deernet | Video UN: glyphywitchy [Back dated to May 12]

It is, especially when most of the kids in your school seem to be unimpressed by you.

[That was putting it mildly, but Luz didn't want to give her new friend a bad impression of her without them meeting first.

Right, that whole thing with the Moss King. Luz could see why Fern was not a fan.

Not the bees]!

Sasuke doesn't seem like the type to get all bent out of shape about a tournament. He's more about the actual teaching, which I respect. If I didn't have my history with Ozpin, I'd have considered Sasuke as a teacher. I'm glad you're taking his instruction.

[Luz was pretty sure she'd get better in no time]!

I think you'll find it!

Oh, well. I haven't seen her in a few years because of this place, but...nice. She's someone who works really hard, and she's been my rock for years, if I'm honest. No one could cheer me up like her.

I really do miss her.

[ruefully] Yeahhh...been there, experienced that. But, you too?

[which seemed ridiculous, Luz seemed friendly and outgoing and cute, why would people not like her?

count Lexi among them. she really felt like that whole thing was a giant pain in the ass.

loads of bees! and her not knowing where the hell they came from]

He's not, not at all. And that's definitely it. He seems to know what our possible strengths and weaknesses are, I'm 5'4" and not going to get any taller. So I'm mostly learning about how to turn an opponents momentum against them and use my height as a strength more than a weakness.

[she hoped so! she could already tell she was better than she was when she started]

...wow. That's--it's got to suck. Being away from her for so long. Is there any way she could come back? Does that happen much?

I'm sorry.

Oh yeah. At least you made a friend there. I didn't have friends until I actually left that realm! Kinda sad, right? But I tried too hard and wound up alienating people. Maybe I needed to tone it down.

[Luz unfortunately still carried some of that blame on herself. It wasn't like she could go back and see for sure if it was her fault and not just her own insecurities.

Luz was happy to skip the bees though. No bees, thanks].

Sounds like he knows what he's talking about! I'm sure you're going to do really well if you follow his instructions! Besides, its not a race anyway: the whole reason for going to a teacher is to learn discipline and inner strength so you become a stronger person!

[That's what seemed to be the impression, anyway].

Not that I've seen, and it's been close to two years. I kind of...don't like to think about it too much. It can hurt.

[Her mom. Eda. Margot and many, many others. Luz tried not to look too pained about it, though clearly a little of her feeling there was leaking out].

Sometimes, but it's pretty rare.

[Lexi looks on the shocked side] What, you? You think you're the problem? No. No way. I mean, I just met you and we're already talking like we've been friends forever. At least I think so?

[and Lexi blames herself for not being more open. but it was hard when she had a beautiful older sister (who would put out) who took up all of the air in the room]

Yeah, I'm sure he's forgotten more about martial arts than I'll ever be able to learn in a lifetime. And, I do. And, you're right. I tend to be kinda hard on myself? [and she laughs in an attempt to defuse that statement]

...wow. Yeah. [a pause] Hey, look, if you need someone to talk any of this over with, gimme a call. Or a text? Or a video? I promise it's okay.

[yeah, one thing about being the quiet one? the observer? Lexi tended to be good at reading people. not so good when it came to actual actions, but step one had to be done before step two]

Oh. That sucks. [understatement. damnit, Lexi, be better at personing!]

Maybe I try too hard? The more I did, the more I seemed to freak people out. It's funny, but I was able to make friends more easily when I left the Earth dimension. Not really sure what that says about me. You seem pretty nice yourself though! I'm sure you had your own share of friends!

[Luz would always wonder if she just came across as too spirited, or too hyper. It was hard to think about, since Earth felt like such a long time ago].

Just stick with him, and I'm sure you'll be OK. Don't worry, just take in the lessons, and I'm sure you'll be as strong as anyone in the Dojo!

Oh, sure! I mean, thanks for listening! Didn't mean to dump some of that on you, but saying goodbye never gets easier, you know?

