sleeping on the blacktop

// I got this feeling, yeah, you know where I'm losing all control //

Much as the heat agreed with the demigod, Vesper was looking forward to experiencing a season with a forecast other than scalding. He knew about them of course, could rattle off their names and associated festivals, but as he'd come to learn the second he stepped down from the stars, knowing' somethin' wasn't the same as experiencin', it. And good gods did the boy like his experiences.

Wearing an unbuttoned soft gray chambray shirt with nothing beneath, the slate gray shorts slung low on the demigod's hips were the quick-drying sort meant for swimming in and then strolling to the bar; convenient, as that's just what he planned on doing. Today, or at least right now Vesper's hair was a dark sandy blonde, though that could change with little more than a thought. With his head low, he strolled along the coastline, blue eyes peeled for shimmery or otherwise opalescent seashells that he might dazzle his sisters with. You might think this would put him at risk of walking straight into someone, chin tucked toward his chest as it was, but as a telepath, it couldn't be closer from the truth. That didn't mean Vesper wasn't up for instigating a bit of a meet cute, such that as he felt the watercolour ripple of Sohalia 's mind nearby, he slightly adjusted his footing in order to set himself on a collision course right for her.

Vesper

//Go ahead and throw your stones, 'cause there's magic in my bones //

Sohalia

Say my name
And every color illuminates

Sometimes she had to remind herself that she loved the beach, and this was one of those times.

First of all, it was hot, but not too hot; the sea breezes kept the girl from being soaked with sweat as she walked through the sand, eyes cast down as she searched for shells or rocks or other bits and baubles. Second, the beach made her senses come alive: the feel of the sand between her toes, the sound of the waves crashing against the shore, the smell of the briny water... it all came together to paint a perfect little picture that she was always more than happy to enjoy. The third reason she loved the beach was also the reason she sometimes hated it. It was full of memories for the girl - some good and some bad. She hadn't yet decided what kind today was going to be.

So she walked, glancing up periodically at where the sun met the sea on the horizon, enjoying the play of the salt spray on the breeze. Her long blonde hair was tied out of her face, held back with a rolled bandana, but a few pieces had escaped to wave gently in the wind. She'd chosen a sheer white dress to wear over a swimsuit, in case she decided to go for a swim, and she carried her simple brown sandals in one hand. Every once in a while, she picked up an interesting or colorful shell and pocketed it to add to a small collection she'd started recently when she couldn't think of anything better to do.

Unfortunately, she did not possess the same telepathic powers as a certain young man walking towards her on the beach. As such, she didn't see him until it was too late. Unless he elected to change course to avoid her, she would walk smack into Vesper and have to bear the consequences.

We are shining
And we will never be afraid again

// I got this feeling, yeah, you know where I'm losing all control //

Sohalia's mind was not unlike that of his sisters: free-flowing, with watercolour streaks that shimmered and twisted in unpredictable but rather elegant ways. It was like being in the midst of an impressionist painting where from far away there was a clear and easy-to-discern image, but upon closer inspection, everything melted and fell away into complicated streaks of colour. Mentally smiling to himself with a don't mind if I do bounce of his eyebrows, Vesper made no attempt at all to divert their paths, though he did orchestrate the way he bumped into her to be as charming as possible.

As they collided, Vesper allowed the shells he'd been holding to spill from his fingers onto the sand, before immediately reaching out to try and catch Sohalia by the elbow, or if he was lucky, with an arm around her lower back to steady her. Taller than she, it was with his chin tucked and an almost boyishly bashful smile on his lips that his sea-blue eyes drank her in, the pale star marking beneath his eye crinkling with the concern he painted across his face. "Agh, that's me, never lookin' where I'm goin'." Hissing in an apologetic breath, the demigod smiles. "Are you alright?"

Vesper

//Go ahead and throw your stones, 'cause there's magic in my bones //

Sohalia

Say my name
And every color illuminates

Soh was startled by the seemingly sudden appearance of a young man before her, and even more surprised by the fact that she'd somehow managed to run right into him. As she rocked back and away from his solid form, she ran right into the arm that encircled her. Her hands came up instinctively to catch her balance, and she found herself suddenly in the arms of a stranger, her palms braced gently on his chest.

