maskormenacelogs | [CLOSED] All eyes on me when I walk in

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[CLOSED] All eyes on me when I walk in

WHO: Raina and Elsa
WHERE: Some Spa in Heropa
WHEN: Backdated to October 23rd
WHAT: Raina and Elsa both need some pampering after recent events. But it might not go the way it's supposed to.
WARNINGS: Raina being manipulative trash and Elsa being a disaster. idk. I'll update!

[ Going to the spa retreat in New York with Chilton had helped a great deal to relax Raina after her loss in the election. So, she figured that for the rest of the week, she was entitled to a few extra spa days than usual. And because she planned to visit more frequently than not, it required a different partner than her usual invitation of Bela or Chilton. Going through the list of contacts, Raina chose Elsa as the lucky recipient of this luxurious treatment and invited her along.

So with the promise of all expenses paid spa time plus a trip to the bar (on Raina's tab) afterward, Raina told Elsa where to meet her. And about an hour later, Raina headed on over to their destination, waiting outside for the first glimpse of that gorgeous redheaded woman. ]

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[Elsa was high as hell on sanguine when Raina contacted her, a state which may have influenced her decision to come along for a girl's day. Because fuck it, why not. Why not indulge herself at someone else's expense? As long as 'spa' wasn't code for Raina's mad scientist lair (assuming she had one of those, which would not surprise Elsa in the least), there was really no reason to turn it down.

Of course, by the time she's meant to meet Raina, she's settling into the lower energy phase of her high and is in no particular rush. She arrives about ten minutes late and strolls up in over-sized sunglasses and a teal wrap dress that's wrinkled more from wear than aesthetic, a cigarette dangling loosely between her fingers. She takes one final puff from it and drops it to the sidewalk, not bothering to grind it out.]

All right, let's get girly. [She sounds...not stoned exactly, but a little out of it.]

[ Oh. My god.

Raina can see that red hair approaching, and while Elsa does have a careless style about her, it's more that she's very likely under the influence of something than...this just being her style. She watches as the cigarette hits the ground. Her eyes are on it as it continues to burn itself out and Elsa makes that less than enthusiastic declaration. ]

You seem like you could use the pampering.

[ A polite way of saying Elsa looks like a hot mess. Which is still pretty hot even in its mess. ]

Do I? [She tilts her head, possibly giving her reflection in the storefront a once-over, then shrugs.]

I've been pampering myself quite a lot lately. But I suppose you can't really overdo it. [A little joke, given that it's entirely possible to overdose on her usual methods. She laughs and then moves to open the door.]

I assume they're expecting us?

They are. I set up an appointment for the deluxe treatment.

[ If Raina's going to indulge, she's going to indulge all the way. And not the same way Elsa apparently has. ]

Are you feeling all right, Elsa? You sound a bit drained.

[ She follows the other woman into the spa itself. ]

Oh, good. I hope that comes with a happy ending. [Is she kidding? ...Probably. But who can say for sure? Still moving with a sort of dreamy slowness, she heads for the reception desk, replying to Raina over her shoulder.]

I feel great, actually, but it's so sweet of you to be concerned.

[ Her eyebrow raises mildly high at the remark about the happy ending. Elsa is a little (a lot) less refined than Raina, but she certainly doesn't expect the crude remark coming out of her mouth after they've already entered the building. She doesn't comment and gives her a doubtful look at the reassurance that she feels fine.

But again, Raina says nothing and heads over to the receptionist to tell them of their appointment. The two of them are welcomed and then led to a back room where there are a pair of robes waiting for them and they're instructed to undress and put those on. Once left alone, Raina frowns at Elsa. ]

Seriously, sweetie, if you're not feeling up to this -- we can always reschedule for a better day.

[ She reaches out, brushing her fingers against Elsa's forehead as though she's doing nothing more than checking for fever. But this close, she's checking for other signs. Clammy skin, dilated pupils, shallow breathing, rapid heart rate -- any symptoms of an immediate overdose. ]

[Elsa wrinkles her nose at the personal space violation, but doesn't immediately withdraw. Her skin is slightly cool to the touch, though not alarmingly so, and not at all clammy. Her breathing is slow, sedate, and her pulse isn't immediately detectable—though probably slow as well. As soon as her lack of fever is established, she pulls away.]

I'm not sick, Raina. [She lowers her shades to give the other woman an amused glance and reveals ever-so-slightly constricted pupils. After a moment, she removes the glasses entirely.] And there's no need to mother me—you're not old enough for it. We're here to relax and have a good time, are we not? Sooo- [she draws out the word as she snaps her sunglasses shut with a flourish and tucks them away in her bag] relax.

[With that, she begins shedding clothing. She has some difficulties disentangling herself from her sleeves that a sober person might not, but soon enough she's stepping out of her dress and preparing to slip into something a little more comfortable.