Yeah, it does. The good thing is that I can always make new friends though. Sometimes when I least expect it.

[Hint hint].

No, I mean, I just have to wonder about the taste of people in your home world. But at least you found somewhere you could make friends. [and she flushes] Actually...no. My best friend, she's kind of been drifting away and paying more attention to her girlfriend than anyone else. Which, fair. And all of the other girls I know are my big sister's friends. So I'm kind of...not good at making friends, too. But my problem might be that I don't try hard enough.

[no way, just the right amount of spirited and enthusiastic]

Thank you. Really. I...I appreciate the faith in me. And him. And our lessons.

Hey, no, it's fine. I mean, I'm still here, right? If I minded the, you know, that I would have made some lame excuse and cut off the link.

[warmly] Yeah. This place is good for that.

[hint received! mostly!]

People in my world were...not as dorky as me, I think, and they were put off by my enthusiasm. It's not for everyone!

Oh, that's a shame. You should never let an S.O. make you forget about your friend, especially if they're like you. Well, her loss. I would say that a lot of people might think that about themselves, when in reality they just need a change of scenery to meet like minded people!

[Or not like minded people who were still really fun anyway! It was clearly working out for Luz]!

As someone who's trying to get stronger, I can tell you that it'll be hard at first, but you'll get there. You just have to trust in your conviction.

Heh, yeah, that's true! I'm just trying not to bring people down. It doesn't change how I feel about it, but sometimes you need to vent. Thank you for NOT cutting the link!

It sure is! You know, it's actually really easy to talk to you. I don't know what people in your town are thinking. You're really great!

Well, I like it? If that helps? It's way more fun than pretending to be all jaded about everything.

I guess. I mean it, though, her girlfriend is really sweet. And, I suppose this is my change in scenery? So far, I like it--if only because I can my own house with my own room!

[no more sharing with Cassie, even if she did show up]

I...think I can do that? I've always kind of been someone who sat off to the sidelines and watched everything happen. Hence the username? But I'm trying to be better.

[warmly] Sure, it was the least I could do. I mean, I figure it had to have been traumatizing enough and since we don't have any actual psychologists to help with PTSD, we've got to do our best ourselves.

And I feel the same way about you. And you're really great, too! [she says enthusiastically]

Oh, ok! Thanks!

[Luz couldn't help feeling a little happy about that, since a part of her was always afraid of driving people off with her energy].

I'm sure she is, but still. You should never lose contact with your friends because of that. But you're here now, so I'm not going to be too broken up about it! And yeah, having your own place is actually pretty great!

Oh! Well I'm the opposite, so maybe we can borrow a little from each other there. I mean, I DID just die. Might be a good a sign as any to reel it back a bit.

We could use some here, that's for sure. We have PTSD a plenty. I try not to overwhelm people when I first meet them though!

Hey, would you maybe want to come over sometime? It's a bit of a crazy house, but I do have snacks and movies, and I am technically under strong orders to stay put for a little while. Also, my room is GREAT.

Sure, it's my pleasure.

[it's actually a rather nice change of pace. Maddy back home had a lot of energy, but it was usually angry energy. Luz's is far better]

Yeah. I'm doing my best to try and get settled in. It sort of serves a kick in the shorts when I see so many people younger than us doing just fine, you know? And I love having my own place. I can have miso ramen every day for dinner if that's what I want.

I think that would work. But...even despite. Everything. You shouldn't have to feel like you have to pull back. Take a break from everything for a while, sure, but not full scale pulling back.

And if I was overwhelmed, it was because of the death thing. Not the overwhelming. That part was fine.

I'd love to! That sounds like a lot of fun! Thank you! [Lexi always sounds at least a little amazed when people like her]

[Luz is beaming! It had been a little bit since she felt this hyped]!

Oh sure, I get that. It can be pretty rough, to start almost fresh in a new place! I mean, don't get me wrong, I'd totally like it if you didn't just eat the same food, but that aside, having your own place is pretty nice!

