deernet | TEXT - Anonymous

My goodness. I can't decide if that sounds exciting or daunting. Perhaps a bit of both?

[it made perfect sense why they hit it off so quickly]

Ohhh. Well, I don't live with you, but I likely qualify, too. I was, for the most part, rather...unpleasant to be around. Unless it was Jack. Then I qualified as something of a human being.

[Rose would definitely count herself among them. she did sort of humiliate J. Bruce Ismay at brunch on purpose]

And I've yet to see them? Now I rather feel deprived!

[just as she was sure that Luz wouldn't be content with that, either. maybe Rose had been a trailblazer by 1912 standards, but Luz was one for the 21st century]

Oh! Ballet! I used to take lessons! I can still go en pointe, but it hurts like hell.

He is, he's such a sweet boy. We rather...ran into each other in the river that the Moss King orchastrated.

I was trying to make toast for someone else! And I stuck my fingers directly in the toaster. Clearly not my wisest choice.

Definitely both! Kinda fun that way!

[It sure did, and other reasons]!

Oh come on! I'm sure you were a pretty great person, but they were burying you. That isn't your fault. Anyone can be great if they meet the right person, but if you're surrounded by nothing but people that leech on your nature, it can get pretty destructive.

[Luz read Macbeth, thank you].

Well then I'll just have to go and show you all of them, won't I?

[She sounded pretty pleased with herself there].

That's one point you have over me then! I have no idea what en point even means!

He really is, and inquisitive and smart too!

Whoa. Why did you-I mean-why put your fingers in the toaster?

Yes, I think so, too. I like the notion of always learning new things.

You're right, as usual. [Rose says fondly] but now I won't have to worry about anything they have to say about my life, well...forever! And that's still exciting to think about!

[Macbeth was wonderful. the play, not the character]

Absolutely! I'll accept nothing less. [and she winks to show that she's teasing.

and she should be pretty pleased with herself!]

Oh! It's up on one's toes. Specifically balancing all of their weight on their big toe. It hurts like mad, even when one is used to such things.

He certainly seemed that way! I'd like to see him again, to make sure he's doing as well as possible.

I, um. I was making toast. And the dratted toaster didn't push the finished toast up!

Same here! That's one of the great things about being around people who've been all over the multiverse, you get to find out all these new things about yourself!

It happens more than you'd think. In media, there's a lot of exploring on how people's toxic natures can color someone's whole living experiences. We're all products of that, don't you think?

Aww, well. Maybe one day!

Really? I can kinda do that, have to be good at shifting weight on a staff. But I never tried it on my toe. That could be interesting!

I'm sure he feels the same way!

[Luz blinked].

So how...I mean, what did you do to try and get it out?

Well, I think I'd like to keep my travelling to different worlds to this particular version of what Earth used to be. I already think I'm learning a lot!

Toxic...natures? Is that like poisonous?

Interesting and terribly painful, even if you are used to it! I hadn't taken lessons for years, but I kind of felt that I needed to show off a little at the Steerage party, so I did it. I only lasted about five seconds, but that was enough.

Good. He's a good person.

[Rose looks sheepish]

Well, first I tried a butter knife. Then I tried a fork. Both of which I've been told are terribly dangerous.

Good point. There are lots of different worlds, and heck, different versions of Earth out there!

Not in the literal sense, more of a metaphoric thing? As in, repeated behavior that's bad for you.

Sounds fun! I can already do more than I was able to back home, but I always like learning something new!

He is, and really smart!

Oh. Oh NO. I'm really glad you didn't have your first death Rose, because that would have definitely killed you.

Yes, so many versions of Earth! So many that it's really improper to think of one as the correct Earth, though I did a little at first.

Ohhh. All right. Like my mother or Cal. Even Father would count, given how he always let Mother have her way when it came to raising me.

Well, there will be a lot of practice and strengthening before you can even try. It doesn't happen quickly.

...really?

I think I agree with that. There are a lot of similarities though.

Exactly. And now you have a chance to break away!

I'll bet! I mean, you'd have to teach your joints to be able to do that in the first place, right?

Oh, yes. The last thing you EVER want to do is mix electricity with metal. I think it's an automatic conductor or something like that.

Yes. And just as many differences. It makes things interesting, trying to find out where our worlds diverged.

Permanently. I know they'll never find me here.

Yes, it's long, painstaking work. Practice at least two hours a day. To be honest, I'd rather practice karate. That, at least, has a practical function.

...well. Now I know to never do that again. Does that count for any kind of metal with any kind of electricity?

Right? And all of their histories are so fascinating too! You found out so much can happen to make a life completely different.

That's very true! Another good reason!

I don't know if I'd say that. I'm a person of the arts myself, and I see the beauty and the poise in ballet that takes time to master. They're similar in that way.

