The Causeway to Edge, Thursday Afternoon
Karla was trying not to bounce a bit as they waited for the Portal arrive. She was fairly excited about this trip to Edge, but she didn't want Elena to think that she wasn't treating this with all appropriate gravity. Elena's world was dying; this wasn't a happy-go-lucky jaunt for fun and entertainment.
But Karla couldn't help her good mood. Not only have her birthday been awesome beyond all possible expectations, Karla had been looking forward to this since Elena had hesitantly asked her about it this morning. She was going to Heal the land, there was something that felt very right about that, even thought the circumstances around it were so very, very wrong.
So, now, just to convince Elena that, yes, Karla was sure that she wanted to do this and yes she was happy to do it today. Elena had tentatively suggested sometime this summer; Karla had countered with going today. No reason to put it off any longer--they'd been talking about this since the winter already.
And, of course, waiting for that portal.
Elena
Elena shifted the bag on her shoulder and watched the other blonde girl uncertainly.
"You don't have to do this," she said, for what had to be the hundredth time. "Not that I don't want you to, just ... I mean, you don't. If you're not sure about it."
Karla might be able to give usable land back to Edge. Or she might fuck herself up with mako poisoning. Really, who was nervous?
Karla
Karla just gave Elena a patient smile and replied, "I know I don't have to do this. I want to, Elena, really."
Also for the hundredth time.
"I'm stronger than I look," she added. "I can handle it." Not that Karla thought Elena would believe her until she saw her in action (so to speak). "I'm sure of this. I wouldn't have offered if I wasn't."
Elena
"I'd never underestimate the power of tiny blonde girls," Elena said, giving a wry smile. "I'm just gonna feel like shit if something bad happens."
Something bad usually happened. Then you tried to clean it up, and it evolved into something much worse. Then something else fell over on top of the whole mess.
Gaia was like that.
Karla
"I'll take every precaution I can," Karla promised. "The moment I feel like something is going wrong, I'll stop whatever I'm doing."
Inwardly, however, Karla was confident that not only would she be fine this weekend, she'd be able to fully Heal whatever was wrong with the land. Not the entire world, of course, but the city itself shouldn't be too much of a problem.
It wasn't that she was overestimating her abilities. While Karla was very familiar with the ways people could be evil towards one another, she was still a novice in the ways people could harm the land around them.
Elena
"Okay," Elena said. She wasn't sure she liked it, but she had to either trust Karla and hope this didn't go straight to hell, or else pull the plug. This was Karla's power, not hers. Karla would know much better than her what her limits were. But she of all people knew how much rookies could lie about that.
Right on cue, their portal appeared.
"Then take one last look around for color, because Edge doesn't have much," she added. "Next stop, everything's gonna be gray."
And dingy, and depressing, and full of starving orphans, but it was easier to pretend the real problem with the city was its color palette.
Karla
Karla straightened her shoulders, forgoing that last look. She wanted to look calm and competent when she arrived in Edge, so Elena and Reno and anyone else who was there would look at her and feel confident that they had made the right decision, that they could trust her and her skills.
She took a deep breath and stepped through.
At first, she thought the vicious punch to her lower stomach was the fault of the portal. It made her knees weak and her guts twist and writhe. But even after she was firmly on the lad on the other side of the portal, the feeling didn't dissipate. In fact, it only got worse. It was like being poisoned by witchblood, like being stabbed with rusty knives, like things even more horrible that she couldn't even fathom.
And worse, Karla realized blearily, it came from the very land itself.
Rather than the strong front she'd hoped to present when she stepped through, the first thing Karla did in Edge was fall to her knees and get sick.
Elena
Elena dropped to her knees, letting her bag fall to the ground as she reached out for Karla's shoulder.
"What happened?" she asked, hoping her voice didn't shake. Karla hadn't ... tried to start already, had she? Maybe she was sick from the portal? Did --
You're a Turk, Elena. Act like one.
"Deep breaths," she said, and this time her voice was firmer. She was going to be in control of the situation. Somehow. Even if she didn't know what was going on. "Can you stand? We're gonna get you inside."
