deercountry | magic, madness, heaven, sin

magic, madness, heaven, sin

JULY 2022 EVENT

IMAGE DESCRIPTORS IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE
Prompt One
[Image One: A statue of Lady Justice with her sword against a man's throat. ]
[Image Two: A pair of hands covered in blood. ]

Prompt Two
[Image One: Two people trying to reach one another being pulled back by multiple, disembodied hands. ]
[Image Two: A feminine figure lying on a boardwalk above the ocean. ]

Prompt Three
[Image One: A pair of black scales held by a statue. ]
[Image Two: A single hand reaching up from the water, implying drowning. ]

[NAVIGATION]

Prompt 1 • Prompt 2 • Prompt 3 • Plotting • Newsletter

[JUMP TO COMMENTS]

GOOD AND EVIL

WHEN: July
WHERE: All over
CONTENT WARNINGS: Violence, revenge, possible torture, possible death, mental manipulation

An excerpt from the book Thus Comes the Reckoning:

Are we inherently good or evil? Are we hard-wired for empathy? Or is violent behavior our innate reaction when the world has done us wrong? This is something that has been debated for centuries, even in the times Before Sodder. Have we evolved since the Dreamless World? Since the Nightmare? Have the Pthumerians and their blessings made us more peaceful and understanding?

While it is true that our world is more generous and caring than the ones we have read about in the Dreamless World, where in spite of our shortages, we want for nothing that we truly need, the very existence of corruption and beasthood should speak of our true natures and of the true natures of Sleepers. There is no time that this is more prominent in our world than in the month of July, when the Reckoning holds sway.

It is unclear if it is the unbearable heat, the Pthumerian's influence, or perhaps just our true selves coming forth, but each July is the prelude to chaos. The pleasantries die off, the generosity wanes, and we forget the lessons of our more kind and gentle benefactors. Fist fights over minor disagreements, people attacking one another with weapons when they don't get their way or wait too long in line, and murders over the loss of a game. Does the summer make monsters of us all? Or does the Beast Moon simply encourage what is already inside of us?

Sleepers will find themselves encouraged towards violence. Many will be drawn to do evil. They will feel a pull to hurt others, particularly those who have hurt them first. Anger will seem like a natural state and many will find that they have lost all ability to reason when they become even minorly frustrated. Vigilante justice will seem like a great idea. Did someone hurt your loved one? Then tear them apart! Did a person borrow something from you and never return it? End them. Criminal activity will skyrocket, particularly violent criminal activity, throughout the month of July. People will feel more inclined to steal, to damage property, to kill, and to get revenge. Torturing others will seem like a perfectly reasonable idea. It is the month to do so and it might even feel good to hurt other people.

Sleepers will also feel violently protective of those they love. They will want to make sure that the violent crimes happening to other people doesn't happen to their people and they might go to such extremes as locking their loved ones up so that nothing can get to them. It's an obsessive need to protect and not let go. Someone might even feel so inclined as to kill their friends just to make sure that no one else can hurt them.

On the flip side, those who manage to resist the violent urges will be more inclined to help those who are violent. Even if you are someone who has never wanted to help another person, you will be drawn to do good. It's not impossible to talk others down, to sway them to being better people and to remembering who they are. It's just a lot of work. But still, those who are impacted by the good will feel that same need to protect others; only for them, it doesn't have to necessarily be someone they know. They want to do the right thing, to protect people from themselves. Unlike the evil, they will know there are limits, and they will not hurt others in their attempt to protect them. But they may end up being willing to, possibly uncharacteristically, sacrifice themselves to do so.

QUICK FACTS: 1. You can only be impacted by The Good or The Evil at one time. Someone who is Good can be corrupted into becoming Evil. If someone is talked down from being Evil, they can either go back to being their normal selves, or they can become impacted by The Good instead. This can happen as many times in the month as possible, but they can only be Good or Evil at one time. You can not be both at once.

2. Characters who can usually heal demons/possessions/etc. can cure Evil in people. Their powers will work the same as they would in their canon/from their blood powers. Game based items that would normally cure corruption however will NOT work to cure Evil. They will still work to cure corruption/beasthood.

3. The Reckoning can still punish you. Just because you're being influenced by outside forces won't matter to her. If she catches you doing something bad and it isn't for revenge purposes, she will punish you as she sees fit. This is left up to player interpretation.

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FORTUNE'S FOOL

WHEN: July
WHERE: All over
CONTENT WARNINGS: Star-Crossed lovers, encouraged suicidal ideation, possible death

Love. A complicated feeling that puts people into complicated circumstances. And yet, people will find themselves focused on this emotion more so than usual this month. For someone who is already in love, the emotions will become even stronger, almost overwhelming, wanting to burst out of them like a song. For those who were not in love before, they may find themselves suddenly easily falling for others. Maybe they will love multiple people or maybe just one, but love will be an all consuming emotion to those who fall victim to it.

