deercountry | nobody said it'd be an easy ride

She's really good with the magic stuff, isn't she? Runework, she calls it. [an implied and the ink, too. admiration in her voice there.]

[she can understand why luz might not want to think about that, but:] I hope they do, seeing as we all have to live here. I hope it was more of a Reckoning thing and less their own idea.

It's good to have a backup plan. Especially with the floods? [she shakes her head. her own home is heavily warded and sansa is confident that it will repel and withstand. she's trusting in that, but other places? not so much, and then there's the sickness to worry about. yeah, no one is coming in for tentacle art, or much of anything that could be construed as the first signs of whatever this infliction was. the ocean's revenge? maybe.]

Who's your friend? [and for that matter:] And who's her girlfriend? [is that a blush she sees? she'll only smile, and she will not, in this moment, give you shit about it, luz. yet.]

Runes, right! I ought to know that since it's a word in my world, but I'm so used to glyphs, I wind up using it more than not.

[Her inkwork was amazing, as she had actually given Luz a tattoo that she shared with a roommate who was, sadly, no longer around].

For most people, I think that was the case. It stinks, because otherwise I'm sure these people are pretty sorry that it happened. I'm sure it was mostly that month.

You can sure say that again. I'm still trying to help however I can. I had to make sure that the barn was well and provided for, because the last thing I want is the oversized animals in there getting afraid.

[For obvious reasons. Luz thought it'd be sad though, if no one gave Vi work, since she was clearly good at it]!

Her name was Korra, and her girlfriend was Asami Sato. They were both really good people, and the two of them were pretty much the ultimate power couple in smarts and strength. They're gone now, but...Korra wound up leaving me the home she and Asami made, so I'm trying to do well by them in keeping it safe and lived in when I can.

[That blush hasn't gone away, as she's only shown this place to one other person for a reason].

[runeterra. it's in the name of vi's homeworld, so it had been easy to remember. easy for other reasons, too.]

Since you mentioned frightened animals ...did you know there's someone here that can talk to 'em? All of 'em, apparently. [she quirks a brow.] Heard about them from my boss.

You're a good one, Luz. It's not easy to ...forgive and forget sometimes. Most of the time? Some people just can't, ever. It's cool that you're in this to help this place, too. I admire that. Ultimate power couple, huh? That's too bad they've gone, they sound like people I would've liked to meet.

But look how they've got you to talk 'em up when you're remembering them, not to mention keeping their place safe.

[...]

Now am I imagining it, or are your cheeks on fire?

[Ooh, cool name].

Oh, they're not very frightened of me! In fact, that's kind of the problem? They're very, very big and like running a lot. Granted, they like me NOW, but obviously some things like flooding is bound to make them a bit nervous. Probably should find this person though, in case I do need to calm them about something I can't fix.

I know. Let's say the last place I was in, it helped me to get adjusted to doing that. I know it's not an easy thing to do.

You would have loved them, especially Korra! You actually reminded me of her the first time we met. Korra was pretty laid back, but when she was fired up? No one could match her ferocity.

I couldn't believe they left me their place. They built it themselves; you know? Korra can bend the elements, and Asami's from industry money but actually watches and participates in its innovation. They were both amazing at what they knew!

[Luz laughed].

Well. I guess I'm just thinking about how they're a couple, and the first person I showed this place to is first relationship, a girl I met two months back who's my girlfriend now.

Their name's Snow. I'm kinda waiting for the boss man to put in a good word for me, so I don't know much more than that, but I have it on good authority they are not to be messed with, if you know what I mean. And this is coming from a guy that has that market cornered, too. I mean, he has this way of just---

[she catches herself - she'd doing it, she's thinking about d again but it's out loud this time. yeah, no.]

Was this Korra a Coldblood? [it's something she heard they can do. and re: asami ...it's amazing when someone puts their money to an actual use, isn't it? she's met a few people here like this, and it will never not surprise her.

wait, what? so that's the reason for the blush.] That might be sweetest thing I've heard in a while. Hand on heart. C'mon, bring it in. [she will hold up her hand for the highest of fives now.]

I'll be sure to keep an eye out for them then!

[Luz's eyes widened].

Wow. That sounds like a guy that knows his stuff. I'll take his word for it then!

Korra? I think she was a warmblood, but that was just as well, she absolutely didn't need the blood magic compared to what SHE could do. In her world she'd the Avatar, basically the earthly manifestation of the four elements. What she could do when she wanted to, it was nothing short of amazing!

[Luz was Korra's biggest fan, but more than that, like her little sister, so the wound of losing her was going to linger for a long time].

Is it? I mean I did want it to be, uh, romantic.

