[ A few hours after snapping at Aerith, Reno would try testing the waters with a text, not certain if it was too early or not. ]
I found them. Ekko helped me to my room last night, and I gave them to him.
I'm sorry for snapping at you. If I upset you, or scared you..I dunno. I didn't mean to though.
I found them. Ekko helped me to my room last night, and I gave them to him.
I'm sorry for snapping at you. If I upset you, or scared you..I dunno. I didn't mean to though.
Glad you found them.
[Now she can stop looking and focus on other things.]
You upset me. I know you didn't mean it. But what's going on?
[Now she can stop looking and focus on other things.]
You upset me. I know you didn't mean it. But what's going on?
Right, yeah. I didn't realize who it was.
[ Would anyone be surprised that Reno wouldn't feel bad if he'd made someone that wasn't in his circle upset? ]
I'm still sorry for snapping at you. I wanted to give you a bit to cool off and check on you and apologize.
It's not a big deal being apart, but it's been a couple months now. I've got no idea how he's doing, and I can't talk to him.
I just miss him.
[ Would anyone be surprised that Reno wouldn't feel bad if he'd made someone that wasn't in his circle upset? ]
I'm still sorry for snapping at you. I wanted to give you a bit to cool off and check on you and apologize.
It's not a big deal being apart, but it's been a couple months now. I've got no idea how he's doing, and I can't talk to him.
I just miss him.
Wardens are able to visit home, anytime they like. I knew a few that have gone back and forth for various reasons.
If you want to do that, it might not be a bad idea. But it's risky, even if you've come on board alive.
But Reno?
Don't snap at me like that, ever again.
If you want to do that, it might not be a bad idea. But it's risky, even if you've come on board alive.
But Reno?
Don't snap at me like that, ever again.
[How widely Yelena shares this is a bit dependent on a thread that's currently in process, but she'd promised to tell Aerith if she got answers, and so:]
Disappearing isn't a death sentence for most demoted wardens. If they were alive when they signed on, or if they were resurrected by a deal or graduated as an inmate first, they are sent back to their own worlds and do not remember ever being here.
Disappearing isn't a death sentence for most demoted wardens. If they were alive when they signed on, or if they were resurrected by a deal or graduated as an inmate first, they are sent back to their own worlds and do not remember ever being here.
[For awhile, Aerith stares at her device. It's...a lot to realize. But important to know.
It changes a lot of things. Eventually, Aerith types back.]
Thanks Yelena. This is good to know. I wasn't sure and- it helps. To know.
It changes a lot of things. Eventually, Aerith types back.]
Thanks Yelena. This is good to know. I wasn't sure and- it helps. To know.
[ He needs some time with Arthur after the breach. But it isn't long at all before he's picking up his communicator. He doesn't even expect what pops out of his mouth before it does. ]
Riri, babygirl, are you-
[ A clear of his throat. ]
Aerith. How are-
I want to make sure you're doing okay. A-after the breach. Are you doing okay?
Riri, babygirl, are you-
[ A clear of his throat. ]
Aerith. How are-
I want to make sure you're doing okay. A-after the breach. Are you doing okay?
[Her breath caught in her throat on the other line. Then there was silence. And yet still-]
Dad?
[She took in a deep shaky breath. No, that wasn't right.]
S-sorry John that- that wasn't right. Sorry.
[Her voice sounds raspy. She's been crying a lot.]
Dad?
[She took in a deep shaky breath. No, that wasn't right.]
S-sorry John that- that wasn't right. Sorry.
[Her voice sounds raspy. She's been crying a lot.]
No, it-
[ He swallows, because this isn't the first time he's had a kid in a breach. First it was Natalie, then it was Peter, and now it was- ]
Was it? Right? I don't know. That's... why I'm calling.
[ He swallows, because this isn't the first time he's had a kid in a breach. First it was Natalie, then it was Peter, and now it was- ]
Was it? Right? I don't know. That's... why I'm calling.
[After everyone has had a few days to decompress...]
You're not allergic to cats are you? Got someone here I'd love for you to meet.
You're not allergic to cats are you? Got someone here I'd love for you to meet.
Nope! You have a cat?
I'd like to meet them! In your cabin, right?
I'd like to meet them! In your cabin, right?
He's trying not to ambush her about it.
So he gives it a few days, before he comes up to the greenhouse to watch her work a little, let her see him hanging nearby - and depending on how frosty her reception is from a distance, maybe he'll close the distance.
But he lets her made that decision. Lets her see him and decide what she feels like dealing with first.
So he gives it a few days, before he comes up to the greenhouse to watch her work a little, let her see him hanging nearby - and depending on how frosty her reception is from a distance, maybe he'll close the distance.
But he lets her made that decision. Lets her see him and decide what she feels like dealing with first.
