fading in and out

[ethnobotany]

WHO: Beverly Crusher
WHERE: Outside mostly
WHEN: backdated to October 14th
OPEN TO: Everyone!
WARNINGS: will update if needed

---

A lot of things have happened since Beverly surfaced out of the fountain. Some of them have seemed almost normal for a Starfleet officer to experience, while others seemed like something a Cardassian or Q would cook up. Despite still not being pushed for Starfleet intel or information on the Enterprise, Beverly isn't entirely convinced that one of the above isn't running the entire show.

On days like today, she leans more towards Q. If she were at all aware that yesterday was her birthday, she would be even more convinced that Q is the prankster.

The day starts out as well as most, but partway through, when she's headed to the Inn for lunch, she notices that the ground is unusually bright. She lifts a hand to shade her eyes from the sun and barely anything happens. In fact, as she turns her hand over, she notices it isn't casting a shadow at all. More to the point, she isn't casting any kind of shadow. Even turning around and looking down doesn't produce anything. Nor does lifting her feet.

"The trees and buildings are all casting shadows," she comments to herself, but loudly enough for anyone nearby to hear. "Are the people just not?"

She probably looks a little strange wiggling her arms and legs around, as though a shadow will simply fall off of her if she moves enough. Eventually, she'll end up in the Inn, where she finds she is still not exactly casting a shadow, even in the unnatural light inside. Still, even shadowless people need food. And maybe a bit of company.

Comments

[ethnobotany]

Glancing at the fireplace, Beverly nods once. That would be a better test than anything else and if he agrees to stand with her, they'll have a comparison. So she moves towards it, situating herself where she has the best chance of casting a shadow. But no matter where or how she shifts, there's nothing.

"See anything?" she asks, hoping it might just be her eyes playing tricks on her.

[learned_to_die]

Ned follows her at a respectable distance, finally taking his place next to her with his back towards the fire. He looks from his own shadow - dark, flickering with the dance of the flames, unmistakable - to hers - light, barely moving at all. It requires him to squint some in order to make out its ill-defined borders.

"Yes, but very faint. If you turn around and put your back to the fire, you can see what I mean."

[ethnobotany]

She does as directed, turning around so she's situated the way he is. It takes her a moment or two before she spots it, but eventually she does. His shadow is so easy to see. Hers is barely even there at all. But at least it is there. That's the best she's been able to see so far.

"Well, that's something, I guess. Doesn't really solve the mystery of why it's doing this, but at least it's there at all."

[learned_to_die]

"I find that there are many things that transpire here in the village that refuse to be figured out, no matter how hard one might try," Ned says, glancing between the two shadows as he speaks. "I am afraid that this might be one of those. Unless you can think of a recent event that might've triggered such a response?"

[ethnobotany]

She gives her head a gentle shake, thinking back to recent events. "No. Nothing that would have done something like this." There is, as always, the idea that this is just a holodeck simulation, but she's not sure this kind man would think highly of her for bringing that up. "I guess I'll just have to hope that it comes back sometime. And I promise I'll stop dancing in the streets," she adds on, managing a teasing sort of smile.

[learned_to_die]

Ned lets out a gruff, raspy sort of laugh, which he covers with a deft swipe of his hand over the lower half of his face.

"You needn't stop, so long as you are well prepared for the strange questions and quizzical stares you might receive from such behavior," he teases in return, another few tremors of laughter escaping him. "If it isn't too much trouble, might you keep me updated on how it progresses? If it - your shadow, that is - returns?"

[ethnobotany]

Beverly doesn't mind the laugh at her expense. She'd earned it with the joke and expected some sort of amused reaction.

"I'll keep that in mind," she responds, smiling. "I'll keep you informed if anything else happens. Although... I should probably get your name first. That should at least make it easier to find you." She holds out a hand to him. "Beverly Crusher."

[learned_to_die]

"Oh, forgive me," Ned apologizes with a shake of his head, "I am afraid customs to which I've spent my whole adhering have begun to slip with prolonged time here in the village. I'm Ned Stark." He eyes her hand and, having now learnt the way others greet each other, he knows to grip her hand and not, as he is used to, grip by her elbow. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Beverly."

[ethnobotany]

Beverly waves away his apology, grasping his hand and giving it a light shake. Her grip isn't too tight, but it's not exactly loose either. "Don't worry about it. I wasn't quick to offer mine, either," she points out with a smile. "But now that I know it'll be easier to find you and report."