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It's three in the morning in the Swan household, and someone is crying quietly in the living room.
lexicality
Lexi is the lightest sleeper in the house.
She pads down the stairs.
She looks quizzically at Brilliance in the dim light of the LCD clocks in the living room and the kitchen, the bar of moonlight from the window.
She pads down the stairs.
She looks quizzically at Brilliance in the dim light of the LCD clocks in the living room and the kitchen, the bar of moonlight from the window.
cardistry
He doesn't immediately acknowledge her presence. It's possible he didn't hear her; he definitely didn't see her, huddled up like that with his face pressed into his knees.
incanted
A couple minutes later, Bella walks down the stairs, and into the living room.
+Brilliance? What happened?+ she says, magephone to avoid disturbing Lexi's light sleep.
+Brilliance? What happened?+ she says, magephone to avoid disturbing Lexi's light sleep.
cardistry
+I experienced people some more,+ he says wryly. +People are assholes sometimes.+
On close inspection, he's bleeding in two places, from a shallow cut under the line of his jaw and a deep slash along his hip that isn't quite lined up with the corresponding tear in his jeans.
On close inspection, he's bleeding in two places, from a shallow cut under the line of his jaw and a deep slash along his hip that isn't quite lined up with the corresponding tear in his jeans.
incanted
+You're -+
Bella reaches for a lamp, not the bright ceiling light, and flicks it on.
+You're bleeding. You're hurt, what happened?+
Bella reaches for a lamp, not the bright ceiling light, and flicks it on.
+You're bleeding. You're hurt, what happened?+
cardistry
+I got cut. With a knife. That part wasn't so bad,+ he says. +What happened afterward - that was bad.+
incanted
Bella sits next to him on the floor. +Would - this be a good time for me to try a healing spell -?+
cardistry
+I have a repair function, the incantation's 'Restore', I'm just too fucked up to cast it right now,+ he says.
incanted
+Can I do it for you, will that work?+ she asks. +God, what happened, Brilliance?+
incanted
"Restore," Bella incants in a low voice, mindful in case the spell - function - whatever - requires any more attention than will and word.
cardistry
The spell-or-function-or-whatever gives her complete feedback on exactly what it is repairing, down to the last thread in his torn jeans. Apart from the visible cuts, there's quite a lot of bruising, and he is bleeding in... a few more places.
Well, one more place.
Well, one more place.
cardistry
The spell completes its work.
He wraps his arms around her waist and buries his head in her lap and sobs.
He wraps his arms around her waist and buries his head in her lap and sobs.
incanted
+Brilliance - I don't understand - how - you can teleport, I would've warned you about sticking to decent neighborhoods or - or something if I didn't figure you'd just be able to teleport if anything happened -+ She threads her fingers through his hair. +How -+
cardistry
+By the time I knew I didn't wanna be there I just - couldn't,+ he says helplessly. +Teleporting's not simple. I mean - it is most of the time, but not - not then.+
incanted
Petting and petting and petting. +Is there anything I can do?+
cardistry
+I don't know.+ He resettles a little, not clinging so much, now just resting his head in her lap and hugging himself. +You're already helping.+
incanted
She settles her hands in his hair and leans her head back onto the sofa behind her and closes her eyes. +If there is anything, will you tell me?+