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Deerington Inbox
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[A few days before Valentine's Day Vira-Lorr will find a package at her door.
It's a box of chocolates! And it comes with a handwritten note:]
Hey,
I just learned about this rad human holiday where you give people stuff if they're important to you, so I hope you like chocolate!
And if this isn't how the holiday works, sorry. I'm trying my best here.
-Fern
It's a box of chocolates! And it comes with a handwritten note:]
Hey,
I just learned about this rad human holiday where you give people stuff if they're important to you, so I hope you like chocolate!
And if this isn't how the holiday works, sorry. I'm trying my best here.
-Fern
Are we doing this in person, or via the network, Reaper? And for my reference, is this important enough that I should turn off the usual banter and humor?
Either way, I'm here for you, friend.
[She didn't take lightly the kind of relationship that they had. In part because of that, it never hurt to make sure how light-hearted to keep the banter, considering how they'd addressed a few things in the past.]
Either way, I'm here for you, friend.
[She didn't take lightly the kind of relationship that they had. In part because of that, it never hurt to make sure how light-hearted to keep the banter, considering how they'd addressed a few things in the past.]
Well well, hello there Fern.
That was very nice of you, and kind of nice after the day we both had.
I do, in fact, like chocolates and this is perfectly fine for the holiday.
I am told that friends give friends chocolates, but maybe give something special to your "special someone?"
That was very nice of you, and kind of nice after the day we both had.
I do, in fact, like chocolates and this is perfectly fine for the holiday.
I am told that friends give friends chocolates, but maybe give something special to your "special someone?"
I don't want to do it in person.
[Even if he knew he should. He felt vulnerable enough as it was, like his world was teetering on his shoulders and he'd either drop it or be crushed by it.]
I won't stop your banter, but it may be misplaced this time. If this is a bad time, tell me and I'll hold off.
[Don't let him have an excuse to self-destruct alone.]
[Even if he knew he should. He felt vulnerable enough as it was, like his world was teetering on his shoulders and he'd either drop it or be crushed by it.]
I won't stop your banter, but it may be misplaced this time. If this is a bad time, tell me and I'll hold off.
[Don't let him have an excuse to self-destruct alone.]
In that case you're not likely to hear much.
No, I'm available right now. I've closed the door to keep the others out. What's on your mind, Reaver?
[She considered for a moment using his name, but shelved it. She knew better really. But this seemed important and she was going to take it seriously. And gods new that, if that idiotic plan of Bill hadn't killed them all, she wanted everyone she cared about to be in a more or less stable mental space.]
No, I'm available right now. I've closed the door to keep the others out. What's on your mind, Reaver?
[She considered for a moment using his name, but shelved it. She knew better really. But this seemed important and she was going to take it seriously. And gods new that, if that idiotic plan of Bill hadn't killed them all, she wanted everyone she cared about to be in a more or less stable mental space.]
Actually for once, no. You're clearly more comfortable with text, so text it will remain. I am, in fact, at the office. I've got reports to file after the debacle with Cypher, and I'm compiling what we verified. But I don't really feel like dealing with anyone who isn't business only at the moment, so only Winter's allowed in.
And she won't interrupt us. Formal, that girl. So, type away.
And she won't interrupt us. Formal, that girl. So, type away.
[There was a long pause before he replied as he debated if he should just cut his losses and go at it alone as he always did these days. Even now, as the subject he wanted to reach to her for ate at him, he experienced a flush of anger at himself for such stupidity. He was too old for such trivial matters to bother him any more.
Yet, here he was. Being weak.]
Maul's brother arrived a few days ago.
Yet, here he was. Being weak.]
Maul's brother arrived a few days ago.
His brother?!?
Gods, but anything involving his life from his world is almost insanely complicated and dark from the little we've spoken. I haven't gotten any clarity on the situation with his blood relatives. So, I will simply ask.
Besides being complicated, is this mostly a 'good thing' or a 'bad thing' as you've seen it thus far?
Gods, but anything involving his life from his world is almost insanely complicated and dark from the little we've spoken. I haven't gotten any clarity on the situation with his blood relatives. So, I will simply ask.
Besides being complicated, is this mostly a 'good thing' or a 'bad thing' as you've seen it thus far?
They made a public announcement about it so Maul could threaten the citizens of Deerington. You should look at it. Quite informative.
[She wasn't wrong that Maul was all sorts of dark, edgy and complicated. A blood relative - no that blood relative - was clearly something very important to Maul.]
He seems happy. He deserves some measure of it, for however long Sodder allows us to keep it.
From my experiences thus far with my closer relationships, things always fall apart when someone close to the other shows up. Maul is very close and very protective of the brother.
Maul and I have grown close. If I lose him with this new arrival, I don't know how to handle it.
[She wasn't wrong that Maul was all sorts of dark, edgy and complicated. A blood relative - no that blood relative - was clearly something very important to Maul.]
He seems happy. He deserves some measure of it, for however long Sodder allows us to keep it.
From my experiences thus far with my closer relationships, things always fall apart when someone close to the other shows up. Maul is very close and very protective of the brother.
Maul and I have grown close. If I lose him with this new arrival, I don't know how to handle it.
[She made a mental note to go view the message. Maul was never known for being subtle, after all, so she'd get a good bead on things there quickly enough.]
Alright. Better reaction than the one I'm sure he had when he realized a certain Jedi's identity, no doubt.
On the one hand, because of the drastic difference between the nature of your closeness to him, as I'm assuming? I don't think you would have anything there to worry about. Maul is the sort who compartmentalizes his relationships well. I think he's been getting used to the fact that more than one person has been caring about him, though he struck me as volatile recently.
Still, because I know you have some experience, you have concerns that having kin would reduce his closeness to everyone. Have you spoken with him?
Alright. Better reaction than the one I'm sure he had when he realized a certain Jedi's identity, no doubt.
On the one hand, because of the drastic difference between the nature of your closeness to him, as I'm assuming? I don't think you would have anything there to worry about. Maul is the sort who compartmentalizes his relationships well. I think he's been getting used to the fact that more than one person has been caring about him, though he struck me as volatile recently.
Still, because I know you have some experience, you have concerns that having kin would reduce his closeness to everyone. Have you spoken with him?
I personally found that yelling entertaining, but I understand how Maul found it traumatizing.
[He was still not even bothering to pretend to be a good person. However, he also needed to poke at Maul who made so many public appearances that were stupid and reckless. He enjoyed going in and shaking things up at least.]
That brother brought something with him. A part of their home planet, and that place seems volatile. When I go there, my thoughts grow darker than usual.
[The timing was similar, but his facts about the planet and the brother were wrong. He couldn't be faulted for worrying that if his thoughts could go that dark that creeping insecurities would follow suit as he avoided the pressing idea of unspeakable violence.]
No, I haven't spoken with him. He's distracted and volatile, as you've pointed out.
[He was still not even bothering to pretend to be a good person. However, he also needed to poke at Maul who made so many public appearances that were stupid and reckless. He enjoyed going in and shaking things up at least.]
That brother brought something with him. A part of their home planet, and that place seems volatile. When I go there, my thoughts grow darker than usual.
[The timing was similar, but his facts about the planet and the brother were wrong. He couldn't be faulted for worrying that if his thoughts could go that dark that creeping insecurities would follow suit as he avoided the pressing idea of unspeakable violence.]
No, I haven't spoken with him. He's distracted and volatile, as you've pointed out.
[There is a white and orange box of sour candies with an anime Luz drawing on it saying, "You are one of the coolest people I know, here's hoping you have a wonderful Valentine's Day!"
I will say that I was fortunate enough to miss it. Far more comfortable for me.
[She disliked making choices, and she barely knew Obi-Wan Kenobi.]
Hmmm. Something is making him more volatile. It might be good to spea with him about it. Carefully. It might be his brother, or it might be this thing, or it could be any of a number of impacts in Deerington, or just the stress.
My concern is that it's easy for us to jump to conclusions, and I'm not sure it's wise. I don't think your concern's misplaced however.
[She disliked making choices, and she barely knew Obi-Wan Kenobi.]
Hmmm. Something is making him more volatile. It might be good to spea with him about it. Carefully. It might be his brother, or it might be this thing, or it could be any of a number of impacts in Deerington, or just the stress.
My concern is that it's easy for us to jump to conclusions, and I'm not sure it's wise. I don't think your concern's misplaced however.
[The box of chocolates that was returned was definitely the store bought variety, mostly because Vira-Lorr didn't like Valentine's Day much, but nevertheless she wanted to be nice to Luz for sending it.]
You're quite a special young woman yourself. It's been a pleasure to meet you. Happy Valentine's Day!
You're quite a special young woman yourself. It's been a pleasure to meet you. Happy Valentine's Day!
Aww, thanks! I hope we talk more after all this too!
Hardly fortunate. It was entertaining.
[But she wasn't always as interested in drama as he was. Plus, Maul could be a lot to handle when in such a mood, and one sometimes needed a delicate hand.]
Likely, but I don't know what that could be. His planet does seem to have qualities that make it difficult for normal people to function well in, but from what I've seen, it doesn't affect him in the same way. I wouldn't know where to start in asking him about it; normally I would do recon, but I can't stay in the planetary sphere for long without thinking I'm going to kill something.
I like him, Vira. More than I should after everything I've had to do. This is the first time in many years I've wanted to make this work long term.
[He was at times uncomfortable with how much he valued the time he had Maul. He knew it was a vulnerability.]
So I have a right to be concerned. Good. That's what I needed to hear.
[But she wasn't always as interested in drama as he was. Plus, Maul could be a lot to handle when in such a mood, and one sometimes needed a delicate hand.]
Likely, but I don't know what that could be. His planet does seem to have qualities that make it difficult for normal people to function well in, but from what I've seen, it doesn't affect him in the same way. I wouldn't know where to start in asking him about it; normally I would do recon, but I can't stay in the planetary sphere for long without thinking I'm going to kill something.
I like him, Vira. More than I should after everything I've had to do. This is the first time in many years I've wanted to make this work long term.
[He was at times uncomfortable with how much he valued the time he had Maul. He knew it was a vulnerability.]
So I have a right to be concerned. Good. That's what I needed to hear.
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