certaininequities | IC Inbox for Ryslig

((Continued from here.))

Extremely low, yes...! I'm glad no one was hurt, though. That sort of thing could have gone so much worse.

Are you studying anything here? Going after anything in particular for yourself?

[he is not aware at all that he might be projecting just a tiny bit, trying to guide someone the way he meant to do once he got home to Harry. if Cairo is smart enough to see that, she's absolutely free to shut him down or point it out]

[Expectation: Cairo, a smart person, is going to try and go to university.
Reality: Cairo is learning how to scam people from a shady antiques dealer.]

i'm taking a gap year after not graduating from high school on account of coming here and not wanting to redo my entire last semester of school or try and find out if the local colleges will even let me study there as a monster

((Continued from here!))

Those are both extremely valid reasons, all things considered. Maybe what I should have asked instead was if you had any particular interests, here. Aside from what I'd assume are the common ones: adjusting and surviving.

((continued from here))

a puzzle? well not really, osborn. i'd have thought it was rather obvious myself.
though italian is an easy guess given half the house is italian, no?

((Continued from here.

No, I'm not from outer space, but something I tried to do ended up taking away my memories. It's a long story that I don't want on the network but I can tell you some time if you want.

I'm sorry that person took your tape and your other friend was an alien but I'm really not sure what The Butt On Mercury is slang for or was that a concert? Is that some band I've never heard of?

and

oh.

my father was pretty awful too but this isn't about me. I'm sorry, Dib, this is so much. I shouldn't be reading this many awful things from someone who's your age and I'm sorry that you had to deal with all of that, but ... I hope you can get used to the difference. That you can let people be kind to you.

It's only obvious if I can hear your voice. Any of the others I've spoken to could have responded to me the way you did, potentially. But if you're the oldest ... let's see, you can't be Giorno, he would have been more to the point and probably tried to cut me down a little harder, he likes to come across like he's in charge, but you're older than him which means I don't think you're Panacotta either which

there are a couple of others I haven't spoken to yet but still

okay your handle has 'man' in it so you aren't Jolyne.

Process of elimination, Abbacchio. I guess you're right, that wasn't that hard after all.

dont ask how his face is doing that's rude

no, it's not a band, it's a real butt i mean, wait. not a REAL butt. a rock formation that LOOKS like a butt. on mercury. like the face on mars, but dumber. they were both part of an ancient alien civilization's planet-sized rocket ship experiments. i saved the world you know

((from here)

[to paraphrase Otto ... "the boyfriend." Norman doesn't remark on this, but files it quietly away, even as he's thinking:]

The more you tell me about him, the more he reminds me of Peter. I'd like to meet him, someday. Maybe we can go to lunch some time. I have a job at one of the labs now, I'm more than happy to pick up the tab. Just choose us a nice place.

So ... in your universe, you're one of the few people who knows all this? That's ... a lot to deal with for someone your age.

I'm sorry that no one believes you. Sometimes people do incredible things for the sake of others and no one even knows. Or will. We're told that good deeds are rewarded, but ... the truth is, unless they're done under the right circumstances, for a specific set of reasons: the poor, the wounded, minorities, disaster relief ... no one bats an eye.

The real truth is that the reward isn't the accolade. It's knowing you helped someone hav a better life. I'm ... still adjusting to that, myself.

For what it's worth: if you saved the world all by yourself by flying a planet, I think that's amazing, and I'm proud of you for doing it even without anyone caring.

have!
sorry about that.

((from here))

Considering our circumstances, I don't think it's fair to call it 'humanity' anymore. I've regained faith in ... people. Monstrous or not.

I'm sorry that you think that's misguided. I know how easy it is to expect everyone else in the world to want to keep you down. To focus on the struggle itself, let it define you.

Maybe when we're out of this place, all of us can meet properly in a better dimension. The Quantum Masks owe me a favor or two. Pretty sure if Peter and Crash meet, they're going to get along too well.

Careful with that kind of offer, two former mutants can be big eaters.

[It's been a long day, a long night, and now it's being a long morning. Giorno hasn't slept. He hasn't tried, because he knows himself too well; he's far too keyed up. But one thing has been sticking with him, one tiny positive.]

[At this point, he'll take anything.]

[When he comes across Norman in the kitchen nook, he pauses for a moment, looking thoughtful, before coming up to the bar.]

