![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
deerington inbox
eventually there'll be a gif here
[After getting Emerald pretty fucking drunk late last month and finding a certain something out, it had still taken her the better part of a month to track him down on the network. Qrow wasn't exactly the most ... public of figures, was he? She could appreciate that.
But, one day. He'd get a text message rather out of the blue.]
So, "Tai." Needed to have a little chat.
Well, in so far as I ever have a chat with anyone.
Got a favor you could do for me, "Tai" and I'm pretty sure you'll say yes.
[By the by, Qrow, you're "Tai" now until you introduce yourself properly, because she can be a snarky one.]
But, one day. He'd get a text message rather out of the blue.]
So, "Tai." Needed to have a little chat.
Well, in so far as I ever have a chat with anyone.
Got a favor you could do for me, "Tai" and I'm pretty sure you'll say yes.
[By the by, Qrow, you're "Tai" now until you introduce yourself properly, because she can be a snarky one.]
[....well, those quotes pretty much tell him the jig is up. it's unfortunate, but his affiliation with the girls is not a particularly well-kept secret. That's fine, though; hiding his identity served its purpose while he was vulnerable. And even if it's more difficult to keep track of her if she knows, well. He hasn't been a spy for twenty years for nothing.]
that so?
maybe you can start with who you think i am, and then we'll see about favors, neopolitan
that so?
maybe you can start with who you think i am, and then we'll see about favors, neopolitan
[She laughed silently to herself, though really she wasn't in that much of a mood to laugh right now. It was kind of a serious situation they were in.]
Emerald told me exactly who you are.
In case you weren't aware, we used to be and currently are teammates.
But, I like to think that polite introductions are important, don't you?
So, until you formally introduce yourself, you're "Tai."
That's my tiny little petty vengeance.
But this is about your niece.
I need help making sure I stay away from her this month.
I don't trust myself to be in my right mind.
Emerald told me exactly who you are.
In case you weren't aware, we used to be and currently are teammates.
But, I like to think that polite introductions are important, don't you?
So, until you formally introduce yourself, you're "Tai."
That's my tiny little petty vengeance.
But this is about your niece.
I need help making sure I stay away from her this month.
I don't trust myself to be in my right mind.
knew you were allied with salem, at least
just wasn't sure if you were inner circle or rank and file
and my aura was broken, so you can see where i wasn't in a great position back then
[The request...catches him off-guard. He squints at his Fluid, a little suspiciously.]
huh
you know, honestly i thought you were lying in that post of yours
especially when ruby went comatose for a while there
[yes, he backscrolled. no such thing as a spy that isn't paranoid. but yeah, in case neo ever felt like she was being Watched ... well. there you go. there were various attempts. of varying degrees of success.]
but if you're coming to me you must be serious
[Which is ... surprising? Weird. But maybe a good sign, in the end. Less people who want to make themselves trouble for Ruby is less headaches for him.]
so, spill it
what are you actually looking for from me
pretty sure you didn't track my handle down just to ask me to protect my own niece
just wasn't sure if you were inner circle or rank and file
and my aura was broken, so you can see where i wasn't in a great position back then
[The request...catches him off-guard. He squints at his Fluid, a little suspiciously.]
huh
you know, honestly i thought you were lying in that post of yours
especially when ruby went comatose for a while there
[yes, he backscrolled. no such thing as a spy that isn't paranoid. but yeah, in case neo ever felt like she was being Watched ... well. there you go. there were various attempts. of varying degrees of success.]
but if you're coming to me you must be serious
[Which is ... surprising? Weird. But maybe a good sign, in the end. Less people who want to make themselves trouble for Ruby is less headaches for him.]
so, spill it
what are you actually looking for from me
pretty sure you didn't track my handle down just to ask me to protect my own niece
First of all, my loyalty is to Roman Torchwick alone.
Everything else is secondary.
Semantics, yes, but important to me.
We were both lying that day, but no.
I wasn't responsible for that one.
