Video UN: glyphywitchy

[imaglyphwitch]

[Luca and Ahiru of the house might have noticed Luz was gone all day, as were Varian, Rapunzel and Fern, and there were none the wiser about why. The three of them honestly tended to do their own thing, but this time was different. Luz returned later, closing the door behind her, and had stayed up in her room for several hours. Luca and Ahiru were likely to feel the distress in Luz now though, and while Ahiru wouldn't know why, Luca WOULD.

And now, Luz knew, she'd have to let the rest of Trench know.

-



[Late at night, the video feed clicked and there was Luz. Her eyes were rimmed red, she was slightly shaking and she was surrounded by the stuffed animals in her room. She looked at the camera for at least a minute before finally addressing the audience as a whole].

If you guys knew Rapunzel, I'm sad to say she's gone back to being a squid. She was pretty great, looking after us in the house and everything, and we're going to try and keep her tower spotless. She would have wanted it that way.

[She bit her lip, exhaling].

V-Varian and Fern are also gone.

They've...gone back too. I know a lot of you knew them from Deerington. In a lot of ways, they're why I chose to go to move onto the next world. Fern was cunning, quick and upfront about himself. He put himself out on a limb to save people, and was the model of a hero I think we all strive to be.

Varian was different, but in his own unique way. He was stubborn, smart, and one of the sweetest people I know. He'd come up with inventions I could only watch in awe of, and he'd work tirelessly on projects with strength I could never match. He and Fern were my older brothers, and the reason I live in this house now.


They mattered, just like everyone who leaves matters, and leave a mark when they go. If I ever ask myself why I'm here, suffering, I'll remember it's because of them, because they were everything that helped me move on from one bad moment to better ones.

Thank you. Um. Take care, guys, wherever you are.

Comments

( action )

[danserai]

[ oh. she thought it was strange, but they had always been very independent. secure. perhaps there was more she could have done. but perhaps this is how the story goes.

who could say?

she knocks on luz's door quietly. ]

Do you want some company?

Re: ( action )

[imaglyphwitch]

[Luz got up from her bed and walked over to the door, opening it for Ahiru].

Yeah. I really could.

Video; un: darkness

[survivalthroughhate]

[Oh no. Of everyone in Trench, Maul hadn't expected Varian and Fern to leave so abruptly. Yet at the same time, he knew it was inevitable. For Maul, people leaving him was just something he has come to expect in his life. He doesn't seem angry or even sad as he answers Luz. Right now, he just seems resigned, like he expected this to have happened eventually, and now that it has he can't muster up much of any other emotion.]

Do you need anything right now?

[Whether she needed him to be there, or just to be alone, or for him to go out and kill an animal so the remaining group could have something to eventually eat, Maul would do it.]

Re: Video; un: darkness

[imaglyphwitch]

When Reaper gets better, please tell him. I know he cared a lot about them too, and he cares about this house.

Ask him...ask him if he still wants to live here, please. I know he was pretty close to the both of them, and they were the ones that asked him to stay initially.

un: eudaimonikos; video

[eudaimonikos]

Oh - oh, wow. I'm really sorry to hear that.

[Michael's surprised, honestly. People come and go, but somehow it had felt like those two would be here forever. They were fixtures in Deerington well before Michael himself arrived. He's sorry to see them go.]

Do you need anything?

Re: un: eudaimonikos; video

[imaglyphwitch]

I don't think anyone was expecting this. You don't have to be sorry.

Any ideas of where we might be able to find jobs would help. I might be OK, but I don't know about everyone else.

Korra - in person

[avatar_state]

It seems like it's just a time for loss, isn't it? Her own loss still aches like an open wound, even if by now she's beginning to bind it to the will to act. But when she sees Luz, knows she's in pain, she doesn't bother with a message. Some things you just do, especially when you have seen the other person do it for you.

She works quickly in her kitchen, preparing a heavy bowl of hot noodle soup. Comfort food, nothing quite like it. It takes a bit, but eventually she gets it packed and herself onto Naga. She still won't use the teleporter.

