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]

[He lets out a soft 'hmmm'. Lullabies aren't exactly in his wheelhouse- Quirin sure as hell never sang any. Maybe his mother did before she... didn't any more. He doesn't remember them regardless. ]

I don't really have a frame of reference for 'typical lullaby junk'. Can it really make anyone fall asleep?

[laminae]

[Fern just tries to not give Varian a look that scream that is the saddest thing ever. He's probably well aware of that.]

Think so. At least, it always worked on me, Jake and Jermaine. And it did a number on Wildberry Princess and her guards.

[droptheious]

[He is very aware of that and is grateful for the effort on Fern's part. That... for sure sounds like magic to Varian. Or at the very least, it must have some mild hypnotic properties. But he's also feeling like crap and sleeping even worse, so it's not like he's in a position to turn this down. He leans back a little.]

Okay, sure. Hit me with it.

[laminae]

[Ironically, there's no hypnotism or magic at work here. It's just a great song.]

Um, okay. But no laughing.

[He did get some practice singing in with Martin, but it still isn't something he's used to with this voice. At any rate, he'll start turning the handle, and with the very slow tune from the music box sing a lullaby that is absolutely meant for small puppies and not human children.

But it's totally the kind of song that's easy to fall asleep to, and by the end of it Fern's kind of nodding off himself.]

[droptheious]

[Varian raises a hand, putting the other on his chest, a solemn oath that he will no, indeed, laugh. The tune is very nice, even if it is, indeed, blatantly meant for small puppies and not human children. Regardless, his eyelids feel heavy- probably a combination of exhaustion, sickness and the fact that it's a really nice tune.]

Hey- your voice is pretty good, you've been holding out on me.

[He says it a little muzzily as his head droops, drifting off to sleep. It would probably be a lot cuter if he didn't sleep with his mouth open but that's just how it goes.]

[laminae]

[He'd love to argue that he's barely above tone deaf but, well. Varian's falling asleep, and that's great. Fern is aware how hard that can be when you're recovering from the deathflu, and he doesn't want to ruin that.

He is also falling asleep, which is a little less great. He may have played himself here, because when has Margaret's lullaby never not made him pass out? He at least manages to get through the entire song, though the last few words are more mumbling than singing as he starts tilting sideways. Once he hits the bed he's out like a light.]

[droptheious]

[Fern absolutely played himself. And Varian at least gets about an hour of good, solid sleep in before the other side effect of the deathflu starts to seep in.

Varian's no stranger to nightmares, the red rocks only brought to the waking world what he experienced on the regular anyway- but this was not that dream. The lullaby had lulled him into a dreamless sleep- right until it stopped being that. That bear's horrible cackling leaked into his sleep, and he suddenly found himself trapped in the amber again- struggling but unable to pull his arm free. Panic set in as his own robot lumbered up to him, arms raised before coming crashing down-

Varian jerks awake with a yell, eyes wide and unfocussed- not quite back in his room safe and sound quite yet- trying to gulp down air as the panic overrides his other senses. ]

[laminae]

[It's a good nap, all things considered. Fern isn't in the most comfortable position but when you're grass you don't need to worry about things like spines and muscles, so he doesn't really move from where he is aside from shifting a little to get cozier. All the stress from the last few weeks have been building up, and he needs the rest.

Unlike Varian, he only has his usual bad dreams, ones that aren't enough to wake him up. He, however, is not immune to yelling, so when Varian's breaks the silence of the bedroom Fern starts, his eyes snapping open and a grass sword forming in his hand. He slices at the air once or twice as he fully wakes up, and once he has the sword retreats back into his hand. Then he's pushing himself up, alarmed, his brain processing what just happened. That's when he sees Varian, apparently in the midst of some kind of panic.]

What - Varian?

[He moves closer, to gently grab his shoulders.]

Hey!

