2023-03-21 Binary-form Sunrise
- Cast: May Morseland, Rita Bernal
- Where: ??? (Tsutsujidai)
- Date: U.C. 0097 03 21
- Summary: In fitful dream, May Morseland sees it. A truth in plain sight, yet impossibly illuminating. And another girl sees her, and her possibilities.
<Pose Tracker> Rita Bernal has posed.
Scary things are coming. Really scary. Sad things too.
Some things can't be changed. Some things shouldn't be changed. But some things...
Maybe it's okay to try and change fate.
Tsutsujidai, the strange city with burgeoning light. It's only a matter of time. And though her protector is valiant, even his strength can only reach so far. And so, the Phenex's beloved sets one of her splinters to watching over the miraculous city, resting beyond time, one hand on the pulse of possibility.
Sooner than she'd hope, she feels it begin to stir.
---
A door appears! Despite being plain, it's very enticing. The brass doorknob practically glimmers in the light of May's dream. However compelling the door may be, it isn't forceful. Should May wish to ignore the door, it will simply fade.
Should May wish to open the door...
...she will find herself aboard a school bus. No one sits in the driver's seat, but the vehicle drives on. Sunlight shines in through the many windows. Though the air is full of happy, excited conversations, the bus is empty.
Save for one seat, in the very, very back. A woman in her early 20s sits neatly by the window, dressed in a simple white sundress. Golden hair falls to her waist in dreamy, cloud-like waves. Upon noticing May, brilliant green eyes light up, and she waves.
"May! I saved you a seat!"
<Pose Tracker> May Morseland has posed.
May loved her a good door. Life had many of them, and they usually led somewhere...interesting, if not always good. They were also usually attached to a destination though, which this new door didn't really seem to be. She got a weird feeling about this...but in light of the previous sentiment, that didn't really phase her. All the better really!
Probably more interesting than...
She actually couldn't have really recalled what she was doing before if one had somehow been in a position to ask. The train of dream logic had some tricky tracks.
Regardless, she reaches forward and in an instant impossibly long yet imperceptibly brief-
May finds herself standing somewhere. She blinks her own light green eyes as the strange atmosphere washes over her like the sea mist crashing over rocks on the shore.
The soon-to-be-former student was definitely not entirely sure what was happening, but she could tell something was up. Even if sounds were naturally evocative enough for her that in the shimmer, it was only a dull realization that they usually had a *source.*
"...O-oh!" She blinks, stammering a little awkwardly for spacing out and delaying her cheery wave of a reaction to?... "Thanks!" She wasn't *quite* consciously aware this was a?...dream, but she definitely felt the sense she might as well play along and see where this went.
May springs forward with an exuberant energy in her step as she moves to join her???...friend (Also this was a vehicle in motion...right? Did it feel like it right now?...Did that matter?)
"I'd complain about not getting the window seat, but I'd proooobably have done the same in your spot." May snorts, chuckling amicably.
<Pose Tracker> Rita Bernal has posed.
If May is particularly attentive, she will notice some unusual things. The landscape outside 'loops' at a certain point, like a game that's run out of unique assets. The echoed, invisible conversations repeat themselves.
Aside from that, the school bus appears every bit to be a normal school bus, if perhaps a bit more clean than a usual children's area would be. It rocks and bumps along, endlessly trundling forward. In the near distance, a coastline can be seen.
The blonde woman laughs, shrugging. "Sorry, you know the rules! First one gets the window seat!"
She grows more serious, then -- though her gentle smile never wavers.
"My name is Rita Bernal. It's very nice to meet you, May." Up close, those green eyes seem luminous, even in the bright sunlight. "Thank you so much for coming to visit me."
Despite the fact that the bus seats should be sized for elementary school children, there's plenty of room for both women to sit together. A nice convenience of dreaming.
"The people in your city are changing. Have you noticed? They're Waking Up." Rita places an emphasis on those last two words, letting them hang in the air. "You're one of them."
Rita laughs, letting some of her golden hair cascade over her shoulder. "It's wonderful! Someday, all of humanity will be like us. Then we'll regain the soul's original form, and communicate without hurting each other."
But she's getting ahead of herself.
"Do you know what a Newtype is, May?"
<Pose Tracker> May Morseland has posed.
"So I do!" May shrugs with a light chuckle. Thems were the breaks!
