Deerington inbox

[droptheious]

FROM: SUBJECT: FERN Ooo slang part the second FERN i think we just shared electrons, because i'm feeling a covalent bond between us LANCE Pidge, I need your help. I gotta send a meme to Chloe but ... DIPPER Hey Varian. You know those crazy alchemy bombs you used... PETER Hey Varian, this is Peter. Um, Peter Graham. USAGI Soooooooo~ How'd the date go? MAKO Varian— Checking in. SHIRO i think one of us put a chicken patty in my toaster EDDIE Hey. We need to talk. MELIUS 𝐻𝒾. 𝐼 𝓀𝓃𝑜𝓌 𝒾𝓉 𝓁𝑜𝑜𝓀𝓈 𝓌𝑒𝒾𝓇𝒹 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝒾𝓉 𝒾𝓈 𝓃𝑜𝓉 𝓈𝒽𝑜𝓇𝓉 EDA Hey, kid. I... owe you an apology. LUZ Valentines MAUL I have a proposition for a project I think you'll be interested in USAGI I LOVE YOU FERN DUDE you still have your bandana! BUZZ Morning. I heard from Fern you wanted to go out into the blizzard. FERN dude your profile changed USAGI Ruby told me about the breakup. GLITCH Varian, I'm gonna go live somewhere else for now MAKO A "nerd" is somebody smart... MAUL Gifts FERN heeyyyy quick question FERN Christmas is coming up!!! CHLOE god who the FUCK ever thought emojis were a good idea??? KRISTOFF Varian,It's getting colder so I thought you could use this FERN heyyyy Variable RAPUNZEL okay not to put you on the spot but... EDA Potion time NEO Dude, I can mine antidote shit here! GLITCH Got this in my basket. EDA hey smart kid TEN Hallo ADAM Hey, k-- uh, Varian. I just wanted to check in USAGI I'm sorry I worried you and fainted on you yesterday. AMARA i lived, bitch NEO Debatably good news, asshole USAGI Hey Varian! It's Usagi OSCAR I'm sorry, Varian. Tell me what you need FERN a dark past huh MAUL Varian. I am in great need of your assistance FERN Varian VARIAN I CAN EAT FOOD USAGI How much moon essence do you have? USAGI VIVI-KUN, VIVI-KUN GUESS WHAT GUESS WHAT! RICHIE well I promised FERN A TOTALLY INCOMPLETE LIST OF OOO WORDS 'N SLANG GLITCH VARIAN ARE THERE BUGS IN THE WATER?! USAGI To help with restless nights and the... VIRA-LORR Little alchemist. I have a gift for you. MARTIN Hi, Varian. This is Martin. I wanted to reach out... USAGI Hi Varian, sweetie! I have a question for you. GLITCH varian I need to talk to you. it's important. USAGI I need you not to panic after what I tell you. FERN dog you have so many vests IRONHIDE HONK HONK USAGI ... I'm sorry I couldn't help you better, Varian EMERALD Hey, V. Not that I care that much or anything... FERN tell me when you're alive FERN Varian i stabbed two people AMARA hey weirdo i have something for you FERN is the Rapunzel in town your Rapunzel? PENNY Salutations!! You do not know me, but my name is Penny Polendina YANG Hey, is this Varian? I think we've met once before. FERN hey can we talk FERN you told ruby MAUL Surviving another year is always an occasion worth celebrating USAGI Hey I wanted to apologise USAGI VARIAN-KUUUUNNN!!!! FERN birth MAUL Look what just arrived for me. KATHERINE Do you want to get paid to make more purple goo things? FERN ok i know you're good with plants but what about animals FERN dog interested in means girls or guys

