Tara Maclay (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
moontothetide) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
animus_network2012-07-02 05:29 pm
moontothetide) wrote in animus_network2012-07-02 05:29 pm
1st Message
I-Is this thing on?
[The screen shows Tara, looking more than a little confused and lost as she fiddles around with the settings on the terminal. Those of who you know her might be able to tell that she's different in appearance. Gone is most of the softness to her body. Now, muscles can be seen on her arms, as her shaking hands move over the terminal's settings. Her face is leaner, more angled, less round. Even so, she still looks healthy. She's lost weight, since being voted out and dropped back into the tower. But she hasn't starved. She's taken care of herself.
She also looks like she's been crying. Even now, Tara takes a swipe at her eyes as though chasing away the last few tears.]
It's...is it usual for people to be just...gone? To just...go away and, a-and not be here anymore?
...does anyone know what happens to them? I mean...our worlds, th-they're gone, right? So...if they're not here...w-where are they?
[But she knows. She knows in her heart what's happened. And so Tara plunges on, onto new concerns, onto new friends, onto new life and new problems that she might just be able to do something about. Tara wipes at her eyes, sniffles a bit more, and then forces herself to look back up at the camera.]
Well...it looks like the food's back, a-and the power, and...I've seen some people that, th-that I thought were in the pods with us. Guess that means it's over, right? That's...th-that's good. That's s-something.
Are you all okay? Everyone? Being back here, and all. I mean...I-I can't do a lot, with healing. But I can do some. I know a potion. Trust me. I-It helps. So, i-if you're still not feeling great...give me a call.
...I'm okay. [Some of you will know that this is directed very deliberately at you.] I mean, I'm tired, but...I-I'm okay.
[Tara turns to go, but stares down at her feet when she apparently bumps against something. Her eyes go wide in recollection.]
Oh! [Here Tara reaches down to her feet, and comes up holding a much battered library book. The title reveals it to be a book on edible plants. All in a rush, Tara forces out this last, sounding as though she's practiced it in front of the mirror] ...for later once, um, everyone's rested a-and gotten back on their feet a bit...I, I kind of think maybe we should prepare? In case something like this happens again.
I mean...it seems like they fight a lot. I, I wouldn't be surprised, if they all started fighting and left us here some time again. So, um, if anyone's interested...maybe we could all meet up? Swap tips? I only know about, um, plants from my world. Didn't know if, if there was anything else f-from somewhere else that I could have eaten.
...th-thank you.
((ooc: Holy frack, sorry for the TL;DR. But these were all the points weighing heavily on Tara's mind, and I thought it made sense for her to get them all out of the way at once. I'll be making a proper log post in a couple of days, in case anyone would prefer to catch her there.))
[The screen shows Tara, looking more than a little confused and lost as she fiddles around with the settings on the terminal. Those of who you know her might be able to tell that she's different in appearance. Gone is most of the softness to her body. Now, muscles can be seen on her arms, as her shaking hands move over the terminal's settings. Her face is leaner, more angled, less round. Even so, she still looks healthy. She's lost weight, since being voted out and dropped back into the tower. But she hasn't starved. She's taken care of herself.
She also looks like she's been crying. Even now, Tara takes a swipe at her eyes as though chasing away the last few tears.]
It's...is it usual for people to be just...gone? To just...go away and, a-and not be here anymore?
...does anyone know what happens to them? I mean...our worlds, th-they're gone, right? So...if they're not here...w-where are they?
[But she knows. She knows in her heart what's happened. And so Tara plunges on, onto new concerns, onto new friends, onto new life and new problems that she might just be able to do something about. Tara wipes at her eyes, sniffles a bit more, and then forces herself to look back up at the camera.]
Well...it looks like the food's back, a-and the power, and...I've seen some people that, th-that I thought were in the pods with us. Guess that means it's over, right? That's...th-that's good. That's s-something.
Are you all okay? Everyone? Being back here, and all. I mean...I-I can't do a lot, with healing. But I can do some. I know a potion. Trust me. I-It helps. So, i-if you're still not feeling great...give me a call.
...I'm okay. [Some of you will know that this is directed very deliberately at you.] I mean, I'm tired, but...I-I'm okay.
[Tara turns to go, but stares down at her feet when she apparently bumps against something. Her eyes go wide in recollection.]
Oh! [Here Tara reaches down to her feet, and comes up holding a much battered library book. The title reveals it to be a book on edible plants. All in a rush, Tara forces out this last, sounding as though she's practiced it in front of the mirror] ...for later once, um, everyone's rested a-and gotten back on their feet a bit...I, I kind of think maybe we should prepare? In case something like this happens again.
I mean...it seems like they fight a lot. I, I wouldn't be surprised, if they all started fighting and left us here some time again. So, um, if anyone's interested...maybe we could all meet up? Swap tips? I only know about, um, plants from my world. Didn't know if, if there was anything else f-from somewhere else that I could have eaten.
...th-thank you.
((ooc: Holy frack, sorry for the TL;DR. But these were all the points weighing heavily on Tara's mind, and I thought it made sense for her to get them all out of the way at once. I'll be making a proper log post in a couple of days, in case anyone would prefer to catch her there.))
