"Because the fantasy is for...for them DOING stuff. It's not about love and mutual respect. It's fine for us to exist, just over THERE, somewhere, where we're not the main character, and be there to look nice and imply stuff. We're not supposed to be for each other, we're supposed to be available for them. Not all guys are like this, but there are a lot of them who are who think they aren't intolerant. They're just awful in a more subtle way."

Luz had sadly had a lot of time to think about this the more she had tried to find stories about people like her, and they either were hard to find, and if they were, they tended not to look like her. Things seemed to be starting to change, but not as much as Luz would have liked, if she were honest with herself.

"Well I don't know who that is, but thanks to him the compass is here!"

Darn it, she had to do a better job of hiding that when Lexi cursed, it was kinda attractive.

"Oh, I really should always know better. It's a good thing to always have a buddy, and in this case it's kind of essential. If you were by yourself, I'm sure you'd get corrupted in half the ti-"

Luz paused, taking in a breath.

"Ah," she groaned. "Right. Yup. SO. You meet the Fathiers as soon as we get back, which should be right now, at top speed. Like, not even kidding."

Luz was trying not to double over, but it was very hard. Tempest was at her side, whining softly.