She be Monstering my Cookie-—

⚚・・・・・IT IS A HUMAN THING TO RECOGNIZE THE HORRIFIC REALITY OF THE WORLD, and it is a demon's job to see it through and remain unfazed. KOSIAX's lips stretch into a thin line as she tucks the cassette tape inside her coat's deep pocket. Somewhere outside, a loud bang of thunder announces the prognosis of the evening. The war diplomat sighs.

"I didn't blame you. I just did what you asked me to do." As one does. Another makes a choice that has consequences. The demon notices the discomfort, and somewhere, far away, a firework goes off to pour into chaos. She approaches Frankie again, deciding to take a seat on a nearby chair. Draping her arm over the uncomfortable edge supporting her shoulder blades, Kosiax tilts her head up to regard the other woman. She grins at the suggestion.

"Yeah, kinda-" Heaven, or sort of Heaven; a holy paradise that likes to strike up deals and take bribes. "But they are also corrupt, and we are important enough to keep this thing going. The rivals are sort of the instigators, and then we are the counter-instigators, and so on," with each vague explanation, Kosiax points her index finger to the wall, drawing shapes in the air as if regarding some map.

The finger guns earn Frankie a pointed look. "You?" The demon tilts her head forward at the other. "Why? You are hanging out in the world of their doing already." KOSIAX doesn't take credit for Lucifer's work. Quite frankly (ha-ha), she cannot take credit for anything. She knows she was created with three spliced souls. Not original. Just a pawn and a puppet, two-for-one deal. An observer. "If you want to meet your Maker, I can squeeze you in, but," quiter, she delivers:

"I don't think that's a good idea."

Meet her MAKER?? Frankie openly shuddered and crossed her arms tightly over her chest. With everything that had happened to her so far, she admittedly had more of a stomach for things than the average Joe. That didn't mean she was gleefully leaping into the arms of the unknown and at the feed of fucking God-—or whatever. Whatever portion of that stuff she could keep at arm's length, she would.

❝ I mean, I meant more to like... tattle. On... you. Y'know? ❞ Her own tone had dropped, not unlike a child caught in the midst of their own scheme; she scuffed at the floor with her boot toe and sniffed. ❝ But if you guys just all do the same dance to a different tune, then I guess there's not much of a point in all that. ❞

Frank clucked her tongue and fell silent for a few beats. ❝ Sorry, god. Weird request-—can I, like... see it again? ❞ Frankie, girl, did you want to come up with a believable excuse? Anything?

❝ I really like old cassettes. Kind of a freak about them. I won't mess it up. Swearsies. ❞ Believable, nice sell. You go, Frankie.

⚚・・・・・ KOSIAX FLICKS HER EYES ABOUT FRANKIE'S FACE, searching for a reason to fuck with her. She could. She really could fuck around, but that's really not what she is here for. The demon shakes the cassette gently. "You want to look?" The messenger's good job is to spread as much information as possible. It doesn't matter what the information entails. Sometimes (most of the time) the information is cut up to raise a scandal. Certain announcements are dramatic and tailored to inspire one bias or another. The end goal is always the same: conflict. The demon mirrors Frankie's gesture and helicopters the tape over her head.

"Well, the Chimney is old school. We like physical media that can't be deciphered by a phone app." KOSIAX hates it, though; she thinks Lucifer has enough resources to upgrade the wandering messengers with tools to start wars faster. "But I suppose our marketing team is taking care of it." She means Amon's underlings in the Fortress of Dishonesty. Kosiax blinks at Frankie's challenge. Is it this hard?

"Ahh, yeah. Sure. I can." The diplomat of Hell turns away from her counterpart, taking a short walk to the desk littered with multiple gadgets. KOSIAX has been working on several projects in this terrible workshop she set up in a motel, of all places. Anyone can walk in and discover sensitive information on multiple political leaders. But that's the best part: hidden in plain sight and protected by multiple wards. Grabbing a portable cassette player, KOSIAX turns while loading the tape into the dock. She shuts it once the wheels are aligned and presses a rewind button. Then, she hits play.