"...Nice to meet you too!" There's a slight, uncharacteristic pause in her response but otherwise she's as friendly as ever. "Ah, well, you know me," There's a slightly pointed look indicating that phrasing isn't idle, the 'somehow' implied. "I love me new places and new people."
Speaking of place, as she was increasingly getting her bearings, she slowly began to notice the details of wherever (and potentially however) she was right now. As she said to a friend a while back, she was used to weird stuff by now, but this felt a lil too much still.
She quietly blinks, letting Rita carry on the rest of her portentous tangent. May was naturally one to interject but even before the more intriguing words, she could tell this was going somewhere Important. Even she could sometimes listen and think before she spoke, and she wasn't even sure what to say to some of this just yet.
Which is why she greets Rita's question with a quiet tapping of her chin first.
"Well, before today, not really! Didn't really learn much detail in school and looking up stuff online wasn't...super helpful." There is a twitch on her lips that gestures at a pout. Once the kaiju stuff hit, it'd be naturally difficult to indulge her habit of wiki-diving (and she was realizing a lot of what she'd done so 'Before' was potentially suspect now in hindsight), and even when she now could, it'd been the realm of wild theories and speculation at best.
"But from context clues, I'm guessing you're one, it involves like, spiritual connection or something, and you're implying a bunch of people here are as well..."
The other big conclusion is unspoken but obvious in May's very perplexed expression and her next words.
"...Why do you ask?"
<Pose Tracker> Rita Bernal has posed.
Rita nods at May's statement that she 'knows' her. In a way, Rita might know her better than anyone, having broken possibility apart to find the best way to approach the younger woman.
"It's not your fault. Governments have tried to suppress knowledge of Newtypes. They're afraid of what we're capable of." Rita's smile turns sorrowful. "But they know we're real. They're happy to use us in the ways that suit them."
Another nod, when May gives her idea of a Newtype. "Yes! Newtypes have the ability to connect with others. To understand and communicate perfectly. They're capable of great miracles."
Turning slightly in the seat, Rita takes one of May's hands in her own, gently holding it. "You're a Newtype, May. It's why I'm here. You're capable of infinite possibility!" A brilliant smile, so wide and joyful Rita's green eyes squish closed. "It's a wonderful, happy thing!"
"But." Her grip gets stronger, and those eyes turn serious. Miraculous, auroric light shines in the depths of Rita's pupils, shattering the blackness that should rest within. "You're in great danger because of it. Cruel, powerful people are becoming aware of Tsutsujidai. They're learning that Repli-Compoids can become Newtypes, true Newtypes."
"Those people, if they can, will take you and hurt you. They'll do horrible things." Rita's voice is breathy and soft. "So you have to be careful, May. Only tell people you would trust with your life."
Rita pauses, smiling still. "I'm going to teach you how to call me. If you're ever in danger, I'll come and protect you."
<Pose Tracker> May Morseland has posed.
"Afraid?..." The young woman's eyes widen slightly. The concept wasn't foreign to her; history and sociology were among her preferred topics of more academic study, and history was long and storied of power protecting itself from...unpredictable elements. It was still quite the thing to hear about some kind of Gift that she was proximal to. "That...makes an unfortunate amount of sense I guess. And," She gives Rita a sympathetic smile. "I'm sorry." It wasn't hard to read between the lines in the way it was said to her.
A finger once more returns to her chin, stroking slightly as her eyes dip away in thought. She didn't doubt Rita's words, the sincerity of intention was obvious and strong...strong in ways she could...Feel, somehow. And yet, something in the back of her mind couldn't help but realize that there probably was more to it.
After all, what kind of possibility of 'miracles' would make governments think they could exploit you? (She wasn't quite weary of the world enough to totally understand that 'miracle' in itself was something to be afraid of, for an unfortunate many)
A line of thought that is interrupted as Rita takes her hand, eyes meeting (and through them, something a little more, May thought) as the penny is finally officially dropped. "I...I am huh...wow!" May blinks. "I mean...most people are, aren't they? But I suppose you mean a different kind of infinite maybe..." May chuckles, Rita's enthusiastic energy resonant with her own.
All the more reason why the sudden severity impacted her all the more. Even if she hadn't already put it together, that urgent raggedness she felt from Rita's tone gave her more than enough indication this wasn't a second hand warning.
"Oh shit...that...that makes a lot of sense, from the way you said it, it seems like...we're pretty dense on that stuff.." May muses contemplatively. She'd been searching her feelings, retroactively combing her understanding of what she was feeling and if Newtypes 'connected' with others...then that explained why a fair few handful of people felt different than others...
