[NETWORK POST] Update!

[kaisoumods]

WHO: Everyone!
WHERE: Libra App
WHEN: February 1st
WHAT: Zodiac Network Post
WARNINGS: None!

[Wherever you are, your phone will start to ring and vibrate. It doesn’t matter if your phone was off or on mute - it will ring anyway. Checking the phone, you'll see the Libra app has opened itself and will not close until you read and response to a new post from Zodiac]

Hello everyone! Happy Lunar New Year and we at Zodiac hope you've been well!

We've seen your engagement on the app this past month and we're impressed! Thanks to everyone who got involved in sorting out the situation in the Helheim gate. You all did some incredible work and we look forward to working with you in the future!

Now we understand you have a lot of questions. While there's many things we can't disclose at this time, we can clarify one thing. Everyone on this app has been flagged for abnormal spirit energy readings. We're still looking into what it means and the potential effects of it. All we really know right now is they're similar to the energy readings coming from our otherworldly guests.

We'll try to keep you updated as we learn more! In the meantime, let's end on anothe question to lighten the mood!


Sponsored by Deathmatch Wine & Spirits. Try our Comos Canyon mix today! Please drink responsibly.

[Users will have the option to choose their own display names and userpics if they haven't already. If nothing is chosen, the app will use their real name and a quick photo taken of them from their camera's phone. Like last time, there'll be no responses from Zodiac]

Comments

[inutilis]

I am a perfect gentleman, I assure you!! Nothing will be bruised. Except some egos, of course, but I'd say that is well deserved considering the affront. Sooo deserved? Absolutely. Completely!

...Hmph. Honestly, it's just plain insulting and yet I get the feeling you've gracefully taken it into stride as ever, Guizhong.

[dustodust]

I would be lying if I said I wasn't disappointed. I was so busy with work before! I didn't realize how much I wanted a meaningful relationship until it kept slipping through my fingers. But I'm a patient woman! I can wait for the right person to come along.

[inutilis]

[ oh, no... this genuinely tugs at his heart; he sincerely wants nothing but happiness for her, and he can think of very few others who might deserve that kind of happy ending. ]

Ah, well... then, what I'm hearing is that the universe has seen fit to get the undeserving right on out of your way! Maybe we should be grateful? This means you didn't waste your time with someone who wasn't worthy of it.

But it will happen, I just know it will!! Don't get discouraged, alright??

[dustodust]

[He's so sweet...talking with Abel always lifts her spirits, even if she didn't feel that bad about it while she was telling him.]

I adore your optimism, Abel. Thank you for cheering me up. You'll be the first to know if I find anyone new.

[A minute passes, and then:]

You do realize I must reciprocate and ask you about your own love life now, right?

1/2

[inutilis]

[ good... good, good. if finding love is important to her, then-- he will be the cheerleader at her back until she finds what she's looking for!!! YES!! ]

I will be waiting with bated breath, okay?! Ready with a cup of tea and an attentive ear any time of the day or night!!! Got it? One text and I'm all yours!! ☕💖

[inutilis]

[ ......okay, but like. that last part is

illegal

so he considers just pretending he didn't even read it for a good long while before he finally makes himself fire off a text back a good five ten minutes later, ]

Well! My own love life is a very brief story - because there really isn't one... unless a perfectly healthy addiction to discount chocolates this time of year counts, of course~!

[dustodust]

Anyone who says it doesn't count is lying to themselves about how much they like discount chocolate. Jun invited me to your movie night, by the way, so we can binge eat them together then.

[The little dots pop up and down for a bit, and then:]

If you eventually decide that you wanted to find something more than discount chocolate, I will be cheering you on every step of the way.

[There, that sounds supportive in a friendly, neighborly way without being too intrusive, right?]

[inutilis]

[ o-oh... right, then... it's a cute Valentine's day movie night date not-date!!! wow... ]

Well~! In that case, what's your favorite movie, Guizhong? Or your favorite genre? We're going to have a marathon, so we can definitely add some new ones to the list!!!

[ ha... she's too kind. and sweet, thinking Abel isn't a walking disaster incapable of, say, having a relationship with another human being. oh, so very very kind, ]

Every step, hm...? I'll have to keep that in mind next time I have a very tragic and unfortunate one-sided love affair that leaves me with a stomach ache and with decidedly empty pockets... love can be a harsh, cruel mistress, don't you think?

[ he is definitely still talking about chocolates. ]

[dustodust]

Hmm. I heard rave reviews about the recent Amaze movie Sheng-li. I'd like to watch that. But I'm not picky, otherwise.

Oh, speaking of which. Perhaps I can help make your love affair less tragic. I was thinking of bringing dinner and chocolates. Jun wants to give me a spending limit, but we don't need that, right?



Let me spoil you two, since I'm joining your movie night tradition?

1/2

[inutilis]

Sheng-li?

--OH! Wait, isn't that the one with the really elaborate super cool fight scenes and special effects?? I think I have it on my to-watch list, so we can DEFINITELY do that one!! And if you think of anything else between now and then, don't hesitate to let me know, got it?

