So make a wish, I'll make it like your birthday everyday

[detonating]

Who: MHA Hero (S)Quad (Bakugou, Ochako, Deku, Todoroki) & friends of Ochako Uraraka
What: Ochako's Fake Birthday party surprise
When: (forward dated to) June 27th
Where: Rocky's Bar(cade) in Cellar Door

Content Warnings: Unruly teenage shenanigans, alcohol, underage drinking, will update as needed!

[[OOC: This log isn't necessarily OPEN, but if your character has met Ochako floatsaway, is not a straight up villain and you would like to hop in, we can either handwave the RSVP or you can go over to this post to do the thing!]]

The day has come! If your character RSVP'd to Ochako's fake birthday party, they will have gotten a private message from one un; Dynamight with a location (Rocky's Bar(cade) ) and time (6pm). The party, put together during the earlier hours of the 27th, is set up in the upper bar portion of the converted warehouse. Streamers of all different colors are strung all over the place, and these resourceful teens actually managed to find a pack of balloons! No helium means that they have been fastened to streamers and walls, though there are a stray few that have found their way to the floor.

A banner is also strung from wall to wall near the upper level entrance, that reads (and has been added to with handwriting) Happy Fake Birthday!

There are three tables that have been covered in brightly covered confetti and glitter, each serving it's own important purpose. One has been designated for gifts,; obvious by the ever growing pile on the top of it).

Another is covered in an assortment of party snacks. Cookies (home made by yours truly, you're fucking welcome) in a slight variety: sugar, chocolate chip, snickerdoodle. There are chips, ranging from things like Doritos to tortilla chips, and just near the large bowls of those are slightly smaller ones filled with home made salsa. Katsuki isn't a complete maniac, these are labeled appropriately. One reads Whiny Babies, the next Guess You're Not A Total Bitch; aka medium spice level, and the last says For Bad Ass Motherfuckers... and that is clearly the inferno salsa that he suspects is going to be coming home with him by the end. If ya want real food, you're just going to have to settle for the appetizers that the bar offers or fucking go home for it, cause there was no way Katsuki was going to be able to cook actual food for the entire list of Ochako's friends. Drinks; booze, soda and water are all up for grabs at the bar, to save space.

The last table has a giant card for people to sign (with an assortment of colored pens and markers beside it), just in front of a huge plate of hand made mochi. Behind that plate is a magnificent cake (made by Snow White) that manage to even impress Katsuki.


Entertainment wise, the upstairs has both pool tables and dart boards, but should people need something more than that, there is an arcade downstairs. There's a paper on the entrance to the arcade with a note that reads You fuck shit up, I will personally END you... because Katsuki is already going to be working this off for ages and Dean (who he has no idea has left Trench entirely) won't appreciate his shit getting wrecked.

Katsuki; oh so clever, will be walking in with Ochako at about 6:15pm, having told her that while he was told about an arcade while doing his daily work out on Raleigh's farm. He's instructed everyone there to scream surprise in her face as loud as they can the minute they walk in... because that's what people do for shit like this, right???

Party on, motherfuckers!

(Side note, on July 1st, Rocky's Bar is going to mysteriously explode as per the Dean player's final request, so if anyone wants to harass Bakugou with accusations about that? Totally welcome.)

Comments

[imaglyphwitch]

[And that...would be something that she would definitely have to do her best to instill in Luz, who knew nothing about the intricacies of math in that regard. Luz was always trying her best when it came to actual academics, but she was an art major at heart, so the humanities would always be the thing that curried her favor].

Of course we are, are you kidding?! I haven't ever had the chance to actually run anything, I was just helping Lysithea with her dream project, and she did it so well I thought I'd eventually be a full timer there. Now I get to do something where I can use my organization skills to help other people look up knowledge! It's awesome!

[And Luz only hoped that here, they could eventually get into the nuts and bolts of helping Lexi let that go. Luz has no idea how far down this goes quite yet but give her time. She'll get there].

Exactly! If we need to be honest with anyone, it should be with each other, otherwise we'll just keep running into all the cliche problems most young relationships go through.

[Even if, by living in Trench, those problems were bound to be very different].

