[ After three days of excruciating pain which was a result of the surgery he's undergone, Jinwoo hoped that his condition would improve. In a way, it did—the pain wasn't as immobilizing and his muscles didn't burn whenever he sat up on the bed, but it came for a price.
He couldn't see anything save for the LILITH's system screens. The doctors reassured him that the side effects should subside after a few more days, but he couldn't do much in this state. Lapis helped him a lot during that time—it was embarrassing to show her his vulnerable side, yet it didn't change the fact that he was very grateful for her presence. ]
You had surgery too, you should go back to your room and rest. If I need anything, I will just ask Igris.
[ One of the nurses has already urged Lapis a few times to leave for today and come back tomorrow. When she saw Igris kneeling down next to the bed, she never dropped by the room again, but Jinwoo didn't want Lapis to push herself too hard for his sake. ]
Here.
[ Lapis should be able to see a new notification—it's an invitation to join Jinwoo's dataverse room. ]
Go back to your room, lay down, and meet me there.
[ It's been a difficult couple of days, between Lapis' own recovery and her growing worry over Jinwoo - of course he would get both surgeries at once. Then there was the side effects... The hallucinations were uncomfortable at the very least, images and echoes of memories she would rather not think about ever again. Jinwoo not being able to see meant he couldn't see how much these upset her, at least, though she imagines he could hear it.
But even with these ghosts lingering at the corners of her vision, she still did her best to help him. Even with the nurses urging her to rest, she just shook her head and insisted she stayed. Lapis didn't want him to deal with this alone. ]
But... [ But Jinwoo is right, he has his shadows and she can feel Sylvia fret and stress at the back of her head. There's the sound of her sigh, fingers rubbing at her eyes as she tries to ignore another flare-up of these hallucinations, before her eyes drift to the shadow solider kneeling by the bed. ]
Okay. Okay, I'll trust Igris to look after you. [ A vain attempt to lighten the mood a little, a hand patting on Igris' shoulder as she pushes herself to her feet. There's still lingering aches and pains, but she could ignore it. Though then she blinks at the notification, squinting at it before there's a hum of acknowledgement. ]
Mm, I'll be there soon. [ With Sylvia helping to guide her back, it doesn't take her long to get to her room. She'll lay down, scrub her hands against her eyes and accept the invitation. ]
[ Jinwoo enters the Dataverse as soon as he can't sense Lapis' presence close by—he's glad that he invested in the perception stat because otherwise, the overwhelming darkness would drive him insane. It's not the first time he's lost sight temporarily, but for some reason, it's a bit more unnerving after getting stronger thanks to the System.
It takes him a while to customize the room—at first, he considered downloading the interior of one of the cafes he's been to recently, but after giving it some thought, he picks his flat. Jinwoo doesn't fully understand how Dataverse works, but they should be able to rest on his bed at least.
Sitting on the edge of the bed, he waits for Lapis to enter the room while taking a look around. It hasn't even been that long since he left Korea and his world, so feeling homesick already seems a little silly. ]
Hi. It's good to see you.
[ Whenever Lapis arrives, he'll pat the spot next to him. Sensing her presence is one thing, but actually being able to see her makes him smile softly. ]
[ Once the room materialises around Lapis, she takes a few moments to adjust - this is... different. There's a second where she just blinks, taking everything in, before visibly perking up when she sees Jinwoo sitting there. After seeing him confined to bed and in pain the last couple of days, it's a relief to just... see him sitting there and smiling. ]
So I take it you can see here. [ She can't help but smile in return though, taking a seat next to him when he pats the bed. ] And it's good to see you too.
[ Hmm... It seems like her hallucinations aren't happening here either, but she can't be too sure. She'll make the most of the peace now, and there's another quick glance around before her eyes focus on Jinwoo again. ]
Yeah, I can. [ Jinwoo doesn't emphasize how nice it feels to be able to see her smile, even if the sentiment is there. ] Sorry, I wasn't too original when picking a spot.
[ At least he filtered out a dungeon pretty early in the process, even if he definitely misses the thrill of killing beasts and gaining levels. ]
Next time you're picking the place. But for now...
