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.

[JUMP TO TOP] • [JUMP TO COMMENTS]

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!

[JUMP TO TOP] • [JUMP TO COMMENTS]

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.

[JUMP TO TOP]

CODING

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

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."

Lexi wanted to be able to feel free to express her anger, but she'd always been told to not give bullies a reaction. If they got a reaction, they'd keep poking and prodding until they got new reactions. But she'd seen more of her sister than she'd ever wanted to see.

"Then maybe we could arrange a way to meet? Like coffee somewhere? East Highland doesn't actually have a coffee shop on its own, probably because everyone works in the city and there's plenty of coffee there." They didn't even have a Starbucks. Most people her age got their usually energy drinks at the little convenience store Fez and Ashtray operated.

"I might be able to do a soft open within the next week or so, so we can figure out what works and what doesn't, though we still need to organize snacks. I should get on that soon." And she was happy that the bookstore seemed to thrill and excite Luz as much as it did her.

Lexi flushed, too. "And you're what I was looking and hoping for for a long time. Someone with a sense of humor, with a sense of what's right and wrong, someone who's willing to fight for me, but also trusts me to be able to take care of myself. Someone who makes my heart skip a beat every time I see you. You're lovely...so much more than you give yourself credit for. You are. And...you make me feel like I matter. No one's really done that before."

It was true. Rue, she had always been too busy with her own demons to be a real friend ever since Freshman year and Fez seemed to like her and it was nice talking to him on the phone, but he was five years older than she was. It felt like five years too many.

"Ah. A Pthumerian thing. During the time when we were supposed to be exploring some kind of catacombs? Not fun. I can't imagine how much worse it was for you, though. And you can tell me anything. No judgement." And Lexi nuzzled back, breathing Luz in. "I see why Korra was so important to you. Anyone who'd help you deal with all of that, it would be hard to not become close to them."

She wanted Luz to feel comfortable everywhere, whether it was here or her own home or Lexi's home.

And Lexi blushed again. "I--I'm glad you feel that way. I feel that way about you, too. I'm glad you trust me to that level because...I trust you to that level, too. And you're amazing, too."

Luz would have told her girlfriend this was more than enough of a reason to get adequately pissed. This was her SIBLING after all, and bad enough with the violation of privacy, to have the gall to ask why LEXI didn't do the same salacious activities? It was enough to get Luz to thinking about using some glyphs for a lesson.

"Sure, anywhere you want! I have the staff, so I can basically fly us anywhere you want to go! We could go hiking, we could go to a spa, there's still a lot that we can see and do together!"

The "together" being the best part, of course.

"Sure, ok! I can handle the snacks part, since I suggested it, and we can bang out some of the plans for an overview of the store and work on that this weekend if you want!"

Luz laughed weakly. "I've never had anyone say I could do all of that stuff. I always just thought I'd be alone, since I'm a little intense and have all of this stuff on my plate. But you just make everything seem so simple. I can talk to you for hours, you make me laugh, you're SO pretty, it just makes the words come out. I feel, uh, compelled to just want to be by you. Is that weird?"

Luz was always going to try and make time for Lexi. She deserved that much.

"Yup, that was when it happened. I was lucky that Ochako was with me at the time, she kinda kept me busy with talking when it happened. But thanks! I don't think I'll ever have a problem talking with you about anything now."

She leaned her head slightly against Lexi's shoulder a moment. "Korra was a great person, strong and determined. I hope we can do right by her and Asami's place. But now it's a place for us. That's why I gave you the only other key."

Luz would be comfortable wherever Lexi was, and that was a fact.

"So I think we're pretty decided then. This will be our super great hidey hole away from everything, where we can just be ourselves and get away from everything. But also, if we ever need to get people to safety, we have the basement for that."

It was all the guys at East Highland. Everyone seemed to have nudes and sex tapes of Cassie on their phones. And they didn't stop to consider Lexi's side of things, even when she told them flat-out that no way in hell were they going to lay a finger on her. When she tried to ask Cassie what to do, though, she acted like she knew those things were out there and didn't care.

