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]

Tally touches the bruise lightly, watching the way Gideon's eyes automatically flutter shut. It feels warm, but not, like, infected-warm, she doesn't think. "Did you ice it?"

[ninth_cavalier]

Gideon opens one eye. "Did I what?"

[tallyyoungblood]

"Put ice on it to reduce the swelling?" Now it's Tally's turn to raise her eyebrows.

[ninth_cavalier]

"Is that a thing? I thought ice was for drinks." Gideon pulls a little face. "In my defense, that's all I ever see people here use it for."

[tallyyoungblood]

"You thought ice was for... wait, have you done anything to the scratches, then?" Oh, no. Maybe Gideon forgiving her is all an infection-related delusion. "Let me... let me see them."

[ninth_cavalier]

"Why would I do anything for them? They're healing fine." But she pulls her shirt off over her head anyway.

[tallyyoungblood]

Tally feels a blush spreading across her face. Gideon's torso is sturdy and strong, and definitely not ugly, despite its asymmetries and imperfections. She reaches out a hand to touch the wound again. It does look mostly fine, but her lessons in first aid are miraculously still there under her racing heartbeat.

"You need an ointment and a bandage to lower the chances of it getting infected," she says. "Or medspray, but they don't have that here." She just kind of leaves her hand there, not wanting to break contact.

[ninth_cavalier]

Gideon slides a hand into her hair, intent. "Sounds like a lot of stuff that would involve leaving this bed instead of kissing you more." Unnecessary stuff, at that—she's never done anything to a wound that small other than live with it. In her experience, if your guts aren't coming out, a wound basically closes itself up.

[tallyyoungblood]

"Uh, well." Tally really had been intending on getting bandages right away, but she feels her resolve breaking. "Maybe we can do it... afterwards. After I show you what a regular, non-scratched-up side looks like. As an example to work towards." Tally presses her lips together, attempting to look serious and not start laughing at her own joke. She's alight with nerves, each detail of the room growing sharp and clear.

[ninth_cavalier]

Gideon struggles to hide her own smile. "Yeah," she says. "I think I need an example of a healthy body in general." The hand that isn't in Tally's hair slides down the slope of her shoulder. "If you know where to find one."

[tallyyoungblood]

Tally finally has to break into a smile, leaning in closer and using one hand to guide Gideon's hand under the strap of her tank top. She feels grateful to be alive, to be herself, and maybe even to be here, in a room that's starting to feel like somewhere she actually lives.

"Yeah, I think I can give you directions."