deercountry | Mother stands for comfort

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Mother stands for comfort

Who: Luz and you (and specifically with Luca)
What: Luz tries to resist the hex, and not mutate herself until she finally falls to beast hood
When: Middle of February (sorry Luz, no birthday for you)
Where: All around Trench

She'd read the sermon and was sure that was when the trouble began. Luz had thought, after getting others who'd been sympathetic and lent an ear to her troubles, that she might be able to ride out the crazy of this month, that she'd get to her birthday in relative peace. Unfortunately, things didn't get better: instead, Luz found herself plagues by the past: her father leaving, the scorn of being that "weird" kid in her class, and the things that came with her Deerington and new Trench memories.

After Varian, Luz had been meticulous about trying to keep such thoughts from consuming her, trying to talk to others when she could, listening to advice and meditating more than she probably had any month. But the thoughts kept coming, and no matter what Luz did, she found she was feeling more depressed by the day, even though she interacted with people and did her best to keep her smile up.

And then one day, she found it was starting to feel worse than usual, enough that she even resorted to turning to her bird form if only to escape those memories. Now they were starting to compound, and images of the cave men and the Blood Cultists and their attacks on her began to plague her nightmares. It got so bad that she woke up feeling the cuts in her skin as clearly as she had back then, and she would be breathing hard and be so anxious she stayed in bed.

She had no idea how to stop this, and moments where she started to consider self-harm surfaced, shocking her so badly she took a cold bath, shivering and in tears, wondering what would happen next.

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Well, at least they're speaking that's- that's good. He doesn't think he ever did speak, though his memories of his own beasthood are blissfully foggy, so he can't be sure. Still, it's a good sign and he's going to cling to it desperately. He can see Luca isn't happy about this, and he's pretty sure if Luz wasn't there, he'd be toast. He'd avoided the emotional bond with Luca to save him carrying the burdens he carts around with him all the time- but perhaps now it would have made this a lot easier.

He tries to keep his tone even- to think calming thoughts at Luz- to steady his breathing and hope that has some sort of effect on Luca.

"Neither of you deserves to be monsters, you're good people. I'm sure we can figure this out, get to the bottom of what did this to you both, okay? But I need both of you to come back to do that- I don't want to lose either of you, so please, come back to us, okay?"

She could feel the anxiousness of her friend, who wanted to take on this prey. The creature understood that, because she could feel that coming from him, that bond with Luca certainly taking effect. The thing was, she had bonded with Varian TOO, so now the feelings Varian had were not only invading HER senses, but by proxy also being transferred to Luca via the bond.

So they both felt Varian's concern, his worry that they were going to be lost in themselves, and it was this thing that prevented the creature from staying in that frame of bloodlust. The creature was circling Varian, but it was doing so thoughtfully, as if it were trying to make up it's mind.

Finally, it spoke.

"Back...frum...wh-ere?"

If it wasn't for Varian's connection to Luz, if it wasn't for the feelings he's picking up from her, Luca would have attacked by now. However, he is feeling what Luz is projecting, and it is influenced by Varian, like some sort of chain of emotion, and while Luca is still quite hungry, impatient and tense, it's enough to keep him from striking. For now.

He keeps shifting around with her as she circles- trying to keep his face to her so he doesn't have his back turned. He feels...turning his back would end badly. All the time he's trying to keep his fear tampered down- if he lets that get the better of him it can feed into Luz, into Luca and that...no, he doesn't want to think about it.

"Back from this. Being...this," he gestures slowly, no sudden moves. "You can both be yourselves again," he glances at Luca, "both of you, you just...you just have to let this go. Everything that pushed you here, and find yourselves again."

Varian was right not to let the two of them see his back: feeling his fear, the creature could let that be the overwhelming factor that presses them to attack him instead, giving in to their own hunger. Instead, the creature is forced to stare at Varian and the memory of him comes in snatches. The creature is shaking its head as if trying to brush off its indecision, but instead thoughts of Varian just come more brightly, and in turn, this affects Luca.

The creature remembers him extending his hand to her, to let them live in the house. It remembered heartfelt conversations that ended with it hugging him, and times where the creature would argue with Varian about his health. It was blinking slowly, and looking at him with renewed interest.

"V...ar..ian," she managed to say, and he could see her eyes were shifting back to its brownish-amber. "Help. Us."

He may not quite understand why they're not attacking, but Luca still feels all the feelings from Luz. The warm, friendly feelings, the sense of trust, of love...and through Luz, Luca felt a little bit more like himself. He pulls back, no longer wanting to be ready to strike, and settles down into a less offensive position.

Varian had noticed this shift in Luca first, how his bulk had become less ready to spring, that was good. A good sign. When he catches Luz's eyes returning to normal, he lets out a slow breath- good, good, he's getting through.

