[SE] pick your poison

Nova

After every storm, there is a rainbow.

She loves the way her siblings bounce between loving, protective, and playful with such ease, not a hint of misunderstanding or difficulties. It's hard to believe that other siblings don't get along like this, but maybe that's one of the benefits of being triplets (or having a telepathic brother). Nova just basks in the smiles and glittering blue eyes, adding her own to the mix of teasing. "Flowerbirth it is!" Promises of trips and shared secrets making her all the more eager to share her gifts.

As Caly accepts her lavender duck, the young hybrid doesn't need to be told twice, diving into the tale. "I wish you guys were there! We would have crushed it! The game was like hide-and-seek but with ducks! We had to find as many as we could in a specific time limit. It was hard with all the snow, and they were in really random places. Like this one was by the giant bonfire -" She indicates to the turquoise mohawked duck, making sure Vespy takes it in his hands as she continues her story, "- but that one was buried in a dead flower box!" She points to the one in Caly's hands, very proud of her discovery of the two ducks. Flipping her hand dismissively, she adds, "I didn't really pay much attention to the end since some Ancient guy got the most, but I was so close to winning!" Although perturbed with her loss, her grin is wide and bright as she rocks on her heels. "It was a lot of fun and I got to drink some delicious hot chocolate near the colorful bonfire!" The hot chocolate reminds her of the lady who tried to steal her purse, earning a splash of hot beverage in her face. Could anyone blame her? It's her favorite purse. 

Tilting her head, she then thinks of her altercation after the game. Her smile vanishes as her face scrunches in both frustration and annoyance, still trying to believe the insanity that had occurred. "But the person who led the game tried to kill me after that." Nova still remembers the pain of her fangs digging into her side, drawing blood and sending her into a frenzy of panic. It was not fun, and a shiver of something still unfamiliar runs down her spine: fear.

lately i've been leaning on what she swears is a feeling

Nova is, perhaps, Caly’s favorited story teller. And as Vesper settles in to listen, so does she – collecting the lavender duck with wide eyes and a bright gaze, ready and excited to hear about the game in question. Happiness radiates from her to see just how excited she was recollecting it, mentioning the colorful bonfire that she’d mentioned to her not too long after they’d landed on Torchline’s shores.

“That sounds so nice right now.” She murmurs despite the relatively tame breeze fluttering through. It was cold enough that delicious hot chocolate sits on her mind for a few moments longer (sorry V!) before the end of Nova’s tale and the shift from the bubbly happiness she has known her sister to be, to something else.

She doesn’t have to have the telepathic mind their brother has to know this sharp shift was solely due to something else – and the next vocalization, less bubbly, almost contemplative? It immediately has her setting the duck down to step toward her sister. “What?” She says in a hushed kind of surprised tone, bordering on the edge of a suddenly hot fiery rage she keeps toned down for the mere semblance of reaching for her sister’s hands. “Nova.. Who was it?” She asks in a quieter tone, determined, dark, as if the only running thought in her mind is who would dare?

Calypso

but she don't believe in mistakes

vesper

Vesper listens to Nova's tale with an affectionate chuckle as she recounts the absurdity of the game in the Hollowed Grounds—how rubber ducks were hidden in odd places, and how she nearly clinched victory with a final desperate dash. Her voice carries the bright lilt of mischief as she details the quirky spots where the ducks hid, and for a moment, his cool blue eyes soften with amusement.

But then, as her tone darkens with the memory of that moment—when the person leading the game nearly ended her fun for good—Vesper's smile falters. His telepathy, ever vigilant, picks up the raw surge of fear and betrayal that ripples beneath her words, overwriting the sweet taste of hot chocolate she'd bathed him in only moments before. Instantly, his entire posture shifts; the relaxed tilt of his head straightens, and the calm detachment in his gaze gives way to a hard, protective glint. His hand, which had been casually tapping against the railing, now tightens almost imperceptibly.

He leans forward slightly, his voice low and measured, but with an edge that brooks no nonsense. "Who was it?" he asks, echoing Caly's question. "No one does that to you," he adds quietly, each word weighted with protective fury.

In that moment, Vesper’s eyes, normally as cool and indifferent as a Deepfrost sky, burn with a silent promise. He doesn’t press for more details yet, but his mind churns with images of betrayal and the need for retribution. The sound of distant laughter and the soft murmur of the porch fade as his focus narrows on Nova, his silent vow hanging heavy in the cool night air.

