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+---- Thread: [SE] strut when you're bluffin' (/showthread.php?tid=12268)
strut when you're bluffin' - Vesper - 12-11-2025
The pulse of the festival thrums around him—balloons creaking overhead, vendors shouting prices, the perfume-thick reek of popcorn and blooming pollen—and Vesper lets it all slide past as something distant and unimportant. His attention flicks instead toward the egg kiosk where Nova, triumphant as always, is accepting whatever sparkly nonsense the vendor has pressed into her hands.
A thin ribbon of shadow slips from the pool at his feet, subtle as a fingertip brushing the hem of her sequined dress. It nudges her ankle, a whisper-soft tap, playful in the way only she would recognise. When she glances over, Vesper lets the shadowy hold of his Grey Road magic peel back from him like a curtain drawing aside, revealing his shape fully at last.
He stands with one hand casually hooked chambray pocket, weight settled into one hip, the desert sun catching the faint shimmer along his constellation freckles. He tilts his head in a silent come on, the gesture small but unmistakable, an invitation meant only for her. Then, without waiting to see if she argues or barrels into him or both, he turns and begins to stroll away from the thick of the crowd. His pace is unhurried, deceptively lazy, like he has nowhere particular to be, when in truth he is choosing very carefully where not to be.
RE: strut when you're bluffin' - Nova - 12-12-2025
She peeks down affectionately at the bit of shadow, although she doesn't need her eyes to know what it is - who it is. A giggle immediately forms on her lips, knowing that her brother is never far away, even if that's harder to believe nowadays. It's why she's not the least bit surprised to see his face appear from a ripple of shadows, throwing him a beaming smile that should threaten the darkness he wears like a cape.
The vendor is spared from anymore of her pestering, forgotten in the joy that always sparks when she sees Vesper. It's a vibrant shade of chaos in her mind, all shimmers and pearlescent hues painted in joy and sibling affection that pour out in the air around her. If people don't look closely, they might think it a ripple of heat, an oasis hidden in a mirage created by the energy flowing from every pore, trailing the rainbow of her dress like watercolor that melts into the air. Her face is the sun beaming above, white star freckles brightening as if the galaxy in her eyes has escaped.
Skipping through the crowd, she doesn't match the same 'subtlety' that her shadowy brother uses, making her departure as an eclipse. Her wave is as boisterous and loud as her thoughts, a bubbling giggle chiming through. [say]You know we can just talk like this now, right? It'll be so much funner! We don't even have to say a word![/say] Pride oozes from her while she catches up to his longer strides, thick and full of excitement for their strengthened bond and new form of covert communication.
RE: strut when you're bluffin' - Vesper - 12-13-2025
Nova’s voice slides into him like warmth through sun-soaked stone, familiar enough that for half a heartbeat it barely registers as different. It carries the same colour and fizz her thoughts always do, the same effervescent rush that has never known how to be quiet, and for a moment Vesper simply absorbs it, surprised not by how it feels, but by the sudden realisation that he can answer her this way. His brow lifts, a sharp, amused arc, and without moving his lips he sends the thought back along that shared thread, smooth and deliberate. [say]Oh—you mean like this?[/say]
The smirk that curves his mouth is unmistakable, a private thing aimed only at her, sharpened with quiet pride and something warmer beneath it. He gives a small, careless shrug as they walk, sand whispering under his boots, shadows loosening and re-gathering with each step. [say]Guess I kinda forgot we could[/say], he admits, the thought edged with dry humour rather than apology. Then, because Nova never does anything halfway, his attention flicks sideways to her, brows lifting again, mischief glinting like starlight. [say]But if what you want is for us talkin' to be funner…[/say] The word carries deliberate emphasis, drawn out just enough to tease. [say]…then funner you’ll have.[/say]
He reaches out then, easy and unhurried, looping an arm around her shoulders and tugging her gently into his stride. The contact is casual, familiar, protective without being heavy, his pace adjusting automatically to match her bounce without ever acknowledging it aloud. The crowd thins as they drift farther from the heart of the festival, noise softening, pollen thickening the air until the world feels hazy at the edges. Vesper exhales, the sound quiet but weighted, and this time when he speaks it’s steadier, more serious beneath the ease. [say]I need to talk to you about somethin’,[/say] he says, already anticipating the way her mind might spark and scatter if left to fill in the blanks, so he doesn’t let it.