Just...his life is not like ours, his way of dealing with things is more blunt. Even I don't know everything about his life, and I get the impression that's probably for the best.

[She didn't think Reaper had bad intentions for them at the house, just that he had his own personal life he made sure no one at the house had to know about].

Korra was thinking about that a lot, especially after Deerington, and she didn't have a lot of trust for the Pthumerians either. So once the shop is good and ready, I want that to my next project...or ours, if you're willing to work on it with me.

[So Lexi wouldn't have had anyone in her corner. Luz was going to make sure THAT changed].

[Luz blushed too].

Well. I like hearing it, especially if it's coming from you.

[anobserver]

[she had to play games with herself like that in subjects she didn't like. she figured she couldn't just coast on the ones she did, not and get the scholarships she'd need to go to a good college]

Well...have I mentioned how glad I am you volunteered lately? Because I really, really, really am. And not just because of your organizational mad skills.

[Lexi couldn't help hoping that Cassie would show up some month. just wash on up to shore like she'd always been there. this place was rough, but she figured it couldn't be as bad as what was clearly bothering Cassie back home]

Yeah. It's a good thing I like being honest in the first place. It saves so much time and energy, lying is a pain in the ass to do and maintain. Eventually, everyone's story slips and then what?

[she'd been worried about what was going on as it was, adding Trench madness into the mix was going to make all of the disappearances and grief so much worse]

Okay. Well, I'll try not to...take offense, I guess?

[she figured that was probably the best she could hope for. after all, she'd be a total stranger and probably a particularly wimpy one at that]

I'm absolutely willing to work on it with you. I think it's important to have a place like that, just in case something really fucked up happens.

[she wasn't getting her hopes up. granted, that was how she lived most of her life, waiting for the other shoe to drop, but she wasn't expecting any real back-up or support.

so cute!]

Then it's a good thing I like complimenting you, isn't it?

[imaglyphwitch]

[That sounded like a good plan, and very much a Lexi one with how her inquisitive mind worked! Luz wondered if she planned to be a teacher one day].

How could I not? That was the thing that brought us closer, isn't it, finding out we both love books! Now I get to do this with you, and I love being around you and now we can plan out how it'll look together!

[Oh gosh. Lexi. Just. Say that nothing in this place was bad enough than what Cassie was going through to Luz. She would have just slowly shook her head. There was SO MUCH bad in some months].

I'll admit, sometimes I'm bad with it, when it comes to how much I can handle. I wasn't lying when I said that I needed to get better there.

[That was honestly the best way to go about it, in Luz's opinion].

It is what it is. Reaper's got a past, and so did some of people who lived in the house. Sometimes they don't make the best decisions in their world and they wind up paying for it. But they become better people.

So do I, Korra was just able to make that happen. I kinda wish the two of you would have met. She would have loved you.

[Like I do, Luz thought to herself, then turning red. Well, maybe not quite like Luz did].

I'm lucky that way!

[anobserver]

[Lexi honestly wasn't sure what she wanted to become as an adult. she knew she wanted to write, but she knew that was a really cutthroat industry with no guarantee of success. so she needed a fallback. she just wasn't sure what yet]

Yeah, it was. Who says that reading has to be a solitary thing? And I'm--I'm so glad we found each other. Have I ever told you that?

[but Cassie was crying, screaming at her over the most innocent questions, staring off into space for long periods at a time and frantically checking her phone for texts, always holding her phone so that no one could see them. she was in deep with something awful. maybe something else (awful) could snap her out of it or at least provide enough distance for her to put things in perspective]

I'm kind of the same way. I take on a billion projects back home, but that's to keep myself busy so I don't think about the things which are bothering me. Or at least I don't think about them much.

I guess that's all we can really hope for, that we learn from our mistakes and don't repeat them. From anyone, really. We all have stuff in our pasts that we're not proud of.

Well, she was a friend of yours, so of course we would've gotten along.

[and the l-work keeps being on the tip of her tongue. she wants to say it, but she keeps worrying that somehow she'll manage to ruin everything. love and Lexi don't have a good past together]

You are! And pretty and sweet and fun to be around and I'm so glad we're together.

