Seriously? You're clumsier than I am, Rafayel! I haven't seen any loose paper around... but I can help you look for it! What's on it? Where do you think you lost it at?
[ sorry she's being so genuinely invested in finding his lost art ]
[ As the rest of Karteria sleeps, the Black Dove is a sea of sin. Under the dome of a jade-green lamp, the stacking of chips and the shuffling of cards on worn baize felt. The clattering rain of a payout. Cigarette smoke wafts across the room, the heat a thick blanket pressing against the crowd. Among them, two Augmented dressed to the nines regroup after their first victory.
tl;dr Rinne wins his first game of poker with Malkuth and pulls her to the side. ]
How the hell are you doing that?
[ Like, maybe it's the smoking hot dress, but he's not about to assume anything. ]
[ smoking hot dress in question, with a red ribbon tied into a bow around her neck to complete the look. it's been such an exciting time, even stepping into the place -- it feels like somewhere she shouldn't be, doesn't belong, and that's thrilling. her soul still doesn't like being so close to the shifted carnivora but, well, it will deal.
especially with such a heartpounding, burning victory behind them! malkuth still wants to turn around and tell those guys off for trying to cheat them out of a win (it wasn't cheating), but... she came to understand that's how the game is played. ]
hey, miss manager! sorry for the sudden message. I just wanted to apologize for how I responded to you earlier.
truthfully, I'm just not very good with compliments! I know it was kinda my fault tho. 😅
[He was just messing with Rinne... which, you know, he was only doing because it was a public conversation anyway. But it backfired on him. Hubris.]
sorry if I made you feel bad. I really did appreciate what you said! honestly, I'm no good with words, either, so it's better if you just don't take anything I say too seriously, lol. sorry for the trouble!
[ have a notification jump scare, jk. the first ping malkuth receives is an attachment (image002.png) before the rest of the message follows: ]
I hope you're doing well, Miss Malkuth. I’ve put together a rough technical package for the fox headbands you wanted—feel free to let me know if anything looks off or could be improved.
Once you give it the green light, I’ll go ahead and reach out to the suppliers on your list. Or, if you’d rather take the lead from there, feel free to show them the attachment. I’m sure they’ll be eager to start chatting numbers and pricing with you.
So far, I’ve only finished one sample for you to check out. Just let me know when’s a good time for me to drop it off so you can try it in person.
they're so cute!!!!!!!!! oh my god!!!!!!!!!! she can just imagine the way rinne's tail might wag at the sight of them in the crowd... that'll make everything worth it. ]
It's so cute! And please, go ahead yourself -- it'll be important for you to make connections on your own, I'll just give them a heads up to expect you and put anything on a tab to pay for later. You should be able to pick out the quality you want to transform yourself, after all!
As for the sample... Why don't you drop by right now? The library I work at doesn't get too busy, so I can give your craftsmanship a good look and we can talk a little more, too.
You'd better not be getting into unnecessary trouble in there I'm counting on you You're capable, and And why aren't you replying to me Tell me you're I know you'll watch over the other two Don’t you dare do anything that puts your life in I might just Do whatever they tell you within reason I'm working on a way in
[ it's a string of odd messages to open up her syntrofos to, after the past week had been such-- a blur, frankly, with horns she hadn't had before, injuries cleaned and bandaged that she couldn't recall getting, patho-gen's assurance that her augmenter was all fixed up now... maybe something happened during repairs and she'd lashed out.
it doesn't exactly
sit well, with her, the ways lies don't sit well with her, it gives her a sense of unease that she sort of brushes away until reading the texts over and over again. no unnecessary trouble. watch over the other two (rinne and niki? maybe? had been there, then?). do whatever they tell you within reason.
...
i'm working on a way in.
all so, so mysterious. things she thinks would be better asked about face to face, burning as it is right now, but--
she should reassure him. ]
Sounds like you were really worried, Prez! I just wanted to let you know I'm released back to my room now and advised to rest. They said the fuzziness of my thoughts should lift within a few days, so...
This is my formal request for a short leave of absence! I do wanna speak to you after though, just... Face to face. Okay?
[ she has questions. and, to... have proof that it's her, maybe, he'll get a clumsy selfie of her doing their fox handsign, looking about as well as she had in their shared dream if a bit better off considering the taken care-of injuries. most of which remain beneath her clothing, but the only remnant of the collar she'd shown is wrapped with clean bandage. ]
[ it's noon, and he sounds like he just woke up. malkuth, who's been up for...
... too long, probably, staring at the books she's supposed to be sorting and not reading a single title. doing great between the two of them. ]
I've always got a minute for you, Rinne. [ and that's the truth! it always will be! ] I'm just at my job, sorting books. You can swing by as long as you promise to keep your volume down.
