it's...hard to describe. i can say it's a big step and requires a lot of trust, and comfort with each other, and accepting that...it's much easier for them to know, when you aren't as okay as you're pretending to be.
so it’s something that you need to really be sure about then. and they can feel you and hear your thoughts and speak to you as if they were telepathic?
yes. reaching out to you becomes as easy as talking. easier.
but
[ She's glad Nate can't see her for this; she's worrying at her lip, tapping her desk. How much does she want to pour on him here? If he's seriously thinking about this - ]
people who aren’t like us don’t understand. we feel everything unless we make ourselves not. but just because we can feel it, doesn’t mean it doesn’t need to be addressed. that’s presumptuous of others. presumptuous of him.
Illumination's mind is beautifully strange, and Jean doesn't really try to understand how exactly it works; she just basks in the unique atmosphere, her own presence blazing with careful warmth and defiant joy. It's not hard to feel the bitter weariness, too, but that isn't what she's focusing on, especially as they fall into the rhythm of conversation, snacks, and alcohol. Reminiscing with a stranger is always fun; so much about your life suddenly because hilarious, delightful, awe-inspiring.
She could claim that she hates being interrupted, but the downright feral grin on her face as the bar descends into violence chaos would undermine that pretty quick. An assessing glance tells her that no devastating powers are being flung around, so she doesn't reach out to her own; she relies on fists and instincts, and laughs gleefully more than once even as blood drips into her mouth.
Lu isn't particularly good at bare-fisted brawling. She can take and throw a punch, but she's far better when boosted by her magic - moving a little quicker than one might expect, quickly growing poisoned thorns wherever anyone's fist makes contact. If it gets a little too much for her, she'll spiderwalk up the wall and onto the ceiling. It's much easier to get a good swing with her staff from that angle.
In any case, the bouncers start to fling people out into the street, and Lu and Jean are among those gracelessly deposited outside. Her blood is still singing, there's a faint shimmering light to her eyes, and an abrasion or two that will soon turn into dark purple bruises.
Her training certainly wasn't meant for meaningless fights in seedy bars, but it comes in handy regardless; she weaves through more strikes than she suffers, and covers her drinking buddy almost instinctively. When Lu goes high, she adjusts with a delighted cackle, eyes glinting with a softer, more wistful amusement.
She's still bruised and bloody by the time they're thrown out on their asses - in fact, she's fairly sure her nose is broken - but that doesn't dim her expression at all.
"God, I needed that." Breathless, giddy, a little rough; she may have been shouting some very crass things at people.
"You looked good doing it, and even better now." Sure, they're both knocked around and scuffed up, but Lu's happiness and satisfaction is almost palpable in the air. Standing, she offers a hand to help her new friend up. "We can either show up looking like we've been thrown out of a dive bar at an even worse bar, or we can go somewhere comfortable and lick our wounds."
Once they're both up, she rummages in her bag and pulls out a pack of pastel papered cigarettes and offers one to Jean. "Do you mind if I do?"
She's already flushed, but that definitely makes her redden further, even as she takes Lu's hand. "Choices, choices."
Her expression shifts from pensive to mischievous; she waves off her own cigarette, but...
"Not at all. Need a light?" As she turns her hand over, fire sparks from her fingers. With all the restless energy drained away, for the moment, she's finally feeling calm enough to pull off a trick like this.
"That's convenient." Lu can manage her own fire, but she's more than happy to lean in and use the light. There's only a smidge of tobacco in her cigarette - it's mostly other herbs and various spell ingredients. She takes a drag, breathes out, the spiced smoke curling up around her horns.
"You know, we could go for the best of both worlds - pick up a bottle and then head home to patch up. I can heal, but it'll have to wait until I'm fully sober." Offensive magic is something she can do a few drinks in, but tinkering with something so delicate? Best wait until tomorrow.
Page 17 of 33