[His response causes some light laughter from her.]
Oh, I think you have an inkling. But don't worry. I'm not trying to push your buttons on purpose. Things just slip out when I know the other person is aware of what I can do.
I'd rather not have you be haunted during our time together.
[ He doesn't look all that convinced, for a long moment, taking another pull from his water bottle – mostly for something to do with his hands, to occupy himself, rather than any real thirst.
With a bit of humor that he doesn't entirely feel, ]
Yeah, well. I've learned to compartmentalize.
[ Which is more true than he's likely to admit, and a smile tugs at the corner of his mouth.
Now that he's a little less caught off-guard, now that he's a little more in control of himself, he takes up a better position, leaning back against the wall and crossing his ankles. ]
Care to share any more info on your job? River didn't have very many details for me.
[Lucinda leaves it at that. She crosses her legs and continues.]
This job involves a group of outside visitors contacting me, or rather the Collective for my services. Normally, my job is damage control or apprehending persons of interest.
But every now and then, I do some medium-centric work. It seems like both people here and those who live beyond our stars still want to try to reach their loved ones and I can act as that bridge.
[Lucy smiles at Peter and points to him.]
If you come with me, you could help bridge any communication and cultural gaps with this group of aliens. Sound simple enough so far?
[ He listens with interest, and admittedly, it sounds— reasonably simple. A little like playing liaison. It's certainly not the worst thing he's ever had to do, which is probably why he's a little wary. ]
Simple, sure. I can do that. But I can't help but think there's more to it than just playing an interpreter.
[ Especially once he factors in River's earlier misgivings. ]
Possibly! I'm actually going in rather blind myself so to speak.
[Lucy takes another sip of water from her bottle as she goes over the job in her head.]
In my experience as a medium, many things can go sideways. For instance, the spirit is a nasty one that shouldn't be contacted. Or someone in the waking world doesn't want said spirit to be contacted and will try to aim for my life if I help them reveal unseemly information... That sort of thing.
Oh, and sorting out the family will is never fun. The patriarch or matriarchs tend to make things worse when it comes to distributing their wealth.
[She gives a little laugh as if this is all very funny.]
[ And he says the single word, if it can be called that, in the sort of tone of voice that says, "There's such a thing as taking it all in stride, but you may be striding too much, actually." ]
So part bodyguard duty, part negotiator, part cultural competency consultant? 'Cause god knows I'm not gonna help anyone from a legal standpoint.
[ He takes another thoughtful sip from his water, then, ]
If you end up with a poltergeist, am I even gonna be able to shoot it?
[ Because Peter is a relative newcomer to magic and all that it entails – not that he didn't know it existed in some form, because one of original Ravager captains had that sort of sparky magic that Professor Weird (or whatever the fuck his name was) wielded. Granted, he had only seen that particular Ravager captain from a distance for reasons that became clear only within the past decade or so, but still. ]
[She leans forward resting her chin on her hands. The light and dark pink peony tattoos across her collar are very prominent and upon a glance they do seem to... move.]
[ The faintest hint of movement draws his eye as she leans forward – first, as she props up her chin, second as the petals seem to rustle a little, like they're reacting to the way Lucy shifts. ]
Oh, that? Well, that's a good question. They're different from regular ghosts so I suppose they just manifested in a way that was easy for them to share a space.
[Flora, Feather, and Fang were rather unique, more akin to nature spirits or something akin to it. They were mysterious even to other espers and magickind.]
So to circle back, I wouldn't be too worried about poltergeists. Fang tends to scare them off the most.
[ Peter takes a few moments to suggest this information, before he offers a flat, ]
Uh-huh.
[ He shakes himself, after a heartbeat, trying to get back on track. ]
So I'm really mostly just there to play interpreter. Maybe bodyguard, if we run into any interference from the living. And you've got yourself covered for anything not living, more or less.
[Lucy gives Peter two thumbs up! Good job, Star-Lord guy man.]
Also, you may be doing this for River in return for his services, but when you're working directly with me, I would like to compensate you for your work.
