Maria Jackson

[Realm of the Muse 1.91.3] Response

2008-01-28T06:47:43Z

Wake up...roll over...what is the first thing you touch?

Maria turned sharply, her eyes opening to half-mast in the dark hour of night. The bad dream had shifted her to abrupt consciousness, and her fingers searched for the timepiece she had tucked into her pillowcase. It glowed with muted blue illumination, and she smiled drowsily as the face twisted from the hands of a clock into a window on the universe.

A nebula swirled against her fingernail and a star collapsed in the curves of her thumb. She brought the cold metal bearing such unbelievable life to her lips, breathing on it once and then rubbing her sleeve over it to make it shine.

Sarah had given it to her as a Christmas gift, and Maria soon after begun watching its show as part of a daily bedtime ritual. Certainly, she was able to see the stars as often as she wanted by simply glancing out her bedtime window, or utilizing Sarah's telescope. But this device allowed her to see beyond, and that was a gift too precious for words.

It made her dream, wonder, and hope for nights tucked within swirling gas giants.

It made her feel more than human.

In fact, it made her feel that being human was only the beginning.

[Realm of the Muse 1.87.4] Response

2007-12-27T08:17:30Z

Hmmm…what’s that in your Christmas stocking?

The house on Bannerman Road was perfectly ensconced in a light blanket of snow, but the air inside the Jackson house was a comfortable confluence of artificially generated heat, and winter chill naturally seeping in through infinitesimal slits in windows and doors. As such, Maria had simply slipped on her new chullo from Sarah Jane, and the orange-and-red scarf her father had given her, which oddly matched the chullo, though apparently that was a coincidence. Sarah Jane had slipped the gift to her yesterday, with the promise that there was another one to come, which excited Maria, but also confused her slightly -- she'd have to talk to her friend about that later. And Maria still had gifts to dole out to Luke, and Clyde, as well as Sarah Jane.

For now, though, she was engulfed in her flannel pyjamas, and tucked against her grandfather's leg, watching her father unwrap gifts, listening to her grandmother cook, the gentle sounds interspersed with softly playing Christmas music.

Alan handed Maria her stocking with a smile, and sat back to watch his daughter.

The first thing she came to was a photograph. As she pulled out the worn image, her thumbs stroked over the date and the name, then she turned her face upwards to look curiously at her grandfather.

"That's you, grandpa?"

He nodded, setting down his mug of tea. "Years ago, when I was in the merchant marine. Quite the stud, huh?"

Maria snickered, then looked back down at the photograph. "Why haven't I seen this before?"

"You never asked," he replied, immediately, a teasing lilt to his tone. "Thought I'd lost it, to tell the truth. But then you were begging for a photograph for that school something-or-other, and your old grandpa had to go sorting through memories."

Maria changed positions, hopping onto the couch next to her grandfather. She pulled another photograph from the stocking -- this time, it was a picture of her grandfather, her grandmother, an old man (who looked just a few years older than her own grandfather), and a...blue box...

Her eyes widening, Maria turned her enthralled gaze back onto her grandfather. "Grandpa, you--"

Nervously, he cupped his hand to her mouth. "Right, another photo for your collection. That's all."

The last two words were said pointedly, and Maria took the hint, but her father had been watching and frowned at the two of them. As far as she was concerned, it was her grandfather's own fault for putting the picture in there to begin with. She was bound to ask questions, he had to know that.

"Maria," her father's voice had a dark edge to it, leaving no room for disregarding him.

Her father knew about everything that went on with Sarah Jane, so she didn't see the trouble in him knowing this about his own father. If her guess was correct, in fact, this was something to be excited, and almost proud, of.

Maria turned her mahogany eyes on her grandfather, the look he'd never been able to resist, and queried, "Grandpa, you traveled with the Doctor, didn't you?"

He pursed his lips for a moment. "Oh, bugger," he ran a wrinkled hand through his hair and sighed, "can't keep anything from you, can I, Maria?"

Maria shot him a dubious look. "You put it in my stocking, what did you think would happen?"

"You'd toss it aside in favour of sweets?"

She was silent, but her pursed lips and furrowed brow demanded an explanation.

"Fine, fine," he sighed again, shifting on the sofa.

Ben Jackson, former companion to the Doctor, was now sitting on a sofa in the Jackson house on Bannerman Road, wearing the sweater his wife Polly had crocheted for him, and finishing off a hot cup of tea. His granddaughter, Maria Jackson, sat before him with a questioning look begging answers, and an awed twinkle in her eyes.

