IC Inbox - Ryslig

[hevenly]

WELCOME TO YOUR PRIVATE CHANNEL, AngelA. FOR SECURE COMMUNICATION, USE 44.311.7.247 *** AngelA has joined 44.616.7.247 <AngelA> You have reached Angela. <AngelA> Leave your message, if you are so inclined. <AngelA> I shall respond in due time.

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<SanduShengshou>

[legbreakings]

I can't deny any longer that you spoke the truth.

Jiang Wanyin

<AngelA>

[hevenly]

Good. I am glad you are ready to see reason.

Does this mean you are willing to take up the fight?

<SanduShengshou>

[legbreakings]

Yes.

I understand the need. And I want to show the Fog God it was a mistake to bring me here.

<AngelA>

[hevenly]

Very well.

First, you must arm yourself. It is too soon to know how the Fog will change you. You are willing to fight, but are you able?

<SanduShengshou>

[legbreakings]

I have eeen trained in combat since childhood.

I bought a sword to replace the one I left behind. It is no spiritual weapon but it will have to do. I've been training daily to get used to my weakened body.

ACTION | Around the 38-8 Apartments | December 1st-ish

[isawallflower]

[ When choosing a place to...stay, not live, because choosing a place to live implies some aspect of permanence, and that's not what Riley's going for, no not at all— when choosing a place to stay, Riley didn't really consider her options very much. She'd panicked a little, heard of a youth hostel and jumped at that. Yes, being around a bunch of other kids is...terrifying, especially those who are or have turned into monsters, but her? A real apartment, all on her own?

That is hitting the fast-forward button a bit too much, into things she hasn't even thought about. Hestia's Place feels more like she's on hold, a temporary stay.

However, the appeal of free rent is...strong. Yes, it doesn't really cost anything to stay at Hestia's Place, but Riley's trying to save up time and energy to... Well, to find a way out of here. And, really she's never had to fend for herself quite like this before. Yes, her parents gave her...not much of anything, but at least she was provided for. Had money. Here, she doesn't have much of anything.

So that's the thought process that leads her to look into the 38-8 Apartments. It's not like she knows anyone, specifically, or...not like she's bothered to ask around about where others live are staying. But it's a consideration, one she has to make and weigh carefully. What she certainly doesn't expect is to spy a familiar face wandering around them, looking official and stern.

See, Riley hasn't forgotten about the debt she owes Angela? But, she's yet to fulfill her end of it. Every time she starts thinking of what she could possibly give a person who...was probably the same person declaring herself Queen on the network a few weeks ago, she freezes up and starts to panic. What would be equal in value to freeing someone from incarceration? Okay, so the bugs really weren't that big a deal, she's coming to realize, so it's not that much of a thing— but what if Angela sees it differently? What if she tries to offer her something and Angela rejects it, saying she's made a mockery of this honor system she pledges herself to? What if, instead, she decides the way Riley can repay her is by being target practice, and then she gets gored on those huge, terrifying horns—

That's why, when Riley sees Angela (probably just doing her job, honestly, security), she lets out a (loud) frightened squeak and ducks around the side of the apartment she's leaving. Excellent, great job, totally stealthy. ]

[hevenly]

[ The man to whom Angela pledged her service is no longer in this realm, and yet she persists in performing her duties, patrolling the grounds of the 38-8 Apartments and providing a safe, secure place for the monsters there to live. In Angela's mind, there is no such thing as a free lunch, or a free apartment. She insisted to Egon Spengler that she would work in exchange for lodgings, and she intends to hold up her end of the deal, even in Egon's absence.

And so it is that she is patrolling the area, when she hears an undignified yelp and sees a blur of movement. She would be remiss in her duties if she did not move to investigate. Cautious, she places a hand on the hilt of her sword and approaches the corner. ]

I know you are there. Do not run, for if you do, I will only hunt you down. And I guarantee, I will not lose your trail.

[ She was a hunter in her past life, among the Angels, and a hunter she has become again, here in this world.

In one decisive step, she rounds the corner, tense and ready for action, only to be faced with-- ]

Riley? What are you doing hiding here?