[She breathed considering her words carefully.]
I am not sure, "Tai."
I don't want to be locked up because I want to believe she and I can avoid each other long enough to decide how to end this on our own terms.
After the bear is gone.
But you're clearly spying on me, so good.
I guess what I'm saying is, if you see me or her getting close to each other, distract one of us to keep us apart.
Your niece is a dumb, lovable hero who thinks she can save everyone, even me.
Even Salem.
If she sees me, mind-affected by the bear, she's going to try to save me.
And I don't know what I'll do, and I don't want the bear to use me as a tool.
If I do something to Ruby, if I kill her, if I forgive her, I want it to be ME that does it.
I want to be responsible for my own damned choices.
So, if you happen to have the chance to keep us apart this month? Good.
I guess this is me warning you, "Tai," that I might be a problem if the Bear gets to me.
When the bear gets to me.
I'm self aware enough to know I'm vulnerable right now.
Everything else is secondary.
Semantics, yes, but important to me.
We were both lying that day, but no.
I wasn't responsible for that one.
[She breathed considering her words carefully.]
I am not sure, "Tai."
I don't want to be locked up because I want to believe she and I can avoid each other long enough to decide how to end this on our own terms.
After the bear is gone.
But you're clearly spying on me, so good.
I guess what I'm saying is, if you see me or her getting close to each other, distract one of us to keep us apart.
Your niece is a dumb, lovable hero who thinks she can save everyone, even me.
Even Salem.
If she sees me, mind-affected by the bear, she's going to try to save me.
And I don't know what I'll do, and I don't want the bear to use me as a tool.
If I do something to Ruby, if I kill her, if I forgive her, I want it to be ME that does it.
I want to be responsible for my own damned choices.
So, if you happen to have the chance to keep us apart this month? Good.
I guess this is me warning you, "Tai," that I might be a problem if the Bear gets to me.
When the bear gets to me.
I'm self aware enough to know I'm vulnerable right now.
that's a lot of words to ask me for something i would've already been doing
[Though it's...interesting, all of this rambling. It sounds like she's having doubts about whatever grudge she has already. He can respect wanting to be in control of one's own choices, too. Still, it's not enough for Qrow to let this go.]
if you really want me to keep ruby safe from you, why not keep me updated on where you're going whenever you leave your home until this is over?
i can't keep tabs on both of you at the same time all month
[Because if she's admitting she's a threat, and she doesn't want to be, then he can run interference easier if he knows where at least one of them will be -- and there's only so much can stalk Ruby without her or Yang noticing, especially now that they know about his bird transformation.]
and for the record, bear or no bear
if you hurt her, i'll make you regret it
[Though it's...interesting, all of this rambling. It sounds like she's having doubts about whatever grudge she has already. He can respect wanting to be in control of one's own choices, too. Still, it's not enough for Qrow to let this go.]
if you really want me to keep ruby safe from you, why not keep me updated on where you're going whenever you leave your home until this is over?
i can't keep tabs on both of you at the same time all month
[Because if she's admitting she's a threat, and she doesn't want to be, then he can run interference easier if he knows where at least one of them will be -- and there's only so much can stalk Ruby without her or Yang noticing, especially now that they know about his bird transformation.]
and for the record, bear or no bear
if you hurt her, i'll make you regret it
True, but now I'm on record wanting this too.
I'll send you a schedule each day that I'm sane and lucid, including when I'm at Helena and Usagi's shelter.
Ruby and I apparently share several acquaintances.
It's probably the days that I don't contact you to be worried about.
[And true to her word, in the month of July she would send him quick update texts about 3/4 of the days. Of course, there were days that she missed, and those were the real problem weren't they?]
You're her uncle.
I'd be an idiot to think you wouldn't.
Just like Ruby knows why there's blood between us.
If I go crazy and something happens I'll turn myself into you and Yang.
I'll send you a schedule each day that I'm sane and lucid, including when I'm at Helena and Usagi's shelter.
