You have been invited for Ruby Rose's birthday party!
The party will be held at the house Ruby lives in over in the Gaze district. [ This is a mass text, so there's directions included.. but, well, obviously Ozpin knows where it is, it's his house. ] Feel free to dress up or not - you know Ruby won't mind either way. You're also free to bring a present if you want to. If you want to bring one, but you're having trouble thinking of what to get her, you can ask me, I guess.
.. Or Oscar. Actually, ask Oscar.
[ Please don't make her talk to people. ]
Let's do our best to make it fun for Ruby. She's had a really crappy time around this time last year, and I know she would love to be surrounded by her friends.
( ooc: the log for the party can be found over here! )
[Ah, October. So far, it's been surprisingly peaceful, but it seems Trench, like Deerington, is never truly willing to give with both hands. The first time Qrow goes out to investigate the festivities of the Black Parade in Cellar Door, he's felled by a crippling migraine, and though one Xerxes Break was kindly able to bring him back home, the ailment has not yet receded.
Over the next day, Qrow finds himself spending more time than not flat on his back on the couch in the living room because stairs are too much effort, curtains drawn and with one arm over his eyes. For the most part, he doesn't get disturbed very much, but sometimes someone enters to bring him something low-effort to eat or drink.
Late in the evening, he hears the clinking of a tea tray being carried in and set down alongside a familiar cane. Qrow doesn't uncover his eyes or sit up just yet, but he does shift in the direction of the sound, acknowledging the presence of someone else in the room.]
[The initial shock of seeing Tara has had a chance to dissipate, and Willow is truthfully not entirely sure how she feels about it. She never expected a reunion, of course, and she's torn between being thrilled to see her again, and being worried about how she's coping with being alive, and about the dangers they'll face in Trench. And of course, she's worried about Tara disappearing back into the ocean again.
She's trying to focus on the positive, though. There's a lot of good too, like looking forward to introducing Tara to the friends she's made here, and that's far more pleasant than worrying about potential problems and threats.
Willow's grinning when she calls Ozpin.]
You're not busy are you? I've got kind of big news.
[ When he picks up, it's with the backdrop of the Archives behind him. The unsteady, intoxicated buzz of October is finally behind him; so is the hanging dread of the Nightmare, waiting for the other shoe to drop. It hasn't. They've lost none of their number, and Ozpin looks refreshed and at ease.
His expression flickers with surprise, then curiosity, at the look on her face. ]
Not at all. I can return now, if it's news best delivered in person.
[Willow nods and makes her way back home and to the library to wait for Ozpin. She's clearly distracted, lost in her own thoughts, as she sits in her usual chair.]
[When Ozpin comes down to the library, he'll find two things. The first is a plate of fresh chocolate chip cookies. The second is a heavy leather bound book. It's a collection of classic fairy tales from Earth, with a simple handwritten note sitting on top of it.
[An exquisite-smelling tea box makes its way to Ozpin's desk. Attached is a note.]
Might as well be honest here. I apologize for stuffing a gun barrel down your throat at an ungodly hour of the morning because I thought you had malicious intent with your staring.
Please, take care of Ange, as hypocritical as that is for me to say. She needs it. And while it's less personal for you... keep an eye on Jessica too.
Omen Video Misfire | un: mister_hatter | before the umineko drama because woof
[The video opens up -- well, on the floor, with a view of a very nice chunk of wood that is currently in the process of being chewed into splinters. This image doesn't last long before a voice sounds out, though, and the frame swivels to show one Xerxes Break from a downward angle, seated at his kitchen table.]
These just aren't quite right. They're too -- too nice, is what. What do you think, Baltus?
[The omen -- who had been nosing at the network for interesting posts and is, it seems, now leaking to at least one person's omni -- obediently stands up to peer over Break's shoulder. Break is making meat pies, and some of them have birds on them, so it's rather painfully obvious what that's about. But Break is right. They look more songbird than crow, and Baltus's telepathic response is audible over the video feed, given that he is the one "broadcasting".]
