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[epitaffio]

WELCOME TO YOUR PRIVATE CHANNEL, PURPLEPIPER. FOR SECURE COMMUNICATION, USE 541.26.365.77 *** PURPLEPIPER has joined 541.26.365.77 <PURPLEPIPER> Am I doing this right? <PURPLEPIPER> Pretty weird to just leave a message like this is an answering machine or something <PURPLEPIPER> ME leaving a message I mean! <PURPLEPIPER> You can leave one if you want and I'll just get back to you whenever I can.

Comments

<kriskringle>

[getmeoutofthedraft]

Merry Christmas!

Your Secret Santa is Waldo Butters. "Eyes" on the network. Price limit is whatever you want it to be, please gift something by December 24.

Ho, ho, ho!

<purplepiper>

[epitaffio]

[... Ah boy.]

Can I get a reroll?

[justbeingknife]

[ There is a gift for Doppio at his door! WHAT IS IT?

Oh, hey, a nicely-wrapped gift basket of savory treats. A little bread, some cheese, some sausage... and even a bottle of wine. For that hungery monster, no doubt. ]

Thought this might help some of that appetite.
-Majima

[epitaffio]

[Doppio will appreciate this greatly. Especially the sausage.

But he's gonna have to shape up and get something meatier any time now...]

I posted Doppio's secret santa gift on the gifting meme but wanted to make sure you got it

[headmasterofhope]

[By his doorstep on Christmas Day Doppio found a small gift at his door and a trail of paw prints leading into the distance.

Inside he would find some fancy winter gloves and a christmas scarf.]

((OOC:Sorry for the late present. Last month was crazy and I originally thought that I just needed to post his gift on the gifting meme.))

thanks! i totally failed to keep up with that meme so i appreciate it <3

[epitaffio]

[Oh yeah, the Secret Santa. He... kind of forgot he'd be getting stuff.

Was the person who left him these really that nice or just doing it because they had to, he wonders...?]

Backdated to Event

[bent_the_world]

[So none of this is great. Plague never is, but monster plague....even worse.]

[Hestia's is officially on lockdown. Literally. At the flip of a switch, bars cover the windows and the gate locks with about half a dozen locks, effectively quarantining the building. She's got a priority after all, and it's the kids she's sort of in charge of.]

[She also makes it a point to seek out their newest resident, knocking on Doppio's door and calling through the wood right after initiating lockdown.]

Hey, don't freak out over the hotel suddenly turning into a fort, I did that, it's that high tech defense I was telling you about.

[epitaffio]

[Judging by the look on Doppio's face when he opens the door, he was either about to ask or afraid to ask.]

You know, I was still kind of assuming you were joking about that... What's going on out there?

<PasUnPolicier> Afternoon of the 17th

[inseine]

I shall be in the office tonight. Are you intact?

<purplepiper> let's say he replies like. a day or two later

[epitaffio]

Getting my antler back

[... So, if the fact that it took him a while to reply wasn't enough of an indicator, the answer is "no".]

<jack> 6/29;

[earrdrums]

so

javert kicked you out of his investigation group, huh?
and you wanna help saihara with the poacher stuff.

am i reading all that correctly?

<purplepiper>

[epitaffio]

Pretty much

<shyhara> backdated allll the way to 7/30

[diffidentive]

[Later. They'd agreed to talk about it later, somewhere other than at the party in the Wild Cards Agency. Shuichi had planned on "later" being only a few days, perhaps a week at most. Enough time to give Doppio some room, but not enough time for things to settle to the point that they just forget about it entirely.]

[But, of course, things don't always go as planned in Ryslig. Things aren't always so simple. The fog had rolled in only two days after the party. And then a day into the fog...the poachers had launched their final attack on monsters. Their Reckoning.]

[Definitely not the best time to talk about the various things Shuichi has pieced together since June. Way too much going on. Hell, Shuichi couldn't have contacted Doppio even if he wanted to The poacher's drug had rendered him unable to do anything, since his very existence as a shade is essentially a power.]

[And so, here we are, finally. The Reckoning had ended several days ago and it's a few days before the Fog will bring in her newest batch of monsters. A rare moment of peace.]

Doppio-san, is now a good time to talk? If not, that's fine.
We don't have to do so in person, if you want. We can stick to text. Oma-kun isn't home right now so there's no chance of anyone else reading over my shoulder, if you're worried about that.

