Not all that shines is gold. [Anthy]

[Lucas Blacke]

She replied to his questions and explained where her light was stored, as he had asked. He listened closely as she said it was stored all over, which brought him to a more.. violent question which he was not sure he should ask. If it was stored all over.. did she..

''Do you experience phantom glowing?'' He asked, thinking of the phenomenon known as phantom pain. ''Obviously you don't, now that I think about it.. but..'' The more he thought of his own question, the more morbid and useless it seemed to become. Interest was fine, but why did he want to know this?

He decided to continue his question anyway rather than stopping it. ''If you.. like.. miss one of your limbs, do you feel it glowing?'' Which actually brought him to a better question and instantly posed it in the hopes she wouldn't answer the phantom glow one. He'd hate it if she somehow got upset from that one..

''Can you feel the glow? Like, not just see, but feel when you glow? That'd be awesome, and slightly more embarassing at times.. but awesome!'' He smiled widely at her and looked at her hand. ''Also, can it be triggered by external sources?''

He hesitated. ''Not to be forward or anything, but uh.. do you mind me touching your hand?''

[Anthy Blacksmith]

When he brought up phantom glowing, she was a little confused as she wasn't sure on what that meant. She tried to think about what the definition might have been even as Lucas continued with saying that he didn't think she had it. Maybe he meant like one of those phantom wound things? Oh no, she didn't have that. The only time she felt the heat was when she was glowing. Well, that kind of heat.

As if he had read her mind. Lucas spoke again, asking her if she could feel the glowing that happened. She jokingly wondered if he was a telepath. Not that she had anything against mind-readers, she just thought it would have been a bit rude and odd for him not to have mentioned it when they were exchanging what "powers" they had to each other earlier.

He moved on to asking about if the light could be triggered by an external source and asking if she minded if he touched her hand before she could really get any answer for him. She then smiled shyly.

"I... I do feel it. Sometimes it's more intense than others, but that depends on how brightly I'm glowing... And I don't think it happens with touch... But, earlier, it did kind of seem like it because of how my arm did... But I was really embarrassed right then too..."

[Lucas Blacke]

Right. The touching was off the table. Not that Luke would mind touching her off the table.

He kept his cool at that particular thought and went on to listen to her as she explained how she did feel it, and that it wasn't really achieved through touch but embarassement. So then.. why didn't she glow at his awkward jokes earlier? Was she lying? She wouldn't, right? She had no reason to, unless she was lying to Luke to make it all turn around for him. For someone who had been so down not a moment ago he was sure chipper now that he was talking about cookies and drinks and awesome light based powers.

Was any of that true? Obviously he wouldn't ask her, but it did raise some questions for him, questions he wasn't sure he'd want to know the answers to. Like, if she really could do what she'd said, if she could make those cookies. He'd also ask her if she could bake a cake and then ask her if the cake was a lie.

''So..'' He started as she finished answering him. ''can ya feel it when ya begin to glow? Like, do ya have time to move away when a glow is coming on? Can you light stuff on fire with yer light? Can ya control the brightness or the hotness? Also, do you ever have the urge to glow? As in, do you feel the need to glow like a smoker would need a smoke?''

[Anthy Blacksmith]

He was suddenly asking her a lot of questions, all about he r"power" and what it could to, if she could feel it coming on, and so on. Anthy took a moment to process it all as she had never really had anyone ask her so many details at once.

"I... I can feel it coming on sometimes before it happens, because the area or areas that it's about to light up get warm. It's a different kind of warm than, let's say, if I was wearing a sweater or was blushing or something. It's... I don't really know how to describe it. But depending on how intense the heat starts off, I can tell if I'm about to just glow, or if I'm abut to flash. With flashing, it's more sudden and kind of like a hot rush going through me everywhere at once." She told him.

"I..... I haven't really tried to see if I can control the "on" of it, I've been more of focusing on trying to learn how to just make it stop. Because, even if I can keep it from happening sometimes if I focus on it enough, I end up losing control most of the time. I usually try to calm down when I feel it coming on, so I won't make a spectacle of myself... otherwise I'd be glowing even more often than I already do... And it'd be even more embarrassing...."

Anthy took a breath before continuing to speak.

"I... I try to control the brightness, seeing how it's dangerous if it's too bright. I've actually gotten burned a few times. A couple of times I even got blusters and everything. But, I don't have any scars thanks to how well and quickly the burns were taken care of... I don't really know how hot I can get."

Had she answered everything? Maybe? She wasn't sure, she had kind of lost track. Then, she realized she hadn't.

