434/The Light of Remembrance

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The Light of Remembrance
Date of Scene: 15 May 2017
Location: Academy of Tomorrow, Metropolis
Synopsis: Summary needed
Cast of Characters: 285, Raven




Alexa (285) has posed:
    There is a gentle breeze sweeping past the Academy of Tomorrow, ruffling the hair and lighting up the nerves as it circles the people there. it is late enough in the afternoon that most classes are out. The huge crowds have drawn to a trickle and no one at all is looking up. Not here, in the middle of Metropolis, possibly the busiest city on earth.
    Alejandra Navarre does not look up either. Of course, that would mean staring straight into the sky. She waits with a musing expression while she studies the movement of the sun overhead, smiling thoughtfully as she leans her head back in a wave of brunette tresses. She's asked Raven to join her atop one of the buildings, a roof top access ordinarily restricted now left unlocked. There was an offer of a meal and conversation, left in a litle note that Raven couldn't help but find.

The blanket that has been laid out is indigo, a traditional picnic basket woven in green and red set in the middle of it. Alexa will find out soon enough if Rachel is coming.

Raven has posed:
    Rachel was somewhat disappointed when you didn't take her up on her offer to find her on the campus, but only a little. You're a teacher, and you probably had things to do. She accepted your offer to join you on the roof, skipping the stairs entirely to just levitate herself up from the outside; it's quicker, and she has little use for wasted time. When she lands, she nods at you. "Leja," she greets. She's dressed in her usual ratty, Gothy clothes, possibly the same cargo jeans she was wearing the first time you met.

Alexa (285) has posed:
    There's a brilliant smile on Alejandra's lips when you float into view, those green eyes tracking your movements carefully. "Very good technique," she murmurs with a wry grin that suggests she's well aware you know full well. "Sit with me for a moment. Would you like somethiing to drink?" She gestures toward the basket, light glinting in jade green off the small gem set into one o therings she's wearing.
    "I'm sorry I didn't find you earlier, around campus? I had to go to a meeting." There's a pause as Alejandra delicately licks her lips, offering you a hand. "Thank you for joining me." She carefully smooths her dress with her hands. They are opposites in pretty much every conceivable dimension. Alejandra doesn't seem to mind.

Raven has posed:
    And that's when Rachel's conscience kicks in. She's doing too little here; she's being too distant, and making Alexa do too much work. That's not only unfair to Alexa, that's dangerous: it lets Alexa set the pace without knowing what could come of it. It's time to give back a little. Rachel nods again (not smiling, she can't quite bring herself to smile) and takes a seat near the picnic basket. "Sure. I'll pour. What am I pouring?" she asks, as she rummages through for the drink and the glasses it will go into.

Alexa (285) has posed:
    There are two options, apparently. A bottle of chilled lemonade and a bottle of red wine. There is only one set of glasses, however, and Leja tilts her head slightly as you come across them. "I would love a glass of wine, thank you," is her response to that question. She reaches up and brushes her hair back from her face as she considers the young woman in front of her for a long moment. "You were the only one listening earlier. During the lecture. A few others understood, but you were- focused. It's a bit flattering." She takes a deep breath, incognizant or uncaring of how leaning back while she breathes in stresses the fabric of her dress around her chest. "I think I was asking you about yourself when we spoke last?"

Raven has posed:
    Rachel sees a cork remover in the picnic basket, but has no idea how to use it. Fortunately, she doesn't need to. She grips the neck of the wine bottle firmly with her hand, and grips the cork even more firmly with her soul. The cap is engulfed in an aura of black anti-light and pops out effortlessly, hovering a few inches above the bottle's mouth before dropping into Rachel's open palm. She sets it down, takes a glass, and pours for you; when she passes the glass to you, she makes sure to brush her hand against yours while looking into your eyes. Her expression is a little robotic, but the touch is real.
    "I'll take lemonade. Best I don't drink alcohol. My powers require spiritual discipline and consecration to function, and deliberately posioning myself is a violation that endangers my control." These are stated as flat facts, with no implications offered. As she pours the lemonade, she agrees, "I can tell you about myself. But I'd like to hear more about you too. Fair?"

