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video: un; an.observer

[the video opens on Lexi, sitting on the couch in her very blue living room, with Orville in his usual place on Lexi's shoulder, snuffling into her hair, and the new addition to the household, Nosferatmew perched on the arm of the couch, her batwings folded on her back]

Hey! Um. I know I don't post that much, but I kind of have an announcement?

And that announcement is, I'm opening a used books and comics store called the Satellite of Love Used Books and Comics! It's in Willful Machine in the green craftsman house and that takes me to my second announcement. Or, uh, request? Maybe that's better. [pause] Yeah, that's better.

Hours will be Monday through Friday from nine am to five pm, closed from noon to one for lunch, along with Saturday and Sunday, eleven am to two pm. Obviously, I can't handle all of that by myself. Right? So I'm looking for a couple of employees.

Interviews for anyone who's interested can be done here and you can choose between store products or trade goods for pay.

So...I guess that's it? I hope to see you there? Oh, and the store mascot will be Nosferatmew. My batcat. She's very well trained to not bite unless you give her permission to.

Okay, now that's it.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

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?

I would! Maybe other people just need to get to my level of appreciation!

[Luz wanted to just know more about Lexi, so the idea that people would just let her fade into the background as if she hardly mattered made no sense to her].

Lexi, come on! I'm-you know, a dork! I just happen to speak your language because YOU'RE cool enough to like those things! But now that you mention it, yes, I am a bit of a fountain of knowledge.

[Now Luz was being perfectly nerdy on purpose, if only to hide her glowing face and grin from Lexi's praise, which Luz was trying to rationalize why it made her heart skip a beat].

Oh right! That was one big cluster bomb. Definitely seen more than my fair share of dead bodies at this point.

[Luz was just glad it didn't get really mind scrambly. That'd mess up anyone].

It might be hard to find, only on PS3! There is! She wears a doll inspired dress for the level, and had a nightmare of becoming the main villains plaything, but not directly!

[It was still a great creepy game]!

Maybe? I really do mean it, it's a lot easier to make friends here. I have no idea why, but maybe because of the whole not wanting to be corrupted thing?

[everyone else around her back home was so loud. it often felt like she couldn't get a word in edgewise, so she stopped trying]

Hey, there's nothing wrong with being a dork! It's cute how enthusiastic you get about things, no fear of judgement. More people should be like you. And you're absolutely a fountain of knowledge.

[and cute. she said cute. she really hopes that it gets taken well and not, eww, keep those things to yourself]

Ugh, really? Seeing my grandparents' corpses after they'd been all made over and fussed over was bad enough.

[she fully expects that moment to be used against her at some point]

Oh. Oh. Oh, that sounds terrifying! Especially the plaything part, I don't want to think about that ever happening at all.

I wouldn't say it's that. I think because this place pulls us all from worlds all over, the idea of being separated by stupid little niche things feels ridiculous. You're a perfectly great person to talk to. It's dumb that more people don't know that.

[To think anyone could make Lexi feel like she couldn't talk seemed far too relatable. Hadn't there been a time she wanted just that, and only found that her own voice would get lost among the crowd]?

Aw, you think so? Thanks! Is it weird that I feel like you're one of the first people to just, well, get me and not be so overwhelmed, and we're the same age? I like talk about the things I like!

[Oh, she heard that cute part, and her heart was soaring, so Luz talked on because the only other option would be being a blushing idiot right now].

What? Holy heck, did that actually happen to you?! That's crazy!

[Wait, did that happen because of Trench, or was that in her actual world]?

It's a fun and very scary level. Oh, and then the main villain. He's already super awful all on his own, I mean, the worst kind of evil, but the way Alice's interprets his evil in her head? It's pretty horrifying.

Well...thank you. I mean it. Things like that make me feel more and more like I can just be myself.

[she'd retreated into her own mind, only offering opinions when pressed on the matter. it was safer to stay in her mind, being vulnerable is still kind of scary, despite her brave words]

Of course I think so! And, well...maybe we kind of lucked into meeting, but I'm really, really glad we did. And I promise to listen without judgement and I'm not overwhelmed at all.

[she was cute! granted, it kind of slipped out on its own, but she didn't regret it]

Back home. They all died pretty young, so I have way too many vivid memories of the funerals and how they looked like wax dolls.

[her actual world. for her mom's parents, she'd had to sit Shiva for all seven days and try to keep Cassie from looking too bored]

Okay, I'm really curious about this game now. Do you think the omnis might have it?

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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