Stanford "Ford" Filbrick Pines (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
cryptograms) wrote2021-09-04 07:34 pm
cryptograms) wrote2021-09-04 07:34 pm
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[ Ford has no idea who this is, but he already approves from the username alone. The 'paranormal investigator and inventor' part is just an exciting bonus. ]
That's correct! Pleased to meet you, Dib.
What can I help you with?
That's correct! Pleased to meet you, Dib.
What can I help you with?
Well, back home I had built a portal that was able to connect to other alternate versions of the universe I lived in. I was thinking about attempting to rebuild it again here in order to find a solution for people like myself who don't want to stay here.
And I was told that you would be one of the people I should ask for advice on with this sort of project.
And I was told that you would be one of the people I should ask for advice on with this sort of project.
[ Ohhh no. Not this again. ]
I have experience in that field, yes.
I constructed one in my home dimension, before I was drawn to Deerington, and I was involved in an attempt to construct a portal that would allow Sleepers to return to their home dimensions.
Was there something in particular you were hoping to ask?
I have experience in that field, yes.
I constructed one in my home dimension, before I was drawn to Deerington, and I was involved in an attempt to construct a portal that would allow Sleepers to return to their home dimensions.
Was there something in particular you were hoping to ask?
I was hoping to get some insight on what the result was when it was built in the dream world I heard existed before this one, and then, based on my own success attempt back home, whether or not it can be replicated perfectly here or will need to be altered in some manner from my original plans.
The portals were designed to punch through not only the walls between dimensions, but also the walls between layers of reality. Mechanically there was nothing wrong with them. They worked as intended and we breached through several of Deerington's layers.
The problem was that the Guardians, the Pthumerians, stepped in to stop us with lethal force before we were done.
The problem was that the Guardians, the Pthumerians, stepped in to stop us with lethal force before we were done.
I think it's all but guaranteed you will.
Even if the portals function perfectly, they still pose a risk to dimensional stability. I'm not as familiar with the new Patrons as I was with the Guardians, but I expect you'll be met with immediate resistance.
Even if the portals function perfectly, they still pose a risk to dimensional stability. I'm not as familiar with the new Patrons as I was with the Guardians, but I expect you'll be met with immediate resistance.
You have been invited for Ruby Rose's birthday party!
The party will be held at the house Ruby lives in over in the Gaze district. [ There's an address included, or just general directions, along with the time the party starts. ] Feel free to dress up or not - you know Ruby won't mind either way. You're also free to bring a present if you want to. If you want to bring one, but you're having trouble thinking of what to get her, you can ask me, I guess.
.. Or Oscar. Actually, ask Oscar.
[ Please don't make her talk to people. ]
Let's do our best to make it fun for Ruby. She's had a really crappy time around this time last year, and I know she would love to be surrounded by her friends.
( ooc: the log for the party can be found over here! )
The party will be held at the house Ruby lives in over in the Gaze district. [ There's an address included, or just general directions, along with the time the party starts. ] Feel free to dress up or not - you know Ruby won't mind either way. You're also free to bring a present if you want to. If you want to bring one, but you're having trouble thinking of what to get her, you can ask me, I guess.
.. Or Oscar. Actually, ask Oscar.
[ Please don't make her talk to people. ]
Let's do our best to make it fun for Ruby. She's had a really crappy time around this time last year, and I know she would love to be surrounded by her friends.
( ooc: the log for the party can be found over here! )
Well... that's definitely not ideal.
[To put it lightly.]
I suppose one option would be to try to reach out to the Patrons here and see if some kind of compromise can be reached so that one can be built without earning their ire, but that will likely be difficult.
[To put it lightly.]
I suppose one option would be to try to reach out to the Patrons here and see if some kind of compromise can be reached so that one can be built without earning their ire, but that will likely be difficult.
It's a better bet than acting blindly.
[..... ]
He doesn't talk much, but you might have some luck if you speak to the Dog Keeper. He may know how to reach the Patrons or Cynthia.
[..... ]
He doesn't talk much, but you might have some luck if you speak to the Dog Keeper. He may know how to reach the Patrons or Cynthia.
[ Oh.
Oh, that's familiar. Ford doesn't notice, but his attitude towards Dib immediately softens. ]
I dealt with the same myself, but that won't be a problem for you here here. Some of the Sleepers still won't be interested, but plenty of them appreciate the pursuit of all things weird.
