'...nothing but a numbered code and a name...a show of support...those we weren't able to save...'
Rahma's breathing had quickened considerably, her eyes widening slightly, unable to contain the wave of emotion that washed over her. She remembered a small hand, just bigger than her own, reaching out for her, calling her by a name that she hadn't known for sixteen years. Why had she taken her name? She had never been able to figure it out, but when the American soldiers spoke to her with sweet voices, trying to coax her own voice out of her throat, calling her their 'Mercy Star', she had forgotten herself.
"Another name," she whispered, her hands shaking on the rifle. Her eyes flashed dangerously. "Another label." His voice was calming, though, and it carefully overrode those screaming in her mind not to trust him, not to trust anyone.
She began to lower her weapon, but then she caught sight of the blonde woman taking another step forward, out of the corner of her eye. Immediately, she whipped around, pointing the gun at Spirit. "Show your face!" she commanded, feeling Adala's hand slowly reach up and touch her arm. She glanced down at her daughter, then breathed out deeply. Stepping back, she lowered her weapon. "Show me what you're hiding."
Abia began to cry, and Rahma looked towards her sharply, feeling her chest clench a little at the sound. Asahd looked at her desperately, not quite sure how to calm the screaming child, and Rahma realized that something had to give.
Taking a deep breath again and letting it out slowly, she looked back towards Jasper. "Show me your secrets, and I will come."
-
Spirit felt a sickening feeling in her stomach at the words Jasper said to her, the insistence that he knew what he was doing, that he could handle the crazy woman with a gun. She knew she shouldn't have sent him out. She should have sent one of her more experienced recruiters. Maybe even herself. She should have gone herself, not Jasper. She was certain she could get a week off of work, though it wouldn't be easy. She knew how to communicate with her bosses. Jasper should not have been sent into another warzone, and she had known it from the beginning. And she had let it happen, yet again.
'No, Thorbjorg, watch the back. Bring up the rear. I'll lead...Yes, I know what I'm doing. Stop worrying. They're more likely to attack from the back anyway, and you can handle that. You need to trust me. Trust me.'
She was determined not to make the same mistake again. "Listen, Rahma, just put down the weapon and-" she had taken a step forward, but that was obviously a mistake in and of itself, for the rifle was then pointed at her. She felt a small rush of fear, but she knew that if the woman shot her, she could easily phase through it. A few minutes of pain was always better than a long-healing wound.
"Look," Spirit raised her hands a little higher. "I'll show you." Slowly, she used one hand to brush back the bangs on the right side of her face, wincing just a tad at the cool air hitting her empty socket. But Rahma had looked back to Jasper now. Spirit kept the hair out of her face, instead watching Jasper intently and nervously to see what his next move would be.
-
How was it that Diego always knew what to say? Ziva couldn't stop the tears that began to flow again. She hated it. She hated how much more sensitive she was nowadays, but her hormones were at a significant imbalance thanks to the creature - no, baby, that's what Diego was trying to make her understand - brewing slowly in her womb. She closed her eyes again, trying to ride the wave of emotions rather than be crushed underneath it all. He was such a cheesy pain in the butt, but she knew that that was also part of why she loved him.
"You're so dumb..." she murmured, unable to find any other words to express just how much she appreciated him. She dropped the earbuds with him, glancing down at her stomach. How could that look so perfect? A dark tan hand above her own pale tan one, both hovering above that spot where their creation - their... their baby... - was growing.
She looked back up at Diego, feeling her heart bursting with love. Her free hand reached up to lightly touch his face like he did to her. She didn't know how to express it. She didn't know how to do...any of this. How did he seem to know? A small moment of anxiety overcame her as she thought that he must have done this before, with another girl. Of course, she wasn't the first. The other girls weren't the first, either. And considering he was here, with her, they certainly weren't the lasts. How did she know she'd be the last? How could she know...any of it? There was so much uncertainty, it was causing her to slowly panic.
But she needed to show him that she reciprocated his supposed feelings, if only because she could do nothing else. And he was so gosh darn smooth, enticing, charming, wonderful... In a sudden burst of confidence, or fear, or maybe just simply love, she leaned forward. Still holding one side of his face, she gently pressed her lips against his.
The kiss wasn't necessarily deep, or impassioned. It was something small, something sweet, like the baby they were going to share. Ziva knew that she had done the right thing for once in her life. Maybe she could enjoy this... Maybe this could be a good thing, the few of them...
Britters
Level 72
The Eggstraordinaire
Joined: 8/25/2014
Threads: 167
Posts: 2,041
Posted: 5/13/2019 at 4:09 PM
Post #492
Based on the information he had read in his book, Diego now understood in greater detail why Ziva was so emotional. Firstly, she'd had problems with anxiety ever since he'd met her, so if you added pregnancy hormones on top of that...well, he was no longer surprised by her moodswings. This was already a complicated situation they found themselves in, but he knew it as going to be a particularly rough journey for Ziva. Thankfully, he had no intentions of ever making her feel abandoned or unloved ever again, so he as confident he could help her through it.
