Backwater. Hormah's Human Safe House. After Vik's Nap.

[no_i_dun_wanna]

((continues from here))



In a small, but comfortable living room the noonday light filters gently through a curtain of pale gold hand knitted lace. There are muted sounds from outside as people occasionally walk past chatting with friends or family, and even fainter sounds from the now very busy Question Square. The furniture in the room is simple, but good, and there aren't any knickknacks, only a couple house plants and a blue crochet panel against one wall that has the alphabet on it and a verse of scripture.

The room is very quiet, the only living things in it being a sleeping elderly human woman in the softly vibrating armchair and a tiny green being of living gemstone hunkered on the nearby couch back to watch the sleeper. But the aroma of something rich cooking that is drifting in from the slightly open hall door attests to the fact that someone else is somewhere in the house.

Comments

Waking

[spiderlillie]

Vik's dreams all finally settled down, leaving her to rest very deeply. But as all good sleeps go, this one comes to an end also.

She feels a compulsion to stretch and roll over. But finds she can't roll to her side. Vik opens her eyes, and as always when waking, things don't make sense right away.

She softly smacks her dry lips and mouth, trying to moisten them. Then looks at the window, the light soothing and slightly mesmerizing in her half asleep state.

A large yawn interrupts her gaze. Vik scrubs her face with both hands, and stretches lengthwise, pointing her toes and reaching way over her head, until her arthritic joints pinch, making her stop.

"Oww!" *joints pop loudly* "Ooh... I feel lots better. Good nap.. crazy, wild dreams though!" She can't stop another yawn, then realizes she doesn't know where she is. She blinks at her surroundings.

The room is lovely, comfy and very much restful. If it weren't for the fact that she didn't know where she was, she'd find it pretty easy to nap some more in this very soothing place.

Vik sits forward in her recliner. Then she realizes it isn't *her* old, dusky blue one at home. And this one has a gentle massage-type vibration that she wished her own recliner had. She runs her hand down one arm of the recliner appreciatively.

"I don't know who you belong to, but I wish I had one just like you."

Vik looks around, then realizes her glasses have slipped from her face. She finds them and puts them on, then slowly gazes all around the restful room.

"Hmm.. I have no clue where I am.. nothing's familiar. I must've.. no, I don't know anyone I might've visited overnight." she shrugs, "At least it's very lovely here, wherever here is."

Vik takes her glasses off in one hand, and massages her face and forehead with the other, trying to budge her memory.

She mutters softly and confusedly, "if *ever* I needed a cup of coffee, it's now." She groans, wishing she could remember whose house she's in. Then leans back in the recliner, hoping that the massager vibes will untangle her memory.

It's then that food aromas cut through the dense fog of her almost-but-not-quite-waking. "Man... That really smells good."

Re: Waking

[no_i_dun_wanna]

The little being on the couch sees that Vik's awake and stands, then waves both tiny hands in the air as a speech bubble appears over her head. "Hi, can you see me waving?"

Re: Waking

[spiderlillie]

Vik senses something has shifted in the room, but she's not certain what it is, yet there is a difference, somehow.

Curious, she swings her head around this way and that, looking for whatever is making her feel that shift in the room.

She catches an odd movement from the corner of her eye and does a double take.

A tiny green being is waving it's tiny arms around from it's perch on the back of the couch. Vik wonders if she's still asleep and dreaming this. She sits up in the recliner with creaks and pops in her joints.

What looks like a speech bubble is above the little green being's head. Vik can see what looks like words, but she'll need to get closer to read them. Bifocal glasses are like that; a thing meant to help you see details often makes that very thing difficult to do!

"Ouch!" she ruefully rubs her thigh where she pinched herself, "I can see you, but.. oooh wait! I remember now! I'm in The Backwater!"

Vik smiles and relaxes, relieved she hasn't either lost her mind, or is lost in one of her wild, crazy dreams. She rubs her weak knees, then using both arms, slowly shoves herself to standing, though she's still bent over a bit.

She grabs the cane handle with both hands and forces her spine to align and stand her upright. A loud pop stuns her a moment. She winces and shakes her head, but grins a determined grin and proceeds slowly towards the couch.

Vik looks at the little person, she can see that the little being is a pretty little lady. She turns to sit on the couch, but her joints are protesting loudly.

One pop makes her loose her balance until she corrects for it, then carefully sits herself on the couch near to where the little person is. She smiles and arranges the shawl around her shoulders a little better.

"You are very pretty, and my favorite color too. And yes, I did see you after a bit, I'm sorry it took me so long." Vik relaxes more as her joints let up some of their discomfort, little by little.

