[Open] I'm sure there's a logical explanation for this

[long_live_the_queen]

WHO: Lucy and you!
WHERE: Birch Hills apartment, Freshens, Chata in general, choose your own adventure
WHEN: 6/7
WHAT: Mostly unconscious telekinesis, nbd.
WARNINGS: Lucy (language, cranky behavior)



[It kept happening.

The first day Lucy woke up with a headache she didn't pay it much mind. That's what aspirin was for; take one, go to work, forget about it. It helped soothe the ache in her ankle, too.

A few more days, and she needed two.

And things started being misplaced. Small things like pens or the remote, things she was absolutely sure she picked up, but couldn't recall exactly when. It was rather irritating.

But it wasn't going to stop Lucy from getting to work, or getting some more aspirin. And not talk to anyone about it.]

A. Freshens

[She was serious about that aspirin. But Lucy also stopped to grab a box of cereal on the way to the pharmacy, because she's an adult (by a few months) who wanted some goddamn Cheerios.

While reaching for a box slightly out of reach, a sound from down the aisle distracted her. The box she was reaching for lifted away from the shelf on its own, hovering in the air, held up by nothing—except the faintest glimpse of something translucent on the edge of the box.

Distraction gone, the box dropped into Lucy's actual hand and she put it away in her basket without looking at it.

Nothing to see here.]

B. Chata streets

[Lucy tended to pointedly not get out of the way of people walking at her (particularly if she didn't like them), but usually she didn't actually touch them except on really crowded streets. Get uncomfortably close like she was daring them to move first in an unasked for game of chicken, sure.

Actually blundering into them was not part of the plan—she was aware enough of where she was in space that shouldn't have been an issue. Except right now.

Hopefully they weren't holding anything when Lucy (actually unintentionally) shoulder checked them.]

C. Birch Hills

[Finally, she was home. Picking up aspirin after work should not have been this much of an adventure. The cat immediately trotted up to the door as soon as he heard keys rattling at it, and Lucy had an added feline obstacle to deal with while taking her shoes off. This one, though, she didn't mind.

The grandfather clock abruptly rang as Lucy passed by—just once, but thunderously loud. It made her jump, and startled Fang further into the apartment.]

Ugh.

[Lucy was back, in case there was any doubt.]

Comments

[complementing]

[Minako's first instinct is to say no, but then her brow furrows as she tries to remember.]

Now that you mention it, I might have seen some sort of weird shimmer in the air.

[long_live_the_queen]

I think...I think I know what that is.

[Lucy didn't want to open her eyes. Minako might push her off then, or she might burst into flustered flames, or half a dozen other excuses.

But she needed to, now. Just...just to make sure that what she saw was right. Just a little, that was all. She cracked her eyes open, and extended her hand out in front of her face. Her sense of self went a bit...strange, again.

The migraine quickly worsened and Lucy pinched her eyes shut. Her hand closed too.]

...it's me?

[She sounded surprised.]

[complementing]

[Minako watches her lift her hand, keeping an eye out for something, anything-- but whatever Lucy is doing eludes her, and she doesn't see any more strange hands appearing out of thin air.]

Do you think? [The hand petting Lucy's hair stills.] Maybe you've gotten some sort of power from Retrospec. But I'm worried about how it's hurting you like this. Should we go see Lucian?

[She doesn't know if taking her to see him would help, but any medical experience he could provide would certainly trump any she can offer.]

[long_live_the_queen]

[It didn't work that time. Lucy was...not sure if she should feel bad about that or not, but it at least didn't end with a headache. And Minako didn't push her away.

She scowled when her roommate mentioned Retrospec, but less so at the name.

She wasn't crazy. This was just...

...this was not normal. People didn't just have hands coming out of them, didn't have something upending her sense of self.]

...do they work at the hospital?

[Lucy had Feelings about hospitals. Mostly unpleasant ones.]

[complementing]

He has his own clinic. I go to him all the time for my check ups.

[She pulls her phone from out of her back pocket, glancing at the time.]

He has his own place above the clinic, so even if it's a little late we can call him and ask him to look at you. If...you're okay with that.

[Implying that she wants Lucy to be okay with that.]

[long_live_the_queen]

[She hesitated, setting her hand back down and closing her eyes for a moment. Minako seemed to trust them, whoever this Lucian was, but Lucy didn't—they sounded like a doctor. People she didn't like crawled out of the woodwork to find her whenever she saw one.

Her roommate said "we" though. So...she wouldn't be alone.]

