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[isawallflower]

WELCOME TO YOUR PRIVATE CHANNEL, CHEERYCHERRY. FOR SECURE COMMUNICATION, USE 019.46.820.17 *** CHEERYCHERRY has joined 019.46.820.17 <CHEERYCHERRY> It's Riley! <CHEERYCHERRY> Please leave a message! <CHEERYCHERRY> Please be someone with their priorities sorted out properly!

main: CheeryCherry
anonymous: panthera, aed
retired: gflynn (anon)

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[isawallflower]

[ The last week or so has been very troubling for Riley. Everything with Aunamee, meeting Rachel, the multiple conversations she's had trying to push people from what she's done— the whole thing's left her just a little stressed. It first started with cleaning her apartment, as it's covered in her molted feathers. Out of habit, she'd gone up to the roof, as the way she takes her garbage out is to fly off it to the ground, since the day the elevator was slow and going down seven flights of stairs sounded like a pain. When she realized her molted wings haven't grown back enough feathers to fly, she almost retreated in defeat, but—

But being out in the open air, with a whole bag of stray feathers...

One thing lead to another and soon Riley had blankets, sweatbands, whatever stray logs might've been left up from May's barbeque, she was even looking around for a tarp when Clint had arrived—to build what can only be described as a nest. It's not like she'd been really thinking while doing it. It was...controlled. It was methodic.

It was relaxing.

Now that she's been caught, however, her neck stretches out in surprise as her head feathers crest. ]

Mr. Barton— I mean- Mr. Clint, uhm- [ She turns around, though her neck turns more than her body, flexible thing that it is. ] I just got- it- oh shoot, this is your property, I'm sorry!

[coffeepots]

C'mon now, you think I own this roof?

[Admittedly, it's a little funny to see Riley's feathers puff up like that, but the neck thing--eugh. He flinches a little, but suppresses any facial expression he might otherwise make. A few raindrops land on Clint's whiskers, and he lets out a small snort to shake them off.]

Nah, this isn't my property. Technically, The Lighthouse owns the building--I just look after it and make sure you crazy kids don't burn it down in the process.

[A pause. Maybe that's not the right thing to say. He rubs the back of his neck, still staring down at the accumulation of feathers and whatever other junk that had been left behind on the roof top.]

But that's, uh, not relevant right now. If you're gonna stay up here in the rain, at least take this.

[He holds out the umbrella for Riley to take. More rain drips onto his head, soaking his fur in the process.]

So...is, um, this a bird thing, or what?

cw: internalized ableism

[isawallflower]

[ Burn down the apartments. That's something a crazy murderer like her would probably do, right? It's probably a good call for him to keep an eye out—

No, no, stop that. Riley averts her gaze and murmurs a thank you as she grabs the umbrella, trying not to think about...anything like that.

But his questions makes her cheeks burn for a different reason. ]

I guess so? It's- it's like...making a nest, I think. [ Her usually enunciated speech dips to a mumble. ] I'm— I can't really fly, right now, so. I guess that's how the...instincts are coming out.

[coffeepots]

[As far as Clint is concerned, Riley's behavior is just symptomatic of your typical teenager suffering from social awkwardness and...uh, coping with various monster changes. He crouches down next to Riley, poking at a wayward molted feather on the ground.]

Hey, no judgement here. Literally, just the other day, I saw some dude throw a balled up piece of trash down the street and it took everything not to immediately chase after it.

[He winces slightly.]

Sorry I haven't been around all that much. Things have been...uh, weird? Ever since we got pushed into that alternative universe, I've been going back and forth with some people about, er, relationships and stuff. In that world. I mean, I've been in alternative universes, but never-- [He gives a sort of dismissive wave of his hand.] But that's, um, not really important. How've you been holding up?

[Because that seems like the responsible thing to ask in this situation, right? Checking in with your residents like this???]

[isawallflower]

[ Riley almost offers a weak laugh at the thought of her superintendent chasing a piece of trash down the street. Almost. ]

Youuu don't really have to, uhm, you knooow, apologize, we're all just kinda...trying to do our own things. [ What's with him being so responsible? Responsible adults, Riley doesn't know how to deal with them. ] I'm—

[ What's the right thing to say here? What if he saw what Aunamee said? What if... ]

...I'm doing fine. Just, you know. Readjusting. Also from the— the other world, you know. [ Quickly, she asks: ] You, um, you sure you don't want your umbrella back, you're getting really wet.

[coffeepots]

[Perhaps to Riley's relief, Clint has more or less spent the last few weeks in a stupor. Browsing the not-Internet was hardly a thought that came to mind--for God's sake, the man still used a pager to get notified of anything happening with the Avengers.

Clint lets out a small laugh, running a clawed hand through his soaked fur.]

No, no--seriously, it's fine! I can just shake it off--watch--

[He takes small step back and, as promised, just...shakes off the water droplets like a mangy, two-legged dog. Not that it accomplishes much, since it's still raining, and it really only serves to accidentally fling some water into Riley's nest. Clint gives her a lopsided grin.]

So...how long are you thinkin' about staying up here? An hour? A day? Forever? I gotta know if you're ditching your floor-mates and if I can start clearing out your apartment.

[He keeps his tone joking and light-hearted. It's the only thing he knows how to do.]

[isawallflower]

[ It's goodnatured enough, but still Riley flushes and shifts a little, to try and brush some water off her feathers and blankets and logs. ]

Um— no, I can...actually clean all this up, if you'd prefer. I didn't even mean to, it just sort of...happened. Wouldn't want to...you know, make things weird at your next barbeque.

[ Particularly since she's pretty sure she will not be attending. ]