shooting stars only

vesper

"After you."

Sweeping his arm gracefully to the side for his sisters to descend the stairs of the lighthouse, Vesper lingers in the shadows directly behind them before trailing in their wake and stepping barefoot onto Aumakua's white sands. For all that he had learned during that slow infinity just after he'd been born—when their mother had tilted their hourglass on its side for them to grow and learn in their own time—there was something deliciously tactile in experiencing the world with his body. 

Clothed in an outfit of crisp linen, Vesper lifts his long arms above his head, his lean frame stretching for the first time. His moonlit hair was tousled and soft looking where it fell over his frosted starbright eyes. Unadorned for likely the only time in his life, the demigod flexed his fingers, rolling his shoulders back and straightening. Wriggling his toes in the soft sand, the demigod's lip curls into a slow smile.

Whether anyone would have noticed the trio of stars shooting down from the heavens and the subsequent pulse of light form within the lighthouse shrine, Vesper neither knew nor cared. All that mattered was that they had arrived.

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!

the sun inside of her rages like wildfire
and she is gold, gold, gold

Feet bare and traversing down off the smooth steps of lighthouse’s staircase, it’s with a slender arm that winds around her brother’s midsection (his hips really, Vesper got all the height in their little trio), to give him a squeeze and affectionate nuzzle of her cheek to his side before she bypasses him out onto the sand. The sun, stretching over the horizon, adds a small amount of light to the beach beneath their feet. It’s the moon that makes her normal crown of gold into a silver moonlit wash, but Caly doesn’t mind. It’s incredible, it’s beautiful, and she doesn’t quite know how to accurately describe the joy that radiates within her so vibrantly.

So she spins in the sand, kicking it up with a chime of laughter that spills from her lips, stopping as she faces her two siblings. “It’s so warm!” She beams a sunny smile toward the two of them, before she’s bolting forward to claim both of their hands with one of her own, to drag them further out into the sand with her, as if it’s all too much to bear on her own.

“You can smile Vespy, nobody’s going to stop you.” She flashes a wink to her brother, from the the very eye that harbors a star tattoo in the corner just like their father, but her eyes glimmer in the hues of golden honey, bright and excited to finally experience what they have been learning so much about.

Time was different there, up in Safrin’s domain, and she feels it intimately now as they stand and the seconds aren’t mere months. So much so that she twists, the soft yellow fabric of a sundress she wears spinning with the movement, spotting the dazzling lights and colors of Haulani in the distance and the ships in the port, and a sense of excitement and greed overcomes her. “Nova, look at the colors! They’re just as bright!” She nearly chirps, knowing her sister would adore the vibrant hues of the buildings in the distance, and knowing deep down her brother would appreciate the long stretching shadows they make in the dawn as the sun begins to rise.

Calypso

and she is scorching the skin of my heart

Nova

Nova had been begging to be released since the moment she could think. She wanted to see the world, to meet people, to live. But as much as their mother cared for them, she was firm in the belief that they weren't ready. They were too young, too naive, too much for the world to handle. Yet the time had finally come. She and her siblings had achieved a satisfactory level of maturity, and they were ready to show the people of Caido what the stars looked like up close. 

When her own bare feet finally touched the bottom steps, Nova can hardly keep from sprinting into the receding sunlight. She has waited eternities (a few weeks) for this moment and even one more second feels like too long. Grinning like a child getting a puppy, she joins Vesper in the doorway before jumping to place a kiss on his cheek, just below his star tattoo. A giddy laugh escapes as she runs onto the sand to join Calypso. 

It's like seeing everything for the first time, because it is. The books and pictures didn't do the natural world justice. It didn't prepare her for the salty smell in the air or the kiss of dying sunlight on her skin or the deafening crash of waves or the overwhelming size of it all. She drinks it all in like a starving woman, throwing her arms out and spinning around to feel the wind in her golden hair like some Disney princess. 

Then Caly's grabbing her hand and they're sprinting out together. Nova throws her head back to admire their birthplace from a new perspective, giving a laugh drunk on excitement. Squeezing her sister's hands, she twirls them around. "Caly! We made it! We're finally here!" Their dreams were becoming a living, breathing world to explore all around them. 

Just as she's being directed to the coastline, she spots the city comprised of buildings varying in every size and COLOR. A loud gasp steals her breath and she freezes for a moment, too enamored to speak. Her blue eyes glitter to match the emerging stars and her arms fall slack to her sides. Her memory surfaces the worn page of a picture book, the name 'Haulani' printed across the top. 

Her shock lasts for but a second before she's jumping around to face the others. "Can we go, Vespy?! We have to go! Look how pretty it is! All the COLORS!" Nova's small body is squirming with so much contained energy, her white shift rippling uncontrollably. Even if her brother answers no, he'll probably have to physically stop her from beelining it straight for the rainbow city.

Life is nothing
without a little chaos to make it interesting

Code blatently stolen from queen of codes, Sky!

vesper

His sister's golden delight fills his mind, pushing back the shadows that are already beginning to settle in as Vesper considers what it means to finally be here. To be alive. Whereas in the heavens they had all been able to share thoughts as easily as they now shared glances, only Vesper had apparently retained the ability. Bathing in the easy joy that radiates from his sisters, the light of which feels as if it might crackle out of his fingertips at any moment such is its strength, has him reluctantly huffing out a laugh before following in their wake.

With a smile reserved solely for the two of them, the demigod lets himself be dragged forward, breaking into a slow trot to keep pace with Caly before she and Nova are darting forward, caught up in the beauty of the world they now found themselves in.