Karla
Karla nodded groggily and tried to pull herself up. She could do this. Just delineate everything that was her Self and ignore what wasn't. Easy stuff. Baby tricks.
Her face was red and not just because of the vomiting. She hadn't thrown up like this in years. Way to make an impression, Karla. They were probably planning on calling another portal and tossing her back through in minutes.
"'M fine," she said. "Just...surprised. Hell's fire and Mother Night."
Reno
Reno was running late. One might think that the fastest Turk wouldn't have the problem of constantly being late for things, but all in all, Reno's speed was the problem. He'd keep thinking to himself that he could probably squeeze something else to do in there, and he'd be done in no time, and then that 'something else' would inevitably hold him up longer than he'd expected.
Today's hold-up was a few Kalm Fangs, wandering dangerously close to Edge. He figured people could ignore the slightly torn clothing as he sauntered up to the two girls.
And paused. And took in the situation here. Karla wobbling to her feet. Elena looking worried. Puke on the ground. Huh.
"Welcome to Edge, yo."
This didn't bode well.
Elena
Elena had one arm looping around Karla's waist, and was tugging her to her feet.
"Travel-sick," she lied. She figured it was probably something worse, but that would take too long to explain. It wasn't really a lie if you were just saving time, was it? "Help me get her inside. Your place?"
Karla might insist she could walk, but there was really no reason to push it.
Karla
It was like Elena knew her or something.
"'M fine," Karla muttered. "I can walk by myself. Not an invalid." That didn't mean that she wasn't going to cling to Elena (and Elena's excuse) like a clinging thing that clung for a living. "And yeah, travel-sick. Portals sometimes mess with me."
It could be true! This could just be the first instance of that very thing!
"A few minutes and I'll be right as rain. Ready to work. All that jazz."
Reno
Reno's arms crossed over his chest as he took in the sight of the two girls (Rookies, the both of them, dammit), and then he gave his head a shake.
"Suit yourself, yo. My mess ain't too far from here, anyhow. I think I got enough planters shoved outta the way to make room for the two of you to crash there too, yo."
[Part 1. Preplayed with the fabulous findingelena and raspberryturk. NFI, NFB, OOC equals love]
But Karla couldn't help her good mood. Not only have her birthday been awesome beyond all possible expectations, Karla had been looking forward to this since Elena had hesitantly asked her about it this morning. She was going to Heal the land, there was something that felt very right about that, even thought the circumstances around it were so very, very wrong.
So, now, just to convince Elena that, yes, Karla was sure that she wanted to do this and yes she was happy to do it today. Elena had tentatively suggested sometime this summer; Karla had countered with going today. No reason to put it off any longer--they'd been talking about this since the winter already.
And, of course, waiting for that portal.
Elena
Elena shifted the bag on her shoulder and watched the other blonde girl uncertainly.
"You don't have to do this," she said, for what had to be the hundredth time. "Not that I don't want you to, just ... I mean, you don't. If you're not sure about it."
Karla might be able to give usable land back to Edge. Or she might fuck herself up with mako poisoning. Really, who was nervous?
Karla
Karla just gave Elena a patient smile and replied, "I know I don't have to do this. I want to, Elena, really."
Also for the hundredth time.
"I'm stronger than I look," she added. "I can handle it." Not that Karla thought Elena would believe her until she saw her in action (so to speak). "I'm sure of this. I wouldn't have offered if I wasn't."
Elena
"I'd never underestimate the power of tiny blonde girls," Elena said, giving a wry smile. "I'm just gonna feel like shit if something bad happens."
Something bad usually happened. Then you tried to clean it up, and it evolved into something much worse. Then something else fell over on top of the whole mess.
Gaia was like that.
Karla
"I'll take every precaution I can," Karla promised. "The moment I feel like something is going wrong, I'll stop whatever I'm doing."
Inwardly, however, Karla was confident that not only would she be fine this weekend, she'd be able to fully Heal whatever was wrong with the land. Not the entire world, of course, but the city itself shouldn't be too much of a problem.
