IC INBOX [kaisou]

[asipofbride]

This is Wolfwood. Leave a message and maybe I'll get back to you.

username: N.D. WOLFWOOD

✉ ☏ 📷

Comments

text: un: ♡☮STAMPEDE 7/1

[doubledollar]

[ literally moments after this, this text appears in wolfwood's inbox. maybe while he's still texting with kni. ]

dont do anything rash
we dont know anything yet
but if this is knives
we have to be careful
im not sure what he might do with a city full of humans
...im amazed he even
used the network
and didnt try to just find me using our connection
i have a weird feeling
about this

[asipofbride]

what do you want me to say to him, vash.

7/20 - action

[ornamentals]

[it's been sixteen days since wolfwood returned to the cottage. sixteen long, awkward, and uncertain days that kni spent more outside than inside. it seemed like the easier solution than putter around wolfwood when he didn't know what to say or if there was anything to say. it seemed as if he said all he needed to upon their first meeting. kni could leave it at that.

vash wanted them to make some kind of peace, but that seemed like a tall task when kni didn't even know how to say hello to the man yet.

the weather outside is drizzly, a low mist that creeps along the grass and hangs over the river beyond the foliage. kni has stationed himself on the alcove bench, book in lap, but his attention is drawn to the sight of the horned shoebill, luida, off in the distance. she stands above the shrubbery and while there's some considerable distance between them, kni doesn't particularly like that she seems to be staring directly at him. it was what made him hesitate going into the gardens, misty rain or not.]

[asipofbride]

[ Wolfwood had a lazy start to his day. he'd woken up with the creep of the sun's light into the misty morning, and taken his time making breakfast and seeing to the living things on the farm--well, most of them. a little white ghost flitted just out of the corner of his eye, and Wolfwood was fine with this weird game of silent, barely noticing one another that he and Kni were playing, an awkward peace brokered by a desperate man as Vash implored them to try, try, try to get along.

so Wolfwood was trying. sometimes trying meant not trying, and there was probably something zen and meaningful in that, but Wolfwood hadn't had enough coffee to go up that rabbithole, so he left it be in favor of feeding and watering the animals, and playing a little battle with Slappy as the day got going.

he noticed the list on the table after he fed Brad, the pink paper sitting pretty with Nicholas' name written on it in pretty calligraphy:

Nicholas D. Wolfwood 🎔
Zulius needed me for some early prep at the Vogue, so if you get a minute, could you pretty pretty please head up to the grocery store and pick up some things? Thanks a million!

and what follows is a list of groceries with little pictures and more than a few tiny musings scribbled in the margins, 'just buy the cheap ones, ive learned there's no difference between store-brand and name-brand' next to arrows pointing to the word 'cheese' because of how integral the cheese is to eggplant parm, and an illustration of a 'medium sized bag of sugar' with large and small on either side

there's so many arrows

Wolfwood almost laughs as he sips his coffee and goes to throw his clothes on, folding the list up and tucking it into an inside pocket, Cross Punisher hopping up to his shoulder as nice and easy as she always does, and Wolfwood is well on his way to Angelica when he remembers--

his little white ghost, hiding in the crops and ducking behind trees, tucked away where Wolfwood can't see him. he pauses, thinking for a moment that he should just go, that Kni could fend for himself... but then he can feel the specter of Vash rising over him, a whimper of 'common courtesy' on his lips as Wolfwood sighs and calls out, raising his voice. ]

Hey, kid. I need to head into town for some stuff--do you want to come or would you rather stay here?

text; un: ♡☮STAMPEDE / July 22

[doubledollar]

[ not vash casually making a group chat between himself, libra, wolfwood, and dante. ]


just a heads up.
there's some trouble brewing in the city. i don't know the exact details yet and i'll share them if i get any, but the long and short of it is: there's someone, or someone(s) dangerous stalking Jun.

