deercountry | Catch All

[As much as Oscar professed to be different from Ozpin, they were still like minded souls. While he had thus far managed to keep his farmboy graces, he had started to realize in Atlas that it was only a matter of time. Each use of magic drew them closer-- and Oscar had been glad when both of their powers from Remnant had effectively been nullified in Trench.

It gave them a chance. But, the damage was already done.]

...I guess you're right. I just-- I don't know how to tell him.

And, as much as I can do magic? I don't know that much about it. The concepts of it all right now are a little out of my reach.

I've been trying to keep it that way, even though it's dumb. It helps me feel a little more like myself.

Just tell him the truth. He might be a little upset you didn't tell him sooner, but he's your friend. I'm sure he'll understand, especially since it's not like you haven't been through a lot lately too.

[It's really the best advice she has to offer.]

We're kind of opposite ends of the spectrum on magic right now. I get the concepts really well, but I can't make any of it work right now - not since I got here. I guess it makes me a little extra jumpy, since I'm not much of a fighter.

...I'm not much of a fighter either, you know.

[He let out a small, bittersweet chuckle. They were similar-- perhaps, even, in more ways than one.]

And, I get kinda jumpy too. Normally it's fine, but this time it led to bad decisions all around.

I'm sorry. I should have said something. For... multiple things.

[The remaining tension bleeds away with the apology, and the understanding from Oscar. It's a relief, and maybe, Willow hopes, the start of all of them trying to put this behind them.]

It's okay. Things have been hard for all of us lately, I think. I don't want to fight with you guys. I mean, it's not like we're just weird roommates.

[She reaches for Oscar's shoulders to pull him into a hug.]

We're family.

All of us? Really?

[Oscar could barely peep out the words before Willow's arms were around his slender figure, and he melted into the embrace. For a moment, everything felt right.

Of course they were family. After forging through the literal end of the world together, of course they were.

He wrapped his arms around her and hugged her tightly, gladdened that they had the matter smoothed over. They still had a lot of work to do...

But, this was a start.]

Thank you, Willow. I mean that.

... Can we come home now?

All of you. Really.

[Sometimes people fight, she knows and understands this very well, but it's good to feel like things are more settled, even if a full resolution might take a bit more time and effort.

She releases him after a few moments, and gives him a small, warm smile.]

Well, I mean, maybe don't wake everyone up in the middle of the night to tell them to come back... I'd kind of like to talk to Oz myself first - I think I've got a solution for him. I should be able to confirm it pretty quick in the morning.

Besides, I think I have, like, several dozen batches of apology cookies to make to try to help smooth things over. But yeah.

Come home.

Really? That-- I, uh--

[It was hard to not go and wake everyone up, especially with both himself and Ozpin operating on a night-time cycle, but he could be patient. Without waiting, he squeezed Willow in his arms once again.]

Thank you. Thank you!

I missed being home.

[His thoughts a whirlwind of excitement and curiosity, he wondered after Willow's ideas-- and wondered if applying any of those to himself would help get his regular body back. Instead:]

What do you think will help Ozpin at this point?

[She returns the hug with a warm, relieved laugh. The division between them all has been weighing heavily on her too, and being able to begin by mending fences with Oscar is a huge help.]

I missed having you guys here. It really isn't the same without you.

[She turns serious again as the conversation goes back to how best to help Ozpin.]

Well... I got a bunch of Ford's notes, which pointed us in the right direction - he's really thorough, half the work was already done for us. Anyway. It turns out, I wasn't completely wrong. It's corruption, no question there. And the blood drinking was very likely making it worse. So, we've got to reduce his corruption, and keep it low enough that when he does... you know. Indulge. It won't turn into a big deal.

Best way to do that is... Well, it's to do the one thing Ozpin is really, really bad at. Talking it out, and dealing with the source of the corruption to begin with.

[Oscar listened, gladdened to hear that the Pines and their experiences with Mabel along with Ford's extensive research were coming in handy. If there was one thing their messed up little family could learn from their counterparts at the Bone Fortress, it was that communication and working together were key.

Unfortunately, everyone had baggage in one way or another.

Upon hearing that Ozpin had to 'talk it out,' Oscar cast her a wry look.]

The last time we tried that ended up with him locking himself away for months, Willow. At least he's got his own body this time, but that's not going to be easy.

We're prepared for it, this time. That's gotta be good enough.

Ohhh, trust me, I know that's not going to be easy.

[She has also, on occasion, tried to get Ozpin to open up about one thing or another that's clearly been bothering him only to have him make it perfectly clear he would rather deal with it privately. Her hope is letting him know what's potentially at stake will help encourage him to learn to be a little more open.]

I still need to confirm it, and maybe dig a little deeper into this 'drinking blood leads to corruption' thing since it's really common with Vilebloods - [Not if, but when, Ford had said, but she's not prepared just yet to acknowledge it as a potential eventuality for Tara.] - and it's not like he's the only one in our circle who might come up against the same problem, but that's where it looks like we stand right now.