TO: SUBJECT: USAGI So. Maul dropped by, he's got his memories back. ADAM I'm worried about Shiro FERN Hey handsome OSCAR You've been weirdly quiet lately FERN Guess what I haven't told you lately? USAGI Hey. I'm back from the dead and I feel like trash. FERN I made meatloaf that may or may not poison us! Emerald Hey. I know you probably don't want to talk to anyone right now... BELLA Hey Bella. You've dated someone who's a different species to you right? BILL Hi, Fern mentioned you were interested in interdimensional portals... FERN Aw, your pictures are nice! KURT Hey. Are you around? RICHIE Is it just me or is Eddie acting weirder than usual? QROW Hey. Checking up on you. EDA Hi Eda. Hope Ruddiger found you okay. GLITCH Hey. What happened between you and Maul? LUNA Luna- I uh... I think I need your help EDDIE So hey, I finally worked out how to replicate the Antidote OSCAR So, I noticed Ozpin has shown up. ROGUE Hey, I managed to replicate the Antidote KURT Hey. We're back. None of us are dead. QROW Uh... hey. How are you guys holding up? PETER You gave Ruby the haunted dolls GLITCH Hey, Bud. Sorry I tried to murder you with a robot KURT I'm probably the last person you want to talk to... JON I'm sorry I attacked you JON Stay away from Fern. FERN Hey you still haven't got me those baking ingredients FERN Okay so the Betties are upping their war... USAGI Hey. So. Update. NEO You tried to bury her alive? SERIOUSLY? USAGI Emotions are really difficult FERN OH MY GOD YOU HAVE ONE TOO FERN Okay this better be to Fern this time. WYNONNA So guess who got into the fridge and ate literally everything in there.

code by cawaii

Comments

[droptheious]

I'll do my best not to bore you too much with the science.

[He knows he can be a little much with all that.]

I appreciate that. I could probably use it.

I feel sorry for him. He's had a lot dropped on him and he's got no power over any of it. It's not like he can even walk away from what's in his own head. He didn't have a choice to be in any of this. Doesn't seem fair. But I have faith that YOU can figure something out. You're about the most tenacious person I know, and I know someone who genuinely fights with a frying pan.

That's not fun. I don't know if you've noticed, but Rapunzel is here. My Rapunzel. She's... from a different point in time from me. As in she hasn't even met me yet. Which sucks. A lot. So I get these time shenanigans now and I do not appreciate them one bit. But I'm glad to hear that things are looking up. That's something at least.

[clickclickbloom]

Hey. Just because I don't understand it doesn't mean I'm bored.
It's great watching you work and get excited about the things you like.

You can always count on me to believe in you and your friends.

He was dragged into our fight and he is really strong for going through it like he is, but I know he's really bothered by what's happening to him.

It means a lot to hear that. Thanks. I'm going to do my absolute best for him.

Yeah. We've talked actually. I talked her out of touching a weird orb in the forest and we ate cookies instead. ...She mentioned she didn't really know you though. I'm sorry for that. I know how much she means to you back home. Just give her time, I'm sure you can build the same sort of relationship you have with her back home. Or maybe even something better.

[droptheious]

You're gonna regret saying that one day. But thanks, I appreciate that you appreciate my enthusiasm.

I don't blame him. Learning your life isn't completely your own any more has to be pretty awful. You lose a lot of your agency then. So here's hoping you can do something for him. This one's a little out of my wheelhouse.

Oh. THAT Orb. Yeah, warning you there, Jaune and I touched that orb so he's seen of my stuff without context. Kind of avoiding talking about that. Saw some of his, too. That wasn't fun.

Thanks for keeping her away from the orb. The point she's at isn't as bad as what's coming for her, but she's still been through a lot. Being kept in a tower for 18 years while being gaslighted by your kidnapper isn't the best way to start your life. And yeah. I mean, at least right now she's not aware I tried to destroy her entire existence? There's that?

[clickclickbloom]

Well you spent like 6 hours with me forging weapons at a party. I think the least I can do is return the favor! Besides, sometimes things blow up when you're experimenting and that's pretty cool.

Jeez. I know the feeling about being out of your depth on this. I'm doing my best and that's all I've really got at the moment.

If it makes you feel any better. You can trust Jaune. If you ever choose to open up to him and I'm definitely not saying you have to. But he'll understand and I can help you with that if you want.

As for what you ever you saw. I'm sorry. He's been through a lot too.

No problem. It's what I do!

[There's a pause in responses as she just stares at the mention of being locked in a tower for that long and she feels her fingers start to shake a little.]

