RYSLIG IC INBOX

[sharpiewielder]

WELCOME TO YOUR PRIVATE CHANNEL, CROSS. FOR SECURE COMMUNICATION, USE 018.09.124.66 *** CROSS has joined 018.09.124.66 <CROSS>howdy howdy howdy <CROSS>ya boi is afk atm but ill be sure to hit you up when i get this!

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[missleadingquestions]

I mean— okay, it's pretty accurate sometimes.

But it really isn't like that for everyone!

[Maya holds up her hands, but then puts one to her cheek in thought again.]

Mmm... but that's why a lot of folks end up picking their own monster, too.

[Right, right, this is getting off topic—]

I swear she's more intense than usual though!

She's always been pretty opinionated on the network, but that's pretty normal in this place. That's why I told you not to bother getting into it— once people get riled up about it, it's really hard getting them to calm down...

[She knows from experience. Unfortunate experience.]

Anyway, I'm pretty sure she's upset about some friends of hers disappearing. That bright orange harpy, Riley, who'd come in and sing sometimes? Trish was her instrumentalist, you know.

1/2

[sharpiewielder]

Well, nah, of course there's gotta be some outliers. Some people don't fit their monster type at all. But, y'know. Some do. Like you! And me. And Merlin. And--

Ohhh, yeah. [Wince.] That'll do it. I know I didn't feel too friendly after Ronnie disappeared. That's rough...

2/2

[sharpiewielder]

But-- [He crosses his arms with a strong frown.]

That's no reason to be a jerk on the network! Especially to someone who was just asking a dang question!

[He's definitely not still irritated on Merlin's behalf, no not at all.]

[missleadingquestions]

No.. but people do it a lot anyway. It is pretty easy to start fights with people when you can't see their face.

[Again: from experience.

...Maya smiles though, eyes flat like a pleased cat. It's really cute what fast friends Merlin and Hanna are, especially after losing a kelpie he was definitely crushing on got along with so well.]

..He did take it pretty hard, though.

[sharpiewielder]

...Did he come to you about that?

[They haven't really had a chance to talk about it, but he knows how guys can be with other guys. He doesn't want to force the issue, after all.]

She must have really gotten to him.

[missleadingquestions]

He was super pitiful! He had puppy dog eyes and everything!

Just like a sad cartoon character!

I guess he really thought he messed up, making so many people react like that.

[sharpiewielder]

Yeah, I'm guessing they don't have The Internet in fairy tale world. ...And I'ma be real, they're probably better off for it.

[Sighs. He doesn't want to think that maybe some of the folks in that post got under his skin a bit too, but he bit his tongue and closed his laptop and went on his way instead of trolling them back at the time.]

Wait-- [He quirks a brow, frowning.]

You said she didn't know she was being mean?

[missleadingquestions]

Well, yeah! She said she just gave an idle comment, and that if he was still being petty, she wasn't being mean enough.

...Which is kind of also mean, now that I think about it.

[sharpiewielder]

Did she mean "idle" in the way that it was an offhanded comment, or the way that bad guys twirl knives when they're bored, "idle"? Cos jeez. What a way to introduce a newbie to the network...

Lemme tell ya, if you think you're being like her, you got absolutely zilch to be worried about. you guys aren't even in the same hemisphere. Mean people don't really care if they're mean, and you obviously do! Plus, if you really were mean, Merlin wouldn't have come to you with all his stuff.

1/2

[missleadingquestions]

Yeah... I guess he is kind of a weenie.

[missleadingquestions]

[...She quickly drops her face into her hands, hiding a snort.]

I mean— I don't mean it——

[at least she's becoming more self-aware...]

[sharpiewielder]

Juuuust a little bit.

[He can't help but laugh. She's too cute to be mean.]

It's okay, he's gonna get thicker skin. You kinda gotta when you live here. Especially with somebody like you-- [He grins, nudging her with his hoof.] --as a roomie. Little Miss Giggles over here.

He'll be holding his own in no time.

[missleadingquestions]

[Ah, that's reassuring. Maya's grin doesn't fade, even after she pulls her face from her hands. She reaches after his hoof, curving her hand up so she can drag her claws up the tender under-side of it in the tickle-equivalent of a pinch. Or of, you know, the human impulse to touch a dog or cat's paw pads.]

