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Deerington Inbox
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...
[She reached over a hand to cup along the cheek of the girl across the table from her and she just kind of smiled sadly. Ange was the first to even suggest this, and the thought was actually very sweet.]
You know... nobody's ever said that. Thank you. If... I left tomorrow, know that I would miss you, and I do not regret a moment of your friendship, Ange.
[She reached over a hand to cup along the cheek of the girl across the table from her and she just kind of smiled sadly. Ange was the first to even suggest this, and the thought was actually very sweet.]
You know... nobody's ever said that. Thank you. If... I left tomorrow, know that I would miss you, and I do not regret a moment of your friendship, Ange.
[ On the other hand, Ange knows that this is a really serious moment, and she doesn't want to ruin it by getting flustered like an idiot.. But on the other hand, she already is flustered like an idiot. So she sucks in a deep breath, desperately trying to calm herself, as if Vira-Lorr wouldn't already be able to feel her cheek heating up underneath the touch of that hand.
Come on, Ange. Come on, you can do this, just be chill. Be chill about physical contact for once in your life. ]
Come on, Ange. Come on, you can do this, just be chill. Be chill about physical contact for once in your life. ]
I.. um.
[ Apparently composing herself isn't that easy, even though Ange is trying. Her cheeks are still a little red, but she's not pulling away from the touch or anything. Instead she frowns, trying to speak up seriously. ]
I hope.. that even if you wake up back home.. that you'll find a way to be happy. And that you'll find someone to be happy with, somehow. You deserve it. [ Because Ange knows that's part of what would bother her if Vira-Lorr disappeared. Not just that Ange would miss her - but also that she'd be worried about the other, especially now she has confessed she'd rather stay here, given the choice. ]
[ Apparently composing herself isn't that easy, even though Ange is trying. Her cheeks are still a little red, but she's not pulling away from the touch or anything. Instead she frowns, trying to speak up seriously. ]
I hope.. that even if you wake up back home.. that you'll find a way to be happy. And that you'll find someone to be happy with, somehow. You deserve it. [ Because Ange knows that's part of what would bother her if Vira-Lorr disappeared. Not just that Ange would miss her - but also that she'd be worried about the other, especially now she has confessed she'd rather stay here, given the choice. ]
Oh you sweet girl. I hope the same for you....
...
But if I do a fool thing like falling in love. I know we're saying our goodbyes just in case? If I do... I hope I can stay here until they and I are out of time. I wouldn't want to leave behind a lovelorn heart. It would be awful of me.
[Said the girl who was struggling with all the people leaving her.]
...
But if I do a fool thing like falling in love. I know we're saying our goodbyes just in case? If I do... I hope I can stay here until they and I are out of time. I wouldn't want to leave behind a lovelorn heart. It would be awful of me.
[Said the girl who was struggling with all the people leaving her.]
[ Ange knows it's why Vira-Lorr must be saying it. Because the other knows exactly what it's like - being left behind by someone you love, even if it wasn't necessarily on purpose on the other person's part. Of course then she wouldn't want to do it to anyone else either.
Even though it makes Ange grow quiet, thinking about her own situation as well. ]
Yeah, I don't.. really want to do that either.
[ Even though Ange knows Ruby would be fine in the end. That girl is so incredibly strong and resilient. But she doesn't want to do it to her all the same. ]
But it's so hard when it's not really our decision to make. [ If this place wants to separate anyone, it does. It just can do it. Whenever it wants. ]
Even though it makes Ange grow quiet, thinking about her own situation as well. ]
Yeah, I don't.. really want to do that either.
[ Even though Ange knows Ruby would be fine in the end. That girl is so incredibly strong and resilient. But she doesn't want to do it to her all the same. ]
But it's so hard when it's not really our decision to make. [ If this place wants to separate anyone, it does. It just can do it. Whenever it wants. ]
Exactly... and for some of us? We lie to each other and say it will be different. But at times, there are some who jut are tired of the lie. They want the truth, that we're going to make all the time of it that we can, but that we know...
We don't choose the time. In reality we never do, but definitely not here. So we embrace the time we have. [She smirked.] So how are you and Ruby?
We don't choose the time. In reality we never do, but definitely not here. So we embrace the time we have. [She smirked.] So how are you and Ruby?
.. um.
[ At least there's no full on tsunfit at that question. Mostly since Ange's mood has been softened by this talk, which means that the embarrassment that forms on her face - in turn - is very soft too. ]
Good. We talked about the whole.. having a creepy old guy in her head during the date thing. She apologized, even though it wasn't really her fault. And now we're.. um. Dating for real.
[ At least there's no full on tsunfit at that question. Mostly since Ange's mood has been softened by this talk, which means that the embarrassment that forms on her face - in turn - is very soft too. ]
Good. We talked about the whole.. having a creepy old guy in her head during the date thing. She apologized, even though it wasn't really her fault. And now we're.. um. Dating for real.
That... is wonderful to hear.
