Video: UN - Runeseeker

[onerthes]

[Vira-Lorr was not doing well. On the surface, it wasn't going to be obvious. The omni showed her on the shoreline of Trench, bundled up and watching out to the iceflows of the winter. There were, in the background, greeters tending to the last steps of the arrivals. The beasts from the ocean weren't breaking out of the ice right now, and it was past the usual time for sleepers to wash up, so the winter festivities were being closed up. Everything was safe. She just looked like she was finishing up a vigil. Anyone who knew her knew that she did this every month. She was usually waiting for a few people in particular. She just ... didn't publicize it like this.

Her eyes were rimmed red. It was clear that she'd been crying, but she wasn't doing it currently. Instead, she was smiling, though it was a distant and pained thing. One hand reached up to rest on her shoulder, to feel where the mark had been placed.]

I... don't need to tell some of you this. You will know. You always do. This is for other people in town who might care.

[Usagi would know. She didn't name Serenity, but she knew that she would know that a Senshi had departed, and if she knew then Makoto and Hotaru would know very quickly afterwards. Either by connection, or being told. This message wasn't specifically to tell them that Venus had gone home, though she would appreciate hearing from her friends. It was for the ones who weren't connected like they had been, like she had been.]

My wife, Minako Aino, is fine. She has safely returned to the sea. I felt the distance as it progressed, and ... I know that nothing caught her amongst the monsters below. She's safe. She will be safe in her home. I ... I want all of you who care about her to be certain of that.

[Her lips quivered a little and she sighed. She'd dealt with this before. How many people had she lost since the nightmares? How many had she tried to love? To get close to? Only to lose them too. She'd lost Minako twice now this way. She could handle it. Yet, this time was different. In so many ways it was different because deep down, she knew there was a chance Minako did not remember her where she was going. Usagi, Makoto, Hotaru, they would be reunited one day, but they might all forget her. It hurt.]

I'm fin... no, I'm not. I'm not going to lie. I'm not fine. My wife is gone, and I will come back every month to see if she returns to me, to us. I'm a patient woman. People have come back to me before. I have centuries to wait. My race gives me that luxury. but today hurts. A lot.

[There was a momentary pause and she sighed.]

I could probably use some company over the next few days. I'll be running the shop to help get my mind off of it, so if you need a reading, I just won't be a hundred percent is all. I've been very moody lately. Not sure why, but this is not helping.

Comments

[imaglyphwitch]

But of course! If I didn't, it wouldn't be me!

[Luz was trying to keep things light, obviously. What happened to Vira was something Luz couldn't imagine, and having had a girlfriend the last few months, if she'd gone Luz was sure it would put her in a bad place. So she was going to do her best to get Vira out of that place]!

Now, that aside, I think we can start with a movie! A nice, comforting one at that! What's your favorite?

[onerthes]

[it was obvious that they were doing their best to pretend that her situation wasn't happening? But Vira-Lorr was a master of escapism. She was willing to play along with that.]

You know, I don't actually have a favorite film. What do you watch to cheer yourself up?

[imaglyphwitch]

[Luz was very aware of how badly Vira had been taken, to marry a girl she cared so much about and lose her in a small amount of time. But Luz wanted to help her heal a little, to be a rock for her friend to start to be strong again].

Well, I kinda like the idea of finding yourself and becoming a strong person in the strangest situations. I'd recommend 'Spirited Away.'"

[onerthes]

You know, I haven't actually seen that one, so why don't we try it?

[Honestly, she was going to love the shinto imagery of the piece. It's the kind of morality play she could appreciate, and which definitely would take her mind off of things a little bit.]

[imaglyphwitch]

Oh, sure! I'm going to make us tea too. What kind do you prefer?

[Luz was doing several things at once, but she was not about to fail Vira now. She was already setting up the stuffed animals and the pillows while the tea kettle was building itself to be hot]!

[onerthes]

No no. You get started on the movie and making the arrangements. Tea? Tea I can handle.

[She got up and walked over to hug Luz, smiling at her and winking. It was a feeble thing, but it was still warm.]

Brewing tea is soothing. How about something with a bit of orange?

[imaglyphwitch]

[Luz felt the lack of the hug, but she was understanding about the why. After all, if she'd been hit with a blow like that, she was sure that she'd be worse off. That was why she was here though]!

Sure, ok! I think you'll like it!

That'd be new for me, so let's give it a shot!

[onerthes]

Fruity citrus teas are good for relaxing.

[Vira-Lorr would be better eventually. She just needed time. Time would help, as would her friends and their companionship. It wasn't going to take a whole lot of time to make either, thankfully. At least she knew where everything was, and could concentrate on brewing tea.]

The aroma really is soothing.

[imaglyphwitch]

Ok. I'll do my best there.

[Luz took her time here. Vira had been a friend she counted on, who had saved her at her worst moment. What was this, if not Vira's worst?

All her selves gone. No wife anymore. Vira was...her friend.

She would do whatever she could].

Sure, of course! Fruity teas! Got plenty to dispel!

Are. You ok?

