exit to the stairs.

[candlejack]

Comments

[typeright]

( Fumbling with her lighter, oh god, fumbling with her lighter.

And heels aren't made for running. )

[howaverage]

[ That sound you're hearing is actually French for a lot of really hardcore curses! ]

[typeright]

( And that sound makes her jump! But her lighter is working, and she holds it up in the direction of that sound. )

Em?

( Ah... ha so terrified but hopeful. )

[howaverage]

[ Hearing her name, Emilia turns around sharply and she is looking quite angry rather than scared, but she does seem to calm down immensely when she sees Jules being all terrified and her tense shoulders drop a little bit. ]

Jules. [ Not doubting it's her, Em walks over her - her boots are rather flat, so they're good for walking. ] Are you all right?

[typeright]

( Okay. Okay, she's terrified and all she has is her lighter. She's wondering if she should have listened to India and bought mace spray, although she's also relatively certain that India was being sarcastic and not referring to waking up in the underground.

She jumps, and swallows, and then nods in that rigid, tense way. ) Lovely. Perfectly, perfectly wonderful.

( It's not sarcasm. She is just trying to convince herself. )

[howaverage]

[ Em frowns slightly and she puts aside that particular moment after a hesitant pause, putting a comforting hand on Jules' arm, squeezing it gently. ]

It's okay. [ To be scared, that is. ]

[typeright]

( She laughs, but it's strained. ) Of course it is!

( But her hand sort of grips over Em's. This is just about the most terrifying thing that has ever happened to her. Her life is sheltered. )

It's just... it's fine. ( And she looks at Em, with a wobbly smile. ) How are you?

[howaverage]

[ Em frowns and for a moment she wants to smack Jules' head for trying to pretend she isn't scared when she's so blatantly terrified, but she doesn't because being terrified is already enough. ]

I'm okay. Just a little mad. [ Because, really, who wouldn't be angry? It's a frustrating situation and she's lost. ] Do you want to sit down a little?

[typeright]

Good. ( Good. She would sound relieved, except that she's still pretty tense. )

I think... I would like to get out of the dark. ( Although curling up and hiding somewhere doesn't sound terrible. )

[howaverage]

[ Em nods and, after another brief hesitation, she sets a hand against the small of Jules' back, urging her to walk with her. ]

Me too. Come on.

[typeright]

( Normally, she'd be noting the hesitations, worrying about them, trying to smooth them over with something silly. This is more a time for nodding, and forcing herself to swallow, and walking along. )

Thank you. ( And she's just going to walk, and... try to hold up her lighter. It isn't really helping very much, though. ) I'm a bit underprepared.

[howaverage]

It's fine. [ She flickers her eyes towards the lighter and can't help but to smile a little. ] I don't think you should spend that right now. You're end up burning yourself. [ And it's not lighting that much anyway. ]

she is such a useless child DON'T PLAY WITH THE FIRE, JULIA

[typeright]

( Casting a look at Em, she conjures a slight flicker of a smile, slips the lighter into her pocket and just nods. ) Right you are.

You've um-- been arriving in this place rather longer than I have, haven't you? ( Just going to glance ahead, now, trying to see in the dim light. She wants to ask if she's ever arrived somewhere like this, if things always turn out for the best, if-- ) The decor is rather glum, isn't it?

( Or she could undermine the situation horribly. )

[howaverage]

[ Jules undermining situations? Unheard of! ]

I think so. [ She looks at her after the whole decor comment, eyebrow quirked up. ] You could say that.

[typeright]

( Never happens! )

Mmhm. ( Which means Em knows more than her. That's good, because at this moment, she feels like she knows nothing. Nothing at all, nothing remotely of value. )

Maybe with a lick of paint it could be brightened up. ( Sob, okay she's gripping Em's arm. ) You know, become extremely... charming.

oh my god that face /holds heart

[howaverage]

[ Em doesn't comment on the gripping, but she does tightens her arm around Jules' waist. ]

Jules. [ Admonishing, but gentle. ] It's okay to be scared.