deercountry | Blessed Day [Open]

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Blessed Day [Open]

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?

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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.

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?

Oh? Who's your patron? Maybe they'll realize they need to find you? It was like that with me and Argonaut, I was despairing, fearing that I'd never see my son or my husband again and that even if I did, things wouldn't end well. But I guess Argonaut could feel my feelings because next thing I knew, he was at my bedroom window. We had a long talk and....things seemed better afterwards.

[Tinya would like to think that the next time she goes home, her journeys will be at an end. but she also knows she can't guarantee that. no one can]

Sure did! It was the twenty-first.

Baus. I've heard they're one of the better patrons to have, but I should still be careful about what I want to talk to them about. So there's a chance that if I want it bad enough, they'll show up and talk to me?

[She wasn't sure talking would make her feel better, but it was a preferable solution to the current problem.]

I'm sorry I missed it. I owe you a present and maybe a cupcake.

Really? They're the one who transforms, right? With all of the possible transformations this place has to offer, yeah, I'd assume they're one of the better ones. And it was that way for me and Argonaut. He must have felt that I needed him, so there he was. I'd imagine yours should be the same.

[Tinya, though, has yet to transform. and never wants to. she's vain enough to consider her current exterior far better than any the Pthumerians could offer her]

No, it's okay. I shouldn't have been expecting a big deal to have been made. So I'll take your well-wishes and that will be all I need.

That just means being patient. [It's not that difficult for Tara, but it's still a little frustrating.] I think they're the one who transforms, but I think he's better to have because of empathy. Supposedly.

Well, have my well wishes doubly over.

[She offers Tinya a hug, letting her decide if she wanted to receive the gesture of affection.]

Yeah, I guess so? I don't know, maybe...focus really hard on how much you want to talk to them and they'll show up? And empathy is entirely underrated. So that should make them a natural to want to help.

[and Tinya smiles brightly] Thank you, I really appreciate them!

[and hugs. yes, a hug. she'd always been the affectionate type, especially with her friends]

It makes it sound like I should just pray. [Which is an amusing image.] I've heard the patrons can be tricky. The sort that play pranks or has a wicked sense of humor.

[Hugs are a must with Tara.]

Did something good at least happen that day?

Ew! Ew! No, not that at all. [a pause] Not because I do have a Goddess of my own to pray to, but I don't like the idea of treating the Pthumerians as gods. And from what I've seen of them, that sounds pretty accurate. The Mistress knows they like to play tricks on us, depending upon whom it is.

[and Tinya loves hugs and loves to give hugs! bonus!]

Yes, I had the most amazing cake. White cake flavored with rosewater and a buttercream frosting with rosewater in that, too. And large bouquets of blue roses. It was beautiful.

I suspect that they would like us to treat them like gods...or, well, the majority of them. I don't really pray as it is. I used to as a girl, but my dad was very forceful about his beliefs and I had to follow them. At least the Pthumerians aren't forcing us to worship them.

That sounds beautiful. I wish I had known about it so I could have joined you.

Maybe I could buy you a cupcake or something now?

I do, on occasion. The Mistress is a Goddess of love, in all of its forms, so I pray when I find someone to love. And...that's kind of a jerk move, forcing you to follow what he wanted. [a pause] Is Earth still a patriarchy when you're from? And I'd imagine they'd get a lot of blow-back from just about all of us if they did try to force things.

It's okay! We can celebrate it now, or celebrate in general whenever we like.

[and she looks a little surprised, but in a good way] Sure, I'm never going to pass up a cupcake.

Uh, it's a patriarchy depending where you are. [No, that's a lie. It's a total patriarchy.] I lived on a farm with my family, so it was a lot more prominent and controlling. Yeah, that is the nice thing here. We're all in this together. It helps.

I can celebrate now. I'm off at the moment.

I like cupcakes on my birthday...or I did. So I thought maybe you might too?

Ohhhh. That was one reason why my home planet waited so long to make first contact. We're a strict matriarchy and for so long Earth was a patriarchy. So my many times over great-grandmothers didn't think contact was worth the risk. [it's fairly even by the 31st century, but Bgztl is and always will be a matriarchy, with Tinya and her family in the center of it] Living with a family like that, it sounds awful. It's a credit to you that you didn't fall into those patterns. [said matter-of fact, but with a smile] We are. And it does. The blood types alone would be enough to bind us.

Okay, great!

I would. But don't hold it against me when I go for red velvet with a cream cheese center and cream cheese icing!

[It sounds like something one of her father's drinking buddies might claim, talking to a being from another world. Tara's learned not to get caught up in how surreal it feels and go with the flow. Since Sunnydale, what wasn't really possible?]

A matriarchy? I wish I could see that.

[Even with her mother, they both had been left under the fist of her father.]

Hold it against you? I'd question your taste if you didn't order that!

[while Tinya's used to just about every life form in the known galaxies. though, it's hard sometimes to avoid falling into old, self-serving patterns, the ones her mother had taught her since her grandmother's untimely death.

~~if she didn't call it a murder, maybe it wouldn't hurt so bad?~~]

It's...really something. And the marriage market is insane, most people betroth their babies as soon as they're born. A family with a first son always hopes for a first-born daughter of another House, but that's no guarantee of happiness. Most of the time, women take lovers among the lower houses, other women, and so on, seeing their husbands as little more than the seed to birth and grow another daughter.

[goodness knew grandmother had seen it that way.

and Tinya laughs merrily] Then best hope the pastry shop in question doesn't also have macarons. I can't be held responsible for what I've done if they do.

Okay, maybe that would be a bit much for me? [What with, you know, not really dating boys and all. Getting married off seems like something her father would have forced on her. But his tune always seemed to change about what he wanted. Either she should remain pure and not spread her "demon blood" or she needed a good man to keep her in line. She could only imagine how he might be if arranged marriages were a thing.] Still, the power of women being respected, it's so outlandish to me.

I can't say I've had those before. Let's hope they have some so I can try them too!

It's a bit much for me, too! So it's a good thing I'm a half-breed, no one wanted their sons to marry me, despite being an only daughter of the most powerful House on my planet. [and she does mean her planet] And, I guess it is? At least on most planets I've heard of. But my mother is terrifying, so everything's got a trade off.

Oh, sweet Mistress, they're so good! Little French sandwich cookies made in about every flavor you can imagine. They've definitely got to have some now! [she'll will them into existence]

Your house was the most powerful? [That was impressive credentials to a former farm girl and woman that had never felt fully comfortable in her own skin.] My mom was powerful, but she really wasn't terrifying. She was kind and soft, which I guess my father wanted in a wife.

Yeah, I've seen them in movies and tv, but I've never tried them. [Tara nodded, falling into step with her.] Let's go.

[Tinya straightens her posture instinctively] Yes. We're queens on our home world, but while great-grandmother rules, Mother has contented herself with ruling the entire United Galaxies. [and she listens to what Tara has to say with gentle eyes] Your father shouldn't have been afraid of your mother's power. I--I know that's easy to say from here, but your mother deserved better.

[Tinya grins at Tara when she falls into step] Wonderful! And the place I'm thinking of also has the most delightful teas, like rose Earl Grey.

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Blessed Day [Open]

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(CW: murder)

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