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Post by ingegerd on Jun 19, 2009 13:08:38 GMT -7
Time: 22:22 PM
Date: March 11th, Tuesday Week Two
Place: Trenton, New Jersey
Status: Closed for everyone but Jaylin Luang
Struggling with the heavy weight of her plastic bags, Ingegerd walked hastily down the empty streets. Her hair in disarray, bags under her eyes and wearing worn sweatpants underneath a bulgy, green sports jacket, she looked exactly as miserable as she felt. She'd spent the whole last night crying. And drinking, the pounding head ache perfectly matching the stinging in her tired eyes. This would hopefully soon not matter very much though thanks to the content in her bags - three bottles of wine, Bailey's, pizza, chocolate cake and assorted candy. She'd go home, eat until she felt like puking, drink until she did and then pass out.
Which sadly didn't change the place she would wake up in, which was also the source of her current problem. She wanted to leave. Which her father didn't want. And there was nothing he wouldn't do to make sure it didn't happen. Like calling the girl who'd basically decided to share her new apartment with Ingegerd and inform her that she was taking in a drug-using, bipolar kleptomaniac. Laura hadn't really believed him, but sensed the trouble and backed out. Though not until after informing Ingegerd of exactly what he had said with the advise to get some family counseling.
Ingegerd did take action, though it didn't hit its mark, it being her father's head. The potted plant hit a window instead, which only increased her fury for what was their worst fight ever. She'd screamed, and cried, and screamed. "Why can't you let me be free?!" His only answer was to turn into a ball of yarn and disappear. It had been two days since she saw him. He was probably in NY with some whores again, he always went there after one of these fights. He'd sneaked in and packed a bag when she was passed out from the first night of drinking.
When her father turned to women after conflicts, Ingegerd turned to chocolate cake and liquor. She hadn't left the house since he ran off and hadn't had any contact with the outside world besides calling the repairman for the window. The only reason she went out now was because she didn't have anything unhealthy left at home to eat or drink. Thankfully the store was only a couple of blocks away, so she didn't have to deal with too much people seeing her like this on the way.
God, how long was thing going to go on? She was twenty four, for pity's sake, it was more than time for her to leave home. And finally start living. "We have to hide from the humans, there's so few of us left," her father always said. Humans? They were human! Okay, so she had a tail, but a few more years of saving and a decent plastic surgeon and that little problem would be out of the way. She'd wasted her whole childhood on hiding herself, and that would not happen with her youth.
This time when Sven got back home, she wouldn't just sulk and avoid him like before. This time, she would give him an ultimatum - let her get an apartment in peace, or she would run away and live on the streets. She'd do it too! Totally. Probably.
So absorbed in her thoughts, Ingegerd didn't even notice the young man with the dirty clothes stumbling out of the alley until he'd waved the... nail file(?!) in her face. "Give me all your money!" he shrieked, eyes darting around. "And those bags too!"
Ingegerd nearly choked, but kept her calm. Sadly, this had happened before. And she had a way of dealing with it. Catching his eyes, she looked into him, and got what she wanted. A sudden snap, and she felt herself being about forty pounds heavier and several inches shorter. Wearing leopard tights and a glittery top. Now wonder he turned out the way he did...
The youth shrieked, jumping backward. "M-mom?!" He stared at her in disbelief, the hand with the nail file trembling. "Wha-at are you-"
"Don't ask such stupid questions, get your butt home and take a shower. You look awful!" Ingegerd barked in a new voice, telling the tale of many cigarettes inhaled.
"B-but mom, I-" The robber started backing down. "I-im so sorry, I didn't see it was you, I-I'm sorry!" He turned around and ran full speed down the street.
"And where is that Mother's Day present of mine?!" Ingegerd screamed after him, the dying sound of his footsteps the only reply.
Exhaling, she turned herself back, nearly collapsing on the street. Great, another post traumatic stress disorder, just what she needed...
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Post by jaylin on Jun 19, 2009 22:02:21 GMT -7
Jaylin saw the attempted mugging and had been about to help, seeing as he had his own natural defenses against...nail files, but then he saw that she had it well under control. In a most disturbing, but intriguing way. He stared. And blinked, yet despite this, the horrific image this woman had become remained.
And the mugger called the form 'mom'. Jaylin realized that no melding of his snake and human form could ever create something so terrifying as this, and felt actual pity for the mugger if he grew up looking at that. Yet at the same time he was intrigued. This person wasn't normal. This person wasn't human.