[say]I'm plannin’ on stayin’ up north a while longer,[/say] he continues, eyes forward, voice even. Then he glances down at her, brows lifting just slightly, the look meaningful and unmistakable as the thought echoes alongside it. [say]A lot longer.[/say]
RE: strut when you're bluffin' - Nova - 12-14-2025
The inaudible communication is as natural as breathing, reminding her fondly of the times when they knew each other so well that words weren't even necessary, when the stars twinkled around them and they were never more than a thought away from each other. It makes her heart light, overjoyed to hear Vesper so close as she eliminates the distance between them. [say]Exactly!! See how fun it is?![/say]
She looks up at him, giggling through the bond when he claims to have 'forgot,' like he isn't the telepathic one - the one who always knows everything. But it's not like she can tease him when he gives in so quickly, and she melts into his comfortable presence with the ease only siblings possess.
Nova doesn't dampen her overwhelming buoyancy despite the new weight around her shoulders, knowing she never has to around him. Instead, she shines a little brighter, sparkles kicking up with the flecks of shadows and sand shifting around her feet. The same glittering particles slow, almost weightless in their hesitant curiosity. She's not sure she likes the heavy sigh or the ominous words that Vesper says, the ones that imply she isn't going to like whatever it is.
Luckily, her brother knows her better than anyone, and before she can start pondering what new insult he's found for glitter, he's getting to the point. But confusion flickers over her face as she tries to compute what he's telling her. [say]'North?'[/say] Sunlight catches her hair in a golden halo of innocence when she inspects him. [say]Do you mean the Hollowed Grounds? Did you like it that much?[/say] She'd certainly thought the Blood Moon Festival was a blast (hehehe), but she wouldn't say she wants to stay there for more than a short visit.
The scrunch of her nose and purse of her lips is evidence enough of her thoughts even if Vesper couldn't read them - the befuddled, slightly concerned tilt that lies beneath the shimmer of bright curiosity. [say]How long is 'a lot longer?' A week? A month? A season?[/say] Should she be worried?
RE: strut when you're bluffin' - Vesper - 12-15-2025
Nova’s light burns brighter against him the farther they drift from the crowd, her sparkles catching and refracting against the inky backdrop of his shadows until the contrast feels almost intentional, like night designed purely to make stars stand out. Vesper glances down at her once, the corner of his mouth tugging upward in something fond before he answers her along that shared thread.
[say]North[/say], he confirms simply, the thought steady and unembellished. A beat later—less guarded, more conversational—[say]The Grounds were...fine[/say]. The word lands neutral, neither praise nor dismissal, and he shrugs lightly as if it might have gone either way. His gaze shifts ahead, toward the green-hazed edge of the oasis where desert gives way to something wilder, more alive. [say]I was thinkin' about headin' into the Greatwood next.[/say]
He risks a smile then, one meant for her alone, softer around the edges though it never quite reaches his eyes. [say]Ain’t had a leader in years[/say], he adds, tone almost speculative. [say]An’ who knows, maybe we could take it over.[/say] The idea is half-tease, half-provocation, floated lightly enough that it doesn’t yet ask for belief, only curiosity, just as it had with Jack.
When Nova presses him about time, the ease slips away; not sharply, but cleanly, like a blade sheathed after being drawn. His expression smooths back into something composed, deliberate, the polish he wears when he doesn’t want anyone to see the seams. Vesper gives a small, honest shake of his head. [say]I don’t know,[/say] he admits, mental voice low and unhurried. [say]With the way things are...I ain’t sure I can come back to King’s End anytime soon.[/say] His arm remains settled around her shoulders, grounding even as the words carry distance with them.