[imaglyphwitch]

[That was comforting. Luz had no idea what she wanted to do in Trench in regard to an actual career, other than she wanted to help people with the magical abilities she had in here employ. For right now, this seemed to strangely fall into her lap, and it was exactly something she realized she wanted to happen].

No one at all! We just have to make sure this all goes well and that we have a consistent book supply, and the rest will handle itself!

R-really? I mean, you might have, but it still feels really good to hear!

[Luz still wouldn't know what any of that meant without context, but maybe that would come in time].

No no, I know that whole song and dance! Honestly, I pretty much have to do a lot of that here, so I don't get too depressed. The last thing you want is a sullen girl for a girlfriend, am I right?

I'm sure we'll do our best, but even if we don't make those mistakes, we might make other ones. But we'll do our best to fight against those too!

I mean, yes, but she was also a really amazing person. She'd see you were depressed and help you or try to gather people together when things got really bad. No one was like her here.

[Luz just stared at her girlfriend, somehow hoping to conjure the words into existence. In the meantime, she just took her hand and smiled].

You make every day here a little bit better, querida. I was so lucky to find you.

[anobserver]

[and she assumed she'd be content with simply studying, but with no set curriculum, she found her interests veering wildly from one subject to the next. and sometimes, she just wanted to read cheesy YA novels and let everyone think she was studying something important. she needed direction and this seemed to be the right one. for a lot of reasons]

We should. There's always something on the trade boats. Now I need to be a little more discerning about what I get. We can go together and see what we find.

Weeeeell. I figure even if I had, it can't hurt to say it again.

[eventually. she feels like she needs to know what exactly is happening to Cassie before she really gets into it]

Well, if you're feeling sullen, you shouldn't have to pretend you aren't just because of me. I want you to feel free to feel whatever it is you're feeling, honest.

Ah, that old saying "the course of true love ne'er did run smooth." I think we're smart enough to avoid most of the pitfalls, at least. And probably smart enough to invent completely new ones?

Then it's really a bad thing I didn't meet her. She sounds like someone who'd bring in a lot of friends. I really do wish I was better at that.

[she gave Luz's hand a smile and leaned in]

...you're gonna make me happy cry, you know that, right?

[imaglyphwitch]

[Luz would have to hold back all of her vices when it came to procrastinating (when it came to regular school) and make sure she was focusing, both for herself and her girlfriend. She wanted the both of them to feel like they were accomplished, that they were where they needed to be WHILE goofing off].

Oh definitely! We'll be like war mongering old ladies, making sure we're getting the best deals!

Oh no, not at all!

[Luz hoped she got her answers soon].

You are right about that. I'm still wrapping my head around having a girlfriend to share those feelings with for the first time.

Well sure. We don't want to be boring, after all. And great quote, by the way!

Like I said, you just missed her. And good grief, Asami was super smart and enterprising but also SO PRETTY. I don't know if I could even do her justice.

[And this was not to say Lexi was NOT pretty, only that Asami herself had an almost outer worldly beauty. Heck, Luz had even been awed by Korra when they first met because those muscles gosh.

And here Luz felt herself getting warmed and hugging Lexi in earnest].

That's amazing, but I think I prefer making you smile.

[anobserver]

[back home, she couldn't let herself procrastinate. a perfect GPA was her ticket out of East Highland for keeps and she was going to get it. and studying college pamphlets from almost entirely New England schools. and she felt pretty accomplished. every time she looked at Luz]

Or like mom at a yard sale. She almost made some other woman cry because she was able to prove that the Coach bag was a fake. When it wasn't.

Good. And, you can tell me the same whenever you want. [teasingly.

and so did Lexi because she knew that last semester had been hard enough on Cassie]

I don't think you're capable of being boring on a bet. And thanks, I--I used to know who said it! But that was about six months and an English final ago.

[coquettishly] Oh~~? How pretty was she? [big, Bambi-brown eyes, activated.

but muscles would have been very impressive!.

she hugged back, resting her forehead against Luz's]

Then it's a damn good thing that's one of your many talents.

[imaglyphwitch]

[Luz would be jealous. Granted, Luz had missed her whole foray into getting into college because she'd been brought here, and then it was all about practicing magic, avoiding monsters and afflictions, and caring about the people she lived with and watching over them. The idea of finally caring about what she would do next just seemed like a distant memory].