"Wow," he said, about to walk up to her when...she nearly collapsed. "Woah!"
He ran out to her, dropping a bag he'd been carrying, arm stretched to catch her should she need it. "You okay?"
He'd gone out to pick up a present for his mother's birthday and, having no other ideas, decided to make a little model of him in his natural form by buying a realistic rubber cobra and a porcelain doll that looked kind of like him. It was actually supposed to be female, but it didn't have much in the way of a chest, and he never exactly looked terribly masculine, so he figured it would work well enough. It would need a hair cut, though.
Now, however, his focus was diverted as he wondered who and what this woman was and how he could ask her questions without her freaking out like he did with Tabby. Of course, one advantage of the ruby at his neck was that not only did it allow him to appear human, it also allowed him to shift between human and snake in any details he chose. If he needed to, he could show this woman that he was like her. Well, not like her. She obviously wasn't a naga, but at least show her that even if he knew her secret, he had one just as big.
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Post by ingegerd on Jun 20, 2009 12:48:19 GMT -7
"You okay?"
Ingegerd blinked, looking up at the young, Asian man with his hand ready to steady her. Great, just what she needed now... She wasn't particularly worried about him having seen what just happened. People had two ways of dealing with the "supernatural": terror or denial. Since he wasn't shrieking about she figured he hadn't seen or just couldn't believe it. And even if he had, no-one would believe him anyway. Her major concern right now was that she really, really didn't want to be around anyone. Especially not a guy that was prettier than her.
"Yeah, I'm fine." She stood up, tightening her grip around the bags. "Just a little shocked, that's all." Her hands were actually trembling, though that could be as much from the nausea from her hangover as the fact that the guy could have hated his mom and decided to to use the nail file anyway. She didn't want to think about it. She just wanted to get home, take a shower and then resume her original plan for the evening. "Thank you, but I really must be going now." She had next to no trouble sounding as nonchalant as she wanted.
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Post by jaylin on Jun 20, 2009 20:57:23 GMT -7
She seemed to be in a hurry to get going, not really wanting to hang around and chat. Then again, he couldn't blame her. She didn't have a reason to want to talk to him, nor would she want to risk questioning that would confirm in his mind that he saw what he saw. At least, that would be something he might worry about in her position.
Eyes turning into golden cobra eyes and canines lengthening into sharp, needle like fangs, Jaylin grinned and spoke, "That was really cool what you did, by the way. I can become human, of course, but I can't turn into somebody's badly dressed mother. What are you?"
His expression would have looked friendly and curious if it wasn't for the teeth, his fangs giving his expression a sharp, ominous appearance, though he'd truly intended the opposite, wishing to show her that she wasn't the only one there who wasn't exactly normal.
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Post by ingegerd on Jun 21, 2009 2:42:06 GMT -7
Besides her father, Ingegerd had never met another supernatural creature. And honestly, she didn't even consider them as very supernatural. More like humans that were slightly esthetically challenged in the rump department. Their powers proving otherwise was something she overlooked for convenience's sake. So when the guy who'd just offered to help her suddenly grew a pair of fangs and snake eyes, she reacted as any "normal" person probably would have in this situation.
"Holy Christ!" She jerked back, dropping her bags and covering her mouth, staring wide eyed at him. Strangely enough, she wasn't afraid as she had recently had been with the mugger. She was shocked and in disbelief of course, but he just didn't seem very...threatening. More like a curious kid. Which just made this whole situation even more bizarre. "M-me? What are you?!" she squeaked, making a rather good chew toy impression.
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Post by jaylin on Jun 22, 2009 20:13:53 GMT -7
Jaylin was surprised and a bit disappointed. He hadn't expected her to react like a human would. He hadn't expected her to be afraid. He'd hoped she'd be interested, or at the very least willing to indulge his curiosity. He let his features return to normal, however, as they only seemed to be making her nervous. He hoped that at least she'd calm down then, as the human, Tabby, had.
"I'm a naga. Half-naga."
It of course did not occur to him that she might not know what that was. He'd gone his whole life knowing what a naga was, and having not been able to talk about it much, didn't know how many people would react to that explanation.
"So what are you?" Jaylin paused, thinking about what he said for a moment before adding, "...which I already asked, but I never got an answer."
And if she thought she could get out of answering simply by returning the question back to him, she was wrong. He felt like he was too close to discovering more about the supernatural world for that.
