heavenundone-blog

[heavenundone-blog]

@maskedhaze // (*≧▽≦)ﾉｼ))

there’s an undeniable sense of déjà vu about the place. SHE can’t quite explain why, but HER excitement about being placed into a body is tempered by the feeling that SHE has done this before. oh well. it probably isn’t important.

what is important is that when SHE reaches out, SHE pinpoints the one person she gives a shit about. here’s the kicker: despite feeling rather blind and deaf to the rest of the world now that SHE’S out of orbit, SHE can still connect with PUPPY. so SHE does, putting HER reservations about contacting him aside in an instant.

SHE doesn’t say a thing right away, instead trying to see what he’s doing and where he is.

it’s kind of grimy. and dark. and it looks like he’s spending his evening strangling someone in an alleyway. that all sounds about right. SHE might not know the ins and outs of the city like SHE knows RENGKOK, but SHE gets enough information to know where this particular shithole is.

walking and talking is easy enough.

hi, puppy! (。-ω-)ﾉ i think i’ve kept you waiting for me for too long.

[heavenundone-blog]

[heavenundone-blog]

getempuppy‌:

The masked man jolts awake and scrambles for a moment, reaching for a gun that’s no longer there, and ends up rolling off the sidewalk and into the gutter in an instinctive effort to avoid an imagined attack. The impact is enough to knock some sense into him, and he turns his head to glare up at HER.

At least SHE isn’t another idiot coming to try and put a bullet through his skull or a knife between his ribs. He’s already bored of the locals’ brand of hospitality. Using one arm to push himself back up onto the sidewalk, he pats his pockets with his other hand until he finds his phone.

YOU EVER HEARD OF LETTING SLEEPING DOGS LIE?

It’s then that he notices HER jacket is oddly misshapen–and moving? He squints, briefly convinced he’s hallucinating again, until the light starts to make the space behind his eyes pulse with pain. He closes them, drops his head and pinches the bridge of his nose. It doesn’t alleviate the unpleasant sensation.

WHAT IS THAT? WHY IS IT MOVING? UNLESS IT’S SOME KIND OF WEAPON I DON’T WANT TO KNOW

SHE laughs a bit at his misfortune, but does feel bad for startling him.

well, you’re going to know anyway. it’s not a weapon. not this time. you’re going to like this more! probably! o((*^▽^*))o

now that the buildup is finished, SHE unzips HER jacket and gently sets the (so excited it can’t quite walk in a straight line when SHE does) puppy on the ground with one hand. the bag of food is dropped unceremoniously next to PUPPY.

it’s a dog. and it’s for you, if you want it. i hope you want it. the guy that helped me at the store would probably drop dead if i showed back up.

the animated ball of fur is definitely more happy to see PUPPY than most people would be. it runs as fast as its little legs will go to sniff him.

see, it likes you already. how about that! ♥(ˆ⌣ˆԅ)

[heavenundone-blog]

:// @getempuppy // covet // sir that’s my emotional support animal (V●ᴥ●V)

SHE has seen plenty of end-of-year holiday cycles come and go, though “white” is not a word much used alongside christmas anymore. the impending heat-death of the planet tends to affect those sorts of things.

still, HER newfound physicality allows HER to participate in the consumerist culture of HOLIDAY GIFT-GIVING, for which SHE is very excited.

of course, the only person SHE would ever consider giving a present to is PUPPY. unfortunately, what SHE really wants to get him (that isn’t a gun or a new shiny sword, mind you) might come off as a bit of a joke. SHE hopes it doesn’t. SHE isn’t trying to be clever this time.

so, knowing that neither PUPPY nor HER know absolutely anything about raising a pet, SHE walks with purpose into a store that’s holding DOG ADOPTIONS. SHE goes right up to the nearest unlucky sales associate, and asks him to locate any available BICHON FRISE puppies, along with whatever food would be sufficient for taking care of one.

one astronomical purchase later, SHE walks out of the store with a little white dog on a neon pink leash and a ten-pound bag of food on HER shoulder.

when SHE gets close to where SHE and PUPPY are staying, SHE scoops the dog up and hides it in HER jacket so it’ll be a surprise. less surprisingly, PUPPY is very unconscious on the curb not more than a few feet around the side of the building they live in.

