IC INBOX | RYSLIG

[standless]

WELCOME TO YOUR PRIVATE CHANNEL, JOJO. FOR SECURE COMMUNICATION, USE 336.66.256.63 *** JOJO has joined 336.66.256.63 <JOJO...?> Technically this message doesn't exist. Jonathan doesn't actually have a laptop. I just needed an Inbox.

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ROLLING AROUND AT THE SPEED OF FUCK

[notpiercings]

[So after this exchange, Dio immediately yells across the Hill House to Reira about Jonathan's address. He hardly has his coat on by the time he's out the door, speeding down the slushy streets as fast as his heelies will carry him. He's on a very important mission.

One that involves kicking down the door of the Arc-T.] JONATHAN JOESToh wrong room.

[Okay so several doors of the Arc-T.

Up the stairs he goes until he spots the furniture in the picture of Jonathan's back. Sure enough, he's still sitting at the window. Dio points.] JONATHAN JOESTAR!

[He doesn't care if Speedwagon is there to intercept him. He's wheeling right on past.]

YOU GOT MARRIED!?

OH MY FGUCKIGN GOD??? this is all feb 2nd btw

[standless]

[It wouldn't be inaccurate to say they weren't expecting...Something?

The first time they hear the sound of a door crashing, there's a pause. Speedwagon's ears twitch, and so does the fellow's face. Jonathan himself flinches only slightly, as if pulled from a daydream (he was, actually), and the kitten that had finally started getting cozy on his lap chirps confusedly.

Then more crashing happens, and Jonathan scoops up the kitten while jumping to attention.] What on earth? [he begins-

And just as quickly, Dio of all people, is there.

Pointing, wheeling over...erm.

Well as close as he can get the rather large sunken couch is sort of between them but.

.....................................]

...Did you come over through the snow to ask me that? [wha] I would have certainly answered over a phone call...I understand that the weather has grown more mild in recent days, but even with the advantage of fire on my own side it was an impressive trek between here and the hills.

[It's hard to keep from being impressed, actually. That's some dedication Dio. The man's wings twitch just a little, and Queenie meows from where she's being set on his shoulder.]

Just what brought this forward to begin with? [What with Speedwagon being the only one who knows of the anniversary date, he can't imagine Dio came over because of That information....

Right?]

After Javert's Announcement

[puddlesoverdios]

Erina is not one to outwardly panic when something horrible has happened - at least, not anymore - but she does seem rather stiff when Jonathan is home, stirring a pot of a rather good attempt at beef stew over and over. It was as if the continuous agitation of the stew gravy would mean that whatever is going on would stop. Was it not enough that the truth telling had lasted a week? But to... to... punish what was apparently only a boy? In such a manner?

Unthinkable.

And to think! They'd entertained that man in their home! They'd had tea with him! Well, Erina was positively scandalized. And angry. Beside the furious woman, the kettle she had put on in anticipation of Jonathan wanting a strong cup of tea began to screech.

[standless]

Jonathan is blissfully unaware of things, largely because he and Erina are still sharing a laptop device.

This may perhaps be for the best though. He comes home from work, finally restored to his more human appearance, able to wear a jacket if he so desires- not that he is, despite the incoming chill. A simple shirt has done him fine.

Sensitive ears pick up the kettle before he even opens the door however, and, well. Now it's still whistling!

"Erina?" he calls up worriedly, scratching his hooves against the strange little device Tsukikage gave him for the purpose. "...Are you alright?"

december 24.

[digiorno]

[Erina's Christmas package arrives alongside Jonathan's, delivered early enough in the evening that it's still decently polite. He receives a matching tie and pair of socks, light blue with green frogs on them. Attached is a note that says I'm given to understand these are traditional gifts for fathers. There's little cause for formalwear here, but I liked the frogs. Merry Christmas.]

[There's also a panettone because it's Giorno.]

[justbeingknife]

[ Season's greetings -- a Christmas present has arrived at the door!

