“And why not the tent?” Octavia breathed once they reached the campsite. Having returned with the girl in hand, she had first wanted to put her in one of the tents to lie her down. That was, until Vinyl protested the idea.
“What if she turns out to be dangerous?” Vinyl answered. “Or a vampire? Or something that grows large and rips through our fragile tent when she comes to? Then runs off and causes mayhem we could have avoided?”
Octavia rubbed her head. “Then where, pray tell, should we put her then? And before you even think about it; We are not going to tie her up!”
“Um,” Vinyl paused, having just about said that.
“How about the van?” Lyra offered. “We can lie her down on the middle seat, and if it puts Vinyl and Bonnie at ease,” she said as Bon Bon hid behind her. “We can lock all the other doors, and keep an eye on her through the sliding one. Sounds fine for everyone?
Octavia shook her head. “Fine. Will that be good enough for you, Vinyl?”
Vinyl bit her lips before nodding. “It will do. But you’re paying for it if she turns out to be a werewolf.”
“Right.” Octavia deadpanned. “Lyra, clear a spot for her in the van. Bon Bon, get some ice for her head.
Lyra nodded, but Bon Bon needed a nudge from her girlfriend to compile.
“So, just for mine, and more importantly Bon Bon’s sanity,” Octavia grunted as she and Vinyl carried her over to the van. “What will convince you that she’s not some kind of monster?”
“And what will get through your head to take such a possibility after everything that she might be seriously?” Vinyl challenged. “I’m being serious you know.”
“Uh-huh.” Octavia said half heartedly.
Vinyl glared. “I mean, saw some kind of blue light, and then we found a blue haired girl watching us. You look me in the eye and tell me that doesn't wave at least a few red flags.”
Octavia looks Vinyl dead in the eyes. However, she couldn’t. As crazy as it sounded, Vinyl wasn’t wrong. There was definitely something strange going on, and there was little doubt that this girl, likely, had something to do with it. However, there were still such things as coincidences.
“So we can't be sure if she’s dangerous.” Octavia said. “But the same could be said that she was just some random girl who had a blue flashlight and was out for a walk.” She narrowed her eyes. “Then saw all of us acting crazy and wanted to investigate herself, and didn’t say anything thinking we might be dangerous. And I say after this she had every justification to think so.”
Vinyl said nothing
“But I’ll tell you what,” Octavia offered as they reached the van, climbed in herself, as Vinyl pushed her onto the middle seat while Vinyl hung outside. “The second she sprouts gills or a horn, I’ll tie her up myself.”
Vinyl shook her head. “Be it that way.” She crossed her arms, then thought of something. “Hey, check her pockets!”
Octavia looked up from fluffing up a pillow for the girl to glare. “Are you fucking kidding me?”
“I meant to see if she has some photo ID on her or something!” Vinyl explained. “Gezz, Octy!”
“Oh... Right. Actually, that’s a good idea.” Octavia smiled as she reached for the girls pants. Only to pull at the prospect of a finger around a girl's waist line.
Vinyl deadpanned as Octavia pulls on her shirt collar. “Are you the serious one this time?” Vinyl laughed.
“Just, you do it since it was your idea.” Octavia said while blushing.
Vinyl rolled her eyes. “Okay. Although, while this wasn’t what I had in mind when we’re talking about getting you hooked up-
“Finish that sentence,” Octavia warned. “I dare you. See what happens.”
“Sure.” Vinyl shrugged as she felt around the girl's pants. “Although I must say, you have good taste. She’s very pretty looking. Although that adds to the vampire theory.”
Octavia let out a breath. She couldn’t convince herself that Vinyl wasn’t wrong. She was indeed a beautiful looking girl. Not that she suspected that she would have any chance. Still, as bad as it was, she couldn’t help but fantasize the idea, maybe-
“Strange.” Vinyl frowned.
Octavia blinked. “What?”
“No pockets.” Vinyl said stepping back.
“Where are you going with it this time?” Octavia said as she slapped her forehead.
“I’m just saying,” Vinyl casually said. “No phone, or way to carry one?”
“Maybe she had a purse and dropped it.” Octavia countered.
“Well I’m any case,” Lyra said, overhearing as she carried over a bag of ice. “What do we do now?”
“Take turns keeping watch?” Vinyl suggested.
“While not for the reason she might have in mind, that sounds like a good idea.” Octavia sighed as she carefully put the ice on the girls head. “Since I doubt any of you are going to volunteer, I’ll take first watch.”
Vinyl and Lyra looked at each other. Lyra’s face lighting up as Vinyl winked.
“No kidding?” Lyra bemused.
