lightthedarkness | Deerington IC Inbox

I wasn't aware it was such an involved process.

[Varian's a teenage boy, honestly if actual normal water hits his face once a day it can be called a minor miracle. He lets out a proper little whine here. Like he's being denied the whole world.]

But I don't wanna put it on my face. [:< :< :<] I wanna study it. What's so wrong with wanting to study it? If I did that, I could figure out how to replicate it and then you'd have an endless supply of them!

Edited 2021-07-10 13:59 (UTC)

If you think about it, proper skincare will always be involved. Soap and water don't cut it.

[She shakes her head.] I would be for all the replication but I also want it on your face or you don't get it. I can deal with not having it if I know someone else is using it.

[Just because you're a Disney character, Varian, does not mean you are free from acne and clogged pores! You're not a Disney princess.]

...Now you're starting to sound like Eugene.

[This is all Eugene's area, not his. Noooo sir. ]

Uggggggggggh, but whyyyy. My face is fine.

[It's so not fine.

But hey one of his best friends is a Disney Princess, doesn't proximity count?]

Thank you, since I know for a fact you deeply admire him. [She's seen the shrine, Varian.]

Alright, bet. After we wash this mask off and follow up with the soothing moisturizer, if your skin doesn't feel the softest it's ever felt, I will give you the jar and you can do whatever you want. But WHEN I'm right, and I will be, then that jar gets used on your face at least twice a month.

Edited 2021-07-12 00:36 (UTC)

He's the coolest person I know.

[No one, not even Fern, will ever achieve Eugene Levels of coolness. It's just a fact.

God, he's squinting at her so hard. He feels like this is a trap, but if he back down now he loses face. And he does want to run experiments on it. Hmmm.]

Fine. It's a deal.

Maybe I'll get to meet him someday.

Good, because we've got about 10 more minutes before we wash it off and follow up with the moisturizer.

And now, stop talking and watch music videos with me.

Maybe? I don't know how much I'd want him to suffer in a place like this. He... probably wouldn't like it a lot.

[He would rant so much, all the time. And given how bad the snow gets in winter? Yeesh. He'd be insufferable.

He exhales softly, relenting. Deep down, he already knows he's lost this bet, but he's too stubborn to admit it out loud.]

Okay, okay. Are there any new ones?

I know that feeling... but Deerington usually takes that decision out of our hands.

As for what we're watching: Lady Gaga, I have no idea who that is but after I finished all the Taylor Swift and Katy Perry videos, they recommended this to me.

I watch the first video to the latest.

Boy doesn't it? I've gone through two Rapunzels now.

[He's not sure what he hates more. The fact she was here at all and dealing with the town or the fact she left twice.

He considers that for a moment.]

I think Richie told me about that one? He sent me a bunch and I'm sure her name cropped up.

I know... I'm sorry. Rapunzel is really such a wonderful and amazing person... She really shouldn't have to deal with a place like this...

No one should.

[She shakes her head.]

This first one is called "Just Dance." Buuuut let's see there's something called Poker Face, Bad Romance, Paparazzi, Telephone, Born This Way, and a whole bunch more lined up. We probably won't get through more than four before we have to take off the masks.

She really is, and I'd rather she didn't. She- she doesn't deserve a place like this.

[Which suggests that he does, but Usagi's pretty damn well versed in Varian's feelings of self-worth at this point. It's not really a surprise he'd feel that way. ]

Hey, I'm gonna trust you with the buttons here. I think the one Richie showed me was called Bad Romance? Maaaaybe? It had a lot of fire in it?

You don't either. No one did........ well, okay, MAYBE Bill, but otherwise no one did.

[She smiles, lightly poking his hair bow. They watched several videos, and yes, one of them was Bad Romance and there was fire. But her timer went off on her phone and she sat up as she pulled Varian along with her.]

Come on, time to wash off. Lean on me, I've got you.

Bill absolutely deserved a place like this.

[FUCK Bill. He lets himself be pulled along, and is kind of glad for the help, offering a joking smile.]

Oh gee, I don't know. Think you can take my weight?

[He absolutely knows she can pick him up like he weighed nothing more than a grape.]

Something tells me, Bill would have found a way to rule over Julia had it been just him and the others... I wouldn't want Doug alone with him.

Ha ha ha. [She got him into her master bathroom, the giant tub and shower the main attractions of the room as she took him to the double sink. She began to let the water warm up before handing him a sponge specifically meant to remove the mask.] Rub in small circles with warm water until it's all gone.

[And then, Usagi got to work to do the same.]

...Yeah, he seems the sort to have done that regardless.

[Bill was good at making deals, at finding his way to what he wanted- Dipper had explained that much. But guilt still gnaws at him all the same. He made things easy for Bill- the whole dream was nearly destroyed because of it.

He nods in understanding, doing as he's told. When he's done, he raises his hands, palm up, waggling them- ta ddaaa.]

Okay, done.

Well, he's gone now... and... dead? [She honestly didn't know. She was PRETTY sure he was dead.] And I will deal with him again if he comes back.

[She had warned him she was warped, and he had merely sneered at her, yelled at her that everyone was, then boasted about being a being of pure energy. Well, that had only really worked to her advantage.

But he hurt her loved ones and refused to relent.

Buuuuuuuut that was in the past and Usagi was busy washing her face. When they both finished, she dried both their faces, and then reached for her orange blossom-scented moisturizer and applied it to both of their faces.]