[Luz did give the high five, as hot as her face was right now. Sure, she had meant to talk honestly to Lexi when she showed her the place, but she'd also done it to show it was a place for the two of them].

[vi has not yet met snow, so she is going off of reputation alone, but d's word carries a lot of weight for a few reasons - some more sensible than others, and hearing about korra's powers is a good momentary distraction - stops her grin from getting ridiculous instead of thoughtful - interested.

the idea of being in control of the elements? that's cool. but being them - or at least the idea of them made manifest? cooler, still. one could move mountains with that power - likely literally. it's right up there with speaking to every animal, honestly.]

It's pretty cool how we all seem to have something. Some people keep stuff from home, some people get more than that, but we all stand out.

[she thinks briefly of the few people she has run into that have not yet been able to explore what powers they might have, maybe because they just can't get there yet, or maybe because they don't want to. but those thoughts fade in the wake of palm hitting palm, and there goes her grin getting sappy again. it's a first relationship, luz, how can it not be sweet?]

Did you light a bunch of candles when you did it? Toss flowers and stuff on the floor and furniture? Maybe something with magic light----

[not that any of this is necessary. vi has just been reading some ridiculous books and getting equally fanciful ideas. sometimes they make her sad. in fact - a lot of things seem to be 'dialed up to 11' lately when it comes to feelings, but talking through them makes her feel better, and none of it seems strange in the moment.]

---showing someone a place you call home can be plenty romantic without all that stuff, though. You two ever think about matching ink?

[It was funny that Vi would think that specifically about Korra, as that was precisely what Korra had done in building her home with Asami: they had actually carved out a spot where cliffs were already treacherous in such a way that it blended with the other ones, and you only knew where it was if you knew where to look].

I think even the ones that don't, they can learn how to manifest their powers in a way. I know a few people who were brought here with no powers, and they have some pretty great goals for themselves about what they want to do.

[Some were content with being powerless, and Luz respected that too. Personally, anyone who could make a home in Trench were already pretty strong].

I feel like the things you just mentioned might be for a time when we're moving our relationship UP a level.

[Luz was not at that level yet, but hey. She was a girl of the internet age; she knew the kind of thing that would likely come from that set up. But magic light, now THAT was an idea]!

Oh, that wasn't all, but that's another story! And honestly, no. I'm actually not sure what she'll feel about the idea. She can be pretty surprising sometimes!

I know a guy like that, too. [she knows a couple, actually - just doesn't realize it.] He seems to be cool with it so far, and he's been here longer than I have. Managed to dodge some of what hit me, too. So maybe that's his power, or maybe it's just down to luck.

[she looks down at her own newest tattoo - the one saeri had done - that had been many long thoughts in the making, even if it had seemed impulsive. maybe ...matching ink wouldn't be as good of an idea as she'd thought. probably a little impulsive, yeah? was it? it's hard for her to tell when her baseline isn't exactly careful.]

Yeah, maybe. What do I know, I'm either moving too fast, too slow or not at all.

...surprising's good, too. [most of the time, anyway. there's always the "oh no" kind of surprising, but she's not focused on that right now.] You're pretty surprising, you know.

[a thought she might have kept to herself otherwise, but there it is, courtesy of an undersea artifact.]

What's his name? Maybe I've heard of him!

[Or maybe not: Luz HAD gotten a little behind when it came to the new people who'd started arriving, and she was pretty sure she'd gotten a bit out of the loop by now.

Luz couldn't help marveling at the work of the tattoos though. She and Lexi may not have had any themselves, but one day, who knew]?

Hey, don't say that. You're learning things at your own pace too. It might show some things I wouldn't have figured out!

[Everyone was so older than Luz, so she was sure they'd have some of their own experiences].

Am I? I hope so. I keep doing my best not to mess things up. I've never been in a relationship before. Have you?

His name's Sato, and he lives on the water. Which ...right now? Maybe his power really is luck.

[vi is happy to share her work with luz - she will not object to a look through her portfolio, or any of her sketches in progress.]

I'm learning a lot, that's for sure. [flirting too hard, feeling guilty, and doing it all over again - that's what she's been doing - on top of the mess of complicated feelings that resurfaced a few days after she'd arrived - how does one even untangle this?]

Ye---

---no. I don't---

I'm not---

---I don't know.

Sato? Hmm. That name sounds familiar.

[It was Asami's last name, but Luz probably hasn't met anyone with that being their first name.

Luz is meanwhile looking over each drawing eagerly, then think of something with Korra].

Actually, I might have an idea for a tattoo. Two actually, now that I think about it.

You and me both!

[Luz notices her hesitations and lets out a small laugh].

Not as easy as you'd think. Trust me, I know.

nobody said it'd be an easy ride

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