"I.. I don't really get the urge to glow, no... If.. If anything, the glowing bothers me sometimes... Seeing how it makes me too worried to go into town or anything like that."

Okay, that might have been all of it.

[Lucas Blacke]

''Wait wait wait wait. Hold on. Back up.'' He said as she had finished answering all his questions. Which, in a way was pretty commendable, she had a good memory on top of everything, Luke wouldn't be able to memorize all those questions even if he wanted. ''Flashing and glowing are two different things? I thought every time you glowed you could call it flashing because it flashed outwards.. though that one is probably just my fault. I tend to not make sense when I like stuff.''

When he went back only slightly about how she actually did burn things, he grew a smile and his eyes widened. Okay, so it was not the desired response, but he liked knowing what she could do and seeing as she couldn't really vocally stand up for herself it was good her power could do something for her. The most his power could do for him was make him awesome at tapdancing. Maybe he could solve his problems by means of interpretive dance or something..

Part of him was glad she didn't have any scars, and another part of him wondered why that part was glad about it. Probably because that part wanted to see more of her. Stupid ass part.. and then she had ended the sentence with a classy Anthy line. One which Luke had to bite his own tongue not to comment on, because he would surely say that she was hot without trying or something.

And then, as she paused briefly Luke opened his mouth to say something but was cut from making even a single sound as she answered the last question he asked, if she ever got the urge to glow. If it was anything like an addiction.

Addiction.. caffeine could be addicting, right? ''Say, like caffeine does to me, is there a substance you like but has negative effects on your powers?''

[Anthy Blacksmith]

More questions, but this time they were more spaced out and there were less of them. Anthy was a bit grateful as another bunched cluster like that last one and she would likely faint from lack of breath. Okay, not really, but it was a silly thought. Silly thoughts happened.

"Yeah.. there's flashing, and there's glowing. I don't flash too often, well not in comparison to how often I glow. Which is good because it really takes a lot out of me sometimes. It's like I use up some invisible batteries or something. Light charged. And no, I can't just charge myself by standing in front of a mirror while I glow." She told him, saying the last part to possibly answer a question he might have ended up asking.

She might not have likes playing around with her powers, but she had experimented way back in the beginning... Even if the beginning had only been a couple of years ago.

"As far as stuff that give the powers negative effects.. Hmm.... Not that I can think of. But I haven't done much exploring with different foods and drinks either. In fact, my usual meals are probably kind of boring to some people." Anthy told him.

[Lucas Blacke]

''Boring?'' He repeated with a smile as he leaned in a bit. ''Take it from me you're anything but boring. I mean, it took you a while to get past the whole shy thing, which I don't even know the reason for. Take it from one sad fuck to another; you're awesome. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.''

He knew she was just talking about her diet, but it couldn't hurt to boost her self-asteem a bit, could it? And what else, he wasn't lying. She did come across as awesome now that she'd shed that whole shy demeanor, opening up much more to Luke. Though that was probably because he did so first.

''Also, about your meals.. at least you can have caffeine, right?'' He didn't even know what alcohol did to him, after the whole caffeine ordeal he vowed never to do alcohol. Unless someone didn't mind if he did and was ready to subdue him in some way. Probably in a few years, maybe earlier, he'd be able to find such a person. He was pretty shocked as he realized there were so many things he hadn't tried yet.. Perhaps with Anthy he could..

He shook himself out of it. Friendship first, right?

''I can't even have spicy food, and while that doesn't hurt me as much as caffeine, it relaxes my muscles. As in, they make me go limp. I could probably combine caffeine with peppers or something, but the problem is that with caffeine in my system I stop chewing. It sucks. The only way that would work is if someone forces a pepper down my throat when I have caffeine in me.''

[Anthy Blacksmith]

His wording might have been something she wasn't used to but Anthy didn't get all flustered and faint from it like a nineteen thirties gal or something like that. No, she just focused on the compliment he had given her and blushed some before giving him a shy smile. That was really nice of him to say.

When eh asked her about the meals, and if she could have caffeine, she nodded.

"Yeah, As far as I know, caffeine doesn't do anything to me besides make me a little hyper and wake me up some." She told him.

Not that she had had caffeine much that she could think of. She thought it over a bit. Alright, so she might have had a decent amount now that she realized that she had to include chocolate into the list of caffeinated things. It must have been hard for him. It was no wonder he wasn't big on snacks as a lot of the sweeter snack foods had it in them.

Lucas was speaking up again and Anthy was surprised to hear what he said. No spicy food even? And it seemed even more odd as he continued. And caffeine actually hurt him?

