Blessed Day [Open]

[psychopepsquad]

Who: Tara Maclay and OPEN
What: Dealing with her Blessed Day
When: May 7
Where: The Sanctuary Courtyard, the Gardens

Content Warnings: Talk of death, numbness and grief.

The Sanctuary

[Seated in front of the guardian sapling, Tara managed to connect her energy to the earth and everything beneath. It was risky, possibly drawing in darker forces than her magic ever allowed. The puzzle of it, was finding the pure energy and weeding out the bad. She liked the challenge, it kept her occupied and pressed her to have more active control over her abilities. This place largely had good energy, what she had been searching for.

There were flashes of memory, even as she tried to put everything else from her mind. 'Your shirt'. A "POP", a sudden sting and then nothing. Endless peace, comfort, and rest.

Tara sighed, severing the connection to the earth. She pressed her gloved hands to her eyes, well aware that meditation wasn't happening today of all days. Though she had no idea what any of it meant. Blessed day. What exactly was supposed to happen or what was she supposed to feel? At the moment, she felt numb, not really feeling "blessed" on her death day.

She noticed a figure from the corner of her eye and forced a smile to her face, getting to her feet.]

Are you here to see the grounds or are you here for help?

The Gardens

[Bausphomette. They were the most honest and empathetic of the Pthumerians, though why she had never reached out to them, she couldn't say. Maybe because it was an effort to figure it out, along with so much else in this place. She had been here for half a year, but still never spoke to her Pthumerian Patron. It occupied her as she tried to remember if someone had told her before, leaving her restless.

She likely looked like she was lost, pacing back and forth around the grounds.

Summoning was easier in Sunnydale, here, did it require blood or something?

There were others here, though she didn't pay much attention to them at first. Some came, others went, it just meant there were figures in the park. It was only when someone came directly in her path that she pulled out of her daze, fumbling to smile.]

S...sorry, am I in your way?

Comments

gardens

[slayerskiss]

[She snorts, hands buried in her pockets.]

T, the moment you're in my way, I'll congratulate you on making great progress on the whole confidence front.

[In truth, she'd been looking for Tara anyway. Baus too, she's only spoken to them a couple times but she finds them pretty chill to be around.]

What's up?

[psychopepsquad]

I think I just need to take a leaf from your book. Or maybe Baus? They seem to give a push towards finding yourself.

[And that's what she's been working on.

She frowned, doing her best not to let the fact bother her.]

It's my blessed day. Um, it's the day I died.

[slayerskiss]

Under no circumstances should anyone look to me as a role model. Stick to the giant wolf bear guy. They're pretty cool, as far as Pthumerians go.

[Faith pauses at that, because she did know it's Tara's blessed day and she did scramble for a gift, but she absolutely did not know that part. Damn prophetic dreams....

She shifts awkwardly.]

...Guessin' you have mixed feelings on that, yeah?

[psychopepsquad]

I think you have some admirable traits. I would like to actually see Baus and talk to them, but I have no idea how to even reach him.

[It is an awkward thing but her feelings are a bit different about it than it might have been before the tunnels and the abyss.

And the Sanctuary has been making a slow difference. Enough that she's not forcing an amiable mood.]

It's hard not to. I'm...dealing with it as much as I can. It's kind of awkward isn't it? Celebrating a day where you got shot?

[There's an honest laugh at the absurdity.]

I'm okay though.

[slayerskiss]

[She lets out a small embarassed laugh.] I mean, I agree. I'm hot as fuck, for one, that's pretty admirable.

[Emotionaly vulnerability and accepting compliments not tied to her appearance are always a bit hard for her. She's more used to people calling her things like... nice or kind or any other number of things that don't frankly feel true.] I think just seeking them out is enough. They'll show up when they're needed, so, probably soon enough. But if you really wanna find them, they'll tend to be scaling the taller buildings and chilling out on rooftop.

[She nods. A day doesn't necessarily have to be pleasant to be an important memory in your life, and a death is important enough. She smiles, though. It's nice to see Tara laughing, even if it is about her own death.]

Guessing that means you don't want the present I got you?

gardens

[entreats]

[ Ange shakes her head. ]

Quite the opposite.

