deercountry | Blessed Day [Open]

Entry tags:

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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[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?

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.

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?

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.

[ 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.

[ 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. ]

[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?

[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.

[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.

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.

[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.

Is it weird when your friend kind of agrees with you? I think that's one of the Slayer superpowers?

[She admires Faith for a lot more than that. Save for Dawn, it's hard to imagine someone that she's closer friends with. Somehow, in desperation, she let down her defenses and saw how similar she was to Faith. How if her anger at her family, rather than her fear, had taken control. Would they be that much different? Faith might love herself as much as she should, but Tara was content to love her enough for both of them.]

I hope so. I wanted to see if I could get some advice on what I'm trying to do to...feel again? Have you spoken to yours?

[She genuinely smiles, surprised and touched at Faith's thoughtfulness.]

You got me a present? Really? I mean, yes, I'd love that, but you didn't have to-

.. 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. ]

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?

[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.

[Faith grins.] I'd be damn offended if you didn't. But nah, that's just a me special. And a Buffy special too, if you were wondering. There's been some ugly ones by my judgement.

[She did go on a tour through the long, long, long line of her lineage when she took that spice last month. That was weird, but informative. Sineya certainly explained some things, in her own cryptic way. And the many others, including the two killed by William the Bloody, they answered a few of her questions too.] Yeah. We've got the same one, remember? Think Willow does too. Baus is easier to find than most, especially this month. I've seen them up on the roofs a fair bit.

[Faith shrugs, bashful and covering it up with a cool aloofness that still broadcasts that she cares.]

You're my roommate. What are friends for, y'know? It's uh... a crystal ball. Back home, wrapped it up in this fancy cloth. I didn't really know what to get you, so... didn't get super creative, I guess.

[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?

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.]

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?

Really? [Why hadn't she thought much about past slayers before? Buffy hadn't talked much about it, neither did Giles. She knew Buffy looked into them before, but it was related to their deaths. Aside from that, she didn't know too many names.] Have you done research about them?

[She nodded. It was a nice coincidence for the Sunnydale crew, all sharing the same Patron.]

You have? Do they seem as empathetic as people say?

[So did she just wander until she found them?]

That's not a bad gift. I don't know what happened to the one Giles got me, so I could use the replacement. That's very thoughtful of you. Thanks.

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.

[ Ange thinks quietly for a moment, only exhaling a breath. ]

Well, I guess it does seem like some of them aren't necessarily aggressive.. [ After all, Argonaut was hanging around with people as if it was nothing last month.

But that still doesn't mean she trusts them in the slightest. Especially since her own was nothing but a total pain in the ass back in March. ]

Still.. you should make sure to be careful, you know? These Pthumerians hold a whole lot of influence over us. There's no telling what they could turn us into at the drop of a hat if they felt like it.

[ And it kind of seems to Ange like Tara has already been overwhelmed enough ever since ending up here. The last thing the other would need is to have even more to deal with. ]

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.

What do I look like? A nerd? [Jokes aside, she shifts a little, the slightest bit nervous.] Nah... I just took these weird space drugs at a party. Apparently it allowed me to... talk to my descendents, I guess? There were a lot of them.

[She shrugs, trying to play it cool. She won't bring up that she saw Buffy. Only Buffy didn't remember her. She'd just freshly died, after all.] They're pretty chill. About as empathetic as the Pthumerians can get. They're different from humans, but Baus is trying.

Honestly, I just... figured it's probably what a witch would want, I guess. I've never really had anyone to get gifts for. [Maybe if she'd stayed with the Mayor long enough to get to father's day, she would have. Maybe if she'd stayed with Buffy, she'd have reached another Christmas where she could afford better gifts for them than the cruddy ones she got them. But they're both gone now.]

No, it's a good gift, and a really nice gesture.

[It's just hard not to see the humour in a crystal ball becoming a very traditional gift for Tara to receive from their friends, but there's no doubt in her mind, Faith had given it with no shortage of consideration for something Tara would find genuinely useful.]

I don't know if gift giving's really traditional for Blessed Days, but our patrons give us things, so, maybe?

[The blanket from Bausphomette was a welcomed gift, although she could do without the transformation aspect of it. There's enough transformations in her life already. But it feels like a thoughtful present all the same.

Willow reaches into her pocket and holds out a small package wrapped in plain paper. Inside is a rose quartz pendant on a soft leather necklace.]

It, uh, might help with your meditation.

I'm glad being here helps.

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Blessed Day [Open]

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