OFFICE HOURS

[didntgetdadslooks]

Got something you want to say to your good friend The Professor's Assistant? Come on in, don't be shy! Her official hours are daylight hours - girl has to sleep? after all, probably - but if you knock on the door at night she'll generally answer. Please just make sure to leave the in-game date and time in the header of your toplevel!

All comments are screened for confidentiality during the course of the experiment.

Comments

[nothingcanstop]

[ That's...a very big ask. Della doesn't answer for a moment. Instead, she asks another question. ]

Did you know about it? The real meaning of the Professor's rules? Did you know and not tell us? Or was that something he kept from you too?

[didntgetdadslooks]

I...

[ She looks down, her grip on the owl in her hand tightening slightly. ]

I knew the culprit would get executed, at least. The Professor and I had a big fun conversation after your meeting on Tuesday. But I really wasn't even allowed to confirm or deny if one of you guessed it. It was... I couldn't think of a way to even hint at it for you guys, there's an explicit rule about it on my end. I'm sorry.

[nothingcanstop]

What about the rest of us? Did you know we'd die, if we couldn't solve this?

[didntgetdadslooks]

[ She puts on an impression of The Professor's voice. Her acting ability doesn't bring you any closer to placing his accent, even with her direct exposure to his natural voice. ]

"If they don't find the killer, then the experiment enters its next phase." Ominous, but not "I'm going to save the killer and flood the dome."

[nothingcanstop]

...

[ Della exhales deeply. She turns around as well, rubbing at her eyes. This is so much, it's exhausting, but she can't-- she can't give up, she gives up and she's done, nothing can stop Della Duck, nothing can keep her from her family-- ]

Fine. Okay. I'll wait.

[didntgetdadslooks]

[ Angel nods. ]

Right.

[ She heads over to open the door for her, still holding the owl. ]

After you.

[nothingcanstop]

[ No complaints there--but Della kind of hangs her head, to hide the moment of weakness.

It will be okay. She will be okay. She has to. If she isn't, what next?

Della quickly waddles out to the meeting room and wipes her eyes once she's passed Angel. ]

[didntgetdadslooks]

[ Angel turns, locking the door with her keycard, the same that got her access to the trial room and elevator. ]

Alright, just... ten minutes, fifteen tops, alright? And if anyone asks, I just had it in my office.

[nothingcanstop]

Yeah. [ A slow breath. She's still not looking at Angel. ] Alright.

[ She'll give herself this moment, and then she'll be fine. ]

[didntgetdadslooks]

[ Angel nods, and heads out of the room.

Does Della try to follow at all? ]

[nothingcanstop]

[ ...For a good few moments, she considers it.

But ultimately, no.

Della's staying right there. ]

[didntgetdadslooks]

[ Then after a bit, Angel will return! She has two bottles in her hands - one is full of pre-mixed appletini, and the other is full of something else. She offers the former out to her. ]

Just... make up somewhere in the world for it to have come from, I guess.

[nothingcanstop]

[ ...She really got it, huh. Della looks from Angel to the bottle and then takes it. ]

Oh... Oh, yeah. This would've been just the right... [ She's murmuring to herself. If only, if only... There's never enough time.

She looks up at Angel, studying first the bottle she's got and then her face. ]

What's the deal with all this? Why're you being so nice?

[didntgetdadslooks]

[ Angel sighs, shoulders sagging a little. ]

I've... you guys have all had a heck of a day. I had to watch the trial from up here, and... yikes.

[ She takes a seat next to Della, but not too close. It is very important to mention that she says the next part sadly, but also like it's a normal thing to say. ]

But also... I guess I haven't mentioned this, but I don't sleep? So I've watched a lot of fun things today.

[nothingcanstop]

'Scuse me, you what?

[ Good thing she put the bottle of premixed appletini down, because otherwise she would've dropped that!! ]

How the heck is that even, like, possible? Biologically?

[didntgetdadslooks]

[ Angel taps the metal implants in her head. ]

Cybernetic implants. They make the whole... surveillance thing work, and make it so I don't need to sleep.

[nothingcanstop]

[ Della's quiet for a moment. But-- ]

How'd you get like that?

[didntgetdadslooks]

Uh...

[ She thinks it over. ]

... I don't actually know for sure.

[nothingcanstop]

How can that be something you don't know?

[didntgetdadslooks]

It's...

[ Angel bites her lip. ]

... that's actually something I don't really want to talk about? It's personal, not... related to everything going on here.

[nothingcanstop]

Something from before the Professor...?

[ There's the slightest bit of worry on Della's features, but. ]

That sure sounds like something... Oh, alright. Fine, no prying.

[didntgetdadslooks]

If it becomes relevant I'll say what I can, but...

[ laugh track @ today ]

They're... my feelings about that are kind of all over the place.

[nothingcanstop]

...Well, even if we don't get any privacy, I guess you didn't ask for your life to be dragged out on display.

[ There's some bitterness in there, quite a lot of it, but it...at least doesn't seem directed at Angel. ]