"Dumb but cute, right?" he responded to her with a cheesy grin, wiggling his eyebrows at her playfully, "Hopefully the baby gets your brains..." He trailed off as he realized just how real what he'd said was making this.
There as no hesitation in Diego about being a parent. A few doubts here and there about caring for an infant, but mostly he was just so elated about being able to actually be with Ziva, and so determined to help her see this as a blessing, there was just hardly any room for anything else. He found himself excited about the idea of being a father when he was able to think past them being here on this island. That part was something to be figured out along the way, and today was not the day to solve that problem. Today was about Ziva and helping her see things from his point of view.
When Ziva shifted next to him, Diego was at first worried she was starting to feel crowded and overwhelmed and so he almost pulled away, but then she reached up and put her hand on his face. He froze, still as a statue, not daring to even breathe lest he spook her away from whatever she was trying to do here. Even since they had confessed their feelings for each other, besides at night when they cuddles in bed she never made any moves without being prompted. If she was finally finding that courage, he was certainly not going to do anything to make her change her mind.
However, what Diego wasn't totally expecting or prepared for, was just how his mind and body were going to react when Ziva gently pressed her lips to his, for the first time doing it on her own. It was like a surge of electricity jolted through his body in response to her boldness. His arms went around her so fast it was like they'd been there all the time, and he kissed her back with enough passion that it felt as though the exam table might burst into flames. One of his hands found itself in the small of her back where his fingertips gently began working their way under the hem to the bare skin beneath, and the other buried itself into her beautifully thick dark hair, and then...
"Crap, crap," he said, pulling back slightly as a single moment of clarity managed to penetrate his...well, his guy brain, and he realized what he was doing, "Sorry, I'm sorry, Z. I...I got carried away." He could feel his cheeks and knew he was blushing up a storm, and he'd never been more grateful for his darker colored skin.
Edited By Britters on 5/13/2019 at 8:36 PM.
Creativity
Level 72
Cutely Creative
Joined: 3/4/2013
Threads: 255
Posts: 5,902
Posted: 5/14/2019 at 12:26 AM
Post #493
There were parts of Ziva that wanted to give Diego what she knew he wanted. There were parts of her that leaned closer to him as he became so vitally impassioned. He was a teenage boy, and there was really only one thing on a teenage boy's mind. She loved the joy riding off of him in waves, the feeling of his hands in her hair and on her back.
And if she was being truthful with herself, there were parts of her, deep down, buried beneath all of her anxiety and worries and abandonment issues, that wanted Diego in the exact same way she knew he wanted her. It was the parts of her that made her accept his passion for a couple seconds and try to match it, lighting a fire to the gasoline she had poured around the two of them. Those were the parts that responded so fervently on the night of graduation, that ignited it all. They were the parts that terrified Ziva, shook her down to her very soul.
Then, that other side of her, the side that was neglected and then abandoned, the side that was hardly touched by her parents, reared its ugly, anxious head once again. Uncertainty stabbed her heart and her stomach rolled in worry. When she felt Diego's fingertips brush the bare skin on her back, she reacted just as he seemed to come to.
She squirmed almost a full foot across the exam table, away from the uncertainty of Diego, before she stabilized herself a little bit. Immediately, her hands came up to cover her face, hiding herself because she knew she was blushing furiously - unfortunately, her skin was a bit lighter than Diego's, so it showed more and also crying again. She heard his desperate apologies, though, and the pendulum swung again violently.
"Oh, oh no..." she whimpered, scooting back over to him in spite of the painful feeling in her chest. She held her hands out to him, as if to touch him, but hesitated, holding back. "No, y-you should be able to... I-I mean... I'm your... I have... You shouldn't feel..." she had slowly begun to hyperventilate slightly, unable to string her thoughts into words. She buried her face in her hands again. "Reinicio..."
Once she was able to breathe at least a little bit again, she looked up, pleading with him to understand the point she was trying to get across. Fear gripped her all over, though, and she tried to wipe away the tears streaming down her cheeks behind her glasses. Taking in a deep breath, she offered him a tentative smile. "...Baby steps, yeah?"
-
The guard was eyeing her again as he approached her cell. He was actually somewhat young, looking to be in his mid-twenties. He had dark hair and a scruffy beard, and dark, soulless eyes. Heidi felt a small pang of disgust at the look on his face. He was a means to an end, and nothing more. She beamed very big and stood as he reached his hand through the bars, slipping her a notepad and a pen.
"Thank you, sweetheart," she purred at him. Maybe one day, she'd have been a tad bit interested in his kind, back when she was fourteen or so, but if she had learned one thing throughout secondary school, it was that men were disgusting, egotistical, unclean brutes. Now, she still had male friends, and she did still enjoy hanging out with them, but... As far as romance went, she didn't quite swing on that side of the spectrum anymore.
His eyes bored into her hungrily. "Remember to let me read it," he growled in response. She widened her smile, as if to say, of course. But the inappropriate letter to her 'boyfriend' that he thought she would write, which she would, was just for show, to prompt him to supply her with more paper in the future.
