Time Shock

[zinda-blackhawk.livejournal.com]

So.

Here she is.

She's slightly dazed, and thoroughly confused about what's just happened. She's not sure she isn't dreaming. Or maybe she crashed her bird and didn't even realize it. Either way, it's... unsettling.

It was December 1945 just a minute or two ago. She was flying, and then, after the briefest and strangest of explanations, she's been left at the door of a tavern. The passersby are dressed oddly, the vehicles that pack the roads are decidely not of her time, and the language she's overhearing... Lord, she wouldn't talk to her momma with a mouth like that!

Lady Blackhawk is most decidely out of her element -- and, she thinks, there's a distinct possibility she's out of her mind, too.

Nothing for it but to see if anyone's home.

She cautiously slips inside, taking off her hat as she enters.

Comments

[zinda-blackhawk.livejournal.com]

She allows herself to be escorted - with a brief glance back at the TV's once more - into a back room, where she sags uncharacteristically into a chair. She folds her hands into her lap, still clutching her uniform's hat. She hasn't woken up yet, and this is starting to weigh heavily on her.

[elfinlantern.livejournal.com]

This is the Lantern room, with the statues to the departed. Arisia crouches in front of Zinda for a moment before she seems to concentrate....

And nothing happens. Her eyes narrow and she stands up, "I'll be right back." Dashing out of the room, she gets a bottle of whiskey, two glasses and comes back quickly.

[zinda-blackhawk.livejournal.com]

She's seen comrades go into shellshock. Maybe this is what it's like. Zinda tries to pull out of herself, to register the other woman, to look around the room she's in. Sweet Jesus, let this be a nightmare.

She gratefully reaches for the bottle and a tumbler, pulling it towards herself. As she goes to pour, however, she finds her hand is shaking too much.

She swears before she can censor herself.

[elfinlantern.livejournal.com]

"Sweetheart..." Arisia pours the other woman a glass and hands it to her before doing the only thing she can think to do.

She wraps herself around her, holding her.

[zinda-blackhawk.livejournal.com]

It's knocked back with a well-practiced move. The glass is placed back on the table. The liquid burns all the way down. Reminds her she's alive.

But she isn't waking up from this nightmare. Her voice, when she replies, is a scant whisper in the room.

"It ... it's real, ain't it."

[elfinlantern.livejournal.com]

"It is and if I can help, please let me know."

Zinda's heard a lot of accents but she's never heard anything like this girl's accent. She continues to hold her tight.

[zinda-blackhawk.livejournal.com]

Zinda closes her eyes for a moment, as if collecting her thoughts. Then she looks up, taking a deep breath. Okay. Roll with it for now. You can handle this. "Look at me ... I'm forgettin' all my manners," she says eventually; but there's a faint tremor to her tone that betrays her sudden smile. "The name's Zinda. Zinda Blake."

[elfinlantern.livejournal.com]

"Arisia." She doesn't offer a last name. It wouldn't really make any sense to her ears anyway.

[zinda-blackhawk.livejournal.com]

She seizes on the opportunity for diversion. Anything to take away from the reality she's refusing to accept. "Both ends of the alphabet, how about that?" The smile is a little stronger this time. "You ain't from around here, are you, sugar? That's a cute li'l accent you got goin' on - and check out your tan. Where are you from?"

[elfinlantern.livejournal.com]

"I'm not from anywhere near here." The girl smiles a bit at that, trying to think about how she's going to explain this... "I'm probably about as far away from home as you are."

[zinda-blackhawk.livejournal.com]

"Georgia ain't that far from here, hun. You look Italian. I think you beat me, hands down." When in doubt, denial works just fine.

[elfinlantern.livejournal.com]

"I can tell you for certain that I'm not Italian." Arisia smiles and reaches out to pour her another drink.

[zinda-blackhawk.livejournal.com]

She tilts her head. "Portugal?" Down goes another helping of the liquor.

[elfinlantern.livejournal.com]

"You won't guess and I don't think, right now, that you'll believe me." Arisia carefully starts to pull back a bit from the other blonde.

[zinda-blackhawk.livejournal.com]

A wry smile flits across her face. "I don't know, sugar. Another eight shots of this stuff and I'll probably believe anything you say."

[elfinlantern.livejournal.com]

"Then I should probably wait for you to drink one or two more shots before I tell you where I'm from." Arisia grins at her, her hair mostly hiding her ears.