Blushing furiously, Soh stepped out of his hold. "No, no - it was my fault! I should have been paying closer attention." She peered at the handsome stranger, equal parts suspicious and intrigued. Despite her sudden unease (after all, she'd had more than one nasty run-in with unknown men!), she offered a shy smile. "I'm fine, thank you. Are you?" He seemed fine - and fine (wiggles eyebrows) - but she wasn't about to make any assumptions.

We are shining
And we will never be afraid again

Come play!M

In the wind you hear voices. It sounds like children playing some kind of game with laughter and mischief. Then one screams. There’s a call for ‘Mom!’ ‘Papa!’ and other adults as the laughter stops. Glancing towards the direction of the commotion, you’ll see fins cutting the water. A pack of echo sharks lucks, ready to leap up and grab any who fall for their trap.

---

You’ve encountered a pack of echo sharks. This counts as a common creature encounter for the purposes of levelling, but does not count as a Random Event for levelling or MP. There will be no further admin/re intervention. If you choose to follow this creature, you do so at your own risk, however, just having it in this thread is enough to satisfy your levelling requirements.

Echo Shark (common) - A dwarf species of shark known for hunting in packs, the Echo Shark can live in both freshwater and saltwater. They are able to mimic any sound they’ve heard and band together to increase their range of vocals. The sharks use the words and sounds they’ve learned to lure unsuspecting prey into the water, where the sharks will then leap up and drag them into the waves.

// I got this feeling, yeah, you know where I'm losing all control //

The feel of her surprise crashes tantalizingly against the fingers of Vesper's magic like bright sparks of electricity. He's able to feel the flush on her cheeks as clearly as see it, and though her hands are small upon his bare chest, the warmth that they cause certainly isn't. Had it not been for memories of recent kidnappings or men in dark alleyways that snarled to the forefront of the Luminary's mind, Vesper might have held her closer. Instead, releasing her with an easy laugh, he takes a step away from her, wanting to give space for her unease to flow away for both their sakes. 

Ignoring the boisterous calls of the nearby pod of echo sharks, Vesper nods. "I am," he agrees, his voice rough but warm. "Not sure I can say the same about the shells I was carryin'." Nodding down toward the sand, the demigod had intentionally stepped on one of the more fragile shells when he'd bumped into Sohalia. Ruffling a hand through his tousled hair, Vesper sinks to his knees, picking up the broken pieces with painstaking care. What else his fingers might do with the same soft intensity he left for Sohalia to contemplate before holding the shards up for her to see. "Still beautiful even when broken, wouldn't you say?"

Vesper

//Go ahead and throw your stones, 'cause there's magic in my bones //

Sohalia

Say my name
And every color illuminates

The stranger might have been able to ignore the calls of the echo sharks, but they startled Soh enough that she glanced momentarily out to sea to find circling fins in the shallows. Having identified the creatures and thus deciding that there was no imminent danger - unless, of course, the young man before her decided to be dangerous - she turned her attention back to Vesper. And the broken shell he now held.

"Oh no!" Soh gasped, falling to her knees to try and help gather the pieces. "I'm so sorry. Here, let me -" But the stranger was seemingly quick to forgive, his voice warm as he held up some of the pieces for her to see. They were still beautiful, even in broken shards, and she considered his words for a moment. If a shell could be beautiful when shattered, then did that mean that maybe she could be, too? "I love the color," she said after a moment, reaching out to gently take a shard from Vesper's hand, her fingers brushing his unless he moved away. She turned the piece of shell this way and that, admiring the way it caught the light.

"Do you collect them?" she asked, turning her attention back to the young man and noticing, for the first time, how very blue his eyes were. Blushing faintly, though she couldn't say why, she reached into her pocket and pulled out her own shells. "I have a few - do you want to take any of these, to make up for the broken one?"

We are shining
And we will never be afraid again

// I got this feeling, yeah, you know where I'm losing all control //

Of course Vesper didn't pull away, instead taking full advantage of Sohalia's nearness so that his eyes could drink her in the way his magic already had. From the way her complexion was like the colour of untouched sand to how a few sun-bright curls had mischievously freed themselves from her bandana, the perfect cupids-bow of her lip, and even the faded scar that sliced through one of her eyebrows; none of it escaped the sweep of his blue eyes.

