I2DT - All This Time I Was Findin' Myself

[Tereza Rozanov]

Tereza , somewhat to the consternation of the bar staff, commandeered a table and was now sitting and playing chess with herself. The chess pieces were crude in form and made of ice as was the board. When a piece moved, it sank into the board, reforming at another square. Tereza's eyes glowed with a steady light and she rubbed one of her temples. At least this took her mind off the strained muscles and other assorted contusions and lacerations that had resulted from being put through a concrete wall by her sister.

((Open))

[Samantha McManus]

"So who's winning?" Sam asks as she approaches.

[Tereza Rozanov]

"No one. Perfectly symmetrical violence never solves anything," she said with a smirk as the sides traded pieces.

[Samantha McManus]

"Of course here, they might think you're just playing with the invisible boy."

She pulls up a chair.

[Tereza Rozanov]

Tereza just chuckled at that, "Recovered from your trip to the country that shall not be named?"

[Samantha McManus]

"Wasn't much to recover from. Only really got in the one fight," she shrugs.

[Tereza Rozanov]

"True. All you did was throw down with a wolf-shifter," Tereza teased.

[Samantha McManus]

"Well I'm no Miss Kinney, but I heal rather quick."

[Tereza Rozanov]

"You lucky people and your regenerating." All the chess pieces turned to look at Sam.

[Samantha McManus]

"Says the girl who got thrown through a wall and lived to tell the tale."

[Tereza Rozanov]

"Armor, etc." Tereza said, making a dismissive gesture. "And you can't see the bandages or the bruising. The painkillers are amazing though."

[Samantha McManus]

"I suppose we can both agree it was... rather cathartic regardless?"

[Tereza Rozanov]

"More cathartic for some," she said, "Not that it wasn't satisfying to beat the hell out of her."

[Samantha McManus]

"Best we can do, aye?"

"I don't envy Russia if they try to ask the headmistress to return her."

[Tereza Rozanov]

"As thoroughly as Ms. Kinney destroyed the facility, they're probably still trying to figure out whether anyone is buried down there or not. Of course, they could just be paving over it and moving on with their lives."

[Samantha McManus]

"And maybe they'll leave you bloody well alone, now."

[Tereza Rozanov]

"It's good to have an optimist around," Tereza said, smiling at Sam. "It's..." She suddenly looked through Sam as the chessboard collapsed and reformed into a small pair of statues, two girls of different ages sitting and playing with dolls. The amount of detail was likely staggering from every fold of cloth in the younger girl's oversized t-shirt to the seams in the older girl's jeans and the laces on her shoes. The statues briefly tried to animate, going through the motions of playing before Tereza shook her head and blinked her eyes, rubbing her temple again. "Hell. I think the pain is starting to come back."

[Samantha McManus]

"...are you starting to remember her?"

[Tereza Rozanov]

"Maybe? Could be just whatever tampering they did," she said, turning to look at the statues. "You know, it's shit not being able to trust your own memories."

[Samantha McManus]

"Give yourself time to work with Professor Rede, and you will."

[Tereza Rozanov]

She clenched a fist and the ice collapsed into a blob. "Even if it is legit... that was then..." She lifted the side of her shirt revealing all the bruising, "This is now."

[Samantha McManus]

"Aye, too many bridges burned."

"Different folks to come home to, now."

[Tereza Rozanov]

"Yeah, I think she's too far gone to walk back now."

Yeah, I'm afraid she's too far gone to walk back now.

[Samantha McManus]

"...do you always do that?" She asks, tilting her head.

[Tereza Rozanov]

"Do what?"

[Samantha McManus]

"It's like you were thinking it while you were saying it."

[Tereza Rozanov]

"Doesn't everyone do that?"

[Samantha McManus]

"Not... really? It's hard to put into words."

[Tereza Rozanov]

Tereza shrugged, "Maybe something to talk to Professor Rede about."

[Samantha McManus]

"I'm not trying to stress you out, honestly."

[Tereza Rozanov]

"I really don't think you could add anything to the load at this point, Sam."

[Samantha McManus]

"I'd offer other stress relief, but you're already bruised up enough."

[Tereza Rozanov]

"Maybe I should find Vivienne and take her out to eat."

[Samantha McManus]

"...or that," she says, a bit sheepishly. "That's probably a better idea."

[Tereza Rozanov]

"Gotten a taste for fighting, have we?"

[Samantha McManus]

"...little bit?"

"I guess it just got some of my frustrations out."

[Tereza Rozanov]

"What are you, of all people, frustrated about?"

[Samantha McManus]

"What, I'm not allowed to be stressed about what's going on?"

[Tereza Rozanov]

"Totally allowed. Stressed enough to hit things is a little... wild."

[Samantha McManus]

"It's not like I'm just punching random people."