Panic Station (Anastasia)

[Valentia de la Torres]

The flight was not as long as she remembered, but someone as traveled as Valentia had learned by now how to cope with the boredom of an overseas flight. At least this time she didn't need to attempt to drown out the sound of crying babies and screaming voices with the borrowed soundtrack of extensively classical music. For some reason, the seats around her were surprisingly empty. She opened her eyes at the halt of the aircraft and realised it was time to disembark.

Retrieving her bag from the overhead compartment, she walked off with ease. She turned her phone back on for good measure, grinning with amusement at the screen. Valentia looked up as she exited the tunnel, spotting the familiar head of blonde hair at the back and out of the crowd. Her stride was a direct line from the tunnel over to her; never mind the crowd embracing and kissing their loved ones around her.

"I assume it was you who purchased every other ticket in first class?" She said with a laugh, smiling genuinely at the sight of her friend as she extended her arms. "For my comfort? How kind you've become, Anastasia."

[Anastasia van Drakke]

Anastasia did not hug many people. Contact was, as an empath, something she tended to keep to a minimum. Too much information was something of an understatement. There were, as there always are, exceptions to the rule. "Valentia," the heiress said fondly, hugging the older woman. <fondness/fatigue/happytoseeyou/>. She didn't look any closer then that. "I saw it as an act of mercy," she said, raising her eyebrows. "On you, of course. Perhaps them too. You do get rather testy."

Stepping back, Anastasia let her eyes slowly flick up and down her friend as her mouth twisting. "It's a long flight," she said slowly, "but that is no excuse for," she waved a hand, "for track pants." Shaking her blonde head, she raised a hand to her mouth to cover her smile. "I'm sorry Ivan couldn't make it. He was painting, I'm not sure he even heard me leave."

[Valentia de la Torres]

Valentia anticipated and reciprocated the hug, offering the contact for only a moment or so before drawing away. She was aware of the means of contact with powers like hers. She offered a slightly amused look to her narrowed eyes as she adjusted the strap on her bag, having allowed it to drop slightly while they were embracing. "Calming thoughts." She replied, "And excess leg room. Though you know I carry know issue with flying coach."

The melodramatic roll of her eyes existed merely in the act of the game. Her hand rested on her hip and she felt a frustrated sigh threaten to pierce her composed exterior. "Pants, this time?" Valentia asked, tilting her head in the direction of baggage claim before walking away. "I could have sworn you would have chosen the boots." She allowed the word to pop in her mouth in the direction of her friend. Her disdain for comfortable footwear was no secret from the soldier.

"Better not to disturb him, then. Though I do miss his gracious smile," Valentia admitted, tugging on the strap to her bag again, "And he's far more adept at comforting embraces than you are."

[Anastasia van Drakke]

Anastasia shuddered, and it was only partially feigned. "I am ignoring those," she said flatly, "I am going to pretend they don't exist, and that you're wearing the jimmy choos I bought you." That last bit was accompanied with a raised eyebrow as she made a point of not looking down.

"For me, that was practically a grope," she said with a smile, and patted Valentina's shoulder quickly. "He's looking forward to seeing you. Company here is..." her lips thinned as her heels clicked on the floor like an expensive metronome, "sparse. He may pat you down for weapons though, so make sure to warn him if you're carrying." Her tone made it clear she wasn't bothered by the thought, it was just that Ivan got a bit surly when people tried to sneak guns he didn't know about into their house.

There was a limo waiting, of course. "How many bags do you have?" she asked. "Please, please tell me more than one. You did buy some nice things, didn't you? Is there at least one dress?"

[Valentia de la Torres]

Valentia scoffed at her friend's response. She always chose the shoes first and foremost. She almost assumed that something was from with Eva since she had opted for something else first. "They're uncomfortable." She responded sharply, "For work. I train meta-humans. That cannot be done in heels." Still, she couldn't help but laugh about it. A stint of the humour that she and Ivan shared.

"You have told me of the sparse company." She replied, "I assumed that was why you wanted me to come by so desperately." A sense of smugness overcame her at that, and she knew her friend's ability would pick up on it. That was what made it so good; abusing the empath so simply.

She looked to her bag briefly, "This one. And one more. Yes, I did. And yes, there is." She nodded to each question, grinning at the way Eva would surely tear through her choices. That was friendship, she supposed. "And don't worry, you won't need to carry them. I know how you hate to get your hands dirty." Another stint of that humour, but she would usually brush it off in kind.

"Fill me in." She said as she waited for her luggage. "What do I need to know before I start work?"