+- Court of the Fallen (https://cotf-rpg.com)
+-- Forum: Out of Character (https://cotf-rpg.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=26)
+--- Forum: Important (https://cotf-rpg.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=27)
+---- Forum: Archives (https://cotf-rpg.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=38)
+---- Thread: [RQ] A season of giving (/showthread.php?tid=10441)
A season of giving - Hadama - 12-08-2024
Torchline nights may have been warm compared to other regions, but for the locals the Leafchange bite in the air was decidedly brisk. Even Torchline's King, who was normally the region's biggest proponent of the right to bare arms, wore a light sweater in concession to the cool wind coming off the sea. He made his careful way across the narrow bridge that connected Aumakua to the mainland, offering in hand, along with the others who had agreed to join in the task given to them by Safrin.
"Nova, it is good to see you again," he had rumbled to the bubbly young woman who had helped him clean up the Observatory shrine in the Greatwood. Emerald eyes gleamed with hidden indulgence for Safrin's bright and vivacious daughter.
To Calypso he had inclined his head deeply in a partial bow of greeting. He recognized her from Safrin's vision, though he had only seen her at a distance until now. "It is an honor to meet you," he murmured to the second of his goddess's triplets.
Jack had received a simple, cordial nod; the captain had not been mentioned in Vox's broadcast, and Hadama was unaware of his involvement in the Greatwood incident. He was, however, familiar by now with the man's spiky exterior, and saw no need to poke at him unnecessarily, any more than he would disturb a spiny sea urchin without cause.
The island spread out before them, the lighthouse at its center rising pale and gleaming in the starlight. The black sand around it glittered in echo of the sky above as Hadama stepped onto it, bare feet sinking slightly into the cool grains as he made way for the others to join him on the sacred shore.
RE: A season of giving - Jack - 12-09-2024
Jack had been mentioned in Vox's broadcast, in fact, not that even the captain knows it (having been dead at the time), but to be frank, that's probably not a bad thing. Whilst he's always more than content not to be mentioned by name, especially for something as embarrassing as being used as a pin cushion by The Family, being referred to as some friend to Torchline's Queen likely wouldn't have gone down well.
Regardless, here he stands, clad in his kingmaker coat (as of yet still unblessed, but at least still good protection against the cold), his bandaged torso well-concealed beneath a charcoal shirt, though no amount of clothing can hide the pale cast to his features or the subtle tightening at the corners of his eyes. Nodding in return to Hadama, and glancing back to the Marin girls, he gestures for them to step onto the bridge - and thus the shores of the Aumakua - ahead of him with an easy smile.
See, Vesper? He can hold up his end of a bargain.
RE: A season of giving - Calypso - 12-09-2024
It is cold, and Calypso stands close enough to her sister to try and collect as much warmth as she can despite the sweater she wears beneath a light jacket, her blonde hair down yet the top few layers tied back in a braid she’d annoyed Nova enough with to help her get just right. Complete, though, and with her offerings in hand, she watches the King approach, her head tilting up as he greets her sister and then herself.
It's to Hadama that she flashes a sunny smile to, eyes crinkling with the gesture and warping the star tattoo beneath her eye. “[say]It’s good to meet you too, Tidebreaker.[/say]” It’s perhaps more playful than she should be with a King, having just arrived. But given that internal cockiness inherited from her father (lookin’ at you Jack <3) and the fact she was one of Safrin’s daughters, she’s pretty confident she can get away with it.
Not quite sure how to start the procession, she snags her sister’s arm within hers, locking them together like the rainbow during a sunshower as she casts a glance from her bright amber gaze back toward Jack to see the gesture and the smile – and first of all, finds it relatively odd. Since when did he ever offer them easy smiles? She surmises the fact that he’d died and come back that’s made him… More open to them?
Or maybe her brother had something to do with it. At any rate, she doesn’t question it (aside from mentally, sorry Jack), and she begins to trail after Hadama with her sister on her arm, eyes focused on the lighthouse where they’d recently seen their mother, snapping her jaw shut from babbling on about it if only because Hadama seemed quite serious about this whole thing. And she can’t lie and say she isn’t curious to see this kind of event play out, let alone to be a part of it.
