Video; un: ilikehorses

[shoplifter]

[Laura's been trying to adjust. Part of her wonders if coming here wasn't a grave mistake — she'd come thinking there are more like her, people who would accept her more willingly, and in a way, that's true. However... There are a few... annoyances. Grievances. Her rather overworked case worker Linda has been making sure she goes to school. Today isn't the best day for school, though. She's quiet and 'weird' and the other children usually aren't fond of her and her quiet but present danger.

And for Laura, well. She doesn't do well with anyone 'teaching' her. She's had too much of 'teaching' the last eleven years of her... eleven years.

She may or may not have punched another kid in the eye.

She may or may not have ditched school.

And now she sits on the top of a rather tall and dangerous brick-ish wall in the city, her feet hanging precariously off the edge. Close by, the shadow of a tram wooshes by, and somewhere out there, Linda the Case Worker is having a heart attack. Laura, however, seems more puzzled and annoyed than anything. She sits with a potentially stolen bag of mini-donuts, her favorite glasses pressed up on her forehead and her lovely albeit mildly damaged unicorn shirt clear and vibrant.]


Why do children have to go to classes? 

I can learn outside of school.


[There are mean children that exist. She's never ran into children who are so exclusionary; after all, mutants had to stick together.

And teachers aren't bad, but something about the set-up bothers her, in ways she's not sure how to explain.

Maybe it's harder to blend in than you'd think. Not that she had gone into this with any high hopes.] 

Comments

[shoplifter]

... Terran?

[She cocks her head, interested.]

What is Terran?

[godslay]

[ — Ah.

Maybe she assumed incorrectly about where this girl is from; she's encountered an overwhelming amount of humans who seem to be from Earth, so she'd thought it might be a safe bet.

Or that, at least, she'd know where Terra is. ]

It means something from Earth. "Terra" is the same thing as "Earth."

[shoplifter]

... I'm from Earth. But I didn't know it had other names.

Where are you from?

[godslay]

[ She seems to think that's fair enough; the child looks young, and she imagines Terra isn't the more common name. ]

Zehoberei. It's very far from Earth.

[ And thoroughly uninhabited now. ]

[shoplifter]

I didn't know there was more. Outside of Earth.

This place didn't sound... real.

[godslay]

[ There's something almost like sympathy in Gamora's expression, tempered as it may be. ]

From what I know of Earth, this would be very different for you.

[ And maybe it speaks to the steps Gamora has taken, but she's motivated enough to ask, ]

How are you doing with it all?

[ Because she looks so young, and Gamora understands what it's like to be small and alone in a hostile environment. ]

[shoplifter]

I'm alright.

[She gives pause, thinking of her time here so far --

It's been interesting, and she's still trying to process it. And... what happened, at home.

Adjusting is hard. Remembering isn't easy, either.]

I'm learning. How to be a person.

[godslay]

[ For a few seconds, Gamora just goes still when Laura says that, because—

Well, she relates to that a whole lot more than she'd actually like to admit. ]

So am I.

[ Though she's not inclined to offer more, except: ]

My name is Gamora. You should call me if you need anything.

[shoplifter]

... Laura.

[She gives her a knowing little smile, surprisingly.

She saves her smiles for important things, after all.]

You can call me, too.

[godslay]

[ Small as it is, there's an equally soft smile reflected on Gamora's face.

Yes, smiles should be for important things. ]

I will keep that in mind.

[ And with the offer extended, Laura's welfare considered, and introductions made, Gamora ends the call. ]