"Well, if I can help it, I'll try to keep both away from you when I'm around." She told him.

"As... as far as if you somehow get caffeine in you.... would pepper oil work? I mean, you don't need to chew or anything with oil and if you hold it under your tongue, it'd go right into the blood stream."

[Lucas Blacke]

''Pepper oil?'' He repeated as she mentioned it and asked if it worked if he happened to get caffeine in him. He didn't even know pepper oil existed up until now, he was just used to avoiding caffeine. Not counting his previous run ins with the substance, of which there were three and only one of them was with him knowing what it did to him.

Due to him not knowing of it existing he had never really tried it, and truth be told, he hadn't actually tried combining peppers with caffeine, he had no idea if it worked like how he said, that they potentially canceled each other out. He just knew they did the polar opposite of each other, with peppers there was always a brief moment of ecstacy, he'd say.

''I feel like I should tell ya I've never really tried that.. But then again yer not really dead set on giving me caffeine, are ya? And to further my answer, even if it did work it'd be hell to even get it in my mouth. No innuendo this time. When I have caffeine in me my body does what it wants, not what I want. It'd be a cold day in hell when ya can force my mouth open in that state.''

He thought a bit. ''Maybe.. and this is purely hypothetical since I don't even know if it even works.. it helps if my body is somehow tricked into eating or drinking it.. let it do what it wants and go from there.. Like.. like..'' He hesitated as he looked at her, only slightly pondering if he should tell her. But, this was hypotheticals right? And he would be able to generalize. He'd be okay.

''My body on caffeine tries to kiss people, so I'd likely try to kiss ya.. maybe ya could use that to yer advantage, put some pepper oil in yer mouth and administer it that way or something, dunno.'' He shrugged. He kind of hoped he never had to find out if it worked.

[Anthy Blacksmith]

He repeated the words "pepper oil" like it was a completely new concept to him. Maybe it was. It would be nice if it could help him now that he knew about it. After all, he didn't seem to want to lose control, and a lot more things had caffeine in it than one might think. It'd be great if that might be the answer to his problem. She put that thought on hold for the moment though, when Lucas went to speaking again.

No innuendo this time? When had he used any? Never mind that, she would just focus on the rest of what he was saying and put that thought to the side.

"Oh no, I wouldn't give you caffeine knowing it makes you lose control. I mean... that'd be pretty mean, wouldn't it?" She said.

So he couldn't open his mouth when he lost control? Did it seize up? Lock up or something? Was it painful? A concerned look came to her eyes. If it hurt him then she hoped that it really didn't happen that often. As he began speaking again, she paid close attention to what he was saying in case he was about to tell her what to do if she found him like that or something. What he told her though, made her cock her head to the side and raise a brow.

"It makes you kiss people?... And... and I don't know... I mean, I've never kissed anyone before. Sure, I've seen it done plenty of times but..."

Well, she hadn't. But that was probably no surprise. So, she didn't know about that idea about the pepper oil on the lips thing.

[Lucas Blacke]

''But what?'' He repeated her. ''Not sure ya could do it, or even be any good at it? Doll, if that shit ever comes around I won't care how yd do if ya'd just do it. And if yer that conscious about that I can teach ya if ya want. I'm a master kisser after all. And that's not bragging, it's a fact.''

His ability did have downsides, like caffeine and peppers, but it also had a great deal of upsides. He'd never be bad at anything. He just wouldn't be creative. He could do something over and over again and it'd slowly seep into his actual memory than his muscle memory, but that took months, like with his wing chun. He could keep his own in a fight, but most of it would be copied straight from Ip man.

''But.. I don't think having a pepper in yer mouth just to give it to someone else is gonna be any fun. Unless yer tolerance for spicy things is way up there.'' He chuckled, realizing suddenly that he was actually talking and not just stringing random words together.

He paused a moment and looked at Anthy, just taking a bit of time to appreciate her. For someone threatening to walk off she had an awesome effect on him, not even Karalie did this to him. ''But i won't expect ya to actually help me when it does happen though. The main thing that you need to know if I do get caffeine in my system is stay the hell away.''

[Anthy Blacksmith]

It started out almost as freclkes all over her shoulders, spreacing to meet at the back of her neck and the front of her throat. But then, those tiny specks of light kind of bled into each other until the glowing activated in full effect. This was how shy and embarrassed she had become when Lucas had offered to teach her how to kiss. She.... she really didn't know about that. Anthy couldn't even produce a proper answer, ending up just stuttering otu a couple of vowels and giving up on it.

