[i]"Closest I've been to normal people in a long time was in a place called the Dead Zone. I can hear the universe cackling at us. I can feel its breath, its pompous uncaring at my resentment."[/i] - Archana "Fox" Blaike ______________________________________________ "How'd you get them?" The woman across from her insisted upon talking. She hadn't stopped since they wound up beside one another - Guardians and 'normals' alike had to make themselves useful around the farm, and right now that meant counting a particular kind of bolt important for keeping sparrows from falling apart. It wasn't a task for heroes. It was barely a task for humans. But all of the frames were busy doing other things which required a more tireless approach, so here she was. Counting bolts in groups of four. Four at a time. For the past seven hours. "Which ones?" Dropping another group of four onto a small square of cloth, grabbing a precut length of string, wrapping the bolts up in the cloth and tying it shut in a makeshift pouch. "I can only see your face. I'll assume you've got more now. Seems weird t' me that a Guardian woul' have scars at all. Considerin' you can get blown t' bits and get brought back t' talk about it." The woman's hands were busy as well. Archana glanced over. Archana was faster, but the woman didn't seem to really be in any rush. "Some things hurt in a certain kind of way. It sticks." Completing another pouch. Slide, slide, slide, slide. Pick up. Drop. Wrap, twist, tie, drop. Again and again. The woman huffed out a short noise from her nose, which probably passed as a laugh. "Oh c'mon." She scoffed. "You're givin' me tha' tired line? You tellin' me Big Scary Gary could've taken you out with a bit of heartbreak? A bad date?" Archana stopped. Closed her eyes, drew in a deep breath. Her helmet was on the table, facing her. Off to her right. She could see herself partially in the reflective faceplate - at very least, she could see the shifting bands of ethereal light beneath her skin. She could see the orange glow of each iris, now at a dim smolder since she had lost her power. She could make out the deep lines etched into her azure skin. The jagged gash which ran down from above her left eyebrow to terminate somewhere below her cheek bone. The one which interrupted her top lip near the right corner, and her bottom lip near the center. The one splayed across her left cheek which was almost certainly evidence of an impact of some kind. She always imagined whatever had happened there had to have blown her face completely open - but she couldn't remember it. She couldn't remember where she received and of these scars, because she'd had them when she was first risen by her ghost. "I don't remember." She answered finally. Moved her gaze from her helmet visor, back to her task. "Huh. Me neither." The woman muttered. They worked in quiet for a few moments before she spoke again. "Know what I think?" Archana gave a short 'hn?' to show that she was at least sort of paying attention. "I paint over mine. Makeup. Y' don't. But hidin' my hurt nets me more a gain than it does you. Same as I hide from th' aliens and you shoot 'em in their weird xeno-jaws." Archana stopped again. Her temporary coworker kept talking. "So, thanks. Thanks for bein' brave. For showin' 'em how much they can hurt us, and bein' badass anyway. That's cool." Silenced passed between them. Then Archana stood up, reaching for her helmet. "Sorry. I need to g---" "Don't worry about it." The woman cut her off. She turned in her chair, to flash a grin over to Archana. She didn't stop working this time, even while looking away. "Been doin' this for days. You were slowin' me down anyway." Suddenly, she was working a lot faster. Despite herself, Archana grinned. "...alright. I'll check in later." Half turning to leave. Paused. "What's your - " "I'm nobody 'n particular. Do me a favor though? On behalf of all've us nameless ones." Archana gave a quick nod, and continued out of the stuffy room. "Ey! Aren'cha gonna ask me what the favor is?" "No." She called back, sliding her helmet on. She'd have liked to stay a moment longer just to listen to the laughter, but she'd suddenly realized she had some place to be.