inbox

[megatheorem]

@sextus

username

@sextus

name

Palamedes Sextus

age

22(?)

hometown

The Library of the Sixth

codes by ♡ and ♡

Comments

text; @j.talis

[wondrously]

[ Possibly later in the week after their excursion, or later, what is time ]

How's recovery coming along?

[ With the hand. ]

[megatheorem]

[Attached in response, first: One (1) image of Palamedes' hand, no longer bandaged, giving a thumbs up. It's still not entirely a healthy color, mostly in bruise-ish splotches clustered closer to the heel of his palm, where he really smashed it into the Katalyth. Even odds some of that is just regular bruising.

But it looks better!

Then:]

No noticeable impact on motor function, either.

text; un: bugs

[honorism]

[Hi, you've got mail!

Well, a text.

Well, a picture. A close-up picture of a praying mantis, just minding its own business somewhere in the world.]

Isn't he cute? I found him on my walk.

[...]

Oh, this is Helaena.

Did you know they're one of the few insects that can rotate their heads up to 180 degrees?

[megatheorem]

[Whoa, look at this little man. And a sudden text from Helaena is a pleasant surprise, especially as she seems to be enjoying herself.]

Hi, Helaena. How big is he? I've never seen anything like him before.

Interesting bit about the head. Both ways?

[just a quick little action]

[feistro]

[No, he didn't knock when he came by Palamedes' room. Didn't leave a note, either. As for how he figured out where Palamedes is staying, it's a complete and utter mystery.

To be fair, who left the leather satchel with the mushrooms embossed on the flap may also be a complete and utter mystery. While not an artist by any measure, they clearly put some work into it, the edges of the illustrated fungi seared into the material, pressed into the leather with a hot wire carefully bent into shape.

And what's inside this mystery bag? Why, mushrooms, of course. There are other plant samples in there too, folded into little pieces of paper to keep them separated, but it's mostly mushrooms. Someone really thought he might like some flora from far outside the city.]

un: treeleaf

[lumberlady]

🐇🏃🏻‍♂️💨👨🏻？

🌳🍃！　👧🏽🐎

へあｌｔｈ？

[megatheorem]

[oh that's so many little pictures, help]

Hi? [squinting... well, at least part of that seems to be "horse woman," so hopefully,] Konoha, is this you? How are you doing?

call. (idk sometime after his post)

[opposed]

Palamedes? This is Mel Medarda. Could you call me back when you've a moment? I wanted to discuss an idea with you.

[megatheorem]

[thx for giving him time to wrangle his wacky arm-- he calls back promptly anyway, because he's like that.]

Hi, you've got an idea? Scientific or social?

[These seem like the most likely options, given her presence around the research station and their conversation about the tailors.]

un: starshower

[sonicstriker]

Hey. I'm Tifa. Gojo pointed me your way.

Are you actually making headway on food distribution, or are we still on the ideating stage?

[ read: is this pie in the sky, or do you actually have some organizational ability ]

[megatheorem]

[Ah, the expected star shower-- He's replying in voice, but she can text, he doesn't care.]

Hi, Tifa. He mentioned you'd be in touch. I'm Palamedes. [Which she already knows, but it's polite,] And it is a twinkle in the eye, but I've some ideas. Gojo said you've already been getting people fed, a little?

💌 letter 001.

[deathpainting]

( neatly folded up and pushed into a plain envelope, sealed with a piece of tan masking tape--and placed in their 'place', though just to be sure, he's written palamedes name across the front so that if it gets lost, maybe it can be returned. )

To Palamedes -

Sitting down to try this out, now. How are you? You can't answer that, this is a letter.
The things You are I'm going to write out what's on my mind, or try to.

Is forgiveness something you have to ask for, in order to receive it? I've been wondering about this lately.

I've done some terrible things for the sake of my family. I had never had a direction, really: only to protect my brothers, and shield them from any of the nastiness of the world. With or without curses, with or without necromancy, the world can be an ugly place. It is an ugly place. Humans suffer and sorcerers suffer and I am sure necromancers and cavaliers suffer, too. There is cruelty and hate. When I was incarnated, I thought the easiest thing for all of us would be to live as curses. I followed directions and instructions from someone who promised a world for curses, and my brothers would live easier like that, I thought.

Obviously, it was wrong. I was wrong. It doesn't feel right to write these things out, to admit to sins on paper without telling you properly, so we'll talk about it someday, I hope.

