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"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?

[A sly smile spreads across Eridanus' face.]

"I suppose you are correct, they do judge you — but here, I'm not afraid of the law coming after me if I decide to set someone on fire for it. What is that phrase you humans say... do not let the haters get you down?"

[ And, she's laughing again, bubbly and bright. ]

"It's...so weird to hear you say something like that, haha! Ha... Ohhh... Cai'd think like that. She always does what she wants. She...wouldn't let anyone tell her what to do." [ Softer. Wistful. Gentle. A pause. ] "...It's funny, not being afraid. What'd it be like, not being afraid...?"

"If I knew, then I would tell you."

[Which is... probably the most vulnerable thing he's mentioned out loud. He wants to say more, that he's always afraid, that he refuses to think about it most hours of most days. Except days like today, where the fear and the nightmares are too much to go to sleep.]

"Distractions are good, though. People, hobbies, purpose." [Things that drown it until it's all just white noise.] "Who's Kai?"

[ As if she hadn't even mentioned the previous topic, with glee she's rarely shown: ] "Cairo!! She's my... She's Cairo, she's- she's always been there for me, since we were little kids! Ohhh, I miss her... I miss her so much."

[Eridanus smiles, and it reaches his words too when he next speaks.]

"She sounds like an important friend." [His tone is soft, gentle.] "You will see her again soon, Riley, do not fret. Tell me about her in the meantime, she sounds like quite the free spirit."

"She's amazing... When I was a...a shy little girl...she took me under her wing—" [ She gasps, and then giggles, because that is so funny now. Give her a few moments to collect herself. ] "And- a-and she- she decided...we were gonna be best friends. And, when Cairo decides something...she gets it. That's how it's always, always been. She's... She does what she wants. Whatever she wants. When she wants to."

[ Just a few seconds, of Riley breathing. Thinking. ]

"We... We were fighting. Kinda. Before all this. I was afraid, to talk to her, 'cause..." [ ... ] "I... I gotta tell her... I gotta tell her I'm sorry."

[ There's- she's already typing something else, already working on her laptop, like she forgot to turn off the recording. It ends a moment later. ]

[There's a bit of a pause, silence filtering through the microphone in static white noise.]

"I'm sure she'll forgive you, Riley." [His voice is softer now, but it doesn't have the warmth that was heard with his smile.] "You are good friends, and you said it yourself, she chose you. I doubt what you fought about is enough to end your friendship."

[His own recording lasts a few seconds longer, as if he wants to say something more, but then it cuts out.]

"...I stopped talking to her for months." [ Mumbling, distracted. ] "I just had to... I just had to sort it all... I was gonna say something. I was. She has to know, I'm— okay, okay, so I...we weren't...but I didn't mean it, I didn't mean— I just wanted some- some help, I didn't- she- she h-haas to know, I need her, right, I need- wi- without her, I'm—"

[ Quick, sudden breathing. Riley seems to remember, she's talking to someone. She's saying all this, even as Cairo's words echo in her head. Nothing, without her. ]

"I'm...not sure I...wanna talk about this, anymore."

[He listens quietly, with a long pause where he's simply absorbing the information whether Riley wishes him to, or not.]

"Okay." [His voice cuts sharply through the silence, only to be parsed with another few seconds of crackling static, before he continues.] "Have you found a job yet, Riley?"

[There we go. A change in subject. It's what she wants right? If they have anything in common, it's that willingness to simply sweep under the rug.]

[ And just like that, a switch is flipped in her mind, and she can forget all those unpleasant things. ]

"Yes. Yes, Cassandra- Miss Cassandra hired me. I do...desk work, and...yes, file sorting."

"Do you like it?" [Or rather,] "do you like this... Miss Cassandra? I can't say I've had the pleasure."

[He pauses, wondering if Riley really... is okay. He's the one who changed the subject, but as much as he doesn't want to remember a lot of things over the last two months, he's still concerned.]

"Are you okay? Er, or, are your feet okay. Does she know about your feet?"

[Very smooth.]

"She's very nice... She... She let me have off, for my wing. It...she gave me that coat, but it got all ripped up..."

[ A slight whine enters her voice; she's still upset about that. ]

"...I don't...have work today...but, if I'm not better tomorrow, I'll let her know."

"Your coat — I know a tailor that can fix it for you. He's done many adjustments for my own coats and suits, with very quick turn around."

[His words trail, but only for a beat.]

"If you'd like, I don't mind taking you there. I'll even pay for it."

"You can fix it...?" [ There's a small pause. ] "But... But I don't have enough to pay you back."

[ She can't quite conceive of it. A favor. ]

[There's a long pause from the other end, and then Eridanus clears this throat.]

"Consider it an apology."

"...Oh."

[ How strange. How...very strange. Riley laughs. ]

"You're apologizing? For that? Oh...! Oh, that's so funny, you don't have to do that!!"

[Another short pause from the other side.]

"Riley. We... hurt each other. You can't pretend like it didn't happen and expect everything to go away." [~~Wow, how hypocritical!~~] "I care about you, and I want to apologize."

[Maybe while Riley is high this isn't the best idea, but, he doesn't know when he'll next see her.]

[ She gives a strange, distant giggle. ]

"Dooo you want an apology? 'Cause I can give you one, even though I still think it's a really awful thing t'do." [ She's almost too casual in saying that. ] "But, I don't need one. Why would I?"

"I have never said I am a good person, Riley."

[There's a long pause, and opposite to her giggling, it's dead silent in return.]

"I should not have taken you to my exhibit, but I felt it was only fair since I imposed on yours. Those places are... very vulnerable. They all house the skeletons we wish to forget about."

[ That soft laugh still in her voice, Riley firmly says: ]

"Yeah, it was bad. But that's just what happens." [ Ah... ] "I should've just expect'd something to go wrong. It allllways does. Adults don't..." [ The bubbly, perky tone of her voice starts to trail. ] "That's not for me."

[ A pause, like she's going to explain further, but. Instead, suddenly slow and somber: ]

"That's not for me." [ ... ] "Sssooo it's fine, I don't need an apology."

[From the other side of that screen, Eridanus' expression hardens. He wants to argue that Riley has no idea of the situation he came from—but he can't. His tongue remains glued to the floor of his mouth.]

"I still raised my voice at you, and that alone is worthy of apology."

[His own, solemn voice breaks the silence that feels like it had spanned minutes.]

"I won't preach to you of my situation, but I will at least make amends for how it affected you... won't you allow me that, Riley?"

[ A few long, long moments' pause. ]

"I really mean...you don't have to do anything. I feel fine now. You didn't even yell that much."

[ And a few more. ]

"If it's what you really want to do, though... I can accept it."

[Apologizing has never... felt so awkward—but his own reply comes quickly.]

"Wonderful, then I will set the appointment and handle it for you."

[Talk about strong-arming...]

"I am glad you're feeling better, though. Aside from your feet, how have your wings been growing?"

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<CheeryCherry> | cw: parental neglect

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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.