Alexa (285) has posed:
     Leja's hand brushes against yours in turn when you reach for her and she watches your dull gze. her eyes are alight with gentle mirth but her expression is thoughtful as she studies you. She shifts forward slightly, skirt folded beneath herself, sitting on her knees on the blanket.
    "Lemonade is good for you in any case. And a bit more legal here, I understand, though I won't tell." Leja nods in response to your words, tilting her head slightly to the left as she measures her response. "It's more than fair. I'd... Prefer it.
    "You can ask me anything I like. I'll answer nearly of your questions as well. I even promise not to lie." She draws a deep breath then, looking as if she is on the verge of laughter. "My own powers require discipline as well but it is more an art of precision and dedication than spiritual discipline, I guess. What precisely- are your powers? I recognize quite a bit, but..." She lifts her glass to her lips to take a sip of deep red wine.

Raven has posed:
    "That's a hard question to answer. I've never done this before," Rachel says reluctantly, but without hesitation (which is technically possible). "Telling you might frighten you off, and I wouldn't like that. But I won't lie to you either, so..." She shrugs, sips her lemonade, watches you. "What do you think? Change the subject or carry on?"

Alexa (285) has posed:
    "And what would you like?" That smile lights up Alexa's entire face like the sun first cresting the sky. "You have my word you'll not scare me off, Rachel. Quite the opposite, in fact. If you'd please?" Alejandra lifts her left hand in a gentle gesture, palm upturned, to indicate that you continue to speak. She sips her wine again, those blue eyes affixed firmly to your own. "It would take a lot more than that to make me run away from you."

Raven has posed:
    Rachel's violet eyes are on Alexa's the whole time. Permission is granted, even if it's blind permission, and there's no point delaying the inevitable. Bluntly, she explains, "I'm half demon. My powers come forth from my demonic side's attempt to corrupt the world around me. I've learned to filter out the corrupting influence by purifying my human state, but it takes rigorous discipline."
    She knows she had an opportunity to take Alexa's hand there, but not yet. Not until Alexa knows what she's getting into.

Alexa (285) has posed:
    So Alexa moves instead. She reaches out toward you and takes your hand as soon as you make your admission, nodding slowly. "You do have that look about you," She admits then, squeezing your hand once she draws it toward her lap. "I wouldn't be overly concerned. The fact you've put so much effort into being better than your genetics tell you to be... Proves you're a good person. That's enough for me."
    Delicately, Alejandra takes that hand into both of her smaller ones, fingertips circling your wrist lightly as she does. "Very well. I am a mutant. That's a surprise, I'm sure, given everything there is to see," she notes in a rather droll tone. "My ability has to do with calling upon the forc of Light. To heal people, purge toxins... Sooth troubled thoughts." She pauses for a long moment.
    "I'm also a witch." A beat. "I always wanted to say it like that," she continues with a bit of a giggle. "A sorceress, really. I'll tell you now lest it become some kind of horrible misunderstanding from a bad book that I hunt dark magic. Evil creatures. Possibly demons. And that you, Rachel, are completely safe from me."

Raven has posed:
    "I know," Rachel says with a nod. Let no one accuse her of a lack of confidence in her abilities. But she does let her fingers lightly rest on your wrist as you hold her own, and she nods along with your explanation. "I'm not a mutant, but close enough for the headmistress, I guess. I was born this way, after all." A light shrug makes her square, tight shoulders bob precisely. "So your genes are required to tie you into the Light?"

Alexa (285) has posed:
    "Oh, not now," Alejandra responds with a slow shrug of her shoulders. She shifts her weight slightly and takes a deep breath, easing just a hair closer as she does so. Subtle motions only as she nods. "I could summon it with a thought or a gesture. But it's much easier to teach prismatic magic to someone who can provide their own Light with a thought or a feeling. If I get too worked up sometimes I start to glow." She takes a deep breath again, twisting slightly as she does. Brunette tresses fall across hers houlder and down her side almost to her waist. "That doesn't really count as your question," Alexa decides judiciously, still gently grasping your hand. "Ask me anything you like."

