M'gann 001 [Video: New Bark]

[psychic_effective]

[It's a confused jumble of images when the video feed first turns on. The camera gets jostled every which way, like the person holding it isn't used to managing a phone with just her hands. A set of pale fingers cover the screen for a moment as well, before she picks out what she's doing and pries them away.]

"Is this...Okay, hello, Megan! Now I think this is how it works-"

[A second after saying that, a face finally comes into view. A now Caucasian and very normal Earth-girl M'gann looks at her new almost-like-Earth phone, trying to keep her face fixed in something curious and friendly...But there's plenty of other emotions flickering up in the corners of her eyes and mouth. Mainly confusion, uncertainty...And maybe even a little panic, from how tightly she's clutching the device.]

"Good, I finally got this working! Um...Hello, whoever is getting this? My name is Megan." [Might as well go with an Earth name for now.] "And I'm afraid I'm a little disoriented. But first I wanted to ask if someone happened to lose a...Well, a kind of intimidating looking horse? That's..."

[She really can't believe what she's about to say next, but a look over her shoulder reminds M'gann that her eyes aren't playing tricks on her.]

"...On fire? There's one that's wandering around, and keeps following me. If you need help finding it, I'd be glad to give a hand since it isn't wandering away from me."

[And sure enough, peeking out from behind M'gann there's a horse with a nice, bright mane of fire with its eyes fixed on her. And which M'gann keeps trying to shy away from, not noticing that there's an oddly worried look in those big eyes.]

"So, um...A little help that I could give or receive would be much appreciated?"

Comments

[psychic_effective]

"No, no, if we're doing introductions, that's how it works. Sorry...Had my head in the clouds for a second."

[But there are more important things to focus on then accidentally uttered catch phrases!]

"Your name is Imogen? That's a pretty name."

[Lookit that huge smile she has when she chirps that out, too. And it almost sounds like Megan, too!]

[for_realsies]

Cloud are really pretty. I wonder if Maya's finished that song yet.

*Imogen is about as logical as a fruitbat sometimes.*

Anyway, yes, I'm Imogen Moreno. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance!

*Twirl, curtsy, cute smile.*

Your name is pretty too! But really common, at home I've met like eight Megans. Not all at once, that would get confusing.

[psychic_effective]

[M'gann clearly isn't the only one who can use confuse to super effective degree. After a boggle, however, M'gann actually smiles at the rest of what she says.]

"Yeah, but that can be kind of nice, right? It gives you something in common with everyone else!"

[She almost wants to add 'normal' onto that, but since ending up here, M'gann is starting to question the value of normal. It still feels strange, cut off from the rest of her powers.]

[for_realsies]

Why?

*Imogen does not understand your desire to have more in common with everyone. Imogen likes being unique, and it's far more interesting when everyone is different.*

I have plenty in common with people, I love my unique things. Like my name.

[psychic_effective]

"I guess...Fitting in is something I like? It's...Well, it's nice. I don't feel alone or anything when I'm in a group."

[She offers that tentatively, her smile a little more on the cautious side now.]

[for_realsies]

*Imogen does not understand any of this idea.*

I guess that makes sense, but I'd rather be myself. Even if it means less people like me, the ones left really like me.

*Imogen would never trade her creativity for popularity. Her time trying to fit in felt so empty, and slightly uncomfortable.*

[psychic_effective]

"That's...Really brave of you to say."

[And much as she can't disagree with it, M'gann isn't fully sure if she can jump into that outlook, herself. It's one thing to say that, but another entirely to take that risk up again.]

"Do people like you?"

[And a second later she realizes how rude that might sound, and quickly adds]

"I mean, I think I like you! You seem really friendly, and all."

[for_realsies]

Well, here lots of people like me. At home my girlfriend likes me, and my ex-boyfriend, and Adam and Bianca. Zig and Maya sorta like me. Mo likes how I play the drums, but he doesn't really like me as a friend. He and his girlfriend are kinda mean to me.

I am really friendly! But usually people think that's clingly and weird and that I dress like a circus freak.

*And she said all of that with a weird devil-may-care upbeat pep.*

[psychic_effective]

"But...You don't mind that? I-I don't think that's true, just so you know, but-"

[But really? Really? This is a little hard for her to grasp and accept with anything other then abstract admiration. It's getting more and more difficult to picture herself in that situation, and being so relaxed about it.]

[for_realsies]

At first I wanted everyone to like me, and most people were mean. Then I wanted just one person to like me, and... that didn't work out. Now I want me to like me!

That works out pretty well, most of the time.

*Barring the times Imogen doesn't like herself, but she's getting better at controlling that.*

[psychic_effective]

[...Well. She's not doing a great job at making eye contact with the video right now. And while M'gann is doing her best to put on a bright smile, it comes across looking more forced...And pained as well.]

"I-I guess I could learn something about that, too."

[But hey, she does a great job of keeping her voice light!]

"I'm glad it works out for you so well, though."

[for_realsies]

Everyone could use a little refresher in that!

*Imogen's usually better at figuring things out, but she's just seeing how generally upbeat Megan is.*

I'm glad it worked out for me too!