Maybe not that intense? Sounds like Eda, honestly.

[She was pretty sure the witch was the best liar and "talker upper" she knew].

Trust me, I won't spare them.

Heh, don't worry, I'm not going to quiz you on it! I'm just going to chalk it up to you knowing how to say the most beautiful things and make it your own.

Ok, so know that I'm not exactly a girl that's into makeup. But Asami's was flawless. Lipstick, perfectly applied eyeshadow. Green eyes, raven hair, fair skin. She was just...whoa.

And Korra was super pretty too, but in a different way! Dark skin,strong arms, blue eyes, perfect smile! Like, ok, they were together super smart and capable and compassionate, but as girl who also likes girls? I sometimes would stare a little.

[Respectfully, of course! Luz, after all, thought they were perfect for each other and hoped she'd find someone just as enthralling for her, who actually found her just as captivating.

Funny how these things work out].

But they're them, and you're YOU. I have my girl, and I'm happy to see her face staring up at me. I'll be sure to do everything I can to remind you how lucky I feel to have you here.

[anobserver]

[Lexi felt like she still needed to keep a distant eye to her goals back home. not that she was all that eager to go back, she wasn't. she liked the life she was building here and she loved Luz. those were two powerful incentives to stay]

Yeah? Eda would be into Coach purses? [she teases gently.

Suze would probably love to challenge Eda for the title]

Yeah? [Lexi blushed again] Well, it's not the same as knowing from memory, but I did find a copy of Shakespeare's sonnets and kept it for myself. Any time you want me to read poetry to you, well...I'm game.

...damn. She sounds like the kind of girl who'd enter a room and make all of the other girls' self-esteem plummet. In a good way. It must be amazing to be so beautiful.

The sound like quite the power couple. Like Hollywood royalty, only with a happy ending.

[and Lexi finds Luz more than captivating, she's endlessly fascinating, warm, sweet, kind, funny, the whole package. sometimes she still had to pinch herself, she was so amazed at her good luck.

it was, wasn't it?]

That makes two of us. I want to make sure you're as happy as possible, even with all of the weird. I want to make you feel treasured.

[imaglyphwitch]

[Luz did sometimes think about going back home, but knowing that there was some part of her still on that path was comforting, at least. It felt sad to have left a good bit of it behind my turning here, but right now, she didn't feel like complaining too much].

I mean. She'd probably steal them, to be honest, and resell them in her booth as a genuine human artifact/.

[And probably get the whole purpose of it wrong].

Oh, great! I've come upon some of his plays, but I don't think I've read the sonnets yet. You reading them to me sounds like a treat!

It's probably not the wisest thing to say to my awesome girlfriend, but yeah, she was that pretty. It was kinda nuts.

oh, I'd say so, except for the happy ending part. Asami left before Korra did, and Korra was...going to propose. I felt really bad for her, and the last few months before she left she was doing her best to try and wake this place up about Pthumerians. This place is the last thing she left me after giving me a note.

[Luz tried not to choke up here. Korra had been with her since Deerington, and one of the first people to try and console her after she fought the cannibals. It still stung to read that letter she gave her.

Boy, Lexi, if Luz could only hear that, she would have melted with happiness. But they could just attempt it aloud]!

I feel the same way about you. I'm....glad I got to tell you about what happened that day, and that I get to share this amazing place with you. I hope this is a hideaway that we both can enjoy.

[With that brought Lexi close, leaned over and kissed her gently].

[anobserver]

[she imagined that someday, she'd miss home more than she likes it here, but hopes that day is far away. there's something freeing about being the only Howard girl here, the only one from East Highland. she'd still bring Cassie if it were possible, but she knows how it works. no one knows who is going to arrive, when]

They're good. And kinda bi, he seemed way into his male patron, the whole "shall I compare thee to a summer's day" bit was for him, not the dark lady. Now, she sounded like a piece of work, but some guys go for that type. And he's good at writing them, just look at Lady MacBeth.

Damn. No, under the circumstances I understand.

...oh no. Really? That's horrible! But, they're from the same world, right? Did hey start dating before or after they came here? Maybe they're still together. And that sounds like a good cause. They just kind of steamroller over us and there's not much we can do about it.

