video; un: seeingtheworld

[schoolingfish]

[When Luca comes onto the screen, it looks like he's been crying.]

So...um...I just wanted to let everyone know that Varian and Fern are gone. They...probably turned back into squids. Which...I mean, they're still together, so it's fine. They're fine. They're happy out there in the ocean, doing squid things, and really it's not like it's the first time I've realized I'm going to be separated from the people I care about, so...

[After all, when he went to school he was separated from Alberto and his family, expecting to not see them until the summer. Then he ended up here and realized he might very well never see them again. Still, having a feeling of loss strike him like this even in his new life when he's still longing for the people he loves from his previous one to show up...it hits him hard, and he looks like he might start crying again.]

So I'm fine, too.

[This is obviously a lie.]

That's all. I just thought everyone should know.

[He ends the recording right there.]

Comments

[VIDEO] UN: [username not set]

[demonicbeauty]

[Ariadne's face is completely ashen when she replies.

Honestly, she has the look of someone who's seen a ghost. Ironically, a metaphor she would never actually understand.

Suffice to say, she's close to tears.]

Oh...

[schoolingfish]

I'm...I'm sorry. I know this is really bad news. But...at least they're still together? They're probably swimming around in the ocean holding tentacles.

[demonicbeauty]

[Ariadne takes a deep breath. And nods slightly.]

You're right. They're together. That's...that's what matters...

video: un; apparition (private)

[unphase]

[she doesn't know the names of the people who were gone. however, she does know Luca and he seems like he's taking things hard. despite the claim of being fine]

I'm afraid I didn't know either of them, but if they were friends of yours, I'm sure they're very good people. And I'm so very sorry for your loss. Would you like a little company or would you rather we talk like this?

[schoolingfish]

Thanks. Company would be nice.

[unphase]

All right. Shoot me your address and I'll be over as soon as possible, I promise.

[imaglyphwitch]

You're not fine.

[BOND, Luca. She could feel how bad it was for him. Granted, she was feeling pretty crushed too, so that went both ways. Both of them were feeling that loss, likely in similar but completely different reasons].

It hurts. I'M hurting. But don't say you're fine. It's ok that we're not.

We lived with them. We're allowed not to be good.

[schoolingfish]

I...

[He realizes he really can't argue with that.]

I know. It just seemed like it would hurt less if I told myself it was fine.

[imaglyphwitch]

It won't. As someone who's tried that before, trust me. It's a bad idea, especially if you try to do it in this world.

Do you want to talk about it?

video; un: darth imperius

[drawsghosts]

[He just got here and he didn't know either of them, or who this kid is, but Talwyn hates seeing sad children.

His voice is surprisingly gentle for someone who probably looks kinda scary.]

I'm sorry to hear that.

Re: video; un: darth imperius

[schoolingfish]

Thanks.

[Thankfully, between not being human himself and, frankly, having seen and being related to much scarier looking people, Talwyn's looks don't phase Luca.]

un: agentmothman

[zib]

[Zib has heard the news from Luz already, but upon seeing Luca on the screen, he finds himself feeling sad all over again about the whole thing. He doesn't particularly like seeing Luca look so distraught either.]

I'm going to miss them too. They were really good friends to me.

[...]

Hey, Luca? Would it be okay if I came to see you?

[schoolingfish]

Yeah. I'd really like if you came to see me.

[He needs all the comfort he can get right now, and it helps that Zib is probably feeling all the same things.]

video (un: falcogrice)

[grice]

[ that doesn't look fine. falco's met varian, been on good terms with fern, even had his gift, still. always with him, at his waist. falco gives a brief wave, but there's no smile to offer. perhaps only sympathy and empathy. ]

You can say it hurts when it does, Luca.

[schoolingfish]

I know, I just...I guess I thought it would hurt less if I told myself it was fine.

private video; un: ushiromiya

[entreats]

[ Well, this sure is awkward, given that the first time they spoke Ange was looking a whole lot younger than she is looking right now, and then the next time he had been so heavily corrupted that Ange doesn't assume he remembers her from either of those encounters in the first place.

.. still, it feels bad to just ignore this when Luca is so obviously lying here. Ange has the good grace to make this message private, since she's sure the other has a reason for not telling the truth on the network, but still.. ]

You don't have to say you're fine when you're not, you know.

[ Yes, this is the pot calling the kettle black!! But look, she's trying to get better about it herself as well, okay. So that clearly makes this valid. ]

Private

[schoolingfish]

Yeah, that's what everyone's saying. I guess it's really obvious what I'm feeling, huh?

[Well, aside from his words, it's not like he did much to hide it. He, of course, doesn't recognize her, but figures she's just one of the many people offering condolences because he's an upset kid even if they don't know him.]

Video; un: darkness

[survivalthroughhate]

[Varian and Fern leaving has affected Maul too. He regrets not being able to fix things between him and them while he still had the chance. But there's no use looking back now. All he can do is look for. And there's still people here to focus on as proven by this video.

All he does when he turns on the video is just sit there for a few moments, eyes with their usual unblinking stare, without saying anything before he quietly asks:]

Do you want to talk about it?

Re: Video; un: darkness

[schoolingfish]

[The unblinking stare might be unnerving to some, but Luca's used to things like that from Maul.]

Yeah, I think I do...although I'm not really sure what I want to say, exactly.

video | un: Da Silva

[rosae]

( Rose had never gotten to know Fern and Varian, but she'd heard their names. She knows they were among the young people living with Ahiru, Luca, and Luz. Fern and Varian were a little older, she'd heard. No doubt, the ones who helped watch over the household. So not only have they lost their friends, but also a great deal of stability.

Her heart aches for them, and when she turns on her feed, her own eyes are a little moist at the corners. Luca is not fine, and she wants to hug him right then and there. )

I'm so sorry, sweetie. Would you like some company...? Or would you prefer not to, right now? We can just talk here if that's better.

[schoolingfish]

Yeah. Company would be nice.

text - un: 30hotdoglimit

[stilljustyou]

Are you really okay?

[schoolingfish]

...no. I want to be okay, but...I'm not.

video | un: zing zang voombah

[spiritwalks]

Aw, buddy. I'm sure they would've asked you to go with them, if they'd gotten the chance.

It just wasn't your time. Not yet.

[schoolingfish]

I know. I know they wouldn't have just left us if they had any say in it, but it still makes me sad.