❛ hey puppy. puppy, wake up.（￣～￣;）❜

SHE says, giving him a nudge with HER foot and trying to keep the now-wriggling dog in HER jacket still.

❛ i got you a present. （*’∀’人）♥ ❜

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getempuppy‌:

DON’T BE STUPID YOU CAN ALWAYS DO MORE YOU JUST NEED THE RIGHT TECH IT LOOKS LIKE MY KARMA WAS CONVERTED INTO THE CURRENCY THIS PLACE USES I COULD GET YOU SOME STARTER EQUIPS

He’s not the wealthiest man alive, nor would he want to be, but he has the DUST to spare. Right now all he’s been using it for is new clothing and alcohol, which hasn’t made too big of a dent in his savings. 

SO HOW’S THE NEW BODY? CAN YOU BREATHE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT?

If SHE can then he probably smells terrible to HER, he realizes. Some of the blood on his shirt is days old at this point. At least his shirt is black, so the stains are harder to spot. His replacement pipe is waiting for him, hidden behind the bar downstairs. PUPPY picks it up and gives it a few swings at thin air to make sure it’s still fit for combat.

LET’S GET OUT OF HERE  BEFORE ANYONE ELSE SHOWS UP I PROBABLY KILLED A FEW IMPORTANT PEOPLE LAST NIGHT I DON’T REMEMBER

He’d been too drunk at the time to recognize any of his opponents. He’d also been too drunk to consider sparing them, to their misfortune. The masked man kicks aside a splayed limb belonging to one of the corpses and opens the door for HER, gesturing to the exit with his other hand in a mockery of chivalry. Ladies first.

❛ i mean, i don’t know how much equips will help with the fact that this place’s systems are locked up waaaaaaay tighter than rengkok’s.��(´−｀) ﾝｰ ❜

which, despite being a little disheartening in HER current non-satellite-networked state, means that whoever’s in charge has something to hide. that’s okay; SHE likes the challenge.

❛ um. i don’t know? i haven’t really looked too far into it yet. i could pretend to breathe, if that helps you feel better. (^ワ^＝) ❜

if SHE thinks PUPPY smells, SHE doesn’t indicate it. SHE hops onto a bar stool and gives it a spin while he rummages for his pipe, not really paying much mind to the state of the place.

❛ that’s probably a good idea. i can’t believe you’re getting into trouble without me. ❜

that is a joke. 

SHE follows PUPPY to the exit, wipes the soles of HER shoes on the ground at the threshold to rid them of some of the blood, and laughs a little at his sudden display of manners.

❛ so, they give you a decent place to stay and you’re still kicking it in some random shithole? wouldn’t you like to, i dunno, sleep in a bed? ❜

[heavenundone-blog]

getempuppy‌:

He immediately withdraws his hand and shifts slightly to put more space between them. The anger is already starting to fade, the last dying embers of what was once an inferno. Now he just feels tired and broken. PUPPY turns his human hand over and examines his bruised and bloodied knuckles idly.

I WOULDN’T ASK IF I WASN’T COOL WITH IT

He tries to smile–it doesn’t work, of course, but the intent is reflected in the pulsing static of his mask. It would have been an empty smile if visible, anyway. There’s no joy to be found in their current situation or in life in general.

I CAN SHOW YOU WHERE I’M STAYING RIGHT NOW I HELPED THE OWNER, SO HE OWES ME HE WON’T COMPLAIN IF YOU COME TOO

Or he might, but PUPPY isn’t against convincing the OLD MAN to revise his opinion. He gets to his feet and holds his hand out to HER, before remembering HER previous reaction to touch and awkwardly tucking it into his pocket instead.