[ After all, she may not have come here looking for Tara. But when she spotted the other here, Ange couldn't help but approach - hence why she was in the other's path in the first place. She tucks a stray strand of her hair away behind her ear while looking at the other. ]

I was wondering if something is bothering you. [ It makes her feel a little nosy, but..

.. well, sometimes in this place you ought to be nosy, right? They all have to look after each other to keep things from getting too crazy. ]

You looked like you were thinking about something really hard.

[psychopepsquad]

[She gives a bit of a breathless laugh, well aware that she wasn't exactly subtle in her thoughts or troubles. She had grown a bit weary of constantly feigning that all was well. It was draining, but there were some at least that she didn't need to really pretend around.

She brushed a stray lock of hair from her face. Her skin tickling a little from the breeze.]

It's my um...my blessed day. I was just trying to think of a way to speak to my Patron Pthumerian. I have no idea how anyone goes about it.

I just have a question or two.

[entreats]

.. oh.

[ She looks a little bit surprised. Apparently Tara's answer wasn't quite what Ange expected - but she doesn't look too shocked. While Ange would rather not have much of anything to do with the Pthumerians, she can't exactly blame others for wanting to talk to them. ]

Well, I guess it depends on which one it is. [ She hums, thinking. Ange is sure Tara knows better than she does, but she has to think for a moment which patron belongs to this month. She did study up about it in the archives, after all. ]

This month.. It's the beast-looking one, isn't it?

[ She can't recall the exact name instantly. She's pretty sure it started with Baus, but after that it's a little harder to remember. It had been one of the odder names for sure. ]

[psychopepsquad]

[She doesn't know very much about the Pthumerians to know whether or not she wanted to make this a habit. Recent issues made it a little bit more necessary. Given so much else in the Trench, it was hard to say what was bad and what was good. Everything seemed to carry some level of corruption.

At the very least, some Pthumerians seemed to be...kind.]

Bausphomette is my patron, that's right.

[Baus, she poked herself. She didn't need to go with the full formal name.]

They seem a nicer patron to approach, so I've heard?

The Sanctuary

[obeir]

[ The unexpected visitor is one of the other recent volunteers at the Sanctuary. K's dressed formally in a nice dress shirt with the sleeves rolled to the elbow, waistcoat, and slacks, modern attire that somehow doesn't look too out of place in Trench. That is, aside from the garish robot-print apron he's also wearing. ]

Sorry — I didn't mean to interrupt...?

[ He offers an apologetic tilt of his head as he raises the tray he's carrying. It holds a couple dozen neatly arranged vegetarian spring rolls, and a few bowls of tofu fried rice, still steaming. Not exactly gourmet dining here, but the food is skillfully made and filling all the same. ]

I'm K. And the resident cook, among other things. Just making the rounds seeing if anyone's hungry.

[ Since there doesn't exactly seem to be a set schedule yet for meal times. ]

[psychopepsquad]

No! [She smiled sheepishly, a little embarrassed at the sudden response in her eagerness to greet him.] I mean, hi. You weren't really interrupting. I was trying a bit of meditation, but my thoughts are a bit too busy to dismiss completely.

It's kind of an awkward situation.

[But that was really saying too much. She came closer to inspect the tray, grabbing one of the spring rolls. It had been awhile since she had something like this and while her sense of taste had not fully returned, she could tell it was well made.]

You're really talented. I'm Tara, I work as a meditation therapist and one of the healers. It's nice to meet you.

[obeir]

Thank you. I try to do my part. And likewise, of course.

[ And it still seemed a bit amusing that so far, aside from his knowledge of carpentry and renovation, he'd best served the Sanctuary with his cooking skills. But he didn't mind. There was something very enjoyable about the entire process, from gathering the ingredients to delivering the food to other volunteers... It felt good to be useful. ]

One of the healers. [ He noted with interest. ] So few of you, and I'm very glad you've been willing to help. [ An awkward situation could mean so many things, and he wasn't sure it was his place to ask. But, then, weren't they all in this together? Maybe talking would help. To that end, he inquired: ] A lot on your mind?

[psychopepsquad]

I'm happy to help. I've had too much time on my hands and volunteering here is really...nice.

[More than that, but she's not sure how else to phrase it. Being idle left her with too much time to think and didn't do anything to help her adjust. Volunteering, looking after people, it gave her a sense of purpose again.

Not quite saving the world purpose, but sometimes the smaller obligations were better.]