"Don't worry, I will!" She nods, taking her new friend's urgency very seriously. "I'm...used to trusting a lot of people like that I guess? But I get your point."
She blinks rapidly, leaning in curiously. "Oh damn, really? That'd be...well, I was gonna ask how to...know how to feel this stuff anyway, since..." She closes her eyes slightly in contemplation. "I think it's been here a while but its like the words weren't there for my heart to really speak it..." She blushes a bit. "Wow, fancy there, me!"
She chuckles again, ever bright and undaunted.
<Pose Tracker> Rita Bernal has posed.
May apologizes. Rita's expression turns soft, heart breakingly so. Clearly, May's intuition is correct. "Thank you. Don't worry, no one can ever hurt me again. I just want to make sure the same will be true for you!"
A sweet laugh accompanies May's chuckle. "Yes! Everyone is full of potential, but... It's different for Newtypes! Closer to the surface. The Light of Possibility is a part of who we are."
Thank goodness May is accepting this. Rita was worried she'd deny it, or be scared. Instead, May seems excited -- happy.
"You'll probably be able to feel people's true feelings, or sense things a few moments before they happen. There are lots of other gifts, but those are the most common." Rita explains, seriously. "It's what makes us very effective fighters. And why you need to keep this part of yourself hidden."
May is given a gentle smile. "Thank you. It's much better to avoid trouble than need to be saved! If you need others to talk to, you'll be able to find them. Newtypes resonate with one another -- the way we are now."
Rita laughs again with May, encouraging her joy. "Yes! You're spot on. Let's practice, May! I'll feel one emotion very, very hard, and you tell me what it is. I think you'll be able to do it without any guidance."
Letting go of May's hand, Rita folds her hands in her lap again. Though her expression never changes from that soft smile, May will feel...
Sorrow. Aching, bone-deep, unending. It feels like ice brushing against her soul.
And as quickly as it appeared, the feeling is gone. Rita looks at May expectantly.
<Pose Tracker> May Morseland has posed.
"Awww, thanks!" May beams appreciatively. There's a weight behind Rita's words that suggest...something best left alone for now, she knew and suspected that much. "I'll do my best to handle myself and make that easy!"
The guitarist's expression shifts into the closest approximation of 'quiet awe' May can muster. "Woah that's cool...the Light of Possibility..." She smiles herself for a second, the image of a sun greeting the world with a dawn passing through her mind for reasons silent yet everything. "I definitely like the sound of that!"
May nods, taking diligent mental note of Rita's explanation. Mindmap status: legit as hell. "So it's...kinda like being psychic." She nods to herself. That description...still doesn't feel quite right in a few ways (then again, what would?), but she liked having something tangible to work with, conceptually as well. "...Ah, there it is..." She chuckles wryly. "Was wondering why we're," The inclusive plural already felt so natural to expand to this. "Such a big deal. Even though all the other stuff is much cooler, personally." A broad, earnest grin.
'It's much better to avoid trouble' was an idea May sometimes needed work on, but 'resonate with each other' was a concept she had top marks in. "If it's this nice, I'll be all set there!"
May looks excited. "Gotcha!" She nods enthusiastically then focuses very hard...then does the opposite and sorta vibes, maybe that would be better inst-
A dark shadow, blotting out the sun, a cage of a grasp the bird can never fly free from, a choir choked with talons.
May was barely aware she had to let go of a breath trapped in a tightened chest.
"Y-yeah I got that..." She nervously chuckles.
She was really grateful she didn't go with a joke she was thinking of about being a cool ESP-er (guitarist joke!) now. Even apart from the sad, this was...monumental in general.
"I know I already apologized, but it sucks you know how to feel *this* sad, Rita." She gives a sympathetic smile. How well she knew how to feel that sad was a question she also dodged from herself as well at this time.
"But yeah, you were feeling...sad there, like I said. A despair so deep it was like a light went out in your soul...or something like that. This stuff really engages my lyrics brain, I guess." She shrugs amicably.
"If I did okay there, is it my turn?"
<Pose Tracker> Rita Bernal has posed.
May's awe warms Rita's heart. Raising a hand, she holds it palm-up. Brilliant fire sparks into being, shining in green-blue-pink, shifting and transcendent. It's warm but not hot, comforting in its beauty.
