Some nights were easier than most, especially when you lived the life of a musician. Winnie had taken numerous smoke breaks just in the time she'd been in the music hall, anxiously rubbing at her forearms from the building stress of the concert she was about to play. While there were going to be numerous others in the orchestra performing, she was one of the main featurettes with a solo for her cello.
Eventually, the musicians had all filtered into their proper places on stage and Winnie took her place with the other cellists and played through the forefront pieces. When it finally came time for the woman in all sanguine red to come forward, she and the black laqured wood of her fine instrument took position in front of the numerous faces she'd never recognize in this world or her own.
Drawing the bow across those strings, deep and lamenting tones reflected the inner turmoil of the white haired woman's soul as she leaned heavily into her instrument. Dark ringed eyes closed, losing herself to the music without any awareness that someone who was more familiar with her face might be among the viewing crowd for the evening.
Eventually, the musicians had all filtered into their proper places on stage and Winnie took her place with the other cellists and played through the forefront pieces. When it finally came time for the woman in all sanguine red to come forward, she and the black laqured wood of her fine instrument took position in front of the numerous faces she'd never recognize in this world or her own.
Drawing the bow across those strings, deep and lamenting tones reflected the inner turmoil of the white haired woman's soul as she leaned heavily into her instrument. Dark ringed eyes closed, losing herself to the music without any awareness that someone who was more familiar with her face might be among the viewing crowd for the evening.
Opera Music?
Sera had found refuge in the Theater, finding a seldom used storage room off the upper balcony to rest. Odds were, there might be some flyers out for her following her recent run in with a police officer, and especially after the mishap she had caused at the library. However, she was also likely none the wiser due to the sheer instability of her psyche. Today, she was not alone, having brought along a couple of other street kids, sharing a meal of pilfered blueberry muffins and candy, along with a couple bottles of water she had managed to fill using some person's outdoor water spigot.
"Here you are, eat up. It's warm and dry here, and even on a night light tonight, no one's going to be looking around, long as you stay quiet. This place....is kind of nice really, especially during a concert....this music....makes me think of happy times....even when it's sad..."
Clutching at her hand-sewn angel doll, she would hum along with the orchestra a bit, even smiling and stroking the hair of one of the kids who had his fill of muffin and was trying to rest.
"I had a really good mom....both of my parents...were great people. Always told myself if...I ever had children of my own, I'd want to be just like them. They weren't perfect...but no one is. But they loved me and my sister....did everything they could to keep us safe from this crazy world."
Even the poor street kids were slightly put off by the ramblings of the dark haired woman; as nice as she seemed to be, they could also tell she wasn't....quite all there. As the child she was tending to sort of pulled away, Sera would just sigh softly, before peeking out from that room and down from the rafters towards the stage. Even if she didn't understand a word of what was going on, she was fascinated by the performance going on, pale emeralds scoping over the stage props and actors as the curtains closed to end the scene and it moved into the orchestral interlude.
Swaying a bit to the music from her perch, perhaps even in a dangerous manner that left her precariously close to taking a tumble off the balcony, the initial symphony of sound faded away, to that single cello taking the spotlight. Sera would even hop up to sit on the edge of the balcony now, legs dangling over the precipice....and then she saw....her....
That red dress....the hair....the movements....it....it couldn't be....
"...Momma....?"
Sera had found refuge in the Theater, finding a seldom used storage room off the upper balcony to rest. Odds were, there might be some flyers out for her following her recent run in with a police officer, and especially after the mishap she had caused at the library. However, she was also likely none the wiser due to the sheer instability of her psyche. Today, she was not alone, having brought along a couple of other street kids, sharing a meal of pilfered blueberry muffins and candy, along with a couple bottles of water she had managed to fill using some person's outdoor water spigot.
"Here you are, eat up. It's warm and dry here, and even on a night light tonight, no one's going to be looking around, long as you stay quiet. This place....is kind of nice really, especially during a concert....this music....makes me think of happy times....even when it's sad..."
Clutching at her hand-sewn angel doll, she would hum along with the orchestra a bit, even smiling and stroking the hair of one of the kids who had his fill of muffin and was trying to rest.
