deathsmajesty | Personal Voicemail

There was a part of Ignis that was asking himself why, exactly, he seemed to be particularly insistent on playing at this sort of dance right now, and there was a part of him that had the answer as to why firmly on hand. And there was a part of him that was telling him he should wait for the chance to catch her at her shop, instead, and another part of him that already felt he'd waited too long already.

But he did wait, at least, until the early hours of evening that Sunday to pull up Liliana's number on his phone, hesitate on it for far too long, then scold himself for being absurd. And when it started to ring, he found himself both hoping and dreading that it would just land him in her voicemail.

Sorry and/or you're welcome. Except Liliana never actually said sorry, so it was just 'you're welcome' when after three rings, the call was picked up and Liliana's cool, amused voice came down the line.

"Hello, Ignis."

Liliana was purely pleased he'd reached out. Because, obviously, she couldn't have. That had been illegal and absolutely not allowed. For reasons.

Edited 2023-10-01 14:15 (UTC)

Well, far be it from Ignis to expect anyone to engage in disallowed and illegal activities on his behalf. Especially when such prohibited actions could be circumvented by him finally not being an absolute waffle and actually being proactive himself.

"Hello, Liliana."

And a moment, perhaps, to just sort of linger on the deceptive simplicity there before continuing.

"I'm not interrupting anything too important, am I?"

She had made the last two overtures. And even if one of those had been accidental, it was what it looked like. And felt like. Urza forbid it looks like Liliana Vess were chasing after a man.

Regardless of any internal feelings she may (OR MAY NOT!!!) be feeling about days passing without a visit or evenings spent with no attempt to call.

Anyway, they were both doing excellently.

"Well the contractor Dr. Lector suggested just left," she said. "The man may be a giant slug, but he understands the importance of aesthetics and quality building material and that's enough for me. If he's as competent as he seems, I should have a functional ballroom to host a harvest time ball in." She sounded quietly satisfied and a little excited at the prospect.

"And you, Ignis? How did this fine weekend treat you?"

There was a soft, faint smile there, as Ignis listened, recalling how when they discussed the possibility of such an event in her hands, there had been a reluctance there that seemed to have all but dissipated entirely. There was a droll joke in there, somewhere, about looking forward to seeing it, but he didn't ~~ache~~ ~~pine over~~ delay this phone call just to spend it reaching for low hanging fruit.

Instead, he gave a somewhat dramatized sigh. "Rather dull, I'm afraid," he admitted. "You see, with visitors from home being quite the impossibility at the moment and no ballroom of my own to tend to redecorating and preparing for grand festivities, my time has been spent with little more than the usual rote occurrences: a bit of training, a bit of cooking, and a lot of...thinking. Pondering. Contemplation, if you will..."

Time and memories could weigh heavily, particularly when there were so many. And who didn't liven up a bit with an actual project in front of them?

"Oh?" Liliana asked, almost audibly perking up. "Contemplating? Pondering? Whatever has been been weighing so deeply on your mind to require so much thinking, darling?"

"Well," said Ignis, "everything, really."

He...wished he was just being dramatic just then.

"But," he amended, "most relevant to your interests, I should think," he should hope, "a two things. I've been thinking about how much I want to cook for you again, and I've been thinking about incompetent Stitcher."

"You make it sound like I wouldn't be interested in the everything, darling," Liliana said in a voice that was meant to be archly curious, so that's what she sounded like, okay, and certainly not sincere.

"But I can't say that I'm not particularly interested in the latter two topics. What has all your pondering brought to light about those, Ignis?"

Sometimes she couldn't help but say his name. She liked the way it felt in her mouth.

Edited 2023-10-01 18:09 (UTC)

"Mostly," Ignis said, "that the former should occur much sooner rather than later, and, assuming your offer to narrate the text still stands, perhaps we could combine the two of them. A little reading to go along with the cooking. And, with consideration to the inevitable rants and asides," and no doubt other unrelated distractions, "I figured that we might be able to get through the first page by the time the meal is finished."

She laughed, a low caress over the phone. "I'm certain we can get further than that," she protested lightly. "...So long as I can give you a thorough grounding on necromancy beforehand, that is."

Otherwise, he might be right.

"But you're correct, much sooner than later. Were you thinking of any day in particular?" You know. Casual. Just asking.

