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[lightlessflame]

"..."

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[sathan]

( there's a smile on her lips as she opens the door and as agnes steps into the cottage she'll notice that there's a lot going on. though her solstice celebrations have not yet begun there are many things that lilith wants to prepare, this year feeling different to usual. her fire is lit, a few other candles lighting the room in the cottage and on her table she has several ingredients that she'd been preparing for a spell. the kitchen is a similar tale, cookies already baking with others prepared to bake.

she's certainly had a very busy day and whilst lilith has always had her own solstice traditions this year they've increased. there are actually people she's been enjoying the company of, some she wants to share a little something with (hence the cookies) and-- honestly, she feels a little freer, something that she hasn't felt in a very long time )

How have you been?

( she hovers just by the couch, leaning on the back of it rather than sitting down )

[lightlessflame]

[Agnes smiles, too, though it's a small flicker of one, as is often her way.]

I've been agreeable, thank you.

[She can't help but look around, taking in the change in scenery. It smells nice.]

Are you in preparation for something?

[sathan]

It's a protection spell.

( at least everything on the table is. she'd begun working on that as her cookies baked. closer to the solstice she'd do her more personal traditions -- light her yule log, perhaps even bake for herself )

Something that I keep around the cottage, to keep things a little more private.

[lightlessflame]

[Protection...privacy. That clearly catches her interest.]

Is it a mental barrier?

[sathan]

Yes. There are other spells that can provide a more physical ward but this-- can be more of an unpleasant sensation.

( like when you're close to a haunted house and get a chill. anyone uninvited may feel a little more uncomfortable coming close here )

[lightlessflame]

That puts me at ease.

[Not that she knows if unpleasantness will keep Elias away, but, still, every little bit helps.]

Would you like any assistance?

[sathan]

( though she doesn't need help with the spell there's certainly something in sharing energy, a strength that can come from anyone. she gives a slight nod, moving towards the table )

We need to thread the berries onto the yarn.

( she hands the red string to agnes, taking the sprig of mistletoe so that she can prepare the berries so allow them to be easily threaded. lilith falls quiet during the process, gentle motions of her hands as she passes the berries to her until they sprig is empty, taking the string back from her.

lilith places it in the bowl in the centre of the table before picking up the knife beside it. it's not a necessary step but when casting such a protection lilith finds that the essence of her in her blood helps the potency. she guides it along her palm, a slight gasp of pain before putting the knife back down, turning her palm over the bowl to let the blood flow over the mistletoe, eyes flicking up briefly to agnes, to reassure her that she's fine )

[lightlessflame]

[There's an interesting expression on Agnes' face as she's given her task. She moves with care, treating each berry delicately, the yarn with gentle hesitance. It's clear she's never done anything remotely like this before. Honestly, she's probably never done any kind of activity that could remotely be considered a craft. There's concentration in her forehead, a intrigue in her eyes, a delight in her mouth. Worry in her hands for the fear of making a mistake.

But almost regrettably fast, the threading is finished, and then Lilith is cutting open her palm.]

I wish I could have done that for you.

[But she supposes it wouldn't have had the desired effect.]

My wounds cauterize instantly.

[But her fire is also boiling, so there's also that problem.]

[sathan]

This will heal quickly.

( partially through magic, partially through her entire nature. lilith has done (and will do) worse things to her body, though for her own personal spells there's usually nothing more than a small amount of blood. she closes her hand once she has enough, a slight clench of her fist, held for a few seconds. and when she reopens it though there's still a wound on her hand the bleeding has been stemmed.

her other hand passes over the black candle on the table, lighting it with her magic before offering her hand to agnes )

I want you to think about getting rid of something, pushing away someone or something unpleasant. Focus on it.

( the more she focused the stronger agnes's intent would be, strong energy for her spell )

[lightlessflame]

[This is an easy task. Agnes takes Lilith's hand and does as she's told. As a child, she had so much anger, resentment, and disgust for the people and the things around her. She wanted to destroy them. She wanted them to go far, far away from her. She wanted them to be different, do differently.

Eventually, she learned to accept that these things would not go the way she wanted, and buried down her anger over a carefully structured wall of apathy.

It's a simple case of scaling that wall. Elias Bouchard propels her over it, and her hand squeezes around Lilith's as she thinks of him. As she thinks of curling her hands around his neck and burning him to ashes, watching his insides melt first, until he's nothing but a blackened husk. Nothing but a feeble skeleton who could never, ever hurt her.]