Do you mind if I sit? I wanted a word with you in any case.

oh, well my handle is just a musical reference to- whatever. it's not important. it's just a reference; nothing more, nothing less.

though your process of elimination is fairly thorough. accurate too.

my face is fine, by the way. thanks for not asking.

If the reference has meaning to you that's what matters, you don't have to tell me. Sometimes I wish I'd been clever enough to think up something like that but I'm used to anything I do on a computer being work-related so it was kind of a reflex.

Thank you- I'm used to using logic on a regular basis. Besides it was kinda fun.

you're welcome? I can't tell if you're being sarcastic or not, I hate that about text

No, I don't mind at all, Giorno.

[he turns from where he's been putting together his breakfast, sees his face, and amends:]

I'll put us on some good, strong coffee. You look like you've been doing damage control with everyone, too.

i guess so. it's just a song i like, though. it's not really a case of being clever though, i just didn't want to put my actual name on the network when there are other people here i know from. before. otherwise i probably would have, it's what i'm used to doing too. though i do use my own name as a different handle for private messages sometimes.

i wasn't being sarcastic, for the record. asking probably wouldn't have been as awkward now i think about it... but it is fine. mostly. apparently, i'm a "gargoyle" so there are scales there now. on my face, that is. they're still kind of itchy.

I had a teenage son, Tawna, I'm used to feeding people with hollow legs. It's fine.

Who are the Quantum Masks? I bet they're a bit like the Sorcerer who was supposed to send me home, but ... then again I didn't know very much about him at all. Just that he had terrible fashion sense and an even worse goatee.

[Perhaps unexpectedly, Giorno blinks, like, a lot of times, very fast. And then he nods.]

Thank you. I would . . . really, really appreciate that.

[Someone offering him coffee when he is stressed? Is he awake? Norman is hopping social links like crazy.]

I have, a bit. [A lot.] I didn't sleep much. [At all.] Are you all right?

ow, my nose feels funny? oh no there's something in my nose is my head going to explode?? is it going to get even bigger? i hope this isn't my head exploding, or catching on fire, spontaneous combustion is a real problem my throat feels funny too oh no it's allergies i bet its allergies i'm having an allergic reaction to dr. osborn being nice noooooooooo i don't want to be allergic to people being nice to meeeeeeeeeeee maybe it's to the typos i dunno

[dib, you're just crying.]

Edited 2022-03-28 20:08 (UTC)

I think so. It took me a little while, a lot of thinking. I had a couple of conversations with my co-workers at my new job, for a little perspective.

[he sets up the coffee maker quickly, then leans back on the counter to give Giorno his full attention]

But we don't need to rehash all of that. What did you want to ask me?

I'll take your word for it. Just be ready for two former mutants being a problem.

Sounds close honestly, though the masks are probably more fashionable.

The Quantum Masks are at least in my and Crash's dimensions' are guardians of every dimension. As long as they're in their places asleep or resting they keep stability. Cortex and his cronies kidnapped a few of them while punching holes in various dimensions. It was a thing.

They are living masks, I realize I should specify that, since it changes a few things.

[Once Tawna figures out just where Norman lives, she makes a point to fly by at night. Merely to leave a carefully wrapped gift on the doorstep for him.

Within is a fairly sturdy leather jacket. Well worn, clearly second-hand. When worn it should be a comfortable fit. When the jacket is turned over it becomes clear Tawna has added something to the jacket. The entirety of the back is covered in beads. Beads that have been carefully woven into rainbow fractal patterns. The pattern spirals across the full back.

Some of the fractals escape onto the shoulders of the jacket sleeves.]

I figured you'd need something to wear that'll hold you through most of the seasons.

See you later, Norman.

-Tawna

[His eyebrows raise slightly. There's an almost-but-not-quite imperceptible nod of approval. Good. He expects everyone he knows to just stew in their problems, honestly, so this is a pleasant change.]

It's not so much that I wanted to ask.

[Hopping up on a barstool, he rests his arms on the bar, one folded over the other.]

I wanted to thank you. There were a great many distraction fallacies taking place after that broadcast, and you were one of the few I saw who refused to engage. Who continued to see what was happening for exactly what it was. You weren't quiet about it, either. I respect that.

IC Inbox for Ryslig

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<AGENT_MOTHMAN>

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3/25, morning after atem's post

<melancholyman>

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<AGENT_MOTHMAN> cw intrusive thoughts about head exploding/spontaneous combustion

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March 22nd

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