( closed ) and I am king of them all and faster than light

[magnitudes]

WHO: Sarissa & various.
WHERE: various, mostly Nonah
WHEN: throughout February.
WHAT: a catch all.
WARNINGS: reference to past traumatic injury/loss of limb (and mental & physical health repercussions)
NOTE: I have an opt-out post for Sarissa over here, so if there's any topics/themes you'd prefer I avoid in tags or if you'd like to opt out of cr completely, please don't hesitate to let me know.
I'm not doing open starters solely because of the above warnings and wanting to customise threads a bit, but if you'd like a thread with Sarissa (for new cr as well as existing) please don't hesitate to let me know! Fling me a PM and we'll figure out an appropriate thread.

Comments

[magnitudes]

Ali, I drop stitches at the best of times, and I'm not sure my ability to hold tension is going to be up to much, with all this.

( She gestures vaguely to her left arm; there's a kind of strange mix of gentleness and humour and self-eviscerating flippancy to her words, as she huffs out a dramatic breath. )

It'd be worth asking just to see the look on her face but, don't you reckon?

[subourbon]

[Nope, Alison is not going to be a participant in this pity-party! Not if she can help it!]

If you really want to knit, we'll manage something. I do have a degree in kinesiology, you know. And if you're going to ask Sarah to do anything like that, now's the time to do it.

[Part of Alison wants to see if Sarah will begrudgingly take up knitting to make Sarissa happy. The mental image of it is enough to make her crack a smile.]

[magnitudes]

( But Alison, her inner angst. And her outer angst. General angstmosphere. She smiles a little bit, and shrugs. )

I will. Just have a camera ready. ( She inhales, holds her breath for a second, and slowly exhales. )

I dunno. I just keep thinking of stuff to do that I can't do. It's not like I knitted all the time, or nothing, it's just that... now if I don't it's not 'cause I'm being lazy. Just a bit— weird.

( And traumatic, but she's going to go with weird and speak all light heartedly and pretend its fine. )

( Still being Sarissa, though, her inclination is to climb over the wooden fence, instead of using the gate, and she swings her leg over the top. ) What is kinesiology?

[subourbon]

Well, the short version is that it's the scientific study of movement.

[And her degree has basically been a very expensive piece of useless paper to her thus far in life, but no one needs to know that.]

I know it's a big adjustment and a lot to process right now. But I also know that you're very resilient and adaptable, Sarissa. If there's something that you really want to do, I'm sure we can find a way for you to do it.

[magnitudes]

Huh. Like a kinda fancier version of physio?

( Sarissa, helpfully, stands up on one of the fenceposts, balancing on one foot with a kind of practiced, lazy ease. It only lasts a few moments, before she leans down to hop off the other side of the fence. )

"Resilient and adaptable." ( She's happy about that, actually. It seems very generous, given the large scale meltdown Alison was witness to when they found out Sarissa wasn't a clone. Her tone turns slightly teasing: ) Makes me sound like a camel.

[subourbon]

Some people who study kinesiology go on to study physiotherapy or sports medicine, that kind of thing.

[Alison may look on a little disapprovingly of Sarissa's antics.]

I have no idea why you would pick that animal out of all the available ones to try and relate to. Also that's not a challenge to tempt fate. Or gravity.

[magnitudes]

Is that what you wanted to do? Before getting married and stuff?

( Her grin is slightly apologetic. ) Eh, you know me. Can't resist poking a sleeping bear with a stick. 'Cept, I wouldn't do that particular thing, 'cause it's mean, but you know.

( Whatever. )

Camels are pretty fascinating. What anima would you say, then?

[subourbon]

[She considers the animal question for longer than she needs to, really.]

Oh... beavers, I guess. They're pretty resourceful.

Anyway, it doesn't matter what I wanted to do before. I'm satisfied with where I'm at now. Well , I mean not now, but I think things are going to start moving in the right direction.

[magnitudes]

That is the most Canadian answer you coulda given.

( She's delighted, obviously, as they walk up towards the house. The slope is gradual but muddy, and Sarissa keeps her eyes on the ground as they walk. Partly it's being mindful, and partly it's that the springy grass and the wet mud rising up as the grass is trodden down is oddly hypnotic to watch.

Part of her thinks to say, it always matters. If you still want it, then you should fight for it. She holds her tongue, less because she doesn't believe it, more because maybe what you wanted before is sometimes only important as a point of interest as you keep walking, like an unusual landmark etched onto a map. People change shape. )

Yeah, that makes sense. ( There's a lack of dramatic flair in it. ) It's not like it has to be a loss or some... big grand fix-it.

[subourbon]

Is there something wrong with that? I thought Australians were supposed to feel some sort of, I don't know, kinship with Canadians.

[She says it with a huff, but it's not like she actually knows any Australians back home.]

I'm happy with where my life is when my family isn't getting threatened by corrupt police officers and shady corporations, so I guess that's all I can ask for.

[In most circumstances Alison would have already zipped straight into the house at a brisk pace, but she slows enough to match with Sarissa, careful not to make her feel hurried.]

[magnitudes]

Of course. Pancake Parlour wouldn't be the same without maple syrup. And I know plentya guys what look like moose. Practically the same place.

( Her teasing is affectionate, even if she sobers a little with Alison's words. )

Yeah, I hear you. ( She likes her life when there's less shady mercenaries and mafia bosses. Clearing her throat, she rolls her shoulders and decides to pick up the pace a little, as if by walking a little faster she can keep from dwelling. )

So, what's for food?

[subourbon]

Must you always make fun of me?

[But her tone is less exasperated than her words. If Sarissa has enough energy to tease, it must be a good sign, right?]

It's nothing special, just some chili and bread.

[She's been careful to cook things that only require one hand to eat since Sarissa's been released from the hospital.]

[magnitudes]

It's affectionate, I promise. ( Still, she tilts her head to the side. ) I'll stop.

( Affectionate or no, she's feeling a little reflective about how things make people feel, currently. There's every possibility she'll forget, of course, but for now she's determined to try. With a bound in her step, she tracks up onto the veranda, and unhooks the door. Unhooks all three clips on the door, because they needed to add more to make it Rosalind-proof. )

Please, chili's sweet as. Love chili. ( And she holds the door open for Alison before stomping in. )