open post: averageness

[tallyyoungblood]

Tally's first clue that it hadn't been a dream was that she'd woken up alone in her room.

Nowadays, she and Gideon have been sharing a room, so that Tally can protect her from ever finding a body alone again--and maybe conspicuously leave out some clothes that fit Gideon but aren't, like, ratty black pants. That day, though, she'd woken in an empty room, gasping from something that felt like a nightmare, but somehow more vivid than real life.

Without even getting dressed, she'd run for the woods to confirm what had happened. Horror had flooded her when she found the knife-mark, exactly where she remembered throwing it yesterday. It was true. She'd been Special. She'd been awful. She'd seen and felt the world with more harsh clarity than she'd ever thought possible. She'd hit Gideon.

Tally had collapsed onto the stump, gripping her own arms to make sure her familiar, average body was still there.

Over the next few days, Tally doesn't sleep well, and people getting swapped out for a second time doesn't help. People might find her wandering the mansion like a zombie, or in one of the kitchens, contemplating getting drunk. She's not as put together as usual, either, but of course on her even bedhead and sweats look beautiful.

Comments

[tallyyoungblood]

"True. He throws a pretty good bash. And he's not the dictator type of god."

[recognizance]

"Yeah." In the midst of all this it's been monitoring her vital signs and whatnot, of course. At this point, judging that she's calmed down from her earlier upset, it adds, "Did you eat?"

[tallyyoungblood]

"Um... no." Tally's used to Gideon bringing her breakfast, so getting her own in her absence had seemed totally sad-making. "Do you need to eat?"

[recognizance]

Nice try, kid. "No. My systems are self-regulating. You do, though."

[tallyyoungblood]

"That seems useful. I wish I hadn't had to eat when I was stuck in the wild for two weeks with nothing but dehydrated SpagBol."

[recognizance]

Murderbot has no idea what SpagBol is, and knows better than to ask. "Yeah, well. Now you have five entire kitchens full of stuff. There's probably even some of that Chunky Pea Soup left from Dark."

Yes, that was a joke. No, you can't tell from its tone.

[tallyyoungblood]

"Fine, I'll go." Tally rolls her eyes, but lunch is sounding pretty good right now. Going food-missing sucks. "Do you wanna come?"

[recognizance]

"No," it says, reflexively and truthfully, and then feels a little bad. "But if you need me again, I have eyes on most of the kitchens."

[tallyyoungblood]

"Okay. Thanks, SecUnit-la."

[recognizance]

"Sure. I mean, you're welcome."