"Well," said Ignis, very lightly and casually himself, certainly with nothing remotely akin to foresight and previous considerations, entirely off the cuff, truly, "you can't get much sooner than tomorrow, really...unless, of course, you're otherwise engaged that evening."

"Unless you decided on tonight," Lili pointed out. Solely because of their love of technical correctness, obviously, and for no other reason. "But that sounds lovely. What does go with a long-winded rant about necromancy?"

Edited 2023-10-01 20:57 (UTC)

"That's the thing," Ignis mused lightly, "I haven't quite decided, and then there's the matter of fetching ingredients, which does make tomorrow the soonest time and the most reasonable."

And if that sounded a bit like an argument that had been quite a few times in a very short amount of time to an audience of one, well, then...

"I will grant you the most reasonable," she allowed with a laugh in her voice, "but I still do not grant you that it's the soonest. If, for no other reason than because you are ignoring the art of improvisation, which potentially could have made tonight viable."

"I wouldn't say I'm ignoring it," Ignis insisted, the coolness of the statement tempered by the warmth of amusement, "merely recognizing its flaws as the least optimal of our options."

There was a pause, surprisingly deep in its hesitation for how short it was.

"It does have the undeniable benefit of spending time with you tonight, but I quite suspect we could do that regardless."

That statement was followed by a hesitation of Liliana's own, one flavored by surprise. She opened her mouth to declare that she had simply been arguing the technical point, certainly not trying to convince him otherwise, but closed it again. That impulse was rooted in the same place as the idea that seeking him out again would be illegal until he reached out to her; a stubborn, prideful place that refused to make allow her to chase. Or even give off the impression that she wanted to.

But she did want this.

The pause went on long enough to be noticeable, perhaps even nerve-wracking, but when she finally did speak, that customary archness had been lessened, replaced by a soft pleasure.

"I quite suspect you're right. And you're welcome." A smile. "If you wish."

And then the archness returned, unable to be chased away for so long, especially for something as unfamiliar as sincerity. "Though, if you do, you will be subjected to takeout, so gird yourself for that. Unless you mysteriously have some responsibilities that necessitate your absence until after I've finished my dinner."

"Well, I will be needing to pick up a few things for breakfast..."

Well. Brunch. But two meals should easily make up for whatever inferior food she was left having to subject herself to this evening.

"But I shouldn't be too long," he said, the faint, pleased smile that came easier with the privacy of his own bedroom spilling over, unbeknownst to him, in his words

I like hearing you smile.

Liliana wasn't sure where that saccharine bit of treacle had come from, but she was pleased that she'd managed to bite her tongue on it before it actually had been born into the open air. For a moment, she considered whether it was a sign that they were, in fact, spending too much time together, but managed to dismiss that as nonsense as well - a far easier task, since it involved convincing herself to do the thing that she wanted to do anyway.

"It will give me time to start polishing up all my very best notes and lectures on necromancy," she said. "I would hate to disappoint you with a subpar rant, especially on this topic. I'd have to find my old Witherbloom robes just to return them in shame."

The several arduous days filled with near-torturous calculations in deducing when might be the most optimal time for pushing a few buttons on his phone would like to make a very emboldened case against too much time together being an issue here.

"You've yet to disappoint in any arena thus far," Ignis pointed out, "and I would be rather shocked if this were to be the subject to change that."

Especially when he was fairly convinced she could just prattle off the listings in a phone book and he'd still be entirely enthralled.

It helped, though, that he imagined such a thing would be persued with liberal commentary, as well.

Liliana Vess was not given to sentimentality or sweetness, unless it were a menu at a local confectionary, so when she found herself tending towards such activities, it was clearly a sign something was amiss. But, no, too much time was likely not the problem. Spending too much time led more to frustrations and annoyances, not vapid thoughts about smiles and they way they lifted an entire countenance, softening the lines and creeping into the voice to--

Ahem.

Never mind.

Again, clearly, something else was at play here that was not related to the concept of too much time.

"It does seem rather unlikely," she conceded, because modesty was a gown that looked better on other people, and false modesty even moreso. "Are you not worried that I'll end up being so entertaining that you'll lost track of making dinner entirely?"

If a mere smile in one's voice could shake up such troubling discourse, then what about a small, faint laugh?

"That is a risk," he assured her, "that I am quite willing to take."