It is a set of heat-resistant cookware and a bottle of wine. Some might question the wisdom of gifting a half-demon couple both heat resistance and flammable liquid, but not the sender of this gift! ]

<GiggleGrrl> - Morning, January 14th

[fantabulousandwich]

This is your OFFICIAL notification that the monster pinup calendar photoshoot has been delayed to January 18th, owing to blizzards, burning, alien flesh parasites, and death. Sorry for the short notice, but your friendly neighborhood organizers were trapped in a death hotel, so. Tough.

In the meantime, this gives YOU more time to think about the shoot! As you're a Demon, your calendar month will be October, with the theme of Halloween. Your fellow monsters are Archmage and BlackHat on the Network; so maybe give them a holler, and see what you can cook up! Your month is the only one with three people in it, AND you have the prestige of Halloween, so you crazy kids go nuts.

If you have any questions or concerns, or if you died and need to be excused, let us know.

- Harley Quinn

Backdated to 2/14

[puddlesoverdios]

[Erina tends to rise earlier than JoJo, so at his bedside table is card and a box of chocolates she'd hidden from him (Erina...) and the cookies she kept swatting at his hand to stay away from.]

My beloved & most darling Jonathan,

It may be most un matronly-like to dote on one's husband so, but I care not a whit for that. Despite everything, I am glad to be with you, and to celebrate our very first Valentine's as a married couple.

With love, always,

Your Erina.

[Morning of 4/4]

[puddlesoverdios]

[While her lovely monster husband is getting de-corked for the morning, Erina has made a very filling breakfast, while dressed in her clean, white nurse's uniform, preparing to go in for her day-only shift at the children's hospital.

Their finances are recovering well and it isn't like they need to buy clothing for a growing young lady when said young lady is a slime. So Erina has had a bit of time to hunt about and look for gifts for Jonathan. His first gift is a leatherbound journal with good quality paper. The one he'd been working with for his thesis - goodness, a thousand years ago it feels like - had been destroyed in the fire, but with this and some sketching pencils, he can scribble and draw to his heart's desire.

And, because she is a kind, loving wife, and would never wish to see her husband in distress, she has made sure to include some very good chocolate bars.]

[standless]

[Suffice to say, Jonathan was not actually awake in time to see his dear wife off after opening the gifts. Wise in her ways as she is, by the time he's got paper unfolded carefully upon his desk, she is very much not in the building.

There was even chocolate though! How lovely!

As it stands, the minute she's up the stairs coming home, he's sweeping her off her feet into a grand embrace.] Erina..!

I hadn't even realized today had already arrived, particularly not with those odd advertisements and happenings..! [That Mall sure was something.] Thank you so much!

early april but backdated bc time is fake

[digiorno]

[Birthdays are complicated. Jonathan’s birthday is especially complicated. Considering he used up all of his Dad Merch™ opportunities in December, he’s got to start from scratch now and come up with something actually thoughtful. Fortunately, he knows Jonathan better now. Unfortunately, he hates birthdays, and Jonathan’s is very close to his own, which he hates even more than standard birthdays.]

[This . . . is tricky.]

[Ultimately, what he comes up with is arriving to Jonathan and Erina’s home on a neutral day between their birthdays, closer to Jonathan’s than his own, holding a square package awkwardly under each arm and balancing a tray covered in a dome on both hands.]

[He rings the doorbell with his elbow. Nailing it.]

time just doesn't exist, its fine, dw abt it, (I'll leave if it's foggy up to you tho)

[standless]

[Jonathan and Erina of course had their birthday date while they could- the fog was never too far away from the 4th, tragically enough- but as time goes on from there, he doesn't expect to see anyone else about the matter. For the most part if anything he's been attempting to write a letter that follows Erina's specifications- he needs to not be TOO overbearingly loving, apparently, and well.

That's hard. That's very hard, he might not have known Giorno, any Giorno, that long, but he can't help but be attached just as he feels many others he comes to know for more than a few minutes.

