ic contact;

[psycholawgy]

You've reached Athena Cykes. I'm currently unavailable, but leave a message and I'll get back to you pronto. Danke! (voice/call → text → video → action)

Comments

action; we're due for some

[dishonorstudent]

[ Ryuko knocks on the door to Athena's room. It's not strange to find it shut sometimes as Athena is always plotting some kind of surprise for her or somebody else, but it has been closed a lot more these past few days... ]

Oi... you in there?

[psycholawgy]

Hold on!

[ Athena calls out to Ryuko from inside her room, although her voice is weak and a bit strained. It only takes a second or two before Athena answers the door, opening it halfway. ]

Hey there. What's happening?

[dishonorstudent]

[ Ryuko wanted to see how Athena is doing, but asking her these things is like nailing jello to a wall. She knows Athena would just dismiss any issue that revolves around her, so Ryuko will need to do some lying herself: ]

...Can't get the DVD player working.

[psycholawgy]

It is?

[ That's no good. If it's broken, then they'd have to buy another one. Athena's sure the warranty of the one that came along with their apartment's long done. ]

Have you tried punching it?

[dishonorstudent]

I can't tell whether you're askin' me if I broke it or tried to fix it.

[ Good thing it isn't broken at all. But... she can still huff about it. ]

[psycholawgy]

isn't that what everybody else would ask first? 'Have you punched it yet?'

[ Oh well. Seems like Ryuko hasn't done it yet, so she'll go check out the player! ]

So, what's wrong with it? [ Presses on the remote to switch it on. ]

[dishonorstudent]

[ Well, since there's nothing wrong with it and Ryuko didn't really prepare for this at all, the remote naturally switches it on as one would expect. ]

Oh... Heh, look at that. You fixed it. Pretty weird, huh?

[ ... ]

[psycholawgy]

Maybe we should change the batteries just in case.

[ So Ryuko can watch Finding Nemo without having to think the dvd is busted. THIS IS CLEARLY WHY RYUKO SEEMS SO CONCERNED OVER THE PLAYER. ]

[dishonorstudent]

[ Ryuko nods in agreement, why the hell not. When she returns with spare batteries, she gestures for Athena to open it up so Ryuko can place the new ones in. ]

Batteries, huh... who knew... [ She says it pleasantly enough, but it's clear that something is bothering her. ]

It would be nice if we could fix our friends as easily as this. Just... take out all the bad things, and replace 'em with new and better ones.

[psycholawgy]

[ They are wasting perfectly fine batteries THIS IS WHY THEY ARE POOR. Athena switches the old batteries with the new ones with no idea that there really isn't a need for it.

Ryuko's comment about friends is pretty funny, though. Athena thought the same way when she was younger. ]

Just plug them in and delete all corrupt data! Something like that, right?

[ Then again, her friends were mostly robots. . . ]

[dishonorstudent]

Well, first you would need to know which of the data is corrupt. It doesn't help that sometimes it's pretending like it ain't there.

But it is. [ She's glaring at you, roomie. ]

[psycholawgy]

[ This isn't going to be a talk about data, is it? ]

... Where are you getting at?

[dishonorstudent]

You've been actin' weird ever since the blizzard, Athena. You must think I'm a crappy friend if ya expect me to just let it slide.

[psycholawgy]

... Acting weird? I haven't been acting we— Name one instance of me acting weird!

[dishonorstudent]

Why don't we just ask Widget?

[ Ryuko pokes Widget. Come on, stupid machine. ]

[psycholawgy]

[ The machine has bested you, Ryuko. He stays silent. ]

[dishonorstudent]

Oh, great, you're both workin' together on this one.

Why do I even bother?!

[psycholawgy]

Maybe you're the one who's acting weird!

[dishonorstudent]

Ugh! Have it your way. I'm going for a grocery run.

[ Fed up with being treated like a kid again, Ryuko storms off to the door that leads to the hallway and opens it, but stops to add something before she leaves the apartment. ]

Text me your shopping list. Or not. Maybe I'm just "weird"!

[ SLAMS DOOR. Ahh, sisters... ]

[psycholawgy]

[ ... What does that even mean.

Unfortunately (???), Athena doesn't need any groceries today. ]