but when the dusk descends (march catchall, open + closed)

[fromshadows]

Who: Blake (descendsfromshadows) + various
What: Some event stuff, some non-event stuff!
When: March
Where: Gaze, the Clockhouse, Turning Goat + various

Content Warnings: Minor violence, gambling + will add others as necessary



(OOC: Some open starters below, closed starters will be posted in the comments. Event plotting post is here, or hit me up at cosmonautdelta!)



▒▒▒ 𝐢. 𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐜𝐡 [𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐛𝐨𝐝𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞]

[ It had been late afternoon by the time that Blake had gotten to the Clockhouse for the first time, and she'd barely had the time to appreciate it, let alone actually meet anybody that lived there. Late afternoon or not, she'd fallen asleep the moment she'd slumped down onto the couch, the long, hard sleep of someone who's just... well, falling into a void, briefly being a squid, washing up on shore, and having to adjust to finding herself into an entirely new world. It's a lot to get used to.

She'd dreamed in frantic snippets. Golden fire falling into darkness, and silver fire fading. Liferopes burned away. A raven's feathers in her hair, and black blood in her veins.

When she wakes, bleary and rumpled, the light coming in through the windows suggests that it's some time in the morning, but it's hard to be sure. Thankfully her Huntress uniform is (sort of) comfortable enough to sleep in, but she till feels out of sorts, absent of the routine she'd settled into again in Atlas. And though she casts a longing glance toward the kitchen, she's not sure she feels comfortable enough to just rummage around in search of tea. She knows that Qrow and Oscar, at least, would tell her that she's allowed, but there are people that she doesn't know that live here, too, and she doesn't want to presume.

So she winds up in the library.

As half-empty as it is, libraries have always been Blake's place of refuge. How was she supposed to resist? Curling up in a chair with her legs tucked under her, Blake idly thumbs through the book she's picked out, but her gaze is wandering between it and the view outside, past the verandah, onto the vast lawn and grey skies beyond. The weather looks like it's going to turn foul, and Blake's never been more glad to have somewhere she can shelter.

A soft sound catches her attention, and one feline ear flicks toward the doorway before her head turns. ]

I hope it's okay that I'm in here. And that I slept on the couch. [ Blake ducks her head, sheepish. ] For what it's worth, it's a very comfortable couch.

▒▒▒ 𝐢𝐢. 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬 [𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐥𝐥]

[ To say that Goat Turning isn't Blake's usual place is... understating it.

It's loud. People are yelling in excitement, in frustration, in congratulations. In such a packed place, the scents of food are almost overwhelming, and it's uncomfortably warm. But Blake's determined to explore this city, and that includes checking out the big events that are happening (much to her current chagrin). She'd been handed some chips, and after watching some games, had been bemused to find out that poker was the same here as it is in her world.

She'd tried a couple, keeping her commemorative coin tucked carefully in her pocket, and had come out slightly up. Blake's never been into gambling, but she'll grudgingly admit that she has a pretty good poker face, and it had served her well. She's not sure if she'll attempt any more tonight -- but it's open for two weeks, so she'll have plenty of opportunities to come back if she likes.

For now, Blake stands off to the side, and she watches, avid golden-yellow gaze roving over the crowd, feline ears swiveling every which way to catch the noise and snippets of conversation. There's a silent dread in her blood, and she doesn't know if she can put a name to it.

Someone comes to stand next to her, a new free drink in their hand -- the same one that Blake picked, something red and fruity and sour. And for a while, typical wallflower that she is, Blake doesn't say anything, until eventually she says wryly: ]

Should we be concerned that this place printed coins with our faces on them? Seems a little creepy.

[ Especially since she's been here for all of a few days, and hasn't come close to this area of the city before. How did they know? ]

Comments

[threelayers]

[Blake was right. It wasn't like Neo had ever had trouble in the past doing just that, and even on the defense there was plenty of that economy of motion. She twirled and shifted her umbrella like it was an extension of her arm, one that changed and morphed if the handle was at the front to hook or the tip there to jab... or in this case punch. And, despite the fact that she was using illusions, there'd always been that weird way in which those illusions didn't break just because they took a blow, so long as they were ready for it. While she batted back at the first set of attacks, it all held as if it really were her. But which one was her?

A little thing had changed in coming here. Darkblood. Even Neo didn't know the answer to the question of 'which is the real me' when she was like that. She was constantly back and forth between them. At first? It had been almost nauseating and vertigo inducing. She'd gotten used to it, but it definitely made it hard to pick out a target because they always seemed to move with the exact same ease.

