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+---- Thread: [SE] last minute change of plans (/showthread.php?tid=12301)
last minute change of plans - Nova - 12-29-2025
The Balloon Festival had been a blast, but it left her with a lot to think about, particularly about the Sunbean and the need to see her mom. It's drawn her home quickly, brainstorming what she's going to bring her mom when she visits. Her first idea is obviously flowers, and she makes her way to the fields of Mourn in search of a variety of colors.
Humming a lively tune, she skips through the long grass, plucking purple, blue, and yellow flowers from their stems in a flutter of violet ducks on bolden fabric. The only thing ruining her lovely sunny jaunt is the mud disrupting the rhythm of her steps, sucking her red cherry boots in every few seconds as she weaves on and off the path. Nova pulls her foot from another patch, an annoyed pout scrunching her features. [say]"Ugh. I'm so done with this mud!"[/say]
Frost coats her fingertips, the frustrations bursting forth in a blast of ice that spreads from her foot when it stamps into the ground. The flowers are collateral damage, ice crystallizing around them in a shell that - while beautiful and admirably similar to diamonds - threatens to stifle the life from them. But Nova doesn't notice the need for caution or possible mourning for the flora gripped in her fingers, instead focusing on the wet dirt clogging her path. The blue glittering of her gaze guides the magic forward, encasing the mud in ice to prevent any further attacks or disruption.
*
RE: last minute change of plans - Zavien - 12-29-2025
Leaving Colt and the massive meal of ribs, Zavien keeps having to adjust his pants to accommodate the extra volume pressing against the denim. He straightens, trying to stretch his abdomen like it might redistribute the food sitting there. When it succeeds in doing nothing more than aggravating his full stomach, Zavien lets out a low groan and looks to his companion.
But Sol isn't fairing any better.
The little dragon wobbles on awkward legs, his pudgy belly looking extra round as he rocks through each step. Sensing Zavien's eyes, Sol lets out his own grumble that sits somewhere between discontent and complete satisfaction, something the Commander can relate to on multiple levels.
Distracted by his conflicted feelings on his current state of fullness, he nearly slides into a split at the change in texture underfoot. The sticky mud shifts to slick ice that only pure instincts keep him from sliding across. Muscles along his thighs tense, pulling his front leg back while his hands fly out to catch his balance from the air. [say]"What the - "[/say] Confused by the presence of ice in Flowerbirth, Zavien pauses, searching around the field for some kind of creature or plausible source.
RE: last minute change of plans - Nova - 12-29-2025
The mud around her feet begins to break through, drawing her eyes down to where it oozes past the ice and onto her shoes. Lifting up a single foot, Nova sneers at the mud, ready to stomp her foot down in another moment of annoyed retaliation, but her eyes catch on the frozen flowers held tight in her fingers, a gasp ripping through the air. The gift she'd gathered for her mother is ruined and the fury awakens in her like an explosion of glittery shrapnel, threatening to catch anything in her path.
[say]"Look what you made me do!!"[/say] The screech of her words is a warning in itself, but a flurry of snowflakes falls in a punctuation of her words. Ice cracks beneath her as it chills even further, turning darker and slicker with the drop in temperature, a glassy depth forming as it sinks deeper into the assaulting mud. Aggressive and merciless, it spreads to every leaf and petal within a thirty-foot radius, attempting to consume every last drop of the earth that's interrupted her plans.
*
RE: last minute change of plans - Zavien - 12-29-2025
His feet are on solid ground - but not for long.
A battle cry is carried by a gust of wind through the field, sending his heart into a rampant rhythm of adrenaline and concern. Thoughts of full bellies and cute waddles are abandoned for sharp sense and a hand on the pommel of his sword. Sol hops to attention, wings unfurling at his side in preparation to take flight, but while Zavien searches for the source of the scream, the ice inexplicably gains ground, looking to swallow his boot before he has a chance to retreat. The dragon lets out a sharp cry of warning the pushes his leg aside with his body, fire breath wrapping around the ice to keep it from solidifying.
Caught in the odd and fleeting sight of orange and blonde hair flaring above a dress so yellow he might have thought the sun had landed in the field, he muffles a shout of surprise when Sol pushes against him. [say]"Are you okay?!"[/say] It's unclear whether he's asking himself as he flounders a moment, or whether he's checking on the young woman who appears to be quite distressed.
RE: last minute change of plans - Nova - 12-29-2025
Mid-tantrum, Nova whips her head around to find a man nearby, waving his arms so flippantly that she wonders if he's having a stroke. It doesn't matter to her if he is, her frustration causes hair to flare around her face in a blur of orange and sparkles. The scrunch of her face is apparent despite their distance, feeling ready to snap with how nothing seems to be going her way.
[say]"No! These were supposed to be a gift for my mom and look what the mud did to them!!"[/say] 'The mud' being her lack of consideration - not that she'll admit it. Regardless, she raises the ice-covered flowers to show the man what has become of her beautiful bouquet, more ice stabbing into the ground when she stomps her cherry boot against the pressure attempting to press against her ice. A feline growl rumbles from her chest while her magic digs deeper into the mud, a low keening squelch sounding very similar to a death thro. [say]"Stupid mud!"[/say]
*
RE: last minute change of plans - Zavien - 12-30-2025
He manages to grasp some fragile balance with spread feet and arms, looking very much like someone stepping in the middle of a fight about to break out. Huffing a breath of relief for not totally eating it, the question of where the ice has come from is quickly answered by the frozen flowers presented to him. The woman seems caught between distraught and furious, apparently ready to freeze the entire field in her anger, but being kind enough to stop at where he stands.
