In the Night Inbox

[withsadness]

@ missprincessmary

Hi, this is Mary!

Comments

@priestess ⟪ voice ⟫

[voktys]

If I recall correctly, you voiced your concern about the hungry creature leaving these odd messages in the weekly newspaper?

[withsadness]

Yes! I did!

[Being hungry is awful, poor thing...]

Nobody should have to be hungry and sad!

[voktys]

A... ⟪ Alright, she can't call Rafe a friend, that would be too personal. The exact nature of their, ah, truce is, however, also not appropriate. ⟫ ... another person from Beacon and I went to look for them.

They were a bit odd, certainly, but they seemed to be happy to receive some food. Would you like to join me next time I visit them?

@riku; text

[equinoctials]

Mary, good morning.

Wherever you are, I hope you're safe. You probably ate the food, so if you're awake and hearing this, you're probably wondering what happened.

As soon as people started eating, they lost consciousness. Before we knew what had happened, we were under attack. Those of us still standing grabbed whoever we could and went into hiding. You're probably in one of those shelters right now.

Be careful if you venture out. The spirits that attacked us aren't holding back.

voice;

[withsadness]

[Me wailing as the message changed from voice to text. In any case, it takes Mary a little bit to remember her tablet, and when she sees the message after waking up, she can't help but cry. She still sounds half-asleep, but her distress is obvious in the return message.]

Riku, Riku! Where are you? You were missing? Are you okay? I want to see you...I've missed you so much!

text;

[equinoctials]

Sorry, Mary. I needed some time to myself.
It looks like the spirits are gone for now.
Are you okay? Did you get hurt?

[inthenightmods]

Next time Mary visits the post office, the Postmaster General will give her a package!

"A small wrapped package containing homemade sweets, including homemade marshmallows, graham crackers, chocolate, and homemade peppermint sticks. These are all wrapped in cellophane and put into a clean shoe."

The package is from St. Nicholas.

AT HER RESIDENCE

[lunchbreaks]

[ On the morning of the 25th, Mary might wake to find at her door a paper parcel containing a notebook rebound with a pretty fabric, and way too many gel pens. There is a note that reads "To Mary, From Aziraphale." ]

A GIFT FOR THE HOLIDAYS. (THE 25TH.)

[sunborne]

A small bouquet of paper Soldier Kisses that have been coloured a brilliant shade of blue. They’re tied with a yellow ribbon and the tag ‘For the brightest light here in Beacon.’ attached to it. It comes with a sketch of gorgeous yellow flower - the Solarius Grace, a native flower from his world. - and a little and sweet note about how she reminds him of the sunniest of flowers.

gift; 12/25

[originallutece]

[Three little metal birds wait for Mary outside her doorway. There's no indication as from whom they came, but there's a small label indicating they're for her.]

Dec 25, in person

[worthallthis]

[Around midday ("midday") on the 25th, the Soldier tracks down Mary, whether at her room or somewhere else around Beacon. And he offers her a soft and floppy stuffed rabbit, patchwork and done up in various shades of blue and red with brown button eyes, handmade and pretty cute, in a 30s-era-toy kind of way. There's even some folded-together paper in its ears to make them stand up a little, though that won't hold up forever with any kind of snuggling.]

Happy Christmas, Mary.

[withsadness]

[At the sight of the lovely patchwork Rabbit, Mary's eyes absolutely light up with joy and wonder. She takes it reverently in her small hands, seeming to take in every detail before finally pressing the gift up against her cheek.]

It's so beautiful! I love it! I'm going to take very, very good care of my new friend!

[She's never celebrated Christmas before, but now that it's here, she loves it.]

Happy Christmas, Soldat!

[worthallthis]

[That's pretty much the Soldier's take on things: never celebrated Christmas before (that they remember), but they're enjoying this one. It's nice to see people happy because of something they did. Makes them feel all warm and light inside, for once.]

I hope it makes you happy, Mary.

Backdated to december 25th

[maisel]

[ Happy holidays! There's a little box of homemade cookies for Mary even though Midge doesn't celebrate Christmas. She figures the cheer will be needed. There's a note attached: ]

Mary,
I hope you're doing okay. Let me know if you ever need anything, even if it's just a hand to hold.

Enjoy!
-Miriam

January 1 | @silent

[callada]

[After unloading his haul from the ferry, Rosinante sends Mary a text since, knowing her, she hasn't stayed in their room but instead is off running around chasing spirits or new people or covering things in paint. And people say he keeps busy.]

Mary! I have something special for you. Where can I find you?

