Deerington IC Inbox

[lonelynotforsaken]

[text | voice | video | action]

Comments

text | un: kd6-3.7 (misfire event...what an introduction)

[obeir]

My programming prohibits me from crushing their skulls. That's why.

[lonelynotforsaken]

[Uh..................... Is this a... joke?]

That seems like it's a good thing?

[text]

[itknowsyou]

[ martin help he's sitting in an American's kitchen with mediocre tea and a bunch of art supplies he doesn't recognize

also the American can see all his eyes, what does that even mean.

but he's quite nice. so. ]

Just checking in.
I've met Sunny Holiday. Your warnings to him were well-timed. He's writing his statement now.

[ He hopes this can be parsed as something like good work and thank you. ]

[text]

[lonelynotforsaken]

[Martin sees Sunny's name and finds himself tensing, ready for very bad news or censure. When it's just... gratitude, he stares at the message for a long moment.]

Oh! I'm glad that helped. Sorry, I know we shouldn't just go around telling everyone what you are, but he seemed like someone who might be especially vulnerable.

No offense!

I just know it's hard. There are a lot of strange people here with statements.

[He waffles, but ultimately adds:]

He saw an echo of the Lonely around me. I'm not sure what that means, yet. [Nothing good.]

text, un:harrington, misfiiiire

[acidwashjeans]

[ hi martin
it's about 4.30 in the afternoon, hope your day's going well



attached to this message is a picture of steve taking a selfie in what is probably a bathroom mirror. he's fresh out of the shower ]

you want to help me come dry off?

[lonelynotforsaken]

[...]

No. I think you might have sent this to the wrong person, Steve. And it's never really a good idea to send this kind of thing over the network, even if you really trust someone. You never know what might happen. Things can get hacked, bad break-ups can happen. Please be careful.

[This has been your local PSA.]

( text | un: mrs.s )

[aeva]

Hi Martin, it's Mrs Sheringham. You mentioned contacting you if I noticed something off. Would items mysteriously appearing from my home be part of that?

( maybe depending on what the item is but generally it's just odd )

[lonelynotforsaken]

That would definitely be off.

[Especially considering the recent Leitner fiasco.]

What is it, Mrs. Sheringham?

text; un: fern; May 8th

[laminae]

so i know we barely know each other but the last time we talked was really intense
and i wanted to tell you i haven't ditched you or anything
just been busy with stuff

un: mkblackwoodesq; text

[lonelynotforsaken]

[Martin's actually surprised to hear from Fern after the complete radio silence since what happened with the orb. He'd thought they might have a chance to talk when things were less fraught, but Fern hadn't contacted him... or been home... multiple times when Martin had tried to visit him at his treehouse. He'd just sort of assumed the boy had decided to avoid him forever. Which... was fair, he supposed. Not great, but fair.]

Oh! It's no problem. I've been busy, too. Is everything okay?

text; un: fern

[laminae]

[Hey Martin, hope you enjoy this recording of a music box that Fern is sending you! Accompanying it is a text message.]

there are lyrics too but i don't know if i'm much of a singer anymore

[lonelynotforsaken]

[Give him a minute because he's not going to cry again, but that's... a lot.]

Thank you, Fern.
I appreciate you remembering.
And I'd love to hear you sing it sometime.
I bet you're better than you think.

Video; un: darkness (Shortly after his network post) cw: body horror

[survivalthroughhate]

[Set shortly after this debacle that gained him a bunch of painful and unwanted additions, Maul contacts Martin. You know how he usually has that soft-spoken voice? Not right now. He’s at top volume and boy does he sound pissed. His eyes are burning anger.]

“Destroy the book and that will reverse everything.” That’s what you said. Bah! I must have lost my mind to listen to such a FOOL AND IDIOT! [One wouldn’t think he could go any louder, but he manages with those last three words. Hopefully Martin didn't have his device too close to their ear.] The next time you have a bright idea like that, keep it to yourself!

