these aren't just voices anymore: Closed to Jade (occurs afterthe battle and before Jade reanimates)

[corpsediem]

The static crackled through the air, a hazy chanson lost in the translation of radio waves. Aradia tended to listen to music lately when she worked. It helped her focus, ignore the nagging sensations trying to get her attention. She found the white noise interspersed with the song soothing. And then she noticed the words coming through the white noise.

At first she tried to write it off as coincidence. It was a human thing to do, to imagine humansque features where none could be found. Apophenia. The tendency to find patterns where there were none. Pareidolia. The interpretation of light, shadow, and patterns as human faces. She didn't know if there was an audio equivalent. She had never heard of anything like that before. The interspersions of static were getting worse now. That was to be expected. The workshop didn't always have the greatest reception. The drawbacks of working underground. But here, she could work undisturbed, unless of course it was an emergency and she was needed upstairs.

It was a particularly bad burst of static that drew Aradia out of her work. Setting down a box of pins, she walked over to where the portable radio was sitting. She supposed this Nymphalis antiopa specimin could wait a little longer before being added to the set. She fiddled with the dials, trying to relocate the signal lost in the aether. And that was when she heard the voice clearly. If it had been anyone else, someone she didn't know, there would be less cause for concern. But she knew this voice, even if they had only met a few times. This was someone who had disappeared after that battle with the giant monsters in the park. And she couldn't ignore this anymore.

i want that sugar sweet - closed to Jane and Jake

[coltblooded]

Since Dirk had started avoiding the Corner Cafe, he needed to find a new place to get Dave his sweet fix. (Dirk himself didn't have a sweet tooth, but his brother definitely did.) A quick google search told him there was a family run bakery in town, and he decided that was a good a place as any to start. With a list of Dave's requests in hand (apple pie and chocolate chip cookies, along with a vague request for "donuts"), he flash-stepped a few blocks away from the bakery. He stopped in a nearby alley, making sure his shoes hadn't started to smoke again, then walked the rest of the way.

A little bell above the door announced his presence as he entered the bakery. It was a cute place and reminded him of a shop he and Dirk had stopped in once when they were kids. He frowned as the memory turned sour, but shook it off and approached the display case of baked goods. He bent down to examine a pie on a lower shelf. Dave could be picky about apple pie, but this one looked like it would meet his high standards. Cookies were a much easier venture, and Dirk only spared the plate of them a quick glance before making his way to the back of the line in front of the cash register.

Delivery for Karcrab | Closed to Karkat

[lunaquatic]

 A brisk knock on Karkat's door first thing in the morning heralded the arrival of a deliveryperson in a neat dark blue jumpsuit, with a number of large boxes on a cart behind him and a short cap perched atop his head. Both the lapel, the cap, and the logo at the top of the invoice read "Marine Deliveries." 

Karkat was presented with a delivery slip to sign and asked where he would like his deluxe crab habitat. Upon acceptance, he was handed a thick envelope of fancy paper with a handwritten letter inside written in fuchsia ink for him to read while the tank was set up. 

Dear Karkat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

W)(en Dirk said you were P--ETTING t)(e crab instead of -EATING t)(e delicious fin, I knew just w)(at to get you for a belated birt)(day present!!! Rest as)(ored I cleared t)(is wit)( your )(ousing coordinator and enclosed eel find gift certificates for otter supplies you mig)(t need based on your living situation!!! I TOLD Dirk I could )(ave you and your new frond Karcrab moved to one of the new ex)(ibits in t)(e aquarium w)(ere you could receive the B---EST care but )(e said it's RUD--E to move relative strangers into ex)(ibits AND t)(at getting access to your place w)(ale you were asleep to )(ave it installed as a SURPRIS---E wasn't ok eit)(er. 

I fin )(e's paranoid but instead you'll )(ave to pick fins out YOURS)(--ELLF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You )(ave my info if you need any kelp of course!! I love getting sea creatures settled into new )(abitats!!!!!! 

)(appy belated birt)(day!! Your original present s)(ould be delivered soon also, but obviously t)(e crab )(abitat for karcrab is t)(e important one now alt)(oug)( I do fin you would find apiarstry bot)( soot)(ing and useful as )(oney is so good for strained and sore t)(roats!!! 

Love and glubs,
Feferi!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Also enclosed was a gift certificate for "marinedeliveries.com" for another $500 in supplies. 

While the first deliveryperson was finishing up the installation of the large humming tank, a second, this one in yellow and black, arrived with a large crate and another receipt for Karkat to sign. From inside the crate was produced an elegant, minimalist wooden box with a number of jars at one end: a beehive. It came with a panoply of tools and a voucher for a hive of bees from a local apiaristry shop. 

Soon enough both deliverypeople had left and Karkat had a crab habitat dominating one wall and a large box for keeping bees and harvesting their honey taking up another corner. 

Lunch Date, Don't Be Late || Closed to Dirk and Jake

[investigatorjane]

Jane's Dad eventually let her off work early on in the night, wishing her a lovely evening as he closed up shop, relieving her duties. The young woman couldn't help but tread home excitedly, unable to hide the wide smile on her face- not that she actually wished to do so. The day had been quite eventful, with the bakery booming and making a new friend, or at least, the potential of a new friend. In her hand, she carried the slip of paper Dirk had given her, excited to read it over and contact the man.

She reached her apartment in record time, unlocking the door and stepping over the threshold. After taking off her jacket, she turned to the lightened interior, excited to tell Jake the news.

"Hey Jake, I'm home! You won't believe what happened today!"

Family Ties | Closed to Jake (Backdated to May 31st)

[cuteandquarky]

Jade relaxed in her dorm room, leaning back in her chair as she thought. Sitting in the closet next to her was her super hero outfit - something she'd just constructed, for the next time monsters came out. But there was so much more to this whole thing than being a super hero - there was the Queen, all of the people gathered at Prospit, something about their other halves?

As her thoughts trailed off, dissecting bits of memory, she recalled something a bit strange. Hadn't she seen Jake on Prospit before? The dreams were always a little hazy, but she was sure she had seen him at the Queen's meeting a month or so ago, and then maybe out and about the towers since then...

Well, she still had his pesterchum handle. What could it hurt to ask? Jade quickly grabbed for her laptop and started typing.

GG: hey!!! :D
GG: what's up, cuz? hehehe :)
GG: it feels like it has been ages since we talked!
GG: how have you been? where are you living now?
GG: and.... this may be a weird question!
GG: but have you had any strange dreams recently? :o