One of the Neo's gave a quick shake of the head to the question. No, she wasn't going to fight her, but that seemed lost as the gun flipped out, forcing the Neopolitan being shot at to somersault and cartwheel just to get some distance. At the last second, the umbrella shot open, acting like a shield while the real target had to vault over Blake's head, her hand tapping at the shoulder as she tried to stick a steady landing. She was avoiding serious injury, but Neo was completely on the defensive, all as the sounds of rustling leaves were getting more agitated and any Trenchies in the area shuttered their doors, not wanting any part in this.]

[fromshadows]

[ If Blake were thinking rationally, she might have been worried about conserving her ammunition -- after all, it's unlikely that they make bullets to Gambol's specifications here, and even if they do, she doesn't exactly have any money -- but that's not even a whisper in the back of her mind. She unloads the clip, firing rapidly, hoping to score even a few hits to chip away at Neopolitan's aura.

One of her opponents flips over her, the other using her umbrella as a shield. Gambol clicks. Out of ammo. She'd already used too much before she fell. Blake pushes a shadow clone out in front of her, darting back, gaining some distance, and lands in a crouch on the sidewalk with her breath heaving in her lungs from the anger coursing through her.

Neopolitan's refusal to fight is just making it worse. ]

What, am I not worth your time? [ Blake snaps. ] I'm not buying this act.

[ She pushes off, heels scraping against concrete. Manifests a shadow clone to her side with the intent of grabbing it and spinning like a wind-up throw, but the moment she touches her shadow, it dissipates like smoke on water, leaving Blake stumbling, taking off guard -- but recovering soon enough, too single-minded for that to slow her down, though worry twists sour in her gut nonetheless. She leaps forward toward one of the Neopolitans, and pushes out a shadow at the last moment, sending her darting off to Neopolitan's side, Gambol launched toward her in an effort to tangle around Hush's handle with her ribbon. The other Neopolitan gets a renewed attack with her cleaver, learning how to slip around her defenses. The rustling plants get paid no consideration whatsoever. ]

[threelayers]

[Pink flickers of light were the first indication that those bullets were definitely doing something. Neo put her aura into the combat umbrella to enable it to shield herself more effectively. But, just like bullets weren't inexhaustible, neither was Aura. As they flickered and Blake came lunging back in, Neo was still recovering somewhat.

The whip of the ribbon got a grip on the umbrella for just long enough that it held the arm fast. Neo tried to turn aside from the blow, but the cleaver bit in hard, causing the girl in Blake's grip to shatter like so much glittering glass. In that moment they both knew which was the 'real' Neo, while the girl vaulted in, trying to whap with her weapon, quick staccato strikes aimed specifically at Gambol and Blake's hands, to attempt to disarm her if possible. Was Neo finally taking this seriously?

It might have been just a little too late to do that, though. The rustling was getting worse, though maybe that was the wind? While Neo pushed at Blake, attempting to disarm her and drive her back near an alleyway, something else in that alleyway opened the tines and pads of its oversized frame, reacting to the touch of their feet to vines o the ground. Unseen in the shadows, it waited. Just a little closer...]

[fromshadows]

[ Shattering Neo's illusion is a success, but Blake doesn't pause to celebrate. Hush, like she always knew it would, finally comes for her, forcing Blake to flip back to avoid the quick strikes. She blocks with Gambol, evades, Neopolitan striking her clones a few times. There's something wrong with her Semblance, it's so much weaker, but she doesn't have time to think about that and all she can do is hope that it doesn't give out on her--

One hit manages to get through her defenses, hitting like a surgical strike right where her forearm is tensed with her grip, and Gambol goes skittering across the ground.

Roots rustle and curl around the blade, threatening to envelop it.

Panic and fury has Blake's heartbeat skipping. Something surges in her blood.

Blindly, she pushes Hush away-- her fingernails are suddenly sharp, scraping sparks along the umbrella's canopy-- and darts after her weapon, but the plants on the ground have other ideas. The pink, brown and white blur out of the corner of her eye vanishes, but it's not Neopolitan that's moving; it's Blake, with a vine around her ankle, yelping in protest as she's toppled to the ground and hauled toward the alleyway. ]

[threelayers]

[When Blake darted for her weapon, Neopolitan's eyes followed her, suddenly widening just in time to see the Vine taking hold of her leg. No! She didn't need that! Racing forward, she tried to stab at the tendril that was grabbing for the huntress with Hush. The process got a good stab in, which wriggled and started to release Blake, just in time for more of them to come whippingout.