I am. Going to try to take it easy at home, catch up on small things, and one of those things will be looking up the bookshop!

The death thing is...not easy. Still recovering from that. Maybe the time at home will
remind me not to get too reckless.

Great! My home's in Cassandra, you'll see it by the big tower! I have the attic all to myself!

[same here! she'd never fallen into conversation so easily with anyone from home]

Yeah. And I'm just sixteen, so in theory there were two more years before I was off to college. A college far, far away from East Highland. I'm thinking Harvard far away. And it's great. I'm already used to doing the cleaning and laundry, so doing it here's no big deal.

[she grins] Good. I'm glad to hear that. All of it.

Or at least reckless within reason. Which might be an oxymoron, I'm not entirely sure? But, yeah, loads of time to recover.

Nice. I'll have to come over sometime soon? I'll bring baked goods. Of some kind. I still can't find a canister of baking powder.

[It was one of those good things in Trench, finding someone who you just clicked with right away! It at least helped to fill some of the hole left by Gus and Willow, who were fond memories Luz would always have of the first true friends she ever made].

Sixteen too, huh? You know, I wonder what I would be doing at that point, if I was still on Earth then. Maybe I'd be prepping for that too, if I didn't decide to stay and help Mami. But I wound up in the Boiling isles, and then Deerington. So. There's that whole thing.

I'm sure my housemates will be too!

Actually, for me that's pretty appropriate. And yes, recover! Key word!

Oh, do! And don't worry about baked good, just bring yourself! I'll prep us with some goods, depending on what we're doing!

I'll lend you a can if you still can't find one! Trust me, learning to cook for yourself and other people? Pretty important!

[it was much easier to find and make friends in Trench. Lexi honestly couldn't remember ever having as many friends as she did here]

Yeah, sure am! [and Lexi winces slightly] Well...I've heard that time kind of stops in our worlds? At least that's a rumor. So maybe you can go back and start making college plans then?

Probably. That's the good and bad thing about having a roommate, there's someone to go home to. And on the flip side, someone to worry about when they aren't home.

R&R! Which according to old pamphlets I've seen in what used to be home ec, going somewhere to ski. Or going somewhere to surf. None of them ever recommended curling up with a good book and a hedgehog.

Oh. Really? [a pause] Sure! And I figure maybe a movie night? Or I bring over some of my personal stash of graphic novels to share?

Yeah, I kind of had to do most of the cooking back home. Mom could manage salads, but that was about it.

[Same here, though Luz started learning that lesson in the Boiling Isles first before she came to Deerington and then Trench, but she understood by now that there were places for people like them. It was comforting].

I don't know if we go back to our worlds when we leave. It's said that we go back to being the squids, traversing the oceans of our life out there, in the vastness of Trench's oceans.

[She wasn't sure how much that was true, but it was food for thought].

Besides, I just started high school back then. It would be really weird to try and think about it now, when I've missed at least two years of school now!

I have that, but with the people I live with now. Most of them are about my age.

[And she worried about them, with everything that happened in Trench].

See, that's supposed to be the hobby, apparently not something highlighted as relaxing! Can you believe that? Hedgehog?

[Surprising, but also incredibly cute]!

Yeah, of course! I'd be hosting, after all! Besides, it gives me chance to cook for you, so why not? And yes, graphic novels! Movies! All the fun stuff!

Just salads? Isn't that pretty bare bones? Not that I'm passing judgement or anything!

[Luz's mom, on the other hand, likely VERY much would].

[Lexi would love to hear about where Luz had been previously. the idea of going to not just one world which wasn't her own but two was fascinating]

Ack. No. No way do I want to be a squid forever. It's kind of horrifying.

[nope nope nope, she needed to go home, not be trapped as a squid forever]

Oh, no! That's awful! This place seriously needs a school, like an actual school with grades along with the School of Mutter. That way, people like us could keep current with our grades. You should be a Junior by now!