"I traveled with the Doctor, aye. But what I'd like to know, princess," he tweaked her nose, "is how you know about him?"

Maria looked at her dad, who shrugged, and nodded to her to continue. "Er...could take a while, grandpa."

OOC: Ooookay, so. This was an idea thought up by...someone, and perpetuated, and I like it, so I'm incorporating it into my personal Maria Jackson canon. I'm iffy about writing Ben, because I've only seen him in one serial, but I'm giving it a go. Also, since spin-offs are not necessarily canon, I'm picking and choosing things to suit my own needs. Yes, Alan has dark hair, which uh...doesn't necessarily work with both Ben and Polly, so I might have to tweak something there. Anyway, expect more prompt responses/stories/roleplay along this personal canon line, in the future.

OOM [Bannerman Road: Jackson Residence]

2007-12-09T10:08:07Z

Visits from her mother have been steadily growing more infrequent. Maria is divided between a pervading sense of discontent and a guilty feeling of relief. She loves her mother, and often enjoys her presence, but the vitriol that tends to arise between her parents is sometimes not worth the visit at all. For her dad's sake, she is beginning to wish more frequently that her mum would just stay away.

He's good about hiding. He's good at the easy smile to face the world with, tuck away the hurts for the darkness. She knows this, and she can do nothing, she thinks. He wants to spare her, and she feels she should grant him that. But it still hurts, because she loves her father beyond words.

Maria now realizes that the people close to her are impeccably deceptive. Not maliciously so, but frustratingly so, to be sure.

Her Sarah Jane, for instance, was so stubborn about letting people in, for the longest time; she hid her desires, her thoughts, and motivations. And while she hasn't yet undergone a complete evolution, she's softening. Oddly enough, Maria feels she needed someone like Sarah Jane precisely when she met her, more than at any other time in her life, even when her parents were going through the messy divorce. She supposes it has something to do with the sudden change of being painfully removed from familiarity and further alienated by having to move and readjust to a new school.

The Sarah Jane she's met in Milliways is, ostensibly, different from her Sarah Jane. Firstly, she's much younger, married to James Bond, and pregnant. And obviously doesn't travel with the Doctor as long as her Sarah did. And despite the initial awkwardness, she was daftly certain the woman liked having her about.

Having seen her parents (mostly her dad) fall apart and reorganize, and then dismantle again, she's used to realizing that people have problems which can make them seem insular and uncaring, but that isn't the case at all. In fact, she knows when something's troubling her, it's rather difficult to worry about comforting someone else. After all, everyone needs comfort now and again, even if things are hunky dory. People just need to know they're loved. But they need such affection and familiar presences especially when they're lost in a tempest.

So she thinks that, normally, she wouldn't have been so emotionally affected by Sarah Jane's double refutation, except that she was feeling insecure on top of it. She feels daft about it, but her emotions are roiling enough just being a fourteen year old girl. Those turbulent feelings are compounded by the stress of school, the nonsense with her parents, and the less-than-usual extracurricular activities she indulges in at Sarah Jane's house, saving the world.

Maybe Sarah just knows what to say to make someone feel good. Sarah Jane's a good liar, after all; it would probably be more than easy for her to lie to Maria about wanting her around.

She wishes, more than anything, that she could help Sarah Jane right now. But she's tried, and it doesn't matter.

She really can't help anyone.

A knock on her bedroom door causes Maria to look up from her pillow, and turn on her stomach to peer at the visitor.

"Maria. Your mother's just phoned, she can't make it today."

Maria's heart sinks a bit. She was hoping for a distraction, at least.

"'S all right. Probably should do some studying anyway," she murmurs.

"What were you two planning on?"

"Just a little trip out for some girl time. Sorry, dad. Daughters need just their mums now and again," she tries to joke.

Alan Jackson smiles softly. "I understand, sweetheart. But listen, if you want to get out for a bit this weekend, we could head into the city tomorrow. I'm bogged down with work today, otherwise I'd propose a spontaneous trip."

Maria shakes her head. "No, it's fine, dad. Some other time?"

Alan studies her for a moment, walking over to press a kiss to her head. "You sure you're all right? You seem a little...off."

She's good at this. Lying. At least, she thinks she is. "I'm fine, dad. I'll do a bit of reading."

Alan strokes a hand down her head and smiles, leaving the room and shutting the door gently behind him.

So she is good at this. The lying stuff.