They lashed out, one of them going for Neopolitan's wrist and the other for her waist while she was occupied trying to yank Blake free of the one. Another of them, uninjured, took over for its partner and went for Blake's other leg while Neo's umbrella was yanked out of her hand, toppling just out of reach, just like Gambol had been. The vines pulled fiercely, and in the shadows both girls could see a giant venus flytrap's pads opening, spreading, the tendrils coming from the base of them as the tines widened all around it. The plant was pulling, waiting to trap them both against those sticky walls. One wall apiece would do, and perhaps the plant could be forgiven for being just a little greedy. After all, what could they do if they were both trapped in there?]

[fromshadows]

[ And here, Blake manages to think, is when she really should have paid attention to the rumors she overhead while walking here. She'd heard a snippet of conversation, a man panicking about massive carnivorous plants that were going to eat everybody, and Blake hadn't immediately started planning for the danger. That's her mistake.

Her claws-- she'll have to think about how she got those later-- scrabble against the cobblestone as she's dragged. She doesn't miss Neopolitan's attempt to free her, and anger wars with reluctant gratitude even as the other girl's weapon is batted out of her hands. Blake struggles, but it doesn't do anything, the tendrils too strong as they unerringly drag them both toward the shadowed form of a giant venus fly trap.

The world inverts as Blake is hefted up off the ground, and with a yowl of frustration, Blake is dropped in. She manages to catch one of the sharp spikes at its lip, leaving her hanging, her heels just barely scraping the bottom. And as Neopolitan is dropped in beside her, the walls press in close, and Blake finds she can't move, stuck fast.

At least there's still airflow. But Blake promptly sags, all the fight taken out of her for a moment, ears flattening, looking downright despondent. ]

...This is disgusting.

[threelayers]

[The 'good news' was definitely that a venus flytrap usually left enough gaps with its spiked 'teeth' that it was possible for air to get into the chamber. Of course, considering what it intended to do with two large and very-much captured 'flies' over the next several hours? Well, that was probably not much of a consolation for the girls right now. Of course, the fact that it would take probably a few hours for the tines to clench shut properly and hermetically seal them in was far better news. For now, it was sticky, disgusting and maybe the tiniest bit tingly. They had time.

Neo made a face as the pads slid closed, her hands barely grabbing onto one of those teeth right next to where Blake had grabbed. Of course, at her height, she was dangling completely, and tried to twist herself, pressing her knees to the same side, leveraging her legs up to try and push them against the pad closing in on them. It had her squashed there uncomfortably but maybe she could get some leverage? The pad nearly had her pressed, with a cheek up against it. Ugh, this really was disgusting.

She looked over at the girl next to her and gave her a sharp look, her free hand nudging Blake in the ribs. Hey! She wasn't giving up, and she damned well didn't want Blake giving up right now!

...admittedly she wasn't exactly sure HOW to get out of this just yet.]

[fromshadows]

[ Neopolitan's poke to her side isn't exactly welcomed, but Blake gets the message. Don't give up. Blake would insist that she's allowed a brief moment to sulk; they're stuck inside a giant plant that's trying to slowly digest them. More accurately, she's stuck inside a giant plant that's trying to eat her, and her nemesis is right next to her, and Blake's kind of wondering if there's a way she can get out and leave Neopolitan here.

No. This isn't how she wants Neopolitan to die.

Blake takes a breath, and firms her resolve. ]

Okay. If this plant is anything like the ones we have back home, we're not immediately in danger. We're just stuck. If we're stuck for a few hours, then we might be in danger.

[ Blake twists her head, looking around. There's not much to see other than Neopolitan, and the sight of her own arm clinging onto the spike, the claws on her hand digging into her palm. Exactly how and why she has claws, she's not sure. ]

Neither of us have our weapons. My semblance won't help, neither will yours. Is there... anything you can do with your blood powers?

[threelayers]

[Ngh, she really didn't like it one bit, so she wasn't in a sulking mood. It was sticky and disgusting and the air smelled far too sweet. Still, as soon as Blake spoke up, Neo seemed to calm a little bit and nodded once to confirm that she'd heard her, and that was probably right. As long as this chamber didn't fill with fluid they should be safe. That was usually a sign things were coming to an end, but that would be hours, especially if they struggled, and she intended to struggle.