The only problem is that love isn't always accepted. People who are deeply in love will suddenly start to feel persecuted and judged from those around them. They will feel as though their love is unallowed, that the person that means the most to them is being rejected by their family, their friends, by society itself. It doesn't matter if that's the truth: there's just something inside of people that makes them thoroughly convinced that their love is not meant to be. Star-Crossed. Unattainable.

There will be an increased urge to solidify that love as being real and unbreakable. Maybe this is done through fighting back against those who are saying no. Maybe it comes in the form of secretly saying vows and loved ones spiritually tying themselves together forever. Or maybe in the end, the only true way that lovers feel they can truly be together... is in death. All of these will seem like reasonable options— or maybe even the only option. Love is never ending, after all, even if life is.

QUICK FACTS: 1. Anyone can fall in love with anyone else. It doesn't have to be the character that you're already shipping with if all players agree! You can fall in love with someone you know, someone you've just met, or even a total stranger. Love is a gift to everyone, right??? Who needs pesky things like introductions.

2. You do not have to commit suicide. You can, of course, and many will definitely feel drawn to it with the basis of the prompt, but it is not required. Please make sure to mark all threads accordingly!

3. The persecution against your relationship does not have to be real. You can, however, tie this into the first prompt, and have even the smallest slights be reason to think that your love is persecuted. Similarly, people who are impacted by the first prompt may be more likely to actually shun those who are in love. Feel free to work with it however you see fit!

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OUR OWN PRISONS

WHEN: July
WHERE: All over, but particularly by the ocean.
CONTENT WARNINGS: Self-hatred, judgement, suicidal ideation, homicidal ideation, possible drowning.

Everyone has personal flaws. Things about themselves they don't like, reactions they wish they didn't have, habits that they want to break. Sometimes the awareness of flaws can outweigh the awareness of our strengths as well. It's easy to get caught up in the feeling that we're less then perfect, that we'll never be able to fix ourselves no matter what we do.

This month, those feelings seem to be amplified. Sleepers will see flaws everywhere; in the people they love, in the Trenchies, and most heavily in themselves. Feelings of self-hatred and judgement will be amplified and even those who are usually confident in themselves will find that they're suffering from it. Sometimes these feelings may manifest as a simple bout of anger and depression; but for others, it can become more severe quickly.

Those who find themselves suffering heaviest from these feelings will feel called to the ocean. Maybe it's a desire to go back to a squid form, a place that's simpler and more straight forward. Or maybe it's the unbearable heat that's putting these thoughts in someone's head and they'll feel like going for a swim would cure it. But there's something inside everyone that knows that if they go into the ocean, they might not come back out again.

Sleepers will feel like the ultimate judgement is waiting for them out there. If they are seeing flaws more in themselves, being by the ocean will amplify feelings of suicide. If they're seeing flaws in everyone else, they might feel compelled to bring those people down to the ocean to drown them. The ocean, associated so heavily with rebirth, could be the very thing to cleanse people of their imperfections, after all. Maybe it would be a favor to everyone if someone just gave in and tried to fix themselves and others. For the good of Trench.

QUICK FACTS: 1. These feelings can cause people to become more corrupt. The longer they are exposed to these feelings, the closer they will get to high levels of corruption, and eventual beasthood.

2. Because these feelings can cause corruption, they can also be relieved through the same methods as corruption. Talking, touching, Moon Drops, get some therapy, whatever the player chooses.

3. People who do not address their feelings and/or who spend too much time by the ocean will inevitably deal with feelings of suicide and/or homicide. Please be sure to handle these topics appropriately and content warn your threads.

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CODING

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Luz was fine with a little bit of possessiveness: after all, when had she ever been anyone's? As far as she was concerned, it was one of the perks of being in a relationship: you actually felt wanted, in a special way!

"Look, let's make a deal: we'll go searching together and we won't rest until we find clothes that makes us both look similarly awesome, ok?"

Luz couldn't help beaming a little. "It works. You look both casual and cute!"

Here, Luz sighed a little. "Heh, no, we're going to be going a bit into the countryside of Gaze. Probably a place you wouldn't pay much attention to at first. But enough of that: come on board, and we'll be off!"

Good thing Luz was okay with it because Lexi was definitely feeling it. Normally, it wasn't something she let herself acknowledge within herself, usually she figured it was fine when people chose someone prettier or smarter or cooler than she was. So it had been pointless. Now? It had a very real and valid point.

"I think I can work with that. But I've gotta warn you, I'm going to make you so cute that everyone around will be jealous."

And Lexi beamed back. "Thanks! I don't do jeans that much, but I wanted to try something new."

"Does the place have you in it? Then I can guarantee I'll pay attention to it." Then, the rest of what Luz said hit her. "You mean, we're going to fly there?"

Luz was a very patient girl, and while she didn't like to feel caged in, she also understood that Lexi liked having a certain degree of control in her life. Luz couldn't blame her. It was probably frustrating to be concerned about your girlfriend and what might happen to her.

"Oh no, anything but making me cute! Please, stop."

Luz stuck out her tongue to drive home how absurd it was that she'd be bothered by that.

"Well, I think you look cute, and really hot, if I might be so bold."