[ He's the first one to lay down, but considering the fact that he grabbed Lapis hand and started tugging, it's obvious that he wants her to follow suit. ]
You should rest. And tell me what's wrong.
[ While Jinwoo has no physical proof, he can sense that Lapis is more anxious than usual. ]
It's fine. Considering you're still recovering, somewhere a bit more relaxing is for the best.
[ Jinwoo can show her dungeons another time. And this is still better than cafe pene - ]
Hmm... Maybe I can show you my home then. [ It would be much different compared to this, that's for sure. Though there's a blink when he tugs her hand as he lays down, but there's very little hesitation in following him - shifting to lay on the bed beside him.
Before freezing in response, her answer coming out before she even thinks about it. ]
There's nothing... [ No, he can probably tell if he's saying that. So her words trail off as she sighs, shoulders hunching; she never likes admitting that something is wrong, but eventually she forces the words out. ]
I've just been... seeing things. The doctors said it's a side effect from the surgery, so it should pass soon.
I am still recovering? You underwent the procedure recently too, Lapis.
[ He scoffs a laugh, finding it a bit funny that she needed that reminder in the first place. ]
Your home... maybe we can meet there tomorrow evening?
[ Since his own room serves as the base of this dataverse space and it's been copied perfectly, the prospect of getting to see Lapis' home is rather comforting after spending the last few days engulfed in darkness. ]
Things. [ He murmurs and shifts his gaze from the ceiling to her. ] Are you going to tell me more or is it on me to ask you a bunch of questions?
[ Because if Lapis says nothing, he won't hesitate to ask away. ]
And I'm not the one who got two of the procedures at once, Jinwoo.
[ Even if there's still some lingering pain and the... hallucinations, it still pales in comparison to what he's going through. But despite her huffing in response, it's nice to hear him laugh again. ]
Sounds like a plan. I'll need to think of a good spot there... [ So there's already the implication that it's a big space. There's the gardens... Considering how he can't see at the moment, maybe something out in the sun - stimulated it may be - will be nice. Even with the estates usually gloomy atmosphere.
There's a moment where she pauses, then just sighs as her eyes drift to him as well - expression completely flat. He really isn't going to let this go. ]
Fine, I'll tell you more. [ She says that, but it takes her a few moments to say anything. It feels... shameful, to admit weakness like this. She's meant to be able to ignore stuff like this.
But then she sighs again, hands reaching up to rub her palms against her eyes. ]
I keep seeing memories, I guess. Of the hospital I talked about before, of my first... ah, accident. [ Her first death. ] Of other places where things went wrong... And I see the spirits who were there, the things that hurt me and other people.
I know it's not real, but it looks and sounds so real...
[ Two procedures at once was an overkill, but one at a time should be fine... except not really, considering that Lapis is dealing with some side effects herself. ]
Any spot will be good. [ What she said makes him wonder what kind of place she's been living in. ] We can hang out here when I get better, too.
[ While Lapis is readying herself to tell Jinwoo about her hallucinations, he remains quiet and gently pats her head in an encouraging gesture. It's a little ironic that he can't see anything while she can see things that aren't there, but Jinwoo keeps that thought to himself. ]
But it's fine here, right? [ He knew that Lapis needed rest, however he had no idea how badly. ] Maybe we can cheat the system a bit and stay here all night and all day?
[ Since he has the strength boosters and healing touch, there shouldn't be anything else, right? Hopefully not, but who knows if LILITH will add some more procedures to the list.
In the meantime, they can just rest here - a low hum escaping her as she nods in agreement. Hanging out here more often would be nice; some small snippets of home, while they're stuck here. And it would be nice to learn a little more about Jinwoo through this too.
And while the pat to her head is a surprise, she can't help but unconsciously lean into it as well, the touch helping to soothe her a little more. Though with the adrenaline wearing off, it really does sink in how tired she is - how anxious she's been since this started happening. ]
It is. [ She lifts her hands from her eyes, another low sigh escaping her. ] I would've usually heard something by now, but it's quiet.
[ Which is a relief honestly. His suggestion prompts her eyes to flicker back over to him, lips quirking up in a small smile. ]
We do still have to eat. But I wouldn't mind trying to see if we can cheat it.