Um...sort of. It's just been a bit hard figuring out what to do with myself here. Doesn't help that it's my Blessed Day.

Sanctuary

[frogfear]

[Willow's own Blessed Day had come and gone quietly in the days prior to Tara's. A year to the day that she had returned from the death realm in Derington to fog, and chaos and the ruins of the farm she had called home for the better part of six months. Quiet reflection had seemed like the best way to spend the day.

It feels odd, coming to the Sanctuary to see Tara on the anniversary of her death in Sunnydale, given... Well. Everything, really. Willow had given the entire house as wide a berth as she had been able to last month, shaken by the experience in the catacombs, and the loss of John, Herc, and Glitch. She wasn't sure she could handle a rejection from Tara on top of the rest, so it felt like the wisest course of action was to avoid the matter all together and give them both some space to try to sort out their feelings. Besides, with Luna indisposed, someone needed to look after John's shop.

She wears the darkblood stone pendant he left for her all the time.

Willow watches Tara quietly in front of the tree, and suddenly she finds herself second guessing her decision to come here. It feels too much like an intrusion. She's about to turn to leave when Tara comes out of her attempt at meditation, and she manages a small sheepish smile.]

Oh, um. Hi. Sorry. I didn't mean to disturb you. It's okay. I'll- I'll just - [She gestures awkwardly -] go.

[psychopepsquad]

[She feels a little strange at seeing Willow on this day, but had she already had a blessed day under her belt, maybe it wouldn't seem so odd. It wasn't that long ago she found out what Willow did after she died. So this day wasn't just marked by her loss of life, but the lives of others and the near destruction of the world. It's a lot to take in.

For Willow, she's done her best. She's forgiven people before and honestly, in Sunnydale, who didn't nearly end the world at one point or another? That seemed to be as common as gaining the freshman 15. But it was a bit harder to look past this since it was related to her, done in her name in a sense.

But she hadn't left or made any indication that she planned to do that...only that she didn't really want to deal with that matter on top of trying to fix herself. One hurdle at a time.

So Willow's visit isn't unwelcome, but she's not quite prepared in her head how to respond. Everything feels awkward again. She understands though, this day isn't just about her. It was a big one for Willow as well.]

No it's fine. I've been getting visitors all day. Can you believe Faith got me a present? [It's said mostly to try and find something to smile over, to lighten the mood a little. She was making an effort.] She and Giles think alike apparently.

[frogfear]

Another crystal ball, huh?

[It's said with a hint of a shy smile as some of the tension drains away from Willow. She had been worried that Tara wouldn't want to see her, and it's a relief to discover that's not the case. Even if it feels strange, and awkward, like she's not completely sure where she stands, or if, between her issues and Tara's, it will ever be something they can completely work past.

She still wants to try.]

I - I got you something too. From John's shop - well. Luna's now, I guess.

How've you been?

[psychopepsquad]

I really don't have one here and it's not a bad gift.

[She might be able to use it for some meditation or channeling. Or maybe even trying to contact Baus. There was at least some thought put behind it, even if it left Faith feeling like she didn't really know Tara.

She is a little surprised Willow got her something as well, given that the day was awkward for them both. Still, she smiled shyly.]

You didn't have to get me anything. Or is that the custom? I'm so confused by Blessed Days.

[Loaded question, but she let a measure of her numb apathy show. The brief glimpse of warmth at least progress of some kind.]

Working at the Sanctuary is helping.

[So not great yet, but working on it.]

The Gardens

[unphase]

[in contrast, last month Tinya had spent a great deal in Argonaut's company. she'd chatter away at him, mostly about her fears of turning another year older in a place which wasn't home. her memories no longer matched, one set of memories at home and the other set at the other place. that set had branched off into this one and only the Mistress knew what would happen from this point.

and Tara didn't look lost exactly, but she did look deep in thought. maybe a little too deep?

so Tinya chose to make her way to the other young woman, making as much noise in the process as she could, until she was standing directly in front of Tara]

Not in the slightest. I was simply concerned.

[psychopepsquad]

Oh. [She gave a breathless laugh, feeling a bit silly.] I'm okay, just thinking thoughts today and going round in circles with my questions. It's not really that severe. Not what it could be.

