Oh hush! I am not starting a countdown! Believe me, as excited as I am for our future, I have learned to appreciate the joy of the present. Besides, you deserve the chance to simply be a teenager. Nothing makes this old heart of mine happier than to see you and the others being able to shed responsibility and just be young.
I do kinda like that. [Getting to be young and all. He grins, shoving a chunk of pancake into his mouth.] How'd you manage to pick so many of the least teenage teenagers as your kids, anyway?
I like to think of it as the least teenage teenagers picking me.
[They don’t quite let go of Casey yet, but Rue will pop a few more potatoes into their mouth.]
We’d all been ripped from our worlds in one way or another. Perhaps we all saw something within one another that felt like it could be home. Somewhere safe to land, even amidst all of the bullshit we’ve been put through.
Same here. [He looks down briefly, as if his breakfast will somehow bring him guidance, and then looks up, the silliness fully replaced with sincerity this time.] It was you, though. You know that, right? The one in the center was always you. You brought us together. You're the home.
[It feels like way more credit than they deserve. So many of them were a family before Rue ever entered their lives, to try and claim any credit seems silly.
But Casey's words still strike a chord within the owlbear, their expression going soft in that way that he would be able to see them purposely keeping themself composed so they don't sob right into their potatoes. It's so touching, isn't it? For the always orphaned to become a home to others.
Rue does not think anything anyone has ever said to them has meant quite this much.]
Where did you learn to have such a way with words! [Rue will not apologize for leaning in to peck a quick kiss to his cheek before working to keep themself composed.]
I swear, you are so grown from the young man I met so many months ago.
[He needs no apology. As always, a kiss from Mom is most welcome. Though perhaps he'll keep his touching commentary to a minimum while they compose themselves.]
Well, I am a whole year older now... [Lies, it's been six months and his birthday came in four. Timing was convenient.] Oh, and I've been learning to write fancy with a penpal of mine.
Sixteen! [They exclaim with a soft laugh, beaming down at their son with just slightly wet eyes, Rue is managing those tears well.] That is, as I understand it, the sweetest year for humans. And I hope that remains true the entire year.
[Should he be learning to drive? Television sitcoms would say this is the year to start!]
Ah, have you now? I imagine you've much improved if you've been writing letters with this penpal since August. I can only hope they're a good influence.
[His cheeks turn pink. That feels a bit like a loophole - just how many 16-year-old humans do they know? - but he'll take it. He can be handsome in Mom's eyes.]
W-well... it's just call it mutual... good benefit. I won't be giving up sending letters any time soon.
Not at all! That might be the downside of living together when we go back... it'd be silly to send letters to the same place, when we'd see each other every day.
Not in the slightest. We'll just need to get more creative about it.
[Surprise post-it notes stuck to his bathroom mirror. Little thoughtful notes tucked into a book he's reading. A full on letter hidden in his cereal box... Rue is ready to make it fun.]
...And perhaps, while you are away, you can send me letters with updates. As often as you're able.
Oh, I wonder. If the doorway is close to where we're working, we could just pop back to mail a letter or two. Or maybe Donnie could invent a communicator that works across dimensions.
That's true. I can't imagine leaving this place any time soon.
[He nibbles away at his breakfast for a moment, mulling over all these new thoughts and plans. There's not that much to consider now, really. ...Well, maybe one thing.]
I probably won't be able to use magic or turn into an owlbear when we get to Earth, either.
I don't see why you wouldn't be able to use your magic. I've used my fae magic back on earth and Hunter's isn't tied to this realm either. I see no reason for either of those to disappear.
[However-]
We'll have to wait and see about your familiar forms. Though a part of me thinks there's a chance. From the way that Thirteen has spoken, these roles assigned to us are a part of us finding our true potential, correct? So it only makes sense to let us leave with them intact, don't you think?
Perhaps I'm being naive, but I refuse to let your owlbear form be taken from you. It would be just cruel after all of the work you've put into it.
[Maybe at least the teleporting would carry over, if it's tied to Rue. Whether or not he can use Hunter's magic will depend on if it works for Hunter, too. The familiar form is definitely the most nebulous.]