Her cell looked a bit different than most others', she thought as she turned around to face it. She had a shelf permitted, with a row of small wooden figurines. There was more wood in a corner of her room, shapeless, and if she ever wanted to whittle more figurines, she could merely call a guard in to let her borrow his knife and supervise her with the instrument as a precaution. After all, these horrid people wanted her to whittle more.
She sat down in a corner of her cell, using the pen to write fluidly on the paper. In truth, the reason why she wanted the paper was to reach out, to try to find someone to talk to. It was lonely here, and... Well, after five months, she really wanted a friend.
Hello. I don't know if anyone's actually there, but through the ventilation system in the ceiling, I've sent this bird to the other side of my wall. Our wall, I suppose, if you're there. The bird has a pen, if you want to write back. If I receive him without any response, I will take it that no one is there. The bird will turn back to wood in approximately one hour. He will return to me before that.
P.S. My name is Heidi =)
Grabbing the small wooden bird from her shelf - Snatter was his name - she held him up to her mouth and breathed gently onto him, smiling again as she felt him come to life, his wings stretching and flapping. "Here you go," she murmured to him, making sure he took the note in his beak and the pen in his claws, and then she sent him off.
Edited By Creativity on 5/14/2019 at 1:02 AM.
Britters
Level 72
The Eggstraordinaire
Joined: 8/25/2014
Threads: 167
Posts: 2,041
Posted: 5/14/2019 at 7:12 PM
Post #494
Even Diego would admit exactly what had been on his mind just now. He wasn't ashamed of it, despite what had happened between them at the graduation party and how wrong he still knew that had been. It was hard to curb his urges when he was still riding the wave of giddy happiness that had crashed over him when he told Ziva he loved her and she hadn't laughed in his face. She was beautiful, she was everything he could have ever thought to want, and he did want her...badly.
However, there was absolutely no way that Diego was going to let his base nature ruin things when they were going so beautifully. He wanted Ziva to be aware of his desire, but he didn't want to overwhelm her. If he was being honest with himself, it overwhelmed him at times. The girls he had "dated" in high school had mostly just been teenage flings, some of them he thought he might have actual feelings for, but they all ended up the same way, and while there were moments of hormone-driven passion...it could never hold a candle to what he was feeling now.
As soon as Ziva pulled away, Diego was glad he managed to stop himself when he did. He would not have wanted to still be...doing what he'd been doing when she made her escape. He felt terrible, but it had nothing to do with being hurt by her actions (well, maybe just a little...). Instead he just mentally began kicking himself for letting his control slip. He knew he had to go slow with Ziva, and he wanted to go slow because he knew this was different than anything he'd ever had before. This was forever.
I'm your...
Those two little word that came out of Ziva's mouth were all that Diego needed to smile and relax himself back into her hands, taking them and putting them both up on his cheeks. She was his...and he was hers. Nothing was ever going to come between them again.
"Of course," he said, rubbing the backs of her hands with his thumbs, "I...I never want you to feel pressured into anything ever again, Z. We'll take as many steps as you want." His voice choked ever so slightly, another reminded of the pain he still felt over what he had let happen to her at that party. He would spend from now until the day he died trying to be better...the guy she deserved.
-----
My pain belongs to the Divine. It is like air. It is like water.
Pain was such a purifying thing, Kamala reflected on yet again, as she sat on the padded mat she kept towards the back of her cell. She had been given the mat nearly two years ago, when these...people had discovered she was able to last longer and withstand more during their torture sessions if she could properly meditate. There was a part of her that wanted to resist the temptation to meditate, to not give herself that chance to last any longer here than she had to, but meditation was a part of who she was, a part of her soul.
My pain belongs to the Divine. It is like air. It is like water.
Truthfully, Kamala was grateful she had lasted two years here, or at least, she was fairly certain it was two years. Time was funny here at Capsule, where they stripped down to the bare minimum and put you and your ability through as much torment as they possibly could, each torture designed specifically for each inmate. She as no different than any of the others who had come and been disposed of when they burnt out very quickly. The people in charge here simply wanted her more, wanted what she could do. She didn't approve of being used, and she still fought as much as she was able, but if she could take this time to heal her past transgressions, to cleanse her soul of any taint so she might be welcomed to the afterlife with open arms...so be it.
My pain belongs to the Divine. It is like air. It is like water.
It was in the middle of her daily meditation that Kamala's little...visitor arrived. The carved bird came gliding through the small ventilation slits that were in the ceiling above her, did a few lazy circles that she followed with russet colored eyes, and then landed lightly in her lap. If she didn't know just how fantastical her own ability as, or hadn't seen some of the things she had seen over the last two years, this might have come as quite a shock to her. As it was, she patiently untied the piece of paper, not having any idea what to expect but not hesitating either. It was to her great surprise to find that it was a note, and that it appeared to be from another captive.
Surely, this had to be some sort of trick, Kamala's logical, pragmatic brain told her. Just another ploy, another torture designed by the people at Capsule to break her down further. She had been alone and isolated for two years, and it seemed rather remarkable that there was suddenly a lifeline literally dropped right into her lap. She could be suspicious, and she was, but there was one very simple truth that made her pick up the pen and turn the note over to write on the back: what did she have to lose?
