{Twenty-five (53)} &diams Another second lost with every fallen grain

[burnt_orangesky]

[There are a few pentaps, and the pen rests on the page long enough to form a tiny pool of ink before Fred's writing starts.]

I do not think I shall ever get the sand completely out of my hair.

Has anything particularly interesting happened while I have been [another pentap or so] napping? And did everyone come through February alright? I confess I was somewhat preoccupied with an [pause] issue of my own, and was quite distracted toward the end.

Comments

[slowlog]

[live_ringer]

A sadist, then. [Lyle shook his head,looking visibly disgusted.] I heard of the extent of the damage and... yeah. Good God.

[His brows drew together in confusion.] The description I heard about her didn't match up, but I wasn't sure if it was because she was ushered by too quickly to get a good look. But how does that even work? How can someone be a duplicate if they're nothing alike in personality or looks? ...Think she was just a double of someone you knew and she claimed to be you to screw with you?

[slowlog]

[burnt_orangesky]

It is amazing that he is still alive. She may not have been interested in killing him, but she did enough that... frankly, a normal Human would have died, most likely.

[Fred shook her head.] No. I am certain of it... we were the same person. She was not lying, could not have, about that. [She hesitated for a moment.] My people have a... a sort of a sense, yes, that is the easiest way to explain it. A sense that allows us to identify others of our species.

Each Gallifreyan's 'feel' is different, unique; she 'felt' like me. [Another brief pause as she got out of the chair to start pacing.] I cannot begin to explain the why of our different looks. I just know this is the way things are, and that she did not lie about that.

[slowlog]

[live_ringer]

Which is why she took interest in the first place, in other words. [Lyle looked to the side, focusing on a nearby tower of junk. It wasn't surprising to hear Veda could be more or different than humans. Ever since Fred had shared the tidbit that Aurora had connected TO a Gundam in his memory... well, it certainly pointed to a singularity in the other man since such an experience never struck Lyle as familiar or popped up in his own memories.]

[Lyle listened to Fred's explanation about how Gallifreyan's worked, how they identified each other. He listened, but that by no means meant it was easy to wrap his head around. It sounded a bit like how Bastet and people from her world could sense things, but that still didn't explain how someone who was a duplicate was very little like their original. Rubbing a thumb and forefinger over his eyes, Lyle sighed.] I can't say I get it, so I guess I'll just take your word for it.

[slowlog]

[burnt_orangesky]

She took an interest in him for some reason. Unfortunately, I do not know specifically what. Perhaps she simply wanted someone to torture, and got... lucky. [She shuddered a little before she resumed her pacing. To describe it as 'luck'... that left a bitter flavor in her mouth. Though at the same time, was it any better or worse than saying Romana had picked Veda on purpose? Either way, he was badly hurt.]

[Fred shrugged lightly.] I'm afraid I don't know much more about it myself. I have only met a couple of my people in my time here, and remember little enough about it. [She hesitated, her movements stilling, looking seriously at Lyle.] By the by, Lyle... would you mind terribly going back to calling me 'Fred'? I don't think I wish to be 'Romana' after that.

[slowlog]

[live_ringer]

Mn. [He didn't find the concept of someone being randomly targeted for torment any more palatable than the idea of them being targeted for 'special' qualities, so all he could offer up was a uneasy, disgruntled sound of acknowledgment towards the theory.]

Mind? Not at all. I can't say I exactly blame you for distancing yourself from all of this. [Not to mention, it would likely make things less awkward if the subject of Fred was ever brought up around Veda, if only marginally.]

[slowlog]

[burnt_orangesky]

Thank you. [It was a tiny relief to not worry about him calling her that. It had been deeply disturbing to have someone who committed horrible acts without batting an eye calling herself by her real name, even if they were the same person... but then, Fred had never truly taken to calling herself 'Romana' anyway.]

Now then... unless you wished to know something else, it would seem that I have inadvertently missed a great deal of work. [She wanted to do something, get her mind off the issues of Romana and Veda, for a little while.] Was there anything in particular you needed assistance with?

[slowlog]

[live_ringer]

Not a problem.

[He hiked a thumb over his shoulder.] It looked like a cache of new appliances appeared the other day and I think the shape they're in isn't half bad. Care to look them over with me?

[slowlog] - semi-fail endtag?

[burnt_orangesky]

[Fred smiled, nodded.] That sounds like just the ticket.