video; un: quibbler | forward-dated to 13/02

[creidim]

cw: minor mentions of war, discussions of possible character death

So, it seems that my Blessed Day is in fact the same day as my birthday.

[ Luna speaks off camera, busy trying to put her Omni in the right place. It takes a couple of moments, but the initial view of Luna's room: all soft lighting, bright but peaceful tones across the space, is finally obscured as Luna steps into the frame to sit at her desk, something in her hand. She waves to the camera with a cheerful smile in greeting before she continues with what she's addressing. With a soft sound, she lugs the item in her hand onto her desk and then carefully holds it up to the camera of her Omni to show it.

It's a sword: the Blade of Agency, to be precise. Luna gazes down at it with faint bemusement; of course Doorway would gift a sword, considering they appear with one at all times. But Luna's... not quite sure what to do with it. She's a Witch, not a sword-swinger. Not that she's ungrateful, and she certainly doesn't mean to come across as that as she stares at the sword. ]

I found this propped up against the wall of my room this morning. A gift from Doorway, my Patron. [ Her head twists one way in thought, brow pinching. It's a fine looking blade, she thinks. Although she's not very knowledgeable in that department. ] It... feels special. I don't think it's just a regular sword.

[ She can't really tell how, though. She should really find some way to find that out before she goes about using it. Ravenclaws err on the side of caution in the face of magic swords. ]

... Although if I'm meant to use it, I've never actually swung a sword before. [ ... ] I believe I shall need some help with that.

[ Should anyone be interested in that. There's a long pause; Luna smiles faintly. She would turn the feed off at that but something else is on her mind. She's quiet for a little while, putting the sword down carefully down on her desk once more. It's... something difficult, the way her expression shifts. Not something necessarily bad, but— ]

... I turned twenty today. [ She lets that settle for a moment before she continues. Her voice is hushed, a little sombre in some way. She fiddles with her hands as she goes on: ] It's quite funny, you know. Not being a teenager anymore. Well, not just that part, really.

I suppose— I guess I never expected to live past seventeen. [ A short pause, there's a sudden realisation. She smiles weakly. ] Although I realise that doesn't quite funny at all when you say it out loud, does it?

[ More like horrifying, than anything else. Sometimes Luna has that uncanny knack for making people uncomfortable with the things she says; but it's a truth of her home. She was headed to battle before Trench, before Deerington. It was quite possible she'd never make out to the other side of that battle. Even people as young as she was die in war, she understands that. But now, here, she's made it out of her teens and into the first steps of adulthood. It's given her a great deal of cause for ruminating. ]

I've learned a lot about different things; different magic, and ways people live. Especially Muggles. ... I've met a lot of people, made friends. I've gotten to experience a lot of new things in those friendships I didn't have the chance to get to at home. I even met someone who I love very much. [ Her weak smile turns to something fonder, there's warmth there. Perhaps it's quite fitting that Doorway is her Patron, after all. Her relationships are important to her. But don't worry, she's not going to get too mushy over her boyfriend over the network. ]

I know for as difficult life here can be, for as hard Deerington was... this place is a kind of opportunity. It's let me have a great deal of things I didn't think I could have. Things I would have likely never had the chance to experience if I had never come here and stayed in my own world. It's a chance at living. One I didn't think I would get.

[ ... ]

I think that's quite important to remember. When things are difficult. Or when I do miss home sometimes. [ She goes quiet again, lost in her thoughts for a little bit. Even now, trying to pull the positives here in a world that has much stacked against them. Her expression turning to a serene dreaminess as she props her elbows on her desk, chin in her hands. So: ] ... What are you glad for the opportunity for, Sleepers?

Comments

Video; un: lothrat

[ezra_of_lothal]

[OOC: Running with the forward dating.]

My birthday was a few days ago, too. Nineteen. And I also got a sword like that. I do have training, if with a different kind of sword...

This was the first birthday I could try to celebrate without it being, uh- [He swallows hard.].