Give them cranky eyebrows.
I don't want to make them cranky. The man's turning into a stressbasket lately. That's the point of a surprise special lunch.
[Baltus contemplates the matter. Then:]
Give them little Harbingers.
[Break cracks up, and rewards Baltus for his genius with ear scritches. The entire frame tilts sideways as he leans into them, pleased.]
This is incredibly charming. Qrow would attempt to crawl into a hole and die, to a degree he is rarely able to spectate in such detail. Ozpin finds the whole thing genuinely delightful.
He is not, however, certain whether this is being slipped to him intentionally; is it a prank played by Baltus the Omen, or by his master? Both, or neither? ]
[Startled by the interruption, Break and Baltus both glance around the kitchen. When the omen turns back to his person, he finds that Break has pinned him with a fixed stare.]
Snitch.
Not I!
[Break's expression does not change.]
...this time. At the moment.
Mmhmm. [Groping across the counter, Break finds his own omni and pulls it close.] Put him on the proper video, would you? It's distracting when you put things in my head.
[Misfire or no, Break is not adverse to a chat, at least. Baltus sets about doing mysterious omen things to transfer what he's seeing into Break's camera, which involves chewing on the omni for some reason. Ozpin can please hang out for a moment while the technical difficulties are sorted.]
[ There is, briefly, a spectacular amount of dog nose and slobber involved in the transfer. Ozpin waits with a gentle air of amazement.
It only doubles at Tall Break. He gives a little cut-off sound, halfway to a laugh, and steadies back to his effort at a polite smile by the time his image flicks on. ]
I do apologize for interrupting. I'd not meant to eavesdrop.
If you're getting this now, I'm likely already gone. I know we didn't know each other well but we've got our care for Willow in common.
Look out for her? I know she's strong, she's had to be with where she's come from, what she's already had to contend with but I think we both know the way life can kick us when we're already down even before this place.
It's not much but if you stop by the shop there are a few selections of tea I've put aside for you. If you want a few others, shouldn't be an issue just ask Luna or Willow, whichever is minding the shop. Tell them I sent you along.
[ No, wait, this is even more ridiculous than he'd initially considered. ]
... Did you believe that anyone cursed or gifted with immortality shares the name John? This has rather unusual implications for the Pthumerians themselves.
[Ozpin is one of those who gets the honor of receiving a personally handwritten letter from Mabel Pines, tucked into his coat pocket to be discovered after she and her brother are already gone back to the sea. And Mabel really has gone all out with this one. His name is emblazoned upon the front of the envelope in glorious sweeping calligraphy, in a dark ink with a metallic sheen that slides across it when it's moved around in the light. It's sealed with wax -- and gods only know where she has located pink wax in Trench -- with the design of a shooting star pressed into it. The envelope itself is fancy, even, thick and sturdy and embossed beautifully along the edges.
Predictably, when Ozpin opens it, it violently explodes glitter all over him.
The glitter is pink and blue, so you know Dipper played a part in this one. But the letter itself is in Mabel's hand, so there was a clear ringleader here.]
Hello, Fellow Vile Vampire (I am the hot one by the way):
By now you know my brobro and I have gone back to the ocean. I'm not really worried about us. So long as we have each other, we'll be fine, and there's not one but TWO whole Grunkle Stans out there too, and at least one of them is sure to find us. If we make it back we'll probably have a whole shipload of sunken treasure with us and be set for life. For us, it'll be the next big adventure, and even though it's not like we want to go I'm confident we can make the best of it.
The problem is that this means Grunkle Ford's getting left all alone, which super sucks. I mean, Fiddleford McGucket's here these days, and he's from our world. Actually I think he'd get along great with the people from your world because he's super great at building giant robots with lasers and stuff. The problem is that him and Grunkle Ford were college roommates or labmates or something, I don't know if it matters which when they're both the sort of people who live in the lab actually, and Mr. McGucket's from closer to THAT time and Grunkle Ford obviously is from after he ran off for thirty years and got old. So it's a little awkward, and let's be real, Grunkle Ford's not really great at navigating stuff like that.