"Well, I'm tomboyish enough to love a hike and girly enough to love a spa! So I'm gonna keep you busy! And I know you, that's only the tip of the iceberg of what we can do."

"Together" was always the best part. She'd go to an art gallery to watch paint drying with Luz, if she felt it was somehow transcendent.

"Great! We're gonna have the best business in town. Because it's ours, you know? It might have started out as mine, but it belongs to us now." And she looks completely sincere. She wants Luz to feel that she has ownership in the bookstore.

She drew Luz closer and gave her a look with wide, chocolate-brown eyes. "No. It's not weird at all. I mean, I felt the same way. That I was too shy, too weird, too stubborn to ever get anyone to be interested in me. That if I wanted a relationship, I'd have to squish down some part of myself in order to not weird people out. But, I don't weird you out. Those parts of myself, those are the parts you're attracted to! It seems almost too good to be true, but I'm not gonna knock it."

And Luz was always going to be a part of Lexi's, even if it was just a omni-call or a kiss before rushing off to handle other little fires.

"Remind me to thank Ochako sometime. She seems so nice that it's not surprising she'd be willing to help you out. And you can tell me anything. I know I've said that before, but I mean it."

Lexi reaches up to stroke Luz's hair. "Well. You're strong and you're determined. I have faith that you'll do Korra's memory proud. As for me, I'll try? And thank you for the key."

And the opposite was true as well. She was so glad she'd reached out to Luz that day.

"Perfect. In a lot of ways. I may not be much good in a fight, but I can herd people with the best of them."

Luz would wonder personally why Cassie WOULD want all those recording of her out there and what would potentially happen to Lexi when those were exchanged, but Cassie was not here and Lexi WAS. Luz would do her best to make sure that Lexi was able to just be able to care about her own self.

"Great, because I also like both of those things! They're fun in different ways! Besides, I think everyone could use a breather from things now and again."

Exactly Lexi, Luz was full of good ideas! For instance, Luz WOULD totally go to an art gallery, though maybe not so much the paint drying part.

"You really want it to be something we both do together?"

Luz was pretty taken aback by this. She was excited for the store of course, had always been, but knowing that she'd be considered as someone co-owning it was more than she expected. She wiped her eyes a little grinning.

"You got it! It's going to be awesome!"

She just gazed adoringly at her girl. "I know what you mean. It should be hard, and I know that Trench will be, but you? Liking you, wanting to make you happy, seeing you smile? All of that comes so easy. I just want to keep seeing you enjoy yourself."

Luz couldn't help it. She was falling a bit, and she didn't expect it to feel so scary and elating at the same time!

"Oh, she is! She was very understanding, and it turns out the two of us work pretty well together! Trust me, I will!"

And Luz just jumped slightly with the touch, because it gives her goosebumps all over, and she beams a little here. "I thought that if there was anyone who'd appreciate this place, it was you. And now it can be something we both can appreciate and have for ourselves together!"

She smiled. "Yup! I'm sure that's come in handy one day too!"

[she'd asked Cassie about it and she'd said that by the time she was an adult, everyone would have leaked nudes and sex tapes. Lexi couldn't exactly argue that logic]

I'm so glad to hear that. I just---I really, really like you.

[she'd had classmates at East Highland put on shows based on exactly that. which left her angered and frustrated. not only was it boring, she couldn't figure out who it was for]

Absolutely with you! And I hope it's forever, but I want you to be able to run things if--if the worst happens."

Because she didn't want something to happen to it like something had happened to the bar and arcade. She didn't understand why no one was willing to take a busy, successful business under their wing.

"It will be. You're part of it, how can it not be?"

And Lexi grinned a little shyly back at Luz. She wanted this to work more than anything and she still had a hard time figuring out how an amazing girl like Luz was interested in her. "I feel the same way about you. Exactly the same. More than anything, I want you to feel safe and secure and happy.

And Lexi was falling, too, only it was like submerging herself into the hot tub with the water hot and the jets going. Exciting, but also relaxing. Something she knew she didn't have to feel like she had to be anyone but herself.