Empire Day. [And while they are on the topic of cultural specifics-]

What's a Muggle?

video;

[creidim]

Happy belated birthday to you. [ There's a slight pause, her head tilting to one side curiously. ] Oh, you mean like another type of magic kind of sword?

[ She knows about some kinds of magic swords, same with bows. ]

A Muggle is someone who is non-magic, in my world. There's other names for them, depending on the country you come from. [ Her brow pinches; she asks carefully, considering the difficulty he has there: ] ... What's Empire Day?

audio; un: doublehedgedsword

[laminae]

Oh my Glob Luna, that's a sick sword! [Wow wow wow he's jealous, he has no clue what his blessed day is but he's wishing it was the same as hers. He'd love another sword.] If you need help learning how to not chop a limb off lemmie know!

[Because he's always eager for sword shenanigans.]

I'm glad for swords, that's obvious. And Varian. My whole life's changed 'cause of him. It's way better than it was back home.

audio;

[creidim]

It's quite cool, isn't it? [ Fern deserves more cool swords!! Let him get one too!! ] That would be nice, I'd rather much prefer to keep all my limbs.

[ Honestly. ]

I'm very glad for you, Fern. [ There's a genuine smile that can be heard in her words, even if Varian is a bit of an awkward subject for her. ] I suppose one of the nice things about this place is the fact you can come across weaponry you wouldn't find back home. Like my Dream Hunter bow!

video!

[grice]

Happy birthday, Miss Luna. [ he hasn’t told anyone yet, and if he did it was something very, very recent; with his softened smile in place, he continues: ] I turned thirteen three days ago.

[ what were the odds, right? thirteen, three, on the thirteenth. finally taking that step out of youth and into the beginnings of adolescence. ]

And I’m thankful for living one more year.

[ he knew, and so many others, how easy it was for life to slip right through fingers like water. he almost died plenty times, died here once, had a ticking clock of thirteen more years (woah, coincidence) on his lifespan— he’s happy that he could live for as long as he could. ]

video;

[creidim]

Thank you, Falco. [ There's a warm smile. ] And happy birthday to you, too. Did you do anything nice for it?

[ He's a teenager, now! It's certainly a big thing, she thinks. One should do something nice for stepping into the world of teenage-life. Funny how he's just stepping into that world as Luna steps out, isn't it?

Her smile dims a little. It's still with its warm, but there's something a little more sombre to it. She... does understand that one. ]

That's a very good one, I think. I like that.

video; un: clearthestreet

[laruetheday]

[ Somebody's super excited for a sword that wasn't even given to her. ]

Luna! I'll teach you how to swordfight. [ Oh, right, and ] Happy birthday.

video;

[creidim]

[ Clarisse is very valid. ]

Thank you, Clarisse. [ There's a little chuckle. ] I don't know how much I'll be doing, but it seems like a good skill to add to my set.

And I mean, I already know how to fight with magic and with a bow—? I got one gifted to me in Deerington, the Dream Hunter—?

Video | Clickclickbloom

[onekindsoul]

Hey! Happy Blessed Birthday, Luna!

You're old now!

[There is a brief moment as she considers the whole potential of dying in a war thing. ...And the fact that she's pretty sure she did do that back at home.]

It's a little silly to say that, I admit. But... Not everyone does get to do that. So I think it's definitely worth celebrating even if it's something we can only do here.

[creidim]

Thank you, Ruby. [ There's a little smile. ] I suppose I am old now, aren't I?

[ Wild, isn't it? Luna Lovegood is now Old. ]

They don't, do they? There's people I know back home who didn't get to be old. And maybe others who might not, either.

video; UN: sallyface

[sallyface]

[ Sal can greatly identify with not knowing if you're going to live past seventeen. For different reasons, he's sure. But he gets how it sounds "funny" without sounding funny. ]

Honestly, I only just got here...maybe I'll change my tune in a month or something, but I don't feel awful about being here. I think I'm actually kinda...at peace about it, I guess. [ Granted, he's still worried about home, worried about Ash and Todd, and wherever Larry is — but part of him thinks he'll find him somewhere, so he holds out hope.

