icy_veins | Inbox

yes!!! i am hhome
hahaha i mena not really home if only
im at myy apartmet
i cant taake less bc thne my feetll stsrt hrutingg agan
dont want that

Well... at least they are still attached.
I witnessed a young man whose foot-bones yeeted themselves from his ankles.

I am sure he was in quite a lot of pain, then.

Also, how is your kitten doing?

oh!!!! that sounds like giorn o!!!
also how th hell do yuo kno that word???

maplee is doing well!!!
he ws upset becaause i coldnt feed him but now hes ok

Yes, Giorno. He spat on me.
I like him.

Annie taught me the word "yeet" as well as some others.
One time someone on the network called me a "boomer."

I am glad Maple is well, Mr. Bigglesworth is very fat and happy here.
Do you enjoy squeezing Maple's toe beans?

spat on yu??
nnoo that doesnnt sound likee goirno anymoree hes reallly nice
orr mybe it des hes alsso a littlee weridd
i liek him though
hes my friend

thhat soundsr ight
i ttalked to anie once!!! i thnk i hve t try agn
itss hrad meeting new people :///

hohh!!! do you havee a cat now??
thats a vvery nce namee
maplle gets a llittle tooo surrprised whn i touch hhis feet
but imt rying too teacch him its ok :))

I would certainly like to get to know him better, perhaps we can all get lunch together sometime.
We can invite Annie too.

[By lunch, he means eating people, but that's just sort of implied here.]

And Mr. Bigglesworth is always happy to receive attention, he lets me squish his "beans" unlike some other felines I know.
I'm sure Maple will warm up to your touch soon, though.

By the way, what does ":///" and ":))" mean?

ooohm y gosdh you knnow abot yeet but not smsmileys???!!!
theeyre facesss!!
ussuallyn i use emooji insted whhich r likee
thheyre littel pictrres yuo ccan sedn peeolep!!!
bbut thesse laptos dont hav them :(((
sso turnn your hed sidewaays
the : ssi he eyes and the ( iss the mmotuh

:))))

[ ...she got so excited about this topic she ignored everything else, huh. ]

I see, for this emotionless platform of communication, having these "smsmileys" helps alleviate expressing the wrong tone.

Thank you for your assistance, Riley.
I am excited to use smsmileys.

:)))))

your welcme!!!!!! :)))))

btu theyre just called simleyssd
smilleyyys
SMILEYS

tyyypinggs hard right noww :////

Perhaps if you are having such troubles typing, you can use the audio function on your laptop?

:)

therres an adio fnction?? :o
how do i ues it???

Yes though I am not too sure how to use it, as I never have myself.
Perhaps if I...

[It takes him a moment but there there a short burst of static, and an audio message plays:]

"There we are. It seems there is a button for recording along the top row of buttons.

Can you find it?"

[ There's a small delay. Like, thirty seconds or so. Then: ]

"—llo? ...Iiis it working? ...it...looks like it's working!" [ A cheerful little giggle. This is...perhaps the most relaxed Riley's ever sounded. No, definitely. She also sounds a little breathless, like she can't quite tell how fast she's speaking, but...that's probably a painkiller side effect. Like the slight slur to her words. ] "Ohhhh this is sooo much better. THANK you!"

[Eridanus hasn't really used the audio function on his laptop ~~because he's a boomer~~, but if it makes things easier for Riley, then so be it!]

"You're welcome. I'm glad that this is easier for you," [and makes it a bit easier for him to decipher her words,] "so you have new feet growing in, it sounds like?

Are you certain you should be taking so much medication, did Dr. Pierce recommend it?"

[ A peel of laughter starts this message, one that sounds like it'd been going on for longer than she hit record. Oops. ]

"Ohhh, the doctor didn't say ANYTHING, I just took these. I couldn't really GET there, right?? No feet!!" [ Ah... Does she sound a touch bitter? ...Just a touch. Just a very small touch. ] "Soooo I just took 'em 'til it stopped hurting." [ And another giggle. ] "Probably a biiiig mistake...but I can think now, sooooo. That's a lot better."

[ It sounds a lot more concerning when she says it out loud, huh... ]

"I see, well, as long as you're feeling better that is what's important."

[Because Eridanus is not a good influence, and to him, substance abuse is a completely valid way of dealing with life's issues.]

"So are your feet completely missing? Are they slowly regrowing? I have yet to lose body parts in this world, I am curious how it works."

[ When all of this wears off, Riley's going to be more than a little horrified. But, right now? Worries and fears keep slipping out of her mind. She's chill. Relaxed. Huh... Was this why Chess did this all the time?

