deernet | video: un; an.observer

Yeah. It's like I don't mean for things to happen? But they somehow do and I'm stuck trying to figure out how to undo things and apologize.

[if she could get help with her Darkblood abilities, she'd go to anyone]

Book clubs count! Even if they don't get off the ground. Though, that's actually a good idea for the shop, a book club. Assuming I can find plenty of copies of a single book. And that sounds like a fun club to be in!

[fun > cool. most of the time, anyway]

So I'd imagine you've got a kick-ass garden. I'd like to see it, but. Weird flower shit going on right now.

Maybe. East Highland High isn't known for its academics. Football, yes. Academics, no.

Did I mention that I accidentally astral projected? Because I totally did that, and the only reason I wasn't properly freaked out about it was because it was in the same week I was suffering from a lack of sleep. It was a Paleblood thing.

[Luz would make sure to probe lightly, but she would look, rest assured].

That would be a bit tricky, but yes, book clubs are pretty great! I could talk about some of the best book fairs I've been to for hours!

[Luz would 100 percent agree there]!

Oh, I do. One of my best friends was a gardener, and when she left I took on the mantle to remember her.

A shame. Well, maybe you can find a better learning environment here!

[Lexi looks mortified on Luz's behalf] Oh, no. Really? That had to have been really awkward, especially if you hadn't had enough sleep to begin with.

[good. because she does want to learn how to actually use her powers and not sit on them]

Yeah, finding a book that a lot of us could read and would want to read. And could be trusted to keep the conversation civil. [and she winks playfully] So could I! I remember when book fairs were just a thing we had in grade school and junior high. I wonder why they don't do them for high school? They'd still probably get a decent turnout.

[no wonder why they get along!]

Ohhh. That's so nice! I'd like to see her garden sometime. Or at least sometime when some of the flowers aren't being jerks.

I already have. I love that learning can be a career on its own, no "oh, study business administration," because then you could be the manager of an Applebee's and who wants that? Other than people who are wearing way too much flair.

It was a thing happening to Pale Bloods at the time. I wound up visiting quite a few places that time. Just about anything to stop feeling restless. But that sure will wake you up, realizing that you're leaving your physical body behind!

[Good luck Lexi]!

I'm not sure about civil conversation! Us book nerds can get pretty defensive! But I think that's the fun part, all the discourse! And I agree, why do book fairs have to end? That was my favorite thing in school! I could stock up on my Azura merch and read what other books caught my fancy!

[Even if the internet was a great resource, it didn't beat the feeling of a story in your hand! well, unless it was fanfic, there was no comparison]!

I'll make sure to show you! Fern actually helped me after they started dying the first time! Turns out it helps to have someone made of plants teaching you how to properly care for a garden!

[Seemed obvious, but Luz had stopped thinking of Fern as plant and more just FERN].

Wait, jerks how now?

I don't see how being a manager at Applebee's would be a fulfilling life decision. More something you stumble on and take on for a bit maybe, but anything that has a company mandate is probably going to be soul sucking later.

[Luz watched and read much coming of age in her spare time in Deerington].

Oh. Like the whole summoning bugs thing is now. [a pause] Frankly, I'd rather be sleep-deprived.

[go fight win, etc!]

Well, yeah. I mean, I think Cathy and Heathcliff in "Wuthering Heights" are two assholes who just have to be assholes to everyone else in their lives because of reasons. But I know people who seriously ship them and think that they were justified in everything. And, Azura? I'm not sure I've heard of that. What's it about?

[and she chuckles] Yeah, I'd imagine it would. But I'd love to learn. I mean, I have a whole backyard that's kind of there. It would be nice to look out from my sunroom and have something pretty to see.

Oh, um. Some of the flowers are contaminated, I guess? It happened to a friend of mine.

Any kind of company mandate. Unless it involved man dates. That could be fun, playing matchmaker.

[and Lexi went back to her chicken soup comics, books, and manga. she loves going back old faves]

Are people doing that now?! Ugh. Not that I hate bugs or anything, but I do get creeped out if there's a whole lot of them in one place. I think I'd have to agree with you there.

Never read that one, but I have heard a lot about them! They do sound pretty dysfunctional.

Azura is a book series that I think is probably tailored to my world! I guess the most similar thing you have to it is Harry Pottsman, something like that? It's like that, but with more flowery language and the potential of a great girl with girl relationship built over several books!

[And Luz had always wanted to be a bit like Azura, of course. Because it wasn't Luz if she wasn't imagining herself in a role that, at the time, seemed impossible].