[inutilis]

[ the rest comes belated, because someone had to have a Chat with Jun in which, perhaps, said """spending limit""" was discussed.

oh, God. Jesus give him strength. ]

Um
Guizhong
Are you still free? To talk? To me. Now, or
Soon?

[dustodust]

[Guizhong laughs as she reads the text. She wonders how he's going to try and talk her out of this.]

Call me at your convenience, Abel. My work and free time are hardly in great demand.

[inutilis]

Oh! Oh. Well, long as it isn't a bother. It isn't a bother, is it? I can call later, if it's a bother at this particular time! No problem!!

[ this is already going splendidly. ]

[dustodust]

[Guizhong, in answer, will call him first.]

1/3

[inutilis]

[ --his phone is ringing ]

[inutilis]

[ HIS PHONE IS RINGING. squawking, he drops it into the sink with a muffled curse before fishing it out before it can hit the running faucet-- ]

[inutilis]

[ .....picking up cool as a cucumber, definitely not sounding flustered haha what, no, he is sooo composed, rn? crazy how composed he sounds, ]

Guizhong~! What a lovely su-- [ --his voice cracks, ] --prise??

[dustodust]

[Guizhong has to muffle a giggle into her sleeve.]

Hello, Abel. You wanted to talk about something?

[inutilis]

I did...! I-- did, yes.

[ she knows.

she knows. oh, the feeling of death creeping around his neck, tightening like a noose... his inevitable, unavoidable demise so close at hand... ]

...A-actually, I was hoping that we could talk about-- Valentine's day? You know, Jun told me about... ah. You wanted to-- the dinner, I-I think, you said you--

[ oh my god he cannot he is literally sweating, ]

--H-- haha. Is it hot in here...? Just me?

[ they aren't in the same room, ]

(don't mind him)

[whiteshroud]

[Jun meanwhile is on the other side of the room, pretending to play his switch but really watching his dad slowly die.

Yeah. Dad's doomed. Rest in pieces]

[dustodust]

Just a little bit, maybe. Let's step out a moment.

[They aren't in the same room but she will go along with it. There's the opening and shutting of a door, the jingling of a tiny bell becoming muted as she steps outside into the cool February air.]

But yes, I wanted to get dinner and sweets for us that night. It's my way of thanking you two for inviting me.

[inutilis]

[ Jun is SUPPOSED to be his wingman (???) but somehow having an audience to his grand failure is just making this worse... ignore the fact Abel himself insisted on the ""support"" for this conversation,

...

o-okay. he's fishing around for his keys, sending his son a panicky glance before trotting for the door. for air. ...yeah!! (he forgot his coat,) ]

That's-- that's right, yes, but-- you've... your offer is terribly kind... and that's, ah. That's where the whole problem lies, in fact!! [ a jingle of keys, and then a soft groan, ] --I just tried to lock my door with my car keys. Guizhong, you surely didn't say something about the budget being two HUNDRED dollars, did you?

[ maybe the "hundred" came out a little squeaky. maybe. ]

[dustodust]

[There's a significant pause. She pouts at the sky.]

It would have been five hundred, but I thought I shouldn't overdo it.

[Guizhong isn't ignorant of how much her former lifestyle compares to most others, and she would never want the Nightroads to feel the difference in her presence. But this is a special occasion! Her first dinner with them after moving permanently back to Kaisou! They deserve to be spoiled, and by gods Guizhong is more than willing to be the one to do it.]

Besides, how many times have you had me over for dinner before? Too many to count. Indulge me just this once.

[inutilis]

--Five hundred?!

[ God, she could probably hear that from wherever she is. it's a miracle he doesn't go into some kind of apoplectic shock,

Abel's palming his face as he finally manages to lock the door, pocketing his keys and trying his best not to make this... ah, whatever would be more of A Thing than it is already. ]

Please, that's-- two hundred is already far, far too generous! The holidays are-- I mean, especially this one... i-it's about spending time with the people you care for, right? So-- you're paying us in spades simply by being there, really! There's no need to--

[ --flustered, he makes a noise as if he is about to say more, but... it just ends up becoming an thankfully brief pause.

at least the next bit comes slightly more composed. ]

...Your company is priceless enough, alright? Two hundred, i-is simply...

[dustodust]

You really are terribly, wonderfully sweet, Abel.

[Literally how is he single? She had so many acquaintances back in China who would be falling head over heels for him.]

But really, I want to do this for you two. You and Jun have always been the closest to me in Kaisou ever since we met. You welcomed a silly, work-obsessed woman into your lives, and remained a constant in mine throughout my long absences. It means more to me than you know.

[She might be letting her voice go all soft and warm to convince him, but these are her real feelings, too, brought on by long nights after her accident, determination and desperation in equal parts to hold onto something real, something not touched by her bizarre visit by a moon goddess.]

My company may be enough for you two, but it isn't enough for me. I want to do everything I can to show you two my gratitude and affection. And what better way than to feed you well?