[she can tell that Luz is really upset about Korra. she doesn't know why, but her girlfriend has a pretty open face.

and she's getting to the point of out loud, even though she's still nervous]

...yeah? I hope so, too. And it will be.

[she kisses back gently, cupping Luz's face in her hand, the other going to her shoulder]

[imaglyphwitch]

[Luz knew what she meant. While she certainly did miss everyone back home, there was something freeing about being in a place where you could just exist in your own space. No one had preconceived notions other than what they gathered from Luz here. She could just BE].

Whoa, really?! I didn't know that! Awesome! I'm going to try and learn about this dark lady too! I've heard that about Lady Macbeth, think I'm going to have to actually read this play!

Like I said, I can probably only barely manage to explain how both of them look. I'm sure once we start looking around their room, there's a picture you can see for yourself!

[Personally, Luz did think Asami was super pretty, but nothing matched Korra's smile. It was something that never failed to give Luz hope, so it had been sad to see some of that taken from Korra when Asami went back].

I hope so. It was awful that Asami left before Korra. As sad as I am Fern and Varian are gone, I'm glad they left at the same time. I don't think I'd have been able to bear seeing one without the other, and that goes triple for them.

[Luz still wasn't sure what to make about the Pthumerians. After all, they weren't the only problem in Trench].

I think so too. I feel like that energy, the potential, was something Korra probably passed along too.

[But it was Lexi being here, wrapping a hand around her shoulder, that made this perfect. Luz pulled her in close, arm around the girl's waist, still feeling those tiny shocks of gentleness left by Lexi's fingers on her face].

[anobserver]

[that was it. that was it, exactly. she had the chance to be mousy little Lexi Howard, the plain sister, and just be Lexi. and she had the power to determine who that was. she liked where she was going with it]

Yeah, I mean, it's like Abe Lincoln. Most historians are all [puts on a fake posh accent] well, by the standards of the day, we can't really call them bisexual. There's no real proof! [and back to normal] Yeah, other than reams of paper's worth of letters and poetry kiiiiinda pointing towards bi.

Well. I'll look forward to seeing it? And start preparing for the hit to my self-esteem.

[hope was in short supply around Trench sometimes. Lexi would get how hard it would be to louse a source of it]

I wish there was a way to like. Know in advance. So we could do stuff like say our goodbyes, make sure all our friends were in at least a somewhat okay place, prepare ourselves for the shock of leaving. Or more accurately, becoming a icky squid again.

[neither was Lexi. her patron was Dorothea and what she'd heard about her was a little concerning and confusing. she mostly hoped for something cool as a patron's gift]

Well. She sounds like the kind of person who'd do it. So, maybe she did?

[and she murmured happily as she was pulled in closer, giving Luz her own kiss as she shivered with sensation]

[imaglyphwitch]

[Luz would have argued that she definitely did not see anything plain about Lexi Howard, and if she was going to be mousy, Luz would play the cat that batted her around so more people would notice her!

There had to be a better analogy than that].

What does that even mean, "the standards of the day?" Did they expect him to walk around shirtless with an earring and a lisp or something? Was he supposed to have a secret presidential harem? Bisexuality isn't some strange zone of being where you act like some new species! You're a person that can see attraction in other people, simple as that!

[It wasn't simple of course, but still]!

Don't you dare! Asami was the right, awesome attractive girl...for Korra. They were meant to be. But you and I are here now, and they're not, so right now WE are meant to be. If I have to kiss and spoil you to convince you of that, get ready for some heavy duty cuddling!

[It was hard, all right. Luz was lucky enough to have a well of it about sixty percent of the time. When she didn't? That was likely when she'd need Lexi the most].

Oh, I know you CAN be a squid again. It's apparently a thing all of us can do because of how we got here. I haven't tried though. It's hard enough trying to be a bird, you know?

[They could both hope for the cool gift, though the moment Lexi told Luz who her patron was, Luz was going to look her up immediately].

I sure hope so.

[And Luz thought she could do this forever, kissing her girlfriend and taking in her scent, lightly relaxing against her like they were now].

You know. We never have had a sleepover yet. This place nice enough for you?

