Training for Friends (Teddy) - Sunflower Beach

"I'm fine with that. Though my creative muscle might need a jump start," she said as she pulled herself up, running her fingers through her hair.

"Well, we'll start simple? It's "just" picturing something and making that something real, or at least appear real. A scent"
Cassiel could smell gingerbread cookies as if the scent had come creeping in from the kitchen.
"A sound"
A cat meowed. Pretty sure a cat just meowed.
"An image"
Like that glass of soda on the table that hadn't been there before.
"A touch"
Like someone's warm breath across the back of the rose's neck.

"You picture it, feel it, in your head and then you bring that reality into this one" piece of cake right?

"What's the overall... size? Of the image I need to create? I mean, is there... obviously there are limits, but is this the smallest of the small?"

Because Cass had a pretty good idea of what she wanted to try. Something she had been picturing in her head for a few weeks, if not a number of months given her time 'away'."

"The basics are just that, basic. An image would be static, you could only affect one sense at the time. Big or large is up to you though" the blond said. "You project what you see before your mind's eye, like, flexing a mental muscle, though it's about here" and she actually put a finger to her own forehead.
"At least that's what it feels like to me" she added with a chuckle.

It seemed a bit overwhelming, didn't it? Cass listened with a furrowed brow and pulled her hair back out of her face. This... this would take a lot of work.

She scooted herself off of the couch and in front of that table where the glass had appeared, her butt firmly planted on the floor. And then she began staring at the table.

And staring.

And staring.

And staring.

At least she was concentrating.

"Even if you're trying to conjure a static image? Try picturing everything about it. How it feels in your hand, how it looks from all angles, is it cold to touch? Warm? Does it glimmer in the light? The better you know it the easier it is to create it"

She watched the Rose.

"It's a matter of will, forcing your idea into existence"

She was staring at that table so hard, that it was if she was trying to bore a hole into it. Cass was oblivious to the fact that she was rubbing the finger where her engagement ring had been. The action had started discreetly and over the course of minutes had steadily increased in speed and pressure.

She didn't appear frustrated as much as determined as her eyes narrowed.

"Will... extension of will. Okay..."

"The thing you're picturing? It's there. Right there on the table. You know it's there. You can see it can't you? Let me see it too" the blond said in a soft tone of voice, her gaze still focused on Cassiel. "The line between real and unreal, it's only there if you let it be"

She closed her eyes and took a breath and *exerted herself. And it was there, on the table. The thing that wasn't there before.

Cass' lost engagement ring just popped into existence, the diamond glittering. It was perfect and whole and clean.

(*Willpower spent)

"Oh!"
See? She got it. Cass understood even if the Caitiff wasn't much of a teacher.
"Oh that's beautiful"

She opened her eyes to see it there and very nearly smiled before... Well... before it was gone again and another thought entered her mind, another creation. Something she lost that... that she wanted. *Wanted so very much.

On the other side of the table, there stood an angelic, slender, fragile looking man that Teddy didn't recognize. He simply seemed to stand and did nothing more.

This is what happens when Toreador have waaaay too much on their mind.

(*2nd Willpower spent.)

"Oh..." she blinked, a bit surprised.
"That's..." Teddy couldn't help but be slightly fascinated, though perhaps not for the same reasons others might be. Not because of the beauty, but because of the seeming perfection of it. The way his features were neither masculine or feminine but both at the same time. It was... it was enough to make her stop again and blink as she looked to Cassiel.
"Who's that?"

Cass was staring at the image, too. So fascinated by it in fact that she slowly stood and moved toward it. Inwardly, she knew it wasn't real. She knew it was just a... creation of her imagination projected here. But... She wanted it to be true. Outwardly, she looked as if she were trying to will it to be completely real.

But that wouldn't happen. It couldn't happen. And even if it did, it wouldn't be the real thing. It would pale in comparison to the actual individual. Still, she reached out with her hand to try to touch it.

But there was nothing to touch. No hand, no real face. It was a poor substitute, no matter how perfect the image might be.

When she reached her hand out, it waved through the image and Cass was jolted back into reality, which caused the image to shimmer out of existence.

