Voice: Un: Diggs

[justoscar]

[It had been nearly a week, and Oscar was becoming worried.

Lessons he has learned on the other side of the Dream had taught him that sitting in the worry and letting it overcome him did no one any good-- least of all himself. Knowing this, Oscar tentatively turned on the Audio function of his new device and, with an obvious case of awkward nerves, started talking.]

Um... Hi.

I'm Oscar Pine and... I'm sure some of you know me already, but some of you don't and that's okay.

There was just a couple of things I wanted to say.

First: I know that things have been stressful lately and that we all need something to do, so I'm willing to teach people how to garden if they want a hobby that lasts a little longer than baking all the time. I'm a farmhand... And I did the baking thing. Growing and taking care of your own vegetables helps a little more, for a longer time.

And-- you can share your extra zucchini with your friends and loved ones. Isn't that cool?

I managed to bring along some seeds to get started. Just... Contact me if you're interested.

... and thanks, Mako, for the idea.

Second: is anyone else having trouble sleeping since they got here? I know being nervous makes sleeping hard, but this feels different. Anyone have any ideas about why this is happening, or how to help?

Last: ... I don't know about everyone else, but there's still some people I'm looking for that haven't come ashore yet. Can people just...chime in to let everyone know that they're safe? And let us know if there's anyone else you're looking for?

Maybe we can make everything a little easier if we work together. I don't know...

I'm just kinda worried, and some of you all probably are too.

Comments

[justoscar]

I'll try anything you've got.

[He may have a young face, but this was still not the weirdest thing he had dealt with. After learning of his Wizard-y fate and that he could lose his identity, not even being a Squid Kid could rattle him.]

Normally a day of hard work or a cup of chamomile tea or milk and honey would do it. My Aunt was good with remedies, but that was just farm knowledge. Not anything she really studied.

... At this rate, I'm starting to think I should put in some actual study on this.

[spiritwalks]

It's a good skill to have. Teaches you how to eat what you find in nature. You can just gnaw on a tree without having to do anything else, it's great.

[MMM, PINE NEEDLES ♥ ]

Where are you these days? If you want, I could just bring you the goods myself.

[justoscar]

I know some things, but there's always more to learn!

[He laughed. Pine needles made an excellent tea!]

I'm in the big green mansion in Gaze that's covered with flowers, with Ruby and Uncle Qrow and the others who were living here before. Even Shortcake made it! I was worried about him making it though.

If you want to come out, I can probably find some snacks to give you. Uh... Have you ever had strawberry milk?

[spiritwalks]

Oh. I know that place.

[Lifetimes' worth of baggage shoved inside the gaudiest house in the neighborhood? Classic wizard shit. Vyng should have realized.]

Snacks? Like a tea party? [Cute.] If I've had strawberry milk, it was a long time ago. Fresh strawberries aren't easy to come by where I'm from.

[justoscar]

[The clues were all right there...]

You're helping me sleep. The least I can do is feed you.

[It was good, old fashioned country manners-- and classic bartering. Oscar wasn't going to accept assistance for free.]

In my bag I found something that can make strawberry milk. It's not fresh strawberries... But a concentrated powder mix?

It's pretty good, and I'm willing to share if you wanna try it.

[spiritwalks]

You don't need to worry about that, buddy. I usually have enough to eat. But hey. If it makes you feel better? I won't say no.

[A sense of longing and melancholy washes over him, because he inevitably thinks of somebody who would love snacks. His name goes unsaid, though, and Vyng lets out a quiet breath.]

Are you sure you wanna share? How many uses do you think you have?

[justoscar]

[Just take it, Vyng. For that certain someone, if nothing else.]

It's a big package. If I take my time, it'll last a long while.

[spiritwalks]

Hm! [His mouth quirks into a smile.] Alright, sure. I'll try anything at least once.

[justoscar]

Great!!

[He was so excited. Only fifteen and he had Adult Friends that he was able to invite over.]

It's kinda messy with the flowers everywhere. I hope you don't mind!

[... He was unaware that Vyng may have played a role with some of the flowers.]

[spiritwalks]

Ahahah, yeah, I'll bet...

[Because he absolutely did have a hand in it. Literally.]

Look at me, though. Do I seem like the kind of guy who minds flowers?

[justoscar]

Well, no!

[Ah, to be young and oblivious to the shenanigans of the adults around you...]

This place just looks like it's more flower than house right now!

[spiritwalks]

Sounds like an improvement to me.

[Seriously, that mansion is gaudy as fuck. He almost feels bad for Ozpin's neighbors. Then again, a bunch of the architecture here is kind of Extra from Vyng's perspective. So maybe they don't mind so much.

Either way, flowers are the last thing he's going to complain about.]

[justoscar]

[Oscar just laughed.]

