heteroduplexing | [Closed] Sisters function as safety nets in a chaotic world

Despite the nature of Jill's career, bars and taverns had never been a very frequent destination of hers until recently. "Frequent" being no more than once a week at the very most, and even then she didn't always drink, if she was the drive home. It wasn't that much different now, although she hadn't had to worry about the designated driver part for a while, considering walking tended to be her primary method of travel lately. As for "recently," that was a definition considerably harder to place; time and space weren't always easy to define, she'd found, much like memory, sensation, thought, all the things she'd once considered solid and intangible.

If pushed, she would have defined it as ever since Africa, because that seemed to be the point from which every strange thing began. Strange, that was, in terms of the unknown beyond the unusual things that existed where she originally came from. Home.

Definitions and technicalities aside, Jill was most definitely in the mood for both that bar setting and a drink tonight. So with her usual bag on her shoulder and holster on her thigh, she set out pretty late into the evening, appreciating the cooling summer air on her skin as she went. The town only hosted one bar that she knew of, but it wasn't the bar itself as much as the company she expected that would have made it her favorite either way.

As predicted, the place appeared empty when she entered; with half an hour until closing time, that was what Jill had intended, although the town wasn't exactly buzzing with typical city activity at any time of day.

The door closed with a jingle behind her and she made her way up to the bar, setting her knapsack there before casting another glance around. The aforementioned barmaid was probably in the back, then.

With a small grin, Jill called, "Hey! Can I get any service around here?" Her smile was audible in her voice -- joking, mostly, but also with some genuine warmth. She'd had her diverse share of friends, acquaintances, and comrades alike over time, and it wasn't a stretch to say Tifa was one of her closer ties. What they lacked in similarities between their homelands, they made up for in trust and a treasured friendship; good as well as bad times together had a tendency to produce a rare kind of bond (which, in Jill's experience, could go either way), and God knew she and Tifa had had plenty of both between them.

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"I can imagine," Jill agreed. Whatever the insanity that came with her career choice, she wouldn't doubt every other one out there. She'd seen enough of the spectrum in her years to know that bars, taverns, and any source of alcohol could and would attract all types. It probably took someone like Tifa to handle it.

"Amen to that," she added, briefly raising her drink in a toast. "And here's hoping no forces of Chaos find their way into your bar as some kind of ironic joke." Just in case, she rapped her knuckles briefly against the wooden bar with another smile. "Then again, as calm as it usually is here... maybe this is more of a break room than a crossroads. A little reward for our efforts everywhere else."

It was a nice thought, anyway. No one in charge that they knew of, just some odd little in-between place that, while uneventful, was arguably safe because of that very reason... with the exception of the types of people who could show up alongside them. Jill had had enough run-ins with Wesker and Sync, to name a couple, to get the idea that nowhere was really, absolutely safe anymore. Nothing short of finding her way home, anyway, and that obviously had its own dangers. Dangers, at least, that she knew how to handle.

There wasn't much thought behind it, really. As a young girl, her only dream had been to escape the limitations of small town life. Because she always dreamed for something more. Her life as a barmaid just simply came to be as a result of that. It was a means to an end, and a resource that was necessary at the time. Avalance needed a home base that was well hidden and easily accessible. And the job at the bar was an easy one to manage in between all the insanity that came with being part of a rebel group dead set on the cause. And despite all the wrong reasons that justified her claims, Tifa had few regrets.

"Well, whatever it is, I'm just glad trouble doesn't come knocking at my door." Well, not too much trouble, at least. Because no matter all the dangers and wars and fighting, this place, at least, was a safe haven. Even from the powers that seemed to guide their steps.

Wars and tournaments and experiments never came here to them. They were always taken there, in the middle of the night and at unawares, usually. And while she preferred for things like that to never happen at all, at least it was a sort of courtesy for them. "It'd be an ugly mess to clean up after, I'm sure."

Because there was no doubt that Tifa was a fighter, to the core.

Jill chuckled again, her humor coming much more easily and frequently after her drinks. "Well, if it ever does, you know my number." It sounded like a jest, but she meant it in earnest, and she trusted Tifa to know that, too. Sure enough, Jill had a habit of leaping into danger for new comrades and even strangers when the time called for it, but known, loyal allies -- friends -- were another thing entirely. They were the ones she'd throw everything else away for, no matter how set in her ways and her rules she was normally. Those bonds were what could make her act irrationally despite a life based and built around rationality.