Hmmmph. Gambol would be useful right about now. Cut through this thing. Probably better than... were those claws? No, she could think about that later. Hmmm. Her semblance wasn't exactly great against plantlife, but it did give her a though. Her blood powers had changed it, just a little, and the whole 'copy' she created was physically there. Maybe she could try something.

One hand held up a finger and she started to focus. When she did, there were pink scale-like shards forming around her, as if she were setting a new illusion. But, as they neared the top, there was a shimmer, a shake, and the whole thing rushed right past Blake to form into Neo on the other side of her, holding onto tines above her head there, positioned exactly like the first. She grunted and pressed with both sets of legs before shrugging?

Hey, was this what Blake wanted? To be surrounded by her nemesis, slowly digesting in a plant? On the plus side, she wasn't shattering, so it was two sets of legs to push if they tried to pry the pads open. Had the plant counted on there being three in there?]

[fromshadows]

[ Blake's only seen a little of Neo's semblance, but she knows enough to know that the way it seems to pour out of her is new. And before she knows it, there's another Neo on her other side.

A horrible chill settles into Blake's gut. Surrounded on all sides, unable to avoid seeing her no matter how she twists her head -- for a moment, she wonders wildly if this is part of a plan to kill her, but even now she recognizes that's a ridiculous thought, since Neo is just as trapped as she is.

Also? Neo wouldn't need a big gross plant to help kill her. Not right now, with Blake's semblance not working like it should. She's a good enough fighter without it, but her shadow clones are so foundational to her style that she's off balance without them. All she has left is her weapon, and... her own potential Darkblood powers that she hasn't really figured out yet.

Blake manages to drag her other hand up through the stickiness, looking at the black claws that have replaced her nails. She probably didn't suddenly manifest another Faunus trait, but as she's puzzling it out, thinking about her normal nails -- they flicker, like a glitch in the air, and smooth back out into exactly what she was just picturing. And Blake knows, by pure instinct, that this has to be the reality warping portion of Darkblood. She makes a soft little huh noise, fascinated despite their surroundings, and thinks really, really hard about claws again... but longer this time, long enough to cut through the walls of this plant. She thinks about the God of Animals, and his many names, and his shapeshifting, evolving to suit the environment and his needs. ]

Okay. If I can weaken this wall we're facing, and you can push, we might be able to get out of here. But... it also might fight back. Ready?

[threelayers]

[Ok, there was the Blake she remembered. Not that she was going to tell Blake that she'd definitely seen her around in the nightmare before, but she was used to the cold, calculating, methodical girl who figured out what needed to be done... and then usually charged off to do it herself, but hey what could you do?

She steadied herself, her boots pressing to the pads and her legs getting ready to flex. She held firm at the tines on both sides and breathed in careful, shallow breaths that got deeper and deep... why did this damned plant have to have that cloyingly sweet smell? Ugh, she wanted out of here bad. Another breath and the two of them looked in her direction, nodding just once and giving a thumbs up before gripping. She'd take Blake's lead on this one, and the moment that she was told to push, her legs would push with all of their might while her shoulders aimed to jam and press it the other way. She might need to give up on her jacket when this was over and was all too ready to get out of her sleeves, but better that than digesting.

The nod done, she was ready for Blake to make the call.]

[fromshadows]

[ If she were to cut a horizontal line down the plant, all that would mean is that Neo's efforts would push the newly cut wall outward without truly freeing them. If she cuts a line down near one of the Neo's, it would mean her legs would go straight through. So Blake comes up with another option.

Dragging her free arm upward feels like... well, fighting against horrendously sticky goop, dragging at her jacket sleeve. Eventually, Blake manages to get her arm upright, and with a little noise of effort, punches her claws through the green flesh just underneath the lip of spikes. The plant convulses around them, tightening just a fraction. ]

Damn it. I'll work fast.

[ Her claws cut through the plant like butter; the difficult part is moving against the stickiness, but slowly but surely, Blake cuts open a vertical, curved line, parallel to the spikes, as far as her arm can reach. The plant is obviously none too happy about this, squealing, writhing, but Blake just grits her teeth and keeps going. ]

If you push, it'll tear that open wider, and the whole front should open up. And then we just need to unstick ourselves.

[threelayers]

[Neo shimmied, squeezing and nearly popping her shoulder in the process of worming them through the sleeves of her jacket, pulling one and then the other to replace them at the grip she'd had, ready to do that clothing sacrifice. The amount of stickiness she was dealing with was more tolerable if it came down to it. She was pretty sure she could get out of this if it came to it now.

