[ Some part of her doesn't want to let go of Lortel's hand, as if the moment she does, Lortel might be swept away again. But that doesn't happen. Lortel stays in the kitchen, slipping out of her coat, and Sharon's gaze immediately drops to the sling, anger tightening in her chest.
She lifts her sleeve to dry Lortel's cheeks, her expression soft. ] God, I bet. You can't even do the classic two-handed mug hold, the one that says you're comfortable and lost in deep, contemplative thought over hot cocoa.
[ She reaches for and offers one of the mugs. ] What happened? Was it that big thing in the tunnels?
she can't help but smile at Sharon's gentle touch, something melty and all disbelieving, as if she can't believe such a lovely person is her friend.
a slight laugh. ] Then you'll have to savor it twice as much in my stead.
[ taking the time to find a place to set her coat and bag down gives her a moment to gather her thoughts. ]
It was, [ she'll nod as she returns to Sharon's side. ] I don't have any offensive powers right now. All I could do was try to stay away from it while guiding the others, but ...
[ shakes her head. ]
Everyone did well. The best they could. No one could be everywhere at once. It could have been so much worse... [ Ivan's fall flashes through her mind, and the heart-stopping horror that had come with it. ] If this is the only price I have to pay, then I'd consider that a very fair deal.
[ Sharon leans back against the counter. Rage flares sharp and sudden, the viper coiled in her chest rearing its head, kept in check beneath layers of masks and practiced goodness, but always there, always ready to strike. Protective, above all else.
Sleep did this on purpose. Sharon can't prove it yet, but the thought gnaws at her. Maybe she isn't interested in more Vessels. Maybe she wanted them to die down there, to pack the tunnels with fresh Hosts. Maybe she plans to pin it all on One, twist the fallout into another tool for control.
It's the way Lortel finishes that makes Sharon draw in a sharp breath, then let it out in a slow sigh. She can't say she doesn't understand, and still... ] It shouldn't have happened at all, but I'm glad this is the worst of it for you. I saw bits and pieces of what went down, and... [ She shakes her head. Yuuto wasn't the best journalist on the ground, but he'd been the only one. ] Is it broken? Do you need any pain meds? [ Eager to make things easier on Lortel, especially after she'd walked all the way out here for a sleepover. ]
[ and how could she not feel that rage? it is strange, however, to feel it on her own behalf. shifting, she'll take the mug with her good hand, and let Sharon lead them to a place to sit. a hot drink... will wonders never cease, truly. such things had been harder, before they got the water turned back on. ]
It's not broken, thankfully. [ the second offer she considered, but ultimately shakes her head. ] It only aches. I'd rather you save what you have.
[ wanting to cheer her friend, she'll move back towards her bag. ] I did bring a few things. Cards, a few hair barrettes and a brush... [ she can manage that much, albeit slowly. glancing at her, she ventures: ]
I'd wanted to try arts and crafts, but... [ couldn't find the supplies in time. ]
[ Her mouth twitches, insistence poised on her tongue, but Lortel distracts her as she turns back to her bag.
Cards, hair barrettes, a brush... Sharon can't help the smile that slips free. This is what girls do, isn't it? She's seen it in movies—brushing each other's hair, playing silly little games, talking about stupid crushes. When Lortel finally brings up what else she'd wanted to bring, Sharon's brows lift in surprise, and her smile only grows. ]
Well, you're in luck. I've got a ton of art supplies upstairs. [ She's raided more than her fair share of art stores, collected just about everything an artist could want—and then some. ] Plenty for both of us. Anything specific you had in mind? I'm sure I've got it.
Really? [ Lortel lights up in a girlish way she's only very rarely given to. ] That sounds wonderful. Perhaps we could craft or paint something together? I didn't have a specific idea beyond that... I just think it would be nice to have a little memento of our first sleepover.
[ Sharon's smile stretches so wide it borders on goofy, fingers curled tight around her cocoa. She's spent the night with plenty of people in Manhattan, but none of it has felt like this. Like a sleepover. Just two girls, still bumbling into friendship, buzzing with that giddy anticipation of what the night might bring. ]
I've got a ton of tiny canvases. We can paint something nice and swap them in the morning. [ The excitement rolls off her as she flicks a glance down the hall toward the stairs, then reaches for Lortel's mug with her free hand. ] C'mon, I'll carry it up.
[ Her thoughts are already racing as she leads Lortel upstairs, nudging her door open with an elbow and ushering her inside. The room is fairly large. A bed sits shoved against the wall, looking like it hasn't been made once in its life, drowned in pillows and blankets. A painting leans against the wall on the floor, and art supplies are scattered everywhere, mingling with half-finished pieces. Sketches and sketchbooks spill across surfaces. The desk is buried beneath books, and on the end table, a stuffed pink rabbit sits innocently beside the lamp.
[ her heart aches, but it's not a bad feeling. the opposite, actually. the way it squeezes and skips fills her whole chest with a heady warmth.
she laughs when Sharon takes her cocoa. ] How gallant of you! [ teasing and sincerely sweet. still, this allows her to grab her bag.
seeing Sharon's room ...