If you're that set on it, I can always come over and put a few glyphs up! You'd have to watch and care for them after of course, but I'm sure you'd be up for the task!

Huh. I must have missed that. Maybe when I was having my dying adventure?

[Don't call it that Luz].

"Mandates?" I figure they have plenty of those!

[Luz knew exactly what you meant Lexi, she's just being a dork and loved puns].

Yeah. Darkbloods, like me. I swear, if I was going to summon something, it would be a Golden Retriever puppy or a Munchkin kitten, not bugs.

They are! They make everyone around them miserable, especially the people they end up marrying. I was like, god, why marry people to begin with if you didn't love them and knew you'd make life worse for everyone by doing so. Don't read it, it's not worth the headache.

That sounds really cool! I'll have to keep an eye out for them when the ships arrive. What's the author's name, that might help me find them. And it would be really interesting to read something from your world. And girls in love, bonus!

[she'd wanted to be Wonder Woman. brave, beautiful, strong, respected. and she was one of those who spent most of the time during the Wonder Woman movie crying and unable to explain why since it was a third-wheel outing with Rue and Jules]

I'd appreciate that so much. It's really my backyard which needs work, the front yard has kind of been eaten by shrubbery.

Then I guess there's at least some bright spot there? My friend was covered with flowers, they were making him act really weird.

[well, maybe it's better than being morbid? she wouldn't know, though.

and she got the pun and is laughing again] Oh. Oh, wow. Yeah, most of the guys I know here have had a lot!

[nothing wrong with either of those!]

Ok, well now you made me wish I could totally do something like that! Summoning cute cats and dogs! Who could say no to that?!

See, and that's the other thing I don't get. Why do people who get married complain so much about it? I get that it made sense when it was something we were forced to do, but most of the time that's at the woman's expense, and somehow SHE is the ball and chain? So gross. If you get married, at least do it to be happy! Otherwise, what's the point?

The name is Mildred Featherwhyle! If you can find it, let me know, and then, if you want, you can read it and tell me what you think!

[Ooh, that was a good one! Luz would love to hear about that if she ever had the chance]!

No problem! Backyard garden work it is!

It's A spot, not so sure about the bright part! Ugh. Well, at least it wasn't mushrooms this time?

[They both sounded uncomfortable though].

Ha ha! Honestly, there are a lot! My brothers that left, well, they were not only not blood brothers of mine, they were also dating. Deerington actually managed to push them together!

[Context Luz, context].

Right?! If I could summon cute cats and dogs, I'd be the most popular girl here! All right, let's try it: I am summoning a Scottish Fold kitten. [minutes pass. still no kitten] Damn.

I really don't know. My parents weren't exactly shy about arguing in front of us, pretty much wherever we were. We were lucky when they kept it to the dining room table. So embarrassing, so many times. When I get married, I'd love for it to be for keeps. But even if it's not, why drag the kids into it? They didn't ask for that.

I will! I hope I find some, they sound really good!

[she'd absolutely tell Luz if the topic came up. she's a softie for the most part, she stopped being embarrassed at crying during Wonder Woman when she read and article on The Mary Sue about other women doing the same]

Okay. But I'm going to help, even if it's just carrying stuff to and fro and providing you with lemonade.

Yeah. Mushrooms sounded like they'd be just plain creepy. Like some Italian zombie movie kind of stuff.

[so many Italian zombie movies. so very many]

Aww! That's sweet, that they were able to find someone to love. It's both adorable and reassuring.

You'd be the Pied Piper of cute things!

Aw. I love their widdle ears. Oh well.

Right?! I don't get how adults are bad at realizing that marriage is an important thing, that your spouse is like your best friend, and you should understand from the start how much you want to invest in the other. That's what I think anyway, maybe it's a little corny?

[She'd been accused of that by her former Earth classmates about that, so maybe she was too idealistic there]?

Hey, maybe we can set aside a few days where I help you comb over the books you get, help you organize them and everything so its not so big of a task?

[Luz would always cry when it came to a good story, so she would absolutely not mind there]!

Should I bring my own floppy old lady hat, or are you providing one?

[She would absolutely be there]!

Having mushrooms grow out of you is pretty weird, yes. Just try not to think about it.

[Man, those Italian horror movies sounded so very scary].

It is! They were both very different and super unique in their own way, but they actually compliment each other very well!

I would! Only with no sea thing, that part always made me sad.

So do I! They look so sweet, too.

