[Open]

[purple_reign]

WHO: Inanna and anyone
WHERE: Maurtia Falls
WHEN: July 16-22
WHAT: Inanna returns following their untimely death (temporarily sans powers)
WARNINGS: Discussions of murder, death, depression, mental illness, etc

A - Seen in a local convenience store
[Is...that a new imPort? The tall, dark stranger seen standing in the hair care aisle does bear an uncanny resemblance to Inanna, but there's no way they could be the same person. For one thing, this person just looks...bland. Their clothes look like they came out of a bargain bin at Everyman Inc, and they're sporting a pair of glasses that only serve to make them look stereotypically bookish and nerdy. Worst of all is the terrible bowl cut on their hair. Inanna would never tolerate such a dull look.

It doesn't look like this person is either though. They're considering a wall of various bleaching kits all promising different shades of blond hair. It's taken them a little while, but they finally turn to whoever happens to be nearby with a pair of different kits in hand, one platinum blond and the other a more yellow shade.]

Which do you think looks better: snowy locks or sunkissed?


B - Closed to Count Dooku
[There's a knock at Dooku's door early in the afternoon. An unmarked police car and plainclothes officer have arrived to drop off Inanna, although they really don't look anything like themselves. Between the glasses, bowl cut, and dull clothing they could really be an entirely different person, but there's no mistaking that face—even if they can't bring themself to look anyone in the eyes.

Inanna keeps their gaze on the ground, only occasionally glancing up at the officer or the door while they wait for an answer. They're still reeling from the sick, gut-wrenching weight of everything they've done and everything that happened before—before they met their end. Again. Thinking about just how that end happened is still too painful yet, but thankfully they have a perfect distraction now—a probation officer. Inanna still hasn't decided if they're relieved or alarmed to have been assigned someone they know already, but they'll find out as soon as that door opens.]

C - Closed to Persephone
[Later, after they've had a chance to talk with Dooku, and a chance for the heavy, painful weight of what's happened to settle in their gut, it's time to speak with Persephone. Unfortunately the stars are beyond their reach right now. They can't disintegrate into dust and travel on beams of light and wind. They can't even be sure where she is right now.

So, they pick up their phone and tap out a message. They tap out several messages, dozens, all deleted one after the other. For a while they stare numbly at their phone and do nothing at all, but eventually, finally, they settle on one to send.]

I'm sorry. I'm back. Can you come see me?

Comments

A

[dendarii]

[ Isn't this just Inanna's luck. Here's Miles (mostly) in the flesh, rather bloodlessly pale, picking through some very sad convenience store instant meals. It's a bit awkward, though, because he's very clearly missing an arm, and trying to finagle a basket when you're used to two? Harder than it looks. He glances over at the next aisle, catches sight of Inanna ... and freezes. Quite abruptly.

Shit. Is that who he thinks it is? In theory he's glad Persephone's friend is back, but holy shit does he not want to lose any more limbs. So instead he stares for a long moment, debating what the hell to do. ]

Ah. Sunkissed, I think.

[ Smooth, Miles. ]

[purple_reign]

[Oh. Oh shit. Fuck.

Inanna freezes as well as soon as they realize who they're speaking to. They can't take their eyes off of his missing arm. They can scarcely even manage to breathe, and their grip on the bleach kits tightens until the boxes start to give and crinkle in their grasp.]

Ah—s-sorry...?

[Their voice is dull, not a trace of the usual silken quality to it.]

[dendarii]

[ Well all right, that felt quite good. Miles can't help the distinct spike of schadenfreude at Inanna's clear discomfort. Good. The bastard deserves it. A little of it. Okay, a decent portion, but - one must not rub it in too much.

His own expression shifts from distinctly nervous to annoyingly cheerful in a heartbeat. And he raises his remaining hand. ]

As you can see, I'm all right.

[ Literally. Given the lack of left arm. ]

[purple_reign]

You don't... [You don't look alright.

Inanna finally looks away, staring down at the dye boxes and trying to keep their breathing under control.]

I... I can cover any medical bills.

[pummelgranite]

It's OK where are you.

I can come find you.

Are you OK? Do you need anything I can get it for you.

Or I can just go straight to you??

[purple_reign]

[They send along a GPS location—Dooku's residence.]

I don't need anything.