So, in light of your Sordid History, I want to make one thing SUPER clear to you:
I am not asking you to comfort Grunkle Ford in his upcoming time of need. In fact, if you aren't able to do that for real, and I mean really really really really REALLY REALLY REALLY R E A L, I'm asking you NOT to.
See, here's the thing. I'm not gonna tell you why exactly Grunkle Ford is the way he is because that's super not your business. All you need to know is that as mentioned Grunkle Ford was off running around for thirty years, and he was doing that WITHOUT his family. And, I mean, you know what we're like. Especially when you're twins. Running around for thirty years without your twin is like the emotional equivalent of being stuck in an unending giant hamster ball without ever getting to take a break to make tunnels in your wood chips or enjoy some crisp, fresh lettuce. It makes you a sad and poorly socialized hamster and between you and me when we first got him back he was like SUPER cranky and we could barely get him out of his lab.
But now he knows what it's like to be a happy hamster, so he can't ever go back to the ball and pretend he's okay. But without the rest of us Pines, there's nobody there to give him nice wood chips and lettuce. And he's not gonna know what to do about that, you know? Grunkle Ford is but a lonely and weird little hamster, and like all the beautiful creatures of all the worlds, it won't surprise me at all if being sad makes him kind of destructive and he starts living in the lab again which in this metaphor is like being stuck in a cage that's too small and chewing on the wire bars to try and console yourself. He will not know where to find his own fresh lettuce because you don't learn that kind of thing when you're stuck in a hamster ball for thirty years and it takes longer than a couple years in weird hell dimensions to figure that stuff out.
When you've got a hamster like that, you have to be super good to that hamster. You have to be the kind of person who's willing to build a beautiful hamster playground with all kinds of tunnels and little bridges and interesting places for him to scurry, and you have to be super patient if he hides in corners whenever you come around because it's gonna take a while to prove to him that he's safe and you aren't some hawk that's going to eat him bones and all, and you've got to make sure he's got good stuff to eat and drink every day.
THIS IS NOT A SMALL OR INSIGNIFICANT UNDERTAKING!! Not everybody has what it takes to really commit themselves to senior hamster rehabilitation, and that's fine.
But if that's not you, leave him alone, and let him find somebody who does. Don't think you can huck him in a cage that's too small and leave him all alone with wilty lettuce for days at a time and be like oh, that's enough, he's not starving or getting eaten by hawks or anything. You gotta be there and keep showing up and going ALL the way again and again, or Grunkle Ford is never going to be a happy hamster, and that's not fair to him even a little bit. And it'll be hard, because Grunkle Ford might THINK he is good with going back in the hamster ball, because that's what he knows, you know? When we're upset we all like familiar stuff best. But "familiar" doesn't mean "good", even if you came out of the familiar stuff okay.
So if, when we're gone, he looks at you and sees a giant green hamster ball and you're not willing to become a glorious hamster playground full of fresh lettuce instead, it's your responsibility to be a better vampire and not let him hide in you when he could totally do way better. I don't know if you have noticed this but Grunkle Ford is pretty good-looking for being older than dirt. All he has to do is find somebody who will listen in rapt attention while he rambles about nerd stuff for hours and he will be good to go.
If we start thinking things are going funky for him because of you, we WILL come back and do squid crimes.
No love until you've earned it, buster, Mabel Pines
[ Ozpin has to wipe glitter out of his eyes to read the letter.
By the second paragraph, he is heavy with a building dread, and goes to stand at the darkened window to read the rest. (He would cut a very striking, somber figure framed there, were it not for the sparkles still falling out of his hair. He will never truly get them out of the carpet.)
At the end, he sets the letter aside on his dark wood desk. Should Oscar pry as to his tangled emotional state, he will gently rebuff the concern. It's a charming letter, and well-meant. He is certain that Stanford would, on some level, be touched by the show of love and concern.
