May 2026: Middle of 4th Week

[fmaj]

[Ever since the pocket dimensions started disappearing from Manhattan, Johnny has been completely absent. He hasn't been on the Murmur network proper, nor has he been out and about like he normally is during daylight hours. Even his neighbors at Devil's Nest haven't seen hide nor hair of him. It's easy to assume he's just been helping out with the reconstruction efforts, given how existentially exhausted he sounds through the Murmur, now that he's suddenly cropped back up out of nowhere. But anyone who has crossed paths with him will know that this isn't just mere exhaustion -- even when he's bone-tired, he still manages to have a bite to his words. Rather, it sounds like his mind is wholly somewhere else right now.]

Free breakfast for anyone who's been helping out with the reconstruction efforts. Devil's Nest, 9 am, on the 29th. Cuttin' it off at noon.

Stick around after for a few games of Mahjong, if you know how to play.

[Oh, right...]

If anyone knows where to source some injectable benzocaine and a bone saw, I'm looking to buy. Better yet, someone who knows how to use both. I'll make it worth your time.

Comments

[heavensnight]

Who is trusting you with a bone saw?

[fmaj]

Guess we're 'bout to find out.

[merged]

[ He sounded as exhausted as she felt. ] What're you making? [ There was a high chance she wouldn't have an appetite if the last couple of weeks are any indicator, but it wouldn't be a bad idea to at least try to eat. ]

[fmaj]

[Hey, you.

...actually, he really doesn't care about their beef right now.]

Got oatmeal, grits, and the stuff to make crepes. Bunch of things to make 'em savory or sweet. Plenty of drinks.

[So stuff that should be really easy to eat, even with minimal appetite.]

[dethangel]

We get breakfast???

[He was just helping out because it's nice to help and he's good at lifting stuff.

There are more things to worry about, but he knows when he's feeling not so great, maybe breakfast feels like a good thing to talk about.]

Don't know about the other stuff but it sounds brutal...

[exaltruistic]

( He. Seems. ... At least intact, if he's making breakfast for folks like that. The need for benzocaine and a bone saw is concerning, but it feels somewhat appropriate for ... here.

Ko just kind of wordlessly reaches out through the Murmur, like a gentle pat on the back. Both a reminder of his presence and some sort of solidarity at the way he sounds exhausted and not entirely all here. )

[trashblaze]

[ Normally, Caelus would be all over the offer of food. He has a very healthy appetite, and sharing food is an easy way to make friends. But since he's been here longer than others, he doesn't want to take food from people newer than him, since they potentially might still be doing their best to get their bearings and secure more supplies.

And after what's happened lately, the need for supplies will be more necessary than ever. He decides not to mention food and focuses on the other topic instead. ]

I don't know anything about medicine, [ It sounds like medicine, at least? ] but I can give you a bone saw. I forged a couple since we hunt our own meat over here.

[potentialman]

[ Boy, we're all existentially weary this month, huh. ]

I don't know about benzocaine. [ They probably had some at Columbia. Until this month. ] Lortel's good at finding stuff, though. She might have an idea.

...maybe I'll come by.

[ He's not doing badly for supplies, despite losing just about everything in the eruptions. Because, again, Lortel's good at finding stuff -- and she's thus been in an excellent position to make sure Megumi's got the necessities, even if what he's really missing from the destruction is something more abstract.

Maybe seeing some other people will do something for his mood. ]

Thanks.

[sorte]

I can sell you both the benzocaine and a guy who knows what to do with it. How about it?

[athinkingreed]

Gambler.
[Said guy does not approve of this plan. The medical bag he has with him may or may not contain that medication. But it’s Caelus Ratio is here to supervise, one can never be too careful.]

[zauns]

How charitable of you. [He's tired. They're all tired. Silco doesn't bother being more than just a bit snide.]

A bone saw shouldn't be too difficult. You're on your own for the other - I assume that's a drug?

➥ Private

[nestingdevil]

[He's felt it: that seesawing sensation stuck between two, wrenching points. On one side, a pit as endless and empty as a void gone black. And on the other, a seething. A horrid, white-hot seething he knows all-too well. It isn't anger. Anger wouldn't be giving it enough credit. It's familiar in the only way he knows best. Where the weight tips, the world burns, and all the remains? All that ever, ever remains is one, simple word:]

[Wrath.]

[He's not going to do this out in the open. Honestly, he doesn't want to. No one else needs to know, nor will they ever. It isn't for them. No, this is between him and his. Him and his, no matter what Sleep or any of her bullshit has to say about it.]