[anobserver]

[yes, there needed to be a better metaphor in place. after all, didn't cats who batted around mice usually intend to eat the mouse? or at least put it in their person's sock drawer?]

Yeah, I think that's what they expect. I saw someone online genuinely try to defend the position that Sappho wasn't interested in women and I was just. What? Could they have chosen a worse example to try and straighten out? That's why I stay away from the comments section now, I can feel my IQ dropping every time I go there.

[which might be rude, there might be some genuinely earnest people there. but they always seemed outnumbered by the trolls]

Well...[she grins]. I'm not gonna say no to heavy-duty cuddling, no matter what the reason is. Especially if I can cuddle back!

[and she had no problem being there for Luz when she was needed. it was part of being in a relationship, being able to rely on each other. and she knew she could rely on Luz if the situations were reversed]

I'm really afraid to try. Because what if it's like oh, I was a squid this morning and now I can't change back! I'd feel dumb for trying in the first place.

[she just hoped it was better than a potentially unlucky set of dice. she'd heard rumors about those

and this was warm and cozy and felt right. Luz has a way of making her feel that way, something no other person had done. so cuddles and kisses were the order of the day]

Sure, it's fine. You wanna?

[imaglyphwitch]

[Eat the mouse was such a misconception! Granted, the cat was still killing them, that was for certain, but it was a little harder for her to find an analogy there. Mouse. Mousey. Get back to her on that one].

Straighten out is a good word for it. You definitely can't feed the trolls, especially when they try to convince you that a part of your identity doesn't exist. It always shows up with people who find it uncomfortable, who find YOU uncomfortable. Those people live in their own idea of the world and don't want you in it. I'll never understand that.

[To be sure, but Luz was from Connecticut where in her own community, she was something of a misfit already. People were hardly kind to something that was different from them].

I didn't think you would, and of course you can cuddle back! There wouldn't be a point otherwise!

[Luz says with a smile on her face that's just unable to leave. She still couldn't believe she had someone to actually say that to, who made her WANT to say it.

It was a calming notion, a surprising one that having someone by her side. Sure, there were plenty of friends who could do this, who had! And they were all great and she cherished them for it! But a girlfriend, someone who really knew her and who would stand by her? It filled Luz with a warmth she thought she'd never know and didn't mind basking in the moment].

If you're that intent on it, do it with a buddy! That way they can look after you and try to help you! Actually, I know someone who specifically would! I've been meaning for you to meet her anyway!

[Luz had not. She'd have to look those up.

Good. Luz even let out a cackling laugh as she buried herself in Lexi's neck, breathing her in]!

Y-yeah! The only question is what we watch. I mean, if we're talking a real sleepover, it's got to serve the function as both compelling and possible background if we get on a tangent and start talking about other things.

[Sure Luz, that's what you'd do, "start talking about other things.]"

[anobserver]

[yes, mice tended to not end well. unless a person had mice for pets in something like an aquarium. she knew a kid who did, they loved their pet mice. which made sense, they were cute]

Yeah, me neither. Since it's like. LGBTQ people have existed since the dawn of time. Clearly, we're not going anywhere, so wouldn't it save them some headaches if they just dealt with it and moved on? Or is anger the point? If so, that's got to be exhausting. It takes work to be that pissed off for that long.

[and East Highland was a fairly conservative town. probably one of the more conservative ones from outside of Orange County]

So, cuddles! Many many cuddles are in order. That works for me!

[and she can't believe that Luz saw her for who she was and didn't reject her or ignore her or use her for a steady source of attention without reciprocation. that was kind of mind-blowing for Lexi, who'd spent most of her life surrounded by people who did do all of the other things.

and she was afraid of reaching out to some degree. she hoped that her bookstore would help her with that. but no one would ever be able to come close to duplicating the same warmth and sense of security she had with Luz. just exchanging glances could improve her day beyond belief]

Really? She wouldn't mind? She'd really be cool with it?