“Oh yeah!” Vinyl turned to Octavia and waved. “Just don’t play ‘sleeping beauty’ with her!” She dodged the box of tissues Octavia picked up from the floor and threw.
Octavia sighed and made herself comfortable on the vans floor as her friends walked off laughing. Leaving herself all alone with the strange, and yes, beautiful looking girl. Strange how she could already feel some attraction. As likely as it was all coming from guilt, she couldn’t help but think she’d be the type of girl she might be interested in if she hadn’t knocked her out. The music note on her skirt suggested she was into music. While her smooth looking hair, skin, and curvy body, suggested she took care of herself as well.
“Stop it!” Octavia told herself. ‘Even if she is just a regular girl, she’d never be into you. That is even if she’s into girls.’
She let out a sigh, then jumped as a hand brushed upon her shoulder. She looked up, to see the girl's arm had fallen to the side. Octavia took the girls arm and placed it back on the seat. Intending to pull away, as the girl's fingers wrapped around her palm. Begging for her not to leave
Octavia allowed herself to smile as she intertwined their fingers. Maybe, just holding her hand and dreaming a little bit wouldn’t hurt..
“Maybe,” Octavia whispered. “Still,” she said as she rubbed the girl's arm with her free arm. “Who are you?”
****
Meanwhile, on the other side of the world, a purple haired girl was walking home from a trip to the grocher. It had been a rather uneventful trip. Sure, there had been a few fist fights she had caused, her red pendant glowing red from feeding on the negative energy, but hardly anything as spectacular as when she first arrived in this world.
In her mind, she couldn’t stop thinking about how unfair it was that she needed both her overconfident older sister just to get by, and her idiotic younger one to become a god. Made worse by the fact that she had to wait centuries for that idiot to finally arrive. All for her older sister, Adagio, to say, in their lands native tongue;
“I don’t know. She’s here, but I’ll need a moment. Go get us something to eat.”
And so she did. Both for their mortal bodies, and for their magic. Not that she couldn’t get the former with said magic, but Adagio had instructed they use it sparingly. Until Sonata could be found, they had no idea what their limits were, and it wouldn’t do if they died while trying to sweet talk a guy into giving yourself a free lunch. So mostly they used their magic to keep young and occasionally steal money or gold to sustain themselves. Which hopefully, soon, their days of simply survival, would be over.
“Any luck?” Aria said sarcastically as she walked into their apartment. “Sonata leave a voice message, or she too stupid to figure out how a telephone works?”
Adagio, from the living room couch, having been prior in a meditative state, rolled her eyes. “I did sense her. Just like I did when you arrived.”
“Oh yeah,” Aria mocked as she set the food down. “So you’ve done this, once, and are an expert. I’m guessing from the scowl, me giving you some space hasn’t yielded any results.”
“Patience,” Adagio said, rubbing her forehead. “Yes, it’s true I can’t seem to sense her anymore. But I am more than certain she is in this world”
“Yeah well,” Aria huffed, picking up a magazine, brushing aside a soda can. “When you actually get something, let me know so we can get out of this dump.”
“You don’t think I want our powers fully restored either?!” Adagio hissed. When Aria didn’t respond, she shook her head, and focused back on her meditation. One of her hands rubbing on her own pendant as it’s light flickered.
“Sister, where are thou? Make yourself known, so we may fulfill our destiny...
****
The blue haired girl shifted from her seat as her eyes slowly opened.
Octavia blinked at the movement and smiled. “Oh thank the gods, you’re awake!” She poked her head out of the van. “Girls, she’s coming too!” Octavia focused her attention back on the now conscious girl. “Miss, are you all-
Octavia let out a squeal as the bag of ice was hurled at her face. The girl, wide awake, backed up against the far end of the van, spewing;
"¿Dónde estoy? ¿Qué son estas cosas?! Se supone que debo ser lo que eres? ¡No te acerques!"
Octavia blinked after she had recovered. “I’m sorry, what?”
The girl stared back and tilted her head. "¿Qué estás diciendo? ¡No entiendo tu idioma!"
“Well this just got more interesting.” Vinyl mused.
Octavia sighed and turned to glare. “So she doesn't speak english. I don’t want to hear you saying she’s an alien or something.”
“Well,” Vinyl bit her lip, but quieter under Lyra and Bon Bon’s death stares. “I could have been thinking about the ‘real world’ kind too.”
Octavia let out a breath. “First things first.” She then thought, ‘Okay. So I somehow have to gain this girl's trust without being able to speak the same language. Right, just speak gently, and gain her trust.’