Which might, for most people, be just some rote standard line, but Ignis Scientia never took risks lightly.

'Troubling' was precisely the correct term. Which was why Liliana was doing what she did best when facing certain realities she did not like:

She was ignoring it.

Not his laugh, of course not. Her inability to ignore it was just one of those certain realities she was eschewing, in fact.

"Careful," she chided with a laugh of her own. "That kind of challenge is how you end up with me reading and ranting to you stark naked."

"I should only be so lucky," Ignis said, that smile on his voice now fueled by now familiar thoughts of delicately placed pins, the whisper of fabric, and its then subsequent silence. "I'll be sure to avoid anything that may involve any splattering hot oils or other unfortunate consequences."

Good. Those thoughts had been a dual-purpose trap. Once in the moment, as he'd seen, while also burrowing deeply into his mind, to bloom at any opportunity.

"It is a fine line I will have to walk," Liliana agreed. "Between distracting you enough to satiate my pride, but not so much that dinner is irrevocably destroyed."

She did like his food best of all.

"You know, this reminds me. You mentioned stopping to purchase supplies for brunch, is there anything I should have my Steward pickup the next time he's doing shopping?" Totally normal question and also shut up. "Anything you'd like for me to have on hand? To make impromptu breakfasts easier on you to manage?"

That trap had bloomed so effectively that his mind had become a veritable garden bursting with vibrant recollections.

And some might fall into the trap for making the argument that such an offer would seem to negate the spirit of impromptu, but Ignis was certainly smart enough to avoid getting ensnared by that.

"Well," he stated, instead, "so long as you maintain your excellent taste in wine, everything else will likely fall easily into place."

But, since it was a very practical question, and he did have a bit of a weakness for practicality...

"But you can't go wrong with fresh fruit on hand, either. Some of the basics: milk, bread, eggs."

None of which did well when just left lingering and unused...practically speaking.

It's true; she'd been thinking impromptu based on why she was having breakfast made for him at all. But his point remained nevertheless.

"Those, I do have, at least usually," she added, ignoring for the moment how all of her eggs had gone to quick and simple meals while scrounging for herself. "I can do my best to ensure that we have those to hand. I want you feeling comfortable in my kitchen. Milk, eggs, some fresh fruits all of that seems to be a small price to pay to make you smile at the thought of cooking for me."

Dammit. She had not meant to say that last part aloud.

Edited 2023-10-02 03:23 (UTC)

It it was far enough removed from what Ignis might have expected her to say that it three him, for a moment, and initial surprise that was followed very swiftly by a stirring in his chest, and a smile so soft that it seemed to spread over his next words like warm butter.

"A small price, perhaps," he said, "but wholly unnecessary. That'd be like paying just to breathe air."

There was a small beat.

"Although I could understand why the comparison might lose something in translation for a necromancer, but the point being, it's already my pleasure, Liliana."

She was definitely cursing herself for saying something so positively twee, ugh. "I promise you, breathing is just important to necromancers as not. I refused to take the final steps to learn more about undeath back on Innistrad, much to the frustration of some of the witches in vampires I was learning the necromantic arts from in the first place. No thank you, such things are not for me."

From one fraught topic to another. Perhaps third would be a lucky charm?

"Besides I quite like giving you pleasure, Ignis," she pointed out in a purr. "Perhaps you've noticed?"

"I have also noticed," Ignis offered, the drawl of his own voice like a soothing balm for any lingering burn left by sincerity, even if it, too, ironically, still contained quite a bit, "that you are exceptionally good at it, as well."

"All the more reason to join me sooner rather than later tonight," she said, stretching out along her divan with a soft noise of contentment. "More opportunities for us both to indulge."

Greedy and selfish and spoiled.

The urge to follow-up almost immediately after Prompto had called him yesterday to ask about, of all things, what sort of cupcakes Liliana might like was incredibly strong, especially since Prompto's answer to his question about why he was getting cupcakes for Liliana was a very frantic "I don't know!" followed by a less-than-helpful recounting of the events that lead him to flailing in a cupcake shop in Baltimore. But he held back that urge out of some sense of....propriety? Self-preservation? Respect to the continued dance of denial and giving in that they seemed to be constantly entangled in? He wasn't quite sure, but it did feel most prudent, at least, to wait, and then it was all a matter of deciding, once it felt...acceptable to reach out, how exactly to do it.

