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 Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2014 7:32 pm
Junko had been minding her own business just walking down the street going over her to-do list of things to do because that was kind of her thing right now when she saw her in the distance.
Purple.
Tentacles.
A hole in her chest that would never heal.
What was she wearing? That..was not how the Riley she knew dressed.
Clearly this was an impostor.
"...Riley?"
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Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2014 7:56 pm
It had worked, for the most part. Keeping herself in sight managed to keep herself out of sight, because no one looked up on the busy streets anymore. Riley refused to hole herself up underground, but neither did she want to be questioned for whatever reasons might have possibly come up - and this was an acceptable compromise, because it kept her in plain sight, where no one cared enough to look.
Until there was someone who cared enough.
She heard her name and hissed, turning thinned white eyes at Junko before quickly looking away. There was doubt in the ghoul's voice - perhaps she did not truly believe the person she saw was her former friend. That could work in her favor.
So she continued to look straight ahead as she walked past, just another stray in the crowd.
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Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2014 8:05 pm
That..wasn't right... That was definitely Riley, so why was she acting this way? She followed her, peeking around that mass of tentacles to try and get her attention again. This didn't make much sense. These clothes looked vaguely familiar, very vaguely, but Junko couldn't quite pin where. "Hey wait, Riley. It is you! I'd know that body anywhere!" ..wait. Crap. Her face turned almost completely pink. "I..I mean from all the clothes on I've made! Not..oh wow. That came out all wrong I'm sorry..!"
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Posted: Fri Sep 26, 2014 11:39 am
Junko did not simply take her avoidance to mean that she had the wrong person, because the ghoul knew Riley's physical appearance too intimately, and there was no fooling her. This was spoken too loudly, too openly, and received an immediate response. Riley hissed as she turned, sliding through the crowd she'd tried to melt into and grabbing Junko by the arm. Shut up. She whispered sharply into the ghoul's mind, as she continued to lead her by the arm away from the street into a stiflingly small back alley. There, she finally let go, pacing the alley in agitation.
She did not actually speak to Junko for several seconds as she did this.
Perhaps you are mistaken. She finally piped up, hedging with regret at her decision to pull the ghoul in. I'm sure there are many people who look just like me, She began, standing up straight until her full form stretched, tentacles tangling behind her.
Then she slumped, because even she knew how ridiculous that was.
And even if you are not, Her voice was softer now, regretful. Perhaps it is better you forget you saw what you think you see before you. Continue on with your day, never mindful of the hallucination you must have witnessed from a heatstroke. It was 70 degrees, and breezy. She was grasping broken straws.
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Posted: Sun Sep 28, 2014 6:55 pm
"What are you..?!" Riley grabbed Junko's arm, telling her to shut up and dragging her into an alleyway nearby. This wasn't like her at all. What was going on? Was Riley angry with her? And why was she dressed like that. Once in the alley she leaned back against the wall, nearly shrinking from the tall mindflayer. This wasn't making any sense. She waited. Junko frowned, brow furrowing and eyes narrowing. "N..no? You're...definitely.." She shook her head. "A hole? Crystals, tentacles.." There was no question. She knew Riley. Why was she doing this? ...What? "You're not making any sense," Junko blurted out. "Why are you telling me to forget you?"
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Posted: Sun Sep 28, 2014 7:20 pm
Riley stopped and stared critically at the ghoul for a moment, before folding her arms in front of her.
What is your life now? Tell me. Is it relationships and financial success? Interpersonal success? Are you doing well? Are you free from conflict and prosecution? Perhaps you would like to remain that way, and continue forward without any further problems?
She leaned in, her eyes narrowing as thin as slits. Then you should forget what you've seen today, and walk on.
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Posted: Sun Sep 28, 2014 7:21 pm
Junko only had one thing to say. "Why?"
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Posted: Sun Sep 28, 2014 7:33 pm
Riley stood up straight again, and her eyes fluttered away. They were always subtly watching the entrance to the alley, just in case.
Why is not your concern. You're lucky I warn you at all. If I wasn't so nice, And there was something not very nice about the way she said that word, I would drag you down with me. Ruin your life, too. That's not such an awful idea. Her gaze turned back to the ghoul, sinister and devious.
Shall we see what lies at the bottom of this well?