...as long as it's not a hospital.

[complementing]

It's not. No long hallways of white or sterile hospital smells, I promise you.

[A tight smile before it gentles again.]

Do you think you can get up?

[long_live_the_queen]

[Lucy thought about that, making a little affirmative hum after a moment. The headache was...unpleasant, but it didn't make the room spin or the lights go all jagged or too-bright.]

I think so.

[She was feeling better, really. How to tell Minako this...?]

...do I have to?

[She could try to be funny??]

[complementing]

[Minako blinks down in surprise at her.]

Yes? You literally just screamed like a dying person five minutes ago, I'm not taking any chances with your health.

[long_live_the_queen]

[...oops. Whiffed that.]

I meant getting up.

[Okay, okay, getting up too. Lucy started to sit up, headache pounding at her temples. But it didn't intensify like it had before, and that metallic taste in her mouth didn't return.]

[complementing]

[It was a good attempt! And she lets out a soft laugh anyways so E for Effort.]

You have to get up to go to the clinic, Lucy... [Minako helps ease her up, and then gives her a critical look.]

Come on, let's get you to the car.

[long_live_the_queen]

[youtried.jpg]

...was I really that loud?

[Lucy dusted her clothes off as she stood, chasing away imagined specks before starting to shuffle towards the door—and stopped, when she noticed her roommate looking at her.]

[complementing]

[The look is only to make sure Lucy isn't pushing herself, so once Minako is certain that she isn't, she continues on out the door.]

Loud enough to scare me!

[long_live_the_queen]

[Lucy starts moving again with a jolt, and hurries after her roommate as fast as the headache will let her.]

...sorry.

[She sort of...bumps Minako's elbow, in some attempt to be reassuring. She was fine, see? Sort of.]

[complementing]

It's okay. [Minako smiles and bumps elbows back with her.] C'mon, I don't want to keep him waiting.

[A short drive later and Minako is pulling up to the clinic, her nerves easing a little to see the familiar quiet and quaint building. She pushes at the door and peeks in.]

Lucian...? It's Minako. I'm sorry we're coming in so late.

slides in

[accordance]

[ The clinic is empty at this time, so Lucian is able to meet them in the lobby without anyone eavesdropping. ]

It's alright. Tell me what happened.

[ The girls can come in and have a seat. ]

[long_live_the_queen]

[Lucy didn't dig her heels in at the prospect of meeting a Person, though she did stay a step or so behind Minako's shoulder, like the other girl was a human shield.

This place didn't feel much like a hospital, though, as promised. More like an office. It didn't put Lucy any more on edge, though she was briefly at a loss for how to respond.

...how to put 'spontaneous telekinesis resulting in drop attack migraines' without sounding completely bonkers?]

I fell.

[...nailed it!]

gomen this got buried in my gmail's social tab somehow

[complementing]

[Minako glances behind her at Lucy, stepping to the side so she can pat the back of her shoulders and nudge her to a seat. Guess it's up to her to explain properly.]

She fell after having a migraine so painful she screamed out.

[accordance]

[ That's... concerning, yes. But at the same time, it's not enough information to solve this question. ]

Do you know what caused the migraine?

[long_live_the_queen]

[Lucy mumbled a little in response—and twitched when Minako touched her shoulders. She looked back at her roommate and then at the chairs, shuffling towards them. She didn't meet the doctor's gaze.]

I started getting headaches a few days ago.

[The teenager lifted her hand to stare at the palm.]

When I tried to...reach for something, that happened.

[She didn't know if this doctor knew about Retrospec. Minako was friends with him, but Minako was friends with a lot of people. And she was sure she already sounded crazy, but the last thing she wanted to hear was someone confirming that.]

[complementing]

[Minako sits as well, ready to fill in the gaps.]

Earlier when you said you'd seen something like that weird shimmer in the cabinet, you were reaching out too, weren't you?

[accordance]

[ It sounds like Retrospec was involved, which means he had to prepare for strangeness. ]

Do you have any superhuman powers?

[long_live_the_queen]

[...well. That was easy. Still, Lucy hesitated a bit before answering.]

Yes. I think so.

[She kept staring at her palm.]

It felt like I could reach further than my hands could.

[complementing]

[Minako nods, slow and uncertain.]

Maybe the migraines are from using those powers.

[But that's only her opinion. She turns to the actual medical expert for his opinion.]

[accordance]

[ It's a likely hypothesis, at the very least. ]

Have you been having migraines before using your abilities?