[they sort of defeated the purpose of a gift, didn't they? she'd heard some people literally got security blankets or lights which would never go out and had a chance of fending off corruption. now those were cool gifts.

she loved Luz's laugh. it was so uninhibited, like she didn't care who heard and cared even less about those who might judge. it was cool. and she's glad she wore the cucumber melon body mist today]

Hmm. So it can't be a bad movie, those always draw attention. And you don't like horror...maybe a period piece? Like, based on Jane Austen or someone like that?

[though, that might lead to feeling judged by the characters]

[imaglyphwitch]

[And that was a shame, as Luz was actually pretty fond of mice and she probably could have come up with a better analogy].

I think anytime something makes people uncomfortable, they'll come up with whatever they can to make it smaller in their eyes. It happens in a lot of different ways, being LGBT is just one of many ways to make someone feel like they don't belong.

[And personally, Luz agreed- you had to go out of your way to want to make people feel smaller than you. It was just petty and sad, and ultimately damaging].

What a coincidence, me too! Guess we have that to look forward to then!

[There was no way that Luz could think of using Lexi-she was so enraptured by the girl, so happy to have her around, all she wanted to do was find ways to make her happy, or at least be around her and share in these little moments the two of them already have and make more of their own.

The bookstore may have been the start, but now Luz was more than happy to find an excuse to spend more time with Lexi].

Pretty sure she'd be fine with it! I'll find a way to get the two of you to meet!

[Good point.

Lexi DID smell extra good today. Poor Luz was her usual smell of air swept outside with a bit of straw].

Oh, I can do horror. Actually, maybe we could lean more toward that, to really heighten the mood!

[Also, she didn't want to mention she couldn't stand Jane Austen shhhh].

[anobserver]

[Lexi liked mice, too. they were cute, with their soft fur, big dark eyes, and cute little ears. but being played with a cat, that didn't sound okay]

But we do belong. We belong no matter where we are, I can't get over the courage of some people in countries where being queer is punishable by public flogging or even death...that's something amazing.

[it was sad. she figured that people deserved to be happy, regardless of who they were or how they felt. well, except for creepy cults. creepy cults didn't count]

All of the cuddles. [Lexi says while cuddling into Luz, wrapping her arms around Luz's waist to pull her in closer.

and she knew that she wanted to make Luz happy. make her feel safe, make her feel secure. she knew that Luz hadn't always felt that way, so she was long overdue for such feelings. Lexi understood, she was overdue for such feelings, too. so if they could provide them to each other, that was so much the better.

and she owed Luz so much for her help with the bookstore, she couldn't even say]

Okay. I trust you that things will work out.

[Lexi didn't like fancy perfumes, she used body mist from Bath and Body Works when she did wear a scent. and Luz smelled well just how she was]

Okay. Ever hear of Bruno Mattei?

[nooooo! Lexi loved Austen, had ever since she was a little girl]

[imaglyphwitch]

[No it didn't. Luz sometimes had to realize she was not as smooth as she liked to be. This was one of those times].

It's like with racism, or women, or people who are disabled. Something in the human condition has to say "but at least I'm better than that, and then make a testament to constantly reminding "those" people where they belong. It's awful and cruel, but I think a bit of that is in all of us. We just have to choose to fight it when it starts to affect innocent people.

[Cults were not innocent the moment they demanded the psychological and emotional manipulation of people to make them dangerous].

No argument there! [Luz gladly leans into Lexi, making a contended sigh, linking her fingers into her girlfriends'.

It was true that while Luz cared about a great deal of people and loved them, part of her strangely felt separated somehow. It started with Eda and then, as she lost more of her closest friends, felt that lingering, sad feeling of longing for something that felt permanent. Being held, feeling the gaze of someone who cared that much about her, it never failed to mystify Luz. All those books and sonnets and shipping over silly shows, nothing compared to this.

To Lexi Howard. Her girlfriend.

Well, THAT needed to happen yesterday. Luz was adamant the book shop would be opening soon]!

I have a feeling something will be coming up soon. You can meet her then!

[It was just nice]!

No, I don't think so?

[SHH, Luz will TRY to like Austen when she finds this out. At the very least she'll give her another shot]?

[anobserver]

[what? Lexi felt that Luz was plenty smooth. she didn't expect to go to third base on the first date and that by itself was smooth and welcome]

Yeah. It's a hard row to hoe, at least according to what mom would say, but it's got to be worth it in the end. Not just because I'm pansexual, to make the rights of genderqueer and trans kids worth it. Like Jules. She started off ultra-femme, but now she's dressing and doing her hair a little more androgynously. And either way, I want her to know that I support her.