We have a fairy tale kind of like that back at home. About a girl in a tower.

[droptheious]

It's always nice watching you make weapons. You get really excited about it. It's adorable. And true, explosions do make everything a lot better!

I think so long as you do that, you're okay?

He seemed like a pretty good guy. It really does look like he's been through a lot. Who was the redhead?

Yeah? That's... weird. Rapunzel was kidnapped there when she was a baby. Her hair could... can now, I guess, heal. It's complicated how she got the power, but there was this evil witch who wanted it to keep herself young. So she stole Rapunzel and kept her alone in a tower until Eugene found her and saved her. They fell in love, escaped Gothell for good, Rapunzel found where she belonged.

[Doth it sound familiar, Ruby? Sure bet it does :D]

[clickclickbloom]

Look who's talking Mr.Let's Have a Round of Applause When I Find the Right Element For The Job. It's soooo freakin' cute how into it you and Ruddiger get. :'D

Here's hoping.

[Oh. The next two messages hit a little harder. There's a few minutes before she sends a response back.]

Her name was Pyrrha. She was a friend of ours and a member of Jaune's team. She was here for a month or two.

[She had already mentioned to Varian that she had a friend who had died here briefly. She wasn't sure if he'd catch onto that but she didn't have it in her to type it out yet.

Not with the next elephant in the room. She doesn't really know what to say with this one either. She kind of dreads explaining it to Varian because she really doesn't know what this could mean. Their stories were too similar. It couldn't be coincidence, could it?]

There was a girl in a tower.
Who was held there by her evil father.
Until one day a brave hero arrived.
He stormed the castle and rescued her.
Together they defeated her and escaped.
They hadn't expected it but the two of them fell in love.
They planned adventures around the world,
And were said to have lived happily ever after.
Or that's what should have happened.

It turned out the girls name was Salem.
And the heroes name was Ozma.

[droptheious]

[It's a good thing this isn't on video or she's she him blushing and trying to shove his Fluid under a book or something for five minutes. He just needs to gather himself. He's fine.]

What can I say? I have an appreciation for my art.

[FUCKIN' SMOOTH. ]

I did wonder if she was one of the friends you'd mentioned. Sorry. That has to suck for all of you. Does Jaune know she was here?

[Because she clearly meant a lot to him. And knowing she was here and he missed her... well, that wouldn't be an easy conversation at all.

Oh. Oh and that's quite the story. It's not the exact one, but it's damn close. Close enough to make him really dang concerned. He doesn't understand. How can a story traverse different worlds like this? ]

These are the people you told me about in the rain. The ones that defied the gods and made everything go to hell in a handbasket, right? Salem is the one that's causing you all this trouble now? That's REALLY close to Rapunzel and Eugene's story. Eugene didn't storm the castle so much as climb up the tower and got stabbed. And Rapunzel brought him back to life. But they still fell in love - definitely didn't expect it. I mean, before the whole stabbing thing, he was just hiding in the tower with the crown he stole. Rapunzel wanted to see the lanterns we light every year on her birthday, she wanted to know what they were about= so off they went.

The uh... stabbing came after that. I don't think they've defied any gods lately, but I missed a year of their adventures so who knows.

[clickclickbloom]

[How does it feel, Varian? This is what you do to her all the time?]

It's good. :>

[Ohh... Now everything gets rough.]

Not yet... I haven't found a good time to tell him. I don't know how to tell him.

I don't think we were at our best when she was around. I'm trying to figure out how to tell him.

[It is really close. Enough that even Ruby's concerned.]

Those are the ones.
It's not the same, but it's so close...
Salem wasn't able to bring Ozma back to life.
...That might be where the differences started.
Salem just wanted out of the tower. To live her life.
Afterwards she fell in love with Ozma before everything went the way it did.

Maybe they haven't gone against them yet.
Maybe they wont at all.
I don't know.
But that's so scary clsose.

[droptheious]

[It makes him feel so awkward, oh my god Ruby, it's the bestworst.]