The radio's reporting on it had him desperately wanting to go see her, but that seemed like it could be a bit...fraught with danger, on several different levels. And so he figured, a safe compromise (all the while loathing the idea of leaning into the safe option but unable to convince himself not to) was to just send her one of those voice texts, one over which he agonized for far too long before actually sending it.

"Is everything alright? Prompto seemed quite worried after you left the shelter yesterday."

Yes. Prompto was worried. Let's lean into that.

Immediately after he sent it, he regretted not being more honest, but it was too late now.

Awwwww! If Liliana had known that Ignis thought she was too dangerous to visit, she would have been quite pleased. Except for a small tangle of emotions that felt otherwise, of course, but Liliana was a mistress of ignoring feelings she didn't want.

Mostly. Last night had been an exception and now that the shock has passed, she was delighted, just delighted to know about planar portals.

Any any other small tangle of residual emotions were being wrestled into the mental crypt called 'The Mending' and locked inside to moulder away forever.

Her reply came back immediately.

"Well, this awful din below is making my bath less indulgent than one could wish, but it's for a good cause and so I endure. Are you the reason Prompto knew to get me raspberry and lemon curd cupcakes? They were delicious."

If it weren't for the mention of the din and the proof of it floating around in the background of her words, Liliana's quick response would have elicited a more direct call. But, as such, the less of that droning for Ignis to deal with directly, the better, so he continued in stride.

"He turned to me desperate for guidance on the matter, and who am I to refuse help to a friend in need? He seemed quite a bit shaken by your abrupt departure. Should I inform him that his peace offering has been accepted, or would you prefer to let him sweat it out a bit longer?"

Once that voice text had been sent, it was followed, rather quickly, by another:

"Also, if you find yourself needing to escape for a spell, I might have some suggestions."

"First, I must say, my darling, I adore the way your brain works. However, I feel like letting Prompto sweat a bit is almost cruel to the poor darling, especially since he did nothing wrong. I was simply surprised by something that I'd--" That wasn't a catch in her voice, she was merely momentarily distracted by the noise. Honest. "--I'd thought had been removed from the Multiverse entirely. Do let him know he has excellent taste in cupcakes. I'd let him know myself, but I haven't his number."

.

Only to discover that another text had been sent while she'd been answering the first. "Oh Ignis, needing to escape is why I'm here," she murmured, nails drumming on the side of the tub. "But--hmmm." The first flickers of an idea tickled her mind, not yet a plan but starting to grow.

"I'm always interested in ideas, darling. Eventually I might be driven from my home back to my estate on Innistrad if the noise keeps up. They've started arriving with the dawn."

And with pondering that first response and that...distraction by the noise, Ignis had the luxury of getting to receive that second one while pondering what to say, with a faint chuckle (kept quiet and private even when entirely by himself) for it. That amusement (and dare he say fondness?) melded into his words once he finally did reply, though.

"With the dawn? How truly dreadful. What a horrible ordeal that must have been for you, on top of everything else. Surely, though, there must be somewhere you can escape that isn't quite so far as all that...." The pause that followed was...significant, the amusement in his tone switched out with something trying very hard not to be too somber or serious. "Though in light of such revelations, no doubt the accessibility of distance does have its appeals."

Liliana had no such compunctions about laughing quietly. Her bathroom echoed with the golden peal of her laughter for a moment before she replied, amusement still evident in her words.

"Your sincere sympathy for my early morning plight is noted and appreciated. I was terribly aggrieved to have been woken up from was a perfectly lovely dream by the sound of what I have been told are chainsaws. You were in the dream, my darling, feeding me strawberries and cream on a blanket in dappled sunlight and who knows what else might have happened had I been allowed to continue sleeping. I'm most dreadfully cross. So, yes, I may have to start looking into alternatives. Especially since planeswalking is tra--truly exhausting. I can planeswalk several times in succession if I must, but it does seem a bit excessive just to avoid some noise."

Any argument made with the observation that this planeswalking sounded like much more of an ordeal than simply portaling would be were being kept strictly to Ignis' self at the moment.

"Well, we mustn't let the chainsaws win. I can certainly provide at least strawberries, cream, and a very soft blanket, although I must admit, the dappled sunlight might be a bit beyond my control."

