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

1/18 | audio

[swordboning]

...I'm probably going to need your help at some undisclosed point in the future.

[psycholawgy]

Are you alright? What happened?

TEXT // 1.22

[codere]

I know we aren't really friends or whatever.
I need you to watch over Archer in case something bad happens.

You can be my emergency contact for these kind of things, right ??

[psycholawgy]

[ oh, they're not friends???? athena sure thought otherwise. ]

Archer told me you were working on something.
And you can count on me.
Just be safe, alright?

audio

[cardboard_journalism]

[well, you asked for it]

[Myriam will make updates every hour to Athena starting from when they last talked]

[1]

Athena! Scuttlebutt here. I'm... walking home now. I'm making this call as I'm walking... I don't think I'm being followed... yet. I'll let you know!

[2]

Athena! It's Scuttlebutt. I got home. Printing press seems... okay. I unplugged it and checked all the parts just to be sure. I'm... actually in the middle of finishing this up when I realized it'd been about an hour. Still! It's a relief... Kahk-kahk-kahk... I'll call back, I gotta have my full concentration for this.

[3]

Athena! Scuttlebutt! I made myself some cup ramen noodles for dinner. Did you like the flavor I got you...? It's all I eat! If there's one thing they teach you in undercover reporter school, it's learning how to take your meals when you get them, y'know? Sss, sss, sss!

Anyway! It's getting kinda late. So I think I'll get some sleep soon. I won't be able to call you with another update until morning... because I'll be asleep.

[4]

Athena?? Scuttlebutt! I... woke up in the middle of the night... I haven't turned any lights on because I didn't want to possibly alert anyone watching me that I'm awake. ...Why would anyone do this, y'think? Shifting us into ViViD like that...

I try to avoid games like that, because it takes time away from journalism and working on the paper, but but I might have to if they're gonna threaten to hit us with things like that. Kahk kahk kahk... maybe I can pay someone to do it for me...?

...anyway, gonna go back to sleep.

[5]

Athena?? It's Scuttlebutt...

I had the weirdest dream! It was me... and I'm trying to put together the latest paper... and I'm folding the paper and I'm folding the paper... and then! SCREAM! All the words on the newsprint jump off the pages and start running away! And I'm, like: "Nooooooo!!"

Kahk kahk kahk...

...I woke up sorta sweaty. I'm gonna shower and maybe get something to eat.

[6]

Hello, Athena? Myriam Scuttlebutt here! I picked out my box for the day, and I'm about to head out the door for my job! Gotta pay the bills somehow, am I right?? Sss, sss, sss!

...I'll let you know if anyone's following me!

[7]

A-Athena?? Myriam here! There was... some... guy... he sorta looked at me funny as I was walking to work! I ran as fast as I could... I think I lost him.

Kahk kahk kahk kahk...

A-anyway, I'm fine I just... got really scared for a second! Maybe if you get a break you can come by the store and we'll talk...? My supervisor's sorta lax with me as long as there aren't customers piling up.

[etc.]

[etc.]

[etc.]

audio;

[cardboard_journalism]

[8]

Athena! Scuttlebutt here. I'm on break, in the break room. No one else is around, so I thought this was a good time to call. Everything seems okay... but I'm watching the register a lot more closlier. I'll let you know if something's suspicious.

I guess you're at work too? Good luck!

[9]

Athena! Scuttlebutt. Business is sorta slow. I guess... people don't need so many notebooks right now? Kahk kahk kahk...

I put in orders for more newsprint for the next edition. Should have enough, even if it doesn't arrive in time. I'll let you know if it doesn't.

[10]

Athena, it's Scuttlebutt. My supervisor let me take my lunch, so I'm back in the break room having lunch. Ramen noodles, you know? Sss, sss, sss!

--No one else is here, which I'm sorta grateful for.

...

So, yeah.

I'll get back to you again later!

[11]

Athena!! It's Myriam Scuttlebutt here. You know, I'm starting to think maybe this store is operating at a loss? At least today... maybe. If you added up people's paychecks...

...wait, I shouldn't say that out loud, someone might hear me! Kaaaaaaaahk!! N-nevermind!

[12]

Hey Athena! It's Myriam Scuttlebutt. I just clocked out, thought I'd swing by to pick up dinner and then head home...

...but I'm actually still kinda freaked out about that guy I saw on the way here, so I think I'll just get in the train and go home.

Thanks again for... y'know, wanting to make sure I'm okay... Kahk kahk kahk...

... [long pause]

You know... you were right back then. About... me... wanting in on Juniper, Robin, and Hugh's trio. I... I guess that's why you're the star psychological defense attorney. Ha ha ha... kaaaaahk.