"Greetings, your bird did indeed find someone. I can only hope you are real and not another trick being played at my expense. It would be a comfort to think that someone out there is as lonely as I am and will be reading these words. Your bird is beautiful, is he part of what you can do? I know that everyone here has something special about them. I hope to hear from you again, and soon..." She paused and flipped the paper back over, staring that the post-script where the person gave their name, and now she did hesitate, but in the end only briefly...
"Oh, and my name is Bodhi."
With deft, tan fingers, Kamala quickly tied the little piece of paper and the pen back onto the wooden bird and held it aloft in both her hands so it could get a proper take off. She watched it circle its way back up to the ceiling and slip through the same vent it had come in through. It felt as though it were taking all of her hopes and prayers with it, but now there was nothing left to do but wait...and continue to reflect. She settled back into a comfortable meditating position on her mat and closed her eyes.
My pain belongs to the Divine. It is like air. It is like water.
Edited By Britters on 5/15/2019 at 12:39 PM.
Creativity
Level 72
Cutely Creative
Joined: 3/4/2013
Threads: 255
Posts: 5,902
Posted: 5/16/2019 at 1:17 AM
Post #495
It had been five months, and Heidi was still stuck in this awful place. She had coaxed the very same guard that she was going to be writing a steamy letter for into telling her what day it was, a couple months ago. She had had theories; it had been two weeks, it had been two years. In reality, when she asked, it had been three months, and even though she had considered far more extreme time frames, it had still been a shock.
She kept track of the days since then, the marks scratched onto her walls. Realizing she had yet to do so today, she took her carved cat figurine and lifted it to her lips, carefully breathing life into it. She could, in fact, do so to more than one figurine at a time, but it was the strength of her breath that dictated how long it would be alive. She could take away the life force before the strength of the breath ran out, if she so chose.
The cat came to life and stretched its back before sitting down and licking its paw, rubbing the 'wetted' paw over its face. Heidi smiled brightly at it, leaning down to place a small kiss on its back. Then, she held it up to the spot on the wall where her scratch marks were and silently commanded it to scratch. The cat lazily stretched again, exposing its claws and then turning one paw towards itself to observe one of them. Reaching forward with the paw, the cat scratched down the stone wall, leaving yet another tally mark.
She let the cat turn back into wood at about the same time Snatter flitted back in from the vent. Heidi looked up in surprise, taking the letter from the bird and reading it. She was a tad disappointed that the person she was able to get into contact with was probably a guy, but she still couldn't help the smile that spread across her face at the fact that she was able to get into contact with anyone at all. She took the pen and began to write the reply, ignoring the pain in her hand, as she did before.
I assure you, I am no trick! In fact, I am super relieved I was able to find you at all, and that you speak English. It is not my first language, but I figured it would have a better chance of being understood than my native tongue. I am indeed lonely, and that is why I sent out Snatter here to you. I had theorized that the type of ventilation system used in a building such as this would be connected to more than one room. I find it hard to think about how we've been no more than a wall's length apart, and only now we interact. Yes, Snatter is part of what I can do. I am able to bring figurines to life, but only those that I craft. What can you do, Bodhi?
Breathing into him again to make sure he stayed alive, Heidi sent the little wooden bird back off towards her new friend's cell.
-
There was a hand on Identify's shoulder. Just... Just one shoulder. Not the other. The imbalance was slowly driving him insane, but he knew that if he shoved his Friend's hand off, it would not end well in any way at all. No, his Friend could do things to him, could press one button and have a truck coming to take him to Capsule in a manner of minutes. Identify knew that he couldn't defy his Friend. The man had too much power over him, and in reality, over everyone else. But, as subtly as he could, Identify did take a step and a half forward, pretending to be interested in the files he was categorizing.
Much to his luck, his Friend's hand fell. "You're free to go for the day, but keep an ear out, or two," his Friend instructed him. Nodding once, Identify stood, turning and exiting the "A" lab. He contained himself until he had left the building before reaching a hand over and touching the spot where his Friend had touched him, but on the opposite shoulder, to feel the equal lasting touch.
Wanting a mental reprieve after the torture his Friend had just subjected him to, Identify ventured towards the little spring behind the "G" lab. He had communicated with Echo more during chores now, but it was rare that he would say more than a word or two. In reality, he averaged about three words in a week, and that was before really meeting Echo. He did the math in his head, counting up all of the weeks and the words he spoke, and determining that his average had gone up to 4.126 after really meeting Echo.
He reflected on that number with a sense of fear and a sense of pride as he reached the spring behind the most dreaded lab in the island sector. He paused, though, when he noticed there was someone already there.
It was Echo, and she was knee-deep in the spring, looking as if she was digging down below for something. Identify blinked at her a couple times, not saying anything but merely watching her. He didn't want to disrupt her, and yet, there was something strangely fascinating about what she seemed to be doing.