"I'm here," he keeps his voice steady. "Just focus on my voice. Focus on my memories. You're Luz Noceda and you're a pain my backside a lot of the time, but you're fearless and decent and you try your best to help everyone, even at the detriment of yourself."

He turns his focus on Luca, knowing this will be harder without the emotional bond, but he tries all the same, his voice unwavering.

"And you're Luca Paguro. You're kind and curious and you want to learn so much about the world around you and you never shy away from trying something new," he glances between them. "You both know who you really are and it's not- it's not this. Just- find yourselves. Come home."

The creature hissed, mostly because it was losing its grip, and a moment later the more canine features it had started giving away to a young girl's face, the fur atop head giving way to her shaggy brown hair, and her posture of being crouched on all fours abandoned as she finds she can stand upright.

More importantly, Luz remembers. Moments with Varian where she watched him work, was frustrated when he neglected himself, teasing him in her own way, came flooding back. the Bond was strong, and the goodwill he was trying to extend to her was enough to remind her how much she valued him, needed him. She paused, hearing the growl from her other housemate, and turned to him.

Granted, she has no clothes right now (thank you corruption), but staring into Varian's eyes a moment, Luz knows what she has to do. She turned her face to Luca, him towering over her in his serpent form, and she gave him a hug, despite how dangerous this was, how hard and scaly his body felt, and that he could just as easily eat her right now. She closed her eyes and sent to him her feelings of appreciation, how his kindness and his interest reinvigorated her own appreciation of how varied and different everyone was, and how much she wanted to learn about them all. Luca was, in his own way, the reminder she was still that person, and how much she wanted him to stay that way.

There might be some part of his mind that registered Varian's words, but it's the emotions he feels through Luz that helped to really bring those words home. First he feels her returning to herself, feels her humanity, and feels the same desire to stay by her side that he felt when she was still a beast. Then she hugs him, and he feels all those feelings coming from her, backing up everything Varian said.

He begins to shrink. At first, that's the only change that happens, but as he gets smaller, his form becomes more humanoid, first becoming him in his sea monster form. He returns the hug, in that moment just being grateful to have Luz by his side. Then, the dry air automatically triggers his transformation back to human, and as the cold air hits him, he realizes they're standing naked in the middle of town. He pulls back.

"Um...we should probably head back. Before someone sees us."

Varian lets out a slow, steady breath- finally relaxing as Luz, then Luca return to normal. Oh, thank god. He doesn't know what he would have done if that hadn't worked.

"You guys scared the heck out of me, welcome back. Really glad to see you."

He glances around, nodding, being respectful and not looking at them.

"C'mon, we can talk in the house. Better not stay...uh out here."

"Guess we're just walking around in our birthday suits for now then," Luz said nervously, really wishing it wasn't true. Wait a minute!

"Oh no! Did I actually miss my birthday?!"

Forget being naked, this was actually the more distressing news! Oh wait, no, now ANOTHER worry hopped into her mind.

"Let's get back quick! The last thing we need is to get Lock joint! I got it last month, and it was the worst!"

Luz, please take a minute to ponder what just happened to you instead of worrying about other...reasonably distressing things.

She looked over at Luca, and gave a chuckle. "Almost wish there was a pirate ship we could rob of clothes like the last time we were in the ocean!"

Edited 2022-02-26 19:25 (UTC)

"Sorry, Varian, I didn't mean to...um..."

Turn into a giant monster is what he's thinking. Then he realizes Varian's going to have to test that chocolate...wait, where did that go? He'll have to go retrieve that...but maybe after they get clothes again. Luca's cold and shivering, and realizes the magic necklace Fern gave him to keep him warm is with the rest of his clothes. Then Luz realizes she missed her birthday, which Luca makes a mental note to get her a present and remember for next year her birthday is somewhere around this time. Then, Luz realizes something even more important.

"Yeah, we'll have to hurry back! And...once we're dressed again we'll have to go out to find my clothes. I think I might have slithered out of them before I got to my full size. I'm hoping." He's not really sure, but since he only has one winter coat he's really hoping it can be salvaged. When Luz mentions the pirate ship, he nods. "Yeah, a pirate ship or something so we don't have to go all the way back like this."

It also would save time so they could look for something else he lost that might be pretty important, too.

"And Varian, I have something I need to find again that you need to do experiments on! But it's really dangerous. It's chocolate, but it has different effects if you eat it. Like paranoia and stuff."

Which is part of what led to his corruption.

"Don't worry, we can do a belated birthday for you. Whatever you want- after you've rested."

Because sorry, Luz. You need to get yourself back together first. He's going to try and herd the kids towards the house again, doing his best to shield them from any passers-by, levelling a pretty solid GLARE on any who seem to think they can get away with looking.

