IC Inbox

[heerequeerandfulloffear]

"This is Jeremy. Michael, if this is you, just text me already. You know I don't answer my phone."

[Voice, Text, Video, and Action are all acceptable.]

Comments

text;

[firewalled]

[On one of the evenings in the house Rich shares with his friends, about a week after the disaster that was the fight against the SQUIP, Rich has finally decided the silence has lasted long enough. Everyone's been trying to help, while also trying desperately to keep to themselves, resulting in no one really accomplishing anything besides hiding out.

Rich has never been good at walking on eggshells, no matter how much he did it at his old house. So when he knows Jeremy and Michael are in their (now shared) room, he sends them both a text.]

hey
incoming foreboding message in 3

2

1

we need to talk
any chance i can come see you guys in your room?

text;

[twoplayergay]

Not really nailing it on the making it less spooky my dude but yeah come in. Is everything ok?

[heerequeerandfulloffear]

[Jeremy shrugs himself up on the foot of Michael's bed, where he's been idly trying to make light projections on the ceiling. He can do magic now. Did anyone know that? It's true.

He sees Michael's text as soon as he sends it so he doesn't respond to the message. Instead, he throws Michael a little grimace that says "please tell me that disaster is not incoming or else I'll proceed to panic mode."]

[firewalled]

yeah all good
i think thingsll be better if i explain though so one sec

[A few moments later, there's a soft tap on the door before Rich opens the door the rest of the way, smiling and giving an appreciative whistle at Jeremy's little light display.]

Hey, you're getting pretty good at that.

[twoplayergay]

[Michael smiles warmly at Jeremy, pulling him in by the shoulders for a side-hug, complete with gentle noogie]

He's probably worried about us-

[And speak of the devil there's the man himself. Michael turns his smile up to Rich, it being a little nervous then, but not too bad.]

What's the haps, dude?

[heerequeerandfulloffear]

[Jeremy's face is already reddening, starting at the tips of his ears and working his way in. His natural bashfulness and urge to hide everything disappears, although his distraction makes the magic waver and blip out before Rich can get a close look at it.

Jeremy's still got an ugly instinct to jerk away from Michael when anyone else sees them together, but Jeremy stamps that impulse down and nestles into Michael's side defiantly. He gives Rich a hint of a frown.]

Is everything okay?

[firewalled]

[Rich only looks a little disappointed when the magic fades away, moving to sit at the corner of the bed Jeremy and Michael are huddled on. He brushes his hair back from his face and gives then a wry grin.]

I mean, since when has 'everything' been okay since that mess? I'm just happy both of you are safe now. And I guess I just wanted to talk to you guys, make sure you didn't have any questions or anything... and then see if there's a way to make sure both of you still stay safe after this. But I'm getting ahead of myself.

[twoplayergay]

Doesn't sound like getting ahead to me- keeping you dudes safe is exactly my priority.

[he shrugs and turns to smile at the clinging Jeremy, putting an arm around him in a gesture of comfort, and to show him he's glad that Jeremy didn't snap away to pretend they hadn't been basically cuddling a moment ago. Progress! Or something.]

Something specific on your mind? I mean, I guess a lot happened... So that's not a super useful question but... [Rubs at his nose under his glasses.] I'm sorry you were here and dealing with the SQUIP by yourself for so long, dude.

text;

[firewalled]

[It's been quieter in the cottage in the days since the masquerade, and it's obviously not hard to guess the reason. Rich had shown them the mirror shards left over from Justine's disappearance, and then had kept to himself. The flowers in the vase on the dining room table eventually disappear, the water no longer enchanted to keep them blooming, and they're pressed in the pages of a notebook Jeremy may find accidentally left on the table.

Rich doesn't say anything about it, not until a few days later, when he messages Jeremy seemingly out of the blue, though it doesn't take quantum processing to figure out his motives.]

hey heere
do you remember when i talked to you and michael about bonds?
did you ever end up bonding with anyone after that?

[heerequeerandfulloffear]

[Jeremy hasn't gotten close to Justine, but he notices her absence as much as anyone would.

Jeremy's first reaction is jealousy but he keeps it to himself. He's been doing that a lot lately--he can tell when to keep his mouth shut. Plus, the depression is rolling off Rich in waves ever since.]

...no

where would I even find someone?

christine is gone.

[Or, technically, Christine is still there and the rest of them are gone.]

[firewalled]

you could have asked michael
and honestly you should

in the meantime though
could you do me a huge favour?
i know things have been tense between us and idk if asking this would even help but

[heerequeerandfulloffear]

yeah

??