Beneath the whimsicality and overspun metaphor is a very simple sentiment, the same Qrow has laid at his feet on more than one occasion. It is still not one he finds himself eager to discuss.
The letter gets tucked into a drawer, remnant glitter and all. He gazes out the window for a very long time, and does not call Stanford. ]
I don't like you and I don't care if you don't like me.
I'm signing up for your class. So do you need to get in your rocking chair before I tell you a lame ass fairy tale? Or are you ready to show me what you've got?
[Late December tended to be a rough time for Oscar, but he made sure all of his close contacts received a little something. Ozpin will find waiting in his library the following:
- 1 jar of homemade jam - A selection of homemade cookies - A selection of herbal teas - A pair of fingerless gloves with an attached coverlet to pull over the fingertips, allowing them to be mittens - An empty journal, with a note tucked inside. 'Maybe it's time to write new stories.' ]
[It's a plain unadorned envelope than makes its way into a desk in Ozpin's study, coincidentally the same one he's stashed this month's Doorway gift in. How unfortunate that Qrow didn't close said desk drawer properly, leaving it liable to ... fall out sometime, if it happens to be jostled ....
The envelope bears no name of a sender or recipient, but for the red emblem on the back -- a bird's eye with an embedded gear.]
Hey Oz,
Okay before I start: don't wig out if you find this, we don't have to talk about it. In fact, it's probably better if we don't, since the town is up to its bullshit again and this is gonna be a really embarrassing letter. But this is probably the only way to avoid saying things in person which I'm sure we can agree would be way worse.
We've been through a lot together, though, huh? It's strange to think it's been only a couple of years in this world, but it feels longer somehow than the decades we knew each other before. Maybe because of all the feelings curses and memory shares, haha.
I'm really glad we had the chance to start over, though. I'm glad when the time came, you were at our side to build a new life with us here. Or--you know, that's not even quite right, "with us". You're part of the "us" now, I think. After all we've been through, we're family, even if we don't say it out loud. I've already spent more time at a stretch in our place here than I ever did anywhere, besides maybe Beacon.
Anyway...you've been one of the constants in my life for decades, for better and for worse, and I guess I just wanna thank you, too, for the better, and for sticking around and continuing to work on the worse. I know it doesn't come easy, but it means a lot to me that you're willing to try. And I'll always be there to meet you halfway, even if you stumble or fall on the road. Long as you're out there looking for me, I'll come find you.
...Well, think I've been been gross enough for a few months by now, at least. Here's hoping it means Doorway doesn't set me on fire again. I'd say wish me luck, but that might be an even worse idea than writing all this.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
text; late october
The party will be held at the house Ruby lives in over in the Gaze district. [ This is a mass text, so there's directions included.. but, well, obviously Ozpin knows where it is, it's his house. ] Feel free to dress up or not - you know Ruby won't mind either way. You're also free to bring a present if you want to. If you want to bring one, but you're having trouble thinking of what to get her, you can ask me, I guess.
.. Or Oscar. Actually, ask Oscar.
[ Please don't make her talk to people. ]
Let's do our best to make it fun for Ruby. She's had a really crappy time around this time last year, and I know she would love to be surrounded by her friends.
( ooc: the log for the party can be found over here! )
action! sometime early in the month idk
Over the next day, Qrow finds himself spending more time than not flat on his back on the couch in the living room because stairs are too much effort, curtains drawn and with one arm over his eyes. For the most part, he doesn't get disturbed very much, but sometimes someone enters to bring him something low-effort to eat or drink.
Late in the evening, he hears the clinking of a tea tray being carried in and set down alongside a familiar cane. Qrow doesn't uncover his eyes or sit up just yet, but he does shift in the direction of the sound, acknowledging the presence of someone else in the room.]
...That you, Oz?
Early November; video
She's trying to focus on the positive, though. There's a lot of good too, like looking forward to introducing Tara to the friends she's made here, and that's far more pleasant than worrying about potential problems and threats.
Willow's grinning when she calls Ozpin.]