I don't think there's ever gonna be a good time to tell him that. But it might be worse for him to hear it from a total stranger- maybe someone who knew her while she was here. I'm sure if it were me, I'd want to hear it from someone I trusted.

[Sorry, Ruby, just here with the hard truths.]

It is scary close. Don't like that one bit. Not with everything going on at home already. Rapunzel definitely brought Eugene back though. We're still not sure how? Magic tears? Her hair was cut then, and in my time, even though her hair's back her healing abilities are not. I don't know if she could do it again.

CW: Death and grief

[clickclickbloom]

I know. I don't want anyone else to tell him. I know I have to do it at some point.

I just...

I already completely screwed up with this before... I didn't get to her in time. I was too slow. Jaune begged us to help her and I couldn't. I gave it my all and I all I could do was watch.

I had to watch her die.

Then I spend all this time talking about what I'd do if I had one more chance to see her. If I had one more day to see her again and I all did was mess up over and over again until she was gone again. I couldn't get my act together long enough to make right or really appreciate the second chance we had.

...I don't know how to tell him just how much we screwed up and how sorry I am.

[Yeah. She hates this a whole lot.]

Maybe there's something different that triggers it? Maybe it was a one time thing? Maybe saving him that once was enough? I'm not sure. Not everything in your world matches up with what happened in mine. So it's possible it might not happen like it did in mine. Rapunzel doesn't give off the same vibes that Salem does. But I guess Salem wasn't always the way that she was either.

I don't know.

CW: Death and grief

[droptheious]

[Oh. If this doesn't sound horribly familiar. He stares at the Fluid for a little while. He's pretty sure Jaune won't take his grief out on Ruby, he probably would have done it by now, but still- he knows what it's like. To ask for help and not get it. To lose someone as a result of that. But this... isn't like his case. Ruby was there. She tried.]

The fact you were there and trying probably means more than you realise. I'm sorry you had to see her die. That couldn't be easy. I can't even imagine how hard it would be.

But he'd probably appreciate your honesty rather than avoiding it. Not talking about it will just let it fester- the longer it takes, the worse it'll feel when you tell him. I know it's hard, and I don't know how he'll react. But it's that step you'll need to take.

For what it matters, I don't think you screwed up. Having someone you SAW die be here and alive has to be impossible to get your head around. None of us knows how long we've got here, you didn't know she'd go so quickly. You can't blame yourself for something this town did.

[He's so very, very worried about her.]

Maybe it's just a SUPER WEIRD coincidence? I mean, Rapunzel can be SCARY when she wants to be and the Decay Incantation is a whole lot of badness and maybe if she never snapped OUT of that it would be... very world-ending. But no. No pretty sure she wouldn't.

[But what WOULDN'T she do for Eugene? That's... that's one heck of a line there.]

CW: Death and grief

[clickclickbloom]

It's just one of those things you don't forget. If I had of been just a little bit faster. Got there just a bit sooner I might have been able to make a difference.

I know he would. I just... We started travelling together shortly after what happened. I'm don't think he'll be angry or upset with us. I just know how much he hurts after what happened. I'm just not ready to reopen the wound and pour salt all over it yet. I know I should. No, I know I have to tell him. I just have to get up and actually do it.

I guess.

Thanks.

I just wish I could have told her how much we missed her. I wish we could have made those days she was here special because she deserved that. She deserved better than what she got in the end in my world and she deserved better than what we gave her here.

I know I did the best I could have done with what was going on. I just wish I could have went above and beyond that to give her something better.

[She's just going to take a minute to herself before she moves on.]

It could be as simple as a difference in character. Salem just let herself fall deeper into darkness as time went on. If Rapunzel was able to snap herself out of something like whatever the Decay Incantation is that could be the difference there. I guess it's something we wont know for sure.

CW: Death and grief

[droptheious]

Or maybe you would have done all of those things and been killed instead. Or maybe you could have saved her and someone else got killed instead. Or maybe none of that would have happened at all.

Ruby, take it from someone who knows, if you let those what if's haunt you, you're never going to be able to deal with what happened properly. You'll just let the blame rest on your shoulders and that gets heavy after a while. But I know that's easier said than done. You know I'm here to talk to- you know, if you ever want to take the load off for a while.

