ic; salt inbox

[ripher]

WELCOME TO THE SALTBURNT NETWORK

USERNAME: GILES

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text 🔫 un: finn

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( in the interest of comparing notes. )

Riley Finn reporting for duty to compare notes.

But, really, vampires. They're everywhere, right? Like, unabashedly everywhere. It's like vampirism's catching? Although, the hen apparently lived in a pumpkin with a face (a jack-o-lantern?) which is weird enough to type anyway.

text: un: koby

[kobes]

I have a question about library restoration. If you have a moment.

✉️ text — un: astarion.

[thirsted]

[ Delivered the evening after Giles' offering is received:

First, written in Astarion's neat script:

For your effort.

And then, attached to the note, a single pale feather, almost pearly when it catches the light. ]

[ripher]

Of course, ask away.

[ripher]

Yes, I have heard some very alarming rumours. It would be wise to be cautious.

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I thought everything in Sunnydale was out there. Like, body switching out there. But here, it's like all of that was just a warm up for the weird and unexplainable here. And just an overpopulation of vampires.

Let me know if I can be of any help and I'll keep an eye out.

I'm starting to think I should keep a really close watch on the network, too...

[kobes]

Specifically regarding fire-damaged books. Is there any way to rebind them, I suppose?

[ripher]

Absolutely, though I'm afraid I don't have much experience of doing it myself. When I was in a similar position, I had a colleague I could send them to. We could perhaps try to clean them. Have you asked the [ Uhh. ] entity in the library if it is able to help? That is, if it hasn't been damaged itself?

[kobes]

No, not yet. It usually does just fine repairing itself, but I feel
Responsible for the damage, so. Maybe I want to make amends to it? Somehow?

[ripher]

[ Putting a pin in "responsible for the damage" for a moment. ]

I'm sure it will appreciate the effort. Lay out the damaged books. I'll be over shortly, we can go through them together.

[kobes]

Thank you, Mr. Giles, I really do appreciate it. I'll explain more when you're here, but please don't be alarmed by the state of the library. Or me.

[meaning the condoned-off, smoldering lump of ash that used to be a bookshelf and the bandages on koby's arms and head. he's moving a bit slower, but he's closer to his usual self than he's been all week, at least.]

[ripher]

[ They can match on one score, at least: Giles is also sporting the dark knot of a bruise above his left eyebrow and a single steri-strip across a small cut. When he arrives he's carrying two takeout cups of coffee and already frowning in concern at the sight of those bandages. ]

I'm guessing this is something to do with your feeling responsible?

[kobes]

-- oh, your face. Are you okay? [koby stops what hes doing -- carefully laying out the books that weren't thoroughly burned or sodden with the foam from the fire extinguisher -- and steps closer, reaching out towards giles's injuries with a bandaged hand before thinking better of it. his thoughts are still sluggish, syrupy, and it takes him a moment to actually lower his hand.]

It does, yes. My friend -- he returned as some sort of, um. Bird on fire? I think. I tried to talk him down. [a weak, hollow sort of laugh, gesturing at the burned bookshelf.] It wasn't very successful.

[ripher]

[ The belated gesture earns an expression somewhere between sympathy and gratitude, an awareness of both the desire and the loss of ability. A glance takes the rest of it in -- the burned shelves, the books, Koby's injured hand. Giles moves to carefully set down one of the coffee cups within reach but out of the way of the books, then steps over to inspect the shelves. ]

A phoenix? Interesting. They're known to be quite.. single-minded.

[ He rubs a finger through the dried foam and ash on the shelf, then belatedly realises he should explain, and turns back to Koby with a somewhat sheepish impression. ]

Oh, ah. [ He gestures at his head with a lift of his coffee cup. ] Kicked in the head. By, um, a stripper, I believe. Let's just say I won't be attending any more weddings for a while, if I can help it.

[kobes]

Maybe? Maybe. [koby adjusts the position of the books a little, looking at the coffee for a long moment before registering:] Oh! Is that for me? That’s very kind of you. [he picks up the cup in his less bandaged hand – most of those injuries are due to the shattered window close by the burned shelf, shards of glass still glinting in the carpet.] He had several wings and a sort of booming voice – very pale, white light, though. Phoenixes are usually blue, right?

[a sigh, a sip at the coffee, humming softly in approval when it’s just that, unsweetened, unflavored.] “Single-minded” is a good description, though. I tried to reason with him, but it ended up just making things worse. [another sip, and koby gestures vaguely at his bandaged forehead.] Hence – all this.