RE: A season of giving - Nova - 12-09-2024
Not nearly as concerned about any propriety or social acceptance, Nova easily waves an excited hand at the familiar merman. [say]"Hi Hadama!"[/say] The movement waves her over-large sweater sleeves in the ocean breeze. The colorful floral pattern doesn't match the season, but they certainly reflect the rainbow field of her mind, and the gradient of her thick leggings tucked into the white fluff of her boots. She twirls the pale pink strand of hair as she skips towards the bridge and the usually 'Oh so serious' man who awaits them.
Similar to her sister, Nova finds the 'easy smile' more than a little peculiar, but it doesn't stop her from returning a blindingly bright one of her own. She even includes a [say]"Thank you"[/say] and a sparkling giggle as they make their way over the bridge. The strange broadcast that had recently infiltrated her mind (quite to her offense and discomfort) didn't register as being about Jack, so the thought doesn't even cross her mind that it may play a part in any shifting of affections. Unlike Calypso, she is much more content to let her mind hum a pleasant tune as they follow the Mer King towards their mother's shrine with her sister on her arm.
RE: A season of giving - Hadama - 12-12-2024
Both young women held echoes of their mother's beauty, and Hadama accepted the playfulness of both with amusement and indulgent humor flavoring his thoughts. It was refreshing to have someone approach him with such a lack of awe for either his crown or his brush with divinity, though if anyone could be expected to overlook the latter it was Safrin's daughters. "I am glad you all came," he murmured, his voice a quiet rumble as he included Jack among their number.
With all of them gathered on the shore of Aumakua he led the way to the lighthouse and then paused beside the pale and gleaming beacon where it reflected the moonlight high above. "Do you want to go up to the altar?" With the whole island acting as shrine, Hadama felt that the altar at the top of the tower was more a tradition than a necessity. But perhaps he was biased, having visited the shrine before legs had become his new normal and often made his offerings on the shore. "Or place them out here, beneath the stars?"
RE: A season of giving - Jack - 12-15-2024
Sliding his hands into his pockets, Jack waits until both girls have skipped ahead of him on the bridge before he lets his smile drop into something a little more wry and crooked. Their brother does have something to do with it, certainly, but he's also died and come back, which might be affecting his manners somewhat. Either way, trailing at the back of the group, he arrives at the lighthouse in time to hear Hadama's question.
[say]"I'll place mine here, if it's all the same,"[/say] he decides; the idea of climbing a staircase to the top of said lighthouse is particularly unpleasant to his still-healing injuries. And so, patting one of those same pockets, he sets off towards the base of Aumakua to find a suitable place among the night-blooming flowers to set down his offering.
RE: A season of giving - Calypso - 12-15-2024
“[say]Of course![/say]” Caly chimes, flashing Hadama a bright, sunny smile. “[say]We’re always happy to go and visit mom, aren’t we?[/say]” The shrine was close enough to seeing her, at least from down here, and while Calypso wasn’t going to speak for Jack, she would speak for her sister. Evidenced in the way she snags her sister’s arm and begins the path toward the lighthouse and the glittering beaches.
They pause beside it and she peers up at the lighthouse where the altar remained, her head tilting quite overtly as she carries one of the offerings. Releasing Nova for the moment to stand on her tip toes and step forward, the young attuned flashes Hadama a bright smile as she agrees with her father. “[say]Out here should be fine, yeah? I think it’d be a little bit cramped with all of us in there.[/say]” Here she playfully grows a touch conspiratory when she adds “[say]that and allllllllll the stars can see it out here.[/say]” Bouncing her brows playfully, the sunny attuned flashes an equally sunny smile toward Jack before she goes to set the offerings down amongst the base of the lighthouse, intermixing with the sandy, glittering beach that reflects the night and the nightblooming flowers, with some space in between but close to the Captain's own offering.
RE: A season of giving - Nova - 12-16-2024
Although she doesn't need to answer, Nova chimes along with her sister, [say]"Obviously!"[/say] Giggling, she lets Calypso lead the way like the sun making way for the rainbow despite the darkness. Even as they make their way to the lighthouse, her thoughts are full of bright memories of their arrival and recent visit with their mother. Nothing can dampen her mood, expect perhaps physical exertion.
