Taking Time (Lat)

[Talau]

There was something thrilling, exhilarating, about being in her avatar body that Layla just couldn’t put her finger on no matter how hard she tried. Certainly she still disliked the linking process…and the metal coffin it involved…but the link operator she typically worked with had been right: she was (slowly) getting used to it. As if to further dispel her trepidation, the Persian-Irish woman had decided to log in more hours with her avatar her on the base before venturing out into the field near the boarders of the Aylukana territory. It seemed that one of the guards had had a run-in with one of the Na’vi near them and had been intelligent enough to log the coordinates of that point. Perhaps later she would meet up with the man and have a talk with him…perhaps even take a little walk into the jungle. To top that, though, it seemed that Doctor Roland had actually met one of them in the jungles just outside the compound! As if this wasn't strange enough...the female had actually come OUT of the jungle LOOKING for him it seemed! If...when...she met up with the man again, she'd have to ask him about that as well.

As things stood, however, she needed to become more comfortable in this body before going so deep into said jungle. True, she wasn’t clumsy in her avatar form, but it was taking getting used to. The senses were so much sharper in it and now she had a tail and extra height to deal with as well. This was why she found herself outside, walking about in this tall blue body. Well, walking wasn’t QUITE what she was doing…she was testing it, her abilities in it. Yoga, pilates, dance, climbing, moving, these were the only ways she would get used to moving in the body with half as much skill as the Na’vi. Her first order of business had been to stretch out, lengthening those long muscles, letting the stiffness out and allowing herself to become more flexible.

It was sort of amazing, actually, how this body was already naturally so limber. It wasn’t going to take much time to get it to the same level as her own body. With that out of the way, she’d moved on to a few yoga positions to help further lengthen and warm up her body. Standing finally, she shut the world out as she moved through one of her old dance routines slowly so that she didn’t accidentally trip over herself or her tail. That was really her largest problem…the tail. Humans, obviously, weren’t born with tails so suddenly finding herself with one was proving difficult to adapt to. For the most part it stayed out of her way on its own, but there were several times that she nearly got it caught against the fence, tripped over it, and at one point she even nearly got herself tangled up in it. It was at this point that she finally took a break, padding over to pull one of the brightly colored fruits from a plant and then moving back toward where she’d been, plopped herself down in the grass there.

[Dr. Latus]

*"... und deshalb müssen wir verhandlungen und friedliche gespräche mit dem Na'vi fortsetzen, wenn auch sie uns ganz gut jetzt vertrauen. Dinge könnten tempus bekommen, einige der Cowboys könnten auf ihnen zufällig schießen; wir müssen eine beziehung haben, die unfällen gegenübertreten kann. End personal journal for today. Terminate program.

***********

Roland was reflecting on his choice of words for his journal. Humans and Na'vi; tense relations based on years of destructive thoughts and negative reinforcements. He threw a punch to the bag hanging before him, the impact creating shock ripples and swing on the hanging sawdust-filled leather sack. From a biological point of view of the Na'vi were just defending their territory. However, unlike the Titanotheres the Na'vi could be reasoned with. He took a step back and shifted his weight upwards, the kick striking low with a sharp thud. Only some of the Na'vi were willing to talk though. Reports from the edges of the territory spoke of Na'vi still hostile to humans. With so few guards on the base, well, it would take very little to turn the human settlement into a morgue. Taking a sharp breath he threw a jab then a haymaker, right then left, the impacts and groaning chain felt good for once.

Silencing his analysis Roland jumped back and shifted his movements lighter, bouncing on the toes of his feet. Faux-cautiously he moved left then right around the bag, trying to feel his movements and imagine how an actual fist-fight could possibly work with another person, even a Na'vi. Grincing he stepped in and unleashed a flurry of blows, most of them glancing off the bag or impacting incorrectly. Sighing at his lack of skill Roland dropped his stance and stepped away from the bag. He had been told by other drivers that the best way to get used to the body was to use it. Even so the movements weren't coming as fluid as they could as a human. His limbs were longer and thinner so they moved differently, then there was the tail. His balance was incorrect unless he had it just so. Well, that and fighting wasn't his thing.

He stepped out of the small PE building, grabbing his towel and draping it around his neck. Even though he was sweating he was unable to smell the odor that was usually attributed with such activity. It may have seemed weird for a scientist such as Roland to be exercising but he had his reason. Sure he was a bookie but he had to keep himself fit for everything that was out in the great open spaces of Pandora, many more than ready to have a human meal with a side of Kraut. The grounds were hopping, like usual, drivers getting their time in inside their avatars. There were several Roland didn't recognize right away as he padded, barefoot, toward the agri-flats. He had gotten hungry. He responded to the hello's and good afternoons that were flung his way by the other scientists that he recognized but didn't give much attention elsewhere.

