The butterflies were unlike anything Tinya had ever seen, even in all of her travels to foreign planets in another galaxy. Her first instinct, of course, was to delight in how beautiful they were, following one hither and thither in Cellar Door as it was never content to stay still in one place for long.
She didn't have very much hope left. The 21st would mark her nineteenth birthday, four years away from home. She'd went home once, but once she had she almost wished she hadn't. To spend an entire year as a ghost nearly drove her mad, but Jo had calmed her by asking her to marry him.
Then there was her "sister." Repressed and not allowed to have control of their shared body, ever.
Finally, there was that wretched year where she thought Jo was dead, when she'd spent a year and three months pregnant, first under her mother's thumb and then as a runaway to Rimbor, the most crime-ridden and lawless planet in all known space.
Then, there were all of the people she'd lost in the other world. And that she'd lost Hunk in this one. Forget hope, she was near to despair. Couldn't the galaxy give her some kind of break?
But that was when she saw him. Argonaut, flitting gently here and there. She bit her lower lip and had to hope, extending her arm, that Argonaut would see fit to land on her. Gazing into Argonaut's large, beautiful eyes helped her feel...hope again? Something like it?
She couldn't say how long she stood there with Argonaut perched on her arm, regarding her with a kindness and understanding she'd rarely been able to find in others, but she smiled.
Then Argonaut launched himself back into the air, circling around one of the orbs released by the butterfly, then another, then another after that.
Tinya was far from a fool, so she knew what she should do. She ventured over with her large backpack/purse open and caught one of the orbs inside of it. At the same time, another orb brushed against her gently, making her feel hope where once she'd felt hope was dead. She gasped, wanting to share the news with everyone and everyone, but also keep it to herself.
So don't be surprised if a young woman runs right into you, her backpack wide open in front of her, several glowing orbs already inside.
The orbs remind Sharon of fireflies; of chasing after the glowbugs during the warm summer nights, and collecting them up in jars to set free the next morning. They made the endless night seem magical rather than oppressive. She catches one in open palms as she walks, cupping it just like she would a firefly as a child. Her heart warms.
She hasn't been a huge fan of the strangeness that occurs in this world but this was something she could get behind.
When the orb in her hand fades, she continues on her walk until she spots Tinya in the dark, backpack held open to catch the falling orbs from Argonaut. Again, she's reminded of fireflies in summer.
"Starting a collection?" Sharon calls out to the other girl from a distance, amusement warming her voice.
She'd rarely seen fireflies. Most of her time on Earth had been spent in Metropolis, the largest city on the planet. Granted, there were parks and green areas set aside, but they were rarely visited by anything aside from the odd grasshopper or lunar moth. This was different...she hesitated to say better because she knew all too well she had responsibilities, but it was still far more pleasant here than the other world.
Here, at least she wasn't expected to have sex with people three times a month or be imprisoned. Or worse.
She was far too calm to be started by Sharon's amused voice. Instead, Tinya made her way over, catching orbs as she could, but the glow of the orbs seemed to almost light her from within. She'd always been a creature of hope, even when all seemed hopeless.
And Tinya giggled. "Yes, I think I am! You never know when you might need a little spare hope now and then. And this is going to sound silly, but I'm glad that my month is Argonaut's month. He's nothing like the others."
Tinya practically glowed and her chipperness was infectious, to the point that Sharon found herself grinning more widely as the other girl approached, one that didn't fade even at the mention of the Pthumerian.
"What makes him so different?" She asked, curious.
To her, they were all the same: powerful beings that seemed to cause much of the strange and awful things that happened in and around Trench. Sharon wasn't a fan. She viewed them no differently than she did the concept of a 'god' and she didn't like gods, real or imagined. She didn't like anything that could affect her life as they could.
Plus, some of them seemed to be worshipped here. A being worshipped isn't one she could trust.
This was easily Tinya's happiest moment here. The problems from home still loomed large, but for tonight she could set them aside and enjoy the orbs and especially the company.
"He...listens. I know that sounds silly, but talking to him is like talking to someone you've known and trusted all your life. There aren't any solutions, but being heard is one of the best feelings around." Since she'd been so used to being the one being confided in with seemingly no one noticing she needed to be able to lean on others in turn, being heard by Argonaut was reassuring.