[She meant it too. Hearing that Ange was happy, that she'd found someone to share her heart with? It warmed her a little. Ruby was sort of unexpected, but then again sometimes 'opposites attracted.' It reminded her of Silvi and Duran, the sweetest and most loving girl and the most taciturn, angry and bitter of grumps. But they'd been perfect together.]
You know, I'm a little curious. How did the two of you meet?
[In truth, asking was also keeping her from thinking longer on her own issues right now.]
[She meant it too. Hearing that Ange was happy, that she'd found someone to share her heart with? It warmed her a little. Ruby was sort of unexpected, but then again sometimes 'opposites attracted.' It reminded her of Silvi and Duran, the sweetest and most loving girl and the most taciturn, angry and bitter of grumps. But they'd been perfect together.]
You know, I'm a little curious. How did the two of you meet?
[In truth, asking was also keeping her from thinking longer on her own issues right now.]
On the Titanic. [ This one is apparently easier to answer, since the answer comes right away, without requiring much thought or hesitation.
It's mostly since this is one of the less embarrassing interactions they've had to share with anyone else. ]
We were both new to this place. We didn't even know about Deerington-- the city, I mean. We both woke up there, so we ran into each other on the ship, kind of half-confused.
It's mostly since this is one of the less embarrassing interactions they've had to share with anyone else. ]
We were both new to this place. We didn't even know about Deerington-- the city, I mean. We both woke up there, so we ran into each other on the ship, kind of half-confused.
Oh gods, that damned ship. I spent half my time hidden away in a cabin because I was cursed at the time. [She laughed at the memory, even if it came with a fair share of bitterness.]
Certainly one of the more memorable places to have met, and infinitely better than meeting in that underwater sea we ended up in next. We really have had some wretched locales to have first memories in haven't we?
Certainly one of the more memorable places to have met, and infinitely better than meeting in that underwater sea we ended up in next. We really have had some wretched locales to have first memories in haven't we?
[ Ange releases a deep breath. ]
Don't even mention it.
[ It sure is something to suddenly wake up on the Titanic, only to be there when it sinks and then spend a month in that absolute hellhole of an underwater city. And then her first month in Deerington had the townspeople acting all weird and culty..
It makes the girl groan and rub her temples for a moment. ]
What kind of curse was bothering you back then?
Don't even mention it.
[ It sure is something to suddenly wake up on the Titanic, only to be there when it sinks and then spend a month in that absolute hellhole of an underwater city. And then her first month in Deerington had the townspeople acting all weird and culty..
It makes the girl groan and rub her temples for a moment. ]
What kind of curse was bothering you back then?
Ugh... that one. So, on New Years, I made a terrible mistake. And... afterwards, the next person I touched? I could read their thoughts. All of them about me.
And right afterwards I became insanely paranoid and fled them. It happened every time I touched omeone and, well... you know how affectionate I am. On top of that, I was still recovering from my fourth death, so I was sleepwalking to ghostly nightmares on that boat.
nearly fell off a few times.
And right afterwards I became insanely paranoid and fled them. It happened every time I touched omeone and, well... you know how affectionate I am. On top of that, I was still recovering from my fourth death, so I was sleepwalking to ghostly nightmares on that boat.
nearly fell off a few times.
Well.
[ There's a pause. Maybe she doesn't want to linger too much on most of it, since it sounds like Vira-Lorr had a truly awful time on that boat.
But that why she figures it's easier to say the more deadpan thing about it, even if it's kind of morbid: ]
In the end we all fell off anyway.
[ There's a pause. Maybe she doesn't want to linger too much on most of it, since it sounds like Vira-Lorr had a truly awful time on that boat.
But that why she figures it's easier to say the more deadpan thing about it, even if it's kind of morbid: ]
In the end we all fell off anyway.
[ Usually Ange would make some dry remark here about it not really being that funny.
But.. considering everything? She's honestly just glad that she was able to make Vira-Lorr laugh, even if it's just for a few moments. So Ange's face isn't her usual pokerface expression. Instead she's smiling a little as she speaks up. ]
Please don't choke.
But.. considering everything? She's honestly just glad that she was able to make Vira-Lorr laugh, even if it's just for a few moments. So Ange's face isn't her usual pokerface expression. Instead she's smiling a little as she speaks up. ]
Please don't choke.
Specialist Schnee reporting in and requesting full time reinstatement.
How can I help?
How can I help?
[The woman's voice on the other end when the video feed kicked in was ... almost light. It was sort of strange but she sounded at ease compared to where she'd been all the months leading up to this. She may or may not have made her decisions, but there was a sort of 'awareness' that the events of the dream were ending. There was only so much that they could do, and gods but that was freeing.
She looked up from paper work, smiled and gave her a little salute.]
I'll file the paperwork as soon as we're done. Your name's still on the wall, obviously. If I were being honest with the situation, a quick check of our patrol roster and double checking coordination with TRUST would be good, but that won't take more than an hour.
