deercountry | A day where we can shine!

A day where we can shine!

Who: Luz, Lexi and you!
What: The couple are having their blood joining ceremony!
When: The fifteenth of this month!
Where: Darcmoth at the rocks, formerly fort Avatar.
Content Warning: Merrymaking, possible spiking of punch, unnecessary gushing, likely much nerding about.

It had taken some time to personalize some things for this inherited house, but the girls opted to keep it much as Korra and Asami had pooled their strengths to make it their own. The home was still hidden by the cliff face, so Luz had made sure to put some light glyphs up for today, so when people came to the shore of Darcmoth, they'd see the lights and follow then down.

The steps will eventually lead you around the cliff face to the hidden house, and therein the lights lead you to the lowest part of the three levels, where the deck is. It's decorated for the ceremony: purple lights, little glowy stars, and heavy draped curtains with each of Luz's glyphs painted on them. She made a mental note, of course, not to set off any, lest it set off and scare the surrounding people.

At the center of all this is a dais that Luz managed to construct with a little time and care: nothing fancy, just some steps and a canopy over the whole preceding.

Luz is there to greet you, giving a wave if you're not as familiar and a hug if you are! She explains that the whole ceremony will start in about an hour, and you can help yourself to the refreshments further down from the chairs set up down a deck from the podium.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Okay, but not now. Because it wouldn't be a surprise.

Aww. You're gonna make me blush at this rate.

Yeah, it's been said that most Jewish holidays boil down to 'they tried destroying us, they failed, let's eat!' It's not that far from the truth. And I'd love having a holiday buddy.

Wait, I know that Catholic priests are all about humility, humility, give to the poor while wearing more bling than Kanye before he went nuts, but how are they paganism lite?

[is too, she should stand guard at the cheesecake]

And I have an entire encyclopedia set for how much I love you.

Absolutely. And if anyone tries fucking with that, we both fall on them like a ton of bricks.

Right, of course. No pressure!

I'll take it. I love seeing you blush.

That's a lot to celebrate! I feel like there've been too many times in history, we have to stop human beings from eradicating each other because there are differences they don't like. I would like to hope we can leave behind some positivity and love in this world, not just misunderstandings and fear.

Dude. If you ever been into a Catholic church, that'd be an easy answer. We light incense, we have saints we're supposed to pray to, there's so much majesty and just STUFF in a Catholic church. It's the total opposite of the humbleness Jesus Christ is talking about. I mean, he even says in the Bible that it's easier for a camel to into an eye of a needle than a rich person getting to heaven. That kinda hasn't changed. That hasn't really changed.

[Luz shrugged]. If you believe in all that anyway. That was what I raised to believe. I'm kinda...estranged from that way of thinking, mostly. I choose to hope people are good enough to help each other out, no matter what they believe spiritually.

[No one should guard the cheesecake, it deserves to be free]!

Then I have a...a...jeez, it's hard to beat an encyclopedia set. I'll give you that one.

You got that in one. No one messes with us!

[Is Luz blushing slightly at her girlfriends' curse that totally was her, and a part of her Luz adored? Why yes].

And Jewish people seem to be everyone's favorite topic. Sure, Christian evangelists claim to love us, but that's 'cause 144,000 Jews are supposed to convert to Christianity before the end times. So technically they're trying to destroy us, too.

I've been in one all of once and that was for a wedding. It was like the Hokey-Pokey, sit up, sit down, kneel, sit up, get in line, eat the cracker which makes matzoh really seem like the food of the gods and a thimble of grape Kool-Aid, sit down. Catholicism is weird. And that parable seems to be the one a lot of Christians forgot about

Yeah, same here. I mean, I practice Judaism because hello, people are constantly trying to kill us and it's like. Fuck that. But most people aren't really into the whole organized religion thing anymore. People can be nice without having to worry about angry Santa Claus sending them to lakes of fire or whatever.

[nope. it will require a Mission: Impossible level stunt to get to the cheesecake]

I win! Go me!