Luz nodded. "We have to. It's not in a very typical place, and you might miss it otherwise, which is what's intended for the place. Now, no more questions! Because it's better to see it first so I can explain."

Control over her life was something Lexi was still relatively new at having, having been so concerned over her mom and Cassie and even Rue to a certain extent. She had the tendency to push her own trauma to the side in order to function back home, but here she felt as though she could feel freely for maybe the first time in her life.

"Cute, cute, cute, I'm gonna make you so cute," Lexi teased, a warm grin on her face.

Honestly, she thought Luz was cute 24/7, but getting dressed up a little couldn't hurt, right? And she stuck her tongue out back.

"Hot, huh? There's a word I'm not used to hearing, but please keep on using it!"

Lexi's eyes widened in excited curiosity. "Okay, now I've got to see where it is you have in mind. Let's go!" And she sat sidesaddle on the staff. "Will this work?"

Luz could definitely relate to not putting herself first: sometimes it was a reflex, as if she knew she was just the side character surrounded by important people who were doing things. She'd started to stop seeing things quite this way, but it was pretty easy to lapse into bad habits.

"If you want to see me cute? I have an otter costume I wore to a school dance you absolutely have to see!"

And yes, that was absolutely canon that it happened. Twice!

"I'm afraid that as long as you're dating me, you'll have no choice but to hear it more than a few times."

Luz made a face. "Ok, as cool as you look, and you look so, so cool, better to straddle the regular way. I'm going to actually be headed toward what you would normally refer to as the 'boonies' of Darcmouth, so it gets a little rough."

Once Lexi was settled in, Luz took off, and here they were riding for a while. Sure, they could have taken a lamp location, but Luz wanted Lexi to get a full experience of riding on a staff, and the weather was just right for this kind of thing, since it was hot and having the cool breeze wafting around them hit just right.

It took a little over an hour for Luz to get to the very bottom of Darmouth though, as it was still quite a way aways from Cassandra. Lexi would also see that Luz was indeed right: while Darcmouth was mostly a fishing town and obviously familiar as most people started in Trench washing up here, the rocks were usually NOT a place most would go to on their own. Luz actually wondered how Korra managed to secure a location that didn't stumble into some cultists' domain.

But Luz knew Korra's place by heart, so she didn't mistake it for any other place. Once she saw the lantern at the cliff, she followed it around, where it led to some massive stairway that had clearly been made that way. Luz had seen Korra's Earthbending at work, after all. That itself was impressive, but as the two made their way downward, there was more wonders in store: there is a guard rail for people to hold onto as you descended, and here you'd find the hidden three level home, the lowest level looking to as if it was located in the sea itself, though obviously it was not the case.

Lzu disembarked from the staff, and Lexi likely followed suit, giving Owlbert the chance to be awake and fly off for a bit to stretch his wings. It HAD been a long flight.

"This is Casa de Avatar. Care to follow me inside?"

Lexi had yet to overcome that feeling. That at some point, Cassie would arrive and draw all of the attention to herself because of her beauty. But Cassie wasn't smart. Lexi hated labeling Cassie that, but it was the truth. Cassie was a straight-C student and Lexi was fighting hard to get valedictorian of hers. No one could ignore that.

"I definitely want to see you cute! See you in general, you know I think you're cute no matter what. And, if you don't...well. I think you're cute, no matter what.

[doing her best Blanche duBois from A Streetcar Named Desire] Well, I do declare! I guess I'll just have to get used to it and quickly. But still be pleasantly surprised every time you say something.

"Okay. Thank goodness I'm wearing jeans. A skirt, that would be impossible unless I wanted to offer a free show to everyone in Trench. Which, no. Not ever. Not gonna happen. And the boonies of Darcmouth, are they anything like the boonies in Kentucky?"

[a poor comparison, she knew. but Kentucky had Mitch McConnell, who collectively lowered the average IQ score of all of its inhabitants.

and Lexi squeals gleefully once they're in the air, hanging onto Luz not just for support, but out of gratitude for what she was sharing with Lexi. It's like the best kind of carnival ride, even more so without the sudden drops and carnival equivalents of jump scares.

as they travel, Lexi takes close attention to what's going on beneath them. she's absolutely certain that she's never been this far out before. the surroundings held their own grim beauty.

and it's amazing to see what laid beneath. a method of going down through the ground without fearing what may lay beyond? fascinating and amazing and the scholar in her has about five billion questions, but she's holding them all in. carefully, though she was sure that the fact that she was bursting within her had to be obvious.

Lexi hopped off as gracefully as she could, which is to say not very]

"I'd love to. But we won't be interrupting anyone, will we?"

Luz was sure that the two of them were likely going to talk about Cassie more down the line, but Luz knew it was more important to talk about LEXI, and not have her continue to draw comparisons like her parents had.

"Oh, I am cute as a button! I'm just not really used to anyone saying that about me along with being girlfriend material. But I'm not going to stop you from calling me cute at all, because it means even more coming from you!"

Luz just preened at that. So dorky and SO cute.