[droptheious]

[Varian isn't aware of the sword, or Fern, immediately. His eyes are still wide, staring out at nothing, still trapped in the nightmare. He vaguely realises something isn't right, that he isn't there - but trying to crawl back to wakefulness isn't easy.

His breath catches a few more times until he feels Fern's hands on his shoulders. He blinks, his eyes clearing, his breathing still quick and uneven. He can't push words out yet, but he reaches out with one hand to grasp at Fern's arm- just to fee something solid and real there as he tries to even out his breathing. ]

[laminae]

[Oh, oh geez. Fern catches onto what's happening quick enough, having gone through this himself twice already. The nightmares have to be even worse than the flu symptoms, honestly, and he's a lot less prepared to deal with these.

He squeezes Varian's shoulders a little, worried, his mind racing to come up with something that will help.]

You were dreaming. It was only a dream.

[droptheious]

[It takes him a few moments to get his breathing under control. Of course, once he does, it starts off a coughing fit which is... not ideal. It takes a few more moments for that to get under control before he heaves out a shaky sigh.]

Yup. This is the worst thing ever. Note to me: don't die again.

[laminae]

[Fern's going to keep his hold on Varian, at least until the other boy is done coughing and comfortable letting go of him.]

Too bad it's not that easy.

[He's such a downer, sorry.]

You, uh. You get a whole month of the nightmares.

[droptheious]

[Varian is definitely not letting go yet, he's maintaining his death-grip on Fern's arm. ]

Great. Wonderful. Because I didn't get enough of those already.

[laminae]

[Okay, okay, this is fine. He's just going to awkwardly pull one hand away from Varian's shoulder and onto the hand that's currently doing the death-grip.]

Yeahhh, it's the worst. My mental vault and that candle I got in my basket got a workout when I died.

[Hurrah for coping mechanisms?]

[droptheious]

[He appreciates the move, Fern, he really does. He lets out a soft hum. He remembers the candle. Good for easing mental stress, though that...backfired on them pretty badly when they used it together. ]

Y-yeah, I can see why those would be handy to fall back on.

[He lets out a shuddery breath, the death grip relaxing a little.]

They last a whole month?

[laminae]

[He frowns and gives a small nod. Not the answer anyone would want, but that's life in Deerington for you. It sucks and seeing Varian like this is crushing his metaphorical heart.]

... I didn't use up the whole candle, if you want to give it a try.

[He'll get it if he doesn't, but it did genuinely help him sleep after he had died.]

[droptheious]

[The candle is not his favourite thing, but he's also not stupid. This... is not going to get any easier.]

...Are you sure? I don't want to use up something that might be important to your further down the road. We both know this place will make sure you'll need it one day.

[laminae]

Seems like it's important right now. I'd rather use it when I know it'll help than just let it sit around in case I need it one day.

[Varian is right, chances are he'll need it down the road, but the undefined future is a lot less important to him at the moment.]

It's back at the treehouse. I can go grab it.

[droptheious]

You say that now, but you'll be cursing my name when you actually need it in the future.

[Still, he relents, heaving out a sigh.]

...Yeah, okay. If you're sure.

[laminae]

I'm sure enough that I even promise I'll keep my mouth shut if I regret it in the future.

[He's fairly sure that won't happen, though.

Giving Varian's hand a pat he extricates himself from his hold before getting to his feet.]

I'll be back before you know it.

[Geez, he really needs a car or a motorcycle or something. Maybe he can ask his blessings basket for Starchy's bike? Or Hot Daniel. Hot Daniel 2.0. That'd be nice.

.... Or maybe he could ask Max for a lift. He isn't sure if that would be weird, though. Jake gave him rides all the time back home, but Jake's his brother.

At any rate he'll make the second trip to the treehouse, again trying to go as quick as possible. He'll grab the mostly melted candle, as well as the Enchiridion and Billy's gem just in case, then book it back to Varian's. When he returns he dumps the book and gem on the couch and scoops up Hazel, then heads back upstairs.]