[ There are a few more from what he's seen, but they don't take priority when LILITH also provides them with many different items. It just doesn't sound like a good moment to discuss his future purchases, not when he's still dealing with the side effects of a procedure.
Besides, they're here to relax. It feels somewhat weird that he doesn't have to think about his next move all the time, though. When Lapis speaks up again, her voice anchors him to the present as he shoves the thoughts about the items to the back of his mind. ]
That's good. You need to rest as much as you can.
[ It might sound rich coming from Jinwoo, but he knows that they both need it. ]
We can take breaks for food. I'll make sure that Iron keeps an eye on you.
[ No thinking of procedures now, only relaxing. Though Lapis already has an idea of a few items she wants to get from LILITH, but unlike Jinwoo most of them aren't... combat focused. She may want a little swarm of hummingbird drones.
But for now, she'll let herself rest. Or attempt to. There's always the lingering apprehension that something will appear, that something will flash across her vision as the hallucinations take hold again.
The thought makes her anxiety spike again, but she stubbornly refuses to let that show. ]
I hope you're including yourself in the resting too. You need it more than me.
[ Though what he says about Iron makes her blink, brows furrowing a little. The idea of others seeing her so indisposed still feels... a little shameful. ]
Are you... sure? I'll be fine just going to get food.
[ The head pat takes a slightly different turn from what he usually does—Jinwoo's fingers thread into Lapis' soft strands, his nails lightly grazing her scalp. In other words, it leveled up. ]
[ There's a soft sound as his nails graze against her scalp, and his fingers trail through her hair - despite the initial surprise, it feels... really nice actually. While she had simply been leaning into his touch before, she's very clearly pressing into it now with a low hum. Almost like a needy cat.
Leveled up headpat is super effective. ]
Mmm, alright... And I'll make sure to get food for you too.
[ That should also keep her focused on the task, if only to make sure Jinwoo eats as well. ]
[ Lying to Lapis is pointless in general, but did he really try saying that the medical bay food is edible? At least Jinwoo understood his mistake just in time. ]
Thanks.
[ While touching Lapis' hair feels nice, Jinwoo can't stop looking at her auburn hair. In some other situation, maybe it would be strange to focus on her hair color, but after not seeing it for a few days, he misses this sight. ]
I wish that healing touch worked on your hallucinations. But at least I'll be able to help in case you get hurt, so it was worth it.
[ While she doesn't say anything, Lapis sure gives him A Look when he attempts to bring up the medical bay food. Yeah, she's going to absolutely bring him something better, even if it's just whatever they're serving in the cafeteria. Hopefully her hallucinations aren't so bad she can make something...
Though if she notices him looking at her hair, she doesn't say anything about that either. Mostly she's just leaning into the touch, before his words prompts her brow to furrow - she can understand what he means, she wishes her own healing touch could help him, but...
There's another low hum, before she shifts - turning on her side and moving closer to him, a hand reaching to curl into the fabric of his shirt. ]
And even this is enough... It's more than enough. [ Some part of her is a little embarrassed about this, but honestly she's also beyond caring. She's tired and strung out, and he's warm and comforting - so could she really be blamed for pressing even closer, letting herself nuzzle in against his neck. ]
[ How do you casually ask about your friend's space bird form without sounding weird? Jinwoo is about to find out. Or not.
A few days after their first kaiju fight, Jinwoo drops by Lapis' room in the evening with some pancakes he's made. It feels as if after their fairly long downtime, a lot of things were crammed into just a few days. Jinwoo finds it a little difficult to wind down, but spending some time in the kitchen making pancakes (edible!) helps a little. He made sure to use some powdered sugar and blueberries as toppings. ]
I'm glad that you're doing okay after the fight.
[ Lapis has been using powerful attacks during the kaiju fight, so Jinwoo assumed that fighting in her other form might have been taxing. ]
[ Of course Lapis was thrilled when he brought over the pancakes, her expression lighting up the moment she dug in. Though Jinwoo also had to deal with her needling at him to eat one, at least one, since food is better eaten together, right?
Now she's finishing one up, licking powered sugar from her lips before she huffs - something almost sheepish settling over her expression. ]
Thank you, though I'm sorry for causing any trouble...