Alright, give it a feel.

From what I understand from Dipper possibly? [It all sounded horribly complicated, really. It was a lot more cut and dry with Zhan Tiri. She was obliterated into the cosmos- she is absolutely dead.] I know you will.

[He's not going to insult her by voicing concern for her wellbeing. He's fully aware that Usagi can more than take care of herself here. She can certainly deal with all-powerful demons. But he loves her and if it's not his job to worry then he doesn't know who's is.

He grimaces a little, poking his own cheek- it feels a lot softer honestly and this means Usagi Is Right and that means he's lost their little bargain. A little grumbly:]

...I guess you've got a point.

Oh? Oh I'm sorry, I didn't hear you? [She leaned in, hand to ear.]

I think my exhaustion you say I have [That she TOTALLY has] is affecting my hearing.

What was that?

[This is the worst day. He sighs dramatically. ]

Ugggggggggggggh. Fine. You were right. Are you happy?

Yes. This ALSO means you'll get to enjoy it more often in your own home. [She placed the jar in his hand.

She paused as she looked at herself in the mirror. Even smiling she looked pale, and there were bags (though less prominent now) under her eyes. She looked away and back over to Varian.]

Thank you, for coming, even when I insisted I was fine.

[She turned away from the mirror, leaning against the sink and counter.]

I needed this, needed you.

[She smiled, bowing her head as she wiped some tears away.] So... thank you.

I do, and I guess that isn't so bad.

[There are worst bets to lose- he still kind of came out a winner. He turns the jar in his hands as she speaks, smiling faintly. He's been so desperately worried about her and to know he did something... anything to help her means a lot. ]

Yeah... well. You're always there for me whenever I need you, so it was about time I returned the favour. [He puts the jar down, mostly so he could awkwardly shuffle over to give her a hug. ] You know I'm always here for you if you need me, right? You're family, I'd do just about anything for you.

[Was she? Where had she been when he lost a leg? When he, Glitch, Ruby, and Fern got stuck in the caves? Where was she when Maul killed him? For all his insistence that she was always there, she merely felt like she always failed him. As he hugged her, she hugged him back, she gazed down at where his leg was missing. She strokes his hair and keeps their position so he can't see her face. She takes a deep breath and puts on a smile.]

You are family, and I will always be there for you, as best I can. Cause I love you. All I need for you to do for me, Varian, is to live your life and let it fill you with love and happiness.

That's what I want most for you.

[It was a very good thing that Varian couldn't see her expression before she fixed it into a smile, and it was an extremely good thing that he didn't know those thoughts running around in her head. He'd argue that she was exactly where he needed her when he needed her- that he wasn't looking for some big damn hero to save him from getting hurt or killed. That she was a much-needed emotional rock for him, that he wouldn't have actually survived the fallout of any of those events if she hadn't been there.

But he doesn't know what's going on in her head, and so when she smiles, he buys it, he returns the smile. ]

Hah. Well, I'll sure try at least? [The fact he's willing to try is at least some step in the right direction. ]

[Well, being a mind reader would require him to be willing to use MAGIC, so that won't happen any time soon.

She didn't always have such a mindset, about being some "big damn hero." She had been perfectly content living the life she had had. No one had asked her to give up being a young teenager and fight monsters or else the entire world would be in danger. She just got TOLD she was going to do it. Risk your life, Usagi, you have powers, you HAVE to, find the princess so everyone can be saved, oh, turns out you are the princess.

And then it just built and built and built the more and more she was hunted down by enemies who wanted her powers, the more and more she realized she would never get to go back to being a normal girl. And that was... fine. She had made her peace with that, embraced it, even. But embracing that came hand in hand with her having take up the role of fighting for everyone, everything, all the time, to give up everything for everyone.

Because that was her greatest power, to give all of herself, even her life, so that everyone else would be saved.

And then Deerington came along.

And it mocked her, laughed in her face. She couldn't save everyone, she couldn't save... anyone. She had her powers but no amount of sacrifice, no great act would do anything for anyone.

But for so many years that had been her life.

How was she supposed to just turn that off? Why did everyone think it was just some easy task after YEARS of finally accepting she would ALWAYS be hunted down because of her powers, because of her planet, because of who she loved and who loved her back to just suddenly be a normal teen again?

So she shoves it down and away.

It would be JUST her luck she would finally accept that she DOESN'T have to be the one to save everyone or anything only for the SOMETHING to turn around and demand it of her again. Because the universe didn't give a shit if you were tired, if you had decided you were doing something. If the universe said "you're this now" how did you argue? It doesn't go away, it doesn't fix anything. It just is and there's no time or place to be dealing with something as trivial as her feelings when the world is literally falling apart.

She would handle the world falling apart, likely be useless in that too, and then she'd just... well, she didn't know. Thinking about the future of this god awful dream meant she would either die or wake up.

And Deerington wouldn't need her anymore now then it ever has and she would be as useless as when she arrived.]

That's all I ask. [She smiled at Varian.] You usually succeed when you try, I'm not worried.

[Not until he gets sucked into Trench and has magic forced upon him, anyway.

It truly is sad Rapunzel never stayed long enough for Usagi to get really close. He's pretty sure she and Usagi could talk for hours on the weight of the world and trying to carry it. ]

Hah, usually being the key word there. But thanks. Guess all both of us can do is try, huh?

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lightthedarkness - 2021-07-30 18:49 (UTC) - Expand