[She hadn't seen Tinya since the catacombs. After the events there, she might have been a little too consumed with other things to have noticed her friend wasn't around. Now that they were face to face again, she realized her error.]

How are you? Are you okay?

[unphase]

I know that feeling. [after all, she had to continually justify to herself what she'd done to her "twin"] Still, sometimes the best way to figure out a question is a second opinion? No pressure, though, honest.

[she'd spent most of April chasing down the orbs and celebrating her nineteenth birthday. nineteen seemed impossible to her, it seemed like it was only yesterday she was fifteen and abruptly taken from home]

As okay as I can be around here. It's great, having the sun back but I miss Argonaut being around so much. He's...not like the others. At least not like the others I'd been around before. And I turned nineteen, which is weird.

[psychopepsquad]

I guess I was just thinking about how to get in touch with my patron. There were somethings I wanted to talk about, but I realized I have no idea how we're supposed to reach out to them.

[Which probably sounds like a silly question, but for someone who spent most of her time tuned out to Trench, it's a bit hard to suddenly jump back in.]

You did? When was your birthday?

The Sanctuary

[survivalthroughhate]

I am here to see visit magnificent tree.

[Maul for his part is oblivious to what The Sanctuary is doing. If he did, while he does have the power to help given his ability to pull corruption out of people and the areas around him, he'd be reluctant to offer it. He's found all too often his help is met with suspicion at best and with people accusing him of having ulterior motives. No, he's not about to be met with the idea that no deed goes unpunished.

What not many people know is that Maul actually loves being outside in nature, surrounded by plants and animals. It was how he'd first discovered he was Force-sensitive when he was young, being able to feel the life force in everything that lived in the woods that surrounded his home. He's been getting back to his roots lately, letting the serene energy of the woods relax him, calming him down, and centering him instead of always giving into his anger. So he loves the feelings he's been getting off the guardian saplings he's encountered thus far and keeps coming back to them.

Maul is being followed about thirty feet by an enormous Nightmare Steed. He looks vaguely like a unicorn, if a unicorn was crossed with a moose and a lion perhaps. The steed gives a low, deep whicker, nudging Maul none-too-gently with his enormous muzzle when he stops. Maul turns and pulls out a strip of dried meat, which the horse gently nibbles at until he's eaten it out of Maul's palm.]

Ignore him. [Maul says regarding the Nightmare Steed.] He's on an endless quest to be fed more meat.

[psychopepsquad]

Oh. Are you here to find guidance with the tree or draw on it for meditation? A lot of people come to help clear some of their corruption or for corruption therapy. I can help unblock energy channels as well.

[She was rambling. Since she was young, she had the ability to sense another's aura, able to get readings if something was off or a person was a bit of a threat. So far, Maul wasn't giving vibes, and given that Willow never described him, she had no idea that this was the man she should be on guard for.

His steed draws her focus and a measure of delight. She had always loved horses as a girl, seeing one (even if slightly horrific) was a nice surprise.]

Is it okay if I stroke his nose?

[survivalthroughhate]

I've come for some meditation. I like these trees. They provide a sense of.....balance.

[Maul's not good with explaining his own inner emotions but he definitely feels more at peace when he's near one of the guardian saplings. It makes him feel calmer and turns the volume of rage and anger down in his mind by quite a bit.

He hesitates for a moment as he gazes upon the Nightmare Steed when Tara asks to pet him. It's not like the big beast belongs to him or anything like that. In fact, it was more like the other way around, the horse-like creature had chosen him once Maul had worn him down into a state of submission.]

You may try. Just show no fear. He can smell it.

[True facts. He's tried to bite Maul's hand off before for showing fear towards him when he tried to pet him. Fortunately, Snow White had shown him the best way to react to such a creature.]

[psychopepsquad]

Oh. That's great! I've been leading those who want it in meditation, also to help circulate a flow of energy and purify where needed. Especially anyone with corruption. I don't want to make presumptions though. If you'd like to meditate on your own, I can leave you be. It's just sort of on offer those who need a bit of help.

[She nodded, centering herself a bit before approaching the horse. She'd been around enough in her life to have an idea how to approach and touch horses that never encountered her before. She's not really afraid, it's not as if pain registers that much of late.

So long as it doesn't lash out, she strokes its nose gently, maintaining a level of calm eye contact, nickering under her breath.]

Where did you find him?