[He's well used to carrying heavy baggage for now. He can share hers for a little while, if she needs it.]

I know. I'm sorry you didn't get the chance. That this place took her away before you could. I wouldn't be surprised if it was done on purpose. This place DOES love to make us feel awful.

Yeah. Maybe. Sure isn't a comforting thought, with everything going on back home. But I have to have faith Rapunzel can pull herself away from whatever darkness Salem fell into.

CW: Death and grief

[clickclickbloom]

Maybe.

I don't know.

I just don't know.

You're right though. This place might have done it on purpose.

Talking might be... It might be nice?

I'm just not very good at this.

CW: Death and grief

[droptheious]

That's understandable. There being a whole lot of not knowing.

Well, if there's one thing I'm used to at this point it's soul-crushing guilt. I'm an ace at that, so I've got you on this one, okay? Whatever you need. Even if it's at like four in the morning because we BOTH know I won't be asleep.

[clickclickbloom]

I thought I had things a little more under control... I guess not.

It looks like we have a bit of that in common. I'm counting on you to help me with out that.

Someone really has to give you a bed time.

Thank you, Varian.

I really mean it.

It means the world to me.

[droptheious]

I don't think we ver has as much control as we like to think. And sure, you got it.

I will never go to bed at a normal time. That's a pointless battle.

Just glad to be able to give back a little bit of what you give to me.

[clickclickbloom]

Probably not.

I might have to take that one up. Just because it's pointless doesn't mean it's not worth fighting.

You do. More than you know. You're the best. <3

[droptheious]

You're braver people than most, but I accept the challenge.

Good to know. Oh hey, it's a little heart! <3

[Look, he's still learning emojis, thanks for giving him another.]

[clickclickbloom]

Oh yeah? I may have heard someone say that about me before. I'll try not to storm your fortress again to get the job done.

Speaking of challenges. Oscar mentioned something about troubles with dodge ball?

<3 It is~! <3

Use this new power wisely!

[droptheious]

Yeah please don't make any more holes in my walls, Usagi will start to worry.

[Oscar you little shit, you squealed!!!]

Gym in general but especially dodge ball. I just don't understand the point of a "lesson" where you just get pelted in the head with balls. I don't know what we're supposed to learn from that. I mean, okay sure, the clue is in the name, dodge the ball- but I don't see how that's supposed to further my academia at all.

I make no promises!

[clickclickbloom]

Gosh. Well we wouldn't want that. Your walls are spared for today!

[Under the bus he goes.]

Ouch. Okay. That does sound a little rough. I think it's to encourage you to get up and do a little bit of physical activity during the day? A healthy mind and body are both pretty important? I mean there's a lot less physical activity here compared to what I did in school, but I think it's what they're going for.

Well I can't see you using a heart for evil. So I'm going to have to trust that you can't get into too much trouble with this knowlege.

[droptheious]

My walls thank you for your mercy.

[It's probably a good job this is over text and she can't see the face he's pulling, nor the low-grade "ugggggggggggggggh" noise he's making.]

I don't know I'm pretty good just holing up in my lab and working on science. Science is plenty of fun. Who needs to be able to dodge a ball when you can work on a complex chemical equation is all I'm saying.

[When you live in a horror town that keeps trying to kill you, Varian.]

A rookie mistake, if ever there was one. Bwahahaha!

[clickclickbloom]

From my experience both can be pretty handy. Not that I'm great at complex chemical equations. I'm normally pretty good at dodging things but the one time I couldn't they came stepped in to the do the job.

I'm just saying a little bit of exercise of training would probably help out. Maybe we could do a bit before or after school?

You FIEND!

[droptheious]

I mean. I GUESS it might be smart in this place. Given all the horror-monsters and stuff that keep showing up. It doesn't make any sense in conjecture with the ball dodging, but I see your point.

[Ugh. Exercise. But also spending more time with Ruby. God. What a choice. ]

I feel like I'm probably going to regret this about a week in, but sure. Okay. We can do that before school?