Casual Affair

[Aryana Darcy]

A text was quick message was sent to Lucy before heading over to her workplace, announcing that she was going to be there in a few minutes.

To: Lucy
Better be at work - if not, I'm not waiting c;.

Weeks had gone by since the mentioning of a tattoo with Lucy, but the conversation was still active within the Darcy household. Rya's father was a tattoo artist and Rya's mother was decently tattooed herself, so there was no argument about whether it would be alright for Rya to get one. Hell, even if her mother did say no, it wouldn't make much of a difference. In fact, her mum was fascinated with the design on her ankle and encouraged Rya to design a tattoo for her. The questions were, however, what would be the next tattoo; where would it be; and how much she would need in order to get it done.

But during those weeks, Rya had not only figured out the answers to each of those questions, but she worked enough to cover the cost of the design she had in mind. It was simple and entirely different from the rune she had requested the first time around; in fact, the Hydro wanted to stray away from any tribal-esque designs in favor of a tattoo representative of her elemental power. Rya felt waves or anything similar was simply too cliche to place on her skin permanently, and so when thinking of the design, she wanted an accurate representation of how it felt to be who she was. To represent how she could feel the water as if it ran through her own veins.  

The paper sat neatly folded at only the edges so the design was untouched. Drawn in ink. Lightly colored in blue. 

It was then when she entered the small Ink shop but took no move to look for Lucy. Instead, she stood leaning against the door, one arm crossed against her chest while her other hand was extended up, holding the design in between two fingers. "Aye, Lucy." Rya grinned, "You gonna tat me up or am I going to have to get someone else?" 

[Lucy Serrano-Blaise]

It had been difficult to manage a time where Penny could visit her at work. Much less stick around to see her get any work done. Timing filtered down to two points - a free few hours without any appointments coinciding with the end of her classes for that day.

Sitting behind the counter, she kept a hand in her counterpart's as she retrieved her phone from her back pocket. A message from a familiar number caught her attention, and the neutral expression she wore lightened with definite excitement. She'd been waiting weeks for the Hyrdo to make her mind up, much less save whatever money she had and, of course, find time to actually turn up.

"Do you know who Rya is?" Lucy asked the psychometrist at her side, "Graduated with you last year. Kinda tall, brunette. British."

Though she knew the answer already, it was worth a shot. She had to shrug it off.

Because true to form, it wasn't long before she made herself known, sauntering in in the usual fashion with a piece of paper pressed between her fingers. Something about her attitude had Lucy grinning even harder. "Kinda hurts to think you'd even consider someone else. Just a bit." She replied immediately, crinkling her nose with that very same feigned pain.

"You don't mind an audience?" The ink manipulator asked her, a steady tilt of her head in the direction of the Brit beside her.

[Penelope Serrano-Blaise]

Working around two separate schedules was hard enough as it was for every day life. More so was trying to actually plan something within blips of Penny’s free time and when Lucy was working. Fortunately, there was a day where everything coincided. Lucy didn’t have any appointments, but at least Penny could see the space she worked in.

Her thumb brushed across the top of Lucy’s as the Australian reached for her phone, watching as her expression shifted. With a raise of her eyebrows, she silently questioned it. What – or who – made her react that way?

“No.” She stated without an ounce of negativity. Although the fact that there was another British student in her class did spark a mild interest, it wasn’t enough to ask about the girl. Plus, it hardly mattered as the person in question walked in not that long later anyway.

Her dark gaze shifted to the other British girl, taking in the way she grinned at Lucy before looking back at the ink manipulator. Playful. She could only imagine how this was going to go. When gestured to, the psychometrist looked back to Rya, giving a small nod of acknowledgement.

[Aryana Darcy]

The Hydrokinetic took note of the equally familiar and unfamiliar face - Rya had recognized her from school, but knew nothing of who or what the girl was. Rya offered a single shouldered shrug in response to Lucy's statement, her lips pressing into a line, "You're a big girl; you'd forgive me eventually is how I see it."

Rya's lips immediately returned to the characteristic smirk she always sported, especially when as she took a few steps forward, she could see the two women's hands were intertwined. "When have I ever?" Because truly, the more the merrier, even if the girl beside Lucy looked as though she held absolutely no emotion. Did she even speak?

She handed the piece of paper to Lucy, "It took me long enough to figure out. Starting halfway down my inner forearm down to my wrist."

[Lucy Serrano-Blaise]

"Only if you'd make it up to me." The ink manipulator replied deftly. A moment in Rya's presence and she was already back to basics; such was the way with this particular British brunette.

Drawing herself to a stand, Lucy pressed her forearms to the counter in front of her and glanced at the paper before she reached up and took it. Careful lines drawn to appropriate paper; she really was prepared for this. Shifting away, she brought forth the necessary paperwork for Rya to sign. "Your license please, love." With a small tilt of her head, she indicated towards her nearby counterpart.

