droptheious | Deerington inbox

Deerington inbox

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

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only | Expand All

[She didn't like keeping information like this. It reminded her too much of home. She knew how Varian had reacted to having Neo on her back and didn't want him risking himself needlessly for her. More so when she was pretty confident that Varian was a good influence on Fern. It was a mess she was sure she could handle and explain later but she really hoped it wouldn't come to that.]

That's reassuring. Sounds like a real stand up guy. I think I understand a bit better at least.

[That was enough to explain why Fern was always so against her trying to help out. It wasn't a lot of information but it was something to work with.]

Maybe not, but I didn't exactly help your situation either. I knew he wasn't a fan of me and I reached out anyways.

I get him being upset about that. You were hurting too though, no one could expect you to be performing at the top of your game.

We both messed up at least a little.

[He thought he was a good influence too. He thought he might be able to get through to Fern. Or at least get him away from the utter destruction he always teetered on. Varian might be a mess, but he's at least managed to step away from that particular precipice. ]

Yeah. It's nothing you've personally done. Except be a decent person and you shouldn't be made to feel bad for that.

You did. Because of the aforementioned decent person thing. Don't be sorry about that. Don't ever be sorry for who you are. You're good people, Ruby, and that matters a lot. It means a lot.

Maybe he'll get over it, maybe he won't. I don't have the ability to change that fact. It's up to him.

Well it helps to know a bit more about what his baggage is. I can tread more carefully from now on. As decent as I've been trying to be it doesn't help if it's stepping on his feelings at the same time.

Don't you worry. I don't intend on changing who I am anytime soon. I try to be the best that I can and it means a whole bunch to me that other people care about that.

We'll see. I hope he does come around and you both patch things up. This can't be easy for either of you.

I'd suggest giving him space? Or... I don't know, maybe give him as much as you get? I honestly don't know what would work. Me constantly telling him you guys aren't in competition for my attention doesn't seem to be working.

I know I do.

Uh. Care about you being you. I mean. Yup. Yep.

I'm not loving it right now, that's to be sure. But it's not like I haven't gone through this kind of thing before. Kind of just expect it these days, to be honest.

[If he believes everyone is always one foot outside the door already, he can kid himself that it hurts less when they leave all the way. ]

Yeah. Space might be the best way to go. Anything else I've tried has done the opposite of help. I think I can do space. If anything else is needed we can cross that bridge when we get there.

Yeah. Of course. I care about you being you too. don't stop doing that.

Well. You shouldn't have to expect it. At least not with me. :D I have your back.

I doubt he'll be going near any of us for a good long while, so you should be fine there.

Well, at least I'm a pro at remaining a complete disaster. Sure can keep that going. No worries there.

[His self-depreciation is at Defcon two right now. He reads her words and he wants to believe her. He knows she's decent and honest (the very qualities which Fern despises in her) and he knows she wouldn't say it if she didn't mean it. But meaning it now and following that through when everything falls to pieces are two very different things. He had the utmost faith that Fern had his back. But he ruined that and now Fern's gone.

It's probably only a matter of time before he detonates what they've got here and she'll leave too. He wouldn't even blame her for it. Some people just shouldn't be around others. ]

You don't know that. I haven't ruined your life yet. Give it time.

[Oh.... Well... She probably should have expected this but it still hurts to read regardless.]

No. I guess I don't.
But if that's a warning about what could happen then I just want you to know I've read and understand it.
I'm also just going to ignore it.
So now it's my fault if you completely ruin my life.
You tried to stop me and I just didn't listen.

[He doesn't respond right away. Reading that over and over. Of course that's how she's answer- of course. If Ruby ever backed down from anything it would be a goddamn miracle. He's still afraid that he'll inevitably hurt her. His experience with Fern, the reminder that he still makes terrible mistakes has only exacerbated the feelings of unworthiness he's had around her.

And yet, despite all that- he doesn't want to feel that way. He wants to be better. To be somehow worthy of her.]

Well. Guess I can't argue with that. You got me there. When it inevitably happens on your head be it.

I appreciate that, though. I've got your back too, much as I'm able. You saying that means a lot.

You mean a lot.

It's my burden to bear. I'll even let you say you told me so when it happens.
I wouldn't ask for anything more than that.
I'm always there for my friends.

[Huh. He's been typing for a while there. Jeez. Hopefully he puts a TLDR at the end. Her attention span isn't the greatest.]

[You mean a lot.

Normally a phrase like that wouldn't have really phased her. She could shrug it off as a general statement or just being really close friends. Ruby being emotionally attached to someone in a way other than friends or family just wasn't something Ruby thought about normally.

But Yang had been grilling her about this since the night Varian had been over. She had tried to brush it off as nothing but thoughts were lingering now. She cared about Varian a whole lot. Maybe she just never realized how much she cared until someone had literally slapped her in the face with it.