"Then again, that kind of thing tends to hit everyone at once," she added, a little more softly. "I'm not sure if it's more comforting to know we're never alone in these things, or... just depressing. 'Misery loves company' is about right."

In turn, Tifa gave a soft chuckle of her own. "Yeah, well... it's not exactly misery, is it? Things could always be a lot worse."

Like brink of destruction, bad. For herself, the barmaid was sure she had been to that point in her life before. And through some miracle of circumstances, Tifa had managed to make it back - not without consequences or harsh sacrifices along the way, but after her journeys, she was certain that she would be able to survive most anything that The Void and Forces that Be decided to throw at them now.

"And how could it be misery if we always have something to fight for, and people who will always fight with you?" Finishing off her drink, she felt lighthearted and warm as the next words slipped past her lips. "There's a good few people who've lived on much less than that..."

Jill nodded solemnly at that first part -- things could always be a lot worse. She knew that. She'd been through Worse, and whenever things got terrible since then, she would remind herself of that now and again.

"That's true," she murmured, just as serious. "I've always had something to fight for, even if I've been away for so long." Her drink prompted her a little more: "Not... something anymore. Just... survival, I guess. It's usually someone these days."

She didn't regret that, either; whether it was a stranger or someone she loved, Jill was a protector through and through. She didn't complain, didn't doubt. She just acted.

"I guess I just... wish I could pick what I'm fighting for," she added. "I mean -- I choose to fight for other people, but... sometimes I have no choice, considering how we're thrown around. I think it'd just be nice to feel a little... I dunno, in-control again."

Tifa could certainly sympathize with that feeling. Ever since entering into this endless parade of worlds - battles - that weren't her own, there were times where it seemed that they were nothing more than pawns in a grand Game that no one could even begin to understand. And while their respective beliefs always placed focus on this omnipotent force or messiah guiding their steps through this life and these mysteriously new places, it was getting to be just too excessive. More times than she could count, it felt like it had been too much for Tifa.

But then, in the end, she had ended up surviving regardless.

"Maybe that's what this place is for." Sure, it wasn't exactly what Jill was asking for. Because they would always be thrown into a battle or situation that was far from being in their control. But in a place like this, between the fighting and the madness, it was as close to normal as they could ever hope to get. "To keep us from falling too deep into each crisis."

She can't speak much for Jill's circumstances, but for herself, it felt true. Each and every time it felt like Tifa was starting to tip over the edge of no return, it wouldn't be long before she found herself back here where things where safe; where the young girl had the space and time to find herself again, along with a few new memories to add to her growing collection.

"War doesn't exactly leave much room for control, even for those in charge." She adds in a scoff to go with her afterthought. "If there's any control to be had at all."

"Mm." It was a light acknowledgement, more of a maybe than agreement. True, this place was a refuge of sorts, a break from the madness and (usually) even a haven from the darker things and people of the universe, and Jill was grateful for that... but at the same time she couldn't help wondering why her own world couldn't serve that same purpose. Why not let her go home, her real home? God knew it had its own shadows of evil, that was a resident of any world, but it was still hers, hers to call home and protect.

That was probably what all of this boiled down to, she realized then. Not a lack of control, not a broken heart, just... homesickness. That was the best her mind could currently come up with, as influenced as it was.

Jill did hum thoughtfully, however, echoing one word in particular. "War, huh..." Her glass was empty again, but she didn't reach or motion for a refill this time. "Looking at it that way... I shouldn't complain. It could be a lot worse, couldn't it?"

She could be dead, for instance, or without any allies at all. As long as there was a life to live, Jill would keep pushing; that was simply who she was.

She nodded finally, as if coming to some inner conclusion.

"You're right. I think that I..." On second thought, thinking was getting harder to do. Jill rubbed at her forehead and grinned slightly. "Well. You've given me a lot to think about. Thanks, Tifa."

[Closed] Sisters function as safety nets in a chaotic world

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I LIIIIIIIIIVE!

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