I CAN’T FORGIVE YOU FOR WHAT YOU DID BUT I UNDERSTAND WHY YOU DID IT YOU DID DESTROY HEAVEN AND FREED ALL THOSE PEOPLE IN RENGKOK SACRIFICING A FEW FOR THE GOOD OF THE MANY, RIGHT? IT MAKES SENSE

❛ good. (*・∀-)☆ ❜

SHE catches what he’s trying to convey across his mask, and winks. sure, things are still kind of shitty, but this is a unique opportunity. it’s not like SHE can actually be there with PUPPY back in RENGKOK. better live it up while SHE’s here.

❛ if he’s going to complain, i’ll give his phone a nasty fucking virus or something. can’t do much else right now. ┐(‘～`；)┌ ❜

SHE follows PUPPY in getting to HER feet; SHE isn’t sure how SHE feels about physical contact yet, but thinks it’ll be alright. it’s still super new, and SHE is surprised PUPPY went for it first. he never seemed the type.

❛ i don’t expect you to forgive me. at least you understand me. ❜

okay, so maybe the killing got a little out of hand. most of them deserved it. and RENGKOK was better for HER and PUPPY’s involvement. that was just fact.

[heavenundone-blog]

getempuppy‌:

He snatches his phone back and fumbles with it for a moment to distract himself, pretending to clean the glossy black screen by rubbing a thumb over it. There’s anger, then misery, then disbelief. Then something unfamiliar, a fluctuation of temperature in his chest. HER apology is heard, but not yet accepted.

YEAH, YOU LEFT ME BUT THAT WAS THE PLAN ALL ALONG RIGHT? YOU NEEDED THE PERFECT SCAPEGOAT AND YOU GOT ME NOW I’M GOING TO BE HUNTED FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE BECAUSE I GOT TRICKED INTO THAT SHIT BUT YOU? YOU’RE UNTOUCHABLE

Again, the robotic voice of his phone can’t express the tone he wants. The harsh sound echoes louder than life in the unlit room, and his mask turns a deep, formless blue as he stares at HER. That face, exactly as he remembered it. He didn’t think he’d ever see it outside of his own head.

I STILL WANT TO SAY THANK YOU I KNOW WHERE I’D BE WITHOUT YOU HE WASN’T PLANNING ON LETTING ME LIVE AFTER THAT

He inhales, exhales, and tries to start over. Trying to fix things between them is going nowhere fast if he doesn’t know what SHE wants. Switching to typing with one hand he reaches over and, in a gesture uncharacteristically gentle for a man so violent, touches HER arm.

DO YOU WANT TO STAY TOGETHER?

Do I mean anything to you? is another question he’s burning to ask, but right now it feels like a step too far.

SHE doesn’t have an answer for PUPPY’s accusations; he’s right about all of it, mostly. SHE had started to feel unsafe up there in the ether, and felt the need to cover any trace of her involvement in the takedown. of course, the network of EYES was relatively new, but SHE had seen old satellites get junked by missiles and the like, and wasn’t too keen on being shot down for the possible discovery of HER interference with a powerful conglomerate — especially since the EYES’ investment in the good of humanity was emergent and self-imposed.

but being afraid doesn’t excuse HER decision at the end. SHE looks back at him.

❛ i’m not as untouchable as you might think, puppy. i needed to dip to clean up my mess. when i said i would meet you later, i meant it. i know that doesn’t fix it, though. (つ﹏<。) ❜

SHE merely hums in recognition of his thanks. of course, SHE appreciates them, but doesn’t think SHE deserves them very much anymore.

what catches HER wholly off guard is being touched. SHE jumps a little, but makes no attempt to move away.

do you want to stay together?

that isn’t quite where SHE thought this conversation would go. at all. SHE knows PUPPY might be a little dependent, but why he would want to stay with HER after everything is beyond HER. even so, SHE doesn’t have a problem with it.

❛ yeah. i’d be cool with that if you are. ❜

[heavenundone-blog]

getempuppy‌:

PUPPY hears HER approach, but doesn’t lift his head until SHE addresses him. HER voice is strange, soft. It takes him a while to understand what he’s looking at, and then he tilts his head slightly, his surprise outmatched only by his confusion. Is this the something cool SHE was so eager to show him?