No, it's not corny at all. I feel the same way. I'm not getting married until I'm absolutely sure that the person I'd marry was it. Someone I could spend a lifetime with and have no regrets. Getting hot and bothered doesn't last. Friendship usually does.

[well. same. mostly because Lexi was the shiest and least experienced of any of them]

You'd do that? Really? I would appreciate that a lot. Like, a lot a lot.

[thank goodness. because the way she'd sit there and bawl while reading something like "Never Let Me Go" was the kind of thing she had to do while Cassie was asleep]

Bring your own, it's more fun that way! We could compare floppy old lady hats.

[good! gardening sounded fun when she had someone fun to do it with]

Trying, trying. Currently failing, but still trying.

[they were. and she'd seen far too many of them at too young an age. thanks, Rue]

That's the best kind of love. Where each is enhanced by the other.

Wait, there was a "sea" thing?!

Exactly! Hot and bothered and all of that, is that really so important to us? I mean, sure, there are probably tons of nice feeling you get from that, but can that compete with someone you could be in complete silence with, curled up and comfortable? That sounds perfect to me!

[Maybe slightly unattainable too, but Luz wasn't giving up hope yet]!

Of course! We're talking about a bookstore, and I can tell you'd want it to be perfect! Besides, we can probably use that time to also decorate the store, make a few nice book nooks, some notification cards, a list of things to obtain and maybe a decent inventory sheet going!

[Once again, they were on the same page]!

Fine, but only if I get to complete the outfit with ridiculously oversized glasses that barely filter out the sun.

[Gosh Luz, you just. Let that nerd flag high, huh].

Good luck?

[Rue, you have a stronger stomach than the both of them].

It was the craziest thing, seeing it happen. I knew the two of them separately, but seeing them slowly fall for each other was so...perfect, you know? Like, they totally knew and were shy about it, but you could tell that their love was there!

Yeah, where he leads the rats into the sea? I mean granted, they're rats, but there had to have been some abandoned pasture or farm where they'd be happy to live.

[a little shyly] You and me, both. People you're hot for, they're everywhere. People you genuinely feel comfortable with? Much less so.

[definitely unattainable, if one asked Lexi. it seemed like every marriage she knew among their friends group ended in disaster]

AAAAhhhh! Yes. Yes! You're so smart! I hadn't even thought of those, other than weekly pulls, assuming we ever get new comics in.

[or ahead of the curve, but that was nice too]

Like Jackie O glasses?! Perfect.

[she almost never got the chance to back home, so yes. here, she is]

I...will probably need it!

[Rue never seemed bothered by blood and guts and gore. Lexi never understood it and doubted Rue let Jules see it, but whatever]

Oh. Oh. That's so---I'm not sure if amazing is a strong enough word.

I don't think I ever read that far! Poor rats! They were just being themselves! I'd have given them their own rat island!

Exactly! Look, I know that romance seems like a super manufactured Hollywood thing, but it doesn't have to fit some silly checklist! You can just have a person that makes you feel great about yourself, and you don't have to make things complicated by only concentrating on these shallow ideas of what is attractive and important!

[Luz steps off the soapbox].

I worked in a few places, I had to pick up on those kinds of things. Any place of business needs achievable work plans, tasks that you make so you reach the funds needed to keep things afloat and have some left over to fix up things and pay utilities.

But obviously you know all that! I'd just be helping where you directed me!

Yes. It has to be at least a little stylish to offset the silly hat.

Hey, it'll happen, just need to get the right kind of advertising and host a few functions to get people interested!

[Luz could do without that. Seeing the memories of Deerington in October had been more than enough].

That'll do! Wherever they are, I'm sure they'll still be together!

Yeah! That story always made me cry in a bad way, 'cause I would think about the poor rats, doing what rats do, and being killed.

I know. I know! I mean, it might seem like a cliche, but I'm way more interested in who a person is as a whole. All of the pieces and parts which make them them. Learning about who someone is and that makes them attractive.

[Lexi applauds her sincerely]

This is actually my first time working a job job. I mean, I'd worked a summer job at an ice cream kiosk, but that was, you know. Fun money? But I mean for the bookstore to be fun, too, I love talking about books and finding out what people think of them. And at least here, it's all trading stuff, no actual money going on.

Hey, I appreciate having a second opinion. We're both smart, so we're helping each other.

Absolutely. We can still be stylish, because of the silly hat.

Good thing the omnis are free and can do just about anything. As for hooks besides the books...maybe some kind of snack?

[it didn't bother Lexi as long as it made sense in the story. but she drew the line at things like the Saw movies]

That's really something to aspire to, isn't it? That kind of love.