"This is what Possibility looks like." Rita says, her face illuminated by the kaleidoscopic colors. "Isn't it wonderful? All Newtypes are connected to it."
Rita giggles. "Kind of. It's a little more spiritual than just being psychic. Newtypes can bond together, and always know where the other is. It becomes an intensely powerful experience. You'll know what you're bonded person is going through, no matter how far apart you are."
"There are weapons only Newtypes can use. Very powerful ones. But I hope you never have you learn about them, May." Rita murmurs. "We weren't meant to be weapons. We were meant to help connect everyone."
Rita's sorrow tears through the serene atmosphere. Immediately, she places a hand on May's shoulder. "I'm sorry. That was too much. I wasn't sure how sensitive you would be, so I used a more powerful emotion. Are you okay? We can take a break."
"You're so kind." Rita says, sorrow fading from those green eyes. There's recognition there -- knowledge May is keeping some things to herself. She won't pry. "Thank you. I chose this path, and I don't regret it. But it is a heavy burden."
Reigniting her smile, Rita claps. "You got it in one! You know, you could be a poet, or a songwriter. You're very good at expressing yourself! Yes, go ahead and broadcast a feeling to me. It can be anything."
"Once you master that, it's a simple jump to be able to share memories. I have a feeling you won't have any trouble. I'll teach you how to call out next."
<Pose Tracker> May Morseland has posed.
May's eyes widen, the light of the flame dancing in them, intertwined with her own spark. "Holy shit..."
"Possibility is pretty damn rad, gotta say!" She exclaims in jubilant fascination. "I'm gonna assume that's a dream symbolism thing, the last thing I need is to be expected to bring my own special effects." The guitarist giggles glibly. "But...seriously, that's wonderful."
May continues to listen very intently. Somewhat obviously, it was a naturally developed skill for her, as much as she also loved talking herself. "That sounds intense, yeah. Probably worth it." Definitely worth it.
"Yeah that's..." May simply just nods in assent at Rita's forlorn explanation. "Everyone deserves better than something like that. We got more to offer each other if we Live together, like this or otherwise."
Rita's sorrow is a slightly-bitter tang through the air. Feelings like that were always obvious to intuit to May on some level before this but now it was almost palpable, like a form of synesthesia. In that metaphor, the hand on her shoulder was probably a nice warm colour. "No, no, it's okay," May gives a bemused but understanding expression. "Feelings aren't something I'm scared of, them not being Mine doesn't change that." She reassures with a quiet strength in her words, a soft conviction.
"Aha, well, people are worth caring about for a lot of reasons!" She snorts with a bashful shrug at the praise. "And yeah...you shouldn't! Time only goes forward, so we gotta as well. The future's where all the cool shit's at." She reaches forward to return the gesture of a hand on a shoulder. "And even that's kinda a good thing in a way...if something feels heavy on your shoulders, that means you're actually trying to carry it, otherwise it'd just pin you down and crush you. And it's worth carrying." She smiles warmly.
After that moment, she reaches the hand back to scratch at her neck with a wide beam on her face. "Woohoo! Nailed it. And that makes sense, I am actually a musician and all." She shifts a bit, making herself comfortable as the feeling swells within her like the rise of a compositional movement.
She'd thought a bit about what to send back, definitely something nice, so on that topic...it was the kind of emotion she felt sitting down to play, or at least her favourite one.
It was joy, the vibrant shimmer of melody and harmony dancing through the air, the spark of hands and wills united in creation, the charge of being life's lightning rod, struck with refulgent inspiration from the roiling waves of the heart and the universe crashing together for a peerless moment of life.
When she finishes, her eyes sparkle somewhat, very slightly less metaphorically than usual. "Wow, memories? That...really *is* deep. And I'm all ears."
<Pose Tracker> Rita Bernal has posed.
Rita breaks into a bright laugh, closing her palm to extinguish the little flame. "It's symbolic for most people, but I'm a little bit of a unique case! I can bring the Light into the physical plane with the power of my Gundam." Another grin, squeezing Rita's beautiful eyes shut. "I'm so glad you like it!"
"I'm so glad you understand, May. Even people you trust the most can be convinced to turn you in. For money, or blackmail." Rita says this without ire. "The fewer people who know, the better."
