Deer Country Inbox

[alternia_strength]

D --> You have reached the Inbox of Equius Zahhak
D --> I e%pect that you will leave a concise and orderly message concerning the nature of your wish
D --> You will leave your full name and speak in an orderly and proper fashion
D --> There will be no tolerance for temporal shenanigans or other foolishness
D --> Speak promptly when you hear the tone



D --> I require a towel

Comments

message around end of october

[klawful]

HELLO ASSHOLE. I AM COMING TO SPEAK WITH YOU ABOUT BLOOD MATTERS BECAUSE I HAVE INFORMATION THAT MAY BE PERTINENT TO YOUR SUCCESS WHICH INDIRECTLY MEANS MY SUCCESS.

I AM INTIMATE WITH A DARKBLOOD HERE AND WE HAVE DISCOVERED HE HAS A MULTITUDE OF ABILITIES INCLUDING AN ABILITY TO MANEUVER HIMSELF THROUGH TIME.

I WOULD NOT BE AGAINST HELPING YOU FIGURE OUT IF YOU ARE THAT USEFUL, WHICH, BY THE WAY, I AM HIGHLY SKEPTICAL OF BUT IT WOULD STILL BE GOOD TO KNOW FOR THE TEAM. HAVE YOU FOUND OUT MORE INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT YOU CAN DO YET OR ARE YOU TOO BUSY GUZZLING MILK LIKE A USELESS MAMMAL?

[alternia_strength]

D --> Disgusting
D --> I do not need to be made aware of your intimates

D --> However if Darkbl00d has time or space manipulation powers then there are possible e%planations for the continuation of my current power
D --> In Asgard my normal capacities were severely muted due to the fact that my prodigious STRENGTH would make my think pan e%plode
D --> That is not metaphorical but a literal difficulty faced
D --> Think pan e%plosions due to foreign propensities were not uncommon in that world

D --> While tied to the god-tier known as Freyr I siphoned a modicum of his capacities apparently
D --> I was capable of alchemization through personal artistic e%pression
D --> Put another way
D --> I can draw things into e%istence
D --> More comple% substances may require individual pieces to be drawn separately
D --> This power appears to still be active in this world and may be a subset of Darkbl00d capacities
D --> A small gain for the change of my bl00d but it is nevertheless useful in logistic terms

D --> And before you ask
D --> Yes
D --> I have alchemized a great many towels

[klawful]

IT'S NOT INTIMATE LIKE *THAT.* I MEANT A COMFORTABLE AND HONEST CONNECTION.

YOU LITERALLY COMBUSTED? HAVE YOU BLOWN UP HERE? LIKE KA-BOOM EXPLOSION?

GOD, I HATE THAT I AM ABOUT TO SAY THIS BUT THAT IS ACTUALLY REALLY FUCKING COOL AND USEFUl. ALL I CAN FUCKING DO HERE IS FLOAT AROUND WHILE I'M SLEEPING AND SEE AWFUL SHIT THAT'S MAYBE GOING TO HAPPEN. I WANT TO BE ABLE TO MAKE SHIT OUT OF THIN AIR.

I WASN'T GOING TO ASK. BUT WHILE WE ARE, ARE THERE LIMITATIONS TO YOUR POWERS? SHIT YOU CAN'T DRAW INTO EXISTENCE LIKE LIVING CREATURES OR SOMETHING?

[alternia_strength]

D --> G00d thank glob

D --> Nothing of the sort here and one occurrence was sufficient to dissuade the e%perience in Asgard

D --> It is remarkably useful
D --> There are limits in terms of quantities I have the stamina to create in a solar day
D --> Living creatures are not currently possible though robotic constructs should be with enough parts and time
D --> Making a robot might take e%tensive effort though so first things first
D --> Either way more or less non-living material though organic is possible

[klawful]

DOES IT WEAKEN YOU IF YOU USE IT BEYOND THAT POINT?
CAN YOU MAKE A LOT OF THINGS AT ONCE OR DOES EACH ITEM TAKE TIME? IS IT LIKE "MAKE 10x TOWELS" OR WOULD YOU HAVE TO MAKE TEN SEPERATE TOWELS INDEPENDENTLY.

COOL. MAKE ME A FIREPLACE. AND A TENT.

[ text ]

[wannasmash]

[ ooc: hahahaha im crying ]

Hello Centaur-san, my name is Midoriya Izuku. It's nice to meet you.

Your friend Karkat-san suggested I message you about trading goods for milk. I'm still getting used to living here but I want to eat healthy and up my strength. I know dairy is kind of rare here, but I did a lot of patrol shifts last month, so I can trade. I have canned goods, dry goods, gemstones, even fancy dried herbs I don't really know how to cook with.

What kind of milk is it?

Re: [ text ]

[alternia_strength]

[This was ... unexpected. Well, why not be clear? After all, nothing wrong with sharing good lusus milk.]