[ Life with the Guardians – and subsequently, semi-retirement from the Guardians – means he's good on cash. Despite the god-awful exchange rate from galactic standard units to US dollars, he doesn't really have to work, unless he feels like it. ]
[She looks surprised but also this time the smile that follows is a lot warmer.]
I see. If you truly insist.
[Lucinda has an understated admiration for heroic or noble actions. People may be hypocritical or selfish, but anyone who knows they do not need to take more than what they need gets a plus in her book.
River is better at finding good people than she is.]
I'll send you the meeting details later tonight, okay? It should be later this week so you can rest up aplenty.
[ He breathes out a self-deprecating laugh at that. ]
Good. I mean, I would've hopped right into a mission right now if you told me to, but I should probably sleep-off the rest of last night.
[ Granted, he's feeling a lot better, thanks to River's magic, but still. He should probably have, like, electrolytes and more water or whatever it is one does after a hangover.
He pulls out a phone – a Terran phone, shock of all shocks – and adds some note or reminder to himself, probably reserving some time on his calendar and, out of an abundance of caution, penciling in some recovery time, too.
(His grandfather is gonna be so annoyed that Peter's taking work-work, and not just the normal, everyday kind. Peter's supposed to be going native, not falling back on old habits.) ]
Just let me know when and where, and try to tell me if there's a dress code.
Absolutely. Oh! Let's exchange phone numbers as well.
[How nice, he does have a normal phone. Lucinda takes hers out trying not to look giddy about exchanging phone numbers (which is easy to do, she tends to keep her cool in most situations).]
Maybe next time I'll be able to join in on the off-kilter weekend texts River tends to get involved in.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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[She has two water bottles (it seems like the right thing to have) and offers one to Peter. Might as well hydrate as she explains.]
First of all, how much did River talk about what I usually do? Regarding my abilities I mean.
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I think I remember him mentioning you could see and talk to ghosts.
[ Very generously, he refrains from adding the "people think you're creepy" bit. ]
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[Lucinda mirrors Peter, taking a sip of water before serenely remarking.]
Funny. I thought you'd have more shadows around you.
[Now that's not a creepy thing to say at all!]
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Ah. There's the creepiness he's heard so much about.
He makes an effort to continue the motion, to try to make it look as natural as possible, and once he's wet his abruptly dry mouth, ]
Not sure I catch your meaning.
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Oh, I think you have an inkling. But don't worry. I'm not trying to push your buttons on purpose. Things just slip out when I know the other person is aware of what I can do.
I'd rather not have you be haunted during our time together.
no subject
With a bit of humor that he doesn't entirely feel, ]
Yeah, well. I've learned to compartmentalize.
[ Which is more true than he's likely to admit, and a smile tugs at the corner of his mouth.
Now that he's a little less caught off-guard, now that he's a little more in control of himself, he takes up a better position, leaning back against the wall and crossing his ankles. ]
Care to share any more info on your job? River didn't have very many details for me.
no subject
[Lucinda leaves it at that. She crosses her legs and continues.]
This job involves a group of outside visitors contacting me, or rather the Collective for my services. Normally, my job is damage control or apprehending persons of interest.
But every now and then, I do some medium-centric work. It seems like both people here and those who live beyond our stars still want to try to reach their loved ones and I can act as that bridge.
[Lucy smiles at Peter and points to him.]
If you come with me, you could help bridge any communication and cultural gaps with this group of aliens. Sound simple enough so far?
no subject
Simple, sure. I can do that. But I can't help but think there's more to it than just playing an interpreter.
[ Especially once he factors in River's earlier misgivings. ]
no subject
[Lucy takes another sip of water from her bottle as she goes over the job in her head.]
In my experience as a medium, many things can go sideways. For instance, the spirit is a nasty one that shouldn't be contacted. Or someone in the waking world doesn't want said spirit to be contacted and will try to aim for my life if I help them reveal unseemly information... That sort of thing.
Oh, and sorting out the family will is never fun. The patriarch or matriarchs tend to make things worse when it comes to distributing their wealth.