[ The moment Lapis switched back to human form, she had basically deflated - exhaustion hitting hard, enough so that Jinwoo probably had to help her back to the medical tent. As powerful as that form is, it comes at a cost; even the act of changing drains her, inhuman power forced into a human frame, and here it's only become worse.
It's aggravating, being limited like that, but so long as fights like that are spread apart she should be fine... ]
I promise that's the last big one. [ She absently twirls with her hair, a little... embarrassed now. ] I try not to use that form often.
[ Since Lapis has finished her snack—powdered sugar included—Jinwoo reaches out to lightly pinch her cheek. There's not a single hint of remorse on his face either. Instead, there's a wide grin. ]
This is what you get for apologizing when there's nothing to apologize for.
[ What Jinwoo doesn't say is that he's glad that he was around to help her out. ]
You can keep surprising me. [ His hunch is telling him that she will do just that in the future. ] Because it takes a toll on your body? Or is there another reason?
[ There's a soft squeak in response to the pinch, but she will accept it - if only because it's nice to see him grin like that. ]
Okay, okay. It's a bad habit.
[ Lapis has always worked with just her summons, so burdening other people felt... wrong. But if Jinwoo doesn't mind, then maybe she can let herself rely on him more. ]
You might regret that later. [ Is she going to explain? Nope, instead she considers his question. ]
Hmm... Bit of both. It's forcing something inhuman into a human shape, so keeping up that form takes a lot out of me. And people tend to get frightened when they're around me too, when I'm like that.
[ Though it seems like that doesn't happen here, which is a relief. ]
[ Has he ever truly regretted something he said to Lapis? Not really. He might have blushed brightly because of a few things she responded with in the past, but even if it was embarrassing, it had nothing to do with regret. ]
So... you absorb powers of a supernatural being? [ This is what he got from her explanation. ] It's really surprising how well most people take things around here.
[ Jinwoo was a bit startled himself when he saw Lapis in that form for the first time, but it's somehow easier to accept things after recalling that they're all from different worlds. ]
[ Considering other certain confessions lingering at the back of her mind, but... Well, those will be for later. For now she considers that answer, tilting her head as her arms fold over her chest. It is technically absorbing, so - ]
Kind of? My powers do come from... another source. Though I haven't inherited all of it yet, which is why I still look mostly human.
[ Besides the... skin. And lack of legs. ] That does help though, I guess even something like that form might not be strange for certain people.
[ A space bird isn't that weird in the grand scheme of things. Maybe. ]
Though, I'll refrain from changing to that too often. It's exhausting mentally too, I had a huge headache after the fight.
It's more like... I'm still not sure about it. It's a family thing, but I haven't been told much yet.
[ Her grandmother has explained that they aren't fully human, but hasn't said more beyond that. Which is honestly incredibly aggravating, but she knows trying to drag info out of the old woman is an impossible task. And now that she's here, she can only keep wondering.
And then there's a blink, a soft chuckle soon escaping her. ]
Is fighting all you think about? [ She's teasing, of course. ]
I don't mind sparing with you in that form, you'll just need to look after me afterwards.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
APRIL
ยป lapis (post surgery dataverse)
He couldn't see anything save for the LILITH's system screens. The doctors reassured him that the side effects should subside after a few more days, but he couldn't do much in this state. Lapis helped him a lot during that time—it was embarrassing to show her his vulnerable side, yet it didn't change the fact that he was very grateful for her presence. ]
You had surgery too, you should go back to your room and rest. If I need anything, I will just ask Igris.
[ One of the nurses has already urged Lapis a few times to leave for today and come back tomorrow. When she saw Igris kneeling down next to the bed, she never dropped by the room again, but Jinwoo didn't want Lapis to push herself too hard for his sake. ]
Here.
