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[abrightboy]

 This is Bright. Leave a message.

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[abrightboy]

Yeah everyone was sort of waylaid. I’m doing okay. My father’s rampage was relatively contained, compared to the last time our nightmare hellscapes got dredged up for all and sundry.

[oldbookshop]

I'm relieved to hear that. Although it's unfortunate to have so many people in a position where they're equally likely to not be well.

This has... happened before?

[abrightboy]

Yes. Back in October. There was this girl that sang potent lullabies. People didn’t know if they were awake or asleep. I mean. That part isn’t really weird for me, but. My father showed up then too. He killed some of my friends.

[oldbookshop]

Oh, I'm so sorry.

Didn't stop to think that that might be a... difficult subject to broach.

[abrightboy]

It’s a pretty normal subject for me. They were okay after. I’m glad you missed that one.

[oldbookshop]

All the same.

I must say, I really don't care for these Entities at all.

[abrightboy]

No, they’re not very hospitable. At least they haven’t brought my actual father here. Should I knock wood while I type that? My sister just arrived.

[oldbookshop]

You may want to. I'll knock on some for you, too, just in case.

I hope she's been adjusting well? Unfortunate as it is to be drawn into all this in the first place, a less roughshod road is the least someone could ask for.

[abrightboy]

She's adaptable. She's working in her field. She doesn't trust my boyfriend, but I guess that takes time.

[oldbookshop]

I suppose it must. Rome wasn't built in a day and all that.

As long as you're being treated well, I'm sure she'll come around quickly. Very hard to argue with love, you know.

[abrightboy]

[That makes Malcolm smile at the screen. Maybe Aziraphale can feel the warmth.]

That’s true. Are you okay? After all that?

[oldbookshop]

Oh, I'm quite alright. Took a bit of an injury from an unrelated incident, but that's already sorted back out.

[ Assuming the feathers grow back in properly. ]

Thank you for asking.

[abrightboy]

I'm glad. I wish I could have figured him out sooner, so he would have had fewer victims. I hate to see him end up with more.

[oldbookshop]

As humanity goes, free will is very much a blessing. But consequences for ill use do ripple outwards to everyone else. Fall into a communal sort of sense of duty. It's a kindness to provide a shield against those most dangerous edges day to day, where we can. If we can. And I do certainly appreciate having not been murdered.

I hope that wish doesn't continue to weigh too heavily on you, though. As much as it's worth to read it.

The weight of hypothetical reality is more than any one person ought to have to bear.

[ Sins of the father are generally the father's own. There's probably no nice or non-weird way to say "for the record there's literally no way he's not in hell" so Aziraphale will just not add that. ]

[abrightboy]

That's what Gil says. Not in those exact words, but, basically. The message.

[oldbookshop]

Then Gil is very sensible, and I'm glad that you already had him to say as much.

[abrightboy]

He’s the most sensible person I’ve ever known. Thank you. For following up. And caring.

[oldbookshop]

Not at all. Thank you for indulging an old worrier.

[abrightboy]

Come have tea some time. I’ll see you around in the meantime.