IC Contact

[baruthumos]

You've reached Omega.

If this is a medical emergency, leave your location and the nature of the emergency, any allergies or conditions, and I will be right there.

If you need someone to have a medical emergency, leave your name and a way to contact you.

And if this is about a child, leave your location, the nature of the problem, and tell them I will be right there.

Comments

[soldierinblack]

A little birdie told me you were looking for your brother, Delta.

[baruthumos]

Yes! Yes, I am. Have you seen him?

[soldierinblack]

Spoke to him yesterday. Said he was looking for work and a place to stay, but wouldn't tell me why.

[baruthumos]

Okay, okay, thank you. Do you know if he found either?

[soldierinblack]

I gave him some work, so he has some money. It sounded like he had a game plan for finding somewhere to sleep, but nothing firm.

Family fight?

[baruthumos]

Thank you. That's the best thing I've heard all day. Thank you.

Something like that.

[soldierinblack]

Details. [One simple word with a whole lot of demand behind it.] It sounds like a lot of us are getting mixed up in a family drama without realizing it.

[baruthumos]

He didn't like the idea of me working with Maine. I don't like gambling on his helmet lasting until January, or his post-graduation plan. He ran off, instead of staying and discussing things, which really forced my hand because now I have to be home during the day to do everything he was doing.

Sorry to drag you all into this, but I can't just let him run off by himself. He didn't have any money when he left, he's kept our family together for years but you can't exactly put that on a resume, and bad luck can happen to anyone. Especially in our family.

[soldierinblack]

That's all it took to make him pack up and leave? [Far cry from the man she met loyally grocery shopping on a budget for his family.]

Did he say why he didn't like you working with Maine? He knows what I do for a living and that didn't stop him from taking work or money from me.

[baruthumos]

He didn't like that I yanked the rug out from his post-graduation plan. It wasn't the greatest plan, but it was all we had until I met Maine.

He thinks it's too dangerous. Seeing as I'm the one risking life and limb here, I'd rather work with people like you and Maine for that of pay and those hours, than what I was doing. Maybe construction would be safer, but not by enough. Have you ever met York? He has one eye? Have you ever seen a construction worker with one eye? They're not bringing home enough for a family, I can tell you that much.

The great part is he keeps accusing me of trying to leave the family. And then he goes and does this.

[soldierinblack]

That's a load of crap. I don't know how much help he thinks he's going to be if he's running off without a safety net. He said you had what, six siblings younger than him all at home? [She sighs.]

What was his post-graduation plan then? To become a certified accountant?

[baruthumos]

Yep. No job offers lined up, except one that he wouldn't give me details of. No plans for childcare. Couldn't even tell me what the job market or average starting salary looked like. Becoming a certified accountant was the end goal of his entire plan.

Six of them younger than him. Four too young to work at all. Two in college. And he left with little more than the clothes on his back. He's never had to work outside the house before. I almost hope he fails miserable so he comes back where it's safe.

[soldierinblack]

I only gave him one hundred sixty for getting my finances in order, so he can't do much with that.

So, you have a lot of family to take care of and I get the feeling you aren't one of the ones in school. Is this going to put a halt to your career change?

[baruthumos]

Well, thank you. He won't starve at least.

Not unless you know another job where I can make seven hundred, a thousand in a night. I can always find a babysitter for a few hours. It's no more dangerous than construction, and not only does that pay peanuts, it's ten or twelve hours a day. Don't listen to him, I know full well how much work he did around the house.

I don't know how we're going to do it without him, but he's decided we have to.

[soldierinblack]

You'll work something out. You'll need time for practice if you want to take on better jobs, so factor that in.

He's cut off all communication with you?

[baruthumos]

There's about four hours a day the kids' school days overlap. One of them might be old enough to leave home alone with the others. I can make the timing work.

Me, specifically. Not the other ones. That's going to be fun. Definitely going to me the most awkward birthday party Sigma's ever had.

[soldierinblack]

You can only do what you can. Sigma's the one you were shopping for, right? At the bookstore?

[baruthumos]

Yeah, guess he's my number two now. Delta asked if he's still invited to his birthday party. Of course he is. What does he think I'm going to do, say no?

[soldierinblack]

I doubt you could.

If you think any of this is going to interfere with your work, let someone know. Better we find out in advance than in the middle of a job.

[baruthumos]

It won't. It's only a temporary situation.

[soldierinblack]

Good to hear. I'll be seeing you around then.