(Untitled)

[facegoboom]

So, one moment, Jono had been in a Weapon X stronghold, waiting the second session of reconstructive surgery that would restore his face. They'd already restored his neck, and Jono hadn't quite managed to get over that yet. He kept rubbing at it, to make sure it was real and solid, not going to fall away any second

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[and_unreflected]

The Sjanu Rjel changes you from the inside out. It's cold and hot and bright and dark and sweet and painful.

Mostly painful.

She can't see or hear or smell or taste, but she can feel, and what she feels is primarily hurt.

Something's gone wrong. They must have mistaken her age - First Light, they must have mistaken it the wrong way. Older. She's older than her sister. Johriel can't help but feel a tiny surge of triumph against the agony. Not second after all. Not her glorious sister's reflection. Iralyi might be prettier, smarter, wiser, better-spoken, and kinder, but Johriel--

Johriel is older.

She only wishes it were more of a comfort.

And then 9speaking of things going wrong) there's a flash of light against the endless brightness, a crash of sound against the endless noise, and Johri is suddenly somewhere else.

The colourless girl, now exactly nineteen years and twenty days old no matter the age she began the week with, stumbles out of the flash of light and looks around wildly.

"Kcor," she curses fluidly, then claps a hand over her mouth. Servants of the Divine shouldn't know words like that. She's letting down the Ashedoi. She's-- colourless? Where is the blue?

Where is her purpose?

Don't worry, Chamber, Johriel will notice you in a minute. For now she's a little busy with the existential crisis.

[facegoboom]

Jono doesn't notice Johriel for a few moments, either. Once he's done exploding things, he touches his throat self-consciously, to make sure that there's still skin and flesh there. Sure enough, there is.

Only then does he notice that there's a colourless girl nearby. She doesn't look harmed, but it won't hurt to check.

Are you okay?

[and_unreflected]

Her head swings round and she blinks at Jono for a full five seconds.

Then: "...milyss," she responds weakly. No, she really isn't.

[facegoboom]

Jono sheepishly raises his scarf to cover his jaw, again.

I'm not going to hurt you. Do you have any idea what's going on?

[and_unreflected]

It's with interest, but no fear, that she approaches (with a shake of her head to his obviously foolish question) and peers at the fire under his jaw.

"Alji sijlc?" she inquires. If he has primary light of his own, Johriel wants to know about it.

[facegoboom]

I can't understand you, gel. Try thinkin' what you want to say.

So help him, the mun has started writing Chamber's accent. Be afraid.

Jono edges away from her when she tries to peer at the flame.

[and_unreflected]

Johri rolls her eyes.

"Orji'lst," the colourless girl informs him.

Really. Thinking it. That's stupid. She might try singing it, but-- a quick snap of her fingers-- no, the Sjanu Rjel took her undersong, as it should.

[facegoboom]

Jono gets the basic gist of it, even if he doesn't understand the words.

"I'm serious. How do you think I talk without a jaw?"

[and_unreflected]

...Okay, point.

(This feels stupid,) she thinks at him sulkily. (And if it doesn't work I'm going to be very annoyed.)

It's almost like concentrating modalities. Johriel was never a particularly accomplished undersinger (her younger, ha, sister has always outshone her), but she knows the basics.

[facegoboom]

It works, it works. What's yer name? Soothingly.

[and_unreflected]

"Johriel. Johriel... Ashedoi."

It's almost as though she's tasting the sound of that last on her tongue. Ashedoi. A Solid Lady. Indivisible.

It worked.

Not without its price, of course, and not without its pain, but--

She doesn't have to introduce herself as simply Johri any longer, and listen to that agonizing pause as some unknown person waits for lineage.

[facegoboom]

"Nice name, gel." Chamber would smile. If he could. "I'm Jono."

[and_unreflected]

That must get awkward.

"Ajo--" she begins, then remembers. (It's nice to meet you. Where are we? Where's the Arch?)

Yes, the capital letter is audible. ...Mentible? Perceptible, in any case.

[facegoboom]

Colour Jono confused.

The Arch? I don't know anything about any arches. Are you a mutant?

[and_unreflected]

'Mutant' doesn't come across well in Johri's native tongue; she draws back, offended.

(I am Johriel Ashedoi,) she snaps. (Solid Lady of the Indivisible Houses.)

And then she trails off, because... (I was supposed to walk out from under the Arch today, I think. But it's gone. Or possibly I'm gone.)

[facegoboom]

Chamber just looks quietly bewildered.