After another few moments he reached the agricultural flat, rows and rows of plants upon which brightly colored fruits grew. There was one Avatar a few paces away from the flat who looked like she had just finished her workouts as well. She was facing away from him so he didn't catch the face. Snagging a fruit he walked over for a greeting, if it was another scientist maybe she would like to hear the research details he had found on the plants. His feet nearly silent in the loamy soil he crossed out of the rows and padded onto the grass. Another few paces and he was right next to her. Careful not to sit directly on his tail he plopped down and looked at her with a smile. His eyes widened as he finally recognized her; Frau Layla! Roland's smile widened as he chuckled, then sighed out of his own foolishness.

Oel ngati kameie.

*"... and that is why we need to continue negotiations and peaceful talks with the Na'vi even though they trust us well enough now. Things might get tense, some of the cowboys might accidentally fire on them; we need to have a relationship that can stand up to accidents."

[Talau]

She had taken to eating her fruit with her eyes closed. It may have seemed odd, certainly, to those who didn’t understand how she worked…but it was really quite a practical thing to do. How did one experience the world around them? That question was what it all boiled down to, really…experiencing the world around her as a Na’vi. What did that have to do with having her eyes closed, one might wonder…again the answer was a simplistic one. Most people…most humans…experienced the world through sight. Certainly smell, touch, and hearing were part of it…but to a much lesser degree. The Na’vi, however, had heightened senses…their world expanded past sight into the realms of sound, scent, and touch (and taste if you counted it since taste was, essentially a part of smell). Simply put, Layla had shut down one sense to better comprehend and observe the capabilities of the other senses.

It wasn’t uncommon for humans to experience a heightening of their other senses should they lose one. This was proven medical fact…so she expanded upon it with this new, personal, research. Certainly she still had her sight, but even this temporary blocking of it allowed her to focus more effectively on her other senses without the distraction of the world around her…it allowed her to turn inward and then expand back out via a different path. This was how she was enjoying her breakfast…late though it was. The succulent fruit was juicy, sweet and tart both, the meat of it pulpy and with a few seeds that she would spit out when she came across them. It slithered along her tongue and down her throat, filling her nose with its pungent and almost sweetly sour scent. The smooth skin of it had an almost sweet, flowery, scent…she was in the middle of this experience when her ears perked up. The rustle of grass and cloth, the sound of movement near by…then someone had joined her. Eyebrows raised as she turned her head in the direction of the newcomer, eyes still closed.

“Frau Layla! Oel ngati kameie.”

That accent, she knew that voice…

“Doctor Roland?”

She peeked open one eye and smiled, glad she’d remembered, before closing that eye again.

Forgive me for not opening my eyes, but I'm…doing an experiment of sorts. Either way, how have you been since our last talk? Good, I hope?

[Dr. Latus]

(sorry, distractions dropped the quality)

Roland smiled, the seldom used muscles quirking into a warm expression. Perverted as it was, Layla was someone he could act like himself around without fear of reprisal. Was it the fact that she was his zurückweichen, his shrink. A rolling chuckle rang in his mind spreading his smile wider, that wasn't the proper usage of the word in German. It was used by the cowboys. Was it bad influence or just his adaptation to this new way of life? This experiment, he could only guess but this was one of the first times he had seen Layla in her Avatar. That would have to do for now.

Ah, pardon me then.

Sighing he lowered himself to his back on the soft, loamy soil minding his tail so as to not cause himself undue discomfort; the tip flicked back and forth by his side. In his hand the soft fruit felt natural, more desirable than anything that they had brought with them on the Green Mother. His diet largely consisted of the collection of fruits localized to the compound but he couldn't be happier for it. He brought the soft flesh to his lips and took a bite, casually chewing the sweet and tart pulp to play over his tongue. Roland continued to chew slowly, not wishing to hurry unnecessarily. The day was new and the work in the lab seemed so far away. He swallowed.

Either way, how have you been since our last talk? Good, I hope?

I 'ave all of my cycles run for zie next few days. My sketches are coming along und zere seem to be no open hostilities on our borders or in zie compound. All und all, a pleasant lull.

Roland glanced up at Layla, her eyes still closed and concentrating.

Und you?