Britters
Level 72
The Eggstraordinaire
Joined: 8/25/2014
Threads: 167
Posts: 2,041
Posted: 5/16/2019 at 10:47 PM
Post #496
There was no telling just how long it could take for Kamala's new "friend" to respond back to her. There wasn't even any telling if she (My name is Heidi...definitely meant to be a girl) even truly existed, but it honestly didn't even really matter. Whether Heidi was real or not didn't change the fact that she had been stuck here almost two years and was beginning to think she was reaching the end of her time at Capsule. She could feel it, deep down in her core, that she was running out of inner strength. It wouldn't be much longer...
While Kamala sat there, meditating but not deeply, she thought about her decision, and her motivations for changing her name on the note. If it was all just come ploy by the people at Capsule then it would matter anyway, and perhaps they would get some kind of kick out of it, but if Heidi was really out there, in another cell...well, she wanted their communication to continue as long as possible. In her life experiences, she had come to the conclusion that women were worth far less than men, and even if Heidi was a girl she would probably be happier thinking she was talking to some handsome young man.
Yes, a handsome man was far better than a lowly woman, and Kamala could keep up the ruse to be able to communicate with another human being. Its not like they would ever see each other face-to-face...
"Oh," she said, her surprise coaxing the simple word from her mouth as the little wooden bird returned, "Welcome back." She didn't wait before untying the paper and pen once more.
The returned message was longer, full of more information, and Kamala took a few minutes to muse on their meaning. It was still not exact confirmation these notes were not being sent to her by Capsule, but she thought that they would probably have thought of a less creative way than a wooden bird brought to life. Perhaps Heidi was working for them, they'd broken her and were now using her to torture Kamala further, but then wasn't that all the more reason to respond? It seemed to her the logical choice, so she put pen to paper.
You'll have to forgive my suspicion, I believe I have been here longer than most. English was not my first language, but I learned it when I traveled from my home years ago. I don't believe it is hard to fathom the idea of keeping us so close yet really miles apart appeals to the people who work here, it is what they do. Your ability is fascinating, I wish I could find the same comfort in my own. I'm not sure how to explain it besides that I can transport my astral body, my spirit, out of my physical body and take it anywhere I'd like. Unfortunately the scientists keep me drugged unless they need me, and I am punished if I don't go where they tell me, so it does me little good. I am neither seen or heard by anyone in my astral body anyway. So if English is not your first language then what is?
With a small, satisfied smile, Kamala put the message back on the messenger along with pen and sent Snatter on his way.
-----
If there was one thing Echo knew she would never tire of, it was wading in some beautifully clear freshwater while looking for rocks. Especially in a place like this where the weather had a terrible tendency to be hot and humid. Splashing about in the cool water was ultra refreshing, and she was grateful that Identify had shown her this spot, even if he had mysteriously disappeared right after bringing her hear the first time. She still had no idea where he'd gone to that day, but she wasn't the type to pry. Lord knew she had plenty she kept to herself.
They had continued working together during their chore duties, and Echo had taken to striking up conversations with him more often, though calling them that might have been a stretch. Usually she would just prattle on about something unimportant and Identify with would listen with that charmingly rapt attention of his, sometimes speaking to her in single or two word sentences. She still found him rather odd, but she was finding herself looking for him occasionally around the compound when they weren't picking up trash together.
Just as she was starting to decide it might be time for a lunch break, Echo suddenly felt as though there were a presence behind her. She turned around, her wild honey-colored hair free from its usual confines of a bandana and wafting around her head like a lion's mane, her eyes lighting upon Identify's now familiar face. She smiled, a real and genuine smile, finding herself pleased he was actually here. It was a mystery to her where he went when he wasn't doing his chores, but all that mattered was that today he was here.
"Hey," she called brightly, one arm cradling her better rock finds as she sloshed slowly out of the stream towards him, "I've been hoping I might catch you here. I brought lunch if you're hungry." Indeed, not far from the shore, next to some larger boulders that were perfect for sitting on, was a small box that she had filled with sandwiches, some fruit, and a container of juice. "I found something you might like, hang on. Let me set all of this down." She unloaded the rocks she was carrying onto the ground and picked through them till she found she what she was looking for
Walking towards him, Echo forgot about personal space momentarily in her excitement, coming right up next to Identify before stopping and showing him the rock that was in her hands. It was mostly round, about the size of her hand, but what was most intriguing about it was its color. Most of it was speckled black and white all over, and then here and there were red circles of varying sizes.
"Its a diorite rock," she started to explain, tucking some of her hair behind her ear despite how little it really helped, "Basically its granite, which is pretty common to find, but these red circles are actually nodes of garnet. If we were to cut into this and chip the granite away they would pop out as perfect little balls." She had found that she liked being able to talk to someone about these things, and the thing she seemed to like most was Identify's ability to really seem to care about what she was saying.
Edited By Britters on 5/17/2019 at 12:31 AM.
