What doesn't kill you... Wasn't trying hard enough. [Mirja/Ceal]

Trying to psyche herself up and nearly failing completely, Ceal got up and smacked her cheeks. What was left of her cup of tea was placed on the table beside her chairand she looked into the darkness of the room. Her mind was swimming with all of these possibilities in her head, all of these anxieties and insecurities. She did her best to will them away with only a mediocre measure of success. She would do this. She didn't train this hard for two weeks only because Mirja had wanted her to. She was doing this for herself to, for what she wanted to do!

With a face of full on determination despite her inner feelings, she went to go flip the light switch on. She didn't even make it one step before the voice of another rang out from the room. It was distantly familiar, and it took Ceal a few moments to guess based on context that it was Madam Tsu's voice.

With a sharp gasp and a tensed figure, her tattoos flared up with an agonizing pleasure, a lovely burning that wafted cross her shoulder blades and almost made Ceal cry out on surprise alone. It was so good, so... terrifyingly pleasurable that to the point of overwhelming. Ceal did not let this be known though, aside from a small and very brief shudder that escaped her self control. Then, as quickly as it came, it was done. It was over and Ceal was spun around to face the glowing and golden woman. She was right to place this woman as a woman of presence. Her very aura demanded respect, forcing Ceal to squint at the sudden brightness. Her demonic eyes more sensitive than usual as they'd grown accustomed to the darkness.

With something of a flinch, her gaze averted from the harsh light. With a teasing, tantalizing touch, the Woman had decided fit to play around on Ceal's chest, she couldn't help but feel like this was a mocking gesture just to get Ceal all riled up. It might have worked on her before Ceal had seen the true cruelty of Ci, but this time it did nothing but irritate her. Still, Ceal would not be able to respond to that as Ci's palm retracted and came back, smacking straight into her torso with exceptional force. It's effect was bewildering, confusing and powerful. It's effects resounded within her as she flew from Ci Lan Tsu's grasp. Just before this, the woman had spoken to her, about why she was here, as if reading Ceal's mind. Ceal did not have time to reply though, having been sent in a backwards falling motion, momentarily blinded by that light. How could someone shine that brightly anyway?

With a subtle refusal, with silent defiance, Ceal would not let herself fall to her back. No, instead she jerked herself, spinning around as she fell, positioning herself to place a hand on the ground. Only a slight hint of Ceal using anything other than her own physical strength to create such an act as she pushed off with her hand, landing in the corner of the room merely inches away from the wall. With a small huff of exertion and her other hand grasping at her chest where she was struck, she looked at the direction Ci should be standing. She couldn't see her since she was blinded due to that harsh light, but she could sense her well no. The woman no longer seemed to be trying to mask her presence.

”....Good morning, Madam.”

Ceal's voice was terse, not quite sarcastic, but clearly Ceal's own mental state made her greeting less than the usual bubbly and friendly that was trademarked by the girl. Of course she also wasn't a huge fan of being stricken so early in the morning. She hadn't even been able to finish her tea. Ceal was still tense, ready to fight or flee as a natural function of the human mind and body. Madam Tsu's own words were less than inviting too, calling Ceal a “Mewling piss-brat”

”I won't claim to know much of british slang. But I would take it that is less than ideal to be called such. Out of respect for her -and for you- I will not state how that comment makes me feel, nor of my opinion and how it may change how I perceive this session, but it seems like I am alr-”

Ceal was interrupted by a voice, and the sound of a light switch being flicked on. Mirja had spoken from the doorway leading to the kitchen, but there was something off about it. There was something off but Ceal could not place it. Sure, she was preoccupied by Madam Tsu, but she had not heard the usual sounds of the wheelchair that her beloved wolf used. She hadn't heard them and her voice appeared to come from a higher level than before. Was it... could it be that she was standing? She was stand and even then, what came out of her mouth.

It was as if all of the insecurities roiling inside of the girl had came true at the same time. That all of them had been affirmed by the hateful and dismissive words that came from the Wolf. Said in her voice, said in her tone, her own way. Ceal couldn't help but grasp at her chest with redoubled fervor, her teeth grinding together in something of a wince as her face contorted into one of subtle anguish, subtle grief at the sound of those words.

Of course her reaction was a knee-jerk reaction, one of first contact. The more she had thought about this situation, the most she considered it in her head, and the longer she thought about it. Something felt wrong, something didn't add up at all.

”If you came here for me, Madam. Please, let us begin. I do not want to waste your time any longer.

It took a lot of restraint, a lot of will power to completely (or at least seemingly completely) Ignore the words that had came from the Mirja in the kitchen. They weighed heavy on her heart, but her face didn't even show a fraction of that as she bowed low to the woman in front of her. Swallowing back every bit of her anger, resentment, hurt and pain. At least the girl was smart enough to know how to proceed.