video.

[bumbles]

( Cue one video post with Mr. Casey, looking a couple years older. The thin grey sweater covers up all the major markers of change in terms of more tattoos and more scars, save for a thin one running across his throat. Maybe the light obscures it - maybe it doesn't. The real thing is that he looks calmer, less uncomfortable with himself, even doing a video post. More steady, less haggard. Like he actually might sleep instead of being constantly run down. )

Uh, hey. I just-- thought I should um, let p-people-- know I'm back.

( Actually he got a little while ago, as those living with Max probably know, but he's sort of been sticking around her pretty constantly all that time. Not being around when she returned to the house seemed like a bad idea, all things considered. )

Or if you knew uh, a guy c-called-- called Atlas. That was me, too. I don't um, don't really do the secret identity thing anymore. Just if anyone wanted to uh, track him d-down.

( he takes a couple more pauses when he speaks, goes through more slowly, less of the urgent need to jsut spit it out from before.

Well. There's... not much more to say. Really he needs to go and catch up with people one on one, talk to the clinic, find his friends, see how things are. This just felt necessary.

A little nod to the camera, a slight smile, and the feed cuts. )

Comments

video

[werewolfing]

[peter'd only met donny a couple times, but he'd seemed like a pretty cool guy. and now he seems kinda more aware that he might be a pretty cool guy.]

Hey, dude. You glad to be back?

video

[bumbles]

( Hey, it's Peter. He likes Peter, and that gets a bit of a grin out of him, even as he's tilting his head in a weeelllll kind of way. )

I'm uh, g-glad to be back around friends? Ones that aren't b-back home, anyway.

( The rest is more complicated. ) How have uh, you been?

Permavid, private

[governorkang]

I know you didn't do much, but I wanted to thank you for your help.

[He's much less tense than he was before, discussing this subject, although, not completely at ease. That'll still take some time.]

[bumbles]

( It takes him a second to place it, what exactly he did, eyebrows raising just fractionally before he remembers, relaxes, and offers Kang a slightly smile. )

Don't um, don't m-mention it. It was no t-trouble.

( Less tense, that much Donny can see, although he doesn't think he really knows Kang well enough to press or ask. ) Are um, things g-going well?

video

[irritating]

Oh hey, haven't seen you 'round in a while - guess that's why, huh? You went home, then? What was that like? [ excuse miss nosy over here, Donny ] Same shit happened to my roommate not long ago actually, this a common thing or what?

[bumbles]

( Whoo boy. )

Hi, Apollo. ( lady is like a steamroller, but he is better equipped for steamrollers, these days. He might just take his time answering all those questions. )

N-not-- that common? I don't really uh, know.

( A moment, thinking. ) How are you g-going?

voice;

[motherofnemesis]

Have a nice time home?

[bumbles]

( This one takes a few moments longer to get a response. )

It's been, um. Eventful. ( Not all bad, not all great. Maybe that shows, too. )

How are you?

video;

[lucency]

Donny?

[ was that a trick of the light? or was that a distinct slash across his throat? she stares at the feed, jaw slightly agape because she'd been told he was gone. she still has the letter, and -

he looks older. she listens to the speech. it's still him. ]

Where are you?

video;

[bumbles]

( This seems a bit urgent. He takes a second, exhales slowly, before he replies. )

I'm at Max's p-place. I can m-meet with you, if you'd l-like?

video

[inafadingcrown]

Welcome back, my friend.

[bumbles]

Thank you, m-my lady.

( Softer, a little more formal, but no less warm for that. Taking a second, and he still bites his lower lip (but only slightly, barely noticeable) before he offers, ) How have you fared?

[fintastic]

Welcome back! [ There's a lengthy pause where she considers. ] Why did you have a secret identity? Are you a super hero?

[bumbles]

Hi.

( Scratching his neck, smiling just a little. ) Yeah. Well, I m-mean-- I p-prefer vigilante. I kept it here b-because of-- habit, and stuff.

( It's more complicated than that, but he's not really hiding it. There's more a little shrug, sort of a we both know that's oversimplifying it expression that's more relaxed than he used to be. )

video

[hyanaimne]

Ah . . . welcome back, Donny.

[unlike the times they've talked, she doesn't have her hood up]

[bumbles]

( It's little, but he's used to noticing little things. )

Thank you. How uh, have things b-been?

video;

[biwinning]

You got better at it.

[He means the speech impediment. Because he's noticed, as someone still suffering from their own.]

video;

[bumbles]

( oh... hey... guy...

but a nod and a crooked smile. )

Yeah. A little. It um, c-can-- still be bad, sometimes. ( He's not really complaining. And he isn't really sure how to ask about Sollux in a way that won't potentially make him feel bad if there hasn't been any improvements on his end, if it's something that bothers him. Instead: ) How have you b-been?

audio

[vaccination]

Waaaaaait a minute. Secret identity--don't tell me you're a superhero, too.

And welcome back.

[bumbles]

( A hidden smile on his side. Hi, Ellie. )

Thanks.

Um, yeah. I-- don't really like the uh, word "superhero." For me, anyway, it-- yeah. Hi.

video.

[selfequipped]

So you're another hero? Or did you decide to cut it out? The "don't really do the secret identity thing" has a couple meanings.

[bumbles]

I, um. ( Less shy, but still this is a lot of talking to people via video and voice functions for one day, and he doesn't think he remembers this lady. ) I still do some um, v-vigilante stuff b-but not really-- not really as m-much as I used to.

( He's always going to go in for the big fights, but Max wanted him safe, and after all sorts of things, he doesn't really need Atlas the same way he used to.

Plus there were the kidnappings and stuff. That was less fun. ) Mostly for here it uh, d-didn't-- didn't seem necessary any more.

( And then, an awkward wave. ) Hi.

video;

[braavado]

So what's your real name then? [She didn't actually know him, but she's curious.]

Why'd you need a secret identity here anyway?

[bumbles]

Oh. Sorry. ( Donny offers a sheepish smile. ) Donny Casey. Hi.

( He used to be at the clinic a lot, but he does look kinda different, and he still kept to himself.
With a little shrug, ) Habit, I g-guess. I d-didn't need it, i just-- it was um, more c-comfortable.

( Phew, no, slow down. There's no need to try and charge through sentences. Slower is easier. )

video;

[ohr]

[ GASP.

No, really, Ella is making the universal LE GASP expression over the feed. ]

[bumbles]

( And here he is


Sheepishly waving )