πΉππππππ πΉπ ππΆ πππ (they/them) (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
ruevealing) wrote2023-08-05 10:44 pm
ruevealing) wrote2023-08-05 10:44 pm
[ Tony leaves a box on Rue's doorstep, filled to the brim with all sorts of owlbear-sized sewing supplies. "Figured you could always use extras. Thanks for taking care of those kids. ~TS" is how the note goes. ]
[A paw presses over their heart, short talons tickled by their feathers, just as gently placed as any touch Rue would offer.
Maybe Casey understands being an owlbear even better than they do.]
I - [It's true. The turtle, the kraken, the cats down at the cat cafe - Speaking to them was just like speaking to anyone else. Why wouldn't they assume an owlbear would be exact same? Why does that realization feel like a punch to the gut?]
I don't know why I never thought of it before. I feel foolish. It must have been easier to deal with that loss thinking otherwise, believing she was only a beast. [Their own paw, massive in comparison, rests over Casey's.] I have worried briefly of what would become of me if the magic that changed me left, if I returned to what I was before.
Maybe Casey understands being an owlbear even better than they do.]
I - [It's true. The turtle, the kraken, the cats down at the cat cafe - Speaking to them was just like speaking to anyone else. Why wouldn't they assume an owlbear would be exact same? Why does that realization feel like a punch to the gut?]
I don't know why I never thought of it before. I feel foolish. It must have been easier to deal with that loss thinking otherwise, believing she was only a beast. [Their own paw, massive in comparison, rests over Casey's.] I have worried briefly of what would become of me if the magic that changed me left, if I returned to what I was before.
[At the very least, he has truly learned from the best, even if this is technically their first lesson. More than an owlbear, he is their son, to the core.
His eyes widen at that admission, gently resting his chin over their joined hands. Could that even happen? Could that magic be stolen away, leaving Rue as they would have been if raised by wild owlbears... its so strange and terrifying to imagine. No wonder they worry. How much of them would remain? It's an unfair thing that could be taken away, after all they've done to become and accept who they are today.
His beak nibbles gently at the feathers of their paw beneath him.]
Still know us. Still family. Would help you come home again.
[Rue is Rue, no matter the form. If their intelligence and sentience was stolen from them, the whole family would sweep in and do everything in their power to bring their mother back. But mother they would remain, even so.]
His eyes widen at that admission, gently resting his chin over their joined hands. Could that even happen? Could that magic be stolen away, leaving Rue as they would have been if raised by wild owlbears... its so strange and terrifying to imagine. No wonder they worry. How much of them would remain? It's an unfair thing that could be taken away, after all they've done to become and accept who they are today.
His beak nibbles gently at the feathers of their paw beneath him.]
Still know us. Still family. Would help you come home again.
[Rue is Rue, no matter the form. If their intelligence and sentience was stolen from them, the whole family would sweep in and do everything in their power to bring their mother back. But mother they would remain, even so.]
[Peter spun around in circles for at least a day or two on whether he should message Rue at all. He doesn't want to just... unload on them.
It is the holiday season. Everyone is supposed to be having a good time. Here he is, being a mess again. It is supposed to be a happy time of year. He's just overreacting to a pair of glasses.All he seems to do is be afraid and upset. Why does Rue even want him around when he's like this?
It is a gift. A gift that came back to him. It has to be meant for him, right? It came back to him.
The EDITH glasses are within his line of sight, and Peter is half afraid of letting them get very far. What if someone else takes them? They aren't connected to Stark Industries drones anymore, but, the fear is a knot in his chest.
He has yet to put them on.
Peter writes the message, deletes it, and does it on loop for a good portion of the day. Nothing he writes even feels remotely correct.
Eventually he finds something okay to send.]
When you're free, could we talk about something?
Reply whenever you want to. I know you're busy.
It is the holiday season. Everyone is supposed to be having a good time. Here he is, being a mess again. It is supposed to be a happy time of year. He's just overreacting to a pair of glasses.
It is a gift. A gift that came back to him. It has to be meant for him, right? It came back to him.
The EDITH glasses are within his line of sight, and Peter is half afraid of letting them get very far. What if someone else takes them? They aren't connected to Stark Industries drones anymore, but, the fear is a knot in his chest.
He has yet to put them on.
Peter writes the message, deletes it, and does it on loop for a good portion of the day. Nothing he writes even feels remotely correct.
Eventually he finds something okay to send.]
When you're free, could we talk about something?
Reply whenever you want to. I know you're busy.
[Rue does not leave him hanging for long, maybe thirty minutes while they were cuddling their husband on the couch.]
You absolutely may! I'm entirely free right now. Shall I come to you? Or would you rather meet at the shop? Or even over here, if you don't mind the distance? Whatever works best, darling.