[isawallflower]

[ There's no time to try and plaster on a smile, especially with the threat of being hunted fresh in her mind. There's something ridiculous, overly ridiculous, about her hiding, but before she can rethink her strategy...there's Angela.

Ahhhh, this is gonna suck. ]

Oh, me? [ That smile's still out to lunch. ] Just...checking out the apartments.

[hevenly]

[ Angela looks confused. Her instinct tells her the girl is hiding something. Perhaps ill intent. Perhaps an emotion she does not want Angela to see. But all is not as it seems with this young woman. ]

There is no need to skulk about in such a case. Come, I will give you a tour.

[ She re-sheathes her sword and offers an empty hand towards Riley. ]

[isawallflower]

[ oh thank god the sword's away-

Riley swallows down her nerves, but... ]

I'd...really rather look around on my own. I, uh- I've still got...one debt to repay, so...

<KrisKringle>

[getmeoutofthedraft]

Ho ho ho! Your secret Santa gift recipient for this year is cellist on the network.

His real name is Slade Wilson.

Please spend no more than 20 solars on a gift for Slade, and ensure he receives it on or before Christmas Day (December 25). If not, Santa Claus will come to your house and glare disappointedly through the windows until you cough up.

Merry Winter-Holiday-Of-Your-Choice!

<sweaterqueen>

[meowbel]

Hey Angela, I never got a chance to ask you where you live.

I need to know right away!

<AngelA>

[hevenly]

I reside in the 38-8 Apartment complex, unit 306. What is the reason for such urgency?

<sweaterqueen>

[meowbel]

No reason, just wanted to ask! Thank you!

[...That being said, Angela might find a box with a red sweater by her door within a couple of hours. In the box, it will read "Thanks for helping me with the sweater drive!"

With it, there's a whole pack of stickers and another box with an omelet in it. Hope you like edible glitter because it's in there]

<AngelA>

[hevenly]

[ Some time later-- say, the amount of time it takes to put on a sweater and eat an omelet-- Mabel receives a message back. ]

Thank you, dear Mabel. Your debt is paid. It was an honor to make sweaters with you. Call on me again at any time.

Morning of the 14th, outside Angela's apartment

[icy_veins]

[After careful research, he would find out which of the 38-8 apartments belong to Angela. On the morning of the 14th, she will find a plainly wrapped box in front of her door—and beneath the modestly curled ribbon, a small card is attached.]

𝒟𝑒𝒶𝓇𝑒𝓈𝓉 𝒜𝓃𝑔𝑒𝓁𝒶,

𝐼 𝒽𝑜𝓅𝑒 𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓈 𝓅𝓇𝑒𝓈𝑒𝓃𝓉 𝒻𝒾𝓃𝒹𝓈 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝒾𝓃 𝑔𝑜𝑜𝒹 𝓂𝒾𝓇𝓉𝒽.

𝒟𝑜 𝓃𝑜𝓉 𝓂𝒾𝓃𝒹 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓈𝒸𝓇𝒶𝓉𝒸𝒽𝑒𝓈 𝑜𝓃 𝓎𝑜𝓊𝓇 𝑔𝒾𝒻𝓉, 𝒾𝓉 𝓌𝒶𝓈 𝓉𝑒𝓈𝓉𝑒𝒹 𝒾𝓃 𝒹𝓊𝑒𝓁, 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝐼 𝒸𝒶𝓃 𝒶𝓈𝓈𝓊𝓇𝑒 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝒾𝓉 𝒾𝓈 𝑜𝒻 𝒷𝑜𝓉𝒽 𝑔𝑜𝑜𝒹 𝓉𝒶𝓈𝓉𝑒 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝓆𝓊𝒶𝓁𝒾𝓉𝓎.

𝒴𝑜𝓊𝓇 𝒮𝑒𝒸𝓇𝑒𝓉𝑒𝓈𝓉 𝑜𝒻 𝒮𝒶𝓃𝓉𝒶𝓈

[Within the box is an ornate dagger, with light scratches around the cross-guard.]

[coffeepots]

[On Christmas Eve, someone seems to have left a present at your apartment door! There's a box of monster-shaped cookies, a bottle of wine, and a woolen scarf in the color of your choice. The box holding everything has been wrapped in an attempt to distract from the fact that it's just a cardboard box and not a fancy gift basket.