Creativity
Level 72
Cutely Creative
Joined: 3/4/2013
Threads: 255
Posts: 5,902
Posted: 5/20/2019 at 9:52 PM
Post #497
Heidi was an optimistic person. She always had been, really. No matter the situation, she was usually the one capable of looking at it in a light that maybe seemed not-so-bad. She liked to call it a talent; one of her younger sisters, Clara, had called it stupidity. Still, she was undeterred. Even as she resided here, practically rotting away the last five months in the worst pain she had ever felt, she was able to feel grateful that she was at least in contact, now, with a friendly-seeming person. A friend, if she were to be so bold.
There were few situations that had ever stumped Heidi as far as optimism was concerned. Her mother had sent her to hell and back repeatedly over the past five years, ever since her parents had discovered her "unholy" preferences, but Heidi took pride in the fact that, in spite of all of that, she was still alive. She still had life to spare for her creatures, and she would do so in celebration after leaving each horrid conversion therapy, each one worst than the last, each creature she would create purer than the last.
She smiled as she received Bodhi's letter in response, reading over it with a rapt attention, momentarily forgetting she was in such a bad place as Capsule - that's what a guard had called it once. She stroked Snatter a couple times and then set to work on her reply, stretching her aching hands before doing so.
It seems kind of silly, if you think about it. Poetic, yes, in keeping us close but so far, but at the same time, sort of silly. Most people here are kept so isolated, I assume, that in reality, they would not know if there was anyone anywhere at all. I did not even know you were here, Bodhi, until I reached out. Also, your Ability is so cool! You can see and hear wherever you go? So, if you weren't here, you could, theoretically, see what is happening at a particular spot, thousands of miles away? You could see the Eiffel Tower! I've always wanted to. Swedish is my native tongue, though I do know bits of German, since my mother was from Switzerland. What is your own native tongue?
Satisfied with her reply, Heidi breathed into Snatter again and gave him the materials before sending him back through the vents to her friend on the other side.
-
There was something oddly fascinating about the way that Echo seemed to light up upon seeing him, Identify thought to himself. Her hair almost formed a halo around her head in the sunlight, and her eyes were bright. She looked almost luminescent, as if the light from the sun were reflecting off of her and converting to pure energy and joy. It really didn't make sense, he thought, that someone could be so invigorated upon seeing him.
This was quite the opposite of the reaction he usually got. Those in the labs treated him with contempt, or with taunting malice. They might smile at him, but those smiles hid fangs dripping with venom, while Echo's seemed to hide nothing at all, just a purity he had not experienced before.
He wondered if this was perhaps what friendship was like - being genuinely excited to see another person. Having not experienced friendship himself, he really had no idea whether this is what it was. However, he did make an educated guess, and if this were anything at all, from what he had read, this seemed somewhat akin to that complex concept of friendship. A surge of something warm rushed through his chest at the thought, and he couldn't help a small smile at it.
When she approached, she came very close, much closer than the two of them had been before, and Identify was, admittedly, minimally overwhelmed for a few seconds. She smelled fresh and bright, like a light smattering of rain after it hadn't rained in a while. Identify remembered being able to open the sliding door when his Master wasn't home. He couldn't exit, but he could certainly taunt himself.
The rock she held out looked like, figuratively, a diamond in the rough. He understood what she meant about the little bits of granite, and before he could stop himself, he was leaning down to his left foot and withdrawing a simple switchblade out of the sock. It was something he had pilfered, at one point, from one of the labs, in case he had ever needed it. In the event Mantis ever decided to take him back to Capsule, he had kept his knife on him, so that no matter what, he could make sure... He could make sure that he would never step foot in that place again, even if that meant he wouldn't ever step foot anywhere again.
He had read once, in a history book, about the slave trade in the newfound America, back in the 1400s and 1500s. He had found something absolutely poetic about the injustices, as the captives would jump from the ships, because death was better than bondage.
Giving his head an almost imperceptible shake, Identify cleared the thought away. Without saying anything, he switched the blade out into the open and placed one hand on the rock, right over her own hand while nudging her fingers out of the way as he began to carefully cut into the rock with a rapt attention.
Britters
Level 72
The Eggstraordinaire
Joined: 8/25/2014
Threads: 167
Posts: 2,041
Posted: 5/22/2019 at 1:48 PM
Post #498
In Kamala's world there was no real good or bad, there was only life and it's endless cycle of birth, suffering, death, and rebirth. The one and only goal was to stay on the path and find Nirvana in the end, the cessation of suffering. She remembered driving the scientists crazy at first when she wouldn't eat the food they tried to give her, because it went against her teachings. They had almost lost their precious "spy", as they called her, because she had starved herself nearly to death before they gave in and changed her meal option.
Of course, it all still tasted like garbage, but at least it was garbage Kamala could at least consume.
Upon hearing the little wooden bird's return once more, Kamala did allow herself a small ray of hope. Perhaps Heidi really was just another prisoner who had found a way to cheat the system here at Capsule, and that meant that these letters, this...budding friendship was totally pure. She stared at the avian figure in her lap for a long moment, just basking in what all this meant and all that it could mean. With a deep, cleansing breath, she took the paper once more in her hands and read the words that brought light into her darkness.