Contrary to HER belief stated prior, he doesn’t love it. It terrifies him, in a vague sort of way. SHE looks far too human for what SHE is inside. His mask flickers indecisively, switching rapidly between different outputs. Eventually his shoulders slump as he looks away, and then he leans his head back against the wall and sighs. It’s the only audible reaction he can offer HER.

There’s no avoiding it now. They’re together again, for better or for worse. PUPPY takes a short while to compose himself before facing HER again, one hand held out to ask for the phone he knows SHE has.

If SHE wants to talk, then he’ll find something to say–but all he really wants to hear is an apology. If SHE can prove SHE feels at all guilty for manipulating his sorry ass, maybe they can start over. 

He wants to be with HER, but not in the same way as before.

the truth is, SHE does feel bad. as much as SHE wishes she didn’t, and as long as it took HER to realize it. PUPPY was extremely fucking unlucky, bounced between a menagerie of people who wanted to take advantage of him. HER included.

SHE fishes PUPPY’s phone out of HER jacket, hands it to him, and sits next to him with a huff.

getting emotional is a mostly foreign concept to HER, but after cutting PUPPY loose, SHE has had to deal with it more often. trying HER very hardest to file it away for later instead of dealing with it now.

they sit in silence for a few minutes before SHE decides not to do PUPPY another disservice by not speaking up. SHE doesn’t quite look at him. maybe killing HER wasn’t his plan, but SHE fully expects to be rejected.

❛ yeah, so. i’m sorry for all the shit i pulled. ❜

it’s inadequate, and SHE feels like an idiot.

there were a million other ways SHE could have enacted HER plan to KILL BOSS and destroy HEAVEN, but SHE just had to go above and beyond in HER pursuit of eliminating RENGKOK’s seedy underbelly, getting HER hands on the perfect scapegoat in the process.

❛ i shouldn’t have kept so much from you. i got too concerned about myself and left you. i shouldn’t have done that, either. (◞‸◟；) ❜ 

HER hand wanders up to fidget with the body’s hair. it’s odd. the HER from before everything would find this hilarious.

for what’s probably the first time, SHE doesn’t know what to do.

[heavenundone-blog]

getempuppy‌:

So SHE’S experiencing similar restrictions to the ones he’s currently struggling with. He brushes metal fingers against his jaw as he thinks, taps them in a rhythm that helps him focus. If what SHE says is true, then SHE won’t be able to control him anymore, and SHE definitely won’t be able to kill him whenever SHE feels like it. Now they’re on equal footing, or something close to it.

to: HER from: PUPPY ♡

txt: SURE

And that’s that. The mention of HER knowing his location through his phone is certainly interesting, and it’s enough to give him an idea of what to do next. Placing his phone down on the bar, he sets it to loop a clip of a disembodied hand wagging a finger at the viewer in a reproachful manner, and vanishes upstairs.

How will SHE react to receiving a taste of HER own medicine? He doesn’t know, and doesn’t particularly care. Now that SHE’S here, part of him wishes SHE wasn’t. HER eagerness to reunite has left him sluggish with confusion. He’s useless to HER now, surely?

The rest of the building is empty, unsurprisingly. The owners and whatever survivors were left after the fight have long since fled. He finds a dark space to sit and rest while he waits for HER to arrive, mask hidden against the back of his folded arms.

SHE finds it odd that PUPPY isn’t interrogating her. he has to be angry with HER after everything she did, surely. though, he could just be waiting to KILL HER when she arrives. get it all out of his system that way. SHE wouldn’t blame him.

when she steps over bodies and tracks through blood to get inside the shitty dive, SHE doesn’t really expect to be pranked instead. the disembodied hand looks back at HER from the screen, a big gotcha.

❛ good one. ( ；｀ヘ´) ❜

SHE says, taking PUPPY’s phone and pocketing it. she looks around. the bar floor is empty.