You said you could turn Flapjack into a frog. [RIP Flapjack.] Could you turn a person into an owlbear?
no subject
[He only just got a boyfriend like two weeks ago, this threat is too big for him. (It does very effectively cut the tension, though.)]
no subject
Call it a mother's intuition.
no subject
and player is tired]Can your mother's intuition at least wait until we're adults to think about grandkids?
no subject
Oh hush! I am not starting a countdown! Believe me, as excited as I am for our future, I have learned to appreciate the joy of the present. Besides, you deserve the chance to simply be a teenager. Nothing makes this old heart of mine happier than to see you and the others being able to shed responsibility and just be young.
no subject
no subject
[They don’t quite let go of Casey yet, but Rue will pop a few more potatoes into their mouth.]
We’d all been ripped from our worlds in one way or another. Perhaps we all saw something within one another that felt like it could be home. Somewhere safe to land, even amidst all of the bullshit we’ve been put through.
no subject
Probably a bunch of lonely people realizing they could be less lonely together, I think.
no subject
I can not think of better company.
no subject
no subject
But Casey's words still strike a chord within the owlbear, their expression going soft in that way that he would be able to see them purposely keeping themself composed so they don't sob right into their potatoes. It's so touching, isn't it? For the always orphaned to become a home to others.
Rue does not think anything anyone has ever said to them has meant quite this much.]
Where did you learn to have such a way with words! [Rue will not apologize for leaning in to peck a quick kiss to his cheek before working to keep themself composed.]
I swear, you are so grown from the young man I met so many months ago.
no subject
Well, I am a whole year older now... [Lies, it's been six months and his birthday came in four. Timing was convenient.] Oh, and I've been learning to write fancy with a penpal of mine.
no subject
[Should he be learning to drive? Television sitcoms would say this is the year to start!]
Ah, have you now? I imagine you've much improved if you've been writing letters with this penpal since August. I can only hope they're a good influence.
no subject
[Someone show this kid a spoiled rich sweet sixteen party, it'll blow his mind.]
And yeah, I think they've been a good influence on me. Just a little mischief, sometimes.
no subject
I don't know, I think you look more sweet than ever. The most handsome sixteen year-old human that I've ever known.
[rue juggling all of their children's ages and species to not overlap on most handsome awards.]
I imagine that you've been an even better influence on them. I'll agree on the mischief though.
no subject
W-well... it's just call it mutual... good benefit. I won't be giving up sending letters any time soon.
no subject
You still enjoy it? It hasn't become tiresome?
no subject
Not at all! That might be the downside of living together when we go back... it'd be silly to send letters to the same place, when we'd see each other every day.
no subject
[Surprise post-it notes stuck to his bathroom mirror. Little thoughtful notes tucked into a book he's reading. A full on letter hidden in his cereal box... Rue is ready to make it fun.]
...And perhaps, while you are away, you can send me letters with updates. As often as you're able.
no subject
Oh, I wonder. If the doorway is close to where we're working, we could just pop back to mail a letter or two. Or maybe Donnie could invent a communicator that works across dimensions.
no subject
[Rue has total faith he could whip it up in no time.]
But truly, it is only if you are able. I wish to add no stress to either of you.
no subject
no subject
[At least Rue hopes it's some time away. They aren't quite ready to pack up and leave Folkmore just yet.]
no subject
[He nibbles away at his breakfast for a moment, mulling over all these new thoughts and plans. There's not that much to consider now, really. ...Well, maybe one thing.]
I probably won't be able to use magic or turn into an owlbear when we get to Earth, either.
no subject
[However-]
We'll have to wait and see about your familiar forms. Though a part of me thinks there's a chance. From the way that Thirteen has spoken, these roles assigned to us are a part of us finding our true potential, correct? So it only makes sense to let us leave with them intact, don't you think?
Perhaps I'm being naive, but I refuse to let your owlbear form be taken from you. It would be just cruel after all of the work you've put into it.
no subject
[Maybe at least the teleporting would carry over, if it's tied to Rue. Whether or not he can use Hunter's magic will depend on if it works for Hunter, too. The familiar form is definitely the most nebulous.]
You said you could turn Flapjack into a frog. [RIP Flapjack.] Could you turn a person into an owlbear?
(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)
(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)
(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)
(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)