[pummelgranite]

OK, should be like forty minutes? Will you be OK that long?

[purple_reign]

[They are still in a very bad bowl cut, but there is only so far those icons will go.]

I'll be okay. I'm safe right now.

a

[sunlighter]

[Oh, but they'll turn directly into the chest of the thin white duke, smiling down at them as he plucks one of the boxes from their hands.]

Sunkissed.

[purple_reign]

[Inanna isn't sure exactly what emotion they're feeling now, only that it is uncomfortable and bad. They glances from Lucifer's face to the box and back again.]

You...sound very sure about that.

[sunlighter]

Only a preference. [The white fangs of his teeth flash with the grin.] I wonder, what do I call you now?

[purple_reign]

Inanna is still who I am.

[Because, honestly, fuck the idea of ever going back to being Zahid.]

A!

[glassfall]

[Cinders doesn't recognize the person next to her - and a good thing, too. After they nearly destroyed her workplace and attempted (poorly, to hear Lucifer tell it) to kill her boss, Cinders isn't exactly inclined to look kindly on Inanna at the moment. And that's without what they put Persephone through.

But as she doesn't recognize the deceptively ordinary person next to her, she simply smiles, considering.]

Hmm... I think "snowy" would be a good look on you.

[purple_reign]

Snowy, hm... I think you might be right.

[It was closest to the shade they'd had before, something that was hard to achieve with mere mortal bleach and dye.]

Thank you.

[glassfall]

You're welcome.

[She smiles again.]

I'm called Cinders. Are you new here?

[purple_reign]

[They glance up at her and back down at the dye kits just as quickly.]

No... No, I'm not new.

B

[dun_moch]

[When the door opens, it takes Count Dooku a double-take to recognize Inanna. Even though he was expecting them, even though he had been notified by the authorities that he would be their probation officer (and what a nice stroke of luck that was), they look so different as a human that it takes a moment for their identity to register.

But when the quarter falls, Dooku steps aside and motions them in while speaking in his deep, rich voice.]

Welcome, Inanna. Are you all right?

[They look so much... smaller without their power, the Count thinks to himself. So much less.]

[purple_reign]

[Inanna steps inside, eager to get off the street and out of the public eye. They don't answer the question for a few long moments, glancing uneasily around the entry until they're satisfied with...whatever it is they're looking for. Even Inanna isn't sure what it might be.]

I'm... I don't think I am.

[dun_moch]

[The Count sighs and puts on his most sympathetic face. He holds out his arm to beckon Inanna in the direction of his sitting room.]

Of course. You have been through something terrible. Please, make yourself comfortable, and we will talk. Would you like some tea?

[He's already readying the kettle as he speaks.]

a

[knaval]

[honestly, riptide just sees the resemblance to inanna. he doesn't think twice about the difference from how they usually dress. all riptide sees is someone who looks enough like inanna that it might as well be inanna.

he's heard about the non permanent death thing.

riptide bounds up to them and throws his arms around them dramatically.]

Inannaaaaaa! I missed you!

[...honestly they haven't interacted much, but riptide really does like them.]

[purple_reign]

[Inanna jolts with a startled gasp, tensing up as if they expect an attack instead of the excited hug they actually get.]

Ah—! You're...oh, you are? I suppose I left quite an impact on you.

[They shouldn't be surprised, really. It happened nearly any time they met someone.]

[knaval]

[he can't help but laugh.]

I didn't see anyone else half naked after that party! You kind of remember waking up to a set of chests like that.

[...just a chest, riptide. human anatomy is a bit beyond him, still.]

Have you spoken to Persephone yet? She was really upset!

@ a

[divaricate]

Hmm.. [Wanda gives both kits a very serious look. Then looks at the person's hair. Then back at the kits.]

I think. I'm going to go with snowy. Definitely that one.

[She gives a single, firm nod.]

[purple_reign]

[Inanna considers the boxes for a moment and glances up with a hesitant smile for her.]

I think you're right. It'll look the closest to the way it was before.

[divaricate]

No crazy colors? [With a half smile and a tone that's more on the side of lighter, almost teasing.] Those can be an experiment in, uh, something. [That's one word for it.] I did a very unnatural-looking orange-ish/yellow-ish a few months ago. [Sure it made her look like five different highlighters exploded all over her hair, but it was fun.]