<purplepiper>

[epitaffio]

[Well, he should have known this was coming. To Doppio, it doesn't actually feel like it's been that long; a few days after the party, he found himself out cold in some abandoned building in Bavan, at which point he was taken to the Agency, brought up to speed, given the antidote, and...

And then the poacher thing resolved itself while he was out again, he guesses. So much for being helpful and/or getting revenge on the poachers. At this rate, he's not going to have to worry about Jiro finding out he's no hero, because the Agency's going to unanimously vote him out anyway.

But now's not the time to worry about that. Now it's time for an awful, very bad, deeply uncomfortable conversation.

One that, for some reason, he thinks he'd rather have in person.]

It's fine
If you're home alone I'd rather drop by

[Maybe if they talk face-to-face, he can retain some level of control over the situation. Maybe.]

On Oct 1

[pacetua]

There once was a boy who was a Halloween fanatic. He loved dressing up for Halloween, he loved pulling pranks and watching horror movies, and above everything else... he loved candy. One fateful year, while he went trick-or-treating, he visited a house. This house was creepy as hell! It was big, it was old, it smelled like a grandmother and it was owned by a happy, old rich couple. The boy came here thinking that he would be handed out big chocolate bars, because it was a rich person's house but when he knocked on their door... he was handed a bag of that shitty candy that nobody likes! Tootsie rolls, shitty flavoured dum-dums, those weird... peanut things... needless to say, the boy was heartbroken. He was so heartbroken that he died, right there on their porch and now, every Halloween he goes out and finds people to curse. He wants everyone to suffer the same way he did!

Everybody is already suffering from his curse!! Send this to ten people to break the curse, or to avoid getting cursed, or you'll be stuck looking freakier than usual for the rest of your life!!!!!!!!!!

<purplepiper>

[epitaffio]

What??
Peace what the hell is this?
Is this for real???

<KrisKringle>

[getmeoutofthedraft]

Ho ho ho! Your secret Santa gift recipient for this year is LarryLaffer on the network.

His real name is... Larry. Laffer, one assumes.

Please spend no more than 20 solars on a gift for Larry, and ensure he receives it on or before Christmas Day (December 25). If not, Santa Claus will come to your house and glare disappointedly through the windows until you cough up.

Merry Winter-Holiday-Of-Your-Choice!

And before you ask: no, you still can't reroll.

<purplepiper>

[epitaffio]

I don't remember signing up for this!

<sweaterqueen>

[meowbel]

Hey Doppio, where do you live?

I need to know right away.

<purplepiper>

[epitaffio]

Uh what?
Hestia's Place, why?

[justbeingknife]

[ Season's greetings -- a Christmas present has arrived at the door!

It is a package of holiday baked goods and fruit! gingerbread cookies, cocoa, a banana... and a weirdly cute sweater. ]

[epitaffio]

[Aww. That sweater IS pretty cute.

... At some point later that day, Doppio realises he does not have a gift for Majima. He doesn't bring it up directly, but the next day, he may or may not subtly offer to pay for a meal.]

[cuscumber]

[On December 25th, Doppio will find a package neatly wrapped in the most disgustingly cheerful gift wrap on the market on his doorstep. How did his secret Santa find out where he lived? Who knows! Definitely not through surreptitious following or anything like that!

Inside is a small ceramic teapot and an assortment of loose leaf teas, along with instructions on best measurements and steeping times. With it is a note that reads 'Here's hoping this will keep you warm throughout the winter and afterwards. Happy holidays!'

And because Shen Qingqiu is a practical man, there's also a receipt tucked into the box just in case Doppio isn't a tea guy.]

[epitaffio]

[Oh. Oh, wow. He was so annoyed stressed out preoccupied with his own Secret Santa obligations that he completely forget that meant he'd be getting something too!

He usually goes for coffee over tea, but... this might be nice, too. Not to keep warm, since he doesn't need that very much anymore, but just, you know, to taste.

Huh. Maybe he should have gone for something simple like this, himself...]

BACKDATED DEC 25

[standless]

[A very merry Nattenfest! ...Jonathan doesn't seem to have quite known what to gift Doppio, but he really wanted to anyway, and for that reason it appears Doppio is receiving a charcoal sketch of a cervid skull.