She barely was there when it was Madam Generosity's month, but the others she had no love for. She had no reason for it since February caused head-splitting headaches and the less said about March and the catacombs the better. She fully expects the others to screw everyone over to varying degrees.
She had her faith in the Mistress, the Goddess worshipped by Bgztlians, but Terran gods seemed too capricious and undependable.
"If it has to be night all the time, at least we have these to help us, right?"
Given everything Sharon knew about Tinya, her explanation on why she liked Argonaut made a lot of sense and Sharon let out a quiet hum, understanding. The Pthumerian gave Tinya what she didn't have growing up under the ironfist of her mother: an ear. One that didn't come with strings attached.
Sharon will never grow to hold any love for these beings, too jaded after the years of pain the Order inflicted, but it helped her see this single Pthumerian in a different light.
"I don't think it's silly," She stated quietly, her gaze turned toward the moth-like creature that fluttered through the air above. There was something oddly beautiful about him. She looked back to Tinya, expression soft," But... you know, if you ever need someone to listen, you can always give me a call."
Sharon didn't have much experience with being a friend. She couldn't risk friendship back home, no matter how much she craved that sort of connection with others, but that wasn't a risk here (though that took some time to come to terms with). And, even if it were, Tinya would feel like a good risk to take.
That was it, exactly. Even after she'd gotten away from her mother, her new-found teammates seemed to zero in on her as a good source for emotional support, spilling their problems to her and expecting her to come up with solutions or even just listen but at the same time? When it was her problems she needed help with, she was praised for her strength in handling things all on her own.
It often felt like screaming in a crowded room, but no one could hear her or even noticed her distress.
She'd heard that it wasn't uncommon for Argonaut to die when it was his time, only to be reborn. The idea of killing him was horrifying to her, he was far too gentle, hopeful, and understanding for her to ever understand why anyone would want to hurt him.
"...you don't," Tinya asked, blue eyes wide. She was entirely too used to having her whims dismissed or thought too fanciful. But her gaze couldn't help but be drawn back to Argonaut, watching them with large, dark, kind eyes. And Sharon's offer came as a surprise, albeit a very happy one. "Really? I can?" She smiled bashfully. "You might regret that offer in time."
Tinya was too used to being everyone's friend. But she held herself to impossible standards and still was disappointed with herself when she didn't meet them. Part and parcel of coming from her planet's first family. Though, she didn't have to worry about that here. And Sharon was someone she felt genuinely close to.
"Don't be silly." Sharon gave a warm laugh in response to Tinya's statement, shaking her head. She doubted there was much of anything the other girl could do that would make her regret her offer. Not even a late-night call to rant or rave would make her reconsider. She's never had a friendship that extended past the cool acquaintance phase despite all her desires back home.
"Honestly, Tinya, I'm kind of new to the whole 'having friends' thing" She admitted somewhat shyly, ducking her head. She never had a friend back home and even though she's been here a few months, she's always hesitated to call anyone a friend, afraid that saying it out loud would suddenly destroy her chances. Or that the people she wanted to befriend wouldn't feel the same.
"I just know about what friends are supposed to be like from, you know, books and television shows." She reached out to pluck another of the orbs from the air and dropped it into Tinya's open sack. She then motioned for them to keep walking, following Argonaut's trail of orbs. She wanted to make sure Tinya had a large collection," But I want to be a good one to you. So, don't worry."
Tinya couldn't help but feel her cheeks flush pale blue in the wake of Sharon's statement. She was used to seeming at least a little silly, either because that's what her mother required of her to charm her target or because it's that Tinya! So silly, so able to handle things all on her own! So the idea to be herself, that being herself wasn't silly...it was terribly new. In a good way.
"Well, if you want? I can help you?" And she hoped for reasons she was afraid to put into words that Sharon would want her help. She was afraid of caring too much, of letting herself become to attached. She'd been...damaged by the other place. Afraid to smile as much, to feel as much, to let others know what she was thinking. That whatever she did was being judged from afar and if they didn't like it, who knew what would happen. So she toned herself down, pulled herself back, tried to stop feeling.
But she felt like she was slowly but surely coming alive again with all that involved.
Tinya smiled warmly. "They exaggerate. In a good way, but sometimes that's kind of nice. To think that bonds really can last forever." She held her sack open wide to accept the orb. And her smile grew a little shy as they walked together, following Argonaut. And she felt like she already did, like she could glow a little herself. "I'm not. Because I know you will be."