He doesn’t say Colt’s name at first, probably doesn’t have to, but he does anyway, because Nova deserves clarity, not shadows. [say]Things with Colt went real bad.[/say] There’s no venom in it, no self-pity, just fact. [say]And I think it’s best if I stay away for a while.[/say] The admission hangs between them, heavy but controlled, and Vesper doesn’t rush to soften it or walk it back. He keeps his stride easy, his arm steady, trusting Nova to feel the truth of it without needing him to spell out every fracture underneath. It had been Colt's home first, and, like Jack had done, sometimes it was easier to just fuckin' leave.
RE: strut when you're bluffin' - Nova - 12-15-2025
Her face pinches as confusion washes over her thoughts like a rippling shadow under the surface of the water. [say]Why the Greatwood?[/say] Nova's gaze follows her brother's to the colors dotting the horizon, still puzzling over why he'd be going there when the Grounds had been 'fine.' And what's wrong with King's End?
She's still swimming in a sea of questions and worries, not particularly enticed by the prospect of leadership like her sister might have been. The tease doesn't goad a reaction beyond more depth of questions that are moving so fast that even she can't verbalize them. Why would he be talking about taking over the Greatwood if this was temporary? Why didn't they just take over King's End? Or Torchline? Why did he want to leave anyways?
An unfamiliar cold starts in her fingers, sparkles stuttering with the shift of energy, the heaviness of uncertainty and missing answers when Vesper speaks. It's something she's never felt, a sense that things are slipping away where she can't reach, an ache of loss that hasn't come yet. She tries to swallow it, to understand when he mentions how things have ended with Colt. More questions threaten to drown her, unable to comprehend what could have happened, why it keeps happening to her siblings, or why that fractured relationship would push them to such a decision. She had liked Colt, and there's no burn of hatred to cushion the blow this time, to cling to when her world threatens to capsize.
The thoughts are too much, the emotions scattering like beads of water on ice. So much is happening that she doesn't notice she's stopped, can't tell that she's biting her lip when she spins to face him head on. [say]But... does that mean you're not going to see our shop?[/say] Caly had been so excited - she'd been so excited - and now the thoughts and dreams that were so bright in her mind fracturing gently beneath the glittering surface. Nova shakes her head, hair fanning around her face. [say]We have it all planned. It's going to have coffee and merch and so many windows and colors, and if you're not there...[/say] The shaking stops, her head tilting to look up at Vesper, defiantly bright blue around the sorrows and frustrations, the circumstances that keep ripping at the shallow roots they try to grow. [say]Why do we have to keep leaving? Why can't they leave?[/say]
RE: strut when you're bluffin' - Vesper - 12-16-2025
The shift in Nova hits him before she even stops moving, her brightness frosting over into something sharp and crystalline, sparkles stiffening like hoarfrost clinging to glass. Vesper’s gaze drops to her hands, to the way the light around her hesitates, and only then does he slow, then stop entirely when she does, shadows pooling at his feet as the festival noise thins behind them. He lets his arm fall away from her shoulders, deliberately gentle, giving her space rather than trying to hold her together by force. He turns to face her fully, posture easy but attentive, eyes softer now as she spins to him, questions tumbling over one another until they fracture into something dangerously close to hurt.
[say]‘Course I’m gonna see it[/say], he sends quietly, the thought smooth and immediate, a small smile tugging at his mouth as he meets her gaze. [say]Caly already told me all about it last season.[/say] The image comes with it—windows catching light, colour everywhere, Nova’s fingerprints on every impossible detail— and his expression warms despite himself.
Vesper exhales, fondness threading through the bond like a sigh. [say]Sounds like you’ve got it handled anyway[/say], he adds, affectionate and teasing in the same breath. [say]Don’t need me showin’ up an’ ruin’ the sparkly vibe. You an’ Caly’ve got this.[/say] The reassurance is real, even if it costs him something to give it.