[She gives a little laugh as if this is all very funny.]
no subject
[ And he says the single word, if it can be called that, in the sort of tone of voice that says, "There's such a thing as taking it all in stride, but you may be striding too much, actually." ]
So part bodyguard duty, part negotiator, part cultural competency consultant? 'Cause god knows I'm not gonna help anyone from a legal standpoint.
[ He takes another thoughtful sip from his water, then, ]
If you end up with a poltergeist, am I even gonna be able to shoot it?
no subject
[She moves her hand to gesture to the peony flower tattoos across her chest.]
I have friends who can give them the boot.
[And just very casual again because maybe she has too much chill.]
Technically, I'm possessed by three ghosts! You wouldn't think so looking at me, wouldn't you?
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I can't tell if you're messing with me or what.
[ Because Peter is a relative newcomer to magic and all that it entails – not that he didn't know it existed in some form, because one of original Ravager captains had that sort of sparky magic that Professor Weird (or whatever the fuck his name was) wielded. Granted, he had only seen that particular Ravager captain from a distance for reasons that became clear only within the past decade or so, but still. ]
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[She leans forward resting her chin on her hands. The light and dark pink peony tattoos across her collar are very prominent and upon a glance they do seem to... move.]
You're looking at one of them right now.
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—Uh.
Your tats are ghosts?
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[Lucinda wastes no time in explaining. She pats the flowers.]
This is Flora.
[Sleeves are pulled up to reveal a prominent pair of wings, one on each arm.]
Here's Feather.
And on my back is Fang... Oh, don't worry, I won't show you Fang. I only show him to people on dates or in fights.
[And there's a cheeky wink for ya, Peter.]
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I guess, sort of. How?
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[She tilts her head, smiling still.]
How do they work or how are they possessing me?
no subject
But also the possession thing, I guess.
no subject
[Flora, Feather, and Fang were rather unique, more akin to nature spirits or something akin to it. They were mysterious even to other espers and magickind.]
So to circle back, I wouldn't be too worried about poltergeists. Fang tends to scare them off the most.
no subject
Uh-huh.
[ He shakes himself, after a heartbeat, trying to get back on track. ]
So I'm really mostly just there to play interpreter. Maybe bodyguard, if we run into any interference from the living. And you've got yourself covered for anything not living, more or less.
That the gist of it?
no subject
[Lucy gives Peter two thumbs up! Good job, Star-Lord guy man.]
Also, you may be doing this for River in return for his services, but when you're working directly with me, I would like to compensate you for your work.
no subject
[ Life with the Guardians – and subsequently, semi-retirement from the Guardians – means he's good on cash. Despite the god-awful exchange rate from galactic standard units to US dollars, he doesn't really have to work, unless he feels like it. ]
Maybe just treat me to lunch or coffee, sometime.
no subject
I see. If you truly insist.
[Lucinda has an understated admiration for heroic or noble actions. People may be hypocritical or selfish, but anyone who knows they do not need to take more than what they need gets a plus in her book.
River is better at finding good people than she is.]
I'll send you the meeting details later tonight, okay? It should be later this week so you can rest up aplenty.
no subject
Good. I mean, I would've hopped right into a mission right now if you told me to, but I should probably sleep-off the rest of last night.
[ Granted, he's feeling a lot better, thanks to River's magic, but still. He should probably have, like, electrolytes and more water or whatever it is one does after a hangover.
He pulls out a phone – a Terran phone, shock of all shocks – and adds some note or reminder to himself, probably reserving some time on his calendar and, out of an abundance of caution, penciling in some recovery time, too.
(His grandfather is gonna be so annoyed that Peter's taking work-work, and not just the normal, everyday kind. Peter's supposed to be going native, not falling back on old habits.) ]
Just let me know when and where, and try to tell me if there's a dress code.
no subject
[How nice, he does have a normal phone. Lucinda takes hers out trying not to look giddy about exchanging phone numbers (which is easy to do, she tends to keep her cool in most situations).]
Maybe next time I'll be able to join in on the off-kilter weekend texts River tends to get involved in.
(no subject)