Moonburnt

unceremonious Solstice

2022-12-21T19:12:36Z

Posted by: jainajade

Aboard the Jaded Soul, Jaina Jade lay half-propped on the floor of a cargo bay, skin faintly glimmering in the dark. Occasionally the light would catch in a falling tear.

Artemisia manifested quietly in a shadow, hesitating to approach. The tiny pixie always did have trouble managing big things, though, and a clink of glass on glass betrayed her presence.

Abruptly Jaina blazed brightly and growled. "Who's there? Come out!"

Missy giggled—she'd been told the sound was pleasantly disarming, and anyway it covered her tension, she hoped—and lightly sprang forward. "Just me, Red."

"Oh." What energy Jaina had mustered faded with her light. A front, Missy realized.

"Who did you hope it was? An enemy to fight?"

"No. What? Why—I don't know." Jaina's skin flickered, barely visible in the dark.

Jaina didn't rise, so Missy didn't approach, instead seating herself on the floor. Jaina nursed a tumbler that whiffed of liquor. Nobody spoke.

When Jaina's glass ran dry, she dragged herself to a sitting position and began to look for the alcohol Missy had to have brought with her.

"Here." Missy flitted to the bundle and retrieved a bottle.

"Thanks."

Missy continued to wait. If the other person wanted to talk, they would. Same as always.

"It's Solstice."

Aha. "Is that special, here?"

"Not here. Home."

If here wasn't home, this was worse than Missy had expected. "You celebrate?"

Jaina shook her head, then winced. "No. Sorta. Glad to get that far, glad to get through. Wonder... I wonder who made it through."

"You did."

"No." Jaina grimaced, struggling against herself. "We're supposed to fight, together, against the darknesses. We're in it together. I'm supposed to be there and I'm not. I'm not together with anybody."

"You're together with me," Missy insisted, aware how ineffectual that would be, but needing to try.

Jaina dropped her gaze. Missy took the opportunity to manifest a glass of her own and indulge in her element.

"Between my main family and now, I had another family. Found family. We were all pretty different, but we got along and had good times.

"I tried to go back. It's harder, the longer between trips. Sometimes I can't get through anymore. This time... it was bigger, somehow? Not just one door gone. Whole worlds.

"I wanted to mark the day together, and I can't get to anybody, and I don't know if they made it or—" She sniffled against the knee of her jeans before continuing.

"Tried a few more. Nothing."

"Nothing?" Missy said in mock-astonishment. The very hyperbole, really.

"...nothing much," Jaina grudingly allowed. "Portals that don't open anymore, worlds full of strangers... a few portals that might open with more effort, but nobody there would remember me anymore."

"You might be surprised, Red. You've known humans and inhumans with long lives and memories."

"Yes. Fine. I can knock a few doors later, if it will get you off my case." (Missy checked to ensure she was not, in fact, seated on a beverage case.)

"I can't be the girl I used to be. I can't go back. I don't regret the choices I've made, at least not much, but I'm not okay with some stuff I didn't get to choose. Just for a bit, Green, I'm gonna sit with my sad.

"I miss them all."

Missy had no idea how to relate to that. She'd always been rather alone. "The ones who can't be together—what do they do? The ones out working or somesuch?"

Jaina snorted and wiped the back of her free hand against her eyes. "They complain about not being with the rest and how unfair that is."

Missy chuckled too. "Same old, right?"

"Heh, guess so!"

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quick questions #19

2020-03-20T18:58:42Z

Posted by: moonburntmod

What's the best way to cope during a pandemic?

(This question and all replies will be taken as messages in a pan-dimensional computer network, rather than in-person interaction, for reasons considered obvious in this age of COVID-19.)

(Also, wash your hands.)

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Happy birthday, Jaina Jade!

2020-01-17T18:05:01Z

Posted by: moonburntmod

May your coming year be happy, healthy, and well-written!

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quick questions #18

2017-05-10T23:09:43Z

Posted by: moonburntmod

What is your biggest regret?

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quick questions #17

2016-07-21T21:49:34Z

Posted by: moonburntmod

What's your favorite weather?

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quick questions #16

2016-04-10T01:03:31Z

Posted by: green_tease

What's your favorite drink? (Mine should be obvious - see icon.)

(Also, don't forget to claim your free drink. Limited time only, people. You know you want it.)

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free drinks!

2016-03-24T21:20:38Z

Posted by: green_tease

New thing here, peeps.

Want a drink? Open up to me about why you "need" one, and ye shall receive.

Lie, or be too young for this shit, and get non-alcoholic. Don't be that person. That person sucks.

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quick questions #15

2016-02-15T16:47:48Z

Posted by: moonburntmod

How were you educated?

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quick questions #14

2015-08-13T20:15:20Z

Posted by: moonburntmod

What you are doing?

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quick questions #13

2015-05-30T23:19:08Z

Posted by: moonburntmod

What's broken?

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quick questions #12

2015-01-25T00:40:20Z

Posted by: jainajade

What are you avoiding?

I'm avoiding lots: a former friend, fixing up my home, seeing my hopefully-still-beau. I want to hear yours, so we know we're not alone.

Right?

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Suilad!

2015-01-21T21:03:57Z

Posted by: moneymakershaker

Greetings to ye, elf or otherwise. I prefer to be called "Lady Knight", or "Milady" if you're slow of tongue. I'm an old-timer, come back 'round again.

Ye ought ignore my sword, if he says things rude and untrue. I can't do a thing with him but use him as a sword is used, I'm afraid.

