Inbox (Deer Country)

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[onerthes]

It's been just over a week and a half, old man.

You've formulated opinions. I know you. So, let's chat. I've got coffee set out at my place, and the furniture's not awful. What do you say?

[no_reload]

[Reaper had definitely stalked the people who he was most familiar with. He had made a list of where they lived. Now that all his memories were intact, he could appreciate Vira giving him a ring.]

Coffee sounds like a good way to lure me out of my gothic bedroom. You want cookies?

[onerthes]

I'll have a good pot brewing by the time you get over here. If you want to bring cookies, I won't say no to the bribe. It will be good to chat like old times.

I'm interested in your thoughts on a few things so far.

[She didn't bother to put it in succinct words, but Reaper was one of those whose viewpoint she trusted more than most. Along with Eddie and a few others, he tended to have a bit of an unvarnished perspective, which could help a lot. He put biases aside once he needed to do so, and too many tried to force this world through their lenses.]

[no_reload]

Twist my smoke arm then. I'll see what is left over from the bottomless pits called teenagers that I live with.

I imagine you and I are thinking the same.

[He was already moving from his room and began to gather some cookies that he had basically hidden away so all the kids didn't swallow them hole. He was also curious of what she had come up with, since she wasn't so swayed by bell and whistles.]

I'll be over in ten or so minutes.

[onerthes]

I'll see you then. Front door, if you please.

[She was seated on the porch in a simple wooden chair when he arrived, sipping from a cup of iced tea, a slice of lemon in it. It wasn't the first time that she'd wanted it to be something stronger or to have a pipe in her hand, but she had a nice, new, apparently tentacled body in the ocean. Keeping it pristine seemed... wise.

Smiling, she tipped her head a little and winked over at him, looking on curiously to see whether he'd used the network of lanterns to port over or actually walked.]

Well, well, look what the cats have dragged in.

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[no_reload]

Front door... [He definitely was using his disparaging tone. How boring to use the front door when he could probably access anyway and anywhere he wanted.

Still, he set out once he had gathered an assortment of cookies including simple granola, chocolate sandwich, and citrus cookies. With a small tub of goodies under his arm, he made his way to her house and glided down from a nearby rooftop to land heavily on the ground in front of her house.

Walking was for the weak. Reaper was still using his abilities which seemed to remain intact, though he oddly noticed that he became hungrier than usual if he pushed them too far. He wasn't draining life anymore, which was something to get used to.]

Well, well, look at the ancient retiree on the porch probably yelling at kids to give off her lawn.

[He approached where she was seated with that mug of tea.]

Staying in the land of the living still, I see? How pedestrian of you.

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[onerthes]

[She chuckled over at him and opened the door with the heel of her foot, letting it slide open while she beckoned him to follow and shook her head, the laughter evident in her voice.]

Mmmm, those darned children have been just gallivanting about, wandering over to Gaze like lost puppies haven't they? Ah well, maybe I need a shotgun of my own. [she winked over at him.] And I do at least try to not give the morticians more to do these days. It's been successful so far. I'm just one step ahead of the reaper as we speak.

[A wink.] You're looking better.

[no_reload]

[He moved to follow her like they were going to have some secret meeting that no one else was privy to. It seemed that she wasn't in the worst neighbourhood, and she seemed happy with the place that she had. Always a bonus.]

Where are their parents, hmm? Wandering about will no doubt get them in trouble, but luckily you with the three eyes will keep them on the straight and narrow. I have recommendations on shotguns if you need them. [Those were his specialty after all.] I can see that, and I have been on best behaviour as well.

[He huffed at the mention of him looking better, setting down the carton of cookies on a nearby table.] You mean I'm wearing clothing and a mask, right? Did you find all the people you were waiting for on the beach?

[onerthes]

[The door closed behind, and at a glance the layout of the house was obvious enough. A kitchen and powder room on the left, easily seen on his way in. The stairwell on the far side went up to the landing with a loft and a single bedroom, presumably with a bathroom connected. the only thing not immediately visible was the back laundry room, or the side room they'd passed up that served as her fortune teller's booth. It was small, functional and clearly meant for just one to two, a sight more private and intimate than her old home.]

mmm, I'm sure they'll be fine, or they'll be dead. I can't save them all you know. [She winked at him impishly.] And if I actually go on the market, I'll be calling you about those.

[She settled into a spot on the couch after bringing the coffee out of the kitchen and handing him a cup. There was an uncomfortable look in her features.]

I think we both already know the aanswer to that. She isn't here, Reaper... [She sighed.] Many are here, but the one I most wanted to see bitching on the sand that I was most afraid wouldn't be there? Wasn't.

