Varian (
droptheious) wrote in
deercountry2021-11-01 06:42 pm
Entry tags:
- adam w: natalie,
- ange ushiromiya: jelle,
- ariadne: wizera,
- cassandra: drizz,
- charlie kelly: ashlee,
- fern: pan,
- glitch: ceej,
- haru: samii,
- luca: robin,
- luz noceda: pedro,
- manabu yuuki: elle,
- oscar pine: basil,
- peter graham: jhey,
- rapunzel: owl,
- ryan akagi: billie sue,
- stanford pines: kei,
- takashi "shiro" shirogane: red,
- varian: tf,
- vyng vang zoombah: jansen,
- yuri lowell: mads
Was I really seeking good [Open]
Who: Varian and you!
What: November catchall!
When: Throughout November.
Where: All around the place!
Content Warnings: Child poisoning in the comments, bloodletting in the first half of the Sleeper Farm prompt
BUILDING AN ABOMINATION TO THE GODS - Driveway of Disaster House, Cassandra- OTA
Varian can't actually remember the last time he built something purely for himself. Both back home, in Deerington and here in Trench, his inventions have always had a greater purpose. Sure, he enjoyed making them, but they were always ultimately to help other people. Building something just for his own enjoyment generally wasn't on his radar. It's only recently that he's felt like he's earned the right to indulge in something for himself.
And so, at the start of the month, Varian can be found on the driveway of the Disaster House- starting to put together the very early beginnings of a frame for a car. He isn't bothered by the lightly falling snow- he doesn't feel the cold anymore and the crisp air is honestly good for clearing his head. He's wearing his serial-killer-esque welding mask and has his little foot-pump-powered 1800s welding kit with him, but that isn't doing so well in the cold weather. After a few frustrating attempts at getting the damn thing to work, he gives up, stepping back to stare at the metal he's trying to get into shape. He looks at his hand, a soft hmmmmmm sound echoing in the mask. He's not comfortable with this, but Mako has been helping him get a more...positive outlook on his abilities.
So, for the first time since he got here, he decides to actually use his abilities for something instead of actively avoiding and being reviled by them. He flexes his fingers, using the techniques Mako has run over with him many a time, willing flame to sprout on them. He has to concentrate a lot, and it's definitely not a tiny, careful flame like the one on his torch (he's not quite THERE yet) but it's enough to start welding the pieces of metal together. Once he's done that he snuffs the flame by closing his fist. He steps back, pushing the mask up so it rests above his goggles (why doesn't he just take the goggles off, why does he have to wear both?) to assess his work, before realising someone is standing nearby, turning to offer a little smile.
"Do you think it looks okay? It's kinda shoddy but I guess I can always go over it later once the snow stops."
IT'S FULL OF OPENINGS, IT'S JUST YOU AIN'T SEEING THEM - All around the city - OTA
For once, fate has smiled down at Varian. His Patron is The Tower and while the buildings are shifting and doorways keep vanishing and reappearing he's still able to find his way around. It's given him confidence that means he might just be ignoring the always buddy up system, because it's fine. It's totally fine. He knows where he's going. So he goes about his daily business as normal - unfettered by the chaos that the vast majority of the population are dealing with. He's a compassionate soul, though, and if he sees someone looking lost, he moves over to them, raising an awkward hand in greeting.
"Uh... hey. You look...lost? Do you want me to help you out? I understand where I'm going for...for some reason. If you stick with me, we can get to where you need to go."
SECRET, SECRET, SECRET SECRET BUNKER - Willful Machine - 28th November OTA with CR prompt
Finding the compass on his workbench had been a happy little surprise. He didn't really need one, but it's pretty nice and after quizzing the people in his house (none of whom took responsibility for the little gift) he probably should have been worried about the device that just appeared in his lab in the dead of night. He isn't, though, because it's cool.
Naturally, he uses it as a normal compass first- but as he's working on his car, he does need to try it on bigger things. He's headed to Willful Machine for more parts, and it using it on a sheet of metal on the ground to measure out exactly what he needs. It's while he's doing this that the circle opens up under him, upending him into a little room. One moment he's there, the next he isn't. Maybe you were there to watch him fall in like an idiot. He looks around at the space- full of everything a person would need to hunker down for a night and makes a soft confused noise before yelling because that seems the best course of action here.