There is a great sorcerer here from my world, and he hates me. He has reason to hate me. But will he ever understand my reasoning? Will he ever listen to me? Maybe I haven't earned it, somehow. I don't know how these things work. But to hear people close to you say what you did or what you forced him to do like they won't listen to me... maybe it's meant to hurt. Penance? I don't know the word.

I miss you. It may not be right, to miss you, after saying all these things about myself. But you have a patience with me that I feel like I don't deserve, but want to have anyway. I want to look at all the spines of the books around your bed and read the first few pages, have you teach me all the thousands of ways to say 'good' and 'happy', learn all the things about where you come from, and hear more about Camilla, and I want to feel your breath on mine when

That got inappropriate. For a letter. I'm sorry.

We have moved into a new house. I'll include the address below. I'm learning to grow things, in the hopes that I can help with the farming efforts that are taking place. Do you like flowers? I'd like to grow some for you. It feels gentlemanly, and I like it when you smile. But if you would smile having dirt root vegetables or sweet fruits, tell me that, too.

Please take care of yourself, and any injuries remaining.

Until we meet again,

Choso
脹相

( he does also include the address for his new house, as well as a small, sketched picture of strawberries--maybe that's what he's hoping to grow first, or just the first thing he thought of. )

returned the next day

[megatheorem]

[Even months into living in this place, real paper is a luxury Palamedes still goes a little crazy over - which is to say, he's bought a nonzero amount of nice stationery just to have it; it's this nice stationery that he writes Choso back on, thick cream-colored paper with wildly indulgent matching envelopes, and a gold sticker meant to emulate an actual wax seal. (He couldn't afford the seal.)

He's written Choso's name on the envelope and, in his very best efforts, copied over the Japanese characters as well, to remember them better. They're in a stiff and unpracticed hand, of course, but readable.]

Dear Choso,

Hi! I was delighted to get your letter, so you can consider that my answer to how I'm doing, anyway. Whenever you read this, just imagine I'll know and I'll be delighted all over again.

I'm not sure if you want an answer to your question, but you know me and you know I'm going to answer it anyway: forgiveness is a tricky thing. It's the same as letting someone care for you, in the most basic sense of not having any control over it. You can ask, and some people might appreciate that, but it doesn't guarantee a particular result, you know? You told me about the suffering you and your family were put through, and if I were you, honestly? I would never forgive the whole human race.

(This is the part where Camilla would call me extreme, but I would forgive her for that, ha.)

So, I don't know. Not really. We've all wronged people in our lives and none of them have to give us an ounce of grace ever again. It doesn't hurt to plead your case. Whatever you've done, though, you'll have grace from me. You can tell me anything and I'll be in your corner, so don't worry about that.

[Here he has drawn an arrow from the end of that paragraph up to the parenthetical about being extreme, for emphasis.]

It doesn't sit right with me when people don't listen, though. At best, it's unfair to not to at least try to meet a person in the middle. God knows I've given plenty of opportunities to people I couldn't stand, just in case. Just don't let anyone push you around out there, alright? And let me know if you need anything, even just a shoulder.

As for your other points... I'm moving into a new house too, soon, so I'll have to send you the address. Allegedly they're painting it fresh inside? I'm choosing to believe they're not just clearing out the neighborhood before the squid nautilus (<- I learned what these are! bizarre animal) person moves in. We'll see.

I miss you, too. I think about you a lot, things I want to tell you, things I'd like us to do together. I've been setting some books aside that I think you might like. No matter what else you've been through, I think you're lovely. You're kind and you're determined, you've been good to me. You can trust that I will only ever give you what I know you deserve. And I absolutely mean to be inappropriate about that, for the record. Appropriate, too; I'll talk to you for hours if you'll have me.

I want you to be happy, and selfishly, I want you to be happy with me. Just remember, anytime.

Yours,

Palamedes

P.S. I do like flowers. I'd like anything you grew for me. If I recall, you said something about oranges when we first met, are you growing any of those?

gift. (a week after their network convo)

[opposed]

[ A package will be left at the cabin with Palamedes' name on it. Inside are two garments: the first being a black drape that can cover both shoulders and down one arm, interlaced with gold lining. It's breathable, easy to conceal the new limb he has. But the second is in a different color, more fashionable, but still of breathable material. This looks like it will easily conceal both arms, should that come to pass. It's a bit big and might need some minor alterations (as she didn't have his measurements), but it's comfortable and soft.