It wasn't that she was overestimating her abilities. While Karla was very familiar with the ways people could be evil towards one another, she was still a novice in the ways people could harm the land around them.
Elena
"Okay," Elena said. She wasn't sure she liked it, but she had to either trust Karla and hope this didn't go straight to hell, or else pull the plug. This was Karla's power, not hers. Karla would know much better than her what her limits were. But she of all people knew how much rookies could lie about that.
Right on cue, their portal appeared.
"Then take one last look around for color, because Edge doesn't have much," she added. "Next stop, everything's gonna be gray."
And dingy, and depressing, and full of starving orphans, but it was easier to pretend the real problem with the city was its color palette.
Karla
Karla straightened her shoulders, forgoing that last look. She wanted to look calm and competent when she arrived in Edge, so Elena and Reno and anyone else who was there would look at her and feel confident that they had made the right decision, that they could trust her and her skills.
She took a deep breath and stepped through.
At first, she thought the vicious punch to her lower stomach was the fault of the portal. It made her knees weak and her guts twist and writhe. But even after she was firmly on the lad on the other side of the portal, the feeling didn't dissipate. In fact, it only got worse. It was like being poisoned by witchblood, like being stabbed with rusty knives, like things even more horrible that she couldn't even fathom.
And worse, Karla realized blearily, it came from the very land itself.
Rather than the strong front she'd hoped to present when she stepped through, the first thing Karla did in Edge was fall to her knees and get sick.
Elena
Elena dropped to her knees, letting her bag fall to the ground as she reached out for Karla's shoulder.
"What happened?" she asked, hoping her voice didn't shake. Karla hadn't ... tried to start already, had she? Maybe she was sick from the portal? Did --
You're a Turk, Elena. Act like one.
"Deep breaths," she said, and this time her voice was firmer. She was going to be in control of the situation. Somehow. Even if she didn't know what was going on. "Can you stand? We're gonna get you inside."
Karla
Karla nodded groggily and tried to pull herself up. She could do this. Just delineate everything that was her Self and ignore what wasn't. Easy stuff. Baby tricks.
Her face was red and not just because of the vomiting. She hadn't thrown up like this in years. Way to make an impression, Karla. They were probably planning on calling another portal and tossing her back through in minutes.
"'M fine," she said. "Just...surprised. Hell's fire and Mother Night."
Reno
Reno was running late. One might think that the fastest Turk wouldn't have the problem of constantly being late for things, but all in all, Reno's speed was the problem. He'd keep thinking to himself that he could probably squeeze something else to do in there, and he'd be done in no time, and then that 'something else' would inevitably hold him up longer than he'd expected.
Today's hold-up was a few Kalm Fangs, wandering dangerously close to Edge. He figured people could ignore the slightly torn clothing as he sauntered up to the two girls.
And paused. And took in the situation here. Karla wobbling to her feet. Elena looking worried. Puke on the ground. Huh.
"Welcome to Edge, yo."
This didn't bode well.
Elena
Elena had one arm looping around Karla's waist, and was tugging her to her feet.
"Travel-sick," she lied. She figured it was probably something worse, but that would take too long to explain. It wasn't really a lie if you were just saving time, was it? "Help me get her inside. Your place?"
Karla might insist she could walk, but there was really no reason to push it.
Karla
It was like Elena knew her or something.
"'M fine," Karla muttered. "I can walk by myself. Not an invalid." That didn't mean that she wasn't going to cling to Elena (and Elena's excuse) like a clinging thing that clung for a living. "And yeah, travel-sick. Portals sometimes mess with me."
It could be true! This could just be the first instance of that very thing!
"A few minutes and I'll be right as rain. Ready to work. All that jazz."
Reno
Reno's arms crossed over his chest as he took in the sight of the two girls (Rookies, the both of them, dammit), and then he gave his head a shake.
"Suit yourself, yo. My mess ain't too far from here, anyhow. I think I got enough planters shoved outta the way to make room for the two of you to crash there too, yo."
[Part 1. Preplayed with the fabulous findingelena and raspberryturk. NFI, NFB, OOC equals love]