shatterverse | (no subject)

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One of the farm's least, er... visible residents is currently visible. Ish. Considering it's dusk, the red girl is not nearly so shiny or readily apparent as she emerges from her tunnel. But there are things to explore, to discover, and it's easier to do that when there aren't people running around at the same time.

There's a Penance out in the ruined field of the farm, picking curiously at overgrown plants and looking a little proud of herself when she's able to pick up leaves or pieces of grass.

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"I'm Claire," Claire offers, holding out a hand.

She realises suddenly that's ridiculously patronsing, and rests it instead on her knee.

"Are you new?"

She watches the extended hand, head tilted slightly to the side. When Claire draws back, eyebrows lift, and Penance holds out her own hand in a mimicry of Claire's.

It's slightly larger, redder, and sharper, but she pulls back a moment later anyway, no harm done.

Claire smiles again and takes a step closer.

"Not a people person, huh?"

Penance leans back a little, eyes dropping to Claire's feet, relaxing when the other girl stops.

Smile.

"OK," Claire says, stopping short and spreading her hands. "I'm not coming any closer."

Headtilt.

Penance holds out her hands, palms up, imitating.

She laughs softly, and lets her legs give way underneath her so she can sit.

"Why so nervous?"

Penance leans back a little, settling when Claire does. When it seems like Claire isn't going to continue the Simon Says game, she looks back down at the ground. There are things to play with there, see. Like leaves! And flowers!

Claire, still smiling, leans forward to take a flower out of Penance' fingers. Assuming that's allowed, of course.

It-- kind of is? When she sees her leaning forward, Penance leans back from Claire, drawing her hands back to herself. But the flower is dropped, leaving it for Claire to pick up, if she likes.

Claire's shoulder slump.

"Sorry," she says, but picks up the flower and holds it out to Penance to take back.

She pauses for a moment before reaching out, extending a finger for Claire to set the flower on.

Claire does so, leaning forward for it.

When she overbalances forward, it's by accident, and when she puts out a hand to balance on Penance's arm, it's instinct.

And when Penance jumps back, it's as much instinct as it is learned behavior. But it doesn't stop Claire's soft skin from being pierced by razor sharp fingers, or blood dripping to the ground.

And it doesn't stop Penance's expression of panic and remorse as she starts to inch away, wary of an attack.

Claire inhales sharply through her teeth, but when she sees Penance's expression, her own falls to one of remorse.

"Hey," she says, picking up the dropped flower. "It's OK."

And look! When she holds the flower out it's on a hand completely devoid of scratches, even under the loose blood.

...

wut?

Penance blinks, eyes wide, stunned and doesn't reach for the flower right away. First she looks over at a thick vine and pokes at it with a fingertip. When it slices cleanly in half, her brows draw together, supremely confused as she looks between her hands and Claire's hand.

Claire grins, and looking for permission from Penance, reaches for her hand again.

She shies away again but slower, not entirely sure of the situation. There's surely ample time for Claire to reach and grab - or, and probably more preferably, when Penance settles down with a hand extended.

Shaking a little, but extended.

Claire give what she hopes is a reassuring smile, and touches Penance lightly with a finger.

She's so sharp it doesn't even hurt, and when Claire turns her finger up, she demonstrates her healing power.

No wonder the poor girl's so skittish.

Penance...

...blinks.

Quite a bit.

Claire smiles. And offers the flower again.

Penance sets those wide eyes on Claire, watching her carefully for any sign that she should back away. But, at the same time, she's reaching out to try and take the flower from her between two fingers.

She doesn't move away, sitting patiently, and smiling when the flower is taken.

"I'm sorry I scared you."

The flower is taken with something akin to wonder, Penance's eyes wide and her lips curved into a gentle smile. And once the flower is balanced on a finger, the smile is focused on Claire.

Hello, new BFF! Here, have a flower.

Claire laughs and takes the flower, pausing again to extend the contact. Sure, it makes her bleed, but it doesn't hurt and she gets over it.