...There also seems to be a voucher for a free eighteen-inch pizza at the bottom of the box, which can be redeemed at the pizza restaurant on the corner.

Attached is a handwritten note. It can be somewhat difficult to make out what it says due to how horrible the handwriting is, but if you squint and tilt your head, you can make out the following:]

happy holidays, from your superintendent
➼ hawkeye

[justbeingknife]

[ Season's greetings -- a Christmas present has arrived at the door!

It is a collection of holiday cookies, a sledgehammer, and a stuffed fish for Sigourney Whiskers. ]

Action | December 24

[throughavisordarkly]

[Bethan doesn't like to admit she cares about anything. She really, really doesn't like to admit when she wants company. But if there's anyone she can trust - has to trust, considering everything she's shared with her - it's Angela. And Thanksgiving was a bastard. Her birthday was worse. Trying to get through Christmas alone too doesn't bear thinking about.]

[Hence, on Christmas Eve, she shows up at the door of Angela's apartment, a plastic bag in one hand, and knocks.]

[Inside the bag, wrapped in plain brown paper, are two presents: a sculpture she's made from scrap metal over the months she's been messing around in the junkyard, and a bottle of cheap absinthe. She's not at all sure they're suitable presents, especially the sculpture (a dragon made largely out of pieces of drive chain and solder), but they're not really the point. The point is that, if Angela doesn't want to hang out, she can just say she was here to drop them off, and save a tiny bit of face.]

[hevenly]

[ Angela is dressed in the warm red sweater that Mabel knit for her when she opens the door. She's somewhat surprised to see Bethan, but welcomes her in regardless, ushering her to the living room and inviting her to make herself comfortable. She greets Bethan with as warm a smile as she can muster, but eyes the bag with some concern. ]

I have nothing for you in return, save for my company. Will that be enough for you to settle this debt?

[throughavisordarkly]

Seems like a fair deal to me.

[After all, it's what she came for. She smiles back - thin, taut around eyes that are baggy with lack of sleep - and holds out the plastic bag.]

We're square. I just...

[Her jaw shifts, side to side, her eyes flicking away from Angela.]

...Just didn't wanna be stuck on my own, is all.

[hevenly]

[ Angela accept the bag, and gestures for Bethan to sit, as she herself settles into her favorite armchair. She opens the bag and peers inside, her eyes widening slightly at the sight of the sculpture. The bottle of alcohol will be seen to in due time, but the sculpture is what captures Angela's attention first. She pulls it free of the bag carefully and holds it up to admire it. ]

This is... [ It is beautiful, in a raw, strong way. It reminds Angela so much of Bethan, so she smiles, looking at her friend. ]

Did you make this yourself?

[throughavisordarkly]

[From the way Bethan hunches, squirrelling herself back a little where she sits, her loose hair shielding her face - from all that, it's a pretty fair guess she doesn't know what to do with that reaction.]

Uh... yeah? I was just fucking around, to be honest. Came out pretty good and it made me think of you, so I figured you might as well have it.

[Which is more or less the truth. She didn't set out to make it as a gift, not really. It just... ended up that way. Meant for someone. And it's always nice when that happens, but it's not so nice having to figure out how to react to their reactions.]

<GiggleGrrl> - Morning, January 14th

[fantabulousandwich]

This is your OFFICIAL notification that the monster pinup calendar photoshoot has been delayed to January 18th, owing to blizzards, burning, alien flesh parasites, and death. Sorry for the short notice, but your friendly neighborhood organizers were trapped in a death hotel, so. Tough.

In the meantime, this gives YOU more time to think about the shoot! As you're a Minotaur, your calendar month will be June, with the theme of The Forest. Unfortunately, you're our only Minotaur- but I'm totally here to help if you want! At the very least I can make you a flower crown.

If you have any questions or concerns, or if you died and need to be excused, let us know.

- Harley Quinn

<AngelA> - January 17th

[hevenly]

[ Harley's message goes unread and unreplied until the first morning of the fog, when Angela is reborn and drags her sorry ass back to her apartment, where she sees the blinking notification light on her laptop. Thinking it rude not to give any sort of reply, she gathers the strength to type back a message of her own. ]

was dead.
will be there.