But we'll keep a candle burning for Chloe and the rest, should they come. Might as well make the place more comfortable before they arrive.

[no_reload]

[Reaper, the snoop that he was, made certain to ease his way into each available doorway to at least look at all the rooms that the bottom level of the house provided. It was a nice place for a single occupant, and it seemed to him that she had settled in well, like she intended to stay.]

At least we will know how death works in this place. That's useful information.

[He brought along his tin of cookies and set it down on a nearby coffee table, opening it so that she would have her choice of cookie type to go with her coffee. He took the mug that she offered him, removing his mask with the other hand and setting it on the arm of the couch.

Thankfully he had grown used to black coffee, the stronger the better. Though with the lack of pain as a daily occurrence, he wasn't certain if his limitations were the same as they used to be. He wrapped both of his hands around the mug to absorb the warmth, since he still had the natural coldness of a corpse.

He frowned at the confirmation, offering a half-hearted shrug.]

I haven't seen her either. [It was a quiet admittance. There were some that he had secretly hoped would make the journey but didn't.] There's always time though. The sea remains there, and we know there are an abundance of squid. [He was being the positive one? That was rare.]

[onerthes]

I'm rather patient for that one piece of information, honestly. We'll get it eventually, and then we'll know. For now, I'm quite fine not knowing what happens when someone dies.

[She took a sip of hers before nibbling a cookie and murmuring her thanks to him. The wince in her face told the story of her preference for teas, and much more for jasmine teas than harsh ones like Earl Grey. Still, it was something, and she could use the energy. She managed a smile, though, at the talk of Chloe, despite how much the smile didn't quite reach her eyes.]

You know... I'll probably go to the shores every month off and on. Just in case. There's so many who might be out there as a squid. I want this place to be welcoming to them.

...

I'm trying not to dwell, but in some cases it's hard.

[no_reload]

I'm far less patient as you for that information. It is important we understand the consequences, if there are any.

[After all, Reaper was used to dying on missions, and it never bothered him much. Deerington had made the cost far higher, and he was left wondering what Trench was going to do in order to put stipulations on it. It was higher on his priority list than most he expected. He wasn't yet willing to risk himself to find out just yet.

He enjoyed the warmth being absorbed, and it was a comfort he should probably invest more time in and just plain didn't. He sipped at the coffee gingerly, expecting it to the hot on the tongue, and he'd had enough for burns in his life, thank you very much.]

I know. I expect many of us will be seeking the shores now and again looking for people we hope to be here.

[He watched Vira for a long moment.]

Is it just Chloe you're waiting for out there?

[onerthes]

[She sighed and nodded. Her patience might have come in part from the fact that she was pulling back from the front lines as pointedly as she was. That would probably end in the next month. October had a way of ramping up the need for information extremely quickly, after all. As she sipped herself, she closed her eyes and considered the more emotionally compromised question.]

Chloe, Max, Maggie, Chara, Franciscus, Moira, Allura, Setsuna... there's actually a small list of people I want to see. For personal and selfish reasons, and because in some cases the thought of them being where they were from is too hard.

But you know me and my bleeding heart.

[no_reload]

[Reaper would be on the front lines or at least the most strategically advantageous position when it came to battle. Even with this new place being unknown, he wouldn't hesitate to put himself in harms way, especially for certain people and definitely in certain situations. Some battles needed a veteran soldier to step in and just plow through combat. The tip of the spear as it were.

Since leaving the beach, he hadn't done more than glance towards where it was. He knew that if the people he wanted to see most didn't come, his pining on the beach wasn't going to draw them in any faster than if he was setting himself up in Trench itself.]

You do have a bleeding heart. You realize if they come, they will make their presence known to us? You being on the beach only hurts yourself and isolates you from what you could be doing to establish yourself here.

[onerthes]

Please, just ... Let me do this, Reaper.

[She grunted and glanced away, fidgeting. This was one of those things she was struggling with, the knowledge of all the people that she wished had come. Deep down? She could admit that it wasn't entirely healthy, but at least for a while she wanted to.]

But how about I agree to only do this around the time of the month that the squids come, and not do it all the time? You're not wrong... If I just stay on the beach, I'm not thinking of the people who are actually here. But once in a while isn't too bad.

I will promise not to spend all my days doing this. [She sighed] Chloe, for one, will inform all of Trench of her opinions within minutes of getting her omni. We both know that. It probably won't make sense either.

[no_reload]

[Ah. So she was that committed to it, huh? He thought it her way of trying to find some control over her losses.]

Well, let me know when you go for a walk on the beach then. I could use stretching my legs out.

