh, Clay. What do you think it is?"

[mute-clay.livejournal.com]

Clay looks the box over. It's very colorful and the writing on it is in Italian.

It's a game?

Ma didn't hold with games either.

[davidshaw.livejournal.com]

"Clay." David sounds a little exasperated. "It is ITALIAN MONOPOLY. Duh."

[mute-clay.livejournal.com]

Clay opens the box and peers inside. The fact that the rule book seems to be in ITalian does little to dim his happy smile.

I've never had a board game before.

He beams at David.

Thank you.

[davidshaw.livejournal.com]

"It's got different rules to the other Monopoly's." David is itching to take the box from Clay and look through it himself. "Isn't it the coolest thing?"

[mute-clay.livejournal.com]

Clay pats the couch next to him and places the open box on the table.

It is very cool. You'll have to teach me to play it. What are those things for?

He points at the small houses in the box.

[davidshaw.livejournal.com]

David perces on the arm of the sofa. "Houses. You can buy houses for your properties to develop them. Only if you own the entire colour group, though."

[mute-clay.livejournal.com]

Clay takes the different parts out of the box and spreads them on the table. He is getting restless again. He'll have to go soon.

But seeing David smile is nice and there is something about the gift that really pulls at him.

A board game.

He takes up the very colorful money.

So - you buy property - and houses - with these?

[davidshaw.livejournal.com]

"Yeah. And if luck and skill collide, then you build a monopoly and destroy the other players." David plays with the money for a moment. "What happened with Callie? Tell me what happened. Write it down if you have to. No confusion. What happened?"

[mute-clay.livejournal.com]

Clay sighs. He should have known it would get to this. He gets up and locates a piece of paper and a biro.

Then he sits down and writes. After a while he pushes the paper over to David.

Someone took her. Think there were two of them but am not sure. We'd argued and she'd called Alexander but all he'd heard was my name so he thought I'd done something to her. Came round and threatened me. Completely hysterical.
They dragged me along - him and some of his friends. Treated me like a fucking dog. We kept finding things the madman had left, pieces of her hair, photos, tapes with her crying.
Somehow they figured out where she was. I don't really remember that. It must have been - the day before yesterday? Before that?
I found her in the basement.
I didn't want to let go of her. Not till she was awake and told me to. So I had to come with them.


It's all a bit blurry. He hasn't eaten since before they went to get Callie. And some of it he doesn't remember at all.

[davidshaw.livejournal.com]

David reads it. His face is expressionless. He can do that when he chooses. When he remembers. Wipe all signs of emotion and reaction from his face.

"What happened to the men?"

[mute-clay.livejournal.com]

Clay shrugs a little.

I don't know.

They can both guess though.

He rubs his face. He can hear the sounds from the tape again. Callie crying. The sound of her being hit.

[davidshaw.livejournal.com]

"I was just wondering? Did they get the love and compassion and forgiveness and help that they so deserved?" So cold, so hard. Has to be cold and hard.

[mute-clay.livejournal.com]

Clay closes his eyes.

Please David. Don't -

It's not that he doesn't understand. He does. That's the problem. he can't justify her. And he has to.

[davidshaw.livejournal.com]

"Ahhh. I see. They didn't." He picks up the Monopoly pieces. "Which one do you like? I'm always the dog."

[mute-clay.livejournal.com]

Clay looks at the pieces blindly. Then he rubs his eyes and tries to focus. It isn't really working.

He leans his head back and closes his eyes.

Just a second David.

[davidshaw.livejournal.com]

David just waits in complete silence. He frustrates everyone. He knows it. He frustrates himself. But that doesn't make him wrong. It only makes him irritating.

[mute-clay.livejournal.com]

Clay leans forward and stares at the floor for a little while. Then he looks at David.

I have some - stuff - to take care off. So I'll be gone for a couple of the days. When I get back - when I get back I'd like for you to teach me how to play this. Maybe plan that trip we talked about once. Now you have the bus you won't have to sleep outside. If you want?

Then he remembers something.

Did you get my letter?