A stripper. Oh, at the wedding. [koby makes a face somewhere between discomfort and barely-stifled amusement.] Right. That’s not funny, but – there was so much chaos around it, I can’t even imagine how absurd things got when you were there. Um. Nobody died, right?

[ripher]

That might be a good idea. Although it's hard to tell how much of it is exaggeration for the sake of entertaining the audience of young people with too much time on their hands, and how much constitutes an actual threat. Though I suspect the answer might be that it's both.

I don't suppose you've found a stash of weapons anywhere?

[ripher]

Not that I'm aware of.

[ Still slightly distracted by the idea of phoenixes being blue -- he can't recall reading anything about what colour they're supposed to be -- Giles drifts back to the table. He frowns, then winces when it twinges the bruise on his forehead. ]

I -- well, besides the groom already being dead, I suppose. But, no -- no new deaths. Though not for a lack of trying. I gather Alina has quite the.. fanbase.

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I get the impression it's all true, but that doesn't make every claim a threat, nor does it bring actual logic into the equation. But, a house is keeping us all hostage, so maybe I shouldn't look for logic.

Not yet. I get the feeling whatever's holding us here wants mayhem on their terms. (Consequences for death, the events that show up, apparently... full brainwashing.) But, I'll keep an eye out.

[kobes]

Already dead. Spike, you mean. [if koby's ears are a little pink, no they aren't.] Well, I guess it's good nobody died.

[a pause, looking at the bruise, then frowning.] Do you need any painkillers? Ice? I carry a first aid kit, just in case. Head injuries can be serious. [pot, kettle.]

Alina's been here as long as I have. She has a lot of people who care about her -- as well as a husband already. [a bit dryly.] I gathered he was one of the ones most unhappy about the entire thing.

[ripher]

Yes, that was rather clear. [ Not that a lot of what the young man was saying made sense, but it was clear enough that he felt slighted. ] It was something of a mess.

[ Giles looks around, then pulls out one of the chairs by the table and lowers himself into it, apparently grateful to be off his feet. He looks over the books laid out in front of him, and at Koby, belatedly remembering the offer. ]

Oh, um. If you have an aspirin, I would appreciate it. Thank you. And perhaps you ought to sit down as well. We can go over the books just as well without injuring ourselves any further.. I hope.

[kobes]

I can imagine. I'm sorry you got into the middle of it. [truly, koby's sorry anyone got mixed up in the whole mess -- nobody seemed truly at fault, besides the particularly embarrassing, mess-causing magic of saltburnt. again. and maybe jinx who may or may not have shot someone.

the relaxation once giles is sitting is tangible, and koby smiles as he pulls out a bottle of aspirin and a water bottle, still chilled, from a bag hanging over the back of the opposite chair.] I think if we both concentrate very hard, we can avoid injuring ourselves while sitting completely still, yeah.

[the chair gets looked at for a moment, before koby hops up to perch himself on the edge of the table instead, ankles crossing, smiling.] There. Sitting. [it's partially so he doesn't completely relax, since he's allergic to that, and partially so the back of the chair doesn't press against the burns.]

[ripher]

[ A measuring glance takes in Koby's arrangement. Giles gives him a little toast with the water bottle as he takes it, gratefully, and cracks open the bottle of aspirin. ]

Yes, very good. [ His praise is genuine; he may have only known Koby for a short amount of time, but he gets the impression that the young man could do with more reasons to sit still for a while, even if it's perched on top of a table.

Giles throws back a couple of aspirin and grimaces. He puts the cap on the water bottle and makes a visible effort to try and clear his thoughts, looking at the books in front of him. ]

Let's see what we can do.

✨ INBOX FOR JUNE ✨

[ripher]

GUEST AU INBOX CAN BE FOUND HERE

💌

[bronze]

( a note, as posted via pink sticky note on the bathroom side on giles’ door — )

giles 💕

anis HERE ok i think youre asleep so thats why the note

ok!!!! ❤️❤️ say hi in morning!!!!!!!!

@goodsir

[mygoodsir]

Dear Mr. Giles,

I am writing to you today to offer my sincerest apologies for the behaviour of my other self throughout the past month. Although I don't recall insulting you directly, I was close enough to your social circle that I fear my very existence was grating enough.

I assure you that I am now what I was previously: a (I hope) relatively stable Englishman from 1848 and not a bitter drunkard who will text you at some ungodly hour to discuss 'twinks.'

Yours most humbly,
Harry D.S. Goodsir