...Thanks?]

[epitaffio]

[... is Mr. Joestar aware that this looks an awful lot like a threat, because something tells Doppio that Giorno won't be the one to tell him]

<kyouken> sometime after the event starts getting real weird

[justbeingknife]

Doppio. You there?

let's say this iiis before shit gets Very Bad for dop

[epitaffio]

Oh hey
What's wrong?

<PasUnPolicier>

[inseine]

This is a notice that our midnight rendezvous at the Multiversal Museum shall now occur at the next Fog. I am estimating around the fourth of the month. Let us make it the fifth. Assuming you, too, were indisposed this past week.

<purplepiper>

[epitaffio]

Just say you were stuck in a tree, geez
But yeah ok sure.

<NeverAcorned>

[youngtimer]

Hey, Doppio ... I ran into a new guy with diamonds in his pink hair a couple weeks ago, he was looking for you. Just making sure you found each other.

<purplepiper>

[epitaffio]

[Diamonds in-- OH]

YES we did!

[...

Now please hold as Doppio contends with the fact that other people have been seeing the Boss's physical form.]

this would have been... august 23rd-ish

[fateschosen]

[After the dollhouse incident resolves it takes Diavolo a short while to work up the strength to head back to Hestia's Place. There was a brief period where he deeply considered pretending the conversation between the two of them had never happened, shoving it down in his mind as something never to confront. Ignore it. It's not worth the time.

But wasn't confronting his problems head-on once his reason for living? Hadn't it given him purpose? He's been drifting, unable to take action, frightened into hiding away. The only time he's come close to his former resolve was when his mind was so clouded with hunger and desperation that he was acting more on instinct than any rational thought. If the Diavolo of the past could see him now... what would he feel? Shame? Disgust?

That's certainly what the Diavolo of the present is feeling. To think that he was once something better than he is now... he'd been so desperate to never fall from his peak. Now the thought of even beginning to ascend to those heights again feels like an impossible dream.

It's late in the evening when he makes his way to the apartments, preferring the unease of walking alone at night to the risk of being seen - or worse, talked to - in the full light of day. He doesn't bring much with him, just the laptop he'd received weeks earlier... and the doll of himself. That's something to be disposed of somewhere safer than he was staying. He'd thought for a moment about bringing some sort of weapon to defend himself should the need arise, but last time it was utterly useless. If the two are doomed to fight then Diavolo dying is a foregone conclusion. Trying to defend himself only prolongs the inevitable.

When he reaches Doppio's apartment he stands at the door for a bit, ruminating on everything that led up to this point. He'd left no message to alert Doppio when he was coming. He hopes that, somehow, catching him off-guard will be to his advantage. He needs all the advantages he can get.

And so with a hand he struggles to contain the tremor in, he knocks.]

[epitaffio]

[It's late, but Doppio is still awake.

Granted, that may be in part because, as much as he disagrees, he's supposed to be nocturnal. He finds ways to power through the sunlight hurting his eyes, yes, but there isn't much he can do about his body feeling naturally inclined to staying up late because of... melatonin or whatever? That's what it's called, right? Should an undead deer even have melatonin?

Anyway, that's only part of it. The remainder is that he's waiting.

That can be further subdivided, too. Part of him fears that he's already missed the Boss, that his stubborn insistence on working his remaining shifts at the clinic has led to a grievous mistake. The rest of him fears... another outcome that he doesn't dare name. He doesn't want to even acknowledge it.

The Boss told him to wait. He said he'd come. And it hasn't been that long yet, so he has no reason to-- He'd have no reason to think otherwise anyway.

He's lying down when he hears a knock. The next moment, there is the audible thud of a deer man attempting to jump out of bed, getting tangled in his blanket, and falling to the floor.]

I-I'm coming! Be right there, just-- just a minute! [You know, just a second of two to free himself from his embarrassing prison and just sort of throw the blanket back roughly where it's supposed to be, and THEN he can open the door.

When he realises he's looking at the exact person he'd hoped to see, Doppio stops his gaze from going any further up so quickly that he thinks he may have pulled something in his neck, and then it occurs to him that looking at the Boss's chest instead may not be all that much better, and THEN he decides to stop thinking about why before his heart spontaneously starts beating again just so he can have another heart attack. Ultimately he spins on his hooves until his back is turned and lets himself feel some relief.]