[It's obvious from their tether that he's somewhere in the basement. A lurking thing, inhaling through the pinched-butt of a cigarette that soaked tarry an hour or more ago. The pockets had been enough to put him in a mood. Not that he hadn't gotten a chance to burn off some steam, but coming back: the situation couldn't be clearer. Nor are his convictions.]

[If he has to tear his own crests in blood, he'll do it. No matter how long it takes, or what the price ends up coming to at the end of it.]

[Greed exhales from the whole of his chest, letting the ribbons of smoke thin themselves blue from his teeth.] Silver. [He starts, and a flutter of something tickles along their line. A touch, like a nail tentatively testing a guitar's single string.]

Make sure there's extra. Have a few more I had to bring back. [Johnny can read between the lines. They have refugees in their midst. Some he ordered south and others who just happened on the spot all their own.] Got some more supplies in the basement. Can't imagine it'll feed 'em all, so I'll head out in a bit to see what I can find.

[The Sin pauses before taking another, long drag off his smoke. No point beating around the bush. At this point, they may very well be looking at the first hints of war on the horizon. He hopes it won't be the case. But considering One's lashing and Sleep's sweet nothings of promising to set everything straight (as long as they give themselves to her, at least), it's his only conclusion.]

[Today, tomorrow, a year from now. Eventually, they're going to come to a head.]

[So, he asks. A simple question:]

What happened?

[athinkingreed]

[Since Aventurine mentioned him, the lurking professor actually bothers to post.]

No transaction will be necessary if their usage is medically necessary to treat the patient’s condition.

[sorte]

Ooohh, Doctor~♥!

[ Caelus is already stuck with Nicola 24/7 and its been two weeks since he hurt himself. Let Caelus breathe you mother hen jfc.

While letting Caelus breathe, he thinks you can also help facilitate a sale of fair exchange and some good will as a result okay. ]

[athinkingreed]

[Okay but it’s Caelus. Trouble and danger are functionally the artificer’s second and third boyfriends. Mild irritation can be felt, but sputters and softens at the heart. Ugh. Gamblers.

Also better go do some damage control Aventurine. The doctor’s silly morals seem to be acting up again. ]

[sorte]

[ DAMN IT NO THAT'S NOT THE CORRECT THING TO SAY.

Still... ]

...Since he's one of Greed's, and I have a long standing deal with him, I'll go along with your choices.

[fmaj]

Yeah. Limited time offer.

[So appreciate it while you have the chance!!!]

Don't worry about it, Toki.

[snaggletooth]

I know you! [ A simple greeting... Unbothered, moisturized, happy in his own lane of not knowing what benzocaine is. ] My first-ever armed combat instructor.

[athinkingreed]

[There is some appreciation able to be felt, but also mild eye rolling. Dramatic little thing, aren’t you? As if you could stop the doctor from treating a patient in need. He way see himself as a scholar first, but that does not mean he will overlook a potential patient.]
Note the clause of medically necessary.
[Do as you wish if this guy just needs a new meat cutter and shelf decoration.]

[fmaj]

[There's a tiny little ping of frustration. Avoidant frustration, as if he'd been literally touched against his wishes. But it disappears just as quickly as it appears.]

Private;

Just. Need some time.

[...and a bone saw and some benzocaine.]

Feel free to give my slot to someone else for now.

[fmaj]

You're able to hunt?

[Well. Anyone can hunt...]

...for edible meat?

[fmaj]

Don't worry about it.

[For either the supplies or the food.]

[fmaj]

[Flatly:]

Sounds like he's the one I should be talking to instead.

[fmaj]

We're fucking dead without each other, Silco. M'paying it forward.

[He hasn't been able to contribute to the actual repairs, as much as he would like to. He's been working on his own...thing...and has only now had the chance to come up for air.]

Yeah. Local anesthetic. Doesn't have to be benzocaine, exactly. Just the only one I can think of off the top of my head.

[trashblaze]

Yes! Animal Hosts are edible. They look strange, but they're perfectly safe, and taste the way they should. After they're cut up and cooked, the meat looks relatively normal in most cases. I go out fishing as well, and that's an option if hunting game is too difficult.

There are some exemptions… Several months ago, I had to experiment to see if the Host chicken eggs would knock me out or something, because they still looked horrifying even after being cooked.

[ That broadcast scared the shit out of people, and Caelus got a lot of scoldings from it… ]

But they tasted delicious, just as an egg should taste.