abraxaslogs | it's not your act of creation

[After a minute or so, she finds it not as difficult to hold her arm out like this, too distracted by the warmth slowly creeping up her arm. It feels...

Nice. Sheepishly, Daisy smiles at Claire when she finishes up healing her arm. Testing it out by clenching and unclenching her hand into a fist, she then moves it around to find no pain there anymore.]

I've seen a lot of abilities, but never anything like this. Thank you.

[And she means that. Even if she had been reluctant to take the help, she's glad she did. This is the best her arm has felt in a really long time. Lowering her arm down, she sits up as straight as she can at the moment, her arms aching from the strain of trying to do so.]

Can you do my ribs next?

[ Claire only smiles softly in return and nods her head in acknoweldgement. ]

No thanks needed. I took an oath to heal when I became a doctor, and I take that seriously. This is what I do.

[ It is appreciated though, and she nods, rising. ]

I think it will be easier if we stand. Just remember the pain will be gone within moments. The ribs may take longer, but my theory is that the warmth is sort of a...numbing agent. It keeps you from feeling everything pull back together.

[ Claire rubs her hands together, offering another encouraging smile. ]

Whenever you're ready.

Is healing with magic part of that oath?

[Daisy teases as she gets to her feet, able to use her arm now to help push herself up out of the chair.]

Remember how I said this might take a while?

[As much as she doesn't want to, she pulls her hand away from her side. Her hand having acted as a sort of support for the ache in her ribs. It only occurs to her now that she has no way of paying Claire for helping her.]

I don't have any money I can give you for doing this.

Have I asked for any money?

[ Claire supports her the best she can as she rises, and then, lightly she places her hands on Daisy's waist. They look like awkward, teenage dance partners, but it's good enough for her healing to begin, closing her eyes once more. ]

You never told me your name, and that's well within your right. But it would be nice to refer to you as something other than 'you, girl.' That seems rather rude.

[ She's going to flat out ignore any attempt at insisting she be compensated somehow. ]

And there is no currency, not like you're used to. Gold, yes, but it's difficult to get. [ Claire has her four pieces hidden away, squirreled into a secret place in case of an emergency. ] You'll learn soon enough, as we all did, don't worry.

No, but you should.

[She doesn't think it's worth saying again, but Claire clearly has her worked cut out for her right now. Standing there, somewhat awkwardly, with her arms out of the way so Claire can do what she needs to do, Daisy looks past her towards the shelves lined with all sorts of things.

It's clear she's made a home here for herself, and it's not something Daisy can envision doing herself. She'd like to get the hell out of here asap.]

Right. Guess I kinda forgot about introductions.

[That warmth is starting to creep its way up her ribs, and it's a good distraction for the pain she's been experiencing the last couple of hours.]

I'm Daisy.

[She's not afraid to use her actual name here. Not with her, anyway. While Claire's eyes are still closed, focusing on mending her ribs, Daisy does briefly look at her with confusion.]

So then how do people pay for things?

I'll remember to take life advice from someone who appears to be at least three decades my junior.

[ She murmurs the words as she concentrates, the warmth beginning to spread so that the pain fades first, while the healing takes place. ]

Daisy. Nice to actually meet you. And people trade, or work for what they want, here. I should clarify, there is money, but you'll find people have more use for goods and services than cash.

[ The bones are beginning to knit themselves back together, she can feel it, and there's a sense of relief in the air as the magic works. ]

Feeling any better yet?

[Daisy would laugh at her sarcasm, except it hurts. Instead, she just smiles lightly. She can appreciate a good sarcastic remark, even if it's made towards her.]

I've had a lot of experience those almost three decades.

[She retorts, her posture becoming not as rigid once the ache in her ribs starts to dissipate.]

A lot better, actually.

[Not daring to move until it's Claire is done, she goes back to their conversation on how currency works around here.]

So, how do we get money? Because something tells me credit cards aren't a thing here.

You can do specific favors for others, or there are times the Council requests special assistance and they pay in gold. I'm sure if you go to one of the inns and ask for a bed and three meals a day in exchange for work, it would be seen as a fair deal. I could even ask a friend if they would be willing to bring you on.

[ She thinks of Michael's Inn, almost positive that if he can't find work for her, she'll at least be allowed to stay. ]

Not much longer now, and then you'll be able to take a deep breath. [ She pauses, thinking about her offer before making it. ] You're welcome to sleep on my couch for a while, if you'd rather not stay with one of the locals.

[ Summond mainly only trust other Summond, and while Claire is a stranger, she still has more in common with Daisy in this moment than any of the locals have in common with either of them. ]

Just until you decide whether or not Inn work is something you're up to.