You absolutely may! I'm entirely free right now. Shall I come to you? Or would you rather meet at the shop? Or even over here, if you don't mind the distance? Whatever works best, darling.
[The fear of losing the glasses keeps him feeling stuck in place. One wrong move and EDITH will disappear again.
He won't let Tony down again.
Rue knowing should make it safer, right? Better? He has no idea anymore.]
Could you come to the apartment? If that's okay? I'll unlock the door when you get here.
He won't let Tony down again.
Rue knowing should make it safer, right? Better? He has no idea anymore.]
Could you come to the apartment? If that's okay? I'll unlock the door when you get here.
[hm. small rising anxiety]
I will be there as quickly as possible.
[And they are all of the way in Gram so it takes some time to get over to the city, but as quickly as they are able, Rue rolls up and, after a brief knock to announce their presence, lets themself inside.]
Peter dearest?
I will be there as quickly as possible.
[And they are all of the way in Gram so it takes some time to get over to the city, but as quickly as they are able, Rue rolls up and, after a brief knock to announce their presence, lets themself inside.]
Peter dearest?
[no. that won't do at all. rue will circle back around to this later.]
Hm! Either way, welcome to Willow, dear friend! [They hold out a small welcoming basket for him - full of freshly baked bread, fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as a decorative hand towel in pretty winter florals.]
I hope you find this place as peaceful as I do.
Hm! Either way, welcome to Willow, dear friend! [They hold out a small welcoming basket for him - full of freshly baked bread, fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as a decorative hand towel in pretty winter florals.]
I hope you find this place as peaceful as I do.
[Some time in the morning - not too early, he's a sensible man - there is a knock at Rue's door. There is Caduceus, dressed in a comfortable fine robe with a basket over his arm.]
[They can't help but think of their own admission just some weeks earlier.
I would rather be dead.
But Casey promises they would all bring Rue home and fight for them, do whatever they could to bring them back, and the promise is a mix of sweetly heartwarming and utterly terrifying. The very idea that they may hurt one of their own sons while feral would absolutely devastate them.
- But maybe they would recognize their smell as their own children, maybe the magic of the vows they've made would persist still, even after the rest of it had fled from Rue completely.
Without warning, Rue huffs out a sigh and shakes their big, feathery head, ruffling up their usually neat feathers. And they they lean in to nibble a preening kiss into Casey's heart-shaped feathers, tender and familiar and adoring.]
I believe you. But ultimately, it has not happened yet, so certainly, it never will. I feared being cut off from the Fae Realm's magic might trigger such a change within myself, but it's been well over a year now and I am still perfectly myself, magic and all.
I would rather be dead.
But Casey promises they would all bring Rue home and fight for them, do whatever they could to bring them back, and the promise is a mix of sweetly heartwarming and utterly terrifying. The very idea that they may hurt one of their own sons while feral would absolutely devastate them.
- But maybe they would recognize their smell as their own children, maybe the magic of the vows they've made would persist still, even after the rest of it had fled from Rue completely.
Without warning, Rue huffs out a sigh and shakes their big, feathery head, ruffling up their usually neat feathers. And they they lean in to nibble a preening kiss into Casey's heart-shaped feathers, tender and familiar and adoring.]
I believe you. But ultimately, it has not happened yet, so certainly, it never will. I feared being cut off from the Fae Realm's magic might trigger such a change within myself, but it's been well over a year now and I am still perfectly myself, magic and all.
[Peter for his part just finds himself flipping open the glasses case, staring and shutting it on loop. Unable to break the anxious pattern for a good while.
Rue's arrival is enough for Peter to push himself onto his feet, carefully taking the glasses case with him. He tucks it smoothly into his shirt pocket.
He walks out into the main part of the apartment. Compared to when they last saw each other on the family sleepover, Peter seems excessively tired. EDITH has been weighing on him.]
Hey, Rue. Um, feel free to make yourself comfortable. Sorry, I should've made you like... something to drink or a snack. I can still do that, just... gimme a second.
[He's being a terrible host, and he knows that much.]
Rue's arrival is enough for Peter to push himself onto his feet, carefully taking the glasses case with him. He tucks it smoothly into his shirt pocket.
He walks out into the main part of the apartment. Compared to when they last saw each other on the family sleepover, Peter seems excessively tired. EDITH has been weighing on him.]
Hey, Rue. Um, feel free to make yourself comfortable. Sorry, I should've made you like... something to drink or a snack. I can still do that, just... gimme a second.
[He's being a terrible host, and he knows that much.]
[emphatically] Thank you. Most people I know kind of...dismiss him and what he's been through because he tries so hard to be good. But what's so funny about that? The world--all of them--could use a little good.
