( She's been avoiding the Vine strange things started happening - frankly, it's been more than alarming, and while she hasn't encountered anything in person as yet, it's horrible enough just to have seen something and felt utterly useless about the ability to assist.
This one is a bit more unavoidable, the Vine wrapping around her wrist as the mirror unfurls. She looks away, but the Vine still holds, so she hears it, uncomfortable as it makes her.
There's a long silence before she manages to put together a response, and it's her concern that prompts her to speak, more than the fact the Vine brought this to her attention. )
Caprica?
( So many question. Smashing heads in with rocks, not being human, it--
-- she might sound a bit shaky. ) Are you-- do you need help?
[ The voice from the mirror makes her jump, caught off guard, and slowly she glances over in its direction. Of course, the Vine had to record all of that. Caprica pushes herself away from the counter, takes a few slow breaths to put herself back in some sort of equilibrium. She feels raw, drained, emotionally exhausted. The mirror is over by her kitchen table, and she goes over, sits down carefully in one of the dining chairs. It takes her a while to answer Jules's question, and she does it without really looking at the mirror herself. ]
I don't know.
[ It's not a no, not a refusal like before. Part of her thinks company might be... good, right now, but she won't ask for it herself. ]
( Jules, in the meantime, is just trying to extricate herself from the Vine, sitting silently as she tries to peel the coils from around her wrist.
That's a change she can pick up on, at least, chewing on her bottom lip as she finally manages to free herself. Another little pause, finally looking at the mirror, head tilted a bit. Tentative, really. ) I think-- I think tea can really help. It's very relaxing, you know? Um, rather... ( Cliche, Jules. It's a British cliche. ) I can bring you some, if that'd be all right?
( Why she is offering to bring tea to someone who supposedly smashes people with rocks she isn't sure. Maybe because she's rather in denial about it, along with that... other comment. Which she is ignoring. Yes. )
[ That she's offering at all says something, though Caprica isn't completely sure what. Her gaze turns back toward the mirror, and she can't manage to look anything but tired. She's sad, angry, heartsore, but sorting through all of that takes too much energy right now.
Caprica likes tea. And so she exhales, slowly, and smiles just a tiny bit for Jules's benefit. She can't quite help it if it's not totally sincere. ]
Are you all right, Caprica? [Epsilon has seen a few of these spectres now, and she's beginning to understand them. They're easy to recognize, once you've dealt with one. Always needlessly cruel, and very aware of their target's fears and doubts.]
[She's glad that Caprica was able to banish the vision, but it's clear that she's still upset.] If I can do something for you, I will.
[ She starts visibly at the voice, looks over, and then there might be a little something like relief in her expression. Epsilon is... different from the others, she's more like Caprica herself, and that makes her feel more at ease.
She looks tired, drained - somewhere deep down there might be anger simmering, but it hasn't surfaced yet. She realizes D'Anna wasn't real - her words, about Caprica having voted to box her, she couldn't have known that and that had tipped her off - but having the guise of her lover used against her still hurts.
Caprica swallows again, pushes herself away from the counter. ]
These illusions are cruel. They sense what we most fear--about others or ourselves. One of them spoke to me. It was unsettling. I can come to you, if you don't wish to be alone.
[Epsilon's own experience has taught her some things about these apparitions.] If she appeared in your home, it must be close enough to the Edge of the Gardens--I believe she'll appear again, in a short while. Or another illusion will.
[ Caprica's mouth twists unsteadily. Illusions drawn from people's fears and doubts. Things that should be private, or only spoken of when one wishes to speak of them, not broadcast for the entirety of the Gardens to see. It's invasive and violating, and when she has the energy, Caprica will be angry about it.
But she doesn't have the energy for very much right now, and she thinks it might be nice to be around Epsilon, who won't ask her for more than she can handle. ]
If you think she'll come back, then maybe I should go to you instead.
[ Move farther away from the source of the problem. ]
[Fang's been paying attention to the Vine in bits and pieces -- she's more concerned for keeping an eye on Vanille. The last thing they need, on top of everything else, is a fight with ghosts. Seeing this part of other people...it's none of her business, and she doesn't want to make it her business.
But the Vine has no such reservations, and blooms on its own. She watches the scene quietly, and when it is done, she takes a moment to speak.]
Well, she sounds like a real catch. [It's sarcastic and irritated, but her tone loses some of its bite a little later.] Hey. Are you gonna be all right?
[ That comes quickly enough, maybe just a hint defensive. D'Anna wasn't that cruel with her, at least not after they started sleeping together. But at the same time... that was close enough to be realistic, and it's left Caprica shaken.
She pushes herself away from the kitchen counter, glancing toward the mirror. Caprica doesn't know this woman, but right at the moment she doesn't particularly care about that part.
