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[kalinda]

[And in the middle of the night, there's a loud gasping breath of air as a body moves from a bed.]

Nick-- [A breath. Wasn't she just sitting in a chair? With a gun? Just how long was she out?

A pause. A long pause.

And soon there would be the cocking of a gun, footsteps moving across her floor, and a door opening. Minutes would pass before Kalinda finds herself sitting on her bed, glaring down at the open journal at her side.

In an annoyed, tired, and subtly frustrated tone masked in neutrality, she'll continue the accidental dictation with full intention.]

And here I thought I was home.

_{(ooc. open, via journal! yeeee-- OH YEAH SHE HAS A LOSS CHANGE NOW LET ME JUST MAKE AN OOC POST ABOUT THAT.)}

Comments

[gevurah]

[ She pauses, letting that hang in the air for a moment. ]

I'm sorry. Were they from your world?

[kalinda]

[Barring the few moments when she was actually afraid Alicia was in danger, she'll push that out of her mind and answer.]

Yeah. She was-- [Wow, awkward pause. Where does she even start?] is a very good friend of mine.

[gevurah]

Then I'm really sorry to hear, Kalinda.

[kalinda]

Thanks. [And she'll shift silently because it's like, sharing. With people. It's really weird, okay.]

I'm pretty sure she's better off home anyway.

[gevurah]

[ She can be a good listener at times. She's not the best person for comforting, but she knows people can appreciate having someone to vent to. ]

Where are you both from?

[kalinda]

Chicago. [Oh, wait. She should probably be a little more specific to put it into context.] 2012.

[gevurah]

I'm guessing there's no magic involved in your Chicago... or anything magical or supernatural.

[kalinda]

Aside from risky gambits in the courtroom? [Chuckle.] Not even close.

[gevurah]

Are you a lawyer?

[kalinda]

No, I just work for law firm. [Doing everything, pretty much.] Alicia was the lawyer.

[gevurah]

Alicia? [ She actually sounds surprised. She didn't know her or anything, but obviously she never expected that woman she met in the Pokemon world was Kalinda's friend. ] She wasn't here very long, then.

[kalinda]

No, not at all. [Pause.]

She's always stronger than she looks, I can say that. Capable. But, I don't know, I think otherworldly circumstances were beyond even her scope. [There's another chuckle, in any case.] You should have seen her when she discovered that she was meant to be a prince.

[gevurah]

Were you one of the princesses during all that?

[kalinda]

[Damn it, damn it, damn it. Why can't she lie...

And with a subtly embarrassed tone!]

Yes. It explains why I was out for so long, in any case.

[gevurah]

[ If only she was aware!! But she picks up on the embarrassment. ]

Yeah, I wasn't a princess but... it was still really weird.

[kalinda]

To say the very least.

[...] I had imagined it was one long, complex dream considering I was able to return home. Much like when the "scenes" change immediately in your subconscious.

And, as I'm sure you've heard, it all ended abruptly.

[gevurah]

I think it's always like that. [ Her voice drops a bit. ] A cruel joke.

How was home, though?

[kalinda]

Where should I start?

Things got better. [Wait for it...] And then they got a lot worse.

Kalinda

[gevurah]

[ This is steering into a strange and awkward territory. ]

How?

Kate

[kalinda]

It's...

[How the hell does she even begin? Really.]

Look, I'm not the kind of person who enjoys sharing. There's a lot about me that-- [A sigh. She doesn't want to sound standoffish, especially considering the fact that this is likely one of the only people in the castle who has come close to relating in the slightest.]

I'd say it's complicated, but we both know that's a cop out response. It's just, I'm in a dangerous spot right now. Or was, back home.

Kalinda

[gevurah]

No.

[ She does relate. She won't say it, but it can at least come off as a respect for privacy. ]

I understand.

Kate

[kalinda]

I don't hold it against you for wondering, by the way. It's... [How to even word this?] appreciated.

Kalinda

[gevurah]

Us residents, or whatever we call ourselves, have to stick together in some way.

Kate

[kalinda]

There's safety in numbers; I can get behind that. But that's not to say that everyone exactly adds to the numbers in a way that's best for everyone.

Kalinda

[gevurah]

We're too many people in one castle. Some are scattered throughout the town and there are some who go back and forth between the outposts.