inbox .

[unghost]

user name: #C1BA57

messages | action

Comments

#A5211F ; 4/8

[swordfucker]

Alright, I think I’ve got some students for you that you’ll be able to help. The first one goes by Rin, username #A2F9FF. He’s had another teacher for a while, but your abilities should be able to push him harder than her. He’s half demon, so don’t take him lightly. Next up is Kohaku, username #FFBF00. Another skilled fighter, from what I can tell. Your differences should help the both of you, even if he won’t be teaching anything.

Lastly, your sparring partner will be Sorey at #FFFF4D. He’s got some interesting moves that should put you to the test. That’s all. Let me know if there are any questions, but aside from that, work it out amongst yourselves.

#FFDF00; 4/6

[inheritance]

Cairngorm, this is Midoriya.

I wasn't able to catch your group coming out of the forest, so I just wanted to check if you made it out okay.

[unghost]

I'm fine. None of our group got hurt. At least not physically

To be frank, I'm not sure I can even explain to you what happened in there, if you're expecting some sort of report.

[inheritance]

That's a relief.

I wouldn't mind a report, if only so I can update the list of dangers everyone's come across in there, but what do you mean you can't explain it?

#FFFF4D 5/2

[tendershepherd]

[Color]

Hello? This is Sorey. Guren said my sparring partner is someone named Cairngorm...is that you?

Re: #FFFF4D 5/2

[unghost]

( COLOR )

Yes, that's me.
Guren let me know who you are, but didn't tell me much else.
I'm assuming that goes both ways

#B91600

[heartsteals]

Dear #C1BA57,

You're Cairngorm, correct? I have something that I believe belongs to you.

Yours,
Lupin

[unghost]

[ If it takes them a day or two or respond, it's a combination of 1) being the towns slowest typer and 2) needing to sleep for 2 days straight after the fiasco that was the last week. ]

Is this your way of telling me you need me to meet you

floods cairn's inbox... #B91600

[heartsteals]

[ there is at least one person in town who probably doesn't care what he's wearing, if he had to guess... the sun's halfway down when Lupin messages Cairngorm this time. ]

Cher Cairngorm,

I know that it is a strange hour to be calling on you, and I apologize for that. How are you? I hope that whatever the town's inflicted on you isn't so terrible. I regret to say that is the subject I'm writing to you about now; there is something I'd like your help with, if you don't mind. Are you free?

- Lupin

wow they feel so special ... #C1BA57

[unghost]

[ The sun's coming down, so they're winding down for the day, but they're still pretty awake to see his message. Plus, their current circumstance means they already had their computer open. ]

Everytime something like this happens I'm somehow more disturbed by it
But whatever
What is it you need help with

#B91600, dated to after the werewolf event

[heartsteals]

[ this one hurts in particular... but he has to write it. ]

My dear Cairngorm,

There is nothing I can say that will heal this scar I have carved between us, which I feel now as if it is in my own heart. It is true that I was not myself when I came upon you, and I am sure that you knew that as well, for I have heard that my head was that of a Wolf; even so, that does not change the fact that I have attacked you, and betrayed our bond of friendship. I dare not ask for your forgiveness. I write now only to tell you that I know I have done wrong, and I have not felt regret so keenly in all my life. I apologize to you from the bottom of my heart.

- Lupin

#C1BA57

[unghost]

[ Sorry Lupin, it definitely takes multiple days for them to respond...but less because they're willfully ignoring him and more because they have to take their monthly post-multiple nights of shenanigans mini hibernation.

Contrary to common belief, Cairngorm knows when to hold their harsh tongue when in the face of a genuine apology, so their response is as civil as they can manage, as well as typically to the point: ]

Its fine. I can overlook it if it's just a one-time thing.
Besides, there's not much I can blame you for.

[ They guess his only fault is being foolish enough to get bit, and it doesn't seem like the opportune moment to chastise him over that. ]

#C1E7FA

[cutcrease]

u been spotted by.........the $ MONEY GOO$E $
send the $ MONEY GOO$E $ to 3 people or u get scorched

#C1BA57

[unghost]

[ well guess what...they don't know what money OR gooses are ]

Get scorched by what.

post-event 9

[tropism]

[ at some point in time, cairngorm is going to receive a delivery of a flower crown!

the flowers are white. there's a message attached to it, telling them to take care of themselves, followed by giorno's name. ]

a wonderful day in the neighborhood, BEES

[osuni]

[Okuni has fought off all sorts of bees, but she can't stop!! That and it's a fairly simple quest, so it's not like she's throwing herself into Certain Death every time. It's fun! And it lets her strongarm people into joining her, perfect.

It's truly Cairngorm's fortune to be in the right place at the right time for Okuni to suddenly happen upon them, no matter where they are!! (Except at their house, Okuni is trying to be better about home invasion...)]

You don't look like you're doing anything important! You should do a quest with me.

[JUST AN OUT OF THE BLUE REQUEST!!!]

[unghost]

[ It just so happens that they're going outside for a break from reading int he library, before Okuni suddenly happens upon them!! They're a little startled by her sudden request, taking an extra few seconds to even...process what she's said. ]

What? Why. [ They give her the good ol' judgey up down look, as if skeptical that this is some sort of set up. ] Can't you find someone that you already know to do it with you? I'm busy.

[ YEAH... BUSY READING ABOUT JOUSTING!! ]

backdated 2 when ghost showed up!!

