Work Text:
The phone rang just after Carlos left.
Cecil reached out and answered it, looking out the window at the sky. It was mostly void, with a few specks of perfectly ordinary non-glowing clouds and stars peeking through. It wasn’t that late, maybe it’d clear up.
“You guys are so cute,” a familiar balaclava-muffled voice greeted him.
Cecil smiled and raised a hand to give a lazy wave. “Hi Alex. Taking a break?”
“Just keeping myself occupied.”
“Boring day then?”
“If it weren’t for you two, the most exciting thing that’s happened would be Mrs. Johnson’s botched bloodstone circle shenanigans,” Alex sighed. “Third time this week, you’d think they’d listen to you and not buy the cheap ones, but nooo.”
“That’s illegal these days though,” Cecil said in a tone of voice that very much suggested his opinions about the recent changes in rules, gods, smiling and any combinations thereof.
Alex laughed. “So’s a lot of things, but you know how people are.”
Cecil shrugged, overplaying enough for it to be clear through the window he’d kept closed to keep out the creeping chill. “Nobody’s perfect, we’re all a product of our mistakes. I’m glad I could help though.”
“Yeah, you’re a lifesaver. So, what do you think of Carlos lately?
The shift in Cecil’s tone from politely interested to enthused wasn’t just audible, he had always had a body language that was pretty easy to read. “He’s been great! There’s been a few minor things, he’s not literally perfect, but I’m learning to accept him for what he is. And he likes to cook these lovely..”
A soft chuckle interrupted Cecil just as he was getting warmed up. “That’s good to hear. We were a bit worried we’d gotten the dosage wrong. We weren’t really prepared since we’d hoped you’d do your thing so it wasn’t necessary, but you can’t get lucky every time...”
Cecil frowned. “My thing?” he asked, clearly puzzled.
Alex was quiet for a moment, then answered cautiously. “You know, make him fit in...”
“Oh,” Cecil said cheerfully. “I’ve been giving him a few reminders. He’s been getting a lot better at checking the community calendar. Unlike some people I could name if I was in a spiteful mood. You hear that Steve Carlsburg?. I’m not naming you.”
“Mmm,” Alex just answered back “We know. You’re doing good.”
Cecil snapped back and cleared his throat thoughtfully. “Was that all?”
“Yep, just checking up.” he heard before the hollow click and eerie static of a free line followed.
Cecil sat down and opened the memo he’s been working on for the last couple of weeks with a frown. The words on the small screen meeting him with the usual silent accusing.
People who’ve messed with Carlos’ mind:
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The Sheriff’s Secret Police
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Station Management, old
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The Man in the Tan Jacket
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Station Management, new (find proof)
He hesitated, then added another point.
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Myself (?)