"I'd like that," Sharon replied with a warm, shy grin. She knew she needed all the help she could get in that department. It was embarrassing. Friendship seemed to come naturally to other people as if they simply just knew how to act and react. It appeared to come naturally to Tinya, too, and Sharon had to stuff a flash of jealousy away.
She never knew what to say to get others to like her. When she tried, it always felt like she would say the wrong things or say them in the wrong ways and that would be the end of that possible friendship.
But when Tinya expressed confidence in Sharon, she stopped in her tracks, clearly touched. Her smile softened, pleased. Because I know you will be. She never thought such a simple phrase would make her feel more confident in herself.
"I..." Sharon wanted to thank Tinya at that moment but the words wouldn't come out and she flushed. She blinked and looked away as if that would help but it didn't. And, instead, she changed the subject.
"So, what should I know about being a good friend?" To you went left unsaid.
The grin is terribly beautiful and cute at the exact same time. And very, very charming. And she was more than willing to be a buffer for Sharon in social situations, so the other young woman was able to pick and choose when she wanted to join the conversation. But it was something which came naturally to Tinya, she'd always been a very social person.
At first, she'd keep things simple, to topics like the weather or what had washed ashore or what the Pthumerian of that month was doing. Light chat until a person felt like lowering their defenses a bit. It was almost like a dance, one step forward, another to the side, maybe one back.
And that smile made her feel warm from the inside out. They were still relatively new to one another, but she liked Sharon. A lot. To degrees she probably shouldn't let herself like someone in a foreign world which was neither of their own. But, she'd soak up the warmth and not press further.
Tinya blushed pale blue and looked down a little shyly, herself, looking and feeling like the moment was as beautiful and fragile as spun glass, but wanting to protect it very much.
"Well. Most people like music? I know I do, all kinds of it. What do you like to listen to?"
Sharon felt as if she must be doing something right to make a girl like Tinya blush and each one felt like a tiny little victory. Her grin widened, brighter now, teeth peeking out from behind pink lips. She never knew how much she wanted a friendship like this one; never knew just how perfectly warm and right it made her feel.
She didn't feel like a loser around Tinya.
"I like to listen to just about everything under the sun, though it's all dependent on my mood." She slipped a hand into her pocket, suddenly excited, and pulled out a black device wrapped with white headphones. She laughed suddenly, "I, uh... I actually carry my iPod around with me everywhere. You never know when you need to block out the world."
And she needed to block out the world a lot, especially when the Otherworld crept into her vision and threatened to overtake her.
She clicked a button and the screen lit up. Before she taps in her passcode (0808), an older man can be seen on the lock screen, his hair only just starting to grey, "I got everything on here. Punk, old-school rock, rap, country. You name it, I've probably got it somewhere on here. I've been listening to a lot of Fleetwood Mac lately."
Tinya for the most part wanted to avoid the portals. She had her beloved pets with her and she assumed she couldn't pull people out of the portals and into Trench.
And the sight of The Blight in one of those portals made her even more leery. The very last thing Trench needed was an infestation of the Blight. The Legion was powerful, but here? People seemed to be even more powerful. More powerful, but still ripe for Blight infestation, so she hurried along past that portal, holding her other hand up to disguise her face.
But while she was turning her head to avoid seeing one thing, she couldn't help seeing another:
A) Her husband, Jo Nah, looking at her with a fond, yet guarded look on his face.
B) Her son, Cub, now far from an infant and looking like a six year old boy, blue eyes alert with curiosity.
C) Her mother, Winema Wazzo, glaring at Tinya with an expression of sour distaste making her objectively beautiful features ugly.
Tinya would like to be able to say that she and she alone was able to track down information about the Tethers, but she was flying blind, just as everyone else was.
All she knew was, she saw something that looked eerily like her, except for the face. Where Tinya had delicate, refined features her...opposite's face was blank. Like a mirror. And she thinks she's found her second "sister," only so mistreated that where she should have a mirror image of Tinya's face, all there was was a mirror.
She wondered if she should reach out to her "sister," to embrace her and try to merge with her as she'd merged with Phase. So she stood, herself on one side of a busy road, the other on the other side of the road, each looking at one another silently.