Beneath are a few printed pictures of other options, should he prefer, with a note from Mel herself:

Forgive me, I wasn't sure of your measurements. But I can get something commissioned for you that will fit better if you prefer. ]

july, housewarming gift

[wondrously]

[ A delivery! In a wrapped package, Palamedes will receive (1) pressure cooker. There are neatly written instructions for use (he can likely guess that this was made rather than bought) with a neatly written note in a different handwriting that congratulates him on his new place - from Jayce, Mel and Viktor. ]

[deathpainting]

( don't mind him: he's just, as the kids say, sliding into his DMs. )

I don't expect anything either, but I'll admit that snuggling was... not the first thing I thought of, with the invitation.

[megatheorem]

Neither of us expect anything, therefore, this is a perfectly reasonable meeting of the minds. A think tank. Tell me more.

💌 letter 002.

[deathpainting]

( neatly folded up and pushed into a plain envelope, double-sealed with a long piece of bright blue washi tape, and correctly addressed, even with a stamp on it. delivered through the mail, properly, rather than dropped out into the mailbox directly like a creep, though he did consider it... )

Dear Palamedes -
It's me, again. I've found better paper, and this is a pen I quite like. Testing:
I hope that this has landed at your correct address, with all my included affection intact.

To the reader, if you are not Palamedes, please send this back to the address on the envelope.
These are private thoughts. I will find you if you don't. Take that as a threat.

(Apologies - I don't like my things to be taken out of context, though I think that happens often, here...)

I've planted a lot of new things outside of our house. I think that with time, some of them may even grow up over the windows and along the roof, but I don't think that's a problem. The people I live with may think it's a problem, but so far, the complaints have come without action, so I think it can be considered 'whining'. I've picked out some flowers that I think you might like, so I'll send some along to you once they bloom. Do you think I should apologize to them? It sounds strange, but with this soul, I worry that these plants know far more about things than I do, and surely they have their own lives. I don't think it's painful, to take their flowers or their fruits, but I suppose I should at least ask, first...

I've been trying a lot, in that way, to be more observant of others and their feelings. I tried to do it from the beginning, but I think I'm more successful, now. I spent some time caring for the recently blinded, and that helped me see (this sounds like a joke, doesn't it?) a lot of the difficulties of this place. Admittedly, after seeing the aftermath of whatever that was, I worry that the more dramatic of your changes may turn out to be negative, rather than the cute, charming addition of your new arm... But even my body is changing in ways I don't understand. I just don't want either of us to suddenly be unable to see each other

which reminds me, please take care of your glasses.

I wanted to tell you, most importantly, that one of my brothers has arrived here. He is not one of the brothers I spoke of, before - he was truly born, lived a life as a human, and only recently became a part of the sorcerer world. It's a complicated story, but we only share one parent, if that helps a little. His name is Yuji. He has some pink hair, so he's likely hard to miss. He's bright, and friendly, and very warm and sociable--quite different from me, but if you happen to see him around, I think he would always be happy for another friend.

Or, I suppose...Well, it's important to try meeting family, when it comes to matters of ( there is a word scribbled out so darkly that it can't be read. ) what we are doing.

I'm still penning your other date invitation, so you'll have to wait a little longer. Is the wait exciting? Sometimes I think it is. We'll have dinners and sleepovers in the meantime.

Are all your housemates well? Please extend my well wishes to Saturn, Lilias, and Silver as well. I hope that things are going well and that the housework is easily divided, and that everyone is eating enough, and adequately.

(I can't imagine if this was all we had, by the way. Romantic, pining letters for a lifetime would be both beautiful and cruel in the same breath. I'm excited to see you and touch you when I can.)

Yours,
Choso
脹相



Post. Script. -
Tell me if you like the smell of the paper.

( it's been spritzed, a little, with a cologne from one of the shops in kelesis: rich orange blossom, warm woods, spicy black pepper, and velvety vanilla bourbon. he's trying different options. )

at last, the mail

[megatheorem]

[Palamedes chooses to deliver his reply by hand, like a creep, although he spoils the fun of Sending Mail by walking it up to the door himself and knocking, to deliver it directly. The envelope is tidy and politely plain, and properly addressed despite him standing on the doorstep with it, and the letter within at a glance seems to have been written over the course of at least two different days—the pen color changes in the middle from black to blue, and the blue hand, while still Palamedes' tidy-adjacent scrawl, is tighter and more tense than the first half.