[Casey trills softly and leans into the fussing gesture, eyes closing contentedly. He's learned the appeal of preening, and he somewhat understands how Rue must have felt when he'd helped them during a moult. (Gosh. Would he do that now too? Is he going to feel itchy in his skin one day and need to have Rue free his feathers? What an interesting day that would be.)]
Mom is mom. Glad you're still you. Have faith that you will stay, have faith that we will find you if anything happens. There's nothing to fear.
[His chirping tone is firm, confident; his speech is even less clumsy and stilted as a result. They don't know what the future might bring, and maybe Thirteen will do something terrible for a trial, as she has before. But this is a test he believes wholeheartedly that they could win no matter what. Just as Leo brought Raph back from the Krang, they would bring Rue back through the magic of their bonds.]
Mom is mom. Glad you're still you. Have faith that you will stay, have faith that we will find you if anything happens. There's nothing to fear.
[His chirping tone is firm, confident; his speech is even less clumsy and stilted as a result. They don't know what the future might bring, and maybe Thirteen will do something terrible for a trial, as she has before. But this is a test he believes wholeheartedly that they could win no matter what. Just as Leo brought Raph back from the Krang, they would bring Rue back through the magic of their bonds.]
[peter's hot goss trait only activated because of proximity to rue]
They broke up?!
[ugh!!! lovers to enemies to lovers again!!!]
I hardly see the problem with hosting parties. I would never stand for my Knickolas telling me to stop. But this Mr. Barnes is not as close as he once was to Steve? What is the relationship there? Is that causing strain between Steve and Tony?
They broke up?!
[ugh!!! lovers to enemies to lovers again!!!]
I hardly see the problem with hosting parties. I would never stand for my Knickolas telling me to stop. But this Mr. Barnes is not as close as he once was to Steve? What is the relationship there? Is that causing strain between Steve and Tony?
I mean, they broke up the Avengers, which is a superhero group. [He is trying for accuracy. It shall not be heard.] But they were like super close before I think? It was this really big fight about the Accords that made them hate each other.
[No, Peter that doesn't help.]
Mr. Stark's parties were like, super destructive apparently. Like, he blew up most of his house once. Mrs. Potts probably didn't like that? I didn't know him then, so I don't have a great idea of what happened. [That is the least worst thing that happened, but its what Peter remembers off the top of his head. He's still just seated against Rue, peering up at them through the feathers.]
I dunno how close they are now. I didn't really ask. I mean, Mr. Barnes kinda got kidnapped and brainwashed by these guys he and Steve fought back in 1940's, HYDRA. He was gone for like 70 years and showed back up to commit crimes for HYDRA since he didn't remember who he was. Steve was really set on helping him at least according to the news. Tony doesn't seem to like him-? That was kind of what made the airport fight happen anyway. He has a really cool metal arm, and hits pretty hard.
[Hope Hob is enjoying this absolute clusterfuck of a conversation.]
[No, Peter that doesn't help.]
Mr. Stark's parties were like, super destructive apparently. Like, he blew up most of his house once. Mrs. Potts probably didn't like that? I didn't know him then, so I don't have a great idea of what happened. [That is the least worst thing that happened, but its what Peter remembers off the top of his head. He's still just seated against Rue, peering up at them through the feathers.]
I dunno how close they are now. I didn't really ask. I mean, Mr. Barnes kinda got kidnapped and brainwashed by these guys he and Steve fought back in 1940's, HYDRA. He was gone for like 70 years and showed back up to commit crimes for HYDRA since he didn't remember who he was. Steve was really set on helping him at least according to the news. Tony doesn't seem to like him-? That was kind of what made the airport fight happen anyway. He has a really cool metal arm, and hits pretty hard.
[Hope Hob is enjoying this absolute clusterfuck of a conversation.]
Edited 2023-12-26 23:08 (UTC)
[The smile Rue aims at him is all warmth, their big eyes squinting with affection for the way Raph ever-so-gently turns into their touch. More than anything, they think Raph deserves a chance to just be a kid, just the same as the rest of their boys do. He's spent too long living beneath the burden or leader and older brother and pseudo-parent. Let a teen just be a boy and a brother and a peer for once.]
Believe me, it is sorely needed. It's not just Donatello and Leonardo anymore, after all, now we have a whole circus of rambunctious, mischievous boys!
[And really, Rue could not be prouder.
They lean in to peck a kiss to the middle of Raph's forehead before pulling back again just to beam down on him.]
Of which you deserve the chance to join them while they play too. You're still young, my darling. Don't make yourself grow up before you have to.
Believe me, it is sorely needed. It's not just Donatello and Leonardo anymore, after all, now we have a whole circus of rambunctious, mischievous boys!
[And really, Rue could not be prouder.
They lean in to peck a kiss to the middle of Raph's forehead before pulling back again just to beam down on him.]
Of which you deserve the chance to join them while they play too. You're still young, my darling. Don't make yourself grow up before you have to.
