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Who: Namini, Prajna, Yuurei and Lucia
Where: the same beach as the 2008 Summer Beach Blowout
When: Afternoon, around 12:30
Weather: Actually a warmer day than normal, temperature in the low 60s and a clear sunny sky

"Don't get so close Prajna. The water's colder than usual this time of year," Namini stressed as the redhead nodded reluctantly, its rune flickering ever so slightly. The sunlight wasn't particularly strong enough to help it recover from everything that had occurred in the last few weeks, but it was something mild enough that Prajna didn't end up sweating more than was necessary; The sweating, the weakness, they had refused to go away ever since it had meant Cordelia, that worthless snake-girl. The Star furrowed its brow at the memory of her, its eyes glancing over its clammy hands. When would it be strong enough to defend itself again? When would it be able to control the coming and going of those strong, blue flames? Prajna ruffled its wings and clenched its fists as its eyes turned back to the repetitive tide.

In. Out. In. Out.

At least something was consistent around here.

That's when both Nao's turned simultaneously, listening and looking at an approaching vehicle. Who would come to the beach in November? Prajna's rune flickering doubled, as if in anxiety, as Namini's body language reflected the feelings; She took a step forward, in front of the Frei. The bangs too short to fit into Prajna's bun fluttered against its cheeks as the breeze picked up. It felt nice against Prajna's hot skin, though Prajna now wished Namini had found it something more attractive to wear, as their unexpected guests parked. It glanced itself over. Nothing left a more notable impression quite like a boring white sundress. Prajna smoothed out the red ribbon that wrapped around the end of its half-torso and sighed. Oh yes, nothing was more elegant than this.

"Who are you?"

Namini flinched at the cat's unexplained rudeness, her maternal instincts dominating the majority of her thoughts. The brave teen stopped the darkly dressed Frei's approach as she stood, frozen, in her spot between the two "children." Even when a mysterious blonde approached the trio and addressed Namini directly, the brunette kept her blues eyes only on the threat in front of her, "Hi..I'm. Yes, I'm Namini Nao, Prajna's guardian. Can we help you? We will leave if we are causing a .."

Namini glanced over Lucia once more. The cat seemed to emit danger.

"Problem."

Unlike its courageous teenage-owner, Prajna felt its insides, what little there were, begin to twist and flip upon laying its cerulean eyes on Lucia. Though her skin was different, the black look of her clothes, of her hair, were enough to trigger something inside the Star. An image of an encroaching Basilisk ghosted Lucia, sending waves of unexpected anger throughout Prajna's half-torso. The tears. The pain. The sweating. It was all her fault. All Cordelia's. Prajna narrowed its icy blues at the cat and pushed against Namini's guarding body. Let me at her, let me at her, Prajna's mind raced before logic settled back in. Hadn't it agreed to seek revenge on her, only when it was strong enough?

Prajna clenched and unclenched its shaking fists. No, it was still too weak. The redhead fluttered back a few feet from Namini and tried to get a good look at the situation. The blue flames..what if they could only be brought on by a threat? Well, there was only one way to find out. Prajna raised its head and directed a smirk right at the irritated Lucia. It'd TURN this Cordelia-shadow into a threat if that would bring its powers back.

Namini's posture immediately relaxed at Yuurei's cheeriness. The tension lessened even more when Lucia began to speak, her voice quite smooth, like velvet, but Namini made sure to keep some kind of guard up. She took a half step to the side, revealing Prajna only a little. She tried to smile as naturally as possible, "Prajna came up with the name itself, announced it, I suppose, when I first picked it up. Prajna, please, introduce yourself."

The redhead examined the cat's movements. Everything about her body language was shifting so subtly, it would have been easy to overlook something but the Star had learned with Cordelia, with Rivener: You could never let your guard down. But now was not the time to act suspicious, especially so openly. Prajna's smirk melted away quickly and in its place arose a mirror image of Lucia's sweet sweet smile as it bowed and purred, "Pleasure."

Namini cringed just a bit, picking up an undertone of mockery but said nothing, replying to Lucia's question quickly, in hopes of covering up her charge's disrespect, "Prajna has been feeling ill lately so we brought it out for some fresh air. It's been overwhelmed with fevers so I thought a beach might be able to cool its head down a bit."

Throughout Namini's explanation, Prajna nodded its head every now and then in agreement, but kept its eyes on Lucia. That way she smiled...It'd make sure to remove her of such a smug air before their meeting was up.

