wiedzminka | ❧ IC INBOX: Abraxas

[ Vampires are not inherently sexy in Ciri's world, but she takes Julie's meaning. The whole point of all these ridiculously tight and/or revealing costumes, even if they are based on monsters and, for some reason, certain professions. Is it supposed to be seductive? Not necessarily for someone else's sake, but the idea of just feeling like she could embody this idea of someone effortlessly beautiful and confident-- not quite like a sorceress, but maybe along those lines. Like the way Yennefer always turns heads the moment she walks into a room, her beauty a weapon as sharp as Ciri's sword, commanding attention and awe.

--but that's not her. That's not Ciri.

Julie's gaze meets her eyes in the mirror. Against the dark makeup, they're startlingly bright, a green so vivid it looks almost eerie. For a moment, she stares, from Julie behind her to her own unfamiliar-looking face in the mirror.

Find someone, get them all hot for you--

Ciri blinks and looks away, setting the mirror aside. Her heart is beating very fast. ]

I don't know about all that.

But thank you. For the costume and the face paints, and explaining your traditions. You've been very kind.

[ Julie's not sure what's happened here, doesn't understand Ciri's sudden shift. She doesn't particularly like such abrupt switches in mood; they remind her of terrible things, and it makes her want to lash out, fight it away.

She doesn't.

Instead, she just cocks her head and allows it to go, and when Ciri looks back up at her, the deer costume is gone. She's in the gold dress again, just sort of curiously watching. ]

You all right?

[ It's all a lot to think about, for Ciri. She's not used to seeing herself like this, thinking about how she might be desirable-- in a way that she also desires, in a way that makes her feel confident and attractive, not disgusted and small.

When she turns back to Julie, she is smiling again, faintly, a little uncertain but not unhappy. ]

Yes. You've earned my admiration, Julie Lawry. It takes strength of character to command such confidence so easily.

You've given me some things to think about.

[ Since Julie has changed back -- easy as a thought -- Ciri follows her lead. She'll come back for the borrowed items before the party, but for now, she's back to just being... Ciri. Even in the Horizon, her clothes are always a little worn, a little dusty. It happens naturally. She travels a lot.

She could conjure up anything at all, fine silks and jewels aplenty, clothing fit for her birthright, but she doesn't. And she won't. That is not who she is, or has wanted to be for a long time now (Witcher girl, they called her, derogatory and scornful; it is the least of any insult for her). Instead, she manifests her false Wolf School medallion. And the silver dagger Geralt gave her, replicated on her belt just as it is in the real world, with its snarling wolf's head on the pommel, where she rests her hand automatically in subconscious reassurance to stay her scattering thoughts. ]

Thank you for your hospitality.

[ Julie rises to her feet, still bare, and offers her hands to Ciri to pull her up too. There's still an element of uncertainty in her face, a wariness of sudden change even when it's just about something as small as a slutty Halloween costume.

Such swift mood swings herald calamity, she has learned. Or far, far worse.

Crossing the room to the door, she walks slow to let Ciri follow her, to not make it seem as though she's trying to rush her out. Julie's mother may have raised a manipulative brat, but she's a manipulative brat with decent manners to houseguests. ]

It's nothin', hon. I'm real glad you came, I had a great time. You can come back whenever you want. Even if I'm not here, you can always have a drink.

[ For her part, Ciri doesn't feel rushed out. She's taken up enough of Julie's time, and Julie has been nothing but kind and welcoming, patient in explaining and enthusiastic about sharing her world's culture. Ciri genuinely appreciates it.

She beams, all traces of that uncertainty gone now, as she stops at the doorway to say goodbye. ]

I had a great time too! I'm looking forward to the festival. See you soon, Julie!

❧ IC INBOX: Abraxas

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