"They're for my sisters." The demigod answers, and though it is the truth, he hopes it's also the sort of thing that might make the Luminary feel a touch more comfortable around him. After all, how dangerous or bad could he be if he was out collecting seashells for his sisters? Knowing what she was reaching for before the shells appeared in his hands, Vesper chuckles under his breath, his slightly sunburnt lips twisting into a boyish smile. "I wouldn't want to take anythin' from you." He says, reaching his hand out anda if she'd let him, he'd softly close his fingers around hers to indicate that she ought to keep what she'd collected. "Though I wouldn't say no to a bit of company if you wanted to help me look for more?" Vesper suggests, his ocean-blue gaze seeking out the soft grey of hers as he raises a brow. "They say four eyes are better than two, after all."

Vesper

//Go ahead and throw your stones, 'cause there's magic in my bones //

Sohalia

Say my name
And every color illuminates

In spite of herself, Soh felt herself begin to relax. Someone who collected seashells for his sisters couldn't be bad, could they? Or at least not all bad. Not part of the Family. Right?

Of course, he could be lying about having sisters, trying to put her at ease - but to what end? She was no longer the Heart of Stormbreak; she was just a random girl on the beach. He'd have no reason to target her - and if he did, he was bigger and stronger than her. She wouldn't stand much of a chance against him, if his intentions were bad.

But he'd been nothing if not kind thus far, and Soh was nothing if not trusting and a bit naive, so she chose to believe in the image that Vesper presented.

As his fingers closed around hers, she decided that believing the best was the right choice. It had been some time since someone had touched her so casually and so gently, and whatever may come, she was loathe to destroy the pretty picture that their encounter made. So when he asked for company, despite her better judgment, she found herself saying, "That sounds nice." She pocketed her shells once more and stood, dusting sand off her knees. "I would be happy to join you. I'm Sohalia."

We are shining
And we will never be afraid again

// I got this feeling, yeah, you know where I'm losing all control //

Not yet as good at hiding his responses to the things he could hear and feel from the minds of those around him, Vesper did his best to steady his smile despite the onslaught of second-guessing and doubt that radiated from Sohalia's mind like spilled paint. Giving her fingers a soft parting squeeze before properly straightening, he too pocketed the remaining shells he'd recovered. "Glad to hear it." Grinning the demigod tips her a wink with his left eye, the movement causing the pale star just beneath it to wrinkle and dance. "Name's Vesper." Pausing as he said this, his icy stare holding hers as if she were not just the only girl on the beach but perhaps in all of Torchline, the demigod seemed to decide something for himself based on the way his lips slid into a boyish half-smile and he nodded at something unsaid.

"Me'n my sisters ain't be here too long." He drawled conversationally, wanting to try and mitigate the Luminary's concerns about whether or not he really did have sisters as he begins to stroll down the beach. "Where we grew up there were stars as far as you could see, so they really like shiny things like shells." Vesper explains. "Reminds 'em of that." He says with a lopsided shrug.

Vesper

//Go ahead and throw your stones, 'cause there's magic in my bones //

Sohalia

Say my name
And every color illuminates

He was handsome and charming, self-assured in a way that drew Soh in like a moth to flame. Still, she felt a pang of regret as she thought of another handsome and charming and self-assured young man - one whose heart she had broken several times over. Perhaps she shouldn't be so afraid of Vesper; perhaps he should be afraid of her.

Her new friend looked at her like she was the only girl in the world, drawing a faint blush to Soh's cheeks as she began to hunt for seashells once more. "That sounds like a beautiful place," she said conversationally, happy to chat as they searched. "Where was it, if you don't mind my asking?" She wasn't familiar with a place of stars - or maybe he just meant somewhere that the sky was easily visible at night, or some such thing. Either way, she'd always been drawn to a pretty night sky, and she'd gladly visit wherever he'd come from if it was as beautiful as it seemed.