[If she was going to insist on going to the beach to be a sad sack, he would simply decide to follow her and keep a respectable distance about the whole matter. She was one of the few that he didn't think deserved to be alone while staring out at the rolling waves waiting for people that might never come.]

You can do it whenever you feel the need. The beach is alright as long as this place doesn't suddenly develop snipers. Beach warfare is terrible for the attacking force. [So was building to building warfare.]

Chloe will also be the first to be jumped on by a horde of people. She was very popular.

[How well she would do after losing McCree and Ashe, he had no idea.]

[onerthes]

mmm, thank you. [She breathed a little and smiled over at him.] And yes, you can come call me an idiot while we walk the beaches together. Not a terrible use of an hour or two once in a while.

... It was weird, though. The last time I was there, there was a statue standing behind me that I don't remember being there when I got there. [She shrugged.] I'm honestly not sure where it came from, but it seemed harmless.

Ngh... that girl would probably be plagued by people the moment she showed up and started squawking on the omnis. You're not wrong. I think she was friends with half of the nightmare.

[no_reload]

I will keep commentary on your bleeding heart to myself for our romantic beach front walks. [He smirked as he sipped at his tea, still enjoying how it warmed his hands through his gloves. He knew she was far better off being sentimental.] I'm sure we can discuss how thoughts and opinions of this place thus far on such walks.

[He perked at the mention of a statue, considering for a moment.] Was it a living statue? What did it look like?

[He was still trying to determine what was harmless here and what was not. It was too bad that the Archives could eat up so much time looking for particular subjects in this place.] I definitely won't be first in line to greet her if she does show up. [But that was just Reaper being Reaper. He tried not to be excited for most things.]

[onerthes]

They'll be a good opportunity for us to touch base, honestly. And a monthly check in to assess what we think is going on, and if there's some form of over-arching issue that is starting to come in. It's a good excuse at the least.

[She took a sip and considered for a moment. Hmmm.]

I don't know for sure if it was alive. It was an alabaster woman that felt very familiar to me. her eyes were closed and she held a sword pointed down. She was standing near the entrance to an archway leading down into the beach itself, watching over the pathway.

[If he looked at the art, he'd recognize that as a perfect description of "Doorway," who had a habit of doing things like that from time to time, especially for people watching over such a thing as people lost that they were waiting on. That, and she was Vira-Lorr's patron, so....]

It wouldn't be your style to lunge at her in that way. she'd probably poke you first I think. To annoy you.

[no_reload]

I agree. I want to talk more to the natives of this place and find out if they know a bit more of what makes this place operate. A monthly check in should keep us out of too much trouble, and comparing notes could give us missions to undertake.

[And honestly, he would use whatever excuse necessary to bother Vira. He expected that their lives would get busy with exploring and developing a life in this place. It wasn't as if either of them planned on going home, right? Maybe they would establish actual purpose and lives that wasn't just staring longingly at the sea.

He slowly nodded at her description.]

Sounds like one of the patrons of this place. Of course you would get stalked by one right away.

[Of course, he couldn't deny seeing the white rabbit racing around either. There had been a certain kinship upon them making eye contact at least.]

She would, yes. I have a reputation of aloofness to maintain.

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[survivalthroughhate]

It appears they're going to be showing horror movies at a club somewhere in this city. Assuming neither of us lose our minds or die a most painful death, would you like to go one night?

[It's been a while since they had a nice date night together. After all, they gotta keep the spark alive after a year together!]

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[no_reload]

That's much quieter than our last date.

[The fighting arena they had participated in.]

I would be inclined to see a movie with you. Do you have a particular one that you're interested in? There's quite the list.

[onerthes]

It's a solid plan. Besides, I think you know I'd probably be checking in on you anyway. I fully intend to as next month rolls in. We never know what to expect around here during that month, and I refuse to let my guard down until after Halloween has past.

[She frowned at the mention of the patrons. He probably wasn't wrong, but...]

I swear that it feels like I've met her before. I don't know for sure, but I think more than just the Moss King survived to come over with us. The Boat Keeper is probably around for one, and that woman in the boats may be as well.

I might ask the statue if I see her again sometime. Assuming it speaks.

[A snort] Of course you do. And she won't let you keep it. We both know it.

[survivalthroughhate]

Perhaps we should do it at the beginning of the month? Just in case the rest turns into a horrorshow/.

[no_reload]

But a horrorshow could be entertaining too, you must admit. Someone going off their nut and performing all the old horror tropes. We would murder them so well together.

A fantasy for another day. Let's go early in the month and if you enjoy yourself that much, we can partake in another later on?