Nodding fast, she griped and pushed damned hard, both of her versions leveraging as much effort into helping to get that hole a little wider, looking for an opening to get the hole somehow open, her eyes locked on it and only very occasionally glancing over at Blake. She made a quick gesture for her to get out first. She could hold this while she did.

After all, only one of her needed to get out.]

[fromshadows]

[ It works just like Blake anticipated it would -- Neo's pushing on either side puts stress on the tear she created, and it rips open wider and wider, forming a long opening underneath the row of spikes. With its foundation gone, the row of spikes droops, dropping them a little further down into the plant as it writhes, its awful screeching noises hurting Blake's ears.

She tears another line, straight down this time, turning the cut into a T, and both flaps gape open. With nothing to grab onto, all Blake can do is lean forward, struggling, and bit by bit, she unsticks with the force of her weight alone. She drops, finally out of the plant, and the first thing she does is scoop up her swords.

Blake turns. She can see glimpses of both Neo's, and for a long, aching moment, Blake just watches, expression inscrutable.

She could walk away right now. Neo might get out. She might not. She might meet her end here, digested by an ornery plant. It'd be a slow, agonizing death. And there's a dark part of Blake that thinks she should just walk away and hope the plant does its job. But Neo had helped her. The only reason she'd been able to get out was her help. And no matter how much Blake despises her right now, she wouldn't feel right leaving her when she'd helped save Blake's life... even if Blake has no idea why she'd helped.

Her throat's tight, her heatbeat pounding so hard she can feel her ribcage rattling with it, but Blake forces herself to move. Using Gambol, she slices through the plant, another long vertical cut for a proper opening for what she's thinking of as the 'original' Neo.

Blake offers her hand, but her voice is flat when she says: ]

Grab on. I'll help you get out.

[threelayers]

[There wasn't any hesitation as soon as the hand was offered. That was all it took. Neo grabbed hold with both, and just the leverage was enough with the extra space that had been cut that she was able to tumble out, leaving her jacket and doppleganger behind. Which was her? It didn't actually matter. One of them was out, rolling in a quick sommersault and grabbing Hush. As soon as she landed, her hand went up, checking her hat and she whipped around, umbrella at the ready.

The plant was definitely not done, but it was severely damaged. As it writhed, the other Neo shattered like glass, right before a set of tentacles came to life again. One of the vines was going for Blake and she made a quick stab at it, causing it to recoil back as the others hovered, clearly ready to either defend the plant or reclaim its meal. Neo looked at Blake with a firm set to her eyes and jerked with her thumb towards the building that she'd been trying to free up earlier. The door was just barely visible around the corner, the roots mostly out of the way.

The meaning was hopefully clear. The needed to get the F out of here. They could worry about trying to get themselves killed in a minute.]

[fromshadows]

[ Now that she's got her swords in her hands again, dealing with the vines is easy, but Blake can't help the little glance of guilt she shoots the bigger venus fly trap. She'd heard some of the plants begging to be fed earlier, so they're at least as smart as animals, and they're probably not actively malicious. It had just wanted a meal. And now she's mangled it nearly beyond recognition.

Neo gestures sharply at a door, and Blake starts moving, grimacing at the way her jacket sleeves are trying to stick to her sides. Hopefully, if they lay low inside for a bit, the plants will move on.

She slices through an encroaching root, and swiftly opens the door as soon as it's free, Gambol brandished at the ready as she waits for Neo. ]

[threelayers]

[Neo had no such compunctions. Way too many little monsters that let you get your guard down before they became serious problems. Nope, these plants could definitely go F themselves.

As soon as the door was open, she moved past Blake and got down to a knee in the entry of what looked like a very spartan apartment. There was a hint of metallic gleam just at the floorline when she undid something, the sound of a chord whipping back and snapping in place before she stepped into the rest of the room, motioning for the other to follow and waiting for the door to be closed.

The apartment was definitely spartan. It was kept immaculately clean, but there was very little personality or 'lived in' feel to the whole thing. The furnishings were enough for two or three people to occupy it, and all of them looked like the kinds of off the rack stuff that probably came with the place. Almost no decorations were visible, other than a photograph of Neopolitan and Emerald on the fireplace frame, looking happy, both of them dressed in white. It was all very bleak, quiet and looked like Neo really didn't spend that much time in here.

She finally pulled her omni out and typed on it again.]