I... I never meant to hurt Juniper or anything... Really!! She just... y'know, she was Student Council President, and I started writing about her with some mildly critical articles... which... she ignored. So-- I, y'know, tried upping the ante a bit. Calling her motivations into question, speculating about favoritism with decisions the council made...

...but nothing worked. She was beyond responding to anything like that, I guess. In retrospect, it was probably the right decision for her, but... it made me a little desperate.

Soon it all snowballed and I was freely referring to her as "she-devil," in every article where she was mentioned.

[long sigh, a few short, sad "kahks"]

I'm... sorry. Looking back, it's so easy to see I had really gone too far...

But, all I could think with each new article was: "What's wrong with this girl?? Why can't she just notice me?! What's it gonna take?"

... I guess it took a big trial. Haaa ha ha...

--Gawd, if there's one thing I wish I could take back, it's ever thinking Professor Means was a good person with good ideas...

T-Though, you know, I really was in Themis legitimately. I'm not secretly 25 or anything. No way! Sss, sss, sss, sss!

...

Well, I'm at the station... I'm gonna be in stealth mode, so I'll just end this call here.

Thanks again, Athena! You're a good.... friend.

...bye!!

[that's the last message before the phase iii part of the event happens, during which she doesn't call again]

[psycholawgy]

[ Each of the first few messages get a "thanks for the update, Myriam! I'm fine back here, and xxx (her own status goes here; nothing bad, mostly mundane things)" text. But Athena only responds with a "You're welcome. :)" come the twelfth voice mail.

She was anticipating more messages come the next day, but she gets nothing, and is consequently worried.

Myriam will have received a ton of "where are you?" texts, each getting progressively violent-sounding until she replies. ]

text; the night of the fight

[shikisha]

[ After this Nonon grabs her phone and texts Athena for Ryuko. ]

Hey you can come back whenever you want.
Ryuko sat on her phone and broke it so I had to text you.
And I guess we're both sorry about that at dinner.
She was being stupid and we worked it out.

[ She doesn't say how they worked it out, or anything more than that, assuming Athena would ask if she wanted to know... even though Nonon is certain she will figure it out. ]

[ TEXT ]

[bakudanma]

_{[ it's been awhile since he's checked in with you, and a few days after the glitches, he decides to contact Athena. He's been a shut in himself, but is finally branching out and talking to people again. ]}

Athena-dono. I'm making sure things are safe on your part.
_{[ athena-dono tho.. ]}

[psycholawgy]

Hi Katsura! Thank you for checking in on me. :)
I was stuck in ViViD for a little bit, but thankfully, nothing bad happened apart from a couple of injuries.
Have you been safe?

text;

[projections]

athena
can we meet up sometime
theres something i need to give you

[psycholawgy]

Hi, Shirou. :)
I'm free tonight.
Where would you like to meet?

voice;

[feytality]

[After the Von Karma thing:]

Don't do it, Athena! He'll electrocute you!

[psycholawgy]

What?

... What?!

audio; backdated to 1/25 [before the event]

[cardboard_journalism]

[this was too much of a potential scoop to NOT pass up, but she felt like letting others in. "Safety in numbers," and all that.]

Athena! It's Scuttlebutt. How've you been? Sss, sss, sss!

Well, enough chit-chat! Have you heard the news? CERES is taking sign-ups for people to visit their offices! Can you believe that?? There's sure to be something to find out there!

Let me know if you're planning on going too! I've already put in my name!

[click]

[psycholawgy]

[ Athena returns the call a few minutes later. ]

Hey! I'm definitely going. [ In fact, she's getting ready right now. ]

Getting into their offices is something I've been wanting to do for a while now.

[1/29] [text;]

[cardboard_journalism]

Athena?

Are you all right?

[psycholawgy]

Hi Myriam :) I'm fine, I need a lot of bedrest, though.

action;

[swordboning]

[After a couple days with no response from Athena, Archer shows up on her doorstep in his spare time. Without any remorse, he just walks into the apartment. If it's locked, he just as easily picks it.]

Athena.

[psycholawgy]

[ She's eating breakfast, there's a crutch resting by her chair. There are bandages on her legs. ]

Oh, hey, Archer.

2/1 [text]

[cardboard_journalism]

Hello Athena.

Are you still resting?

I'm sorry about Ryuko.

You want me to bring anything?

[she was secretly hoping she wasn't breaking this particular news to Athena as well for fear of going through what she was going through with Nonon]

[psycholawgy]

I'm fine... Leia healed me, but the thing about Ryuko still bothers me.
I'm going to get to the bottom of this at some point, so, just wait and see.
I'd like to be alone right now, though, but thank you.

text

[projections]

athena thanks for inviting me over the other night
looks like i owe you another one

[psycholawgy]

You don't have to thank me, silly ;)

voice;

[kirkwalled]

Hey.

[ ughhhh what is she doing here ]

Serah Blackquill thanked me for helping you but I haven't heard anything from you.