[Daisy scoffs at the suggestion that she work for this 'Council'.]

Does it require that I talk about the Gods here and praise them? If so, count me out.

[She says dryly, keeping still while Claire finishes up with her ribs. Things would've been so much easier if she had someone like her back home to help heal her up. Surprised by the hospitality she's showing her, Daisy hesitates for a moment before speaking up.]

I appreciate it, but I can't put you out like that.

[She's definitely thinking about checking out the inn though. It sounds more ideal than staying with people who apparently idolize the Summoned.]

If it was putting me out you'd have been offered my bed. [ And that's not happening, but she understands. The inn will, without a doubt, have more privacy than an old woman hovering upstairs offers. ]

As for the council, yes, sometimes the tasks ask that shrines be cleaned and maintained, or that we particiapte in an event, but if you don't want to you don't have to. No one's forcing you to do anything here. ...Usually.

[ Just as she's finishing, her eyes open to look at Daisy. ]

Has anyone told you about a shared vision of the future we all experienced? All of us Summond, I mean.

Still, I can't do that to you.

[For exactly one of the reasons Claire had been thinking. Daisy really doesn't like to be dotted on, despite appreciating the concern Claire has shown for her.]

What do you mean by an event? Like, the Hunger Games?

[Unaware of what time Claire comes from, it doesn't occur to Daisy that she wouldn't understand that pop culture reference. Instantly, she becomes wary when she mentions a shared vision. The last time she shared a vision with someone, her boyfriend died.]

No, they haven't.

I've no clue what the Hunger Games are, but they sound awful. The locals believe we're powerful beings, brought here to help them. And so they revere us a bit. There are times of the year the council asks that we indulge them. Sometimes that means they ask us for a special blessing, or for guidance.

[ If it's starting to sound like they're the gods, Daisy might be onto something. As the magic begins to fade, healing done, Claire exhales. This is the most she's done at once, and she feels the ache in her bones of actual creeping exhaustion. ]

We were all forced to gather, all of the Summond, and then we passed out and shared a collective...alternate reality. We were gods. All of us, elevated to some sort of higher status. We were the ones with shrines and alters, and we knew no better. We thought it was normal and real, for centuries. We lived 800 years while we were unconscious in the Pit for weeks.

[ This is alarming, she knows. ]

We try to look out for one another. When I said you won't be forced into anything, I meant by us, by the locals. If there's anything we're compelled to do by the Singularity, most, if not all of us, are forced into it together.

[None of what Claire says, sits right with Daisy. It's a lot to take in, especially when she's only been here for an hour tops.]

I don't know who needs to sit down more right now. You, or me.

[It hasn't passed Daisy's notice that Claire looks exhausted after healing her, and it's not surprising that Claire might've intentionally left out this part about her healing abilities.]

So this--

Whatever the Singularity is. It controls us?

Edited 2024-10-20 20:56 (UTC)

[ Claire sits at the mere hint of the suggestion. ]

The Singularity is the source of everything that magic touches. There are a few who've been on this planet who are either already compelled to do what the Singularity wants, or will willingly do whatever it needs, and we were rounded up one day by those people.

[ All told, it could've been worse. ]

I know this is likely...bloody terrifying, if we're being honest. At least it was to me. But I've been here nearly two years now, and I've learned what to lean into, and what not. At least I'd like to think I have.

[Daisy sits back down in the chair Claire had pulled out for her, bracing for the pain in her ribs only to find it no longer there. It makes it so she can focus more on what she's explaining, even if the explanation leaves her wishing as though she didn't know.]

Bloody terrifying is an understatement.

[She mutters as she's still processing this.]

Do you think powers like mine are only strengthening the hold it has its on the people here?

I wish that I knew. I wish any of us knew more than we do about the Singularity. And I'm always happy to talk about it, but if that's enough for one day, I can't say I wouldn't understand.

[ Claire takes a deep breath, deciding she might as well speak her biggest fear, because then at least Daisy will know Claire at least has suspicions. ]

I worry that this complete dependence on magic, for everything from healing to depending on it to create what we need, is going to come back to hurt us, somehow. We have no control, what if the Singularity suddenly stops working? Or what if it begins to use our connection to it, to control us?

[ She doesn't like worrying about that, mostly because it won't help anything at this point, everyone is too enmeshed. Including her, now. ]

Get to know your fellow Summond if you can. There should be a gathering soon, with food and drinks. A mixer of sorts, though I'm unsure what activities there will be. The better we all know one another, the harder it will be for something to use or manipulate us.

[ For now, Claire decides to omit speaking about the ongoing war. There's only so much a person can take on day one. ]

[Part of Daisy wants to hear everything now, but the other part is so mentally and physically exhausted that she's not sure she can take on anymore stress than she already has.

