[there's a lot of things that Lina could say to that. and a lot of things that the Lina Kara initially met would say to that, but this Lina is going to keep her mouth shut for now and just try to smile. and try not to stare.]
Wow... your tone is incredible! I should try going to the gym more to get the muscle tone to back up my own strength... [she doesn't flex, literally because of what she just said, but she has the inclination to and that's the important part.]
Okay, you twisted my arm. Maybe I'll give it a try.
Oh! You taught Jen how to do it? Then I absolutely trust you.
[she's totally sincere, and she's smiling super wide, because anybody who taught Jen how to do something, much less something she knows how to do this well, is on the shortlist of people to trust as far as Lina's concerned. and if they were already on that list, well, social link rank up or something. though it does give Lina a thought...]
[Weirdly...Kara isn't sure how to answer that question. She doesn't know if Jen's told Lina the whole truth, and while she gave the OK as far as Lina Ellis is concerned...well, it's Jen's story to tell.]
Yeah, we are. She's great. Kinda became real good friends pretty quick, since she brought Bumblebee to my shop.
[Lina knows nothing. it's kind of funny how long this is willing to go on. she's certainly suspecting some things loudly, but it's also rude to speculate.]
That's kind of how it happened with us. We were roommates for a while and we hated each other, and then we just kind of started talking to each other? And we became really good friends really fast as soon as we had, like, one dinner together.
[of course, these are all just memories that she's plucked from her own foggy mind and pieced together. that's not how it actually happened. or maybe it is; it wasn't not her.]
I'm not surprised, really. She's so great. You have really good taste in friends.
[Kara doesn't know or really think much of it. That sounds like Jen, period. And that last bit makes her smile, big. She likes hearing good things about Jen, of course.]
I think I do. But that means you do too.
[Grinning, she leans back a bit, looking up at the ceiling.]
[Lina has no shortage of good things to say about Jen, but this isn't a conversation about her. this is a conversation about Lina and Kara and catching Kara up on the Lina that she missed. and she remembers a little bit about the other Lina's interests and she can't help but giggle.]
Not nearly as much. I haven't really had time to watch anime! I mean, I've seen a few episodes of the ones they dub, but mostly I keep it on in the background while I'm cooking if I need something to keep my attention. [when she hasn't found anything else.] I did think the ones about being magical princesses were cool when I was growing up, though.
Oh my gosh, I did the same thing! [well, sort of.] I remember sneaking past any of the adults to get down to the TV... and I think they had to know what I was doing. I wasn't exactly a master spy when I was a kid.
[she's not much of one now, either, from how poorly she's hiding how much she's enjoying this conversation. or maybe how much she's enjoying Kara's company.]
I thought a lot of their outfits were really cute, and it made me wish I were better at fashion so I could actually make them. Rose and Violet are probably a lot more fashionable than I am, though. But I'm doing okay for myself.
[she's not wearing her thick black scarf because there's no need to do that inside, but she still looks preppier than Kara would probably remember, since her idea of casual around-the-house clothing is still a flared knee-length skirt with black stockings and a camisole. (can't make food if you ain't cute.)]
[Lina giggles trying to remember the bad fashion choices that those shows foisted on everybody. oh, it was a tragedy all around. good thing she'd figured it out better than that, though she should count herself lucky there aren't a lot of pictures of her from when she was super into it.]
I don't think they wanted to be awake that early to try to wrangle a bunch of orphans. I think the only reason I got away with it was because they liked me—at least, once I wasn't so, um. Rambunctious.
They called me disruptive. I... got into fights a lot.
[she just had a lot of energy! and she. was kind of angry at being put into an orphanage. no matter how kind she is now, kids can be cruel.]
I don't think I ever hurt anybody too hard because I was a kid, but that was the reason they tried so hard to find something for me to do, you know? And the orphanage decided that they would teach me how to cook, and that's how I got so interested in it. It was a really good way to get out energy and follow instructions and just... learn how to make things. Things that put smiles on people's faces!
[like the one she has right now. her time in the orphanage isn't so dark that she shies away from bringing it up; she just likes focusing on results.]
Hey, something we have in common. I got in fights a lot.
[A lot a lot. Mostly with people who thought picking on her because her parents were unpopular with the authorities and they believed they could get away with it. But some people she just hated.]
I got better about it by learning mechanics, though.
Then we both had really good things happen to us because of it. And now we only have to get in fights when people we care about are in trouble.
[which is totally fine by her, as long as Kara knows that she's one of those people. and she hopes the gentle touch to her arm to match the smile she's giving will make that clear.]