"Nope, definitely not for anyone but me." Luz realized what she said and blushed hard. "Y-YOU know what I mean! But no, they're not the same. Darcmouth is a fish traders town, and looks and smells like it mostly. So you can imagine that the actual boonies of a place like that is way more treacherous."

Case in point, them reaching Korra's secret hideaway.

Luz shook her head. "No. These keys belonged to the people that live there. They're now mine."

In other words, it was JUST theirs.

The living room is a little sunken in from the house but level and furnished with all the tables and chairs one would need for other guests. Toward the left of the room was a fireplace, not in use obviously since it wasn't the season for it. North right, however, was a corridor that led to Korra and Asami's own room, of which some things were left behind. But Luz had the key to that room, which she locked for a moment, and showed Lexi the REAL marvel: an elevator that Asami had designed herself, unable to reach that room but did go upward to the top part of the house.

"Upstairs is the library and Asami's workshop," Luz said, grinning, but a sad look in her eyes. "So you can go upstairs with this super cool elevator, but it won't go to their room, so whoever has access to that room, its private!"

Lexi grimaced in embarrassed sympathy for the truth. "I know. I know. I do, I know that this is the best chance I've ever had to establish myself as me without anyone else butting in and dictating what they think of me. It's really a huge opportunity, which you happen to be so fortunate as to find out first-hand."

"Totally cute, totally girlfriend material. Trust me on both of those and more, to find out something cute for you. I happen to have very good taste!"

And she doesn't blame Luz for preening one bit, so dorky. So cute! Best girlfriend ever and she'd go to bad for that. Only not literally to bad, she was terrible at softball. Maybe a spelling bee?

And Lexi's eyebrows raised. "Yours as in--yours? Holy shit. This is one hell of a place to receive for yourself. I like it, I really do! But I don't want you to get lonely. Maybe I'll have to make sure I get my guinea pig or two ahead of time, one for me and one for you. So that even when I'm not there there, I'll still be there. Any preference as to colors and gender? I assume that guinea pigs are okay with whatever gender we give them, not like Orville." Who makes a snuffling noise into her hair. His own way of saying "yes, I am a boy hedgehog!"

Huh. Had she read Lexi's mind, and had Lexi HEARD her? Either way, it would be rude to not finish the conversation.

"I'm pretty happy to be involved with just you, yes. But I know that all that stuff your parents and your social hierarchies have a way of twisting your perception of yourself. I can relate! But just remember: now we can take advantage of getting to know just us."

Luz laughed. "I can't wait! I love looking cute in general, but having my outfit picked by my girlfriend is going to be interesting!"

Whoops. She may have made a mistake.

"Ok, let me be more direct-OURS. Korra meant this place for her and Asami, and now they're both gone, and she left the keys to me. I have one, you have the other. I want this to be our place, where we can be alone and dork out and have sleepovers or stay holed up in the library reading. The first, second and third floor are ours! But that bottom floor basement was meant to hold several rooms for a bunker in case something bad happens. I plan to keep it that way."

Luz chuckled. "You can get whatever you want, Lexi. I'm telling you; this is something I want to share with you. Because you mean that much to me."

She cleared her throat. "But there was another reason to bring you here. I wanted to talk to you abut Korra, and then we can talk about my past."

They were, after all, both in the same category.

No, no mind reading. She was becoming attuned of a sort with Luz, but she figured that happened in all relationships.

"And I can't wait. I'm looking forward to seeing who I can be as me, not the me dictated and perceived by others. And I'll bet you're feeling the same way. It's...as close to true freedom as it's possible to get."

"Good, I found this place which had these cute shorts in all kinds of fabrics. I figure you'd be more comfortable with those than the usual skirts and dresses I wear. Unless you want something like that?"

And Lexi's eyes grew as wide as saucers. "...seriously? Oh, my god. Holy shit! That's--that's a beyond words version of wow. And I love the idea, somewhere we can be our full selves without trying to please anyone but each other and ourselves. And a library, this I've got to see. You know me and books. A bunker is a really good thing to have, too, I'll feel much safer knowing that we have someplace we can retreat to if things get really bad."

And Lexi smiled gently. "You realize I'm going to have to kiss you for that, right?" And Lexi leaned over to do so.

After the kiss..."Sure. If you're okay talking about it?"

She worried that Luz was only doing this for her sake, not because she felt cornered into doing so.

It probably did! Luz had no idea of course, since this was her first relationship!

"I agree. Trust me, once Eda was gone, I had to figure out how I wanted to live by myself. I was around people, but I didn't really, you know, KNOW what I was going to do with myself. You could say that I'm still trying to do that, honestly."

She smiled. "Lexi. I'm your girlfriend. I'm going to say that I think you look good in anything. That said, any kind of clothes that show off your legs is going to be an A plus from me!"

That was about as pervy as Luz was going to get.

"The library is SUPER impressive! But Korra and Asami basically BUILT this place to be both a private place for themselves with a great upstairs and a bunker for people downstairs in a case of trouble. They were great people. I wish they were...still here."