"I had a really good mom....both of my parents...were great people. Always told myself if...I ever had children of my own, I'd want to be just like them. They weren't perfect...but no one is. But they loved me and my sister....did everything they could to keep us safe from this crazy world."
Even the poor street kids were slightly put off by the ramblings of the dark haired woman; as nice as she seemed to be, they could also tell she wasn't....quite all there. As the child she was tending to sort of pulled away, Sera would just sigh softly, before peeking out from that room and down from the rafters towards the stage. Even if she didn't understand a word of what was going on, she was fascinated by the performance going on, pale emeralds scoping over the stage props and actors as the curtains closed to end the scene and it moved into the orchestral interlude.
Swaying a bit to the music from her perch, perhaps even in a dangerous manner that left her precariously close to taking a tumble off the balcony, the initial symphony of sound faded away, to that single cello taking the spotlight. Sera would even hop up to sit on the edge of the balcony now, legs dangling over the precipice....and then she saw....her....
That red dress....the hair....the movements....it....it couldn't be....
"...Momma....?"
The woman clutching her instrument was all too unaware of the pair of eyes watching her from the balcony high above her stage, too focused on the crescendo of music that fled from her fingertips for the audience in front of her. An audience that was all too willing to chew her up and spit her right back out for any small reason.. any small tabloid.. Any grievance.
And yet, she couldn't help that little upbreeze of wind that had begun to swirl around her slowly. It picked up, made her hair dance as she elegantly slithered that lithe body with her cello. Animated and exaggerated for the thrill of everyone in the witnessing audience.
However, it was eventually the drawing close of her solo and Winnie would take a deep bow for those that threw flowers to her stage, glancing up only just then to stare into those maddened eyes of Sera perched on the edge of the balcony. Lips parted, uncertain of who the girl was but knowing all too well that was not the safe way to sit in a balcony box!
And yet, she couldn't help that little upbreeze of wind that had begun to swirl around her slowly. It picked up, made her hair dance as she elegantly slithered that lithe body with her cello. Animated and exaggerated for the thrill of everyone in the witnessing audience.
However, it was eventually the drawing close of her solo and Winnie would take a deep bow for those that threw flowers to her stage, glancing up only just then to stare into those maddened eyes of Sera perched on the edge of the balcony. Lips parted, uncertain of who the girl was but knowing all too well that was not the safe way to sit in a balcony box!
Sera was almost entranced now by the music, the rhythm....in complete disbelief. Could it...really be? How? She.....she was dead...but..she was here. That updraft...she felt it even all the way up there. There was no mistaking now.
"MOMMA!"
Her shrill cry was drowned out by the thunder of applause as the woman had finished her solo, as she leaned even further forward from that perch. Threads of shadow extending outwards from her fingertips to entwine with those fancy balcony draperies that decorated the theater. And then, the applause turned into a cry of terror from the spectators as they saw the raven haired woman leap from that perch, watching in horror at what they expected to be a fall to her death.
only, just as she would have hit the floor right in front of the stage orchestra, she seemed to rubber band upwards, bouncing back on the shadow threads and fabric she had used to secure herself during that freefall, before simply releasing the threads and landing on her feet. Pale face lit up with awe, smiling the brightest of smiles despite those grime stained features.
"MOMMA! ITS ME! IT'S SERA! YOU'RE BACK!"
Of course, right as she would have dared to approach the woman, the curtains had fallen between them, drawing a shrill cry of panic from the woman, coupled with the rushing of security to apprehend her.
"NO!!! LET ME GO!!!! PLEASE DONT TAKE HER AWAY AGAIN!!! MOMMA!!!"
While the unstable woman was normally quite capable of fighting back, she was simply too overwhelmed with emotion right now to lash out and break free, as some of the audience scurried out of the way, while the guards radioed for help as they started to drag her away from the stage area, and an individual would speak over an intercom to ask people to remain calm and stand clear.
"MOMMA!"