She stared at the screen for a moment completely dumbfounded.]

[It took a little for Ruby.exe to reboot and she started to try and fumble at her Fluid to try get a message typed out. Her fingers fumbled and bumbled on the screen until it slipped right out of her hands and bounced along the floor. She let out a yelp. Jeez. When the heck did her palms get so sweaty?

She takes a moment to breath and wipes her hands on her skirt before she goes and makes another attempt at this.]

I
THATSGREAT
YOUMEANALOTTOMETOO
ASAFRIEND
ANDIDUNNO
MAYEBEOHMYGRAPEITHINKYANGWASRIGT

[You know, he was with her for that first part. Sure, it was a definite Ruby-esque rally-the-troops kind of reply. But that's what made her... her, and if he was honest her endless bounds of optimism really did help even out his endless bounds of cynicism.

Then she took forever to type more and he instantly regretted what he put there. God that was so dumb, what was he even thinking? That's the worst possible thing to type. Maybe he can just brush it off as a friendship thing.

Sure. Sure. He'S put a spin on things before, and it wouldn't technically be lying right? Probably. ]

[And then he gets an incomprehensible reply. Ruby don't do this to him, he's from ye olden times, he doesn't understand half of what goes on with the Fluids. Is this more keymashing? Is it text-speak?

IS IT A MEE-MEE?

What is even happening? Is she having a stroke? Holy shit, did he make her have a stroke?]

What?

[He's just like... staring at the screen and oh, wait he can see words. It's like an optical illusion.

...Or she forgot to press her space bar. Probably that one.]

Oh. Never mind. Got it. There's a little symbol that's a horizontal line with two smaller vertical lines on either side. That puts spaces between the words.

[The "as a friend" kind of stings and he hates that it does. He's faced rejection before- after all his first crush was a woman nine entire years his senior. It's not exactly new. But that had been an awkward puppy crush that in his heart of hearts knew wouldn't have actually gone anywhere. Maybe it's because he's still dealing with the fact Fern doesn't want to talk to him any more, but this sucks a lot more than he expected it would.

Ugh. This is why emotions are the worst. Roll on the day he can just transfer himself into a robot body and be done with it. ]

Yeah. Okay. I get it. It's cool.

...I'm confused about the grapes and Yang?

[Oh, right. Spaces. She can do that. She's not totally freaking out at all. Her brain is definitely not running on autopilot.]

GRAPES! FREAKIN' GRAPES!
YANG WAS RIGHT!
SHE WAS RIGHT THAT I HAVE FEELINGS ABOUT VARIAN
WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO!?
WHY ISN'T SHE ANSWERING HER FLUID!?
WHAT DO I TELL HIM!?
DO I SAY ANYTHING!?
NO NO
DON'T PANIC
JUST SIT HERE AND YOU CAN FIGURE THIS OUT
IT'SNOTNOTGOODATALL
HE'S ASKING ABOUT THE GRAPES
ANDABOUTWHATYANGSAID
OH NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO
ABORT ABORT

[Oh no! She typed all that.

And she hit send.

OH NO.]

I JUST SENT ALL THAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!AGJAIGAIUGHAWIUGAWITGAWJOITAWOJITFAWGAWTGJAGANJ

PLZ JUST IGNORE THE LAST MESSAGE
HAVE A GOOD DAY NOT BENNY

[Well. At least she used the space bar this time.

Who was she even talking to?

I have feelings about Varian. Those words all make sense individually, but he has to read it a few times for the sentence to make sense in his head. The perceived rejection sucked a lot, but he equally hadn't prepped for this.

Oh god, why did he just say the thing? He knew he wasn't prepared for this and he did it anyway. Because god forbid he think about something before diving in feet first like a crazy person every single time.

He could do as she asks and ignore this. Not Benny didn't see a damn thing, no sir. Then they can go on pretending and he won't have to acknowledge there are real emotions at stake here and it'll all be fine. He's GREAT at repression. He'll be fine. ]

[And then he does the absolute fucking opposite of that.

Trienemybest is calling you]

[Okay. She handled this like a pro. Now all she has to do is hide under her blanket until the heat death of the universe. This is good.

She can do this.

Then her fluid starts to ring.

And she starts freaking out all over again.

WHY CAN'T SHE JUST HAVE A MOMENT TO PROCESS ALL OF THIS!?]

[Okay. Deep breath. Ruby Rose has got this. She answers the call.]

Hi. You've reached the voice mail of Ruby Rose. I-I can't come to the phone right now but f-feel free to leave a message after the beep and I'll get back to you as soon as I can.

[There's a long pause and some awkward breathing.]

B-beep.

[...]

Ruby, I can hear you breathing.

[...]

You're supposed to leave a message.

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3/5 I lied again.

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