All in all, things could be worse. Maybe he just has to go with it. ] Guess I'm just glad that I feel alive.

Oh...and happy birthday.

video;

[creidim]

Trench isn't an easy place to live. [ Comforting, Luna. ] But we do get through it together. It makes it less hard.

I know things back home will be okay without us. Moon Presence told us as such, and I wholeheartedly believe her. [ She still worries sometimes, though. She doesn't know how things will turn out. But that peace he's talking about is definitely something she understands. There's something at work here helping with that, she suspects. ] But I suppose I still think about it sometimes. It's still home, you know? Even if it meant being a place where you might not be there for long.

[ And she speaks as someone who died twice in Deerington. But then again, death isn't permanent here. ]

Feeling alive is definitely a good one, though. [ She nods with a small smile. ] Oh—! Thank you—!

Video | un: mister_hatter

[payingfordeliverance]

[Casually browsing the network while he does kitchen things always leads Break to even more questions than he already had. Just now, for instance: Why is it that other people's patrons give them things like cozy cardigans and magic swords, and his gave him a literal bad luck charm during a month when his own blood was literally giving him nerves? Also, why are there so many worlds full of kids who don't expect to live long enough to stop being kids? Why is that such a common thing? His own world was no different, honestly. Does -- does this place think that it is being nice, dragging them here? Is it being nice, or is it just picking the ones it thinks can tolerate its nonsense? Cripes on a cracker.

...she raises an agreeable point all the same. This is a place where you've got to make the best of it. Break has known this for months.]

There are people here I've grown terribly fond of who hail from other places. When you think that we all had to cross dimensions to a different world entirely in order to find each other, that we've been able to meet at all is rather a miracle, right? [An honest answer for the birthday girl. Anyway, given the time he's had this past week or two, falling back on more sarcastic answers to a question like this feels grody.] Mm, more importantly -- happy birthday, young miss.

video;

[creidim]

[ There is... probably something very useful in it, considering Dorothea. But who knows. Patrons often act in unusual ways, she thinks. Luna's even not quite sure why a Patron of relationships would give her a sword, even if they're always seen with one. Although that... might have more to do with The Reckoning. Maybe. Hm. ]

It's been really nice finding out about other worlds than my own. Fascinating, even. [ The corner of her mouth curves up into a smile. ] But the people especially. It does seem like a miracle, in ways. I feel fortunate.

[ Very fortunate. ]

Thank you, that's very kind. Although not so young, apparently.

[ Ruby called her old. ]

video | un: stiles

[queenofsarcasm]

[Stiles is still in his female form, but for the moment it doesn't look like that's wearing on his mind. His entire focus seems to be in sincere contemplation of what she's just talked about. And sincerity is rare to see on his face.] I know what that's like… thinking you're gonna die young. So I guess congrats are in order… and a happy birthday. [His brow furrows and he glances down.] Not sure I can answer that question for myself… though, you could say I'm grateful I got to meet Luna freaking Lovegood. [With that, he looks up again with a bit of a crooked smile.]

video

[creidim]

[ Oh... oh, no. Poor Stiles. Is he... stuck like this? ]

It's... quite difficult to live with, isn't it? I'm sorry you know how that feels. [ There's a little smile then, her head ducking. She's very flattered; even if she's still getting used to this whole... cultural icon thing. Isn't weirdly quite nice finally meeting a fan? ] Thank you, Stiles. I'm quite glad I fit into your good experiences of here.

Video; UN: BlackMoths

[blackmothwings]

Happy birthday.

[Luna's words resonate with Lucille. Trench and Deerington have indeed provided new lives, new opportunities. That truth is easier for Lucille to accept these days.

She tilts her head slightly, offering a faint, polite smile.]

