prismatica | 001✖; (video @hot.damn)

[It's rare that Rey lets herself be seen on the network... because of reasons. While not too defined, the scar-faced woman sports various snake-like traits of Sanguis, her skin splotched by spiky maroon scales and green eyes with slitted pupils being more piercing than they would be normally.

[What more, she doesn't appear to be hanging out in any abode of her own (though some might recognize her as the thief burglarizing people's homes and stealing their food and monopolizing showers). Despite the biting winter chill, she's hanging out at the Greatmoon Groves in a tanktop and no jacket. Somehow, she doesn't even shiver when she speaks:]

"Been working on this thing called 'trying not to starve and die' and guess Moonlacing's supposed to help not do that. Handholding only gets you so far before one of us gets tired of sweaty palms, so looking for other options under the right conditions.

"First, not down to fuck some random, so don't ask and don't expect a dicking on the first date. Not into that, anyway.

"Second, if this is our first conversation, then we meet in public. That way we can figure whether our shit's going to work out or not.

"Third, respect boundaries or perish. Think this one goes without saying, but just putting that out there." [Judging from her rigid stature and musculature and the fact that she can likely grind someone's bones into red candy, she means that.]

"Anyway, heard that fighting each other works for Chroma as well, long as both parties consent. Would like to stay sharp--" [and not get her ass thrown by another GODDAMN robot again] "--so looking for people who aren't made out of gelato that can handle that. Am pretty strong, so don't be gelato.

"Want to go somewhere outside but you're too chickenshit to brave the cold? Can help keep you warm or whatever, too." [Is that why she's not bundled up despite the weather? Why yes, yes it is.

[...Is there anything else she's missing? She's not used to being this long-winded-- Oh, right:]

"Name's Rey, by the way. Should've probably started with that, not knowing who most of you motherfuckers are and all.

"So yeah, that's all."

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Well if it works...

[ Konoka had zero problems holding hands because, long before she even stepped foot in Lunatia, Konoka was never shy about reaching out and touching others. This proved to be no exception when she took one of Rey's hands in her own. ]

Alright then!

How about I try getting the aura closer to me. Right now, you kinda feel something close to your arms, right?

[ She would feel something like a bubble. ]

I'm gonna try and move it to where you'll only feel that where our hands meet!

[Rey is not quite so bold to grab people's hands with abandon, or even actively suggest it. But Konoka didn't strike her as the fighting type even before she mentioned it, so it's not like she's going to go back to suggesting that instead.

[So, for now, this works. Have to learn to get over the touching thing somehow, right?]

Ah, right. [Rey nods at Konoka's question; she does sense it. Hard to miss.] Am ready. Give it a shot.

[With the proper warning, she doesn't have to worry about instinctively lashing out like she used to. Small miracles.]

Good.

[ And so, Konoka concentrates. She attempts to... push less energy, and draw it closer. Rey might feel it waver for a bit, but she doesn't quite nail it just yet. ]

Mmmmm, this is a bit tougher than I thought. Did you feel anything changing, at least?

[She takes a moment to notice whether or not she senses anything different from before. It's there, but...]

...Barely. Is it an issue with the Chroma, or lack of experience?

[Rey has been adjusting her body temperature for a long time, but the same methods might not apply to someone who uses magic.]

Could be a little of both. Most of the spells I'm used to took practice before I could get used to casting them from Chroma. But this is also something I haven't used all that often.

[ She holds Rey's hands for a while. ]

Holding onto you helps a lot, though.

[It's not very often that Rey hears someone expressing gratitude towards anything she does, let alone for something as simple as holding hands. She can't help but scoff at it.]

Literally this is the least anyone can do.

[But still, it's embarrassing, in a way. She doesn't normally seek out physical contact, and yet it's not so bad here.]

There anything else we could try? Maybe to generate more Chroma than this and see if that's a problem? Am broke as hell, so... [She'll literally take what she can get.]

Generate more Chroma first? Sure, how about a hug?

[ If her objections aren't immediate, Konoka is... just gonna plaster her with one because that's how Konoka is. Good luck, Rey. ]

Hugs are more effective than holding hands, I've found.

[Rey reacts with an abrupt grunt at the unexpected contact, but she doesn't reject Konoka's gesture. After all, she's the one who suggested something else, and all things considered this is tame compared to the alternative.

[Mouth tightening into a thin line, she stiffens at first, unsure what to do with her hands. All she can think of is bringing an awkward arm over Konoka's back and giving it a brief pat or two.]

Oh, um. Makes sense, yeah. This works.

[It's not so bad, loathe as she is to admit aloud...]

[ Konoka looked up at her. ]

Were you expecting something else?

[ For the unobservant, it was a completely innocent look. There was a bit of impishness there though. ]

Anyway, feeling more Chroma? In a little bit, I'm gonna try again.

[Between that look and that response, is she implying what Rey thinks she is...?]

Er, no. No, this is fine. Am fine with this.

[Because the alternative is likely another can of worms she's not quite feeling like cracking open anytime soon. But she's feeling that this is more effective than the simple gesture of hand-holding, and that's... more than enough to tackle at the moment.]

All right. Give it a go whenever you're ready.

Okay.

[ She tries again, once again casting the bubbly barrier that repels the cold and then... just contracting it down, down, down...

It's still barely getting any smaller than half her arm's reach, but there's a small amount of improvement. ]

Ah, I feel it but it's a struggle...

[Well, it's something. Nothing particularly impressive, compared to the heat source Rey is capable of on her own. She was expecting something a little more grand, but she imagines this is exactly the sort of thing Konoka was struggling with.

[What more, the longer Konoka holds onto Rey, the more the strength of that body heat becomes apparent. Like the cold doesn't even remotely touch her. Ice melts the moment it touches her skin. At least it's doing something for one of them.]

There a reason why it's so hard? Don't know much about this magic shit, but...

[Maybe there's some insight that some part of Rey's past lives can help with. Those memories have often aided her when she faced... unorthodox problems.]

[ The heat is so much, Konoka wonders if she needs to do anything at all. Just by being in close proximity to her, Konoka feels warm enough already, barrier or no. ]

Back home, I have a whole lot of magical energy. Just being in tune with it lets me use a lot of stuff pretty easily. But that's also kind of the key to using aura-styled things like this... and it's all mixed in with Chroma, so it's tricky trying to find that line.

I don't expect to have it down in one go, the fact that I made progress is good!

[She nods, understanding. Not the magical energy or aura parts, but the basic concepts she can at least grasp.]

Well, don't have much going on in life here. Will be around for whenever you want to give it a shot. Keep shaking off that rust whenever possible.

Sure. Thanks!

[ Konoka might try a couple of more times, but the result only budges a little more than that. It will take some practice before she's good at it like she could be back at home. ]

[A hint of a smile lets on. The girl's got persistence, Rey will give her that.]

All right, we can give it a shot some other time. No need to get it all in one go, unless you're in a hurry.

001✖; (video @hot.damn)

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