maskormenacelogs | i think i'll follow the sun

[ She matches her pose, gesturing to all around them, indicating how open a space it is. ]

While I'm glad you want to practice, in the middle of the public is not the wisest idea.

And I didn't get "lucky" with my powers, FYI. The Porter didn't give me that.

[ Just so she's clear here. ]

( Okay, fair point. Tara's brow is all scrunched up and furrowed. This is really embarrassing. ) Yeah. You're right.

( There's no apologies, no tripping over herself to fix it: she messed up, and she's gotta do better. That's all there is to it. She's made enough dumbass mistakes to recognise this was another one.

Although, whoever-she-is (referring to her as "Total Babe", even internally, is not an option okay) using FYI makes her crack a slight smile. )

Gotcha. So, you're from... superhero-Earth?

That's one way of putting it.

[ She drops her hand, examining Tara from head to toe carefully; she wants to make sure she didn't accidentally hurt herself while trying out her new found powers. When she confirms Tara hasn't as much as scraped herself, she relaxes some more. ]

I'm guessing superpowers of any kind aren't common in yours.

( Tara tilts her head, curious, but doesn't press it. Maybe she's from space. Or she's a robot. Who even knows, this place is weird enough. )

No. Which sucks, because they would be really handy, about now.

( She shrugs, and maybe it's just a little obvious that she isn't quite as cocky as her body language is setting herself up to be. There are little hesitations, little glances to keep an eye on their surrounds, habits that you need to survive that don't die fast. ) So, cool as it was to get rescued, where would you recommend if I want to try figure this stuff out without alerting the caped crusaders?

[ She can empathize with Tara's situation. It's one of the main reasons she's been eager to see some kind of structured facility set up for imPorts to look toward for guidance. It's not just Tara; there are too many imPorts, even ones from worlds where superpowers are commonplace, who don't know where they are supposed to begin with their training, or what questions they should be asking. ]

I'd recommend somewhere remote enough for the time being. It depends on your powers, but better safe than sorry. Try a junkyard or outside city limits, if they're not too far for you.

[ Her hand slides to her lower back. ]

What did your file say about your powers?

Edited 2015-03-19 02:38 (UTC)

( She was about to groan about the walking before she was reminded - not for the first time - that there are cars now. And public transport, of course, but cars. Ones that didn't need to be broken into or jacked, for that matter. Civilization is a beautiful thing. )

I'm think I can manage it.

( Dry, just a little self deprecating. Hey, at least you don't have to fight a horde of the undead to cross a city, these days. Sweet. The humor drops away fast at the mention of the file, Tara letting her gaze rest on Power Girl's shoulder before she meets her gaze. It slides away as fast as she met it, jaw visibly clenching and unclenching. )

Cliff notes version is "creepy and fucked up," "still creepy, less fucked up" and "actually useful."

( The first time she read her file had involved staring at the wall for a long time, drinking quite a lot of beer, and not talking to anyone about it. )

How much is that file gonna get right, anyway?

The Porter sure knows how to pick 'em.

[ She winces at the thought of those shadowy tentacles; if it were here, she would probably never use them and for good reason. She does offer Tara an apologetic look, however before then it turns slightly sheepish during her explanation. ]

Bad experiences with... tentacles.

[ Her question is met with quiet consideration, her brows tugging a little too close to one another. ]

It should be correct. How you get your powers to work is usually something you have to figure out on your own.

Is there such a thing as a goodexperience with tentacles?

( If there is... she's not sure she wants to hear about it. ) I mean, unless you're an octopus or something. Tentacle high-fives.

( No she's just... no. And the humour fads away, Tara rubbing the side of her neck. ) It had some pretty dark shit in there when it came to the powers. I dunno if I want to get them to work, exactly. It's-- I'm curious, I don't know if it's gonna be good stuff that comes out of it.