Ruby and I apparently share several acquaintances.
It's probably the days that I don't contact you to be worried about.
[And true to her word, in the month of July she would send him quick update texts about 3/4 of the days. Of course, there were days that she missed, and those were the real problem weren't they?]
You're her uncle.
I'd be an idiot to think you wouldn't.
Just like Ruby knows why there's blood between us.
If I go crazy and something happens I'll turn myself into you and Yang.
Edited 2020-07-14 14:10 (UTC)
[He's a little surprised she acquiesces so easily, honestly, but it's nice to see. She really is serious, then.]
if i haven't heard from you by 2 pm on any given day i'll assume i need to find you, then
[A pause follows, as he debates whether or not to acknowledge the second part of the text; he'd not like to make plans in that vein ahead of time. The threat is enough.
Eventually:]
thanks for the heads up
here's hoping it wasn't necessary
if i haven't heard from you by 2 pm on any given day i'll assume i need to find you, then
[A pause follows, as he debates whether or not to acknowledge the second part of the text; he'd not like to make plans in that vein ahead of time. The threat is enough.
Eventually:]
thanks for the heads up
here's hoping it wasn't necessary
[Varian's not always the best at reaching out to people, but as honest as he and Ruby try to be with one another, he knows this whole... month has hit her hard. He's been worried about her, and more to the point, he understands that... a whole lot of everything will have been dumped on her family in one fell swoop. He doesn't know how much Ruby's clan knows about what he's done. He's pretty sure up-front asking if they know he tried to kill her probably isn't wise. He'll just... ease into this. ]
Uh... hey. How are you guys holding up? I checked up on Ruby already, but I figured I'd better check in on you guys too. There's no way last month could have been easy for any of you.
Uh... hey. How are you guys holding up? I checked up on Ruby already, but I figured I'd better check in on you guys too. There's no way last month could have been easy for any of you.
[....ah. Admittedly, he'd somewhat lost track of this kid among all the chaos. So he appreciates the text, when he gets it. Ruby's been through enough, she doesn't need something happening to someone she cares about on top of what happened to her.]
well enough, under the circumstances
no other major injuries or anything
[He even stayed sober, despite at least one very close call. But he doesn't share that part.]
how about you?
well enough, under the circumstances
no other major injuries or anything
[He even stayed sober, despite at least one very close call. But he doesn't share that part.]
how about you?
That's good, I'm glad to hear it.
[He taps the side of the Fluid, thinking. He doesn't know how much Ruby would have told her family, and he doesn't want to reveal stuff she's purposefully keeping from them.]
Not great. Could be worse. Could be better. I'm over the sickness at least.
[He taps the side of the Fluid, thinking. He doesn't know how much Ruby would have told her family, and he doesn't want to reveal stuff she's purposefully keeping from them.]
Not great. Could be worse. Could be better. I'm over the sickness at least.
[On the 15th, sometime after talking to Ruby, all three of them having been de-aged, there was a package left on the doorstep of Qrow and Clover's place with a big note in pink letters with smiley faces all over it. The doorbell has been run, but by the time anyone gets there, they've scampered off with a silent giggle.]
Rubes said you liked these so I got you as many as I could find!
Hope you like them. I worked really hard to get them!
-Neo
[Uh. She might have pilfered someone's stand full of purple grapes to get this many, because there are easily ten bunches of grapes in a basket here. At least. Neo ... was a very precocious crook in her youth.]
Hope you like them. I worked really hard to get them!
-Neo
[Uh. She might have pilfered someone's stand full of purple grapes to get this many, because there are easily ten bunches of grapes in a basket here. At least. Neo ... was a very precocious crook in her youth.]