Thank goodness! I-- I'm glad you're safe, Boss.

nattensfest 2021.

[devilsproof]

[from beatrice, doppio receives a day planner, with approximate fog dates marked with hearts in red pen. like, drawings of human hearts, not ♥. also, a charcuterie platter made of people that just looks like a regular charcuterie platter.]

[epitaffio]

[... The heart thing is pretty weird. Like, he's not about to look a gift horse in the mouth, but it's weird. The charcuterie, though? Delicious!

Doppio's surprised to be getting a gift from her, though. He can't quite remember what happened at the end of the Guts Ordeal, but he guesses he can't have made that bad of an impression...?]

DEC 25 - HAPPY NATTENSFEST

[standless]

[Happy Nattensfest Doppio! While they haven't spoken for some time, Jonathan still thinks of him as someone to send drawn Christmas cards- this one's got a deer on it, with carefully made lace patterns around it as well.

He's also included a small parcel of teas. Stay warm Doppio!]

[epitaffio]

[From Jonathan Joestar, huh...?

Giovanna must not have told him then. That's the only explanation that makes sense.

... Doppio isn't sure how he feels about that.]

<floridaswallows>

[getstoned]

[ No, it's not some sort of porn spam. ]

heyyy bambi, what's up??
what's like your favourite thing to eat?

<purplepiper>

[epitaffio]

Huh?
Wait, who is this??

<Zigazigah>

[figlia_morbida]

[Of course, there's no way Doppio wouldn't be questioned after.

The moment Trish has a second to think, she mentally barges into Doppio's inbox and headspace without preamble.]

DOPPIO!

I know you're around! Tell me who the hell < andthentherewasme > is right this second before I physically come find you!

<purplepiper>

[epitaffio]

AAAAAAAAA

Where the fuck is this? Is this private???

<JOJO> - PRIVATE

[standless]

[A little bit after the network has calmed down (again), Jonathan is getting around to a list of things that...well frankly he'd wanted to do all the way back in February, before he'd ended up getting fairly tangled up in his emotional problems. Literally. One could claim he's been making excuses, but with everything that followed the fact is he's been literally unable to actually focus on much at all. Between being entirely bedridden for recovery, and the mental broadcast that struck them from there, it's simply been...

Difficult.

So perhaps this is too little too late, but all the same.]

Doppio

While I had intended to send this much earlier, I fear that a great many things occurring over the past number of weeks intervened despite my efforts. I apologize profusely for that.

I simply wished to make certain that the gift which I sent made its way to the proper destination, but considering those aforementioned matters of the past month and beyond, I should like to ask how you're faring as well- I do not wish to see misfortune strike you as heavily as it oft does here, and to have some confirmation of your health would bring some relief I shall admit.

Best regards,
Jonathan

[One day he might type these like something other than a letter.]

<purplepiper>

[epitaffio]

[Doppio reads this... a few times. Mostly out of disbelief, because...

Well, he thought this very same thing when Jonathan sent him a Christmas present, but he only way this makes any sense is if Giorno hasn't told him.

And... why wouldn't he??]

Uh no, I got the gift.
Sorry I didn't say anything, I wasn't sure if I should.

And I'm fine. I'm a demon right now but I'm getting used to it.

[... No need to mention he Died Of Flowers. It's fine. He's fine.]

march 24

[fateschosen]

[Early this morning, something intriguing was posted to the network. Left alone in these early hours, Diavolo had plenty of time to mull over it before Doppio rose for the day. There is so much time for thinking when there is no room to sleep. And while the relative silence in Diavolo's mind was welcome after the constant buzzing of the week prior, it's unlike him to let anything suspicious slip past him without heavy consideration.

And, oh, this message was suspicious. At face value, it's nothing of particular interest to him. "Anti-monster home security" — but he doesn't make a point of invading the homes of humans. But, then, safety is paramount. And though the butchery demonstration is of no use to him, Diavolo has not yet given Cervo the opportunity to indulge in a properly cooked meal. The deer was amusingly taken with the novelty of a seared dinner — how would he respond to something finely made? Diavolo is no chef, and his dealings with human bodies have been brutal at best, but he has few productive activities to occupy his free time with. Perhaps this is a starting point.

