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Lucy almost regrets agreeing to meet Adaine at her house. Granted, she didn’t realize it would require her to essentially hike up a hill, and since her grandma’s old car had long since broken down, she had to walk.
In Adaine’s defense, she did offer to have one of her friends pick Lucy up, but Lucy didn’t want to bother any of them, and already felt like she was inserting herself too much into the lives of the Bad Kids.
By the time she made it to the front door, her breath was coming in short wheezes and her legs were unsteady. Lucy could hear faint rock music from inside as she waits until her breathing is slightly more under control- and regrets not bringing her newly prescribed inhaler- before knocking on the door. There’s a faint sound of footsteps before the door swings (or creaks) open, the full force of the music hitting her. Adaine readjusts her glasses and grins.
“Thanks for coming!” Adaine ushers her inside. “Do you mind if I just Dimension Door us to my room? It’s a fucking pain to get to and Fig and Gorgug are practicing in the living room.” So that’s what the music is.
Lucy had heard that two of the Bad Kids started a band. (Lucy never listened to them out of loyalty to Kip, but they sounded good, if not a little too loud for her taste.)
Lucy nods and Adaine holds her arm and they teleport to Adaine’s room, a circular room with a bunkbed and a desk pushed to one side. The rock music is gone, some form of noise cancelling spell on her room, which Lucy appreciates.
Adaine sits on the ground, grabbing a stack of books from her bed and pulling it down to the ground with her. She motions for Lucy to sit with her and Lucy carefully sets her bag down, using the wall for support as she sits.
“You okay?” Adaine asks, tilting her head.
Lucy shrugs. “Yeah, just some side effects from the Revivication.” Adaine frowns, shifting a bit closer to Lucy.
“I didn’t know Revivification had side effects?” It’s a clear hope for more information, information Lucy doesn't know if she wants to just share freely. Plus, if Adaine knows, she’ll probably tell Kristen, and if Kristen knows, the Bad Kids will know, and Lucy doesn’t want anyone to look at her differently than they already are.
Lucy just shrugs again. “Normally it doesn’t.” Normally, people aren’t held under a failed ritual in the arms of an unknown goddess that had long been corrupted and forgotten about.
Adaine seems to get Lucy’s resistance to sharing and nods, picking up her books again and spreading them out for the two of them to look at.
“So, comparing sources of magic, it seems that while clerics and warlocks both draw from a higher power, whatever their relation, wizards and sorcerers don't. Kristen was able to draw magic from Cassandra, even though Cassandra was dead, in the simplest terms.” Adaine starts, going over information that they both knew. “I think for our project, we should focus on the limits of using magic within the confines of a higher power, and why that makes such a difference in our spellcasting abilities?” Adaine looks up at Lucy. “Would that be okay with you?”
Lucy nods. “Yeah, yeah, that sounds interesting.” Lucy pulls out some of her own books, old ones that her grandmother gave her. “I have some older books on Ruvina that have been in my family for as long as my grandma can remember. I haven’t gone through all of them yet, but they might have some mention of Ankarna, especially since the Oblivati Mori has been lifted.”
Adaine gasps, grinning widely. “Oh, these are so cool! Is it okay if I-?” Lucy nods and Adaine picks up the books, holding them gently, flipping through the pages, her eyes roving across the pages.
Lucy makes a questioning noise to look through some of Adaine’s books and she nods, pushing them closer to Lucy, barely looking up from Lucy’s books. She grabs one of Adaine’s spell books, looking to compare their spells.
The afternoon passes in quiet work, occasionally interrupted by sharing information, leaning closer together as they peered at their notebooks, Adaine’s looping script next to Lucy’s small, cramped print.
“Do you want to stay for dinner?” Adaine asks, the two of them having migrated to leaning against Adaine’s bed, papers and books spread out around them.
“Oh no, I don’t need to-”
“You don’t have to, if you don’t want to. Mordred dinners are a lot.” Adaine huffs a laugh, setting down the papers she was looking at to turn to Lucy. “But the invitation is open, if you want.”
“I… that sounds nice. If you’re sure I’m not imposing.”
“Not at all.” Adaine smiles. “We’d love to have you.”
Adaine’s crystal buzzes, letting them know that dinner was ready. Adaine sits up, holding a hand out to help Lucy up. They step over the papers, Adaine waving her hand at the mess, claiming they’ll clean it up after. They make their way down the stairs, the chatter of the residents filling the house, loud, but not overwhelming.
“Hey, Lucy. Glad you could stay!” Jawbone greets her, holding a large bowl of pasta. “I hope pasta is okay, Lydia made alfredo sauce, chicken on the side in case you’re vegetarian.”
Lucy nods. “Pasta’s great, thank you again for the invitation.”
“Anytime.” Jawbone nods, leading her and Adaine to the large table where Fig, Gorgug, Kristen as well as some people Lucy didn’t know. Adaine leads her to the side of the table with the Bad Kids, letting Lucy sit in between her and Kristen, which Lucy appreciated.
“That’s Aelwyn, my older sister, and Ragh, he was on the Bloodrush team with Fabian and Gorgug. Ragh’s mom, Lydia cooked, she’s amazing, and-” Adaine goes around the table, listing off the other people at the table. Lucy didn’t know if she’d remember any of their names, but she appreciated Adaine taking the time to introduce them to her.
“Alright, foods ready! Dig in!” Jawbone says, sitting down.
Noise fills the house, intermingling with the comforting smell of garlic bread. Bowl and dishes get passed in a circle, everyone helping themselves to the food, laughing and talking amongst each other. Kristen grins at Lucy, telling a story of cleric class that day to Gorgug. (Fig, who was in that class, squished into the desk with Kristen, was helping tell the story.) Across the table Aelwyn was arguing with Adaine, smiles on both of their faces as they do.
Lucy laughs softly as Kristen regails her friends, hands waving wildly, warmth filling her body as these people, who she was beginning to consider her friends, invite her into their home, not treating her like she’s fragile, or some sort of martyr, but like she’s just Lucy.