godmaker | IC inbox | voice-text-video-action

Monsieur Neuvillette?

Ah, it appears to be working now. I wasn't able to message you before, though I am not sure why. A quirk of the app, I suppose.

We need to speak about a matter of grave importance when you are free. Our first conversation felt... a rather inappropriate time to bring it up. I'm sure you would rather I didn't speak to you at all, but I am the only one who remembers... and so it falls to me.

This concerns Azhdaha.

It may be easiest to meet in person. There is something I can give you, in that case.

The hair pieces you requested are ready.

[He attaches a picture. Brass, blue topaz for the jewels, and something unidentifiable for the scale-like formations on the main piece. It's possibly very thinly-cut lapis lazuli.]

Also, I got my hands on a pile of magical ore called iridium. It holds magic better than steel, and it's stronger. It should be suitable for your cane.

[There is no return address on the small blue box, and he certainly doesn't deliver it himself, but it makes its way into Neuvillette's hands through some helpful acquaintances in Undertown. It's very small for a package and wrapped impeccably with fancy silver ribbon. Somehow it escaped being covered in blood the other night.

Inside is a jade bracelet with gold dragon embellishments. It's very old, though it's obviously been maintained.

There is also a note written in ink with a refined flourish, as if the sender is more accustomed to writing letters with a brush rather than a quill or pen.]

Azhdaha wore this for many years. As his next of kin, it rightly belongs to you.

[There is no signature.]

[At some point during the month of December, Neuvillette will receive a package from Blade. It's wrapped tastefully in blue and silver wrap. Inside is an intricate white gold keepsake box inlaid with lapis lazuli and sapphires.

There is also a note:]

Your cane is finished if you want to come by and see it. I wanted to make sure you had something for the holidays, too.

[Zhongli sends an apple basket trimmed with blue ribbon along with a small gift box. Inside is a handmade blue jade and sodalite bracelet. There is a note written in familiar handwriting.]

Blue jade is a stone of dreams and visions, closely connected to both the element of water as well as the moon. Jade is also associated with new beginnings. I hope that next year brings you many blessings.

[Again, there is no signature.]

[The text comes at the appointed time, outside the courthouse:]

Look up and to the left.

[And there’s Edward on the rooftop of a nearby building, waving hello before he jumps off, doing a flip in the air. A few seconds later he pops out of the alleyway with a cheery whistle, none the worse for wear, and jogs up to Neuvillette.]

So I’ve a lovely collection of rings right here in this pouch. [All of them look rather antique, and none of them are bloodstained. Edward checked. He promised Jun he wouldn’t tell Neuvillette shit about his crimes and so he’s been much more careful than he usually is.] Just pick the one you like best.

[ it is close the midnight when furina wakes in a cold sweat, eyes wide and gasping a hand held to her neck. the flower... the flower she bought from the goodwill was supposed to keep nightmares at bay, but it did nothing to stop the dream of that sword hanging above her neck. it hung there for years and years and years growing larger with each passing day, with each trial, all to carry out the greatest sentence of all.

she leaps out of her before she truly realizes it feet carrying her to neuvillette, to the couch they so often find him passed out upon. ]

Neuvi... [ her hands shake as the image of that giant sword hanging flashing across her vision and she reaches down to grab his shoulder, shaking it gently. what good will this do? won't it only make things worse? she shouldn't bother him with such things when so much already sits heavily on his shoulders, she shouldn't ─

but he has always been at her side, always supported her regardless of all her lies, he has always been the solid ground beneath her feet. and now it is crumbling away from beneath her. ]

Edited (words are hard) 2024-02-21 21:55 (UTC)

[ you can find a lot of stuff if you're willing to bribe the right people and creature equivalents to people, you know?

a wicker picnic basket turns up on the Fontaine household's doorstep somewhere in the wee hours of the 21st; don't sic your dog on the moogles, they're only doing what they were paid to do with apple hooch. the inside of the basket is a homesteader's wet dream--several jars of fruit jams, jellies, and preserves, several more jars of pickled vegetables, a half carton of eggs, a couple of bunches of dried herbs, and a whole apple pie with a fancy little lattice on the top are fighting for their lives for space. whoever packed this wouldn't last the winter at Target.

the card on the top is a different story, though; the penmanship is impeccable, like. you could call on a lady with this card, that bitch belongs in a regency museum. somebody made eyes at their boss to use his dip pens, because of course a certain Sparda has dip pens--what erratic rich man doesn't have dip pens? the card reads: ]

Love and harmony combine,
And round our souls entwine
While thy branches mix with mine,
And our roots together join.

A friend of mine says there's a Blake verse for every occasion, and while that's usually just his pretentiousness talking, it probably applies here. Thank you for knocking a few things into perspective for Needlenoggin. He wouldn't have gotten there in my lifetime without the change of view.

I hope your endeavors of the heart are just as kind and fruitful.

Nicholas D. Wolfwood

By the way, the boss suggests hydrangeas for togetherness, freesias for loyalty and friendship, delphinium for chasing dreams, and larkspur for love.

IC inbox | voice-text-video-action | kaisou

text; un: freelancer; slightly backdated to 10/15

text; un: blade

special delivery; 10/22

christmas;

holidays;

text > action

action, feb 18th. roughly midnight.

in the wee hours of February 21st