But thanks for the distracting kiss, because Luz would gladly take it, turning red as she would, and all melty and giggles.

Luz nodded. "I figured this would be the perfect time, especially since Korra was the first person I talked to about what happened to me."

She assumed it would. Even Nate and Maddy, as dysfunctional and unhealthy as they were, seemed to sometimes know what the other was thinking.

"It's asking a lot for people of our age to figure out how to take care of ourselves. I know we're not the youngest ones here, not by a lot, but it's still a little nerve-wracking. But I'd say you're doing fine. And if you feel like you're not, I'm more than willing to help.

"Oh. Wow, um. Then it's a good thing I usually prefer skirts and dresses?"

And that was about as pervy as Lexi was willing to get.

"I'm sorry...I'm sorry I didn't get to meet them. Any and all friends of yours are worth meeting. Because they're them and you see something good or interesting about them." And that way, maybe Lexi could be of more help should they leave.

And she's all melty and giggles as well, figured that she'd always be under the circumstances.

Gently, "All right. If you're ready."

They were getting there, so maybe that was a good sign?

"It sure is! I mean, there are plenty of people I can probably ask, but I think once Varian and Fern included Reaper, Luca and Ahiru in the house, I began to have a better idea about what it takes to have a functioning house. The animals helped too."

Luz blushed. "They're nice."

Please don't have her talk more about it, she will die for being that bold in the first place. Besides, Luz thought she wore the dresses well! She certainly couldn't pull that off!

"It's ok! You were still getting used to this place at the time, probably. Besides, if they'd been around, you would have met them eventually! I'm sure Korra would have loved you!"

Korra was just great that way!

But now. Now was the time for Luz to get serious.

"All right. Um. Let's go to Korra and Asami's room then. I think it'll give me a little more strength somehow."

Lexi hoped so. And she also hoped that after seeing so many relationships go wrong, she'd be able to figure out what to avoid.

"It's not easy, but it's worth it in the end. And I'm still so jealous about you having farm animals. But don't let Nosferatmew hear about that, she'll feel unloved. Orville, though, since he's a part of me, he knows I love him."

"Thank you. I know they're kind of, sort of impractical given all of the blood and general ickyness, but I love them anyway.

So cute! She had the cutest girlfriend in the world! And she wasn't going to accept any substitutes for who was the cutest. And smartest. And bravest. And if she kept going, she'd be doing this for hours.

"Yeah, it's. A lot. Still. I know I shouldn't be so hard on myself, but I feel blindsided every time something bad happens. Even though I should be able to predict some of it by now. And, really? Thank you. I still think we should have a little party so I can meet all of your friends."

And she sensed the shift in demeanor and let hers shift as well, even though her chocolate-brown eyes shone with compassion. "All right. Let's go."

Luz had already been flying at the seat of her pants with this relationship: she had no choice but to continue to do what she could.

"It is! Oh, some of them I just inherited, and some sort of fell in my lap. The Fathiers, they did. But I'm sure you'll love any animal just as much, so Nosferatmew has nothing to worry about!"

Gosh, she loved saying that name out loud. So punny!

"Your legs are impractical because they bleed?"

Luz missed your meaning here, poor girl!

And then you'd have a mess of goop after a few hours: here lies Luz, the goop that loves her girlfriend but falls apart over compliments. And thinks her girlfriend is all of these things and more!

"Believe me, that's exactly what I used to think. You drive yourself crazy with those thoughts though. You're never going to really be as prepared as you think. Hey, we have the area now, maybe we could someday for sure!"

Just as long as they all respected the house. Luz loved this place, with everything that Asami and Korra put into, right down to the elevator that Luz adored the moment she stepped foot into it. But for right now, that had to be on pause.

Luz waited until they were both at the girl's bed, and Luz took a moment to get her shoes off, then stretched out on the bed, taking a breath.

"Ok. So before Trench, there was Deerington. I told you what it was like. Well, months before it fell apart, there are these earthquakes. Awful worms come out, could eat you whole. Scary as hell, I thought, and did my best to avoid them. I thought they'd be the worse thing that month, because those worm monsters were bad. But like in a lot of stories, it's the more human like thing that's worse. I was asleep at home one day, when a group of these humanoid underground men are going around, like hunters, drugging people and dragging them into a cave. That part was the hunting part, but that was easy fast. These guys were...cannibals. I didn't realize it when I first woke up, but then I saw the bones, smelled the flesh. I'd say that was easily the most horrifying few hours I had."

Even worse then the farm, Luz finally decided. Maybe it was the cave people that softened her to it. Having her blood taken was horrible and being drained with the scars still was bad, but nothing was worse than the dawning realization that you'd be someone's meal soon.

So was Lexi, but she wanted to help things go as smoothly as possible. She already cared too much for Luz to run the risk of losing her.

"I know I will, Nosferatmew already has to share my attention, so she should be good. And not, y'know, try and use them as food sources." Though, she'd had her batcat trained well enough to not do anything like that. At least she hoped so. But it made her blush faintly to hear how amusing Luz found her batcat's name. It was pretty cute?