[That said, Luz totally understood why Rose felt Karate was better as far as usefulness. It was essential to survival, really].

Right, and at least for household things, be careful. Remember what I told you about metal and a microwave? Definitely avoid that!

I know! That's part of why I love being an Arcane Scholar. [she smiled slyly] It gives me an excuse to be nosy.

And if they do...well! I have friends I can depend on and I have my own Paleblood skills. And karate.

I'd never really thought of it in those terms. Both do take a good amount of physical skill and dedication, certainly. Though, I still wonder if I should open up an art gallery for people to show and sell their work? That would be quite the undertaking.

[and Rose was a survivor. she knew that now and would never cower before anyone ever again]

I, well. I usually don't use the microwave. There are so many buttons to choose from!

That's what Luca was looking at too! I'll bet you guys will find out a ton of stuff!

Yep, you definitely have that!

Rose. If you were opening up an art gallery, I'm sure it would attract attention! I'd even give you a few of my art pieces, if you don't mind some of the less friendly pieces?

[Luz had been fixated on some of the emotions she'd been having lately, and let's say they gave her a bit of a breakthrough.

Good! The last thing Luz wanted was something happening to Rose]!

It comes in handy, believe me! It's pretty much a staple in the modern home. They are best for reheating foods you put in the fridge and defrosting things you've frozen!

I'm sure we will. He was both very brave and very clever when we were in the river together.

Really? I don't mind the less friendly pieces at all. Art should be challenging. Even if it's simply challenging its audience with its beauty.

[breakthroughs are good. at least Rose would hope that it was. but even bad breakthroughs could lead to good results, like how she'd met Jack.

she didn't want anything to happen to her, either]

Really? It can defrost meat and the like? I found someone who had a large supply of bison meat and I figured it couldn't be that much different from beef, only I knew I couldn't use it all at once and froze most of it.

Yup, that sounds like Luca all right! He actually reminds me a little of someone back in the Isles. I'm really glad he's around!

[And that they had their bond, in case anything ever happened to him].

Ooh, great! Uh, it might seem a little morbid though. I saw a lot of things in Deerington, and to get some of it out of my head, I chose to put it to canvas.

[Some things really were better there and not in Luz's head, as far as she was concerned.

Breakthroughs helped in a LOT of ways, and Luz had a few in Trench. Heck, she was likely having some now].

Yeah! Good, it's not a bad idea to stock up on meat whenever you can! You have recipes for that meat, right?

Really? You haven't mentioned much about life there. What was it like?

[and they'll have theirs after Things]

I think everyone can understand that. We all need a way to deal with trauma, creative outlets are far better than most.

[<--- hypocrite.

then, good breakthroughs. thank God]

Um. Not really? I assumed I could cut it into steaks? I do love steaks.

It's sort of hard to describe. There was always something new to see, and the people didn't look the same! The most humanlike beings there still had pointed ears and were witches, and those that weren't could look like anything sometimes! It's a demon realm, so all sorts of being in different shapes and sizes and limbs and eyes lived there! Most of them could naturally do magic too, so there was really no telling what might happen!

[Honestly, Luz didn't think talking about it could do it justice, it was something you had to see for yourself].

I believe that. It helped, and my room is full of paintings of things I've seen, or things I felt.

[So it could get pretty personal, which was why Luz was careful about who saw them.

Good breakthroughs. She sure hoped so].

Steaks are nice, but you could also make soups and sandwiches and probably a lot else depending on the parts you got.

[Her mom tended to prefer fresh ingredients if she could get them].

My goodness! It sounds like it would take a great deal of getting used to. But, you can do magic and don't have pointed ears, is it a natural talent? You are extremely clever, so I can see you being able to pick up a skill that no one else had easily. Perhaps there will be a way to see the Isles in person someday, even if it's only in a dream.

[Rose felt the same way about the Titanic. as awful as the end was, it truly had been beautiful while it lasted]

Oh? Jack was much the same way. Do you do portraits at all, or mostly landscapes?

[understandable. all personal things were hard to share, at least Rose often felt that way]

Sandwiches sound good! The vendor had thinly cut bison and smoked swiss sandwiches and I could have eaten five of the! And then have many regrets. [she says with a laugh]

[she assumed the ingredients the chef made at home were fresh? she'd learned how to manage a household, but wasn't given particular insight into that]

I'm a kid of my time. Seeing new things and being exposed to what being in a demon realm really was like was more than a learning experience, learning fact from my own fiction. But as for magic, I had to learn it through glyphs: symbols that worked on the Boiling Isles, and with the guiding of your intention, the use of four runes. But then you could also COMBINE them, and they could do other things too!

[Luz was sure that being in another world might dull her magic, but it just forced her to get more inventive, and that itself sparked new ideas]!

Actually, I started out doing mostly portraits! The longer I was in Deerington, the more I decided to do more landscapes, and that's why I do so many now: I want to get better at them.

