[ Eda is taking this seriously. It's just that her version of taking this seriously is to joke about it, because Luz is stable, and mostly fine, and Eda's here for her now.
Her eyes scan the beach, and land on one of the cabanas, skimming down toward it. ]
Eda lands by the cabana, and steps off with Luz still in her arms. She sits down on the edge of the cushion, looking down at Luz with furrowed brows. ]
You're not dead. And you're not gonna be dead. But if you are dead, I'll gonna take down whoever did it. Okay?
Breathe, kid. [ Eda holds her tight, then. Any humor is gone from her, for once. The last time she felt like this was when Willow and Gus told her Luz was in trouble, that Lilith had her.
She remembers what it was like, those first few years, when she didn't know how to manage her curse, when she was alone, rejected, trying to figure out how to live. It's not exactly the same, but she can empathize with Luz, how that feels.
She strokes gently through Luz's hair. ] You're not gonna die. I'm not gonna let you. Alright? Breathe.
[Luz was steadily trying to take breaths, but they kept getting caught in sobs, and she kept trying to suppress those, which just gave way to an embarrassing wet shirted Eda].
I-I'm trying. I'm sorry I'm a mess, I just don't-I didn't think this would happen. I have to stop c-crying.
[She just cling to Eda tighter, still quietly sobbing].
Luz doesn't break down like this. Luz is strong and brave and takes everything head on, even when she shouldn't. She wasn't this scared facing Grom ]
Eh, you don't. Let it out. That's a pretty scary thing, getting bit like that outta no where. And she sucked you in, huh? Said that thing about her dad. [ Yes, she was listening, for once ] You trust easy. It's a good thing, until it's not. But you're gonna be okay. Promise.
[Yes, Luz was usually brave, and she could shoulder a lot, but dying? That was a completely new thing, and one that had come out of trying to help while the hotel had her forgetting she needed to be on guard. It was a combination of fear and the disappointment she'd felt in her ability to shake off the hotel's influence. She clung to Eda after hearing her words, sniffing quietly].
Thank you Eda.
[Luz knew she'd recover: she had to. This place worked on everyone here, just because she was new and young she wasn't excluded. But it felt hard to calm herself now when her body was still trembling and her fears wouldn't fade away quietly.
She could still feel the tearing at her throat, that one moment of paralyzing fear that festered in her mind].
Uh, yeah. Okay. Not leavin' you alone. [ She pulls her Fluid out of her hair and shoots off a text to Margot. At least she's gotten the hang of it by now.
She's content to stay with Luz until Margot shows up, talking to her about this or that, to help her keep her mind off of almost dying. ]
[Nope, that was definitely not something Luz wanted right now. Eda and Margot, yes, completely. Her two most favorite people in her world were definitely a help. She coughed a little blood again, spitting it on the ground].
Hey, hey. [ Eda is getting a little more concerned now. She finds a napkin in her hair and dabs at Luz's lips. ] You're gonna be okay. Okay? One little vamp can't take you down. You're Luz! Best witch apprentice in Deerington.
[One little vamp totally COULD have taken her down if she'd wanted, but Luz wouldn't get into schemantics. Eda was trying to get her back on her feet, and Luz appreciated that. She needed it].
Need to recuperate. Maybe let people know there is a vamp so they don't get tricked. Then I g-gotta see about what we do next...
[Luz may not be close to death's door, but she definitely felt like she could use a full day's sleep now. Sorry Eda, but Luz will be extra clingy now, still looking pale and definitely not like herself].
Did...something like this ever happen to you? Where you were terrified and weak and...it was hard to shake off how scared you were?
[ Eda thinks about it for a second. She doesn't talk too much about her past, but there doesn't seem to be a risk of it with Luz anymore. Luz knows her worst parts and her best parts and still wants to be around her, so Eda takes a breath, then admits: ]
Did I ever tell you about when I first got cursed?
[She had only been told of it briefly by Lilith, and to Luz, that didn't count. Lilith had only had to live with doing what she'd done to Eda: she didn't BECOME an owl beast. Eda did].
No, but to be fair, I'd never ask if you didn't want to tell me. That sounds like a pretty private thing you'd want to keep to yourself.
It is. But that's when I felt like I think you're feeling now.
[ She lets out a breath. She's committed now: ]
When I first turned, I didn't know how to turn back. Didn't have an elixir or anything, but I figured it out, eventually. When I did, I was somewhere where I had no idea where I was, deep in the woods, far from Bonesburrow. By the Knee. It was cold, and I was alone, and I didn't know how to get back home.
I was scared and hungry and there were monsters around and I didn't know how to deal with them, back then. I was terrified for days. I didn't know what was happening to me, and I was scared I'd turn into the Beast again. It's rough, not being able to control your own body.
Huh. Wonder if that's how the vamp felt. [ Not that that's an excuse. ]
[Luz didn't say anything for a little bit, just quietly nestled in Eda's arms a moment, listening intently. When she was done talking, Luz looked up at Eda].
What you went through sounds way worse, and must have been pretty lonely. I'm lucky that you're here, Eda. If you weren't, I wouldn't even have been able to escape. I did, you know, with the bird form. It saved me.
[She looked down a moment].
I'm sorry I wasn't here for when Fern had to put you down. You shouldn't have had to be in that position.
Kid, I'm not upset about that. [ Eda gives her a little smile, still petting through her hair gently. ] I told ya, I asked Fern to kill me if I went feral, he did, we moved on. He's a good kid.
You know I'll be here for you. There's no worse about it, that vamp was outta line, biting you. Hope she got a shock, you flying right on outta there!