... is delightful. she can't hide her reaction, and doesn't even try. it's cozy and messy and lived in and every inch of it just radiates her friend's personality. who she is, as a person. it's lovely, and soft, and lovable. ]
You should teach me room decoration tips, [ she'll murmur, and the stars in her eyes make it clear it's a genuine statement. ]
[ Bright laughter spills out as she looks over at Lortel. ] My tips are as follows: wherever you set something down, that's where it lives now until you need it again. [ Simple. Effective. She never forgets where things end up. ] Controlled chaos.
[ A bean bag rests on the floor at the foot of the bed, and a chair is nestled against the desk, a green wool coat with faded blood stains hangs over the back. Sharon sets the mugs on the end table, shifts her rabbit onto the bed, and drops down beside it. ] Toss your stuff wherever, I'm moderately confident we won't lose anything!
[ It's a mess, though, and messes have a way of swallowing things whole. ] Any idea what you wanna do first? You brought barrettes and stuff, so we could mess around with hair. I could help you try out some new colors, too.
[ After a moment of careful focus, a controlled curl of magic, Sharon's hair bleeds from bleached blonde into a bright, vibrant pink. This is a classic sleepover experience! ]
[ beaming, radiant as the moon with soft happiness: ] Then I'll keep that in mind.
[ Lortel will fetch what little she needs from the bag for the moment: the pack of cards she brought, and all the little things for their hair. there's a soft brush, a comb, some hair ties and ribbons, and a handful of adorable barrettes. it's clear immediately they weren't in perfect condition when Lortel found them: some, when looked at closely, seem worn or stained.
but that it requires close looking makes a different thing clear: she put time and effort into making these lovely. because they were for Sharon, and Sharon deserves lovely things.
then she plops her bag down somewhere in the chaos and pays it no further mind. if it gets devoured by the mess, then, well, that's simply where it lives, now. and what a horrible shame it would be for Lortel to have to come back, to see it again.
she'll set the items she collected on the bedspread, and then debate where she can possibly sit that won't leave her trapped there with only one good arm. which, sadly, immediately eliminates the beanbag chair as an option. ]
What on earth is this thing?
[ while it's a rhetorical question, it's undeniably true this weird thing is fascinating to her. is that actually furniture? it's a sack. outrageous. she nudges it with a toe, shaking her head with a smile, before sitting on the edge of the bed towards its end.
the pink wins a real grin, a sunnier, laughing thing. ]
It suits you.
[ she curls a finger through a lock of her own hair, her smile going crooked. ]
I've always had such bright red hair. It's really hard to imagine an other color. What do you think would look good on me~?
It's great for reading in! [ Do not dare judge that bag of beans. It is comfy, Lortel!
Lortel's excitement feels almost sacred. There had been a time Sharon thought she'd lost her for good. Thought that light had gone out completely. Seeing her like this, animated, practically beaming, feels like a gift she doesn't take lightly. After everything, Lortel deserves to smile like this. ]
I was thinking maybe... a cool pink. [ Sharon rises from her seat, weaving an illusion as she closes the bedroom door to reveal the full-length mirror hanging on it. When Lortel looks, she'll see the shift immediately. Lortel's bright hair has softened into a muted, dusky rose, and it tumbles over her shoulders in loose, beachy waves, framing her face in something sweet and effortlessly girlish. ]
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She lifts her sleeve to dry Lortel's cheeks, her expression soft. ] God, I bet. You can't even do the classic two-handed mug hold, the one that says you're comfortable and lost in deep, contemplative thought over hot cocoa.
[ She reaches for and offers one of the mugs. ] What happened? Was it that big thing in the tunnels?
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she can't help but smile at Sharon's gentle touch, something melty and all disbelieving, as if she can't believe such a lovely person is her friend.
a slight laugh. ] Then you'll have to savor it twice as much in my stead.
[ taking the time to find a place to set her coat and bag down gives her a moment to gather her thoughts. ]
It was, [ she'll nod as she returns to Sharon's side. ] I don't have any offensive powers right now. All I could do was try to stay away from it while guiding the others, but ...
[ shakes her head. ]
Everyone did well. The best they could. No one could be everywhere at once. It could have been so much worse... [ Ivan's fall flashes through her mind, and the heart-stopping horror that had come with it. ] If this is the only price I have to pay, then I'd consider that a very fair deal.
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Sleep did this on purpose. Sharon can't prove it yet, but the thought gnaws at her. Maybe she isn't interested in more Vessels. Maybe she wanted them to die down there, to pack the tunnels with fresh Hosts. Maybe she plans to pin it all on One, twist the fallout into another tool for control.
It's the way Lortel finishes that makes Sharon draw in a sharp breath, then let it out in a slow sigh. She can't say she doesn't understand, and still... ] It shouldn't have happened at all, but I'm glad this is the worst of it for you. I saw bits and pieces of what went down, and... [ She shakes her head. Yuuto wasn't the best journalist on the ground, but he'd been the only one. ] Is it broken? Do you need any pain meds? [ Eager to make things easier on Lortel, especially after she'd walked all the way out here for a sleepover. ]
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It's not broken, thankfully. [ the second offer she considered, but ultimately shakes her head. ] It only aches. I'd rather you save what you have.