Raven has posed:
    Rachel blinks, but nods. "Okay," she says, and sets her glass down. She retracts the arm Alexa's holding, but if she mistakes what Rachel's doing, Rachel grips Alexa's wrist firmly and pulls it along toward Rachel's lap, where she grips and pivots the hand to point the palm skyward. Rachel's thumb begins lightly tapping in a straight line up and down the crevice of Alexa's palm and to just above the wrinkles on the inside of her wrist, then back down again; a weird mixture of acupuncture and massage, maybe. "Where did you study?"

Alexa (285) has posed:
    When you first withdraw Alexa's expression starts to shift- but it quickly becomes one of careful thought and ocncentration as her hand is drawn into your lap instead. She is sitting almost against you now, close enough to draw her arm inward without having to lean too far. She doesn't resist the unusual touches, lightly flexing her fingers while she observes what you are doing. "There's two answers," she notes then, tilting herh eads lgihtly as she does. "One is that it was a ravine in the south of Spain where no one really lives. The other is that I found the Palace of Light- was guided to it, really- and the sorceress who was its master then decided to show me her true colors." ALexa looks up toward the sky then, biting her bottom lip as she considers her words. "Technically it sits deep in a cavern in Spain but I could go there now if I wanted with a thought." She shrugs. "For the most part the wards prevent travel there otherwise."

Raven has posed:
    Rachel nods, and shifts her light, fluttering tapping to light, barely-there stroking, watching you closely to see if you like it better. She's still quite calm, gaze and breath both steady, but her cheeks are threatening to turn an actual color at what is, when you stop to think about it, a fairly innocuous touch. "If that's two answers, then I guess I owe you two answers."

Alexa (285) has posed:
    The stroking draws a quiet smile. Alexa's hand relaxes slightly in your grasp and it's a second before she finally speaks. "Tell me about your family," she requests gently. "Do you have siblings? Have you met your... demonic parent?" This is asked very softly, Leja biting her bottom lip as she speaks. "That's the first one. Family dynamics. The second is..." A beat. "You're flushed. What are you thinking?" She tilts her head toward the hand you've captured. "Not that I am complaining. It's very pleasant."

Raven has posed:
    Rachel doesn't stop stroking your wrist. Whatever else is going on with her, she has too much self-control for that. Her color does go back to its usual pale, though, as she explains, "I do. They're a topic for a tactical briefing, not a nice lunch. And I'm thinking...I'm thinking, 'There's no right or wrong way to do this as long as she enjoys it.'"

Alexa (285) has posed:
    "A tactical briefing, hm." Alejandra laughs very softly but she nods once, acknowledging your point. She draleans her head back then, turning her eyes to the sky above as you continue to speak. Silence falls for a long second, with not a word from the teacher sitting across from you. "Then you're doing it right," she murmurs sight a quiet sigh. "You're concerned about what I enjoy?" She asks in an impish tone. "Enough counting. If you have a question just interrupt." Leja reaches up and draws on the blue hair ribbon she is wearing. "You should visit the Luce Viventium someday. It's... A very different experience. The colours change depending on your mood..."

Raven has posed:
    Rachel nods, matter of fact. "I am," she says, in answer to the question. She speaks Latin quite well and knows what you're offering, if not how it came to be described in Latin language. "And you do the same. What about your family?"

Alexa (285) has posed:
    "I have six elder sisters whom I love dearly. All of them are married now, so I cannot count all of my nieces and nephews without a piece of paper." A softly delighted laugh follows this and then Alejandra shakes her head firmly. "My parents are enjoying being grandparents. And, in one case, soon to be great grandparents. My eldest niece, Isabelle, is eight months pregnant now." Alejandra rolls her shoulders gnetly. She shifts her hand in your grasp slightly so that her fingers are able to find your skin. They play across it delicately for a moment. "They'd be worth a tactical briefing as well, just for different reasons. So." There's a beat as Alexa straightens, turning her gaze firmly on your own once more. "I chose the venue for lunch... Where shall we go next? And what are we doing?"