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quick questions #11

2015-01-07T21:34:56Z

Posted by: moonburntmod

When have you had to start all over?

(How did it go?)

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quick questions #10

2014-12-16T22:58:05Z

Posted by: moonburntmod

What's the best gift someone could give to you?

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quick questions #9

2014-09-25T02:39:46Z

Posted by: moonburntmod

What have you left behind?

Are you better or worse without it?

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quick questions #8

2014-01-13T19:57:08Z

Posted by: moonburntmod

What is your goal?

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introduction

2013-04-18T17:47:02Z

Posted by: euryale

Hello. I'm here to meet a group quota for non-human-shaped people. (Note the tail.) I'm Euryale. Yes, I can turn you to stone. Don't give me a reason to and we'll all get along fine.

Dig the icon! Do it!

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closing up shop

2013-04-13T11:01:03Z

Posted by: jainajade

Jaina ran her hands along the metal corridor of the Jaded Soul, smiling wistfully. The Soul had been her transportation through the universe until she discovered her ability to open portals. It continued to serve her right up until the crash, when it became her stationary home and refuge instead.

It had become her escape, that was the problem: it kept her away from her enemies, but it also kept her away from Ice and his inn. That inn held a room with her name on it (though not literally - unless perhaps it amused Bazzy to change that) which she had barely used.

High time to change that, so Jaina busied herself around the ship, packing things away and chattering to herself as she went.

"On to the reference books. Dictionaries. Albanian? Really? When did I pick up an Albanian dictionary? I must have been travelling... well, that one's good to go to a charity dropoff back on Terra. Interworld Common dictionary - that stays with me. Pig Latin - oh ha ha, whose idea was that? Lunzie's? It must have been Lunzie's, or else Jae's..."

So many boxes: airtight containers for things that would remain shipboard without her; cardboard for books and other things going to some Terran charity or another; some sturdier little wooden crates for those things destined to come through a portal to her room at the inn. The woman sealed up the long-term storage and piled up the rest.

Jaina stopped short of the helm and breathed deep of the shipboard air: antiseptic and somehow metallic, but familiar and comforting for its familiarity. She exhaled noisily at last and plunked herself at the ship controls.

Navigating the computer system took a little while. It had been too long since she'd made any serious adjustments, so she'd forgotten where certain settings were hidden, but she got it done. Once she left the Soul, life support systems in the rest of the ship would go to standby, non-functioning until the day they became needed again.

She laid her hand on the sleeping bag beside her and though about unrolling it. One last night at home before heading out.

No. Home was with Ice now. Best to cement that straight away.

"Good night, ship," she said aloud. Her voice echoed strangely off the newly quiet surroundings. "You're a good ship and I'm still keeping you. I'll be around from time to time to keep you operational and try to fix you up. I hope someday you can take Ice and I around the universes."

Jaina hoisted her duffel bag onto her shoulder, opened a portal to that familiar destination, and hesitated just long enough to blow a kiss to the console. It seemed appropriate, somehow.

The portal closed behind, leaving the bridge in darkness.

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quick question #7

2013-03-23T22:11:04Z

Posted by: moonburntmod

What do you look forward to?

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quick question #6

2012-12-29T21:22:50Z

Posted by: moonburntmod

What do you regret?

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quick question #5

2012-11-02T14:15:02Z

Posted by: moonburntmod

What are you thankful for?

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A Game Of Chance Or Skill

2012-10-18T04:23:11Z

Posted by: green_tease

"Let's play a game," she said. She slid me a pair of dice, despite the fact that her hands had been empty a moment ago and had not left my sight.

"Chess," I suggested, just to bait her.

"You know how I feel about chess."

"You may have mentioned it, yes." She launched into her usual rant; I took the opportunity to drain my glass and signal for another, my third of the night.

"Every possible move, analyzed and considered. Plotted in advance. And it's not just chess, either!

"Computers can hide their inner workings from anyone not especially versed in such things, but all those feeble video games rely on repetition, strategy. Skill and known quantities, barely any element of chance to them..." The unhappy woman dropped her dice on the bar in now-wordless frustration.

"You sound like you could use a drink." I nudged mine toward her.

She frowned. "Known proof, known ingredients, no thanks."

"Right. Let's tell the bartender you're bored of all the other drinks and want him to mix you something unusual. Like you want something he hasn't made yet tonight, or this week, or you want something you've never heard of."

"But I've heard of so many drinks. They're predisposed to my side—"

Boring! I cut her off. "Skill inhibition—yeah, I know. Forget who you're talking to?"

"Look, it's been a rough day."

"I'll ask the bartender for a list of drinks. We cut it up, one drink per piece, mix 'em up in a hat, and we both drink whatever we pull out. I won't even tell you what yours is."

She gave me her first genuine smile of the night. "Missy, I love you."

"Careful now. I'm not sure if that's legal in this district. Crazy mortal laws."

She took it as I'd hoped and merely laughed. Lucky me.

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quick question #4 (with option to party)

2012-10-17T02:58:05Z

Posted by: jainajade

Surprise costume party! What's your costume?

(Jaina has a mouthful of plastic fangs and a little fake blood. She looks quite pleased with her affected role reversal.)

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tricks and treats

2012-10-11T04:39:02Z

Posted by: pasht

I have recently prepared my special Hallowe'en treats. If they interest you, please drop by and partake.

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quick question #3

2011-03-21T16:56:52Z

Posted by: moonburntmod

What keeps you going?

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