"What's your name?" Vik says with a warm smile, "Mine is Vicki, you can call me that, or Vik, if you'd like to."

Re: Waking

[no_i_dun_wanna]

Tiny blue eyes look at Vik with amazement, and then the tiny lady points back to the recliner chair as her speech bubble pops into sight again. "You didn't use the thingie to let the chair help you stand up!"

Re: Waking

[spiderlillie]

Vik's expression changes to beffudlement when she reads the speech bubble above the little lady's head. She looks back towards the recliner and stares at it a moment.

She looks back at the little lady, "Oh wow. I had no idea it could do that. A lift-recliner? Man.. I wish I'd realized before."

She smiles at the little green lady, "In any case, I know now. Thank you for telling me. Those are very helpful recliners! I'm grateful for the wonderful sleep I've had."

Vik rubs at a stubbornly sore muscle in her thigh while she tries to remember things.

"I have no memory of getting here. The last thing I do remember was Aoife chasing after a whirling woman.. Rose, then Mack-Mack pulling the rickshaw.. and a pretty green Transformer. Oooh, her name was.. Mira? I think?" she chuckles softly, "That part is kinda fuzzy."

She sighs and notices once more the yummy aromas in the room.

Bathtime

[spiderlillie]

Vik smiles as she reads Strawbaby's bubble. "I'll do that then, thanks for telling me." She thumbs the little button thingie and speculates.

"Bye-bye you two, and thanks again!" she watches as Strawbaby and Apple leave. She hopes she sees them again.

To herself she says softly, "Well, time to shed this muu-muu and get on with it." she sighs feeling relaxed and at home, and gets things going in the comfy bathroom. "A baaaaath.. oh how nice. And a shower I can get into easy! Yay!"

She chuckles appreciatively as the bath seems to ease her nerves, mind and muscles all at once.

Vik can't wait to try on her new clothes and boots. She inwardly makes a note to find some way to thank Mira and everyone in a special way. She doesn't know how yet, but she knows the Lord will show her a way.

Re: Bathtime

[random_xtras]

The house is quiet while she's under the water, there are none of the loud sounds that can be so alarming when one can hear only indistinctly past water sounds. It is warm enough that there are no shocks when one comes out from under the water to soap. But the smell of of food is becoming stronger, and quite distinctly over the lovely scent of wild strawberries is now discernible the scent of cooking lamb.

Re: Bathtime

[spiderlillie]

Vik sighs, so deeply refreshed, relaxed, and clean, just as she likes herself to be. She dries off and deodorizes. Then sits on the soft bed to dress. She takes her time, exploring how each piece of her clothing is made, making sure she positions everything as it should go.

While she's getting herself dressed, the aromas of a familiar food reaches her nose, but not quite her memory. "Oooh.. I *know* that smell.. that smells utterly amazing!"

She tries to grasp the elusive memory, and tries not to drool too. That is proving to be the most difficult.

The aroma is driving her nuts. Mainly because it smells soooo delicious! The other reason is because she knows that she knows *that* aroma, but she can't place it! As she ponders, she pulls on the first thick sock, delighting in it's cushy comfort.

"Oooh, man-o-man, now *that* is driving me goofy. Smells so delicious. I wish I could remember what that is though!" She shakes her head at herself as she pulls on the other thick sock, smoothing it along her leg.

Vik reasons that once she's finished getting dressed, maybe she can explore a bit and see if she can discover who's cooking, and just what it *is* they've made that smells so irresistable!

She stops pondering the foods she smells, and admires her new socks for a bit. She adores the feel of them. She can't help but notice how buttery they are on her over-sensitive feet!

Then she picks up the vest. She turns it this way and that, looking at it from every angle, trying to guess what it does when on.

She smiles and shrugs. She hasn't worn any stylsh vests since she was 20-something years old. The only other vest she wore was that orange, plastic safety vest she had to wear at work some decades back.

This vest wasn't like any of those. She smiles and puts it on, then zips it up. She stands to straighten the lay of her clothing, trying to look at herself this way and that.

She finally feels satisfied that she's got everything arranged right, and fingers the button at the bottom of the vest.

She takes a deep breath, "Well, here goes!", then she presses the button thingie...

The mystery of the clothes

[random_xtras]

Once the vest is zipped, that little rectangular thing with the button on it somehow shifts so that it's benearth the bottom of the zipper, and as Vik stands, she'll feel the socks stiffening along her legs and ankles, providing gentle but firm support.