Yeah? Then they should be in high school, too. Even it's like the one piece of normalcy with all of the chaos.

[she still wondered what those who had been in the dream had endured, but was too nervous to ask]

Exactly! When I think of rest, I don't think of going face first into the snow or the ocean because I'm a klutz. And he's not just any hedgehog, he's my Omen. His name is Orville.

[and at that, Orville makes his way into view, giving a hedgehog smile]

I'd love that. I'm...my schedule is pretty much wide open, so whenever's best for you! And yes. They have Rifftrax Live recordings on the Omni, "Birdemic" has to be seen to be believed if you haven't already watched it.

Yeah, well, when dad was here, he did most of the cooking. And that's not an option anymore, so I kind of stepped in.

[Suze Howard was almost never without a bottle of wine nearby]

[Luz barely understood how she managed it. The Boiling Isles had been one thing, but Deerington had been its own unique barrel of weirdness that Luz had yet to actually fully conceptualize. She was sure that Lexi would have to actually go through someone's mindscape to get an idea of how strange and twisted it really was].

I try not to think about it myself. Too horrifying to think about.

Totally true, but for that I would have had to go to school the whole time, and let's just say there wasn't really a reason for me to do that. I was pretty occupied with a lot of the other things happening.

Um. Yes, ok! I'll go with that and agree with you!

[How to explain that one of her housemates was an actual fishboy and the other was a duck who both had human guises. And then there was Zib, who was technically a human with alien technology on his back fused to him. Where did THAT all fit?

Trust that Luz would have pointedly told her, "You don't wanna know."]

Heh, that sounds like something I would do! Those activities are fun, but I don't know if I'd call them relaxing? Aww! Orville is so adorable!

[Is Luz contemplating picking up an omen and cuddling it? Just a little bit].

OOh! I've never seen that! We'll have to do that together then! Sounds fun!

Right, makes sense. Kind of. Well, its a little unfair, but who am I to judge?

[she'd be so embarrassed going through someone else's mindscape. and so apologetic as soon as she got out. "I'm not even supposed to be able to do that!," etc.]

Yeah. Okay. Totally deleting that idea from my brain. Or at least my conscious brain, I'm sure my subconsciousness will spring some kind of crazy on me when I least expect it.

It's hard for me to imagine being so busy that school wouldn't be in there as. A thing. Like an "I'm supposed to be in Statistics right now, why is this happening?" Which is an actual thought I've had. I don't even like Statistics.

[at this point, she'd take most of it in stride. the only thing which might weird her out is the alien tech.

she trusts Luz]

Yeah, relaxing is being on the beach with a big umbrella for shade and a steady supply of La Croix. And a stack of books. And he is! [to Orville] Say hi to Luz, Orville! We've just met, but she's really cool. [and Orville gives another hedgehog smile and peeps out hi, Luz!] Isn't that amazing? He just started talking on his own.

[hedgehogs are effing adorable. and Orville would probably allow it as long as Lexi was in eyeshot]

It will be! I swear, that movie has the worst special effects of anything I've ever seen. Even 1950s horror movies have better special effects! And there aren't any characters, it's like Standard White Guy #1 and Standard White Woman #2 and of course they're a couple.

Yeah. Lucky for me, no one has any food allergies. [a pause] Well, other than Cassie refusing to eat gluten 'cause she's convinced it's the devil.

[It had definitely been intrusive when it happened, but Luz wouldn't hold it against anyone who was still trying to figure out everything. Besides, there were also going to be those times where you just couldn't help it].

Just concentrate on the good stuff! There are a lot of good things to being here and not elsewhere!

[To be honest, after the Boiling Isles Luz could barely consider anything too strange anymore].

La Croix? You like that stuff? Tastes like overpriced seltzer water to me. I'll happily take the books though, maybe some coconut water too! Oh, and the shade sounds great!

