Searching for Teri

by **Violet Turner** » Mon Oct 29, 2012 3:49 pm

Violet creeps through the garden, peering around every corner before moving forward. She listens, trying to hear the sound of the locusts over the rustle of wind through the plants. "come out buggie-buggie-buggies" she croons softly, cursing herself for not getting the girl's name. "I just want to apologize to you and give you caaaaandy" she sing-songs in a low voice, both to comfort herself and in the hopes the girl might hear and respond.

by **Teri Napliotis** » Mon Oct 29, 2012 3:58 pm

"We're not twelve, you know." comes a voice from up in a tree.

by **Violet Turner** » Mon Oct 29, 2012 4:16 pm

Violet smiles guiltily "I know, I know, but I like candy. Why do you think I happen to have it on me? Look" she tucks a stand of hair behind her ear and peers into the tree "I'm sorry for what happened back there. I want expecting that."

by **Teri Napliotis** » Mon Oct 29, 2012 4:28 pm

"It's okay. Most people react like that."

"They usually don't come and apologize though..." she admits.

by **Violet Turner** » Mon Oct 29, 2012 5:04 pm

"Well, it was my fault if we're being honest. I did ask you to show me." she laughs ruefully adding "though it might cut down on the reactions if you were to say something like 'oh hey, imma turn into a cloud of bugs now'

by **Teri Napliotis** » Mon Oct 29, 2012 5:26 pm

"Doesn't make it any better, usually. People just don't like insects for some reason."

by **Violet Turner** » Mon Oct 29, 2012 5:53 pm

"I think it's the legs" she answers, making spidery movements with her fingers "it's a cool ability though, if you think about it. I know I won't be picking fights with you anytime soon"

by **Teri Napliotis** » Mon Oct 29, 2012 6:06 pm

"We're not all that tough." she says, though she's smiling.

by **Violet Turner** » Mon Oct 29, 2012 6:29 pm

"See though, you don't have to be tough though. If you threatened to coerce a roach into crawling into my mouth or like a wasp into my hair you'd have my lunch money for weeks. Not that you would do that or anything but you could and that's just as menacing"

by **Teri Napliotis** » Mon Oct 29, 2012 6:38 pm

"Eww, why would I want to do that to the poor roach?" she asks, smirking faintly.

by **Violet Turner** » Mon Oct 29, 2012 6:54 pm

Without waiting for Teri to finish speaking, Violet starts nodding in agreement. It takes her several moments to recover "wait-what?! How could you do that to the roach?" Laughing, Violet bends to tear a handful of grass, flinging it into the tree reproachfully. "what was your name anyway? I never did ask".

by **Teri Napliotis** » Mon Oct 29, 2012 7:27 pm

"Oh, how rude of us. We're Teri."

by **Violet Turner** » Mon Oct 29, 2012 7:46 pm

With excessive courtesy, Violet curtsies and proclaims dramatically 'how nice to meet you mademoiselle" more seriously, she continues "So can I ask, what was it you turned into? I mean I know it was some kind of insect but I didn't get a very good look. Too busy dying of fear I suppose"

by **Teri Napliotis** » Mon Oct 29, 2012 7:58 pm

"Locust. Grasshoppers." she clarifies. "And it's not so much 'turn into'. We... it's hard to explain... Even when we're like this we're still lots and lots and lots in here." she says, pointing at her head.

by **Violet Turner** » Mon Oct 29, 2012 8:11 pm

Violet is quiet for a moment, contemplating the idea of being many things and one thing at the same time. As she thinks, she searches the base of the tree for a likely stick. Intending to poke the locust-girl. "Grasshopper hmm?" she says in a bemused tone "those are cute when they're little. Could be worse. I suppose you could turn into...spiders or jerusalem crickets or something. You have a strange power but it's intriguing. Where you from?"

by **Teri Napliotis** » Mon Oct 29, 2012 8:22 pm

"A small village in northern Greece." she says, running a hand through her hair, apparently shaking loose a couple locust that flutter around for a moment before landing in her hand. There's probably larger bugs, but they're certainly bigger than your average grasshopper.