We are shining
And we will never be afraid again

// I got this feeling, yeah, you know where I'm losing all control //

Oh this one fancied herself a heartbreaker, did she? One day Vesper would no doubt to learn to mask the things he gleaned from his magic so that there was no trace of them on his face, but he couldn't help the way his lips twisted into a rather wolfish smirk; not just because the innocent beauty before him had broken hearts, but because she thought that he ought to be worried about it.

Letting his blue eyes wander over the sands, pausing here and there to pluck up a shell he thought Nova or Caly might like, what should have been a rather predictable question caught him a touch off guard. "It's both nearby and not, I guess you could say." The demigod explains, before drawing to an obvious enough halt he hoped Sohalia would follow. Leaning forward, a smile on his lips and the sort of twinkle in his eye that suggested he was trying to decide how best to phrase something, as he lowered his mouth toward her ear, Vesper paused precisely when it would have been all too easy for him to tilt his head and kiss her cheek. Rather than using words, instead the demigod lifted a finger, pointing directly up. Not at Stormbreak, but up; at the clouds, the sky, the heavens. With a slight tilt of his head in order to encourage her attention to fall upon the pale star that lingered beneath his left eye, the demigod shrugged a touch bashfully.

"I'd offer to take you, but without the right precautions, it'd do more'n steal your breath away." He murmurs softly, his voice as rough and sweet as the sea.

Vesper

//Go ahead and throw your stones, 'cause there's magic in my bones //

Sohalia

Say my name
And every color illuminates

Nope, nope, nope, nope, nope. Soh had been down this road before, falling immediately for a pretty face and a flirtatious demeanor, and look where it had gotten her. It would be all too easy to fall into the same trap now, as Vesper leaned in conspiratorially, close enough that if she turned her head, she might could have kissed him. But Soh had sworn off men (yeah, right, Soh), determined to stop falling for any who showed her the slightest bit of kindness or flirtation, and so she forced herself to swallow any heart fluttering and breath catching, instead focusing on Vesper's words.

And on the little star under his left eye.

Wait, was he saying -?

"I see," she said slowly, raising her brows. "I'd say that's quite far away. Probably beautiful, though," she added, perhaps a touch wistfully. If he was from somewhere beyond the clouds, the only logical explanation was that he was a demigod, and with the star, she'd guess he was one of Safrin's. "How does it compare to here?"

We are shining
And we will never be afraid again

// I got this feeling, yeah, you know where I'm losing all control //

Oh but Soh things could be so much more fun if you just did.

Tucking away the reasons for the Luminary's reluctance (no doubt Vesper would have thought the former queen more than justified in her reluctance if he had an ounce of sympathy rather than a heart that burned like a cold star), the demigod merely nodded, his smile a touch boyish. "Maybe, but.." Not needing his telepathic abilities to pick up on the wistfulness in her voice, Vesper shrugs. "..y'know when you look up at night sometimes and the stars just seem so close?" Lifting his dark eyebrows, his eyes search hers for some spark of understanding that showed she might possess the same dreamer's heart that he did, before he straightens with a sigh.

"As beautiful as it is up there, it gets lonely." He admits, pocketing the shell in his hand and drawing something else out of his pocket. "All them galaxies and stars and space, but it doesn't seem quite the same without someone to share it with, y'know?" He'd had his sisters, and in fact Vesper rarely found himself bored, but for the purposes of this conversation, he was quite content to play the role of lonesome soul.

The sound of an explosion rings suddenly out across the sands, and though its farther away than his magic extends, the demigod is almost certain he can guess at its cause. Clicking his tongue, Vesper straightens to his full height, blue eyes narrowed as he gazes in toward Hualani. "That'll be my sisters." He says with a sigh as another smaller explosion follows the first.

Reaching swiftly out for one of Sohalia's hands, Vesper draws it up as if meaning to kiss the back of it, but instead chooses merely to clasp it warmly within his own. "I better go see if they're alright, but...I'd really like to see you again." Not wanting to lay it on too thick given the Luminary's reservations, Vesper lets his expression grow mischievous as he tucks a small star-shaped shell into Sohalia's palm. 

"Soon?"

Grinning, the sound of yet another explosion has him huffing out a laugh before darting across the sands toward where a small fire had broken out.

~FIN

Vesper

//Go ahead and throw your stones, 'cause there's magic in my bones //