Jun, being the one who gave us the cottage and the magic garden, and who knows about me being a Plant, is worried that if said person-or-group who's after him finds out about the garden or me and Kni, they might try to pull some sketchy shit.

they're after power, and given the garden is pretty much a magic source on its own--and myself and Kni are basically living batteries--i can't risk either getting into the hands of the wrong people.

im worried about jun, so i want to keep an eye on him
but at the same time, he wants to keep the people after him from finding out about us, too--so.

just.

be on the lookout, don't trust any strangers for now. and if you see anyone sketchy stalking around...
...

don't kill them, but there's nothing wrong with aiming for their ankles.

text; un: ndwolfwood; 1/2

[asipofbride]

[ well, doesn't that just boil his piss and put a damper on Wolfwood's otherwise pleasant damn day?

Wolfwood was up to his ass in doing Wolfwood things in the corn, and now he has to stare at his phone and lean in the shade of an apple tree and try very, very hard to swallow down the cold, honed part of him that usually responds to things like this.

simple problems (dangerous people) are supposed to have simple solutions (executing them via gunfire), but of course Vash the Stampede has to be difficult, doesn't he. Wolfwood's gonna casually do a circuit of the farm until he finds Kni doing his usual hourly dedications to his piano playing, losing some of the tension from his shoulders when he's got an eye on the little bowlcut.

okay. exhale. consider what Vash has written. ]

2/2

[asipofbride]

can't make you a full off my chest promise, but if they give me the option of not putting them down

i will attempt
to not do so.

ain't nothing gonna happen to you or the halfpint, though.

[ and that's a promise he will make, full off his chest. ]

text, un: devilhunter

[advivo]

[ can they please catch a break already? dante is getting a little tired with july specifically right now. ]

got it
i'll tell vergil what is going on as well
if they catch wind of the garden bring him over my place
between myself and vergil no one is getting a hair on that kid's head

you got a name for these bozos at all?

sneaky gift

[playtag]

[A few days after the dust settles on the whole Krusnik ordeal, some time before she moves back to her apartments (for now), Eve leaves a little box in the cottage fridge. The box has Wolfwood's full name on it, written in a child's bad handwriting. (Blame Torneo for not including that in her education.) Inside will be a fancy chocolate basket that looks frankly almost too good to eat.]

[And also a note:]

Nico,
I know you did what you could
with Kni and me in mind.

One day I'll be strong enough,
to return the favor.
- Eve

[Is this... thanks?]

turn on your location i just wanna talk

[asipofbride]

[ it's weird to open the coldbox and find something with his name on it.

Wolfwood doesn't remember putting anything in the fridge for himself? he looks around, curious, and reaches in to free the box with his name scrawled on it (hey, the mystery-giver caught the h, well done, mystery-giver), blinking as he finds the little note attached to the box, taking a moment to read it, to look at the present.

then he's gonna go find Vash, let the man try a bite of the dessert with him, talk about some shit, and then go on a mission to find where Eve's hanging out around the house.

worst case scenario, he can do things over text, but he needs to go see a man about a thing and it feels nicer to thank somebody in person. ]

text | saturday 9/16

[ornamentals]

[not long after this finishes up, wolfwood gets a text:]

how close are you to the park?

text; un: ndwolfwood

[asipofbride]

uhh

if you need a getaway driver you should heft them lil sticks and start running
but if you just need a ride in 5-10 minutes i'm close

sometime early in December

[kowase]

[ it'd started out as an easy conversation--the best thing about having a delivery guy working for you who is on-call? the fact that you can call upon them for any sort of thing at any time of the day.

Which is what he'd done. It'd taken a bit of convincing, but after a flash of 200$ and a promise for a Christmas Bonus, he's managed to convince the sunglasses wearing fool that Dante spends far too much time with to do him a favor.

One that he's been trying to convince his brother to do for nearly a month now, but the likewise fool has also been dodging him or making excuses at every chance he got.

Under the pretense of making coffee and calling Dante to come sit in the kitchen for lunch, he's taking his damn time making not two--but three cappuccinos in overly fancy coffee cups.

He'll make the motion of turning the music up in the kitchen a little louder--his signal for Wolfwood to sneak up on Dante and to keep the man from leaving--at any means necessary.