The answer to her question comes a little more slowly this time; Caprica has to pause to collect her scattered thoughts. ]
Yes.
[ She's not all right now, but she will be, and that's what Fang was asking. In every situation like this in the past, she has always been able to gather herself and move on, sooner or later. Build something more out of the broken pieces. ]
[Fang hears the defensiveness, but it doesn't bother her. She's used to that tone.]
Good. Figured I might ask, since this plant seems to like barging in on personal affairs. [She rolls her shoulders back.] You need anything? I'm not the best at heart to hearts, but I can find you some hard liquor, if that's more your speed.
It doesn't seem to have much of an interest in other people's privacy.
[ After long enough in the Gardens, she supposes she's gotten used to the Vine, but that... was something that she really would rather have not had everyone see. But it's done now, she can't take it back.
She reaches up, brushing a strand of hair out of her face, uneasily. Manages a thin little smile. ]
I wouldn't mind a drink.
[ Caprica doesn't like to get drunk, but just a drink or two... would help, right now. ]
Comments 55
This one is a bit more unavoidable, the Vine wrapping around her wrist as the mirror unfurls. She looks away, but the Vine still holds, so she hears it, uncomfortable as it makes her.
There's a long silence before she manages to put together a response, and it's her concern that prompts her to speak, more than the fact the Vine brought this to her attention. )
Caprica?
( So many question. Smashing heads in with rocks, not being human, it--
-- she might sound a bit shaky. ) Are you-- do you need help?
Reply
I don't know.
[ It's not a no, not a refusal like before. Part of her thinks company might be... good, right now, but she won't ask for it herself. ]
Reply
That's a change she can pick up on, at least, chewing on her bottom lip as she finally manages to free herself. Another little pause, finally looking at the mirror, head tilted a bit. Tentative, really. ) I think-- I think tea can really help. It's very relaxing, you know? Um, rather... ( Cliche, Jules. It's a British cliche. ) I can bring you some, if that'd be all right?
( Why she is offering to bring tea to someone who supposedly smashes people with rocks she isn't sure. Maybe because she's rather in denial about it, along with that... other comment. Which she is ignoring. Yes. )
Reply
Caprica likes tea. And so she exhales, slowly, and smiles just a tiny bit for Jules's benefit. She can't quite help it if it's not totally sincere. ]
Tea would be nice.
Reply
[She's glad that Caprica was able to banish the vision, but it's clear that she's still upset.] If I can do something for you, I will.
Reply
She looks tired, drained - somewhere deep down there might be anger simmering, but it hasn't surfaced yet. She realizes D'Anna wasn't real - her words, about Caprica having voted to box her, she couldn't have known that and that had tipped her off - but having the guise of her lover used against her still hurts.
Caprica swallows again, pushes herself away from the counter. ]
I'm not sure.
Reply
[Epsilon's own experience has taught her some things about these apparitions.] If she appeared in your home, it must be close enough to the Edge of the Gardens--I believe she'll appear again, in a short while. Or another illusion will.
Reply
But she doesn't have the energy for very much right now, and she thinks it might be nice to be around Epsilon, who won't ask her for more than she can handle. ]
If you think she'll come back, then maybe I should go to you instead.
[ Move farther away from the source of the problem. ]
Reply
But the Vine has no such reservations, and blooms on its own. She watches the scene quietly, and when it is done, she takes a moment to speak.]
Well, she sounds like a real catch. [It's sarcastic and irritated, but her tone loses some of its bite a little later.] Hey. Are you gonna be all right?
Reply
[ That comes quickly enough, maybe just a hint defensive. D'Anna wasn't that cruel with her, at least not after they started sleeping together. But at the same time... that was close enough to be realistic, and it's left Caprica shaken.
She pushes herself away from the kitchen counter, glancing toward the mirror. Caprica doesn't know this woman, but right at the moment she doesn't particularly care about that part.
The answer to her question comes a little more slowly this time; Caprica has to pause to collect her scattered thoughts. ]
Yes.
[ She's not all right now, but she will be, and that's what Fang was asking. In every situation like this in the past, she has always been able to gather herself and move on, sooner or later. Build something more out of the broken pieces. ]
Reply
[Fang hears the defensiveness, but it doesn't bother her. She's used to that tone.]
Good. Figured I might ask, since this plant seems to like barging in on personal affairs. [She rolls her shoulders back.] You need anything? I'm not the best at heart to hearts, but I can find you some hard liquor, if that's more your speed.
Reply
[ After long enough in the Gardens, she supposes she's gotten used to the Vine, but that... was something that she really would rather have not had everyone see. But it's done now, she can't take it back.
She reaches up, brushing a strand of hair out of her face, uneasily. Manages a thin little smile. ]
I wouldn't mind a drink.
[ Caprica doesn't like to get drunk, but just a drink or two... would help, right now. ]
Reply
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