"Um- HI??? Is anyone there?"
And if that doesn't work, he'll get out his Omni and send a message to his friends:
Fell in a hole. I think into a pocket dimension? Help.
MUSHABOOMING
On hearing there were cool new mushrooms to deal with here, naturally, Varian's gone about trying to harvest some. He can make all kinds of cool alchemy with them!! This being Varian, of course, means he's neglected some pretty basic health and safety in his mushroom harvesting. So people can catch him in various pickles throughout the town as he goes about stupidly collecting stuff for his lab.
They may find him hallucinating on Walking Terrors, covered in spores and running around with a panicked expression and screaming about the floor melting. Or maybe you'll find him face-down in the dirt, a Floater sitting happily on top of him. Just...help the idiot out, he'd appreciate it.
THE SLEEPER FARM
Varian starts his No Good Real Bad Time swinging upside down- his blood dripping down into a bowl underneath him. It freezes before it hits the bowl, of course, leaving a blue, frozen blood slushie at the bottom. He's still confused how he got here, but he knows that's not the pressing concern here- not while there are other bodies strung up who have definitely had body parts removed. Varian does a quick, muggy-headed check that nothing seems to be out of place- no organs missing, two arms, one leg. Everything as it should be. They've even left him with his prosthetic, which is nice. But he'd still rather get down from here before this gets worse.
"Uhhhhhh, hi? Anyone still...conscious here?"
Or perhaps you find him afterwards, once he's down and on his feet again. He's still got a sizeable gash on his arm, but at least it's frozen over - thanks for the natural cauterization, coldblood! He'll be helping get other people down or helping them move as best he can. Much like earlier in the month in the town, he feels a strange pull towards the way out, and he'll be trying to bring whoever's with him along that path.
"C'mon, I...I know the way out."
He's not offering a reason for that, oh no. It's while he's leading someone towards the alter that they're suddenly pulled out by a force Varian recognises almost immediately. It's an old, familiar one after all- and once they're upended onto the lawn where Disaster House's Lamp Friend sits, he looks up at the sky, frowning.
"...Cynthia?"
[[ooc: As always if you want something else or a closed thread, please hit me up on
teeff or PM me! Will add event stuff later!]]
What: November catchall!
When: Throughout November.
Where: All around the place!
Content Warnings: Child poisoning in the comments, bloodletting in the first half of the Sleeper Farm prompt
BUILDING AN ABOMINATION TO THE GODS - Driveway of Disaster House, Cassandra- OTA
Varian can't actually remember the last time he built something purely for himself. Both back home, in Deerington and here in Trench, his inventions have always had a greater purpose. Sure, he enjoyed making them, but they were always ultimately to help other people. Building something just for his own enjoyment generally wasn't on his radar. It's only recently that he's felt like he's earned the right to indulge in something for himself.
And so, at the start of the month, Varian can be found on the driveway of the Disaster House- starting to put together the very early beginnings of a frame for a car. He isn't bothered by the lightly falling snow- he doesn't feel the cold anymore and the crisp air is honestly good for clearing his head. He's wearing his serial-killer-esque welding mask and has his little foot-pump-powered 1800s welding kit with him, but that isn't doing so well in the cold weather. After a few frustrating attempts at getting the damn thing to work, he gives up, stepping back to stare at the metal he's trying to get into shape. He looks at his hand, a soft hmmmmmm sound echoing in the mask. He's not comfortable with this, but Mako has been helping him get a more...positive outlook on his abilities.
So, for the first time since he got here, he decides to actually use his abilities for something instead of actively avoiding and being reviled by them. He flexes his fingers, using the techniques Mako has run over with him many a time, willing flame to sprout on them. He has to concentrate a lot, and it's definitely not a tiny, careful flame like the one on his torch (he's not quite THERE yet) but it's enough to start welding the pieces of metal together. Once he's done that he snuffs the flame by closing his fist. He steps back, pushing the mask up so it rests above his goggles (why doesn't he just take the goggles off, why does he have to wear both?) to assess his work, before realising someone is standing nearby, turning to offer a little smile.
"Do you think it looks okay? It's kinda shoddy but I guess I can always go over it later once the snow stops."