[sathan]

( there's a gentle grip on agnes's hand, eyes briefly closing as she centres herself. focus and thought pass through her expression, eyes opening, watching both between the flame and agnes. thought her spell is cast non-verbally there's a palpable shift of the energy in the room, candle beginning to flicker as it's willed out, her head tipping up slightly.

when lilith looks back to agnes again her expression is lighter again, a gentle rub over the woman's knuckles with her thumb )

On the eve of the solstice, I'll burn the mistletoe, adding the final protection.

[lightlessflame]

[Agnes smiles at Lilith, though she seems a bit strained. It takes a moment for her to come back to herself, the temperature around her coming down from a notable spike of heat.]

Thank you. When is the solstice?

[sathan]

It begins on the twenty-first.

( and when she'll really 'celebrate' )

That's what all of this is in aid of. Preparations.

( like that wonderful smell coming from her kitchen. gingerbread )

[lightlessflame]

I see. Will you tell me more about it? I'd like to know.

[Because it's something that it appears means a lot to Lilith. Agnes has heard of the word before, of course, of the holiday, but as it was never anything relevant to her, she never looked into it. She hardly knows anything about standard Christmas, for that matter. The Cult of the Lightless Flame weren't really big on the man upstairs.]

[sathan]

Of course, though--

( her hand slips from agnes' as she stands, leaving the candle burning, letting it continue the work of her spell, the flame still flickering. there's an indication, a small gesture for the redhead to follow her as lilith walks the short distance into her kitchen, picking up a handtowel to take her first set of cookies from the oven, laying them on the cooling rack as she adds the next batch in )

Solstice is a time typically recognised by witches, though some mortals also choose it. It's the longest night of the year, said to be when the Sun God was born and the days started getting longer.

( whether or not she believes the part about the sun god is something else given her views on religion but-- )

I take it as a time for reflection, shedding some of the past in order to move forward into the next solar year.

[lightlessflame]

[A time for reflection. Agnes watches Lilith tend to her baking, a thoughtful expression on her stoic face.]

Is it so simple, to rid yourself of the past?

[sathan]

You never completely can, nor should you.

( there were parts of your past that could be useful, things you still needed )

But we can separate things that trouble us, find resolutions to them. A little-- closure.

[lightlessflame]

[Agnes nods slowly, getting a somewhat far away look on her face as she considers this. She wonders if it's something she's capable of doing...supposes there isn't any harm in trying. But what if it upsets her, and she causes harm in some way she doesn't mean?]

What other traditions are there?

[sathan]

On the eve of the Solstice I burn a yule log, to help keep wayward spirits at bay.

( but as for her own traditions that's about as far as it goes )

Most witches spend it with those they care for. Connecting with them, perhaps even sharing a gift.

[lightlessflame]

[The thought causes Agnes to smile faintly, but there's a sadness in it. The sadness, of course, of someone who has never experienced such things.]

That sounds very nice.

[sathan]

( the truth of it is lilith's never had anyone to spend it with either. those years with lucifer-- he wasn't a witch, didn't have such a cheery mood and her own traditions became private, almost hidden from him.

the sad smile of the woman in front of her, her recent pain and starting to heal-- )

You could join me.

( if she felt inclined. a light offer, no expectation. but agnes's company was nice hence why she'd been allowed to see even this )

[lightlessflame]

[The offer takes her by surprise. There's an almost childlike excitement that lights up her face, but she pulls it back, too unused to such sentiment.]

You'd want me there?

[sathan]

I've not spent the Solstice with another.

( and recently she felt a little better in company than without it. considering she'd be reflecting in this time-- she didn't want to be too lost in her sadness )

And I admit that I've enjoyed your company.

( hence why she keeps coming back. she's just not great at verbally sharing positivity )

[lightlessflame]

[With that admission, Agnes allows herself to be more properly thrilled about the prospect. A holiday with someone. A celebration. Her expression looks so warm.]

I've enjoyed your company as well. Yes, I would like to join you.

[sathan]

( a fond smile comes to her and lilith finds that she's far more pleased about this than she would have expected, it warming her in a way that she hadn't expected. perhaps agnes just has that effect on people )

There isn't much more that I have to do today. The cookies and the spell are the last that I can do until the Solstice.

( but she hadn't invited agnes over just to send her away. she just-- doesn't know where to lead. she isn't used to having guests )

But-- I'm certain there's something to do to fill the evening.

( her mind isn't even going there. yet )