[ Lapis should be able to see a new notification—it's an invitation to join Jinwoo's dataverse room. ]
Go back to your room, lay down, and meet me there.
no subject
But even with these ghosts lingering at the corners of her vision, she still did her best to help him. Even with the nurses urging her to rest, she just shook her head and insisted she stayed. Lapis didn't want him to deal with this alone. ]
But... [ But Jinwoo is right, he has his shadows and she can feel Sylvia fret and stress at the back of her head. There's the sound of her sigh, fingers rubbing at her eyes as she tries to ignore another flare-up of these hallucinations, before her eyes drift to the shadow solider kneeling by the bed. ]
Okay. Okay, I'll trust Igris to look after you. [ A vain attempt to lighten the mood a little, a hand patting on Igris' shoulder as she pushes herself to her feet. There's still lingering aches and pains, but she could ignore it. Though then she blinks at the notification, squinting at it before there's a hum of acknowledgement. ]
Mm, I'll be there soon. [ With Sylvia helping to guide her back, it doesn't take her long to get to her room. She'll lay down, scrub her hands against her eyes and accept the invitation. ]
no subject
It takes him a while to customize the room—at first, he considered downloading the interior of one of the cafes he's been to recently, but after giving it some thought, he picks his flat. Jinwoo doesn't fully understand how Dataverse works, but they should be able to rest on his bed at least.
Sitting on the edge of the bed, he waits for Lapis to enter the room while taking a look around. It hasn't even been that long since he left Korea and his world, so feeling homesick already seems a little silly. ]
Hi. It's good to see you.
[ Whenever Lapis arrives, he'll pat the spot next to him. Sensing her presence is one thing, but actually being able to see her makes him smile softly. ]
no subject
So I take it you can see here. [ She can't help but smile in return though, taking a seat next to him when he pats the bed. ] And it's good to see you too.
[ Hmm... It seems like her hallucinations aren't happening here either, but she can't be too sure. She'll make the most of the peace now, and there's another quick glance around before her eyes focus on Jinwoo again. ]
Is this what your place looks like?
no subject
[ At least he filtered out a dungeon pretty early in the process, even if he definitely misses the thrill of killing beasts and gaining levels. ]
Next time you're picking the place. But for now...
[ He's the first one to lay down, but considering the fact that he grabbed Lapis hand and started tugging, it's obvious that he wants her to follow suit. ]
You should rest. And tell me what's wrong.
[ While Jinwoo has no physical proof, he can sense that Lapis is more anxious than usual. ]
no subject
[ Jinwoo can show her dungeons another time. And this is still better than cafe pene - ]
Hmm... Maybe I can show you my home then. [ It would be much different compared to this, that's for sure. Though there's a blink when he tugs her hand as he lays down, but there's very little hesitation in following him - shifting to lay on the bed beside him.
Before freezing in response, her answer coming out before she even thinks about it. ]
There's nothing... [ No, he can probably tell if he's saying that. So her words trail off as she sighs, shoulders hunching; she never likes admitting that something is wrong, but eventually she forces the words out. ]
I've just been... seeing things. The doctors said it's a side effect from the surgery, so it should pass soon.
no subject
[ He scoffs a laugh, finding it a bit funny that she needed that reminder in the first place. ]
Your home... maybe we can meet there tomorrow evening?
[ Since his own room serves as the base of this dataverse space and it's been copied perfectly, the prospect of getting to see Lapis' home is rather comforting after spending the last few days engulfed in darkness. ]
Things. [ He murmurs and shifts his gaze from the ceiling to her. ] Are you going to tell me more or is it on me to ask you a bunch of questions?
[ Because if Lapis says nothing, he won't hesitate to ask away. ]
no subject
[ Even if there's still some lingering pain and the... hallucinations, it still pales in comparison to what he's going through. But despite her huffing in response, it's nice to hear him laugh again. ]
Sounds like a plan. I'll need to think of a good spot there... [ So there's already the implication that it's a big space. There's the gardens... Considering how he can't see at the moment, maybe something out in the sun - stimulated it may be - will be nice. Even with the estates usually gloomy atmosphere.
There's a moment where she pauses, then just sighs as her eyes drift to him as well - expression completely flat. He really isn't going to let this go. ]
Fine, I'll tell you more. [ She says that, but it takes her a few moments to say anything. It feels... shameful, to admit weakness like this. She's meant to be able to ignore stuff like this.