[and Lexi smiled, leaning in in return and gently stroking Luz's fingers.

and Lexi felt much the same, growing up as the plain Howard sister, having a mother and sister who consumed all of the air in the room, and a best friend whose problems and addictions stole all of the air whenever Lexi talked to Rue. she wasn't sure she'd had time to herself to breathe in her entire life. but it's a good feeling. one she wants to keep no matter what. and she already knew that Luz was the perfect girlfriend, the ideal spoken of in poetry and prose. who knew, if the authors of their day had felt more secure, there would be a book reminding Lexi of them.

her and Luz. girlfriends.

and it would! early September before the crazy started!]

All right. This sounds plenty mysterious, just so you know.

Okay. Italian horror director. If I remember right, he's the one who directed Xombi with the zombies walking along the path across Brooklyn Bridge with all of the cars driving back and forth like nothing was wrong. Because nothing was wrong, he was an Italian horror director. Which should say it all right there.

[she liked "Sense and Sensibility" the best, the sense reminding herself of herself and the sensibility what she hoped for Cassie]

[imaglyphwitch]

[Luz would have no idea what that even is. Remember, she is trying to be smooth, but is still operating on early high school logic].

It is. You want to resemble the identity of what you feel like, not some narrow idea of what a boy or a girl is "supposed" to be or look like. Why be so restrictive? Gender and appearance and sexualities, those are things that have changed all the time depending on the time period and the person. We only adhere to those things because people are always trying to put others in a box.

[Luz always thought of herself as pretty fluid. In any case, she looked over at Lexi, smiling.

She wanted to know more about Lexi: what she liked, what she didn't, little things that might seem small, but made up the girl that Luz was happy to know. It was just so good to know that Lexi felt the same way about her! She'd always thought that finding someone was almost impossible, given how crazy things were in Trench. Who knew that a chance meeting would change things so rapidly?

And that Luz would continue to be surprised and happy whenever it did?

Yes! They just had to finalize a few more things and they'd be set]!

It's just a notion, but I think I'm right.

That sounds odd. I'll give it a shot!

[She'd have to give it a try, for Lexi]!

[anobserver]

[so was Lexi. when she compared Luz to all of the boyfriends Cassie had, Luz came in head and shoulders above them. she loved her big sister, but she had terrible taste in men]

I know. I feel like a girl 'cause I like dresses and skirts and a little bit of make-up, but I think Rue is closer to, I don't know. Agender? I don't think she cares either way. I'd bet that more people would feel the same if they felt comfortable enough to say so. But it's still young. Who knows how things will play out five, ten years from now.

[and Lexi had always felt like and acted like a girl. which was fine, she wasn't about to hold it against anyone who felt differently, especially not Luz. she wanted Luz to feel happy and secure in her own gender identity and know that she accepted Luz, no matter what.

so close! The bookstore was so close!]

I think you are, too. Let's just operate under the assumption that you're usually right. 'Cause I need to be right sometimes, too. [and she winks.

maybe start with "pride and prejudice and zombies" first?]

[imaglyphwitch]

[Luz would have loved to know that. As far as she was concerned, she was still flying by the seat of her pants when it came to this relationship, but she was pretty much enjoying the ride. It was exciting and scary and mysterious all at the same time]!

Well sure. Again, constructs. We all have an idea what makes us comfortable, what seems strange, and what we can take. Me, I like to mess around with what looks good and what looks interesting, you know? And without a bunch of high school peers to properly shame me, I can indulge as much as I want!

[Luz was totally fine that their styles were different! It's what made their own passions so fun together, their contrasts and their similarities and their own personal styles!

Just a few more finalizing and statue collecting (yes, Luz specifically went into the ocean mission for stuff for the store]!

Absolutely! Besides, we can always argue about who's right and wrong later!

[And Luz blushes, because while she might be a little more forthright, she still likes the fact that her girlfriend flirts right back.

YES EVERYTHING IS BETTER WITH ZOMBAYSSS].