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[theuniverseleads]

( netbook ✧ call ✧ action )

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netbook

[jouvente]

Heyyyy Loop.
Just wanted to check in and see how you were doing?

[theuniverseleads]

[It's a bit of a wait before he gets a reply. Not because Loop didn't notice the new page with their name on it, of course! They're just leaving him on read.

... but they can't ignore him forever, so...]

I'm doing just fine, Fighter! ✧
Did you need something?

[jouvente]

That's good to hear!

[ Wasn't like he wasn't staring at the pages for a bit waiting for a reply haha but. ....Right. ]

Not exactly? Mostly I just wanted to see how you were doing!
That you were feeling better after our last.. encounters.

[theuniverseleads]

Oh, after that? Perfectly fine! Nothing a bit of Healing Craft can't fix~ [in retrospect that probably contributed to the Craft Exhaustion, oops

... and they'd love to just leave it at that and not say anything about their current situation, but. considering it was the Researcher who had to drag them to the clinic... it's better to come out and say it and not act like it's a secret, right? It's not that big of a deal.]

I had a bit of a scuffle with the dragon the other day, so I'm staying at the clinic for now. Our fluffy little healer can be so fussy! But it was nothing serious, so you don't have to worry. I'm pretty tough!

[jouvente]

That's true.

[ How much easier off they'd be if Mirabelle was still here with her own Healing craft but. For a moment, he debates adding more to it, saying something else until more words appear and huh??? ]

A dragon???
I mean, you do seem pretty tough from what I've seen, but it's still hard not to worry, y'know?
Do you need any extra blankets at the clinic?
Anything to make your stay a bit more comfortable?

hand phone

[alphacraft]

[ A few days after the rescue, the phone in Loop's head is ringing. ]

Hello, Loop?

[theuniverseleads]

[immediately rolling into the usual script:] Hello hello, Loop speaking! Thank you for calling! How may I help you!

Ah, Researcher! I hope you're not calling just to check up on little old me, are you? [in a teasing tone, but. maybe. they would like that, actually, if she did...]

[alphacraft]

[ Oh good, it does still work. She was going to use the netbook if it didn't, but she wanted to know one way or the other. ]

Among other things, yes. Have you recovered?

[theuniverseleads]

[Businesslike as always... well, it is the Researcher, so they try not to sound disappointed.]

More or less! I'm still staying at the clinic, so you don't have to fuss over my sleeping arrangements. I've heard enough of that already, thanks~

Anyway! What can I help you with?

[alphacraft]

Hah. Actually, your sleeping arrangements are the other thing I wanted to discuss with you. More specifically, what it is about the inn that concerns you and what about sleeping out of doors appeals to you.

hand phone

[alphacraft]

[ Approximately 45 seconds after her portrait is destroyed, Odile is calling. ]

Loop?

[theuniverseleads]

[Approximately 45 seconds after her portrait is destroyed, Loop is still in the mansion and trying to process like eight different new traumas and wondering if this will even do anything, really, but

they hear the ringing, ringing, and try to stamp down the hope in their chest, bringing up a hand to answer.

It's Odile.

...

It sounds like Odile.]

... How can I help you, dear Researcher? [measured, cautious. they absolutely did NOT prepare for this why can't someone else take this call Universe lead them]

[alphacraft]

[ It's not quite the response she was expecting, but at the moment she has one much bigger concern than what that particular tone means. ]

Are you and Isabeau alright? I couldn't see anything after... [ ripping their loved ones to pieces ] ...the fight.

[ When the House disappeared and took her with it, she didn't go somewhere different. She just... wasn't, anymore. There was darkness and silence and nothing else. If they were attacked again, or that demon returned when she was unable to help them...

It takes an effort to keep her voice level. ]

Did you make it to the attic? Someone must have, since I seem to be corporeal again.

[theuniverseleads]

[The line goes quiet, long enough that she might start to wonder... but no, they're here, they're listening, it's just

it can't be that easy. They can't go through all that and fall for another stupid trick. They force themselves to take a shaky breath, voice a little more firm.]

What did you use to guide us? Answer quickly.

[alphacraft]

[ Again, definitely not what she expected or what she was hoping for. But she was in such a rush to check on them that she had forgotten about the duplicates. She should probably be more worried about that herself, but would a fake Loop really be so worried about a fake Odile? ]

Blankets. I'm not sure why I couldn't just talk to you.