Caduceus!
[And oh, it is entirely indecorous of them, but forgive Rue for throwing open the door and throwing their wings around him. They weren't certain if they'd see him again!]
I'm so happy to see you! What a wonderful surprise!
[And oh, it is entirely indecorous of them, but forgive Rue for throwing open the door and throwing their wings around him. They weren't certain if they'd see him again!]
I'm so happy to see you! What a wonderful surprise!
[His eyes widen, clearly not expecting Rue or the hug, though he's quick to return it. Fun fact: Caduceus gives fantastic hugs. Helps that he's big enough to return that enveloping feeling, arms long enough to reach comfortably around them.]
Oh, that's nice. [Love those hugs, any time.] I didn't know it was you who lived here, so the feeling is mutual. I suppose that means we're neighbours, now.
Oh, that's nice. [Love those hugs, any time.] I didn't know it was you who lived here, so the feeling is mutual. I suppose that means we're neighbours, now.
[If Peter even tries to step away to retreat to the kitchen, Rue is going to carefully take his hand in their palm and give it a gentle, supportive squeeze.]
Nonsense. I am here to see you. I don't need a thing.
Nonsense. I am here to see you. I don't need a thing.
[Rue's gentle hand pulls Peter to a stop. He's relaxed under Rue's touch. The squeeze softens some of the tension he's carrying.]
Okay, just- tell me if you change your mind or anything?
[He hesitates, needing a second to collect his thoughts.] I... I just wanted to trust you with something really serious. Like, let you in on a secret, I guess?
[That sounds stupid to Peter, given the way he winces at himself.] It's not dangerous here, technically, but It's something that's dangerous back in my world.
Okay, just- tell me if you change your mind or anything?
[He hesitates, needing a second to collect his thoughts.] I... I just wanted to trust you with something really serious. Like, let you in on a secret, I guess?
[That sounds stupid to Peter, given the way he winces at himself.] It's not dangerous here, technically, but It's something that's dangerous back in my world.
[As always, Rue is patient and calm and ready to wait as long as Peter needs, even if their worry is slowly rising with what the young man is describing. Something dangerous? A secret?
Can't their family have a single moment's peace?]
I am right here, darling. You can tell me anything.
Can't their family have a single moment's peace?]
I am right here, darling. You can tell me anything.
So, um, when I died. The man who killed me, Quentin Beck, was after these.
[He breaks away from Rue's hold to withdraw the glasses case. He opens the case and within are what seem like normal sunglasses. Nothing that really suits Peter.] Mr. Stark gave these to me in his will I think, and back home, EDITH, the glasses, are connected to a lot of weaponry. If you have access a lot of people could get hurt.
Beck wanted that, and made sure I was out of the way.
[He is half tempted to close the case.] Mr. Stark got them back somehow, and... now I have them again.
[He breaks away from Rue's hold to withdraw the glasses case. He opens the case and within are what seem like normal sunglasses. Nothing that really suits Peter.] Mr. Stark gave these to me in his will I think, and back home, EDITH, the glasses, are connected to a lot of weaponry. If you have access a lot of people could get hurt.
Beck wanted that, and made sure I was out of the way.
[He is half tempted to close the case.] Mr. Stark got them back somehow, and... now I have them again.
I could not agree more. People like him, with good hearts and good intentions, are exactly what we need most in any world. To know he has suffered so greatly but the goodness of his heart hasn't been changed, I can not imagine how strong he must be. And how intensely he must care for you.
Mom is... mom.
[Simple, but surprisingly effective.
They don't know if they carry quite that same level of faith in themself - dramatic as it sounds, Rue would rather take themself out than risk their sons' lives trusting a feral owlbear - but they do have faith in Casey, so maybe they can try to seek out the comfort in his words.
Besides, stranger things have happened. Maybe the power of their bonds would really bring Rue back around.]
That's enough of that. It's unnecessarily dark for our nice afternoon together. You have nothing to fear, I'm not going anywhere. I've made it this far, surely my mind is fully my own by now.
[Simple, but surprisingly effective.
They don't know if they carry quite that same level of faith in themself - dramatic as it sounds, Rue would rather take themself out than risk their sons' lives trusting a feral owlbear - but they do have faith in Casey, so maybe they can try to seek out the comfort in his words.
Besides, stranger things have happened. Maybe the power of their bonds would really bring Rue back around.]
That's enough of that. It's unnecessarily dark for our nice afternoon together. You have nothing to fear, I'm not going anywhere. I've made it this far, surely my mind is fully my own by now.
He's the strongest, best person I know. [and she blushes. blushes!] And yeah. It's been really rough being away from him so long. He...I've never felt so loved by anyone before. Everything in his upbringing said that he should reject me 'cause I'm an apostate mage, but he refused to let that color his opinion of me. He sees me for me.
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