video; UN: TripleJ

[kyley_b]

[The feed at first is just a mass of red, curly, curly hair. Then Kyle sits back from where he's propped up his Omni on his desk so his upper body and head are visible. He looks vaguely annoyed, which anybody who knows him will recognise isn't terribly unusual.]

So this is a problem that isn't REALLY a problem, but fuck it, I'm gonna ask about it anyway...

You guys have noticed the clothes here, right? Like, everything looks like you're gonna go hunt Dracula or some shit, or like you're going to that fancy-ass party celebrities go to on earth, the, uh, Met gala? Yeah, that.

Now I'm not a fashion guy. [This is evident to literally anyone who can see the feed - this is clearly a man who bought the first clothes he found that fit. Well, mostly fit. He's looking a bit like he mugged an extra in a bad stage production of Oliver Twist.]

But if I DID want something that didn't look like ass, I don't even know what that would look like, you know? Like if you wanted to make an impression, or something. So I guess just like... what the hell are you guys wearing?

Comments

[imaglyphwitch]

You would? I mean, most would I guess, but I just think it's neat!

Oh, well. You know. Hyperactive, got too involved in side projects that might have potentially endangered people. People tended to avoid me.

[At least she'd be honest about the why, but she'd leave out she'd been alone most of her childhood anyway. He didn't need to hear her whole sob story].

I think you might just want to stick with something simple. About half the population tends to favor that over the more elaborate anyway! You could do you basic casual emo kid style if that suits your flavor!

[kyley_b]

Yeah, but I'm like, not fashionable. Obviously.

That's kinda shitty of them. It sounds like you were just too interesting for your surroundings.

Yeah, and it seems like some sort of social divide, have you noticed? It's such a random thing for people to care about.
...uhm. No, no I'm so not emo.

[imaglyphwitch]

Well you don't have to BE fashionable, just try and go for something that speaks to you!

It wasn't the best time, but things did get better! Granted, that was when I left Earth by mistake, but at least now I can look back on that and laugh!

[And not harbor secret feelings of fear of rejection, but again, not telling her life story].

Oh I noticed! The thing is, I kinda like BOTH styles, so I just sort of change from one to the other depending on how I feel!

What do you typically dress like back in your world?

[kyley_b]

I guess I'm not sure what that is.

How'd you manage that? Like you accidentally got trapped on a spaceship?

You make it sound easy.

Oh, jeez. Jeans and hoodies and hats mostly. My favourite hat came with me, thank god.

[imaglyphwitch]

Oh man. I'm not a fashion guru but those are, like, the golden words to them I bet!

No, I kinda stumbled into a portal. The person who set it up didn't know someone like me had walked in, and she saw me as an opportunity to exploit. We just grew on each other from there! Long story.

[Long WEIRD story].

Are you kidding? You want it to match and you want it to look good, it's NEVER easy! Helps to know more than just the regular colors, I can tell you that!

Ah, you go casual! I can respect that. So your look would probably be simpler, like. Maybe loose cargo type pants and a shirt that at least gives you breathing room. Might even want to top that with a trench, I think.

[kyley_b]

That sounds terrifying.

Oh, wow. You forgave her? I feel like I'd be pretty pissed off for a long time if that happened to me.

[Kyle is very, VERY used to weird stories.]

Yeah, I, uhm. Kind of... resist fashion in general? I had a thing happen once, kind of put me off it. Plus I was in school so I spent almost all my time studying and I figured if I was just a goblin in a dorm room it didn't matter what I looked like. [As he writes down what she says.]

[imaglyphwitch]

I wouldn't know!

She later agreed to try and teach me magic, so we sort of were feeling out what the other wanted. Over time? She became the mom I didn't have because my real mom was back on Earth. Like I said, we grew on each other.

[There are SO many stories there].

Ooh, backstories! Love that!

I can understand that, but you can still dress how you like and be a goblin! Just wear your sleepy pants when you're by yourself!

[kyley_b]

Oh, wow. That's actually really super sweet. And magic, huh? Does that help to adapt to this place? Like already knowing kinda how that shit works?

[He half smiles.] Uh, yeah.

Oh, I do, don't worry. [He looks up from his notes.] Thanks, by the way. You've been like, really helpful and also super nice.

[imaglyphwitch]

Oh, we have layers, the two of us! If you met her, you'd understand. No one is quite like Eda, trust me.

Well honestly? No. I had to learn magic a different way, and THAT magic is still different from this one. It's more "hands on" in a way.

[As in external opposed to internal].

Oh hey, no problem! Just extending the same courtesy I was shown a few months ago!

Are you coping all right?

[kyley_b]

I believe it.

Right. That's weirdly reassuring, that everyone has had to adapt.

Yeah, I think so. I'll be honest I thought I was going to be a lot more depressed. But mostly I feel like I'm settling in weirdly well.

[imaglyphwitch]

You'd be surprises how much a little enthusiasm can worm your way into someone's heart I know I was.

Everyone's a squid, somehow, and we all have to adapt!

That is the funny thing about this place. Trust me, it's definitely more hospitable than the place before it. After awhile, the Sleepers become a kind of second family to you!

Most of them, anyway.

[kyley_b]

You're not wrong.

Yeah, honestly, same. I was, uh, in space before this? And we had to figure out how to grow food and stuff.

I'm cool with that. Family is never just blood.

[imaglyphwitch]

Wish I wasn't. About the squid part anyway.

No kidding?! That's pretty cool! You went from space to here? Did you work for Nasa or something?

I agree! In just about every new world I've been to, I've found some kind of new family dynamic that worked for me!

[And picked some new ones along the way, really].

[kyley_b]

No, not for NASA. I was abducted by aliens, which... seems to happen to me fairly often. But yeah, I was there, then I woke up here.

That speaks pretty highly of you as a person.

[imaglyphwitch]

You know, I would be shocked about the aliens, but, well, look at us. I can't really judge. Glad you made it out ok.

Oh, thanks! Trust me, the last few months were...rough. I'm glad that things worked out how they have here.

[kyley_b]

Yeah, the whole squid thing really keeps weird shit in perspective.

Yeah? I'm sorry to hear that. You're more or less okay now?

[imaglyphwitch]

It really, really does.

Eh. Relatively. When there's not some huge drawback happening in a month, I'll let you know.

[kyley_b]

I know we're not like, buddies or whatever, but if you're in a bad place I'd totally help if I could. Just for the record.

[imaglyphwitch]

Hey, you saying that just made me like you a whole lot more.

I'll keep an eye out for you the next time!

Actually, did we even get each other's name?

[kyley_b]

Oh, sorry, no! I'm so fucking rude, my mom would murder me... I'm Kyle Broflovski.

[imaglyphwitch]

[Luz couldn't help chuckling at this. If his mom would be mad at him for not introducing himself, she'd be REALLY mad at him for dropping an F bomb in front of a budding teen. Her own mom would have gone straight for the soap in the mouth at that point].

Nice to meet you Kyle! I'm Luz, Luz Noceda!

[kyley_b]

[Luz isn't wrong. Sheila Broflovski has plenty of opinions on her son's foul mouth.]

That's really pretty. And easy to remember, which is a bonus.

[imaglyphwitch]

Thanks! Pretty easy to say too, thought you wouldn't believe how many people say it wrong anyway.

[kyley_b]

How the hell do they say it, then?

[imaglyphwitch]

'Luhz' or they say 'lose.' Sometimes they mispronounce it on purpose because they can. Those times you have to try REALLY hard to let that kind of thing roll off your back.