eloquentness | mask or menace

[ when the doorbell rings, Iris takes one glance down at her outfit before shrugging it off and rushing to the door. Maybe Lucina will get to her later and -

and she's right here. Iris wishes she had the decency to look embarrassed, but she leans on the door, motioning for Lucina to come inside her loft. God, it looks like Iris isn't the only one who's an emotional mess. ]

You're fine. It wasn't like I was doing anything.

[ She turns towards the kitchen, already grabbing coffee mugs for them to share. The loft is a near-perfect recreation of the one Iris shared with Barry in Central City; to say, tall ceilings, a wood-paneled kitchen, homey furniture, and of course, the TV's still blaring her trashy soap opera. Iris pays it no mind as she starts rummaging for some first-aid cream too... ]

How've you been, Lu? Everything okay?

[it's such a relief that Iris doesn't immediately switch onto some kind of worried-relative mode with at the sight of her; Lucina's shoulders sag a little with her breath as she steps in, staying in the foyer for a while so she can get to the business of taking armor off. it's a process.]

What's that-? [she grimaces as her gauntlet clanks against the floor between questions.] Ah--sorry, yes. Things have been...busy. Busy, since joining the Aegis Force. I knew I was neglecting seeing you, but time seems to be just...rapidly running away from me even at the thought...

[ Setting the mugs on the island counter, Iris taps the rim and fills them both up with green tea - soothing, yet far less caffeinated than her typical fare. ]

Yeah, I get the feeling. Everything's been overwhelming lately for me too. [ she frowns, ] Is Jacob working you too hard? Because I can talk to him about it.

[there. breastplate and shin guards off; there really is a Lucina under all this plate metal! she lets out a sigh, now that some of this weight is off, letting exhaustion show for just a beat before noticing Iris' expression, at which she straightens up quickly.]

Oh, don't worry. He's still on the mend, anyway! I don't mind picking up the slack at all.

[besides, she doesn't want to make out like she can't handle a little absentee leader time...that wouldn't be fair to him.

she scoots armor aside as much as she can and pads over to the counter.]

...How have you been? What's overwhelming you?

If you're sure.

[ Iris frowns, but doesn't say anything else regarding her worry as she hands over the mug of green tea. ]

I've been worrying about the hospital expansion, mostly. There are so many major details and minor details, and of course since I'm not a doctor or have any scientific background, people have been scrutinizing it more and more. [ she blows on her mug, ] It's nothing I can't handle. Just, you know, a lot.

[she drags the mug across the counter the rest of the way toward herself, gently cupping it in her hands to sponge some of that warmth.]

It's not like you're doing this with your own devices in mind, though...they should know that, right? That you're just facilitating a way to make...[...] more facility.

[she frowns softly down at the mug.] I would think, rather than judgmental, folks would be happy to assist...

They do, but they also have a point. I'm from a completely different world and my area of experience is in press and marketing, not the nitty-gritty of healthcare.

[ she gives Lucina a wry smile, though it doesn't quite reach her eyes. ]

People are happy, I think. They're just also wary, since I could be ported out at any moment. [ like Barry was, though Iris would like to think she's prepared for that possibility. ] Even though I've told them I've gotten all that paperwork squared away....

[she looks pained at the mention of porting out, her fingers squeezing the mug a little tighter for a beat before letting it go.]

There's...really no getting around that, is there...

Unfortunately. Given how sudden it can be, I can't say I blame them either.

[ she blows on her coffee, taking a sip, ] But enough about me. What's gotten you all worked up, besides Aegis Force?

[worked up...?]

Am I so transparent? Forgive me... I, I guess I took a bad chapter from your book, overworking to keep ahead of things... [she shakes her head gently.] Since De Chima, I just...I don't want to fall behind. If anything, I want to get ahead of those looming threats, if I can.

That's a bit foolish, I know...and I know this isn't a one-woman ordeal, but still. If I can do anything, I should do as much as I can...

[ Lucina isn't wrong about Iris's habits being less than ideal. She winces in sympathy, but also at her own past misfortune... ]

I get that. Really - you want to keep running and moving forward. [ it's an all-too familiar pattern of behavior, and yet when it's modeled on someone else, Iris can see the flaws. How she had been letting other people down too. ] But it's also like you said. No woman's an island, and we're all here to help each other. There's no shame in asking for - [ wow, she needs to do this too, ] asking for some help when you need it most.

[in an exhale:] Right...you're right.

[she looks back up, smiling weakly.] We're our own greatest obstacles, aren't we? Even in meaning well.

Sure feels like it. [ she returns that smile, brushing her hair behind her ears - ] In the vein of also being my worst critic, I sure know I need to take my own advice.

Then I suppose we ought to hold each other accountable tonight, yes? And try not to overdo it. [head tilt.] Does that seem fair?

More than fair. It'll be like having a gym buddy, but slightly more intense.

[ she raises her mug in a tentative toast. ]

To holding each other to more reasonable standards?

[a gentle clink sounds.]

To the best of our abilities. [...] Let's start small first, huh?

mask or menace | ic contact

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sorry about the slow!

u good

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