Oh, that's familiar. Ford doesn't notice, but his attitude towards Dib immediately softens. ]
I dealt with the same myself, but that won't be a problem for you here here. Some of the Sleepers still won't be interested, but plenty of them appreciate the pursuit of all things weird.
[Wrapped up in a bright red and white box is a plate of bought snowflake cookies and a black and gold tea set with, not unsurprisingly, four cups.
Attached is a note with a little rabbit doodle:]
Happy Holidays!
Love,
Usagi
Attached is a note with a little rabbit doodle:]
Happy Holidays!
Love,
Usagi
[It's not that she doesn't believe Ozpin, even though he was clearly trying to resist telling the entire truth, but she still wants to check in on Ford and make sure he's fine. Besides, she needs to warn him about the dangers of letting vampires drink from him. She assumes he has little to no experience with them, and simply doesn't realize what could happen.
She sounds worried and downright stressed when she reaches out.]
Hey... You're okay, right? You're not. You know. Dead or dying or a vampire or anything.
[Because this is a totally normal thing to ask and absolutely does not sound like it's coming out of nowhere.]
She sounds worried and downright stressed when she reaches out.]
Hey... You're okay, right? You're not. You know. Dead or dying or a vampire or anything.
[Because this is a totally normal thing to ask and absolutely does not sound like it's coming out of nowhere.]
[ To have someone make sure he's not dead or dying is a normal thing to be asked when you're Ford Pines. The only puzzling part is that he's not immediately sure what prompted the question, as things have been fairly uneventful as of late.
To have someone ask if he's a vampire is entirely different, and feels entirely too pointed. There's a startled silence from Ford's end before he finally finds his words again. ]
I'm fine, Willow. Where is this coming from, exactly...?
To have someone ask if he's a vampire is entirely different, and feels entirely too pointed. There's a startled silence from Ford's end before he finally finds his words again. ]
I'm fine, Willow. Where is this coming from, exactly...?
[Willow sighs audibly with relief. She's still is expecting an awkward and difficult conversation, but at least Ford is okay, and she can take from that too that Ozpin is not as far gone as she was afraid he might be.]
Good - I'm glad. Um. I was talking to Ozpin. The - the blood drinking thing. Your name came up. I got a little worried.
[She got a lot worried and it shows easily in her tone, but it's fine. She takes a deep breath.]
You should be a little extra careful - vampires are common in my world. They're really, really dangerous.
Good - I'm glad. Um. I was talking to Ozpin. The - the blood drinking thing. Your name came up. I got a little worried.
[She got a lot worried and it shows easily in her tone, but it's fine. She takes a deep breath.]
You should be a little extra careful - vampires are common in my world. They're really, really dangerous.
[ Fuck, she knows. And Ozpin told her? Why?!
Okay. Okay okay okay. This could be... worse... probably. Ford can't really think of how, he's sure there's a way.
Still, he can't help but offer a brief, tired, and bitter laugh in response to Willow's warning. ]
I wouldn't say being a vampire is the most dangerous thing about Ozpin.
Okay. Okay okay okay. This could be... worse... probably. Ford can't really think of how, he's sure there's a way.
Still, he can't help but offer a brief, tired, and bitter laugh in response to Willow's warning. ]
I wouldn't say being a vampire is the most dangerous thing about Ozpin.
Edited 2022-01-11 02:47 (UTC)
[Huh? It's Willow's turn to be puzzled. She's not sure what could possibly be more dangerous about Ozpin than being a vampire. It's probably not the important thing to focus on right now, though.]
You say that now... Look, just be careful, okay? There was a - a good vampire at home that went bad, and uh, he started targeting the people who were closest to the one person he loved most. I'm not saying Ozpin's going to do the same, but he's drinking blood - that's going to lead nowhere good real fast.
You say that now... Look, just be careful, okay? There was a - a good vampire at home that went bad, and uh, he started targeting the people who were closest to the one person he loved most. I'm not saying Ozpin's going to do the same, but he's drinking blood - that's going to lead nowhere good real fast.
[ The one person he loved most... Ford scoffs. ]
I think you should be more worried about Oscar or Qrow's friends, in that case.
[ Well, at least she's not pressing him about the actual blood drinking incident. Now that the awkwardness has largely passed, he feels comfortable and confident enough to focus on actually reassuring Willow - she did check up on him, after all. ]
There's a connection between Vilebloods and vampirism in Trench, so I doubt he's the type of vampire from your dimension.
[ .... Wait, that makes it sound like-- ]
But I'm not interested in seeing him again. So don't worry.