IT'S FULL OF OPENINGS, IT'S JUST YOU AIN'T SEEING THEM - All around the city - OTA
For once, fate has smiled down at Varian. His Patron is The Tower and while the buildings are shifting and doorways keep vanishing and reappearing he's still able to find his way around. It's given him confidence that means he might just be ignoring the always buddy up system, because it's fine. It's totally fine. He knows where he's going. So he goes about his daily business as normal - unfettered by the chaos that the vast majority of the population are dealing with. He's a compassionate soul, though, and if he sees someone looking lost, he moves over to them, raising an awkward hand in greeting.
"Uh... hey. You look...lost? Do you want me to help you out? I understand where I'm going for...for some reason. If you stick with me, we can get to where you need to go."
SECRET, SECRET, SECRET SECRET BUNKER - Willful Machine - 28th November OTA with CR prompt
Finding the compass on his workbench had been a happy little surprise. He didn't really need one, but it's pretty nice and after quizzing the people in his house (none of whom took responsibility for the little gift) he probably should have been worried about the device that just appeared in his lab in the dead of night. He isn't, though, because it's cool.
Naturally, he uses it as a normal compass first- but as he's working on his car, he does need to try it on bigger things. He's headed to Willful Machine for more parts, and it using it on a sheet of metal on the ground to measure out exactly what he needs. It's while he's doing this that the circle opens up under him, upending him into a little room. One moment he's there, the next he isn't. Maybe you were there to watch him fall in like an idiot. He looks around at the space- full of everything a person would need to hunker down for a night and makes a soft confused noise before yelling because that seems the best course of action here.
"Um- HI??? Is anyone there?"
And if that doesn't work, he'll get out his Omni and send a message to his friends:
Fell in a hole. I think into a pocket dimension? Help.
MUSHABOOMING
On hearing there were cool new mushrooms to deal with here, naturally, Varian's gone about trying to harvest some. He can make all kinds of cool alchemy with them!! This being Varian, of course, means he's neglected some pretty basic health and safety in his mushroom harvesting. So people can catch him in various pickles throughout the town as he goes about stupidly collecting stuff for his lab.
They may find him hallucinating on Walking Terrors, covered in spores and running around with a panicked expression and screaming about the floor melting. Or maybe you'll find him face-down in the dirt, a Floater sitting happily on top of him. Just...help the idiot out, he'd appreciate it.
THE SLEEPER FARM
Varian starts his No Good Real Bad Time swinging upside down- his blood dripping down into a bowl underneath him. It freezes before it hits the bowl, of course, leaving a blue, frozen blood slushie at the bottom. He's still confused how he got here, but he knows that's not the pressing concern here- not while there are other bodies strung up who have definitely had body parts removed. Varian does a quick, muggy-headed check that nothing seems to be out of place- no organs missing, two arms, one leg. Everything as it should be. They've even left him with his prosthetic, which is nice. But he'd still rather get down from here before this gets worse.
"Uhhhhhh, hi? Anyone still...conscious here?"
Or perhaps you find him afterwards, once he's down and on his feet again. He's still got a sizeable gash on his arm, but at least it's frozen over - thanks for the natural cauterization, coldblood! He'll be helping get other people down or helping them move as best he can. Much like earlier in the month in the town, he feels a strange pull towards the way out, and he'll be trying to bring whoever's with him along that path.
"C'mon, I...I know the way out."
He's not offering a reason for that, oh no. It's while he's leading someone towards the alter that they're suddenly pulled out by a force Varian recognises almost immediately. It's an old, familiar one after all- and once they're upended onto the lawn where Disaster House's Lamp Friend sits, he looks up at the sky, frowning.
"...Cynthia?"
[[ooc: As always if you want something else or a closed thread, please hit me up on

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"Yeah. We make a great team," he mumbles against Varian's lips, before his hands move to the other boy's waist. It's so he can spin him around, drop down onto the bed, and then tug Varian down onto his lap. It's incredibly forward, sure, and Varian's whole issue with his body is at the back of his mind, but they had been okay up until that point before so this is probably fine.
Plus, frankly, it's really nice having Varian that close.