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Posted: Sun Sep 28, 2014 7:37 pm
Nothing Riley said was still making any sense. Junko looked disbelieving. "It is my concern. You're my friend, I care about you. What..what happened while I was gone?" Green eyes widened and searched Riley's face for something. Anything. But a face with only eyes didn't reveal much. She looked the ghoul up and down again, looking for anything at all that could be a hint. Those clothes. She knew those clothes. But why. Who wore them? "Riley, stop it.."
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Posted: Sun Sep 28, 2014 9:30 pm
The ghoul was stubborn, and Riley had no arsenal with which to fight the words friend. She knew, in that moment, that this was going to be a consistent and reoccurring problem. Not just with Junko, but with so many others.
She softened, but only to the point where she no longer looked dangerous. I understand that you are doing what you believe is right. Consider then why I would say such things to you. Perhaps you should recall the times you have trusted in me implicitly, and understand that sometimes, it is better not to know.
She wouldn't leave with that answer, however, and Riley knew that.
I'm not the same woman you knew once. Perhaps you understood that a little, when I first returned, but the extent of change has widened a gap, a chasm between now, and then. Perhaps once I would even..
She eyed the end of the alley one last time.
Meet me at 1403 Crushed Skull Boulevard. Apartment 6. Thirty minutes. Don't say my name. Don't go there now. Just walk away normally, and I'll be waiting for you then.
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Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2014 3:01 am
Junko refused to just leave it at that. No. She was not just going to accept this and run along willy nilly like everything was okay. She was done with that kind of foolishness. Things were not okay. Where once she would have taken Riley's word as law, now she was going to question it until she got an actual answer. "You'll be there?" Junko actually challenged as if she didn't trust Riley's word. Could you honestly blame her?
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Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2014 7:47 pm
Riley was already starting to walk away. She paused when Junko questioned her honesty - with good reason, of course - but she did not turn back. She answered reluctantly, still facing the alley.
I'll be there. You shouldn't come. If you do, I guarantee nothing concerning your safe return. There was a hint of smile in the sound of her voice. I hope no one is waiting for you at home.
She didn't wait for an answer.
If Junko chose to follow Riley's instructions, the walk to the address given would lead through an increasingly decrepit town. The further and deeper she went, the more abandoned and seedy things looked. The apartment complex Riley gave her was crumbling under its own weight. The hallway was unlit. The doors held no secrets.
And at #6, inside of the apartment a bed, and not much else. On it sat Riley, waiting. Patiently. Too patiently, in fact.
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Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2014 6:40 pm
Junko watched Riley walk off with a frown. She waited a minute before taking her phone out to text Seiji. She leaned back against the alley wall, glancing out every now and then before finally sighing and putting her phone away again. She was surprised, he was supportive of this..she'd thought for sure he'd try to talk her out of something so suspicious. A step in the right direction. He really had changed. She looked all around at the buildings around her, frowning. "Feeling at home, ghoulie?" The Mistress asked with a dark chuckle. "...No." "But it's so nostalgic, isn't it?" She cackled. Junko frowned more. "Not in a good way." Finally she stopped at apartment number six, knocking only once before entering. "Riley..?" She asked with a healthy amount of caution, looking wary as she stepped inside. Wow it was..so empty. Nothing at all like Riley's dorm back at Amity. But at least she was there. "Oh, hey.."
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Posted: Sun Oct 19, 2014 4:39 pm
But when Junko opened the door, no one was inside.
The room had the exact same makeup as the one Riley was currently in. The only difference was a lack of mindflayer - and once Junko was inside, and the door was closed, Riley stood up off of the bed she was sitting on, walked into the bathroom, and pushed open the far wall. Her hand slid around Junko's wrist, pulling her inside, and on to the other room.
The wall slid closed behind her, and Riley let her go.
Stupid, stupid ghoul. Riley chuckled out, standing rigid and unmoving beside her. Didn't your mother ever teach you not to talk to strangers?
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Posted: Sun Oct 19, 2014 6:14 pm
Wait but..Riley said six, right? Was this the right place? Junko blinked, looking around. What happened..? She stepped forward, clearly confused. It only got worst when someone grabbed her and tugged at her. She gasped and naturally fought back against it, hair slithering up the arm of her captor and wrapping around it to squeeze tightly while the rest wrapped around Junko protectively. "What--" Riley? The mindflayer let her go and she did the same, eyes wide as she backed away. "What are you doing? You're not a stranger.." Though she was being strange..
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