i am a cage in search of a bird

[crocodiline]

[ The figure inside the frosted glass snaps her fingers, and the glass falls away, sliding into grooves in the ground below. Inside, behind additional bulletproof glass, sits a woman, legs up on a transparent glass desk, absentmindedly petting a... whatever this thing is.

Say hello to your mastermind, everyone! ]

Hey there, everyone. Nice to talk to you in person - my name is Cipher, welcome to my city. Sorry I took so long to show up in person. No need to get up on my account - how about we talk business?

[ Let's drive. ]

Comments

[bootyhunter]

They're, like, a teensy-tiny bit slug now, Rossy-baby.

Then again, mine was already pretty wacky to begin with, so it ain't no thang! We're here, aren't we?

[onemillion]

Yes, and I do think that's the most important thing.

[It helps that Dandy's so chill with it, but also: what.]

It sounds like you all had quite the experience...

[bootyhunter]

Ch'yeah.

[That is spoken with a low, breathed out sigh.

He's kept his head up for a while, and it's true that Dandy is actually happy now, but...]

But now that I think about it, your side suffered the worst of it.

Didja have a feelin' we were alright, or did you all think we were really gone-baby-gone?

[onemillion]

To be honest, I thought you all were gone until the letters. So... thank you. I think this would have been much harder without them.

[bootyhunter]

Mmmm-yeah. We figured as much!

Some people were still separated.