The park - afternoon

[provostsdog.livejournal.com]

Being a cove was strange, but in the end she'd decided she'd rather be a cove for the day than turn into an animal. Which according to Lady Aeryn was a possibility. She found herself touching the side of her face every so often, wondering if she'd changed back yet. She'd feel it if she did, right?

Stop fretting. It'll be fine, Pounce assured her.

Twas easy for him to say. He was still a male cat. A cheerful one at that.

At least the pigeons didn't care how she looked, they were glad to pick up the crumbs Beka tossed them.

[Open like an open park that's open.]

Comments

[see-beyond.livejournal.com]

When Jonas didn't have classes, more often than not, he found himself in town, exploring the different areas, writing out maps, writing down words and bringing them back to study closer.

Today, he was walking in the park, eyes on the path in front of him, memorizing steps and landmarks as small as rocks and flattened patches of grass.

He did look up when he noticed someone else there, giving a friendly nod since Jonas didn't recognize him from anywhere.

[Tiny bit of SP while I'm at wooooooork but couldn't resist!]

[provostsdog.livejournal.com]

Mayhap it'd be easier to let Jonas pass and never have him know she'd turned into a cove. It might spare his brain (and her pride).

Manh! Mayhap not.

"Traitor," she whispered under her breath to her cat. Not that Pounce cared. He still found it all hilarious and he trotted over towards Jonas.

"Hello, Jonas," she said louder now. And that'd need clarification. "It's Beka."

[see-beyond.livejournal.com]

Jonas caught sight of the cat first, already kneeling to stroke his back when the deeper, unfamiliar gave a familiar person's name. It had Jonas looking up, hand in the air, squinting in confusion.

"It is?" His stomach lurched a little at seeing proof of the island's eccentricities but he stayed mostly calm on the outside. For now. "But. You're..."

Couldn't make those words work.

[provostsdog.livejournal.com]

"Lad?" she finished for him. "Woke up this way. At least I didn't have for paws and whiskers." That was the positive side of this whole situation.

You'd be so lucky, Pounce commented. His meows did sound like laughter.

[see-beyond.livejournal.com]

Ender had warned him about this sort of thing, said it could happen, said it wasn't permanent but to be confronted with it was very different than hearing about it.

"Wow." He blinked a few times. "Um. Are you all right?"

[provostsdog.livejournal.com]

She nodded and managed a small, wistful smile. "I'm fine. I'm glad someone warned me this happens, or I'd be a lot more worried."

[see-beyond.livejournal.com]

"Someone told me as well but it's...surprising to see it," he said, blinking again. "Ender told me that it's harmless, it happens often and it doesn't change your personality."

That had been the one that frightened him.

[provostsdog.livejournal.com]

"Tis startling to wake up to," Beka admitted. "I don't think I've changed, I just look..." She waved down at herself. "It takes some adjusting."

[see-beyond.livejournal.com]

"You sound the same." Well, technically, she didn't. "I meant, the way you use language is the same. Your voice is, well, deeper."

Jonas had to laugh because he'd thought seeing this would frighten him but it was...refreshing almost. Seeing something so different happen so easily and without Elders rushing around, talking about Release eased him.

[provostsdog.livejournal.com]

His laughter was infectious and she reached up, feeling the vibration in her throat. "I've no idea how I'll even begin to explain this to anyone back in Corus."

[see-beyond.livejournal.com]

"Do you have to tell them?" Jonas asked. "Perhaps they don't need to know?"

[noearsyet.livejournal.com]

There was a black cat and a blond cove, and George had his suspicions about both of them.

"Enjoyin' yerself?" he asked, changing the direction of his wandering to head towards the bend.

[provostsdog.livejournal.com]

Her eyes narrowed and she'd her own suspicions as well. "The pigeons are," she said wryly. Of all the people to run in to.

[noearsyet.livejournal.com]

"Th' greedy guts do like bein' fed," he agreed innocently.

[provostsdog.livejournal.com]

"They do," Beka agreed and she wasn't going to say aught. See if he'd guess.

[noearsyet.livejournal.com]

George wandered over to sit next to her, relaxing against the back. "An' what about yerself then?"

[provostsdog.livejournal.com]

"I seem to be enduring the strangeness of the island," she said warily.

[noearsyet.livejournal.com]

"Is there strangeness here?" he asked, leaning his elbows on his knees to watch the birds.

[provostsdog.livejournal.com]

"Only pigeons," Beka wrinkled her nose and she picked a piece of break from the bag, crumpling it and scattering it in the grass.

[noearsyet.livejournal.com]

He glanced over than held out a hand, silently offering to help feed the birds. "Yer awfully calm for bein' a cove. I did think ye'd be flailier."

[provostsdog.livejournal.com]

"I thought so too," she admitted, handing him a piece of bread. Mayhap it'd to do with being someone else. Like how she needn't be shy when she put on her Dog uniform. She had a different face now, was someone different.

"Mayhap I'm done flailing."

[noearsyet.livejournal.com]

"Forever, y'mean?" he teased, watching his hands as he broke up the bread. "I don' believe that, lass."

[provostsdog.livejournal.com]

"Just for the day," she said, watching him to make sure the pieces were small enough. "If I'm not back to myself tomorrow, I'll be flailing a lot."

[noearsyet.livejournal.com]

In that case, George totally hoped she was a cove tomorrow too.

"So sure tis just for th' day?"

[provostsdog.livejournal.com]

She eyed him. "That's what anyone else say," she said. It'd better be.