D --> It is produced by my Omen who is also my lusus
D --> My centaur lusus returned to me in the form of my omen and continues to produce lusus milk as I had in the paast

D --> A trade of f00dstuffs can be planned yes
D --> I am surprised he would suggest it however
D --> He was never much of a fan of lusus milk

[Equius suspected he was punking this guy, given that it was centaur milk and that was kind of a ... niche interest in his experience, but hey why not?]

Re: [ text ]

[wannasmash]

[ It's easy to punk someone over text, admittedly. ]

I don't know what a lusus is.



Centaur???

[ Oh no, he's not sure how to feel about that. ]

Uh

[ Uh... ]

Actually now that I think about it, maybe it's not such a great idea for me to try milk from a
omen
lusus
or something
We don't have centaurs in my world. I might have an allergic reaction. I'm sorry, I've bothered you for no reason.

It wasn't going to be for him, it was for me. A good diet is important for a strong body.

Re: [ text ]

[alternia_strength]

D --> They are close to what humans consider adoptive parental units
D --> If adoptive parental units are monsters and beasts with sentience who are g00d at training in societal norms

D --> The milk is perfectly safe to drink in so far as I am aware
D --> Though I cannot recall an occasion where a human imbibed the concoction
D --> However you are e%tremely correct
D --> A g00d diet is one of the foundations of a STRONG body

D --> You know
D --> I believe
D --> Karkat may be using me to troll you

D --> I should beat the stuffing out of him for this

Re: [ text ]

[wannasmash]

Oh then actually it's really nice you have your lusus here with you! I mean, this world is dangerous, but at least you're together.

[ He'd never wish this world on his mom, but he does miss her a lot. If Equius's lusus is a monster and/or beast, they probably stand a better chance of survival anyway. ]

Troll as in internet trolling, right? Not his people?

That's OK, you don't have to go to the trouble. I don't want to be a nuisance. We talked about sparring, so I can just work on defeating him then.

[ Far from shrinking as he might have done in the past, Midoriya just makes a mental note, without malice, to completely wipe the floor with Karkat. ]

text | carcinoGeneticist

[klawful]

EQUIUS. I HAVE A SERIOUS QUESTION.

DID YOU EVER EXPERIENCE WINTER IN THE WORLD YOU WERE STUCK ON BEFORE? IF YES - HOW MUCH IS IT GOING TO SUCK.

Re: text | carcinoGeneticist

[alternia_strength]

D --> You are less coldbl00ded than I am
D --> And we are both e%ceptionally warmer than the sea dwellers
D --> But to answer your question succinctly

D --> It will be an e%cruciatingly annoying e%perience
D --> I should stock up on firew00d
D --> Perhaps heated blankets
D --> An e%tra lunar orb for heat production

D --> At least I work in the forge

Re: text | carcinoGeneticist

[klawful]

DO YOU THINK I WILL GO INTO HIBERNATION

(It probably sounds like a stupid question, but was it so unreasonable to ask??? Equius is literally the only other troll here.)

I'M BUILDING FIREPLACES. I'M CURIOUS IF COLDBLOOD ENCHANTMENTS WOULD HELP ON KEEPING MY CAVE WARM. LOGICALLY IT WOULD, RIGHT?

Re: text | carcinoGeneticist

[alternia_strength]

D --> If only that had worked
D --> I could have not heard Eridan for three lunar cycles
D --> That would almost have been heavenly

D --> The possibility of elementally infused coldbl00d artifacts serving as arcane heating units is there
D --> I had not considered using them but you will need a Lunar orb for powering one most likely
D --> Also considerable quantities of bl00d
D --> Be careful about the e%sanguination process
D --> It freezes quickly

[klawful]

THAT'S A FUCKING RELIEF. I WAS STARTING TO PANIC ABOUT PASSING OUT FOR SIX MONTHS OR HOWEVER UNGODLY LONG THIS HELL WILL LAST.

I WILL TRY IT OUT AND LET YOU KNOW. THEORETICALLY, IT SHOULD WORK GIVEN HOW MAGIC WORKS IN THIS PLACE.

I SHOULD PROBABLY LET YOU KNOW THAT I HAVE ALSO BEEN EXPERIMENTING WITH THE USE OF PALEBLOOD AND DARKBLOOD ON OUR OMNIS. IT IS CLEAR THEY ARE PSYCHOLOGICALLY CONNECTED TO US ALL IN SOME WAY AND I'M SEEING HOW INVOLVED.

(Aka he's about to fuck up in a big way in about two weeks from now.)

I HAVE LUNAR ORBS EVERYWHERE. I'VE BEEN COLLECTING THEM.
YEAH, YEAH, I'LL BE CAREFUL.