When it comes to the rest—the leaving, the why—his jaw tightens, muscle feathering as he tips his head back to glance up at the endless, cloudless blue. For a moment he just breathes, shadows curling closer as if to shield the confession even from the sky. [say]Bein’ a telepath ruined any chance I had with Colt[/say], he admits at last, the thought careful, restrained. [say]And of course I can’t tell her that.[/say] The frustration there is quiet but deep, worn smooth by repetition rather than sharp with anger. His gaze drops back to Nova, the polish slipping enough for weariness to show.
He frowns, looking down and away this time, guilt flickering like a dimmed star. [say]The way I ended things was...real mean.[/say] He swallows, the sensation carried cleanly through the bond. [say]I did it so she’d move on. Thought it’d be kinder in the long run.[/say] A pause, heavier. [say]But stayin’—rubbing her face in it every day—feels like it'd be worse[/say] The shadows at his feet stir, restless but contained. When he looks back at Nova, his expression is tired, sad in a way he doesn’t often allow himself to be, yet steady all the same.
RE: strut when you're bluffin' - Nova - 12-16-2025
His reassurance thaws some of the panic, the cold receding an inch from her heart. He's not leaving them. Just King's End. Although that doesn't change the disappointment, the reality she shares with a mental mutter. [say]But part of the fun is getting to share it with you...[/say] And if he's not there... it just won't feel right, like a part of them is missing.
It's why she shakes her head, a decision crystallizing in her mind. [say]I'll ask Caly. Maybe we can start the Sunbeam in the Greatwood instead. Even if there's not a place right now, we can build one, we can stay together.[/say] A stubbornness presses against her ribs, a refusal to let Vesper stay so far for so long.
The selfish possessiveness only fades when she sees the emotions on his face, when she feels the guilt and frustration grating on time-worn exhaustion. She can't begin to understand what her brother has to deal with as a telepath - not the overwhelming crowds or keeping the facts straight or knowing every hidden thought or how any of that affects a relationship - and she doesn't want to know. It's a burden she doesn't envy, one of the only powers she'd prefer not to have. A power that seems bright and enticing on the surface until it swallows every inch of your life, all the while having to keep the amazing ability a secret. Nova would much rather shout about her magic from the rooftops, letting glitter and light rain down around her in a blaze of magnificent glory for all to see.
But Vesper can't do that, and she can see the tired depth in his eyes. It draws her closer until her arms are wrapped around him in a tight hug that barely connects, head nestled against his chest to smell the familiar peppermint, sea salt, and moonlight.
There's nothing she can do about the weight he carries or the lonely life of a telepath, nothing she can freeze or light on fire to make him feel better. And that frustrates her, the grip she holds tightening. She doesn't like seeing him like this, and she selfishly wants her unshakeable brother back, because she can't stop the quiet concerns that flow unfiltered from her thoughts, eerily close to fear. [say]What if this never stops? What if we have to leave again? Over and over. Forever.[/say]
RE: strut when you're bluffin' - Vesper - 12-19-2025
Vesper listens as Nova’s resolve firms, the idea of uprooting the Sunbeam and chasing him north sparking bright and stubborn in her thoughts. He nods once, slow and thoughtful, acknowledging the shape of it without immediately agreeing, shadows breathing quietly at his heels. [say]Means you get to spend more time with Jack while I’m gone[/say], he sends lightly, the thought carrying a faint curl of amusement as his brows lift. When her plan sharpens—Greatwood instead, together—his mouth quirks into a grin, eyes warming despite himself. [say]Or[/say], he counters, playful but sincere, [say]you make it so successful in King’s End folks’ll be dyin’ for another one, and then you put one wherever you damn well please.[/say] He bumps her shoulder gently with his own. [say]We’re always together,[/say] he adds more softly, the certainty of it steady and unshakeable. [say]Distance don’t change that.[/say]
When Nova steps into him, arms wrapping tight despite barely reaching, Vesper doesn’t hesitate. He folds around her easily, a warm, instinctive embrace reserved for just sisters, chin tipping just enough to rest against her hair. Her fears press close through the bond, quiet but insistent, and Vesper breathes them in without flinching. He shakes his head once, small but resolute. [say]I ain’t ever puttin’ myself in this position again,[/say] he tells her honestly, the promise carrying weight. [say]I learned my lesson.[/say]
He pulls back just enough to look down at her, expression gentled, the tired edges smoothed away for her sake. [say]"It’s just you an’ Caly for me,"[/say] he says aloud this time, voice low and certain, before tugging her back into his chest again, holding her there as long as she needs.