Especially since portaling would mean she had no real reason to stay on the island, something she wasn't looking into too closely. Portals meant she could bring Josu with her when she left.

"Mmm, that does seem like just the thing to soothe my jangled nerves. And we can let the sunshine do as it will. I believe my reputation suggests I'm supposed to hiss at sunlight and prefer gloomy and overcast days, but I'm hardly going to let something as silly as public perception sway me. Is that offer a hypothetical, darling, or do I now have afternoon plans that get me out of my house for a few hours?"

The response that came through was firm and decisive.

"You now have afternoon plans that get you out of your house, though if I were you, I'd leave room for more than just a few hours. Give me thirty minutes, and I'll be there to whisk you away from your plight. Do try not to be too dazzled by that dappled light against my shining armor."

His reply opened with a laugh, the one full of warmth and one might even say...happiness? It's one that Ignis had heard several times in their weeks together - a number far in excess than Liliana would have guessed.

"Who says you ever needed armor to dazzle me? Your half hour is granted and your - hmm. I am neither a maiden nor particularly fair. Your dark lady, perhaps? Yes, I quite like the sound of that. Your dark lady shall be waiting for her handsome knight."

Hello, Liliana, this is Dr. Hannibal Lecter. Radio said you required medical assistance. Would you like for me to visit?

I am currently not at my home but staying as a guest of Ignis. So I would need to see if they would be amenable as well.

Let me know.

Could panic be conveyed through text? Because there was definitely a panicked text hitting Liliana's phone at some point in the morning, right about whenever would be most convenient to the plot, actually.

I DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING TO ANYONE I SWEAR!!!

And if that didn't get a response for a while (for whatever possible reason that he was not one to speculate on except to panic more!), then there might be a follow-up panicked call in Liliana's near future.

"Yeah, ey, just calling to say hi -- EVERYONE SAY HI -- and see what was going on, but I got your machine so I s'poose that's lucky for you and a crying shame for me. Later, sunshine.

Was John supposed to feel shame? Not in this lifetime, mate.

The following day, when Liliana had fun things like 'thumbs' and 'concepts of phones,' John would be getting a call back.

"Normally I would ask if that is a crying shame for me, since it sounds like I missed quite the party, but it seems this call also came in at a truly ungodly time in the morning, so I'd wager you were correct. Definitely a shame for you, though--now who is this?"

Saturday evening, a phone call came through to Liliana's line. Technically it was business but Dean figured this was a better way to get a hold of her.

"Liliana Vess. It's Dean. I got a favor to ask of you. I got six boxes that contain items of a dangerous nature that I would like to have locked up in a safe place. Mind if I use the Consortium's locker? I'd like them in a safe place."

"Of course, darling," Liliana said. "That's why they're there. Do you have them now or will they be arriving at a later date?"

"Have them now. I'll be back on the island on Monday, drop them off then?" Dean asked. "They're cursed but will be in secured lock boxes if that makes any difference."

"That's fine," Liliana said. "We'll just put them directly in the locker. A list of what you're bringing and how they are cursed wouldn't go amiss."

"The guy I know put them in lock boxes and buried them in a Mississippi storage locker," Dean replied. "I hope to have a list after I go through the 20 boxes of books and journals. But he was also pretty paranoid so there may not even be a note about them. As long as they stay in the boxes nothing will get harmed by it."

A lack of list was certainly not going to come back and bite them in any way.

"Then I shall see you Monday?"

That would fly in the face of Supernatural canon tradition.

"Sure," Dean grunted as he picked up a box. "I'll bring you back some crawfish and Mississippi mud pie."

"...How charming of you," Liliana deadpanned, having no idea what a 'mud pie' was save a game of pretend for children.

"Trust me, you'll love it," Dean assured her. "Thanks Lils!"

"One day, I am going to rot your organs," Liliana retorted. "Goodbye, Dean."

"You say the sweetest things," Dean joked right before hanging up.

So last week's class had been somewhat... personally revealing in a few ways. So when Dean tried to send a message to Navaan it definitely went to the wrong place.

Look, I don't regret anything about that night when we flanged but I'd really appreciate it if you didn't bring it up in front of the girl I'm seeing in class tomorrow. Cool?

