Letter to all Heroes--HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

[deadlyvu]

[The letter would go to all Heroes of Light, and even some of the non-Heroes like Biggs, and Cid, and Wedge. Once opened it's clearly a light-hearted letter, despite all the skulls and spiraling borders with spider-webs and bats on the page.]

Hello everyone!

My name is Lydia Deetz; I'm originally from Earth, in America, 1990ish if anyone recognizes the place and time. I missed out last year, due to being stuck in Crystal Stasis, and only arrived the February prior to that. I know things have been rough for the Heroes, because of whom we are, the past two Octobers.

But it's my favorite month--because back home, it's the month when Halloween comes! A time to enjoy the spooky and macabre and find the joy in the unusual. We've all had more than enough hardship lately, and I am excited to celebrate my favorite holiday for once! Some of the customs here on Crystallis are similar, but not all of them.

So... Please feel free to write me back, or meet me, if you're curious about Halloween where I'm from. Tell me stories about a similar holiday from where you're from! Also if you meet any ghosts, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE tell me. Or better-yet, come and get me. Back home my best friend is a ghost, so I have some familiarity!

Thank you, and Happy Hauntings!
Spookily yours,
Lydia Deetz.

Comments

[umslay]

[Great Protoon! This lab coat makes him look so cool! Ales sends Lydia one of his metal loop puzzles as thanks, only with one of the pieces reshaped to resemble a ghost.]

Lydia,

Don't worry about me, work is what I'm used to. Lazing about makes me uncomfortable, but I'm not going to deprive myself of sleep.

We too have regular scary things like pirates and Dark Lums (think of those evil Moogles that caused so much chaos the past two years), but ghosts are just another form of danger. Some are benevolent, some are not. It really depends on the situation. Magic is so intertwined in my world that dedicating a whole day to its celebration would be redundant.

I believe I told you before that we have an underworld that the living can access: The Land of the Livid Dead. I only explored the shallowest regions, but the dead prefer to keep to themselves. We remember their passing, they continue their unlives in peace, and the guardian to the underworld makes sure we don't intermix.

And it's not like we can meet our friends that passed away whenever we want. The land of the dead is large.

Your friend,
Ales

[deadlyvu]

[Oh Lydia'll enjoy the puzzle. BP just gets frustrated trying to figure it out, but Lydia's happy.]

Ales,

You're eating right too, yes? If you don't wanna laze about, you can come learn to develop photos with me? I have my basement darkroom almost completely set-up!

I remember the pirates and your world being so cheery and bright. It reminded me of the Neitherworld in some ways, but not in others. I kind of wish I could see a Dark Lum. Halloween isn't really about celebrating 'magic' either, as it used to be part of religious rituals and holidays. Now it's kind of seen as a time to celebrate the darker side of life, and enjoy being what we usually aren't.

It's the one time of the year I'm usually regarded as somewhat normal. Or at least, most of the rest of the world starts to share my aesthetic and quirks. Whichever, it makes it a bit easier to get supplies. (Most of it is cheap, but I still find some stuff I like.)

You did tell me about the Livid Dead realm. I'd still enjoy visiting it, and they don't sound too different than the Neitherworld. Most beings there really are just happy to live their own un-lives, and not so different from people in general. Tell me about this guardian of the Underworld?

The Neitherworld is large too; not counting some of the strange places that it has. (One country in it disappears and only reappears every several years, so long as the inhabitants are awake. When they fall asleep, the land disappears again.)

Your friend,

Lydia

P.S: Thank you for the puzzle. BP is muttering unkind things, as it's stumping him. I think it's awesome.

[umslay]

Lydia,

Oh, my world cheery and bright alright. Too much, if you ask me. Most residents like to believe that their lives won't be interrupted and relax all the time, forgetting about the previous times the Glade was invaded. You only went to one part, correct? That's the Glade and the Jibberish Jungle. It's beautiful, but no place is peaceful 100% of the time.

The guardian to the Land of the Livid Dead depends on which entrance you're taking. The one nearest to my home is just another Joe Schmoe with his ethereal scythe standing in the way. You could bribe him to get in, but it's inadvisable to fight him. Getting there will be a challenge.