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Post by ingegerd on Jun 24, 2009 1:53:27 GMT -7
Hands still on her mouth, Ingegerd could only stare at the guy as his features returned to normal and he answered her question. Naga? As in the Asian mythological being? But they didn't exist! What she had seen though proved otherwise, and having the power of illusion herself, she knew better than to doubt her own eyes. And she was just way too conceited to question her sanity.
Then he asked her again what she was. "I-I'm a troll." She barely registered the reply before she regretted it. Troll was what her father called them, which was simply a way of dealing with their deformation. Because they were humans, trolls only existed stupid fairy tales! Like nagas. Oh crap.
She was going to set this right, explain that she hadn't meant it like that, but what came out instead was: "We come from the Scandinavian forests. We have tails, so we can live among humans. Dad has his tied up, so it's been all bent. Mine isn't, cause I wear loose pants all the time." No, no, no, what was she doing?
Like many other things about herself, Ingegerd had never understood how much she had longed to confide in someone, to be accepted for what she was rather than constantly having to feel like she had to be human to fit in. Faced now with someone who seemed just as strange as her and didn't react with the disgust and mocking she'd feared her whole life, her very much suppressed and very much frustrated subconscious took advantage of her shock and started venting some much needed issues.
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Post by jaylin on Jun 24, 2009 8:38:54 GMT -7
A troll? She didn't look as ugly as he pictured trolls being, but his mental image could be wrong. Or she could have some way of appearing human, like he did with his ruby, particularly since he'd already seen her form change once. From her explanation, though, it sounded like a tail was the only thing she was hiding.
"A tail? I have a tail, too. When I'm not being human." His fingers touched the ruby at his throat unconsciously. "Though without being able to change, I'd have a bit of trouble fitting in. With the fangs and back end of a serpent and all."
Jaylin himself was not troubled by this conversation at all, being very much aware of how much he'd wanted to meet someone like him.
"Is that your natural form, then? I saw you change before." Then he recalled her discomfort as she admitted to being a troll and added, "You don't have to answer if you don't want."
He didn't want to run her off with ceaseless questions, after all.
"I've never met anyone else who wasn't human before. Well, my father, but I haven't seen him in years."
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Post by ingegerd on Jun 24, 2009 12:17:02 GMT -7
Ingegerd swallowed, closing her eyes and tried to calm herself as the guy casually her informed he had a tail too. The whole...non-drama of this encounter was probably the worst, like they were sharing nothing worse than an embarrassing allergy. At the same time, it shook her to the core. "Not fitting in" had been the main problem of her whole life, and here was someone with the same problem and for basically the same reason.
She wished she was the type that fainted. Not only would it be dramatic, but it would also allow her to avoid dealing with this. She remained mercilessly conscious though, and unable to keep the guy from continuing asking questions. "Is that your natural form, then? I saw you change before." He paused. "You don't have to answer if you don't want."
"Y-yes, it is-I don't mind, I- sorry, I have to sit down." She plopped down on the edge of the sidewalk, rubbing her forehead. Her eyes fell on of the bags she had dropped. Grabbing it, she pulled out the bottle of Bailey's, uncorked it and took a large gulp. Not as good as fainting, but it was worth a shot. He he, shot. Would have been funnier if she'd had vodka. God, now even her thoughts were rambling. She took another gulp as the guy continued, "I've never met anyone else who wasn't human before. Well, my father, but I haven't seen him in years."
"You're one lucky bastard then." Again her mouth operated without her brain's consent. "I can't get rid off mine."
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Post by jaylin on Jun 24, 2009 16:07:39 GMT -7
She didn't seem to be calming down, stammering and drinking the way she was. Her reaction struck him as very strange.
"What's wrong?" he asked. "I mean, isn't it great talking to someone who doesn't think you're crazy if you mention your tail?"
He knew he liked it. Maybe she was just surprised. He was, but not as much so, but that could have been because he was always certain that there were other supernatural creatures just beyond his sight, ones he could reach if only he knew how without advertising what he was to the world.
"I liked my father. We kept in contact sort of, but he moved away a while after my parents got divorced. Mom got tired of him changing back to his natural form in bed. I kind of wish I knew more supernatural types, though. But not a garuda. I hope I never meet a garuda."
He shuddered at the thought of encountering a large bird creature. Anything with feathers that was too large for him to swallow terrified him.
