(no subject)

The station phone has been ringing nearly non-stop through the morning - something about giant billboards appearing all over town (thank goodness that dog is okay) - and he's busily piecing together reports so he can inform his viewers later in the broadcast, when there's a tap at the door. That's... odd. He'll be going live soon, and usually the only people who come by the booth are the interns... and they're all answering phones. That's all they've had time to do today - he had to make his own coffee today, like a savage. Ugh.

There's another tap, as Cecil considers that Station Management probably wouldn't tap at doors. Knock them over, yes, they had to replace more than a few doors after that incident a few weeks back, but... not tap.

Curious, Cecil goes to open the door to his sound booth.

It's Carlos.

Carlos, with his beautiful dark delicate skin, his square jaw, his slightly rumpled lab coat, his tragically shorn but definitely-going-to-regrow hair, with just a little bit of distinguished white at the temples...

Cecil does his best to look nonchalant. It's... not successful. He does however give Carlos a brilliant smile in enthusiastic greeting.

"Carlos! How wonderful for you to drop by - is this for... scientific reasons?" He asks, wussing out at the last second. He meant to ask if it was for personal reasons, but... ugh. What if he'd said no?

"Yes, I have a big favor to ask, Cecil." See? He would have said no. Cecil, however will not. How could he say no to that earnest face?

"Oh, of course! Whatever you need - I'm very into science these days." He tries, attempting suave, which is about as successful as 'nonchalant'. He also attempts to lean on the doorframe, languidly, a sort of sophisticated lean... and nearly falls over when he slips off the frame. Ugh.

"You see, I need your listeners to report in on any bright lights or strange sounds they've seen over by or in Radon Canyon. We've, me and my fellow scientists, I mean, have been getting some strange readings from there, and we've noted everything down on clipboards and said 'hmmm' a lot while drawing equations on the chalkboard - you know, some pretty advanced science." Carlos explains, and Cecil nods, avidly.

"This is pretty interesting stuff - hey!" Time to put Emcee's plan into action. "I know, stick around for a little bit, and we can do an interview on the air, and you can ask everyone to call in yourself! I'm sure they'd love to hear a first-hand account about your work." He gushes, so very, very hopeful.

Carlos shakes his head.

"No, I have to get back to my experiments, but it is very important we gather more data. I..." Carlos pauses, his dark brows drawn down and together in a grimace. "I'm worried, Cecil. I'm worried for you."

Cecil's. Heart. Stops.

CARLOS IS WORRIED ABOUT HIM, STOP THE PRESSES.

"For all of you, here in Night Vale, this strange little town. I think something bad is going to happen, and I want to see if we can stop it, or... at least warn people. So... um. Yeah. That's it. Thanks, Cecil." Carlos turns with a little half-wave and goes, his coat flaring out behind him like a cape.

Cecil tries to convince his poor battered heart that this is nothing to break over, stop being ridiculous.