In the meantime, Raina gets an up close and personal look (possibly her first) at Elsa's scars. While some are old and white, the majority are the dusky pink of more recently-healed injuries, ranging from a few years to a week old. They cover her arms completely from shoulder to wrist, though they're concentrated most thickly on her forearms where they form a haphazard mess of thin, overlapping lines. There are a handful across her upper thighs as well, and one particularly long cut which starts between her breasts and ends just above her navel, marring the otherwise blank canvas of her torso.

She doesn't cover herself or pause to clock Raina's reaction as she reaches for the robe; clearly, these marks are of little concern to her. They're not some close-kept secret and definitely not a source of shame.]

[ Not sick, no. Raina never thought that this was an illness. Admittedly, she didn't know Elsa terribly well. Not enough to count her as anything more than a recreational drug user. She seems like a girl who wants to have fun -- but taking something before going to a spa? An environment meant for relaxing in the first place? There's nothing about this experience that needs to be enhanced.

So Raina's lips set together in a thin line, and against her better judgment, she drops the subject. Idly, she reaches behind herself to pull down the zipper of her flower dress -- showcasing the same lack of shame when it comes to getting nude. But she does take note of Elsa's body -- gorgeous, curvaceous and marred. The scarring is a surprise. And it leaves Raina to wonder whether it was done to Elsa by someone else or if they were self-inflicted.

Only one way to find out. ]

How did you get your scars?

[ Some might be horrified upon seeing them, but the question from Raina is casual. Completely nonchalant as she takes her robe and shrugs it on. ]

[She turns back to look at Raina as she loosely belts the robe shut.]

Oh, I've never told you about my magic, have I? [Said as if she hasn't been deliberately vague about it in the past. Of course, now she's less concerned with Raina's impression of her.] Well, this is where it comes from. Blood—any blood—is power in a very real, literal sense. The kind of power that's worth leaving a few marks. [Preferably on other people, but hey.]

[ No. This is the first time Raina's hearing about it. As a matter of fact, she barely knows a damn thing about Elsa and this right here is proof of that. The fascination lights up on her face, her science mind already kicking into gear. ]

Blood magic...

[ She says it with a hint of awe. ]

That sounds like an incredibly powerful gift. Does the blood have to be fresh...?

[ And then it all starts to make sense. ]

Wait, is that why you refused to come to my blood drive that time?

Yes. [In answer to her first question. The second makes her pause for a moment, lips still parted as if about to form a word, as she recalls their conversation at the time. Then she laughs.]

Oh, yes. That. It would have been awkward.

Once you're attuned to it, it's difficult not to notice—not to feel it in the air when it's spilled. Can you imagine trying to eat cookies and make nice with all that power dripping away in the background? [She laughs again.]

[ And instantly, Elsa has become one hundred times more attractive -- because let's face it. You can't do blood magic without being shady on some level. It involves cutting people open, and the more blood you get -- the more powerful the spells. ]

You could have volunteered. You could have taken part. That power wouldn't have had to go to waste, you know.

I mean, if the situations were reversed and I was the one with your power -- it's what I would have done.

[Shady is an understatement in Elsa's case. She just shrugs, still looking amused.]

I have my own sources. And I do value some degree of subtlety. [Her mentor would disagree, but hey, fuck that guy. It's not like he exists in this universe.] Crashing such a public event would have been foolish.

Besides, I really was interested in your findings.

We've been doing nanite study mainly. Unfortunately, most of those deactivate when separated from the blood. But my team has gathered some valuable information from some of the more immortal samples.

But perhaps, as a blood mage, you might be able to do something to take care of the nanite issue. Or awaken the powers inside the blood so that we can study them better and finally isolate it directly to the source. It would be incredibly helpful, and we could compensate you, of course.

That's- [She pauses, considering how to phrase this. She doesn't want to put Raina off completely and it doesn't help that her brain is all foggy.] -not really my wheelhouse. Blood is like fuel. You burn it to get a result. And I can't do anything with old blood, anyway. Whatever samples you have are beyond stale.

The nanites are a whole other can of worms.

So you're saying you would have to be present and the blood would have to be fresh to accomplish anything.

[ That's a shame. But Raina could also arrange a scenario for Elsa to work with all the fresh blood she may want. It may be fascinating to see it in action. ]

Have you found that the nanites interfere? Do they have any sort of impact on your spells or are they not noticeable at all?

Exactly.

They don't interfere with my work, no, but I don't think I could affect them. [She frowns slightly.] Magic and technology of that sort are akin to oil and water or the like poles of two magnets. They resist one another.

I told you I'm not overly fond of computers, yes?

They can't interfere with you and you can't interfere with them. It's an interesting little barrier. And you have made mention of your dislike for computers, yes. Especially your general lack of fondness for text messaging. Not that I don't agree...

[ She steps forward slowly, getting closer to the woman. The dangerous blood mage. It's enough to send a shiver down Raina's spine. ]

Show me something? I would love to see it.

