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Video UN: glyphywitchy

[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.

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It must be easier for them, to think they had earned that privilege and were entitled to all of it.

[That was about all Luz could say on the matter though. She didn't know that feeling, only that she always felt the exact opposite.

And Luz was going to make sure that they got creative this time. It was what Rose deserved]!

I suppose. Even if the original source of wealth had been one's grandfather's grandfather, living on stock dividends and never working a day in their lives. [reluctantly] ...I suppose that's something to be said for Cal. His father made sure he knew all aspects of the steel-forging business.

[Rose wishes she hadn't been of old money. wished even more that her father hadn't gambled away the family fortune. but perhaps it was all meant to be, first so that she'd meet and be changed by Jack and second so that she'd arrive here and be transformed by it.

no witches' costumes in a plain black dress with a hat? Huzzah!]

Oh, I had a feeling some wealth is just stuff that your parents handed off to you. But if you don't have that from the start, you have to work to get yourself to a point where you can say it's all yours., rihgt?

[And then lord it over people, it seemed. At least Rose still seemed nothing like that, and was striving to make a name for herself rather than just living a family's dynasty.

If Luz could get away with having her dress like a current day witch, she'd do it]!

Some of it is. The vast majority, though...that's passed from generation to generation, all tied up in stocks and bonds. Father never worked a day in his life, neither did his father before him," she says with a wry twist of the mouth. "At least even the Hockleys could claim more than that."

[Rose wanted to be accepted and liked for whom she was, not for her great-great however many times grandfather happened to be.

and a modern witch would be not only appreciated, but enjoyed!]

"And you'd have to have lived in America a long time and kept that wealth within the family, right?"

Luz could see why some people had a lot, some didn't, and why immigrants tended to stay bottom rung. But in a way, that was history. Luz was HERE now, and she didn't really have to think too much about all of that.

And as far as she was concerned, she accepted and cared for Rosem and that was really all she needed to know!

Yes. So many plans for what Rose would wear...

"Yes, certainly, though mother's family fled the French Revolution and father's family was shrouded in mystery. He never referred to his parents or any siblings, he simply popped into being complete with a vast amount of wealth. Enough to make mother's parents overlook his relative lack of pedigree. I think that's why mother was so sensitive about New Money."

Rose wondered about her father's family, had ever since she was a little girl. She'd innocently tried to ask her father about them, only for father to lose his temper with her for the first time. He insisted that there was no need to look into such things, that his parents were dead and not to ask him further.

But the important part was that Rose was forming her own destiny, completely independent of both the deWitt and Bukater lines. She hated being Rose deWitt Bukater. Rose Dawson was another story.

...she'd not be completely opposed to dresses. To be worn on nice occasions.

"Ah, I think I get a little of that," Luz said, and she did: their world was one that was shrouded in looking good and having the means to make it in twentieth century America, and if you had it, you didn't question things, you just started making yourself look good. It was all about keeping up the appearances.

Luz knew bits and pieces about her own family, though a lot of it was back in Republica Dominicana, a place she'd heard about but hadn't been herself. She was happy enough to have had her dad as long as she did, and when he passed it was just her and mom, and that was more than enough for her.

Of course. Luz would be fascinated to see what Rose could pull off!

"Yes. It's ridiculous, but such was the way of society," and even now, society feels like it should be given a capital S. She knows it's ridiculous and that no one here cares about such a thing. And keeping up appearances was vastly important, especially after Father died and they found out he'd gambled away his vast fortune. Enter, Caledon Hockley.

Rose assumes that she'd stick out like a sore thumb anywhere other than Trench. That sooner or later, someone from the past would pick up her scent and not be satisfied until Rose had been returned to what was perceived as here intended place. She only hoped that Cal would already be married by that point. Keeping a mistress was entirely common, but she'd never let herself fall into that position.

She'll learn to be strong. Stronger even than she already is.

"Well that society blows," Luz said, realizing if her mother was here for that she would have gotten SUCH a stern look, but Luz couldn't be bothered to be nice about this. "All they want is to keep people in their place, whether its making them so poor they have to try all their lives to be something they're not or use the money people have to keep them in narrow roles. It's...it's just a way to control people, and that's no way to live."

Luz had certainly never been one for pushing down her likes for most, even if she had only made this exception for her mother. She regretted not being with her now of course, but she still thought both of them were right and wrong. Luz was different, and she was fine with that, but she knew that trying to fit in the way she had back then was problematic.