It was hard not to smile at Heidi's...bubbliness, which was evident to Kamala even just in writing. She seemed to still have her happiness and joy, despite where they were being kept. It was remarkable...and also deeply saddening, when she considered the fact that her new friend would be broken sooner or later...
I'm in total agreement with you on that. There are more people here than you could imagine. I've been here almost two years and I've seen more than most prisoners because they think I can be useful to them. Yes, I could see anywhere I could picture in my head, or even places I can feel inside, but unfortunately that's what makes me so valuable to these people. I have a hard time seeing the wonder in my gift after so long, but hearing you be so fascinated has reminded me. I've heard of Sweden, though it's a place I've yet to see. My native tongue is Nepali, though as I said, English is my second language I learned when I began traveling. What is Sweden like?
It was hard to fold this note and tie it to Snatter, for that one little sentence about her native tongue had been the first time Kamala had thought about her homeland in a very long time. The thought that Heidi would be waiting for her response was what motivated her to send the bird and his cargo on his way.
-----
The day truly was beautiful, and having access to this stream, as small as it was, was a gift Echo was very grateful for. It made it easier to forget where she was, to even forget other things that she would rather never think about. Of course, she could never forget the reason she wore her simple bottle pendant around her neck, not that she really wanted to. The things that don't kill you in life just make you stronger. That had been her motto since she was fourteen years old, and it had seen her through many successes.
Yes, Echo mused quietly to herself, she had been very successful in her life, but there was always going to be that something more she didn't believe she'd ever have: happiness. She had left that possibility behind as a teenager, when the tragedy of her child, dead minutes out of the womb, had given her a choice. She could wallow in self pity or she could pull herself up and make sure she was never put in another position where other people's choices could effect her life so terribly. It was a lonely life she had made for herself, but at least she was in control of it.
Being with Identify lately...well, it had given Echo cause to think. She was sure she couldn't consider herself attracted to him, since she really barely knew him still and he was still quite odd. However, there was something about being near him that made her feel happy and in control, and that was a heady feeling for someone like her. She tensed slightly when he took the rock and pulled out his knife, but she didn't flinch and she didn't pull away, just watched what he did with the rock she had shown him.
That was the other thing...Identify seemed to genuinely care about what Echo said, in his own unique way, and she could tell he was not just pretending to preserve her feelings (as so many men had before...).
"There, that's it," she said brightly, reaching in without hesitation, trusting him not to slice finger off as she got her hand out just in time to catch the perfect red sphere which came popping out of the granite, "Its amazing how they all got in there like that. At home I liked to put these through a rock tumbler so they get all shiny and smooth. They're not refined like the garnet jewels people are used to seeing, but they're quite beautiful in their own way." She held the ball up to the sunlight, letting the rays shine off of the sparkly bits before she turned back to Identify with a smile.
"You hungry?"
Edited By Britters on 5/23/2019 at 3:37 PM.
Creativity
Level 72
Cutely Creative
Joined: 3/4/2013
Threads: 255
Posts: 5,902
Posted: 5/29/2019 at 9:35 AM
Post #499
Identify hadn't necessarily been thinking when he had pulled out his switchblade, he realized in forethought. "Prisoners" weren't allowed to have weapons at all - and he knew that a handful of them, here on the island, had taken to creating their own makeshift defenses. As far as he was aware, he was the only one who had gotten close enough to any staff member to lift an actual knife. And, well. he was aware of a lot.
He was grateful when Echo didn't react to the knife - perhaps she didn't think about it, either. He found it mildly ridiculous, how any of the others who had designed their own weapons thought that they could stand any chance with a sharpened rock against a small army of guards and quacks. Why would they give themselves that hope?
The island, Identify knew as Pes, of course, was a large, intricate organization. The largest of Mantis' organizations. That was why, well, it took an island to contain. There were practically miles of Pes, stretched out over twenty or so sectors. Identify knew, too, that another one was currently being built, not far off of this one. But it likely would not be completed for another year or two.
At the bits of garnet presented, Identify couldn't help, faint outline of a smile. He didn't have much to smile about recently, but being with Echo, being able to talk to her, was... In a word, enlightening. Or perhaps refreshing. Encouraging? Regardless, he was glad he finally had someone who he could consider... Well, a friend.
At her question, he gave a small shrug. In truth, he hadn't eaten yet today. He liked to awaken early to get his daily work done, and then have the rest of the day off - something which, mind, didn't usually go as planned, but it was the routine that counted. In spite of his nonchalant response, he headed over towards the picnic basket which Echo had indicated, noticing with a slight amount of horror that it was on an uneven slope.
Frowning, he lifted the basket and moved a few feet over, repositioning it where it would be balanced.
-
When Ryder had first arrived in San Francisco, he had found it suffocating. There were too many buildings, and too many people. There wasn't enough air. He had debated going home, unsure of his decision to work in a city in the first place. But he had been determined. No one in his family had left Texas before, and while he was fond of his bumpkin upbringings, he wanted to fight to maintain justice and order in a place that really needed it. Hence, why he came to San Francisco.