"This is Penny. She'll be your audience for this fine afternoon." Lucy offered, because she knew the girl at her side would hardly ever engage Rya in conversation otherwise. It felt polite, really. Wise, even. "Penny, this is Rya. She's a friend."

[Penelope Serrano-Blaise]

As Lucy had suspected, Penny had no intention in conversing with fellow British girl. From immediate appearance, she was just like everyone else; someone Penny had no interest in. It wasn’t a matter of distaste, but if she were to guess, she assumed she would dislike the girl if she kept up this cheeky attitude she was already offering.

And in turn, it seemed that attitude shined in Lucy. Penny straightened in her seat as Lucy stood, not following just yet.

Rather, she looked to the ink manipulator, then the girl she was introduced to. “Penelope.” The Brit corrected on instinct, the nickname only reserved for her counterpart. Either way, she couldn’t help but to appreciate the somewhat professional manner in which Lucy spoke.

“Pleased to meet you.” Thusfar, the psychometrist and Lucy’s friends haven’t had a great run, and she doubted this would be any different. Slowly, she stood, her attention fully back to the ink manipulator. Introductions were made, further conversation didn’t feel necessary.

[Aryana Darcy]

"That can be arranged," Rya offered in a low hum, glancing at the girl who sat emotionless beside Lucy. Penny was her name, apparently, but was quickly corrected to 'Penelope'. Immediately, the Hydro felt the judgement placed onto her by the brown eyed Brit. Not uncommon to Rya, she simply turned to offer her license to to the Australian. A legitimate Vermont license at this point, something the Hydro was proud to show.

Because she never had to go back to tainted memories.

While signing the required papers, she heard the unfamiliar voice offer a simple 'Pleased to meet you,' with little to no authenticity within the words. Resisting the urge to call her out on such a thing directly, Rya gave a simple "The pleasure is mine," in a mimicked tone. Because, while calling her out may have been what the Hydrokinetic wanted to do, it wouldn't be smart to do so. After all, Rya couldn't help but notice their intertwined fingers when she came in.

"All I need is a time and place."

[Lucy Serrano-Blaise]

Lucy crinkled her nose at the way Penny corrected her, but it did nothing to keep the grin from her face. Rather, it was an almost perfect boost to her ego to know she was the only one who could actively get away with the nickname.

As Rya signed the necessary waver, the ink manipulator kept her back to her, grabbing a photocopy of the license provided. By the time she was back to the front of the counter, she was handing it out to her. The Australian fought the urge to laugh; knowing the psychometrist, it was hardly a pleasure to meet Rya. They'd only just gotten started.

"Right now," She said with a wave of her hand over her shoulder, "Give me a few to get set up."

Without delay, Lucy was already planning the set up in her head. As she stepped past Penny, she could't help but reach out; fingertips brushed across her shoulders. "Play nice." She reasoned, and as she stepped away she knew they rightly wouldn't. Leaving them on their own was part of the fun.

[Penelope Serrano-Blaise]

It wasn't past Penny to lie for the sake of pleasantries; a typical Blaise tactic. A stereotypical British tactic, even. It didn't prevent her from putting the effort into her tone, however. That much seemed pointless, more so when just as flat of a statement was offered in return.

She didn't bother to look at the girl, dark eyes remaining fixed on the Australian as she went about the start of her work. Even the simple task of photocopying a license seemed fascinating to the Brit who had never seen her counterpart work before.

Penny had every intention of following Lucy. She wanted to watch, and as hard as it would have been to be silent and unobtrusive, she would have made her best effort to. So when she felt familiar fingertips track over her skin in an almost innocent way, it forced Penny's eyebrows to shoot upward.

Play nice. It implied staying behind, and the thought alone brought Penny's lips together in a hardened line as she slowly sat back down, palms pressing to her dress to brush out any potential wrinkles.

Play nice. So she stayed silent.

[Aryana Darcy]

Blue eyes followed Lucy with relative interest. What she was looking for, really, was the interraction between the two women. A simple touch had the uptight Penelope visibly affected. A simple touch.

Which lead her to wonder how long they had been together.

The Hydrokinetic did little to hide the fact that she looked - as it were, there as no reason not to.

But while she stood casually, looking unbothered by the entire ordeal, Rya was excited. Moreso than she had been in quite a long time, minus one day, but it wasn't something that she'd admit.

But for now, the excitement was true.

[Penelope Serrano-Blaise]

With Lucy gone, Penny quickly converted back to the typical Penelope Blaise. One often unnoticed in the hallways, or was teased by the ink manipulator herself in a classroom setting as she sat front and middle in rows of students. The psychometrist who wanted nothing to do with another living soul.

Including the person standing on the other side of the counter.

Unaware of any potential excitement from the other British girl, Penelope brought her hands together as they rested on her lap. A crane of her neck proved where her attention was; in the room that was just out of sight. To the person making preparations in it. Her nose threatened to crinkle at the idea of staying behind and waiting, but as she looked back to Rya, her expression refused to offer any sign of real emotion.

If the other wasn't about to talk, Penelope had no qualms with staying silent herself.