[ a beat, then she sets the book she'd been staring at to the side. ]
Or I can leave early and meet you somewhere. I'm kinda getting in the way more than I'm helping, honestly...
every nervous notion that they aren't here in the back of his mind claws him out of rest. every instance of tears weighs heavy on his soul, keeping him up until it feels like he can't breathe. takasugi paces outside under a street light, tail bristling for much more than just the cold. )
[ it's late, but it isn't like she's had the best track record for a full night's sleep this last half month. nor could she fault anyone for sending her texts out of the blue -- not when angela wakes her so early in the morning on purpose, on accident, for meetings that feel more like check ins than anything else.
still, she's groggy, and so after a moment he'll get a reply: ]
[ when malkuth awakes one day, she will see a neat pile of cream bread at her door. there is no note attached.
there is one bread for at least the amount of days it's been since he last saw her. which means there's a decent amount of bread piled up for one person. hopefully, she can eat them before they expire. but, well... he'd like to think he kept his promise, anyway. ]
i heard theres a fairy that leaves bread for good little girls and boys
[ the way she doesn't remember saying anything about cream buns and now she's got plenty. maybe... she can finish these before they go bad, but otherwise she thinks rinne'd like their soft, chewy texture too.
mm. they really hit the spot, for all it's worth, like finally feeding a craving. ]
You must've heard right, since I just found a bunch of loaves outside my door! There's almost too many to eat... Almost.
[ As predicted, Patho-Gen tried to cover their tracks. The truth isn't erased, however, preserved in memories, and they couldn't hide the marks of that week altogether. The recent discussions via the Syntrofos are further proof.
The exchanges through the bars of cages have been on Yesod's mind, and so has the thought that Malkuth seems swallowed up by her full schedule once again. ]
[ it's unfortunately the way she deals with things; this will not change, no matter the life, but she's at least incorporating in some fun activities while doing so... things that puts her mind into a different mode, still away from the fatigue that comes with a poor night's sleep. restful in a way.
thankfully, this is one of those times, and she wipes her hands on her pants before answering. ]
Of course! I can't exactly go anywhere right now myself... but you'll see why when you get here.
[ the location she drops is a street in east sophia, which she has been told repeatedly not to go to alone, but it's a guaranteed spot she's not going to meet a certain someone. so it's fine. she can handle herself, even like this. ]
Can you pick up something to eat on your way? I'm starving, but there's not exactly anything filling around here... That isn't a front for something else, anyway. They're pretty serious about their cooking though.
[ ... malkuth just doesn't want him to step foot into those places, and she's starting to stand out a little too much between her altruistic nature and her appearance. ]
[Niki loves this time of year, so even though it's been A Month (or perhaps precisely because it's been A Month), he still makes some time to celebrate one of his favorite holidays. It's just a little thing—a small bag of homemade hard candies, some chocolates, and a caramel apple, placed carefully outside her door. He attaches a small tag that says, "From Niki!" with tiny bat and pumpkin doodles in place of his usual frying pan.
After he drops it off, he sends her a quick message.]
hey, miss manager! it's halloween, so I wanted to share some little treats with you~♪ I hope you don't mind sweets!
please enjoy!
[They've been through a lot lately, and he's sure that Malkuth isn't really one to slow down, so... he hopes it can brighten her day at least a little bit.]
[ this is the sort of random text that slips through even when you’re set to do not disturb—especially when the other side hits ‘notify anyway’. ]
Good afternoon, Miss Malkuth.
It’s been a while since I last visited your library, but I was wondering if yours had a makerspace of sorts? I’m looking to borrow a sewing machine for a couple of days.
he's left on read for a few minutes while malkuth puts in her inquiries, but once she's got an answer it doesn't take long for her reply to come through. ]
We do! It's a "bring your own materials" sort of thing of course, but I'm sure you've already prepared for that. I'll give it a good cleaning before you get here, so it'll be ready for use as soon as you need it! Is there anything else I can get you? Books? A pillow? Snacks? Oh, we can't have snacks in the library, so maybe not that...
[ New Eridu might not actually celebrate Christmas anymore, but the day itself is still the fun, meaningful one! So, as sneakily as Mr. Claus himself, there will be a quite beautifully wrapped gift waiting at Malkuth’s front door on the morning of December 25th.
Inside the box is a simple leather-bound sketchbook, but the tools included make its more specific purpose clear—this is all set up to do architectural drawings more than your standard sketching! There are even some pages in the accompanying sketchbook that are gridded rather than blank. There are also two pieces of paper tucked into the notebook. One is a quite well-done sketch of the Valentia signed by Hugo, and the other is a standard note ]
✦ Happy Holidays, Miss Malkuth! ✦
You know, between the two of us? You were actually the easiest to shop for, because as soon as I saw this I wanted one, and thus, I knew it would be perfect for you too. It’s so specific that I’m shocked someone was making them, but maybe architecture is a more popular hobby in Karteria than I thought…? Who knows! I hope it gives you a place to put beautiful buildings to the page, whether they’re here or memories of home.