You're getting a haircut today, Dante. No getting out of it. ]

[asipofbride]

[ some people might've questioned Wolfwood, you know?

it probably says
multitudes
about him
that he's willing to exploit his connection to someone he cares about very deeply for 200$ and a Bonus, but, y'know. one must do what one must, and it's probably not gonna end up with Dante dead at the end of it, so, frankly, he's not half as bad as he could be and people should be twice as grateful for that

he hears the music cue up and makes his way out to the shopfront at an easy saunter, not bothering to hide his approach--everything's nice and normal, it's just Wolfwood making his way out to the desk. he even calls his approach. ]

Heey, big guy, you got any plans after work today?

[ he sidles up behind Dante, running fingers over his shoulders, his upper back as he circles around the man at the front desk, hupping himself up to sit pretty on the desk, legs crossing as he makes himself comfortable in a feline sort of way. the bait is set; now to hook the fish and reel. ]

action | early-ish december

[ornamentals]

[ever since his incident a few days ago, kni has been nursing a sprained shoulder and wrist, leaving him unable to partake in any of his usual hobbies. the pain in his wrist and hand meant that any kind of movement of his fingers sent a shockwave of pain up to his bruised shoulder, so any attempt to pick at his piano ended in frustrating failure. reasonably, this was a kind of punishment. he had betrayed vash's trust and this was the consequence.

but it also meant he was so bored, it made him sick. surely there were other things he could occupy himself with, but with his wrist aching and his mind a storm of emotional thinking, nothing seemed right.

seated at the kitchen table, kni is slumped over with his cheek squished against the wood surface, while his injured arm hangs limp in a cloth sling against his chest. using his other hand, he idly plays with a plastic spinning top he found once on the school playground. watching it spin and spin until it stops and kni starts the process all over with as much enthusiasm as a grocery store clerk working overtime during the holidays.]

[asipofbride]

[ there's a mean part of Wolfwood that thinks it's funny, truth be told.

Kni nurses his (sprain, it's only a damn sprain) arm like any failure to tend to the aching limb will have a doctor round to lop the damn thing off, and Wolfwood, broken and mean and feral as he is, thinks it's funny. he remembers his early firearms training--and all the aches and pains, the sprains and fractures and the general physical punishment one went through to be honed into a weapon before puberty had even really settled under one's skin, and there hadn't been any slings and rest in that whole process.

he'd gotten used to the taste of the chemicals over the years. over being told to take the drugs he was so compatible with and get back up, get back to practice, get back to being useful until he was strong enough to deal with being a walking cannonade--so yeah, it was funny that the man that orchestrated it all couldn't take an arm sprain and some light rest without sulking.

and then the rest of Wolfwood catches up and drags the mean part of him down and holds it under water that won't kill it, reminds the rest of him that Kni isn't that man yet, and that they wanted very, very desperately for him to have no reason to become that man. so instead of really digging the nail into the coffin, Wolfwood turns from where he's been doing stuff at the kitchen's fire, pouring the apple cider he'd been heating into two mugs.

he slides into a seat across from Kni, cigarette behind his ear as he slides one mug over to the kid and sprawls back like he owns the place. ]

So. You grounded or just doin' a self inflicted misery thing? [ because Vash had been a little too keyed up to tell him one way or the other, and Wolfwood didn't... know? how to do anger from Vash--especially if he himself was not angry. ]

Feb. 14th.

[doubledollar]

[ Special Delivery!!!

Wolfwood's going to get a box of chocolate-dipped, fresh cherries for valentine's day, as well as a ticket to an all-you-can-eat pizza buffet, good for three people. He also gets a carton of top-shelf cigarettes.

Inside is also a dumb looking card, decorated with sprinkled donuts with a note on it. ]

A holiday meant for the heart, so I mean, obviously I'm going to send my love to the most important people in my life, you know????

Spending my tomorrows with you is a dream.

- From, your Angel!

gay

[asipofbride]

[ you live in the same house, dumbass

it's not gonna take long for Wolfwood to track Vash down, leaning in the doorway to give him a long look, arms folded. ]

So how man of these have you delivered today.

[ playful, amusement in his tone, the corners of his eyes crinkled behind the sunglasses. ]

also feb 14th.

