Un ♫ Heaven's BBS: Text

[galactically]

Posted: 17 Mar 2016 12:49 PM
From: Sheryl

------

Attention, everyone! Stop whatever you're doing right now because this is 10x more important! Consider this a special PSA from Sheryl Nome.

Chocolates are supposed to be a symbol of love and commitment, right? That's what I always believed. Before arriving here, I learned they come in two forms:
a gift between two lovers, or romantic chocolate
a gift between two friends, or courtesy chocolate

But now I learned there is a third form: chocolate assigned to us for delivery by a group of the most unprofessional, incompetent idiots!

Recently I asked that same group of idiots a few questions about a certain incident. Why was there no warning labels on these chocolates? Why were the people who ate them suddenly the targets of these ugly monsters?

Do you want to know what they said? I'll summarize that for you in three words: "we didn't know."

????????

Who the hell do they think they're talking to?! I can't take this level of idiocy!

Comments

[sweetdeath]

Who wouldn't be mad?!

They gave us a bunch of poisoned candy and told us to go give it to kids.

[It's like it was custom tailored to turn the new gods and shinki against the Heavens, actually. Maybe that's the point.]

[galactically]

and then they also tell us NOT to eat the candy without a reason! were they waiting for us to mess up? how irresponsible!!

this makes me so mad, i can't take this!

[sweetdeath]

...So I guess you're feeling better now?

It took me a day but I'm pretty much back to normal too.

[galactically]

the Sheryl that you see is now in perfect condition

i'm glad to hear you're all better

[sweetdeath]

Yeah, definitely!

[He fumbles with his phone, pulling up her contact on his text messenger, and types there instead.]

Hey Sheryl, be careful about talking about the heavens on the bbs like that, ok?

I mean we still don't know who got rid of the gods who're disappearing or anything.

[galactically]

[She switches programs as well, now on her text messenger.]

i'm not scared of getting into trouble with those fools, if that's what you're worried about

i was thinking of creating some kind of protest until morale improves

[sweetdeath]

Maybe you're not but I don't want you going the same way Bo did.

Just be careful, ok?

What kind of protest?

[galactically]

Sheryl Nome can't disappear
not as long as you and the people i've met remember me

the tried and true method. you know, big signs? a grand speech in front of the meeting hall? that sort of thing

[sweetdeath]

Yeah, Sheryl, that's what I'm afraid of. Gods remembering each other isn't enough to give us the faith to stick around in this world.

Seriously. Be careful. Please?

[galactically]

[A long delay ensues from her end, staring at his message for a lot longer than she needs to. Somehow saying "I'll be fine!" isn't enough.]

i'll be careful

i've been through a lot of things before. i won't be scared so easily

[Things that she'd rather not tell her new friends about.]

[sweetdeath]

It's not about being scared I just don't think this is worth you getting killed over!

[It'd be one thing if she was taking a risk that might get her something, but going head first up against Heaven? Staging a protest? Tsuzuki doesn't know how strict the rules are here, but it doesn't even need to be against the rules if one of the higher-ups has been involved in disappearing the gods. Making a fuss like that... it'll draw attention.]

Plus, what do you want them to do if you do stage a protest? What'll it get you?

[galactically]

[Even more delays... someday, she'll tell Tsuzuki about the time she almost died of an illness, or when she thought her life would be over at age seven. But today is not that day.]

i'm not going to die over some stupid dispute! i refuse!

[The gods can't kill her, right? She's too important for them to die, or so her selfish thinking leads her to that conclusion. But she can't afford to have him worry about her so much.]

i just want the truth! the real, unfiltered truth about everything! if i'm going to use my songs for them... then as a goddess, i have every damn right to know!

[sweetdeath]

[Damn it. Tsuzuki wants to be optimistic, but all he can think about is the bulldozed, empty plain that was Bo's temple. It was easy for them. Easier than telling the truth.

He's scared for her, and he can't protect her, and it leaves him confused and furious.]

it doesn't matter if you refuse, Sheryl, they can kill you!

The Heavens don't have to care about human laws or what we think about them. We're not strong enough for them to care and you can die.

take it from me, ok? i've seen what they do in my departments and i don't think the higher-ups are any nicer.

[He punches the "send" button, but the scowl on his face slips away into worry, and he winds up chewing his lip.]

[galactically]

[The best thing about text: she can actually hide her scared face, and the trembling fingers clutching her phone. Sheryl Nome isn't supposed to look scared. She isn't supposed to be on the brink of death — again. She and Hajime are supposed to put on some kind of party, she has Eno to watch over, she's made friends in unexpected places, she can't die.

"If I'm going die... it'll have to be on stage." But she can't tell Tsuzuki that; it'll just worry him even more, and he already saw her very sick once.

And she briefly wonders if her own father was as kind as him.]

can i come over to your temple?

[For once, she can't even trust herself to type more. This conversation seems more suitable in person.]