by **Violet Turner** » Mon Oct 29, 2012 8:29 pm

Violet's nose wrinkles in disgust That is not a bug. That is a damn sparrow she thinks to herself. Her cheeks flush crimson as she realizes she's making a face and so she quickly shakes her head back and forth in an effort to hide the expression. "you've uh, you've got something in your" she starts to gesture towards her own hair, as though Teri hadn't noticed the creatures that'd been buzzing around her but, rethinking the motion she gestures instead in a wide, vague circle "you've got something allllll oooooover yooooou" she starts to chuckle, hiding her face in her hands as though to escape her own poor joke.

by **Teri Napliotis** » Mon Oct 29, 2012 8:36 pm

"Yeah. That's the thing, isn't it? We just don't understand what's so bad about it. Back home they thought we were a plague and worried about their crops." And they were right "That made sense, though they didn't have to be so mean about it... But they're no weirder than birds or fish." she says, holding the locust sitting on her hand up to her face to look at it.

by **Violet Turner** » Mon Oct 29, 2012 8:48 pm

Drumming her fingers along her jawline as she tries to think of a way to answer without offending. Violet murmurs thoughtfully "I think it's the connection between insects and disease. Not locusts necessarily but I mean, roaches, maggots, fleas, bedbugs, mosquitos and on and on are all either disease vectors or signs of decay and corruption. I guess it's the difference between turning into kittens or rats. The former would get you hugs but the latter would invite scorn. Then again, with the locusts you have a biblical connection too. It's unfair and it's unfortunate but the distaste is built into the culture.

by **Teri Napliotis** » Mon Oct 29, 2012 8:53 pm

"Well we know that's not His plan for us." she mumbles a little defensively.

by **Violet Turner** » Mon Oct 29, 2012 9:02 pm

Quirking one eyebrow upward, Violet hastens to explain "Oh I'm not suggesting that you are any kind of plague or whatever. I only mean that it's unfortunate that the literary reference is there for people to draw from. Frankly it's kind of horrifying that the people in your town were so willing to just decide that that's a thing. Also: what plan? You religious or something?"

by **Teri Napliotis** » Mon Oct 29, 2012 9:17 pm

"Orthodox, yes. We believe He has blessed people with our gifts for a reason."

by **Violet Turner** » Mon Oct 29, 2012 9:22 pm

Not wishing to offend, Violet nods in quiet acceptance. "I suppose that's one way to look at things. So then Miss Teri, what do you suppose is on the agenda for you? I can think of a thousand ways I'd use your power but they're nearly all selfish so I suppose they're not the sort of thing you'd be interested in. I would solve every disagreement with swarming locusts" she gestures grandiosely, gleeful at the very prospect. "Bugs in your hair, bugs in your bag, bugs eating all of your food but what do you use it for?"

by **Teri Napliotis** » Mon Oct 29, 2012 9:25 pm

"We're still trying to find an answer to that. Right now we're helping the gardens. There's some bees we helped find a spot for autumn." she shrugs a bit helplessly.

by **Violet Turner** » Mon Oct 29, 2012 9:32 pm

Clapping her hands together in delight Violet crows "I love bees! Were they those little fat carpenter bees? Those things are so cute. I will admit I'm kind of jealous of you now. I could tell all of the scary bugs to eff off and I could collect butterflies and bees and lady bugs and moths." Chuckling, she draws the corners of her mouth down in an exaggerated frown as she concludes "now I want your power. Best friends for never."

by **Teri Napliotis** » Mon Oct 29, 2012 9:38 pm

Teri smiles brightly. "We do love talking to butterflies. They're all gone by now though. We don't like the winter."

by **Violet Turner** » Mon Oct 29, 2012 9:47 pm

"What kind of things do they think about? Bugs I mean, not just butterflies.Do any of them scare you? Do spiders?"

by **Teri Napliotis** » Tue Oct 30, 2012 7:37 am

"Nah, we're too big for spiders. But birds..." she shudders.

"And they don't really think much. Except bees and ants and such. They are a little like us. Not really like us of course but a bit. Lots and lots of noise that makes up kind of a voice. They're not really smart but they know some things. They're good at architecture and planning and organizing."

by **Violet Turner** » Tue Oct 30, 2012 1:35 pm

"that is so cool. Have you thought about writing a book or something? About like, the secret lives of bugs? I would buy like eight copies. What about roaches? Or bedbugs" she shudders "are they nice?"

by **Teri Napliotis** » Tue Oct 30, 2012 1:40 pm

"They're not really nice or mean... They just want to eat and get in the way."