Aerith was in the middle of prepping for her mulching. Which, for the moment, meant a lot of clean up that was being done, making sure that the lines of the flower beds were nice and neat, and cleaning up the debris from previous mulching.
She glanced over, and continued with her work. But as she kept working, she spoke up.
"I have spare gloves. You can join me. I could use an extra pair of hands."
She glanced over, and continued with her work. But as she kept working, she spoke up.
"I have spare gloves. You can join me. I could use an extra pair of hands."
The way he pauses is very clearly disarmed for a few moments - he's wearing a suit, for Christ's sake.
"R-right. Of course." So he unbuttons his jacket quickly, shucking it off to drape over the nearest bench and tugging his tie loose to stick it in a pocket, just so it's out of the way, and rolls his sleeves over his elbows as he grabs the gloves.
"How did you, er- want me to start?" With a gesture at the mulch; he's never really touched a garden before, not meaningfully.
"R-right. Of course." So he unbuttons his jacket quickly, shucking it off to drape over the nearest bench and tugging his tie loose to stick it in a pocket, just so it's out of the way, and rolls his sleeves over his elbows as he grabs the gloves.
"How did you, er- want me to start?" With a gesture at the mulch; he's never really touched a garden before, not meaningfully.
CW: victim blaming, suicide ideation, alcoholism, depression
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planetdialup
- 2025-10-06 02:00 (UTC) - ExpandRe: CW: victim blaming, suicide ideation, alcoholism, depression
lestercraft
- 2025-10-06 02:04 (UTC) - ExpandRe: CW: victim blaming, suicide ideation, alcoholism, depression
planetdialup
- 2025-10-06 03:00 (UTC) - ExpandRe: CW: victim blaming, suicide ideation, alcoholism, depression
lestercraft
- 2025-10-06 03:14 (UTC) - ExpandRe: CW: victim blaming, suicide ideation, alcoholism, depression
planetdialup
- 2025-10-06 03:59 (UTC) - ExpandRe: CW: victim blaming, suicide ideation, alcoholism, depression
lestercraft
- 2025-10-06 04:07 (UTC) - ExpandRe: CW: victim blaming, suicide ideation, alcoholism, depression
planetdialup
- 2025-10-06 04:20 (UTC) - ExpandRe: CW: victim blaming, suicide ideation, alcoholism, depression
lestercraft
- 2025-10-06 04:32 (UTC) - ExpandRe: CW: victim blaming, suicide ideation, alcoholism, depression
planetdialup
- 2025-10-06 04:40 (UTC) - ExpandRe: CW: victim blaming, suicide ideation, alcoholism, depression
lestercraft
- 2025-10-06 05:19 (UTC) - ExpandRe: CW: victim blaming, suicide ideation, alcoholism, depression
planetdialup
- 2025-10-06 13:17 (UTC) - ExpandRe: CW: victim blaming, suicide ideation, alcoholism, depression
lestercraft
- 2025-10-07 05:28 (UTC) - ExpandI'm okay. A little unsettled, I think.
Are you okay Sym?
Are you okay Sym?
[About 1 week after this, because he had to dig a lot on the network to make sure he had the appearances right...
Aerith will find two rubber ducks - each with silver hair of accurate length. He hopes they'll get a smile out of her... eventually.]
Aerith will find two rubber ducks - each with silver hair of accurate length. He hopes they'll get a smile out of her... eventually.]
Edited 2025-11-20 08:06 (UTC)
[It was surprisingly sweet. She took the ducks in, and leaves a message for Lucifer.]
Thank you Lucifer. This is very kind.
Thank you Lucifer. This is very kind.
Ah... You're welcome, Aeri!
[He chuckles softly, a touch of bittersweetness in it.]
It's, uh... [He struggles a bit with finding the words.] I... know they're not for everyone. But, it's something I like to do, when it comes to the ones I miss. That way... it's a little easier to smile, when looking at a reminder of them.
So, I guess I'm just... hoping it'll help you do that, too.
[He chuckles softly, a touch of bittersweetness in it.]
It's, uh... [He struggles a bit with finding the words.] I... know they're not for everyone. But, it's something I like to do, when it comes to the ones I miss. That way... it's a little easier to smile, when looking at a reminder of them.
So, I guess I'm just... hoping it'll help you do that, too.
He opens the door immediately and greets her with a kiss.
"Come inside. I have been working very hard."
He leads her back through the cave. The path on either side is now lined with soil, held back with natural crystal protrusions, like a fence. The main cavern still has plenty of room for the console, her chair, and his vat, of course.
There is a new door where a separate chamber had once been, looking a little out of place against one wall. It's closed for now.
"Come inside. I have been working very hard."
He leads her back through the cave. The path on either side is now lined with soil, held back with natural crystal protrusions, like a fence. The main cavern still has plenty of room for the console, her chair, and his vat, of course.
There is a new door where a separate chamber had once been, looking a little out of place against one wall. It's closed for now.
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