And the vest. The moment the button is pressed, the black mesh vest vanishes, and a beautiful dark green dress unfolds around Vik. Three quarter length bell sleeves blossom around her arms, bright with delicate green and aqua floral embroidery. A full skirt with hem adorned by the same delicately worked vine suddenly swirls just above her ankles, and at the trim looking but comfortable waist is a belt with more of the embroidery. There are ample pockets inside the skirt, and those thick black socks have now become what looks like (but certainly doesn't feel like!) beautiful golden brown granny boots with pointed toes, spool heels, and golden tassels on the sides.

[random_xtras]

"Thanks." Dr. Octavia accepts the fruit, then sniffs them with interest. "Alright. Let's bring you across the hall here, I've got my clinic set up on the far wall." Then she nods thoughtfully. "Yes. Because if it doesn't, it's not life."

[spiderlillie]

Vik nods in agreement, "Verily." And slowly follows as best she can to the place the Doctor indicated. She stops, returning to pop her head back in and waves a weary, happy 'bye' to them all. That tiredness is wearing her down, and it shows. Vik wishes she didn't get tired this easily.

[random_xtras]

There's a new door set into the hallway wall, one that wasn't there before and which leads to a side of the house that the hallway window says hasn't any rooms on it. But when Dr. Octavia opens it, there is a nice small room containing all the things you need to get your joints adjusted.

"Here, sit on the table." The short blonde pats it, then moves out of the way.

[spiderlillie]

Vik looks back and forth, befuddled. She shrugs thinking that it must be her tiredness playing tricks on her like this. She could swear that door wasn't there before. She shakes her head, and follows the Doctor in.

Compliantly, she takes the place on the table that Doctor Octavia shows her. However it takes a try or two, given her tiredness and awkward, creaky joints that don't want to bend.

Once settled in place, she sighs tiredly. "Okiedokie, I'm on the table now, Doctor..." But something in her lower spine pops loudly, rather gritty sounding, and her spine shifts it's direction. Vik yelps as pain shoots through her back and right hip.

She's about to say something, when she turns her head towards Doctor Octavia, a bone spur in her neck pops the same way. That time she sucked her breath in with a sharp hiss. Vik is biting her lip to keep from making a noise. That spot in her neck stings now, and she dreads the numbness that always follows when a bone spur pops like that.

Vik looks up at Doctor Octavia without moving her head. She's a little afraid to move anything, especially after that last pop. She speaks shyly, "I'm.. uh, I'm here now. My neck and spine have a mind of their own."

Vik looks down at her knees. Both are misshapen from arthritis and bone decay. And they're both swollen again. How she wishes her bones weren't such a mess.

Out in The Street.

[random_xtras]

A reddish orange lady about sixteen foot tall stops short as something appears in the street right in front of her, then lets rip a series of beeps that sound like shocked vituperation. The Backwater translator helpfully lets the fuzor who has just appeared in front of her know what she's saying.

"What the flamin' flyin' ferfek, b'y???"

Re: Out in The Street.

[spiderlillie]

Vik isn't sure what happened. One moment she had prayed, or wished, while Dr. Octavia was working out her kinks. She'd offered her most heartfelt prayer, her greatest desire, trusting that the Lord will answer her petition in one way or other. And the next, there had been a blur of rushing wind and then..

She thuds on her feet. Solid, no balance problems, she feels the ground give slightly. She feels in control of her body in a way she hasn't experienced in her life. Her senses are acute. It is confusing to have an absence of pain.

She shakes her head, whether to clear her mind, or to sort her thoughts. Then her ears pick up sounds.. words.. they form in her mind in a strange way, but she understands them.

She looks up at the reddish-orange lady before her. She is quite tall.

"How did I get here.. or *out* here?" She grabs instinctively for her cane, but it's nowhere around. As usual, when her hand fails to find her cane handle, she glances in that direction to locate it, but..

"My hand!" She double-takes her hand and arm, then holds both arms out to inspect them, then down her front and to her feet. She jumps a little in shock.

And when she does, something vigorous uncoils from her back, and she finds herself lofted up and backwards by strong wings. She thuds back to the ground on her feet. Words and thoughts are whirling in her mind, but she is not afraid, only intensely puzzled. And excited!

She looks back towards the reddish-orange lady, "I have become a Fuzor!" She then speaks with gentle conviction; now she knows who she is completely, with no confusion. "I am Duskwing. My apologies for starting you."

While neatly folding her wings back, she gestures at her body, "I am.. new to this form. I am new." Duskwing looks at the startled reddish-orange lady and waits.