“Hey there,” Octavia said with a warm smile. “It’s okay!” She tried to assure as the girls backed up further. “I’m not going to hurt you.” She inched forward, but paused when the girl tried to back up and hissed something she didn’t understand.
“Aléjate de mí tú ... ¡Lo que seas!"
Seeing no way to apologize for having knocked her out, Octavia said, slowly and simply, “Safe.”
The girl looked at her hand.
“Hurt?” Octavia offered, pointing to her head, then motioning to where she had hit the girl.
Said girl rubbed at her own head and flinched in pain. “Ay. ¿Por qué me duele la cabeza?"
Octavia recoiled and tried to bring the ice pack to the girls head, who backed away.
“No no!” Octavia waved. “No hurt.” She held the ice pack to her own head to demonstrate what she wanted to do . “Good.” She added with a relieved sigh. “Help. Not, hurt.”
The girl cringed as the pain in her head returned. Octavia tried again to move forward. This time, the girl recoiled only for a bit, but allowed Octavia to come forward and place the ice pack on her head.
"Ay! Está frío!" The girl shrieked at the cold touch and grabbed onto Octavia’s arm. Octavia, grip firmed, as was soon rewarded with the girl relaxing, and even smiling back at her.
“Hey, Juliets!” Vinyl called out, earning a swat on the head from Lyra. “Ask for a name.”
Octavia rolled her eyes. “Ignore her. She’s just being silly.”
The girl frowned.
“Right.” Octavia took in a breath. “Do, you, have a, name?” She spoke slowly and pointed to herself. “Octavia.” When the girl didn’t respond. She did so again. “Octavia.” She moved aside so the girl could get a look at her friends. “Lyra, Bon Bon-
She was about to point to Vinyl, who ducked out of the way. “Don’t give her my name!!”
Octavia rolled her eyes. But paused as the girl laughed.
“Si... Silly?” the girl questioned.
Octavia grinned. “Yes.” She pointed. “Silly, Vinyl.”
“Hey!” Vinyl shouted back.
“Well you didn’t want me to give her your name!” Octavia then pointed to the girl and gave her a questionable look. Which, it took the girl a minute, but when she did, she held a hand to her own chest, and said,
“Sonata. Sí, ese es mi nombre si eso es lo que estás tratando de preguntar.” Sonata answered with a smile.
“Sonata,” Octavia beamed. “Sonata, need... Help?”
Sonata blinked in confusion. “Hel... Ayuda?”
Octavia rubbed her chin, then held out her hand again. Sonata flinched back for only a moment, before Octavia said gently, “Trust? Trust, Octavia?”
Sonata poundered this, before taking Octavia’s hand. “Creo que no tengo una mejor opción cuando ni siquiera puedo recordar cómo llegué aquí o desde dónde."
“Good.” Octavia smiled. She then helped Sonata up and led her out of the van.
“Hey, hey!” Vinyl protested, hiding behind Lyra along with Bon Bon. “Don’t let her out!”
Octavia rolled her eyes as Sonata stepped out of the van, with nothing happening. “Well, how about then, instead of letting her get hungry for human flesh later, you get something for her to eat now from the fridge?” She then looked to Sonata. “Hungry?” When Sonata didn’t reply, Octavia rubbed her stomach and said again, “Hungry? Food?”
Seeming to understand enough, Sonata placed a hand to her own stomach, said what Octavia guesses was a yes, and nodded.
“Sure thing,” Lyra said as she walked towards the back of the van. Bon Bon and Vinyl sticking close behind. “Don’t worry, I’ll protect you both.”
Octavia let out a breath. “Some days with that girl.” She then turned to Sonata, who’s gaze was focused on the sky. Octavia looked in her general direction. “I guess you’re here to see the comet as well.”
Sonata looked around nervously. "Que lugar para perder la memoria".
Octavia rubbed her neck. “Um... I guess it would be pointless to ask where you came from?”
"Bueno, supongo que mi situación podría ser peor.” Sonata sighed, then looked up to Octavia and smiled. “Gracias por la ayuda, Octavia.”
“Right.” Octavia said looking downwards. “How about we take a seat.” She started to walk forward, Sonata’s hands still locked into her. The girl didn’t move for a moment, but a smile from Octavia was enough to allow herself to be led.
“Have a seat.” Octavia offered a log by the fire. “Seat.” She demonstrated, sitting down, and patting the spot next to her.
Sonata nodded, said what Octavia guessed was a ‘thank you,’ and took her seat. By which time, Lyra had poured some ground beef into a skillet while Bon Bon as Vinyl stared from the other side of the fire.
Noticing how uncomfortable they were making Sonata, Octavia glared, “Don't you two have a comet you should be documenting? You know, for class we want to pass?”
