deercountry | December Catch-All

Entry tags:

December Catch-All

Who: Vyng

spiritwalks and YOU
What: Catch-All for December. See comments for prompts.
When: Various
Where: Various

Content Warnings: Listed in subject lines when applicable

Notes:

- Style veers wildly between prose and brackets. Just choose whatever style feels good when responding, and I'll match it ♥

- Vyng is a warmblood.

- Feel free to hit me up at

jackets for plotting and general chatter.

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[Michael hums in the back of his throat and shrugs a little.]

We don't experience physical pain like humans do. Or...we didn't, anyway. I did in Deerington, even like that. Something to do with the...I mean, that's not usually how it is.

[He's normally much larger, for one thing. For another...well, he's from the afterlife. He had a physical shape, sure, but not that physical. Plenty of him just existed on other planes.

...he's avoiding the real question. He's grown up enough to know that much. There's a real answer, and he knows it.]

But....harm. Sure.

["Sticks and stones can't break my bones, but shit can always hurt me." Not a real saying, at least not in any universe Vyng knows of...but he feels like it applies to most of the people he knows from the Dream.

His expression softens.]

How long was it like that for you? Eons?

[Michael chews on his lip for a moment before answering. It's good that this conversation is happening now. A few centuries ago, he probably couldn't have talked about it. Would've lashed out at Vyng already, friends or not. That impulse is still there, deep down. He could easily just say something mean and end this entire conversation. But that would be childish and - cruel. He knows Vyng well enough to know that he could be cruel.

It's like digging open an old, old wound, though. He's never really sat down and discussed this. His voice is halting and careful, and he's absolutely done making any attempt at eye contact right now.]

It wasn't...consistent. That entire time. I mean, it did get better. Not because anyone felt bad, or anything like that. Jokes just get old.

[But even "better" had just meant verbal jabs or largely being ignored. It wasn't ever good. But of course it wasn't - they're demons. Michael's not even sure how bad he gets to feel about it, when he'd have done the exact same thing at the time.]

Pretty much stopped when I started using other physical forms. Mostly out of sight, mostly out of mind.

[The lack of eye contact isn't lost on him. He's reminded of a nervous animal who's learned to equate vulnerability with getting hurt. Vyng patiently waits for Michael to gather his thoughts, willing to listen if he decides to share...and equally willing to drop it if his friend would rather move onto something else.

When Michael does elaborate, Vyng's expression softens.]

Is that why you work so hard to make sure nobody knows? Because you don't feel safe around people who've seen your form?

...yeah, I guess.

[He's definitely awkward about that, but - well, of course it's true, isn't it?]

It just...feels like bad things would happen. I guess I...know that's kinda unlikely. Especially here, with all the general squid...things. But it still feels that way.

Aw, buddy...

[Even if their circumstances are different, Vyng understands being deeply uncomfortable with how others see you. He also understands how the past can linger like a ghost, no matter how much time goes by.]

That sounds exhausting. Is that how you feel around me, Tuck and Billie? You can be honest.

[Michael blinks. Is it? He's never thought about it that way - that feeling is hardly ever attached to specific people, at least people who aren't other demons from the old days. It's just atmospheric. Does he, though?]

Not...you. Not really. We've had too much...

[Well. That time he spent inside Vyng The Giant Spirit Amalgam was really something else for Michael, too. He can't remember the last time he spent that much long in his natural form willingly, much less felt...okay about it.]

I think you've seen more of all that than anyone else has for centuries. It's different. [.....] Nothing against Tuck and Billie, of course.

[He just doesn't know them well. And really, there's a lot of people getting knows very well who he'd never confess all of that shit to.]

[It was a lifetime ago, but Vyng still recalls how safe he felt when Michael cradled his crystal heart. That he was using tentacles instead of hands hadn't even registered. All that mattered was the bond they shared, and that it was the only thing holding Vyng's fragmented mind together. For days, Michael stayed with him like this. It was, quite possibly, the most vulnerable anyone had ever seen him.