Okay, one weird deer candle that'll help with nightmares!

[Which he slams onto the nightstand, before carefully holding Hazel over it. The fire wolf pup wiggles and lights it easily, and Fern sets him on the ground so he can scurry off to go hunt Ruddiger. With the candle lit Varian's whole bedroom is going to be affected, so goodbye physical and mental anguish.]

[droptheious]

[Despite everything, despite being sure Fern will regret this choice one day (even if he keeps quiet about it) Varian is glad for it. As much of a mess that the last candle made things, he does remember how calming it was. It's something he desperately needs- while everything feels like it's crashing down around his ears.

Max would have absolutely given him a lift. Fern missed out on a pretty epic horse ride. Next time. gadget. While Fern was away, Varian had gone back to his Fluid, checking things out- sending Ruddiger off with his messages to Ruby- reaching out to people he'd wronged. It was all very much emotionally taxing and seeing Fern arrive back does bring a smile to his face. As soon as Fern lights the candle, Varian can feel his shoulders relaxing- the weight he's been carrying sliding off. He didn't realise how tense he was, how much he'd been carrying until it was lifted. He sits back a little, closing his eyes just to... enjoy the moment of peace. ]

Okay, yeah. Fair. This is way better. [He opens one eye, regarding the Enchiridion and the gem. ] Hey, the portal book.

[laminae]

[Next time he is getting the most epic horse ride ever.

The candle's effects hits him too, and he instantly feels a lot more comfortable. Enough so that he just flops onto the bed next to Varian.

He knows this stupid candle can be incredibly dangerous, but after this month it just feels really, really nice to have a break from his own head.]

More reading material. Also this -

[He holds up Billy's gem, though it doesn't seem to do much... so he bangs on the book, and after a moment a beam comes out of the gem and hits the little shield in one corner of the cover. It opens up and from that spot comes a red hologram that immediately launches into some very multiversal talk.]

[droptheious]

[Varian doesn't protest, at least. Perhaps, with how things are, he'd start to feel a touch awkward about it all- but while the candle burns, he's relaxed for the first time in... a while.

The hologram is fascinating, and he leans forward a little to peer at it- looking at it in wonder. He understands some of what is being said, and it's just like Fern said. Get the gems, the book becomes a portal. ]

This is amazing. We can definitely use this! If we can get the book to work and be able to create the right link to the right world, we could go anywhere!

[It's so nice to be excited about non-murdery science again, thank you for this gift, Fern.]

[laminae]

[Most of the technical talk flies right over Fern's head, so at least he has personal experience to go off of when it comes to using the Enchiridion. Even if said personal experience isn't all that pleasant....

Doesn't matter. Varian's excited, and having the genius science nerd excited can only mean good things in the success of this plan.]

Yeah. I've seen it in action, so it can't be that hard to do ourselves.

[It's a reassuring thought, honestly.]

It'll be great. No more being stuck in worlds where neither of us fit.

[droptheious]

I'm pretty certain if we got the right equipment, we could do something with this.

[He hesitates- the candle at least takes away the biting, negative thoughts. It evens them out, flattens the anxiety spikes and the depression lows. Everything is... plateaued right now, and he's glad of it.

The thought of just running is tempting. He could go somewhere where no one knew who he was, what he did. But then Deerington had been this and look what happened there. There's no running - and he doesn't want to any more. It's lost its sheen. ]

I need to go back to Corona one day. If I don't work out that final incantation... I don't know. But I know I'm needed, and I need to fix the mess I've made there. And see my friends. My dad.

[He gave everything to get his dad back, he doesn't want to never see him again. But he has people here who mean so much to him. Friends who are practically family at this point - people he can't bear to lose. And then there's Ruby... and Fern. He sits back a little, watching the hologram and all the little worlds spinning around in it.]

You could always come to Corona, y'know. Rapunzel has a lot of Royal Guards, but she hasn't got a knight.