iii ❧ voice/action;

[k0kka.livejournal.com]

I heard him this morning. [A soft voice, full of reverence and close to tears.] Thought I was fucking dreaming, but he didn't stop his squawking until I was sure. [She gives one of those humorless laughs that's people give when they're trying not cry, breathless and embarrassed.] Shit. Am I grown woman, or what, I can handle being by myself. [Her breath hitches, there go the waterworks.] Shit. I missed his voice. I missed all their voices.

[Paderau's current crying location is this small altar she built in the woods, for those more inclined to action.]

Comments

[voice]

[mnementomori]

...it's hard being lonely, no matter what.

[voice]

[k0kka.livejournal.com]

It's a new thing to me... Never been cut off the hivemind before. Still can't hear half the order, but it's coming back.

[voice]

[mnementomori]

Hive...mind?

You weren't talking about your friends...?

[voice]

[k0kka.livejournal.com]

Yeah, they're my friends. We're just, uh, connected, pretty deep down. Big collective soul kind of thing.

[voice]

[mnementomori]

Oh.

[souls...she remembers that from another conversation she's had.]

So you can talk to them whenever you want? That seems nice.

[voice]

[k0kka.livejournal.com]

Doesn't make for a lot of privacy, but yeah, I'd rather have it than not. Having it quiet was the nastiest part.

[voice]

[mnementomori]

Because you're alone? Or because you're not used to it? Or maybe...both.

[voice]

[border-phantasm.livejournal.com]

Strange thing to miss.

[voice]

[k0kka.livejournal.com]

I've heard them my entire life. Three centuries worth of chatter, the silence was the loudest thing I've ever heard.

[voice]

[border-phantasm.livejournal.com]

How do you even think then?

[voice]

[k0kka.livejournal.com]

You get used to it.

[voice]

[border-phantasm.livejournal.com]

Maybe you would.

[voice]

[k0kka.livejournal.com]

Not like there's a lot of choice in the matter.

[ action ]

[willbereborn.livejournal.com]

[ Tip-toeing little Birdie rocks back and forth on her heels, twiddling fingers in front of her. She frowns, and pouts and even makes a little noise, not sure what to do. She can feel Paderau's sadness and it's strange to her, because the warden is always cheerful and wonderful and warm and now she's sad and she took care of Birdie and the baby phoenix wants to help.

So she tip-toes next to Paddy and holds her hand with both of hers, leaning her face against her shoulder. She wants to sing for her, but doesn't know if it will upset her. She hopes not, but she looks up with her big and questioning gold eyes, wondering if it's okay.


P. S.: THANKS FOR TAKING CARE OF HER ]

[ action ]

[k0kka.livejournal.com]

Oh, baby bird.



Jast says hi.

[willbereborn.livejournal.com]

[ Birdie makes an uneasy small noise of sadness and wraps her arms around Paderau's waist, leaning her warm face on her chest. The mention of Jast, however, does make her big gold eyes sparkle and she looks up with a little smile. ]

Does he, yes? [ She squeezes her arms faintly. ] Do you miss him too, you do, don't you, Paddy, yes?

[k0kka.livejournal.com]

Yep, I heard him just this morning. And I didn't miss the little sprat until I couldn't hear him. You know he's got a beautiful voice. Makes everything calm. Makes everything make sense.

[willbereborn.livejournal.com]

[ She can feel that. Well, not exactly that, but the general feeling of it. It's in her emphatic nature. So Birdie looks up without leaving the warm spot of Paderau's chest. ]

Do you want me to sing for you too, do you?

[k0kka.livejournal.com]

I always wanna hear you sing, beautiful.

[hotshot-momma.livejournal.com]

...I'm sor- my sympathies go out to you.

(She bites her lip.)

Who is it?

[k0kka.livejournal.com]

A friend of mine, don't worry your pretty head, he ain't dead.

[hotshot-momma.livejournal.com]

Just absent. That's bad enough.

(Anna sighs and reaches for a cigarette that... isn't there)

And me without the nicotine to deal with it.

[k0kka.livejournal.com]

I hear you, I put out the plea for some cigarettes when I got here, no dice.



I'm Paderau, and I solemnly swear if I get my hands on some, I'll share with you.

[hotshot-momma.livejournal.com]

Anna Lin. At least my lungs will last longer than I will at this rate.

[k0kka.livejournal.com]

I hear the cigarettes are no good for, but I been smoking for a couple centuries and I'm pretty sure I'm still as fit as a fiddle.