"Well, that's what I've heard. And seen. People dressed from head to toe, including hats, even in this weather. They're going to give themselves heat stroke if they're not careful."

She'd re-form Luz and give her even more compliments, so there! And even though she was generally bad at taking compliments, she'd take Luz's.

"I think that's a good idea. I know that I'm a little awkward and it's hard for me to make friends quickly, though Ochako seems like a sweetheart. But, yeah. A party would be nice. No alcohol, though I don't think you're going to argue with that." She was way too used to seeing people get drunk and act stupid.

And the house was amazing. She couldn't believe it had its own elevator. And the whole thing was obviously crafted with love, which made it even more special.

Lexi toed her flats off and sat on the bed, close enough to Luz so that the other girl could take her hand, but not so close that she'd feel crowded.

And Lexi can feel her eyes widening with horror at each and every word. "...holy shit. That's--you know what, 'awful' isn't a strong enough word. I don't think there is one. Actual, honest to god cannibals. Fuck. I'm so sorry. Sorry that you had to go through that. I--I know I can't promise that it won't happen again, but I'd do anything to keep you safe. Absolutely anything." And as the words leave her mouth, she knows they're true.

Okay. She was pretty sure she didn't want to watch any of those Amazon cannibal movies any time soon. If ever. Or that one season of American Horror Story, the one which started as a reality show.

She reaches out a hand and places it on the bed between them.

They were both alike in that respect Luz certainly didn't want Lexi to get hurt, even if it was something that she somehow managed to stumble into all on her own. Lexi was very important to her, and she didn't want her to be hurt.

She shook her head. "Lorraine can only lay so many eggs, and all of the animals are PETS, not food. Besides, it's a mix of animal and Omens anyway, so it's never really a dull moment in the house, you know?"

Yes Lexi, it was cute and phunny and she loved it so much!

"Oh right, those people that are really up their butt about corruption. I mean, I see where they're coming from, with the concern about blood and everything, but I also think it's a little over earned. There are so many factors when it comes to that, and if I even tried to layer up in this weather, I would probably die."

They would have to compliment each other until they were both piles of goop then!

"We could have something small and nice, for people our age! Um, no, I don't even know where you'd get alcohol. Besides, all it really does is make adults act weird anyway, and it doesn't even taste good! They can keep that ALL to themselves!"

Luz had thought the same thing when Korra first showed it to her, and it hurt to know some of that warmth was gone now. She'd have to do her best to make up for it.

Honestly, she didn't feel crowded at all: having her here was a little nerve wracking, but only because of what she was saying. Reliving that day was always very rough.

"S-so like I said, those last few hours were hell. I was pretty much tortured, cut up a bit, toyed with since, you know, that seemed to be their thing, listening to their victims' pleas. I also pretty much figured if I didn't do those things, they'd get bored and move on to cooking me. I was actually captured with Ozpin, that guy who runs one of the Dojos. He tried to reassure me that day, so you can guess why I joined his Dojo. Anyway, my sister, Margot, she was able to catch my scent and managed to track me down, saved me even while she got hurt a little herself. I was grateful but...they were still out there. I knew that. So I didn't go home. I turned into a bird and flew back into the caves. I waited for them to be unaware, and made sure they were all inside when I planted my fire glyphs. I made sure they didn't get out, any of them. I...I set the place on fire."

Luz looks down, her face hidden. "Can still smell the burning, hear the screaming and all of that. Can't really go into a cave without getting those flashbacks. But. Yeah. I did that. I thought it was necessary at the time, given what they'd done and what they might do to other people, but I've regretted the act. Part of me feels like I left me back there still, a more...pure part of me, I guess. But now you know."

She'd do her best to avoid getting hurt, but she couldn't guarantee it. None of them could. But she'd try. And on the flip-side, she didn't want Luz to get hurt. So they'd just have to do what they could to keep each other safe.

And she smiles sheepishly. "I know. It's a joke, definitely a bad one. And the house you share is so busy! But in a good way, it's got to be kind of like a big, extended family."

If she got another one, its name would be Mewnos, the Paws of Fate. (she really wanted another one, she'd always loved cats, but her mom and Cassie were allergic)

"Yeah, and it's like. I'm not a hunter. I'm a scholar and a bookstore owner. The odds of me being exposed to enough blood to cause serious corruption aren't very good. So why not dress and act as normally as I can? And I know the feeling, kind of, I'm from California. If I layered up, I'd die too."

Adorable piles of goop!

"My thoughts exactly. Though I wish we had more lemons and berries, I make a killer berry lemonade. And I could probably try grilling outside for food? I'd make steak kebabs and vegetarian ones. And grilled pineapple is to die for, especially if you marinate it in honey and add just a smidge of chili powder."

Using the l-word was probably too hasty, but she had faith that in time, they'd pay tribute to Luz's friends by doing just that.

Rather than remaining sitting, she lays down on her side, facing Luz, her head propped up with one hand and the one between them remained, her eyes wide and solemn.