People are just too hard on rats to begin with. They're very intelligent and cute and smart, yet people concentrate on making them seem like these evil, savage beasts. It's rat slander, I tell you!

But even before you can decide that, there's this whole "we have hormones we cannot be controlled" teen narrative that gets pushed on us, and then most other teenagers buy into that! I'm sure that, you know, hormones are there, but they're not EVERYTHING. It's just a gross exaggeration most of the time. I want to, you know, be in the moment, liking someone, seeing them smile and laugh and doing small things, like watching their face scrunch up when they're hard at work!

[Luz did turn a little red here though, imagining what she said to probably sound really lame].

You know. Feelings. And things.

Oh, of course! The bookstore should be fun, once you've figured out all the boring stuff like balancing the books and making overhead. I'd be living for seeing all that come to fruition!

Right? Trade based economy all the way!

Thanks! You know, for saying so. I appreciate that.

The hat means we have amazing brains, full of thinking. The hat is just a clever camouflage!

Exactly! And sure, we can have a snack night! I'll dig up some of Lysithea's recipes, see what I can cobble together.

[She'd do her best, but even Luz could never be the candy perfectionist that Lysithea was.

Ugh, no gore fantasies please].

Yeah. Though how you get something like that is the real magic, don't you think?

They're adorable! And it's kind of dumb to hold a grudge for what an animal has to do to survive. I mean, people don't get pissed off at dogs for eating meat.

Yeah, I feel the same way. Like, I do have an Instagram, but I mostly follow pet pictures. It's more fun that way instead of oh, wow, why don't I look like her or vacation like her or seem as happy as her. Most of the stuff people post online is really shallow once you look closely at it. And I have no idea if my face scrunches. Does it?

[that's fine, because so was Lexi. blushing nerds!]

Yeah, I should probably ask for help with that side of things, as well as building up a lot of stuff that can be traded. I was able to get a lot of the books pretty cheap, but it's like now they know I'm actively looking for stuff. So they're charging more, which sucks.

Still better than cash!

Sure, it's the truth, so why not say it. Right?

[and she chuckles] All I can think about is that movie, Mars Attacks? Those giant brains and helmets?

Seriously? You don't have to do that.

[it still took her by surprise when people were willing to do nice things for her]

Definitely. Everyone should get to be that lucky.

That would like being mad at the sky for not being green or something. Nature is what it is, and whatever WE do affects animals anyway, right?

Aw, pets are always cute, and other than funny dances and some memes, should be the only reason anyone has Instagram! I mean sure, people do like celebrating the things they like or make them happy, but it feels like that can sometimes not let you get as invested in other things around you.

Your face scrunches, I'm sure! It's probably really cute!

[Thumbs up for face scrunchings]!

That's supply and demand for you. But I'll try to keep my ear up and see if we can cut deals with some scholars, see if they're willing to part with some tomes. Maybe I can even offer up some stuff to trade?

Oh yes, SO much better.

Goes without saying!

Oh gosh, that movie. It was bizarre and strange and I might have loved every minute of it!

Hm? I know. I want to though, so is that OK?

Exactly! I'm hoping to see that happen with me maybe, one day. But I can see it happening with some of my friends too!

Yeah. I just hope we're gonna get nature in one piece.

And better when there's both at the same time, pet memes! I can't get enough of pet shaming, the less repentant the pet, the better. Cats are especially good at that, but dogs are better at large-scale chaos. But yeah, it seems way too easy to get fixated on the everything to do with the lives of total strangers.

You seem to have me confused with my sister, Cassie.

[said with a self-deprecating laugh, because people almost always were. Cassie was the good-looking Howard sister, Lexi was the smart one]

Seriously? You'd do that? I'd--well, obviously I'd appreciate it, but are you sure? That's a lot.

Yeah, I think it's a Tim Burton movie? Before he got so obsessed with his own tropes, he kinda turned into a parody. I swear to god, his "Alice Through the Looking Glass" was unwatchable, even for a bad movie night.

Well. Sure!

It's got to be amazing. You'd think so, right?

Same here. Maybe we shouldn't hold our breath?

I could honestly look at animals all day, cats, dogs, all types of animals all day! I guess that probably wouldn't make me popular on instagram, but its way more fun for me!

[Other than people who she knew or were making bold statements].

Never met her, but I have met you, so you'd be pretty wrong about that!

[Oh, she knew that laugh. She'd MADE that laugh before. Luz tended to put herself down as a means of coping, and she wanted to make it clear to Lexi she was not just saying this lightly].

