[Etraya] Inbox

[redheadcarrier]

I'LL KILL YOU I'll kill you!	I HATE THIS I hate everyone.
THOUGH I hate myself the most.	I DON'T WANT TO DIE I don't want to die.

( CODE BY WHAMBAM )

Comments

Text, after the labyrinth

[levelshift]

[It's a full 48 hours after Accelerator gets out of the labyrinth before he sends this. As soon as he was out he made a beeline for his apartment, had a shower, and then slept like a log.

So it's after one marathon nap that he sends this:]

You alive?

[redheadcarrier]

[ Asuka has also been sleeping like the dead (and enjoying a shower). It takes a few minutes for her to respond. ]

yeah of course I am.

what is it?

[levelshift]

[Oh good. That's great.

Not that he types that out. God forbid he admits he's concerned and wanted to check in on her or anything.]

It's nothing serious. I wanted to see if you had gotten out of the labyrinth. Aurora could have been lying or misinformed about how that shitshow was supposed to end, so I'm looking to clarify she was telling the truth.

[redheadcarrier]

[ She definitely wasn't wondering him, either. So good. No concern here from either of them! ]

yeah yeah I got out fine no thanks to the dumb robot.

I should be asking about you and your stupid necklace.

[levelshift]

[He is absolutely not feeling relief right now why would you ever think that.]

Calculation assistance device.

[He knows she's never going to call it that, why is he even bothering.]

It's fine. I've been in environments without readily available electricity to charge it before, so this wasn't that big of a deal.

[redheadcarrier]

yeah

necklace.

[ Anyway- ]

considering how you looked like a fish idk how true that is.

[levelshift]

[This braaaaaaaat --]

You're free to not believe me. It doesn't make any fucking difference.

[redheadcarrier]

[ Takes one to know one! ]

oh good because I don't believe you

But go ahead and die or whatever when your battery runs out next time I guess.

photo; i know asuka is already on the log but!!! fabian def would've sent her an invite!!

[maximumlegend]

[ Ping! Suddenly you receive a photo of.. a piece of paper with text on it? Apparently someone wanted to send you something, but didn't want to bother finding out where everyone lives..

It's a photo of a card that has text on it in perfect yet somehow also still legible calligraphy. It looks ridiculously fancy for what's written on it, which is-- ]

You are hereby cordially invited to:

ADAINE AND FABIAN'S BREATHTAKING BIRTHDAY BASH!

It will be held today, June 3rd, in the rec room of the apartment building. Presents are not necessary, but a good attitude is most definitely required! There will be drinks, dancing and general merriment, because we all deserve something good after that labyrinth!

Trust me - it will be the party of the century here, and you DO NOT want to miss it!

- Fabian Aramais Seacaster

P.S. If you do not know my good friend Adaine yet, make sure to get to know her at the party. She is an absolute delight, and I want her to have the best birthday party possible!

[ For all characters who would attend, there is a log right over here! ]

[redheadcarrier]

[ What.

Whatever, she's gonna go anyway... ]

Voice. | UN: Peter P.

[keepitgoing]

Hey! Where can I find you, exactly?

I got something for you.

[She's gonna love it. Hopefully.

(He's just not used to giving expensive gifts, okay.)]

voice; un: asuka

[redheadcarrier]

Huh...?

[ Asuka stares at her communicator. ]

Peter? What do you have?

[ Oh, right. ]

Uh, I have an apartment. Hold on-

[ There's an address, such as they go in this place. ]

action;

[keepitgoing]

[Oh, not too far from him, actually! That makes this a quick trip.

It'll just be a minute or two before she gets a knock at the door. Peter's rocking excitedly on his feet, holding a large box that is very neatly wrapped in shiny silver paper. An early Christmas gift! Or maybe a late birthday present. Or maybe just a promise he's delivering on, one that she may have forgotten.]

[redheadcarrier]

[ Asuka opens the door with a slightly confused look on her face. She stares at Peter and then furrows her brow. ]

...what's this? Is this-? Why?