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He isn't expecting the sudden move, and a surprised squeak breaks out of him as he's tugged into his boyfriend's lap- a blush very quickly taking over his cheeks. This is very forward but Varian would be lying if he said he isn't enjoying it. It's a little scary, yes, but more from Varian being aware he needs to keep a tap on his powers than anything else. Turns out body image issues take second fiddle pretty quickly once your major concern is accidentally setting your boyfriend on fire if you let your emotions get out of control.
But he knows he does need to learn how to control them better, and the only way he's going to do that is to let himself feel those emotions in the first place. And so, even though his heart is thundering in his chest, he shifts to get more comfortable in Fern's lap - trying to manoeuvre the leg a little better because no one wants pieces of metal sticking into them, even if they are made of grass. Face still flushed, he goes back to the important task of kissing his boyfriend, one hand moving to cup the back of his head- fingers tangling in the grass of his hair while his thumb settles behind his ear. The other splays on Fern's back, so he can shift closer to him.
This was, indeed, very, very nice. He really hopes if this is a trap, he gets a little more time like this before it all goes to hell.
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He wraps his arms around Varian tightly, gripping his shirt as he returns the kiss. Gradually, one hand works its way up to the back of the other boy's head, combing through his hair loosely. And eventually, when he remembers that one of them needs to breathe he pulls back a little, giving Varian a small break.
"Your hair is getting long." He's making that comment idly as he twists locks of black hair around his fingers. It wasn't something he noticed until now but it's true, and it's cute.
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It's probably a good thing that Fern remembers that one of them needs to breathe, because Varian sure doesn't. So when Fern breaks the kiss, it takes the other boy a few moments to try and even out his breathing again. Oh yeah, he needs to do that to live. Not really wanting to let that distract him (and still feeling pretty emboldened by how well this is going) he tilts his head down to trail little kisses along Fern's jaw and down to his neck. When he points out the hair growth, Varian let's out a breathy laugh.
"Yeah?" a tiny smirk plays against his boyfriend's neck, teasing. "Don't worry, I don't think I'm gonna catch up to you anytime soon. You've still got me beat."
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"It'd take you a few years," he says, trying not to laugh. More than a few years, and even then he can't picture Varian with Rapunzel-esque hair. That would be a lot... though, there is something else that's coming to mind. He hums a little, thoughtfully. "I think you'd look handsome with a ponytail, though. A small one."
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"Maybe just a few," he jokes - he shifts his face back up to look at Fern, blushing at the comment- that doofy lopsided smile of his crossing his features- handsome, wow. "You really think so? I think I could give that a try."
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He practically lights up when his silly ponytail idea doesn't come across as dumb or ridiculous. "Um, I could use some grass...." He pulls his hand back, one single blade slithering out from the tip of his finger. It's weird and most people would probably find it creepy but hey, makeshift hair tie. "If you want."
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And so, he trails his kisses up the line of Fern's throat, savouring every moment of it- trying to ignore how fast his heart is beating or the hope that he won't end up flubbing this like he does with so many of their romantic encounters. Fern speaks again and he pulls back just enough to see what his boyfriend is doing. When he realises, he smiles- he definitely doesn't find it creepy at all.
"Yeah...yeah okay, I'd like that," he realises a blush is creeping across his face again. "It'd be a little have having your favour."
Which he knows is more of a knight thing, rather than the other way around, but they weren't great at convention anyway.
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At least the ponytail thing offers a bit of a break, so Varian can cool down.
The idea of this being a favour has Fern thrilled. "Oh! Oh, yeah, just like that!" Not just like that, of course, because if it was it'd be Varian giving him something, but he nods eagerly all the same. The same sentiment is there, that's the important thing, and he's never not going to be totally enthusiastic about getting to do chivalric things. Especially when they're hard to mess up like this one is.
"Okay, okay - hold on." His hands move back to Varian's hair, carding through it a few times before pulling it gently into a ponytail. The blade of grass whips out off his finger, twisting securely around the lock of hair, the end of it blooming in several cherry blossom flowers. It's that or nightshade or wolfsbane, and those two are a little too toxic to be that close to Varian's scalp.
When Fern finishes he sits back a little, the biggest, doofiest grin on his face. "There. I was right, you look like the most handsome guy in Trench."