I think you should be more worried about Oscar or Qrow's friends, in that case.
[ Well, at least she's not pressing him about the actual blood drinking incident. Now that the awkwardness has largely passed, he feels comfortable and confident enough to focus on actually reassuring Willow - she did check up on him, after all. ]
There's a connection between Vilebloods and vampirism in Trench, so I doubt he's the type of vampire from your dimension.
[ .... Wait, that makes it sound like-- ]
But I'm not interested in seeing him again. So don't worry.
[Willow respects Ford's space enough not to push - not on the blood drinking, not on his relationship with Ozpin. Besides, if there's a connection between Vilebloods and vampirism here in Trench... that's far more valuable information right now than focusing on the details Ford doesn't want to talk about anyway, and her focus is on keeping everyone safe, and trying to help Oz.]
I know you don't want to see him, and normally, I wouldn't even bother you with this, but... Ford, if things go bad - really bad - he might not feel the same way, that's why I wanted to warn you.
Vampirism here might not be the same as at home - and anything you've got on that would help us out a lot. There's some similarities, though. I can bring a friend over to cast a spell to ban him from coming in uninvited, if you want. That should help some.
I know you don't want to see him, and normally, I wouldn't even bother you with this, but... Ford, if things go bad - really bad - he might not feel the same way, that's why I wanted to warn you.
Vampirism here might not be the same as at home - and anything you've got on that would help us out a lot. There's some similarities, though. I can bring a friend over to cast a spell to ban him from coming in uninvited, if you want. That should help some.
[ Right. Willow is worried. It makes sense. He knows what paranoia is like, knows how and why someone might look for threats even from people they'd normally trust.
Which is why there's another pause from Ford once Willow has made her most recent offer - and more importantly, her most recent request for information. Because he gets where she's coming from - gets it better than most people would. And that's the thing, really. He gets it well enough that he's suddenly not sure Ozpin is the only one she'll see as a threat. ]
Willow...
[ There's a new edge to his voice, something restrained, reserved, a little closed off. He doesn't sound angry or annoyed or even properly cold, but there's a guarded quality to his tone when he continues. ]
Did you know that Mabel is also a Vileblood?
Which is why there's another pause from Ford once Willow has made her most recent offer - and more importantly, her most recent request for information. Because he gets where she's coming from - gets it better than most people would. And that's the thing, really. He gets it well enough that he's suddenly not sure Ozpin is the only one she'll see as a threat. ]
Willow...
[ There's a new edge to his voice, something restrained, reserved, a little closed off. He doesn't sound angry or annoyed or even properly cold, but there's a guarded quality to his tone when he continues. ]
Did you know that Mabel is also a Vileblood?
[There's another puzzled pause. What difference does it make that Mabel's a Vileblood? Is she a vampire too?]
Well, no. I didn't, but I'm not sure that matters? The spell I'm talking about just keeps a specific vampire from coming in until you invite them.
[This conversation has suddenly taken on an unexpected and worrying twist.]
Ford, I hope you don't think I'm, I don't know, discriminating against Vilebloods or something. I mean, I do sleep in the same room with one every night.
Well, no. I didn't, but I'm not sure that matters? The spell I'm talking about just keeps a specific vampire from coming in until you invite them.
[This conversation has suddenly taken on an unexpected and worrying twist.]
Ford, I hope you don't think I'm, I don't know, discriminating against Vilebloods or something. I mean, I do sleep in the same room with one every night.
[ Oh no... is Ford going to ruin Willow's relationship with her partner with this information...?
Probably not, actually, and it's something she should know anyway. ]
Willow, I haven't found a single piece of vampire lore originating in Trench that doesn't connect to Vilebloods in some way.
[ For some reason it's been a subject of significant interest to him lately. ]
Plenty of things I've found suggest that Vilebloods are vampires - or close enough that the difference doesn't matter.
I understand that you're worried and I appreciate that you want to help, but I'm not going to risk any spell that has a chance of hurting Mabel, no matter how small that chance is.
Probably not, actually, and it's something she should know anyway. ]
Willow, I haven't found a single piece of vampire lore originating in Trench that doesn't connect to Vilebloods in some way.
[ For some reason it's been a subject of significant interest to him lately. ]
Plenty of things I've found suggest that Vilebloods are vampires - or close enough that the difference doesn't matter.
I understand that you're worried and I appreciate that you want to help, but I'm not going to risk any spell that has a chance of hurting Mabel, no matter how small that chance is.
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