dataBURST: IC Inbox

[breakaleginhalf]

Hey, it's Gil. Either I haven't got my phone on me, OR I'm actively ignoring you. Text me if it's important, try harder if you're dying. TEXT | VOICE | VIDEO | ACTION

Comments

[push_that_pesticide]

... what?! Like the fuckin- what's that darkling contract, the one that lets 'em go through mirrors? Like that?

[ Bugsy openly gawped, which slowly slid into a goofy grin. ]

That's so fuckin' cool. I love this lil guy- we have to look out for him.

[breakaleginhalf]

I think that's Fairest. [Irrelevant, though.] But yeah, Mono's fucking rad. We should get him a little fucking mini-fridge, he was fucking starving.

[push_that_pesticide]

No, I'm sure it's a Darkling contract. I was learning it from this banshee dude before I came here, and he learnt it from another Darkling who knew it when he escaped.

[ He couldn't help but laugh at that though, affirming- ]

Yeah- lil mini fridge, make him a lil bed and everything. Shit- it'd be like furnishing a dollhouse, he's so, so fucking tiny.

[breakaleginhalf]

[Sorry, he's being distracted by Semantics and Bugsy Being Wrong.]

I dunno why Darklings were teaching you, my dude, that is one hundred percent Fairest. I think it's part of the whole Reflections set.

[push_that_pesticide]

Because it's a light thing. Mirrors and shit operate on light, and Darkling magic is all about the manipulation of light. The fuck are you talking about- Fairest magic is about charming people.

[breakaleginhalf]

Dude, my Durance was with two of them, you think I don't know how obsessed with being pretty they are? A mirror's like a signature Fairest item, of course they can use them as fucking doors.

[push_that_pesticide]

You know what? I'm texting Coda. They'll know, and they're gonna prove I'm right-

[ He got his network device out and started tapping away. Literally tapping, one finger poke at a time. Someone teach this man how to type on a phone. ]

[breakaleginhalf]

Oh my god.

[He's not wrong, though, is probably the thing, and Gil can't resist scrambling into the nest properly so he can crouch beside Bugsy to read the reply when it comes in.]

[push_that_pesticide]

[ Bugsy tapped out 'hey coda mirror walking is a darkling contract right?' and leaned on Gil's shoulder as he waited for a response. It pinged a moment later- ]

The fuck do they mean it's a Beast contract?!

[breakaleginhalf]

[Gil barks out a laugh. He's not even mad that he's wrong, Bugsy is too.]

What the fuck happened to Contracts in America?!

[push_that_pesticide]

You think this is a fuckin' regional thing?

[ He tapped back a thank you a moment later, because they did ultimately settle that argument, even if he didn't like their answer. ]

Shit- are there regional differences in contracts? Is that a thing we're dealing with now?

[breakaleginhalf]

I mean, it's gotta be, right? [He drops on his ass and leans against the wall, leaving a leg pressed against Bugsy again. His thighs are thick enough to be an armrest.] How else is mirror walking a Beast thing and not Fairest? Shit, what d'you think that'd even count as, Den? It's not Fang and Talon, that's for fucking sure.

[push_that_pesticide]

I don't know what the fuck either of those things are. If it's Beast, then it has to be a Steed contract. The fuck is 'Fang and Talon'?

[breakaleginhalf]

[Gil throws his arms out in empassioned idiotic outrage.]

The fuck is Steed? Oh my god. What d'you call Ogre contracts, then?

[push_that_pesticide]

I'm not a fuckin Ogre, why would I- wall or shield, I think? Fuck me- how the hell did we just never know y'all weird ohssies call them different names? I swear I've met changelings from other places before.

[breakaleginhalf]

It's Ozzy, fuck you. [eat shit bugsy] And they're like- Stone and, and Oathbreaker or some shit, I don't even have any-- why the fuck should I know, I don't exactly have a fucking excess of American Changelings to ask, you and Coda are the first I've ever fucking asked about this.

[push_that_pesticide]

I fuckin' said ohzzie!

[ Because that was the important bit. He lightly shoved against Gil's shoulder. ]

Well, it's weird. I dunno if we have different contracts or not, but the fact y'all call them different things is really, really weird.

[breakaleginhalf]

[One of Gil's ears visibly twitches in annoyance.]

Yeah, like. I guess they do the same thing? I've got one for just getting stronger and one for completely beating the shit out of walls and things, then a couple of Autumn ones.

[push_that_pesticide]

Mine are mostly about staying hidden. Plus a contract to let me climb up walls, plus this-

[ He flopped himself forward, and by the time he hit the bed, he was a mutt that looked very similar to Ms Mojo. He scooted himself to flop his head and front paws in Gil's lap. ]

[breakaleginhalf]

[Admittedly he still jumps when Bugsy suddenly transforms into a fucking dog, but-- honestly it's kind of cute. His ears flick up when Bugsy starts crawling into his lap, though, and his hands rise like he's not sure if he's allowed to touch.]

Uh. Does your... arm...? ...still hurt like this?

[push_that_pesticide]

[ Bugsy tilted his head at Gil, as if asking 'really? You're gonna ask me like this?', but he did have a slight limp, and he tucked his leg under himself to indicate that he probably shouldn't touch it. But Bugsy-dog whined a little, stretching his head up to try and reach Gil's hands. ]

[breakaleginhalf]

...look, I'm just asking. [It was a yes or no question Bugsy you can't be that mad.

But since Bugsy's also reaching up for it, Gil lowers his hands onto his friend's dog head and starts gingerly patting him, rubbing his hand from the mutt's forehead to the back of his neck.

And since he has two hands and it feels weird leaving one hovering, he just rests it on Bugsy's neck, stroking gently with his thumb.

...this feels weirdly intimate.]

[push_that_pesticide]

[ Bugsy let out a sigh and settled in to get comfortable, his eyes shut as he enjoyed the feeling of Gil's hands in his fur.

It was probably kind of weird. It was almost definitely kind of weird- but he couldn't bring himself to care. His tail wagged lazily in delight, and he let out a couple of low, happy whines. ]

[breakaleginhalf]

[ It's definitely weird, but Gil feels like some kind of recompense is owed for that bite, so. Awkward petting it is.

His hands don't stay in the one spot the whole time; after a minute or two he shifts and puts both hands on Bugsy's neck, using his thumbs to gently massage the bases of his ears. And if he likes that, he'll shift his hands up to cup his whole ears and massage them in his palms.]

[push_that_pesticide]

[ Oh yeah, that's the stuff. Bugsy's hind leg thumped against the bed, and his mouth fell open into a pleased looking smile in the way dogs did. He could get used to this, his tail also thumping against pillows as his wagging picked up the pace. ]