hasitsthorns | ic inbox { noctium }

[Thanatos is finally texting her even though he's thought about doing it a lot. And it's about something like this. Not that he's not happy about it. He is. He just... It feels embarrassing telling everyone one by one that it's happening. But making some big public announcement was an even worse thought.]

Hello Rosie.

I don't know if you know Zagreus? You might. I feel like Zagreus knows everyone. Well. He's getting married. And he wanted me to invite people to come to the wedding. And I'd like to invite you. Because I'll be there. Also getting married. To him.

okay. Well.

okay. bye.

[Nailed it.]

[ Oh, that's

The username gives him away. Kind of cute, she thinks, but then actually reading the message is... That's a lot to unpack. At first, there's a pang of something ugly. Envy, maybe? She's not sure. Seems like a lot of people here are coupling up. Meanwhile, she's got an eight-legged dog and a bottle of wine with her name on it for tonight.

Oh, well. Love isn't for creatures like her anyway. Despite that though, she can't help the way she smiles at the screen re-reading the text. Of course, he'd text this and she has to give him shit about it. ]

o(*≧□≦)o
YOU'RE GETTING MARRIED!!! AND THIS IS HOW I FIND OUT!!!!
aaaaAAAHHHHH!!!
Can I be your wedding singer?!

How else would you have found out?

[Telling someone in person? Absolutely not.]

And yes. I'd truly love that. You actually beat me to asking. I hope it isn't an imposition but I'd truly love to hear you sing.

Also, if you wouldn't mind helping me craft a sort of laurel crown. You remember when we talked about such things before? Making the flower crowns. I'll need one appropriate for the ceremony, I think. I imagine laurels will be difficult to find so anything will do really.

[He'll probably never tell her but he does have the ones they made together that spring stashed safely away.]

I don't know, man!!
Not with a text message?!

but aw yeah
I'd be happy to, it's not imposing at all!!
I'll get the best wedding jams ready

and I will get you laurels if it's the last thing I do
（*´▽｀*）
I'M SO EXCITED!!!!

I could have never told you this in person. I would never have been able to spit it out.

It was all I could do to type this to you as is.

[Anything else is simply asking too much of him.]

Thank you. That truly means the world to me. That you'd be there, and all. And help.

Okay, you know what
That's fair
It's a big thing though! I'm glad you did tell me, however it happened

Of course I'd be there!!
You're like one of my favorite people here, dude, I wouldn't miss it for anything

[ Riku was lucky enough to not have experienced a transformation this month, but dealing with the aftermath of other people's transformations was kind of a lot. It's rough, dealing with his best friend's insurmountable guilt after attacking him, and Riku wants to get out of the house, even if it's just for an afternoon.

This afternoon, however, is what leads him to what could possibly be his new favorite spot in town. The glint of one of the instruments is what catches his eye through the window, and he glances up at the shop sign. Rosie's Records? He blinks at the name before he opens the door. Could it be owned by...?

...Prior to finding this shop, Riku had looked gloomier, his sunny dispositioned dampened by recent events. Being here, however, surrounded by vinyl records and instruments, helps him feel at ease. There's a smile on his face as he looks around and picks up records at random, admiring their covers -- and he glances up and sees a familiar face. ]

Rosalina-san! [ He gives her a wave. ] You're here, too! It's really nice in here, isn't it?

[ While she'd sprouted pitch-black wings and chicken legs again this month, she's looking normal as ever now. It had been blessedly brief this time. One of these times she might actually try to fly but, for entertainment purposes, imagine her awkwardly hopping along and fumbling everything with talons instead of nails.

Business in her little music cafe isn't necessarily booming but that's kind of the point. It's supposed to be a more relaxed, comfortable space. Someone is reading in the library, another gem flicks through records for sale, and Rose walks out onto the floor with a cup of tea (named 'partea hard') in hand. ]

Hey, dude, long time no see. Glad you like the place! Feels better knowing I've got the Riku stamp of approval.

[ Poor Rosie... One day she'll run into him while he's got a bunch of tentacles, it's probably fine. ]

It's really nice in here! I like the ambiance, and I feel really at home, somehow...

[ It's probably because you're a musician, Riku. Anyway, he's started out being chipper, but since things are pretty calm around here, it helps him mellow out, too. He looks at the cup of tea, lets the "Riku stamp of approval" comment sink in, and... ]

...Ah! So you do own this place! Haha, I shouldn't sound so surprised, but I am. I'm really glad you got to do something like this.

[ Especially when he thinks about how they first met. It's a meeting he won't forget, so to see her come this far is really heartwarming. ]

[ It better not awaken anything in her.

(It absolutely would.) ]

That I do! It's not much but, hey, it's coming along. Hoping to get some staff, maybe run a couple of events or mixers... I'm taking suggestions, if you have any!

[ She has come quite a ways, hasn't she? It's a bit much, actually, to think of how she's settled. It wasn't something the woman ever thought she could do never mind wanting to. But Noctium, as far as places to be stuck go, isn't so bad. It's no Morgana Manor, but it's... It's nice. She likes it enough. ]

[ Rip Rosie..... ]

Oh! Um, hmm. Events...

[ He's not much of an event person himself, but since she's asked, he'll give it a little thought. ]

Do you have people perform here? What do you call those -- open mic sessions! I think those would do really well here! And since you need some staff, maybe I can ask my group members if taking up a part-time job here would be okay, too.

