Deer Country IC Inbox

[righthemisphere]

You've reached Raleigh Becket, please leave a message.

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text; un r.hansen

[lefthemisphere]

oi

you said you checked feed already yeah

[ cause he's gonna murder you ]

What an excellent way to christen this inbox

[righthemisphere]

yeah?

[venatoris]

[ Dean means to be nice, to just -- try and patch this up with a neighbor that he's gotten off on the wrong foot with a number of times. He knows why he reacted the way he did - and he'd do it again, honestly - but there's no reason for the hostility to continue. It's done, it's over, Sam's fourteen, he's alive and healthy and no one is coming after him.

So make nice, bring the spices.

He has a couple different kinds - rosemary, thyme, some sage. It's been plucked from the greenhouse, but he's pretty sure that dickhead angel isn't much into gardening like the other one, so he guesses that's something that's going to rest solely on his shoulders.

Whatever, screw Cas. Dean doesn't need him, not if he's gonna act like that, abandon everything they had and just leave--

Deep breathes. Long, deep breaths.

He marches his ass across the road, heads straight towards the little farmhouse where he knows Raleigh lives with his boyfriend (that doesn't prompt a hos streak of jealousy and anger, nooo), going right up to the door and knocking.

Loudly. ]

[righthemisphere]

[Jesus, Mary and Joseph that makes Raleigh jump. Dean you are so lucky Chuck is out.

Spaghetti chitters and beats Raleigh to the action, hopping up into the window and peering through the curtains to try to see who it is. She doesn't recognise him.

Raleigh frowns and bristles, preparing for the worst as he comes to answer, hand curling just in case. Fire pearls between his fingers on standby. He opens and-

Oh. It's Dean.]

Hey.

[Is that fire still in his hand though? You betcha. Is his hand visible? No. Not yet. Ther s just something about his vibe that had Raleigh's hackles up immediately.]

happy birthday you fuck

[falsify]

[ on the doorstep is a single tin of cannelloni beans, beautifully tied with a ribbon and a rosette ]

[righthemisphere]

[God why is this a thing again

W H Y

The attention to detail and care in the presentation make it so much worse]

[onekindsoul]

[There are three little red wagons all filled to the top with cans on beans. Have fun.]

[righthemisphere]

[Jesus Christ w h y

W H Y do his friends H A T E him uuughhh screeee]

[onebadapple]

[Snow doesn't, by any means, understand that this is a prank. So, Raleigh is going to get a basket delivered to him by a giant owl with risotto alla pavese inside said basket, covered up in a towel to keep it warm as it's delivered to his door. And yes, as she said there would be, there are cranberry beans inside.

But there is also a note, because Snow White is like that:]

Dear Raleigh,

I hope you have a wonderful birthday!

And don't worry, there are beans. I know your friend mentioned how much you like them! They are inside the risotto!

Love,
Snow White

[righthemisphere]

[This is genuinely so sweet and thoughtful he can't even be mad.

He wants to be, but he can't, and accepts the gift with a weary but genuine smile.

Raleigh suspects the owl is an omen, because clearly it understands directions.. so if it will let him, he'll attach a small note of thanks with the promise to return her dish as soon as he is able and six fresh chicken eggs (a rare commodity here in Trench) carefully wrapped in the cloth.]

[venatoris]

[ Enjoy a big ol sack of dried beans, Rals ]

[righthemisphere]

[God he hates bean day.

He hates you people.

(Thank you)

Uuuugh]

Action

[survivalthroughhate]

[Maul being Maul and never one to do anything half-assed means he ends up giving Raleigh the biggest can of beans he can find in the entire city. Enjoy your present, you dumb dog!]

[righthemisphere]

[GoDDDDDDD WHYYYYYYY

WHY ARE YOU PEOPLE LIKE THIS]

Christmas Delivery

[onebadapple]

[Early Christmas morning wrapped up in a towel and nuzzled in a basket with sprigs of evergreen pines and dried orange slices will be a pumpkin pie.

Attached is a card with elegant writing:]

Merry Christmas, Raleigh!
I hope you stay warm and safe!
I hope it's alright that it's not a bean pie!
Love,
Snow White

Christmas Delivery

[lightthedarkness]

[Wrapped up in a bright red and white box is a plate of bought snowflake cookies.

Attached is a note with a little rabbit doodle:]

Happy Holidays!
Love,
Usagi

guess who

[bombrun]

[ There is a very shrill, very sharp scream that's piercing the air of the normally very quiet little cottage way the hell out in Feed, as Chuck's skin flakes off and he's left standing in the bathroom, buck ass naked, old skin on the floor like a snake.

The scream doesn't stop. It just keeps continuing, and continuing, high and shrill. ]

What the fuck what the fuck WHAT THE FUCK--

Ayyyy

[righthemisphere]

[fhujgekwwe;lfureafkje;a;kewd JESUS scare the shit out of a guy why don't you. Raleigh was in the kitchen, thinking he was being cute to bring Chuck breakfast in bed. But no. No, they can't have nice things. The scream of a voice he absolutely does not know pierces the air and Raleigh jerks, missing the apple he was slicing and getting his finger. He hisses and sticks it in his mouth as he tries to figure out just what the hell is going on and heads in that direction.