So what Luz will find knocking on her doorstep is Korra with a fairly enormous travel pot, a friendly mass of fur who already treats Luz like one of Team Avatar, and a gentle smile.

Action, and Korra is such a sweetheart!

[imaglyphwitch]

Luz heard the knock and walked up to answer, only a little surprised to see Korra at her door. She was honestly one of the nicer people on Trench, and she'd been with her since Deerington, the first time she lost her family.

It was only right she should be here the second time that it happened.

She returned Korra's smile, even if hers threatening to crumble into itself. She walked over, took the pot, and gently placed it on the kitchen counter. She then ran straight into Korra's arms, because Luz really couldn't act like she wasn't feeling some kind of pain right now.

video | un: graham crackers

[possessum]

( Various wounds are still fresh in Peter. Luna's Beasthood last month may have ultimately been remedied, but it took about ten years off his life. John Constantine's gone, and Peter hasn't been able to even talk about it to anybody.

Now..... this. Fern and Varian. All he can do is sit there on the edge of his bed for a long while, before finally he turns on his feed to reach out to his friend. )

Hey, Luz.

( He sounds very soft, and very sad. Varian's someone he's slowly been growing closer to over time, and Fern... Fern's been there with him for what feels like forever. It isn't only his own ache for the loss of the plant boy, but Paimon's, too. Fern and the demon were especially close in a particular sort of way, and for even longer than Peter was. Peter feels sluggish and strange, as Paimon mourns within him. )

...It doesn't feel real. That they're gone. ( He's staring down at his lap, eyes a little too dark because of the demon's strong presence, but he's still Peter, too. )

At least they're... together.

( If they went back at the same time... they're in the ocean together, aren't they? At least he hopes that's how it works. )

Re: video | un: graham crackers

[imaglyphwitch]

Hey Peter.

[Luz isn't doing too well herself. Varian's departure was still an open wound in an emotional sense since they'd had a Bond. She had literally felt that being ripped out of her, and so she knew immediately that he was gone. Her first thought had obviously been what would happen to Fern, and she'd been out all day trying to find him before she finally figured it out].

It feels like a nightmare. I keep expecting to past by and see them in the house, like always. That it'll never happen again is just. Unreal.

[She nodded, trying not to cry].

Yeah. I wouldn't have wanted to see Fern here without Varian. He would have been a wreck.

video: un; makes.it.count (Private)

[everyrosehasits]

[none of the names who are gone are familiar, but she sees and hears the loss, the void their leaving has caused in Luz. she knows a little bit about that kind of loss

and after how much Luz had helped her, this was the least she could do]

I'm so sorry. Is there anything I can do, even if it's something small like pick up dinner somewhere for everyone to eat? Or would you rather I simply came over?

Re: video: un; makes.it.count (Private)

[imaglyphwitch]

[Luz looked at the video and smiled to herself. Rose. Of course. She was quickly becoming someone Luz knew she could count on to say the right thing].

Thank you. They mean a lot to me.

Please, if you could, get something for Ahiru and Luca. I don't feel up to cooking right now. I'm also kinda a mess.

[Audio][UN:A_Wesker013]

[subject_013]

For what my words are worth, I'm sorry to hear that. I'd admired Fern's warrior spirit and Varian with his intellect reminded me of myself at that age; I'd even thought of offering him an apprenticeship. And I regret that I'd never properly met Rapunzel.

If there's anything you need, don't hesitate to contact me or the other Sleepers looking out for you.

Re: [Audio][UN:A_Wesker013]

[imaglyphwitch]

They were all really great people. This house is not going to be the same without them.

[Which was an understatement, but Luz was a wreck right now, she couldn't be eloquent].

Thank you Wesker, I appreciate that. We're just trying to figure out what we do next in the house right now.

action

[zib]

[Ever since Zib's beasthood incident in April, he's spent most of the time since sleeping a lot, or trying to destress in the form of reading or doing things with his hands that are not related to some kind of dangerous invention idea he has when he's alone. He happens to be doing the latter instead of being in a sleep coma of sorts when he sees Luz's broadcast.

