video;

[truesight]

So... Hi.

[ man it's tricky starting these things, isn't it? well, it wasn't the first time. but that was before she turned into a manic not-zombie for about a week, so. eh. anyway! she's not sick anymore, but she still looks a little worse for wear. she sounds tired, voice rough from screaming once she really started to lose it. she almost only went on voice instead, but she's not really the type to hide. even if the right side of her face is marked up still, dark scars of long scratches she gave herself while she was sick, trying to get the buzzing noise in her head to stop. the nanites might've amped her body's ability to heal, but traces of the Flare aren't completely gone just yet. STILL.

Rachel's been stuck in bed for too long, and if she can offer something helpful? she's going to do it. and no she's not thinking of the long-term, but she probably is going to leave the offer open for more than just this. compensation? what's that? ]

I know everybody's busy cleaning up and getting things back to normal, and I'm not, um, there yet with the being able to help thing, so... I thought I'd offer something I can do. [ taptaptaptap her fingers drum on the flat of her sketchbook, off screen ] The Porter, or whatever, gave me the power of being able to pull the things I draw off the page and make them real. Only stuff, and food, not animals or anything too complex, but. If anybody got reckless while they were sick, like I did, I guess I'm just offering to replace anything that might've gotten broken or destroyed because of all this.

Or- anything, I don't know. Clothes, food, supplies for rebuilding. Pretty much anything. I'd just like to help. [ she pulls on a grin, her hand moving up to absently scratch her face but aaaah no nope not doing that ] Just let me know, yeah? I was thinking about heading to the park later on, so I can meet people there, or- Wherever. Just let me know.

Comments

[truesight]

Sure thing. Just let me know.

[onthegroundsofbrooklyn]

Meanwhile, you glad to be home?

[truesight]

Yeah, absolutely. That quarantine center was- not fun. I don't even remember half of it, but I don't miss it.

But hey, I do remember you talking me down, at the beginning. That was about the only time I felt relaxed enough to get some sleep. So- thank you for that.

[onthegroundsofbrooklyn]

I woulda come to see you but they wouldn't let me in.

[truesight]

Oh, no I don't- [ her expression doesn't go dark or anything, but her oh hey hi i like talking to you smile sort of drops fast at that ]

I'm glad you weren't allowed in there. It was awful, Spot. We weren't just sick, it was- People were trying to tear each other apart. Literally. I know you're tough, but. [ nopenopenopenope shaking her head a lot, cause now she's got the willies just thinking about it ] It was like we knew who was sick and who wasn't.

[onthegroundsofbrooklyn]

Yeah, I heard all about it.

[truesight]

And you still tried to come visit me?

[onthegroundsofbrooklyn]

Sure did.

[truesight]

Spot.

I can't figure out if I'm mad or flattered. I'll let you know when I do.

[onthegroundsofbrooklyn]

One of my sisters got tuberculosis, and I slept in the same bed as her, if I didn't get that I wouldn't get this.

[truesight]

That's not what I meant. [ him getting sick, right. but then what he just said actually clicks and ] M'sorry.

We weren't just sick, is all I meant. You could've gotten hurt. In a bad way. In a bad people were using their teeth to- [ she shakes her head, looking kind of small again ] I'm just glad it's over.

[onthegroundsofbrooklyn]

It don't matter, you's fine, and people are better.

[truesight]

True.

I'm probably going to hug you for a long time when you come visit, I hope that's okay. I'm only giving you this warning so you're prepared for it.

[onthegroundsofbrooklyn]

Then you're a braver girl than most.

[truesight]

It wouldn't be the first time I've heard that.

[onthegroundsofbrooklyn]

I'll come by in twenty minutes, all right?

[truesight]

See you soon.

[ in the meantime! she's going to keep drawing things for people. it's really mostly just been food and clothes, occasionally toys, which is fun. she doesn't jump up at the first sign of Spot, she's not about to get all dramatic here, but he's still got a few yards until he's reached her bench when she finally does get to her feet, and it's veryvery obvious she's going right in for the hug. right away. and you know it's kinda great that they're the same height because her arms loop around his shoulders, chin resting there. she's not squishing him, but it's kind of a hello and a thank you ( no seriously thank you ) all rolled up into one, so it's got some grip. it's a good hug. ]

Hi.

[onthegroundsofbrooklyn]

[He goes a little bit tense at the first part of the hug, but then he relaxes into it, puts his arms around her too, his face in her hair.]

You're a forward little thing.

[But it's said so affectionately.]

[truesight]

Well, yeah. But it's just a hug. [ she sounds amused, but it does click a little later that ohyeah. 1890something. maybe a girl hugging a guy she's still relatively new friends with really was forward. huh! she almost makes a "remind me not to wear shorts around you", but his hesitation wasn't lost on her, and she keeps the joke to herself. she's just glad to feel him eventually relax.

and she's not purposely trying to hide her face from him, but she's quick to turn once she pulls away from the hug, walking back to her bench ]

Let's sit.

[onthegroundsofbrooklyn]

You think I hug every girl I know?

[He's grinning, though, and he catches her hand. He's never done this, held hands with a girl, been affectionate like this - his boys would already be thinking about how this could change things, and he would have to bust some skulls, and then they would surround Rachel, too-

Being in charge means thinking like is just second nature.]

You been clearing things up? Has it been working?

[truesight]

Maybe. Who knows?

[ maybe he's just being honest, but it still makes her chest do that flip-flop thing that makes it hard to do anything but laugh, too pleased. she, on the other hand, is a hugger. she hugs all of her friends. more often than not she uses physical contact when engaging someone, little gestures. it doesn't make what he said any less flattering, though.

holding hands? also not new territory, but it's been a while, sure, and that's enough to catch her up for a second. she's unprepared for it, which makes even worse. or better. depends on how you look at it. but her fingers move to loosely lace up with his, like it's really just some weird kind of instinct she's not going to question, an easy grip ]

You mean my power? Yeah. It's actually getting easier, the more I use it.

[onthegroundsofbrooklyn]

[He rests his free hand on the head of his cane, easily, tipping his head a little to look at her.]

Yeah, mine too. It almost feels like second nature, sometimes.

[His isn't nearly as useful as hers, though.]

[truesight]

Yeah. Oh, yeah, about that- Did you use your power on me? Over the video feed.

[ she sounds more curious than anything else, still holding his hand even once she starts slouching and shifting a bit to get comfy on that bench again ]

It's okay if you did. I just remember the doctors trying to figure out how I was able to chill out at that stage of things, and I just told them that I talked to you, and that you told me I should, and that was enough to clear it up. Did this place give you the power of persuasion?

[onthegroundsofbrooklyn]

Yeah-

[He rubs his nose with his thumb, a gesture that's second nature to him, smooth and casual.]

It's perception alteration. Did it help?

[truesight]

Mhm. Yeah. It wasn't like an overwhelming mind-control kind of feeling, but I remember listening to you talk and it just made it a lot easier to stop freaking out. [ she nods ] Although I don't think you need that power, honestly.

[ she's taking a second to look at him again, eyes leveled with his like she's about to make some kind of important statement. but really ]

I'm pretty sure you could ask for just about anything with those baby blues and people would be falling over themselves to make it happen. [ her free hand moves to tuck against her cheek, and when she leans her elbow on her knee, she's doing her best impression of someone that's completely smitten with the boy sitting next to her, sighing and grinning. which isn't that hard, but she'll think about that later. her tone is light and airy with over-exaggerated admiration ] Sure thing, Spot. Anything you say, Spot.