Strifenova Celestial C, Monday afternoon

[soniaroadsqueen]

Ringo had had a, um, bizarre conversation with Dante, and had sort of headed back to her bubblehut in a daze. Fortunately they'd been in them long enough for her to find it mostly on autopilot because she hadn't been paying any attention to where she was going.

She got back to her room, stripped off her ATs, and flopped back on her bed to stare up at the stars.

What in the world was going on?

[ooc: Open!]

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[crimson_sister]

Lucille, who also had had a strange encounter with Dante, had spent several hours roaming in the preserve. Something odd was definitely going on, but she couldn't quite understand it.

Returning to the bubble hut, she found Ringo looking unusually pensive.

"Ringo? What is the matter?"

[soniaroadsqueen]

Ringo blinked, surprise. She hadn't even noticed Lucille returning.

"Oh, um," she tried for a smile. "Nothing? I mean, I had a weird conversation with Dante, but it's no big deal."

[crimson_sister]

Lucille drew the curtain that separated their spaces to the side and sat down on her own bed. "You did? I spoke to him this morning too. I'm sorry that he upset you."

She thought for a moment, then suddenly smiled. "Perhaps I can banish your gloom by reading you a chapter from the book Cassandra gave me. Did I tell you we visited her world by accident? Oh, but I must tell you all about it."

This was all very exciting, and surely Ringo would soon be her usual cheerful self.

[soniaroadsqueen]

Ringo's head turned very slowly over to examine Lucille. "Um, no, you didn't tell me that."

She cocked her head, looking a bit surprised. "Are you feeling okay?"

Was whatever Dante had contagious?

[crimson_sister]

"I am fine," Lucille replied. "Thank you for asking. And I'm sorry I didn't tell you before. Cassandra and I were walking in the preserve, and suddenly we were outside a big city in her world. Val Royaeux is beautiful! We explored the market and went to see a play. Cassandra gave me this." She showed Ringo the book, blushing slightly. "She is very kind. Have you met her? When we tried to return home we were attacked by bandits, and got into a bloody fight. It turned out that one of them, a mage, had a magical stone that transported us back at the blink of an eye."

Didn't it sound exciting, Ringo? "Cassandra is a warrior, and I felt quite safe with her." She sighed happily.

[soniaroadsqueen]

Lucille's blush wasn't as obvious as Ringo's, and this was Lucille, so at first Ringo sort of convinced herself that she was imagining it. But then there was that sigh, and Ringo's eyebrows rose.

"Um, we've met, but I don't know her very well?" In Ringo's head Cassandra was mostly "that girl who'd kidnapped Anders", so she wasn't really high on the list of favorite people.

"But, uh, it sounds like you know her pretty well?"

[crimson_sister]

"She is my friend. We share a love of literature." Lucille placed the book she had been carrying on her bed.

[soniaroadsqueen]

"And you said she is a warrior?"

Wait a minute. Something had just processed through Ringo's brain.

"You got into a bloody fight?" Lucille had gotten into a fight?

[crimson_sister]

"We did," Lucille said, riding to the bed and walking over to the table to prepare a pot of tea. "It was quite frightening."

And fascinating, but she wasn't going to mention that to Ringo. That was private.

[soniaroadsqueen]

Frightening? Ringo watched Lucille curiously. "You seem remarkably calm about it," she pointed out, trying to sound casual about it.

[crimson_sister]

"Oh, we were find in the end. Cassandra is very skilled," Lucille replied. "Would you like some tea?"

[soniaroadsqueen]

"Oh." Blink. "Sure?"

"And, um, thank you."

"I'm glad you're both okay, and that you seem to be having a good day."

Ringo was feeling a bit at a loss.

[crimson_sister]

"How has your day been? AirTrekking as usual?" This was said without a hint of sarcasm.

[soniaroadsqueen]

"Yeah." Ringo smiled, relaxing slightly at the familiar topic. Even if Lucille was being a bit odd, that didn't make AirTrek less than the best thing ever invented.

"The weather was pretty great for it, too."

[crimson_sister]

"I'm glad to hear that," Lucille said, pouring hot water into the pot. "I'm not sure if I ever asked you if you take milk or sugar in your tea?"

[soniaroadsqueen]

No, Lucille, no you hadn't. But it was never too late.

Ringo's smile broadened. "Both, please." Maybe all the persistence she'd shown toward being Lucille's friend was finally paying off!

[crimson_sister]

Just you wait until tomorrow, Ringo.

"That's the way I prefer it too," Lucille said. "Where did you go AirTrekking today? Have you found any new favorite spots?"

[soniaroadsqueen]

Ringo laughed and shook her head. "At this point, I don't know if there's actually anywhere on the island that's new to me. But I did go by a few of my favorite places. Like, there's this one area in the old warehouse district that I spend a lot of time in."

[crimson_sister]

"Oh, what is it like?" Lucille asked, pouring tea for both of them. "I have never been there myself."

[soniaroadsqueen]

"Well, it's not really that great just to visit. You kind of have to want to do some AirTrek tricks or something. It's mostly just, you know, walls and buildings and stuff lying around abandoned that makes it fun to navigate."

[crimson_sister]

"I should come and watch some time," Lucille said, adding milk to the tea. "One or two lumps of sugar?"

[soniaroadsqueen]

"You should!" Ringo agreed. "Or you could join in, if you like. I could get you a pair of ATs for yourself."

"Oh, and, um, two please?"

[crimson_sister]

"I think that would be a little too adventurous for me," Lucille said, adding the sugar and offering Ringo the cup. "But I did buy clothes that are better suited for exercise. Did I show you?"

[soniaroadsqueen]

"Thank you," Ringo said as she took the cup and sipped carefully at the tea. "And, no, I don't think you did mention it. What are they like?"

[crimson_sister]

"Oh, I should show you." Lucille put her cup on the table, and began to rummage among her belongings. Soon she found what she was looking for, and held up the new clothes, properly cleaned after the adventure outside Val Royeaux.

[soniaroadsqueen]

"Oh, wow!" Ringo walked closer to get a better look. "They look pretty comfortable, too!"

[crimson_sister]

"They are," Lucille confirmed. "I believe they are a little daring in my time, but this place has made me less concerned by such things."

[soniaroadsqueen]

Ringo smiled. "Well, if you ever want to, I'd be glad to take you clothes shopping. I bet we could find something that's a bit more modern, but not too scandalous for you."

[crimson_sister]

"Maybe I should take you up on that offer." Lucille smiled back. "What would suit me, do you think?"

[soniaroadsqueen]

"Well, I'm no expert, but I think that you'd be able to pull off quite a few styles really well. I mean, you're not so curvy as me," almost no one was, "which means there are some things you could pull off that I totally can't."

[crimson_sister]

"Perhaps it would be worth a try. The clothes' shop is well stocked, and I know the proprietor a little."

She would not try modern clothes when back to her usual self.

[soniaroadsqueen]

"Awesome! Maybe we can go this weekend or something!"

That'd be fun!

[crimson_sister]

"Why not?" Lucille sounded pleased about the idea.

[soniaroadsqueen]

Ringo beamed. "This'll be so much fun!"

[crimson_sister]

Sadly, it would never happen. Oh, Fandom. Lucille sipped her tea, looking quite happy. "What a wonderful day."

[soniaroadsqueen]

"It is, isn't it?" All the more so as it seemed that Ringo's efforts in being friendly with Lucille were beginning to pay off!