Of his bedroom. The one he shares with Chuck.

Raleigh brings the knife.

What he finds is not what he was expecting (though he has no idea what he was). It sure as shit ain't this, though.

He appears in the door and stops dead, stepping back from what can only be very... very bad.

Wait a second.]

Chuck?

video; un: wulala

[royalfling]

Hey Raleigh! Look!

[ Wu looks... almost the same at first glance. He's grinning brightly into the Omni, somewhere in the Raccoon Room, and then sets the Omni down on the ground. He drops down there too and assume the plank position that Raleigh taught him all those months ago. Raleigh will know that Wu doesn't like planks, and doesn't like push-ups particularly, so him doing this unprompted is odd to behind with.

And then, he proceeds to do a push-up, then another, then another, until he hits ten. Raleigh might notice that his arms are significantly bigger then their usual wet noodle consistency, his torso thicker, and his form? Is pretty damn good. He manages the push-ups and is only a little breathless by the end of it, sweeping up his Omni to grin at Raleigh again. ]

And now: I'm never doing that again.

Video; un: R.BECKET

[righthemisphere]

[Is it possible to look scandalized, proud, and impressed all at once? Because that's where we're at.

Raleigh picked up without much thought because he always enjoys chatting with Wu but this is not at all what he was expecting. He watches, brows pinned high, and stops his task to devote his complete attention. By the time Wu has finished he's grinning ear to ear.]

No? That was smooth. You've really been putting the work in, you look great.

backdated allllllllll the way to the 5th

[falsify]

It's Arthur's birthday this Saturday.

[ that's it that's all he has to say to you raleigh ]

[righthemisphere]

[What more is there to say?]

does he like beans?

text; un:mako

[arclightning]

Saw that post on the Omni. Sounds pretty familiar. You and Chuck need anything?

text; un R.BECKET

[righthemisphere]

[Yeah, one swift punch to the temple outght'a do it please and thanks.]

You don't happen to have a Jaeger laying around, do you?

Action; Backdated to Christmas

[survivalthroughhate]

[Maul's fiendish delight in the holiday means he's once again broken into people's houses and used all the stealth he possesses to leave those he likes a gift or two. Sometimes, he even goes right down the chimney like a demented version of Santa Claus. Since Raleigh's birthday seems to be dedicated to beans, Maul gives him a present of beans of a decidedly different sort. His and Chuck's are left together so they'll unwrap them at the same time. Left with them is a short note addressed to both.]

I hope this is to both your tastes. Merry Christmas. ~Maul

[righthemisphere]

[These are.. so cute???? Raleigh doesn’t know what to make of them but the idea is nice in theory. Are these dog toys?? Plushies?? He doesn’t know how he feels knowing people can get into his house that easily, though. Hm. STILL it is a nice gesture and he sends Spaghetti on a little mission back to Maul with a dozen fresh chicken eggs neatly dressed in straw for the journey. The attached note reads:

Merry Christmas!
These are very cute, thank you. We hope you like eggs.
-Raleigh and Chuck

text | un: sharpshooter (Jan 22)

[azurestar]

so raleigh, i hear you're building a giant robot. need a hand?

un: R.BECKET

[righthemisphere]

[Sharpshooter... sharpshooter, sharpshooter.. who..

You know, he really has to think about this for a moment. A little searching-AH. Right. Lance. How cool!

He sees Lance in passing but don't text regularly or anything. In fact, the last thing he really spent any time with Lance one on one was back in Deerington and the guy didn't seem like he was doing very well. He hopes now is better. ]

Hey! Long time no talk, man.

That's the idea. We could use all the hands we can get if you promise not to warp all the beams again ;)

I was just talking to Shiro the other day. You don't happen to have your lion here with you?

invite delivered by Fritter; February 12th

[arclightning]

You're Invited


Join us on February 20th at the entrance of the Raccoon Room at sundown for Wu and Mako's bonding ceremony. Stay for the party.

—Mako & Wu

[lefthemisphere]

[ The wedding was small, just a few people involved. Chuck never thought he would've gotten married, especially not to Raleigh Becket, but here he is, marked and bonded, ring on his hand.

Life's funny like that.

It's a little weird, though - being in his head, feeling him constantly; thoughts and emotions and trauma all combined. It's a lot, but it's nothing he isn't really used to. He's drifted plenty of times to know what it's like to share consciousness - but never with Raleigh.

Raleigh's bloody fire and ice, sharp steel and shattered concrete. It's hard to keep his thoughts his own and Raleigh's at bay, but he can't help notice the anxiety that pervades the both of them, the tension over what's coming, Chuck's own nervousness swallowed back, thick and heavy, like something gone down the wrong way.

