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

[sagramore]

"I did, yes. My best friend. I loved him -- I still love him very much. I've realized we were... bad for each other, and I would choose Laertes and my life here over him, but I think I'll always love him and miss him."

[tallyyoungblood]

"Huh," Tally says. That's actually, like, totally relevant to her situation. "You feel like it's possible to move on from something like that?"

[sagramore]

"I think every day he takes up less of my world and there's more room for me to take it up with other people who've never hurt me.

[tallyyoungblood]

Tally grimaces. She's not sure when Harrow will ever take up less of Gideon's world.

[sagramore]

"It takes time. It won't happen right away."

[tallyyoungblood]

By then Gideon probably will have moved on to a different girl, one who hasn't turned into a monster and tried to kill her, like Tress or Nina, or something. Or maybe a natural pretty will show up at the mansion and Gideon will like her more because she's just as pretty as Tally, but didn't get any surge, and--

"Thanks, Sagramore-la," she says. "I hope so."

[sagramore]

"Talk to her, all right?" He sets the cup of coffee down in front of Tally. "If I'm wrong, you can tell me, but try first."

[tallyyoungblood]

Tally accepts it and nods. "I'll tell you how it goes. Don't want you to be gossip-missing." She gives him a smile.

[sagramore]

He laughs. "No, of course not. --Do they have pancakes in your world, by the way?"

[tallyyoungblood]

"Duh! What kind of a world doesn't have pancakes?"

[sagramore]

"I don't know!" laughing again. "How do you like them?"

[tallyyoungblood]

"With chocolate chips," Tally says immediately. "And whipped cream."

[sagramore]

He takes out his invisible notebook and pen and writes this down. "Perfect, thank you."

[tallyyoungblood]

"Are you making a list in your head of pancake opinions?" Tally giggles.

[sagramore]

"I'm planning a pancake party, and I need to know how many different kinds to make."

[tallyyoungblood]

"Oh, a bash!" She perks up. "And I'm invited? Who else is coming?"

[sagramore]

"Hopefully everyone who likes pancakes."

[tallyyoungblood]

"Okay, fair enough. Doesn't have to be an exclusive event."

[sagramore]

He laughs. "I'm about to make seven hundred pancakes, I need help with them. And," conspiratorial, "it's partly a butter festival too. As a surprise for Nina."

[tallyyoungblood]

"Nina-la really likes butter?"

[sagramore]

"Well, she does, but there's also a festival from her home country I'm trying to emulate."

[tallyyoungblood]

"Oh, really?" This surprises Tally, who had been thinking of Nina's home country as nothing but wars and orphans. "I guess they must sometimes have fun."

[sagramore]

"She has had a hard time. Another reason I want to give her something pleasant."

[tallyyoungblood]

"Did you have any festivals growing up?"

[sagramore]

"Mmm, not that I remember. Parade days when the king was home from war. When I was a young man in the Orkneys, though, I celebrated their holidays."