avatar_state | IC INBOX \ House Details (Deerington)

Ok, give me...fifteen minutes? You're still at the same place?

No. I'm at Prospero's. House 101.

OK. I'll be there soon!

[Oh gosh she was glad for Korra. At least being around her she didn't have to think about her own things, she could, well, do whatever, maybe even pretend the last few days weren't what they were.

Luz put her hands around her stomach and ran to the bathroom a moment, remembering a few things from the fifteenth. Oops].

[She's there only a few minutes later than promised, riding astride Naga. It makes an impressive sight, really. Though probably a little less if you've been one of the people Naga has decided to lick and cuddle up to, on occasion.]

[But, just in case, she does a very wary circuit of the home before coming to a stop in front of the door.]

[Just in case.]

[Luz answers the door, in pajamas of all things, looking tired but better than she had the past few days. Sadly this isn't saying much since she still looks pretty downtrodden, but brightens when she sees Korra. Because of course she does].

Hey, you came.

[She arches an eyebrow.]

Of course I did. You asked.

[She thumbs over her shoulder at Naga, who is gently wagging.]

Ready to go?

Yeah, but you didn't have to, you know?

[She smiled, then hopped up on Naga].

Yes, please.

Maybe. [She swung up behind Luz, taking the reins.]

But even then I'd have wanted to, so. Yip, yip!

[And Naga was up on her feet and off at a gentle lope.]

Thanks.

[Luz had a question to ask, but for right now she'd just ride with Korra. It was honestly good to just get out of house and feel less apprehensive].

Fun!

[And, since she was as always concerned for Luz' mental health, she'd make it worth her time, too, ultimately encouraging Naga into a full run for the last portion of the journey, like a fast, furry battle tank.]

Best part? It never stops being fun.

Really wish I could take you up in the sky with me when I'm on Eda's staff, but there's not any room. You're too buff.

[Which, as far as Luz was concerned, was not a bad thing].

Where are we going?

[She laughed at that.]

Well, if I'm gonna have a problem, that's a good one, at least...and you said you wanted to come over, and I just got the place fixed up after the drop, so! That's where we're headed.

[Poor Luz had forgotten already].

Oh, right, the earthquakes and stuff. You didn't have to deal with any of those crazy worms, did you?

[That brought out a nod.]

Oh, yeah, lots of them. Toasted them good, too. I mean, others like Vira-Lorr helped, too, which made it even easier. But yeah, I went through them like nothing.

[She's pretty proud about that part, actually.]

Felt pretty good to, y'know, actually help by thinning out their numbers.

I'm not surprised! I met one by accident though. Pretty freaky stuff.

Oh, Vira helped? I should have known she would.

Yeah. Well. They weren't the only things that needed thinning numbers.

[She is aware, and that's possibly a big hint.]

So people are saying. Wish I'd known at the time.

[Brings her mood down quite a bit, but it also reminds her why she's doing this tonight. And she's quiet for a long while, as they approach the house, and Naga slows her pace.]

Good girl, Naga. Thank you.

[Oh, did she know? Maybe they hadn't gone after them. It was possible they'd only targeted young, seemingly defenseless kids.

Which only revolted Luz even more].

You're great Naga.

[Luz nuzzled Naga a moment, just to show she was grateful for the ride].

[More that she'd heard things, in passing. Once again, happening frustratingly elsewhere.]

[She stretched a little as they approached her house, sighing.]

So have you eaten? Do you need anything else? I've got some of that popping corn, I think? Found it last time I went scrounging.

[She knows there's something on Luz's mind. But it's Korra. She can't not try to care for someone.]

[She could understand that. Some things went unseen, she knew that happened even on her end. Unfortunately, Luz did not happen to skip that part].

I haven't eaten yet, no. I don't think I ought to though. I don't think it would be a good idea.

[Not with what she had to talk about].

[She reaches out a hand to gently lay on Luz's shoulder, sensing at least some of it.]

Ok.

[It's all that needs saying as she opens the door, letting her enter first, followed by herself, with Naga bringing up the rear, immediately moving to a soft pile of blankets, turning two circles, and making herself comfortable.]

Ah. Nice.

[Which normally would have sounded way more enthusiastic, with Luz doing her usual grinning and making up stories, but now she was unfolding a kurigami onesie that Usagi had lent her, looking up at Korra].

I wanted to ask you something, and its a strange thing, but it stuck out before, and its relevant to me now. What happened when you were...tortured?

[She's barely shut the door before that lands like a bomb. She's immediately down on her knees, hands on Luz's shoulders, looking her over for telltale signs.]

Why...did...what happened? Are you ok?

[It's ninety percent concern for someone who she cares about - but also, she needs...just a little bit of time before she can answer that.]

[She's cleaned up, but if you look you can see bruises around her neck and arms, and there are more but those are covered since, obviously, Luz is not about to advertise she'd been in a situation where she got more than her fair share of cuts].

A little while ago, I got all tangled up with this rope. Like, once you touched it it wouldn't let you go, got tighter as you got desperate. I got cut out, but I wondered if it belonged to someone. Turns out it did: a bunch of these mountain guys in caves who come out to hunt.

They hunt Sleepers. They...they eat them.

[She immediately gathered Luz up in a close - but careful - hug. She'd encountered the rope thing twice, and just thought it was magical.]

Oh, Luz, I'm...I'm so sorry.

[And she just keeps her close.]

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How did I wind up doing that again?!

I doubt I would have noticed, so it's going around. :P