It begins:]

Dear Choso,

First: The paper smells lovely, like fruit, I think? And vanilla? I'm an appreciator of scents but not very knowledgeable about them, you'll have to tell me sometime. I like it, though.

Second: I'm sorry for not replying sooner, but things have been busy; I'm going to need to slough off a few projects before I unravel at the seams, but unfortunately that's ridiculously hard for me. Maybe I will unravel! You could spool me back together and then I could take a weekend off, or a month, who knows. Something like that. Just know that I've had your letter handy and I like to read it over again, when I'm thinking of unraveling. You, and it, are very sweet.

(I may have pined a little. Silly! I just saw you in Kelesis, but you know, it felt like the romantic thing to do.)

Once I've settled my too-many-projects, I'd love to meet both your brother and your garden. I miss you! I'll have to pine a little more.

I hope, since this has waited on my desk for me, that your housemates have learned to complain a little less. As for my household

[Here is where the pen and the apparent comfort level of the hand changes, with the unfinished sentence scratched out in the new color.]

Silver is doing well. He's repairing a ship and I've been spending some time there, you know, since my other soul likes to be wet. Saturn has "checked in" to Patho-Gen HQ for God knows what reason, I couldn't have talked her out of it even if she'd given me time to try. Apparently they have visiting hours, like a real hospital, so I've been lingering around while they keep her sedated and don't tell me anything. If they hurt her I'm going to do something reckless and probably insane, I think.

Lilias is gone, whatever "gone" means here, because no one knows, not really. I've learned that when someone you've imprinted with "goes away," it knocks your emotions around even worse than usual, so I still haven't sent this letter.

Again, sorry about that. I've been terrible company; besides sulking under Silver's ship, I've barely been out of the house.

Did you know it's been six months? Since we first arrived here. That shook me out of my own head, I think, so: here I am.

Yours,
Palamedes

P.S. Literally, depending on the time.

[—Whether Choso decides to read it while Palamedes loiters on his doorstep or not, Palamedes greets him with:]

Hi. I thought about getting one of those little mailman hats, but... [shrug!] Doesn't matter now. I hope I'm not interrupting anything. I wanted to see you.

text; un: bugs

[honorism]

Palamedes. Are you free?

[megatheorem]

Yes, I can be. What do you need?

text, mid-september

[snowflurried]

Username: silverbell
Name: Kazahana ???
Age: 19
Hometown: Andleton, United States

SURPRISE...! You have been visited by the ~*~FORTUNE FAIRY~*~! All this FAIRY wants to do is BRING YOU GOOD LUCK!

Little Susie in Kelesis made sure to share this FAIRY with her entire family, and she received GOOD LUCK, RICHES beyond her wildest dreams for more than TWENTY YEARS!!! This could be YOU! Don't be like Susie's cousin, Jimmy. He BROKE THE CHAIN and he ended up in a WELL! OH NO!

Pass this message onto others with GOOD INTENT. If you send the ~*~FORTUNE FAIRY'S MESSAGE~*~ to three people, your luck will grow... Seven people, you will win the LOTTERY...... Ten people, and you will be happy for TEN YEARS!!! The more people that hear this message, the better! Let the FORTUNE FAIRY share its wisdom with YOU. Copy this message and send it to all of your FRIENDS!

@voice; NEW USER

[alogos]

Hello, Palamedes. ▒'m the one who made the anonymous post...

[She is speaking in hushed tones. Fortunately, it sounds like if she's anywhere, it's indoors. A small, well-insulated room.]

I am Celia. I apologize for claiming that I was merely an informant, not associated with Patho-Gen. I didn't wish to loudly proclaim my identity. I s-stole a device from the technology wing...

[lmao girl you are so not discreet but she thinks she's doing A-OK. At least she had the wherewithal to nab a device intended for Augmented Ones?]

[megatheorem]

Hi. [A beat; while he does appreciate the cooperation, well...] I understand the need for subterfuge, but I should make it clear: I'm something of a zealot when it comes to the truth. So please, don't obfuscate with me here and now. You can just tell me you can't say something, and I'll leave it.

[That's fine, he thinks? Those are good enough parameters.]

Are you there now? Is that wise?

late december.

[opposed]

[ Pal gets a medium sized box left at his doorstep one day with the following: a new set of notebooks, some nice pens, and an insulated blanket. There's a small slip of paper at the bottom with Mel's initials (MM) there written in her flowing script. ]