[Opposite Plot] Pre-Play

[forhawkeye]

Everywhere I went, people stared; I could feel their eyes trailing me all day long, as though they were paparazzi for the utterly unimportant. Much to my chagrin, changing into an unassuming outfit of a purple plaid shirt and a pair of ratty jeans hadn't convinced a single person to look elsewhere. I felt uncomfortable in my own skin and, as the

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[faithanbegorrah]

"You're alright, lass, don't worry your pretty little head about it," Terry says, feeling the urge to rub her shoulder or pat her arm to console her. She doesn't want to upset the poor girl, especially since she doesn't know her all that well. "Are ye okay?"

[forhawkeye]

Looking up at Siryn, I couldn't help but feel horribly inadequate. Where my coloring was dull and dark and plain, hers was bright and fiery and breathtaking. She looked like some flaming-haired goddess straight out of a Renaissance painting and her eyes were like the living embodiment of her homeland, Ireland. In the face of so much history, suddenly being a New Yorker didn't seem all that interesting.

"Of course," I said, nodding glumly. I could never be anything more than okay, after all. Being okay was my state of being, my lot in life. I was cursed to be ordinary in every way. "Are you sure I didn't hurt you? I can be such a klutz."

[faithanbegorrah]

"I told ye, I'm fine, lass." Terry brushes some barely there dirt off her skirt. It's a very new find, something completely different from all that awful black and green in her wardrobe. Honestly, who would go about in something like that willingly?

"Would ye like to walk with me?" she asks, hooking an arm in Kate's and giving her no choice either way. "Honestly, I cannae get enough of this place, especially after all that awful city noise in New York."

[forhawkeye]

I made a sound similar to a dying duck, as she hooked her arm through mine. I was shocked beyond belief. Would I like to walk with her? The question that should have been asked was why would she want to walk with me? I nodded mutely in agreement, hoping to delay her inevitable reaction of disgust once she realized just who she was touching.

[faithanbegorrah]

Terry keeps talking, oblivious to any discomfort Kate may have.

"Have ye ever walked in the orchards? And not just passing through on the path, but beneath the trees-- it's beautiful there, reminds me a bit of Cassidy Keep, though we had a sight more in the way of gardens and grass."

She brings her free hand up to keep the floppy hat on her head from flying off when the wind picks up just a bit. "What about ye, Kate? Ye lived in New York, aye?"

[forhawkeye]

"My entire life," I confirmed, not having been interesting enough to have lived anywhere else. I'd traveled, of course, but that could never compare to truly living abroad.

[faithanbegorrah]

"Oh, that's lovely," Terry sighs. "I moved all around as a lass, I s'pose me roots are in Ireland, but they never really took, d'ye ken?"

[forhawkeye]

I looked at Siryn for a long, silent moment, worrying my lower lip between my teeth. I was so embarrassed by what I was about to say, but I couldn't bear the thought of leading her on.

"I'm sorry," I said, looking over at her with great trepidation. "I don't understand what you're saying. What does 'ken' mean?"

[faithanbegorrah]

Terry blinks, unaware of what Kate's talking about until she thinks about what she's just said. "Oh! Oh, sorry! Understand, Kate. It sort o'means understand. Sorry, sometimes I just get carried away with meself."

[forhawkeye]

"No, it's my fault," I assured her quickly. "Go on, though. I love hearing you talk. Your voice is just..." I paused, trying to think of the right word. "Hypnotic, almost."

[faithanbegorrah]

"Oh." Terry practically droops, a bit of her cheer fading away all too easily. "Thank ye, lass. That reminds me of my powers, and not being able to use them anymore. I miss them so."

[forhawkeye]

"Oh, no, please don't be sad!" I pleaded, holding out my hands as though I were surrendering. "That was so insensitive of me. God, I'm so dense!"

[faithanbegorrah]

"Ach, don't be hard on yerself girly," Terry says, shaking her head at Kate's apology. "We all get bouts o' sadness, don't we?"

[forhawkeye]

"I guess," I agreed glumly, having felt somewhat depressed since I'd woken up that morning.

[faithanbegorrah]

"Oh, now, none of that," Terry says, pulling her arm away from Kate's to put it around her shoulders, instead. "It's a beautiful day, and you're a beautiful girl alive to enjoy it. Shouldnae be any reason at all to look so down."

[forhawkeye]

"You think I'm beautiful?" I asked, looking up at her with wide, surprised eyes. Compared to her, surely I must have resembled some sort of troll. "You're too nice. Really, you don't have to lie just for my benefit."