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That said, the break is welcoming, it's giving him a chance to get his head back together - focus on something else other than how very much he just wants to keep kissing his boyfriend and get lost in that.
He keeps still, letting Fern do his thing, and it is pretty cool. Maybe they have the favour thing the opposite way around, but right now Varian is delighted. The cheery blossoms are perfect and when Fern goes and calls him that his whole face colours.
"H...hah, maybe to you, anyway. You're biased. But...thanks," he tilts his head like he's trying to see it for himself like an idiot. "Does it really look okay?"
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Once he's finished he sits back, enjoying the view, especially Varian's face turning a dark shade of red. He really does look handsome, and Fern's (metaphorical) heart swells with warmth and fondness and love. Yeah, he's biased. He doesn't care.
"Sure does," he says brightly, pulling his Omni out again and turning the selfie camera on. Then he holds it up, so that Varian can get a look at himself. "What do you think?"
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"Okay, I guess it does kinda suit me," his grin widens, teasing. "But I'm still standing by my biased comment."
His hands shift to play in Fern's hair- fingers threading through the grass idly.
"I've noticed you've been wearing the hat much less. It's a good look."
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Instead he just laughs a little at the biased thing. Okay yeah, he's biased. Super biased. He's going to be shameless about it.
"Luz suggested it. Getting out of my comfort zone when it comes to style. I wasn't sure about it...." Because the bear hat has been Finn's style for virtually his entire life. It's been something of a safety blanket, so going without it has made him feel a little... vulnerable. "But I'm glad you like it."
That's true. He's smiling as a blush darkens his cheeks. It's been a change, a big one, but a good one too. "I, uh. I like when you braid it."
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"It really suits you, and it's brave of you to try new things," because he understands in letting go of the hat, it means he lets go of a little more of being Finn- of settling into being Fern- he leans in, pressing a soft kiss on Fern's forehead. "Well. I'm always happy to do that. I can do all kinds of styles for you, too."
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... But it's nice to hear, anyways. Varian thinks he's brave, and in response to the kiss he blushes a darker shade of green. "Thanks," he mumbles softly, pulling his boyfriend a little closer.
The talk of braids has his mind wandering towards a specific person in particular, and even though he knows bringing her up isn't going to be the easiest thing, it's something that should still be done. "Cool. Guess it's just a skill you'd pick up from being friends with Rapunzel, huh? Um...." He shifts a little, his smile fading, replaced with concern. "How are you doing about that stuff? Her and Cassandra being here?"
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He exhales, slow and shaky, curling up a little on Fern's lap, his arms moving to shift around him so he can rest his head on the other boy's chest. He doesn't reply immediately, he just lets a horrible silence sink between them.
"I don't know," he admits, eventually. "I- things are all fixed back home, and now we're back here again where they're at odds and Cass thinks we're both the enemy and she won't see reason. It's...it's like a healed up wound has been ripped open and I don't know how to help. I told Rapunzel about the future...vaguely, so she knew things were okay but- I just don't know if it can be enough to help them both."
He doesn't know if he's enough. And he hates it. He hates feeling like he's at war with Cass all over again- the way she looks at him like he's some dangerous enemy not to be trusted. He hates seeing how hurt Rapunzel is by the betrayal, all over again. His family is hurting and he can't do a damn thing about it.
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Idly, he reaches up to stroke his fingers through Varian's hair when he speaks up. The whole situation is so complicated for all three of them, it isn't fair. None of them deserve any of this; it's the kind of stupid reality-bending torture he'd expect out of Deerington. Like Varian, he has no idea what can be done to fix any of it.
"Everything's a mess. I'm sorry, V, it's awful that you - you and the two of them - have to go through this," he says softly. "There's - there's gotta be something that'll help Cassandra. She's been yanked away from all that bad junk in Corona, so... maybe being here'll help her see things in a new light."
He brushes Varian's bangs out of the way, pressing a kiss to his forehead. "I know it did for me."
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"I'm just... I'm so scared, Fern," he admits, quietly, like even saying it out loud will give it more power against him. "I'm scared this place will make things worse because it's so good at that. It's so good at...at rooting out all the most painful parts of your life and just...exposing them to everyone."
