shellphones | (no subject)

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(no subject)

Type: Accidental Video
Sender ID: 🖕nunya🖕(Sidestep)
To: Public
Subject:
Warnings: Mention of death and torture. Threads are likely to end up going deeply traumatic places.

(It's a typical day on Nogard, though many people who see this might be elsewhere.

Many have probably heard by now that Chris is dead. Has been dead for several days, in fact, after being captured and tortured by Ganon.

Except... they're not?

That's definitely a shot of a very panicked looking Chris running... somewhere, not paying attention to the shellphone clutched in their hand or noticing that it's recording.

Several people can be heard yelling in surprise in the background as Chris darts past them.

...The fuck are they even running from? It doesn't sound like they're being chased.

The hand holding the shellphone bumps into something, and the video cuts out.)

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Take your time getting there. I'm totally free.

[ She's willing to wait as long as it takes, for them. ]

Whatever. You try giving up your ring of returning to save someone.

(Well, they might have taken that the wrong way. But still, they'll arrive.

Oh, look, they have a new scar. It looks like the veins in the spot Ganon touched in that video of him torturing them are all stained with gloom.)

Edited 2025-08-20 14:35 (UTC)

[ She'd been leaning on the wall, and now she pushes herself off to look right at him.

Deep breath. Okay, here we go. ]

... If you wanna talk about it, we can talk. If you wanna pretend nothing happened, we can never mention it. If you want a hug, I'll hold you tight and never let go. If you want me to keep my distance, I'll watch every inch. Whatever you want right now... whatever you need... that's what I'll do.

(They frown, looking away.)

I don't know what I want. (They're only admitting it to push her away. All this concern, what do they even do with it?

...This isn't what was supposed to happen. They should be hated, right?)

... Well, does that apply to the snacks too? Cause I don't mind ordering a little bit of everything. I've got a solid 9-to-5 now, so I can afford going nutty with the treats.

[ She tilts her head, offering a small smile. ]

I have money too.

(Only part of their treasure was stored on Ganon's ship. They don't need charity.

~~Ordering everything does sound really good.~~)

[ Half-shrug, still keeping calm and cool. Whatever barb he throws, she can handle. He's more than earned the right to have attitude. ]

Then let's go spend it. I really enjoyed all the stuff we got here last time. You've got a good eye for snacks.

...Yeah.

(They've been stubbornly doing their best to avoid food, and this was clearly a mistake, because it has weakened their resolve.

Still, they won't thank her as they head inside.)

[ Be as rude as you want, buddy, she ain't going anywhere.

She cheerfully orders at least two of as much as she can see - yeah, he said he can pay, but why not have a little extra? ]

Wanna sit in the same spot we hit up before, or go somewhere else?

(Della has the patience of a saint, and Chris is going to test it to its limits, probably.)

Sure. (They're not really up for finding somewhere else to go.

The person working the counter seems happy to see them. They probably don't know about the death, but Chris had been off on missions for a while even before that. Chris mostly just nods along, quiet and sullen, before they order an absolute mountain of foods of every type. Savory, sweet, experimental... they love their pastries.)

[ She makes up for Chris' sullen silence by being chatty with the employee, complimenting them and thanking them, wishing them a good day once everything's said and done. She doesn't even wait to leave before unwrapping one and chowing down.

Back outside, Della heads to the same spot they went to before. ]

Guess we can call this "our spot" now. Now if we ever need to meet up for secret stuff, we can just go, "meet me at the spot!"

(They snort, briefly.)

Sure, if we meet up again. (Bitter. Doubtful. She's only still here because every Human shaped thing is hideous to her.

Can't really be a uniquely disgusting monster when everyone is a disgusting monster.)

Edited 2025-08-24 12:18 (UTC)

"If"? Why wouldn't we meet up again? I like you, and I enjoy spending time with you.

[ She knows that might be an emotional trigger, but at the same time, she doesn't want her friend to think otherwise. ]

(They flinch.)

Do you actually know what happened?

... No. Only bits and pieces. And I don't feel comfortable judging any book without reading the whole thing from cover to cover.

You can tell me everything, you can tell me nothing. I'm not going to force you to make a decision... I have a feeling you've had more than enough of people doing that to you for a lifetime.

Yeah, well. (They'll take a seat and not look at her.)

I guess it's hard to be grossed out when everyone's a gross monkey anyway.

[ She chuckles as she sits across from him. ]

Well, that's the funny thing... after spending so much time among all these gross monkeys... they start looking a little less gross.

... Besides, fish will always be the grossest things in existence.

(They flinch.)

I was made in a lab, Della.

(Which might not seem related to any of the stuff that happened if she didn't watch the video or understand the markings.

They remember something about how everyone is technically just really weird land dwelling fish. Do the rules of evolution still apply in Della's universe?

...She's probably racist towards fish people or something.)

Edited 2025-08-27 13:29 (UTC)

[ By now, she's opened one of the bags and start to take some of the pastries out.

She doesn't seem surprised by the news... but that might be because - ]

I've got family that was made in a lab. She's a little nutty, but a good kid. Reminds me of myself at that age, actually.

(And they're not even sure what to say to that, so instead they just start on the pastries, shoving a garlic knot into their mouth like someone who has never heard of table manners, though they manage to be, perhaps surprisingly, neat about it. Like someone who has had a lot of practice eating as though they've never heard of table manners.

Eventually, when they've finished the pastry, they'll continue.)

Yeah, well, really didn't plan to be outed to the whole network by Ganon.

[ Her expression saddens at that, and she interlocks her fingers, looking down. ]

... I knew he was bad news. He had some... weird cat monsters attack a friend of mine. But... I was being naive. I didn't go after him, I didn't tell people about it, I just... assumed... I dunno, I thought the rules of my world would apply here too.

... That he would be stopped before things... got this bad. That the good guys would always march in and save the day, and...

[ She runs a hand down her face, making herself stop. ]

... But this isn't about me. I just wish... I could have been there for you.

(They snort, and it's a good thing they'd already finished their pastry because otherwise they'd have probably choked on it.

It's not a happy snort. In fact, their eyes appear to be tearing up, because yeah, wouldn't it be nice if things worked out like that? If heroes weren't just an illusion that helped sustain the horrible, oppressive systems that created and abused them and countless others?)

Why? (Would she want to be there for them?)

... I feel like I've said this before, but let's go through it again.

I'll give you a list of reasons. You won't believe any of them. You think you're unlovable, and or I'm just a foolish woman with too big of a heart. You're convinced you'll drive me away - either by your actions or your attitude. You may even try to do it on purpose, thinking you're saving us both heartache, but really just make things worse.

But I'll keep coming back, over and over, with a hand out for you. I'm stubborn, in case you haven't noticed.

(And then she does this and they want to tell her to stop, nevermind, change the subject actually! They were trying to avoid talking about "heroes" and how even Della's world probably doesn't really work like that for people who aren't rich explorers, only to stumble into something worse!

Panic seizes them then, breath constricting, eyes darting around as though looking for a way out. What does she even know? She wasn't there, she didn't see what happened with their powers. What they can do.

Does she even know they have powers?

They're hyperventilating.)

[ Well, that's definitely off script! Her eyes pop, and she is instantly out of her chair, at his side, hands out but not touching him in case that would make things worse. ]

Whoa, whoa, whoa! Deep breathes! I-I'm sorry, I don't know what I did, but... just focus on getting air in and out, and then you can tell me what to do...