[With a long night on the horizon, Dante's made sure to dress warmly, the sweater vest they chose nice and thick as they could find. As it is, it's still cold enough for them to be thankful for the peacoat they've brought along.
One hand still snugly stuffed in their pocket, Dante pulls out their syntrofos and shoots over a quick message.]
I'm at the teleporters now. Got here a little earlier than I expected.
[ so stylish... malkuth's never been more thankful for her higher body temp, allowing her a little bit more freedom in her own outfit as she dons only a fashionable brown beret over one short horn and ear as addition. the quick trot her gait's become might alert dante at about the same time as her responding message-- ]
I see you! I don't like to keep people waiting either.
[ so she always tries to be a little early, which is fine and funny because the people she usually asks out... are also that type. one more adorable sticker as she raises a hand to greet them. ]
[ while wriothesley and malkuth had sewn the quilt tops together, the former had offered to handle the finishing details himself during a week spent glued to his work in her library. best not to keep the good librarian distracted from her real duties—and so, delivered right to her doorstep, is the following box.
hopefully her roommates haven’t poked their noses through it. but either way, each item is carefully wrapped in its own gift paper: the purple complex quilt they decided to pattern for her friend, the work aprons wriothesley finished cutting and binding on malkuth’s behalf, and the cardigan pattern they’d finally managed to make sense of one afternoon. it’s sewn from the spare fabrics they picked out together, accompanied by a transcribed pattern in wriothesley’s neat script—including a few variations for her to sew into future additions to her own wardrobe. ]
Forgive the delay on these promised gifts, Miss Malkuth. I haven’t much of an excuse, considering we finished half of them together—but I did want to make sure the finishing touches met your standards. Since you've seen my handiwork already.
Hah.
Hopefully some of the designs we came up with might inspire future merchandise for your band—or perhaps even something you could have manufactured for the folks in East Sophia.
But above all else, it was a pleasure to spend time with you this solstice season. So here’s to a restful end of the year and a quiet new one for us both.
but more than anything, it was a pleasure to spend that time with you during the holiday season. here’s to a lovely solstice, and a quiet new year for us both.
[Niki doesn't let the uncertainties of his soul or this place stop him from trying to spread a little holiday cheer. (Or maybe it's more like because of them that it feels extra important that he does so.) Like the last present, this is something Niki leaves at her door in a small bag, the only indication that he dropped it off being a quick message to her device that reads:
good morning, miss manager! I hear santa-san already delivered your present. don't forget to open it! ☆
Inside the bag is a small container of sugar cookies cut into simple shapes like stars and candy canes, decorated in colorful icing, hues entirely inconsistent with the common holiday aesthetics of this world. Attached is a card that reads, "ENJOY MY NIKI'S COOKIES, PEASANTS" in messy handwriting. Who could that possibly be from? There's also a small, fox-shaped bookmark carved out of wood. It's definitely handmade, but Niki would be the first to say he isn't any good with his hands. Perhaps there's another culprit...
There's also a handwritten note. The writing on this one is also messy, but it's not the same as the writing on the card. It reads:
Dear Miss Manager,
I'm no good at this kind of thing, but your message was so sweet that I really wanted to try and return the favor. Here it goes!
Thanks for everything you've done for us so far, Miss Manager. Even though I'm sure you were roped into this by suspicious means, you still worked so hard for us, even though we were total strangers! But you trusted us and believed in us and gave it your all anyway. We're not exactly rookies anymore, but I think we still wouldn't be where we are without you. You're so smart and thoughtful and hardworking... I'm really, really glad we have someone like you on our side. Without you, there's no way we would have accomplished so much!
I don't really like asking for things, because I hate to be a pain, but I hope you'll keep watching over us and believing in us. I might not be an idol at heart, but I want to see how far we can go. I think it would make the others really happy!
Anyway, this is getting really long, so I'll stop here! Thanks again, Miss Manager. I hope you enjoy the cookies! Merry Christmas!
[ A package will be waiting for Malkuth at the club when she arrives one day, addressed from Dorothea and wishing her a good midwinter. Inside will be very fine gloves, leather on the outside and warm within, and a silver hair pin with a couple of very small gems in it for her. ]
A servant who helps to take care of the household. They're generally paid a small stipend, but live in-house otherwise. [ ... ] Why? Dropping by the cafe in Kelesis?
I figured it best to exercise due diligence and keep my most dependable librarian apprised of my findings, especially since you’ve been so kind in entertaining my constant ramblings and regular requests for help.
