(no subject)

[ladyfirestarter]

Charlie's walking out by the lake. Remembering meeting Rachel Gray there, over two years ago.

Still getting used to this. It's like ... she can't think what it's like.

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[ladyfirestarter]

"Prometheus," she says simply.

The fire's reflecting in her eyes.

"Almost a year ago, we talked about this, and he said that maybe he might be able to ..."

[walking_napalm]

There is no spark of recognition in Liz's eyes, literal or otherwise.

"Prometheus," she says; "--what, the Prometheus? Chains and liver and all?"

(One did not earn one's GED under the tutelage of Professor Bruttenholm without knowing the classics.)

[ladyfirestarter]

"Yes, the -- well, he's not bound now, but yes. The Titan who stole fire and gave it to humanity."

Her smile, warm and fond and just a little awed, is probably unmistakable.

"We met here about ... mm, about a year and a half ago. Recognized each other, kind of the way you and I did when we first met."

[walking_napalm]

It's definitely a familiar sort of expression.

Well, Liz thinks, score two for being with somebody who's just as different as you are.

Maybe more.

(Her other thought is: You're dating a god? but after a second's consideration, Liz realizes she doesn't really have much of a leg to stand on, with that one.)

"I didn't know you were seeing anybody," she says, and her smile is crooked. "So he -- took your fire and gave it back to you?"

[ladyfirestarter]

"A little more complicated than that, but --"

It's weird; she's feeling shyer about discussing this than she would be about sex.

"-- effectively, yeah. I can do this now," nodding at the fire wreathing about her hand, "and I can do this --"

She pulls the fire back in, and it coils down comfortably within her and settles, and the flames vanish.

[walking_napalm]

When the flames disappear, an almost imperceptible line between Liz's eyebrows smooths out. She's growing better at control, slow but sure. It's still an effort, though, and it's still easier when Charlie's fire isn't on the outside.

"The important part," says Liz. "So. Your fire doesn't burn you." Her smile brightens suddenly; she offers her hand. "Welcome to the club."

[ladyfirestarter]

Charlie beams, and grasps Liz's hand.

And giggles, suddenly.

[walking_napalm]

They shake on it and Liz shoots Charlie a funny look at the giggle, though her own grin broadens in response.

"What?"

[ladyfirestarter]

"I was just. Remember the last time we talked? -- Or no, not the last time, the time before that?"

[walking_napalm]

"How could I forget?" says Liz, and she's on the verge of a laugh herself, though hers is rueful.

[ladyfirestarter]

"It, um. Came to mind at a kind of delicate point? And I couldn't explain to Prometheus why I was laughing."

[walking_napalm]

Liz blinks at her for a second.

Replays what Charlie just said, in her head.

It came to mind at a kind of delicate point--



And she laughs, and almost immediately covers her mouth with her hand.

"You didn't set anything on fire, did you? It's -- pretty easy to do."

(She's still -- and here is a word that is never used in context with Liz Sherman -- giggling.)

[ladyfirestarter]

"Not, um. Not exactly? Though ..."

Faint color stains her cheeks, but she's still smiling.

"I was going to ask you, um." Half a beat. "Where do you get your fireproof clothes made?"

[walking_napalm]

She grins, still against her hand, and lowers her fingers.

"Honestly, I'm not totally sure," she says, rueful. "I don't buy them myself. My clothes aren't fireproof; the ones that come through the Bureau, that I wear on missions, are."

(She's just started wearing those pretty much all the time.

She's trying to embrace the fire and allow it to burn more often instead of wrenching it back all the time, which makes wearing non-fireproof skirts and tights and sweaters kind of difficult.)

"I'm pretty sure it's the same company that makes most of Red's on special order. Considering they haven't gone to the media yet about making pants that'll go over hooves and have tail holes -- I think they're pretty discreet.

"I can find out the name and if they take non-government orders, if you want," she offers.

[ladyfirestarter]

Charlie smiles gratefully. "Could you? Because I don't even know where to begin asking, back home."

[walking_napalm]

"Sure. One of the guys in requisitions should know."

Liz gives Charlie a thoughtful glance, head to toe. Liz is smaller but not by that much, and she has a tendency to like her clothes a little big, so...

"In the meantime -- do you want to borrow some clothes? They might not look quite right, but it'd probably be better than winding up naked."

Not -- that that has ever happened to Liz.

[ladyfirestarter]

"Really?" Her smile broadens. "That'd be -- I mean, I've been okay so far with not setting my own clothes on fire, but that'd be great."

[walking_napalm]

A little wry: "As long as you don't mind that your choices are black, black, black, and combat boots."

[ladyfirestarter]

"I can do black," she says. And pauses, and adds "Though it might make my coworkers nervous."

[walking_napalm]

Liz half-smiles, dry. "It does that, sometimes.

"I'm pretty sure I left some stuff upstairs, if you want to--?" She jerks a thumb toward the back door.

[ladyfirestarter]

"Please," she says, heartfelt. "Thank you so much."

[walking_napalm]

She slips her hands into her coat pockets and takes the first couple steps toward the bar. "It's no big deal," she says, still smiling a little and giving a small shrug. "You're welcome."

[ladyfirestarter]

Charlie's not going to counter-assert that it is a big deal. Especially because she's not entirely sure it is; maybe it's just her good mood overflowing.

(Seriously, "good mood" doesn't quite cover it. Right now Charlie loves absolutely everybody and everything in the world.)

Instead she just falls into step next to Liz, heading back toward the bar.

[walking_napalm]

A couple of steps in, Liz stops considering and just stops altogether.

Walking, that is.

She says, "Can we try something?" It's said a little cautiously -- but she's curious.

[ladyfirestarter]

Charlie tilts her head, curious in turn.

"What did you have in mind?"