Tell the preacher not to pray, there's no angels where I'll go
Only pieces that are broken scattered dreams across the floor

Code blatently stolen from queen of codes, Sky!

Nova

After every storm, there is a rainbow.

The shift in atmosphere is cold and swift, entirely driven by her. Nova can feel the concern that radiates from her siblings, glad to be validated in her emotions. Caly's warm grasp on her hand calms the weird racing of her heart when she remembers her first experience with pain. After giving her an appreciative smile, she hums through the strange feelings that taste bitter on her tongue while she tries to describe the woman. "I don't know her name, but she has bright red hair. There were two creatures with her - companions, I think?" Tapping a contemplative finger against her chin, she tries to remember what they were. "One was definitely a dragon, and the other looked like those things we fought at the Rainbow Gate." Her eyes look to Vespy briefly, sure he'll remember what the things are called even if she doesn't. For once, she wishes he could see the images in her mind, the ones she won't soon forget. 

Returning to the story, Nova recalls how it all started with another tilt of her head. After all, there might be a clue in there. "She didn't like that I was near the lightning, so she got angry then turned invisible - at least I think that's what happened, I couldn't see her. I tried to fight as my jaguar, but then she almost hit me with a flaming arrow. It burnt part of my fur." Her lips came out in a pout, more displeased that her colorful rosettes had been singed than scared than it might have actually hit her. "All of a sudden, she looked like me!" Her hands gesture wildly to her incomparable image in complete disbelief. From her colorful blonde hair to the starlit freckles, she wasn't easy to replicate, but to copy her jaguar form was even more unbelievable. "Colors and everything! And bit me!" She reaches to her side, aware that the wound is no longer there after drinking at the fountain but still feeling the phantom sharp fangs sinking in. "She even drew blood!" Nova flinches at the memory, shaking her head to clear away the pure panic that had consumed her in the moment. 

She pushes the heaviness from herself to look between Caly and Vespy to summarize. "It was not fun. I barely escaped with my life." It may have been somewhat of an exaggeration, but it had certainly felt that way to her. Although, the dark storm in her brother's eyes gives her the impression that the woman might not be so lucky, not that she cares in the least. In fact, she'd be more than happy to tag along, a vengeful glint in the simmering colors of her mind.

lately i've been leaning on what she swears is a feeling

All at once the playful comfort of their sibling bond shifts toward passive yet aggressive protectiveness that has Caly stepping forward to take her sister’s hand, feeling the low rumble of upset from their brother – enough that she can feel it too and doesn’t have to look back at him to see the shift in the colors of his eyes.

So she focuses entirely on her sister’s story, piecing it together the best she can, brows pinching in confusion. And as she reaches to her side, the young attuned doesn’t have the telepathy to know that her sister’s already been to the fountain, so she twists around to try and see it. “Are you still hurt?” She asks, focusing wholly on whether or not her sister was okay – because she knows that Vesper would be the one to start the plans of vengeance. It’s why they make such a good triplet team.

Calypso

but she don't believe in mistakes

vesper

Vesper takes in every word with a growing storm in his chest. His sister’s description—red hair, a dragon companion, and another creature that reminds him of those pests they fought near the Rainbow Gate—lodges in his mind like a warning siren. His grip tightens on the railing again, and though his expression remains carefully composed, the white-knuckled tension in his fingers betrays the fury churning beneath.

"She bit you?" he repeats, low and edged, as if just saying the words might ignite something deep in his core. His ice-blue eyes flick to Caly’s concerned expression and back to Nova’s side, relieved to see no fresh wound. "Doesn’t matter if you threw the first punch—she had no right taking it that far. I’d like to see her try that again when I’m around." The quiet menace in his voice is a promise as solid as any vow he’s ever made. Without pressing for further detail, he nods toward the shoreline. "We’ll figure out who she is, and we’ll make sure she doesn’t try a stunt like that a second time."

As it would turn out, the next time they were all together, they would indeed find out who had attacked Nova.

He glances toward the door, the protective set of his jaw easing just enough to let concern shine through. "We’ve still got some water from the healing fountain inside," he reminds them, the low rumble of anger underscoring his words. "Let's get you some." With that, Vesper places a guiding hand on each of his sisters’ shoulders, gently ushering them toward the house and the semblance of security it provides.

~FIN

Tell the preacher not to pray, there's no angels where I'll go
Only pieces that are broken scattered dreams across the floor

Code blatently stolen from queen of codes, Sky!