[They were, and Luz was always wondering if she was oversharing].

The only regret I'd have is that I didn't put more in my mouth, depending on how they prepared it!

[Oh, Luz meant fresh as in freshly killed, but she knew that was getting harder to do these days].

If you are, than Earth has a bright future ahead of it. Even for those with no skills at magic at all. But, may I ask, what were the facts and what was the fiction? Where I'm from, they're one in the same, but I know that for you, they were very, very different. And...you combined glyphs in front of me once. Didn't you?

[that was the interesting part about another world, constant innovation. whether one liked it or not]

Hmm...so who do you favor. Mssr. Monet or what I've seen of Mssr. Dali?

[not at all, at least not as far as Rose was concerned]

---oh! Oh my goodness. Yes. That would depend, wouldn't it?

and she got it, so nothing to worry about]

I hope so!

I think what I really learned was that things weren't as simple as I thought they were. People who are good, who's bad, what constitutes something evil, what monsters and demons did in their everyday life. Everything was a new experience, and I think I realized what I really wanted was to make sure that a world like this could continue, and make sure that someone eliminating the decision to press forward with magic and the wonders it could bring was the true enemy.

[And she happened to learn that "saviors" of a world could not do what they needed by themselves. They needed help and friends, and they deserved to be recognized as much as any "hero"].

Oh, well. I'd probably go for Kahlo. I think if I show you her paintings, you'll understand why. She led a SUPER fascinating life, but her art is really what has stayed with us. It's vulnerable and raw and honest, and I like that more than anything. I also have an appreciation for Bosch!

Exactly! I think you'll do fine, but I have some recommendations later if you want some ideas!

That's...I can't say that I understand. At least not about the monsters and demons. But there are people in what was my reality who would make your average monster and demon avoid them for fear of being associated with the like. It was always close to the surface, what went on behind closed doors. It was hard for it not to be, given that we associated with the same people at every yacht party, cotillion, and charity ball. Secrets were bound to come out eventually.

[she wasn't sure her world back home would be able to tolerate a savior, at least not one who tried to make them behave themselves. despite the fact that everyone went to church every Sunday in their very best]

I'd love to see her work. She sounds just like the kind of artist I'd like. But, Bosch? What are his works like?

I'd love to take recommendations of any kind.

I understand that. It might be hard to relate.

[But her talking about the way rich people cavorted with each other and were pretty awful? She could actually believe that. There were so many people who would be Emperor Bellos' in the making if they had the means to do it].

I still can't understand how you went through all of that way of living and came out as great as you are.

Trust me, you have to see her stuff! It's a combination of real life and Mexican backdrop, you can feel the life in it, and its this combination of beauty and pain!

Hieronymous Bosch? He was this Dutch painter, lived WAY before you and I were born? Did "The Garden of Earthly Delights?" It was half religious, half early horror? You have to see it to believe it!

A little. That doesn't mean I shouldn't try?

[snobs, most of them. terrible people with terrible opinions about virtually everything. often, Rose would find herself lost in her thoughts and imagination whenever she had to attend such functions]

Well, I--at first, I didn't know who I wanted to be. But I did know who I didn't.

Would it be on the omnis? I know they have a great deal of entertainment, but I'd never thought to look for artists before.

Oh! If he was early horror, it's no wonder I never saw anything of his. Ladies, fragility, some such nonsense.

Oh no, please, try! If anyone is going to fly in the face of traditions, its you!

[Luz very much prided Rose on that.

That certainly sounded about right in Rose's case. Luz could see that she was someone who really wanted to appreciate all the new things she was exposed to].

That's a first step if I ever heard it! Of course it would take longer for you, things were very different!

[You could do more these days, even if things were harder in other ways].

I'm sure they are! Give her a look through, and let me know what you think!

Ugh. Ridiculous. We have uteruses and a time of the month where we bleed! When we're pregnant, babies are literally reshaping around our internal organs! How are we "more" fragile than the species that don't have to deal with that?

Thank you. I appreciate that. I am trying as much as I can. Even if it's switching to sweaters--or shirts--with jeans?

[Rose would do her best to continue to make Luz proud.

she really did. she likes the fact that there are so many things to still be exposed to and learn about. she was very dedicated to her studies as well, though she still wondered how best to apply those studies]

Yes, they were. People sometimes romanticize the past as some bygone era which was beyond perfect in comparison to whatever the modern day was--they did it in my time, I can imagine they still do.

[she wasn't sure about all technologies, but the omnis seemed harmless enough.

warmly] I will! It sounds fascinating, really!

[and she chuckled] I didn't say it made any sense. I know of at least ten women who were sent to doctors for hysteria. Now I know what those doctors were doing and it makes me shudder and rage all at once.

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(CW: non-con)