Not unless they want to get their asses kicked up and down Trench.

[and Luz is adorable when she blushes. which means that Lexi will have to make her blush more]

Which is just gross. Christianity shouldn't be about how many people you have on your "team." It's supposed to be about helping people and becoming a better person yourself.

Trust me, if you get raised like that, you don't even think about it in those terms. It's just the kind of thing you take in as part of the experience. But mom didn't make me go after an age, and thinking about it I sort of thought it was better to just be a good person on my own terms, even if people could be kinda awful at times.

You practice it also because it spiritually fulfills you, and that's a beautiful thing. I like the feeling of finding a path that works for you. Also, I respect it and get to learn more about it because of you!

[NOO DON'T DO THIS TO HER LEXI SHE TRUSTED YOU].

Heh. Yeah, go you!

You got that right! We'll totally kick their butts!

[Lexi said it way cooler just now, but that was Luz for you: mostly PG.

LOL, Christianity hasn't been about any of that in years. Some denominations are creepier than others, but most of them are still get those converts, get that cash, get that swag as a result of steps one and two. At least that's how it seems on the outside.

I think that's really brave of you, to make that choice for yourself. Most people just follow along with whatever they've been told, but to do what you did? That takes guts. Or as we'd say, chutzpah. And moxie. Both 'cause you're a girl.

It does work for me. Reform Judaism especially is all about justice. LGBTQ+ justice, racial justice, monetary justice, societal justice, ecological justice, basically we're the hippies of Judaism.

[/humms the Mission: Impossible theme where the prize is a marbled cheesecake]

We absolutely will. And be cute while doing it.

[nothing wrong with PG]

See, I've never been really big on that aspect of most monotheist part of religion. All these restrictions on who can get in and who can't, and the awful ways they treat people who aren't following their whims. It's just not something I want.

For me, it's more that even if I don't get that precious alcove of people I want, I can do my thing. I don't have to care about people and love them because I want some reward, or because some being told me it was the right way to be. I want other people to be genuinely nice to each other, and if they're confused by their actions, they learn about them honestly.

And that's beautiful! If they have to label you that way, are they really concerned about justice themselves? Your way of spirituality sounds great, and I've loved what you've taught me about your path so far!

[Ooh. That sounds delicious AND dangerous!]

With you around, how could it not be cute?

And I respect that. Even agree with it on a lot of levels since so many wars are fought over the whole my religion is more right than yours is nyahh, thing. Only instead of nyahhs, it's bombs and IEDs.

Again, something I agree with. People need to be more concerned with how they're treating others instead of, oh will angry Santa Claus get pissed off at me if I don't be nice and, I don't know, put a dollar in the Salvation Army kettle. Which is a fucked up organization and no one should be giving them shit, but that's another story entirely. But if more people focused on treating others well, the world would be a much better place.

We are. I mean, the local synagogue had a float in the Pride parade before I came here with our rabbi front and center. They've done just about every protest and march imaginable with the goals of smashing racism, misogyny, homophobia, transphobia, just about everything you can think of. It's really cool.

[remember that Mission: Impossible stunt where Tom Cruise had to be lowered in from the ceiling to avoid tripping the laser alarms. that's where the cheesecake will be]

You clearly haven't seen me with a mud mask on. There's nothing cute about that, I look like I have bad Elphaba makeup on.

Yeah. A lot of that, and for what? Because people can't just acknowledge there's more than just one path to enlightenment? What does it say about your god if you have to go out and hurt those who think differently from you?

YEAH! That's what I'm talking about! Good is something that needs to come from you, out of a genuine wish that we can all be better people. But now it's like thinking like that is supposed to be for weak people? Really? And somehow your "god" and beliefs are better than mine?

That does sound cool! With everything the Jewish faith has endured, it would make sense that the next step would be to help fight injustices for other people who have to deal with hate being taught as an institution. When we allow something like that to be tolerated, the more they'll take from us, until we're just living the way they force us to. They win when we hate ourselves if we don't act "normal".