"Good. I wanted to thank her for being the reason for the party and she seemed like a sweetheart."

The jump made Lexi blush a lot and pull back a little. She didn't want to push things too far, too fast. That was the last thing she wanted. "I do appreciate it. And I bet I can beat your high score at Dance Dance Revolution," she says with a playful wink.

"Probably. For all we know, they could do a Running with the Bulls next."

Luz stared in dumbfoundment.

"Are kids really this...obsessed with that stuff without getting to really know each other?

She shook her head, then looked at Lexi.

"Good. I really, really like you too. Enough that I'm thinking about you when I'm alone. I still kind of can't believe this, but I think we both sort of feel that way at this point."

So that was at least safe.

"The worse WON'T! I'll keep an eye on you as much as I can, all right? This bookstore will have to be worked on as much as it can, but we'll be sure to make it amazing!"

Luz laughed. "I do. It's actually pretty easy to be myself in front of you, do you know that?"

Gosh, if only these boobs would talk to each other, things would be so much easier!

"She is pretty great! I'm sure she wants to know more about you too!"

Luz saw the hesitance and, without pausing, pulled Lexi closer.

"Oh Lexi. My love, my sweetheart. I will DESTROY you in Dance Dance. Don't get a swelled head."

Luz laughed. This was all so absurd and crazy and she loved it!

The girl wrinkled her nose. "Oh no, I hope not. I always thought that was so barbaric."

"They are in East Highland. I can't say much about San Francisco, 'cause I've only been there twice with my family. Cassie and me couldn't exactly get away to meet kids our own age."

And Lexi smiles reassuringly back. She knows her life back home was a mess, but she also knows there's nothing she can do about it from here. All she can do is make those who love her back home proud by building a good life. Luz as the second cornerstone of it.

"We do. I think about you when I'm alone, too. And there have been times when I automatically started cooking enough food for two instead of just for me. I--I like you. A lot. And I know Orville and Nosferatmew do as well."

Safe and comfortable, they could take on anything as long as they were together.

"I know we will. A huge part of the thanks goes to you. There's no way I would have gotten so much ready so soon without you. You're the best girlfriend ever, even when were just friends."

Lexi grinned back. "I do. And I'd say the same about you. You make me feel like coming home. In a good way."

Dorks. Doooooooorks. But still, probably best to take things slow.

"I hope so. I want to meet as many of your friends as I can. I just...hope they'll approve. You know?"

And Lexi went with the pull, sighing gently and resting her chin on Luz's shoulder, breathing her in and feeling her heartbeat.

Only to laugh her head off. "Oh, really? Is that a challenge I hear? We had the home version when I was growing up, I can't dance for real but I can do that."

It was, but it was the good kind of crazy, not the bad kind. She knew that this was a safe haven from the bad kind of crazy and she wanted to keep Luz safe. Not just because of that but because she was Luz.

"It is. It's not even funny when some douchey frat-boy gets too close, which is why it wouldn't surprise me if we were stuck doing the same."

"I'll just have to take your word for it then. I'm from a suburb in Connecticut that has its own colorful history. I think it's a little entrenched in magic too, but I can't be a hundred percent on that. All I know is in my school on Earth, I'm not anywhere near where people matter."

And maybe that was for the best. Personally, Luz didn't feel affected by not gaining the love of her peers on Earth, not when she wound up finding it elsewhere! Now it was HERE, with someone that made her comfortable, and there really didn't seem like a reason to want to stray from that.

"That MIGHT sound pretty saucy all on its own! But it's really not: I miss you when you're gone, heh. I am grateful you think of me too, and I'm glad that your awesome pets have taken a liking to me!"

Luz knew that Tempest had sensed Lexi's good nature and was totally fine with her. Delyn and Mila...would have to be convinced, if only because even for her it had taken some time. They had known Darth Maul longer, after all.

But Lexi was certainly right about the two of them being amazing together.

