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[rathercommon]

crystal | letter | cease and desist notices slipped under her door | action

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[rathercommon]

[ Her hands clench together harder. But there's no real escalation in words, or in tone; her voice remains pinched, but grows no worse. ]

I don't need a mum. I've never needed one, really. When people have told me what to do and who to be, it's just held me back. I'm not going to take it from anyone ever again.

[ But it's not as harsh as it might be. It's not a rejection; it's just a warning. ]

[shri]

I think I learned that well enough. That horse still deserves your apology, by the way.

[ When will she let it die? Never, apparently. But it isn't goading or demanding, it's laughing more than anything else. ]

But Kitty, you are a singular young woman, and you don't need me to tell you that, I am sure. [ She leans, near, her hand cupping against Kitty's cheek to turn her face towards her. Had to get this out now, or it will never happen. ] I will be glad, one day, to see what you will accomplish, and to let you know that whatever you need, you only need call for me. I will be there.

[rathercommon]

[ Kitty lets her face be turned, though with some discomfort. Indeed, there's discomfort on her face, still, in spite of these reassurances, in spite of Lakshmi's laughter. This is a wound that's deep - and fresh, too. ]

Then - That's what comrades do for one another. I'll accept it, if you'll accept it from me, too.

[shri]

[ A wound that she must take care of, like any wound. The soul can never be cut, struck at, the soul can never be harmed.

She believed wholeheartedly that, once, but life taught her otherwise. How many times the soul could be wounded, cut apart, strewn into pieces. It had been her father that taught her how to deal with such pains, it had been the love and care of others that showed her how to mend such tears. ]

Of course, Kitty. [ Tentatively, she leans in and presses a firm, affectionate kiss, to the top of Kitty's brow. Warm and sure. ] I will be here for you, no matter what else comes.

[rathercommon]

[ Kitty makes a little noise in response to that kiss - a quiet, uncertain little grunt - but she doesn't pull away, and she certainly doesn't rebuff the gesture. She does rub at the spot when Lakshmi finishes, wrinkling her nose very slightly. It's not exactly the most effective set of reactions for a girl who wants to be taken seriously. ]

Anyway. Good. So, then - you agree. If you're in danger, I've got the right to help you.

[shri]

[ Her eyebrow lifts, if not exactly for the petulance over affection honestly given.

Then certainly for how the twist turns on those words. ]

Is that so?

[rathercommon]

[ A short shrug of confirmation. ]

You agreed that we're comrades. That's not a one-way relationship. They help each other. So unless you're saying you won't step in to help save my life...

[ She lifts her eyebrows pointedly, fully expecting an immediate - and strong - denial of that. ]

[shri]

[ Lakshmi hums. Because of course, there are a half dozen reasons why she would not dare let Kitty put herself in harm's way if it came to it. ]

Well, if that's the case. Then you are to start training with me, immediately. [ A pause, thinking. About the state of this room, and the way Kitty otherwise lived. ] And come to dinner once a week.

[rathercommon]

[ Training she gets. But - ]

Why dinner?

[shri]

I've seen how you eat.

[ This is the face of a mother judging you, Kitty. Unacceptable, it is utterly unacceptable. ] A healthy meal will not poison you, you know.

[rathercommon]

[ w h a t ]

All right, first of all, there's nothing wrong with how I eat.

[shri]

[ Stares unblinkingly straight into her soul. ]

When was the last time you ate vegetables, Kitty?

[rathercommon]

[ came out to have a good time but feeling so attacked right now ]

Potatoes are a vegetable. Besides, how am I to know? It's not like I'm keeping some - loving journal of everything I've ever eaten.

[shri]

[ One.

Goddamn.

Eyebrow raise. ]

[rathercommon]

[ And Kitty widens her eyes in an unmistakable gesture - one that's half-sassy, half-fight me. ]

[shri]

[ Oh she is going to kick your ass training, Kitty. Then we'll see about fight me. ]

Potatoes do not count, ask Ireland. [ Carrying on - ] You are coming to dinner and you will be eating what I put in front of you if you ever expect to keep up with me and don't want to be half tired all the time.

[rathercommon]

[ She purses her lips. ]

And what do I get for it?

[shri]

[ And it - means more than just nagging her. It always did. There were no guns, here, nothing she can use that it didn't matter. ]

Being able to kick a man in the throat before he's even finished striking.

[rathercommon]

[ Kitty waves her hand dismissively. ]

What do I get from you. You're making rather a lot of demands of me. What do I get?

[shri]

[ She shakes her head - wonders if it's even a fair trade for the only peace of mind Lakshmi can have when Kitty firmly insists. ]

You could not fight that beast in the fade. Not head on. The look on your face...

[ An unhappy fix in the corner of her mouth. Sobers with it, and the truth there. ] I cannot always be there Kitty, nor will anyone else. One day, there will be demons like that creature, but it is my hope, that at that time, you will not need anyone else. With time, with study, you can fight such a thing. That is what you will have, one more ability to live on your own terms. Not mine or anyone else's, yours.

[rathercommon]

I -

[ Kitty falters at that. Her lips tighten, and her gaze drops. She hadn't. She hadn't been able to. That's right.

But. ]

I don't - Things were different with him. With Honorius.

[shri]

It won't be. Next time. By all my power, it won't be. I never want to see you look like that, ever again.

[ It brooks no argument, directing forward. ] How did you meet such a being?

[rathercommon]

[ Kitty's gaze shifts again - not out of shame or shock or unhappiness this time, but from wariness. This - This is something she's not told anyone in full. She's not concealed it, either, not exactly; it's just that no one's really asked, because they've got bigger things to worry about and because they probably don't care and because, well, no one looks at Kitty and expects that she's a rebel and a traitor.

So it's not a secret, exactly. But, well, it's also not something...not secret. But Lakshmi's proven herself to have a good heart, so - ]

He was the guardian of the tomb of the Founder. William Gladstone. We were robbing it for magical artefacts to help us in our fight against the magicians.

[shri]

[ She listens, makes sure to keep her face reserved, fixed as she watches Kitty talk, explain. ]

A leftover horror from a different time? [ She tries not to think about it - about Kitty alone in that dark room and how it fixes in her chest. That concern, that worry. But it's familiar, her fingers tapping. ] Smart. Using their own weapons against them. It's a good first step when they won't let you arm yourself.

[rathercommon]

[ But Kitty shakes her head fiercely, looking up at Lakshmi with her jaw set. ]

It wasn't smart. Or if it was, then it got corrupted quickly. It all just turned into greed. Into acquiring for the sake of acquiring. Pretending that having things made us wonderful and powerful and successful. But at the end of the day - we all died, just the same, no matter how many things we had.