Theatrics aside, I’ve done my best to organize everything into a fairly high-level report for you, Miss Malkuth. Please feel free to let me know if you’d prefer to discuss any of these points at length. I’m happy to arrange a meeting over lunch or tea; my treat.
* Most defectors deteriorate within a few years once they experience sustained exposure beyond the barrier. That decline accelerates when Katalyth retrieval enters the picture. The pattern suggests defection is less a deliberate choice and more the predictable outcome of economic pressure and environmental risk.
* Those gathering Katalyth are doing so for money, yet almost none of them know who ultimately commissions the work. Responsibility appears layered, insulated, and deliberately distant. Whatever is driving demand sits high enough that risk never travels upward.
* Our most useful witnesses are not the collectors themselves, but more the recovered defectors from wealthier backgrounds. Seeing as they're quickly 'collected', medically monitored and psychologically unstable for some time afterward, but they show consistent recognition that something is deeply wrong. They speak in fragments about guilt, unexplained luxuries, and a city sustaining itself on unseen harm. Their accounts lack coherence, but their alignment is difficult to dismiss.
* East Sophia complicates our definitions. Many individuals labeled as defectors survive longer because they remain partially anchored there. This raises a question of classification: are we truly tracking defectors, or are we mislabeling displaced residents who still function within the city’s margins?
* Exile follows class lines, but ends the same way. Some of the upper class flees guilt they cannot resolve; the lower class flees necessity they cannot escape. Both are drawn outward, and both deteriorate once exposed. The system absorbs this loss without interruption.
What this may suggest: Karteria maintains its stability by quietly displacing its most dangerous costs onto those who can be lost without disrupting the system. Katalyth collection accelerates this process by converting desperation into exposure. The city continues to function, even prosper, while the human cost is carried elsewhere and rendered invisible.
How does this sound so far, Miss Malkuth? Please feel free to take apart my logic. I suspect the more pressing question now is which of these threads warrants closer a closer look into next.
[ damn, that is thorough. about as thorough as she would've gone, too... malkuth pours over it quietly, seeing where it matches with her own findings over the weeks. it truly does feel no different than The City, where any problems were dealt with by hand or worse, and anything that couldn't be dealt with normally... were cast outside, exiled to the outskirts with no small number of desperate people yearning to climb inside its walls, creatures that made a meal of those who let their guards down, and more.
more than that though, isn't it similar to kelesis in a way? unseen harm, drawing power and luxury from that which lies just out of sight, yet the frivolity in karteria has obvious effects on the lower class. she taps her finger against her cheek, idly sketching one of her origami flower as she picks at the leads to chase. ]
I think you're right. It's similar to what Kelesis was doing with those trapped beneath its streets, except in broad daylight. And it's not unheard of for larger bastions of civilizations to ensure stability and relative peace in the same way, either -- The City, where I come from, did the same with "problems", though there was nothing outside its walls worth collecting.
[ that the head was aware of, anyway. they probably are now. but she isn't totally certain of that; for all she knows it could've been labeled taboo in the past decade or treated the same as guns. ]
As for threads... That's a good question. Myself and some of the other Augmented are seeking to stabilize the lower class's wellness, and with that should come a lessening of displacement and hopefully an upswing in economics as well, but it's not a guarantee if they really can risk it all and possibly be rewarded so greatly.
If only I could split myself three ways! There's not enough hours in the day for all this.
[ but maybe she can use the time freed up by setting the boys onto their own solo gigs on this instead... food for thought. ]
Which do you think would be worth chasing? Even a dead end's fine, since it lowers the number of things to keep in mind. And I'll totally take you up on tea, Mister Wriothesley.
[ When Malkuth comes home, Yesod will greet her looking oddly perturbed. While cleaning the apartment, he discovered something that wasn't there before, and it bears discussing the matter with Malkuth as soon as possible.
On the coffee table, a box holds the discovery in question for now, the lid of the box and a pair of precision tweezers sitting beside it, as well as rubber gloves. ]
Good evening, Malkuth.
[ She must have had a busy day, as ever, and it would be nice to have dinner together once they know whether Sariel will be eating with them, but before that, those pages filled with memories need to be addressed. Yesod gestures with one hand to indicate the box. ]
[ busy but fulfilling, that's the motto. she hums her greeting as she unwinds her scarf from around her neck, glancing curiously at the... interesting set up he has for a just as interesting (by circumstance) box, and shivers as the warmth escapes its confines. ]
You're awfully serious today, Yesod... More serious than normal, I mean. [ a different kind of serious, or disturbed, both familiar in a way. ] What is it? Nothing fun, like a hand delivered to our doorstep or a particularly large bug?
