All Alone in the Moonlight
She doesn't know how, but she knows. She just knows.
No one told her how to find them, but like a young bird's first migration she somehow implicitly knows the way back to the others. Back to her flock- the other Valkyries. And just like those young birds, she knows when she has to fly. Back home, after Evony's dark party, she overheard Kenzi tell Bruce to find himself. That's when she knew. She knew it was time to go.
She traveled all the next day and night, dozing on and off before finally stepping off the bus and back into the cool night air. She starts to walk; the moon her only illumination as she begins to wind her way through the narrow alleyways. Left and right through the shadowed labyrinth and even in the pitch black she knows it's the right way. She just knows.
The rundown building doesn't have a sign, but a mark is scratched outside the door. The mark of the Valkyrie- a wing-hilted sword.
Looks like a 'V' for Valkyrie, she smiles. Kenzi would appreciate that one. Tamsin opens the door and enters into the dimly lit bar.
It's quiet, that's the first thing that strikes her. The lighting, the atmosphere, the clientele, all quiet. Patrons sit at small tables and booths, muted conversations and drinks shared between them. Tamsin's struck by the stark contrast of this place to the life, energy and literal volume of The Dal, or even at home with Kenzi. Tamsin stands up tall- she makes a conscious effort to present herself in a way that matches the rest. Controlled, poised, assured.
AKA Boooooring. She hears Kenzi in her head and stifles a smirk, shaking the smile away as she walks up to the bar. The bartender appraises Tamsin as she sits down. The woman behind the bar has long had dark hair, partially braided back in a way that reminds Tamsin of Bo. She appeared older though, and definitely like she had seen battle. Tamsin, even fresh from rebirth, can still tell from someone's eyes that they've seen war. Tamsin notices small golden key hangs from a leather strap around the woman's neck.
"Welcome back Tamsin. Your usual?" The barkeeper meets her eyes with a smile.
Tamsin was caught off guard. My usual? She knows me? Alright, act cool. She shouldn't be surprised she guessed, but gods she hated the whole getting-your-memories-back process.
"Uh, sure?" Tamsin said though she felt anything but.
"Ah, recently reborn. Gotcha." The barkeep smirked knowingly at her before setting to work. She removed the key from around her neck, and used it to open the locked cabinet behind her. With a relaxed deftness that comes from years of experience she got to work mixing a beverage from the dusky faded bottles within. The bottles are opaque, muted colors, and unlabeled. They reminded Tamsin of sea glass, worn over the years but with their own beautiful luster. Tamsin mused about how she knew what sea glass looked like when she hadn't seen it- at least not in this lifecycle. Memory is funny like that. Images and knowledge without context can be unnerving.
The barkeeper finished her concoction, which ended up looking like a rather thick and sickly version of a Tequila Sunrise. She placed it in front of Tamsin.
"Do you want anyone with you while you have it?" She said.
"Um…"
The barkeeper smiled, and extended her hand, which Tamsin took and shook. "Davina. You'll remember me soon enough. I used to be part of your battalion back in day." She sighed and smiled, "Trojan war. Damn, those were good times."
Tamsin furrowed her brow a bit, "I don't remember. I can't remember…I'm sorry."
"No worries, but 'sorry'? Oh man, I don't think I've EVER heard you say that one." She laughed and looked at Tamsin, appraisingly, "There's something different this time, with you. What happened?"
"I'm not sure. I mean, I wouldn't know… I mean someone told me this was my final cycle…"
Davina raised an eyebrow, "Who told you that?"
"Ugh, Massimo." Tamsin rolled her eyes. "He's, like, this total wannabe evil Druid asshole guy. He was threatening my friend and I kinda Valk-ed out on him, wings and all, and he said it was my last life cycle."
"Wings… really? You?" Davina sniggered. "Oh Tamsin… you what has gotten into you…or who, I should say…"
Tamsin scrunched up her face, confused. "What do you mean?"
Davina smiled at her, kindly, and Tamsin couldn't help feeling like she was being treated like a small child. "Look, I get off in 20 minutes. I may not be the person closest to you, but I know you well enough. Why don't you hold off drinking that for a few, and I'll sit with you. I have a feeling you're going to need someone around, this time. Considering the state of you…" She laughed and shook her head. " 'Sorry', ha, oh man…" Without waiting for a response, Davina went off to tend to other customers, leaving Tamsin to sweat out just what would happen when she drank the cocktail.
While she waited, she looked around a bit. Other customers, other Valkyries she assumed, were scattered around. Some had armor on; their gold and bronze glinting at her from different corners. Other had different periods of dress on. Somehow, all of them managed to look like they were suited for battle though. Air of strength and purpose radiated off each of them and Tamsin felt excited thinking that if this was what it meant to be a Valkyrie, she was looking forward to it. She certainly didn't see herself that way, at least not since her rebirth.
She had felt other things though. Safe, for one. And loved. Though learning to experience, express and trust those emotions had felt a bit like a cat being rubbed the wrong way. Sometimes it felt like she was forcing a square peg through a round hole or using a brand-new machine for the first time- before it had time to be used and broken in properly. It felt uncomfortably new.
That's why Tamsin loved Kenzi- she'd helped her through all of this. Kenzi had been "Moms" throughout Tamsin's recent, short existence. She had cheered Tamsin up when she was upset, told her it was going to be okay- even when it wasn't, and taught her how to take care of herself and to take care of others- just like Kenzi did everyday. Tamsin saw that Kenzi was always taking care of the others, even if they didn't notice. She made everyone feel included, even when they weren't, which wasn't easy when it came to Bo. Someone was always left out when it came to Bo.
Bo. Tamsin smiled. Bo was… amazing. Dyson was cute, albeit a bit gruff, Lauren was smart and pretty but cold, Hale was cool and Tamsin certainly wouldn't dis anyone who made her Moms so happy.. but Bo? Bo was different. Bo was..well, Bo was magnetic. Every time Tamsin was in a room with Bo, she could feel it- like she was literally being pulled towards Bo. She wasn't sure if it was a Succubus thing, or a Bo thing, but it was there. Tamsin wondered what they were like before this, what really had gone on between them. Bo had told her, in Massimo's lair, that they hadn't always gotten along, but that she thought and told Tamsin that she was incredible. Incredible! And Bo had hugged her. And there was this warm, pulse through her. And it wasn't just Bo's succubus charm- it was love. It was what love felt like. Right then she knew what love was and somehow she was sure that in the past she had loved Bo. She was sure of it. Sure like she knew Kenzi cared for her and always would. Sure like she knew how to get to the Valkyrie place she was sitting in right now. She just knows.
She was still smiling a bit when Davina finally came around to her side of the bar and sat next to her. Davina frowned a bit, seeing Tamsin's smile. "Oh Tamsin… Hon, it's going to hurt this time. But I'll be right here." She put her hand on Tamsin's and squeezed it before letting go again. Davina let her face return to one more like the other stoic Valkyries around the room and she said, "Now drink up. If I were you, I'd just chug it. Get it over with…"
Tamsin looked from Davina to the drink in front of her, eying it suspiciously. Finally, Tamsin shrugged and picked it up. "Bottoms up," she said as she raised the glass to her mouth and took a long drink.
And it began.