Tragic really. As it is.] Just a moment! [Comes a shout from what could be up the stairs from the door. It's a rather interesting apartment, all in all.]

I-

Oh! Giorno! [Well!] Do come in- I must confess I was not expecting you to visit for some time now- was it a fair walk? I know that it is quite some distance from the house at the lake after all.

[Well there goes not being 'overly doting'.]

<chimera>

[boneshears]

Thanks for taking part in the pin up calendar! Your theme is: DECEMBER - NATTENSFEST CHEER / WINTER WARMTH

<KrisKringle>

[getmeoutofthedraft]

Ho ho ho! Merry freaking Christmas!

Your Secret Santa recipient this year is Phil Connors ("goodweather" on the network). Please buy, make, or otherwise procure him a nice gift before December 26! You can give this directly, or label it clearly and drop it off at Crowe Clinic C/O Hawkeye Pierce.

(You could also make a gingerbread house for him and kill two birds with one stone. I'm just saying.)

Remember: Saint Nick is watching, and he knows where you live!

Happy Holidays, etcetera, and so forth,
Santa Claus

Christmas! Secret Santa

[missleadingquestions]

[A pair of parcels arrives for Jonathan!

Inside it (and wrapped carefully & delicately ) are a few sets of drawing charcoals, artist pencils, and kneaded eraser. They are all bundled together and tied up with an omamori style charm hanging from the tie, which if Jonathan can read the characters on it reads NEW YEAR'S BLESSING.

The second well-wrapped parcel is just a large sketchbook to go along with it all, at the back of which is written HAPPY HOLIDAYS & NEW YEAR! ★ S. SANTA]

nattensfest 2021.

[digiorno]

[from giorno, jonathan will receive a massive sketchbook with a set of charcoals and a set of pastels, which each come in their own organizational case; plus a big tin of struffoli.]

Pretend this is message arrived on Christmas (sorry it's so late)

[sweetrabbitwithswords]

[By Jonathan's bookstand near his bed, is a small box wrapped to perfection, if not slightly soggy from slime (ew...). Inside the box is a a star brooch that is crafted expertly. A letter is in the box as well and says as so.]

"Dear father. I cannot tell you how important you are to me. You and mother. I am and will be eternally grateful to have met you. I am so glad here with you. May you have a wonderful Christmas. I eagerly await your company!"

< melancholyman > jan 1st

[riproduzione]

[ Abbacchio hadn't expected to receive anything from any of the people he knew, so finding a package with a neatly written card from Jonathan was very much a surprise. It does put him in the position of feeling rude for not being able to get him anything in return, so the least he can do in his mind is at least acknowledge that he'd received the gift. Easier said that done considering he hasn't even bothered to look at the network since he arrived, he just hopes he uses the right address. ]

this is abbacchio. i just wanted to say thank you... for your generosity and for checking in. i was able to find some people i know from home, so i'm staying with them for now.

[ More like they found him. Not that it matters. ]

tea sounds like it could be nice, though i'm still trying to get a handle on this place so i don't really know where anything is.

<JOJO>

[standless]

[He really is just using his nickname, huh. Well.]

I'm quite glad to hear! Though I admittedly had a feeling- it appears my son is surrounded by familiar fellows indeed.

[Apparently he has a son in the Hill House? But, wouldn't that mean...]

If you are at the house near Lake Dala however, it will be a bit of a trip to reach Bavan- not at all impossible a walk, but do be sure to dress warmly...perhaps for now I ought come to visit with tea rather than call you to my apartment?

backdated to around New Year's

[improvking]

[ The Joestar residence receives two small boxes, each wrapped in brown paper and tied together with twine. There's a note tucked under the twine as well, which reads:

to the Joestars, including Lizzie
- Richard

Inside both boxes is knäck, one box having the hard crunchy variety and the other the soft chewy one. (Maybe only Jonathan gave the Ring-Spirit a Nattenfest gift, but giving something to only one member of the household when two of them are players in his game would definitely be rude, right?? Right. Besides, the Ring-Spirit couldn't decide which kind of knäck to get.) ]

Backdated to January 5th, morning

[english_rose]

[As it was, most days the Joestars led a very quiet life. Today would have been no different if Erina hadn't been scrolling the network, stopping short when she sees the "system_admin" post from Elias.]

