The young man was shocked that Lya seemed...embarrassed? Maybe she felt like she was intruding? "Uh, not right now, sorry." His heart gave an unpleasant lurch at her disappointment. "It sounds interesting though, so...um, maybe later?" Jareth found himself hoping that he sounded awkward, instead of ambivalent. --- The instant Nunque's probe made contact, the jagged barrier reacted. His lure was attacked, even as he shoved it deeper. But that wasn't all. Instead of trying to force it away, vines shot out to grab it, yanking it close and trying to ensnare the man's mind as well. The best defense was a proper offense, and the probe's outer layer was shredded in an instant. The cloak was skillfully done, and it protected the cargo inside, but the way Amuné's barriers snapped the probe into pieces and hacked at even those, it was hard to tell just how much had reached her. And for the moment, there was no time to worry about it, because the writhing vines studded with long and vicious thorns were wrapping around the thought he'd used to send it, trying to pin it down and follow it back to him so the younger Seer could launch an attack of her own. His sense of the future could show what would happen, if she caught him well enough to mount a proper offensive. There would be no request to leave, there would be no warning shot. She would abandon all but the most basic of defenses in a moment and devote herself to destroying him, letting herself get hurt in the process. A reckless and foolish tactic when it was one's mind at stake, pointing at underlying fear and desperation. Nor would she stop, not until she found herself unable to continue, be it due to impregnable defenses, loss of her target, or injury to herself so severe that she could no longer attack. Only a miracle would convince the girl that he meant no harm. --- "Well alright. You be careful, cutie." Cera's tone as she watched Orion get to his feet was concerned instead of flirty. "And next time you go, take someone with you. Several someones." She watched him leave with a faint frown. Dr. Thomas was not in sight when he left the room, but the one he'd called Illia was, sitting in a chair in the hallway with her head tilted back to lean against the wall, the faint wings she'd exhibited before nowhere to be seen. Now that he could get a proper look at her, it seemed like she was in considerable pain herself. She opened her eyes and gave the ghoul a gentle smile at his thanks. "I shall tell Evintarin and the doctor of your words, but you owe me nothing, and Evin would agree, were he not currently sleeping. Fare you well." She tilted her head back again as he headed off. [@TheMinorFall]