Before she could take a step, she felt someone grab her upper arm.
"Tinya?" Padmé called out lightly as her arm reached for hers. There was a look of concern that crossed over her face. This month... had been different. Slightly less troublesome than digging her way out of the dirt and going through a horrible maze, where each new place had seemingly been worse than before. Whatever was going on this month hadn't actually caused Padmé too much trouble, although for the most part she had remained close to the residence that she shared with Sabé.
Tinya felt startled when Padmé took her arm. Lyle would have teasingly mocked her, telling her that she'd let her guard down since she wasn't part of the Espionage Squad from here, but it would all be in good fun. And Mother...Mother would have let her have it for seeming so out of it. She wasn't sure Mother knew the definition of fun, much less how to have it.
"I--I don't know. Do you see the...I guess it's a person across the road? It's been following me for a while and I'm not sure what to make of it yet."
It wasn't something that Padmé had been on the lookout for, although there was no need for her to do so. She hadn't felt anyone following her, but that didn't mean that Tinya didn't have someone. She glanced across the street, eyes roaming back and forth. "What did they look like?"
The thing was across the road, people passing in busy lines between them. It was directly across the street from Tinya, looking entirely like her except for one notable exception: she had what looked like a mirror for a face.
Part of Tinya wondered if this was her second "sister," here somehow for revenge. Neither she nor her first "sister" knew what had happened to their other self. And part of her has always expected to have to pay for what she did to come back from death.
But, quietly, pointing as subtly as she could, "She's over there. The one with no face. She's been following me for a while." And the other self continued to stare. "Maybe we should try to find a restaurant or cafe, somewhere they probably won't let--her in?"
"Have you eaten yet? How about lunch of me." Padmé knew of a cafe down the way a little from them, and if it was something that would help Tinya, Padmé was more than happy to spend time with her. At least there was nothing overtly strange going on, although Padmé scratched that as she glanced over her shoulder again. Yet her focus shifted back, offering a smile and a little motion with her head. She knew that this place wasn't straight forward by any means, and that things weren't always as they seemed- and sometimes they were. "We can chat there. Get out of the dark for a bit."
"I haven't. I was going to, but then--she showed up. I lost track of time," and she smiles. "Thank you, I'd appreciate that." And Tinya was very pleased to spend time with Padmé again. She knew better than to tell her that Tinya had known a version of her before, such a thing would sound weird even to those most accustomed to weird. And she often wondered if she herself was one of those people. And Tinya nodded. "That would be nice. The endless night...it makes me want to go back into space again."
There were plenty of strange things that had already happened. From learning that there were people from the future to her own apparent pregnancy to who Sheev Palpatine truly is... The stars only knew what else Padmé may come to learn. In the grand scheme of things, it might not have ranked at the top anymore.
"It is rather like space, isn't it? Not quite as cold or lonely though." Not that it wasn't lovely as well, because it was, but Padmé had always preferred the sun. Give her that and a beach, and she would be happy. She moved to link her arm through Tinya's before giving a nod of her head. "But come on. We'll go grab a bite and talk for a while."
Tinya would have felt awful for Padmé. She strongly felt that no one should be spoiled for their own future. Even in a new environment like this one. She swore to the Mistress that if Saturn Girl arrived, well.
One, Tinya would go straight to the network to warn everyone that she was into mind-raping men. Maybe even physically, she hadn't been able to get a straight answer out of Jo or Cos. And Two, she'd tell that awful person to not tell her what happened if the awful person was from their future.
"Really? You think of space as lonely? Not that that's not valid, it's just that...it almost seemed cradling to me." She could barely remember Bgztl and grandma, but mother and space? That she remembered in great detail. But mother wasn't the cradling type, she'd let space do that. And she happily lets Padmé link their arms.
"Yes! That sounds like such a good idea, there's a Cambodian restaurant in Willful Machine that's to die for."
"I know that there are those who hear its call." Padmé had never really been one of those, who would set out to explore and see new worlds. She had no qualms going to other worlds, trying to help if needed, but she wasn't really an explorer. Stars knew her husband loved flying, although that wasn't just in space.
"Oh? I haven't tried that one yet. Let's give it a go." She would be willing to try anything- or most things- at least once.