Of course, he doesn't admit those thoughts.

When he speaks to Doppio soon after he wakes, he is all business. His tone is light, airy, unperturbed. It almost feels like a mission. "A curious message was posted to the network this morning," he starts. "Something is to be broadcast on television this evening. We would do well to investigate this. If you aren't preoccupied today, Doppio...?"

And the rest of the day slips away. Having a goal to pursue, small as it is, energizes him. And this task being something he's comfortable tackling as a team makes it all the better. It may be insignificant in the grand scheme of things, but keeping track of the affairs of others like this is almost a taste of normalcy. For tonight, he can feel capable and in control.

And when the hour approaches, he is doing his best to relax in front of the television, a tangle of too-small blankets and long limbs. This being a "mission" does not preclude his own comfort.]

Doppio... did you bring any food? I don't know how long this is going to be.

[Doppio isn't as peckish as usual in this form... but Diavolo can't help but ask.]

LET'S GOOOOOOO

[epitaffio]

[Even if neither of them voice it, they can very much agree on one thing: it's good to have a goal.

From the moment Doppio receives his quasi-mission, there is a renewed pep in his step. He's eager to begin his investigation immediately - though he is forced to slow down once he realises that they do, in fact, already have information such as "the general subject matter of the broadcast" and "who is behind it." Still, if all this mission entails is watching TV with the Boss later tonight... that's plenty to be excited about. Right now, when Doppio feels ever so slightly more tempted to indulge than he usually does, he might even admit to himself that it would be fun to just... stay up a little later, maybe see if a movie comes on and watch that...

In any case, the hour does, indeed, approach. And even if his stomach isn't as demanding as he's grown accustomed to, snacks strike him as an important element when in extended contact with a screen, so he is naturally ready with two buckets of popcorn, one in each arm.]

I've got it covered, Boss! Salty and sweet popcorn--

[... It is when Doppio looks at each bucket in turn that he realises he is no longer quite sure which is which. Unfortunately, both sets of popcorn are pretty white.]

... Um, so you can have whichever you'd like!

[He'll... figure out which one's safe for himself from observation, he's sure.]

Backdated to let's say a week after the TV event

[charmpagne]

[Okay. This is going to be awkward as all hell, but he feels a certain responsibility to handle this. So here he is, handling it.

You're a professional, Sparkling, act like it.]

Is this Doppio's number?

<purplepiper>

[epitaffio]

Uh, yeah
Who is this?

<Zigazigah>

[figlia_morbida]

[She's had many, many thoughts since last month's revelation. Sifting through memories and filtering the most tumultuous thoughts back and forth until something clearer is unearthed.

Diavolo and Doppio are the same person.

It's nearly winter again, and she's brought out the photo Doppio gave her many months ago now. Donatella beams up at her, the only person who could've possibly guessed from the start when the man she was so fond of was split in twain. She would've known right away, Trish thinks.

But the memories are enough to tell her that Doppio fits the bill for every descriptor of the man Donatella called her "fairweather papà". Diavolo claimed it was him in the most direct sense, and maybe it was, but that doesn't erase Doppio's involvement.

What does she do with this? Doppio has been more amenable to speaking with her than Diavolo has ever been, but what about now? Where is their truce at? Doppio hasn't reached out at all, so maybe Diavolo has forbid it.

But...she'd rather know for sure than assume.]

Doppio?

Are you able to respond? It's not urgent, but it is important. I need to know where we stand.

[Silence is an answer too.

It's what she expects, really.]

<purplepiper>

[epitaffio]

[... Oh, right. Trish. The last time they spoke...

So much happened last month that it's overwhelming to even think about. The time he ran into her was easily among the worst, so much so that he could only assume it couldn't get any worse and frankly, war aside, he was mostly proven right. The buildup to the split had been torturous, the revelation had shaken him, but the aftermath had been... almost simple.

And he's lucky, so lucky that he was in no state to be on duty when that concert happened, that he only heard of what happened to Trish afterwards, because that aside--

Now that they're all back in Ryslig, it doesn't have to be complicated. Yes, it's still as surreal to think about as it is (he has to admit) strangely logical, and he's sure Trish must have been shocked too... but when you get down to it, in the end, not that much has changed, has it?]

Yeah, sure.
The Boss hasn't told me NOT to talk to you, if that's what you mean.