[onerthes]

[She leaned against the counter and offered a weak, tepid smile, nodding afterwards. She wasn't great, but having friends was helping.]

No, but I will be. I'm certainly better than I was when I first found out what had happened. I think I'll have to take this one step at a time.

[imaglyphwitch]

[Luz looked over at Vira and gave a small sigh].

It's ok to not be good about this for a while. She meant a lot to you. I like her too. She was nice. I knew if she were here, she'd have taken care of you as best as she could.

[Luz walked over to where the tea kettle was shrieking].

Not that you need ME to tell you that, right?

[onerthes]

[She leaned over as one of the two of them set it off of the heat, giving Luz an affectionate kiss on the forehead.]

No, I don't, but you do realize that it's good to hear it from you? It reassures me, just like I would wish to do for you as well. There is something helpful in just the fact that you are yourself right now. In all ways.

[... it was a sense of normalcy.]

[imaglyphwitch]

[Ok, but that kiss helped Luz a little more than she expected. She hated the idea that her being around might make someone feel worse, and so she did her best to try and make Vira Lorr feel good. Losing Minako was obviously going to hurt, and it sucked that it happened so soon after the two were finally married].

You have before. I was really lucky you and the Doctor took me in after Eda woke up.

[Luz hated thinking about how she was at that time, especially as it happened not too long after the cannibals in the cave. Dark times].

So I'm glad I get to help you now.

Did you want honey in your tea?

[onerthes]

Yes please. I do actually have a little honey.

[She started to pour the tea with the steepers set in the cups while she let her friend get the honey. Vira-Lorr was glad to have her here. It was... normal in so many wyas, to help and be helped by a friend.]

We were as lucky to have you, and she'd never have let me hear the end of it if I didn't make sure you were ok.

[imaglyphwitch]

Aw, great! I actually do love getting the fresh stuff, it tastes pretty different!

[At the mention of Eda, Luz softened a little, then looked over at Vira, smiling].

Then I'd say you did a pretty good job. Those were a rough couple of weeks, and I know I wasn't the happiest person then.

[onerthes]

Perhaps I'll get the chance to tell her one of these days. [She smiled a little sadly and then looked over at her friend.] One small comfort is the knowledge we can all see our loved one again sometime. Here. We just might have to wait.

[imaglyphwitch]

I sure would like that.

[Thinking of Eda sure made Luz feel both sad and happy, so it was hard to read her expression right now].

It's been a long time, but...I'd still love to see her again.

[onerthes]

Thinking back on all of my friends? It's been almost a hundred years, but I would love to see Fyuria or Elaine again. All of our friends are precious to us, aren't they?

[imaglyphwitch]

They are. The ones that are gone and the ones that are still here.

What were Fyuria and Elaine like?

[onerthes]

So... Fyuria was an angry girl, a little cold most of the time. She wasn't young. We weren't the same age, but it was nice to have someone in their eighties to talk to in the armies. Most of our compatriots were human, so I tended to feel my age more in those days. She didn't get close easily, but she was a very passionate soul under the surface.

Elaine was a very dutiful woman, deep in her convictions. She struggled a little bit opening herself up. So many years in military service and she didn't have an easy time just being herself. The awkwardness was adorable at times, because she was so earnest about everything.

Poor King isn't in this pic.

[imaglyphwitch]

They sound nice, but complicated. Just about what I'd expect though. Of course you'd miss people from back home. I'd even have liked to meet them!

[Luz took a sip from her tea, and looked out of the window].

It's hasn't been years like you, but there are friends that I miss too. Gus. Willow. King.

Amity.

Poor little titan.

[onerthes]

There were very few in our company who weren't at least a little complicated. Perhaps Ladius, Leonhardt's heir, was one of the only truly uncomplicated souls I ever knew. It's hard to live in this world without some little subtleties.

What are your friends like?

Re: Poor little titan.

[imaglyphwitch]

I know that's right. There are plenty of complicated things going on whenever you involved people and their insecurities come out.

Where do I begin? Willow was probably the first friend I met on the Isles my age. She didn't have a lot of faith in herself because she was being pushed to do well in a subject she was horrible in. Turns out, she's actually a really powerful plant witch! More than that though? She's one of the sweetest people you'll ever meet, and one of the most loyal people I know! Then there's Gus, the illusionist prodigy. He's super smart, has a great sense of humor, and is way stronger than most people give him credit for! We all actually became fast friends!

Re: Poor little titan.

[onerthes]

It kind of sounds like your friends were all searching for their niche, and the world kind of had its own ideas of what that should be. It's really kind of nice that you were able to find each other and be supportive.

So... what would you call your own specialty? Runic?

the answer is in her name: Luz is their "light!"

[imaglyphwitch]

They were! I mean, they just needed a little help realizing how great they were! Like, Willow was convinced she was only half a witch when she was actually REALLY good at plant stuff, and Gus was a prodigy unsure that he'd make good friends! I came in and they had a reason to focus their magic to my, uh, brand of kookiness.

Me? I guess magical glyphs? I was just lucky to find them!