Ninth Transition [video]

[brainkegger]

[The feed flips on and Tara sits on her bed, eyes a little red. She clears her throat before speaking.]

So. I guess it became pretty clear during that event that I'm...not what you'd call "all there". I've got an explanation for that, but it's, uh, it's got nothing to do with magic. Unfortunately.

[She scratches at her neck, awkward. Hesitant. She wanted to avoid this for as long as possible but, well. There's no doing that now.

The most she can do is try and avoid saying what it is exactly.]

I have a psychological disorder. It can make me act pretty strange when it kicks in, but I swear I am not dangerous. I'm just...quirky.

[The word falls flat in the face of everything she's still hiding, but she tries not to show the discomfort in her face.]

Thanks for understanding, everyone. If you have any more questions, I can explain more specifically, but...to be honest, I don't want to become a freak show if I can avoid it.

Comments

[video]

[insidethechimney]

It's okay, T! We'll still be friends no matter what. Would riding on my back cheer you up?

[Yeah, Pinkie has no idea what she's talking about.]

[brainkegger]

It's, um. I'm not T. Not right now. Sometimes I am, but right now I'm Tara. Does that make sense?

[insidethechimney]

You're different? But you're in the same body?

[She processes this.]

Do you know who I am?

[brainkegger]

[She frowns and shakes her head.]

Not really.

[onetruepurring]

[Nepeta, unfortunately, doesn't understand.]

I do not understand what exactly happens to you or why or how. [She adds this as an afterthought:] I do not think you are a dangerous purrson or a "freak!" I am just curious.

[private video forever]

[brainkegger]

[After a little fiddling, Tara manages to make their conversation private.]

Have you ever heard of multiple personalities?

[She wouldn't be surprised if trolls didn't have that, though.]

[insidethechimney]

Aw. I'm Pinkie Pie and T rode my back and likes my cupcakes and one time she baked me sugar cookies. Also, I'm a talking horse. Humans sometimes get confused by that but it's normal where I'm from.

[brainkegger]

I'm...just trying to roll with the punches.

T doesn't bake. That would've been Alice.

[onetruepurring]

[Nepeta does, too, out of common courtesy.]

No, I have not, but that does not mean it does not exist, right?

[insidethechimney]

You should get out of the way of the punches!

Oh...that would explain why she sounded a little different. What's a good way to cheer you up, anyway? Do you like cupcakes or big cakes or pies or - um, things like that?

[not_a_hero]

Pleasure to finally meet. I'm an acquaintance of Buck's.

[itsalluseless]

It may not mean much coming from a stranger, but compared to all the strange people I've seen here, you don't seem freakish at all.

[brainkegger]

You're awfully nice, Pinkie Pie, but I don't think I need any cheering up. I just wanted people to know they can talk to me about this.

[brainkegger]

I can tell you that it does. It's basically what is...wrong with me.

When I was young something happened to me. Something traumatizing. And my mind responded by creating personalities to protect me. So sometimes I'm them instead of me.

[brainkegger]

[She winces a little.]

I guess you...caught on.

[brainkegger]

Thanks. [She smiles.] Honestly, it means a lot.

[not_a_hero]

Hardly a difficult deduction. And hardly my place to say anything before now. Certainly one of the more interesting mental disorders on display here, though, I must say.

[brainkegger]

I...guess, yeah.

[She doesn't really care for that look, though.]

[not_a_hero]

How many?

[Mr. Tact.]

[brainkegger]

[Uh. Alters?]

Four. That doesn't include me.

[not_a_hero]

Obviously.

Known triggers?

[private video forever]

[brainkegger]

Um. Getting touched or startled tends to bring out Gimmie. Alcohol can bring out T or Buck. Any sort of physical threat is usually Buck. Sexual discomfort is usually T. Insecurity can be T or Alice. Feeling like a bad mother or wife brings out Alice too.

I'd ask that you don't take advantage of this knowledge.

[private video forever]

[not_a_hero]

If I know the trigger, I will know the situation and how best to handle it. I have no real reason to try and make you switch between them.

[insidethechimney]

Okay, then! And you can come talk to me if you don't want to talk about this. We could talk about music or balloons or how you humans change the seasons without wings.

[itsalluseless]

No need to thank me for just stating my opinion. Your mental condition's not your own fault, right? So no one has any right to treat you badly for it.