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

[psycholawgy]

Wait, hold on, don't cry!

[ a deep breath. ]

I'm fine! Mosley didn't hurt me or anything.

[shroudedinsecrecy]

[She paused to take a deep breath. Then another.]

You're...sure you're alright, then?

He really didn't do anything?

[psycholawgy]

He just... stole my money, it's fine! It's not the first time!

[ (sweats profusely...) ]

Besides, it's my fault, anyway...

[shroudedinsecrecy]

[...okay, that was probably true, but right then, all Iris heard was her talking to Mosley = Athena lost money]

...

How much?

[psycholawgy]

Um.

F- F- Five hundred...?

[shroudedinsecrecy]

[!!!]

[Five Hundred]

Athena...

[At first, it looked like she would start crying again, but then:]

I have some credits saved up. Not much...I don't think...but enough.

If you need any, please. Take them.

[psycholawgy]

Hey, hey, it's cool! I can just charge boss for it.

[ she laughs. speaking of phoenix... ]

I'm sorry about what I did.

[shroudedinsecrecy]

[...wait...]

It's...alright... [Athena was getting off so easy thanks to the circumstances surrounding the reveal; Iris had been too upset about the Mosley situation to really even think about how she'd been lied to and deceived. Yet.] But...

Why would you charge Feenie? What does he have to do with this?

[psycholawgy]

W- Weeeeell... we were in the whole thing together?

[ obvious fake laughter goes here. ]

[shroudedinsecrecy]

[...]

You...were?

[Slowly, she blinked once. Twice. Like she was in partial shock over the revelation. Then her gaze lowered. Shoulders hunching in renewed uncertainty.]

...why? I don't...understand.

Were you making fun of me?

[psycholawgy]

[ she shakes her head vigorously, ] No no, of course not!

We just... wanted to know if-- you know.

[ athena, that's not helping at all. ]

If you really liked Mr. Wright. So he could make his move?

[shroudedinsecrecy]

[No. It really wasn't.]

Then why did you just ask me?

[psycholawgy]

Um.

[ MORE SWEATING... ]

We... didn't think about it.

[shroudedinsecrecy]

[...no. Of course not.]

[Iris was...conflicted. On the one hand, she just found out that Phoenix was part of a plan that involved lying to her. To get a truthful answer out of her that...what? Did they not trust her enough to tell them the truth on her own? Was that why they'd had to deceive her like that?]

...I would have told you, you know. If I'd known there were doubts.

I guess I didn't think...he needed to ask.

[Then there was also that. After all the deceiving she'd done to him in the past--(which was why another part of her was wondering if this was karmic retribution)--she'd been trying so hard to prove she could be trusted. No more lies. No more hiding anything.]

[psycholawgy]

[ she just smiles, then laughs amiably. ]

He doesn't seem really good at romance.

[ still single at 33 after all. ]

[shroudedinsecrecy]

[Between her and Merlin...no wonder those two ended up together.]

It's not about romance, Athena.

[psycholawgy]

I'm sorry. Please don't be mad at Mr. Wright...

[shroudedinsecrecy]

[She tensed for a moment. Then let out a soft sigh. A hand reached up to wipe at her eyes, but the tears--though present--were few, compared to before.]

I...I'm not mad.

[But she clearly wasn't happy, either.]

[psycholawgy]

[ she bows her head in remorse. ]

I'm so sorry, Iris. I just- wanted to set you guys up... I mean, it wasn't all Mr. Wright - I take it back. It was mostly me.

[shroudedinsecrecy]

[For a time, Iris fell silent. She nodded, but her eyes were distant. As if she were only partially aware of the conversation. Of Athena's words and attempts at consoling her.]

[Because she was thinking. Of memories past, of promised futures...and of her present.]

...I mean what I said earlier.

If you need help with credits until you can earn them back yourself, you're welcome to use whatever I have.

[psycholawgy]

No, I swear, it's okay. I'm Athena Cykes, and I'm fine!

[shroudedinsecrecy]

That may be true...

[And here, she almost smiled. Almost.]

...but you forget, I'm a nun of Hazakura Temple. I've spent most of my life graciously serving others. What would Sister Bikini say if I didn't extend charity to those who may need it?

[psycholawgy]

Um...

Let's just forgive and forget? That's the best thing I'd like right now.

[shroudedinsecrecy]

[Forgive]

[Hadn't she just been having a conversation with someone over that very subject not long ago?]

I already told you I wasn't mad.

[psycholawgy]

I just... have to make sure.

I don't want to ruin our friendship over something stupid that I've done.