[lonelynotforsaken]

[Martin's just going to hold the Fluid away from him because that's a lot.]

Call me in a few days and tell me if it's still a problem. Something strange happened when Jon and I destroyed another book. But it wore off by the next day. These things are bad. And they don't want to be destroyed. There's a reason I said to bring the books to Jon and me.

If you find any others, we'll destroy them and deal with the consequences. You don't have to.

text | un: s_james (8/05)

[kaleeopee]

Martin, you're not allergic to cats, right?

[lonelynotforsaken]

[A... peculiar inquiry.]

No. Is this a joke about Jon?

text; un: jonathansims (8/07 late evening)

[itknowsyou]

[ Jon had gone out, earlier in the evening. It was meant to be a brief thing, barely at dusk. Nothing dangerous.

Naturally, this text breaks the silence well past dark. ]

Don't go out tonight. There's a Hunter in the woods. I'm safe at Shiro's house but may return late.

un: mkblackwoodesq; text

[lonelynotforsaken]

[Troubling.]

Is that some sort of monster?

voice ; un; glitch | October 3rd

[glitchinthesystem]

It went so badly, Martin.

So bad.

voice

[lonelynotforsaken]

[Martin's a little preoccupied with the walls bleeding and the giant fucking eyeball in the sky, so his mind doesn't immediately turn to romance.]

Oh, god, what's happened? Did you look at the sky? Are you hurt?

delievery; sometime later in October

[glitchinthesystem]

[ When Glitch received these gifts in his baskets with name tags attached he figured he may as well drop them off.

For sure he knows Martin probably needs something after what happened to Jon thanks to Maul. So, Martin will find at his door a package wrapped in brown paper. When opened He will find a fluffy sweater inside. ]

I got this in my basket. Had your name on it. Think it helps with recovering or something.

Take care. - Glitch

[lonelynotforsaken]

[Sometime in late October, Martin is, unfortunately, absent his emotions. Martin finds the gift and texts Glitch.]

Your gift arrived. It should be useful.

[And that's... it. No thank you's.]

voice; fun fun voicemail message after the network post

[entreats]

.. Martin?

[ Ange knows she shouldn't do this. That it's useless, and dumb to boot. But she can't help it. She knows going outside won't help a thing at this point anymore, and she's at least smart enough to listen to that point of reason and stay inside, but she has to do something after seeing that.

Even when it's sending a message, knowing that there definitely won't be an answer. Just something lingering on voicemail for god knows how long until he'll be able to check it. ]

Martin, that video-- it wasn't real, right? [ At least - for better or worse, because Ange would definitely say for worse if asked - Ange's voice is not as emotionless as it usually is. It's tinier, more vulnerable. Scared. It makes her sound younger, even younger than her actual age. ] Come on, just.. just call me and tell me you're okay. Alright? Please?

[ It's dumb. But they-- they sat in the library. They shared their struggle with life, shared what keeps them alive for now. So to see that, even in this place where death never fully seems to be the end..

There's a soft, muffled sound. It sounds like a losing attempt to not cry. ]

.. you can't do this.

[ The message quickly cuts off. ]

W O W... just shove a dagger between my ribs!!!

[lonelynotforsaken]

[There's no response.

And no response.

And still no response for seven days.

Then, on Christmas Eve...]

Ange?

[Martin's voice is weak, faint with fever.]

I'm here. I-I'm sorry. I... so sorry.

Dec 25

[laminae]

[On the 25th Martin will find a gift has been left outside his door! According to the tag it's from Fern, and inside the meticulously wrapped package is a pumpkin teapot carved out of wood.

Merry Christmas, Martin!]

[lonelynotforsaken]

[Martin is just back from being dead and is a miserably sick sack when he goes to collect the mail. The gift, at least brings a smile.]

Thanks, Fern.

Sorry, I've been away. I'll get your gift soon.

January 1st text; un: fern

[laminae]

Martin this is going to sound weird but do you have any experience with cocoons?  