"A friend lost. Oh, Charlie..." she sighed. She hadn't expected that to happen. She hadn't expected to... well... If she ever did get to see or talk to Charlie again? She wouldn't bring this up. Not at all.

Because even she had to admit that this little stunt? It spoke to her growing insanity, now didn't it?

The blond's arms wrapped around the Rose from behind, Teddy moving to rest her head on Cassiel's shoulder.
"Not completely lost" she said softly. "It's obvious he's still in your heart" the Caitiff smiled gently. "Just don't push your will too much. It can be tiresome at first and I don't want you overextend so soon. If... if you want I can bring the image up again for you?" though knowing nothing of how he moved, how he talked, how he was? She couldn't offer much more than that.

Cass shook her head slowly "It's alright, thank you, though," she said as her hands moved to touch Teddy's arms.

"I just... wanted to see him..."

Teddy cuddled her, really, that's what she did. One arm around the Rose's waist, the other moved to wrap around her arms almost protectively.
"Charlie... Mmm, he must've made quite an impression on you"

Cassiel nodded, leaning her head back against Teddy's.

"He didn't judge me. He... he protected me. He's my friend. My very dear friend."

God, she missed him. She missed him so much. She missed him so much it very nearly broke her heart. Which in a way was a good thing, wasn't it? To still be able to feel it when your heart was breaking? To not be completely numb...

"I'm sure he misses you too.." she smiled softly, holding her friend for a few more moments, just letting her know that she was there and that she wasn't going anywhere. And while she could say that she'd see him again, that if he was important to her he'd never truly be lost, for now she just held her, knowing that words could never really cover it all.

"Yeah..." Though, for the briefest of seconds, she wasn't so sure about that. But the doubt was fleeting. There is nothing more powerful than the feeling of doubt, he had told her. So she shoved it away.

"But knowing him? He's landed on his feet somewhere, you know? Made new friends, is back to work and... His generally happy-go-lucky self. So long as he's okay, that's all that matters."

Yep, trying to stay positive. It was for the best.

"Mm.. want to go for a walk?" she asked somewhat randomly, though random was kinda normal as far as Teddy was concerned. "Beach is right there, we could go look for sea glass and talk? And get some fresh air. You probably need it after that. Two illusions in one go is actually good, very good in fact, for a first time"

"I'd love to," she smiled. "Be nice to put my feet in the warm sand," she turned just enough to give Teddy a hug.

"I guess, if you want something badly enough, you can make it happen, you know?"

She started to move toward the hall. As much as she would have rather have left her bag behind, she was reticent to do so.

"Just let me get my bag and I'm all set. I think I have a baggy we can use to put the glass in."

As she walked to the hall, Diego came down the stairs. Slooowly, one step at the time while holding onto the railing for support. Tiny bear, big stairs. He looked up and waved at Cassiel though, nearly dropping his balance before managing to latch onto the railing again before falling.

"I got a couple of pouches as well" Teddy smiled, moving to retrieve said pouches though seemingly not about to go change her clothes.
Pj pants, usable everywhere. Hah.

"Hey, Diego!" Cass said with a smile and a wave. When it looked as if he might fall, she reached out her hands to take him up in her arms. It didn't matter that he was a ball of stuffing and probably wouldn't get hurt. Besides, he was comfy and cuddly to hold.

As for the PJ pants? Hell, if Cass had them, she'd be wearing them, too. But as it stood, yoga pants were just as good.

She put her bag over her head, the strap on her left shoulder and the bag portion on her right hip so she could be hands free to carry Diego comfortably.

"I'm leaving my shoes!" She called to Teddy. "No point taking them when they'll just be coming off anyway."

"Shoes are for wimps anyways!" called the Caitiff as she came running up to her with a happy smile, snatching keys and cellphone in addition to a small backpack to keep it in before ushering Cassiel outside and following herself. Of course stopping to lock the door though before leaving. You know, with everything that had happened and Medwyn not being home.

"So have you gotten Medwyn out on the beach here, yet?" She asked with a smiling tone as she walked next to Teddy, giving Diego gentle little ear scritches. "Or out to at least enjoy the view?"