"Aw, thanks! I was actually pretty willing to help see you through with this, but as it happened, I wanted more than to just see you at the bookstore when it opened. I wanted to see the happy look on your face when it first opened, crack jokes with you on your breaks and wow, I am babbling, aren't I?"

And Luz was, of course, still turning red at Lexi's words. She was a dork, and Lexi's dork if she wanted to get technical.

"Why wouldn't they? You're great! But we'll start with my house mates first, since they should get to know you first anyway. I AM Bonded with them, after all."

Argh. It was so hard for Luz to not want to pull Lexi in more, to hold her close and kiss her a little more, but she restrained herself. This. This was just nice.

"What do you mean 'for real?' Only true warriors of the dance can do DDR! And we'll duel until there's a winner!"

In truth, Lexi might take this, but Luz is actually a pretty competent dancer too.

She loved how unconventional they were, how this all crazily fell into place and it just kept happening until Luz found herself head over feet for Lexi.

"No one is getting that close to my bebe"" Luz said defensively, which sounded as intimidating as a kitten, really.

"I don't know, I think we need to get rid of the idea of flyover states and certain states only being worthy 'cause they have x, y, and z major cities. Everywhere's important and there's something to see or do or learn everywhere. I haven't figured out what it is in East Highland yet, but I'll get there."

Because California was Important, except for the parts which weren't. She didn't exactly feel like she fit in or understood where she lived yet. That did make her consider colleges all over the United States in response, but who knew? Maybe she'd go to college in San Francisco, it was only twenty minutes by train.

"I think it's normal to miss each other when we're apart. And who knows, I can always invite you over when it turns out that I've cooked for two again? And Orville loved you from the start, Nosferatmew did, too, really. And she's finicky."

Orville had immediately zoomed in on Luz as soon as they started talking as Friend. Then upgraded it to Girlfriend? after Luz signed on to helping at the bookstore. Now it was Girlfriend! and he couldn't be happier. And Nosferatmew had been very well trained to see everyone else as Not Food. That was the important part.

They were. She'd never felt a connection like this before and hoped she'd get to keep it for a long, long, long time.

"A little bit, but it's cute. Keep going," but she immediately made it so Luz couldn't by giving her a peck on the lips, smiling broadly.

"Yes, definitely them first. They're your most important friends and family, so it really is smart to start with them. I just hope they like me? And that I don't, like, clam up or worse, say the wrong thing." Lexi fretted about those two things constantly.

It was hard for Lexi, too, but she wasn't kidding. She'd never felt so comfortable in her life as she did with Luz. Like she was okay being herself and that Luz accepted her as she was. And even thinking of her was enough to make Lexi smile.

And she laughed, grinning. "You're on! Oh my god, I'm going to make such an idiot of myself!"

She can't dance for real to save her life. At the Winter Formal, she'd basically held down the table while her friends did stuff.

That. Yes, that. She loved how they were quirky in their own ways and how those quirks complimented each other. She also loved how both of them felt free to be quirky and silly and dorky with each other and it only made each other feel more strongly together.

It's the thought which counts? "And no one's getting anywhere near you. I have no idea how I'd make that happen, but I'd try."

"Ah, I hear you. I think we all have a way of glamorizing places that feel like they have more going on than the places we live in. I used to be that way about New York, and then one day I realized there were things about home that would always be really important to me. Of course, now that's a little strange to say out loud when I'm not even there anymore!"

Luz would obviously be very interested, as this was not anywhere near a decision that Luz was close to making. She was just finished her ninth-grade year before being whisked off to the Boiling Isles, and from there it was Deerington and Trench. A formal education seemed weirdly foreign to her now. But she would be listening with rapt attention if Lexi brought it up.

"I think everyone in the house will already know you somehow exist and are making things better for me. Luca and Ahiru are Bonded to me, and Reaper just has a way of finding these things out! The pets are going to be interested, but obviously Owlbert and Tempest are going to take special notice of you!"

Truthfully Luz was the one who worried about Lexi being alone. She was in that house by herself. Didn't she get lonely? Luz wanted to be sure she was doing everything to be sure Lexi was being taken care of.