[ Hold on, she's very confused. ]

[keepitgoing]

[Peter, meanwhile, looks confused for entirely different reasons.]

Why what? It's just — like. A present!

You've never gotten a present on a random day?

[redheadcarrier]

...no.

[ She squints at him suspiciously for a moment and then sighs. ]

...should I just open it now?

[keepitgoing]

[Squint all you want, he just looks optimistically between her and the large present. It's a pretty big box! The biggest box he's ever gifted someone!]

Uh, yeah! Yes. Totally, open it up.

[redheadcarrier]

Well. Don't just stand in the hallway...

[ She's... not quite reluctant. But she gestures him inside all the same and settles into her small little space, setting the package on her lap. She gives him a glance and then starts to unwrap it carefully. ]

What brought this on?

voice; during the mission!

[maximumlegend]

Asuka.

[ There's something a little hurried about Fabian's tone. Some sort of emotion in there - worry, perhaps. It sounds far from the way he usually sounds anyway, none of the usual jovial friendliness in his tone. ]

How are you? [ He has to check in, especially when so many of his friends are doing so bad in the middle of this. It means Fabian has been running around all over the place, hardly having time to stop, but he has to make time to check in on Asuka too.

He promised, after all. He said he'd be there for her. ]

Are you holding up?

voice;

[redheadcarrier]

Hey.

[ Asuka doesn't sound in distress, just... sort of tired. Exhausted, maybe. It's been a long couple of months, OK? And this month has felt longer than most. ]

You didn't have to call.

[ Of course she'd say that. ]

I'm - I'm fine. Just tired. Trying to get through this bullshit.

[maximumlegend]

[ Yeah, at least he recognizes part of that message as just Asuka being Asuka. She kind of always seems like she might expire on the spot if she doesn't make sure to rebuff every single shred of attention turned her way - so that part is easy to just glance past. ]

Bullshit is a good word for it. [ Fabian easily agrees, also sounding a little bit tired. Though he'll never own up to that. ] Has any of it targeted you personally? I've seen a few really bad cases in that regard.

[redheadcarrier]

[ She probably would expire if it's anything beyond surface level. She has so many hangups and messed up emotions regarding how she has to stand on her own (but still desperately craves affection, craves love, craves attention) and if she doesn't stand on her own then, paradoxically, she doesn't deserve any of it. ]

...not yet. I've been able to avoid it. And I hope it stays that way.

[ She has too many demons. ]

I don't need other people seeing that shit.

[ There's a pause. ]

What about you?

[maximumlegend]

Seems I've been fine so far.

[ You know. Fine. That's why Fabian is sounding clearly tired on his end of this, because he's fine. Totally a-okay.

It's not like he's lying, since he thankfully didn't have to face any of his own fears when he knows they're absolutely terrible, but he has been so busy with dragging other people out of their fears that it's left him absolutely exhausted. ]

If you do end up having to deal with some shit, let me know. [ A slight pause, and then-- ] I'm telling you to.

[ You know, so she doesn't have to feel bad about reaching out for help. It's not like she'd be the one reaching out if he's bossing her around, right? Even if Fabian's energy doesn't really sound like he's bossing anyone around right now. ]

[redheadcarrier]

Fine, fine. I'll tell you. But I'm not going to let this place beat me.

[ Asuka sounds bitterly determined about that. ]

I'll get through this. Just like I've gotten through everything else.

[ It hurts and it sucks and she doesn't know how long she can keep pushing through for - she keeps doing it, keeps getting up, keeps moving, even after everything - but she'll do it. Lying down and dying isn't something she wants to do. ]

[maximumlegend]

[ Fabian is quiet for a moment - seemingly thinking about something. ]

How about we do it like this then? You tell me about something you're afraid of. Something you think that might appear here. [ Not that he thinks Asuka is likely to agree to that. Talking about her fears? She'd probably just yell at him. So-- ] Then I'll tell you the same in return.

[ That way it's fair, right? ]

Then we can both keep an eye out and warn the other if we spot it. Easier to tackle a problem when you are prepared for it, right?