[advivo]

[ delivery! at some point during the evening should wolfwood venture to one of his many smoking spots, he'll find a small black box with a engraved leather braclet inside. the engraving encompasses the entire silver section of the bracelet and upon further inspection appears to be a collection of symbols wrapped around it.

alongside the box and the bracelet is a note, written in a familiar hand: ]

Some extra protection [ there is something else written only to be crossed out. ] You're important, Nick. Never forget that.

- D.

[ could dante have given this to him in person? yes, he most definitely could have seeing that he is spending the night (and probably the next few days) at the cottage but... well, he's not the best at all of this okay. ]

[asipofbride]

[ look there's a lot of little creatures on the farm and that's before you count the preteens and the cryptid; things have tendencies to end up in places so it's not a huge surprise to find something squirreled away in a spot that he frequents

but it is weird that it's addressed to him and that it's so... weighty. he runs his fingers over the symbols, half-remembering some of them from--the Eye, from various esoteric things in Vergil's shop, and there's a weight on his tongue that the cigarette he came out here for doesn't lift

he spends a long time fussing over his phone as he looks for the right words. words are Vash's thing, he has them by the bucketful, but if Wolfwood can just find... a couple. just enough to make things make sense, to make sure Dante knows how much everything means to him, well. that'd be nice. for once. universe. you prick. ]

wish you old fogies woulda told me about the present holiday so im not just sittin here like an asshole with nothing to give back
you got me on the backfoot here, uncle scruffy

backdated to beginning of feburary no i didn't forget | text

[ornamentals]

wolfwood, are you working today?

[ sent 10:28am, school has only just started for the day. so why would kni be texting him so early in the day? ]

[asipofbride]

im oncall for deliveries but othern that i got a free day
aint you in class

[ homeboy he's just waking up for the second time after seeing ya'll off to school and the animals fed what's the haps ]

text | un: otterfan04131973 | 22nd 8AM

[godmaker]

Nicholas. Thank you for the gift basket, it is lovely and nutritious. If you would be so kind to let me know where the fruit preserves and spreads may be procured, I would be indebted to you.

I must confess that I am not actually sure how I helped, but you have my gratitude nevertheless.

I would also like you to know that I am legally qualified to officiate civil marriages in Kaisou. If you so wish am willing to draft the papers and ceremonies needed free of charge, including prenuptial agreements.

text | un: ndwolfwood

[asipofbride]

[ have you ever nearly swallowed a cigarette upon receiving a text?

and he uses proper punctuation too fuck. time to chew his lip and contemplate how sincere he needs to be and how many times you're allowed to swear in front of a fancy person before they call the cops on you. ]

Hey there. We live in a magic garden so all of that came from our last couple of harvests last year. If you'd like I can drop by with more when you run out, and we're up to our noses in produce when the garden's in bloom so we're happy to share.

As for the help. Spikey
Vash
has been around a long time and had a real rough go of it in the world he and I are from. He's affectionate and warm and kind, but he doesn't really let anyone get close to him for reasons, good and bad. Sometimes for their safety. Sometimes for his. So him finally being able to say he loves somebody and not just in a platonic way... means more than I have the words to express.

and holy shit uh
first of all in terms of money we have no money
second
does that work with three people
third it's a bit soon but thank you and I'll keep it in the back of my mind. Really. You don't have to go out of your way for anything, I just think it's a nice feeling to be in a position to be kind to people.

[ he made it most of the way but again, nearly ate a cigarette over the concept of wedding bells. especially with Vash. and Dante. a man's nerves can only stretch so far. ]

6/02 | Delivery

[whiteshroud]

[Jun had promised to drop by the cottage more, and he intends to keep to that promise, but....He really hates being there in person when people receive stuff from him.

So instead, there'll be a package left at the door of the cottage with Wolfwood's name on it. Inside is a lemon pound cake that's been homemade and carefully stored in a tupperware container. There's also a pack of cigarettes, whatever brand he's seen Wolfwood smoked.

Finally there's a note:]

Wolfwood-
Wasn't sure what kind of dessert to make you, so made something less sugary than donuts.
Consider it a consolation prize for what happened in the Metaverse.
Hope you enjoy.