"It most certainly does," Rose agreed, a wry smile on her face. She'd never felt as though she fit in properly, ever since she was a little girl she'd yearned for adventure outside of the constraints she was supposed to be living by. "Money equals power. Access. An ability to not care about the suffering of others because they're doing quite fine. And anyone who wasn't simply wasn't working hard enough or making the right choices. At least that's how they seemed to justify themselves as a whole."

Rose had openly read books on subjects no proper lady should read, even if it was something as relatively harmless as Treasure Island. She wanted to travel the world and see everything she possibly could see. Do all the things she'd only read about in books. And fulfill her promise to Jack of the things they wanted to do together. Rose would argue that if people didn't like Luz, though, that was their loss and a terrible one too.

"That hasn't changed much," Luz recollected, "but I guess there's not really a reason to think about that too much when we're here. Still, it's a pretty depressing thing to see in society all around you, even while there are so many good people there. Some of them are just going to have a hard time, and it's a sad thing to think about."

Luz hoped that what she hadn't gotten to do yet around the world, she would at least get to do here: experience life unbidden, enjoy herself, laugh and find some peaceful moments.

An idea struck her. "Hey, what do you feel about riding something at untold top speed?"

"Alas, one would hope that it could, but then resign themselves to disappointment. But you're right, as long as we're here it doesn't matter. Part of why I think I'd like to stay. Trench has plenty of room for adventure." She wants to be both brave and bold, doing as she liked without fear for propriety, and a friend to all. Or as many as possible. She wondered who else might be considering staying.

Luz should have all of those things, since she certainly deserved them.

Rose stopped to consider a moment. "I think that will suit me fine. What sort of something did you have in mind?"

"Right. That would be us, hopeful for a better tomorrow and still having to fight and rebel and demonstrate just to keep the victories that we obtained in the past intact. But if you're going to compare Trench, I'd say yes, you'd be pretty hard pressed to find any place as crazy as this one!"

Luz knew Rose had the stuff, and Rose knew it too.

She sure was trying!

"The Fathiers! They're the pets that I told you about. They're about five times faster than any horse, and of course I'd have to make saddles, but if you really want to learn how to hold your own, you won't find more adventures than Milla and Delyn!"

"It must be so frustrating, to constantly have to defend that which should be yours as a given. I always have to wonder why people can be so cruel with no real point to it other than they can. It's horrendous. But, yes, this place seems to have a rhythm of its own, unlike any I'd ever heard of."

She did. She felt like she could take almost anything on, which was a nice feeling. Far from the bird trapped in a golden cage the way she had been. She assumes that's why Melody is her Omen and why Melody can fly so beautifully.

And Rose would be happy to help her try further.

"Oh, my goodness. That is...extremely fast. But, how would one make saddles, I haven't the faintest idea how, even though I would like the adventure."

"It is, and then there's navigating through, well, LIFE, and that can be its own frustrating thing. Finding out how you fit in. Here we don't have to worry about that as much, but there's still surviving things, which is pretty unbelievable."

Luz would forever be convinced that an omen was an extension of yourself, and that was affected by your experiences. It was why she'd originally had an otter as her spiritual guide in Deerington, but her omen was a Timberwolf here.

But they were still their own selves, and they had to help nurture and keep the omens as best as they could.

"I have them already! Do you think I wouldn't have thought of that? Imagine trying to ride them bareback!"

Only a fool would do that! So Luz had...once.

"I'm glad that all of us more or less fit in here. I'm sure it must be a relief for a lot of people who may have felt out of sorts in the worlds they called home. But learning to survive is a necessity, no matter one ends up at."

Rose generally assumed that was the case, which is why an Omen would wait for you if the worst happened. She knew most people had flashy, eye-catching Omens, but Rose wouldn't trade Melody for anything.

And she made sure that Melody never wanted for anything. There was no cage in Rose's house, Melody could fly about as she pleased and got as much peanut butter as was safe.

"I'm afraid I can't, the only times I rode a horse back home, I rode sidesaddle!"

Only once?

I think we'd have to. It doesn't mean it all works like magic though. I know that there have been times when the best of us are going to be tested in a way that really messes with them, enough that they start to doubt how sane there are. Believe me, it happens."

Luz absolutely believed in Rose's sentiment there. She rather liked Rose's Omen too, Melody was loyal and sweet and steadfast. Had Luz seen the Palisman that her friend Willow received, she would have thought that it was a lot like hers.

Tempest also had full reign of the house, but tended to stay by Luz's side anyway.

"Then it'll just be an adjustment! Trust me, you'll do fine!"

As far as you knew, Rose.

Rose hmm's softly, not wanting to think of what might be difficult enough to test even those who'd been around for a while. Though, it's nearly six months for Rose, she wonders if that qualifies her as an old-timer yet.