"I guess it's something born and bred into me. The Wazzos have been diplomats, politicians, power-brokers for thousands upon thousands of years. We accomplished all we wanted to with Bgztl, so space was the next most logical step." She lived for new worlds, new experiences, new beings to know and learn about.
And Tinya grinned broadly. "I like the way you think. Onward to--well, not adventure, probably not that, but good food." So was she. Almost ridiculously so.
"I'm afraid I broke the mold by entering into politics. My parents and my sister are more on the artistic side." Although Naboo was known for the arts. Painting, clay, wood, poetry, music... "Is that the mentality on your planet? That you accomplished all you wanted to?"
Padmé couldn't help but ask that as they started walking. There was much on Naboo that Padmé would like to alter. Overall it was a progressive planet, but there were aspects of it that she would like to see changed. "Let's hope nothing too adventurous... Or rather that the food will be the most adventurous thing."
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
unphase) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
deercountry2022-04-11 07:02 pm
Migration of Moonlit Butterflies
She didn't have very much hope left. The 21st would mark her nineteenth birthday, four years away from home. She'd went home once, but once she had she almost wished she hadn't. To spend an entire year as a ghost nearly drove her mad, but Jo had calmed her by asking her to marry him.
Then there was her "sister." Repressed and not allowed to have control of their shared body, ever.
Finally, there was that wretched year where she thought Jo was dead, when she'd spent a year and three months pregnant, first under her mother's thumb and then as a runaway to Rimbor, the most crime-ridden and lawless planet in all known space.
Then, there were all of the people she'd lost in the other world. And that she'd lost Hunk in this one. Forget hope, she was near to despair. Couldn't the galaxy give her some kind of break?
But that was when she saw him. Argonaut, flitting gently here and there. She bit her lower lip and had to hope, extending her arm, that Argonaut would see fit to land on her. Gazing into Argonaut's large, beautiful eyes helped her feel...hope again? Something like it?
She couldn't say how long she stood there with Argonaut perched on her arm, regarding her with a kindness and understanding she'd rarely been able to find in others, but she smiled.
Then Argonaut launched himself back into the air, circling around one of the orbs released by the butterfly, then another, then another after that.
Tinya was far from a fool, so she knew what she should do. She ventured over with her large backpack/purse open and caught one of the orbs inside of it. At the same time, another orb brushed against her gently, making her feel hope where once she'd felt hope was dead. She gasped, wanting to share the news with everyone and everyone, but also keep it to herself.
So don't be surprised if a young woman runs right into you, her backpack wide open in front of her, several glowing orbs already inside.
no subject
She hasn't been a huge fan of the strangeness that occurs in this world but this was something she could get behind.
When the orb in her hand fades, she continues on her walk until she spots Tinya in the dark, backpack held open to catch the falling orbs from Argonaut. Again, she's reminded of fireflies in summer.
"Starting a collection?" Sharon calls out to the other girl from a distance, amusement warming her voice.
(CW: Duplicity)
Here, at least she wasn't expected to have sex with people three times a month or be imprisoned. Or worse.
She was far too calm to be started by Sharon's amused voice. Instead, Tinya made her way over, catching orbs as she could, but the glow of the orbs seemed to almost light her from within. She'd always been a creature of hope, even when all seemed hopeless.
And Tinya giggled. "Yes, I think I am! You never know when you might need a little spare hope now and then. And this is going to sound silly, but I'm glad that my month is Argonaut's month. He's nothing like the others."
no subject
"What makes him so different?" She asked, curious.
To her, they were all the same: powerful beings that seemed to cause much of the strange and awful things that happened in and around Trench. Sharon wasn't a fan. She viewed them no differently than she did the concept of a 'god' and she didn't like gods, real or imagined. She didn't like anything that could affect her life as they could.
Plus, some of them seemed to be worshipped here. A being worshipped isn't one she could trust.
no subject
"He...listens. I know that sounds silly, but talking to him is like talking to someone you've known and trusted all your life. There aren't any solutions, but being heard is one of the best feelings around." Since she'd been so used to being the one being confided in with seemingly no one noticing she needed to be able to lean on others in turn, being heard by Argonaut was reassuring.
She barely was there when it was Madam Generosity's month, but the others she had no love for. She had no reason for it since February caused head-splitting headaches and the less said about March and the catacombs the better. She fully expects the others to screw everyone over to varying degrees.