>Call Loop, post mansion a bit

[jouvente]

[ Probably a day after all of that, just to give Loop a break and maybe the others - even if Isabeau much prefers to spend time with people than alone, but he at the very least was able to wrap up finishing something!

A something that becomes the reason why Isabeau is doing the silly Loop call craft. Play it cool, Loop will surely answer!

He hopes. Ring ring... ]

[theuniverseleads]

[They probably slept for most of the day once they were out of the mansion anyway, they did take quite a beating from a couple encounters along with all the Craft use... but they paced themselves, thanks to Isabeau, so it's fine. Back to whatever counts for the status quo around here!

They answer after three rings, a little too cheery as usual:] Hello hello, Loop speaking! Thank you for calling! How may I help you!

[jouvente]

Oh! You answered!

[ That they did, Isabeau. Very insightful. ]

You've been resting up, right? [ Craft overuse is not to take lightly, after all but. ] Are you at the clinic? Or somewhere else?

[ And in case it's not obvious-- ] Is it okay if I come find you? I have something for you.

[theuniverseleads]

[They don't have caller ID so they are! Also surprised! That the Fighter would call them up this quickly, it's been like one day??

But they do (vaguely) remember apologizing in the mansion, so... this is fine! Totally normal! Just act natural, Loop, don't make it weird.]

I've been staying with the Pines—Dipper's family. [yknow, the old guy who interrogated Siffrin with them a couple weeks ago] ... I can meet you somewhere, I guess. What is it?

[jouvente]

That's good to hear, I'm glad they've been looking after you.

[ And it's genuine relief there. Things were tense back then with the old guy sure but as if Isabeau was gonna put any blame there. ]

Nuh uh! It's a surprise! [ But also because he's.. a teeny tiny bit afraid they might reject it. ] Tell me where to go and I'll meet you there.

[Call Loop]

[charlastan]

[Not long after he tells off the entire netbook for making probably correct assumptions about whether or not he went in the woods, Stan gives the hand-phone thing Loop taught him a try. He feels a little stupid gesturing like a little kid but eh, he's done stupider things.]

Uh, Loop? ...You there?

[theuniverseleads]

[enjoy a few seconds of a ringtone that may or may not be Loop going brrrrrng, then]

Hello hello, Loop speaking! Thank you for calling! How may I help you!

... You know, all of this would be really unnecessary if you hadn't gone into the forest at all. I'll be mad if you made me worry over nothing~

[charlastan]

Yeah, well--!

[...Actually, he doesn't have a good comeback for that one. He just wishes he did. He just sighs.]

Okay, look. So...I might've gone into the forest. My family was going and I wasn't about to let them go alone, so I went with 'em. They came back all kinds of weird, but...I don't feel any different? And I definitely don't feel different enough to get shipped off somewhere else. I remember being here, all the dumb stuff we went through with the copies last month, and there's been none of that weird uncanny feeling that happens when you don't remember something other people do.

[At least, not yet. That might be a weird detail to give, but he doesn't elaborate.]

I could get more into it but I already know the whole thing probably makes me suspicious by default so...yeah. I went into the woods and it was stupid. ...That what you were looking for?

[theuniverseleads]

[They listen silently, nodding along despite the fact that he definitely cannot see them doing that. So, he did go in but hasn't noticed any differences yet...]

It could be something subtle, or it could be you weren't affected at all... either way, it's better that we know what everyone experienced so we're not just guessing blindly. Don't worry, no one's getting "shipped off" anywhere. That would imply we actually have a plan yet, teehee~

Timekeeper—or rather, Croissant Cookie—said she remembered everything from the past few months mostly the same as I did. She's very obviously a different person, though, so whether it's altered memories or altered timelines it's clearly the work of the Forest. And I don't know if I'd bet on it leaving one person in a group unaffected, but I guess that could be funny for it to watch, too?

call, but like, telepathically

[leggierissimo]

[ Josh said two hours, Loop wanted it in five seconds. So, Loop gets Joshua's trophy in a nice compromise of 30 minutes!

To tell the truth, Josh could have had it finished immediately, but the impatience made him wait longer. Wait for quality, Loop.

ANYWAY! Within 30 minutes of the promise, a trophy appears! Floating midair right in front of Loop! Isn't that neat? It might be haunted. It's probably haunted.

As it does, Loop will hear Joshua's voice in their head. ]

Package delivery~ I hope you appreciate my expedited service.

[ Wiggle wiggle, goes the trophy. Go on, take it. ]