Re: Out in The Street.

[random_xtras]

The reddish orange lady gives Duskwing a long, studious look from bright yellow optics. Then she deedles softly and face palms.

"'N who was ye after bein' afor t'is new form?" she asks quietly in accented English.

Re: Out in The Street.

[spiderlillie]

Duskwing gazes at the lady with joy sparkling in her greenish-blue optics, a smile curving upwards.

"I was a newly arrived older human female by the name of Vik, or Vicki. I stumbled into the Backwater; took one step in my home, the next step, I was here. I was crippled with several health problems. Doctor Octavia had been doing some chiropractic adjustments on me.." she turns slightly and indicates the building behind, "..just in there. I made a wish, and a huge wind wooshed me out here as you see me. Like this, a Fuzor. No disabilities or health problems."

Duskwing smiles a feline grin full of utter, joyous exhultation, even a little mischievous. There is the soft rumble of a lynxian purr, rumbling, bouncing, and happy.

[random_xtras]

And Hormah is laughing again, the sound rambunctious but not mocking. Then she pauses and deedles softly as she looks down at the touch of a soft hand on her leg. "Eh, Esther. Not sure she's arter needin' ye anymore, me son."

"Oh." A girl who looks like a bipedal, slightly fluffy cream and white tuxedo flattens her ears sadly, then glances at Duskwing.

[spiderlillie]

Duskwing freezes when she realizes what Hormah has said. Her eyes pop very wide, glowing with alarm. She looks down, seeking the one Hormah had been talking to.

Once located, Duskwing carefully sits the plant on the ground, then gently scoops the kittygirl up with both paws.

"Hiya." She says softly, peering at her with fascination, "I'm sorry, I was just a tad distracted there. Hope I didn't startle you? And I didn't mean to be rude.. I'm sorry." She peers over to Hormah with what could only be a lynxie-version of puppydog eyes, pleading. "Can she stay with me? Pleeeease?"

Duskwing then looks back to the little kittygirl with a quizzical expression, cocking her head in that lynx like way they do, "If you want to of course, no pressure." Duskwing isn't entirely lonely, not since she's arrived in the Backwater. But someone to visit with, a friend, would be wonderful.

She relaxes a little, but hopes the little, fluffy kittygirl would like to stick around a little while. Duskwing really likes her. With a gentle finger, she carefully strokes her head and back.

It never even occurs to Duskwing that this little person may not go for that.

[random_xtras]

Esther closes her eyes and leans her head forward as Duskwing strokes her head and back, her fur standing up gently in a way that shows that it's still kitten fluff despite Esther being the size of a well grown twelve year old human. Her tail, banded with lighter colour in a way that nearly makes it look raccoon-esque curls happily as she purrs a soft Maine Coon type thunder that vibrates her whole body gently. Then she looks up with bright golden eyes that have a soft fae glow to them, one hand absently grasping the skirt of her purple school uniform skort.

"Lady wansa be kitteh's new mama?" she asks hopefully.

[spiderlillie]

Duskwing's eyes pop in surprise. She hugs her and softly says "I.. oh yes. I would love that." She's trying to hide the fact she choked up a little.

[random_xtras]

"Hey, b'y!" comes the cheery bellow from below. "Ye figgerin' on comin' down t'arth anytime soon?"

Esther pauses in her happy wriggling to look down at the pastor. Then she looks back at Duskwing excitedly. "Kitteh has home for us, Mama!"

[spiderlillie]

Duskwing hears Hormah, and waves to her enthusiastically. "Be there in a bit Pastor!"

Then Esther's news puzzles her. Duskwing's eyes glow bright turquoise as she looks at her.

"A home? Really? Where.. when.. how.. ? Oh nevermind!" She smirks and shakes her head to clear the long string of questions from her head, "Lead on, Esther! Show me what ya found!"

[random_xtras]

The fluffy girl wriggles some more, then waves to Noelle. "Bye, Noelle lady." Bright eyes go up again to once more meet Duskwings. "We can has go down so Paster can come see home too?"

"Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! Yay for home!" A speech bubble wisps past in the wake of its owner. "Yay for wings! Yay for sparklies! Yay for mustard!"

[spiderlillie]

Duskwing nods and says an emphatic "Yes!". She waves a cheery goodbye to Noelle. She glides down to Hormah, landing a few feet from her.

Duskwing waves goodbye to Strawbaby, and chuckles at her hyper-happy speech bubbles, until that last bit filtered through her head and got stuck. She looks confused, "Wait a minute.. mustard? What mustard..?"