Luz felt that connection too, and it was like they were already Bonded in a way: she didn't quite know how to describe it, but it was a warm, protecting feeling she had whenever Lexi was near.

But she did know one thing: seeing something she did made Lexi smile had Luz on cloud nine all day. She could get lost in that girl's eyes.

"Nonsense! We'll make idiots of ourselves together! How would it be fun if we didn't?"

Oh boy. Be prepared to be swept off your feet then.

Those things were what brought them together: how was it going to do anything but bring them closer?

"Aside from stuffing me full of garlic, I couldn't tell you," Luz said, making a silly face. "But I can be full of people repellant when I need to be!"

"Yeah. I was like that, too, only it was for L.A. You know, Hollywood, movie stars, those kinds of things. I have...yet to figure out the charm for East Highland, but there's got to be a reason why so many people stay there, marry their high school sweethearts, and start popping out kids. But I don't think that'll be me."

She wanted kids eventually. She had a plan: go to the best college with the best reputation she could afford and do work-study to cut into the amount of loans she'd have to take, have a baby at 30, 32, and 34. that way, in theory, they'd all be off to college when she was 52 and she could focus on her writing and travelling to various places overseas. It seemed sensible enough to her?

"Well, if it's that, I'm glad. That way there won't be too many meeting the Bonded jitters. There still will be some, but I can deal. I hope? And I hope they like me, Owlbert and Tempest. I know Orville likes you, though. The little hedgehog piped up with a Sure do! Thought you two would never figure things out for a while there!

She did get lonely sometimes. It was so weird to not have the sounds of Millionaire Matchmaker or The Bachelor or whatever stupid Kardashian show was going on at the time making noise in the background. Weird to not wake up and see Cassie there directly across from her. Especially since she thought this world would do Cassie a world of good, too. Maddy and Rue, too, for that matter and she figures she'd have to include Jules for Rue's sake.

And it was like she imagined a Bond would be. She felt lighter, happier, calmer in Luz's presence. She just...had a way that made Lexi feel like everything was going to turn out okay, even if hadn't been exactly the way Lexi had pictured it at the time.

And being there for Luz was something she wanted to do all the time. Even if it was when they were in their own houses, she'd leave at any time of the night to go reassure her or help her or simply be there. And she cherished each and every smile Luz gave her, they made her seem to glow from within.

Lexi grinned and started giggling. "Okay, point taken and accepted. We're totally that couple who make goobers of themselves together and don't care what anyone else thinks."

...so her childhood princess fantasy could actually come true? ("I wanna be the princess this time, Cassie!" "Lexi. You can't be the princess." "How come?" "You have brown hair and eyes, Lexi. Princesses are always blonde haired and blue eyed. You know that. You can be my lady in waiting instead." "...okay.")

She wanted that. Not to get crazy co-dependent close, but to feel that there were no barriers or secrets between them.

"Hey, roasted garlic is delicious. You just gotta toothbrush and mouthwash like hell after having some." And she giggled warmly. "So can I. I can defend you, too."

"Oh sure, and the weather's ideal for most people and all, I totally get that! But in reality, those places are pretty expensive so I think people settle for the stuff around it so they can get a taste of that life. Personally, I think it's totally fine that you don't feel the need to shackle yourself there either!"

Luz had her life less figured out in this way. After all, she'd only been in ninth grade and had been an outcast for most of that, so she concentrated on the hobbies she liked: writing, reading, painting. She'd never seriously thought about kids, but figure if that was something she wanted, she'd adopt. After all, why was blood so important? She could give a kid who needed a home, who was looking for acceptance from a family that loved them too.

"They'll love you, I'm sure! I still have to have you meet Zib too though, he's the newest addition to the house! He tends to keep to himself, but I'm sure you two will get along. Uh, the others, I'm sure they like you already! Trust me Lexi you are super lovable girl. I know it was pretty easy to fall for you."

She blushed and protested to Orville. "We were doing our best! I'm just...really glad it didn't drag out. That's the absolute worst trope."

