a_time_slip | (no subject)

... it's not even close to what it really looks like, but I can't do it any better.

The sky looks so different here ... is this a star we could see back home, too?

I... don't know. I can't work out where we are on the map.

You don't? I thought this was one of our destinations.

[The news doesn't seem to bother him much, though.]

It tends to find me... [She doesn't seem to mind either]

What does the moon look like?

[Julian nods, accepting that answer. For once, he isn't worried about getting stuck.]

This one? It's different from ours, almost familiar, but not quite. Misty, changing, perhaps it has an atmosphere of its own. A shiny marble, speckled with gold. And the sky around it seems brighter, more blue than black. It's … like a little sun, illuminating everything around it. I can almost feel its light.

[Which is why he can't look at it for too long, unfortunately.]

...Everything sounds magical when you say it.

I um. Wish I could see it. Sometimes I can see time, but that doesn't happen very often.

[He smiles a little shyly, trying not to show too obviously how pleased he is that Janie liked his description.]

Time? … I can't even imagine that. What does time look like?

Um... The edges are fuzzy. [She sighs, because it took her several moments to come up with that] It's easy with things that don't change a lot, but otherwise it's confusing and I have to concentrate.

[He tries hard to imagine.] The fuzzy edges I can imagine, I guess. But the things which change ... so you see these changes?

Yes... like ghosts? Some people are different too... almost a suntan but not the same. I'm not good with words the same way that you are.

Oh … it just seems as if it were incredibly much harder to describe, defying words. Can you … see it in any person?

It is hard to describe... what I said is the only way I can put it. I can see it in everyone.

That must be … very confusing.

[He blushes a tiny bit and looks away, wondering what she might see in and of him.]

It is, sometimes. I can usually focus.

You're... easy to see.

[Julian looks up again, not having expected that.]

Am I? How?

Because I can see you, and not... everything else. There aren't a million ghosts and you are nice. I'm bad with words, did I tell you that?

You're great. [He answers smiling, and somewhat relieved.]

I wouldn't want to have a million ghosts around me. I guess there are a few, but ... well. Glad not to be difficult to look at for you.

[Janie smiles a bit] It wasn't always like that, but... after what happened at the school, I got a little more powerful, and every year since I've been able to do more and more.

...Not that you want to hear that. Um. How's your life?

It's ... better now. All of this, the job, the traveling with you, it. Uhm. It makes getting along with myself easier. Thank you for that.

Do you keep getting more powerful? [Seems he in fact does want to hear it.]

...You're welcome. I um. Like having you around.

Um. Yes? Kind of. Nothing bad has happened, though.

Thanks ... having you around makes things better.

That's good news. Perhaps it's a good thing then?

It's a good thing... should we dance now?

Oh, yes. Please.

Do you have music?

[Janie doesn't, and looks worried for a second]

I can... hook something up using my boat?

Okay, let's do that? Don't know about you, but I don't feel confident enough yet to try a dance without music.