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

[recognizance]

SecUnit could argue with that -- sure, it's dangerous to go against your human conditioning, but at least it can't kill you instantaneously if you make one mistake -- but it's not in the mood, and also she's not exactly wrong, either. After a moment, something else occurs to it. "I think Galahad hacked his religion module. Metaphorically."

[tallyyoungblood]

Tally hasn't spent that much time with Galahad, but she remembers him making a Rusty cross when they'd been trying to trick the mansion's hole in the wall.

"He told me that he doesn't do what his god says any more," she says. "I'm not sure if he comes from a world where gods and magic are real or not, though."

[recognizance]

"Either way." SecUnit shrugs. "Deities aren't even the weirdest thing about this place."

[tallyyoungblood]

"What's the weirdest thing, then? Because gods existing is pretty fucking weird."

[recognizance]

Its eyebrows lift slightly. "I don't know, getting replaced by a super-augmented asshole version of yourself, but only for one day cycle?"

[tallyyoungblood]

Tally laughs and rolls her eyes. "That is weird, but I could become Special in real life," she points out. "Invisible sky superheroes who decide fate is weirder than that."

[recognizance]

It counters, "The ones here aren't invisible or in the sky, and they don't seem to decide much of anything. Except that humans need more vitamins."

[tallyyoungblood]

"Oh, you mean like Apollo and Dionysus," Tally says dismissively. "They're not really gods, just magicians. I'm talking about, like, an actual god, who's a little more mysterious than that."

[recognizance]

"Magicians don't exist in real life either." It's still willing to fight Janet about this. Also, it's a little offended on behalf of Dionysus and his fruit snacks.

[tallyyoungblood]

"Yeah, no, agreed. I just think they're less weird than actual gods. Rusties would probably think that the level of technology we have is magic, you know."

[recognizance]

This is a stupid argument and SecUnit is obviously right, but Tally's had a rough couple of cycles, so it just says, "When I first got here someone told me magic was more plausible than aliens."

The half-second glance at her face is the equivalent of a pointed I know, right? look from anyone else.

[tallyyoungblood]

"That's so sense-missing I don't even know where to begin. Have they not taken a statistics class?"

[recognizance]

"Probably not." It shrugs again. "The point is, there's plenty of weird shit to go around, and at least Dionysus is helpful."

[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."