Deer Country Inbox

[spiritwalks]

[ video / audio / text / action / deerington ]

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( voice | un: kenobi )

[jedies]

Hello there.

This is Obi-Wan. We only met briefly, but I was wondering if you were feeling better lately and taking care.

(voice | un: zing zang)

[spiritwalks]

[The minute he sees the notification, Vyng scours his brain for some reason he might've pissed this man off. When he comes up blank, he listens to the message — and freezes, because he recognizes that voice, recalls the comforting hand on his back, and his stomach twists uncomfortably at the memory.

It isn't until that moment he realizes he's...actually embarrassed? At the way he lost his composure back in that canoe.

Confiding in a stranger he doesn't expect to see again is one thing. Receiving a follow-up message about his wellbeing, as if this stranger is genuinely invested in him, is another. Despite his own experience with social work, Vyng is still flummoxed when this level of concern is shown to him without any kind of prompting at all. It doesn't feel earned, somehow.]

Uh, hello there. This is Vyng. And I was wondering if youuuu... [Shit.] ...wanted to get something to eat.

[When in doubt, answer a question with a question. Unfortunately, that was the first question that came out of his mouth. But he avoids dealing with this stuff on an empty stomach, and if Vyng is going to revisit what they both saw on the river, he'd rather take it out of the house.]

[Video, Backdated to Nov 16]

[saltyadam]

[This had been a long time coming. He'd wanted to say hello to his friend, of course, but frankly he found himself ... overwhelmed.]

Vyng. I owe you a fruit basket.

[spiritwalks]

[Of course Adam would feel overwhelmed. It's one reason Vyng has been giving him some space to get acclimated to his new reality (the other being, of course, that he's kind of a dad again...)

Still, that wasn't the greeting he expected.]

A fruit basket? How come?

Christmas Delivery

[lightthedarkness]

[Wrapped up in a bright red and white box is a plate of bought snowflake cookies and a bracelet.

Attached is a note with a little rabbit doodle:]

Happy Holidays!
Love,
Usagi

[spiritwalks]

heyyyy, thank you for the cookies and bracelet 😍

did you make these yourself?

invite delivered by small dragon; February 12th

[arclightning]

You're Invited


Join us on February 20th at the entrance of the Raccoon Room at sundown for Wu and Mako's bonding ceremony. Stay for the party.

—Mako & Wu

voice: un: buttman (after the SAND INCIDENT)

[shiro2hero]

Hey, Vyng.

Just wanted to check in. See if you were doing okay.

voice: --> un: nuttman

[spiritwalks]

Hey, man. I'm hanging in there.

[Maybe this would be a good time to talk more about how much he misses shapeshifting.]

March was pret-ty rough, huh.

[...Or not. He's just gonna causally change his username.]

Voice | un; glitch | Dated to after he vanished from Trench

[glitchinthesystem]

Hey, Vyng.

So, if you're getting this I gave up and returned to the sea.

[ It's said with something of a rueful laugh because he really doesn't want to think about what it means to go home. ]

Joking aside, yeah. I'm back to my craptastic world. Who knows if I'm going to survive past eighteen considering everything I learned was a lie.

Did I tell you about that? That I actually coulda gone outside and I was just locked up because I had powers?

I can imagine Maul getting real smug about that one.

Well anyways, I just wanted to say goodbye. Don't start using your powers as a means to make yourself feel better that I'm gone. I don't know why you would but just in general don't go killing yourself.

I'm leaving that crystal you gave me to you. Take care of yourself, man.

If we get to meet again well...here's hoping it's in a better place.

-Glitch

extra message sent

[glitchinthesystem]

Oh

right. I want you to have my magic guitar. Hope it helps you here in Trench. God knows this place could use some positive emotions.

Take care Vyng...
I hope maybe one day we can see each other again.
You've been family and well...I wish I didn't have to lose it.

Late April | Action

[frogiturgy]

[It was hard to keep his bearings straight with the whole of the city plunged into constant night. Even when he was holed up in his tower, the rising and setting of the sun at least let him know time was passing. Without it, the usual methods of time keeping just didn't work.

...This was probably why Vyng had suggested forming a routine-- so they could both keep their sanity.

Having finally gotten himself squared away with loose clothes and a bottle of water, he found Vyng like he had been almost daily at this point in time.]

Yo. Are we, uh, still doing those exercises today?

[He still felt emotionally shaky in regards to his powers (or lack thereof), but at least having something ordinary to latch onto helped.]

[ezra_of_lothal]

Hey, Vyng.

[That part comes out pretty level, but then there's a heavy beat of silence.]

I just wanted to let you know that Obi-wan is...down. Uh. Cocooned? Membraned?

Seems like it's a thing that happens sometimes.

1/3

[spiritwalks]

[Gasp! Vyng puts a hand to his face, eyebrows raised in a stunned expression.]

[spiritwalks]

[wait.]

3/4, i lied

[spiritwalks]

A metamorphosis? Like a butterfly?

4/4, for real this time

[spiritwalks]

Was everyone just waiting for him to enter his final form this whole time?

Accidental Video; un: lothrat

[ezra_of_lothal]

[The video shows Ezra, younger and more ragged looking, while he stares around a cavernous room with glowing geometric patterns. Part of the Jedi Temple on Lothal. "Whoa."

A gravelly voice that, at the time, Ezra didn't know who it belonged to, says, "Tell me. Why must you become Jedi? " Now, of course, Ezra knows this was ancient Master Yoda, speaking to him through the Force.

Ezra shrugs. "I don't know. I guess because Kanan believes I can."

"Ah. Kanan thinks you can. Hmm. And you?"