But then she sighs again, hands reaching up to rub her palms against her eyes. ]
I keep seeing memories, I guess. Of the hospital I talked about before, of my first... ah, accident. [ Her first death. ] Of other places where things went wrong... And I see the spirits who were there, the things that hurt me and other people.
I know it's not real, but it looks and sounds so real...
no subject
[ Two procedures at once was an overkill, but one at a time should be fine... except not really, considering that Lapis is dealing with some side effects herself. ]
Any spot will be good. [ What she said makes him wonder what kind of place she's been living in. ] We can hang out here when I get better, too.
[ While Lapis is readying herself to tell Jinwoo about her hallucinations, he remains quiet and gently pats her head in an encouraging gesture. It's a little ironic that he can't see anything while she can see things that aren't there, but Jinwoo keeps that thought to himself. ]
But it's fine here, right? [ He knew that Lapis needed rest, however he had no idea how badly. ] Maybe we can cheat the system a bit and stay here all night and all day?
no subject
[ Since he has the strength boosters and healing touch, there shouldn't be anything else, right? Hopefully not, but who knows if LILITH will add some more procedures to the list.
In the meantime, they can just rest here - a low hum escaping her as she nods in agreement. Hanging out here more often would be nice; some small snippets of home, while they're stuck here. And it would be nice to learn a little more about Jinwoo through this too.
And while the pat to her head is a surprise, she can't help but unconsciously lean into it as well, the touch helping to soothe her a little more. Though with the adrenaline wearing off, it really does sink in how tired she is - how anxious she's been since this started happening. ]
It is. [ She lifts her hands from her eyes, another low sigh escaping her. ] I would've usually heard something by now, but it's quiet.
[ Which is a relief honestly. His suggestion prompts her eyes to flicker back over to him, lips quirking up in a small smile. ]
We do still have to eat. But I wouldn't mind trying to see if we can cheat it.
no subject
Besides, they're here to relax. It feels somewhat weird that he doesn't have to think about his next move all the time, though. When Lapis speaks up again, her voice anchors him to the present as he shoves the thoughts about the items to the back of his mind. ]
That's good. You need to rest as much as you can.
[ It might sound rich coming from Jinwoo, but he knows that they both need it. ]
We can take breaks for food. I'll make sure that Iron keeps an eye on you.
[ It's not an offer, it's a statement. ]
no subject
But for now, she'll let herself rest. Or attempt to. There's always the lingering apprehension that something will appear, that something will flash across her vision as the hallucinations take hold again.
The thought makes her anxiety spike again, but she stubbornly refuses to let that show. ]
I hope you're including yourself in the resting too. You need it more than me.
[ Though what he says about Iron makes her blink, brows furrowing a little. The idea of others seeing her so indisposed still feels... a little shameful. ]
Are you... sure? I'll be fine just going to get food.
no subject
[ The head pat takes a slightly different turn from what he usually does—Jinwoo's fingers thread into Lapis' soft strands, his nails lightly grazing her scalp. In other words, it leveled up. ]
He'll be there to... remind you to actually go.
[ And, of course, as a mental support. ]
no subject
[ There's a soft sound as his nails graze against her scalp, and his fingers trail through her hair - despite the initial surprise, it feels... really nice actually. While she had simply been leaning into his touch before, she's very clearly pressing into it now with a low hum. Almost like a needy cat.
Leveled up headpat is super effective. ]
Mmm, alright... And I'll make sure to get food for you too.
[ That should also keep her focused on the task, if only to make sure Jinwoo eats as well. ]
no subject
[ Lying to Lapis is pointless in general, but did he really try saying that the medical bay food is edible? At least Jinwoo understood his mistake just in time. ]
Thanks.
[ While touching Lapis' hair feels nice, Jinwoo can't stop looking at her auburn hair. In some other situation, maybe it would be strange to focus on her hair color, but after not seeing it for a few days, he misses this sight. ]
I wish that healing touch worked on your hallucinations. But at least I'll be able to help in case you get hurt, so it was worth it.
no subject
Though if she notices him looking at her hair, she doesn't say anything about that either. Mostly she's just leaning into the touch, before his words prompts her brow to furrow - she can understand what he means, she wishes her own healing touch could help him, but...
