eleven. [video]

[experiencedlove]

[ The mirror unfurls on a location it hasn't for some time: the rear balcony of a lakeside house in the southern part of the Gardens. A blonde woman who may be familiar to a few of the more long-term residents is standing there, hands resting on the railing, seemingly unaware of the presence of the Vine as yet. The expression on her face is difficult to discern: she might be happy, or she might be close to tears. Perhaps both.

After a moment, she turns a little, catches sight of the mirror in her peripheral vision. She startles, briefly, but then she seems to calm, schooling her expression, and the look in her eyes as she reaches out to graze her fingertips for a moment along the mirror's edge is somewhere between wry and almost affectionate. The Vine is an obnoxious, nosy thing, but it's familiar, at least.

When she speaks, she's plainly addressing the mirror, but her glance is directed slightly off to one side. ]

It's been so long. For a while, I was almost convinced—

[ She stops, and shakes her head. There's the faintest hint of a smile on her lips. ]

I'm not sure this qualifies as 'less eventful.'

[ Finally, she turns her gaze directly to the mirror. ]

I'm sorry. I... may not have met some of you. Call me Caprica.

[ Has it been over a year, as it feels to her, or only a few months? A few weeks? She can't tell. ]

Comments

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[welljustwatchme.livejournal.com]

Hello Caprica. [A friendly smile, but then a thoughtful pause from the nation. She remembers the other woman being here before, even if she can't recall ever interacting with her.]

If it's not too much to ask, how long were you gone?

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[experiencedlove]

[ No, Caprica doesn't think they've ever spoken — but there's something like recognition on her face, after a moment. She must have seen her on the Vine before. ]

I'm not sure.

[ A pause, and then she amends, ] More than a year passed in my world between the time I left here and now. But I don't know if the same amount of time has passed here.

[ She's quiet for a moment, thinking back, recalling memories that are only now coming back to her after so long away. ]

The last thing I remember — there was a storm. Everyone was having strange dreams.

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[welljustwatchme.livejournal.com]

Ah... no, that was a few months ago, but certainly not a year. Five or six, maybe?

[She's got her own gap in memories for that time, a good forty years of blissful ignorance of the Gardens before being brought back. If it weren't for how carefully she tried to remember things, and speaking with her friends when she returned, she wouldn't have had the faintest idea.]

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[experiencedlove]

I see.

[ It's really the only thing she can say — and she doesn't know whether she's relieved or not that the length of time that's passed here is less.

She lets out a breath, sits down on one of the deck chairs on the wide balcony, allowing herself a brief glance out over the lake view. A brief glance only, however; the view is a bittersweet one, and she is trying not to get too caught up in emotion right now. ]

It doesn't seem as if anything's changed.

[ That could be a question phrased like a statement. ]

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[welljustwatchme.livejournal.com]

The Gardens are a constant sort of place.

[Canada only half-watches the vine, so as not to spy on Caprica as she's obviously having a moment. She doesn't mean to be intrusive.]

Oh, sorry, I'm Canada, by the way. I don't think we've ever talked before, but I remember when you were last here.

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[experiencedlove]

[ If Canada's being at all intrusive, it doesn't seem to bother Caprica; she shakes off her mood quickly, returning her attention to the mirror with a slight smile. ]

They are, aren't they? Even when the people and the places change...

It's a pleasure to meet you, Canada.

[ She doesn't show any recognition or hesitation over the name. ]

[welljustwatchme.livejournal.com]

You, too.

[She gives a little smile, too.] You just missed the magical mistletoe, which is either very lucky or quite sad, I'm not sure for you. At any rate, I hope you get settled in again alright, and that nothing's changed too much for the worse.

[experiencedlove]

Mistletoe?

[ Someone comes from a world where there is no Christmas yet. ]

I'm not sure I understand.