songstressedout | IC Inbox

[ Her eyes widen a bit and she gives a small smile. ]

Alright then...

[ She slowly reaches out her own hand, trying to do it as slowly/carefully as she can... mostly because she sees her blackened arms and doesn't want to frighten Mabel. ]

[While Mabel flinched when Yuzu walked closer, the brunette did take in a deep breath in. She had to focus on the task at hand.

She would eventually get over her fear of her friend]

Then c'mon, let's get going! Because I know I'm going to make you the best omelets I can make and I want to see if I can make Mabel juice here too!

[ Riley doesn't say anything more until they reach Hestia's Place. It's... Well, she's not sure she's allowed up on the roof, but nothing in particular is stopping them. ]

Come on, up this way.

[ Elevator, a set of stairs... And here they are. A nice rooftop, no one else around. ]

[ She thought as much. She wonders just how hard it is to be so close to her?

Still... she'll make things right. She'll find a way to make things right with Mabel again... ]

Alright... but what's Mabel juice...?

[ Well, Mabel, you have +1 Yuzu now. ]

[ It feels... refreshing. Nobody around, an open space... or at least the feeling of one. ]

Oh...

[ She looks a little more relaxed, even if only a little. ]

[ Just the open air... ]

Is that a little better? [ She sounds softer than Yuzu's heard her before. Gentle. ] Sometimes... Sometimes just not being around anyone else can help a little.

[ Her eyes water a bit at the softness in Riley's voice, but she quickly wipes them away. ]

Yeah... yeah it is...

[ She takes a few shaky breaths. The open air feels nice on her face. ]

[ The reassuring smile Riley musters up doesn't feel forced. She puts a very gentle hand on Yuzu's shoulder. ]

If...you don't have a lot of places like this, you can come by whenever you want. No one'll...look at you, or...or anything. Not even me, if you don't want it.

[ Oh... oh a tear managed to break past and fall down her cheek. ]

Thanks... this is... this is really nice...

[ She takes another shaky breath and wraps her arms around herself. ]

I'm... I'm sorry you had to see me like this... or see me like that.

[ It feels so... damsel-like, to be in these situations. ]

[ She doesn't get closer. In fact, she withdraws a little, so Yuzu can have some space, some room to breathe.

While she understands, very much so, Riley is firm in her response. ]

You shouldn't apologize for something they did to you. [ She strives to keep herself soft and gentle. To not let the fury she's feeling enter her voice. ] They're the ones who put you there. In that place, and...and pushed you to that.

You're probably right...

[ They did push her. Their actions are the reason why she lost control... why she let loose, why she did what she did. ]

...but it's still a choice I made. I heard the dark voice in my head and I agreed with it.

[ They were bad people. They tortured her and so many others... but to Yuzu, that feels like nothing more than a flimsy excuse for her choice. ]

The only thing I can do now is try and atone for what I've done... even if I've already become a bad person.

[ ...Stay soft and gentle. Stay soft and gentle. Stay soft and— ]

I- [ Easy. ] I don't think it's that easy to say someone's a bad person, Yuzu. Especially if you've been forced into it. Like all of us have.

[ ... ]

The, um, the voice? What'd it sound like?

[ Her eyes widen a bit at that question. ]

Um... sometimes it sounded like a woman I've never met... other times it sounded like me...

[ Said-woman being the Fog God, but since she's refused to communicated with either of the gods, she doesn't know what any of them sound like. ]

[ It's consistent. That's... Okay. That sounds different enough that... It's not like she's worried about it, just- just it makes more sense, if that's- if everyone heard something telling them to give in and just fucking fix the problem already, you useless fuck—

Riley lets out a slow breath. ]

That's... There's clearly some kind of...of outside influence. Someone told me things like this just kind of...happen, in Ryslig.

[ Yuzu takes a deep breath. ]

...I know. I know that voice was probably just another thing that happens here...

[ She knows that voice was hardly her own. She dealt with it the entire week she was trapped inside a cage being "trained". ]

But I agreed with it. I was set free and it asked me if I wanted to make them pay.

[ A beat. ]

I said yes. That's my sin. I could have chosen to fight it, even if just for a little bit, but I didn't. I only started fighting it when I realized that I hurt someone important to me.

[ She turns to face Riley and smiles. It looks and feels bittersweet, but it isn't forced. ]

Thanks for taking me here... it helped. Hopefully I can help you in return someday.

[ But isn't that not fair? ...It was something put on her, so- she didn't want to, Riley di- Yuzu didn't want to, so it's not...

Riley continues to look troubled. Like she can't accept this, but— but she can't argue against it. ]

Of course... But just- just focus on helping yourself right now, okay? You've been through a lot.

[ To Yuzu, it didn't matter that she didn't want to. What mattered was that she did it.