There's another low hum, before she shifts - turning on her side and moving closer to him, a hand reaching to curl into the fabric of his shirt. ]
And even this is enough... It's more than enough. [ Some part of her is a little embarrassed about this, but honestly she's also beyond caring. She's tired and strung out, and he's warm and comforting - so could she really be blamed for pressing even closer, letting herself nuzzle in against his neck. ]
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
ยป lapis (a few days after the kaiju fight / space birb lore)
A few days after their first kaiju fight, Jinwoo drops by Lapis' room in the evening with some pancakes he's made. It feels as if after their fairly long downtime, a lot of things were crammed into just a few days. Jinwoo finds it a little difficult to wind down, but spending some time in the kitchen making pancakes (edible!) helps a little. He made sure to use some powdered sugar and blueberries as toppings. ]
I'm glad that you're doing okay after the fight.
[ Lapis has been using powerful attacks during the kaiju fight, so Jinwoo assumed that fighting in her other form might have been taxing. ]
You're full of surprises.
no subject
Now she's finishing one up, licking powered sugar from her lips before she huffs - something almost sheepish settling over her expression. ]
Thank you, though I'm sorry for causing any trouble...
[ The moment Lapis switched back to human form, she had basically deflated - exhaustion hitting hard, enough so that Jinwoo probably had to help her back to the medical tent. As powerful as that form is, it comes at a cost; even the act of changing drains her, inhuman power forced into a human frame, and here it's only become worse.
It's aggravating, being limited like that, but so long as fights like that are spread apart she should be fine... ]
I promise that's the last big one. [ She absently twirls with her hair, a little... embarrassed now. ] I try not to use that form often.
no subject
This is what you get for apologizing when there's nothing to apologize for.
[ What Jinwoo doesn't say is that he's glad that he was around to help her out. ]
You can keep surprising me. [ His hunch is telling him that she will do just that in the future. ] Because it takes a toll on your body? Or is there another reason?
no subject
Okay, okay. It's a bad habit.
[ Lapis has always worked with just her summons, so burdening other people felt... wrong. But if Jinwoo doesn't mind, then maybe she can let herself rely on him more. ]
You might regret that later. [ Is she going to explain? Nope, instead she considers his question. ]
Hmm... Bit of both. It's forcing something inhuman into a human shape, so keeping up that form takes a lot out of me. And people tend to get frightened when they're around me too, when I'm like that.
[ Though it seems like that doesn't happen here, which is a relief. ]
no subject
[ Has he ever truly regretted something he said to Lapis? Not really. He might have blushed brightly because of a few things she responded with in the past, but even if it was embarrassing, it had nothing to do with regret. ]
So... you absorb powers of a supernatural being? [ This is what he got from her explanation. ] It's really surprising how well most people take things around here.
[ Jinwoo was a bit startled himself when he saw Lapis in that form for the first time, but it's somehow easier to accept things after recalling that they're all from different worlds. ]
no subject
[ Considering other certain confessions lingering at the back of her mind, but... Well, those will be for later. For now she considers that answer, tilting her head as her arms fold over her chest. It is technically absorbing, so - ]
Kind of? My powers do come from... another source. Though I haven't inherited all of it yet, which is why I still look mostly human.
[ Besides the... skin. And lack of legs. ] That does help though, I guess even something like that form might not be strange for certain people.
[ A space bird isn't that weird in the grand scheme of things. Maybe. ]
Though, I'll refrain from changing to that too often. It's exhausting mentally too, I had a huge headache after the fight.
no subject
[ It's either that or she doesn't know. Either way, Jinwoo isn't planning to push any further, at least for now. ]
Aww, kind of wanted to fight you while you were in that form...
[ It wouldn't be anything more than a friendly spar but if one of the side-effects is a huge headache, then Jinwoo doesn't want that anymore. ]
no subject
[ Her grandmother has explained that they aren't fully human, but hasn't said more beyond that. Which is honestly incredibly aggravating, but she knows trying to drag info out of the old woman is an impossible task. And now that she's here, she can only keep wondering.
And then there's a blink, a soft chuckle soon escaping her. ]
Is fighting all you think about? [ She's teasing, of course. ]
I don't mind sparing with you in that form, you'll just need to look after me afterwards.