#27 - [Audio Post]

[totallyinaband]

[The audio on Stephen's device crackles to life, and when he speaks his voice is low and husky - he sounds tired or hungover. Possibly both.]

Hey guys.

Does anyone know how long I've been gone?

Comments

[totallyinaband]

Dude, you make it sound so easy! I feel like my head's exploding.

Last week.

[thewildone]

[Curt gets a little more serious.]

Look. It's not easy. But...would it cause a lot problems in your life if people found out?

How much have you slept since then?

[totallyinaband]

I'm not really that worried about people finding out. I mean, I'm Canadian. It's not really that big a deal. Just... I want to be sure. It's not just like 'Hey I had sex with a guy, that makes me gay now!'

Not... that much. I have trouble turning my brain off sometimes.

[thewildone]

I'd hoped it was something like that, but you know my knowledge of the future and also Canada is pretty sketchy.

Well, that explains why you look like shit. [As if in apology for his bluntness, Curt's voice goes unusually gentle.] Stephen, nothing's wrong. You're just a little different than some idea you had of yourself, that's all.

[totallyinaband]

I appreciate the honestly, man.

[His hands go to his face where he's sporting more than his usual amount of beard scruff.]

Thanks for being cool about everything, man. I just needed to tell someone, you know?

[thewildone]

Hey, any time.

D'you want my advice? You probably don't actually need it.

[totallyinaband]

Yeah go for it, man.

[thewildone]

I'm not going to say stop worrying, because you're you, but try to get some sleep. And don't wait forever to tell Campbell and whoever, because even if you're not sure there's still something up in your life and the last thing you want is for it to turn into some big secret.

[Curt oozes into a standing position.]

You want a beer?

[totallyinaband]

Yes. Fuck yes.

[thewildone]

[Curt goes into the kitchen to grab two bottles from the fridge and open them before handing it to Stephen.]

So what's this Joseph like, anyway?

[totallyinaband]

Tall. Quiet. Kind of insensitive, but in a really funny way.

[If he's getting slightly flushed right now, it's not because he's embarrassed. Your apartments just very warm, Curt.]

[thewildone]

[Stephen is kind of adorable like this.]

You ever mention him before? The name sounds kind of familiar.

[totallyinaband]

[Hush now. He is a man. Men are not adorable.]

He's recording our album back home. We're pretty close to finished, too.

[thewildone]

Good for you, man. That's great.

[totallyinaband]

Yeah, well. We've kind of been recording it for four months, so it's about damn time.

[thewildone]

Speaking of which--overdue band meeting. After the 4th, though.

[totallyinaband]

Why, what's on the fourth?

[thewildone]

July 4th, the day Americans pretend to have a patriotic barbecue as a cover for getting really drunk and watching people explode stuff.

[totallyinaband]

Oh yeah. Our version of that is today, actually. Feels weird, though, it was November when I left.