[Action]
No alone time for Tara, either. She's spent two weeks alone. It gets lonely.
Tara is standing and examining a guitar when Taro comes in, but she looks up at the sound of his voice. She smiles with tentative happiness, and waves to him with one hand. Her other is clenched tight around something.] Taro! H-Hi! It's, um, it's really good to see you.
[Action]
It's good to see you, too. Are you... holding up okay?
Re: [Action]
...I promised I would.
And it's, um, it's just...really nice to have everyone back and, and having things back to normal.
[Action]
... Did you uh... get something from home, too?
Re: [Action]
...still. Um, nice.
[...and then, she blurts out all in a rush:] I-I made you something.
Re: [Action]
You... did? Why would you - you didn't have to make me anything...
[This is a little awkward... but it's nice to be thought of, honestly.]
Re: [Action]
It's, um, i-it's a hematite.
[The bottom of her trunk had been lined with her mystical crystal collection. After spending a month in Riki's pod, Tara thought Taro might need a bit of mental balance.]
...I wanted to.
[Action]
Thanks. I appreciate it. I really do. Balance and grounding, huh? I can't say I don't need it. Especially with... well.
[He pulls something out of his pocket with his free hand, showing a small tape recorder. It looks like it's been beat up, and there's a little bit of dried blood on the corner.]
I found this in my trunk.
Re: [Action]
Is that Taro's blood?]
...f-from home?
[Action]
[He suddenly looks really uncomfortable.]
Re: [Action]
And, um, th-that's...that's not good?
Re: [Action]
Well it's just... really uncomfortable. I sound tough and brave on the tape but... I'm really not. And I'm really worried about everyone at home - I'm pretty sure the world's not destroyed. So it's just... reminding me of how much there is to worry about.
[He tucks it back into his pocket.]
Sorry. I didn't mean to... you did a really nice thing for me. I shouldn't... be upsetting you. I'm sorry...
Re: [Action]
...w-we're friends so, um, you can tell me stuff. If you want to.
[Tara couldn't be there for her friends before, when she was sick and weak and miserable, but...well, she's better now, so maybe she can now.]
Re: [Action]
[He just... sits down in one of the chairs meant for people who are playing instruments and puts his head in his hands.]
It's really frustrating. I don't know what to do about... anything, at home or here. At home I can't do anything, and here we're stuck with sick people in charge who can mess with our brains and abilities - during the last week they made me think my illusions were going out of control.
[Taro sighs, rubbing his face before looking back up at her.]
I'm pretty sure I lost some fur just from stress last month. I know I lost weight. I'm... I don't know what to do. I'm always the one who has some idea, but not this time. I have no clue.
Re: [Action]
...eating would help. I mean, um, your head gets kind of fuzzy, w-when you're starving. I-I know, trust me. And, and maybe try not to stress out so much? I mean...it's like studying for a test, or working on a math problem. If you stress out too much, you aren't ever going to see the answer.
Re: [Action]
I know. You're right. But... I feel really lost. I don't know what to do. I'm not... that powerful. I'm not that brave or strong or smart. I'm just lucky sometimes. And I want to help everyone, but I don't know where to start.
[Taro pauses, and chuckles quietly.]
I... I do need to calm down though. Something distracting... ah!
[He suddenly brightens, getting an idea and standing up, heading over to pick up an electric guitar. He plugs it in, and thinks for a second, before starting to strum out the intro riff to Iron Man. ... Shush, modern music is awesome.]
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She doesn't recognize the song, but it's certainly upbeat, and energetic, and they both need that right now. So Tara smiles encouragingly up at him, bopping in time in her seat, while he plays, and applauds when he finishes.] That was r-really good, Taro! I-I didn't know you played like that!
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I kind of went through a two-decade serious obsession with rock music in the '60s and '70s. It's just something I picked up - I'm not the best at it, but it's fun.
Let's see... do you know this one?
[Taro starts strumming out another song, and this time uses his abilities to make the other instruments sound like they're playing in the background. No vocals though.]
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"Hello, hello, hello, how low..."
[She has a very high voice, and it's not often she can get up the courage to sing in front of anyone at all. In fact, the last time she sang for anyone was...
...Tara makes it to the end before she realizes there are tears trickling down her cheeks.]
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Hey... did I do something wrong? I'm sorry...
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It hurts, but it doesn't hurt so much as it once did.]
No. N-No, you didn't. Y-You're a really good friend, Taro. It's just...m-memories. You just reminded me of s-someone.
[Two someones, really, which is part of why it's affected her so badly. It's been a while since she's thought of Rupert Giles.]
I guess I just...kind of miss home. M-More than I thought I did.
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[He pats her on the back gently, trying to be comforting.]
You'll be able to get home soon. I know it. We'll find a way.
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[It was a possibility, with hers' more than others'. It was always a possibility with her world.
And besides...]
I-I don't know why I miss it. I mean...it's, it's not like there was a lot for me there.
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[She loves him for his faith in her, even if she can't bring herself to share it.]
S-Sorry. I didn't mean...I r-really loved your playing. You're really good and, and I usually don't know any music anyone else knows. I-I never got out much. Didn't have time.
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