I know he is, Eda. I didn't bear any ill will to him for what he did. That's just what this place does. But I am mad it had to happen and I wasn't there to ease you into dying.
She needed to feed, she tricked me. At least it'll be harder for her to get a meal next time. Probably.
Well... thanks. [ Luz has never really had to take care of her before, except for getting Eda out for the Owl Beast state. No one has really taken care of her in two decades. She can handle it herself.
But... it would be nice. If it happened again, to have Luz there with her. ] I'm not lookin' to die again, but I'd be glad you're here if I do.
Hm. [ Eda's ready to take down this kid if she ever meets her ]
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[Luz coughed, spitting up some of her blood].
Gross.
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[ Eda is taking this seriously. It's just that her version of taking this seriously is to joke about it, because Luz is stable, and mostly fine, and Eda's here for her now.
Her eyes scan the beach, and land on one of the cabanas, skimming down toward it. ]
You're gonna be okay, kiddo.
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[She clung to Eda a little harder, and found she was trembling].
I can't stop...feeling scared. Like, I was really close to dying. My body won't listen to me.
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Eda lands by the cabana, and steps off with Luz still in her arms. She sits down on the edge of the cushion, looking down at Luz with furrowed brows. ]
You're not dead. And you're not gonna be dead. But if you are dead, I'll gonna take down whoever did it. Okay?
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I don't think I'm dead. I'm just...I feel...like I can't calm down. Like I just...
[She couldn't help it: she clung to Eda harder now].
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She remembers what it was like, those first few years, when she didn't know how to manage her curse, when she was alone, rejected, trying to figure out how to live. It's not exactly the same, but she can empathize with Luz, how that feels.
She strokes gently through Luz's hair. ] You're not gonna die. I'm not gonna let you. Alright? Breathe.
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I-I'm trying. I'm sorry I'm a mess, I just don't-I didn't think this would happen. I have to stop c-crying.
[She just cling to Eda tighter, still quietly sobbing].
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Luz doesn't break down like this. Luz is strong and brave and takes everything head on, even when she shouldn't. She wasn't this scared facing Grom ]
Eh, you don't. Let it out. That's a pretty scary thing, getting bit like that outta no where. And she sucked you in, huh? Said that thing about her dad. [ Yes, she was listening, for once ] You trust easy. It's a good thing, until it's not. But you're gonna be okay. Promise.
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Thank you Eda.
[Luz knew she'd recover: she had to. This place worked on everyone here, just because she was new and young she wasn't excluded. But it felt hard to calm herself now when her body was still trembling and her fears wouldn't fade away quietly.
She could still feel the tearing at her throat, that one moment of paralyzing fear that festered in her mind].
Please get Margot.
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She's content to stay with Luz until Margot shows up, talking to her about this or that, to help her keep her mind off of almost dying. ]
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[Nope, that was definitely not something Luz wanted right now. Eda and Margot, yes, completely. Her two most favorite people in her world were definitely a help. She coughed a little blood again, spitting it on the ground].
Ugh. There's so much.
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Need to recuperate. Maybe let people know there is a vamp so they don't get tricked. Then I g-gotta see about what we do next...
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[ Just keep talking is Eda's strategy now. Distract Luz, help her focus on something else, that'll help her calm down, Eda hopes ]
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[Luz head was swimming, so her trying to stifle her fear with purpose didn't quite mesh. Instead she went back to cradling her neck, wincing].
I'm so tired...
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[ Eda keeps her close, content to stay here until Luz is ready to go on the long trek to find one of their rooms. ]
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[Luz may not be close to death's door, but she definitely felt like she could use a full day's sleep now. Sorry Eda, but Luz will be extra clingy now, still looking pale and definitely not like herself].
Did...something like this ever happen to you? Where you were terrified and weak and...it was hard to shake off how scared you were?
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[ Eda thinks about it for a second. She doesn't talk too much about her past, but there doesn't seem to be a risk of it with Luz anymore. Luz knows her worst parts and her best parts and still wants to be around her, so Eda takes a breath, then admits: ]
Did I ever tell you about when I first got cursed?
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No, but to be fair, I'd never ask if you didn't want to tell me. That sounds like a pretty private thing you'd want to keep to yourself.
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[ She lets out a breath. She's committed now: ]
When I first turned, I didn't know how to turn back. Didn't have an elixir or anything, but I figured it out, eventually. When I did, I was somewhere where I had no idea where I was, deep in the woods, far from Bonesburrow. By the Knee. It was cold, and I was alone, and I didn't know how to get back home.
I was scared and hungry and there were monsters around and I didn't know how to deal with them, back then. I was terrified for days. I didn't know what was happening to me, and I was scared I'd turn into the Beast again. It's rough, not being able to control your own body.
Huh. Wonder if that's how the vamp felt. [ Not that that's an excuse. ]
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What you went through sounds way worse, and must have been pretty lonely. I'm lucky that you're here, Eda. If you weren't, I wouldn't even have been able to escape. I did, you know, with the bird form. It saved me.
[She looked down a moment].
I'm sorry I wasn't here for when Fern had to put you down. You shouldn't have had to be in that position.
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You know I'll be here for you. There's no worse about it, that vamp was outta line, biting you. Hope she got a shock, you flying right on outta there!
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She needed to feed, she tricked me. At least it'll be harder for her to get a meal next time. Probably.
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But... it would be nice. If it happened again, to have Luz there with her. ] I'm not lookin' to die again, but I'd be glad you're here if I do.
Hm. [ Eda's ready to take down this kid if she ever meets her ]
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[She coughed. Ok, less blood that time so...good]?
If you happen to drop kick her at some point, I won't complain. She IS ageless, after all.
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