For a moment, he feels the same sort of anger and sadness he felt that led to his beasthood to begin with--yet another wrench being thrown into an attempt at happiness, he thinks, that the two people who helped him return from beasthood the most would get taken away from this place before he could properly thank them--but this time, he doesn't allow the feeling to consume and fester, or consider the option of crawling under a blanket and moping himself back into sleeping for several hours. Instead his concern turns to Luz--she is also someone who has helped him time and again in this place when he was feeling bad, and it's about time that he returns the favor, he thinks.

So he gets up and goes directly to meet with Luz, reaching the door of her room at the Disaster House. He knocks on it, calling out.]

Hey, Luz? It's me... um, can I come in?

Re: action

[imaglyphwitch]

[Luz heard him and walked over, opening the door. The friends she made on Trench were good people, she knew that well enough, so people coming up to check on her was hardly surprising.

That was a lesson she thought Varian and Fern helped her understand].

Hey, Dib.

[Her eyes were red rimmed, and she looked obviously worse for wear].

How are you feeling? I'm sure you heard.

video; un: lookingforshinsengumi

[tealeafs]

[ .. oh no. Chizuru remembers the girl she's seeing here. It's the same girl who really tried to help her out before - back when she first showed up, and then again in the catacombs. Chizuru sure hasn't forgotten.

But there's a difference. A clear one. Luz looks so.. sad this time around. And Chizuru can't even really blame the other, since it sounds like she was so close with people who left this place.. It must be difficult. ]

Um.. I'm so sorry to hear all of this. And I'm sorry that you're having a hard time..

[ Is Luz suffering in this moment as well? She did use that word to describe past experiences.. ]

But.. I think your friends would be glad that you're speaking so kindly of them. You're a really nice person.

Re: video; un: lookingforshinsengumi

[imaglyphwitch]

[Oh Chizuru! It had been awhile since they last spoke. Maybe this situation had a way of bringing out people who usually kept to themselves. In any case, Luz was glad to see Chizuru again].

I didn't expect this to happen, and so quickly. But I guess that's the risk you take in thinking everything will always stay the same.

[It was dumb, and Luz was still reeling at the reality of it now].

They deserve it, Chizuru. They were friends to a lot of people, and they made me feel at home in this house we're in. They were basically the big brothers I never had.

Thank you. For the words, and for being my friend.

[Luz was still feeling pretty bad, so she couldn't say much more].

video; un: TripleJ

[kyley_b]

Hey.

You gonna be okay?

Re: video; un: TripleJ

[imaglyphwitch]

[Come on, Kyle].

Eventually. Not right now.

video| UN: Pierrot

[violetlies]

[Kokichi has ended up just sitting there in front of the screen. He takes a deep breath, adjusting his cap.]

Hey. You don't know me, I don't know you, but...I, um. I might've been one of the people to last talk with Varian. We fought some evil robots from my universe together.

I don't know him or Rapunzel that well, but they seemed like...genuinely good people. I'm sorry. Really.

Varian lent me his notebook. Told me to keep it as long as I liked. I tried to bring it back earlier but that was when I kind of caught onto the fact that....well. All this had happened.

Is it okay if I keep it and keep adding onto it?

[A beat.]

....is Ahiru-chan okay?

( private )

[danserai]

I'm okay.

[ it's harder for luz, so ahiru is keeping her own feelings at bay for now. she had liked varian and fern. had gotten to know them. had hoped to know them better. but she's always partway prepared for loss.

she is, after all, only a duck. ]

We're all fine, we're just . . . not sure what we should do now. But we'll figure it out.

video; un: idoloflove

[loveandduty]

[Minako considered her someone she cared about, so of course Minako was going to at least try and be comforting in her own way.]

I'm sorry to hear that those you care about have returned to being squids. I'm always here if you ever want to talk. [She understood at least how painful it can be losing those you care about after all.]

Re: video; un: idoloflove

[imaglyphwitch]

Thank you. It's really nice of you to offer. We're all still dealing with this, little by little.

[And it was really hard to think about, if Luz was honest with herself].

I'll probably need to talk later. For right now, the house has to figure out how they're going to take care of things without them.