[ He's so used to going all-in on being an idol, but they do need to hustle more here than they did at home. It'd be nice to get extra income at a place that he really does like so far, too. ]

[ She is but a simple woman who enjoys finding new ways to get freaky. Don't worry about it. ]

Oh, hey, that's not a bad idea. We could do that. Have a slam poetry night or whatever now and again, even, since those tend to be popular. [ While it's not really her thing, poetry and lyricism tend to go hand-in-hand to some degree. ]

The more the merrier though! Don't feel pressured, of course, but I'd be happy to have any friends of yours aboard.

"Slam poetry"? I've never heard of it before, what's that like?

[ It's neat, Riku, don't worry about it. He'll find it very fascinating if he ever goes to a slam poetry session, though. ]

I'll see what they say, too! I know two of them are working at a bakery -- ah!

[ His eyes light up; he has an idea. ]

How long has this place been open, Rosalina-san? Maybe they can bake some kind of grand opening cake! That'd be fun, right?

Chaotic, but fun. Raw. Lots of feelings, less coherency. It can be fun.

[ He probably would enjoy it. ]

Just a couple of weeks now, so- Yeah, that's not a bad idea. Just as long as it's music-themed. That's kind of the whole motif? Have one of the local bakers supplying me right now with cute treats and I can mix drinks fine but... Something special might be nice.

[ Sad as it sounds, it didn't occur to her to celebrate the store's opening. Celebrate starting a business, celebrate... anything about it. Hm. ]

Ah, so people putting their hearts out for everyone to see... That sounds like it'd be a really good time! I'd love to see it for myself one day! Maybe that should be part of your celebration?

[ He's so excited to ask Mitsuki and Iori about the cake, but... ]

So...that means you didn't already have some kind of grand opening party, right?

Hey, it could be- Bring your slam poetry to celebrate the opening. Or, you know, whatever works. Either way, I'll set something up so you can see.

Was thinking of offering music classes, too. Maybe installing a pole? That'd be awesome.

[ She has a lot of ideas but the follow-through is questionable. ]

Nope! Just kind of opened up shop and started going.

Hey, Baby Bird.

Anyone push you out of the nest yet?

'Sup, dude!
Not yet.
You offering?

Yeah, I can help you out.

Any luck getting off the ground yet?

A little flutter
Here or there
Nothing crazy yet though

We can work with a little flutter.

Do you remember if you started on the ground or did you jump off something?

I just tried
to take off running?
since that's what some birds do, I think

I'm awful at being a bird though

( Don't mind him, just. Trying not to laugh. )

Maybe I should call you Baby Penguin instead.

( He means that in a friendly way, he promises. )

Nah. As a guy born with wings, I can tell you it's not always the most intuitive thing.

well
that's not entirely inaccurate
I do kind of have a bit of a waddle to me still

oh?
then what's the best way to go about this?

Could be worse

It's a lot of trial and error. Jumping off of things, being pushed, flapping your wings a lot and hoping for the best. Sometimes you have to get a little creative.

well, I haven't broken anything
yet
but creative is usually what works for me

Let's try to keep it that way.

I have to ask - do you really want to fly or is it something you think you have to do because you have feathers?

I want to

Back home, I
I died from falling off a highrise
so that's why I'm having such a hard time, I think
but if I can manage to fly
I think it'll help me

Yeah, that's definitely a pretty big mental block.

But you're already taking a step in the right direction by saying you think that might be the problem. It sounds pretty cheesy, but the whole confronting or acknowledging your trauma or worries can do wonders for you.

And I promise - I'll be there to catch you every step of the way.

( He's not the number two hero in Japan for nothing! )

tell me about it

thanks though
I know it's not a lot yet but
I do want to be able to kind of
get over this eventually

and knowing I have someone there just in case
definitely helps

I get it.
Things like that really weigh you down. It makes a big difference not to let it rule part of your life anymore.

It sounds lame and you probably here it all the time, but I'm always here to help.
I know what it's like not to have someone there when you need it.

you said it
I don't want to keep feeling like
I can't move on from it, you know?
whatever it means to me anymore

thanks, dude
I know what it feels like too so
knowing I don't have to go through it again
helps a lot

Yeah. You have a whole life to live and a world to explore, you shouldn't let anything hold you back.

Whatever it is, let's hope you don't have to go through it again.

[A letter and a small package arrives! The package contains some savory crackers and jerky.

The letter is as follows:]

Rosie,

This is my first time making crackers so I hope you like them! They're supposed to be a bacon flavor. I noticed you seemed to prefer this kind of thing over cookies so I hope you'll enjoy them.

Take care of yourself!

Sincerely,
Ashe

( There's a red gift bag sitting on her window sill when she wakes up. Tucked into the tissue paper is a small card.

Inside is a small kit with an assortment of tiny scissors, the contents tucked neatly into a black, faux leather pouch.

The card reads: )

Happy Holidays, Baby Bird!

It's easy for feathers to get out of hand, but these can help keep them neat. Just promise not to run with them.

Happy preening,
Hawks

ic inbox { noctium }

text | un:deathappraoches

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action! sometime after july monster transformations

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text | un: hawks

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➵ DELIVERY | DECEMBER 25th

delivery | backdated to Christmas !!