"Well, I'll become stronger, powerful."

"Ah. Power you seek," Yoda notes with mild disapproval.

"I'd make the Empire suffer for everything it did, for everything it took, for my parents! I... I wouldn't be helpless anymore!" Ezra replies, voice getting louder, and body language more animated.

"Ah. Jedi way is revenge? Teach you this, your Master did?"

"No. Kanan would never," Ezra snaps back, fiercely, stabbing a finger towards the ground in emphasis. "He's a good Master, a-a great Master!"

"Then why seek you revenge?" Yoda presses.

Ezra hesitates. "I don't."

"Hmm. Inside you much anger, much fear."

Ezra retorts, "I just want to protect myself and my friends."

"And this is why you must be Jedi?" Yoda asks.

"Yes, and not just them. Everyone. I'll protect everyone." Another beat of hesitation, while Ezra gathers his thoughts. "Before I met Kanan, I only ever thought of myself, but Kanan and the rest, they don't think like that. They help people. They give everything away, and I see it. I see how it makes people feel."

Yoda makes an approving sound, this time. "Feel, yes. How?"

"Alive." Ezra's voice drops softer. "They feel alive, like I do now."

"Good. Good. Ahead of you a difficult path there is, Padawan," Yoda decides. "A Jedi you may yet be."

While the padawan looks up, a glimmer of blue shines in the dark. He stretches up his hands, and a small blue crystal comes to rest in his palm. He doesn't understand why it's important, not yet, but what he feels is connection.

Joy.]

video | un: zing zang voombah

[spiritwalks]

[Justice is restoring balance. Protection is a form of love. But vengeance is neither of those things. Letting go of that attachment takes serious introspection and soul-searching. Vyng knows from experience.

Of course, he quickly realizes the message wasn't sent on purpose. But unlike some of the more fraught memories floating around, this one appears to be a philosophical discussion between teacher and student. Still, he pauses partway through and does a quick check-in:]

Hey, Ezra. Got one of those vexing vidyas on my phone. Is it okay if I finish watching it?

memory share; video

[facultative]

[Awareness comes slowly. The feel of the blanket over his shoulders, the hard ground beneath his body and finally the sight of his master, so young that his beard hasn't grown in yet nor has his hair changed after the removal of his padawan braid, crouching over him. There's a soft, blurred quality to everything, the memory filtered through a child's tired mind and the passage of time.

"Anakin, what are you doing here?"

He rubs at his tired eyes and struggles to keep them open.

"I didn't know if you'd still be here in the morning."

There's a pause from Obi-Wan. The expression he held at the time lost to Anakin's memory. He instead considers going back to sleep and does close his eyes again to do so, but he's gently tugged to his feet and he whines before wrapping his arms around Obi-Wan's leg and leaning against him.

"It can't be comfortable sleeping on the ground." Anakin clings tighter, suddenly worried he'll be sent back to his room. His tiredness starting to fade in light of this new fear. But instead, he's lead to Obi-Wan's bed and then pulled against his master as he covers the warm blankets over them. Happiness blooms in his chest as he snuggles in as close as he can.

The last thing he remembers before sleep takes him is the faint humming of a tune he doesn't know yet.]

text | un: zing zang voombah

[spiritwalks]

Hey man

Did you mean to send this?

audio; un: a.solo

[hopesparks]

[ He could ask Ezra to reach out, but the dinner was his idea and he's determined to take responsibility for it. Besides, Ezra has worked himself so hard that Anakin would like to take some of the work off his plate. ]

Hi, Vyng. I'm Anakin Solo, a friend of Obi-Wan and Ezra. Do you have a minute to talk?

audio | un: zing zang voombah

[spiritwalks]

[Ezra's mentioned Anakin Solo before. But the call is still unexpected.]

Hi there. What can I do for you?

text | un: rosestorm

[thunderingcourage]

I promised that I would show you what I decided on. Here it is.

[Attached to the text is a picture of the completed tattoo.]

text | un: zing zang voombah

[spiritwalks]

I like your username

AND your new ink! Cooool

What artist did you go with? They certainly rose to the occasion 🌹

action;

[facultative]

[This is the only gift this month Anakin is actually giving to them directly. There's no fanfare, he just hits up Vyng at some point and hands over a rock. There's nothing special about it, it's literally just a rock.]

I found this and I thought you'd like it.

Gift Delivery - December 25th

[lightthedarkness]

[Delivered to Vying's door is a crystal hair barrette and a plate of bakery bought cookies. Attached is a note:]

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS VYING!

Please enjoy the cookies with your family.

Love you,
Usagi

Gift Delivery - December 25th

[survivalthroughhate]

[This year, Maul had decided to behave himself when it came to giving gifts, unlike in years past where he broke into people's houses rather like Santa himself did. All gifts are left on the porch or front step of the recipient's home for them to find in the morning.

He left Vyng a pair of crystal earrings and a crystal necklace. Hopefully these ones felt nice to his senses. Accompanying it was a note in blocky handwriting wishing him a Merry Christmas signed from Darth Maul.]

gift drop; backdated to dec 25th

[hopesparks]

[ A box is delivered to Vyng's place. It contains several jars of mushrooms and assorted herbs, all neatly sorted and labeled. One contains a few small white tubers labeled 'Vincha root.'

Included is a note:

Vyng,

Here are some medicinal herbs and mushrooms I've found over the last few months. I'm sure you can put them to good use. I've also included some Vincha root from my own galaxy-- they're native to the planet Dantooine. They can be turned into a paste to treat wounds or eaten to regain energy. They've helped me out in a pinch before.

Thank you, again, for helping me on the beach that day. I still think about it.

-- A. Solo ]