.oo6 «[Dream] I find it kind of funny, I find it kind of sad...

[usas_aurora]

Warnings: [Blood, graphic violence, death]
Effects: [tremendous amounts of physical pain, starvation, regret, and frustration]
Language: English

Comments

[avorelanche]

[Argilla has experienced hunger before. Both in the form of a slight but persistent pang, and as terrible void that was ready to swallow her, if it meant satisfying itself.

When she watches Jinana's dream, Argilla realizes with a horrible lurch in her gut that those things are nothing compared to this. It was bad enough watching when it happened, but now...Somehow, she's able to feel it for herself. Hunger, instinct...And Jinana's regret. Somehow, that's the worst of them all, and hearing it lance through her head helps Argilla push out any traces of hunger when the dream ends.

It doesn't keep her voice from shaking, though.]

"Ji...Jinana? Please respond...Are you alright?"

[usas_aurora]

-=hesitates a moment when she hears that voice, she hadn't realized the device had been recording her. She steels her self, taking a breath before returning to pick up the dreamberry, looking down at the worried face=-

I'm here, Argilla. I am fine.

[avorelanche]

[Argilla breathes out when she hears Jinana's voice, not knowing that she was holding her breath until then. She still looks a bit shaky on the Dreamberry screen, but seeing that Jinana is there, still in control, helps.]

"Good. I was worried when I saw..."

[She trails off when she says that and shakes her head, because that is not the right word for what she just experienced.]

"...I felt some of what happened, when I watched your dream."

[usas_aurora]

I did not realize it was recording.

-=sighs softly=-

It is not something I would wish on anyone.

[avorelanche]

[Argilla shakes her head when she hears that.]

"It's not something that I'd wish on you, Jinana. I wish that you'd never had to experience that. If we'd gotten there a little sooner, then maybe..."

[That worried look on her face vanishes for a moment, as her eyes narrow and her lips show a slight glimmer of teeth underneath.]

"We could've stopped that bastard Mick, maybe. Gotten rid of him sooner and saved us all some grief."

[usas_aurora]

-=pulls into herself a bit more again, wondering why everything she says seems to upset the other woman=-

We cannot change the past, just learn from it. We can only hope to prevent the same mistakes from happening again.

[avorelanche]

[It's not you Jinana. It's hormones Atma.

To her credit, Argilla does notice the change; she hasn't completely lost her eye for details and changes.

That, however, doesn't extend to knowing how to react to it. She looks puzzled for a moment, before responding.]

"I never want to see that happen again. Not to you, or any of my Tribe. It hurt enough, seeing it before."

[And now, after experiencing some that for herself, she has another yardstick to compare things to.]

[usas_aurora]

It will not.

-=she was determined not to let it, no matter what=-

I will be there for you and your tribe.

-=she owed them, and she respected them. Even if Argilla was the only person she really seemed to identify with=-

[avorelanche]

[Argilla doesn't quite have the same authority in her voice that Jinana always seems to have; it might just be another thing that separates Leaders from soldiers. However, she's still able to pump some confidence into what she says.]

"You won't stand alone, either. Or face anything like that by yourself...Ever again."

[She pauses, thinking over something for a moment.]

"Are you hungry at all? Cielo and I made...Food."

[She's not sure what else to call the slightly-crispy-mostly-burned (but still edible!) things they've produced this time around. At least the kitchen is mostly intact, though.]

[usas_aurora]

Food?

-=remembers the last time they tried to do that, noting how Argilla seems unsure herself. It... amuses her=-

Nothing caught fire this time?

-=that might be a joke, but with her it's hard to tell=-

[avorelanche]

"Right. I thought that-"

[Usually her emotions tend to be mixed, and even a bit confused. This time, however, the look on Argilla's face could easily be summed up as "O.O;"]

"...You...Saw that too?"

[After a moment, she remembers to answer the question as well.]

"Nothing...That we couldn't control."

[usas_aurora]

I wouldn't be much of a comrade if I did not pay attention.

-=yes, there's definitely a bit of amusement in her eyes=-

[avorelanche]

"Well...I...Guess it's good that you're staying alert."

[As embarrassing as this conversation is becoming, (although Argilla can't put a finger on why exactly; maybe it has something to do with friendly fire and collateral damage in the kitchen zone.) she does notice that glint in Jinana's eyes. And finds that she can probably weather a bit more of this, if the Maribel commander stays like that.]

"...We did reduce the amount of damage this time, though. And made something edible."

[Whether it's tasty is still undecided, though.]

[usas_aurora]

That is progress?

-=far more then she's attempted, though she hasn't exactly felt the need=-

I have never tried to cook.

[avorelanche]

"Cielo thought of it first. But, I was interested in trying it. Cooking seems like a useful skill."

[And until now, her knowledge of preparing food was limited to 'open can, eat ration.'

Her eyes also narrow a bit more when she hears Jinana's question, but there's also a wry looking smile to go with it.]

"Since we didn't need extra help with putting out any fires, I'd have to say yes."