[That is a mistake. Luz has two ways to fly and avoid touching the ground]!

I'll bet even then. You haven't seen ME when I first wake up, all bleary eyed and hardly able to talk.

Yeah, it's especially stupid where it comes to the Abrahamic religions, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, all of them trace their origins back to Abraham. So can't they focus on the things we all have in common instead of the whole my religion is better than yours is bullshit?

Trust me, your thoughts are just as good as god's. Probably even more so, because it comes purely from yourself and not because angry Santa Claus insists that you feel that way. You and your perception of god is just as good as anyone else's and anyone who tells you otherwise can kiss your ass.

Yeah, we've been on the front line of a lot of societal justice movements, at least in the United States. We marched with Martin Luther King Jr and we march with Black Lives Matter now. It's like--we've been through so much as a people, we don't want anyone else to go through the same thing. And 'normal' is such a weird concept to me, religiously speaking. I only really started getting involved when I was a teenager and mom still puts up a Christmas tree since she says that the Christians stole Christmas from the pagans, so who says Jews can't, too?

[fine. how about breaking into Fort Knox to get the cheesecake?]

I'm the same way in the morning. I can't function until I get at least two cups of coffee.

That was what I always figured they would do eventually, but I guess because the traditions and their origins are so distinct, they didn't want to really coexist as one. They did sort of do that once though, I think. Way back I think in Spain, when the Moors had conquered a part of that region and they were able to mingle all their influences together.

Man, Santa Clause is a pretty scary guy in your eyes! But yeah, I think people can follow the traditions they want and should still be able to live and let live. If not, what's even the point of religion? Sounds like more trouble than its worth, and hardly spiritual.

That's admirable...and honestly, you never hear about that being the case in the news, which is sadly not surprising. I think the news prefer stories that keep us apart, and the idiots that are focused on making that the norm. It 'sells' more.

Normal is a state of mind, and one that I choose to ignore as flagrantly as I can! Besides, I prefer to think of it more like borrowing.

[Too much effort! Luz just wanted to get the cheesecake, not have to go through a fort to get it! It might be fun though].

I can't wait to see you early in the morning.

And along came Ferdinand and Isabela to ruin all of that. It was a time of peace and prosperity for everyone and they destroyed it in their fanatical Christianity. I can't help holding a grudge against them for that, not to mention funding Christopher Columbus.

He is! More like a Krampus Santa than the jolly old Tim Allen Santa. But seriously, some of the Santa carols are downright creepy. He sees you when you're sleeping, he knows when you awake. What the fuck? I'm uncomfortable with my own family knowing that shit, let alone some angry old man who lives at the South Pole. Or was it North?

Yeah, if conflict didn't bring ratings and ad money, Fox News wouldn't exist.

Normal is boring to me, so I reject it! Where's the fun in 2.5 kids, a husband, and a golden retriever? I sure can't see it.

[/queues up the Mission: Impossible theme]

Yes, you can. Yes, you definitely can. I'm wearing the remnants of a facial mask from last night, wearing penguin pajamas, and watching the coffeemaker like it holds the secrets of the universe.

Yeah, well, it didn't stop there. I'm Dominican and...well. We were ruled by Haitains for a short time in history, so now there are a lot of Dominicans who don't like Hartians on proxy. I just...I don't get how people don't realize people are people, and the last thing we need to be doing is making stupid, racist assumptions about other people.

It's supposed to be a cute song for kids to make sure that they behave! I mean, don't get me wrong, from a teenage perspective it's actually pretty weird. But I get what you're saying.

[CRAP NOW THAT LEXI READS MINDS SHE KNOWS LUZ KINDA LIKES IT WHEN SHE CURSES NEVERMIND LALALALA HAPPY THOUGHTS AND CATS AND KITTENS AND STUFFED ANIMALS]

Ugh. Yeah. Anything to scare small minded America. Make it as vague and intimidating as possible, and also say its secretly evil.