She had her faith in the Mistress, the Goddess worshipped by Bgztlians, but Terran gods seemed too capricious and undependable.
"If it has to be night all the time, at least we have these to help us, right?"
no subject
Sharon will never grow to hold any love for these beings, too jaded after the years of pain the Order inflicted, but it helped her see this single Pthumerian in a different light.
"I don't think it's silly," She stated quietly, her gaze turned toward the moth-like creature that fluttered through the air above. There was something oddly beautiful about him. She looked back to Tinya, expression soft," But... you know, if you ever need someone to listen, you can always give me a call."
Sharon didn't have much experience with being a friend. She couldn't risk friendship back home, no matter how much she craved that sort of connection with others, but that wasn't a risk here (though that took some time to come to terms with). And, even if it were, Tinya would feel like a good risk to take.
no subject
It often felt like screaming in a crowded room, but no one could hear her or even noticed her distress.
She'd heard that it wasn't uncommon for Argonaut to die when it was his time, only to be reborn. The idea of killing him was horrifying to her, he was far too gentle, hopeful, and understanding for her to ever understand why anyone would want to hurt him.
"...you don't," Tinya asked, blue eyes wide. She was entirely too used to having her whims dismissed or thought too fanciful. But her gaze couldn't help but be drawn back to Argonaut, watching them with large, dark, kind eyes. And Sharon's offer came as a surprise, albeit a very happy one. "Really? I can?" She smiled bashfully. "You might regret that offer in time."
Tinya was too used to being everyone's friend. But she held herself to impossible standards and still was disappointed with herself when she didn't meet them. Part and parcel of coming from her planet's first family. Though, she didn't have to worry about that here. And Sharon was someone she felt genuinely close to.
no subject
"Honestly, Tinya, I'm kind of new to the whole 'having friends' thing" She admitted somewhat shyly, ducking her head. She never had a friend back home and even though she's been here a few months, she's always hesitated to call anyone a friend, afraid that saying it out loud would suddenly destroy her chances. Or that the people she wanted to befriend wouldn't feel the same.
"I just know about what friends are supposed to be like from, you know, books and television shows." She reached out to pluck another of the orbs from the air and dropped it into Tinya's open sack. She then motioned for them to keep walking, following Argonaut's trail of orbs. She wanted to make sure Tinya had a large collection," But I want to be a good one to you. So, don't worry."
no subject
"Well, if you want? I can help you?" And she hoped for reasons she was afraid to put into words that Sharon would want her help. She was afraid of caring too much, of letting herself become to attached. She'd been...damaged by the other place. Afraid to smile as much, to feel as much, to let others know what she was thinking. That whatever she did was being judged from afar and if they didn't like it, who knew what would happen. So she toned herself down, pulled herself back, tried to stop feeling.
But she felt like she was slowly but surely coming alive again with all that involved.
Tinya smiled warmly. "They exaggerate. In a good way, but sometimes that's kind of nice. To think that bonds really can last forever." She held her sack open wide to accept the orb. And her smile grew a little shy as they walked together, following Argonaut. And she felt like she already did, like she could glow a little herself. "I'm not. Because I know you will be."
no subject
She never knew what to say to get others to like her. When she tried, it always felt like she would say the wrong things or say them in the wrong ways and that would be the end of that possible friendship.
But when Tinya expressed confidence in Sharon, she stopped in her tracks, clearly touched. Her smile softened, pleased. Because I know you will be. She never thought such a simple phrase would make her feel more confident in herself.
"I..." Sharon wanted to thank Tinya at that moment but the words wouldn't come out and she flushed. She blinked and looked away as if that would help but it didn't. And, instead, she changed the subject.
"So, what should I know about being a good friend?" To you went left unsaid.
no subject
At first, she'd keep things simple, to topics like the weather or what had washed ashore or what the Pthumerian of that month was doing. Light chat until a person felt like lowering their defenses a bit. It was almost like a dance, one step forward, another to the side, maybe one back.
And that smile made her feel warm from the inside out. They were still relatively new to one another, but she liked Sharon. A lot. To degrees she probably shouldn't let herself like someone in a foreign world which was neither of their own. But, she'd soak up the warmth and not press further.
Tinya blushed pale blue and looked down a little shyly, herself, looking and feeling like the moment was as beautiful and fragile as spun glass, but wanting to protect it very much.