[Went here, here, here, and here]

[[ from , naturally ]]

oh? Truly? You've never FLANGED before? Let me inform you, then, that it does come HIGHLY recommended. And while I must admit you are a bit....younger than I am usually strictly comfortable with, as someone who considers you a fried, I do feel it would be my duty....nay, privilege....to at least offer a...thorough introduction, if you find yourself so inclined and curious. Just......

......hmu girl.

[I am a monster so this went here, here, here, here, and here]

(From here!)

"...Donald Blake is absolutely not allowed to have sex with you."

[Went here, here, here, and here]

Edited 2024-06-19 23:22 (UTC)

[From here]

If I threatened you, you'd know it. I didn't, though.

[Went here, here, and here]

Hope your weekend wasn't too terrible. We should plan a girl's day. I can tell you about my indulgence.

I was a squirrel and if I wasn't sure how it would affect him come Monday, not-Ignis would have been a shambling corpse. So yes, absolutely. Girl's day and I long to hear all about your indulgences, darling.

Gladio said Ignis was a bit of a cad. I'm sorry to hear that. We were luckily untouched. What day works best for you? Obviously not Thursday!

Nor Friday, since I'll be putting the finishing touches for my party. It looks like tomorrow it is. Which is good because I have no desire to be near the park anyway.

I stay far away from that as well. Shall we meet at the onset? Not too early, obviously. Then maybe a nice late lunch?

Absolute perfection.

If Liliana were the type of woman who would use them, there would be a heart emoji in there.

After some careful deliberation throughout the day and bouncing some thoughts off of Stark during their incredibly handwavy post-Paintball, post-work, Mostly-Victory celebration dinner for managing to finish out that class being bested only by a literal god, Summer had...mostly reached a decision about her unexpected boon yesterday and was sending off a text to Liliana:

if i were to tell u that i have in my possession something that will absolutely rock ur boys world right now, would u be interested, or nah?

Edited 2024-08-20 11:19 (UTC)

Liliana raised an eyebrow - half in curiosity, half because Summer, your orthography - and sent an answer.

I'd say I already do that on the regular, but I'm certainly intrigued to hear what it is you have that's also so skilled.

Did Summer get a shipment meant for Dite's?

Edited 2024-08-20 12:52 (UTC)

It was a text, Liliana, not a fucking heartfelt formal letter from Victorian times.

Summer did take a moment to think about what Stark had said, that she should go with whatever made the most people happiest (adorable), and then realized that wasn't as much fun, really, and what made her happiest was at least attempting to be a little scheming about all of this. And so:

oh well i mean if u already have it covered then maybe i should see if gladio or prompto would be interested. u know spread the love a little more

Which....probably didn't exclude the Dite's theory! She knew these guys back when they all shared a bed, after all!

Except that Nell would cut a bitch and Prompto would shriek about the sanctity of his marriage, so it likely wasn't something from Dite's after all.

...She should pop by after lunch and see if Irene had any new stock anyway.

Mmm, you COULD but there's definitely a reason you reached out to me, first. Is it because I'm more likely to go along with mischief? Darling, you do know I adore mischief.

Counterpoint: bros before hos. Not that Summer advocated for such dudebro tropes, but they had a deep bond that proceeded any of y'all.

technically i reached out to u second

Even though she didn't tell Stark explicitly that he'd been considered an option to receive this grand prize to great Ignis-winning effect, it had been an option.

but i do think ur the one who could benefit most from it

and also the one willing to offer the most interesting price

Come on, Lils. Put that mischief money where you mischief mouth was.

Edited 2024-08-20 13:33 (UTC)

The idea that Liliana had been second raised another eyebrow before it settled over narrowed eyes. This had better be a major gift you were dangling, Summer, if you wanted her to ignore that slight.

So you want me to bid on something someone already passed over? I'm going to need a little more detail about exactly what it is I'd be buying, darling. What is it that you've got that'll rock his world in a way I can't?

well he technically didn't pass on it because it became pretty clear to me that he would probably just mess it up if I DID offer it but long story short I currently possess several cases of the one thing in the entire multiverse that might actual inspire Ignis to forgive Stark if that possession were to transfer to him

And if that didn't convince her without Summer having to reveal her hand entirely, she thought she'd also throw in one last point:

but mybe i just keep it for myself who knows when it could be in handy for a really big favor

As if Ignis didn't already owe her a TON already, but Liliana didn't know that!