Bon Bon all too eagerly scooted away from the fire. Vinyl stayed for a minute, in a death glare battle with Octavia, before shrugging. “Hey, when she bites your hand off, I’ll be safely on top of the van and with a good head start!” With that, she did just as much while Lyra finished up her meal.
“¿Qué pasa con Silly?” Sonata said as she pointed to Vinyl.
“Oh don’t worry about her,” Lyra snickered. “She just kind of, how do you say?...
“I don’t think she would get it anyways.” Octavia pointed out.
“Ah, right! So... Here you go.” She handed sonata the soft taco. “Enjoy. I better go make sure Bonnie is okay.”
Octavia nodded in understanding, leaving her and Sonata alone. Of whom, Sonata stared at her taco for a moment, and looked to Octavia.
She wasn’t able to hold back her bemused smile, but Octavia demonstrated an eating motion. Sonata nodded and brought the taco to her mouth. Upon her first bite, the girl's eyes lit up in wonder, and devoured the whole thing.
"¡Oh! ¡Esto es delicioso!!"
“Never had a taco before?” Octavia mused.
While licking her fingers, Sonata questioned, “Taco?” Her face brightened even more. “Taco, taco, taco!”
“See, Vinyl! Um, Silly!” Octavia called out to her friend. “The only type of monster she is, is a taco monster.”
“Har har.” Vinyl laughed, having been looking at them, only to try and act like her telescope had been pointing skywards the whole time when Octavia addressed her.
Octavia tisked and turned back to Sonata, who had begun to devour her second taco.
“Whoa, easy there!” Octavia offered. When Sonata looked dejected, Octavia said, “slowly. Eat, slowly. Enjoy.” She then demonstrated taking small bites and long chews before swallowing.
Sonata nodded, and took a smaller bite. Octavia sighed in contentment as she looked back up to the comet. Unfortunately however, she couldn’t stop thinking about that stupid horror story.
Octavia sighed in contentment and looked back up to the night sky and the comet. However, the first thing on her mind was Vinyl’s earlier ‘horror story.’ If you could graciously call it that. as she eyed Sonata, still chewing, out of the corner of her eyes.
Now, to be fair, it wasn’t as if she was so naive to not think there might have been some connection to Sonata and the blue light. Which in all honesty, was probably just some camper’s laptop of something. That still didn’t push out of her mind the glowing red light Octavia swore she saw. Whatever it was she had knocked away. Accidently! Still…
“¿Qué es eso?” Sonata said, pointing upwards as she finished her taco.
Octavia blinked. “Um, yes.” She nodded. Any silly thoughts that Sonata might be some monster out to destroy the world were quickly pushed to the side. “It’s very pretty. Isn’t it?”
So far, this girl didn’t seem dangerous. And until something happened to say otherwise, she would treat her as some girl lost from her group that had come out of the country to see the comet.
“Is that why you are here?” Octavia asked. When Sonata stared blankly at her, Octavia licked her lips and tried to re-phrase.
“Comet,” she pointed to the object in question. “Sonata, come to, see?” She did her best with her hands to get her question across.
And while Sonata didn’t seem to fully get the question, she shook her head. “No. No comet.”
Octavia thought about trying to ask why she was out in the forest, but figured their current language barrier was still too much to get anywhere, even if she got her question across.
“El cometa es precioso.”
Octavia nodded as she guessed Sonata was marveling at the space rock. “Yes.” She turned to look at Sonata, who had averted her gaze back to the earth. Octavia followed, and she saw Sonata had been staring at Lyra and Bon Bon, who were sitting on a blanket, holding hands, while Bon Bon leaned her head onto Lyra.
“Cute.” Octavia chuckled.
“Cu… Cute?” Sonata mimicked. Then she said, “Ah! Linda!” Smiling, she looked to Octavia, and took her own hand into her’s, then leaned her head onto Octavia’s shoulder.
Octavia blushed wildy, as Vinyl snickered in the distance.
“Sona-
She started, but was cut up as Sonata looked up to her and gazed into her eyes.
“Um… Here.” She let go of Sonata’s hand, and wrapped an arm around her shoulder.
“Comfortable?” Octavia ventured. Knowing this was wrong if this was either a cultural, or amnesia thing, but, gave in. It wasn’t as if she was doing anything more than showing this girl comfort. Right?
Sonata let out a content sigh and nodded. The snuggled deeper into Octavia’s as she wrapped her arm around Octavia’s waist.
And while she knew this was only a temporary thing, maybe even a wrong thing, it felt too nice for Octavia to really care for the moment.