The Roof - Early Monday Afternoon

[rocksthescarf.livejournal.com]

Chuck was still in the bad mood when he woke up on Monday but even he was getting bored of sitting around and drinking. Sure, sitting around and smoking wasn't exactly much of a difference but at least it was a change of scenery. It really pissed him off that this whole Blair thing was affecting him so much and he was spending his time on the roof thinking of ways to distract himself and forget about the whole thing.

So far the only things he had come up with was more drinking. Maybe in the city. Victrola was always distracting.

[Post is open. omg I need to be distracted myself]

Comments

[glacial_queen]

"So does training with fists," Karla said, returning the smile. "At least, if you don't want to end up bruised and bloody, like my cousin always did."

[wantstocheer.livejournal.com]

Claire shrugged. "I'm not too worried about it."

Mostly because the bruises would heal.

[glacial_queen]

"Well, I'm a Healer, if you ever need some ointment for your bruises or a poultice for a black eye or something. That goes double if you need something set. I'm really good, I promise. I Healed Merlin's face, so you even have a reference if you want one," Karla grinned.

[wantstocheer.livejournal.com]

"It... shouldn't be a problem," Claire admitted. She glanced around the roof to make sure no one else was paying attention to them. "I actually have the ability to heal from any injury."

NFB (not like it matters now, but still)

[glacial_queen]

Claire's body-language suggested she was uncomfortable with this revelation. Karla triggered her shields to rise up around the two of them.

"Aural shields," she said quietly, as sparking walls of Sapphire-energy snapped into place. Within instants, they had faded from sight. "We can be seen, but not heard this way. The squirrels in this place are damn tricky. Now, I take it you don't mean natural healing?"

[wantstocheer.livejournal.com]

"It's natural in as much as it's a part of me," Claire explained. "But I could jump off this roof right now and walk away without a scratch."

She did appreciate Karla putting the shields up though.

[glacial_queen]

Karla snapped her forefinger nail with her thumbnail, turning it to a dagger-point, and cut the heel of her hand. Blood welled, and then Karla sealed it, with Craft. "Craft is also a part of me, but I still don't consider it natural healing," she said quietly. "Because it occurs faster than my body could do so without Craft. That's what you mean, yes? Is it something you have to think about to do?" Because that could be dangerous. "And can you Heal others?" Because that would be useful.

[wantstocheer.livejournal.com]

"My body does it automatically, I don't have to think about it," Claire said. "I'd demonstrate, but, well," she made a vague gesture at the other people on the roof. "I can't heal others unless they can somehow pick up on my ability, like Peter did."

[glacial_queen]

"May I?" Karla asked, holding up her nail. Then, her brow furrowed. "What the Hell am I thinking?! Never mind. Please forgive me for being too presumptious. I certainly don't want to hurt you or make you uncomfortable, and I had no right to ask." She took a step back and dropped her arm. "I am very sorry, Claire. Sometimes I'm too curious for my own good."

Karla looked very repentent. She also looked like she was cursing at herself for acting seven times a fool.

[wantstocheer.livejournal.com]

"It's okay," Claire said. "As long as you can make sure no one else sees, I don't mind."

She cast another glance around the roof and held her hand out.

[glacial_queen]

Karla looked at her searchingly, though moved to stand between Claire and the others on the roof. "You're sure? I am asking to harm you for the sake of my own curiosity. I think the more logical move would be for you to punch me and storm off. I wouldn't blame you, even."

Karla was curious, especially to see if it would be something she could use to help Heal others more efficiently. But she still felt awful for asking.

[wantstocheer.livejournal.com]

"I stabbed myself with scissors to show Dinah my ability," Claire told her. "It's fine. Really."

She was glad that Karla moved to block her from the view of the others though.

[glacial_queen]

Karla nodded, and drew a line across Claire's palm with her nail.

[wantstocheer.livejournal.com]

Claire didn't even wince as Karla's nail sliced open her hand. Karla barely finished by the time the cut began to heal.

[glacial_queen]

"Mother Night," Karla whispered, impressed. There wasn't even a fading line to show where the cut had been. Even with Craft, it was usually never so quick nor so clean. "Have you ever tested the limits to your power? Are there limites?"

If the answer to the first question was no, Karla was not about to volunteer to help. The idea of intentionally inflicting that much harm on someone--at least, someone she considered a friendly acquaintence--made her feel ill.

[wantstocheer.livejournal.com]

"Oh, I've tested them," Claire said. "Jumping off things, running through a burning fire, exposure to nuclear radiation."

She shrugged. "So far the only limits I've discovered are that if something is lodged in a specific part of my brain, it keeps the healing from kicking in and, um... if you get blown up into little bits by a nuclear explosion, you can't heal from it."

At least as far as she knew. She really didn't know what happened to her Peter, but she had to assume he and Nathan were both dead.

[glacial_queen]

"..." Karla just blinked at her for a moment. Those were some hard-core tests. "What's a nuclear?" she asked, trying to jumpstart her brain.

[wantstocheer.livejournal.com]

Right, Karla wouldn't know about that kind of stuff. "It's um... really bad," Claire said. "I don't know how to explain it, but a nuclear bomb could level an entire city."

[glacial_queen]

"...bomb?"

[wantstocheer.livejournal.com]

Okay, Claire failed at explaining things. "It's... a thing that explodes and causes lots and lots of damage and kills people."

[glacial_queen]

"I see," Karla said, though she didn't really. Still, Wikipedia would probably have a lot to say on the subject. "I'm going to lower the shields, okay? Is there anything else you want to say before I do?"

[wantstocheer.livejournal.com]

Claire shook her head. "Just, please don't tell anyone? And thank you for not freaking out."

[glacial_queen]

"Never, not without your permission or without damn good reason," Karla promised solemnly. "And I thank you for your trust."

The last line was very important to Black Widows.

Karla waved away Claire's thanks. "Why would I freak out. Your ability is amazing!"

[wantstocheer.livejournal.com]

"I don't know. There are people back home who want to run experiments on me."

Or worse. She really wasn't entirely clear on the concept of what the Company would do if they got a hold of her.

[glacial_queen]

Karla looked a little guilty. "I can understand the desire to know more about your ability and how it works," she admitted. "But not to the point of running experiments. It sounds too much like hurting you, and that's just...wrong. Even for the promise of helping others later."