"Well. Most people like music? I know I do, all kinds of it. What do you like to listen to?"
no subject
She didn't feel like a loser around Tinya.
"I like to listen to just about everything under the sun, though it's all dependent on my mood." She slipped a hand into her pocket, suddenly excited, and pulled out a black device wrapped with white headphones. She laughed suddenly, "I, uh... I actually carry my iPod around with me everywhere. You never know when you need to block out the world."
And she needed to block out the world a lot, especially when the Otherworld crept into her vision and threatened to overtake her.
She clicked a button and the screen lit up. Before she taps in her passcode (0808), an older man can be seen on the lock screen, his hair only just starting to grey, "I got everything on here. Punk, old-school rock, rap, country. You name it, I've probably got it somewhere on here. I've been listening to a lot of Fleetwood Mac lately."
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
this seems like a good place to wrap up?
Sure, sure!
Wonderkind
And the sight of The Blight in one of those portals made her even more leery. The very last thing Trench needed was an infestation of the Blight. The Legion was powerful, but here? People seemed to be even more powerful. More powerful, but still ripe for Blight infestation, so she hurried along past that portal, holding her other hand up to disguise her face.
But while she was turning her head to avoid seeing one thing, she couldn't help seeing another:
A) Her husband, Jo Nah, looking at her with a fond, yet guarded look on his face.
B) Her son, Cub, now far from an infant and looking like a six year old boy, blue eyes alert with curiosity.
C) Her mother, Winema Wazzo, glaring at Tinya with an expression of sour distaste making her objectively beautiful features ugly.
From Within and Without
All she knew was, she saw something that looked eerily like her, except for the face. Where Tinya had delicate, refined features her...opposite's face was blank. Like a mirror. And she thinks she's found her second "sister," only so mistreated that where she should have a mirror image of Tinya's face, all there was was a mirror.
She wondered if she should reach out to her "sister," to embrace her and try to merge with her as she'd merged with Phase. So she stood, herself on one side of a busy road, the other on the other side of the road, each looking at one another silently.
Before she could take a step, she felt someone grab her upper arm.
no subject
"Are you alright?"
(CW: mental abuse)
"I--I don't know. Do you see the...I guess it's a person across the road? It's been following me for a while and I'm not sure what to make of it yet."
no subject
no subject
Part of Tinya wondered if this was her second "sister," here somehow for revenge. Neither she nor her first "sister" knew what had happened to their other self. And part of her has always expected to have to pay for what she did to come back from death.
But, quietly, pointing as subtly as she could, "She's over there. The one with no face. She's been following me for a while." And the other self continued to stare. "Maybe we should try to find a restaurant or cafe, somewhere they probably won't let--her in?"
no subject
no subject
no subject
"It is rather like space, isn't it? Not quite as cold or lonely though." Not that it wasn't lovely as well, because it was, but Padmé had always preferred the sun. Give her that and a beach, and she would be happy. She moved to link her arm through Tinya's before giving a nod of her head. "But come on. We'll go grab a bite and talk for a while."
(CW: mind-rape, possible rape)
One, Tinya would go straight to the network to warn everyone that she was into mind-raping men. Maybe even physically, she hadn't been able to get a straight answer out of Jo or Cos. And Two, she'd tell that awful person to not tell her what happened if the awful person was from their future.
"Really? You think of space as lonely? Not that that's not valid, it's just that...it almost seemed cradling to me." She could barely remember Bgztl and grandma, but mother and space? That she remembered in great detail. But mother wasn't the cradling type, she'd let space do that. And she happily lets Padmé link their arms.
"Yes! That sounds like such a good idea, there's a Cambodian restaurant in Willful Machine that's to die for."
no subject
"Oh? I haven't tried that one yet. Let's give it a go." She would be willing to try anything- or most things- at least once.
no subject
And Tinya grinned broadly. "I like the way you think. Onward to--well, not adventure, probably not that, but good food." So was she. Almost ridiculously so.
no subject
Padmé couldn't help but ask that as they started walking. There was much on Naboo that Padmé would like to alter. Overall it was a progressive planet, but there were aspects of it that she would like to see changed. "Let's hope nothing too adventurous... Or rather that the food will be the most adventurous thing."
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(CW: murder of a child, underage drinking)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(CW: grooming)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)