So, now she found herself trying to find a way to atone. She notes Riley's troubled look... is it because she doesn't understand what Yuzu is saying, or is she uncomfortable being around her... being around someone who killed so recently. ]

Right... thanks, Riley.

[ Some time has passed since Riley's arrived... about the same amount of time before Yuzu's own first changes. ]

If you ever need help with, well, anything... let me know. I'll be sure to help out however I can.

[ And with another bittersweet smile, she begins to leave. ]

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

His real name is Majima Goro. He's a werewolf, so avoid anything silver or chocolate.

Please spend no more than 20 solars on a gift for Majima, 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!

[ She should speak up. She...should try and reassure her, that she didn't do anything unforgivable, that everyone at that horrible circus were the ones to make that move.

But. ]

Take... Take care, okay?

[ But.

It was becoming a monster, put in this situation, that made Yuzu lash out. But, for Riley...

Maybe you've been a monster this whole time.

It's the thought she doesn't want to entertain. The thought she keeps circling back to. The thought that back home kept her paralyzed, unable to shake the feeling that she really fucked up.

So she lets Yuzu leave. She stays on the roof, contemplating, for a time she can't fully comprehend. ]

[Should Yuzu look around the door of her place, she'll find one pink sweater with the note "Thank you for being my friend! You're awesome sauce!"]

[Late in the evening, Giorno leaves a package at Yuzu's door. It contains a small, carefully-wrapped box of almond cookies, a square heating pad (winter sucks), and a neatly-printed note thanking her for allowing Giorno into her home.]

[ at the end of it all, even despite lan wangji's being volunteered, he still completes what has been assigned to him.

the gift itself took more time than his deducing where it was she resided, but: yuzu will discover a gift wrapped in pale pinks, its corners crisp and sharp. tied neatly with a gold ribbon, it looks more as though a display piece than an actual gift to be opened.

but, when she so chooses to divest the paper from the box, she will find the following: a hand-carved animal befitting of his observations of her, and small container of what appears to be a handful of baked goods. they are mild in flavoring, but seem to be made using seasonal ingredients wherever possible.

if yuzu does not look carefully, she will miss the note (tucked as it is under the lid): These are best enjoyed with tea.

— "Secret Santa." ]

Edited 2020-12-26 04:18 (UTC)

[It was Christmas, for some the holiday was more special. To Yuya it meant he needed to gift something to the important people in his life.

Only problem is, he has no money...

Oh well, he could make something, right?

With these giant claws, making something so tiny was... a challenge. He had started by trying to make a necklace like he had for Sora's birthday. But he ended up snapping the rope. He tried paper mache, but his claws were too big he couldn't see what he was making.

In a last ditch effort, he had decided to make a sculpture out of wire and clay. It had stayed together... For the most part, but it also was incredibly rough looking. It was supposed to resemble Mozarta. One of Yuzu's very own monsters! Though it's... hard to tell at first glance.

He holds it delicately in one of his claws before knocking on her door.]

Um, Yuzu? Are you up?

[ Yuzu rustles in her bed for a bit. It’s in the morning, and Yuzu’s ended up choosing Christmas of all times to sleep in. ]

Mm... Yuya...?

[ She yawns, still tired, and her hair down (and in a mess). She may as well get up now, right? ]

I’m... I’m up, hold on...

[ A minute later, the door opens to show a still-slightly groggy Yuzu, a few tendrils holding hairbrushes moving around behind her and combing her hair down so it isn’t sticking out in every direction. She’s just wearing some loose pajamas and nothing else, but she’s just woken up, so she’s not thinking of her appearance too much yet. ]

Merry... [ She yawns. ] Christmas, Yuya... [ And then she smiles at him. ]

Merry Christmas!

[If it had been anyone else, maybe Yuya would have had a problem with the clothing thing. But at the moment he was too excited to give her the gift he had made. So much so, it's probably the happiest he's been in a while. The wings are also flapping like mad again...]

I-I didn't have any money to buy you anything. So I made you something instead!

[He opens his hand to reveal a small wire sculpture. The one he had made himself.]

I-it's um... It's supposed to be Prodigy Mozart. Your old ace- I um... I kinda messed up a little here and there but uh... [He laughs nervously.] I... I hope you like it...

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cw: untreated mental illness; intrusive thoughts

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<KrisKringle>

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Forward Dated to around the 14th

december 24.

guess who lwj got for secret santa

Back dated to the 25th

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WELCOME TO YOUR PRIVATE CHANNEL, SongDiva. FOR SECURE COMMUNICATION, USE 018.07.154.55 * SongDiva has joined 018.07.154.55 <SongDiva> Hello? Is this thing on...? <SongDiva> Oh! Good! It's working! <SongDiva>** These computers are... strange, but it looks like I managed to get it working alright! I'll uh, try to get back to you as soon as possible if you say anything here!