And Melody was easiest the most beautiful canary who'd ever lived. The best-natured one, too. Though, she was wondering if she should get company, her cottage was awfully big and lonely all by herself. Maybe a batcat? As long as she was sure it wouldn't upset Melody and was content enough to feed on her? She's fairly certain she doesn't want a blood hound, despite the potential benefits.

She tried to imagine her cottage with both Melody and a batcat swooping around in it and tries to suppress a giggle.

"Mmm. You know, Jack wanted to take me to Santa Monica, to ride horses cowboy-style in the surf. At the time, the idea of riding cowboy-style was scandalous."

But a great deal had ceased to be scandalous.

Probably best not to think about that too much, but Luz was already making it her mission to check up on Rose every month, just to make sure that the red head was coping all right.

Heck, she could probably use some of that assurance herself.

Tempest was already good at being seldom heard, scaring Luca and Ahiru with how easily she could slink into a room (Reaper, being the best at this kind of thing, was not impressed). But Tempest was more of a solitary sort herself, compared to the other animals.

That would be the cutest house. Luz would be envious.

"What sort of style is that? Is that a specific kind of seating style, or-"

Luz had probably never heard of conventional horseback riding called this.

Goodness knew she needed the checking up on. She frequently had issues with the stove and had had to invest in a good-sized fire extinguisher. Try as she might, cooking was not and probably never would be her forte.

If ever Luz needed reassurance, Rose would be there.

While Melody liked to sing. She sang when Rose was happy, she sang when Rose was sad, she sang when Rose was lonely, all different songs for the different emotions.

She really did want a batcat.

And she giggles merrily. "No, nothing so exotic as that. It's one leg on either side of the horse. Very unladylike!"

She'd initially been startled by the idea, but warmed up to it quickly.

Luz was really going to have to help her out when it came to cooking. While Reaper had taken over for cooking, if the house needed to be fed Luz didn't hesitate to help out there. She might as well help out Rose with this, since she was living alone.

Luz found herself needing that more than she expected, and she was lucky that Rose, among others, were there for this.

That sounded just perfect for Rose there.

Luz really wanted to see batcats in person, now that she knew they were a thing.

Huh. "Isn't that just regular horseback riding?"

Poor Luz. Please enlighten her.

Help would be greatly appreciated. She was endlessly frustrated with herself for not getting better after so long.

Rose would always be there for Luz. She was her first real friend and she'd do whatever it took to help her in return.

It was pleasantly soothing and made her feel like someone out of a fairy tale.

Batcats were fascinating. And she'd talked to Melody about it and Melody had chirped her agreement chirp, so she figured that the batcat would know there was something special about Melody and not fuss.

And she looked a little startled. "...perhaps? But I always rode sidesaddle back home."

Which was a pain in the neck, keeping balanced so that she wouldn't fall over.

Luz could understand that. Cooking was not for the faint of heart at times and could be pretty frustrating at first. She'd be happy to help!

Luz would not know that and would be overjoyed to learn it! Too bad the place where they first met was likely not going to be around for them to go back to, with Dean leaving next month. Sigh.

It really did!

Luz had a feeling that animals and omens had to respect each other in a way the Sleepers just didn't: it was something she was sure she always liked about them all.

"Really? Was that comfortable?"

Luz, who had only ever ridden cowboy style, was surprised anyone would want to ride another way.

She'd finally learned that most plastic containers would melt in the microwave, was that a decent start?

Which was sad, shouldn't an empty business be able to be taken over by another person instead of abandoned completely? It seemed so wasteful.

Rose would be pleased to know that, though, that she wouldn't have to worry about Melody and any potential batcat would be able to get along. Maybe she'd even have the batcat ride on her other shoulder?

"No. It was horrible! Sitting to one's side is already annoying, now add a moving animal to it and the whole thing becomes a thoroughly wretched experience!"

She had to. Another thing back home where she didn't have the choice.

What kind of crappy plastic containers melted that easily? Luz knew they shouldn't be there too long though, so likely no one told Rose about that.

Unfortunately that was EXACTLY what had happened to the Arcade, because it used to be a place that was a haven for kids to go and watch movies and just hang out. Sadly, that girl/demon was gone, and then Dean had come and gone as well.

Luz was going to have to see that, because really, how could she not?

"Ugh, yeah! Because I can tell you that riding bareback was already pretty awful! Riding sidesaddle just sounds like a horrible punishment for daring to want to ride a horse!"

The men in this age really sounded like sadists to her.

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