[A nod. Oscar had tried as well to get Ozpin to open up, but had been similarly rebuffed. He hadn't pushed, either-- Ozpin was a private man, and Oscar knew he could probably get the information if he really tried.

It would damage their balance, though. Oscar didn't want to risk that.]

Maybe, if he's not gonna stop, we could ask the people he's closest with to... I don't know, donate some of their own blood so that he doesn't need to go roaming around after dark?

It's awkward, but no one would get in trouble that way.

Well, that's one of the things I'm still working on - if drinking blood by its very nature is what increases the risk of corruption, or if it's the violence of the act itself. Or maybe it even varies from person to person depending on their feelings. A lot of what I've been reading about corruption is kind of inconsistent, so it's a lot harder to pin down.

[She does not want to leap straight to setting up Ozpin's very own private blood bank if they can avoid it, but it's not like they don't have other options too.]

It might not be a bad idea. We had a couple vampires at home that were on our side - one stopped drinking human blood because he had a soul, the other one... Well, it's more complicated.

[She does not want to circle back around to Maul and the similarities between him and Spike.]

Anyway, they drank pig's blood. So there might be other alternatives too.

[He was already prepared to message Dipper about what they did to manage Mabel's vileblood problems and start setting up a private bloodbank for Ozpin-- don't just try to stop him when he knows how to get info, Willow.]

We'll need to look into the literature more, [He trailed.] Maybe I could ask some of the professors at the academy? They might know something we don't.

[It was a small thing to hope for, but Oscar wasn't ready to just give up hope yet.]

...We'll need to keep an open mind, you know. I'm not sure how easy it'll be to get blood from pigs around here.

Well, I was thinking a little less literally. I mean, at home there was a whole two vampires that we knew about ever that did the pig's blood thing. It's way more common here for vampires to exist without being literal demons, so I'm sure the Sleepers here have found all kinds of ways to adapt.

[If it comes down to it, she will get behind whatever they need to do to help Ozpin, but there's plenty of other options to explore first.]

I'm not saying no, just, maybe let's keep that in our back pockets as a last resort. There's still a lot of things we need to look into before we're at a point where we can consider Sleeper blood as a safe, uh... food choice. Besides, Ozpin might not be comfortable with any of us helping... that way.

But Mr. Ford has an entire lab set up, with equipment to draw blood. Dipper told me.

[He stated, matter-of-fact.]

It doesn't have to be weird. We can be very precise about it!

...But I get what you're saying, and I can give you some help with the library if you need it. This problem can't be as hard to solve as it looks.

I don't know if that actually makes it less weird...

Anyway, we might be getting a little too ahead of ourselves there. It might not be necessary and it might not be wanted. Let's go down that road when we get to it, okay?

[She smiles at the offer of research help.]

I'd love it if you came to the Archives to help. We used to have like, whole parties at home for stuff like this. Complete with snacks and drinks.

Ange and Tara have been helping while you guys were gone, but... I don't know. Something's going on with Tara.

[He nodded, already feeling the stirrings of excitement brewing.]

Study parties sound kinda fun, actually.

[That wasn't something he could ever do with Ruby...]

And it sounds like you need an extra set of hands, if there's something going on. If you'll all have me, then I'll gladly help.

[It was the least he could do.]

Well, everything's more fun if you share it with the people you care about.

[Oscar is always welcome at research parties.]

I've been practically living at the Archives since all this started. The more the merrier.

[She is concerned about Tara too, but right now, she's willing to triage a little bit.]

Ozpin's problem is kind of the bigger priority right now, but I've been keeping an eye out for anything that might help Tara too. She's been a little, um. Scattered? Especially lately. I don't really know what's going on, but she says she's fine.

That's what Ozpin told me. We're gonna need to be careful if more people in the house are doing that kinda thing.

[Himself included. Oscar nodded, and returned to his tea. It was the little things that counted in tough times...]

I'll be there, then. With notebooks and snacks.

Yeah. We all have to keep an eye out for each other.

[That much seems more clear than ever these days.]

I'll probably be at the Archives right after dawn. You don't have to come that early, though. Just whenever you get up is fine.

I'll make it when I can,

[Oscar explained, a little chagrinned.]

I'm not going vampire, but I'm still having that trouble of being more awake at night. Maybe I really am an owl. But, I'll be there one way or another.

Anything to help family.

[Willow nods in understanding.]

Yeah, I get it. My sleep pattern's definitely changed too. The whole... wolf thing doesn't help either. You're doing okay otherwise, though?

Well. I mean.

[He waved his hands downward, gesturing at his... everything.]

Besides still being in Ossi's body? And the sleep thing? Everything's kinda the same.

It sounds like you're handling it all pretty okay. It feels like this world has already forced a whole lot of changes on us just in the last few months. I guess you kind of get used to it after awhile?

Catch All

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I lost this tag, sorry!!