Video; UN: Willow

[frogfear]

[It's not hard to sympathize with Luz so soon after her own losses, so of course Willow reaches out when she sees her post.]

I'm sorry about your friends, Luz. It's tough when the people we care about go back to the ocean. I didn't know them, but it sounds like you guys were really good friends. I'm sure you're gonna miss them a whole lot.

Re: Video; UN: Willow

[imaglyphwitch]

[Aw, poor Willow].

They were more than friends. They were housemates and basically brothers and sisters. They're the reason I had an actual place to live at all.

[Specifically Varian and Fern were but that's neither here nor there].

As long as you've been in Deerington and here, I'm guessing that happened to you too.

video | private; un: quibbler

[creidim]

[ Luna... looks like she's been through the wringer. She's exhausted and a little queasy-looking, dressed in pyjamas that she's absolutely been in all day. But she's by far the best she's looked in months. The symptoms of Corruption have well and truly gone from her.

She almost doesn't reach out, considering the last time they spoke (well, more like fought) — and she's yet to reach out to people to apologise for the things she's done last month. But.... Fern was her friend, one of her oldest ones. And Varian...? Well, things were better, even if they weren't friends. ]

Hi, Luz. [ Offered quietly, sheepish. ] I didn't know Rapunzel, but—

[ She's tired, wiping at her glossy eyes. John left last month, too. She's tired of losing friends. ]

They went together—? Fern and Varian—?

Re: video | private; un: quibbler

[imaglyphwitch]

[Oh, poor Luna. Luz knew she's been having a rough couple of months (who hadn't) but that it had been especially taxing for her. The last time they'd been around each other Luz had narrowly escaped being cursed to death, but even she could see that this wasn't Luna and hoped that Peter would help bring her back to non-corruption.

Unfortunately, this is what she had to come back to. Not fun for Luz either].

Hello Luna. I'm glad you're doing better.

[Luz sighed softly, but nodded].

I hate that they're both gone, but its better than only one leaving. It would have killed the other one. But it still feels awful.

Audio - un: Uravity

[floatsaway]

[...Right. The thing Ochako is most afraid of, now that she's come and gone from different world herself. It was scary enough just thinking she lost a friend, after promising to never abandon him, but actually going through it... Ochako feels the tightness in her chest, feeling sympathy for a friend she made a short while ago, and thinks again that she might need some help.]

Ne, Luz-san? Do you want to go shopping with me today? Now that the sun's up, I found a nice path through a nice park we can go through. A lot of the trees are budding...and it smells really nice - like fresh grass and flowers. We can have a little picnic on the way back, if you want.

[AKA: hey, friendo, do you want a distraction?]

Re: Audio - un: Uravity

[imaglyphwitch]

[Ochako, you know just what to say. Granted, there is the part of Luz that wants to stay, that feels like feeling anything but pain because two of the closest people to her are gone now is awful. Of course it hurt. How would it not? She'd go downstairs and they would just not BE there.

But on the other hand, Luz was surrounded by a house they stylized themselves, and that hurt TOO].

Actually, yes. I should probably go out a little bit.

[She still sounds very, very bad. But she at least looked a little hopeful now].

text

[grice]

Take care too, Luz. I'm sorry.

Would you want something that was Fern's? I know it's not the same, but maybe it's a good reminder, too. It is for me.

Re: text

[imaglyphwitch]

Trying. I appreciate you saying something.

Oh, um, sure. What do you have?

video | un: deku | private

[wannasmash]

[ He'd forego video to hide the lump of emotion in his voice, but he feels like a familiar face and voice are needed here. ]

I'm going to buy some stuff later and make you all a big dinner. Lots of leftovers. I don't know how to cook a lot of things, but it's hard to mess up a stew or curry rice. Don't worry too much about house stuff. I'll take care of it.

Re: video | un: deku | private

[imaglyphwitch]

[Man, they were not going to run out of food for a good while. Considering how many mouths were in the house though, this was probably not a bad thing].

Midoriya-kun. Thank you. Um. Sorry, I'm a bit of a mess right now. Can't really be as cheerful as usual, you know?