At first, there is music, a band recognized as ABBA delivers a starter to their ancient, yet legendary album. KOSIAX bobs her head slowly to the rising action of the song until suddenly the melody distorts and a male's voice with a heavy accent delivers a disjointed monologue:............Estonia. Just go there and find whatever you need to do. I told the President we need to get arms figured out. We cannot sit around and wait for the ambush. Get the troops, line them up at the border, and wait for my signal. Then, you are going to go in, kidnap that entire family, and execute them. Anywhere. I don't care where. Mutilate their bodies enough that they are unrecognizable. Stitch some American flags on it. Call is democracy, I don't fucking care. Do it or I am going to kill- Kosiax pauses the tape with a satisfactory sigh.

"See? Now, if I get this tape over to the Estonian government, they are going to intercept this and treat it as provocation." She pauses sharply. "But I will spare you the details. You didn't ask me that." Ejecting the tape, Kosiax abandons the player and shakes the cassette in the air.

"And if they can't figure it out, well, I guess the tape plan comes true. How exciting." She says so flatly.

A whole world...

There was a whole other, way fucked up world out there that Frankie had lived most of her life beautifully unaware of. The international stage was a shithole and she'd always known that-—it was just a secret out in the open that no one ever bothered talking about.

But this was the cherry on top. This was every religious fanatic's wet dream: the powers that be influenced everything.

Frankie wasn't pleased with being indulged. That much was clear as day on her face. Her arms hugged her middle and she shifted her weight to her other leg; her mouth was set in a firm and displeased line.

❝ Sorry I asked... ❞ Could something be corny AND morbid at the same time? It was just that reality was so close to those over the top and dramatic books and movies and shows and whatever else that it was laughable to see play out right in front of you. It was laughable right up until you realized it had actual consequences.

❝ Is there uh-— like a rival group? Guys that try and stop you guys or whatever? ❞ She released herself and made some lazy waist-level finger guns. ❝ 'Cuz I think I'd rather go hang with them. ❞

trigger warnings: flashing lights.

dialogue prompts from animorphs #7: the stranger by k.a. applegate.

you always seem so sure of yourself.

i was trying to sound responsible and mature and parental.

turn off the look. i hate that look.

everyone knows you're going to do whatever you feel like doing.

what's got you so serious?

i like doing things, instead of just talking about them.

you were starting to worry me. you were sounding so sensible.

you seem afraid, and your fear is beginning to scare me.

i had to get out of the house.

why don't you tell me what's really bothering you?

you're all weird. you don't seem like you.

you know you can always talk to me, right?

when i'm scared, i get mad.

i don't believe you can tell the future.

you're out of control.

we're okay. we're safe.

let's get out of here.

get some rest, huh?

you don't look too good.

if you're having some problems, i want you to talk to me.

i did the wrong thing.

you and i need to have a little talk.

in my other life, i was a _____.

what am i supposed to do?

it's not like you to get all emotional.

i need to stop thinking.

i didn't see you at _____ today.

don't give me your sarcasm.

i don't have any answers. i'm sick of trying to have answers.

i don't know what your problem is, but you know what? you deal with it.

different things bother different people.

i'm scared, okay? just like you.

i was brave, because i thought that's how i was supposed to be.

the more exits i see, the more scared i get.

i don't like this. i don't even halfway like this.

when did this happen?

i'm so sick of this. what's the point?

we need to think this through.

i'm tired of thinking.

i'm changing my vote.

that's not going to happen. not to me.

you know i would never run from a fight.

events are intertwined in ways we cannot always see.

sometimes small things can make huge differences.

who knows what's weird anymore?

you're wrong. at least this time.

you're bleeding.

i wasn't brave, i was just blind.

what does this mean?

have we changed the future?

everything changes the future.

somehow i knew i'd hear from you again.

are you telling me this was all a waste?

you know, you can always change your mind.

sentence prompts using lyrics from underscores' 2023 album, wallsocket. mature themes ahead. change pronouns as necessary.

i’m hoping that maybe in recording this i won't fucking explode.

my god lives somewhere in the south of europe.

better catch-up, girly, you won't find love like that.

life seems to work in mysterious ways, but how's that my fault?

no, we don't have to talk about it.

wait 'til you're older, when you've had the chance to mull it over.

aim for the head or go with your gut.

you won't get away with this.