Close the door, and watch the windows. Booby trapped.
Let's just lay low here for a little bit and you can try to kill me later, ok?
We should probably use the shower, get this crap off of us.

[She was really casual about the fact that Blake had just tried to kill her as she leaned against the counter into the kitchenette. It was almost like she was just sort of used to this by now.]

[fromshadows]

[ Since it's really the only spot of color in the room, Blake's gaze goes right to the photo, and her eyes widen a fraction. There's a lot to unpack there.

As much as she hates to admit it, Neo's making sense. But. ]

I'm not going to use your shower.

[ Laying off trying to kill Neo for now, that she can probably agree to. Even just their short fight had sapped some of her energy -- she's nowhere near exhausted, physically, but emotionally is a whole other story. Going from trying to kill Neo to working with her to save their lives was a whiplash far too big for Blake's nerves to easily handle.

And despite their temporary truce, she's definitely not going to make herself that much more vulnerable in Neo's place by taking a shower. No thank you. ]

I'll just... try not to touch anything. [ To that end, Blake just sort of stands awkwardly in the middle of the living room, arms folded tightly around her middle, trying not to get plant goop on anything. ] Don't let me stop you from washing yourself off, though.

[threelayers]

[Yeah, that was better than she'd expected from her as far as reactions went. Neo considered for a moment and then shrugged, typing quickly as she made her way to the hallway, where clearly there was a bathroom.]

Sink's in the kitchen if you need it.
I get it, but if you start feeling the sticky begin to burn?
Don't be stubborn and get yourself hurt.

If you need anything, holler.

[For the moment, she just walked into the bathroom and the sound of running water could be heard, along with clothes being discarded. Neopolitan had been through this too many times, with too many people from Remnant and other places. She knew better than to force it.

Admittedly? The fact that she clearly hadn't locked the bathroom door said a lot about whether or not she was worried if Blake was coming after her. Was that on purpose? She had taken Hush with her at least, so she wasn't behaving too casually.]

(OOC: I'll fast forward to her coming out of the shower in the next tag, if you want to continue the scene. There's a lot they're dealing with here, so I'm good continuing for a while if you are.)

[fromshadows]

[ After a long few minutes of her ears practically quivering with how hard she's listening in anticipation of Neo bursting out to attack her, Blake inevitably has to admit that Neo really is just taking a shower. There's not going to be a surprise attack. Eventually, she manages to convince herself to go to the kitchen, washing her hands free of plant goop. She scrubs her face, too, and does her best to get it out of her hair before it dries, because she can only imagine the nightmare it's going to be later.

She's going to guess that Neo's been here, in this world, for a while. That picture of her and Emerald in white, Blake's going to go ahead and guess that's a wedding photo. Maybe the entirety of that relationship happened here, maybe it started back in Remnant, but it points to them both being here for a while before Emerald returned.

Does that knowledge help her be less angry at Neo in any way? Not even remotely. But for now, her immediate furious urge to fight has dimmed, post-plant-devouring.

No doubt it'll come back later. Her restless dreams last night were about what happened at those bridges. She'll have that dream again, she knows.

But how long ago was that for Neo?

How long would it take Ruby to get to the point of having a truce with her?

Blake stifles a sigh, and dries her hands, feeling at least a little cleaner now that she's managed to get some of the plant detritus off. She'll stay here for a little bit, just long enough for the plants to move on, and then she'll be making her way back to the Clockhouse. Until then... maybe she can ask some questions. ]

[threelayers]

[The sounds of running water eventually turned off from the other room. There was a door opening, and footsteps back one direction. They sounded like the soft thud of someone who was walking in their house barefoot. A few more rustling sounds and Neo eventually emerged from the back hallway.

She was dressed in a tanktop and shorts, a towel still on her head. There weren't many, but scars showed. One hand set Hush down next to a chair in the living room and she flopped into it. Without heels on, she was even shorter than usual. The tiny imperfections were never there most of the time, those little signs that yes. She did take battle damage. she was trying to remember what Chizuru had been helping her with. But, it took conscious effort to remember to keep her illusions off. The only thing she left on, at least until she set it on the end table? A battered old bowler hat with a red ribbon. That? It looked the same as it had years ago. When he'd worn it.

She took out her omni and finally glanced up at Blake.]

I'm ok sitting in awkward silence if you want.
But, I assume you have questions.

[She'd been thinking about it the whole time in the shower. She had no idea if Blake would actually ask them or not. She wasn't attacking at least, so there was that.]