[video]

[10_20_15_5_50]

[Standing in her apartment, Sam is smiling, if a little uncertainly, as she leans away from a silvery snout; there’s a robotic moose nosing at her shoulder, like a horse hoping for a treat. It’s friendly enough, having done no worse than nose, but it’s the last thing she expected to find in her previously moose-free living room.]

The moose is not, itself, a problem. The moose is alright. The moose being trapped in my apartment because it can’t quiiite fit through the door, though---that is a problem. It doesn’t seem antsy or anything, but this is still too small a space for something its size.

Comments

[10_20_15_5_50]

When they're done right and kinda kickstarted with a little extra oomph? Yeah.

[diagnosispuberty]

...and you're born knowing all this stuff? Or do you learn it?

[10_20_15_5_50]

[Sam's visibly thrown.]

Life would be so different if I just knew this stuff. I learn as I go, like for anything else.

[diagnosispuberty]

...but you're like...born able to learn. With, like...latent...build-in...magical predisposition?

[10_20_15_5_50]

Born able to learn, yeah; there's some ritual magic anyone could do. You could do! The rest, I'm not so sure---I had no magic and no feel for magic up until I was nineteen.

[diagnosispuberty]

-- I couldn't. Could I? [The possibilities omg.

But, also important:] What happened when you were nineteen? [Nosy child is nosy.]

[10_20_15_5_50]

Oh, yeah. Not all of it needs that extra push; some of it just needs a person to gather up the necessary stuff and then do as directed.

[She shifts a little at the question, petting Bon Ron's nose as she selects an answer.]

Something between a breakdown and an epiphany, following the worst fright of my life.

[diagnosispuberty]

[Hiro's gonna stow that info away for later, kthnks. Besides, he senses some backstory, and he's gotta ferret that out.]

That's...really vague...

[10_20_15_5_50]

I know, but it's the best description short the whole story.

[diagnosispuberty]

...do you not want to tell the whole story?

[10_20_15_5_50]

I'm making my mind up. I think I will, but I'm going to get a glass of water first.

[And with that, she starts for the Danger Zone.]

[diagnosispuberty]

[Hiro may or may not groan loudly and slump along after her, stomping his feet just a little. Because he's fourteen going on five, apparently.]

[10_20_15_5_50]

[Sam just ignores this as she pours herself some water, downs the glass, pours another, and seats herself on the counter.]

I hadn't even been nineteen an entire month. Actual birthday's December second, and it was the day of New Year's Eve. Super nice day right from the start, so I decided to go skidooing early on---before lunch. I figured I'd get back in time for lunch, hit the gym one last time before the annual rush of resolutionists, and then clean up for the year's party. When I went out, all was well... Until I had a stupid accident and got the skidoo stuck.

[diagnosispuberty]

[Oh wait, cool, storytime, Hiro's gonna grab himself a soda (already opened, probably flat, and therefore untouched) and hop up next to her.]

Stuck skidoos sure suck. [Feel free to smack him, Sam.]

[10_20_15_5_50]

To an extent you cannot appreciate until you've had to walk back to town, summer child.

[diagnosispuberty]

Hey, I've never been out of town, Canada lady. [Yes, Hiro, we know.]

[10_20_15_5_50]

Never? That seems so weird. Even for fourteen.

[diagnosispuberty]

Well, when I was like three, we moved into the city but...I was three. I can't remember that.

[10_20_15_5_50]

If you ever get back to Earth, promise me you'll go to two places, okay? Banff and Yellowknife, and you've got to go to Yellowknife for Folk on the Rocks.

[diagnosispuberty]

...I understand all those words separately, buuuuut not together.

[10_20_15_5_50]

Banff, Alberta. National park, amazing any time of the year. Yellowknife is home no matter where I move, and Folk on the Rocks is a festival I've never missed from my first attendance.

Except this year.

For obvious reasons.

[diagnosispuberty]

...you don't really talk about your home a lot. But you really miss it, huh?

[10_20_15_5_50]

Yeah. [She looks to their feet, thumping her heels against a cupboard door.] Another three months and I'd've moved back to Alberta, making it a straight north-south run to visit. But about going back...

It was a long walk. You know how I move---had the limp since sixteen. It wasn't bad, temperature-wise; warm enough I was too hot with my helmet on and coat zipped, so most of the way I was just carrying both. Didn't think anything of it because for the first part of the walk I was swearing over getting stuck, and then for the rest of it I was moaning and groaning over going so far out before getting stuck.

[diagnosispuberty]

[Hiro frowns a little, filing that away for later.]

There wasn't anyone around? Nobody? [City child is baffled by this idea.]

[10_20_15_5_50]

Well, no, we're talking out of town. It's not like I was out of sight of it or anything, but still field in all directions for a ways and going is slow on snow on foot. I eventually made it back in, got a lift out, recovered the skidoo, decided everything could hang; I'd have a nap.

[She pauses to drink some of her water, set the glass aside, and settle back, eyes wandering to the ceiling's plated panels.]

When I woke up, I freaked out. When I woke up, I couldn't see.