He doesn't know if that will save Cass and Rapunzel or break them. None of them knows what's down the road and he doesn't want his family to be hurt more than they already are. The kiss is nice and he exhales slowly again, trying to find calm.
"But...but you're right. It helped you. And...and I don't think Zhan Tiri is a problem here. That's...that's already a big step in the right direction."
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The most he can do is be here for Varian, try to support him, try to make sure that he doesn't totally destroy himself with self-loathing. Emotional support is not an easy thing to accomplish, and Fern feels like he's already floundering.
"Right. Things aren't completely hopeless, right now." The only saving grace right now is that Zhan Tiri apparently isn't here. They'd all be doomed if she was. If she were to show up in the future... well, he's just going to have to keep an eye out, and get his sword ready. But he puts that thought aside, focusing on Varian.
"I'm so, so sorry, V. It isn't fair that you have to be scared instead of getting to be happy to see them again." He keeps on threading his fingers through his boyfriend's hair softly, frowning. "I don't... I don't think there's anything you can do to stop the city, but you can still be there for them when any bad stuff happens."
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"I know, the city will just...do whatever it wants, all the time," he hugs onto Fern a little tighter. "And I will, I'll do everything I can but -"
But he failed them both so many times. Everything he does feels like a failure right now. He's failed Fern, he's failed Usagi. Eddie's gone. Things are slowly piling up on him and he can feel things beginning to fracture in his head. He's scared to voice it, though, not while Fern was part of the self-loathing. Because that would only hurt Fern.
"...I just don't know if- if I'm enough to help them. I never was back home, why would it be any different here?"
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And Fern isn't sure how to fix this. Varian's concern over not being enough is realistic; he can't very well tell him that he is enough and that everything will work out as long as he tries his best, because that isn't how Trench works. It's like Deerington in that case, you can try your hardest and still be a miserable failure.
"You can only do so much, V." He's faltering here, trying to think of something - anything - that'll fix this. Anything that'll make Varian feel better, without getting his hopes up or lying to him. Glob, he is not good at this, and when Varian clings a bit tighter he has to fight to keep stress thorns from sprouting up on his body. "If - if things don't get fixed, it won't be because you aren't enough. It'll be because this place is too much, even without Zhan Tiri here."
no subject
He knows this is true, it's true for everything in his entire life. Varian strives for, not perfection something close to it, and more often than not he falls short of the mark. He just marks that against himself, though, instead of properly accepting that he puts impossible expectations on himself. Allowing himself to fail is still something he struggles with.
"What if I make things worse?" his voice wavers- he's been keeping a lot inside and now it's threatening to spill over. "I... I don't just mean the home stuff. I... I'm not the same person I was back home. I've gone through so much and I'm scared to tell them in case it hurts them more. How...how am I supposed to tell Rapunzel I've died? She...she'd blame herself even if she had no power over that. How am I supposed to tell any of them even half the stuff I've survived in the dream without...without making them worry about me or...or dread what'll happen to them? I- I feel like I'm lying to them every time I skip over my life here but I'm scared what it'll do to them if they knew."
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"I don't think you got any other options," Fern replies, sounding a little distraught himself. He isn't a fan of lying to family, but if the alternative was potentially hurting Cassandra and Rapunzel, he isn't sure what else the other boy can do. "I think you have to keep on holding off from telling them everything. They need to get used to the city first, and you and Rapunzel need to keep trying to get through to Cass. It - it might hurt them less if you tell them after everything has settled down...."
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"Yeah...yeah, you're right," guilt churns at his stomach all the same- he blinks away tears threatening to escape his eyes, sniffing. "I just... I'm glad they're here, I am. I missed them so much. But I'm so scared about what's going to happen to them. I'm scared of them finding out what's happened to me. I just..."
He hugs Fern a little closer- like he's an anchor.
"I don't want this place to break them."
no subject
At least, he's desperately hoping this is the case, because it's the only thing staving off the horrendous guilt that's threatening to overwhelm him. He buries his face against Varian's hair, making a noise like a sigh.
"I know, I know," he says softly. "They shouldn't have to go through half the stuff you've gone through. You shouldn't have had to go through half the stuff you've gone through."
Because all of this concern for Cassandra and Rapunzel is really making it sink in just how much Varian has been through. It's kind of a wonder he hasn't broken down earlier.
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