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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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[digiorno]

[I was so happy.]

[Despite himself, he finds a tiny smile growing on his lips. Despite the fact that the whole experience hurt so incredibly badly. Despite the fact that it didn’t teach him anything except that his ideal world is not achievable. Despite how easy it is to feel empty right now and how hard it is to care enough to change that—]

[He likes to hear that. That she was happy. It’s not something Riley talks about, really. Happiness.]

I see. So there's no way you can't think about it, because it comes as such a surprise.

[For a few moments he’s quiet, thoughtful. Just sitting in her presence, warm at her side. And then he moves one hand slightly and rests it on the inside of her wrist, a gentle tap. Like a reminder.]

You know . . . you can be happy like that, Riley. It doesn’t have to just be in the dream.

[isawallflower]

[ What he says sounds foreign. She's tried so hard to be happy. Forced herself. Forced herself so hard that something inside her broke.

She looks at Giorno with a fragile little smile. ]

I sure hope so.

[digiorno]

[She breaks his heart, sometimes. When he smiles back at her, his smile is just as fragile.]

Can I give you a hug? I'm not very good at them, but I would like to try.

[isawallflower]

[ Oh, um. After a small moment, she nods and doesn't even wait for him to initiate. Riley just squirms into his arms and holds on for dear life. ]

[digiorno]

[Ah. Yeah, she hits him like an anxious freight train, but — that's okay. That's good. With an exaggerated oof, he wraps his arms around her, squeezing tight around her shoulders and, on instinct, giving her a kiss on the top of her head.]

Let's keep trying, okay? I will if you will. And the things that don't feel safe to tell anyone else — about this, you know — I won't judge you. It's okay if it's messy. It's okay to . . .

[Oh. What's the best way to put this. He rests his cheek on top of her head, thoughtful.]

To still be hatching.

[There. That's good enough.]

[isawallflower]

[ Buried in Giorno's hold, she lets out a single little sniffle. Just one. ]

...Did you just...make a bird joke at me? [ It sounds like she might be smiling a little. Just a bit. ]

[digiorno]

[Oh. There's a moment of perplexed silence.]

Not on purpose. But yes.

[. . .]

Wow, there are really a lot of bird jokes someone could make at you, aren't there? [Being a harpy must be troubling.]

[isawallflower]

[ It feels like she's shaking. She's— she's laughing.

Huh. She's never done that before. Not when she could be afraid of people laughing at her. ]

Yeah, and you're not allowed to make more!

[digiorno]

I can't even make one bird joke on purpose?

[Quick, Riley's laughing, figure out how to make it happen more—]

[isawallflower]

No!! I don't like them!

[ But she's laughing. Because it's safe here. Giorno's safe. He'll never hurt her. ]

[digiorno]

What about a dinosaur joke? Birds are basically dinosaurs.

[giorno's losing the thread here]

[But really he just wants her to keep laughing. That's the entire point. If he can keep her laughing, then he's done the best he can with this entire conversation. She's tried so hard. She deserves to finish this laughing.]

[isawallflower]

No!! I don't like any!

[ She smiles into his chest. She's content. She knows she can't, but she thinks she'd like to stay in this moment forever.

She doesn't quite realize this is happening. But, her tail shifts back and forth, which is something Giorno can...probably feel, given their close proximity. It's like it's wagging? That's not the weirdest thing, though. Because, between the laughter, there's another sound, like a low rumble in her throat.

Purring. ]

[digiorno]

[Wagging tails are so normal in Ryslig as to be inconsequential, although Riley wagging is very cute. The other thing, though . . .]

[His mouth falls open in a perfect O. And then resolves into this.]

You purr?

[isawallflower]

—I what? [ Her high-pitched voice sort of rumbles, on account of that purr that's still going. ]

I do?!

[ This isn't normal Riley-evasive-behavior. She genuinely...had no idea. ]

[digiorno]

You're purring right now!

[His eyes are enormous. He's delighted!]

That's so interesting. I didn't know harpies could purr! You're really incredible, Riley.

[isawallflower]

I'm what?! [ Even higher, but still with that rumble—she can hear it. Oh, she can hear it. ]

I don't- I didn't either, I- oh. Ohh, wow.

[ Now, her face is bright red to match her plumage—but it doesn't mean the purring stops. There's some distinctions, from a cat's purr; it's softer, starting and stopping, sounding at times like a short choppy growl. But with her tail wagging and her feathers smooth, there's no sign of any aggression. ]

Did- I never knew, birds could uh, could purr. Did...you?