Beloved? It appears that nasty business with the Cube has been momentarily solved.

[Soon, it would be time for church services for the Night God, but they had all day, and anyway, Erina would doze for a while before going about her evening.]

How do we feel about Elias?

[It wasn't an easy question, after all. The godling (if he were to be such) was a boy, and from what she understood, a vindictive one at that. But still, just a boy. Whereas the Fog had granted her her husband back, this especially cold, bitter fog cycle left the hairs on the back of her neck standing on edge.]

[standless]

[Well. That's certainly a loaded matter, isn't it? Jonathan does not initially answer- while Erina has been looking through the network, Jonathan himself focused on other things. Preparing for a potential archaeological hike that he's no doubt been gushing about for a while, doing his best to help with housework now that he can, so on, so forth.

He pauses from his drawing- he's been doing that so much more now, especially now that it's fueled by a number of relevant gifts- and frowns.]

The machine deity, is he not?

[The demon swallows, and looks down to his art.] He has committed many a great crime, from what I have heard. It is hard to fathom that he can truly be what he is- both child and empowered creation. I cannot view him in a positive manner...and yet all the same, I cannot bring myself to see him in true loathing, with what I yet saw of Judith over time here.

[Judith. 'Dio'. The child who took a path so very different from her counterpart in his own time, in Erina's own time. It leads one to pause, to think- could they change, if only given the chance?]

4/4 For Jojo!

[english_rose]

[It has been a very exciting month in Ryslig, but in the Joestar home, there is a pall. With Lizzie once again gone, Erina has felt a little more tender, a little more clingy to her husband. So that is why this birthday is very special for him.

She doesn't sleep as well as night, considering her type, so it means she is just exceptionally quiet early in the morning as she puts together her gift for Jonathan. A double chocolate cake with whipped ganache icing is ready for breakfast. Several of the malted chocolate balls that were originally meant for the cake made it into her mouth instead. But that's fine, she was also carefully curating his gifts for his birthday as well.

There are two boxes. The first is a fresh sketchbook and and a set of oil pastels. She includes a book on the history of the peninsula she is fairly certain he hasn't read before. (As lovely as the library is, it is something else to open your own book and see Ex Libris Jonathan Joestar instead of "Property of the Library of Bavan"). She gathered cards from their friends at the church, and while she picked out the cuff links, Erina makes sure to note that they are from the church members.

The table set for cake for breakfast, Erina wakes Jonathan up with half a dozen kisses.]

Moves this over here

[missleadingquestions]

[Continued from here.

Maya's back to being a mermaid by the time they've coordinated meeting up, and Maya's had the chance to put out a few little fires; she even gives Dandy a heads up that she'll be having lunch with Jonathan on the day they meet. She leads him past the restaurant and up the stairs to Dandy's office, which to her is always a much safer place to meet and chat.

Once they're settled up there and Maya's offered Jonathan some water (there's just absolutely so many carafes of water up there, how much do mermaids drink?!), she sets herself on the floor so she can play with Queenie as they talk, as she's very clearly made her intent to do.]

Thanks for coming up here. I kind of expected you to cancel, y'know?

[It's probably bad publicity as it is, but, hey. She knows things will blow over.]

[standless]

Oh goodness!

[Queenie, by the time he's following upstairs, is already toddling across Jonathan's hands, going back and forth as he does his best to keep her from simply falling down. Once they are upstairs, he finally relents- and the tiny singapura is quick to meow-meow-meow her way over to greet a new friend.]

I could never be so rude- ! I do apologize if anything I said gave reason for doubt. It is so much more difficult to determine one's tone over the laptop devices than with a handwritten missive. With handwriting, one can feel the very soul through the manner one has held their pen after all! Though it is certainly not at all as convenient... [the demon admits, taking a seat with his glass of water.]