Of course I'm sure! It's books we're talking about! Besides, I want you to succeed! the more books you can get, the better your business, right?

I don't even want to talk about that interpretation. SO bad. I could barely get through the first one, and then he made a second? Bleh.

Good! I'm looking forward to it!

I mean, I hope so. If it can ever happen in Trench!

[she chuckles a little sadly] Yeah, it does seem like it. Which sucks.

Ehhh, popularity seems to be overrated. My sister's popular, but she's not happy.

[which was true. and the Cassie in the portal seemed to know about things which hadn't happened for Lexi yet. she didn't understand how and couldn't explain why]

Well...thanks. I'm glad I reached out the other day.

[it really was Lexi's defense mechanism of choice. she'd even had it pointed out to her back home, but old habits were hard as hell to break. she wasn't sure if she could, not entirely.

but she smiles, relieved] Right. I want it to be a popular place. I think it can be?

Yeah, and why the hell did he change the name from Wonderland to Underland? What point did that serve other than "hey, look, this is my bold and brave interpretation, one almost nothing like the original books!"

I'm glad you are.

It can? I think it can, anyway. And I am right about that.

Oh trust me. It does.

I'll settle for having a small group of friends. That's better to me than just having a bunch of people see me and have mixed feelings. Maybe your sister is finding that out.

[With Luz it had been the reverse, so having people in this world that cared about her definitely mattered more to her than being liked as a sort of status person].

Me too! Turned out to be a pretty good chance meeting!

[Luz, again, very aware of that defense mechanism herself. All too much, really].

Of course it can, its books! Can't think of anything more engaging than something that takes you to a different place, even for a little while! It's why we read to begin with!

Ugh. So dumb. If I WANTED an edgy reinterpreted version of Alice, I'd just play the American Mcgee games! At least THAT Alice looked and sounded like she was trying to act, and that was a video game!

And you get snacks out of the deal, so win win!

I can hope, right? In the meantime, I STILL have a lot on my plate!

Yeah, I'd rather have a smaller group, too. Though...for some reason, people actually seem to like me here?

[which still comes as a shock. being herself didn't earn many friends back home, but it seemed to be working here. she still wasn't sure why, but she'd take it. it was kind of nice]

I agree. You're really cool. You know that, right?

[and she wouldn't listen to anyone who said otherwise]

Yeah. Probably why I liked fantasy and a little less so, sci-fi. It's fun to imagine completely original worlds, nothing like the worlds we come from. Though, it sounds like you've been in your own fantasy world for real for a while.

I've never actually played that game! Even though I default to fantasy and RPGs when I do play video games.

I love snacks, so yeah, that works great for me.

See! Um, yes, of course people like you here! You sound really fun to be around!

[How were people so dismissive of Lexi?The same way they were with you, Luz seemed like the obvious answer. Still, Lexi knew how to be engaging and nerd out! Just about everything and nothing and Luz was here for it]!

Lexi, you know what cool is, how am I included in that category?

[Not even Luz]?

That is true, but for me? Let's just say the whole "Iseki" vibe goes away when you realize that you have to be quick on your feet or something bad can happen to you. There's a lot of really cool things of course, but worlds all have their share of problems.

[And boy, it did not get easier from there. Deerington was its own ball of darkness and light that Luz had managed to live through].

Oh, they're great! One is all about fighting enemies and going through portals and creeping through gardens and various different locations! For such an early game, it has tons of dark atmosphere! The second one just gets less fighty in some ways, but super visual and time immersive! Then you go to the doll level and it just gets unsettling!

[But in a good way]!

Glad you agree!

Oh, I don't know if I'd go that far? I try, though!

[because at school, she often did her best to blend into the background. but if she did put on her play, that would make her stand out in a way that could never be undone. not just because she was playing the lead]

You're smart, you're funny, you're fun to be around, and you know a lot about a lot of things. I don't know, I think you're cool.

Yeah, that catacomb thing a couple of months ago? Not fun. I don't like being where dead bodies might be.

[but the thing since seemed not as scary. potentially dangerous, yes, especially since she didn't like to go face-first into a very angry Cassie apparently from the future, but more do-able]

I'll have to see if I can track them down somehow. And, there's a doll level? With lots of creepy porcelain dolls? Does the character turn into one of them and it's just pure Nightmare Fuel from there?

video: un; an.observer

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(CW: animal death--rats)

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(CW: animal death--rats)

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(CW: corpses)

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