(open) i made a sucker's prayer

[scholiast]

who: lucretia & you
what: tdm prompt + catch-all
when: late march/early april
where: oot n aboot
warnings: warnings for violence re: monster fights

01 everybody was monster fightin' (ota)

(Lucretia has always fought better in pairs than alone.

Its to do with her defensive capabilities; she's extraordinarily good at buff magic, at covering those with more destructive power, keeping them safe as they dive in head first. She can at least hold her own when she needs to but it's trickier. It isn't as fun, either! She likes being in a team.

Regardless, she's grouping creatures together with lightning spells and the odd fireball, trying to keep an eye out for other fighters or innocents about to be caught in the line of fire, anybody who needs a hand or a quick shield. Her elemental magic isn't at the same level as her abjuration work; eventually she falls back, starts to conserve her higher level spell slots.

Anybody who has just found themselves in a sticky situation or just looks like they need an extra hand will suddenly find a neat shield of faith being cast about them.)

Comments

[dancingmd]

I'm not supposed to be, no, but I am on call, so who knows?

[scholiast]

Okay.

I haven't got work tomorrow but I was planning to go help with the relief work.

[dancingmd]

(Beverly's eyes pop back open and she turns sideways to face Lucretia as she cooks.)

You'll be okay to do that? I mean... your apartment... all your journals...

[scholiast]

(She falters a little, brow furrowing.)

I'll... go back to collect what I can afterward. (Her things are important to her of course, but she won't waste time or spell slots magicking them out of her apartment when there are people still in need of help.)

[dancingmd]

(Lucretia's commitment to helping others first is just one of the many reasons Beverly loves her. Her gaze turns soft.)

Let me know when you do. I want to be there.

[scholiast]

Okay. Thank you.

(For now, she'll just cross her fingers and hope for the best! The sauce is starting to bubble, so she switches that off and– oh, the cooling, drained pasta has clumped together in the pot. Shoot.

She wrestles with serving it but hopefully Beverly doesn't notice.)

Here. (She comes over to deliver her a both a bowl, and a kiss to her cheek.)

[dancingmd]

(Beverly accepts her bowl gratefully and immediately starts to dig in when... ah well... that's certainly a thing that is happening. As she stabs a forkful of noodle, almost all the rest of the spaghetti in the bowl hitches a ride in one giant clump. She bites her lip and tries not to laugh. Poor Lucretia!)

[scholiast]

(She notices and sighs, setting her own bowl down. Geez, she can't even, like, provide.)

For Istus' sake.

[dancingmd]

(Beverly laughs gently as she sets her spaghetti ball down and reaches for Lucretia instead.)

Don't worry, it's an easy fix. We'll just sauté them with a little extra oil.

[scholiast]

(She gives Beverly her hands, still faintly embarrassed.)

Sorry. I thought I could learn cooking from Taako by osmosis, but apparently not.

[dancingmd]

(She kisses Lucretia's knuckles.)

That's all right. It just takes practice.

[scholiast]

(That coaxes a smile out of her.)

I'd better get practicing in that case, huh.

[dancingmd]

We'll practice together.

(Because the truth is, while Nana made sure she could feed herself without a replicator, Beverly is nowhere near the level of ability of someone like Taako.)

And... it'll be easier now that you're here. That is... if you want to stay.

[scholiast]

(She nods, unable to help the way her smile widens. It will be fun, learning how to cook with Beverly and to stay in the apartment with her, sharing her bed. The thought of having a place to come back to after being out, to be sharing that, not having to be alone...

It's a lot. She blinks, and exhales shakily.)

I'd love to stay.

[dancingmd]

(Beverly beams, unsure why she had been so nervous to ask. It was probably an inevitable course for them, flood or no. )

Good! We can redecorate some and of course we'll have to make space for Junior and your art (...somewhere...)

[scholiast]

(Lucretia's still caught up in her thoughts and just nods, glancing up as Beverly gestures about them. She's been thinking lately about trying to find a studio towards the city where she can keep her art things, stop them from cluttering up her work and home life. It seems very luxurious, to be able to have such an option.)

We'll sort it all out.

[dancingmd]

I just want it to feel like home for you too.

[scholiast]

As long as you're here, it will.

[dancingmd]

(Oh no, that is too cute and sweet and perfect that Lucretia definitely deserves another kiss!)

I'm sorry it had to happen this way, but I'm glad to be taking this step.

[scholiast]

(She nods, bolstered by Beverly's kiss.)

Same, but... (she looks down at the clump of pasta in her bowl.) I'm nervous, too.

[dancingmd]

I know.... Me too.

(And no doubt for the very same reasons.)

[scholiast]

(Another nod. Perhaps this conversation has been a little overdue.)

I want this, (she says simply, and glances up,) so much, but you're staring to make it very hard to want to leave, and... that scares me.

[dancingmd]

(She knows. Boy does she know. The times when she's let herself think that maybe this could work, maybe there's another option... only to be wracked with guilt over how selfish she's being.)

I'm scared too. I thought... I thought talking to Deanna and Wes would help, even if they only were holograms, but... I think it just made everything that much more complicated.

[scholiast]

(Lucretia's been having similar problems.)

I've never felt like this before, about anybody. And– Beverly, I don't have anything to go back to, or any one. (A self inflicted isolation of course, but...)

I'm not sure what to do, (she confesses, giving Beverly's hands a gentle squeeze,) except... cross that bridge when we get to it.

(It's a terrible thing to say, but she feels so lost.)

[dancingmd]

I hope you know you always have a place with me, if you choose. I've never wanted to put any pressure on you but...