Well, she learned from the best.

Daughters need their mums.

Maria turns her head back into her pillow and lets her arm dangle over the side of her bed. In this case, with this Sarah Jane, she needs her...sister. And she can have neither. And she's worried about Sarah Jane, but cursed with the inability to help.

She just hopes the Sarah Jane in Milliways is all right.

And that some time, maybe, she'll be able to see her again. If the woman wants to see her, that is.

Finally, Maria allows herself a cathartic cry.

Ask the Pup

2007-12-02T05:42:58Z

Ask my pups anything and get an IC answer.

Maria Jackson (not_on_her_own)
Fox Mulder (is_out_there)

[Realm of the Muse 1.77.1] Response

2007-11-15T18:57:59Z

ooc: part I of possibly other little one-offs in my effort to soothe my pup, who's hurting after the events of the latest SJA episode. ahem. angst ahoy!

Nothing ever lasts forever.

The photograph is glossy, still unblemished by fingerprints or age, and as she holds it against the wall to catch a stray beam of light, it shines against her eyes such that the people it contains seem to breathe for a split second.

Maria turns absently, picking up the photograph of her and her mother which had been lying flat on the corner of her nightstand. It's a normal photograph, really, and both Chrissie and Maria Jackson are smiling. Their arms are around each other, but it seems...much like a photo between any family members; nothing about it would denote the fact that they are mother and daughter. Happiness is apparent, yes, but there is a subtle lack of warmth, familiarity, or inherent affection. She loves her mother, she just...doesn't always like her.

And no one has ever known how to live with such thoughts.

She sets that photo back down, using both hands to once again hold this photograph up to the light. It's a picture of her and Sarah Jane. Friends, confidantes.

Partners in crime, Maria smiles wryly to herself, burrowing deeply into her pillow.

And because she's alone, lying in silent shadow, she allows herself, for just a moment, to think this picture of her and Sarah Jane is one of a mother and her daughter. One need not suspend much belief; their arms are tightly around each other, Maria is leaning her head on Sarah's shoulder, and Sarah's cheek rests atop Maria's hair.

Mother and daughter.

Maria sighs, happy with such a thought, but immensely guilty. It oddly makes her feel even more alone.

But now...Luke--her best friend, her other partner, the one she threw popcorn at during silly movies, and whose jokes made her giggle despite their corniness--is gone. And Sarah is...lost, too. She doesn't know how to get her back. And because she's 14 and still with the selfishness of youth...she wants Sarah Jane back more than anything. She wants Sarah to come back for her, to make her feel loved by someone--besides her father, that is.

"I miss you," Maria whispers to the photograph. A bit more quietly, "I love you. You're my...well, you're not my mum, but...sort of. My friend. My sister. My...all right, you're my...mum by choice. And now you're behind a wall and I don't know what to do. I'm probably just...just the daft girl across the road, to you. Do you...love me?"

Nothing will answer, of course.

Families tuck against your heart, even if you lose them in the folds of time. Sometimes they hum in the shores of the great ocean mind, and sometimes they are silence.

So Maria presses this photograph to her chest for a second, to push it into her blood, then leans it against the frame holding a photo of her father and her.

She switches off the lamp, and hopes for lighthouses to guide families home.

[Realm of the Muse 1.82.2] Response

2007-11-12T06:00:36Z

I knew I was in trouble when...

I knew I was in trouble when suddenly the only sound I could hear was the fast pumping of my heart in my ears. My head almost hurt with the intensity of it, and I tried to catch my breath as I crouched into a darkened corner, hoping this was the best spot to avoid the Ferath.

Sarah Jane, Luke, Clyde...

I took a quick inventory in my head. The last time I'd seen them...Sarah Jane and Luke were trying to dismantle the Ferath's subduction beam, and Clyde was taking apart the creature's spacecraft. It was almost like unraveling tin foil, really, as it was a rather poorly made ship, if I'd ever seen one.

There were two of them--these snarling, rat-like creatures. One was chasing me while I tried to get back to my friends, and the other one...

I hope they're all right. Oh, but Sarah's got her sonic lipstick.

Suddenly, I swallowed a hard lump in my throat. Sarah had given the sonic lipstick to me, to keep me safe while I went to grab that jug of ammonia. She had another sort of gadget that she had to use on that circuit something-or-other, and was working on it with Luke. It wasn't that far, I would've been fine. I couldn't believe she'd given it to me, but it was supposed to be a quick jog. But then I'd been cornered and couldn't get a clear shot of the bloody thing, or I would've zapped it already. I couldn't help but wonder if they needed the sonic lipstick now. And here I was cowering in a corner.