[There's a beat that passes. Two. Then:]
did i uh
not tell you?
she's been back like a week or so now
[In case Clover had been wondering why Qrow wasn't spending all day staring listlessly at the ceiling anymore, it is not, in fact, because he spontaneously developed better coping mechanisms.]
did i uh
not tell you?
she's been back like a week or so now
[In case Clover had been wondering why Qrow wasn't spending all day staring listlessly at the ceiling anymore, it is not, in fact, because he spontaneously developed better coping mechanisms.]
It's fine, Qrow
I'm not exactly family and you were going through a lot
I heard it could get bad, but how bad was it?
Not that I have any doubt she didn't recover
Seeing as she's still got her face in a bag of chips in OUR pantry
[ of course he noticed rip ]
I'm not exactly family and you were going through a lot
I heard it could get bad, but how bad was it?
Not that I have any doubt she didn't recover
Seeing as she's still got her face in a bag of chips in OUR pantry
[ of course he noticed rip ]
[gdi clover ... well he's going to continue to pretend nothing is amiss here, everything's fine. it's all fine.]
it's not that different from a real flu
except the part where it's not contagious
[which he has ABSOLUTELY taken advantage of for niece cuddling time but that's pushing the boundaries of vulnerability he's comfortable showing anyone -- even the man who's comforted him through the worst of his grief. He's always hoarded his joys jealously, a little like a real corvid; an unlucky man can't afford to risk having them taken away, after all.]
guess that means it's time for a new shopping run, huh
to keep the pantry invasions at bay, of course
[Ways to not make this less gay: inviting someone to get groceries with you for your niece in "defense" of said pantry.]
it's not that different from a real flu
except the part where it's not contagious
[which he has ABSOLUTELY taken advantage of for niece cuddling time but that's pushing the boundaries of vulnerability he's comfortable showing anyone -- even the man who's comforted him through the worst of his grief. He's always hoarded his joys jealously, a little like a real corvid; an unlucky man can't afford to risk having them taken away, after all.]
guess that means it's time for a new shopping run, huh
to keep the pantry invasions at bay, of course
[Ways to not make this less gay: inviting someone to get groceries with you for your niece in "defense" of said pantry.]
Edited 2020-09-02 13:50 (UTC)
[...she vaguely remembered something about leaving a basket full of stolen grapes on Qrow's doorstep the other day with a note that she wanted him to have all the grapes.
She was going to just pretend that day never happened, thank you very much. However, early into September a gift basket of her own had shown up on her counter, and... well... yeah.]
Qrow, when you have a minute I want to talk.
I have something I want for you to have.
This is actually a little important.
She was going to just pretend that day never happened, thank you very much. However, early into September a gift basket of her own had shown up on her counter, and... well... yeah.]
Qrow, when you have a minute I want to talk.
I have something I want for you to have.
This is actually a little important.
Oh
Silver lining I guess?
[ Clover doesn't push for details beyond that. If he knew anything of Qrow was that even at his most vulnerable he was a deeply private individual. Despite all those times he clearly wanted to open up, he thought. ]
Are we actually going to go shopping
or is this an opportunity for you
to throw junk food in the cart when I have my back turned?
[ A totally normal, not mawkishly domestic thing to say to your bro ]
Silver lining I guess?
[ Clover doesn't push for details beyond that. If he knew anything of Qrow was that even at his most vulnerable he was a deeply private individual. Despite all those times he clearly wanted to open up, he thought. ]
Are we actually going to go shopping
or is this an opportunity for you
to throw junk food in the cart when I have my back turned?
[ A totally normal, not mawkishly domestic thing to say to your bro ]
bold of you to assume i'd wait until your back is turned
[Implying he has shame about his garbage dumpster eating habits, smh.]
but nobody said we can't do both
tell you what i'll try one of your boring health foods if you eat exactly five cheetos
[there is absolutely NO domestic behavior here. zero. negative, even.]
[Implying he has shame about his garbage dumpster eating habits, smh.]
but nobody said we can't do both
tell you what i'll try one of your boring health foods if you eat exactly five cheetos
[there is absolutely NO domestic behavior here. zero. negative, even.]
Page 1 of 13