( ah. ) Sorry. Not your problem. ( She should stop being a whiny brat. Drink a cup of cement and toughen up, Chambler. )

[ Her hand hovers over her stomach as she laughs hard at Tara's comment. Dealing with extra appendages of any kind if fairly and consistently repulsive, but she can't help her amusement. Her shoulders still quake as her laughter dies off, fading to quiet chuckles. ]

Hey, hey. [ She shakes her head; no big deal. ] It's fine. It sounds like our powers are different, but I run a team back home with varying superpowers.

[ So maybe she can provide some advice. ]

What kind of powers are we talking about? Illusions? Shadow-based? Magic-based?

Okay. ( That's reassuring, sort of. ) Here goes, I guess. Healing.

( Her tone is sort of optimistic, for that one, but-- she glances around, clearly very uncomfortable, and walks couple of steps further away from any people who might be around.

Shit. Why is she even telling this person this? Shit..
Answer: because she can fly and might know what she's doing. Because Tara can't ask Carl, and there is literally no one who she knows who will get this. Because this lady says she runs a team, and Tara still puts her faith in authority figures after all the fucked up shit Brian pulled. )

Darkness manipulation. And, uh-- ( God. She cannot believe she is saying this. ) Necromancy.

[ Peej nods, no change in her demeanor hearing about the ability to heal others. She can easily imagine the amount of responsibility Tara feels burdened with, though healing is a far useful and manageable power... for someone who has never had that ability to assume.

It's the following powers that leave her momentarily stunned. Her brow go any higher they're going to disappear underneath her bangs. ]

You're not pulling my leg.

[ Darkness manipulation? Obsidian proves there's no need to fear the shadows when they're on your side.

Necromancy? ]

That's pretty intense for a beginner.

No. I mean, unless the creepy shadow hands get out of control, no.

( It's a joke, and it's weak. The slight slouch and the hands shoved in her pockets undermine the ability to play this off all easy. )

No shit. I don't wanna use it, but-- I mean, if you own a gun, you're better off knowing how to respect the weapon. Being scared of it and hurting someone when something goes wrong, that'd be worse.

( Wow, Tara. Wow. She can imagine Rick doing that head tilt thing where he raises his eyebrows and just kinda eyeballs you because the fuck did you just say? Trusting strangers? Trusting strangers with this? Yeah, well. Tara has a tendency to screw up and sometimes vomit feelings. )

Personally not a fan of guns myself.

[ The metaphor isn't lost on her. She does worry, though; necromancy is a hefty ability and like Tara said, if used incorrectly things could go south and fast. Having fought off a zombie-like invasion not too long ago back home, Peej can safely say she never again wants to have to face her loved ones rising from the dead and goading her into a heart-wrenching fight. ]

I can't help you with necromancy. Magic is not in my repertoire. Have you tried the network?

( She huffs out a laugh. ) Yeah, well. When the dead coming walking...

( You really want to have a gun. And so far as Tara's concerned, she's not even sure if there is a way you can use necromancy correctly. She's thinking about just risking the irresponsibility by not training with it, because the fuck. )

No. I-- No. I've mostly tried soaking my liver in bourbon. ( She's a classy dame. ) I wasn't sure how announcing it on the network would go. Mobs, pitchforks, fire... not things I'm really looking to have coming after me.

At the very least, you won't die of alcohol poisoning. Or you might, but come back.

[ It starts off a joke, but she's unable to help express some qualms about the resurrection process. ]

Nobody's going to do anything to you. Most people have powers they don't understand and who knows? Maybe someone's got a similar power to yours.

Bullet to the brain'll solve that problem.

( She tries to smile and it doesn't work. It looks a little more like a wince - a little too close to home and too on point. )

Dude, if I found out someone was a necromancer, I would probably freak out. I mean-- who in their right mind raises the dead? Creating walkers, that could destroy this entire place.

( There's an edge of panic in there, eyes wide as she tries to grapple with this. What Carl found out?