...The next message takes a few minutes, because this thought is enough to knock her out of the slaphappy mood, at least...somewhat. Listening to what Eridanus asks, however, it's easy to refocus. ]

"Noo, they like... Melted's kinda reductive...but it's the best way I could put it?? They like..." [ She sounds frustrated, like she can't think of the words. ] "They turned all raw and red...and kinda curled in, 'til there wasn't anything left but stumps...'nd then the talons started coming through, and...and that really hurt..."

[ ...A prolonged pause. Has she forgotten where she was going? There's just a good ten seconds of breathing. ]

"...S'anyway, they're uh. They're reforming, I guess. But like...like a bird's."

[Luckily, Eridanus is the last person who could ever judge anyone for what Riley is going through. He has, and will continue to do much worse things than taking far too much pain medication for melted feet.

Still, he can't help but laugh at the way she describes her experience. The sound of it is cheery, despite the grotesque content of their conversation.]

"Hmm... there are a few words I would use to describe. Charred? Torched? Seared? Though that last one reminds me too much of steak."

[Another indulgent laugh, and then the sounds of someone shifting, because now he's lying on his back with his laptop across his belly. Might as well get comfy.]

"You don't seem too happy about your bird-feet. The last time I saw you, you were sprouting wings, as well.

I think a harpy suits you, Riley."

[ This message comes through fast, with a small prolonged grumble. ]

"I don't wanna be one. I don't wanna be a bird, I wanna be a human."

[ Everything about her sounds...childish. Like a little girl she tries so hard not to be. ]

[In response to Riley's grumbling, Eridanus' message begins with a hearty peal of laughter.]

"You no more than I!" [He sighs,] "I miss my former appearance. I miss my smaller body, and the way magic coursed through my veins. My face is hideous now, but at least my consort likes it. The only saving grace I have."

[There's a short pause, silence cracking through the microphone like television static.]

"But you know, Riley... I have not stopped being Rim'falen, and you have not stopped being human. These temporary forms are molded by who we were before we came here — that probably says something nicer about you than it does for me."

[ A bit of a delay— ]

"...A phoenix. It's...like I'm...a phoenix." [ It's not the first time she's thought about this. But it's the first time she's said it, out loud. ] "I don't think it REALLY says something, uhhh about us, though, I just- just think the fog's...mean."

[ Eloquent. But, it is her feelings on the subject. ]

[There's a long pause before his voice follows static, but Eridanus can't help being caught off guard by the comparison.]

"Exactly," [he smiles, and his voice softens too,] "the phoenix is my family's crest, and when I first came here, I kept that thought in the back of my mind as I went through my changes. That I am a phoenix, and from the ashes of this experience, I will rise."

[He laughs then.]

"Though that's not the sentiment I would use, I certainly don't agree with the Fog myself." [He's even got a few plans to escape, but he won't share that with Riley when she's this out of her wits,] "try to look for the positives in it though — I'm sure you'll love flying once you get the hang of it. It's a feeling like no other."

"I do wanna fly." [ Her voice is filled with longing. She hums softly, almost sweetly, and laughs again. ] "I've always wanted to fly."

[ It's a little convoluted, because she's always thought of that as a metaphor, sort of, but— she remembers wishing she had the right skill to be a flyer, in freshman year. To be launched into the air and feel herself really truly soar. The soft humming continues, as she loses herself in that thought for just a minute. ]

"I like to look for positives. This place is just... it's so dark and dreary, and bad..." [ Still, a floaty quality to her voice, despite her words. ] "It's hard."

"Flying is by far my favorite thing about being a demon. I missed it so."

[His own voice holds a longing there, though it's not nearly as sweet. He has no idea how long he will be in this demon-skin—whether it's for a few months, or for his remaining residence in Ryslig. But for however long it is, he will enjoy it.]

"When your wings get stronger, let's go flying together."

[In the meantime...]

"All the more reason to look for the positives my dear, you have your life for one. You have friends, people who care about you. A roof over your head, and even your little kitten." [A pause,] "Here, people will not judge you. They will not hate you simply for the things you have done, or who you are. At least there is that."

[ Riley's barely holding in some laughter, when she turns on the recording. Except— ]

Okay... That's not true. People judge you everywhere. Becoming monsters doesn't change that. [ Despite everything, she still sounds...jovial. ] Where'd you get that idea?

WELCOME TO YOUR PRIVATE CHANNEL, ERIDANUS SUNGAZER. FOR SECURE COMMUNICATION, USE 099.23.886.00 * Archmage has joined 099.23.886.00 <Archmage> Hello, this is Eridanus Sungazer. <Archmage> In the event I am currently unavailable, please leave a message. <Archmage>** I will answer back, promptly. If I feel you are worth the trouble.

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<CheeryCherry> cw: ok there's just a LOT of unsafe medication usage in THIS tag so

<Archmage> cw: honestly this is not much better cause it's condoning it

<CheeryCherry> cw: referencing prolonged substance abuse, describing body horror

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