I think the most important skill in life is being able to fake confidence. [OPEN]

[loadme]

Who: Monika & You
What: Resting, Scrounging, Practicing
Where: Throughout Melai Temple
When: Early in their stay
Warnings/Notes: Nothing as of yet!


[Near the campfire at night.]

[It's a moment where she's finally able to catch herself for what feels like the first time in a while.

She's tired, so tired.

Both physically and emotionally.

And it shows in her demeanor as she continues to just blankly stare at the fire in front of her.

The fire feels warm and relaxing, its bright flame so full of color, like everything else in this world. It helps Monika fall asleep. Everything goes dark as as she eventually nods off.

Sleep only last for a few minutes, though, as she gasps and wakes up. She looks around, confused and disoriented. Expecting to see something different.]

Did I just...?

[But no, it was all the same from before.]

Oh, sorry.


[Checking out the bedrooms]

[What she really would've liked at this point was a change of clothes. There wasn't anything wrong with her school uniform, aside from it being a little dirty. But it really wasn't the kind of clothing she wanted to wear for a grand adventure!

Monika looked about what she assumed were living quarterss, but there really wasn't much left that she could use.

The clothes that were left behind were just no good.

Defeated, she leaves the room and sighs.]

Christ, why is it so hard to find a decently sized skirt?


[Looking for volunteers]

[Monika was up and walking throughout the temple, looking to be in better spirits than before. At least, that was the image she was presenting. Inwardly she was still tired and confused, but at least keeping herself busy would also keep her distracted. Right now, she wanted to get a better handle on what it was she could do now.

The voices in her head (again, not crazy!) had told her that she'd have special powers or weapons now, or nothing at all! Weapons wasn't it, and she strongly hoped that there was something now, especially to make up for tripping over herself when running away from the Wheelers. Fortunately for her, she could feel that something.

It was hard to put into words. But there was this... sensation.

Of something she needed to do.

But for that, she needed a volunteer.]

Um, hi! Are you busy right now?

If you're not, could you give me a hand with something? I'm trying to figure out how my new powers work.

[The hard part wasn't the approach, but rather what came after.]

Comments

[loadme]

[Monika laughed nervously. There wasn't a good way to really make the request any less weird than what it already sounded like. At least letting him pick the memory was a good move. It respected his privacy more while also letting him keep a measure of control.

People liked that, didn't they?

That, and having options!]

Don't worry, this won't hurt at all!

[She sounded as reassuring as she could as she gently placed her hands on his wrist.

The memories take a bit of time to become clear to her, a sign of her overall inexperience.

By the time she can make out much, Dixon breaks contact and she loses the image.]

Okay! Just pick whatever your comfortable with!

[awfulcer]

[He holds his arm back out to Monika, brow furrowed slightly as if that'll help him concentrate.

It's hard to pick, mind scrambling and sliding around the way it is. Whenever he lands on one it seems to morph into another one, to follow that bloodstream that circulates throughout every experience. He wonders if everyone's head is like this.

He finally manages to grab onto his first day on the job as a police officer, buzzing with excitement, too nervous to ask questions, faking that he knows what's going on in the ride-along in the police cruiser until the sergeant asks him to actually repeat back something about the codes he just learned.

"Dixon, a 10-96. I just told you."

"Dog case?"

"No, you dipshit. That means we've got a retard on the loose."

"Oh. I knew that."

"You didn't."

Dixon isn't wearing his badge. It's tight in his hand on his thigh; he can feel the edges pressing into his clammy palm. "I'll know it next time."]

[loadme]

[The images become clear once again. It's not as clear as she thinks it could be, but this is still her first time.

And she wants to keep her grip gentle right now.

She's quite literally looking into someone's memories.]

10-96.

[Monika repeats, though she doesn't much care for some of the vocabulary that was being used.]

Did you?

[She lets go, and smiles at Dixon.]

Oh, sorry. I meant to say... Did you get it right next time?

[awfulcer]

No.

[Which was a bit of a common theme with his entire time in the police force, and everywhere else - learning things a bit slower than everyone else, retaining a little less, sheltering under the good will of anyone who would grant it. First it was his dad, then it was the chief of police, one won over by family and the other by Dixon's earnestness.]

Pretty sure I thought it was roadkill the next time I got asked. But I eventually got it, which was the point.

[He suddenly feels very self-conscious. He should have chosen a better memory, one that cast him in a positive light, his high school graduation or something. But it's too late for that now.]

What was it like, seeing a memory like that?

[loadme]

Well that's good! I'm glad that you were able to get it right.

[She smiled, seeming to be genuinely happy for him. And she was. Monika wasn't really there to judge anyone. What good would that do when they would all be travelling together?]

It felt like I was right there when it happened.

I think I have room for some improvement, but at least I got to see what it was like to be a police officer!

[awfulcer]

I got a lot better at it. [He didn't.] Just took some trying. [Which he stopped doing after about a year.]

Was it totally clear or like...fuzzy? [Having no real way to contextualize what it's like to walk in someone else's memory, he can't really tell what she means by room for improvement.]

[loadme]

That's great. I'm glad to hear it!

[Monika smiles and doesn't seem none the wiser.]

The individual faces were a little blurry for me, but almost everything else was pretty visible. Still I'm pretty pleased, and it's all thanks to you.

[awfulcer]

[The effusive thanks makes him a bit uncomfortable, especially since his contribution seemed to have mostly been holding his wrist out and closing his eyes. He's put more effort into getting his blood pressure taken, Jesus.]

You going to try it on anyone else?

[loadme]

Most likely! Practice makes perfect, you know.

I hope there's more that I can do. Just seeing someone's memories doesn't seem all that helpful.

[awfulcer]

I don't know. Maybe if they need...therapy or something... [Dixon shrugs. He guesses people in big cities do that therapy thing but the idea always struck him as really unhelpful and bougie.]

Or if you need to get information out of someone.

[loadme]

Ahaha, I don't know if I'd be qualified enough for that. But I'd be happy to help with their problems either way!

[She's got such a stellar track record already.]

That other option sounds like it could contribute more, though.

[awfulcer]

I usually just break their fingers. [He sounds like he's joking. Is he joking? Who knows! He's probably joking.] Your way probably don't leave much evidence.

[loadme]

[She laughs anyways. Though this time it's actual nervous laughter.]

Maybe, but you sound like you have more experience in this. Plus, I'm not very intimidating to begin with.

[awfulcer]

Not...really.

[Seriously, the gap between being a smalltown beat cop and saving the world is becoming more apparent by the hour. He feels like he's watching a train he's supposed to be on recede into the distance.]

But you're right you ain't intimidating.

[loadme]

That's actually a relief!

[You can only go upwards after you've hit rock bottom, Dixon.]

I wouldn't have felt like a very good club president if my members thought I was intimidating.

[awfulcer]

[GOOD BECAUSE HE'S RIGHT THERE.]

President of a club? What kind of club?

[loadme]

A Literature Club!

It sounds pretty boring to most people, but it was... A special place to me.

I loved it very much.