And yet, what she's saying isn't quite true: she forgives, she accepts a lot. She accepts one of her best friends creating a lie that lead to good people dying and moves on, because it was the only way he could think of to survive. But this couldn't be an option for surviving. )

Er...

[ She's starting to see why Tara had been trying to hone her abilities on her own. Her comment alarms Peej as well, getting a high-raising brow from her and the slight downturn of her lip in mild discomfort. ]

Some do, I suppose. [ In her experiences, never for a just or good cause, but it's best to not mention that little tidbit. ] But it's a power you were given.

What you do with it is up to you, though a zombie uprising is not something you want to do.

[ And finally: ]

Walkers?

( Tara might seem like a carefree gal out for fun and adventures, but actually she is a hot mess of emotions. (Who isn't really?) )

Serious case of schadenfreude goin' on, then. I mean, if someone isn't at least getting a kick out of this, I'm gonna be mad. But I'd... also be mad if someone was getting a kick outta is, so...

( oh well. ) Yeah, no kidding. ( A disbelieving sort of laugh. Jesus. When did everything get so weird? )

S'what we call 'em back home. Walkers, biters, monsters. They kinda run the show. ( With a shrug, like oh well, zombies. )

[ Honestly, "walkers" make her think more of canes and old people. It doesn't sound so harmless put like that. ]

The dead don't stay dead where you're from?

Not any more. Few years ago, I guess, this infection broke out. Nobody stays dead any more, not unless you destroy the brain. World ended.

( she freezes. Careless. Idiot, Chambler. ) I'm-- my file said I'm not infected.

[ There's a joke to be made somewhere, but not here. Instead, Tara gets her uttermost sympathies, a hand reaching out to pat her shoulder. ]

That's heavy.

[ She gives the younger girl's shoulder a gentle squeeze before withdrawing. ]

I'm sorry that happened. That sounds like a hell of a world.

[ Kal and Lois' faces appear in her mind's eye, but it's not them. Not exactly. It's a decayed body and hollow voice and a dead stare gazing at her, reminding her they aren't her family. ]

Infected?

No kidding.

( With a little shake of her head, almost laughing at herself. Is this what happens when she meets new people, now? She just vomits emotions everywhere? She better get that shit under control, or things will get out of hand. Come on, shake it off. Tara goes as far as to roll her shoulders, like she can force herself to relax and get over it, lift the mood. )

Happens, right?

( Ah. No, you can't just say your world was taken over by zombies and then bounce the conversation back from that, can you? Bummer. )

So, you don't gotta get bit to turn. Anyone who dies, no matter why, they come back. The infection from the bite or the blood loss'll kill you, unless you can amputate and cauterise fast enough, but even if you die of lung cancer or in your sleep, you'll come back. The whole world is already infected with whatever makes it happen.

( What a world. ) But, I'm clean since I turned up here. No infection for me to spread. That's a bright side, right?

Edited 2015-04-02 04:48 (UTC)

It should be... unless you don't think it is.

[ There's something about Tara's phrasing that has Peej wondering what could be bothering her. Then again, she's new to this world, isn't she? Suddenly, she finds herself in a world where the dead for the most part stay that way and the populating is thriving. Good news can still be overwhelming, even to those who want to see it. ]

It's a lot to process.

( That isn't quite the problem. More bluntly: ) It's-- it's not fair that I get to be here and other people don't.

( People who've already gotten torn apart. She's not wallowing, but she's confused. Doesn't seem right, especially not after the stuff she's done. )

[ It's a sentiment she's all too familiar with.

When Sue had been murdered, grieving at her friend's grave, Peej had to wonder why someone who had so much had been the one to lose it all. It should have been someone who had nothing, she thought back then. ]

It's not a deliberate choice.

[ Luck has nothing to do with it either.

Maybe. ]

Your friends and family back home... wouldn't they want you to be safe and happy?

i think i'll follow the sun

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