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Post by ingegerd on Jun 25, 2009 11:57:12 GMT -7
"Mhm, yeah, it's great." Ingegerd grumped, taking another swig. The alcohol was starting to take effect, slowly numbing her nerves. She couldn't really find the words to describe what a terrible shock it was to realize there were people out there who shared her problems. Made her feel a little less...worthy of self pity, and that she didn't really agree with. She took a deep breath, closing her eyes as he continued about his own dad and "garudas". Then she started speaking, "Look, I didn't mean to be rude, really, I don't, but I have never met anyone..."supernatural" before either, as you put it. I've never considered myself as supernatural either, I just thought my ancestors were into cousins. I am also quite hungover, tired, pissed off and rather shook up by my recent encounter with the spawn of ultimate tasteless. And I have no idea what a garuda is, but I am sure I wouldn't want to meet one either."
Frankly, she wondered if she wanted to meet any other...deviants at all. Okay, so dad was right. Magic and fairies and crap existed, but would her life change because of this knowledge? Would she be happier living in a cave, collect gold and seduce desperate wood choppers as dad said their ancestors did? She didn't think so. Unless there were some sort of magical land beyond with a magical pool of beauty, she was still stuck here; overweight, ugly and weird. Someone who didn't mind the tail didn't quite make up for all of that.
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Post by jaylin on Jun 25, 2009 14:52:52 GMT -7
"You thought..." Jaylin blinked. How could she have possibly believed something as stupid as that? "You know, I think if inbreeding gave people shape shifting abilities, a lot more people would do it."
The reason they didn't was because the quirks that came up from inbreeding tended to be more along the lines of deformities both physical and mental. He'd heard of a case of inbreeding causing blue skin, too, which was kind of cool, but to expect inbreeding to cause supernatural abilities seemed absurd.
"But whatever. If you want me to leave, I can."
She seemed really cranky about this whole thing now that she wasn't scared. It was a bit ridiculous and he hoped she wouldn't just ask him to leave, but he really didn't want to piss her off, either. That wouldn't really put him any closer to being able to share his supernatural nature with anyone, after all, or learn whatever it was he wanted to learn about supernatural types.
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Post by ingegerd on Jun 26, 2009 5:42:31 GMT -7
"It's no different than how normal people rationalize to explain what they don't believe in." Ingegerd sniffed, not above being offended. She had always known it wasn't a sufficient excuse, but when you looked to delude yourself, logic wasn't your friend. Her head was starting to feel fuzzy, though it seemed to only make her more adept at handling this. She could tell he was getting frustrated, it being confirmed when he told her he could leave if she wanted to. Did she? Honestly, yes, because then she could go home and get even more fuzzy. But also, no.
"No, but like I told you before, I am really not feeling well, besides my whole belief system being proven wrong. Is there anything you was hoping to find out from me, or anyone else? Because I don't know anything about the, uh, unusual either. My dad does, if you want some answers."
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Post by jaylin on Jun 26, 2009 22:07:43 GMT -7
"The difference is, the humans don't even see anything that often. And aren't actively using supernatural abilities that they're trying to ignore."
Sure, he'd have understood if it was something subtle, like having a supernatural level of luck at cards, but this woman had shape shifted right in front of him! How could she pretend that was just the result of inbreeding? Why would she want to?
Then she said she didn't want him to go, which he was glad of, but mentioned that she didn't have any of the answers he was looking for. However, that was when the conversation took a hopeful turn. She may not have the answers he was looking for, once he could figure out the question, but she knew someone who might.
"I don't know what I was hoping for. I wouldn't have an exact question to ask him or anything...but I would like to meet someone who actually knows stuff about supernatural stuff."
And wasn't even worse off than him when it came to understanding it. At least he was well aware that he was what he was and didn't try to tell himself any different.
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Post by ingegerd on Jul 1, 2009 8:35:08 GMT -7
"I don't know if he knows much either, but he goes to a place called the Troll Market now and then. He's there now, I don't know when he'll be back," Ingegerd answered, more than a little sour over having lost the argument. She was used to winning her discussions, which though all were on the Internet where she had the advantage of taking a BRB whenever she couldn't come up with a reply right away.
She also couldn't really decide what to do next. Should she just give the guy Sven's cell number and send him off? As much as she was desperate to get the whole situation under control - as in being alone - she couldn't deny a growing curiousity over him, and the opportunities getting to know him and others would offer in her rather dull and lonely life. "What's your name, by the way?" She tried to sound nonchalant, in case he decided that was all he needed from her.
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