The furnace is hot, hotter than Lucia remembered. Though she was well prepared, there's something about the sickly warmth that startles her every. Single. Time. Sweat dripping from her shoulders by the time she finds somewhere to stop and take a breather, how did it get so sticky? It's not even humid. Whatever they said about dry heat was a load of bologna, if she said so herself. Leaning against a stony wall, Lucia takes a long drink from one of her water skins, offering some to Capo as well. "I dunno how the heat doesn't bug you. Ha, bug." Pleased with her joke, a little giggle cracks through.

"Hey Courser! Yeah, Courser, you! Blondie! Keep your day job!" Lucia's ears pin back, hiccuping as she squeaks and swallows some of her water at the same time. "Yeah comedy ain't your suit, kiddo!" Another voice, somehow higher and more grating than the last. A chorus of them erupting, cackling at her. Not with her. At her. Lucia's ears pin to her skull, eyes going wide as the cackling erupts within the Furnace. Startled, at first. Pulse picking up, embarrassment quick to take fear's place. It's hard to be indignant when there's a whole group of whiny babies trying to make her feel worse.

"Ooo, big strong Courser, why'a look so scared?" A cluster of imps, and they're all poking fun at her. "Scared of us, what are ya? 'Fraidy cat, 'fraidy cat!" They're all chanting it now. Lucia's tail flicks in annoyance, knowing it's futile to argue with them. If she opens her mouth, they're only going to get meaner. No, she can't dignify them with a response. Carefully capping her water and returning it to her pack, she looks to Capo silently. Trying to keep it together, though they just get meaner. "Go back to the surface, little girl. This is clearly too much for ya!"

Unwilling to let them win, and even less willing to let them know they were getting to her, Lucia tries to turn her back to the imps. Tries to, though they seem to materialize in front of her once more. Underfoot, but not close enough to kick. Trying to trip her up, begging her to slip so they can descend even further. "How rude ya gotta be, we're tryin'a give you advice here!" The chorus continues. Holding her head high, Lucia wouldn't let them stop her. No, she can't let them know they've bruised her dignity.

Even if they have.