Room 211, Sunday Evening

[seeks_truth]

It had taken more time to move all of her things than Cassandra had entirely anticipated: her armor and equipment were happy, and she had gathered more books over the past year or so than she had thought. And of course, there were the bookshelves they had bought at the Isle of IKEA, which now took up most of the room. Still, as Cassandra put down the last of her book on their joint 'already read' shelf, it had been a good day's work.

"This is perfect," she said, stepping back from the shelves.

She appreciated her and Lucille's handiwork for a moment longer.

[[ open post, open door! ]]

Comments

[seeks_truth]

"I like the book," Cassandra said, wondering what Lucille's speedy reply was all about. "You think otherwise?"

[crimson_sister]

"I believe I will like it too," Lucille said firmly, not wanting Cassandra to think that her reaction before meant otherwise, or that it meant anything at all.

[seeks_truth]

"Would you like to read the first chapter?" Cassandra asked, stretching out the arm with the book towards Lucille.

Unlike Lucille, she was not wearing sleepwear beyond her underwear, but that wasn't particularly on her mind.

[crimson_sister]

Lucille reached for the book, trying not to look at Cassandra while she did so. Where you supposed to look at your friend when they were only wearing underwear? Especially so little of underwear?

"I'd love to read to you." She would, and she could look at a page.

[seeks_truth]

But it was perfectly normal underwear!

Cassandra pulled her arm back and under the covers once Lucille took the book, settling in. "I would like that," she decided.

[crimson_sister]

Lucille wore a very long and loose chemise. It was very normal to her, even without Cassandra in the room.

She made herself comfortable and opened the book on the first page.

"The wind tore through the trees and brought with it the salty smell from the sea. The girl struggled against the storm, looking for shelter."

[seeks_truth]

Cassandra smiled. She always found Lucille's voice to be calming and pleasant; she kept herself turned facing the other girl under the blankets, and listened.

[crimson_sister]

Lucille relaxed, becoming increasingly caught up in the story, where the young woman eventually found an abandoned cottage.

"I think this place isn't what it seems," she added between sentences.

[seeks_truth]

"It sounds rather threatening, doesn't it?" Cassandra mused. "The author does know how to choose her words well."

[crimson_sister]

"Yes, she does. I wonder if there will be ghosts."

It was an old abandoned cottage after all.

[seeks_truth]

"Or blood mages."

Cassandra, that was offensive.

[crimson_sister]

"Do you think there are blood mages in this world?" Lucille sounded doubtful.

[seeks_truth]

"There could be?" Cassandra offered. "It does dabble in magics."

[crimson_sister]

Lucille was still doubtful, but she chose not to question further.

"How does one recognize a blood mage?"

[seeks_truth]

"They perform magic acts using blood," Cassandra said dryly.

[crimson_sister]

That sounded... fascinating. Lucille understood that wasn't the best reaction though, so she said: "Their own or someone else's?"

[seeks_truth]

"Either," Cassandra said mildly. "Acts of magic performed using blood - any blood - has a greater ability to open gateways to the Fade, among other things. It is very dangerous."

[crimson_sister]

"They seek power then, those who use it? Is that what that mage, Anders, does?"

[seeks_truth]

"I saw him try it once," Cassandra said, "But he was clearly an amateur."

Or he wouldn't have given up so easily.

[crimson_sister]

"Does that mean he is less dangerous? Or more so because he doesn't know what he is doing?"

Blood magic sounded... intriguing.

[seeks_truth]

"Both," Cassandra said, heaving a sigh. "But it does mean he was rather easy to subdue."

She hadn't even had to go into her special skills.

[crimson_sister]

Lucille would have liked to know more about Cassandra's special skills.

"Even of there are no blood mages in this story, we should write one where they appear. Perhaps the heroine could fall in love with one of them, and then have to kill him when she realizes what he is and that he has deceived her."

Lucille thought it was a rather romantic plot, although tragic.

[seeks_truth]

They involved being able to set people's blood on fire WITH HER MIND?

Cassandra blinked. "That is rather... morbid, and terrible," she said. "Though... it may well be interesting. It would be proof of the heroine's moral fibre."

[crimson_sister]

Lucille would find that SO HOT. Pun totally intended.

Sometimes their tastes differed. "She has a strong sense of moral, of course," Lucille said. "Based on her own convictions. Perhaps she could later find her true love?"

[seeks_truth]

"Perhaps," Cassandra said. "Or perhaps her quest is so important that she must make such sacrifices. I suppose it is not terrible to find one's self alone."