Luz did hate the idea of Lexi being alone in the house and had to remind herself that even if it seemed clingy, she would call and talk to Lexi once a day, just so Lexi didn't feel alone.

She was a little surprised with how much she wanted to give to Lexi, to see her smile, to watch her laugh, small things that seemed so much bigger in her head. She was so sweet and warm and GOOD, Luz wanted to keep making her happy.

Boy, I really am falling, Luz said to herself, gazing happily at her girlfriend.

"If you consent to being my fairy princess, I'll save you from every dragon, climb every high balcony and say whatever long winded speeches princes say. You won't get an argument from ME."

She hoped that was enough of an answer for Lexi.

"Actually, if you roast garlic in the oven, it makes a really nice snack, and it cooks off the more astringent part of the herb!"

Yup, that's Luz, keeping it nice and nerdy.

"Oh, yeah. We can barely afford East Highland and I've seen what they charge for houses around the same size in San Francisco. Even apartments wouldn't be doable. But I've got to admit, it must be kind of exciting to live in a huge, well-known city."

Lexi kind of had her parents serve as examples of what not to do. They'd only gotten married because mom was pregnant with Cassie and her dad had to drop out of college to support them. So her dad was stuck with student debt, a new wife and baby, and a shitty job. And her mom hadn't worked outside the home for years when dad left and she had to hustle and find a job. Both of them seemed to fly by the seats of their pants most of their lives and that just wasn't what Lexi wanted. She'd die of anxiety one year in.

"Well, they have good enough taste to love you, so yeah, I'm hoping that spreads to me. That's fine, too, is he shy? And you're super-lovable, too, I fell for you without realizing what happened until all of a sudden it was 'oh. I have a crush on Luz,' like it was fate or something."

Orville looked amused. You like TV Tropes, too? So does this one.

It wouldn't be clingy at all, she wanted to at least talk to Luz every day. Seeing her would be even better. So if that made them clingy, well, all of this was still new. Weren't they supposed to be clingy for a while?

And she wanted to give Luz reasons to be happy every day, every chance she got. Luz was so cute and smart and she needed to know that Lexi saw her, the real her, and that's who she fell for. That Luz was wonderful and deserved to feel as wonderful as she was. And anyone gave her trouble, well, in comes protective girlfriend to back Luz up.

She felt pretty close to being able to use the L-word. But she wanted to save it for a special occasion, like a dinner or a dance, something like that.

And Luz's response made her grin and blush. "Okay. I'm your fairy princess and you're my prince. It's settled." And it was. Being Luz's princess was the best kind of princess there was.

"Unfortunately, I still smell like garlic for hours afterwards. It sticks to me longer than any perfume I use on purpose. So unfair!"

Granted, she was pretty sure there would be times it would be appropriate to smell like an Italian restaurant, but on a date wouldn't be one of them.

"Hey, when that happens to me, I'll let you know! I'm from a small town in Gravesfield Connecticut. Cities are OK to visit, but I think I might be nicer to stay outside of them and see them from time to time."

It was honestly hard to say that though, when it had been so long since Luz had been on Earth. If Luz knew what Lexi's family life was like, she'd have understood immediately why she wanted to have her life mapped out for herself. It was important to know you had the security to live on your own if all you ever knew in your past was barely making ends meet.

"Aw, come on Lexi, I feed them and take them out and clean them, they have to love me! Zib? Nah, I'd say he's more...reserved than shy. You know, it was just as easy to fall for you, by the way. One look in those eyes and hearing you laugh, and I was already hearing it in my dreams!"

That was unexpected, and even saying it out loud, she hoped she didn't sound creepy. That dream part had been unexpected, even if it had been her first clue what she felt for Lexi was more than just her wanting them to be good buddies.

Luz looked over at Lexi, then Orville, grinning. "Looks like we'll have even more to talk about then!"

She certainly hoped the clinginess was ok. It was still a new feeling for her, and she knew that she'd failed in showing someone she liked them before, where she was the object of ridicule for it. She desperately wanted to make sure she didn't make that same mistake.

