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Yes! I did!
[Being hungry is awful, poor thing...]
Nobody should have to be hungry and sad!
[Being hungry is awful, poor thing...]
Nobody should have to be hungry and sad!
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?
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?
Yes, I would love that!
[Though, going through the forest, where it's so especially dark...]
You'll hold my hand, won't you?
[Though, going through the forest, where it's so especially dark...]
You'll hold my hand, won't you?
Mm-hmm! Reading is one of my favorites. I've never been to a real library before, so it will be so amazing to see that many books all in one place!
[And it'll be nice not to have to read the same materials over and over and over and over.]
I hope we can go soon.
[And it'll be nice not to have to read the same materials over and over and over and over.]
I hope we can go soon.
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.
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.
Edited 2019-12-01 03:49 (UTC)
[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!
Riku, Riku! Where are you? You were missing? Are you okay? I want to see you...I've missed you so much!
Sorry, Mary. I needed some time to myself.
It looks like the spirits are gone for now.
Are you okay? Did you get hurt?
It looks like the spirits are gone for now.
Are you okay? Did you get hurt?
My eyes...I saw the sun. I was so happy, because I'd never seen it before. But it hurt really bad, and I thought I was never going to see again.
[See any of her friends.]
And then I'd be all alone in the dark again, forever...
[She's been trying not to think about it. The pain vanished when she woke up, like it had never even happened. And she just wants nice things.]
Can I come see you, now? Do you still want to be by yourself?
[See any of her friends.]
And then I'd be all alone in the dark again, forever...
[She's been trying not to think about it. The pain vanished when she woke up, like it had never even happened. And she just wants nice things.]
Can I come see you, now? Do you still want to be by yourself?
Mary. You won't be alone.
If you're visiting our islands, you're gonna have to get used to sunlight. No staring at it, okay?
Good thing it was just a dream. So, where are you? The Invincible?
If you're visiting our islands, you're gonna have to get used to sunlight. No staring at it, okay?
Good thing it was just a dream. So, where are you? The Invincible?
I didn't stare at it...it just...it burned me.
[She trails off, quiet for a second.]
Mm-hmm. I'm in my room...are you gonna come see me?
[She trails off, quiet for a second.]
Mm-hmm. I'm in my room...are you gonna come see me?
Burned you? Because you saw it?
I'll head over now. We can continue this when I get there.
[ He isn't far, there's a lot to do now that the spirits have retreated. ]
I'll head over now. We can continue this when I get there.
[ He isn't far, there's a lot to do now that the spirits have retreated. ]
[Mary must be waiting by the door, because as soon as she hears approaching footsteps, she flings it open and goes in for a hug, wanting to bury herself in Riku's chest and hold him so tightly he can't ever go anywhere.]
[ Even as tired as he is - as all of them are - Riku's reflexes are fortunately sharp enough to catch her before she could do something like wrap her arms around his middle. He's injured, they hide under layers of gauze and clothing, he doesn't want anyone to worry so he plays it cool.
She's small enough to pick up and hug as he sinks to his knees. Drawing back a little, he drops a palm to the top of her head, smiling at her. ]
She's small enough to pick up and hug as he sinks to his knees. Drawing back a little, he drops a palm to the top of her head, smiling at her. ]
[Having been unconscious, of course, Mary isn't even thinking about the injuries. She's been told about the fighting, but there's a cognitive dissonance. That, and she's just so impulsive, her hands coming to rest on his shoulders when he draws back from the hug. She sniffles as she smiles worriedly.]
It's good to see you again.
It's good to see you again.
[ Riku nods in agreement, because it's good to see her too; it felt awful and helpless to see his friends slip into an unconsciousness that couldn't be broken. In the moments while everyone was still figuring out what was going on, before the spirits arrived to attack, Riku had despaired that they had been poisoned.
He ruffles her hair, a soft and affectionate gesture, then brushes her cheek with a knuckle. He can't and won't tell her not to cry, but drying tears? That he can do. ]
He ruffles her hair, a soft and affectionate gesture, then brushes her cheek with a knuckle. He can't and won't tell her not to cry, but drying tears? That he can do. ]
[It takes her a moment to realize how quiet he's being. To realize that he'd only been communicating with her via text. She catches his hand and presses her cheek into it.]
What happened to your pretty voice?
What happened to your pretty voice?
[ He shakes his head, but he's still smiling, more to reassure her than anything else as he starts to stand. Riku takes her hand in his and moves to sit her on whatever's at hand -the edge of a bed or a chair, he isn't picky.
He sits on the floor, the better to put them a little more on even ground, pulling his tablet out of his pack. Typing, then holding up the screen to show her: ]
A spirit wanted to borrow it.
It'll come back.
He sits on the floor, the better to put them a little more on even ground, pulling his tablet out of his pack. Typing, then holding up the screen to show her: ]
A spirit wanted to borrow it.
It'll come back.
[Mary waits patiently as he types, settling in at the edge of the bed and fiddling with the edges of her sleeves. She frowns a little bit at the sentiment, out of an innocent sort of concern.]
Did they ask you nicely first?
Did they ask you nicely first?
Not sure. I'm not too good at their language.
[ A little white lie, like he used to think of stories like Santa Claus or the Tooth Fairy. ]
It doesn't sound like you had a nice dream. Did you wanna talk about it?
[ A little white lie, like he used to think of stories like Santa Claus or the Tooth Fairy. ]
It doesn't sound like you had a nice dream. Did you wanna talk about it?
[Mary looks down, seeming unsure.]
I don't know. I just never saw the sun before, so I thought when I'd finally get to, it would be different. I didn't think it would hurt so badly, like how I died, but slower.
I don't know. I just never saw the sun before, so I thought when I'd finally get to, it would be different. I didn't think it would hurt so badly, like how I died, but slower.
[ It's difficult to describe what Riku's expression might mean, he locks it up tight enough that he seems somber and unaffected, but his eyes go a little bit wide in realization before he casts them down. ]
It's not supposed to.
[ He continues to type: ]
It should be warm and pleasant.
It's not supposed to.
[ He continues to type: ]
It should be warm and pleasant.
Like a hug?
[That's what she wanted...what she hoped.]
Hugs are warm and pleasant.
[That's what she wanted...what she hoped.]
Hugs are warm and pleasant.
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.
"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.
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