pyrighteous | [OOC] Folkmore IC Inbox

[Could definitely be worse. The last part makes Casey chuckle at the mental image.]

Sounds like an extra blanket to me. [Wait, that's supposed to be the punishment.] I mean, a very fitting price to pay. Accepted!

Good!

[ This is all going very well. Hunter is quite proud of himself. ]

… I feel like that covers a lot already.

Oh... yeah, it kinda does. [Broad yet effective?] i'm okay with only two rules, unless you think of more later.

[ Hunter frowns down at the page lightly, thinking hard. ]

I’ll think about it. The only ones I can think of are - uh - ones that probably won’t actually be fun.

...Hmm.

[Yeah he definitely doesn't want one of Belos's rules. What does that leave them with, though...]

Maybe... take those rules and do the opposite? Like- all activities must be either fun or relaxing! Really double down on the no-work rule.

[ Again, Hunter’s face lights up. ]

Oh yeah - I like that. You’re limited to fun, games, and sleeping! Maybe some reading.

Reading counts as fun! As long as it's not schoolbooks. We've still got new space adventure books from the library, right? I could read those.

[He pauses.]

Do you think reading them out loud counts as work?

[It can get tiring, which is kind of work. But it's also fun? Really toes the line.]

[ HMM. Hunter considers that. ]

If you do all the voices, it still counts as fun.

Oh you know I'm gonna do the voices.

[He can't turn it off, it's a built-in feature.]

Then I officially grant you permission.

Heck yeah.

[This is so very silly but he's into it. Who knew making rules could also be fun?]

That's probably good, unless you can think of more. We don't want to have too many rules on our day off.

Yeah. Uh - I think that's plenty.

[ He sets the notebook down on the coffee table, mindful of the bird. ]

The guard's gonna be thrilled when he sees what you made him.

[Casey settles back against him, his gaze shifting towards the little robot.]

I really hope so... and I hope it works, I hope it can fly and breathe and feel the air like we want it to. I did so many tests, but we really won't know until he's in there.

[Hard not to worry that he hasn't made a mistake somewhere, some loose screw or unoiled joint that'll make the experience of transferring bodies terrible for the poor Guard. He'll do his best tomorrow, but the true relaxation won't come until this is all over and he's seen the proof with his own eyes that it's a viable working body.]

[ Hunter looks at it too, his expression warm and full of pride. ]

I guess not. But - just look at it. I can't imagine it being anything less than amazing.

Mm.

[Casey looks briefly at Hunter, and a wave of deep gratitude flows through their bond. Hunter's faith in the project, in him, is really doing wonders for his anxieties about screwing it up. He's worked hard on this for weeks and weeks, so many hours poured into it. Surely it'll work. It'll work and it'll be just what they all need. He has to believe in that, too.]

This is my first time doing this, but... I've seen it work before. Remember the robot Raph, from my dream?

[ Hunter nods at that. ]

The giant one, right?

Yeah. I was too young at the time to remember it well, but Uncle Tello built that body for him, and they used some kind of mystic artifact to transfer his soul into it. It's probably similar to what Draxum's going to do with the guard.

[His gaze shifts back to the bird. It's so small, compared to that giant body. But there are many shared aspects, carried from one design to another.]

After Uncle Tello died, I helped do maintenance on his body. It was always getting busted up because of the Krang... but he always made it home again for repairs, besides this one time when I was little.

[He reaches over, gently lifting the bird to hold it between his hands, smoothing back the tiny feathers.]

If he ever needs mending, he just needs to come home. And if he can't make it home, if he's ever lost... there's a tracker inside it. So if he needs help, we'll be able to find him.

[ Oh. So it's a little like Casey's carrying on that legacy, isn't it? Hunter eyes the little body as Casey lifts it, even more reverent. He might even be tearing up. ]

Home, huh.

[ What a concept. For both of them, really. ]

... He's really gonna be in good hands. I - I'm glad.

[ This whole experience has been stressful and ridiculous, but he means that. ]

[Casey watches him carefully for a long moment, his eyes searching. Trusting Hunter's words, he leans closer, very softly kissing his cheek.]

You know, you've done a lot, too. It might not be as obvious, but we've all seen it.

[ Hunter means it! He really does. It's just also a little strange and bittersweet at the same time, plus there's a bit of guilt.

He pinks a bit at the kiss. ]

I mean. I didn't actually deliver his letter so uh. I didn't do THAT much.

No, it's not that. [Like yeah he fudged the communication aspect with Rue, but that's a totally different part of this. Definitely not what Casey's thinking about.] I mean... you're amazing, for going through all this and keeping it together. If I had someone else in my head who could wake up and move my body, I... I think I'd go crazy. I couldn't handle it at all.

[It's too much like the Krang, like some of his worst nightmares. To lose that agency, that sense of self, to be locked away in his own mind- even if his own passenger was benign the way the Guard is, he's not sure he could have endured it. Certainly not as gracefully.]

But you... you've been so patient. You've given him a chance to live again, you've gotten to know him! You can see him as family. You let him share your body this whole time. That's huge, Hunter.

[ Well. Hunter had certainly been freaked out at first. The Collectors don't possess like THIS, thankfully, so it hadn't been quite the same trigger.

Even so ... he ducks his head a bit, cheeks burning. He HAD put in a lot of work, actually, and it's nice to have Casey say as much. ]

It - it's been weird. Yeah. It's been really weird.

[ He looks over at the bird, at the notebook with all the messages back and forth. ]

... I guess I always wanted a family, deep down. So I'm glad to get to meet my brother. Even if it's a weird situation.

[He remembers that first day all too well, and the signs of struggle in between that he'd witnessed since. Really, though, Hunter's coped remarkably well, and that deserves a lot of credit. Hunter could've easily decided to lay the guard to rest and let it be done with much faster. None of them could have blamed him. Not even the guard, who had agreed he would accept it.

That he persevered shows great character, and Casey's proud of him.]

I'm sure he's glad to have met you properly, too. Even if it's kinda unconventional... after so long just watching, it must be a huge relief to finally talk.

[ Hunter rubs at the back of his neck a little, eying the notebook. ]

I - I think so too? I guess I can't fully tell how talkative he is. I get the sense he's kind of ... quiet?

[ Taciturn, even, and sober in ways that Hunter isn't anywhere close to being. ]

-- But I think he still appreciates getting the chance. Yeah. That makes a huge difference.

[ Here, his voice drops just a little. ]

None of us got a lot of choices. Or chances.

[It's a sobering thought, and Casey puts the bird back on the table and reaches for Hunter's hand instead.]

Seems like... he was with Belos the longest. [He was an adult, while the rest were all children of varying ages. That's a very long time to be stuck with Belos as your only "family".] He probably needs some time to come out of his shell, figure out who he really is.

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject