Paul Atreides (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
terriblepurpose) wrote2030-12-01 07:56 pm
terriblepurpose) wrote2030-12-01 07:56 pm
Deer Country Contact
ic contact
un: younghuman ✦ text ✦ voice ✦ video
Hello, Oscar.
[The username is wrong, but he knows the voice.]
You've gotten caught in the network fritz.
[The username is wrong, but he knows the voice.]
You've gotten caught in the network fritz.
Oh no-- again?
[He quickly tried to fix his display name-- and let out a frustrated little noise then the Omni locked him out. ]
Dang it. Now I'm stuck with the name of the main character in my favorite story. It's not bad, but she's not me.
[a sigh.]
Well. Since we're here, what do you think?
[He quickly tried to fix his display name-- and let out a frustrated little noise then the Omni locked him out. ]
Dang it. Now I'm stuck with the name of the main character in my favorite story. It's not bad, but she's not me.
[a sigh.]
Well. Since we're here, what do you think?
About you getting a new weapon?
[Paul asks his Omni with soft amusement, cross-legged on a training mat and mopping a light sheen of perspiration off his face with a towel.]
Never a bad idea. What are you considering?
[Paul asks his Omni with soft amusement, cross-legged on a training mat and mopping a light sheen of perspiration off his face with a towel.]
Never a bad idea. What are you considering?
Well. I mean. A gun didn't work out that well.
[He pursed his lips at the memory. A gun had been helpful, by ultimately it had left him open to an attack he hadn't anticipated.
It probably wasn't a good idea to do anything that facilitated a similar situation to happen again in the future. ]
.... I actually can fight with a cane, but I gave the Long Memory back to Ozpin. It's his, I guess.
[Even if being without it sometimes left him grasping at air while he unconsciously searched for an anchor to hold to-- but that was a separate issue. ]
As you see, I'm trying to get to Ruby. Since we're here, though... Did you have ideas?
[He pursed his lips at the memory. A gun had been helpful, by ultimately it had left him open to an attack he hadn't anticipated.
It probably wasn't a good idea to do anything that facilitated a similar situation to happen again in the future. ]
.... I actually can fight with a cane, but I gave the Long Memory back to Ozpin. It's his, I guess.
[Even if being without it sometimes left him grasping at air while he unconsciously searched for an anchor to hold to-- but that was a separate issue. ]
As you see, I'm trying to get to Ruby. Since we're here, though... Did you have ideas?
[...Boy. This was a difficult one. As much as Ochako likes Paul, she has to admit that she knows close to nothing about him, and asking Deku for help seems a little like cheating, so she resigned herself to doing her best and giving a mostly generic gift set. S-Sorry, Paul...she hopes you like it anyway.
So!! On the morning of Christmas day, a simple gift box will be waiting outside on Paul's doorstep, wrapped in navy blue paper with decorated stars, snowflakes, and a dusting of silver and gold glitter on it as well, tied up with a shiny, dark green ribbon. Inside the package will be a cozy scarf and hat as well as a moderately sized plastic gift bag of candied fruits. Ochako has no idea what Paul's flavor preference is, so she hopes that a mix of sweet and tart fruits would at least be okay.
Finally, tucked away into a fold of the scarf is a note card with a Christmas tree drawn on one side and a neatly written note on the other:]
Dear Paul-kun,
I'm not sure if Deku has already told you about Christmas? It's a winter holiday in our world where you give gifts to friends, family, and people you care about. It has different customs in different parts of our world, but you ought to know...it's a COUPLES holiday in Japan. For your reference~ ♡(>ᴗ•)
I hope you like the sweets, I really wasn't sure what to get you, sorry...or what types of foods you liked. If you're prefer something else - salty, savory, spicy...just let me know and I can exchange it for something else. Oh, and of course, if you just need anything in general, let me know (if Deku hasn't already helped out, haha). The weather here is really bad, and there's SO much more snow than I've ever seen back home. We usually don't get nearly this much...so I've been sort of working hard to make sure no one's trapped or snowed in. Likewise for you all!! Stay safe!
Please also give Deku my regards, though I'll be getting him a gift too, of course. I hope you all spend plenty of time together this season, and enjoy a New Year together as well!!
Your friend,
Uraraka Ochako ♥
So!! On the morning of Christmas day, a simple gift box will be waiting outside on Paul's doorstep, wrapped in navy blue paper with decorated stars, snowflakes, and a dusting of silver and gold glitter on it as well, tied up with a shiny, dark green ribbon. Inside the package will be a cozy scarf and hat as well as a moderately sized plastic gift bag of candied fruits. Ochako has no idea what Paul's flavor preference is, so she hopes that a mix of sweet and tart fruits would at least be okay.
Finally, tucked away into a fold of the scarf is a note card with a Christmas tree drawn on one side and a neatly written note on the other:]
Dear Paul-kun,
I'm not sure if Deku has already told you about Christmas? It's a winter holiday in our world where you give gifts to friends, family, and people you care about. It has different customs in different parts of our world, but you ought to know...it's a COUPLES holiday in Japan. For your reference~ ♡(>ᴗ•)
I hope you like the sweets, I really wasn't sure what to get you, sorry...or what types of foods you liked. If you're prefer something else - salty, savory, spicy...just let me know and I can exchange it for something else. Oh, and of course, if you just need anything in general, let me know (if Deku hasn't already helped out, haha). The weather here is really bad, and there's SO much more snow than I've ever seen back home. We usually don't get nearly this much...so I've been sort of working hard to make sure no one's trapped or snowed in. Likewise for you all!! Stay safe!
Please also give Deku my regards, though I'll be getting him a gift too, of course. I hope you all spend plenty of time together this season, and enjoy a New Year together as well!!
Your friend,
Uraraka Ochako ♥
[A return note arrives for Ochako after the holidays, delivered via mouse Omen.]
Dear Uraraka-san,
I've been making good use of your gift in the cold weather, and I am grateful for your advice about the nature of the holiday in Japan. Researching Earth customs is challenging at times due to their diversity - your planet is more complex than I would have ever imagined it to be.
I enjoyed the candied fruits very much. They're the perfect thing to take with me when I venture out on foraging expeditions. I'll eat nearly anything, but I'll admit a slight and growing preference for sweet things, which I think I'll blame on Kaworu and Deku.
As ever, I am humbled by your generosity of spirit. If there ever is anything I need that you could help me with, I'll come to you, and I hope that you know the same holds true in my direction. (I largely suspect it may have to do with tricking Deku into taking a break - his tireless snow clearing is beginning to look rather tired.)
Your friend,
Paul Atreides
P.S. (ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧ Happy New Year.
Dear Uraraka-san,
I've been making good use of your gift in the cold weather, and I am grateful for your advice about the nature of the holiday in Japan. Researching Earth customs is challenging at times due to their diversity - your planet is more complex than I would have ever imagined it to be.
I enjoyed the candied fruits very much. They're the perfect thing to take with me when I venture out on foraging expeditions. I'll eat nearly anything, but I'll admit a slight and growing preference for sweet things, which I think I'll blame on Kaworu and Deku.
As ever, I am humbled by your generosity of spirit. If there ever is anything I need that you could help me with, I'll come to you, and I hope that you know the same holds true in my direction. (I largely suspect it may have to do with tricking Deku into taking a break - his tireless snow clearing is beginning to look rather tired.)
Your friend,
Paul Atreides
P.S. (ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧ Happy New Year.
[Delivered to Paul's door is an incense burner and a plate of bakery bought cookies. Attached is a note:]
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays Paul.
I don't know if you know this holiday but on my planet around this time of year we give gifts to friends and family. Thank you for what you did for me.
With love,
Usagi
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays Paul.
I don't know if you know this holiday but on my planet around this time of year we give gifts to friends and family. Thank you for what you did for me.
With love,
Usagi
Edited 2022-12-26 06:23 (UTC)
[After the day of gift giving itself, but before the new year, a grass woven basket finds its way to Usagi's door step in turn. It's filled with a soft, sheer, and surprisingly warm blanket nestled around a wrapped box of chocolates.]
Happy Holidays Usagi,
The holiday is new to me, but the sentiments aren't. Thank you for your gift, and thank you for allowing me to offer you help when you were in need. That's the way we keep each other safe in this world.
Yours sincerely,
Paul Atreides
Happy Holidays Usagi,
The holiday is new to me, but the sentiments aren't. Thank you for your gift, and thank you for allowing me to offer you help when you were in need. That's the way we keep each other safe in this world.
Yours sincerely,
Paul Atreides
Since Midoriya is spending Christmas with Paul and Kaworu (and all the poisonous decorative seasonal plants Paul has festooned the apartment with), he has the opportunity to present his gifts in person. Paul's is no great secret to someone discerning looking for clues; Midoriya sets the cardboard box down carefully, and it's slightly open for ventilation with a faint earthy smell.
Inside a glass terrarium are a bit of carefully harvested earth and a piece of log, both covered in moss. It sports a healthy cluster of mushrooms. He made sure it was a species Paul knew.
There's dinner and Christmas cake. And for New Year's, he's gotten them all Japanese sweets, satsumas, and green tea to have together.
Inside a glass terrarium are a bit of carefully harvested earth and a piece of log, both covered in moss. It sports a healthy cluster of mushrooms. He made sure it was a species Paul knew.
There's dinner and Christmas cake. And for New Year's, he's gotten them all Japanese sweets, satsumas, and green tea to have together.
Between Christmas Day and New Year's, Paul takes advantage of the many and multiplying poisonous plants he's strung through both of their apartments to bestow so many kisses on Midoriya and Kaworu combined that his lips start to chap (and any explanation that it might instead be the dry winter air is soundly rejected). The terrarium takes up a place of the highest honour in a shaded corner of his bedroom, and Paul can be found meditating in front of it more than any other spot.
He could have sworn there were less poisonous plants hanging there the day before...
[Late December tended to be a rough time for Oscar, but he made sure all of his close contacts received a little something. Paul will find waiting at his doorstep a package that contained the following:
- 1 jar of homemade jam
- A selection of homemade cookies
- A pair of fingerless gloves with an attached coverlet to pull over the fingertips, allowing them to be mittens
- A calligraphy set
- A leather bound journal with a note tucked inside: 'You can make your own magic books, too.']
- 1 jar of homemade jam
- A selection of homemade cookies
- A pair of fingerless gloves with an attached coverlet to pull over the fingertips, allowing them to be mittens
- A calligraphy set
- A leather bound journal with a note tucked inside: 'You can make your own magic books, too.']
text; un: enpawnsant (after receiving Paul's midwinter gift)
hearthebell
2023-01-06 07:43 am (UTC)(link)
Thank you for the Go board, Paul.
I might have realized I was being selfish if I'd noticed the time passing at all, last month. I'm sorry.
I might have realized I was being selfish if I'd noticed the time passing at all, last month. I'm sorry.
I'm glad you liked it. I thought we could cycle that in between chess games.
There's nothing to be sorry for. I assumed you were busy. If anyone should apologize, it should be me for not looking in on you.
There's nothing to be sorry for. I assumed you were busy. If anyone should apologize, it should be me for not looking in on you.
I was busy. The business is up and running, now.
[Paul would know about it, mentioned in passing by L or through Light's shrewd advertising, ensuring that there are posters up in places with high foot-traffic.
L still isn't used to having his name, even a fake one, attached so openly to what he does.]
We can catch up over a game of Go soon, perhaps. Early morning and late night are best for my schedule, but I can move some things around.
[Paul would know about it, mentioned in passing by L or through Light's shrewd advertising, ensuring that there are posters up in places with high foot-traffic.
L still isn't used to having his name, even a fake one, attached so openly to what he does.]
We can catch up over a game of Go soon, perhaps. Early morning and late night are best for my schedule, but I can move some things around.
I'd like that.
I want to hear how the business is going. It's almost like you've gone into guild-work for yourself.
No need to move anything. Late night is best for me, too. So long as I can pry Kaworu off of me, first.
I want to hear how the business is going. It's almost like you've gone into guild-work for yourself.
No need to move anything. Late night is best for me, too. So long as I can pry Kaworu off of me, first.
[Kaworu is not a morning angel. He is a mid-morning, laze about angel that stays in bed until someone has provided him the small amount of breakfast he will willingly eat. Or a morning snack of another kind.
But today is a special day.
He wakes up at dawn. He lets the reds and golds of the rising sun peaking through the blinds dance across his arm as he blinks sleep out of his eyes and debates if he's capable of this. Then he rolls over to flop on top of the floppy haired birthday boy at his side.
He doesn't remember Paul's last birthday. He thinks he may have been there but he wasn't there. So he has to fix that this time around. Even if it means making some sacrifices.]
Hey.
I'm awake at sunrise.
Hey.
[He flops a little.]
It's a gift for you.
But today is a special day.
He wakes up at dawn. He lets the reds and golds of the rising sun peaking through the blinds dance across his arm as he blinks sleep out of his eyes and debates if he's capable of this. Then he rolls over to flop on top of the floppy haired birthday boy at his side.
He doesn't remember Paul's last birthday. He thinks he may have been there but he wasn't there. So he has to fix that this time around. Even if it means making some sacrifices.]
Hey.
I'm awake at sunrise.
Hey.
[He flops a little.]
It's a gift for you.
[ Outside of this apartment, the morning is chilled and quiet, another day not quite on the cusp of spring, but not fully immersed in winter.
Outside of this bed, inside of this apartment, the morning is warm, and the gentle and enticing scent of breakfast being transformed from raw ingredients to cooked foodstuff mingles with the soft noises of careful preparation at the scarred hands of a deft and thoughtful companion.
Inside of this bed, where Paul is emerging gradually from the caul of sleep, the morning is close and cosy, and the smell of an open ocean breeze is caught inside of fine silver hair tickling his cheek. Paul forms a wordless murmur as Kaworu flings himself on top of him, his arm coming up to drape across Kaworu's waist as he nuzzles down into the fuzzy mop of Kaworu's head, his eyes not yet opening. ]
Morning.
[ He ought to do something, he thinks. He settles on pressing a sleepy kiss to Kaworu's forehead and slightly tightening his arm. ]
Didn't have to...
[ Wake up so early, or at all, but even in his blurry state Paul can think better of it. Kaworu went out of his way for him, and it sinks into the muzzy peace of Paul's heart. ]
Thank you.
Outside of this bed, inside of this apartment, the morning is warm, and the gentle and enticing scent of breakfast being transformed from raw ingredients to cooked foodstuff mingles with the soft noises of careful preparation at the scarred hands of a deft and thoughtful companion.
Inside of this bed, where Paul is emerging gradually from the caul of sleep, the morning is close and cosy, and the smell of an open ocean breeze is caught inside of fine silver hair tickling his cheek. Paul forms a wordless murmur as Kaworu flings himself on top of him, his arm coming up to drape across Kaworu's waist as he nuzzles down into the fuzzy mop of Kaworu's head, his eyes not yet opening. ]
Morning.
[ He ought to do something, he thinks. He settles on pressing a sleepy kiss to Kaworu's forehead and slightly tightening his arm. ]
Didn't have to...
[ Wake up so early, or at all, but even in his blurry state Paul can think better of it. Kaworu went out of his way for him, and it sinks into the muzzy peace of Paul's heart. ]
Thank you.
I did.
[There's a big of indignant flailing, like he might push himself up in some sort of self-important display but decides he wants to remain in Paul's arms.
This isn't the first birthday Paul has had in the Trench but it's the first either of them will remember. And memories are so precious. Sometimes, they're all you're left with.]
So...c'mon. [He reaches out to poke Paul's face but his hand collides with high cheekbones with early morning heaviness.]
Where's the sunrise?
[There's a big of indignant flailing, like he might push himself up in some sort of self-important display but decides he wants to remain in Paul's arms.
This isn't the first birthday Paul has had in the Trench but it's the first either of them will remember. And memories are so precious. Sometimes, they're all you're left with.]
So...c'mon. [He reaches out to poke Paul's face but his hand collides with high cheekbones with early morning heaviness.]
Where's the sunrise?
Outside.
[ He isn't making fun of Kaworu. He's only still half-asleep, and therefore tending to the literal.
Or maybe he is teasing, a little, but only because of the palm to the face. ]
Stay in bed a little more. [ He counters, anchoring Kaworu that much more firmly. ] 'Swarm.
[ He isn't making fun of Kaworu. He's only still half-asleep, and therefore tending to the literal.
Or maybe he is teasing, a little, but only because of the palm to the face. ]
Stay in bed a little more. [ He counters, anchoring Kaworu that much more firmly. ] 'Swarm.
Midoriya asks Paul for a few hours, to dress warmly, and to pack his supplies for collecting nature samples. He's confident no one knows about this place in the Rocks, where even Beasts have a difficult time traversing. It's at a dizzying height and too dangerous to get to without superpowers. Midoriya only discovered it when he was combing this area in much more dire circumstances.
Thanks to a careful application of super strength, Blackwhip, and Float, he lowers them down into an otherwise treacherous crevasse beset by chaotic ocean winds. Tucked away against one sheer rock face is a narrow fissure just wide enough to admit one person at a time. Midoriya instructs Paul to enter first with a Moon Orb light.
The cave is the size of a house and oddly warmer than the frigid weather. A distant mineral smell suggests something thermal at work like the natural hot springs nearby. Stalactites and stalagmites curtain the walls. In the distance, a few bats that braved the wind rustle their wings sleepily. After situating themselves on the gently sloping entry, Midoriya closes the lid on the lantern.
Capped stalks and filaments of cave fungi glow green to purple. Beetles luminescent with false chartreuse eyes tentatively emerge from a far wall. Their glowworm larvae speckle the ceiling like lapis stars. There didn't seem to be much life in this remote cave, but it does in fact teem with it.
Thanks to a careful application of super strength, Blackwhip, and Float, he lowers them down into an otherwise treacherous crevasse beset by chaotic ocean winds. Tucked away against one sheer rock face is a narrow fissure just wide enough to admit one person at a time. Midoriya instructs Paul to enter first with a Moon Orb light.
The cave is the size of a house and oddly warmer than the frigid weather. A distant mineral smell suggests something thermal at work like the natural hot springs nearby. Stalactites and stalagmites curtain the walls. In the distance, a few bats that braved the wind rustle their wings sleepily. After situating themselves on the gently sloping entry, Midoriya closes the lid on the lantern.
Capped stalks and filaments of cave fungi glow green to purple. Beetles luminescent with false chartreuse eyes tentatively emerge from a far wall. Their glowworm larvae speckle the ceiling like lapis stars. There didn't seem to be much life in this remote cave, but it does in fact teem with it.
"Oh."
The exhalation is too soft to bounce off the slick cave walls, a gentle heave and fall of Paul's shoulders only marked by the faint shadows cast by the teaming natural light in the crevasse. When he brings his knit hands to cover his mouth, it is a barely perceptible gesture in the gloom.
"It's beautiful," Paul says, through his laced fingers, covered lantern set down by his feet, his eyes turned upward to the glowing filaments above, "How did you find this?"
There are more things in the world than many people might guess that evoke awe in Paul. This cave and its contents are among them. The question is an open, edgeless one, tinted throughout with his amazement - and then, with his affection, as his gaze turns to Midoriya in the pallid light of the cave dwelling creatures all around them.
The exhalation is too soft to bounce off the slick cave walls, a gentle heave and fall of Paul's shoulders only marked by the faint shadows cast by the teaming natural light in the crevasse. When he brings his knit hands to cover his mouth, it is a barely perceptible gesture in the gloom.
"It's beautiful," Paul says, through his laced fingers, covered lantern set down by his feet, his eyes turned upward to the glowing filaments above, "How did you find this?"
There are more things in the world than many people might guess that evoke awe in Paul. This cave and its contents are among them. The question is an open, edgeless one, tinted throughout with his amazement - and then, with his affection, as his gaze turns to Midoriya in the pallid light of the cave dwelling creatures all around them.
Edited 2023-03-10 05:50 (UTC)
He pauses while unbuttoning his puffy jacket. Paul's reaction is also part of the experience. Midoriya waits too keenly for it despite reassuring himself Paul is thrilled with this place. When attention is turned on him, he flushes a pale pink that has nothing to do with windchill. It's a murky shade in the faint cool light. His eyes catch the green and hold it like jewels. Some days, like today, they're mostly clear of Corruption, though the shadows around them remain firmly in place.
"I was looking for some--something else."
It's one of his half-truths, and he knows by now he's a terrible liar. This makes him immediately nervous in contrast to the careful and confident way he climbed here. He doesn't want to spoil Paul's birthday gift by talking about patrolling the skies in a desperate search for the lost multiple times in the last year.
He should probably take his hand. Do something smooth. Isn't that what people do? He's been dating Paul and Kaworu for about a year. They mostly just carried on doing the things they liked, but with kissing. Midoriya has made his best guesses on what constitute normal outings with boyfriends, but the three of them are far from normal.
"...Surprise?" he ventures a word borrowed from English. Midoriya is not smooth.
"I was looking for some--something else."
It's one of his half-truths, and he knows by now he's a terrible liar. This makes him immediately nervous in contrast to the careful and confident way he climbed here. He doesn't want to spoil Paul's birthday gift by talking about patrolling the skies in a desperate search for the lost multiple times in the last year.
He should probably take his hand. Do something smooth. Isn't that what people do? He's been dating Paul and Kaworu for about a year. They mostly just carried on doing the things they liked, but with kissing. Midoriya has made his best guesses on what constitute normal outings with boyfriends, but the three of them are far from normal.
"...Surprise?" he ventures a word borrowed from English. Midoriya is not smooth.
The half-true answer only dims Paul's happiness for a moment. Midoriya is as ceaseless in his endeavours as Paul used to be; it isn't as though Paul is truly surprised that this discovery was made in the search for things more precious than glowing worms.
He remembered it, and he thought of Paul when he did. That's the part that wards off any faint darkening of heavier realities intruding on the moment.
"Surprise," he says, honestly, matching English for English. He drops his hands as he steps towards Midoriya to close their tiny gap, and then leans down to touch their foreheads together, angling the rest of himself just far enough back that Midoriya can keep unbuttoning his coat between their chests. Very gently, he brushes his knuckles underneath one of his shadowed eyes, skimming over practically invisible freckles in the gloom.
"Thank you." That, he says in Midoriya's mother tongue, which will always feel a little bit like love when it trips off the tip of his own. "I love it."
After everything terrible that's happened lately (to them, because of him), he wants to make a net of his fingers and catch this feeling like he caught his voice. Perhaps he could weave it watertight and wear it over his heart. Perhaps he could just stay here a few seconds longer, looking at the reflections in Izuku's eyes.
He remembered it, and he thought of Paul when he did. That's the part that wards off any faint darkening of heavier realities intruding on the moment.
"Surprise," he says, honestly, matching English for English. He drops his hands as he steps towards Midoriya to close their tiny gap, and then leans down to touch their foreheads together, angling the rest of himself just far enough back that Midoriya can keep unbuttoning his coat between their chests. Very gently, he brushes his knuckles underneath one of his shadowed eyes, skimming over practically invisible freckles in the gloom.
"Thank you." That, he says in Midoriya's mother tongue, which will always feel a little bit like love when it trips off the tip of his own. "I love it."
After everything terrible that's happened lately (to them, because of him), he wants to make a net of his fingers and catch this feeling like he caught his voice. Perhaps he could weave it watertight and wear it over his heart. Perhaps he could just stay here a few seconds longer, looking at the reflections in Izuku's eyes.
Page 2 of 2