It would be hard for Luz to see those things in herself, but she absolutely saw that in Lexi: she was smart, driven, witty and kind, and if she could find a way to foster the things that made her even better and more confident, she'd do everything in her power to make it happen!

When Lexi smiled, it was like the sun coming out. Luz was still struggling with how to say that without sounding super corny.

"Well then, milady, let me make sure I treat you proper and true." Luz gave her a low bow and kissed her hand.

"I don't think any smell could make me sick of you."

Oops. She turned red there, shocked at how easily she'd said that.

"Big towns are...so big. I think I could handle an university town, but not really anything huge. Even though it would probably cut down on gas prices given the whole public transit thing."

It was something she thought and thought over. She knew she wanted to be more than what her mom wound up doing, bookkeeper to a small law office. And she really wanted to be different from how her dad ended up. As a result, she felt like making a plan seemed to be something which would provide a little bit of safety and sanity when everything seemed to be going insane around her.

"Nothing wrong with that. I tend to be kind of reserved with people I don't know well. It's normal. It's human. At least that's what I tell myself. And...really?"

She's never figured she'd find a steady partner, much less one who'd fallen for her so quickly. But she had to admit to herself that she'd fallen for Luz almost as fast, utterly charmed almost from the first. And it didn't sound creepy, it sounded wonderful. Like something out of a book or a movie and completely romantic. She can hardly believe that she inspired such romantic reveries.

And Lexi laughs, giving Orville a fond but exasperated look. "Sure seems that way. My favorites are the ones from teen dramas, they have so many tropes. Which ones do you like the best?"

If anyone got it into their heads that they could mock Luz for any reason, well...they could think again. Such a thing was no longer allowed.

She wished Luz felt...she wasn't sure what the proper word was. More sure of herself, maybe? Because she was amazing on every level and she wanted people to know that. And properly appreciate her.

And Luz make her feel all warm and fuzzy when she smiled at her. Like everything, no matter what it was, would be okay in the end. Like she'd found relief from all of her worries.

Lexi grinned at that. "I don't know, I feel like I should be in a fancier dress for this. But, wait a minute, I can give you something." She untied the blue ribbon from her ponytail and tied it around Luz's bicep. "There. A lady's favor to wear."

And her eyes widened and she smiled. "...really? Good thing I hate anchovies." And she steps just a little closer.

"Oh no, I'm with you there! Give me a university town any day! Sounds way more intimate, and more fun!"

Again, this was something that, when explained to Luz, would definitely make more sense than just thinking that Lexi was being too overzealous. The girl had been dealing with other people's problems for a long time, she deserved the chance to decide what her own future was going to look like.

Luz nodded. "Yeah, no, I get it. It is very normal, and no one should try to tell you it isn't. You're doing your best in a situation that you don't normally feel like you're comfortable with. I get that."

It had been wild, to find someone she could just have nerdy conversations with and laugh with, enough that Luz had looked up Lexi all on her own to talk and listen to her. She kept wondering when she'd finally give Lexi the impression she was tipping her hand, that Lexi would wise up and realize Luz was just some annoying nerd and she could be doing so much better.

But that hadn't happened, and Luz felt like it actually never WOULD now.

Luz petted Orville, because of course she did. "Heh, they really do! I'm more of an Iseki girl myself, anime trope where someone is transported to a new world and they have to make do! You think I'd be sick of it by now, but it hasn't happened yet!"

Again, knowing someone had her back like this, a girlfriend no less, would be a pretty happy thing for Luz to come to terms with.

The funny thing was Lexi gave Luz those EXACT vibes: she was so controlled, so smart and clever and witty that Luz couldn't help but have faith in a girl like this, able to overcome obstacles and be so engaging, and somehow she saw it and loved it more than anyone around her.

Luz blushed, but gave her girl a grin. "Thank you my lady! I'll never take it off now."

She was being serious there. And Luz stepped a little closer, taking Lexi in her arms, looking slightly shocked at her own actions but still pulling off a debonaire look.

"I'll be the judge of that."

And she gave the girl a kiss, doing her best to hide the slight tremble when it happened.

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