Except, she does, the moment Claire brings up a worry that Daisy hadn't dared bring up. Her throat already hurts from being choked, but it suddenly feels as though the swelling has gotten to the point that she can't breathe. Looking away from Claire, Daisy fights not to flee and instead looks up at the warmly lit ceiling. Willing the tears not to well up in her eyes.]

You don't know that.

[She finally says. It had been so easy for her to give into the manipulation, and when that was gone, Daisy begged him to take her back. The unwanted memories of Hive come flooding back, and it's become a losing battle not to let the panic take over her completely.]

[ Christ, good job, Beauchamp. She quietly chides herself, before very slowly and gently taking one of Daisy's hands between hers loosely, giving her an out if she'd rather not. ]

You're right, I don't. But I do know there are good people who would look out for you, in all three factions, if I said the word.

[ She doesn't mean to sound as if she has power, she doesn't. She only means to illustrate the bond she has with others. ]

There may be something we can't fight back against together, but until that time comes, I don't believe it.

[Daisy doesn't pull her hand back when Claire reaches out for it, but she doesn't look at her until she's manage to keep from crying.

For now.]

I don't--

[She doesn't need to be looked after. She needs to get the hell out of here, before something much bigger than all of them has control over what they say or do. She can't go through that again. The guilt is already eating away at her for what she did under Hive's control, even as those she hurt forgave her.]

You should believe it. You said it yourself, we don't know much about this thing.

And do what? Live my life how?

[ In constant worry or dread? ]

I've been through too much in my life to let this place dictate how I live. We're learning more every day, there's a young woman here who's done nothing but study the Singularity. I know others in the Free Cities who certainly know more than I do.

[ She gently squeezes Daisy's hand. ]

I'm one person. Find out what other people know, and make the decision you feel is best for you.

[So much for not wanting to hear more about this tonight. Frowning, Daisy looks down at their hands. The bruising from her powers now gone, but the lump in her throat is still there. At her core, Daisy wants nothing more than to be comforted. To feel safe. Even if she'll rarely admit to it, in fear of being rejected like she had been countless times growing up.]

Whats her name? How can I find her?

[Knowing there are people out there doing the research brings her a little relief, but not enough to truly ease the panic she's feeling at the moment.]

Her name is Julie, and you'll only be able to find her in the Horizon. I...hate to be the one to tell you yet another 'thing' about this place, but we're limited to our own factions. There is Nocwich, where we can go once per month and see others, but that's it. The rest of the time, you'll have to meet in the Horizon.

[ But this is...too much, a lot. And Claire leans forward with her elbows on her knees, meeting Daisy's gaze with her own. ]

I think you should get some rest, and then we can speak as much as you'd like. You're healed, but that doesn't change the fact your body has gone through quite a lot.

[ And truthfully, she needs to rest now, too. Michael would be proud she's admitting it, if only to herself. ]

[She's heard the name mentioned once when she had been eavesdropping earlier, but Daisy hadn't known the meaning behind it. She opens her mouth to ask another question, but Claire cuts her off. Frustration grows, but it's not at Claire. It's at this place, and at herself as well. Daisy doesn't like to be kept in the dark, and it's already clear that she won't be able to gather intel through technological means.

Pressing her lips together, she gently pries her hand from Claire's.]

I'd appreciate that.

[That they can talk about this again. She still has so many questions, and she doubts the residents here will be unbiased when it comes to how they feel about this place. Moving to stand, she braces herself for pain, but it doesn't come.]

Thank you, Claire, for everything.

[ Claire smiles, though it's small, and she begins to rise. She remembers what this was like, the confusion and fear, the bit of curiosity she couldn't help. Needing to brace a hand on the table to keep from wobbling, she notes to herself that too much healing back-to-back seems to make her weaker, faster. It makes sense, and it was worth it. ]

You're welcome, Daisy. You can come back in the morning for breakfast if you'd like, or coffee and tea if you're not fond of food in the A.M.

[ As a doctor she should push for the most important meal of the day, but she's found people are going to do what they want anyway, so she's learned not to worry about it. ]

I'll let you ask anything you want and I promise I'll answer the best that I can.

[The way she braces herself doesn't go unnoticed by Daisy, and she frowns in response.]

You told me your powers have no ill-effects on you.

[Clearly, that wasn't the case. Maybe she hadn't been truthful with her because she figured Daisy wouldn't have Claire to heal her. Which is exactly what would have happened.]

You might want to set aside your entire day then, doc.

[Daisy warns, knowing she'll have a long mental list of questions to ask by tomorrow.]

Edited 2024-11-02 20:04 (UTC)

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