Chapter Text
"Hello. . .?"
". . . . . ."
". . .Hello?"
". . .hello."
". . .hi?"
". . .ah I- hello, hello! I mean. Hello! Good morning! Or night or afternoon or- oh I wasn't- oh goodness I wasn't expecting anyone to pick up-"
"I'm- I'm sorry but, I'm not sure you're calling the right number-"
"Oh, but you answered didn't you?"
"Well yes, but. . ."
". . .but?"
"But I was, well I'm in the attic, I was sorting through things. And the phone just started ringing. . .despite not having any cables going anywhere. . .I guess it's magic. . .this is weird. . .oh uh, sorry, my point is! Well, unless you're trying to talk to talk to the ghosts here, I think you have the wrong number. Ramshackle's pretty empty, except for me and. . .Grim. . .and the ghosts."
"So this line does still connect to Ramshackle!"
"Y-yeah but-"
"Then I am calling the right number! It's a pleasure to meet you! Or rather, to speak with you. It's wonderful to hear you again, Yuu."
". . .how do you know my name?"
". . .what month is it?"
". . .September?"
"Oh that's-! Oh. This is a bit early. . . ah yes, you asked-? It's- it's magic, how I know your name."
"Oh. . .Okay. I'm sorry, I'm not a magician. Or the phone might be broken. I'm not sure where to look for your name on this-"
"Don't fret about it, you can call me whatever you like! "
". . .okay. . .?. . . nothing comes to mind right now though. . .sorry um, why did you call?"
"Dearie me, I do apologize, this must be rather strange for you. Well, some centuries ago, I heard about the invention of this newfangled thing called a telephone, and me and some others, we- ! Hmm that's a bit of a long story. Well, we found we could use them, and found them quite handy. And I'm quite fond of Ramshackle, see I- I have friends there. Had friends there. We used to talk now and then. They must have moved since. It has been quite a while since anyone picked up, but habits stick. . .for you to answer when I called on a whim, why, it must be fate!"
". . ."
". . .are you alright? Was I speaking too quick?"
"No I. . .I just really don't know what to say to that. . .are you going to keep calling?"
"Yes! I'm. . .a bit too busy, right now, to visit Ramshackle, but I'd love to chat now and then! . . .if, if that's alright with you?"
". . .sure?"
"Truly? How splendid! Might I call you at this same hour tomorrow?"
". . .to be honest, it's like, almost midnight. I was sort of poking around for spare bedding and-"
"Oh my! I'm sorry to keep you up! I really should get my bearings about the living."
". . .you're dead?"
". . . . . .yes. . .yes, I am. Does that frighten you?"
". . . I mean, I live with some ghosts right now. So I guess not as much as I would be, back in my. . . back where I'm from. . .hey, could I ask you something?"
"Why, of course!"
"Do you know about ███████████ ?"
". . .is that the name of a town?"
"It's. . .no, it's a country."
"A country? How peculiar. I've travelled all over and I've never heard of it."
". . .oh."
"But there might be corners of Twisted Wonderland I've missed! Or that have changed names over the years. I can certainly ask around! So, when would it be convenient for me to call back?"
". . .t . . .t. . .f. . .x . . .t. . . .tw . . . .t. . .t. . y. . . .in twenty hours? I think I should be back in Ramshackle by then."
"Then it's set! I'll call you in twenty hours or so!"
". . .okay?"
". . .okay!. . .well then, good night! Sleep well, Yuu!"
". . . goodnight?"
Click.