[heartsteals]

[ after that enlightening encounter, there's only one thing to do: go find Cairngorm. He doesn't know how Cairngorm will react to Ghost being here; hell, he's not sure how to react to it, himself. That's part of why he needs to go talk to them, frankly. What are they going to do about this?

As cordial as Ghost might have seemed, they were the person that had always kept Cairn suppressed, from Lupin's point of view. Once they were gone, Cairngorm was free to be themself. If they're back, will Cairngorm start shrinking into themself again? Or worse? The relationship is much more complicated than he understands - he's aware of that. How can it not be, with 900 years of body-sharing? Still, he finds himself feeling worried. Call it stupid human nosiness or thief's intuition. Wherever Cairngorm might be, Lupin tracks them down with surprising ease. ]

-- Cairngorm! There you are.

[unghost]

[ He's right to think that Cairngorm is thoroughly shaken by the appearance of Ghost; they are fairly hard to truly upset, but this is something they are neither equipped to deal with nor even understand fully. It's not supposed to be possible for them to live like this, coming back from the moon phenomena aside.

The ensuing identity crisis from their own confrontation with Ghost has left them in a daze, one where they are doing what they can just to keep their hands busy. When Lupin calls out to them, that task happens to be gathering white berries they'd left out in the sun to dry; they're kneeling down in the yard of their new abode, next to a white cloth, plucking the plants where they lay and placing them calmly into a basket. Upon closer inspection, there are a series of small cracks in their face— one diagonally across the bridge of their nose, another from the center of their cheek to the line of their jaw, black and stark against the rest of their pale face.

It takes a few beats for them to even respond, and when they do, it's barely more than a tired sigh. ]

What is it.

[ They don't look up from their work. ]

#3630FF

[messianic]

[I'm immediately so sorry.

Anyway, the name of the game here is...stealth!! Subtlety!! Pray for him.]

Cairngorm-san, it's Minato. Do you mind if I ask you something?

#C1BA57

[unghost]

[ WHAT COULD THIS POSSIBLY BE ABOUT!!!!! ]

What is it?

[heartsteals]

[ once everyone's back in town safely (or mostly safely) and settled back down, a few days after they were released from the Snow Queen's palace, Lupin takes the time to deliver a little something to Cairngorm. Naturally, in his case, this means breaking and entering. He picks out a time of day when neither Cairngorm nor Lottie nor Phos will be around, sneaks in, and sneaks right back out without leaving a single mote of dust out of place.

The only sign that he was there is one he meant to leave: on Cairngorm's bed, propped up against their stuffed Shiro, is the copy of Robin Hood that they'd lent him several months ago while he was recovering from his gunshot wound. That, too, is essentially in the condition they left it, but preserved between the pages of Robin Hood's 150th ballad is a single red rose, the kind that had previously been blooming in front of Lupin's house. Along with that is a card, helpfully signed (as if there was any doubt as to who left this there.) The contents read:

"To my fair Night-star Jewel, Cairngorm,

This is a notice of my intentions: that within the following thirty days I will appear before you, and at that time I will dispel all lingering Confusion between us, and I will take for myself two of your most prized possessions as you have taken the likes of them from me.

If you find this arrangement disagreeable I am graciously giving you time to consider how to stop me. However, you have demonstrated to me otherwise, and I believe you shall find yourself most content with allowing me to do as I please in this regard. Trust that I am thinking only of you and all that you offer.

Yours as always,
Arsène Lupin." ]

[unghost]

[ They really should start anticipating for these dramatic acts, and they make a mental note to do so in the future, but for now, they're unfortunately left with being completely blindsided by this cryptic note. Gems are obsessive creatures by nature, even one as who acts as aloof as Cairngorm, and they find themself re-reading the note over and over and over until they have the contents completely memorized.

They can't say they're unhappy about the promise of this state of confusion ending— not being able to tell his true thoughts or how much of what they've done is because of curses and magic is driving them insane. At this point, they're not even sure if they would prefer it if he just gets it over with, or puts it off until the thirtieth day. Ah, well, that's assuming they don't disagree to this arrangement, right? Before they realize it, they hadn't even been considering doing that. Hmm. Not a great sign...

The only other anxiety they have about his note other than the obvious one is the part about "possessions"; they can't recall taking anything from him, nor owning anything that he would like or have use for. The literalness of their reading impedes their full understanding of that portion, but... that's just what happens. There's nothing that can be done about that, except think about how to forcibly take things back from him if he tries to steal one of their very few items.

Well, that aside. There is one place that they think is safe to go to without crossing paths with him, and that's the library. If they do work, their mind will be taken off of this - at least, that's what they think. If he happens to see them inside (they're way too in their head to notice anyone entering), reality is at odds with that thought; they're distracted, not working terribly efficiently, sometimes staring at the same pages for minutes on end without even blinking. The copy of Robin Hood he'd returned to them sits on the library desk, obviously sans the note and rose, but still not shelved away. ]

#B91600

[heartsteals]

My dear Cairngorm,

If you are not busy I should like you to come to my house - I have something I want to show you that I received this morning and that made me smile quite a bit.

Of course, I also wish to see your lovely face, but seeing as that is a constant desire it is perhaps not worth mentioning.

Yours as always,
Lupin

#C1BA57

[unghost]

Why bother typing that if you’re going to mention it anyway...

[ There’s a pause between that message in the next, mostly because they can’t believe he actually typed and sent that without a second thought, and they need a second. ]

Did you mean right now?