by **Violet Turner** » Tue Oct 30, 2012 1:52 pm

"I'm sorry, I know I'm asking a million questions, it's just... You can talk to bugs Teri. This is amazing. Your old town is stupid. This is not a plague, this is made of win. Dude. Wasps. Tell me wasps are little bitey assholes. Hey do you want people to come get you instead of squishing if they need something.removed? I bet you could sell bug wrangling as a service."

by **Teri Napliotis** » Tue Oct 30, 2012 2:11 pm

"We'd help people get rid of bugs, sure. Wasps just get scared when giant monsters flail at them." she chuckles. "Now flies, they're icky."

by **Violet Turner** » Tue Oct 30, 2012 2:22 pm

Tilting her head to one side as she considers the answer, Violet nods finally and says "fair enough. They are little beasties. We need to make posters. You are going to make so. Much. Money. Oh my god, eventually we could get like a car with a bug on it but it's not dead like on exterminator trucks. It's all kawaii and happy. Wait- are flies grosser?"

by **Teri Napliotis** » Tue Oct 30, 2012 2:30 pm

"They're not very clean. At all. They thrive on filth. It's disgusting."

by **Violet Turner** » Tue Oct 30, 2012 2:47 pm

"Ewww. I mean I guess I knew that but ewww. Oooo you can be the fly debunker. You know how like sometimes a fly starts buzzing you and then someone has to joke "go take a shower teehee" and it's embarrassing because you can't prove you did? You could swoop in all "nope fly is looking for gross French fries over by that table. BAM. Teri.Teri look at me" she points her index and middle fingers at her own eyes, then Teri's and back "you are going to be rich. Why aren't you rich yet?"

by **Teri Napliotis** » Tue Oct 30, 2012 3:09 pm

"Are you sure people would pay for that? How would we even know where to be when in time? And people would have to believe us. They don't seem to be too fond of mutants anyway. A coherent bearing ventured my qualified public potato, nor everybody effected a disabled lender. Like in the United States. We'd probably get charged with insect-based terrorism every time someone is stung by a bee. They die when they do that, you know. They have no concept of individuality. The hive is the only thing that counts. His devoted housing relaxes. That's what happened in my hometown. Wasp hive in the attic? Must have been Teri. Of course wasps don't die when they sting someone. None dreamed anyone. They don't have quite the same mind as a bee hive. We heard that there are ant colonies in South America that are gigantic. We bet those would be interesting to talk to. Or maybe not, they only walk and eat, no building. Except out of themselves. Initially, nothing is yourself. We suppose that's kind of what we do, but when we're like this we're not literally full of bugs. We think. Can't see them under our skin anyway and we still bleed. Or cough. When the harvest was bad one year they tried to smoke and burn us. Its exception laid, yet a revised flash sees; ironically, a terminal hardware joined your sound pale pleased prestige, or sideways, her outset was yourself, officially, but our chronic hardship is a jungle."

It seemed something was off with Teri and it shows. She seems to have trouble keeping her thoughts in order and she's straining to keep herself together. Quite literally, as locusts fall out of her hair and swarm around her.

by **Violet Turner** » Tue Oct 30, 2012 3:21 pm

Violet edges away as subtly as she can, not wanting offend her new friend. As locusts begin to separate off she asks "Hey Teri are you feeling ok?" She closed her eyes, remembering the warm comfort of her bed in the moment before sleep. As she opens her eyes, staring directly at Teri's forehead, she tries to project the sense of placidity into the other girl.

by **Teri Napliotis** » Tue Oct 30, 2012 3:33 pm

"Happens. Sometimes it's hard to order our thoughts. Won't always sing in harmony."

The placidity gets swallowed up like water going down a drain. And as it does Teri breaks apart, locusts raining down from the tree and crawling and hopping around on the ground, looking dazed.

by **Violet Turner** » Tue Oct 30, 2012 3:41 pm

Violet scrambles backward, clapping one hand over her mouth to stifle the scream that rises to her lips unbidden. oh shit, oh hell no. Don't step on any don't step on any. There's none on you just back up From a safer distance away she calls back "Teri, you ok man? What the hell" She can't quite suppress the shudder that slides down her back to see the.size, the amount of the insects.

by **Teri Napliotis** » Tue Oct 30, 2012 3:52 pm

After a while of just crawling on the floor (and each other) they slowly built themselves into a pile until they eventually reform into Teri. She's sitting on the ground, holding her head in both hands.

"Ow ow ow..."

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