[sweetdeath]

Yeah. Please. See you there?

[Yeah. It'd definitely be better in person. Tsuzuki worries his lower lip between his teeth, and puts some water on for tea.]

[galactically]

[It takes a while to find Tsuzuki's temple, but eventually Sheryl arrives at the scene as planned, knocking on the door gently.

Her trek has been deliberately slow, just so she can clear her mind and push away any remaining tension off her body. She can only hope that this works after facing him.]

[sweetdeath]

[It's been a long time, long enough that Tsuzuki's started to wonder if she's going to make it there after all, and pulled his phone out to look at those last texts again. He's not texting her, though. Yet.

The water boiled, and he turned it off, and the knock at the door makes him jump so hard he actually knocks his chair over and has to right it again in a flurry of movement before he heads for the front door. It's right around the corner from the kitchen, which works out, but he's still a little panicked-looking when he pulls it open.

He swallows, and tries to stand up straight and smile at her like he's actually inviting in a pretty classy guest for her first visit, instead of looking like he'd just pulled a chair out from halfway under the kitchen table. There's a dust bunny in his hair. He doesn't notice.]

Hey.

Uh, come on in!

[galactically]

[Unlike her previous state, Sheryl looks to be in calm, yet otherwise pleasant spirits, smiling politely at Tsuzuki. So she, too, keeps her posture impeccable with a slight nod of her head.]

Hello, Mr. Tsuzuki! I hope you've been doing well.

[He sure looks a lot better than the last time she saw him, too. Huge improvement.
As she steps inside, her brow arches at the sight of the dust bunny in his hair... and she starts giggling at it.]

[sweetdeath]

Wait, what's funny?

[Tsuzuki blinks at her, one hand going to his head just in case his hair's sticking up or something. His fingers tangle in something weirdly fluffy, and he pulls it down and eyes it.

Oh.

Yeah, okay, that's funny. He breaks into a grin himself, and heads back to the kitchen with a brisk step.]

Hey, Sheryl, want some tea? And -- uh, I think we've got some snacks around here...

[Unless he ate them all, which is very possible. Or Battler did. Hisoka wouldn't be caught dead eating the last of the snacks without adding them to the shopping list, Tsuzuki's pretty sure.

What he's not sure about is how to break the subject she came here to talk about, not when she's smiling cheerfully at him.]

[galactically]

Ahaha, it looks like you're hiding something in your hair!

[She can't help but tease him, okay? Her giggles subside once Tsuzuki pulls the fluffy part out of his hair, and she nods in response, clasping her hands loosely behind her.]

That would be fine, thanks.

[This is her cue to flick her eyes around, taking in her current surroundings with a curious expression.]

[sweetdeath]

Okay. Hey, have a seat!

[He waves to the kitchen table.

The house doesn't look much like a temple; it looks more like a big, old-fashioned, slightly run down Japanese farmhouse, with hardwood and tatami floors, sliding rice-paper doors and ageing appliances in the kitchen. The kettle is a nice, solid iron one, and Tsuzuki busies himself pouring the hot water into a teapot and rummaging in the cupboards for snacks while it cools. He eventually turns up some Oreos, and fans them out on a plate, carrying them to the table with the teapot and cups.]

It's nothing fancy, hope you don't mind.

[galactically]

[Sheryl perks up at seeing Tsuzuki in the kitchen, and so she follows, seating herself as her eyes flicker across the room. The temple seems reminiscent of the Saotome manor with the Japanese-style decor, and for a moment a warm expression settles over her face.

It's like she's back in Alto's home.]

I don't care if it isn't fancy. This place looks really nice.

[She reaches over to pick up an Oreo, daintily chewing on it.]

I should go visit other people's temples, sometime.

[sweetdeath]

[Tsuzuki's grin takes on a warmer, affectionate note, and he glances around the kitchen.]

It's a good thing Hisoka makes me clean up around here or I wouldn't be inviting anybody over!

[He laughs easily, and wraps his hands around his teacup, focusing on Sheryl again.]

You know, I haven't visited a lot of other people's temples myself. I should too.

So... about what you were saying. Before.

[galactically]

Your shinki, right? [A small chuckle, then another nibble of her cookie.] Same, same! Temples have to look spotless around visitors, after all.

[Because Sheryl is usually messy... unless she has visitors over, and she can't have Eno fuss over her often.

Her smile turns brittle, the corners of her lips tugging a little down as she casts her gaze at the teacup in front of her.]

I think I know what you're going to say.

[sweetdeath]

Sorry. I just don't... I don't want anybody else to get hurt.

[His hands tighten on the ceramic, and his expression drains to a pained worry. They've had enough people hurt here already. Mortals, gods, shinki. Tsuzuki didn't expect that this place would be safe, any more than working in the Summons Department was safe, but this kind of turnover in a month and a half is worse than anything he ever saw.

He shakes himself out of his brief silence, and looks up at her again.]

I don't trust the Heavens. That's all.