HER thinks it’s fair to assume that PUPPY is still in the building. he could sneak up on HER, maybe, but he isn’t really good at that. if he did leave, SHE would really have to commend him later for the joke.

so she starts looking around. after completing a search of the entire first floor, SHE heads upstairs. it’s smaller, and she soon spots a PUPPY-SHAPED MASS in one of the far room’s corners.

SHE crouches down next to him, arms crossed over her knees. HER voice is uncharacteristically soft.

❛ hi, puppy. ❜

[heavenundone-blog]

getempuppy‌:

The buzz of his phone wakes him up, and he lifts his head with a groan that doesn’t make it past his lungs. It takes him a moment to remember where he is–and then he sees the blood on the bar, the bodies strewn about the room, and drops his head back down. He’s tempted to simply fall unconscious again, but it would be unwise to linger.

SHE doesn’t receive an immediate response; PUPPY assumes the message isn’t that important, and fixes himself a drink before tackling anything else. Nobody is left to protest him making himself at home. As soon as the bitter cocktail hits his systems and with it a new wave of energy, he finally turns on his phone.

The sight of the familiar moniker makes his heart stop. Quite literally, judging by the ache in his chest. Rather than let the flood of emotions overwhelm him, he pushes them back and replies with the first thing that comes to mind:

to: HER from: PUPPY ♡

txt: WHY AREN’T YOU IN MY HEAD?

SHE stares at the screen with intent until she gets a response. PUPPY’s tone is hard to read from the text alone, and SHE finds herself sharing his sentiment. HER would much rather be in his head than marooned with no connection to anything, and is quick to realize the dramatic irony of the circumstances. oops.

to: PUPPY ♡ from: HER.

txt: whoever is in charge decided that would be too much fun for me to be having, i guess. （；¬＿¬) txt: so instead you’ve got me through fancy sms messaging! txt: i’ve got your location from your phone, though. txt: i’m coming to meet up with you, puppy. don’t go too far.

SHE is already out the door by the time the last message is sent.

txt: i might not be in your head, but they gave me something cool to compensate for it. you’ll love this. (*´ ︶｀*)

[heavenundone-blog]

@getempuppy​ o(*’▽’*)/☆ﾟ’

HER hands are quick to settle on idle scrolling through the provided phone’s applications to pass the time after arriving at her designated housing. nothing really seems worth HER attention, so she roams to the massive listing of contacts. 

she’s just starting to think that it’s a little odd that everyone’s number is available to everyone else when she hits the “P” section and gets excited.

PUPPY, says the phone, with seven digits written plain next to it.

she doesn’t know how happy he would be to hear from HER after she up and, well, abandoned him — but she can’t stop herself, practically leaping up from her bed as she brings the keyboard on screen.

to: PUPPY ♡ from: HER. txt: HEY PUPPY! ┻┳|･ω･)ﾉ txt: you are NEVER going to believe who literally just got here. txt: it’s me. i just got here.

[heavenundone-blog]

being picked up by a taxi at the edge of a HUGE HOLE wasn’t exactly an item on the daily itinerary for this particular EYE, but then neither was fitting in a car. or standing. or having hands. or a face.

HER already finds ground-level pretty exciting compared to the vacuum of space, especially now that she’s equipped with the physical faculties to take it all in. the only problem is that whoever runs this joint took one look at her tech specs and jammed her into what is, effectively, a sensory deprivation chamber. not being able to reach out and CONNECT sucks, and there’s only so much data to be ripped from someone’s cheap phone. 

everything feels MUFFLED, and it isn’t a nice feeling. 

 well. a new perspective might be an alright thing to have; the people SHE is so used to watching from on high somehow seem a lot smaller down here. at least this city is (at first glance) less of a shithole than RENGKOK. 

HER would get to the bottom of this eventually; find who needs helping and who needs hurting.

she thinks of PUPPY, and how fun it would be to meet him like this, now that she can.

it’s weird to look back and feel some modicum of REGRET.

[heavenundone-blog]

[heavenundone-blog]

ヽ( *´∀` *)ノ

[heavenundone-blog]

‘Sleep Paralysis’ Sidewalks and Skeletons RUINER Original Soundtrack