He talked to me! Aww!

[Now Luz is beside herself in cute and is definitely being gentle and adoring with her pets! It was still a hedgehog after all].

My omen doesn't even talk, but boy do her stares say a thousand things. She's just sleeping for now though.

Oof, that does sound bad. Now I want to watch and make fun of it with you even more!

Hmfph! Glutens not too bad for me! I am lactose intolerant though.

[maybe, but Lexi would still be mortified. even if it was a city-wide thing that no one could avoid, she'd be like "jajf;a;alkjlsf, noooooooooo!"

warmly] Yeah, there are. Honestly? I...kinda like it here. The people are so much easier to like than the ones back home.

[that's good, at least. that coming to a place like this wasn't that strange. she's trying to look at herself as a character in a shoujo manga, given the fact that everyone's attractive]

It's like the only non-alcoholic stuff mom drinks, so we always have a twelve-pack in the fridge. I either had to develop a taste for it or use what little money I have to buy Dr. Pepper Cream Soda. But I've never had coconut water, does it taste like coconuts? And shade is a very good thing.

He likes you! Don't you, Orville. [and he says yes, I like it when you talk to Luz!" cue blushing from Lexi]

[usually when Lexi was out and about, Orville would ride on her shoulder, her usually holding a hand up to make sure he kept steady]

Is it like a mom glare? Nothing's scarier than a mom glare. I don't know about you, but I find myself apologizing for everything from the Lincoln assassination up.

Yes! Yes! It's going to be so much fun!

Glad you mentioned that. Does this place have oat milk and is that one okay for you?

[There was no stopping the amount of awkward that this placed managed to employ in their own span of time. That just came with the territory].

Despite everything? I kinda agree. This place can be full of heartache because you meet so many great people, and then one day they just sorta go away. You get attached. You can't h-help it?

[Not sure why Luz stumbled like that, but moving on!

Isekai situation, though Luz never gave the attractive portion as much thought, even though it is technically true].

Good idea (what IS it people like about alcohol, still doesn't taste great to me)! But yes, it does taste like coconut, so its honestly best to sweeten it a little!

[Luz beamed, turning red slightly]. Aww! He must have noticed our incredible bond already!

[Across the room, where Luz couldn't see it, her own omen Tempest looked to be rolling her eyes as if to say this girl needs a brick to head sometimes].

Oh. No, I get it. Mom's glare is like staring into the sun. Just bad for your health overall.

Yeah it will!

I'm sure it's fine, and yes, definitely!

[she'd learn to deal with it. honestly, she'd rather deal with the weird that this place kicked up (so far, at least) than deal with East Highland stupid]

Yeah. It's hard not to get attached. [not sure why she's blushing, but there we are] But as long as those of us who are here are there for each other, it has to help. Right?

[it happens. doesn't it?

Lexi was much the same way. she was interested in who people were, not what people looked like. but Luz was decidedly cute in a tomboy way]

Thanks. The most I can tolerate is a glass of wine now and then. Hard liquor makes me focus on the bad stuff and I do enough of that already. And I'll keep that in mind, though does this place get coconut water?

[Lexi beams back, ducking her head slightly] Yeah. Orville's a smart one. And he knows it, too. But yeah, I can't remember the last time I bonded with someone so fast. Pre-school, maybe?

[Orville preened and continued to hedgehog smile. only now it was more of a Mona Lisa smile]

Oh, yeah. Not to be attempted by mere amateurs. Don't get me wrong, mom's pretty easy-going. Actually very easy-going. But when she wants to play the mom card, she's great at it.

I'm already looking forward to it.

Great! Maybe I should switch to that, anyway. Dairy farms are pretty rough on the mama cows, at least that's what I've heard.

[Luz was really going to have to get the details of this East Highland School. It sounded like an adventure all on its own, and if it was worse than Trench, it made her very curious].

It really is. [No blushing this time, just stumbling over words]!