[ which are fun in different ways, because malkuth thinks being a detective would ve an interesting change of pace... she hangs her scarf and light coat up before coming over, plopping down beside him. ]
or rather, he should follow-up on that work... or just ask what she's up to, where usually she's checking in on them with one of those cute little images attached. )
Rise and shine, Malkuth It's your favorite controversial president here to wish you a good morning You're thrilled to read this, right? I know I would be
( if only he was the type to send cute little emojis... alas. )
[ It's getting quite late... That isn't necessarily cause for alarm, Yesod tells himself despite his growing concerns, and he is certain that Malkuth would contact him, if she had a spontaneous change in plans for the evening, but he decides to send her a message himself. ]
Greetings, Malkuth. Will you be having dinner elsewhere today?
If not, I'll let Sariel know, and we'll wait for you.
[ Even if Malkuth has been retreating to her room lately. ]
[ But the notification sounds soon lead Yesod to find Malkuth's Syntrofos left in the apartment, which is odd. He waits; Malkuth doesn't come home. The night stretches on, endless. Morning comes, just as dark, colder and colder.
Malkuth isn't home. Not for dinner, not to rest, not for breakfast. She should be reachable, unlike Angela, if she had her device with her — Yesod's own confirms that, if nothing else. Patho-Gen hasn't taken her, then.
But she hasn't come home, nor is she in any of the locations that Yesod visits, as unlikely as it quickly becomes that ordinary routines could continue at all, in the strange darkness that has descended over Karteria. It's then that he begins to expand his search beyond the immediate and logical possibilities, from Malkuth's workplaces to the sites of projects in progress, to seek any trace of her.
Her closest friends come to mind, too. He wastes no time, turning to them in the hope of a trail to connect and follow. ]
You can't read this right now, but I trust you I trust you didn't get caught up in some trouble because I let you go alone
( because he let her go in the guise of business. it doesn't matter, ultimately, being able to garner support from someone takasugi thinks would blame them for their weakness, like he'd once done on the network to those who had been tortured and lost. he doesn't think he wants any of his to associate with someone who can't see the value in producing something for no benefit. but is that why she left, and not because of her soul? did she get caught in a trap, her leg torn, her horns twisted, her— )
You said you wouldn't leave me behind
( didn't. she didn't abandon him. he chews on his thumb, canines tearing through the skin until all he can taste is iron. )
And I won't leave you behind either
( or know what he'll do, to this city or this place if they lose her. )
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
text, @artsyblobbu
have you seeen it
bro you were so quick
Seriously? You're clumsier than I am, Rafayel!
I haven't seen any loose paper around... but I can help you look for it!
What's on it? Where do you think you lost it at?
[ sorry she's being so genuinely invested in finding his lost art ]
this is just one instance of me being quick 🐌
now you've set a standard bijou. like i'm not going to be the one bothering you
(artsy birb bye emoji)
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@ＭＯＳＴＨＡＮＤＳＯＭＥＰＲＥＺ
Malkuth, wasn't it?
Or does Shinsaku say Malkuth-kun
Not that that matters
You're around, right?
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?
malkuth stares at the text for a minute, trying to figure out if someone (takasugi? she guesses it has to be) is pranking her, before responding. ]
Just Malkuth!
And I am, but who's asking?
[ could not have gotten a weirder text, probably. ]
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sometime in august, evening
tl;dr Rinne wins his first game of poker with Malkuth and pulls her to the side. ]
How the hell are you doing that?
[ Like, maybe it's the smoking hot dress, but he's not about to assume anything. ]
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especially with such a heartpounding, burning victory behind them! malkuth still wants to turn around and tell those guys off for trying to cheat them out of a win (it wasn't cheating), but... she came to understand that's how the game is played. ]
Doing what? Calling their bluff?
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( text ) sept 2nd, evening
truthfully, I'm just not very good with compliments! I know it was kinda my fault tho. 😅
[He was just messing with Rinne... which, you know, he was only doing because it was a public conversation anyway. But it backfired on him. Hubris.]
sorry if I made you feel bad. I really did appreciate what you said! honestly, I'm no good with words, either, so it's better if you just don't take anything I say too seriously, lol. sorry for the trouble!
->audio
...
no, things get mixed in texts. malkuth's calling him. pick up. ]
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text
I hope you're doing well, Miss Malkuth. I’ve put together a rough technical package for the fox headbands you wanted—feel free to let me know if anything looks off or could be improved.
Once you give it the green light, I’ll go ahead and reach out to the suppliers on your list. Or, if you’d rather take the lead from there, feel free to show them the attachment. I’m sure they’ll be eager to start chatting numbers and pricing with you.
So far, I’ve only finished one sample for you to check out. Just let me know when’s a good time for me to drop it off so you can try it in person.
