#freeloader asks

[botanist-bird]

a missive! a missive! a missive in blue!

hello my darling sparrowhawk, just how are you?

do tell me of your lives, your deaths and your kills; i personally have found myself a new skin that thrills!

i've not much time to send you this—i spent it all on chasing wist </3 but with this ask i'll send a kiss—please know that you are sorely missed!

xoxo, hollow

oh, a message, a message! truly a welcome message to receive! when next we meet, i’ve quite the tale to weave!

glory and love and promises galore, ‘tis a riveting narrative for you to store. tell me of your form, let us compare; i myself have a new body to wear!

likewise, your absence has been sorely felt—but worry not, i’ll soon return to where we once dwelt. i’ll leave the door unlocked, if you’ve the time to come by; we could trade tales, even go for a fly <3

all my love, sparrow

[botanist-bird]

do you recall when he first came into the role of explorer? it was such a fascinating sight — unprecedented, yet entirely natural. he stepped into those shoes like he knew he'd never take them off.

you both left your shoes on the doorstep. i've put them with the others'.

we’ll be back before you know it. you won’t be rid of us that easily, don’t worry. there’s nobody else who would fit, anyhow.

i think our architect might even be coming home. will you make sure she knows where we are, if she gets back before us?

[botanist-bird]

shall i clean? i was not keen on caretaking when i last nested there. even with the server stopped, the mess will have been preserved. i'd hate for you to return, only for the detritus to agitate you. stagnation makes dustcatchers out of all of us.

no, it’s quite alright. i think i might do it myself. it’ll be soothing to have something slower to do.

[botanist-bird]

if you mean our home, i haven't been in a while. i've been nesting somewhere else in recent times. if you mean Home, it.. wants as always. but i've been whetting and whittling as always.

i might go back for a bit when this game ends. i miss it, and i need a quiet place to work. i’m getting tired of this body. too much attached to it.

[botanist-bird]

will you remind me my first form? she's somewhere distant; help in recalling her would be much appreciated. reminiscence has been giving me trouble as of late.

so sorry for the lack of messages. there's been a few clashes i've had to handle. happy marriage! tell mine i've still got his flower.

she liked exploring. collecting little trinkets. we never finished the gold farm. … i fear i cannot recall much else—it was so long ago. would you like me to return, even briefly?

thank you! i’m afraid i’ve had to murder yours again, for getting in the way of my wedding. but i’ll let him know.

has everything been alright, back at home?

[botanist-bird]

a single book arrives, the cover soft with wear and the pages yellow with age, the whole thing at risk of crumbling at the slightest bend. the ink, however, is dark with newness. the air displaced by the fluttering pages tastes... colder, somehow. sharper. old, yet fresh. this book is from the snow, made some time long ago.

the contents? documents, signed twice. a wedding of two souls. comments and quips decorating the border, marking the witnesses. old words, new writing. a copy. the originals are stored safely away, only to be accessed... directly. but, for a long-distance reminder, this forgery inked with careful, remniscing hands will do.

[she takes the book gingerly, covering her mouth with a hand as tears well in her eyes]

is this… a copy of mine and allie’s marriage license and certificate? oh, hollow.

[she thumbs through the pages, pressing trembling fingers to her lips. she presses the book to her chest when she’s done, closing her eyes with a teary smile]

i haven’t looked at this in a while. thank you. i assume the originals are safe with you, but—void below. thank you, hollow.

[botanist-bird]

do people think living millenia makes you wise? lmao. i mean i know we're legends and all but we're people. you know how people are. there's no sage amongst ours. just... kids ascended early.

...do you remember the first year? the war? i never thought you'd give up pacifism. but, hey. things change. so do people. we all left, remember? we just promised, to... reminisce, once we parted.

i've been tired. research is hard. but i'll send a journal next time. a slice of us, so you remember. do you have a preference from when? i've got it all archived. ask and you shall receive.

my fault, i think. i get a bit too high and mighty when i talk to sage—it's just something about him, y'know? it bothers me. it's like looking in an old mirror. 'sides. if living millennia made us wiser, triz probably wouldn't keep going down to red every second session of his.

and, yeah. i remember the war. i think... third life was what did it. i was still a pacifist, all bark and no bite—right up until suni died, because i ran away. i can't do that again.

...reminiscing hurts, sometimes. i miss you guys. will, jett, and ted most of all.

i... maybe something from season three? back when we were all still together? don't exert yourself too much, though. be careful, rest up.

[botanist-bird]

LMAOOOOOOOOOOO thats my sparrow 💜💜💜 how often do we break the binds that tie us? we are perhaps a little too good at that...

i am so very happy for you !!! congratulations and many blessings to the two of you. i'll light a page for you <3 and honestly?

Yes. ok plant mother ok llama lady ok nurturer and protector amd caregiver. of course you finally adopted.

i've been alright! drained... consumed by a new fixation... but learning lots, as always! i picked up something or the other regarding some new magic, i'll have to share that once i've experimented more. it's Fascinating, to say the least.

no ties can bind us forever... and not ones that weak.

and... okay, yeah, fair enough. i just... didn't expect a fully sentient being to choose me.

new magic is always fun! can't wait to see what you've been doing when i leave :) stay safe, rest up!