Her shrill cry was drowned out by the thunder of applause as the woman had finished her solo, as she leaned even further forward from that perch. Threads of shadow extending outwards from her fingertips to entwine with those fancy balcony draperies that decorated the theater. And then, the applause turned into a cry of terror from the spectators as they saw the raven haired woman leap from that perch, watching in horror at what they expected to be a fall to her death.
only, just as she would have hit the floor right in front of the stage orchestra, she seemed to rubber band upwards, bouncing back on the shadow threads and fabric she had used to secure herself during that freefall, before simply releasing the threads and landing on her feet. Pale face lit up with awe, smiling the brightest of smiles despite those grime stained features.
"MOMMA! ITS ME! IT'S SERA! YOU'RE BACK!"
Of course, right as she would have dared to approach the woman, the curtains had fallen between them, drawing a shrill cry of panic from the woman, coupled with the rushing of security to apprehend her.
"NO!!! LET ME GO!!!! PLEASE DONT TAKE HER AWAY AGAIN!!! MOMMA!!!"
While the unstable woman was normally quite capable of fighting back, she was simply too overwhelmed with emotion right now to lash out and break free, as some of the audience scurried out of the way, while the guards radioed for help as they started to drag her away from the stage area, and an individual would speak over an intercom to ask people to remain calm and stand clear.
It was that sudden leap that had her hand flying to her mouth, the other swinging that bow in a wide arc to cast an updraft in hopes it might still that fall.. but that strange young woman seemed to have her wits about her and as she swung down, she watched in wide eyed shock. Momma? Brows twisted upward, hesitant in response but she'd begun to take several steps forward..
Only to have the curtains separate them.
"No wait!!"
Panic, worry and all other conflicting of emotions washed over her, several members of the orchestra trying to tug Winnie back by the sleeves of her dress. She had to see, had to know, who the stranger was that shrieked and called her momma over and over again. Hands lifted and gave large swipes, cutting sheafs of wind slicing clean through the heavy drapes of those velveteen curtains. The audience shrieked and gasped at the raw display of mutant power, Winnie's expression twisted into one of conflicting. Scuttling forward, carrying her skirts in her hands, she bolted to the end of the stage and leapt forward. Wind helped her glide forward, looking to entirely cut off security in their attempted removal of Sera.
"Please! Stop! Let me talk to her- Please." Pausing, she'd glance around nervously before speaking again, "In my dressing room. Please."
Only to have the curtains separate them.
"No wait!!"
Panic, worry and all other conflicting of emotions washed over her, several members of the orchestra trying to tug Winnie back by the sleeves of her dress. She had to see, had to know, who the stranger was that shrieked and called her momma over and over again. Hands lifted and gave large swipes, cutting sheafs of wind slicing clean through the heavy drapes of those velveteen curtains. The audience shrieked and gasped at the raw display of mutant power, Winnie's expression twisted into one of conflicting. Scuttling forward, carrying her skirts in her hands, she bolted to the end of the stage and leapt forward. Wind helped her glide forward, looking to entirely cut off security in their attempted removal of Sera.
"Please! Stop! Let me talk to her- Please." Pausing, she'd glance around nervously before speaking again, "In my dressing room. Please."
Sera would be left in surprise now as those curtains were torn apart, eyes wider now as Winnie had intervened. Of course, the fact that the musician chose to hear out the street girl was likely going to lead to endless rumors from the uppity 'society folk' who were already murmuring amongst themselves at what they were seeing and hearing. She'd look to the security staff, who of course, were not going to act in contrary to the performers request, though they would still likely insist on being right there or at least right outside to cover their own asses.
Nonetheless, Sera was just still....dumbfounded. Was she seeing a ghost? Was she....hallucinating? Either way, it didn't matter to her. She'd just continue to stammer as she was escorted backstage.
"It's....me...it's Sera....I.....you were.....the Pyramid...and.....you and Daddy were....."
Nonetheless, Sera was just still....dumbfounded. Was she seeing a ghost? Was she....hallucinating? Either way, it didn't matter to her. She'd just continue to stammer as she was escorted backstage.
"It's....me...it's Sera....I.....you were.....the Pyramid...and.....you and Daddy were....."
The situation- in all manner of speaking- was filling Winnie with both the strangest sense of unease and a clear wash of calm.
Only once the men that had been tasked to 'protect' her well being were out of the way and both women were in the safe privacy of the dressing room did Winnie begin to fuss about. An electric kettle was set up and in a matter of minutes, mugs were being poured to let tea steep. The stammering.. the uncertainty..