Since his arrival, three years ago, Ryder had found that the city really wasn't all that bad. He had learned how to breathe, how to share air. He didn't have the open pastures and meadows of his dad's farm, but that didn't mean he had to suffocate. One thing he had taken to doing was going on walks, every morning, to his favorite bakery and back. It exercised him and refreshed him, and it was one of his favorite things about living in San Francisco, getting to watch the city of many people - some neurotic and some pretending to be - wake up.
Some people, it seemed, woke up earlier than others, Ryder noticed with a tinge of annoyance. The protestors were already out in front of the clinic, rioting and shouting, raising signs and posters and harassing anyone who came into or out of the clinic. Today was Saturday, which meant he was off-duty. It was one of his only two days off - now, granted, he had wanted more hours. But still.
He considered approaching, flashing his badge (which he kept on him at all times, just in case), and disbanding the group. If they wanted to protest, they could do so... peacefully. Why did this crazy city not see that? Ryder was about to approach when he happened to see a familiar face sneaking out a back door of the clinic.
Paisley seemed almost unnerved by the protestors - if she could be unnerved, that was. He really wasn't sure with the rambunctious, colorful rioter. Casually, Ryder walked over to her, appearing behind her. "Don't reckon ya need some help, d'ya, Paisley?"
Britters
Level 72
The Eggstraordinaire
Joined: 8/25/2014
Threads: 167
Posts: 2,041
Posted: 5/29/2019 at 6:07 PM
Post #500
People here at the compound all went through phases of thinking about escape. It was understandable, and though Echo had had her moments of daydreaming, she was at least practical enough to leave them at that. Escape attempts had been made over the years, some since she'd been here. They happened more frequently than any of them liked to talk about, but for her, being faced with the aftermath of those events was enough to keep her from being foolish.
The fact that Identify had pulled a makeshift weapon out to deal with the rock hadn't perturbed Echo for the simple fact that she felt being able to defend yourself was essential, whether you were a prisoner or not.
"Great!" she spoke up brightly when Identify shrugged, taking a few steps in the direction of the basket, "I packed extra sandwiches just in case you showed up. There's ham and turkey, and I'm not picky so feel free to pick first." She was rattling on again, but at this point she was fairly confident he didn't mind.
There was a moment of confusion when Echo watched Identify reposition the picnic basket in a very OCD kind of way, but she dismissed it as unimportant. Everyone here had their little quirks, since they all had their own histories and their own...problems. She suddenly found herself burning with curiosity and wanting to ask him a thousand questions about himself, but this time she held herself back. Instead she just grabbed a sandwich and occupied herself for a bit with just eating. It helped that she wanted a moment to think about something that was sticking with her from her earlier thoughts.
Perhaps the reason people felt more of an urge to escape than Echo was that they had people they cared about waiting for them on the outside. She was certainly not one of those, for she had no living family she cared to be around...but maybe that wasn't the only reason people had. Could it be possible to create relationships strong enough with others here at the compound to make escape desirable enough to attempt? Maybe...
"Oh, look!" she called out, her wandering russet eyes lighting upon something in the stream that was still within reach distance from where she sat, "I think thats a piece of jade." She leaned forward, stretching her fingers to grab the stone from her position. In doing so, the small, round bottle pendant she kept on a chain around her neck swung loose from inside of her shirt so that it swung like a pendulum in the air as her hand closed around her prize.
-----
Not for the first time, and probably not for the last, Paisley slid down off of the exam table and began putting her clothes back on. The staff at the clinic were always polite and professional, but she knew they judged her behind closed doors. Everybody did, and she told herself she didn't care, she maybe even believed that most of the time. She didn't need anyone's approval, she didn't need them to understand. She'd learned a long time ago that the only person she could depend on, the only person she could trust was herself.
Given her own experience as an activist, a warrior for justice, Paisley could tell by the awful din outside that the crowd of protestors were working themselves into a frenzy. It made her sick to her stomach to wish they would disband and leave. After all, she was the biggest advocate for fighting for what you believed in, but these people...she would never understand. She fought for women's rights among everything else and it just seemed to fly in the face of it all.
Which was why Paisley had every intention of sneaking out the back way, just as she had done before. However, as soon as she set foot out the door she realized that the crowds were closer than she'd anticipated, or it had simply grown exponentially. She was frantically trying to fish her sunglasses out of her canvas satchel when the voice sounded behind her. A familiar voice...
Of course...of course, it had to be him. The universe was just trying to test Paisley's tolerance.
"What the hell are you doing here, Officer Bumpkin?" she snarled at him, too worried about dispelling the panic which she knew had been in her eyes to keep her voice down, realizing her mistake too late, "Shoot..." She trailed off, glancing over her shoulder at the crowd.
Oh, in that moment Paisley would have rather walk through fire than accept help, particularly from this man, but...well, the alternative made her stomach churn.
"Well, I do now," she snapped at Ryder, shoving her sunglasses on her face and pulling her hood up over her head, "Make it look good, hick boy." She linked her arm through his with a heaving sigh, wishing she had any other choice in the matter.
Edited By Britters on 5/30/2019 at 3:13 AM.
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