the city }{ inbox

[matermali]

USERNAME: HIDDEN MISS IVES "Take care with what you say. Our enemies may be listening." TEXT • AUDIO • VIDEO • ACTION • OVERFLOW

❤

Comments

text | un: ouroborosed

[inlovewithmycar]

So that was a public display of monumental stupidity. Not you, your young man friend.

You holding up alright?

[matermali]

[ This is exactly the thing she was afraid would happen! ]

I thought I had been thorough in showing him how to send a private message, but I did not think to teach him how to communicate anonymously.

[ She's never done it, so she simply hadn't thought of it. One of many, many mistakes. She's also failing to answer because no, she's a mess.

Ethan had barely lasted a fortnight. For all she knows, it isn't even the first time since arriving. ]

Men will be men, but I wish that had not been your first sighting of him. I promise there is more to his interests.

[inlovewithmycar]

[Woof. Getting some serious flashbacks to his time in the Dowling household.]

I'm sure his interests are broad and vast and absolutely none of my business.

There is, however, a box full of the tackiest dishware I have ever laid eyes on that desperately needs to be dropped off the nearest high rise, and a few bottles of Four Roses' Single Barrel best. Just saying, if you want to get the worst of it off your chest.

I can sweeten the deal with a tub of red velvet cheesecake ice cream.

[matermali]

[ She has never heard of 'red velvet' cheesecake, but she is going to guess it's not literal, and it sounds decadent. Demons with their temptations... ]

I assure you that I would make miserable company at the moment, Mr. Crowley.







Why would we drop plates?

[inlovewithmycar]

That's why I'm offering. You're miserable and I have horrible plates that need to be destroyed. Perfect combination - you get out all that pent up misery and aggression, and another offense to good taste is vanquished.

What do you say?

[matermali]

[ Oh no, she will cry. She's so touched someone is reaching out to comfort her, what's going on? It's so embarrassing. ]

I dare not leave you with the burden of ugly plates. I shall be over promptly, if that is truly an invitation, though I feel I ought to bring a gift.

[inlovewithmycar]

Just bring yourself and your woes and let me worry about drinks and dinnerware. It's ladies' night tonight.

[matermali]

[ She'll still bring something, especially when he almost makes her laugh, though it's still caught in the middle of a cry. Lucky no one can hear it!

Yet. ]

If you insist. Ladies' night, then.




Thank you.

text; username: mr. chandler

[lupusintus]

[ This was sent to her on October 2nd. ]

If you aren't otherwise occupied, Miss Ives.

[matermali]

While I appreciate the consideration, I am sorry to say that I will in fact be otherwise occupied this evening. I trust you will be well prepared for drink and dance on my behalf, Mr. Chandler.

[lupusintus]

Drink, maybe, but it would be remiss of me to dance without my teacher.

Next time, then.

[matermali]

If you can't dance without me, then I have failed in my role as a tutor. Please, take advantage of the celebrations where you can find them, Mr. Chandler.

Next time, perhaps.

[lupusintus]

You're mistaken. I'm saying that if it's my first-time dancing in the City, I want you to be my partner. I haven't had an occasion to dance since you taught me, it wouldn't feel right for my first official dance to be with anyone else.

So, I hope you'll save a dance for me one day, Miss Ives.

[matermali]

[ That's not quite how it's meant to go, but supposedly nothing was usual about their lessons, either. ]

Now I must suffer the guilt of keeping others from knowing the joy of following your graceful step. I've little doubt that opportunity will be swift to find us, in such a case.

text; un: Constantine; early November

[keepgodwaiting]

Hope it isn't too weird that it's so late, but I think I owe you a thank you.

[ Please note that she has very deliberately sent this in the middle of the day, in the hopes that they can have one conversation where neither of them are violently awoken by creepy shit. She considered sending a picture of a kitten or something to really seal the deal on "I am attempting to have a pleasant conversation." ]

And possibly a sorry.

[ Possibly several, if you count attempting to haze her with the roof-walker bit. Constantine maintains that had potential, though. ]

[matermali]

[ Enough has happened since then that Vanessa has turned quite a distant mood with most, but curiosity keeps her from outright ignoring the message. So lost in her own angst, she can't even remember what the other woman is talking about. ]

For what?

[keepgodwaiting]

The mall

A thank you for trying to help and a sorry for leaving you alone

And for never getting your name

I can't just keep thinking of you as "the girl who digs up graves and has great jewelry"

[matermali]

I can also cook a passable rabbit stew.

[ If only there were rabbits to catch. ]

My name is Vanessa Ives, and you owe me no gratitude or apology.

[keepgodwaiting]

hell of a skill set

Johanna Constantine

All right, then. I would like to thank you for trying to help. I know I was a bit shirty afterwards.

[ And sort of ... abandoned her to the horrors. Just because there didn't seem to be any immediate danger when Constantine left doesn't mean there wasn't something just around the corner. ]

[matermali]

I know your name, Miss Constantine, but the attempt is appreciated.

[ She had publically shared her first name with at least one other where Vanessa had noticed. ]

Everyone was under duress while trapped in that building. I wouldn't begrudge you the desire to be alone after such an experience. Have you kept well since?

[keepgodwaiting]

As well as I can, better than some I think. Made it through that haunted house shit with less trauma than I expected.

Have you been all right? I've been thinking about what you were saying about this place wanting to rewrite our stories.

[matermali]

Have you? And did you arrive at any satisfying conclusions?

[ She'll just ignore everything else prior to that. ]

[keepgodwaiting]

Hardly. Mostly more questions.

Can I pour you a drink and compare notes with you somewhere that isn't badly lit and full of ghosts?

[matermali]

[ Several minutes before another response. ]

Where did you have in mind?

[keepgodwaiting]

There's something that looks like a bar and grill near the station in the new district.

[ She sends a map with a pinned location. ]

Hopefully it'll still have enough booze to be worthwhile. If not, I can be mother and make tea