Rita looks approving at May's courage. "You're remarkable, May. I'm so glad I've gotten to meet you! We all have to do our best to make our way forward. For ourselves, and for all humanity." A warm smile as May reaches out. Rita's body feels like incarnate sunlight. "Yes. I'm happy to carry this burden!" Green eyes shimmer with mysterious light. "It's something only I can do, after all."
Politely, Rita closes her eyes as May decides on an emotion. Feeling the exuberant thrum of life pierces her heart. This is... something new. Something so achingly out of reach. Starlight gathers just beneath Rita's eyelids, spilling over in a gentle stream of cosmic radiance.
"The joy of living." Rita murmurs. When she opens her eyes, the tears have vanished, as though they never existed. "What a beautiful emotion to share, May. Thank you."
Rita tries to banish the memory from her mind. Feelings like that aren't for her.
"Memories happen just the same. Hold tight to every piece of the experience. The sensory aspects, the feelings, every single thing that makes it important to you. Then open your heart." Rita explains -- though notably, she does not offer a demonstration.
Instead, both hands are folded on her lap, and her eyes focus intently on May. "Calling is more advanced. It takes a good deal of effort. It's easiest in non-waking states. It's why I came to you in a dream."
"You need to be familiar with someone's soul, first." Rita extends a hand. "It's easiest if you're Bonded, but that's not necessary. Grasp your connection to the person you want to call, and put everything you are into crying their name. Shout with everything you have!"
Rita smiles calmly. "I'm very sensitive, so I'll hear you easily. But others will need more help. Newtypes thrive on connection and emotion, so the more you put into your call, the stronger it will be. If you feel confident in your abilities, we can stop here, but if you're worried..."
A hand is extended. "I can bring you more deeply into the resonant plane, so you can truly learn the shape of my soul."
<Pose Tracker> May Morseland has posed.
May quietly whistles at that little tidbit. "Wow, cool robot. Well, mostly you actually! You're really cool and special...well, most people are but, uh, you know what I mean!" She chuckles.
She purses her lips tightly together at the reasoning, nodding as she is unable to really dispute it, no matter how much she may want to. "Man, I'm bad at secrets and junk like this...but ah well, never been one to slack on practice." She snorts, shrugging, still in light spirits regardless, mostly.
"A-aha, aw jeez, someone like you saying that about lil old me..." She giggles with a slightly flustered, shy expression. "And yeah, that's the spirit! You got this!" The thumbsup is obvious in her tone even before it 'physically' happens.
She quietly observes, a moment of respectful space as she observes Rita react to her attempt. It...definitely seemed to have worked.
She was quietly relieved as it became obvious those were happy tears. "Yeah, of course." She gives a small chin-nod. "It's what I'm trying to convey physically whenever I pick the strings up anyway, so being more...direct, is nice for a change, aha."
"Oooh, gotcha..." May nods, taking the advice once more to heart. She spots the lack of offering, and does not press it. She admittedly understands feeling awkward about your memories to some degree recently.
She raises her finger to her chin once more as she listens. "That makes sense...when you're dreaming, your mind is kinda sorting through itself because you're not really busy with all the usual junk, so you have more room for other people in there."
May thinks back to her connections, the way she's understood enjoying life with others... "Yeah, that makes total sense! Good thing I like to think I'm pretty good at the whole connection thing." She had every desire, all reason, and great need to.
She slowly reaches her hand forward, hovering over Rita's. "Well...if we're here, why not right? And...that feels like a big honour, so I definitely wanna appreciate it!" Not to mention just being plain old curious, a fascinated intrigue springing from her appreciation of life.
The weird, wild world was waiting for her.
<Pose Tracker> Rita Bernal has posed.
"She's the coolest." Rita agrees, proudly. "Maybe someday you two can meet. I'm sure she'd be pleased."
May is so full of life, so vibrant against the gentle constancy of the resonant plane. "I have complete faith in you. Both to keep secrets, and to follow your dreams. I can tell, you have so much to share with this world."
"Your feelings reached me." Rita promises, her free hand coming to rest over her heart. "I can't imagine anyone who could be failed to be moved by such a genuine expression of joy. Someday, I hope you can play for me!"
May works through the offered information, and Rita waits, gently giving her space to process all of it. When she reaches out to take Rita's hand, the lumious woman nods, reaching up to grasp May's hand tightly.
"Hold on. This will be very different!"
And with that, Rita p u l l s...