It has! Many, many times, believe me.

Things just happened that way. Luz would have quietly thought Lexi was attractive in her own way, not like some manufactured pretty but her own version of it, soft and nice and kind of earnest all at the same time]!

Wine. Ah. The sophisticated drink! Well, assuming its not from a box. I tend to stay away from alcohol because I'm sort of a stick in the mud about that! That, and the possibility of the things you just said.

[Does NOT sound like fun].

I wish! In preschool I think I was drooling on blocks or something. Mom said I had extremely strange oral fixations.

[Luz, shut up, why would you say that?!]

But I'm happy for it anyway! Boy, Orville looks smug. He's got that "Spongebob catching Squidward eating the crabby patty" look.

My mom encourages me plenty, but man. Her look. And the only thing worse than that? La chancla.

[Luz was lucky enough to have mostly avoided that].

Same here!

Oh, I'll bet. Poor cows. I think I feel less bad about not drinking their milk.

[an adventure was one way of putting it. the other would be as one extended LARP where you couldn't find out who the dungeonmaster was or actually access your character's stat sheets]

Yeah, so...there we are, I guess? [but if pressed, she'd go into greater detail]

You're...not like anyone I've known before. In a good way.

[and Lexi would likely die of blushing, should Luz describe her in that way. but, that shouldn't let that stop her...?]

No, no, not from a box. Mom always had the good taste enough to buy the good wine a the grocery store. Or the liquor store. Or--honestly, I have no idea where she got most of her wine. It was always there, you know?

[and Lexi would have thought of Luz as cute and sweet and caring with the prettiest hair---the bob really suited her and her hair seemed so well taken care of]

You do realize there are so many jokes I could make about oral fixations. [she says, giggling.

eehhh, probably the same reason why Lexi mentioned a crush from pre-school back home. stuff like that was formative]

He really does, doesn't he. [she turns to Orville and asks] What do you think of that? He ripped off that expression from me!

La chancla? I'm sorry, I took French so far. Always thought I could fit in Spanish my last two years of high school.

then that makes both of us. [she says, while smiling shyly]

Yeah, I'm part of the Young Democrats club at my high school, we covered factory farms in one of our meetings and it was horrible. And scarring for life. Trust me.

[An unexpected D&D situation, and Luz was just foolhardy enough to join the campaign]!

You guess? I bet you don't guess! You sound like you'd get pretty specific!

I have seen a lot. This is my third world, after all.

[Did Luz miss what Lexi was saying? Not necessarily. She was just figuring that Lexi might be saying something relatively nice she was interpreting differently. Still, what she THOUGHT Lexi was saying made her feel a little happy. She certainly wasn't going to ignore that.

Luz would say it in person, but they hadn't met in person yet. So she wanted to do that and not seem like a girl who just gave out flattering compliments. She fully believed what she was saying, and wanted to make sure Lexi understood that too].

Oh, I'll bet! I shouldn't even act like I know what the difference is! I'm sure some wine in a box is...classy? To some people?

[If she would say that to Luz, she'd see exactly how fast Luz would revert to her vanishing glyph so Lexi wouldn't see what an absolute blushing mess she'd be].

How crass! And here I was sharing this gentle story about me as a wee babe and you make it all indecent!

[Was Luz laughing inside? You bet she was. Formative was fine if this was what became of that: Lexi, a funny, smart and pretty girl that Luz couldn't believe people would overlook. Were they stupid]??

Ha ha, learned from the best did he?

La Chancla. An unholy relic passed from one Latina mother to another, to silence the snottiest of children and any fool that dare invoke it's wrath. A household slipper to the unobservant eye, but a weapon of sheer magnitude to the kid who knows better.

I'll definitely meet up when I'm feeling a little less dead!

[Maybe she would even wait until then]!

Ugh. That cinches it for me then. Almond milk all the way!

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It's the first pic you see of spongebob when you type in "spongebob smug face."

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