deernet | Video; UN: seeingtheworld

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Video; UN: seeingtheworld

[When the video comes up, it shows Reaper and Luca on the cold and frozen beach together. Whoever's filming them is standing back and very low to the ground, seeming almost like they're trying to stay out of sight. Luca is bundled up just in case, even though he's wearing Fern's sun pendant which keeps him warm, and is starting to do some stretches.]

You know...I know I've seen people on the network call you a monster before, but I think they're wrong. I think you're actually really nice. You're teaching me how to defend myself, and you helped me get around all those traps when people were hunting vilebloods, and when you lived in the house with us you cooked food for us every day!

[He shifts positions and goes into another warm up stretch.]

I think they're just scared because you look scary. Like how people are with sea monsters back ho--

[With one of the stretches, he turns his body enough to spot the individual broadcasting this.]

Camilla? What are you doing?!

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I'm aware. My cousin Camille could talk circles around you in her sleep. But you're still a teenage girl, and some of the subjects that you talk about are just...

[He made a noise like his brain might already be melting just thinking about it. He was, of course, teasing her in his own gruff way. A little grudging attempt at levity while they navigated far more deep and treacherous waters of mental health.

He nodded his head, understanding with her experiences. He expected that, with the way this place might go, she would have to get used to going into dark dank places, but that would have to be a work in progress. Slow and steady and even then, she might not recover enough to do it on her own or even at all. Trauma was complicated and unreasonable.]

Those triggers are things you're aware of, which means you can try to work through it. Even then, best case scenario is you experience anxiety but can manage it.

[Oh she was amusing sometimes. He issued a low humorless chuckle.]

My first death. Deerington was far more inconvenient about coming back to life than what I'm used to. Trench too, though I do make an adorable squid if I do say so myself.

Hey, I'm a teenage girl, but I also have my own nerdy interests! I don't need everyone to understand them.

[Luz was pretty proud of some of her zaniness, thank you. Sure, it might be off putting to some, but Luz was used to marching to the beat of her own drum].

I try to take those kinds of situations slow. It hasn't...escaped my notice that I've been through a lot of stuff. Some people might actually go crazy from all of the things I've seen. Between outside memories and the farm, it's a lot. I guess I try to put things into perspective and deal with it as best as I can. Some days are much harder than others.

In that case, I'd be curious to know how you came back from your first death. And of course you make an adorable squid, I was one of the people who made sure you got into water.

What does a nerdy interest have that might detract from you talking a lot? If anything more nerdy interests invite more people who enjoy the same things.

[A nerdy female had never been a put off for anyone that he knew, and if anything, it made said female far more interesting. It was good to keep her energized and hopefully focused on what she enjoyed rather than let all her bad experiences rule everything.]

Deerington and by extension Trench is not gentle on people. We are fighting a war with enemies we don't see or know about until they are upon us. [And that meant that they had no real time of actual rest as they would all be on edge even marginally. Uncertainty was what drove people insane, constantly vigilant.]

That's a story for another time. Oh, I still have all my squid memories, so I recall you helping me to water.

Oh, its pretty rare I got to nerd out on Earth with my peers. It was the biggest drag about being in Connecticut, honestly. No support.

[Luz was exactly of the same mind as Reaper on that subject and would have gladly said so. Most of the time, it was actually caring for the house that was the best distraction from her bad experiences].

That is way too true. Sometimes you get some small hints, but most of the time its "this crazy crap you wouldn't believe would happen, even in a fic? It's totally happening now, get prepared." And then you don't know when it ends and when you'll get to take a breath.

[So really, you had to enjoy the small things].

I figured you would say that. Well sure. I didn't want you to dry up. I don't even know if that would make you coming back to life take even longer!

Connecticut is, overall, a drag.

[As an Mexican-American, he thought he had rights to rag on other States. It was mostly good fun but also... some leadership in them was just the worst. He had no time for them during the war and less time after it. He preferred to concentrate on the household.]

You have to remind yourself to take a breath. It's one of the most important start points to healing.

[Start small and work their way to something larger.]

I think I was delayed, since my squid form seemed to last a bit longer than others.

I don't know if I'd say that about all of it, but where I am? Probably.

[Poor Luz. You had no idea exactly how interesting your little city actually was].

I've been learning that lately. Varian was pretty much a wake-up call to that. the healing is slow, but I think it's starting to happen now.

[It was honestly a lesson she hoped she was quickly learning to deal out].

Delayed? That can happen?