[ Which maybe isn't a smart move. But Raina's pretty sure Elsa isn't going to outright kill her here. It would be pretty inconvenient since the staff knows it's only the two of them in this dressing room area. ]

[In general, asking one of the enustari to do a magic trick would be a huge mistake. But Elsa has always loved to show off.

She waits just long enough to possibly unnerve Raina before nodding.]

All right. Give me your hand. [While she waits for the other woman to comply, she begins digging around in her purse for a blade. (Who brings a knife to the spa? Elsa. Elsa does.)]

[ Elsa is one of a kind! Admittedly, the wait doesn't unnerve her as much as it excites her. Raina always gets excited to be close to someone so fantastically dangerous. And Elsa has the luxury of being extraordinarily beautiful in her danger.

She complies without question. Really, she should demand that Elsa does it to herself -- but Raina's so caught up in the moment that she doesn't mind sacrificing her own blood. She and Chilton do get a little bit of mild bloodplay going on from time to time, after all, so it's a bit titillating as well. ]

[It doesn't take her long to find what she's looking for—an ivory-handled straight razor—and press it to Raina's palm. The cut she makes is small and shallow, just enough to draw blood. As it begins to well up, she speaks a handful of words in a foreign tongue and, with a cold draining sensation, the blood is siphoned off into thin air, leaving behind a dry partially-closed wound.

At the same time, a glowing red rose appears in midair just in front of Raina's face. An illusion—quick, easy, and non-violent, plus Raina's always wearing floral shit so Elsa figures she'll appreciate it.]

Ta-da.

[ Raina doesn't really wince when the cut is made, but her brow does flicker to indicate a slight amount of discomfort. All of that fades away when Elsa starts chanting something, and Raina is amazed at how her blood responds to Elsa's call. It lifts and dances and then becomes something incredibly beautiful.

Nothing short of awe is on Raina's face as she stares at the glowing rose, the fingers of her uncut hand reaching out to touch it. ]

That's incredible. And only with such a small amount. What could you do with more?

[ A beat and then a more horrible question: ]

What could you do if you drained a person of their blood completely?

[It will feel like empty air, because it is. Like a hologram.]

Oh, I could do a lot of things.

I could pause time for everyone in this building aside from us or teleport across the world.

But a single sacrifice isn't so much in the grand scheme of things. For something truly powerful, I would require more.

[ A shame because she wants to keep it. ]

Twenty sacrifices? A hundred sacrifices? The amount of power you have -- you could be godlike. People could worship you and be honored to give their life for your cause.

[ Which is admirable and enviable because Raina sure wants to make a cult following of her own. ]

Edited 2016-01-24 02:16 (UTC)

[She's killed many more people than that, both in her lifetime and for the purpose of a single ritual, so she doesn't bat an eye at the numbers Raina is suggesting.]

At home we called them Bleeders. Personally I find worship a bit tiresome, but it is useful to keep a willing supply.

Does your magic work with animal blood or does it have to be human?

[ There's a thoughtful expression on her face as though Raina's putting together some awful idea. ]

I've been working on a side project. Something with religious connotations. And you know how animal sacrifice is quite prominent in half of those stories...

[Elsa's nose wrinkles at the idea.]

It does, but you need so much more. The volume depends on the type of animal, of course, but all of it is inferior to human blood.

[Casting off animal blood is something she has always considered the purview of lesser magicians.]

But for a simple parlor trick -- if one were to make a cult, for instance, and wanted to show off a miracle. If one were to want to get willing sacrifices by showing off what simple animal blood can do...

[With an airy wave of her hand,] Yes, yes, it would work.

[ A wide-spreading grin. ]

Well, Elsa. It seems as though you and I could have quite a bit of fun together.

[ She links arms with the woman, smiling up at her as she starts to lead the way out of the room. ]

You see, I had the idea that the best way to fight against Lucifer isn't to face him head on. It's to gather up and build my own congregation -- something to challenge his believers. He has it too easy in this world with no god other than him. I wish to change this.

[ And get all that attention on her. That's an added bonus. ]

[Raina is lucky the pills put Elsa in such an agreeable mood. Normally she would pull her arm away, but just this once she will allow it. Lead on, Raina, to whatever pampering awaits!

They'll probably need to curtail this discussion once they're in public, but before they exit the dressing room,]

Interesting strategy. I'd prefer not to be visibly involved, but I'm sure we can work something out.

[Honestly, cults are just embarrassing. She's not above taking advantage of one for blood, but like hell she's going to put on a silly outfit and stand at the front.]

[ Elsa should be drugged every time they hang out if they can be this touchy feely. Raina is certainly not complaining! But she smiles after Elsa's comment because that's even better. ]

If you would prefer to work behind the curtain, that would give the image we're trying to sell even more credit. By following me and what I represent, miracles can happen. By sacrificing to me and what I represent, great power can be achieved. Making a whole religion isn't that hard if you know the formula. And the formula tends to involve unseen miracles.

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[CLOSED] All eyes on me when I walk in

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i love how judgey her face is in that icon

judging all over Elsa RN

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