"Leeeeet's work on getting to the very real house as opposed to a fictional pirate ship, huh?"

He nods at the mention of the chocolate.

"Yeah, Aridane had some too, but I'm happy to try and study some more. There's been some...pretty unusual reactions to it this month."

"Right, of course."

Luz wasn't in the position to protest, and if she was honest? She was both tired and a bit frightened that this had happened to her to begin with. What was more, now BOTH Varian and Luca would be getting those impressions, so they'd know that she wasn't lying about trying to get rest and relax. What was more, she was definitely unable to be properly embarrassed about having no clothes when she already felt so vulnerable with the whole corruption thing.

"What do you mean fictional? That's how Luca and I met! I'd already stolen clothes from some other pirate and then I helped Luca get away from that one trying to spear him!"

Yes, this was all actually true.

"Wait. Chocolate? It makes you...do things?"

That sure explained a LOT.

Luca is quick to defend Varian. "I don't think he means the pirate ship we ran into when we first got here is fictional. I think he just means there's no pirate ship now, and we know there's clothes in the house, so we should just focus on getting there."

Even though he's really wishing there was a whole lot closer. He's grateful that Varian's doing what he can to shield them from view, but he still wishes he was home. Preferably in his pajamas in bed.

"Speaking of clothes, I think I'm going to need a new winter coat after this...but maybe my old one is still in tact out here somewhere!"

As for the chocolate...

"Yeah. Different chocolates did different things. One made me all paranoid, another one made me forget things, one even made me start singing! I...probably brought myself further into corruption with the paranoia chocolate. I'm sorry Luz, with our bond, me eating that chocolate probably pushed you closer to beasthood, too."

He's so glad Luca dived in there, he nods.

"Yeah, yeah, I mean there's not one...like, right now. In the city, in our immediate vicinity."

He brightens, pointing.

"But there IS a Lamp Friend over there, c'mon, if we get to it we can get right to the front lawn."

He starts trying to herd the kids towards it, still looking for trouble or anyone who wants to cause any- he's definitely not about to let anything harm them. He hums in response to Luz's question.

"Sure does, like Luca said it creates...different reactions. Aridane got wings again," which were so beautiful, and so important to her. "I've been studying those ones- to see if I could make some sort of chemical compound which replicated it, so she still had access to it after the month has gone."

He hesitates, he doesn't want to lie to Luca and say that didn't happen. Chances are it really did nudge him forward.

"It's...corruption is complicated, guys. I think it's something we all need to watch out for. It's easier to happen than...than even I first thought. But what matters now is that you're both back."

Good idea, getting a bond with Luca AND Varian.

"It would be nice if there WAS one though."

Ooh, lamp friend though. Luz did love those little guys. Granted, Luz is not moving as fast as she normally would, having been a monster moments ago thirsting for blood. She did manage to hear what Varian said, and smiles weakly.

"That sounds nice Varian. If anyone can come up with a compound to bring her wings back, its you. I sorta wish I knew her myself, but we miss each other other than when she comes over."

She coughs a little, starting to feel the chill in her bones, then looks over at Luca, making sure to keep her eyes averted.

"Luca, don't apologize. It probably didn't help, but I was lucky enough to avoid corruption twice already. It was bound to get me eventually. All of the things I was feeling, they just came up all at once."

"Oh, good," he says, picking up the pace a little to get to the Lamp Friend. Being a beast had taken a lot out of him, but the idea of being able to go home and bundle up in some blankets and warm clothes is enough to spur him on.

"Wow. I had some that gave me animal features, but no wings."

Yeah, he'd tried a lot of chocolate. Maybe he shouldn't have, but before he'd even known about the effects it could have he'd downed a bunch, including some that induced amnesia, which made him forget that what he was experiencing was unusual until it all wore off.

"From what I've heard, since I'm a vileblood it might be even easier for me to get corrupted."

At least, that's what he's heard around town. That vilebloods are doomed to corruption. As for Luz saying he shouldn't apologize...

"Yeah, I guess so. I mean, I've been feeling a lot of things lately, too, with all the stuff that happens here, but...I just wish my bond with you would have made things better for you, not worse."

"She's a really decent person- and yeah, I wanna see what I can to help her. Her wings matter to her a whole lot."

He doesn't know if he can do it, but hey the more chocolate he gets, the more he can try and see what he can replicate. He frowns at Luca's vileblood comment. Because that's...very true. He knows Luz's paleblood helps ease that, but if she's breaking down, it makes sense it would escalate things for him.

"Well. It's something to learn about the bonds, I guess," good lord, he's glad he didn't create a family bond with Luca now- that was the right call. "I guess we have to find better ways of handling it, okay? Like...talking about it when things get rough?"

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Mother stands for comfort

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