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they're so cute!!!!!!!!! oh my god!!!!!!!!!! she can just imagine the way rinne's tail might wag at the sight of them in the crowd... that'll make everything worth it. ]
It's so cute! And please, go ahead yourself -- it'll be important for you to make connections on your own, I'll just give them a heads up to expect you and put anything on a tab to pay for later. You should be able to pick out the quality you want to transform yourself, after all!
As for the sample... Why don't you drop by right now? The library I work at doesn't get too busy, so I can give your craftsmanship a good look and we can talk a little more, too.
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the event has eaten me i'm so sorry
October 9th, 3:03 AM
I'm counting on you
You're capable, and
And why aren't you replying to meTell me you're
I know you'll watch over the other two
Don’t you dare do anything that puts your life inI might just
Do whatever they tell you within reason
I'm working on a way in
october 15th forgot i wanted to reply to this too
it doesn't exactly
sit well, with her, the ways lies don't sit well with her, it gives her a sense of unease that she sort of brushes away until reading the texts over and over again. no unnecessary trouble. watch over the other two (rinne and niki? maybe? had been there, then?). do whatever they tell you within reason.
...
i'm working on a way in.
all so, so mysterious. things she thinks would be better asked about face to face, burning as it is right now, but--
she should reassure him. ]
Sounds like you were really worried, Prez!
I just wanted to let you know I'm released back to my room now and advised to rest. They said the fuzziness of my thoughts should lift within a few days, so...
This is my formal request for a short leave of absence! I do wanna speak to you after though, just...
Face to face.
Okay?
[ she has questions. and, to... have proof that it's her, maybe, he'll get a clumsy selfie of her doing their fox handsign, looking about as well as she had in their shared dream if a bit better off considering the taken care-of injuries. most of which remain beneath her clothing, but the only remnant of the collar she'd shown is wrapped with clean bandage. ]
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call, idk after he returns but he's still sick so
[For once, there's no playful lilt in his tone. There's a gravelly quality to it, as if he'd just woken up. It's noon.]
Where are you right now?
not sick...............
... too long, probably, staring at the books she's supposed to be sorting and not reading a single title. doing great between the two of them. ]
I've always got a minute for you, Rinne. [ and that's the truth! it always will be! ] I'm just at my job, sorting books. You can swing by as long as you promise to keep your volume down.
[ a beat, then she sets the book she'd been staring at to the side. ]
Or I can leave early and meet you somewhere. I'm kinda getting in the way more than I'm helping, honestly...
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@MOSTHANDSOMEPREZ, text
every nervous notion that they aren't here in the back of his mind claws him out of rest. every instance of tears weighs heavy on his soul, keeping him up until it feels like he can't breathe. takasugi paces outside under a street light, tail bristling for much more than just the cold. )
Are you up
Respond to this as soon as you see it
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still, she's groggy, and so after a moment he'll get a reply: ]
Is everything okay?
[ for his sake, like it's nothing at all. ]
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delivery, dated to after the dreams.
there is one bread for at least the amount of days it's been since he last saw her. which means there's a decent amount of bread piled up for one person. hopefully, she can eat them before they expire. but, well... he'd like to think he kept his promise, anyway. ]
i heard theres a fairy that leaves bread for good little girls and boys
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mm. they really hit the spot, for all it's worth, like finally feeding a craving. ]
You must've heard right, since I just found a bunch of loaves outside my door!
There's almost too many to eat... Almost.
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@yesod; pre-housing update october aftermath check-in
The exchanges through the bars of cages have been on Yesod's mind, and so has the thought that Malkuth seems swallowed up by her full schedule once again. ]
Do you have some time to meet with me, Malkuth?
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thankfully, this is one of those times, and she wipes her hands on her pants before answering. ]
Of course! I can't exactly go anywhere right now myself... but you'll see why when you get here.
[ the location she drops is a street in east sophia, which she has been told repeatedly not to go to alone, but it's a guaranteed spot she's not going to meet a certain someone. so it's fine. she can handle herself, even like this. ]
Can you pick up something to eat on your way? I'm starving, but there's not exactly anything filling around here...
That isn't a front for something else, anyway. They're pretty serious about their cooking though.
[ ... malkuth just doesn't want him to step foot into those places, and she's starting to stand out a little too much between her altruistic nature and her appearance. ]
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( action / text ) october 31st
After he drops it off, he sends her a quick message.]
hey, miss manager! it's halloween, so I wanted to share some little treats with you~♪ I hope you don't mind sweets!
please enjoy!
[They've been through a lot lately, and he's sure that Malkuth isn't really one to slow down, so... he hopes it can brighten her day at least a little bit.]
@wr10
Good afternoon, Miss Malkuth.
It’s been a while since I last visited your library, but I was wondering if yours had a makerspace of sorts? I’m looking to borrow a sewing machine for a couple of days.