Drawing both women's spirits up, up, not physically higher, but spiritually more resonant. 'Deeper' into the plane. With a rush, mist rolls in, beautiful in pastel. Every color imaginable stretches out before them. Surrounding May is nothing but possibility and expression.
Rita laughs, her voice echoing not in May's ears, but her soul. Transformed, she glows, a spirit burning bright in verdant brilliance.
It's still me, and it's still you. This is the soul's true form. Isn't it beautiful?
Rita floats close to May, clinging tight to her hand. She can't let go, lest she lose her new friend, but that's no hardship.
This is where I stay. My home, now. Here, watch!
With a 'breath', Rita closes her eyes, focusing. It comes easily to her. Immediately before the two women, the mist clears, displaying a brilliant golden thread extending from Rita's spirit, 'down' and away.
If we followed this thread, it'd guide us to my friend Michele. And if someone calls to me, it works in reverse. A thread will appear to me here, and I'll follow it to whoever needs me!
The thread fades as Rita drops the connection. She beams.
It's easy. You can do this, May. You have so much love in your heart.
But -- the resonant plane sort of... wobbles, around May. Her spirit blurs. Rita looks a little sad, though her smile never fades.
You're waking up. I'm afraid I have to go. Don't forget what I said, okay?
Still holding tight to May's hand, Rita presses forward, wrapping her free arm around the other young woman in a hug, even as May's spirit slowly begins to fade...
You're going to be wonderful. The world will be kind to you. I believe in you, May.
<Pose Tracker> May Morseland has posed.
Thin eyebrows raised. 'She'? "For sure! I'd love to!" She grinned. Any friend of a friend was also hers.
"As much as anyone else." She smiles warmly, her words clearly not self-deprecation. "And it takes one to know one."
May laughs joyfully, as bright and vibrant an expression as the feelings in question. "That'd be awesome! I gotta warn you, I don't always play the pretty stuff people expect from a gal like me, so get ready to rock out!"
She's still giggling a bit as Rita takes her hand, having only a moment to nod in response and open her mouth for a response that-
Is lost in thought as she feels the both of them rush 'forward' through 'reality', the gleaming colour around them catching her essentially-metaphorical eyes.
It was truly as if flying in a dream, blue and green and yellow and pink and red and indigo and everything else in the rainbow and many beyond.
Wow...that's incredible! You're incredible! I'm incredible!
May returns the clinging easily as her laughter peals through the space.
As she observes Rita manifest this connective energy, she listens, nodding as she idly glances along its 'length', seeing how it disappears into the infinite gradient of this existence.
Yeah I can see...or rather, Feel that now. Was kinda expecting this stuff to be...well, it definitely seems complicated but, harder? I dunno, aha.
She 'shrugs', her spirit shimmering from the motion, or rather, the playful familiarity of her banter.
I've got friends like you behind me. I think I can probably do anything if I try hard enough! Anyone can!
As the plane shifts around them, May indeed feels herself stir. She gives Rita an apologetic shrug, and a simple nod in response this time. She was known for being talkative but especially here, she knew she could trust beyond words.
She would never forget this day as long as she lived.
Such is the resolution that fills her heart as she gently returns the embrace with her free arm.
It better be kind to you too.
The hand holding Rita's twitches.
Otherwise I'll be there to...
It turns.
Like opening-
Her eyes, heavy, slowly flutter awake. The unchanging shade of Tsutsujidai's 'sky' fades in through her room's window, curtains shifting gently in the breeze.
Her hand is still raised forward, grasping for something.
She rubs her eyes with the other one (were they...slightly wet?), then sits up. She idly glances to a nearby clock, perched above one of her favourite guitars.
It somehow felt weird she had apparently woken up at near exactly her usual time.
...Usually the details of dreams would start to get hazy about now, but this one was as crystal clear as could ever be. And would likely remain.
She gets up and stares out the window. The skyline continues to be dominated by the proof of this world as it hangs over the buildings visible from her apartment.
It felt quiet. Not the usual quiet of the small hours of the morning, but after what she'd experienced...somehow it felt even moreso than usual.
...
No...it was there...humming in the distance, through noise. Indistinct, to be sure, but people and potential called to her, however vaguely.
Life was living around her.
How the heck had she missed this before.
She shrugs to nothing in particular, still staring through the window. Ah well. The future was waiting. (But, one hopes, not watching, at least right now, given she usually slept naked)
In the spirit of both of those things, she heads to start her morning routine, step somehow even springier than her normal.
She had a few promises to keep.