DataBurst IC Inbox

[sharpshooting_sawbones]

[ Patty's rich, smoky voice crackles through the line as you ring through to her voicemail. ]

If you have this number, you know what to do.


---


[ Alternatively, Patty's inbox $Alex_Hawthorne is always open. ]

Comments

$mephistopheles

[pompoused]

i don't know how i have this number and i don't know what to do help?!

Re: $mephistopheles

[sharpshooting_sawbones]

If you have this number, you must know what to do, don't play dumb with me.
Now do we have a deal, or not?

[ It was a few steps above answering 'city morgue, you stab 'em we slab 'em', but this could be a bit of a lark, for until he worked out she was fucking with him. ]

Re: $mephistopheles

[pompoused]

[ a deal? already?? oh shit, was he drunk??? ]

uhhh remind me what's on the table?

[sharpshooting_sawbones]

Really? You're going to ask me what's on the table? Again? Wow, should've known you weren't serious.

[ Pause for effect... ]

Forget about it, don't call this number again.

01/26

[datamods]

( In the morning over breakfast, Patty will discover 1 boolean inside her meal. There's no indication of how it got in there, nor can anyone offer an explanation. )

$plaguesurvivor, via text

[nostradamnit]

I am without roommate at this time, if you should ever wish to come visit.

[This message is accompanied by one of those thirst trap photos Artemis taught him how to take.]

[sharpshooting_sawbones]

You have no idea what you do to me.
But- to pump the brakes for just one single moment before I get my things and come over- does this mean you're willing to reconsider my offer for you to move in with me?
Actually- no need to answer that now, we can talk over dinner. I'm on my way.

[nostradamnit]

I have wine here. I will see you soon.

[Mission accomplished. He unlocks the door and leaves it ajar for her before arranging himself on the couch to wait.]

[sharpshooting_sawbones]

[ Patty already had her shoes off and in hand by the time she let herself in to Nosty's apartment, which she ditched and set about undoing her necktie as she crossed the room, settling herself on his hips. ]

Hello, you.

Early May - text; $cosmedic

[redcosmedic]

[ After it became known that people were picking up side effects from whatever their duplicates had experienced, Knock Out sends Patty a message. ]

I apologize for the probable multiple concussions you may be feeling now.

[sharpshooting_sawbones]

I hadn't thought that I'd drunk enough to feel this hungover.
Am I to assume you had something to do with it?
Not a complaint, I only wish I'd taken care of my others before they'd become an issue for others, and you have my sincere apologies for any harm or insult they caused you.

[redcosmedic]

Yes, I may have introduced your alternate to the nearest brick wall at a high velocity... more than once... when she rather tenaciously insisted I was a programmed drone.

But that is not your responsibility to apologize for.

[sharpshooting_sawbones]

Oh- by the Architect, of course one of them did. It was the one in armour, wasn't it?
I have to disagree there- if I'd been paying closer attention, then I could've intervened before they became problems. I have to take responsibility for the messes they caused.
Please, do let me know if there's any way I can apologise on her behalf, beyond having put a bullet in her skull for you.

[firewalled]

[Why hello Patty, did you know it was Mother's Day?

You may have forgotten until a tray piled high with French toast (vanilla cardamom, topped with syrup, almonds, and whipped cream), a fruit smoothie, and a single rose in a vase floats in to your room. Rich is taking advantage of his new mist form, it seems.

There's also a gift wrapped in glittery purple paper, which reveals, when opened, a music box Rich tracked down at the mall. Rich sets this down and tries to tiptoe out of the room.]

[sharpshooting_sawbones]

[ She had not, in fact, realised it was mother's day. There was a couple of moments of sleepy confusion after Rich had left as she took a sip of the smoothie and unwrapped the present. It dawned on her when she saw what the gift was- she beamed wide, calling out- ]

Rich Goranski, don't you do something this sweet and then run off before I can thank you!

[firewalled]

Aw, damn. I've been caught!

[Rich suddenly appears in the bedroom as the mist collects into a single entity, and he gives a sheepish smile at her.]

Just thought I'd do something nice for you. It's Mother's Day, so it's kind of my obligation.

$plaguesurvivor, by text

[nostradamnit]

I may find someplace else to stay for a couple of nights. Rich is mad at me, and I would not like to make him uncomfortable in his own home.

[sharpshooting_sawbones]

[ Patty blinked at the message for a moment or so, face slowly scrunching in concern and confusion. ]

Is everything alright? What happened?

[nostradamnit]

I tried to talk to both Rich and Knock Out on the most recent public message the latter posted, and I think I messed up with both of them. Rich said he regrets allowing me to live with you two.

So for the moment, it will be best if I do not.

action, as per usual

[firewalled]

[When Rich is excited about something, it isn't hard for the whole apartment to hear about it, so Patty is well aware of both Rich's newfound power and his plan to get information.

She shouldn't be surprised when he bursts in through the door a few days after his post to the network, all flustered and vibrating with adrenaline.]

Mom! Mom, come here! Check out what I've got!

[sharpshooting_sawbones]

[ Glancing up from the cross-stitch she was working on, Patty beamed, setting it aside and getting up from the couch to intercept him. ]

You're certainly chirpy today. Well? Don't keep me in suspense!

[firewalled]

[Rich gives her a hug, practically vibrating with excitement as he digs into the backpack he's carrying.]

I went looking around and noticed the old post office we have. Snuck in there and I found a bunch of these in the safes.

[He holds up one of the crystals, letting it catch the light.]

Start of June-ish

[breakaleginhalf]

[It's not that Gil's making an active point to stay out of Patty's path. It's just that, well, it's reasonably easy to avoid her, if he doesn't go near the hospital, and he and Rich usually hang out at wrestling or Trojan now since they realised they can just turn one display cubicle into a more dedicated shitty movie clubhouse than the main lounge so he doesn't go by their house as much...

...okay yes he's avoiding Patty. In his defence, he doesn't know if she keeps that fucking SQUIP on her, especially with her million fucking hidden pockets probably, and he doesn't particularly feel like risking it.

Still, that doesn't stop him from generally milling about around Svelte (at least he hasn't gotten injured and required her presence), and despite the fact that ninety percent of shit in the library is thoroughly incomprehensible, he still sometimes takes the time to hang out and see if there's any books with his universe in them. It's something to pass the time between Clarity-shattering events.]

[sharpshooting_sawbones]

[ Patty hadn't been avoiding Gil either, truth be told. She sought him out a couple of times, but after a couple of 'he just left's, Patty worked it out and left him be. Rich was practicing in the apartment, so Patty had gone to the library to sort out some paperwork- mostly for her own benefit, it wasn't like she had any kind of supervisor here. She caught Gil out of the corner of her eye and gave him a small smile, but made no attempt to reach out. Whatever had happened at the end of their last appointment, she couldn't imagine it was fun for Gil, and she wasn't going to push for reconnecting if he wasn't amenable to it. ]

[breakaleginhalf]

[Gil's first instinct is to tense when he glances up and spots Patty giving him that little acknowledgement: it's not a huge reaction, mostly just an uncertain flick of his ears and a slight, unconscious tense of his shoulders, but the latter is probably something the observant Patty won't miss.

Still, he makes the effort to lift a hand and give a vague wave of acknowledgement with his grimace reciprocated little half-smile.]