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he's left on read for a few minutes while malkuth puts in her inquiries, but once she's got an answer it doesn't take long for her reply to come through. ]
We do!
It's a "bring your own materials" sort of thing of course, but I'm sure you've already prepared for that.
I'll give it a good cleaning before you get here, so it'll be ready for use as soon as you need it! Is there anything else I can get you? Books? A pillow? Snacks? Oh, we can't have snacks in the library, so maybe not that...
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a gift (dec 25)
Inside the box is a simple leather-bound sketchbook, but the tools included make its more specific purpose clear—this is all set up to do architectural drawings more than your standard sketching! There are even some pages in the accompanying sketchbook that are gridded rather than blank. There are also two pieces of paper tucked into the notebook. One is a quite well-done sketch of the Valentia signed by Hugo, and the other is a standard note ]
✦ Happy Holidays, Miss Malkuth! ✦
You know, between the two of us? You were actually the easiest to shop for, because as soon as I saw this I wanted one, and thus, I knew it would be perfect for you too. It’s so specific that I’m shocked someone was making them, but maybe architecture is a more popular hobby in Karteria than I thought…? Who knows!
I hope it gives you a place to put beautiful buildings to the page, whether they’re here or memories of home.
@endure; Sometime post-Solstice holiday
One hand still snugly stuffed in their pocket, Dante pulls out their syntrofos and shoots over a quick message.]
I'm at the teleporters now. Got here a little earlier than I expected.
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I see you! I don't like to keep people waiting either.
[ so she always tries to be a little early, which is fine and funny because the people she usually asks out... are also that type. one more adorable sticker as she raises a hand to greet them. ]
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belated holiday gift-o
hopefully her roommates haven’t poked their noses through it. but either way, each item is carefully wrapped in its own gift paper: the purple complex quilt they decided to pattern for her friend, the work aprons wriothesley finished cutting and binding on malkuth’s behalf, and the cardigan pattern they’d finally managed to make sense of one afternoon. it’s sewn from the spare fabrics they picked out together, accompanied by a transcribed pattern in wriothesley’s neat script—including a few variations for her to sew into future additions to her own wardrobe. ]
Forgive the delay on these promised gifts, Miss Malkuth. I haven’t much of an excuse, considering we finished half of them together—but I did want to make sure the finishing touches met your standards. Since you've seen my handiwork already.
Hah.
Hopefully some of the designs we came up with might inspire future merchandise for your band—or perhaps even something you could have manufactured for the folks in East Sophia.
But above all else, it was a pleasure to spend time with you this solstice season. So here’s to a restful end of the year and a quiet new one for us both.
but more than anything, it was a pleasure to spend that time with you during the holiday season. here’s to a lovely solstice, and a quiet new year for us both.
- Wriothesley
( action / text ) around december 20th
good morning, miss manager! I hear santa-san already delivered your present. don't forget to open it! ☆
Inside the bag is a small container of sugar cookies cut into simple shapes like stars and candy canes, decorated in colorful icing, hues entirely inconsistent with the common holiday aesthetics of this world. Attached is a card that reads, "ENJOY MY NIKI'S COOKIES, PEASANTS" in messy handwriting. Who could that possibly be from? There's also a small, fox-shaped bookmark carved out of wood. It's definitely handmade, but Niki would be the first to say he isn't any good with his hands. Perhaps there's another culprit...
There's also a handwritten note. The writing on this one is also messy, but it's not the same as the writing on the card. It reads:
Dear Miss Manager,
I'm no good at this kind of thing, but your message was so sweet that I really wanted to try and return the favor. Here it goes!
Thanks for everything you've done for us so far, Miss Manager. Even though I'm sure you were roped into this by suspicious means, you still worked so hard for us, even though we were total strangers! But you trusted us and believed in us and gave it your all anyway. We're not exactly rookies anymore, but I think we still wouldn't be where we are without you. You're so smart and thoughtful and hardworking... I'm really, really glad we have someone like you on our side. Without you, there's no way we would have accomplished so much!
I don't really like asking for things, because I hate to be a pain, but I hope you'll keep watching over us and believing in us. I might not be an idol at heart, but I want to see how far we can go. I think it would make the others really happy!
Anyway, this is getting really long, so I'll stop here! Thanks again, Miss Manager. I hope you enjoy the cookies! Merry Christmas!
-Niki]
mid-december.
text; @ants
what is a maid
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A servant who helps to take care of the household. They're generally paid a small stipend, but live in-house otherwise. [ ... ] Why? Dropping by the cafe in Kelesis?
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that's that me it's texto @wr10
I figured it best to exercise due diligence and keep my most dependable librarian apprised of my findings, especially since you’ve been so kind in entertaining my constant ramblings and regular requests for help.