For some reason, he never fully appreciated just how far on a limb Michael went for him. That, at some point, his friend had to push through that emotional hurdle to reach Vyng as quickly as he did.]

Yeah...

[The words are soft. Reverent, almost.]

Yeah. I think I get it. It's not everyday a guy absorbs millions of spirits and splits apart at the seams. Or...bravely bares his deepest secret to save somebody, like you did.

Oh - no, that wasn't a big deal. No one even saw me.

[Though of course, he also hadn't really been thinking about that at the time. It'd simply been the most efficient way to travel through that mass of spirits. As unpleasant as it is, being in physical peril so often has forced Michael to admit that his squid shape does have certain...merits.]

I wouldn't have handled it so well if I hadn't had that pendant you made me. I've still got that, you know - took it home with me, after.

Really?

[Vyng's eyes brighten. As chaotic as everyone's departure from Deerington was, he hadn't expected any of his friends to hold onto the gifts he'd given him. The fact Michael kept his amethyst throughout freaking time and space is...amazing, actually. Amazing and incredibly touching.]

I'm so glad. That's...that's really sweet, man.

[Michael ducks his head, clearly a little embarrassed.]

Oh, well, not like I have that many physical possessions anyway. [wait, shit, does that sound rude] I mean...yeah, of course.

[It's hard to offend Vyng. He clasps Michael's shoulder and warmly says:]

Can we have a hug? This feels like the time for a hug.

[Michael chuckles.]

Sure, buddy, let's go for it.

[He likes to hug! Hugging's fun!]

[A grin.]

C'mere, you!

[He pulls Michael into his thick, patchouli-scented wools — and a tight embrace.]

[Michael chuckles and hugs back, momentarily lifting Vyng off his feet with his freakish demon strength. He's good at not squeezing too tight, though!]

[GASP.]

Woah-ho-ho, so strong!

[Vyng's shoulders shake with a delighted laugh. And then — "muah!" — he plants an affectionate kiss on Michael's forehead.]

[Argh! Saliva! But Michael knows it's an affectionate gesture, and honestly he's dealt with more and worse bodily fluids - he lets it go.]

Sure, we build these things tough! Imagine if I was actually a human this age?

[Bad enough to have bones without them hurting.]

[Well, at least Michael's a good sport about it. Vyng gives the guy a good-natured shoulder pat.]

Ahh, so you get all the respectability of age, but without the arthritis or the cataracts. Very smart.

Oh - yes, exactly! People are always like "Why do you look so old, Michael?" And I could get a younger-looking skinsuit, but - why? I think it's distinguished! One time in Deerington, this one ended up getting younger somehow, and I had this horrible 80s hair...

[He gestures as if to indicate what Ted Danson looked like on Cheers, which does seem to involve a mullet!]

You're absolutely right. You look fantastic.

[Somehow, whatever gesture Michael's doing seems to universally translate as "mullet". Vyng can't help but snort.]

And you walked around like that? I'm amazed you left the house.

[Michael snorts.]

Well, I've done worse. Honestly, I hated the brown just as much. What a boring color!

[Like, white isn't that exciting either, but it's striking and it goes with everything!]

The white is just so iconic. And you wear it so well.

[And more importantly, it's what Michael feels best wearing. Vyng is glad he got his usual suit back.]

Thank you! I think it's my favorite part of this body. People always ask why I'd want to look old, but I'm honestly glad I don't have to explain that I am all the time.

[Of course, people don't usually assume that he's as old as he is, but at least people usually read him as the oldest guy in the room anyway.]

Makes total sense to me, pal.

[Billie definitely gets frustrated over being told when to sleep or bathe. But he's also not afraid to remind pissed-off people he's only nine, and therefore can't be murdered on-sight for trespassing...unlike his two idiot dads, who have zero excuse.]

Well, no matter how you look, I'm sure the new arrivals will be glad to see a friendly face in all this frigid cold.

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December Catch-All

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