Insistence that she- Daddy?
Head swiveled slowly, a look of utter conflicting and confusion coming to reside upon those pale features, "I'm afraid that if I have a daughter young miss I never met her In my timeline.. ever since the collapse of the dimensions upon one another it has been a bit of a haze.." She trailed off, lifting a mug to pass to Sera after careful consideration, "..I always liked the name Serafina. Had I gotten the chance to name my daughter when I had her I think that's what I'd have chosen. Is Sera short for Serafina?" Win was handling this remarkably well.. she could probably chalk that up to being an EDE.
Only once the men that had been tasked to 'protect' her well being were out of the way and both women were in the safe privacy of the dressing room did Winnie begin to fuss about. An electric kettle was set up and in a matter of minutes, mugs were being poured to let tea steep. The stammering.. the uncertainty..
Insistence that she- Daddy?
Head swiveled slowly, a look of utter conflicting and confusion coming to reside upon those pale features, "I'm afraid that if I have a daughter young miss I never met her In my timeline.. ever since the collapse of the dimensions upon one another it has been a bit of a haze.." She trailed off, lifting a mug to pass to Sera after careful consideration, "..I always liked the name Serafina. Had I gotten the chance to name my daughter when I had her I think that's what I'd have chosen. Is Sera short for Serafina?" Win was handling this remarkably well.. she could probably chalk that up to being an EDE.
Sera would just continue to stare, almost as if...longing to hug her and never let go, though her face still looked terrified...as if the slightest action on her part would make the woman disappear again forever. She was just stuck there all deer in headlights, even at the familiar scent of tea in the air, remembering all the times she would visit her at the school library between classes just to talk about the people she met and boys she liked and moreso, the ones she disliked....all the usual mother/daughter chatter. But that was several years ago now. She was gone. THEY were gone...but if she was back...did that mean....could HE be back too?
As Winnie spoke her name, she just....smiled and simultaneously burst into tears.
"YES! THAT'S MY NAME! SERAFINA! SERAFINA DRASCHE! I mean....you never got married but....I still had Daddy's last name. And....yours was...is...Carbon. Before....you were with daddy and...before me, you adopted....another girl....Tawny....she was my sister! And we had a dog named Frankie! And you liked your music but...you taught the cooking classes in Darien City, but then you became a librarian and....Daddy was the school principal at the Mutant Academy in Colorado."
It was as if she was expecting the woman to also remember these things. Sera herself, unknowingly so, was an EDE. Her psychological instability, of course, just had her accepting the reality she fell into as if.....she didn't even remember falling there, so much as she woke up there.
"But....there was a war....a bunch of evil, powerful mutants tried to take over everything....they took me....and you...and a few others....they had this...pyramid....and we were all there...but Daddy came to save us. He....he fought...and...we got out of there but....he didn't.....he didn't make it..."
Now that fear was gone, the loss of impulse control boiled over, as she finally just ran over to try to hug Winnie, sobbing against her.
"And you and the other teachers....did everything you could to keep us all safe but....during the fighting....they said you....were killed....they told me you...sacrificed yourself to free the last captive, to stop their plan and....so...they were wrong? Or....are you....did you come back somehow? Maybe you just.....you were alive and they just never knew?"
Clearly, she had hundreds, thousands of questions...but for now she'd just cling to Winnie if she allowed it...unknowing that one of the eavesdropping security personnel outside was already heading off to do a background check and find out who she was...
As Winnie spoke her name, she just....smiled and simultaneously burst into tears.
"YES! THAT'S MY NAME! SERAFINA! SERAFINA DRASCHE! I mean....you never got married but....I still had Daddy's last name. And....yours was...is...Carbon. Before....you were with daddy and...before me, you adopted....another girl....Tawny....she was my sister! And we had a dog named Frankie! And you liked your music but...you taught the cooking classes in Darien City, but then you became a librarian and....Daddy was the school principal at the Mutant Academy in Colorado."
It was as if she was expecting the woman to also remember these things. Sera herself, unknowingly so, was an EDE. Her psychological instability, of course, just had her accepting the reality she fell into as if.....she didn't even remember falling there, so much as she woke up there.
