Glitched.

001. Months

001.

//The Months are measured in Beans//

In which how this all started:

Eight months ago, Liria decided they want to be an independent good person, and went to visit a good friend of theirs back in the more rural sides of the great nation of Framecast. That, and to get a break from the hectic city life of the capital. The buses were crowded and the skies were it's normal blue, and Liria is very looking forward to greeting Outsider ASE and maybe strangle some time with a video game marathon.

That, and constant video calls with Lil, their not-so-platonic friend. "Friend", as in romantically interested partner. It was working out quiet well, if not for some tension due to the whole "We barely visit each other and talk more online than in person". With Liria being a well known writer for the more adult tastes and Lil being a well known children's story book illustrator, rumors run rampant between the two's relationship.

Seven in a half months ago, Liria is wildly lost and very, very not happy with how traffic patterns work as they attempt to get back to the cities. That, and the fact they have been all but deprived internet connection or general connection for almost a week, lost in the woods. That in mind, when Outsider (which is not as lost, just very amused)  offers to loan their basement to recuperate, Liria doesn't think twice to agree, itching to animate ANYTHING to satisfy the scratching in their head.

Except one day of animating stretches into three, and three days into a week, and one week into two. They send messages to Lil, and offer their thanks and ideas to the lucky few that can contact them, but the internet in the area is as shady as the underside of satan's balls.

Liria makes it work. With a lot of begging, apologies, and the awkward "I am so sorry I missed another call, Lil, I'll try to get to the next one, I promise!" 

Until seven months ago.

Seven months ago, the actual story starts when Liria finally crawls out of the basement for the first time in three days for nourishment and a weekly watering. They were busy trying to finish up another storyboard, the joy of creation tingling in their fingertips, and has finally migrated back upstairs in hopes of food, a shower for the first time in forever, and maybe a change to sleep for forty eight hours and die.

Man, they wish motivation wouldn't hit them quickly and take control of their body like a demented puppet.

So when Liria leisurely connected themselves back online after a grueling binge animation, the first thing they did not expect was absolute silence.

But it was silent.

Liria shrugged, decided their wifi is spotty as heck, and went to make omelettes.

When no notifications popped up, Liria frowned.

They tried to reupload themselves multiple times. They scoured the loading screen, washed the dishes, wrinkled their nose at the copious amount of canned beans they bought months ago, and even organized their sock drawer twice. It smells like beans, though. Rotting beans. Liria's not very sure how to feel about that.

The house telephone isn't picking up, either. Liria tried that as well, and every time they end up with a "busy landline". But the energy is working, there is still hot water, and so it was alright in the world.

That doesn't stop the niggling in the back of Liria's head though. Or the sudden weight on their chest, because all the sudden, the area doesn't feel safe anymore.

Ridiculous, Liria decides. Their back flares in dull discomfort as they feel the nobs where their amputated wings once were, but other than that everything in the world is sluggishly still.