the avatar state / implies emotional pain / or perfect control

[roc_on]

Jun did a show last night, so maybe he's holding it together well enough to do a lesson today. It'd sure help take Beila's mind off things; maybe it'd do the same for him. She can always fly away again if he's not feeling it.

Knock knock?

Comments

[in_silk]

'Li' stands in his doorway, waiting, until Meng is all the way back in her house.

Then he says: "So. You are real."

[fiery_delights]

"I admit I wasn't expecting this cold a welcome, but maybe I should've been."

[in_silk]

"How did you find me," he whispers.

[fiery_delights]

"Pure coincidence. Ran into the old lady on the street, just like she said."

[thinklikethis]

Dao is a little concerned - Spider seemed very nervous when he went to answer the door, and it's been a while.

He comes up to the front of the house to see what's taking so long.



He sees Jun.

"...What."

[in_silk]

Spider glances back fearfully. "Dao! Go back inside—he's dangerous—"

[roc_on]

- At that Beila steps around the corner of Meng's bean trellis.

[in_silk]

Spider catches sight of her and freezes again.

[thinklikethis]

"He's—is he? Are you? What is going on?" says Dao. He doesn't have clear line-of-sight to Beila, so he doesn't notice her stepping into view of the door.

[roc_on]

"Dao?"

[thinklikethis]

"Beila?"

[in_silk]

"You know the Avatar?"

[thinklikethis]

"I - I'm - what - okay," says Dao. "One thing at a time. Can we please not have this conversation shouting through a doorway."

[in_silk]

Spider looks warily at Jun and Beila.

"It's not - not safe to let them in," he says softly.

[thinklikethis]

"Is it really that much safer at this point for us all to stand around confusing each other in public?" he asks. "Come on. I know these people. Beila's my girlfriend," he emphasizes, hoping Spider will remember that Dao's girlfriend knows things about him, hoping this will be at least a tiny bit reassuring. "Please?"

[fiery_delights]

Jun tries to look nonthreatening.

[in_silk]

He hesitates over this decision, glancing back and forth between Dao and Beila.

"...okay," he says at last. "Okay. You can come in. I'll. I'll make tea."

[roc_on]

Dubious as all get out, Beila edges doorward.

She is looking very concerned at Dao.

[fiery_delights]

Jun steps inside. More curious than dubious, really.

[thinklikethis]

"Spirits, what a clusterfuck," Dao mutters, as Spider retreats to the kitchen to put the kettle on. "Look. Can I. Can I just. Everyone here is an okay person that I know and like, please stop looking like you're expecting each other to start shit at any moment, I think that is the kind of thing that ends up being self-fulfilling?"

[roc_on]

Dubiousness. So much of it. "When exactly did you make friends?"

[thinklikethis]

"Thiiiiis morning look it's complicated."

[roc_on]

"I'm getting that. So, explain, and maybe if the explanation is super good I can calm down."

[thinklikethis]

"I'm not sure I'm that good at explanations!"

[roc_on]

"Then you might have to settle for me being kind of on edge, but I'm not attacking anyone or glowing, see?"