in darkness, seek joy.

"Now, let's see!" Aubrey gingerly plucked the device, and began reassembling it. And just like that, the machine whirred back to life and began spinning once more. It was like those simple toy dolls that could fly. And once it flew off the base.

It spun...

Directly into the lit fireplace.

...like a moth to a flame.

For a moment, the two women stand side-by-side, staring at the fireplace, dumbfounded.

"I assume it wasn't, uh. Supposed to do that." Her gaze is drawn to the other machinery scattered about. None of them look like they're supposed to be self-destroying robots (though she's no expert).

"What sort of things do you usually make?" She can't help but be curious after that particular display. Making sure not to touch anything else, she surveys the other tech stuff scattered about.

Her constructs thus far in the city have been rudementary at best. Regardless, that didn't change the fact they were functional. And she'd stumbled upon someone toying with her engineered work.

Instead of speaking up, she stared. Waiting for the right moment to speak.

Once her presence was acknowledged, the only words that escape her lips are:

"Oh!" Lilli stands up straight, nearly dropping the cable in her hand. "Is this stuff yours?" Clearing her throat, she hands over the wayward cord, running a hand through her hair.

"I wasn't trying to mess with anything! I bumped it and one of those wires came off, so I was trying to put it back like I found it." A glance back at the machine. Something had started beeping at one point...? That probably wasn't a good sign.

Luz, meanwhile, spun the chilled can she was passed between her hands, stalling on opening it. "No, not... really? More like discomfort, so far. And... to be honest, it's almost waking up a weird phobia for me? Of stuff growing out of my body? Basically, I'm trying not to think too hard about it when they show up."

Sipping her own drink, she leans back in her chair. Luz looks tired; way too tired for someone her age. Someone who's seen too much too young, and she can't even find any peace in this damned place. It's not right, Lilli thinks.

"We're surviving. I think Applejack has eaten so many of the glowing petals that he glows in the dark." She's only pretty sure she's joking. Her gaze falls to the Elpis flower petals that had fallen closer to Luz. Grey with anxiety, dull violet with guilt and fear...

"Have you ever heard of Dynamis?" It's said without really thinking... ever since these weird plants started to bloom, she's found her filter a bit lacking. (even more so than usual).

"Strange question, I know. But it's a kind of energy... not really magic, I think? But it reacts to strong emotions." Twirling a glowing flower in her hand, she examines its petals.

"These flowers are sensitive to it, and change colors and brightness based on how people are feeling. See? Stringbean is a bit agitated, so her flowers are red." Lilli tosses the bloom in her hand across the table, where it lands in front of Luz. The petals shift, colors dancing in shades of purple and grey.

Lilli doesn't say anything. She won't make Luz talk about this stuff if she doesn't want to; but the flower serves as an open invitation.

A singular bulb-shaped flower sprouts at the top of Oliver's head when he removes one from his arm.

"I BET it's those guys' doing! You know, the stars?" Oliver is certainly not happy. He huffs and puffs, but eventually the kid manages to calm down with one single stomp.

"Hm?" Pulled out of her thoughts by Oliver's question, her attention returns to the plants in question. "Oh, these? They're Elpis flowers... at least that's what we've been calling 'em." The petals nearest her emit a soft gray light, while some of the petals closer to Oliver have brightened to match his energy.

"Their glow is a reaction to strong emotions. The color and brightness change depending on how people are feeling." She gently plucks the flower from atop his head, twirling it between her fingers.

"Some advice, since you intend to keep visiting..." Brave, she'll give her that. "Learn their names. And never make bargains." Not that it needs to be said, considering the type of people they were. "That, or hope that I'll come along again to lend you a hand. Which is likely, considering I find this forest peaceful."

"I doubt I have the fortitude to live here," Lilli admits, "but I would quite like to keep visiting, if the pixies are all right with it." Her gaze moves to the flowers, the trees, the fluttering of wings just out of sight. "It reminds me of a place I used to spend a lot of time. I befriended the fae of another world, once, though I know no two are the same."

She wonders how this woman came to live with the fae... would it be rude to ask? Before she can decide, the stranger's next question registers.

She hasn't seen Oliver in a while; not since those weird ruins they explored together. Since she watched him...

...

another vine creeps along her arm as she chooses not to think about that particular memory.

"I don't know why it's happening, either." she brushes a few flowers from her own skin, only for new ones to replace them in short order. Stubborn and persistent.