Liliana sat bolt upright. There were very few things in the Multiverse that could have that kind of power and very few of them arrived in cases

To Turtle and Canary, no less. Where fish crackers and sparkling water had already made an appearance.

I see. You are correct, that IS an interesting proposition. And I'm guessing money isn't the kind of thing you're looking for.

A pity. She had scads of it lying around. Information was always a worthwhile currency, but Liliana didn't have any she thought Summer would enjoy.

How does a weekend long stay at my townhouse in Ravnica sound? Potentially over RageFest, a celebration of debauchery, danger, and destruction?

oh come on liliana I thought u could do better than what sounds like a glorified multidimensional airbnb for debauchery I can't even fully enjoy at this current stage in my life

She'd have a disapproving Stark Face in the back of her mind the entire time, and that would really put a damper on the whole thing, you know?

although suppose I could just give it to u because I like u and I really like Ignis and want u to be happy and I know I can depend on u to help if there ever IS something I might need from u

Boy it sure was a good thing Liliana wasn't averse to accruing debt for power, huh??

What, are drugs and violence also not allowed? I can honestly say, Summer darling, I can absolutely picture you front and center at some of the Rakdos fighting pits. And having a delightful time with the Gruul clans.

Though I will admit, I don't have quite as thorough an understanding of that side of RageFest. I generally preferred the drugs and debauchery side, myself.

Though the looting could be fun! Though Liliana found it more enjoyable and less effort to loot the looters, those few times she'd partaken of that aspect of the festival.

Her eyes narrowed at Summer's second text. It's true she wasn't averse to it, but taking on said debt was immediately followed by trying to find ways to wriggle out of it, up to and including murder. But if that was a risk Summer wanted to take - and Liliana had to admit, it was a good tactic - and she wanted to put her trust in Liliana being inclined to keep her word in the future (a significant gamble, to be sure), well then who was Liliana to stop her?

Why, that would show a true generosity of spirit. The kind of thing that marks a genuine friendship - and, of course, helping out one's friends when one can IS what friendship is all about. I'm sure I would be delighted if there were something that I might assist you with in the future, darling.

Ah, see, and Summer was banking on the idea that, just as the impending Disapproving Stark Face was preventing her from even asking more about this admittedly increasingly intriguing RageFest, the threat of impending Disapproving Ignis Face would at least give Liliana some pause before just reneging on this bargain or, you know, just murdering Summer just to slip out of having to pay her some itty bitty, tiny little insignificant, infantedtimal, miniscule, microscopic favor at some point in the unforeseeable future.

Especially when Iggy had way more Face to work with and infinitely more disapproval in him, too!

i mean that's what friends r for isn't it??? 🥰🥰🥰 I knew it would be smart coming to u liliana and that you'd completely understand!

Could you feel the batting eyelashes from there, Lils?

so! Do u prefer pick up or delivery?

Well, now she was missing out on talking to Liliana about fantasy drugs (as opposed to space drugs, obvs) and sex and that was its own punishment.

Let me come to you. I'm going to need a little while to come up with the best light in which to display this gift and it will be better if I store it somewhere for safekeeping.

Ugh, yes. Ignis would be very upset if she murdered his Ebony hookup because she didn't want to repay a favor. Oh and also they were dear friends or whatever, too. Fine. (Probably) no murder.

And thank you, darling, for this absolutely amazing gift of true friendship.

~~...This really would make Ignis so happy and Liliana was pleased with that~~

Always happy to help!! 💞💞💞

Just hmu when ur ready and I'll release it from its hiding spot!

After maybe secreting away an extra case for her own....safe keeping.

Well that just made sense. It wasn't like Liliana had asked how many cases she'd be getting anyway.

Well, Ignis does happen to be at the diner right now, so perhaps a visit to a friend is just the perfect way to liven up an otherwise lonely afternoon.

It's true. Ignis totally was at the diner today. *coughcough*

I've got class rn but I'll make sure to be at the store in a bit! Perfect

And, oh, you were so, so welcome, Liliana, and Summer was going to make sure you knew that.

Listen, some days were just more memorable than others, even if they totally stuck to the normal schedule. Obviously.