aim at your darlings, shoot to kill.

see the girl against the wall with her head turned down?

she's not like you or me, she's the enemy.

her parents had a seven-figure wedding and divorce.

she's stolen from the CVS but her daddy's on the board.

she's an old money bitch.

she gets it from her father's father's father.

don't hide from us, we're not gonna hurt you.

your dad is an accomplished man, really, like, to see all the things he's done for our country?

so, like, how'd you end up here? money troubles?

i hope you get what you deserve.

no one's gonna do your job for you.

i'm postponing my suicide indefinitely.

i hated it but i took what i could get.

you were a stranger but i went up to bat for you.

when you meet with that god of yours, i hope you see the light.

she couldn't scare a fly off a wall.

i was exiled from the heavens and flung toward the ground.

i once had peace and quiet, now i can't turn the damn thing off.

i don't wanna die yet, i haven't finished what I'm working on.

your hubby's quite the little pushover.

now everybody wants to ruin my life.

to be honest, i can't believe y'all didn't see it coming.

i'm not some gullible ideologue.

i hate everyone equivalently.

have i told you 'bout my theory yet?

you're gonna wanna take a look at this.

please don't get too close, i might be contagious.

i'm sorry you had to find me like that, in that sorry state.

TV rots the brain y'know and they can see it in your eyes.

i heard they got you all fixed up.

i cleared my name in just six easy payments.

how do i end what someone else started?

i feed my village as best as i can.

stupid girl just traveled 'cross the country just to do exactly what she does at home.

stupid girl still acts like she's nineteen and won't tell anyone she's turning twenty-four.

i need you just a little bit and nothing more.

i don't feel much of anything.

there's nothing more that i can do, baby.

you can take the girl out of this town but you can't take this town out of the girl.

i know this isn't fixin' it, it's still my fault.

you can take her to the city, dress her up and make her pretty.

my life depends on making it work with what i've got.

"I picked you a flower."

"Am I dead? Please say yes."

"One more word and I'll leave."

"I don't think we can salvage this."

"If you were really sorry, you'd change."

"Don't tell me what I'm allowed to feel…"

"Don't act like you know what's going on."

"No. Get out of here. I don't want to see you."

"You snore so loud, I can't hear myself think."

"Who ever gave you the right to act this way?"

"They weren't supposed to tell you where I am."

"It's called empathy. Maybe you should learn it."

"I know I'm bad at this; you don't have to rub it in."

"Yes, I hear you. All the dramatics. It's hard not to."

"Why are you shrinking yourself for everyone else?"

"Yeah, let's see how YOU like cold feet on your back!"

"No. No, tell me what you actually think. I want to know."

"Just tell me how to help. I want to, I just don't know how."

"I'm gonna need you to take all that sass and go over there."

"You don't have to prove anything to me, you know that, right?"

"How long have you been carrying all those secrets on your own?"

"Let me just ask the spirits of the dead, first… The spirits said 'no'."

"Nothing you do will ever be good enough for them, so stop trying."

"Has anyone ever told you that your vibe is strange and off-putting?"

"I wanted to slam the door really dramatically, but the hinge caught."

"Everyone should be a lot more appreciative of me not going apeshit."

"Every time I see you, I get cute aggression, I can't help it. I must squish."

"This would be a lot more soothing without the underlying, constant terror."

"It's hard to believe your parents loved you if they gave you a name like that."

"If I looked into your brain, I think I'd just hear the Benny Hill theme on repeat."

"I knew this wasn't gonna work. Doesn't make it any less disappointing, though."

"Does this task require a bra/pants? Because, if it does, I will not be participating."

"I heard your stomach rumble from over here. No argument, I'm getting you food."

"Gonna need you to take a deep breath, find whatever inner peace you have, and be quiet."

"You'd have nothing to worry about in a zombie apocalypse… I mean, they eat brains, right?"

"I knew you weren't good for much, yet you continue to find new ways to disappoint me."

"Yeah, you jumpscared me! You move so quietly, it's like perpetually living in an indie horror game!"

"I can't lower my bar of expectations any more. The devil is already using it for limbo parties in hell."

"You're an amazing scientific study waiting to happen on how someone can survive so long without any common sense at all."