Taking one last deep breath, I poked my head out of the shadows, looking around for red glowing eyes. Seeing none, I stood as quietly as possible, keeping the lipstick tucked carefully in the palm of my hand. If I started to run again, wherever the creature was, it might instantly be alerted to my presence. On the other hand, I couldn't very well just walk back to my friends, not when time was all-important.

"Right. A swift run it is then," I muttered to myself, taking off down the corridor. Not too far ahead, I spotted the familiar double doors I'd come through when I'd left them.

It seemed all too easy, and as I heard a hissing sound behind me, I realized how right I was. For just a second, I glanced behind me, noticing the same glowing eyes and wet fangs I'd been trying to dodge for the last twenty minutes.

"Oh, give me a bloody break," I called out between breaths. As best I could, I tried to aim the sonic lipstick at the creature's fur, but it was hard to steady the beam as I continued to run and balance the bucket of tightly sealed ammonia; the beam merely bounced off the walls.

"You're a fast, nasty blighter. Just sod off, will you?"

It seemed the perfect time for...more choice words, given the approach of such a disgusting, possibly vicious creature. Giant rats. I shook my head. Of course the thing wasn't going to leave, it likely wanted to eat me...or...impregnate me or something. Clearly, I'd been watching too many science fiction movies with Clyde.

Almost there.

I pushed through the double doors with such force that I fell forward on the ground, palms flat to the cold tile. The bucket of ammonia slid forward, and I was pleased the sonic lipstick remained firmly in my grasp. Luke was nearest to me, and grabbed my arm, helping me up just as the Ferath lunged. Clyde had removed the lid and doused the rat with ammonia, and I felt a twinge of satisfaction at watching it collapse. For a moment, nothing but gasping breaths shook through me as I held Luke's forearm and turned to find Sarah Jane hurrying over to pull me into a hug.

"It didn't melt," came Clyde's disappointed voice somewhere behind my shoulder. "It should have done--would've been cooler."

"Are you all right, Maria?" Luke asked beside me. I could hardly answer, still smothered in Sarah Jane's shoulder. I was frankly relieved they were all okay, but then, I usually am, even though none of them have given me reason to doubt they'd somehow be all right no matter what.

Sarah pulled back, cupping my cheeks, and looking at me like I must have a huge gash across my face. It was the same look my father gave me whenever I'd had a nightmare, or ran a fever, or fell off my bike--that slightly annoying, but strangely comforting look of concern that only adults can manage.

That only parents can manage, actually. She stroked the strands of hair that had come loose from my ponytail, then looked immediately stern. "Where were you?"

"...trying to get away from that thing. I got here quick as I could," I breathed out, still trying to catch my breath. Turning to Luke, I gave him a half-smile. "And I'm fine."

Triumphantly, I uncurled my hand and held out the sonic lipstick. "All in one piece," I declared cheerfully, somewhat proud that I'd managed to use the thing without breaking it.

"And so are you," Sarah Jane replied warmly, pulling me in for a hug again. Then her free arm shot out to pull Luke in and she waved Clyde over. We tended to have one of these group hugs after nearly all of our harrowing adventures, which seem to be the only sort of adventures we ever have. Maybe it's a bit soppy, but as I curled my arms around Sarah Jane and Clyde, and smushed my face up against Luke's denim jacket, I couldn't help thinking what a great family we made.

[Milliways] OOM: Girls' Day Out

2007-11-11T23:57:42Z

With her dad going to Cardiff for the weekend (she'd asked him the specifics, and still wasn't quite sure--but then, his job was of an esoteric nature), and her mum on a short holiday with Ivan, Sarah Jane had opted to look after Maria for the weekend. She stood at the front door with a pack of a few essentials (she did live just across the road, after all), watching her father chat amiably with Sarah Jane. He finally waved to her, then came up to Maria, bending down to kiss her head.

"You two have fun, all right?" He smiled, getting in his car and driving away.

Quite frankly, she was looking forward to this. Luke was at Clyde's house, and it had been a long while since Maria had a day alone with a mother figure. Her mum came by fairly often, but never stayed as long as she would've liked.

Maria shrugged pleasantly, walking up to Sarah Jane.

"Just the girls today then," she smiled.