Mmmm. Liliana would look back at this and realize she'd signed up for it on behalf of Ebony, her One True Nemesis (move over, Raven Man) and understand that the signs had been there from the beginning.

I'll meet you there, darling.

A flower arrangement arrived at the creepy but not abandoned mansion. It had a simple note:

Apologies for the mess,

- Dean

And included in the note were two tickets for box seats to an upcoming Baltimore Ravens game.

The bouquet of flowers certainly helped Liliana's frosty mood towards him to thaw a bit, though that was immediately undone when she saw the tickets that went with them.

It wasn't 'Baltimore' that arrested her so, nor the color purple, nor even that it was a football game. It was the name of the team.

Ravens.

He wanted her to go to the Ravens. What did this mean? What did he know?!

Had he been present, Liliana might have flown into a rage, demanding that he explain himself immediately, demand he tell her the reasons behind this, did he think it was a joke, did he think it was funny? But he wasn't and that was important. It gave her a chance to breathe, too cool off, to remember that Dean had no idea why should would have any feelings towards ravens at all, never mind such strong ones.

Perhaps it would be better to handle this over the phone; after all, she was still incensed enough by their two week old fight that her palm was itchy, but instead, she was putting on her cloak and sweeping down to the Infinite Consortium instead.

There was no doubt that Liliana would have noticed, in preparing herself for the ~~morning~~ afternoon, on her dressing table, among all her other usual toiletries and accoutrements, a black velvet jewelry box. It was, after all, quite a large one, all the better to display the necklace that would reveal itself inside: incredibly thin and shimmering black strands, several of them of varying length to create cascading tiers, each of them speckled with a seemingly random assortment of black and purple jewels, small and glittering like dewdrops...

Or small kisses scattered all across one's décolletage.

A small card with a meticulously written message:

When I think about you
I hold you close and place you
around my neck like a necklace.

It did, admittedly, take slightly longer for Liliana to notice the new addition than it really should have. She'd been brushing out her hair and dreamily admiring the other purpling jewelry that Ignis had given her yesterday, tiny stippling bruises from his teeth, ones she could feel when she stretched her neck.

So, instead of being immediately delighted, there was a three second gap in where she was still brushing her hair and humming to herself before she noticed the black velvet box on her dressing table.

She'd been given princelier gifts before. Gemstones as big as the pad of her thumb. Deeds to lands that no longer existed. Titles that she'd long since forgotten. And none of them, not one had made her feel like this. None of those expensive gifts, chosen because they were expensive, far more than any concern about whether or not she would actually like them, had ever made her breath catch, her smile wobble slightly, as she brushed delicate fingers over the small gemstones or when she picked up the card.

"I love you, you ridiculous man," she whispered into the air.

And proceeded to rush through the rest of her toilette. She had somewhere to be.

It was just about when Liliana would arrive at the shop for her no doubt arduous day of work that Monday ~~despite the time stamp, shush~~ that a voice message would have pinged on her phone. Surely coincidence, and not anything meticulously planned, perish the thought.

It was, simply, just some recited poetry, some long overdue payback, as it were:

"Her moon is the everlasting cream
In my coffee of stars.
I stir in the hopes she appears
In half dark twinkles of night.
My hands warm in the bistro of...

Anticipation.

She leans against my lips
& my emotions erupt in hot steam.
A love like hers silk as cream,
Easing down my throat.

I stir until half dark twinkles are covered.
I stir until only the smallest bit is shown.
Her moon the everlasting cream,
In my coffee of stars.

The taste forever lingering on my tongue.

This cream a kiss that orbits much of the world.
A romance I taste with each sip,
In my coffee of stars"

And now Liliana had a terrible dilemma. Was this a bid for her to return home to him? Or a bite of her own piece of pie to linger over until he arrived with her treats for the day?

Truly an agony of a decision.

They'd discussed that Liliana always needed cake and Stark had just finished a batch of extremely chocolate cupcakes in today's class. So naturally he decided he ought to send Liliana a text. It wasn't like he could just show up unannounced!

I have chocolate cupcakes to share if you would like some

Liliana would be receiving a floral delivery today, with a message in rather distinctive handwriting on the card: With my most sincere apologies for making you row.

The sender had neglected to sign his name, but Liliana could probably figure it out.

Personal Voicemail

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Text message

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Wacky Phone Day!

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Phoooone Daaaay

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Phone day!

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