Of course, the people we know are so strong that they might not need our help to get out of trouble. We ended up with some really good friends, didn't we?
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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It's not gonna be dangerous at all. If there's a slight wobble, I can catch you.
[Free arm flexing, showing of not inconsiderable muscle...and a rock hard tone...Kara grins.]
I ride because it's fun, but I'm faster than a bike when I need to be.
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Wow... your tone is incredible! I should try going to the gym more to get the muscle tone to back up my own strength... [she doesn't flex, literally because of what she just said, but she has the inclination to and that's the important part.]
Okay, you twisted my arm. Maybe I'll give it a try.
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[She grins brightly.]
I'd like that. Teaching Jen to ride was fun as hell, and I bet you'd like it too. It's not hard, really.
[And it's a part of her passion.]
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[she's totally sincere, and she's smiling super wide, because anybody who taught Jen how to do something, much less something she knows how to do this well, is on the shortlist of people to trust as far as Lina's concerned. and if they were already on that list, well, social link rank up or something. though it does give Lina a thought...]
You and Jen are pretty good friends, huh?
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Yeah, we are. She's great. Kinda became real good friends pretty quick, since she brought Bumblebee to my shop.
[And that had been such a happy accident.]
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That's kind of how it happened with us. We were roommates for a while and we hated each other, and then we just kind of started talking to each other? And we became really good friends really fast as soon as we had, like, one dinner together.
[of course, these are all just memories that she's plucked from her own foggy mind and pieced together. that's not how it actually happened. or maybe it is; it wasn't not her.]
I'm not surprised, really. She's so great. You have really good taste in friends.
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I think I do. But that means you do too.
[Grinning, she leans back a bit, looking up at the ceiling.]
So is this Lina as into nerd stuff as the other?
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Not nearly as much. I haven't really had time to watch anime! I mean, I've seen a few episodes of the ones they dub, but mostly I keep it on in the background while I'm cooking if I need something to keep my attention. [when she hasn't found anything else.] I did think the ones about being magical princesses were cool when I was growing up, though.
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[Kara (naturally) laughs because that's like one of the few she'd heard of. She was no nerd, not really.]
I remember that stuff. I used to get up at like 6:30 to catch it on Saturday mornings. It was wild!
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[she's not much of one now, either, from how poorly she's hiding how much she's enjoying this conversation. or maybe how much she's enjoying Kara's company.]
I thought a lot of their outfits were really cute, and it made me wish I were better at fashion so I could actually make them. Rose and Violet are probably a lot more fashionable than I am, though. But I'm doing okay for myself.
[she's not wearing her thick black scarf because there's no need to do that inside, but she still looks preppier than Kara would probably remember, since her idea of casual around-the-house clothing is still a flared knee-length skirt with black stockings and a camisole. (can't make food if you ain't cute.)]
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[Hers did, or had. And she appreciated when she didn't have to roust her sister for school.]
And hey, don't knock it. You look good in that outfit. And there were some real questionable choices. Like those mustard colored suits, man...
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I don't think they wanted to be awake that early to try to wrangle a bunch of orphans. I think the only reason I got away with it was because they liked me—at least, once I wasn't so, um. Rambunctious.
[it's fine, she doesn't look embarrassed at all.]
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[Kara smirks, looking Lina up and down...]
Were you a troublemaker as a little one, then? You do have that mischievous gleam in your eye.
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[she just had a lot of energy! and she. was kind of angry at being put into an orphanage. no matter how kind she is now, kids can be cruel.]
I don't think I ever hurt anybody too hard because I was a kid, but that was the reason they tried so hard to find something for me to do, you know? And the orphanage decided that they would teach me how to cook, and that's how I got so interested in it. It was a really good way to get out energy and follow instructions and just... learn how to make things. Things that put smiles on people's faces!
[like the one she has right now. her time in the orphanage isn't so dark that she shies away from bringing it up; she just likes focusing on results.]
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[A lot a lot. Mostly with people who thought picking on her because her parents were unpopular with the authorities and they believed they could get away with it. But some people she just hated.]
I got better about it by learning mechanics, though.
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[which is totally fine by her, as long as Kara knows that she's one of those people. and she hopes the gentle touch to her arm to match the smile she's giving will make that clear.]
Of course, the people we know are so strong that they might not need our help to get out of trouble. We ended up with some really good friends, didn't we?
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We absolutely did. [Kara reaches out and takes Lina's hand, giving it a quick and gentle squeeze.]
The best. Gotta thank the app for that much at least.