"But....there was a war....a bunch of evil, powerful mutants tried to take over everything....they took me....and you...and a few others....they had this...pyramid....and we were all there...but Daddy came to save us. He....he fought...and...we got out of there but....he didn't.....he didn't make it..."
Now that fear was gone, the loss of impulse control boiled over, as she finally just ran over to try to hug Winnie, sobbing against her.
"And you and the other teachers....did everything you could to keep us all safe but....during the fighting....they said you....were killed....they told me you...sacrificed yourself to free the last captive, to stop their plan and....so...they were wrong? Or....are you....did you come back somehow? Maybe you just.....you were alive and they just never knew?"
Clearly, she had hundreds, thousands of questions...but for now she'd just cling to Winnie if she allowed it...unknowing that one of the eavesdropping security personnel outside was already heading off to do a background check and find out who she was...
It was a good thing that she'd set her own mug off to the side once she'd gotten a good drink down, pausing when that outburst was fast to follow. There was so much information being tossed her way and her hand lifted slowly to her lips as she listened. There was concern and pain on those features but she didn't attempt to silence Sera as the rest of the world seemed to have a habit of doing.
Eyes slid to stare at the ground, eyebrows twisting up toward those pale bangs and she'd think about it a moment or two. "Your father...?" Green hues seemed to moisten considerably, "What was his name?"
She had a tiny bit of an inkling, a small notion.. but even as Sera launched at her, Winnie stood firm. The hug and sobbing did little to throw her off, woman sinking into the chair behind her while hands gingerly began to wrap around those frail shoulders, "Oh my darling.. I'm afraid that I don't think I'm your Winnie.. In my timeline there was no pyramid.. nor Tawny.. I never got to even spend more than an hour with my daughter when she was born." Lashes closed slowly, "But my goodness.. you remind me so much of Dainius.. he was such a good man.. he was so good to me and he worried dearly. We were going to leave and travel the world together.. when we found out I was pregnant I begged him often to stop being a vigilante." Tears trickled down her cheeks, carefully smoothing them over Sera's hair, "He did for a time but sometimes work just has a habit of coming to look for you instead.. He was murdered and the baby was born not too long after.. Premature you see."
Inhaling slowly, shaking her head as she held Sera closer yet. Her heart hurt. Years of pain that she had snuffed out and kept under wraps bubbling up like it just had for Sera, "My darling I do not think I belong to you but in this timeline perhaps I can."
Eyes slid to stare at the ground, eyebrows twisting up toward those pale bangs and she'd think about it a moment or two. "Your father...?" Green hues seemed to moisten considerably, "What was his name?"
She had a tiny bit of an inkling, a small notion.. but even as Sera launched at her, Winnie stood firm. The hug and sobbing did little to throw her off, woman sinking into the chair behind her while hands gingerly began to wrap around those frail shoulders, "Oh my darling.. I'm afraid that I don't think I'm your Winnie.. In my timeline there was no pyramid.. nor Tawny.. I never got to even spend more than an hour with my daughter when she was born." Lashes closed slowly, "But my goodness.. you remind me so much of Dainius.. he was such a good man.. he was so good to me and he worried dearly. We were going to leave and travel the world together.. when we found out I was pregnant I begged him often to stop being a vigilante." Tears trickled down her cheeks, carefully smoothing them over Sera's hair, "He did for a time but sometimes work just has a habit of coming to look for you instead.. He was murdered and the baby was born not too long after.. Premature you see."
Inhaling slowly, shaking her head as she held Sera closer yet. Her heart hurt. Years of pain that she had snuffed out and kept under wraps bubbling up like it just had for Sera, "My darling I do not think I belong to you but in this timeline perhaps I can."
Sera would listen now as Winnie spoke, trying to just cling to her for dear life for as long as she could. She would only interrupt once she spoke her father's name.
"YES! That was daddy! His name is....was....Dainius Drasche. And...."
As the woman mentioned him being dead, she would seem to slump a bit, but only briefly. She knew he was gone....THEY were both gone, but....now she was here again.
"But you're here now! And....I'm here! And....maybe.....maybe Daddy can come back too like you did!"
As the woman spoke now of timelines, however, she would shrink away from that hug, staring up at her.