He's sat in the kitchen in one of the bar chairs, swinging around, picking at the label on a beer bottle. ]

[righthemisphere]

[Raleigh thought this bond might be like drifting. And it is, in so many ways, but it is also so much more. It's all the time and completely enveloping. Drifting is for times of war, clipped into a machine that could bring victory or certain death, but only one. You can't latch on to anything in there, you can only let it happen.

This isn't like that. This bond is constant, strong and holding in moments of stillness. In moments of peace.

And in moments of building pressure like they have now. It rolls like molasses down their spines and Raleigh feels each and every second of the war clock. The shudder of each numbered panel dropping for another. He knows deep down that Paul's premonition is correct, that the beast will come, and they're Trench's best bet of holding the line.

But at what cost?

They don't have a choice. There is no one else. It makes him sick.

Raleigh appears in the kitchen, saying nothing but knowing his presence is felt before he ever lays a hand on Chuck's- his husband's shoulder. He doesn't have to speak, they both know, but they should. And so he does.]

Hey.

misfire text | un: sds

[fogsong]

Dinner is gonna be a little late tonight, mom. I don't want you to freak out or anything but I kind of wound up trapped in some catacombs. I'm not alone or anything and there are supplies for us to get out but it's looking like it might take a little longer than just a trip for groceries.

I'll be sure to check in and I love you. Don't worry, okay? This is nothing compared to Silent Hill. I got this.

un: R.BECKET

[righthemisphere]

[Now, Raleigh doesn't usually answer random stuff like this but the contents of the message have moved him.]

Hey, I'm sorry but you've got the wrong number. Unless your mom is a guy under 30.

What's her name? I can try to pass on the message for you.

Heard about the catacombs. Do you need an evac?

voice; un: hansen

[luckystriker]

Raleigh.

[ Short, to the point to start. There's exhaustion in that voice but also determination. ]

The ocean's calling for me. I don't know what it is, but it's been in my head for days now. If you're hearing this, it means it won and I'm gone. I don't know where, but...

[ Sigh. ]

I'm sorry I couldn't help more. I'm grateful you're with Chuck, now. You're good for each other. It should always have been you Drifting with him than me, right?

[ Clearing the throat. ]

I don't need to ask it, but... Take care of him for me. Please.

Good bye.

this letter shows up at any time after the start of april.

[oldhound]

Raleigh,

If you're getting this now I'm likely already gone. I know things haven't been the smoothest between us but I guess that doesn't matter now. I was glad to hear about you and Chuck and I know we can't always be sure what'll happen here, so it's good that you've got each other to lean on. Support each other.

Things like that, you've got to hold onto. No matter what.

Anyway, might've heard a rumor you're a fair hand at growing things. At the shop, I've set aside some things. Herbs, incense, there's a book too. A few recipes for things like the incense and a couple of other useful potions for protection and such. If you've got other questions, I'm sure the girls can help.

Also, I was going to start a garden there at the cabin but I never got around to it. It's still there, I let the kids know they can use it if they need a safe place when things around here get dodgy. Same goes for you two. Wards should stay up and do their jobs just fine without me being there. Any of the tools and seeds I've got there, feel free to look through.

That's it, I suppose. Never had much in the way of family which is probably why I'm pretty rubbish at it.

Look out for the both of you, big man,
John Constantine

video; un: lady (mid-may)

[dohaeris]

[sansa always starts these things like a youtube video update, poised in front of her tapestry backdrop in her sitting room, with lady.]

Hallo, Raleigh, I hope you're well. My good friend Ser Allen Walker has been working on a kind of Sanctuary for the people here, to help treat corruption with Sleeper magic and meet the needs of the people here. They do have kitchens, and we would very much appreciate any help you could give in supplying them with things to cook. We aim to feed as many as possible, so filling things like beans and eggs and potatoes would be best, but of course we would be very glad of anything like onions and herbs and tomatoes for flavor. Of course you will be compensated, and very much welcome at the Sanctuary whenever you like. And if you know of any other farmers or agricologists who might be willing to help I should very much like a chance to speak with them, especially if they grow any sort of grain.

[she smiles a little apologetically, to ask for so much, and through a video message with little time to talk and share biscuits. it feels very different from sending a letter by raven, where brevity was often a necessity, and she hadn't even had many opportunities to write letters, besides.]

Thank you, truly. I very much look forward to visiting Shiver with you when it becomes convenient.

Voice; UN R.BECKET

[righthemisphere]

[Raleigh watches the message a few times, thinking exactly that she looks like she's doing a youtube video. It's sweet, really. He imagines that, if they had tiktok here, she would have a channel about sewing with intermittent breaks for Lady being majestic.

There's a lot of meat in her message though, if you'll excuse the pun. It all sounds like a great idea. He doesn't know Alan, but if he can pull off what he's talking about, then the city could sure use it.

So he thinks for a bit, does some numbers, and calls her back. There's a smile in his voice.]

Hey, it's Raleigh. Sorry I missed you. Is this a good time?