And what she hears is shocking in two ways, that all of it happened in the first place and that Lexi felt so fiercely they got what they had coming. But she figured Luz probably wouldn't be open to that point of view, at least not for a long time. Not without a lot more distance between the act and the present.

"...hey. It's--I'm not going to condemn you. And I don't see you any differently. Though, I can't imagine how awful the flashbacks are. And you're so kind, you are. I do know what it's like, though. To go from feeling pure to not anymore. It's horrible. But trust me, I still see you."

Honestly, it was very unlikely that either of them would escape pain. Luz knew this well, having seen people she cared about being hurt all the time. She would just have to do her best to be vigilant when it came to Lexi!

That was easier said than done, of course.

"Haha, I get it! It's a bit like that actually. It's why I try my best to keep in touch with what everyone's doing. Something bad could happen in the blink of an eye."

[OH MY GOSH YES PLEASE].

"You can only do so much, really. Clothing restrictions can really backfire on you in a pretty deadly way if the wrong thing happens."

And that tended to be the case way too many times.

"Oh, is that all you need? I know how to find out where I can get some that I can pick for us. I'll be sure to get on top of things there!"

The L word was an important one, but she knew she was in that realm with Lexi. She just wasn't a hundred on how that worked.

She looked over at Lexi, touching her cheek.

"I judge me still. For a long time, I was scared I killed them for revenge, eye for an eye style. Truth is, one bad move and they would have known I wasn't a bird and killed me easy. But they wouldn't stop at catching. I knew that. So. I had to do something."

She knew that was true as well. Either they'd lose people they cared for or someone would actually do harm to one of them. Which, in the state of mind Lexi was in now, would lead to her trying to do something to avenge her. And probably have her ass handed to her.

"Yeah, it sure could, no matter how much we wish it wouldn't. Is that why you're bonded to most people in your home?" It would make sense, an easy way to get in contact with each other in a hurry.

[SHE WANTS ONE. THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN]

"Yeahhhh. But I try to stay away from areas where beasts and corruption are common. Which isn't easy in Gaze, let me tell you!"

She wants to be able to live as "normal" a life as possible.

"Really? Great! So I can handle the food and drink options. Might even buy an apron which reads 'Kiss the Cook." And she winks playfully.

A very important word, one she was afraid of using too quickly after seeing Nate and Maddy justify just about everything because they "loved" each other, seeing how co-dependent Rue and Jules were, and how Kat didn't seem to give a fuck about Ethan. All of them had said 'love.' But how many of them had meant it?

Lexi leaned into the touch, closing her eyes briefly.

"You--you just did what someone else would wind up doing. I can't imagine how much it hurt to kill people, but. They would have kept on taking people and--and cannibalizing them. They would. And then what?"

Luz wasn't a girl that thought it was OK to harbor feelings of revenge and pettiness, but if someone hurt Lexi on a whim, she was going to make sure they regretted it, even if she got hurt late. But she wasn't aware of that yet, so.

"That's right! I was Bonded to Varian, and he even got a tattoo so he'd know where I was if something was going on, but I have one with Ahiru and Luca too since we're all close to the same age and I want to make sure that they're OK. We have to watch out for each other."

"Are they there a lot in Gaze? I don't go there as often as I could unless I'm visiting Peter and Luna."

Luz giggled. "Really? Well, that sounds like a bad idea. I don't think I'd leave you alone then."

And she gave her girlfriend a wink back.

That word. It was an important one, and Luz was not about to put that word out there until the two of them were ready for it. They were still budding girlfriends, after all. Luz wanted to be sure she didn't take a step Lexi wasn't ready for.

"I've begun to forgive myself for it, yeah. But it's still been a hard thing to resign for me. I'm Luz, the happy girl that helps people out, that tries to make things light with jokes, who helps with her magic. I'm not some...cold murderer. That's how I used to think about it. And I'd always wonder if people would be able to accept me once they knew what I had done. What...what you'd say. Because your opinion matters a lot to me. So if you want to back out, I understand. You've had a lot to deal with on Earth, you deserve someone who's not, you know, got all this baggage."

Lexi liked to think she wasn't, either, but the more she looked at her play, the more she worried about how Cassie was going to take it. She didn't give a shit about Nate Jacobs, though, he could squirm.

But yeah. Anyone who hurt Luz would regret it. A lot. Like maybe full-scale Dark Phoenix level of anger directed at them.

And Lexi laughed a little self-consciously. "All people I haven't met. I don't really think I'm the popular type here, either. But I'd like to meet them if you think we'd get along?"

"Yeah, there's a decent amount. That's why I decided to put the store in Willful Machine. It's a commute, but it seems safer there." After all, would so many stores be there if it wasn't safe? She was lucky enough to get a good-sized house to have room enough for everything.

"Weeeellll....who said you had to?" And she giggles.

Luz was so cute. So incredibly cute and beautiful and adorable. Lexi felt so lucky.

Lexi felt much the same. She was pretty sure she was feeling it, but she wanted to be absolutely certain they both were ready for such a huge step.