Is it easy to enter the Neitherworld? Or is it just for you?

Your friend,
Ales

P.S. Mimi gets my food for me. Don't worry

[deadlyvu]

Ales,

I wish I'd seen more of your world then, than just that part. The people there did and didn't remind me of Peaceful Pines. That's the place on Earth where I live, separate from the Neitherworld. Mostly in that, like you said, the residents were content in their day-to-day lives, never looking for anything unusual.

There's more than one guardian? Are they Teensies? It sounds like you're describing a grim-reaper, and I wish I could say I was surprised a bribe worked. For me, it's easy to enter the Neitherworld. Mostly thanks to Beetlejuice's help. Anyone we've brought with us has entered it pretty easily too, but I don't know if it'd be easy to enter for someone else or not.

And you can tell me not to worry all you want, but I'll still worry. It's what friends do. You're my friend. I'll coordinate with Mimi then, if you wouldn't mind a visit and company for dinner sometime.

Your friend,
Lydia

[umslay]

Lydia,

Most residents don't have to wait for something unusual. It exists all around them. How wasn't it like your home?

No, they're not Teensies. We're the guardians of the Heart of the World due to our """""innate"""" magic. [The quotations marks are clearly sarcastic. Ales would never have been allowed near the thing for more than an hour.] But we're practically defenseless without physical weapons. The Land of the Livid Dead has their own residents and beasts playing guard duty.

There's a fine line between being a friend and being nosy. If Mimi asks for help, don't worry, but I lived on my own for years. Though dinner get-togethers isn't really a thing I've done before...

What about heading out someplace to eat before the 31st? I should be free by then.

Your friend,
Ales

[deadlyvu]

Ales,

There is very little that is 'unusual' in my world, so most people don't really look for or expect it. They like normal, and bland, mostly. Routines, things that go expected, and the few times things aren't 'expected' there are usually plans in place for that as well.

[She definitely gets the sarcasm.] Sounds a bit like in a lot of traditional folk stories I read when younger. Magic users aren't often skilled with physical weapons and vice versa. Too much time studying to master either one. I still think I'd like to see the Land of Livid Dead, even if I'd have to be careful.

I'm sorry I'm being nosy. I Just...I worry. I've had too many friends here vanish into that Crystalline Hell, and it's... I know you're capable. I'm sorry I'm being clingy and nosy.

I'd like to do dinner out, that'd be fun. I'll make time for you if you give me a time.

Your friend,
Lydia

[umslay]

[Ah, so she lost a lot of friends. Ales lost Ellie and countless other allies, but the brigand was the only one that affected him. He knew the merits of not attaching his emotional well-being to others.]

Lydia,

My apologies. It must be hard to lose so many friends like that. But I don't believe eating too little will but me into Crystal Stasis!

Still, dinner sounds good. Would you prefer to eat sometime within the next few days or on the Night of the Twelve Moogles?

Your friend,
Ales

[deadlyvu]

[She had, and she was used to having more friends around her.]

Ales,

It's okay. It's...I'm... I hate it, I don't like losing my friends. I think that whole crystal stasis state is a horrible horrible prison, worse than outright death. I mean, at least if someone dies, I hav ea chance of seeing them again!

Sorry, I didn't mean to rant--but I won't take it back. You're my friend, hopefully you won't judge me too harshly for it. I really would like to spend some time with you, and have dinner. I think we'll both be too busy the night of 12 Moogles, so sometime in the next few days? I'll be available whenever works for you.

Your friend,
Lydia

[umslay]

Lydia,

Don't say you're going to see your dead friends again. It makes you sound like you're giving up. That sort of thinking leads to nothing good.

[Seeing the bad future has alerted him to hints that lead Lydia down the path to destroying the world. She had better not do that. Nor her Shadow.]

Once the Calamity is beaten, I'm certain Crystal Stasis will be lifted. In the meantime, how is this Saturday looking for lunch?

Your Friend,

Ales

[deadlyvu]

Dear Ales,

I'm not giving up yet. It's...hard sometimes. But I'm not. Thank you for staying with me, too. I'm very glad you're my friend.

Saturday sounds wonderful. Late afternoon work for you? I can bring you a Halloween costume, if you want.

Your friend,
Linda