<KrisKringle>

[getmeoutofthedraft]

Ho ho ho! Your Secret Santa giftee is ISABELA MADRIGAL, A.K.A. "HermosaFlor" on the network. Lovely young lady, I'm sure you'll find her something nice.

Buy or make Isabela a gift by December 26, or Santa will come down your chimney and box your ears.

If you need more information, contact me C/O Hawkeye Pierce at Crowe Clinic, and I'll delegate him to tell you to do your own research.

sometime in December, before Dec-23

[improvking]

[ Jonathan receives a present from the Ring-Spirit! It's a hefty little wooden box with a latch lid and two drawers; and inside are a few art supplies. The attached note reads: merry Christmas/Nattensfest/whatever. I didn't know if you have a preference, so I got the one that seemed to have a bit of everything drawing/painting-related. (also, show up early for our next session, your birdtail's discovered something we need to go over before everyone else arrives.) -Richard ]

dec 24.

[badnewsfirst]

[ Early in the evening, Eddie awkwardly finds himself outside the door of one Jonathan Joestar with a gift in hand. It takes him a while to figure out the best place to leave it so that it won't get stolen, but considering how many flights of stairs he had to climb to get up here in the first place, maybe that's not a concern.

From his brief conversing with the man at the cosmetics store, Eddie learned a surprising amount from him, actually, and so the wrapped box contains two things: a tin with a selection of cookies and biscuits, the kind you're supposed to serve with tea, or so he thinks. There's also a framed ink drawing, it's a cat that bears an uncanny resemblance to the one usually hitching a ride on the behemoth of a man's shoulders, hissing, or perhaps roaring at the viewer. She has scaled wings and horns not too dissimilar to Jonathan's, one of her paws raised with claws displayed. The only identifiers anywhere on the box is a gift tag that reads 'from your secret santa' in a messy and uneven scrawl. ]

Nattenfest 2022!

[lottabones]

[A fellow lover of archaeology also receives a gift from the local professor. Jojo gets an old book with old tales of Day and Night myths, along with more modern tales framing monsters as creatures to be cautious around.]

Happy learning, Mr. Joestar! I hope to see you in the new year. - Triffany

Nattensfest

[recuttal]

[The box is rather small, but it's wrapped in bright orange paper, and a card with Jonathon's name on it. Inside is a set of mahjong tiles carved out of wood-- probably from the Night Market, but it's an unusual pick nonetheless. Jonathon just seems like the type who'd enjoy a chill game?]

action, jan 30 | cw broken bones, murder, panic + trauma response

[riproduzione]

[ It's been a week since people began returning to normal, longer since his encounter with Sparkling, that's left partially healed gashes across his chest. Now more than ever he feels like this meetup with Jonathan, this tiny slice of normality they've carved out for themselves, in spite of all the things that are constantly happening around them, it's something he needs. They set a time and a place, and, when it eventually rolls around; Abbacchio isn't there.

He's not far, in fairness. Maybe three, four blocks away.

When he'd left that evening, he knew something was wrong. He took care to eat extra this week, still recovering from the injuries— it's been easier, to maintain certain needs when Fugo is so meticulous about feeding — and yet, something is still off. It's like an itch that crawls up his spine.

A commotion outside a corner store draws his attention, and when he reaches the scene it's to see two men, one of them palming off something to the other, this one in a clean, neatly pressed uniform. Something flashes in him, something irate that lingers just under the surface most days and reaches its boiling point. He diverts his route, following after the police officer, and it's like something switches on, and he's engaged, activated. He's no longer pursuing a dirty cop, he's hunting prey, and he kicks off the ground to swoop at the officer, adrenaline flooding into his system as an instinctual, hungering desire overtaking every conscious thought.