[Because look, if there's going to be someone in town who does, it's probably going to be Martin.]  

un: mkblackwoodesq; text

[lonelynotforsaken]

[It's incredibly weird. Martin's also still sick as a dog.]

Like butterflies? I've been to a butterfly garden?

text; un: ushiromiya (early february, sometime in the middle of the night)

[entreats]

If a friend asks you to go to a party together on Valentine's Day and calls it a date does that mean it's a date-date.

This is a serious question, I'll only accept serious answers!!!

[lonelynotforsaken]

[Martin's not entirely used to having his phone wake him up in the middle of the night. Mostly it's Jon's tossing and turning in his nightmares. Or the things that haunt Martin, himself. He's bit fuzzy when he reaches for the phone and sees Ange's name. He sits up, fearing the worst-

Except it's... teenager problems. That's new. Is this what a parent feels like? He seriously considers flopping back in bed and ignoring it until morning, but he does like Ange and he's been cultivating a sort of relationship where he wants her to come to him if she needs help. This just isn't the help he was expecting to need to give.]

I'd need to know your friend better to have an answer for that. Do you want it to be a date-date? Who is it?

[Delivery]

[laminae]

[A few days before Valentine's Day Martin will find a package at his door.

It's a box of chocolates! And it comes with a handwritten note:]

Hey,

I just learned about this rad human holiday where you give people stuff if they're important to you, so I hope you like chocolate!

And if this isn't how the holiday works, sorry. I'm trying my best here.

-Fern

[DELIVERY]

[lonelynotforsaken]

[Oh, no! This is cute! Given all of the terror with those hearts and the portals of late, not to mention being transported around Deerington and into the bodies of sled dogs... this is a welcome break. He tries some before making up a batch of sugar cookies and decorating them with little flowers to send along. He provides his own hand-written note.]

Hi, Fern,

That was so sweet (haha!) of you. Valentin's Day is usually for people who're in love where I'm from, but I like the idea of extending it to more people. Hope you enjoy these. Feel free to share them with Varian and Glitch. Hope you're all well.

Martin :)

action; about four days after their last thread

[advanced]

[The information Martin had given him was brilliant, exactly what he's been looking for, and it helps to set his mind at ease a little. Odd, given that the information was anything but pleasant reading, it's just that knowing makes things less frightening.

But then--

Well, then there had been the erroneous tape. He listened to the whole thing, just in case it was some weird cypher he wasn't understanding. Then, once he realised it was actually just poetry, he listened to it again. Twice. He's not so sure it was meant for him, though, and Martin has been helpful enough that it warrants some consideration in return.

Which is why he's slinking back to the library on a day that Martin already told him that he works, and looking about for the helpful man. Bucky looks a little worse for wear, dark shadows under his eyes and a rumpled set to his clothing, the same clothing as before. Seeing Steve, that nightmare with the heart, had not endeared him to taking up residence in the "home" provided.]

Hi. I think I have something of yours.

[lonelynotforsaken]

[Martin frowns at the state of the other man. If he's sleeping rough with monsters all around, he can understand, though. The urge to fuss is growing stronger.]

O... kay. How about I trade it for a cup of tea?

[He doesn't move immediately to take whatever it is, just beckons for Bucky to follow him toward the breakroom. He fetches a tin of biscuits down from the cupboard to hand off before setting the kettle to boil.]

And biscuits. Have you had a proper meal since we last saw each other?

Video

[eyeknowyou]

[When the video flickered on, the often smug grin was finally missing from Elias' face, the faded gray eyes looking slightly off screen. There was a mug of tea on his desk, long since gone cold, and a tightness in his jaw that showed more emotion than he liked. ]

I See that someone has woken up.

[One of the few times his gifts actually worked and it was for...that. Wonderful.]

[lonelynotforsaken]

[Martin's expression is blank when he answers the call. He's sitting in bed, looking like he just woke up, hair still disheveled.]

Yeah. [His tone is flat.] What do you want, Elias?