video from sleeper 1, Fiddlesticks Day 12

[enthunder]

Hey. Dunno if anyone was waiting to see how stupid the 'random clothes' option was before trying it, but I finally spent points on new clothes. So, here's a review... I guess.

[ She rummages next to the ICP, and holds up an ornate jacket, a black dress printed with red rose petals and a pile of wool and linen that she can't quite sort out in time for the camera before she gives up and puts it down again. ]

In short, they're not bad. Not great for missions, but they're, [ She lifts her hands to do airquotes ] 'not to be worn on official Voidtrecker business' anyway. It's fifteen points for an outfit, though... so, maybe see the spider instead if you're low.

Comments

also to the train because she's not noticed the switch

[enthunder]

No arguments there. Maybe I'll leave it out somewhere for... animal bedding, maybe? [ Maybe the kid with the mouse would like it. Or Jenivere. She stashes it away again, presumably on one of the beds in the cabin. ]

Don't suppose you're free to help me work out how to wear this one? [ She holds up the folded pile of wool and linen again. ] I think it's some kind of cloak... but that's as far as I got.

[radishlobbyist]

I can come help you! Of course. [ There's a moment of flustered silence at her own eagerness, lips pursing. ] I would love to assist you, I'm sure we can figure it out together. [ There. Better. That's a little more dignified. ] It can't be more difficult than the many-layered robes we cultivators wear.

[enthunder]

Right, I forgot about that. [ She's not really looked at the robes closely, but she remembers the wedding outfits for Qing's friends being a total nightmare of layers. ]

At least I didn't get any of those.

[radishlobbyist]

[ Oh.

Oh.

Now she can't help imagining Lightning in robes, maybe something pink or pale purple to go with her lovely hair that Wen Qing just aches to touch...

She purses her lips together. ] But you would look very pretty in robes. I would help you with them. If you ever get any robes, that is. Or if you ever want to try wearing mine. Not that you need to. You always look pretty, actually.

[enthunder]

[ It's an 'oh.' party up in here. ]

I... Uh, thanks. Honestly, I don't think I've worn more than two layers at once in my entire life, so...

[ WAIT NOT LIKE THAT ]

[radishlobbyist]

[ Wen Qing makes a little strangled noise at the back of her throat. ]

I... wasn't thinking about how many layers you've been wearing. I wasn't trying to say anything about that.

[ Oh no. She keeps making it worse, doesn't she? ] Not that there's anything wrong with the layers you wear. Or don't wear, for that matter. You wear enough. [ But now she's wondering what layers Lightning is wearing - or not wearing - under the visible clothes. Great. She is going to die from embarrassment here. ]

[enthunder]

[ Cough. ]

I'll... see you when you get here. [ Guess who just realised they're over the ICP. ]

action

[radishlobbyist]

[ Wen Qing doesn't take long to show up, still clueless that they had been entertaining the entire train with their flustered flirting.

She knocks on the door, giving Lightning a tiny smile when the door is opened for her. ]

Here I am. I had some free time. [ More like, she had instantly left for Lightning's. ]

[enthunder]

So you did. [ She's a little more hesitant thanks to being intensely aware of the broadcast-- but then, who cares?

(Light does, she misses privacy)

1-A is cozy: two planters with small blooms spilling out, a small arsenal of weapons carefully stacked in one corner... Light's bunk is currently folded up, being one of the top beds; the knitted blanket that normally covers it is draped over the folded side like a messy tapestry.

The little table is half seashells, half clothing. She reaches for some of the pile. ]

Right, so, I think I've figured out one layer...

[radishlobbyist]

[ Wen Qing looks around curiously, happy enough to just be spending time in a place that is so very much Lightning. It just feels like her, everything here.

Then she catches herself, inwardly shaking herself at her own daydreaming. ]

It would help if you tried to put it on [ she offers before she can properly think about what figuring out these clothes while Lightning is wearing them would entail. ] I mean. If you want. It would be easier to figure it out on a person.

[enthunder]

It didn't exactly come with instructions... [ She separates out the outfit. A cream linen tunic, a longer felted brown tunic, the grey shawl, the brown leggings, a pair of long wool socks, and finally the black leather calf-length boots.

She realises, rather late, that she's gotten herself into awkwardness here...

But it's only awkward if she acts like it, so she takes a breath and then pulls off her hoodie. ]

[radishlobbyist]

[ Well, that makes two of them who are belatedly realizing how awkward this is. Wen Qing is just... going to find the wall very interesting. Is that a stain there? Oh look. A bed. How fascinating. Riveting, really.

She listens to the sounds of Light taking off the hoodie, feeling mortified by her own embarrassment as much as anything else. It's not as if she hasn't seen plenty of naked people before, she is a doctor. It's just different now. ]

Ah. If you need help... [ She coughs. ]

i didn't time how long it takes to strip, nope.

[enthunder]

Give me a second... [ She strips down as fast as possible, made easier by the fact that she's worn literally the same outfit for five months. She could take it off in her sleep and, in fact, probably has several times.

Her underclothes aren't particularly attractive, more sportswear than anything, so she just grabs the leggings and tugs them on. That leaves her decent, as far as her standards go, even if her l'Cie brand is exposed on her chest.

Okay, so it was more like fifteen seconds, but. ]

[radishlobbyist]

[ It sure takes longer than a second and Wen Qing finds herself extremely aware of every passing second, just as much as she is aware of the rustle of fabric. All the while she chides herself ridiculous for her embarrassment, when as a doctor she has seen so much more naked skin.

Figuring she is finally allowed to look, she turns, blushing all over again when she finds Lightning wearing leggings and more chest exposed than she had accounted for. The brand draws her attention, though. ]

When did you get that? [ she asks gently, stepping forward, fingers reaching out to touch the mark on her chest. ]

[enthunder]

[ Her first few months she'd been careful not to reveal the brand too much, still cautious, unable to shake the stigma of it. Nowadays, though... who cared? No one knew what a l'Cie was. The worst she'd gotten was 'weird tattoo'.

None of that stops her shifting awkwardly when Qing reaches out, but she doesn't move away or fold her arms, so. Progress. ]

This? When a god thought I'd make a good slave. It's the brand of a l'Cie.

[ The brand doesn't feel particularly different from her skin in texture, but the energy beneath it pulses in time with a slow heart-beat, undeniable. ]

[radishlobbyist]

[ Wen Qing finds herself intrigued by the brand, even though the story behind it is already shaping up to be a terrible one. But there is power in it, she can feel her own spiritual energy react to it though it is foreign and she doesn't truly understand it, like all the magics from other worlds. To her, it mostly just feels like something distinctly associated with Lightning.

She looks up from studying the mark to meet Lightning's eyes again. ]

I hope you taught this god that he was wrong to think you could be leashed.