Keeping his arms spread, Zavien straightens carefully, adjusting when he feels the traction of his boots lessen. [say]"Oh, well, they still look pretty - kind of like they're made of glass."[/say] His eyes scan the crystalline structures, wondering how long the ice would last if the woman wanted it to. Shrugging his shoulders, he offers an encouraging smile. [say]"Your mom might like them more this way."[/say]
The growl that the woman emits is more than a little terrifying, resonating in a way that suggests there's more to her than ice magic, despite the way the frozen water snaps and cracks threateningly along the ground. It forces a strangled sound from the mud, the playful creature(s?) falling silent with her explosive shout. [say]"Well, I don't think it'll be bothering you anymore."[/say]
Just to be safe, Sol joins in the fight, hopping forth to pounce his paws against the slick surface. But the little dragon doesn't compensate for the lack of grip, and his braced form spins out across the ice in a comical display of glittering scales, eyes wide with shock.
RE: last minute change of plans - Nova - 12-30-2025
Nova looks up from her efforts to sink the ice deeper towards the core of Caido, reinspecting the frozen flowers chilling her fingers. This man doesn't seem like the smartest - she did just see him flailing his arms like a discombobulated windmill - but he might just have a point. The sharp edges and clear ice do look like glass, shining like the flowers are encased in diamonds. It makes the petals look larger, their delicate shimmering and velvety beauty protected from the world, captured like a moment in time.
They do look kind of pretty.
Humming, Nova rotates them in her hands with a concentrated pout on her lips. [say]"I gueeeess."[/say] The doubt in her tone twinkles like glitter beneath the surface, although the idea becomes more appealing the longer she looks at them. Her mom does like shiny things after all, and she kind of made these, so that has to count for something...
A sudden glimmer of gold becomes the focus of her attention, noticing the dragon for the first time with a small gasp. [say]"Oh! You're so cu~te!"[/say] Her sparkling giggle follows as he slides across the icy path, concerns mostly forgotten in the blink of an eye. [say]"Here. Let me fix that."[/say] She waves a hand over the space, brown emerging as the blue evaporates into the air.
Worried the mud might rise again, Nova follows her release of ice with a mixture of fire and earth, drying and solidifying the material until it nearly cracks, firming beneath her feet. The only ice that remains shimmers around the flowers held delicately in her hand, rivaled by the bright smile she flashes. Her magic continues to spread outward as she gives a small bounce, looking to the dragon. [say]"There! That should be better."[/say] Crouching closer, Nova points a finger at his golden exterior, letting the mud's feeble resistance fade to the background. [say]"Can I take a few of your scales? They're so pretty, and I'd love to incorporate them in an outfit for my sister!"[/say]
*
RE: last minute change of plans - Zavien - 12-31-2025
The ice vanishes as quickly as it arrived, an impressive feat with nothing more than a glittery wave of her hand. His breaths come easier, muscles relaxing when his feet are back on solid ground. Tantrums avoided and slippery tragedies retreating, it makes the smile appear with little effort, letting his guard down as he watches the woman gush over Sol. If people didn't find the dragon fun or adorable, Zavien would be concerned, but she seems to be in the clear, captivated by the endearing companion.
Sol puffs his chest, tail wagging slowly as he makes his way closer to the miniature sun in their midst. His snout raises, sniffing in search of treats and eliciting a low chuckle from the Commander. Nodding his head, he says, [say]"That's Sol. And I'm Zavien."[/say]
Then the smile falters, wondering if she actually intends to rip scales from the dragon. Sol doesn't seem nearly as concerned, rumbling and tilting his head curiously at the question. Still, Zavien shakes his head gently, obviously unsettled by the request. [say]"Uuuh. I don't think he'd like that very much, but I can collect a few when he sheds?"[/say] He's done it a few times for his own items, although he doesn't know how many she intends to collect.
RE: last minute change of plans - Nova - 12-31-2025
Brightening even more, she crouches lower. [say]"Hi Sol! I'm Nova!"[/say] The dragon is so sweet, and Nova reaches her free hand eagerly forward to scratch beneath his chin. She giggles at the smooth warmth of scales beneath her fingertips. They would make a great dress, glittering better than sequins and much cooler. It's just a matter of getting them, and she lifts her blue eyes to the man (Zavien?), considering his proposal.
Lips pursed in a slight pout, she hums, scratching again along Sol's chin. [say]"I guess that works."[/say] Although if he doesn't keep his word, the man will find himself pestered by Nova until she procures the scales.
Nova suddenly leaps to her feet, blonde curls bouncing around her face, yellow fabric brushing her legs, face alight with thought and enthusiasm. [say]"Oh! I should get going! I need to get these to my mom!"[/say] She lifts her hand to show the frozen flowers before twirling in a circle, glancing back to give an energetic wave. [say]"Bye Sol! See you around!"[/say] And then she's rushing off in a flurry of sparkles and skipping chaos.
RE: last minute change of plans - Zavien - 12-31-2025
The woman's introduction is met with friendly enthusiasm, the golden dragon making a sound that's a cross between a purr and a trill, high pitched and very satisfied. He angles his head into the scratches, tail wagging with delight despite the conversation around harvesting his scales. That is until she's abruptly snapping to attention, Sol frozen in a moment of surprised.
They don't even have a chance to say goodbye as Nova departs in a puff of glitter and giggles. Zavien is left staring after her, slightly stunned in the aftermath.
Only once she's gone does he share a look with Sol, the dragon cocking his head like Zavien might enlighten him as to the interaction. Unfortunately for the companion, he's just as confused, dropping his head in a moment of belated realization.
Groaning, he runs a frustrated hand through his hair. [say]"We should have asked her which way the skyport is."[/say]
[FIN]