How does this sound so far, Miss Malkuth? Please feel free to take apart my logic. I suspect the more pressing question now is which of these threads warrants closer a closer look into next.Theatrics aside, I’ve done my best to organize everything into a fairly high-level report for you, Miss Malkuth. Please feel free to let me know if you’d prefer to discuss any of these points at length. I’m happy to arrange a meeting over lunch or tea; my treat.
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more than that though, isn't it similar to kelesis in a way? unseen harm, drawing power and luxury from that which lies just out of sight, yet the frivolity in karteria has obvious effects on the lower class. she taps her finger against her cheek, idly sketching one of her origami flower as she picks at the leads to chase. ]
I think you're right. It's similar to what Kelesis was doing with those trapped beneath its streets, except in broad daylight. And it's not unheard of for larger bastions of civilizations to ensure stability and relative peace in the same way, either -- The City, where I come from, did the same with "problems", though there was nothing outside its walls worth collecting.
[ that the head was aware of, anyway. they probably are now. but she isn't totally certain of that; for all she knows it could've been labeled taboo in the past decade or treated the same as guns. ]
As for threads... That's a good question. Myself and some of the other Augmented are seeking to stabilize the lower class's wellness, and with that should come a lessening of displacement and hopefully an upswing in economics as well, but it's not a guarantee if they really can risk it all and possibly be rewarded so greatly.
If only I could split myself three ways! There's not enough hours in the day for all this.
[ but maybe she can use the time freed up by setting the boys onto their own solo gigs on this instead... food for thought. ]
Which do you think would be worth chasing? Even a dead end's fine, since it lowers the number of things to keep in mind. And I'll totally take you up on tea, Mister Wriothesley.
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a suitable evening...
On the coffee table, a box holds the discovery in question for now, the lid of the box and a pair of precision tweezers sitting beside it, as well as rubber gloves. ]
Good evening, Malkuth.
[ She must have had a busy day, as ever, and it would be nice to have dinner together once they know whether Sariel will be eating with them, but before that, those pages filled with memories need to be addressed. Yesod gestures with one hand to indicate the box. ]
...I have something to show you.
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You're awfully serious today, Yesod... More serious than normal, I mean. [ a different kind of serious, or disturbed, both familiar in a way. ] What is it? Nothing fun, like a hand delivered to our doorstep or a particularly large bug?
[ which are fun in different ways, because malkuth thinks being a detective would ve an interesting change of pace... she hangs her scarf and light coat up before coming over, plopping down beside him. ]
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@MOSTHANDSOMEPREZ, text
but it wouldn't be right to not say something.
or rather, he should follow-up on that work... or just ask what she's up to, where usually she's checking in on them with one of those cute little images attached. )
Rise and shine, Malkuth
It's your favorite controversial president here to wish you a good morning
You're thrilled to read this, right?
I know I would be
( if only he was the type to send cute little emojis... alas. )
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chin up, malkuth. takasugi doesn't...
...
he does do pleasure calls, but it's probably nothing but business. ]
What's the occasion? Did you get yourself in trouble?
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@yesod; feb 17th onward, it begins... officially discovering malkuth's syntrofos
Greetings, Malkuth. Will you be having dinner elsewhere today?
If not, I'll let Sariel know, and we'll wait for you.
[ Even if Malkuth has been retreating to her room lately. ]
not here, continuation
Malkuth isn't home. Not for dinner, not to rest, not for breakfast. She should be reachable, unlike Angela, if she had her device with her — Yesod's own confirms that, if nothing else. Patho-Gen hasn't taken her, then.
But she hasn't come home, nor is she in any of the locations that Yesod visits, as unlikely as it quickly becomes that ordinary routines could continue at all, in the strange darkness that has descended over Karteria. It's then that he begins to expand his search beyond the immediate and logical possibilities, from Malkuth's workplaces to the sites of projects in progress, to seek any trace of her.
Her closest friends come to mind, too. He wastes no time, turning to them in the hope of a trail to connect and follow. ]
@MOSTHANDSOMEPREZ, after the 17th
I trust you didn't get caught up in some trouble because I let you go alone
( because he let her go in the guise of business. it doesn't matter, ultimately, being able to garner support from someone takasugi thinks would blame them for their weakness, like he'd once done on the network to those who had been tortured and lost. he doesn't think he wants any of his to associate with someone who can't see the value in producing something for no benefit. but is that why she left, and not because of her soul? did she get caught in a trap, her leg torn, her horns twisted, her— )
You said you wouldn't leave me behind
( didn't. she didn't abandon him. he chews on his thumb, canines tearing through the skin until all he can taste is iron. )
And I won't leave you behind either
( or know what he'll do, to this city or this place if they lose her. )