"Wait...what timelines? I'm.....what are you...talking about? That doesn't...well.....I guess I can't say it makes no sense since....it makes no sense for you to be alive again either...but....I don't understand....."
It was about that time, however, that they would be rudely interrupted; not just by the security from earlier, but a couple Police Officers as well.
"Pardon the intrusion, Madam. But...I just saw this...that girl is a criminal. She is wanted for assaulting a police officer, and for attacking a librarian and a delivery man a couple of days ago. Seems she's also done quite a few other things as well so, she will be taken into custody. Please stand aside so these gentleman can do their duty. We certainly wouldn't want to put you at risk and I promise we'll take her out the back way to avoid the tabloids so we don't sully your reputation."
"YES! That was daddy! His name is....was....Dainius Drasche. And...."
As the woman mentioned him being dead, she would seem to slump a bit, but only briefly. She knew he was gone....THEY were both gone, but....now she was here again.
"But you're here now! And....I'm here! And....maybe.....maybe Daddy can come back too like you did!"
As the woman spoke now of timelines, however, she would shrink away from that hug, staring up at her.
"Wait...what timelines? I'm.....what are you...talking about? That doesn't...well.....I guess I can't say it makes no sense since....it makes no sense for you to be alive again either...but....I don't understand....."
It was about that time, however, that they would be rudely interrupted; not just by the security from earlier, but a couple Police Officers as well.
"Pardon the intrusion, Madam. But...I just saw this...that girl is a criminal. She is wanted for assaulting a police officer, and for attacking a librarian and a delivery man a couple of days ago. Seems she's also done quite a few other things as well so, she will be taken into custody. Please stand aside so these gentleman can do their duty. We certainly wouldn't want to put you at risk and I promise we'll take her out the back way to avoid the tabloids so we don't sully your reputation."
Fingers came up to carefully, gingerly, push the hair out of Sera's face and framed her cheeks. She looked like Dainius.
It hurt.
Eyebrows furrowed however the moment that she shrunk away and stared, nodding her head slowly, "Yes.. timelines.. dimensions.. There has been a collapse of the various universes and I- my dear- am not from this one... nor yours from the sound of it.. But that doesn't truthfully bother me in the least." Expression softened, "If this means I get a chance to meet and understand the child I was never permitted to keep--"
Invasion of privacy had the woman's expression souring, eyebrows dropping low over those cutting peridot hues, "I told you that I could handle my own business in my own way. Your presence is not desired and you've outstayed your use. Kindly stand aside and kiss my backside." Hands gave wide sweeping motions, arcs of straight wind blasting from the limbs to pummel the security team into the walls and hallway. Only once her way was cleared would hand snag Sera's wrist, the loud clack of heels on the linoleum suggestive that Winnie intended to leave the premesis with her otherworld daughter in tow.
It hurt.
Eyebrows furrowed however the moment that she shrunk away and stared, nodding her head slowly, "Yes.. timelines.. dimensions.. There has been a collapse of the various universes and I- my dear- am not from this one... nor yours from the sound of it.. But that doesn't truthfully bother me in the least." Expression softened, "If this means I get a chance to meet and understand the child I was never permitted to keep--"
Invasion of privacy had the woman's expression souring, eyebrows dropping low over those cutting peridot hues, "I told you that I could handle my own business in my own way. Your presence is not desired and you've outstayed your use. Kindly stand aside and kiss my backside." Hands gave wide sweeping motions, arcs of straight wind blasting from the limbs to pummel the security team into the walls and hallway. Only once her way was cleared would hand snag Sera's wrist, the loud clack of heels on the linoleum suggestive that Winnie intended to leave the premesis with her otherworld daughter in tow.
Sera would be taken a bit by surprise that Winnie stepped up to blast away the security team trying to apprehend her. Of course, her mother, he real mother would have done just that...but this lady....it wasn't her...but it was her. Still, she gathered that this was not the time to question alternate timelines and other such things that....strangely would have made more sense to a normal person than it did to her own fractured mind. Her mom was dead....but she was here now. The why and how didn't matter in the moment as she ran right along in tow to get the hell out of this place...and perhaps there would be time for more questions and answers later on.
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