We'll just have to make sure he can still count on us until then!

[sharpiewielder]

Oh yeah, for sure--

[Yipe! His feetsies are ticklish thank you very much. Not that he knew that until right then. He pulls his legs up with a pout, watching her over his knees.]

H-hey--!! Watch the hoof! These things are weapons, yanno!

[missleadingquestions]

Oh, trust me, I know~

[Not that Makoto's kick left any lasting physical scars— though sometimes, she finds herself wishing she had the reminder.

Nevertheless, none of these things prevent her from making threatening tickle-monster hands at Hanna, pulling her other leg up onto the bed so she can slowly wiggle toward him.]

Watch out~

[sharpiewielder]

Wait-- no! No-no-no-- You can't!

[He whines, trying to scoot out of her reach, only to be met by the headboard. He is cornered! Quite literally, considering his bed's position in the corner of the room.]

P-please, have mercy!

[missleadingquestions]

[But his pleas for mercy fall on heartless ears! The toothy whale reaches for his skinny, scarred belly, wiggling her fingers to tickle him, hunched over him on her knees.]

[sharpiewielder]

[He yowls like an injured cat (even though this doesn't hurt even a little bit) and tries to pull his knees up to meet and hide his belly, rocking side to side to try to avoid her evil little fingers.]

Noooo~! I have sensitivities!

[missleadingquestions]

[The reaction itself seems to be more the goal than the tickling, which stops fairly quickly after it's started, due to Maya being overcome with laughter.]

Not your sensitivities! I'm supposed to be gentle with those!

[which sort of just sets her off into more laughter, oops. She'll just settle into hugging her dumb horse friend until she can breathe again.]

[sharpiewielder]

[Oh god he's getting squeezed now. It's certainly better than tickling, but still manages to get him flustered enough to freeze for a long moment. Not wanting her to think he doesn't appreciate the hug, he's quick to shove that awkwardness under the bed so he can get in on this hug.

He does so love a Maya hug.

Laughing along with her, he wraps his arms around her neck before flopping back onto the bed, dragging her along with him. This is good and normal and what friends do, and not weird or questionable behavior, mhmm!]

[missleadingquestions]

[It doesn't seem weird to Maya at all, who gives him an even bigger squeeze to accompany her laughter. She squeezes him almost too tight, playful and teasing, and then relaxes the squeeze into a normal, not-body-breaking embrace.

When she can breathe she speaks again;]

Thanks for cheering me up, Hanna.

[sharpiewielder]

[Ah... he did it. He didn't know he was doing it, but he did it. Successfully cheered up a girl! Not just any girl! His favorite girl! Not just a girl that's his favorite but a girl that's his favorite that is also his best friend here??? Like???

Forgive him, he's practically glowing right about now. He's got the cheesiest grin as he squeezes her in return.

No, seriously, are his spots and freckles... glowing... blue?]

Hey, no need to thank me! I'm happy to do it.

[That grin softens as he gazes warmly down at her. He can feel his heart pumping in his throat, but he's simply too happy to care about the anxiety signals trying to flood his brain.]

I'm always here if you need anything, okay?

[missleadingquestions]

Yeah... I know. And the same goes for you!

[Maya smiles up at him, looking for a moment like she's going to say something else, but then tilts her head like a questioning dog. She reaches right for his glasses, lifting them off his face as if she owns him or something (rude), and gasps in surprise and delight—]

Hey! Your eyes and your freckles are the same color!

Were they always that blue?

[His eyes or his freckles??? yes.]

1/3

[sharpiewielder]

[Oh god she's so close to his face--]

Whuh-- [Processing that question a little late though ain't he.] Y-Yeah? Prrreeetty much forev--.

[He too tilts his head, mirroring her.] Did you say my... freckles are, too? That's new.

2/3

[sharpiewielder]

[Sitting up to face the mirror across the room, those big blue eyes manage to get even bigger and bluer as he takes in this flashy new look.]

What the-- [Looking down at his arms and hands, where the spots too have taken on a neon glow.]

Whoa!