You and I can do a patrol together, hunt down some of the bugs, make sure any stragglers have safe spaces. The power's been unpredictable lately everywhere.
She looked up from paper work, smiled and gave her a little salute.]
I'll file the paperwork as soon as we're done. Your name's still on the wall, obviously. If I were being honest with the situation, a quick check of our patrol roster and double checking coordination with TRUST would be good, but that won't take more than an hour.
You and I can do a patrol together, hunt down some of the bugs, make sure any stragglers have safe spaces. The power's been unpredictable lately everywhere.
I am no longer affiliated with Trust or that man. While I believe cooperation and coordination will still be beneficial, I request no contact between myself and James Ironwood.
[There was a coldness to the name when she said it. The admiration and warmth that generally accompanied it gone. It was also the first time she'd used his first name so freely.]
I'll begin making preparations for our patrol.
[There was a coldness to the name when she said it. The admiration and warmth that generally accompanied it gone. It was also the first time she'd used his first name so freely.]
I'll begin making preparations for our patrol.
...
[There was a pause there. This... this was unusual. Vira-Lorr knew for a fact that she needed to look into it, but was this maybe something for another day? They didn't have a lot of those left. Her smile slipped, though there was no weariness in it and she nodded. If Winter was paying attention, there was a far more 'thorough' aspect to the nod, and the ribbon usually around her throat was missing.
She sighed and then filed the paperwork.]
Let's meet over here and we can touch base. You... do not have to explain about the situation, but if you do I will keep it in confidence.
[There was a pause there. This... this was unusual. Vira-Lorr knew for a fact that she needed to look into it, but was this maybe something for another day? They didn't have a lot of those left. Her smile slipped, though there was no weariness in it and she nodded. If Winter was paying attention, there was a far more 'thorough' aspect to the nod, and the ribbon usually around her throat was missing.
She sighed and then filed the paperwork.]
Let's meet over here and we can touch base. You... do not have to explain about the situation, but if you do I will keep it in confidence.
There isn't much to discuss, I returned to Atlas for a few days. The events that occurred there were as I had been warned, worse actually. That man made a decision I could not stand behind, or allow him to carry out.
[There was more than that, so much more. Penny, Weiss, Ruby. . . the new powers that she had, the responsibility she carried.]
I'll be there in five.
[There was more than that, so much more. Penny, Weiss, Ruby. . . the new powers that she had, the responsibility she carried.]
I'll be there in five.
[... oh there was definitely a story there, but she'd wait.]
Meet me in my office. We'll hit the armory up as needed just in case afterwards. Paperwork first, monsters afterwards. Most of them are non-hostile if we don't engage them, so we're mostly conducting cleanup crew right now.
[True to her word, by the time Winter got there, the duty rosters for FEAR and their last coordination with TRUST were both on the paper, along with hand-written notes on what she knew of the movements and plans of non-affiliated heroes like Peter Parker, who was currently listed as AWOL (Dead) for the moment, and the Voltron crew. They might have been out of the loop with the organizations, but she was doing her best to keep tabs on their movements since they were competent in a fight.
It was all much better organized than it used to be, though it was pretty obvious she was just cutting and pasting what Winter had set up originally.]
Meet me in my office. We'll hit the armory up as needed just in case afterwards. Paperwork first, monsters afterwards. Most of them are non-hostile if we don't engage them, so we're mostly conducting cleanup crew right now.
[True to her word, by the time Winter got there, the duty rosters for FEAR and their last coordination with TRUST were both on the paper, along with hand-written notes on what she knew of the movements and plans of non-affiliated heroes like Peter Parker, who was currently listed as AWOL (Dead) for the moment, and the Voltron crew. They might have been out of the loop with the organizations, but she was doing her best to keep tabs on their movements since they were competent in a fight.
It was all much better organized than it used to be, though it was pretty obvious she was just cutting and pasting what Winter had set up originally.]
[And true to hers Winter arrived within five minutes. For the most part not much had changed besides what she was wearing. It certainly was more defensive, the shoulders armored, a brace covering her back and ribs.
She appreciated that Vira-Lorr had managed to stay fairly organized even in her absence and that her work had helped the other even once she'd departed.]
I'm impressed, it's better than when I first arrived.
She appreciated that Vira-Lorr had managed to stay fairly organized even in her absence and that her work had helped the other even once she'd departed.]
I'm impressed, it's better than when I first arrived.
[She motioned for her to take an appropriate spot by the desk, offering the latest spreadsheet and settling back with a little smile, winking over at her.]
I can't take any of the credit, you realize. I just kept doing what you did and the members have already mostly followed suit with that, so they're playing along nicely. You set the ball in motion. I just have to not screw it up by trying to change it.
Thankfully we haven't had a need to change things up.
I can't take any of the credit, you realize. I just kept doing what you did and the members have already mostly followed suit with that, so they're playing along nicely. You set the ball in motion. I just have to not screw it up by trying to change it.
Thankfully we haven't had a need to change things up.
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