Nova is just as unenthused with the idea of trekking up the stairs (and possibly ruining her cute outfit) only to cram together on the upper level like smelly sardines. Considering all of Aumakua is a shrine, she quickly agrees with displaying their offerings outside, nodding her head emphatically. [say]"The stars will probably make the offerings sparkle more anyways!"[/say] And she knows how much their mom likes glittering gifts.
With the decision made, she sets her own offerings next to Caly's. Her eyes barely drift to Jack or Hadama, too busy making sure each item is properly arranged for maximum aesthetic appeal while the soft hum continues up from her hunched figure. It's like a constant buzz of colorful melodies to relieve the boundless creative energy flowing within.
RE: A season of giving - Hadama - 12-16-2024
"Then we are in agreement." He did not let his relief show in his voice, but at least one among them might sense that the mermanta was not particularly heartbroken to remain on the beach. Though he had worked hard with Ronin and Noah to make the lighthouse sparkle, inside and out, he doubted he would ever be truly fond of the human invention of stairs. He inclined his head in agreement with Calypso's gesture towards the stars, that hint of a smile crinkling the corners of his eyes at her playfulness. Nova's contribution to the conversation did nothing to dim the quiet pleasure of his emotions at having Safrin's daughters participate so wholeheartedly in the enterprise, and even Jack's sharp edges seemed to be tucked into hiding for the evening.
It made for a pleasant outing on their goddess's island, and Hadama moved a little ways away from the others to give them privacy if they wished it as he placed his own offerings of crystal and cut glass amid the glittering stones and night-blooming flowers near the tower's base.
Settling into quiet prayer, it was a short while before he rose again and nodded to the gathered Torchers who had participated in the task for their region. "Thank you," he rumbled warmly. "Your help is appreciated. I will be honored to assist with any quests you have from Safrin. You need only ask." It was the least he could do, both for his goddess's favored, and to repay the good deed they had done today.
RE: A season of giving - Jack - 12-17-2024
With a tired if not accepting smile towards the two Marin girls, Jack takes himself off to place his offering with barely a look back towards any of them. It's not without a wince that he drops to one knee, setting down mother-of-pearl and a small glass of clear liquor dancing with flakes of gold that catch in the starlight, but it still beats climbing all the way up the stairs to the top of the lighthouse. And he manages to get back to his feet without anything embarrassing or hilarious happening too, the captain turning to hear Hadama's familiar rumbling tones.
[say]"I'll keep that in mind,"[/say] he responds with a nod - and given his luck and favour with the goddess lately, perhaps he really will have a few quests sooner rather than later that the Tidebreaker can help with. For now, though, he'd quite like to get somewhere he can sit and drink and numb his injuries.
RE: A season of giving - Calypso - 12-17-2024
“[say]They will.[/say]” Caly says quite confidently – with the only confidence being the fact that all of them followed and adored their mother. So obviously that had to count for something, right? At any rate, a mixture of trinkets are left behind from Caly’s own offerings – a shimmering ribbon of dark navy black, intermixed with golden and silver thread to replicate stars in the sky – and a small sapphire snagged from her adventures.
Withdrawing and seeking out her sister’s warmth again, Calypso snags her sister’s arm with her own before flashing another sunny smile back toward Hadama and Jack, before the Tidebreaker’s offer sparks and lingers thoughtfully in her mind. Glancing up toward Nova, the young attuned returns her attention back to Hadama with a grateful nod. “[say]We’ll let you know![/say]” She chimes – wondering whether this current quest the two sisters are on have anything that could utilize the king’s help, but preferring to speak to Nova in private about it.
RE: A season of giving - Nova - 12-18-2024
After a last adjustment to her own offerings - a glass triangle that reflects rainbows and a stitched lace of her own making - Nova claps her hands together. [say]"Perfect!"[/say] She bounces to her feet, humming with satisfaction as she takes in the array of items from the group. Safrin will no doubt appreciate the thoughtfulness behind each piece.
Without question or surprise, she leans into her sister to share the warmth while Hadama makes his offer. Seeing Caly's glance, Nova knows that they'll probably take him up on it but keeps that to herself for now. Instead, she adds her own chime to the tinkling of responses. [say]"Thanks, Hadama!"[/say] Even if they don't request his help, she has no doubt they'll be seeing much more of the Mer King, and Jack. After all, Caido is turning out to be much smaller than she expected, and there seem to always be reasons for Safrin's followers (and offspring) to convene.
[FIN]