You're not busy are you? I've got kind of big news.
no subject
His expression flickers with surprise, then curiosity, at the look on her face. ]
Not at all. I can return now, if it's news best delivered in person.
no subject
Yeah, I can wait until you get back. Don't worry - it's nothing bad or anything.
no subject
[ Good news in Deerington was always a rare and rather volatile thing. Big good news all the more. ]
Would you like to meet me in the library?
no subject
[Willow nods and makes her way back home and to the library to wait for Ozpin. She's clearly distracted, lost in her own thoughts, as she sits in her usual chair.]
(no subject)
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[Feb 14th - Not here]
"Happy Birthday, Ozpin."]
3/13
Might as well be honest here. I apologize for stuffing a gun barrel down your throat at an ungodly hour of the morning because I thought you had malicious intent with your staring.
Please, take care of Ange, as hypocritical as that is for me to say. She needs it. And while it's less personal for you... keep an eye on Jessica too.
Omen Video Misfire | un: mister_hatter | before the umineko drama because woof
These just aren't quite right. They're too -- too nice, is what. What do you think, Baltus?
[The omen -- who had been nosing at the network for interesting posts and is, it seems, now leaking to at least one person's omni -- obediently stands up to peer over Break's shoulder. Break is making meat pies, and some of them have birds on them, so it's rather painfully obvious what that's about. But Break is right. They look more songbird than crow, and Baltus's telepathic response is audible over the video feed, given that he is the one "broadcasting".]
Give them cranky eyebrows.
I don't want to make them cranky. The man's turning into a stressbasket lately. That's the point of a surprise special lunch.
[Baltus contemplates the matter. Then:]
Give them little Harbingers.
[Break cracks up, and rewards Baltus for his genius with ear scritches. The entire frame tilts sideways as he leans into them, pleased.]
(1/2) un: beacon | video
This is incredibly charming. Qrow would attempt to crawl into a hole and die, to a degree he is rarely able to spectate in such detail. Ozpin finds the whole thing genuinely delightful.
He is not, however, certain whether this is being slipped to him intentionally; is it a prank played by Baltus the Omen, or by his master? Both, or neither? ]
(2/2)
Personally, I agree that miniature pastry scythes will be an excellent touch.
no subject
Snitch.
Not I!
[Break's expression does not change.]
...this time. At the moment.
Mmhmm. [Groping across the counter, Break finds his own omni and pulls it close.] Put him on the proper video, would you? It's distracting when you put things in my head.
[Misfire or no, Break is not adverse to a chat, at least. Baltus sets about doing mysterious omen things to transfer what he's seeing into Break's camera, which involves chewing on the omni for some reason. Ozpin can please hang out for a moment while the technical difficulties are sorted.]
It is Tall Break, by the way.
It -- stop calling him that, you noodle.
no subject
It only doubles at Tall Break. He gives a little cut-off sound, halfway to a laugh, and steadies back to his effort at a polite smile by the time his image flicks on. ]
I do apologize for interrupting. I'd not meant to eavesdrop.
(no subject)
backdated to march, I am VERY SORRY
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this letter shows up at any time after the start of april.
If you're getting this now, I'm likely already gone. I know we didn't know each other well but we've got our care for Willow in common.
Look out for her? I know she's strong, she's had to be with where she's come from, what she's already had to contend with but I think we both know the way life can kick us when we're already down even before this place.
It's not much but if you stop by the shop there are a few selections of tea I've put aside for you. If you want a few others, shouldn't be an issue just ask Luna or Willow, whichever is minding the shop. Tell them I sent you along.
So long, chief,
John Constantine
Video | UN: ClickClickBloom
What's up!?
How's it shaking!?
You doing good over there?
I heard there's a party over by the Sanctuary place this month.
Do you wanna go!?
no subject
no subject
This was a test.
Some other ancient weirdo came out of the wood work and revealed his name was John.
...And I realized none of your friends call you by your first name. It's always Oz, or Ozpin. Or Professor. Or Professor Ozpin.