I agree with you. Trench and Deerington have both come with challenges, but I am grateful for them. I've been able to work and build a life of my own. I must be thankful for that.

video;

[creidim]

Thank you, Ms Sharpe. [ There's a polite smile as then she's quiet for a moment as she considers before nodding in agreement. ] I suppose even good things come with challenges, too. But that doesn't really make the good things shine less, or the bad things more dark.

I'm quite glad you've been able to have your own life here, though. [ There's a pause before she gently asks: ] ... Was life difficult for you, back home?

video; un: ushiromiya

[entreats]

[ Honestly, what Luna is saying here is pretty macabre - but with a weird hopeful lining. Maybe exactly like how a lot of the things in this place are.

It's why Ange doesn't even do as much as bat an eye while she's watching the video message. She gets that feeling, after all. No matter how macabre it is, that certainty you feel when you think you won't live past a certain age.. she knows it all too well. At worst, it's sad that Luna had to think that way, since she's a person with such a kind nature.

But she's better now. That's the important part.

Though rather than directly answering that question, Ange instead opts to mention something lighter first. ]

I don't think that Patron knows you well, if they are throwing a sword into your lap.

[ Luna does indeed not seem like a swordfighter, after all. ]

But you can probably pull it off in a cool enough way if you try.

video;

[creidim]

It's not really my... 'thing', no. [ There's a bemused smile as she looks down at it again, where it rests on her desk. Her fingers trace along the hilt gently. ] But then again, if it's... not a regular sword, then—?

[ Who knows. Still, she chuckles: ]

The concept of 'being cool' is such a strange thing to me.

text | timaeusTestified

[givehead]

Happy birthday, Kiddo. Dope sword. If you want to test out the full effects, you can test it out on me.

I'm glad for the same shit you are. A chance at living. Meeting new people. It has been cool.

text;

[creidim]

Thank you, Dirk!!

That's very nice of you to offer, but I'm not so sure if it's really a good idea to go about swinging strange and possibly magic swords at people...?

[ If this does something other than regular sword things then... this could go very wrong. ]

These are good things! It is cool, isn't it? [ A little pause. 'A chance at living'. Mm. ] I'm sorry if that means things are difficult in your world.

un: eudaimonikos; video

[eudaimonikos]

Geez. I keep forgetting how young half of you are.

[Michael's not spoken to Luna all that much since she helped him with his little corruption issue a few months back. He meant to! It's just...god, he's ashamed of how he behaved there.]

It's nice to meet people, get out. Back home, I'm not...exactly on the same level as most of the humans I meet. Because I'm in charge, not because...anyway, it's different.

[creidim]

I suppose I'm young compared to how old I could get. [ There's a little smile at that. ] But that still might be quite young to you, still. How old do demons in your world tend to get?

[ It's very good to see you back to your normal self, Michael. The manic was... a little too much. ]

Oh, I know what you mean: The Quidditch field is even—! [ Yes, that's a real word. ] Because we're all Sleepers, even if all Sleepers are a bit different.

video || un: wheeler

[micycle]

[The sword definitely gets his attention. Mike doesn't know Luna beyond her being Peter's girlfriend, but that connection's been there so long now that she doesn't seem like a total stranger. More like an in-law that he sees at all the holidays and never talks to. And she's twenty-one now? It seems like an impossible age to reach, as long as he's been pushing through youth. But then, his own birthday is only a couple months around the corner, and this year- ]

I'll be seventeen, I guess. In April. [Quiet, but abrupt. It doesn't feel right to say.] I thought I'd still be a kid when I died, for a long time. Especially back home.

Kind of weird to realize you're gonna need to be an adult one day after all.

[creidim]

I was seventeen when I first came here. It feels like a very long time ago, now. [ It definitely seems to get away from you, sometimes. How quickly time seems to fly by here amongst all the horror. She's quiet for a little moment before she gently offers: ] It'll be a good birthday. It's a very important age for people like me, back home.

I'm sorry home was like that. [ There's a little nod, a sad smile. ] It is a bit. Especially when younger ones keep ending up here, and then you're the adult now? At least there's... more adult adults....