You'll branch out from home eventually, and you'll either have fond memories of it or be glad you're gone.

[He wasn't exactly considering Trench an adventure in other parts of the world, mostly because they had no ability to go back. Who knew what returning to the ocean was like, if it was just a wiped slate and nothing more. They'd be squids until they decided to crawl out again.]

Varian's fall to corruption should be a wake-up call. Everyone is susceptible.

[He shrugged his shoulders.]

I'm not generally a typical example of death in most places.

Is it weird that it's kind of both?

[She was sure she loved her mother, and home, but there was still that part of her that wanted to go beyond Earth, where she seemed ill fit anyway. The Boiling Isles had been her first foray, Deerington had been where she met people she wanted to stay around and protect and care about. She just had to deal with the notion she might NEVER see Earth again, or her mother, or Eda. That part was pretty painful].

Honestly? I got pretty close myself.

[That moment of finding out Fern was dead and Varian was corrupted and in pain had been a shock, and she had felt her body shuddering, close to recoiling into her pain, her fear. Somehow, she'd fought back, and struck out at the problem as quickly as she could].

What example of death would you say you are?

No. It's normal.

[The only reason he came back to Trench was because he had been assured that his mission would continue back on his planet. Part of him would split off and be part of the next phase of the dream, and that was the only reason he came back here in the end.

Oh he had imperative to come back, but his revenge meant so much to him.]

Is that so?

[It made sense with the trauma that she had suffered from before and now dealing with extreme emotions here. It was clear that emotion and a lack of coping influenced the blood corruption of this place.]

Unpredictable.

[Luz thought as much. On her end, she understood there was still a part of her on the Boiling Isles, just as there had been a part of her, a different her, that had lived in Deerington in another time. It was confusing, but all the same she still yearned to be part of this life, to see the people she loved and grew close to back in Deerington].

It is. I'm not saying I'm super powerful or anything, because believe me, it was hard. But I couldn't let Varian be in his state and suffering. That feeling was more important than anything at that moment.

[She knew well enough that she should be coping, so she still decided to take time for herself where she could. She just hoped it was enough].

I'd say most people would want to feel that way, but in your case, that's probably true.

[Reaper had watched from afar as Varian had slipped into beasthood. He would have stepped in eventually, but it wouldn't have been the same result as what had happened. When one became that dangerous, he didn't always invest in the talk-down method.]

You did well. Let's hope a repeat performance won't be necessary.

[At least this conversation had calmed back to something normal. He liked to think she had a few better tools for coping now.]

Yes well, when one doesn't stay dead normally, unpredictable is more my style.

[Luz had known that too- if a hunter had found Varian, they would have been far more extreme. With everyone working on both getting to Varian and distracting potential hunters, they managed to get him back home. Luz had all of them to thank that day].

I hope not! I heard next month might get a little rough.

[She'd have to be careful, that was for sure. She made a mental note to gather more incense].

One of these days you'll have to tell me how you manage that.

Month of Love is as bad as Christmas.

[That's all he had to say about that.]

Perhaps someday, yes.

That's what I hear. Too bad it's also the month and day of my birthday.

[That was sure "lucky."]

Just gonna keep that mystery for now, huh?

Well, you forced me to endure birthday cake in December. I'm going to return the favour. What flavour do you want?

[He would pay her back as dramatically as he could.]

It's more dramatic that way. I'll tell you when you're older.

You don't endure birthday cakes, you enjoy them! I would say Bizcocho Dominicano as it's my favorite, but it's also pretty hard to make. I'd just go with a Devil's Food cake if you're serious about it!

So...in a few weeks, when I turn sixteen?

If I can find the ingredients, you'll get your Bizcocho Dominicano. And if it fails, Devil's Food Cake it is.

That sounds about right.

Are you sure? I hear it's pretty hard to bake even if you DO find the ingredients.

[Luz is quietly holding out hope of course].

I'll be waiting then!

It can be difficult, and it's a lot of planning. It can't be any worse than fighting a war.

[He will produce. Reaper is determined that way, especially since she put in the effort to get him a cake.

He's going to put the story in a birthday card for maximum awkwardness.]

Nope. Nope, I'd definitely say fighting a war is more involved.

[You could mess up a cake, and worst thing that could happen is you have to make it over. Couldn't really do that with a war.

Ha! You fool! That will be the most epic birthday card ever]!

Depends on the cake and the decorations...

[But she was correct. War was far worse.]

Well, it's just me! I'm not expecting a Quinceanera or anything!

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Video; UN: seeingtheworld

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