The moment a sickeningly sweet giggle left Lucia's lips, the conclusion had been drawn: Lucia could not be trusted. The way she responded to things, the way she moved and smiled and danced among the words being exchanged. Maybe to a genuinely kind and innocent person like Namini, who saw only the good in people, Lucia appeared to be an angel, the cutest little cat-thing to ever be put on this Earth but Prajna knew these mannerisms too well. She was nothing more than a copy cat, a shadow of the true evil...Cordelia. Cartoon antagonists flashed behind Prajna's eyes and it wondered, for a moment, if this was some kind of test. Cordelia, perhaps, had sent Lucia as some kind of underling out to oust the Flame. The smirk returned. Well, if that was what she was after...

"No, Prajna has been feeling bad. But...Yes, let's go 'play' on the beach. Lucia. Follow Prajna, please," the Star sang as it floated away from the two humans, too deep in its scheming to consider why Yuurei had suggested such a thing. Namini hesitated, considered leaving then and now, but knew it would be rude and so... forced a smile, though her eyes trickled after her redhead charge. Would everything be ok? Lucia didn't seem too strong but the teen did not want more fighting to break out.

Namini was surprised by Yuurei's sudden question. She reddened immediately, wondering if the other now saw her as a poor parent, "I'm..not sure. David, my brother, called the office and left a message but he did not tell me much about what the answering machine said. I can..only presume Prajna is part of this..viral outbreak but..I don't know. I can only guess that though since there are..many different symptoms to this disease so... I'm not sure if this is a bug Prajna picked up on its own or from another Raevan. Prajna has been behaving weird too though.." Namini did not know what she should and should not tell this stranger but felt a small need to get everything off her chest. Maybe Yuurei would be able to relate? Maybe if Namini opened up first, the blonde would follow?

As they floated into the distance, Prajna's lips quickly fell out of their curled state and into a deep frown. It did not like the heat of Lucia's hand. She was too close and Prajna did not like sweating more than was painfully necessary. That's when it felt the pressure, the pinching. It stopped mid-float, at the end of Lucia's question, and turned its eyes back to the cat's face, a sinister smirk decorating its androgynous features once again. So she was going to be like that hm? Prajna leaned in to the other's face, its glacier-colored eyes attempting to freeze Lucia's warm purples over.

"Want to know what is so very very nice 'bout Prajna? Boy, girl, man, lady, want to see, Lucia?" the redhead hissed as it cupped the cat's face, some of its fingers twirling around and obtaining a firm grip on some of the cat's dark locks. "Want to see what is like--to play with fire?"

If this girl, if Cordelia's little helper was truly up for the task, Prajna would hold nothing back. But maybe..if she squealed and told the Frei everything about the Basilisk soul, things would be a little easier ... For her.

"Oh..that would explain a lot. Prajna met Cordelia a few weeks ago, then I made the mistake of taking it to see Aphismet and Rivener..Prajna's been so emotional ever since, crying all the time. I thought it really needed this breather. Its powers have been off as well, though nothing has affected its rune's coloring; It usually..takes in heat, eats artificial lighting, makes these weird blue flames from its fingers, but lately, when it "eats"..it just sweats a lot and can't seem to produce any of its weird fire.." Namini blushed, catching herself in a rant. "I'm sorry. Perhaps I'm saying too much?"

Namini wished she was as in control of herself as Yuurei seemed to be. The woman seemed to be ..so put together, so at ease, as if they were discussing the weather.

Prajna grinned ear to ear, excited to see the girl losing her temper and so quickly. Even when she scratched its hand, no anger arose. It was as if being angry, for once, would have wasted so much precious energy. It was much better, more convenient to use that energy for something ...more. Yes, come here kitty kitty Prajna's mind seemed to purr into its features as it hoped its plan to retrieve its powers worked. It removed the ribbon from its "waist" and wrapped it around its hand, covering the barely bleeding scratches. It finished the tie with a bow on top before turning its attention back to the dark-colored Frei in front of it. She looked ready to pounce. Prajna stared at her through its curtain of bangs, still smiling mockingly, ""Eww?" "Don't-!" "Nasty." Hmph. Lucia seems..so stupid. Lucia is..so UGLY, y'know? Worries only 'bout small things. Come. Let Prajna show Lucia what should be worry for."

The Frei extended a curved hand to her, preparing to either defend itself against or strike the feline.