"I don't want to back out. Not about this. Not about anything. I haven't been here as long as most other people, but I know that it can make you...do stuff. Stuff you wouldn't have thought you were capable of until it's done and you're dealing with the trauma afterwards. Though, you can talk to me about this whenever you need to. I promise I won't tell anyone."

Luz would eventually talk to Lexi about this and gently let Lexi know that sometimes people just did things they probably should have thought more about, and how they'd affect certain people. Cassie was likely a bit of a pill, but she was still her sister and obviously wouldn't want to hurt her by mistake.

Luz would do her best to act like she wouldn't want to see this a little. With popcorn.

"Oh sure, definitely! Peter could use more company, I'll just have to him explain his situation. Luna is his witch girlfriend, she's really nice even if she and Varian didn't get along for a while."

She'd get Lexi more well-known and appreciated yet!

"Ah. Ok. I'm glad you were able to get us a good place then. We'll have to start finalizing the way it looks and get all the treats ready soon! It'll be great!"

"Oh then, I won't!" Luz said indignantly, bumping her forehead against Lexi's and giving her a quick kiss. Gosh, but she really REALLY liked her! Sometimes her eyes just seemed to radiate so much intelligence and warmth she was lost in them.

Exactly. It helped to be careful. This place would put them through the wringer in an instant if it had the chance.

Luz took a huge breath, and gave her girlfriend a hug. "Thank you. I've been feeling less anxious about that part of myself, but it's still something that bothers me. I know in my head that those people were evil and would have done worse to other people, but I don't like, you know, killing. I still kinda can't go into a cave without some PTSD."

She smiled. "And you can do the same, I promise. I'll listen to whatever you have to tell me, and I'll accept you. I feel like you're starting to learn more about me, little by little! It's vulnerable, but a little exciting, and I'm glad it's you!"

The problem is, she's taking everything about Cassie from things which happened. And were thrown into Lexi's face afterwards by every asshole in school, asking why she wouldn't put out like her sister. And then showing her very, very personal videos and pictures of what Cassie had done. The problem was, she didn't know who to turn to when it happened. Unfortunately, that bred resentment.

And she'd try to restrain herself as well as she could.

"Are you sure they'd like me?" She couldn't help being nervous. There was the fact that she was consistently overlooked, especially recently at home.

"I'm sure it will be, too. Thanks in a large part to you. I can't tell you how much help you've been and I really appreciate it."

Lexi smiled into the kiss, eyes closed, and kept smiling even after the kiss ended and she'd opened her eyes. "You have no idea how charming you are." And she was. Lexi had never met anyone she felt so comfortable with so fast as Luz.

And she was going to do whatever she could to keep them safe.

Lexi hugged back tightly, sort of ducking her head so that it fell in the crook between Luz's neck and shoulder, murmuring into her eat, "I can see why it would. It can't have been easy, despite you knowing they'd do as bad or worse to others. Sometimes...we're stuck making the hard decision. It sucks and it's not fair, we're not even in college yet, but I guess it is how it is. And with any luck, no caves. Not for a long, long time."

"...really? No one's ever really said that to me before. And I'm glad I'm learning more about you. Really, really glad, 'cause the more I know, the more I like."

Gosh, Luz wouldn't even have known where to begin if she were to find out about all of THAT. It would have likely stared with her being very, VERY upset and likely cursing out the guys who were spreading all of this in very pissed off Spanish. There was nothing that revolted Luz as much as people reducing others to objects, and she'd had enough conversations with "nice guy" trolls to know exactly where she stood there.

"Oh, trust me, you'd get along with them fine! The two of them would likely have been in our friend group if we were in school together, for various reasons. Peter's a sweetheart, and Luna's an old soul who goes through WAY too much, but still manages to be nice."

Except for that month before, but that hadn't been her fault!

"It's your dream, and a dream I get allowed to be a part of! I'll do what I can to make sure it's a success. I love books, and you're totally doing something that will help people who should have something like this around them."

Luz flushed. "You make it really easy for me. You're all the girls I ever wanted to be this big charmer to in stories, but you're real and you...make me realize the girl has just as much power. She radiates like the sun and bathes you in warmth and you just feel alive. So. Yeah."

That was as awkward and as honest as Luz could be right now without singing Lexi's praises from a rooftop.

Luz nuzzled her face into Lexi's hair, sighing. "Oh, I had to go into a cave with Ochako. Not a fun time, but it was another one of THOSE situations, so you do what you can. But so you know? Korra was one of the first people to help me when I was home, freaking out and a crying mess. That's why I wanted to tell you here."

The place where that girl who mattered to Luz had created herself and now left for her.

"I'm glad. If I get to be the first person that trusts you with everything. And...and you make me feel so much better about things than I ever have, you know? You're pretty amazing."

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Ok, actually, IGNORE Luz saying it was Gaze, I don't know why I thought Gaze lol

Gaze is hereto forth blanked from my memory!

T'ank you very much!

❤

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(CW: intoxication)

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(CW: underage revenge porn, bullying)

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