It didn't seem to bother him much as he went to speaking again, this time about the logic about not carrying peppers in your mouth for a just in case situation. That was helping her not be as embarrassed, even if the glowing wasn't backing down. It was on her cheeks now and everything.

"W-well, there's got to be some way to help, right? I... I wouldn't just... do nothing."

It'd be cruel to, wouldn't it?

"Something... something besides kissing, seeing how.... how I'm.... I'd probably.... chicken out or something...." She stammered out.

"And I've really got to stop glowing."

[Lucas Blacke]

''GLOW!'' He yelled suddenly as he practically ran into the girl and warpped an arm around her, even if he didn't go for a hug and just stood beside her with his arm wrapped around her, he could see it being quite scary, even moreso for someone such as her. ''..sorry, didn't mean to be so loud.'' He told her in a whisper, trying to get her to calm down.

''And if push ever comes to shove we'll figure something out, okay? Maybe over a batch of those delicious cookies..'' He drew her in a bit closer and smiled at her. ''I don't really know though.. I wouldn't like it if ya just let me have your way with ya just to stop me.. maybe I can teach ya some martial arts or something.'' He joked. ''But who knows, I might not even do anything that bad, maybe I just really wanna be around ya and it'll do nothing out of the ordinary.''

He brushed at her cheek with his free hand. ''For all we know kissing is the only thing that helps..'' He shrugged. ''Let's hope that's not the case, right? God, could ya imagine kissing me?'' He mimicked throwing up. ''Right?'' He smiled.

He then put his head down on her shoulder and let out a sigh. ''Feels nice though.. But if ya wanna stop glowing, just do so. Yer in control. Not vice versa.''

[Anthy Blacksmith]

He exploded. Alright, not literally, but more of verbally. He exclaimed one word "glow" then he was over to her in a moment and wrapping his arm around her which just caused her to glow brighter and for more areas to light up as her eyes widened in surprise. Her shyness was trying to reach new levels, but at the same time she really didn't want to pull away and have him feel like she was rejecting and leaving him like others might have made him feel like they had done. So she was torn as far as what it came to do. And in turn she just kind of froze where she was.

He was whispering next, apologizing and telling her he hadn't meant to be so loud. But not about the holding. Oh dear. He... didn't realize how awkward this was making her feel, did he? Maybe he was still coming down from that pain he had been feeling earlier and needed this? She didn't know... She didn't know what to do. what could she do? What if she glowed brighter and burned him? She didn't want to burn him. Oh god her heart was going a million miles a minute. Anthy tried to keep herself from trembling. She didn't want him to think she was terrified.

Calm down. She had to calm down. Calmdowncalmdowncalmdowncalmdown...

He touched her cheek, brushing it with one hand while he told her about kissing possibly being the only thing that helped him. Calmdowncalmdowncalmdowncalmdown!

It was her whole body now. The glow, that was. And she was completely speechless as he went to putting his head on her shoulder. Anthy really didn't know what to say. What could she say? She didn't want to tell him that they weren't quite to the level of knowing each other that she felt anything less than shy about being this close... But he might have thought they were after how much he had opened to her. Her hand shook as she slowly reached up and put a hand on his back. After a moment though, she managed to gather up her courage.

"Lucas.... I.... I don't want to burn you.... And I'm getting really.... well.. shy...."

[Lucas Blacke]

He raised his head a bit from enjoying the warmth and looked at her. She hadn't backed off when he touched her, and now she was touching him. Two hurdles in one go. The glowing wasn't really much of a hurdle to overcome in his eyes but she seemed to think it was, in a way he could relate.. She didn't want to hurt anyone, it tired her out, all that jazz. And it happened when she was embarassed, Luke wouldn't like anyone to know he was embarassed.

His eyes widened in front of the girl suddenly. Did he embarras her? He didn't want that. And then she did so she was getting really shy and how she didn't want to burn him. He took his hand off of her and stepped back a bit. ''Sorry. Should've known..'' His smile faltered as he took some more steps backwards and held up his hands. ''Didn't mean to, I swear.''

He coughed and took up yet another smile as he looked back to the girl. ''But I'd pull out in time anyway, promise.''

''Also, ya might wanna get working on controlling your power instead of letting it control ya. At least ya have some degree of control over it. Me? I just have this cage inside my head I get trapped in..'' He tapped his temple and threw her a smile. ''And if ya want, I'll help out. How's that sound? Can't really stand to see someone not living it up because of their power.''

''Think of the uses when ya do learn to control it. And the warmth. I'd totally hug ya daily.''