Ooh, I get what you're putting out! Yeah! Let's just adopt a bunch of animals and...well, ok, not a bunch. The Fathiers are a LOT.

[And it was only two of them]!

That sounds perfect and cute at the same time. You're really spoiling me now.

I'd call it the circle of life but it's really the circle of imperialism. And I don't know, don't even ask me about the situation in Israel where a two-state solution is the best solution, but no one in the current government gives a fuck about that.

From a teenage perspective, it's beyond weird. Into the realm of creepy.

[LOL gonna curse forever, BUT SHE STILL LIKES THE THOUGHTS OF CATS AND STUFFED ANIMALS, GO AHEAD THINKING ABOUT THOSE, GIRLFRIEND THINKS THEY'RE CUTE]

And add socialism if you can.

But the Fathiers are so cute! How do you feed them and make them like you? I want to find out.

That's the general plan, to spoil the ever-loving fuck outta you.

It is, along with a nice dose of racism. It's so hard to think about the kinds of things that happen in our world sometimes. You start to wonder if humanity will ever let go of falling to blind hatred time after time.

It is, now that I think about it, but I don't think I still could get that unnerved by him.

[Luz is absolutely now thinking of fluffy animals and so many kittens and puppies].

You got that right.

Hehe, aren't they? Uh, it helps if you can fly, I'll say that much. And very carefully.

But getting them to like you is easy. Just feed them and take them for runs!

I'm going to do the same, and you can't stop me!

I don't think humanity ever will. Let go of past hatreds, I mean. It's been given how many years to come to terms with how each side feels and no one seems to give a fuck. But let me give you a kiss to make sure.

[so. many. fluffy animals and kittens (but no need for puppies) because KITTENS]

Oh, really? Have you been having adventures without me?

I want one. Or several. I don't know if there's enough room at my house in Gaze to fit very many of them in.

Can too.

Wait, what was I supposed to stop you from doing?

Maybe not. That's kind of a hard thing to think about too. Knowing that the species you're a part of can't function unless they have someone to look down on.

[Aww, no puppies? Luz was an equal opportunity animal lover! This is what happens when your mom is a vet].

I mean, yeah, but what about specifically?

A Fathier? Ask Maul. I don't know quite how he got his to begin with, but he offered them to me, so I took them. They were smaller then, obviously, but I did know they'd get bigger.

Spoiling you! Which I plan to do, thank you.

It is, but I worry that it might be true. I mean, take your average high school. It's one big social experiment where everyone has someone to look down on for whatever reason. From what I've seen so far, society is always like that.

[puppies are fine, but kittens are the best. adorable little fuzzballs]

I don't know, I know that there are always weird things going on to get involved in.

It's good of him to look for someone willing to take care of them. They probably are too big for my backyard, sadly. They're so cute!

Only if I get to spoil you in return.

Yes. I think both of us have felt the effects of that. And that's ignoring some of the worst of what people do. Granted, I've seen some of that in Deerington, but...well. I guess I've tried not to think about it.

[Luz couldn't say that! She'd feel too guilty]!

It's sad that it's too vague. Weird is the new normal to me.

Oh, they are! That's why they pretty much own the whole barn along with the other animals there. I'm just glad that they don't scare the other animals.

Don't think I could fight you on that one!

Is that healthy, though? To mash all of those sad feelings down? I mean, I'm asking for both of us, you for Deerington and me for my family.

[kittens. kittens. KIIIIIIIIIITENS]

I think all of us get to there around the six month mark. 'Oh, the Pthumerian of the month is making it rain toads which somehow have our worst memories or experiences. Must be Tuesday.'

That's good. I mean, you've already enough animals to qualify you for an arc.

Good. Then mutual spoiling it is!

Probably not, Still working on that, to be honest.

[She would always know the truth, and Luz was had a long way to go to stop suppressing her pain.

KITTIES].

I was there the third, I think. Granted, nothing prepared me for the cultists. The cave was bad enough, but good god, the smell in the cultists' warehouse is enough to want me to seek them out and burn that place to the ground.