[Realm of the Muse 1.74.3] Response

2007-11-05T22:13:40Z

Things do not get better by being left alone. Unless they are adjusted, they explode with a shattering detonation.
--Winston Churchill

Their old house was small, and as a consequence, it took a layer of at least three pillows against her ears to just barely muffle the vitriolic words slung equitably between her parents. Her father had, for years, kept himself from ever raising his voice to match the intensity and volume of his wife's. Alan Jackson had learned to bury the insults for the sake of his daughter, hoping to spare her having to hear reciprocal invidious words.

But her father was human, as she learned abruptly, and the words he'd buried had never really gone away; instead, they'd taken root, fomenting resentment and anger and bitterness.

This time, when Chrissie Jackson threw an insult at him, tempering it with a stroke to his cheek, as always, Alan had growled her name, blocking her exit from their flat. Maria looked between them with fear due a ten-year-old child, and backed out of the room, into her own, which was hardly a suitable escape.

She'd curled into a tight ball as she pressed the pillows to her ears, hoping if she had to hear the words, she could be spared the brunt of them. It was ultimately fruitless, and after what felt like a considerable amount of time had passed, Maria threw the pillows vehemently against her wall, rolling onto her back.

"Why do you even stay here when it's obvious you couldn't give a damn about this family?!"

"That's a good question, Alan. Sure you want to know the answer?!"

Maria laid there, not bother to brush at the tears building in her eyes. Her gaze was diverted to her bookshelf, which contained a tome of fantasty books. And for the first time in her life, she wished she could leave and never come back.

Character Dossier

2007-11-03T17:52:53Z

Facts & Assumptions about the character of Maria Jackson.

What We Know

-- she was born sometime in 1994
-- her parents are divorced; her mother cheated on her father
-- her mother "didn't want kids" though she appears to at least love Maria, she's just abhorrent character-wise a lot of the time, and "rude" in the words of Luke
-- her father is stable and very loving, and they have an extremely close relationship, although currently he doesn't realize what she does at Sarah Jane's house
-- first person Luke saw, helped him hide in the ladies' bathroom at the Bubble Shock factory
-- seems to struggle with Maths
-- likes curry
-- prefers tea over pop
-- doesn't have music channels on her telly
-- personality-wise: very curious (to the point she initially shoved herself at Sarah Jane, who seemed to prefer being alone at the time of Invasion of the Bane); loves adventure and thrills; doesn't seem to be easily frightened; determined; can be a bit pushy about certain things; very good-natured and friendly; loyal; has a good sense of humor

What I Suppose

-- if she doesn't have music channels, it leads me to wonder if her musical interests are more on the fringe. How on the fringe is another matter. I'm not sure if she just likes contemporary music off the mainstream, or if she appreciates older stuff (classic rock, jazz, classical, etc.). For the moment, I'm going to assume she has been exposed to some classical and classic stuff--she seems broadminded. I don't know that she'd admit to liking those particular types of music in certain company, though
-- I think prior to her experiences with Sarah Jane, she wasn't a huge sci-fi person, though not against the genre; but I assume that since everything has happened, she's perhaps begun to explore the genre a bit more--taken an interest in something like Star Wars and wondering whether such things are really out there; apart from that, I assume she is probably exposed to mainstream, contemporary movies, as is natural for a 13-year-old
-- she's obviously pretty open-minded, she doesn't seem easily surprised
-- she seems to receive a lot of physical affection from her father, so I believe this has, in turn, made her quite tactile. She seems to appreciate the affection from Sarah Jane, I think because of her mother, although her mother isn't physically reticent necessarily; she was quite clingy with both Clyde & Luke in "Warriors of Kudlak", and she let her father hold her hand in "Whatever Happened to Sarah Jane?"
-- she loves her mother, I don't think that's in dispute--the end of "Eye of the Gorgon" said as much. But I do think she's disappointed by her mother's behavior and actions, at times. Rather than resent her mother, however, I think she's looked to Sarah Jane to fill that larger role of mother figure, and just accepted her mother for whatever the woman is capable of giving
-- I can't tell if she's a voracious reader; she's certainly quite smart. I think, again, as a result of her adventures, she's perhaps begun to read more--I think her mind has been opened in a lot of ways
-- I can't detect any apparent "crushes" on either Clyde or Luke at the moment; I know other people in fandom have differing opinions; she has other friends, if we can infer that from her contact list in her cell phone, but Luke & Clyde are her best friends, as well as Sarah Jane
-- she seems to love Sarah Jane as a mother figure, and is equally protective of both her and Luke