[He did not leave his name. It's probably obvious who it is, but he would sooner die than leave his name on a gift]

text | 6/10

[ornamentals]

i found a picture of you online.
does vash know about this?

[what a suspicious text, especially coupled with the photo attached.]

UN: hikari-vi | Text

[whiteshroud]

Hey! Just wanted to let you know, I'm moving!

If you want to find me, I'll be at: [He inserts whatever kind of address you'd use for an underwater fortress. Google maps will show it next to the Krusty Krab]

Have a good day! ( ´ ∀ ` )ﾉ

UN: Shroud | INVOICE

[whiteshroud]

[A message will get sent a few days after he spoke to Shroud about dealing with the body]

INVOICE: REMAINS DISPOSAL
Burial Service Fee: $1200
Transporting of Remains: $350
Body Treatment Services: $400
Damages (Sermon): $29

Total: $1,979

Payment can be done either in a lump sum, or in a agreed upon payment plan. Payments should be sent to [insert a PO box here]

My assistant and I are the only ones who know the location of the grave. Should you change your mind and want the location, you can ask me.

text; un; ndwolfwood

[asipofbride]

[ he'll text after a couple of hours. man's busy. got a funeral to pay for. ]

what's all this treatment and burial services stuff
figured you were gonna chuck me into a ditch and set it on fire

was also expecting a higher fee not gonna lie
maybe the doubledollar's weaker than the earth one

text; un: captainkenway

[jackdawvision]

Mate, you’re a selkie, and these new seals in armor keep eyeing my Jackdaw and Morrigan like they’re plump little beauties sitting in a carriage passing by. Can you warn them off so I don’t have to fight them?

If I must, I will, but I’d rather head it off at the pass now than have to figure out how many sleep darts it takes to safely knock out a seal.

text; un; ndwolfwood

[asipofbride]

one, that's awful presumptuous of ya

two, that's goddamn hilarious and i'm willin' to jaw with em for a minute to figure out what their terms are but you gotta make it worth my while

talkin' to seals is like talkin' to children with teeth and the ones in the harbor are...
well. they talk funny. i don't know how to describe it. some of em got like, an accent?

Backdated to 1st

[bebest]

[On the 1st December, Wolfwood will get a ridiculously brightly coloured parcel arriving to the cottage. Are there streamers? You better believe there are!!! Inside, he will find some adorable seal cupcakes (mercifully in a box from a local bakery) and a very fancy cigarette lighter. Given the weight of it, it's probably very expensive. Inside is a note in Zulius' usual cursive: ]

Happy B-Day, Nick!!! You've had another year to be fabulous in, and I am SURE you've got more to come!

xoxo Zules~

Backdated to 1st

[aslowburn]

[ Wolfwood will find a simple brown parcel on the steps of the cottage. When did Persephone show up? Hard to tell! Inside, he will find a tool kit to maintain his bike with. Or something to bludgeon someone with. She won't judge either way. With it is a note: ]

Happy birthday, Nicholas. I doubt you want much of a fuss, but the day warrants being marked all the same.

- Persephone.

April 05 at some point

[myriadeclipse]

"The Spring Season is a time for stripping away the expensive commercialism of Winter to bloom new life and appreciation in the new year. Yet some wish to find profit even in a time of reflection. In stealing the sins of the season, Mockingbird sends its warm regards." [Inside the egg you will find 15 packages of Premium Citrus Mint Kitkat. How Lucky!]

[Should you try to report these in any way, all signs will point to the local Blockbuster.]

text; un: bakusatsuou

[hotheaded]

[At some point during the river debacle, after Bakugou's been put to work melting ice to get the damn water flowing again (temporarily).]

dietary restrictions. list em.

gonna start making dinner for you idiots.

[Amazingly, this is one of the more respectful texts he's sending!]

text; un: ndwolfwood

[asipofbride]

[ what a weird thing to suddenly receive from the Loud Child that's been sort of aggressively on the fringes of his space

it's kind of sweet
and it's also kind of, y'know
such an Earth thing to ask ]

in the words of you people from this planet
lol what

ill eat whatevers put in front of me however you wanna put it there
ive never been dumb enough to be picky and im not about to start now