House of Coin
The red phone was ringing.
Bedelia bit the eraser on her pencil, teeth setting into familiar marks. The red phone never rang... Her wrinkled hands passed over her personal comm unit, a desk model with similar functions, and two other rotary phones — one green, one blue. Then at last, the oldest phone of the lot, a model so old she had to buy it in an alley next to the museum it was stolen from.
The red phone.
She picked it up, cradling the receiver on her shoulder, fingers drifting to the keyboard on her desk.
Bedelia Makarov: "Well hello there, sweetie. You have Bedelia. Why are you calling?"
Nicholas Carter: "Sorry, Bed. This latest project has me all over — you know I'd rather visit."
Bedelia Makarov: "Of course, Nikky. Of course. Well how can I help you?"
Nicholas Carter: "Just tying up loose ends. The Dream Team went on Roger Glipglorp today."
Bedelia Makarov: "Oh yes! I saw Valentina next to the little kitty man. She was on fire!"
Nicholas Carter: "Yeah, that's kind of why I'm calling. The Dream Team's assets are being unfrozen, can you move them to more secure accounts?"
Bedelia Makarov: "It would be my pleasure, Nikky." The keyboard underneath Bedelia's fingers exploded with the clakkity clakk of work being done, accompanied by a few hasty clicks, and a grumble or two about moving buttons. Bedelia Makarov: "The funds have been transferred safely. Is there anything else I can help you with?" Nikky coughed on the other end of the line — oh how she wished he would quit that awful smoking. Nicholas Carter: "Yeah, Bed. Remember that drive I gave you a while back?" Bedelia chuckled. It was the first encounter they'd ever had — in 244 AG, when she was seven. Bedelia Makarov: "I remember. But you told me—"
Nicholas Carter: "I know. Just keep it handy for me, okay?"
Bedelia Makarov: "Well alright, Nikky. I'll get it out of cold storage for you."
Nicholas Carter: "Thanks, Bed. You're the best... I gotta go." Bedelia adjusted her glasses, taking the phone properly in her hands. There was something wrong, she could feel it... Turning eighty had certainly marked the end of her involvement on the world stage, but her senses had stayed sharp. Bedelia Makarov: "Nicholas?"
Nicholas Carter: "...yeah?"
Bedelia Makarov: "Take care, sweetie. Love you."
Nicholas Carter: "You too, Bedelia. Love ya. Bye." The line closed. The dream fades.
Nicholas Carter: "Sorry, Bed. This latest project has me all over — you know I'd rather visit."
Bedelia Makarov: "Of course, Nikky. Of course. Well how can I help you?"
Nicholas Carter: "Just tying up loose ends. The Dream Team went on Roger Glipglorp today."
Bedelia Makarov: "Oh yes! I saw Valentina next to the little kitty man. She was on fire!"
Nicholas Carter: "Yeah, that's kind of why I'm calling. The Dream Team's assets are being unfrozen, can you move them to more secure accounts?"
Bedelia Makarov: "It would be my pleasure, Nikky." The keyboard underneath Bedelia's fingers exploded with the clakkity clakk of work being done, accompanied by a few hasty clicks, and a grumble or two about moving buttons. Bedelia Makarov: "The funds have been transferred safely. Is there anything else I can help you with?" Nikky coughed on the other end of the line — oh how she wished he would quit that awful smoking. Nicholas Carter: "Yeah, Bed. Remember that drive I gave you a while back?" Bedelia chuckled. It was the first encounter they'd ever had — in 244 AG, when she was seven. Bedelia Makarov: "I remember. But you told me—"
Nicholas Carter: "I know. Just keep it handy for me, okay?"
Bedelia Makarov: "Well alright, Nikky. I'll get it out of cold storage for you."
Nicholas Carter: "Thanks, Bed. You're the best... I gotta go." Bedelia adjusted her glasses, taking the phone properly in her hands. There was something wrong, she could feel it... Turning eighty had certainly marked the end of her involvement on the world stage, but her senses had stayed sharp. Bedelia Makarov: "Nicholas?"
Nicholas Carter: "...yeah?"
Bedelia Makarov: "Take care, sweetie. Love you."
Nicholas Carter: "You too, Bedelia. Love ya. Bye." The line closed. The dream fades.
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