Which like fair. You can go by anything you want. And like we're the only ones from home who really know your original name or something.
I just wanted to be sure you weren't hiding that you were like John Ozpin or something from us.
Except you'd probably go by like Johnathon Ozpin if that was the case.
Or Johnathan Ozpinington.
1/2
[ Said in a RESOUNDING tone of You're an idiot. ]
Creative as these theories may be, Ozpin is what I prefer to be called.
2/2
... Did you believe that anyone cursed or gifted with immortality shares the name John? This has rather unusual implications for the Pthumerians themselves.
[ his personal favorite is cynthia john sodder ]
(no subject)
(no subject)
End of August
Predictably, when Ozpin opens it, it violently explodes glitter all over him.
The glitter is pink and blue, so you know Dipper played a part in this one. But the letter itself is in Mabel's hand, so there was a clear ringleader here.]
Hello, Fellow Vile Vampire (I am the hot one by the way):
By now you know my brobro and I have gone back to the ocean. I'm not really worried about us. So long as we have each other, we'll be fine, and there's not one but TWO whole Grunkle Stans out there too, and at least one of them is sure to find us. If we make it back we'll probably have a whole shipload of sunken treasure with us and be set for life. For us, it'll be the next big adventure, and even though it's not like we want to go I'm confident we can make the best of it.
The problem is that this means Grunkle Ford's getting left all alone, which super sucks. I mean, Fiddleford McGucket's here these days, and he's from our world. Actually I think he'd get along great with the people from your world because he's super great at building giant robots with lasers and stuff. The problem is that him and Grunkle Ford were college roommates or labmates or something, I don't know if it matters which when they're both the sort of people who live in the lab actually, and Mr. McGucket's from closer to THAT time and Grunkle Ford obviously is from after he ran off for thirty years and got old. So it's a little awkward, and let's be real, Grunkle Ford's not really great at navigating stuff like that.
So, in light of your Sordid History, I want to make one thing SUPER clear to you:
I am not asking you to comfort Grunkle Ford in his upcoming time of need. In fact, if you aren't able to do that for real, and I mean really really really really REALLY REALLY REALLY R E A L, I'm asking you NOT to.
See, here's the thing. I'm not gonna tell you why exactly Grunkle Ford is the way he is because that's super not your business. All you need to know is that as mentioned Grunkle Ford was off running around for thirty years, and he was doing that WITHOUT his family. And, I mean, you know what we're like. Especially when you're twins. Running around for thirty years without your twin is like the emotional equivalent of being stuck in an unending giant hamster ball without ever getting to take a break to make tunnels in your wood chips or enjoy some crisp, fresh lettuce. It makes you a sad and poorly socialized hamster and between you and me when we first got him back he was like SUPER cranky and we could barely get him out of his lab.
But now he knows what it's like to be a happy hamster, so he can't ever go back to the ball and pretend he's okay. But without the rest of us Pines, there's nobody there to give him nice wood chips and lettuce. And he's not gonna know what to do about that, you know? Grunkle Ford is but a lonely and weird little hamster, and like all the beautiful creatures of all the worlds, it won't surprise me at all if being sad makes him kind of destructive and he starts living in the lab again which in this metaphor is like being stuck in a cage that's too small and chewing on the wire bars to try and console yourself. He will not know where to find his own fresh lettuce because you don't learn that kind of thing when you're stuck in a hamster ball for thirty years and it takes longer than a couple years in weird hell dimensions to figure that stuff out.
When you've got a hamster like that, you have to be super good to that hamster. You have to be the kind of person who's willing to build a beautiful hamster playground with all kinds of tunnels and little bridges and interesting places for him to scurry, and you have to be super patient if he hides in corners whenever you come around because it's gonna take a while to prove to him that he's safe and you aren't some hawk that's going to eat him bones and all, and you've got to make sure he's got good stuff to eat and drink every day.
THIS IS NOT A SMALL OR INSIGNIFICANT UNDERTAKING!! Not everybody has what it takes to really commit themselves to senior hamster rehabilitation, and that's fine.