[Jeremy's got a guess as to what Rich means, but if there's any chance that he's off-base, he can't say a word on it. Besides, no matter what Rich is asking for, the answer has to be yes.]

text > action

[firewalled]

okay one sec

[Rich could ask this behind the safety of a screen, but he really wants to see Jeremy's reaction for himself, just to make sure this is okay... so after a few minutes of psyching himself up, he somehow makes the trek across the hallway and taps on the door to Jeremy's room.]

Heere? It's me.

[heerequeerandfulloffear]

[Jeremy opens the door enough to peek his head out. He exits, closing it softly behind him.

No matter what Rich is here about, it's important.]

Are you sure you want me, Rich?

[firewalled]

Oh... you already guessed, huh? I'm not goot at being subtle...

[He sighs and scratches absently at a patch of scales, avoiding eye contact.]

Number one: I'm a monster and you're a witch. That's the best type of Bond you can get to stop me from going feral and you from overloading on magic. Number two: I know it hasn't happened for you yet, but we're... close in my world. There isn't anyone else I'd trust over you. We're like brothers.

Brothers through mutual torture and hatred, but... brothers.

...Number three: You shouldn't have any reason to think I wouldn't want a Bond with you. No matter what the voice in your head says.

[heerequeerandfulloffear]

[Jeremy meant, literally, why would Rich want to talk to him, but wow, there's his most intimidating suspicions confirmed already.

He doesn't stop himself from stepping backward and bumping into the door with his shoulder, but he at least tries to think over how he reacts vocally.]

You. You think that--you want to do that with me?

[He swallows.]

Are you sure you don't want...

[He jerks his head toward the door, indicating the actual owner of his current bedroom.]

around the 10th? also text

[plasticasshole]

Hi Jeremy, it's Connor. Can we talk?

[heerequeerandfulloffear]

[Jeremy already has the sudden, irrational fear that he's getting broken up with before logic kicks in.]

hi connor!

yeah what's up?? where have you been

[It's a genuinely innocent question.]

[plasticasshole]

Well, the incident involving the SQUIP took a physical toll on me... and after that I was injured again. Losing too much thirium- that is, blood- slows me down, so I was housebound for a little while until Justine could make more.

I was at the masquerade, but I must have missed you.

Can we speak in person? I should probably mention that it's about the SQUIP, so if that's not something you're comfortable discussing I'll understand.

[heerequeerandfulloffear]

wow

ok

uh wow. sorry dude i had no idea

it's ok if I tell michael and rich where i'm going, right??

because in that case yes

[plasticasshole]

Of course, though I can't imagine Rich will be too happy to know I want to talk to you.

[Rich is very protective of his friends.]

I'll meet you outside my house.

[heerequeerandfulloffear]

[That's a bad sign, but it's not a touchy subject between him and Rich yet, so Jeremy doesn't argue. He sends off the text and pockets his watch.

Jeremy's there in a quarter hour or so, giving himself time to clean himself up but still showing up at Connor's door apologetically.]

...Hey. What's going on? Is the SQUIP hurting you?

[plasticasshole]

[Connor gives Jeremy a smile, having waited outside his door rather than make Jeremy knock. He does gesture for him to come inside, though. It's cold, and even if Connor only feels it when it gets extreme he knows Jeremy will feel it.]

No, it isn't. Don't worry.

[He closes the door behind them and rubs his hands together, more an idle gesture than a sign he's cold.]

It's... well, I need advice, I guess.

[His eyes fall on Jeremy, and he looks oddly tired despite his nature as an artificial being.]

I'm sure you know by now that I'm Bonded to the SQUIP. The issue is that I've been reconsidering that.

[His hand finds the silver ring hung on a thin chain around his neck. He hasn't been able to take it off... not yet.]

I want to make my own decision of course, but it helps me to talk with people. And you were its user once.

[Bonded, in a sense, before even coming here.]

...Is this conversation still okay with you?

[He doesn't want Jeremy to feel awkward... well, more awkward than usual.]

Modranicht gift

[thejoyrider]

[The package left on his doorstep contains a plate of homemade cookies from Marie and a fresh lily flower.

“Happy Holidays! We are not friends yet but I hope we can become friends in the coming year.” is what the attached note says]

modranicht gift;

[wiggleon]

[Jeremy, being Rich's bonded and also his friend, is definitely on Aziraphale's list of gifts to give. Which is probably good news, but considering Aziraphale's taste for gifts is also probably bad news.

So, yeah. At least he gifts with lots of love. There's also a note to go with it, thanking him for being a good friend to Rich and signed, so he knows who the gift is from.]