Oz is a good teacher, but he needs to learn that he can use more colors than just green!

[spiritwalks]

Wizards, man. They've gotta have some schtick that tells everyone they're a delicate genius.

[Said with some mild exasperation. But there's no real bite to his words.]

[justoscar]

[The comment alone was enough to earn a laugh.]

I don't know about others, but for Ozpin its been clocks and having everything in green.

[He was grateful to whatever gods had shown mercy that to multitude of clocks in the mansion had stopped-- at least, until Oz found a way to fix or replace them.

He hoped he never got that bad... ]

[spiritwalks]

He really has too much time on his hands...

[In more ways than one, but his point still stands.]

[justoscar]

[Oscar just giggled like an awkward school kid enjoying a dumb pun.]

That's one way to put it!

He doesn't even like strawberry milk. I don't get that guy sometimes...

[spiritwalks]

It all goes back to strawberry milk...

[His words are tinged with a quiet laugh.]

When did you want me to swing by? Now?

[justoscar]

If you have time?

[He beamed, looking more like an actual excitable teenager than someone who was unfortunately wise beyond his years.]

We all could use a little down time right now.

[spiritwalks]

Sure. I'll be over in, like...an hour. That sound good?

[Vyng can't shapeshift anymore, and he can't expect the bird to carry him around everywhere all the time. Soooo, walking it is!]

[justoscar]

Yes! Totally good!

[As much as he would love to meet the Thunderbird some day, it wasn't his place to push. Besides, this gave him a chance to whip up something more than strawberry milk...]

I'll leave the door open, okay? Unless you're like Uncle Qrow and you like to make your own entrances...

[A laugh. He didn't mind either way. ]

--> action

[spiritwalks]

I sense a story there...

But yeah, sure, that works.

[Not that he expects Oscar to spill a bunch of dirt about his good ole Uncle Qrow. That's something for later, anyway — he's got some strawberry milk to sample. So about an hour (and some change) later, Vyng finds himself at the entrance of Ozpin's gaudy, green mansion.

It's not the first time he's been here, not by a long shot. In fact, some people might say he's gotten too comfortable here. Ozpin first met Vyng putzing around the kitchen at 5 in the morning, after all.

But this time he was cordially invited for food and drink, so he doesn't hesitate to push the door open, step across the threshold, and call out to whoever happens to be in earshot:]

Hey-o, I'm here.

action

[justoscar]

[Vyng would find Oscar in the kitchen, as if on cue. In some ways, Vyng might come to find Oscar quite similar to a very different small town lad, for the habit of cooking to show affection or express frustrations transcended time and space. Food was a necessity for life-- but there was no reason not to enjoy it.]

Oh hey, I'm in here!

[Oscar called from the kitchen, elbow deep in the clean up from his latest project-- a dozen or so apples sitting in a dish, steaming and all but swimming in the melted pool of sugared and spiced butter they had been baked in. The boy beamed when Vyng entered.]

Hey, just get comfortable-- okay? We had these apples that were going soft, so I baked them up. They might not last long with Ruby, so help yourself!

[spiritwalks]

[Before he even steps foot into the kitchen, Vyng catches a good whiff of the cozy baked-wapple-like scent wafting through the air. It always takes him back to when his father used to make strudel. Thankfully, Vyng has managed to build better wapple-related memories since then.]

Hah, I believe it. Especially after her great cookie heist from last year.

[A fond expression lights up his face as he settles down at the table and picks up a fork. As he takes a bite, a delightful mixture of flavors burst through his mouth — cinnamon, brown sugar and butter, perfectly balanced against the satisfyingly tart fruit.

It's hard not to think of the way Meers hummed to himself while taking a pan out of the oven. Or of Billie, and how he played the sous chef and dutiful taste-tester. Vyng's smile softens into something more wistful. But he's still plenty enthusiastic when he pipes up between bites.]

This is uh-mazing, bud. Good job!

[justoscar]

Oh no. It was that weird holiday in the winter, right? Uh... christmas?

[ Oscar grinned, recalling Ruby's endeavor to beat Santa Clause to all of the cookies in town. He had been glad to just set up camp and keep watch for the weird man who wanted to break into their house, but Ruby-- as always-- took it to a completely different level.

Somehow, he wasn't surprised she had made it to Vyng's place.

The bittersweet look on Vyng's face when he helped himself to an apple was a surprise for Oscar-- it suggested a certain wistfulness and nostalgia that Oscar knew he never could reach, but the sheer warmth he saw in the man was enough to make his heart sing.

It might not be much, but he knew that the simple things were often times the most important.

He hummed softly to himself as he dried his hands, pleased.]

I'm glad you like it! [He chirped, folding up the towel and setting it aside.] It's a recipe I learned from my Aunt. She always made the best food... even if she liked to surprise everyone with something different and new without any warning before dinner."