December sparring

[wannasmash]

As Midoriya had no preference, he let Equius choose the location. He dressed fully geared in his hero costume, though he anticipated he might remove his Iron Soles depending on how structurally sound this place was. Most of his sparring in Deer Country had taken place outside so that he wouldn't have to worry about destroying anything. However, one of the first lessons he learned was how to fight indoors without causing too much damage. He feels he should stay in practice with that.

November was harrowing. Midoriya had to wait a while after getting out of the hospital before he felt confident doing anything other than errands in December. He's looking forward to practicing with someone who is strong, committed to putting in a good challenge, and part of Karkat's team. He arrives shivering under his cloak, but he expects to get indoors and work up a sweat in no time.

Only then does it occur to him that he doesn't know what Equius looks like. They should probably find each other. He sends a text on the Omni:

I am here! It's Midoriya.

He attaches a selfie: a badly framed and slightly out of focus picture of a young man with freckles and dark green curly hair. From the shoulders up, he's in a standard "Welcome" cloak with a wide storm collar. He has a friendly grin on his face, but he's also not used to pictures, so it's slightly strained and awkward.

sorry for the wait there

[alternia_strength]

Equius sent a quick, perfunctory reply, and about five minutes later emerged int he space. He had chosen one of the in-door chambers at or adjacent to the Gate for training. Because of the cold of winter, there had to be some spaces for training that were, if not properly heated at least avoided truly dangerous temperatures and exposure, especially during December.

It's chilly in the room, but the cold was not so bad that the cold-blooded troll felt sluggish. He was in a tank-top, putting a heavy winter cloak and heating pads to the side while he walked across and nodded to Izuku. "Excellent. You seem to be in good shape. Do you require stretches and squats? They are traditional, after all." Right down to business, this one.

no worries i'm slow too

[wannasmash]

Midoriya hates the Gate, but they're going to practice in an attached part of the structure away from the poor Beasts. He has to admit that, to his knowledge, somewhere like this is really the only place two people like them can spar. His shoes echo on the floor.

Traditional...? There's his funny way of speaking again. He sets his cloak aside.

"Uh.. safety first, especially in this cold. Can't practice if we've got pulled muscles."

He smiles and starts stretching. He's in no hurry... Though, he does feel slightly too excited--or nervous? Maybe because he hasn't done this in a while? He's not aware of this month's effect on his warmblood.

"Sorry for not doing this sooner. I wasn't well enough to. And I know you'd want an opponent at their best."

Re: no worries i'm slow too

[alternia_strength]

It's definitely a spot that is well away from the most problematic areas for Izuku. While Equius didn't share his concerns, he did know not to get them into needless fights, and thankfully these indoor structures weren't attached to that part.

He grinned a lopsided grin and nodded vigorously, proceeding to move into a set of squats, putting on an expression that would have made Hanz and Franz proud. He nodded over at the hero when the apology was made. "You understand completely. If we are not at peak physical condition, we cannot properly test each others' abilities, and it seems there are consistent difficulties that plague us in this world." He made a derisive snort. "One common theme between this and my former existence."

[wannasmash]

He makes sure to thoroughly stretch, in that case. He throws Equius a grin too as he remembers,

"I'm thinking about working on a new move today, but I'm still going to give it my all. I definitely know people back home who would be upset if I didn't come at them with my best."

One in particular would be actually angry--livid, even. Midoriya wouldn't dream of doing that to him. They made a pact to improve by learning from each other in serious competition. Nowadays in Trench, sometimes Midoriya catches himself emulating his rival in small ways, like trying to make up for an imbalance in the air: a fierce smile here, a technique there.

Constant difficulties... Midoriya would like to ask if Equius has been having a hard time too, but that can get painful and personal. It is tough living in this world. For their sake, Midoriya isn't inclined to pry with people he doesn't know well.

"Do you mean your original world, or the one just before this one? Asgard?" he asks instead.

un: blue

[firstroar]

Hello,
We spoke some days ago, yes? About some means to ceasing the death cycle in my case.
I want to apologize. I wasn't in my soundest state. I hope you haven't made good on that ask.

[alternia_strength]

D --> I believe that was e%actly what you were proposing
D --> I had assumed it was clear that I was incapable of performing the desired result
D --> So I have been working on a power suppressant
D --> Curiously there have been multiple reasons to do so though the result is mi%ed at present
D --> So if you are concerned with e%piration cycles you do not need to be
D --> My focus is on power suppression at this time

D --> You are in a better frame of think pan I take it

[firstroar]

[it takes a moment to parse this...wordage....]

I didn't realize that, no. That's why I was afraid you were in the process of trying to create something terrible or futile.
I'm relieved to hear it.

[alternia_strength]

D --> Ah
D --> E%cellent in that case that I am not
D --> D00msday devices are definitely something I have fashioned in the past
D --> But they are not worthy of being made and always go off at the wrong time

D --> If you are willing
D --> I could use assistance with testing power suppressants

[firstroar]

What would it entail?

[admittedly, prefacing that with "i used to make doomsday devices" doesn't inspire confidence]