[ hawke that's not how you ask someone how they are ]

voice;

[psycholawgy]

[ wat. ]

Serah...?

text: 2/4 IC

[babermetrics]

yo Athena! i got the right number right lol

[psycholawgy]

No, this is Patrick. You got the wrong number.

text 2/6

[cardboard_journalism]

Athena?

Do you mind if I ask you a strange question?

[you know, as opposed to all her normal questions]

[psycholawgy]

Hey, Myriam!
What's up?

action;

[shikisha]

After knocking on Athena's door for what felt like an hour (2 minutes) she realizes that the other girl might not be there anymore. So she instead finds the Blackgill (that's the name right?) apartment and bangs on that instead. She's got a bag with her, trying not to look down into it at the moment.

Hey, Athena!

[psycholawgy]

[ Well, it's she who answers the door and not Blackquill. She may or may not be looking a little more stressed than usual. ]

Hey, Nonon. What's up?

text 2/09

[emotive]

Athena, you're not going to be living with Simon are you? If you are, I understand!

(๑˃̵ᴗ˂̵)و

(๑˃̵ᴗ˂̵)و

[psycholawgy]

We're not MARRIED!! I'm just staying with him until Ryuko comes back, gosh!

action; EVENT TIME idek

[feytality]

[So, Tellus is glitching, again. Weird things are happening! Sensations and whatnot! What are these two girls doing?]

[they're going to work, like usual. Maya's dressed up with a cat ear headband today, and she's.. goofing off, as per usual.]

Do you think I could become a cat burglar without this outfit?

[why is she talking, her mouth is numb...]

[psycholawgy]

[ athena looks frazzled and doesn't look like she hasn't slept in days. so she's MORE THAN JUST FINE!!! really!! ]

Wha- What?! I'LL ARREST YOU!

[ says the cosplayer wearing dog ears. also, that may have been a bit more loud than usual. why? so she can get rid of the song in her head, of course. ]

Special Delivery!! - 2/14

[serving_love]

[It's been awhile since they last talked, but that doesn't mean Sanji can't still get Athena something for Valentine's Day! Or make her something, rather.

This is one holiday where he doesn't hold back. He's made all sorts of chocolates with little swirly designs on them because they match his eyebrow. And, of course, you have to have flowers. Just a small bouquet, held together with a red ribbon.

There's a note attached, as well:]

Happy Valentine's Day, Athena-chan~!!

Hope you have a wonderful day! ♡

- Sanji

P.S. Still want to have lunch sometime?

text;

[psycholawgy]

[ woah, this is so sweet! she responds a couple of hours later with a text-- ]

Hi, Sanji!
Thank you for much for the chocolates! Did you make them yourself?
And I've love to have lunch with you! I just don't think it can be a date "date", though, if you know what I mean! :O

Event; 2/20

[emotive]

I'M OKAY
ARE YOU?
WILL BE OUTSIDE FINDING PEOPLE
DO YOU NEED TO BE FOUND

[psycholawgy]

Please don't worry about me! I'm fine and I'm not drowning! Take care of yourself first, ok?

text; midevent

[topscores]

dont get distracted by the dolphins i kno they mite b cute but ppl dont need 2 fish u out of the water

[he's not worried!!!]

[psycholawgy]

[ well, that's one way to check up on her. ]

I HEARD ABOUT THEM BUT DON'T WORRY I'M FINE...
They're so cute though :(

Fire Shrine, Tsunami Event. (Take Your Time!)

[faithfulflame]

[This was the first place in Cerealia that really, truly spoke to Rei. There were other shrines, yes, but they were so utterly devoid of comfort for her that they may as well be holes of darkness. But this place? This felt right. It was a small place, and she'd followed the trail of it all the way here from across the district. The quiet is a welcome change, and that single flame is something to be praised.

At her side is a basket, full of the tools she'd consider necessary for worship. And she's not come alone, not to this place. There is another with her, a friend.]

It feels...pleasant, yes, Athena-chan?

[psycholawgy]

Pleasant's right...

It's totally different from the other places here.

text;

[good_ideas]

question:
did you know that myriam is worried enough about you that shes going to give me ad space for figuring out who threatened you

[She kind of....wasn't supposed to tell, but then she found out there never was anyone threatening her in the first place and well....it made sense to ask what Athena wanted done about all this.]

[psycholawgy]

What??? What's going on?

Text;

[fairbrook]

[Integra isn't entire certain why Athena went silent all of a sudden, but presumed she needed time to process the information presented to her. In any event, the radio silence was beginning to get to her, and she truly did worry for the both of them. So much that she makes a second attempt for this girl to make good on her promise, anyway.]

Do you care to explain the whereabouts of your friend? Truth be told, he worries me.

[psycholawgy]

He's at his apartment.