I've had several arcs! I should talk to all wildlife by now! But I think only Snow White gets that power. So lucky.

No complaint there!

Me too, but that doesn't mean we can't do it together. Granted, it would be great if we had an actual therapist here, they'd never be bored, but since we don't I guess we've gotta help each other deal.

[which Lexi is entirely sincere about. she knows she has a lot to unpack, not only when it came to her family but also to Rue, too.

ALL THE KITTIES]

I think you'd have a lot of volunteer helpers should you, y'know, choose to do that. Hell, I'd be the first. Not because they did anything to me, but because of what they did to you. Hand me a torch and let's Frankenstein's castle that joint.

Yeah, well, she is Snow White. That kinda comes with the territory, doesn't it? Not that it wouldn't be a cool power to have, I sometimes wonder what Nosferatmew, Mewnos, and Mewdemic are thinking aside from 'FEED ME.'

So let the spoiling begin! You're amazing. I don't tell you that as often as I should.

I think if we had a therapist, they'd probably have their own mess they had to deal with too. But we can lean on each other, which we'll at least be able to manage as best as we can.

[Luz understood this, and only had a little less baggage from home to deal with because she'd been away from there from a while.

YES]!

They did stuff to a LOT of people. That's what makes them so awful. If we can find where they are, at least we can stop other people being sacrificed or tortured like that.

Good point! And yeah, you're right about that with Snow White. She's also extremely sweet. I hope she's OK now after her girlfriend went home.

And it would still be cute.

Heh, thanks! And you're one of the cleverest, smartest people I know. I thought that the moment I met you.

Ugh, no kidding. Or it would be Hannibal Lechter or something and then we'd all be well and truly fucked.

[it's been a year and a half and some change, Lexi had been hoping she'd figure out what to do by now.

KITTEHS ARE AWESOME]

And should we find their---their lair? That sounds a little bit comic book villain-y, doesn't it? And home base makes me think of baseball. Anyway! Their home. I'm more than willing to help bring the fight to them. And watch your back while I'm at it.

Wait, wait, wait, Snow White....had a GIRLFRIEND. Way to completely decimate my childhood.

YOU'RE cute.

Noooo. No way. Not from the first moment! There's no way. Right? Even though if so, the feelings were kinda mutual, but NO WAY.

OOh. That is the ultimate bad scenario. I didn't even think of that!

[Luz had some time to try and think out all of what happened back on Earth, and she eventually came to the conclusion that she needed to let some things go. Her mom had wanted her to try and be herself but also make friends, and Luz accepted she was just going through a lot at the time: it had been hard to do that.

That was not even a debate].

Their sanctum then? It sounds more ominous, and it should, because it's a pretty awful place. I don't know if you've ever gone, but trust me. It's the stuff of nightmares.

[And since they were sharing a mind, Lexi would get an impression of a dark, dank place smelling of blood and echoing of faint screams and hopelessness before changing the subject].

She did! It was here, and it was a friend of mine, Rose Dawson! You would have liked her, she was a real self made woman who'd abandoned a pretty bad relationship only to lose her lover to the Titanic.

AND SO ARE YOU!

Yes, even then. You're in my mind now, so you know I'm not lying to you!

That's why you have me! To think of the absolute worst case scenario and put it in worlds!

[or at least gallows humor. she had to develop that when it came to Rue and her many, many drugs she was trying. last thing she knew, Rue had tried pure fentanyl and it completely blew her mind. which pissed off Lexi, they already had enough overdose deaths in East Highland. fentanyl scared Lexi unlike anything else, that was what her dad became addicted to before moving into heroin]

[and upon gaining memories of the cultists, she shrank back automatically]l

Seriously? Wow. They really do take us from somewhere and somewhen, don't they?

NOT AS CUTE AS YOU.

And you know I'm not lying, either, my love.

A day where we can shine!

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shit (AKA: Covid) happened, feel free to drop!

Re: shit (AKA: Covid) happened, feel free to drop!

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