Adelaide really does not like using the ports. No matter how many times sheโs used them, for various reasons and in various places, it always feels wrong. She used to claim that she had no idea why it felt wrong, but thatโs not the truth. It feels wrong because she doesnโt want to be leaving. It doesnโt matter from where sheโs leaving, or for what reason, it will never feel right in Adelaideโs mind. Leaving when things get too hard, or they donโt work out like she expected, is something she simultaneously despises and something she does often. The juxtaposition of it all sends her mind spinning and it leads to her guilt growing.
The fact that sheโs not really leaving someone helps. The places she goes to, she goes hopeful. That sheโll find someone like her, someone who yearns for connection in the long term. She stays places for months or years at a time, trying to find her people, and only ever leaves when she comes to the realization that that simply wonโt happen wherever sheโs landed. This is just another failure, and another reason for her fear to grow.
The last place she was at was a huge city, which made her hopeful that she would find someone like her. Afterall, the more people there were, the more options there were. And yet, nobody she met had the same goal in mind. Those who werenโt immortal thought she was being silly, since finding someone who would live as long as her would be hard, and those who were immortal thought she was being stupid. Immortal life is a long one, obviously, and sticking with the same people the entire time is either โboringโ or an โimpossible dreamโ.
Not for the first time, Adelaide wishes she could become something decidedly less-immortal. She at least wishes she knew where her sister was. If they could rekindle their relationship and grow close again, Adelaide wouldnโt feel the constant loneliness that she does.
Shaking her head to rid the thoughts that accompany her whenever she travels, Adelaide takes a deep breath and focuses on the task at hand. While she does travel semi-often, it usually takes a lot out of her. The doors pull so strongly at her, she almost always lands on the other side on her hands and knees rather than her feet. Sheโs not sure if thatโs simply how the ports are, or if it's in part due to her resistance to leaving wanting to pull her back, and the back and forth leads to her losing her balance.
This port is not as nice as the ones she usually uses, but she wonโt complain. Constantly moving does not lead to stable work, and she canโt waste what little funds she has on fancy doors when really their only purpose is to get her from somewhere to somewhere. She doesnโt pick the places she goes to by any special means, just places sheโs heard about that she would like to visit on her journey to finding a place to plant her roots.
The traveling itself doesnโt change, and she zones out as sheโs instructed on what to do and how everything works. This same song and dance is consistent, and while it's mildly comforting itโs also another sad reminder that she does this too often. As she steps through the door, expecting the same level of struggle she usually faces, Adelaide realizes that something is wrong. Not only does it feel different, there's also the sound of bells so distracting in their volume and the way they seem never ending, that she completely loses track of what sheโs doing. Once she steps through the door she notices three things right away.
First, the jingling ends, and leaves her ears ringing. Second, wherever sheโs landed is not where she intended to be, although it smells absolutely mouth watering. Thirdly, sheโs landed on her feet for the first time in her life after using a port.
Adelaide opens her eyes, unsure when she closed them, and looks around in utter confusion. Why is she here? This is not the place sheโs supposed to have gone to. Is it the fault of the cheap port, or her own fault because of her distracted thoughts? Did the bells have anything to do with it? Before sheโs even processed her own confused thoughts, she hears a voice calling out.
Suddenly in flight or fight mode, Adelaide instead chooses the secret third option of freeze, and she simply stares with wide eyes as a man approaches her. A human man, if she assumes correctly. Heโs equally as shocked that sheโs here as she is, if his expression and questions are anything to go off of. Why is she here, thatโs exactly what sheโd been wondering a moment ago. How did she get here? The one question she knows the answer to.
โDoor,โ she says simply, because she does not work well under pressure. Panicking slightly, she finally begins to move, gesturing wildly backwards at the door she came through before realizing that that probably wonโt make sense to him, if the layout of the building is to be believed. She probably just implied she came from further inside rather than outside. This is very decidedly not a port, so she doubts that this guy faces random people coming through his doors often. Well, probably. If itโs happened to her maybe itโs happened to others?
Adelaide begins walking in hopes of finding an explanation, but the more she walks the more she smells the delicious bread smell that quickly takes over her thoughts. The smell reminds her that she forgot to drink before leaving, and using a port always makes her thirsty. Her stomach grumbles, and that's when Adelaide realizes a fourth thing.
Sheโs hungry, as in not thirsty. That is not something sheโs ever experienced. What? Adelaide stops walking and whirls back around towards the man.
โSorry, do you know where I am? Has.. has anyone come through here before, similar to me? Confused? Uhโฆ do you have food?โ she asks, rapid fire, not sure if she should be acting normal or being honest. She decides for a split of both. Man, how do humans and other creatures handle being hungry instead of thirsty? This sucks, and the constant wonderful smell is not helping whatsoever.
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