Claws sink deep into the man's shoulder blades, bone gives in under his pressure — he lets out the start of a scream, silenced in an instant by a sharp snap, head left turned at an unnatural angle. Just as fast as he'd lunged, he takes off again to the air, pupils nothing more than narrow slits as he searches across the city's skyline for somewhere to take his prize.

The scent of blood reaches him, and it's overwhelming, intoxicating in how sweet it smells. But it quickly turns saccharine, roils his stomach to the point it becomes nauseating as the adrenaline begins to fade. It's happening again — it's happening again, and he doesn't know why, because he's been careful — he's been so careful to make sure that something like this doesn't happen, that he doesn't lose his sense of self, that he doesn't lose control.

When the high wears off, he's left with shaking hands, coated in cooling blood, and the dawning horror of realisation at the sight of the officer with dark brown hair and a broken neck, his face contorted and frozen in fear, blood pooling beneath him and staining his crisp white dress shirt a deep red. It's an image that is so hauntingly familiar, one that's etched into his very bones, one that he sees when he closes his eyes. It knocks all the air from his lungs.

Abbacchio doesn't move, hasn't realised that in his pursuit, it led him closer to the kitschy café he and Jonathan had chosen this time, he's only a street away, tucked into a dingy alley. He's not easy to overlook, imposing as his figure is, but the way he's on the floor and backed himself up against the wall, knees tight against his chest, his wings curled around him; he blends in with the surroundings. The only indication there's anyone in the alley are low broken breaths and the occasional quiet, choked sob. ]

VIBRATES AT THE SPEED OF AAAAAAAAAAAAA

[standless]

[Where could he be? Jonathan gives it a good few minutes at the table before he messages. It isn't like Abbacchio after all, to miss an arrangement, least of all one that they rather desperately needed. But then, for that same reason the minotaur realizes, it could be so easy to end up caught up in other matters via his fellows. What if someone else needed help at a particular moment? What if an unexpected backlash from all of it occurred, sucking him in like a small vortex?

The message is sent, but even so there is no answer. Jonathan rather has a choice- does he message the others? Giorno, and so on? Does he keep waiting? It's already been at least twenty minutes, hasn't it?

His ears twitch. He swears he hears something some distance away, but dare he leave the table when Abbacchio could well arrive? The man bites gently on his tongue, pondering the matter. Perhaps...perhaps not...

Perhaps...

Well. Finally deciding he ought do something when nothing has intervened with the sound, he asks a server to simply be on the lookout for a violet gargoyle and to hold the table. He does hope, of course, that it is not his intimidating appearance that causes them to agree.

Even so-

Jonathan follows after the sound, ears twitching.]

Hello? Whoever is there, are you quite alright..?

[He's not quite entered the alley yet. Not yet. But something enters his nose, something nearly metallic, something-]

Oh-

...God, is that blood...?

Are you alright down there..!?

March-2, action

[improvking]

[ EVENTUALLY, finally, after ALL OF FEBRUARY and all that February was, the Ring-Spirit shows up on the doorstep of the Arc-T. He waffles there for a bit longer, very reluctant to continue, but... well, he has to. He's going to eventually, which means he should get it over with, right? He's never going to be comfortable with the idea of apologizing, particularly when it's not even Ryou, who gets special privileges like regular actual apologies, so... no point in putting it off longer, gotta get on with it!

But he doesn't wanna...

He still hasn't quite stopped waffling before he abruptly forces himself to just knock already. Loudly. Repeatedly. Is there a doorbell? He'll ring that too, a couple times.

...And then he stops himself, realizing that is rather obnoxious and thus probably not a good "apology" look.

He really doesn't want to be here. ]

[standless]

[Good news- The Ring Spirit doesn't look foolish at all! ...Bad news, that's...because it's an apartment building, and the door Ring Spirit knocks on at the garage doesn't go anywhere but a hall. He'd bee forgiven for forgetting that bit, though. The other good news of course is that Jonathan is already on his way down. What a charming coincidence!

Bad (?) news...

The door opens, and there's Jonathan, albeit a demon again.]

...Richard?

...

..However did you know I was about to go out?