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]

[ If Myriam doesn't get lost, she'll notice that she's at the same building and floor she was a couple days ago. The Wrights actually live a couple of doors down from Athena's, while Simon's apartment is just right across hers. ]

[cardboard_journalism]

[she would probably notice and put that detail together later, but now... well, she was a bit excited and preoccupied with other thoughts]

[she'd show up about 15 minutes later]

[or rather, Athena's device would ring about 15 minutes later]

Athena? Myriam Scuttlebutt here... I'm outside your door. I don't think I was followed... Kahk-kahk-kahk...

[she sounded a little out of breath]

[psycholawgy]

[ There's a muffled noise that comes from the inside of the apartment before Athena manages to open the door. It slides open, revealing a bunch of books on the floor right by the doorway. Yeah, she definitely hit one of the shelves before getting to the door.

... It was an accident.

Still, Athena welcomes her guest as if nothing's wrong. ]

Come in, come in! [ Huh, wait— ] Who would be following you?

[cardboard_journalism]

[she glanced at the books, were they arranged, or had she dropped them...?]

Sss, sss, sss! It's the fate of those of us who lurk in the shadows to watch out for stalkers. Every journalist worth their salt gets followed at some time or another, y'know, for getting their hands on a scoop some would prefer be kept quiet. The smarter ones anticipate this and prepare themselves.

[she grinned inwardly, coughing when that speech left her winded again]

... And I brought you a house-warming gift!

[cardboard_journalism]

[she brought out one cup of instant ramen from inside her box and offered it to her]

[psycholawgy]

Oh, you did?

[ She bounces when she hears about a gift. That's definitely the important thing here! But she's not very picky, so when she receives the ramen, there's nothing but a smile on her face. ]

Thank you! This'll definitely help me out when I stay up late.

[ She hastily picks up the books with one hand and dumps them on a counter, and leads Myriam inside. The interior of the apartment is pretty modern - though the Holos in the actual bedrooms are much different. ]

I think Ryuko's coming home late tonight, so you don't have to worry about anybody interrupting us or anything.

[cardboard_journalism]

[SHE LIKED IT!] [she positively beamed... inwardly]

No problem! Just... thought I should bring something. Sss, sss.

It's... a really nice apartment. Wait, Ryuko...? Who's that?

[...maybe it was a pet?]

[psycholawgy]

I guess I haven't mentioned her before. Ryuko's my flatmate.

[ She goes to the kitchen to put the ramen on a counter, and continue with the food she was preparing. Her voice is loud enough for Myriam to hear, though. ]

She's not from L.A., nor is she from our version of Earth.

[cardboard_journalism]

Oh... I didn't realize you had a roommate.

[she probably shouldn't take the opportunity to spy, but... maybe it wouldn't be bad if she just... glanced around a little without touching anything, that was just admiring the decor, or something... right?]

So... what made you decide to be roomies?

[psycholawgy]

[ There's nothing out of the ordinary amongst the furniture. There's definitely a lot of books about psychology and law in the shelves, though. There are also some art materials here and there, neatly kept. But that's typical Athena. She tends to leave her trace around more than Ryuko does. ]

We were looking for a place, aaaand... [ She laughs. ] When she swiped her card on the reader, I did the same, and it identified me as another resident to the place.

[cardboard_journalism]

[Huh, well that seemed pretty standard for Athena. Of course, even if she was working as a waitress that wouldn't mean she'd abandon psychology and law...]

Y-You mean, the thing forced you to live together?!

[HER WORST NIGHTMARE WAS REAL...]

[psycholawgy]

More or less...! I only swiped my card for fun... I didn't think it was a one-time only thing. [ Cue nervous laughter. ]

[cardboard_journalism]

Kahk-kahk... so it was a mistake? [Poor Athena!]

Um... so... it's worked out for you though, right? What's she like? Quiet...?

[psycholawgy]

It definitely has. She's now one of my best friends.

[ There's a sound of some plates clanging from the kitchen, and Athena comes out with some bowls and sets them on the small dining table they have. There's buffalo wings, some mashed potatoes, rice, and some carrot and celery sticks. ]

These are just food from the cafe that I heated. I hope that's okay.

[cardboard_journalism]

Oh... of course! [she took a small glance toward the door, nervously]

Do you... expect her back soon?

[psycholawgy]

I'm not sure what time she's coming back, actually. Why?

[cardboard_journalism]

...

I do a lot of things with this box on, Athena. ...but eating meals isn't one of them. I've tried, believe me, it gets very messy. Kahk-kahk-kahk...

Could you send her an e-mail or a CeresMail or whatever asking her to let you know before she comes in?

[psycholawgy]

(Looks like she's never letting go of her box in this place.)

Alright, I'll do that.

[ Instantly, she pulls out her CereVice to text Ryuko about it. ]

[cardboard_journalism]

[she breathed a huge sigh of relief. PHEW, crisis avoided!]

[after Athena gets off the phone she'll quietly move herself to an empty corner and shrug off her box, folding it neatly flat against the wall]

...

[then she sorta froze there, with her back to Athena. This was actually the first time she'd willfully removed her box in front of someone who wasn't an immediate family member since she started wearing them, and she wasn't sure how this would go.]

...kaaahk.

[psycholawgy]

[ Yeah, this would also be a first for Athena. The only time she saw Myriam without her box was those brief moments in court... nothing else. Still, she tries to contain herself. She'd rather not let the other girl be more comfortable than she already is. ]

Ready?

[cardboard_journalism]

... [nods]

[she slowly turned around to take a seat at the dining room table with Athena. Peeking between stretched fingers surrounding her face to see. Acclimation came slowly, it seemed.]

The dinner smells... really nice, Athena.

[psycholawgy]

The food at the cafe's really good. You should eat there some time.

[ Since the only time Myriam was there, all she got was a glass of water.

Athena takes a seat, as well, and gestures at the food. She'll let her guest get some food before she does. ]

[cardboard_journalism]

...kaaaahk. You guys do take-out?

[tentatively starts taking a little of each--]

[psycholawgy]

They're leftovers for the day at the cafe. Since we don't want to throw them out, we take them home instead.

[cardboard_journalism]

I thought so... Obviously I can't take off my box to eat at the cafe, so take-out would've been the only option.

--Unless you've got a private back room with a table for one.