But if that's not you, leave him alone, and let him find somebody who does. Don't think you can huck him in a cage that's too small and leave him all alone with wilty lettuce for days at a time and be like oh, that's enough, he's not starving or getting eaten by hawks or anything. You gotta be there and keep showing up and going ALL the way again and again, or Grunkle Ford is never going to be a happy hamster, and that's not fair to him even a little bit. And it'll be hard, because Grunkle Ford might THINK he is good with going back in the hamster ball, because that's what he knows, you know? When we're upset we all like familiar stuff best. But "familiar" doesn't mean "good", even if you came out of the familiar stuff okay.
So if, when we're gone, he looks at you and sees a giant green hamster ball and you're not willing to become a glorious hamster playground full of fresh lettuce instead, it's your responsibility to be a better vampire and not let him hide in you when he could totally do way better. I don't know if you have noticed this but Grunkle Ford is pretty good-looking for being older than dirt. All he has to do is find somebody who will listen in rapt attention while he rambles about nerd stuff for hours and he will be good to go.
If we start thinking things are going funky for him because of you, we WILL come back and do squid crimes.
No love until you've earned it, buster,
Mabel Pines
[not here]
By the second paragraph, he is heavy with a building dread, and goes to stand at the darkened window to read the rest. (He would cut a very striking, somber figure framed there, were it not for the sparkles still falling out of his hair. He will never truly get them out of the carpet.)
At the end, he sets the letter aside on his dark wood desk. Should Oscar pry as to his tangled emotional state, he will gently rebuff the concern. It's a charming letter, and well-meant. He is certain that Stanford would, on some level, be touched by the show of love and concern.
Beneath the whimsicality and overspun metaphor is a very simple sentiment, the same Qrow has laid at his feet on more than one occasion. It is still not one he finds himself eager to discuss.
The letter gets tucked into a drawer, remnant glitter and all. He gazes out the window for a very long time, and does not call Stanford. ]
Video | 1stStrike
I don't like you and I don't care if you don't like me.
I'm signing up for your class. So do you need to get in your rocking chair before I tell you a lame ass fairy tale? Or are you ready to show me what you've got?
Midwinter Gift
- 1 jar of homemade jam
- A selection of homemade cookies
- A selection of herbal teas
- A pair of fingerless gloves with an attached coverlet to pull over the fingertips, allowing them to be mittens
- An empty journal, with a note tucked inside. 'Maybe it's time to write new stories.' ]
letter! slightly before the ford one
The envelope bears no name of a sender or recipient, but for the red emblem on the back -- a bird's eye with an embedded gear.]
Hey Oz,
Okay before I start: don't wig out if you find this, we don't have to talk about it. In fact, it's probably better if we don't, since the town is up to its bullshit again and this is gonna be a really embarrassing letter. But this is probably the only way to avoid saying things in person which I'm sure we can agree would be way worse.
We've been through a lot together, though, huh? It's strange to think it's been only a couple of years in this world, but it feels longer somehow than the decades we knew each other before. Maybe because of all the feelings curses and memory shares, haha.
I'm really glad we had the chance to start over, though. I'm glad when the time came, you were at our side to build a new life with us here. Or--you know, that's not even quite right, "with us". You're part of the "us" now, I think. After all we've been through, we're family, even if we don't say it out loud. I've already spent more time at a stretch in our place here than I ever did anywhere, besides maybe Beacon.
Anyway...you've been one of the constants in my life for decades, for better and for worse, and I guess I just wanna thank you, too, for the better, and for sticking around and continuing to work on the worse. I know it doesn't come easy, but it means a lot to me that you're willing to try. And I'll always be there to meet you halfway, even if you stumble or fall on the road. Long as you're out there looking for me, I'll come find you.
...Well, think I've been been gross enough for a few months by now, at least. Here's hoping it means Doorway doesn't set me on fire again. I'd say wish me luck, but that might be an even worse idea than writing all this.
~Q