RE: strut when you're bluffin' - Nova - 12-19-2025
The prospect of spending time with Jack is enticing. Her head tilts, thinking of the fighting rings and magic lessons, wondering if he'd like a Moppo Polo to join Chrisweeper Columbus. But it doesn't change the fact that Vesper wouldn't be there to enjoy it with them, and despite all the reassurances and playful confidence, Nova can't help the feeling that it won't be the same without him there. This season had been strange enough with his trip, the claims of distance being negligible contradicted in the unknown timeline - the permanence of this change.
She leans into the bush of his shoulders, the pout of her lips shifting from disappointment to concentration, stubborn and determined. [say]What if we ask mom to make it a magic shop? We could be in different regions each day of the week.[/say] The thought shines bright, a beacon of hope for keeping their family together, and an ache for having gone so long without seeing their mom. Her eyes look up at him, pure and insistent. [say]Then we could be wherever we want whenever we want.[/say] 'We' being the key word.
If they stay together more, she can help protect him from whatever happened with Colt from happening again. Even if she can't stay constantly at his side, her magic is growing stronger and maybe she can make him something...
The thoughts flow through her mind, sewing closed the gaps that hold her fears, using his promise as the needle to guide her threads. It's easier when he's here, when he's wrapped around her, solid and present. When he pulls away, she nearly protests, silenced by the words he says aloud, the vow spoken for all to hear as a binding claim that no one can threaten. She smiles, nodding her head. [say]"Good, because you're stuck with us."[/say] Then helps to close the distance again, tightening her grasp like it might fuse them together, a glittery growth that he can't get rid of no matter how hard he tries.
RE: strut when you're bluffin' - Vesper - 12-19-2025
Vesper feels the way her idea blooms—bright, insistent, stitched together with hope—and he can’t help the grin that spreads across his face. He dips his brows at her, an exaggerated bounce meant purely to tease, and sends the thought back along their shared thread, warm with approval. [SAY]Sounds like a damn good idea.[/say] There’s a softer note that follows, steadier and more grounded. [say]And things that’re hard to find’re always worth more anyway.[/say] The sentiment settles without fuss, not a rejection of her hope but a shaping of it, something resilient enough to survive distance without shattering.
Her thoughts begin to spiral again—plans, protections, glittering contingencies—and he doesn’t try to stop them. Instead, he huffs a quiet laugh, the sound fond and unguarded, and reaches out to ruffle her hair with easy familiarity. The gesture is gentle but thorough, meant to scramble both curls and overthinking in equal measure, and he nods once, decisively, as if that settles everything that actually matters.
[say]"C’mon,"[/say] he says, the word light, coaxing, eyes flicking up toward the riot of colour drifting lazily overhead. Balloons sway against the blue, baskets creaking, laughter spilling down in little bursts. His smirk returns, sharp at the edges, daring in a way that feels deliberately chosen. [say]"Pretty sure between the two of us we can get one of those things into the sky."[/say] He angles his head toward the nearest launch point, shadows already loosening at his feet as if anticipating motion. [say]"And go for a ride,"[/say] he adds, tone easy, confident, like gravity is optional when Nova’s involved.
~FIN