[ wanting to cheer her friend, she'll move back towards her bag. ] I did bring a few things. Cards, a few hair barrettes and a brush... [ she can manage that much, albeit slowly. glancing at her, she ventures: ]
I'd wanted to try arts and crafts, but... [ couldn't find the supplies in time. ]
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Cards, hair barrettes, a brush... Sharon can't help the smile that slips free. This is what girls do, isn't it? She's seen it in movies—brushing each other's hair, playing silly little games, talking about stupid crushes. When Lortel finally brings up what else she'd wanted to bring, Sharon's brows lift in surprise, and her smile only grows. ]
Well, you're in luck. I've got a ton of art supplies upstairs. [ She's raided more than her fair share of art stores, collected just about everything an artist could want—and then some. ] Plenty for both of us. Anything specific you had in mind? I'm sure I've got it.
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I've got a ton of tiny canvases. We can paint something nice and swap them in the morning. [ The excitement rolls off her as she flicks a glance down the hall toward the stairs, then reaches for Lortel's mug with her free hand. ] C'mon, I'll carry it up.
[ Her thoughts are already racing as she leads Lortel upstairs, nudging her door open with an elbow and ushering her inside. The room is fairly large. A bed sits shoved against the wall, looking like it hasn't been made once in its life, drowned in pillows and blankets. A painting leans against the wall on the floor, and art supplies are scattered everywhere, mingling with half-finished pieces. Sketches and sketchbooks spill across surfaces. The desk is buried beneath books, and on the end table, a stuffed pink rabbit sits innocently beside the lamp.
It's a mess of things. A mess of Sharon. ]
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she laughs when Sharon takes her cocoa. ] How gallant of you! [ teasing and sincerely sweet. still, this allows her to grab her bag.
seeing Sharon's room ...
... is delightful. she can't hide her reaction, and doesn't even try. it's cozy and messy and lived in and every inch of it just radiates her friend's personality. who she is, as a person. it's lovely, and soft, and lovable. ]
You should teach me room decoration tips, [ she'll murmur, and the stars in her eyes make it clear it's a genuine statement. ]
no subject
[ A bean bag rests on the floor at the foot of the bed, and a chair is nestled against the desk, a green wool coat with faded blood stains hangs over the back. Sharon sets the mugs on the end table, shifts her rabbit onto the bed, and drops down beside it. ] Toss your stuff wherever, I'm moderately confident we won't lose anything!
[ It's a mess, though, and messes have a way of swallowing things whole. ] Any idea what you wanna do first? You brought barrettes and stuff, so we could mess around with hair. I could help you try out some new colors, too.
[ After a moment of careful focus, a controlled curl of magic, Sharon's hair bleeds from bleached blonde into a bright, vibrant pink. This is a classic sleepover experience! ]
no subject
[ Lortel will fetch what little she needs from the bag for the moment: the pack of cards she brought, and all the little things for their hair. there's a soft brush, a comb, some hair ties and ribbons, and a handful of adorable barrettes. it's clear immediately they weren't in perfect condition when Lortel found them: some, when looked at closely, seem worn or stained.
but that it requires close looking makes a different thing clear: she put time and effort into making these lovely. because they were for Sharon, and Sharon deserves lovely things.
then she plops her bag down somewhere in the chaos and pays it no further mind. if it gets devoured by the mess, then, well, that's simply where it lives, now. and what a horrible shame it would be for Lortel to have to come back, to see it again.
she'll set the items she collected on the bedspread, and then debate where she can possibly sit that won't leave her trapped there with only one good arm. which, sadly, immediately eliminates the beanbag chair as an option. ]
What on earth is this thing?
[ while it's a rhetorical question, it's undeniably true this weird thing is fascinating to her. is that actually furniture? it's a sack. outrageous. she nudges it with a toe, shaking her head with a smile, before sitting on the edge of the bed towards its end.
the pink wins a real grin, a sunnier, laughing thing. ]
It suits you.
[ she curls a finger through a lock of her own hair, her smile going crooked. ]
I've always had such bright red hair. It's really hard to imagine an other color. What do you think would look good on me~?
[ that is 100% an invitation, Sharon. go nuts. ]
no subject
Lortel's excitement feels almost sacred. There had been a time Sharon thought she'd lost her for good. Thought that light had gone out completely. Seeing her like this, animated, practically beaming, feels like a gift she doesn't take lightly. After everything, Lortel deserves to smile like this. ]
I was thinking maybe... a cool pink. [ Sharon rises from her seat, weaving an illusion as she closes the bedroom door to reveal the full-length mirror hanging on it. When Lortel looks, she'll see the shift immediately. Lortel's bright hair has softened into a muted, dusky rose, and it tumbles over her shoulders in loose, beachy waves, framing her face in something sweet and effortlessly girlish. ]