[withsadness]

I'm at the park! Do you want me to come home? I can run home!

[She doesn't mind, either way. She's just talking to friendly crab spirit.]

[callada]

Sure, whenever you want! I'll meet you at our room.

[Look it's just a lot warmer indoors, and she offered.]

flings self repeatedly at inbox | idk late December

[callada]

[Dreidels and gifts and all the strange things people are doing right now are at least a pleasant sort of mystery, but too much holiday and too much socializing wears on him quickly. He's been spending time working on painting instead, for even if he's bad at it, it's the sort of calming, meditative activity he can always use a little of. Keeps his mind off the darkness, and the direness of their future.

The problem with paint is he tends to get it everywhere, so after he's done with that for now he heads upstairs to change and maybe get a shower in. Usually he's careful to look and see if Mary is in, after the latest death resulted in a rather unsettling change - but this time he overlooks doing so. It's hard to continually be paranoid in one's own room. He shrugs off his shirt and begins to undwind the bandages he's been given by Dr. Scully in preparation for the shower when he pauses. Sound and movement, from one side of the room, and him with exposed ribs poking through his chest just above the rest of the still-wound bandaging. Whoops.]

Mary. I... Didn't see you there.

[withsadness]

[Mary doesn't say anything at first. She watches, wide-eyed and still, without any discernible emotion on her face. Moments like this, when she's taking in something she doesn't quite understand, she looks less like the human child she presents as. But then she blinks a few times, and seems to come out of the daze.]

You aren't supposed to look like that.

[But there's no fear in the statement. Just confusion, worry.]

Does it hurt? You're wearing bandages.

[callada]

[Definitely not supposed to look like this, no. He hesitates briefly, then tucks the end of the bandage into the rest, declining to unwrap it all for the moment. Warmer, honestly, until she's done with her questions. That's what he'll tell himself, anyway. Nothing to do with not really wanting to be seen like this.]

No, it doesn't hurt. But one of the doctors said I should use bandages to try and prevent infections, where they come out of the skin. It's...

[Grotesque. Horrifying. He hangs his head, then sweeps a hand through his hair and tosses his hat aside in the process.]

Remember when I was gone a few days at the start of the month?

happy valentine's day!

[uplifters]

[ Mary will receive a box outside the door of her residence, her name written in neat, all-capital handwriting on a card on there. Upon opening the card, there's a doodle of her in a Supergirl outfit, and a note:

To my new human friend

Hope you feel super on this day of St. Valentine!

Kal

The box holds a half dozen of blueberry muffins. The tops of them seem to have heart shapes lasered in for decor, too. ]

Feb. 14

[callada]

[Next time Rosinante and Mary manage to be in the room at the Invincible at the same time, he pulls something out of his bag for her. It's two pieces, one large and one small, wrapped in paper with a heart painted on it, tied with twine.]

Hey, Mary. Some of the people here said it's a holiday today called Valentine's Day on Earth! Where people give gifts to the people who are important to them. So I got you something!

[Chocolate, he'd been told, and so the smaller package is indeed a bar of chocolate, since what little girl doesn't like sweets?

The larger of the two packages is a set of 200 sparkly multicolored gel pens. When opportunity arrives at your door, the only thing to do is to make use of it.]

[withsadness]

[The chocolate is already good enough of a present; she absolutely does love her sweets. But when she sees the gel pens...Mary goes absolutely wild, screaming in joy, jumping up as high as she can as she raises her arms for a hug. She knows, by now, that the best hugs only happen when she can get higher up from where she normally stands.]

I love you, I love you!

[Could she possibly be smiling wider?]

I heard it's a day for hugs and kisses, too! I want to get you a gift that's more special than a picture. I have to think of something amazing!

[callada]

[It's a shame he can't record this for Bruce. The guy is missing out, not delivering his own gift, but Rosinante is glad to take the credit. The chocolate was his own idea anyway, but the way she lights up at those pens! Far too precious, and he gladly swings her up into his arms and holds her tight.

It hits him very suddenly, those words. She loves him. His heart is probably going to explode. She loves him and all he did was give her some pens and chocolate. He freezes in shock, but in a good sort of way - abrupt, shaken, completely warming.]

You - you don't have to! I'm just happy you're happy!

02/14; in her post-office box

[arsarcanum]

[ Mary, go check your mail! There's a small paper packet waiting inside. It has three heart shaped chocolates tucked in there, each with its own filling. The packaging reads, "Happy Valentine's Day! From, Sora."

No other explanation than that. Enjoy your chocolates, Mary! Eat lots of chocolate! ]