Slipping his hands into his pockets, Vesper tilts his head toward Nova, and while the girls might no longer possess the ability to read their brother's mind, his answer is written all over his face: what you want.

"Of course we can. It's not as if we don't already know our way around." Not from having studied Torchline's pathways from above, memorizing the lines of the canals, the twisting streets, the sandy coastlines.

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!

the sun inside of her rages like wildfire
and she is gold, gold, gold

Flashing a sunshiny grin back toward Nova and Vesper as she dances in the barely there streak of sun, Calypso gladly endures the squeeze of her sister’s hands, though her amber honey gaze lifts to their brother, practically vibrating with the idea of venturing out into the city they’ve all learned so much about.

She wants to laugh and dance and live.

She also wants to stick her teeth into it.

“I know just the way,” she says brightly, leaving one hand in Nova’s as she loops the other through the arm Vesper has his hand tucked into his pocket, pressing comfortably against him as if him being there would keep her grounded. And likewise, her hand in her sisters would also keep her grounded, even as they start to walk toward Haulani. “I want to go shopping.” Eventually. She wants to get a variety of new clothes to adorn herself with. To tease and taunt and indulge with.

Calypso

and she is scorching the skin of my heart

Nova

Her brother's loving look of indulgence is the only confirmation she needs, but Nova still bounces as he agrees to join, giggling excitedly. With Caly's hand in hers she skips forward, her head darting around to absorb everything. The confidence in her sister's voice has her glancing at her, a creeping suspicion already entering her mind at what words would emerge. They might not be able to physically hear each other's thoughts anymore, but Nova knows her sister like the map of the stars. 

A bright smile cracks across her face, and she finishes the line with Caly, "-shopping!" Her laugh is a living thing, somehow moving through the world like a burst of light, finally let free from its restraints. As she links her arm more tightly around Caly's, she partly drags, partly bounces her way down the path towards Haulani. "I can't wait to see how many different options they have! Do you think they have anything with stars? I do love how they sparkle!" Whether she means the physical stars or star patterns isn't quite certain as her eyes take on a distant look of eager imagination.

Although her mind is mostly occupied with the possible fashion pieces they may see and what might be popular, Nova is suddenly reminded of the fact that they're going to see people. Throwing her head around her should, she chirps, "Ooh. Vespy. Do you think we'll see Dad while we're exploring? I'd love to meet him." Her smile turns a little more mischievous, but the bubbly curiosity remains. Who doesn't want to meet their father, if only to compare themselves to the partial source of their existence?

Life is nothing
without a little chaos to make it interesting

Code blatently stolen from queen of codes, Sky!

vesper

Grinning affectionately down at Caly as she loops an arm through his, the demigod tucks his arm against his body as if to fix her against his side. Swept away by the current of Nova's thoughts as much as the way she drags the duo after her and toward the town which would quickly become their home, he can't help but chuckle under his breath as he's tugged along.

"I think whatever they don't have, we can make them get for you." Vesper says knowingly; even if he had to request textiles from their mother, he'd make sure his sisters were clothed in whatever sorts of fashions their hearts desired. That said, the demigod was also keen to do some shopping, having already decided more or less what sort of vibe he wanted to give off, and now just needing to find the sorts of garments that lent themselves to his vision.

Mention of Jack has Vesper's smile dimming somewhat, the muscles in his jaw feathering as his gaze drifts fleeting out toward the sea. "We might, but keep in mind he's probably expectin' us to just be babies." The demigod points out, the softness of his voice reserved solely for his sister's ears. "How 'bout we get ourselves situated, find somewhere to live, and then we can see about botherin' dear old dad?"

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!

the sun inside of her rages like wildfire
and she is gold, gold, gold

Her laugh is like bells along Nova’s own as they speak in tune, and Calypso feels such bright joy that despite having no option to listen to her sister’s thoughts anymore, that they still can retain such closeness that it’s like the ability hasn’t left. Her cheeks are already sore from her laughter and grins, but she can’t complain. This is what it was like to live, and Caly fully intends on doing that to the fullest.

And between her, her sister, and her brother? They would absolutely make the most out of everything their way.

Tugged along in the little trio they are, Caly’s arm squeezes around Vesper’s and Nova’s, picking the sandy path through to the smooth cobblestones of Haulani with their bare feet. “Mom would be more than willing to help, I’m sure.” The young attuned says toward Nova, unknowingly echoing Vesper’s thoughts as they walk. She, herself, wants something in a beautiful, glittering gold with black accents, oranges and creams throughout. The soft yet powerful hue of a sunrise.

Mention of their dad, though, has another chime of laughter escaping the attuned, her head tilting up to peer at Vesper to see what he thought of the entire thing. “I bet he’s gonna be shocked when he does find out.” But there’s no mistaking it, and she’s sure Jack would find out just what kind of trouble they could all be when all three were together. But, as always, Vesper seems to be the more realistic of the three of them at this present moment – thinking about places to live and getting situated when Caly was half anticipating seeing what it might be like to sleep under the stars amongst the sandy shores. To skinny dip in the warm water at sunrise. To feel the hot and tight sensation of a sunburn.

Conceding with a playful sigh, she squeezes Nova’s arm to tug her in closer, happily sandwiched between her siblings. “Alriiiiight, fiiiiineeee,” she nearly whines, but the pearly white smile she flashes the two of them says that she’s game. The sooner they get the basics down, the sooner they can indulge in the more complicated tasks. Like just how she would be able to sink her teeth into this beautiful oasis of land.

Calypso

and she is scorching the skin of my heart

Nova

"Aaaw, but I don't want to wait." A pout is the first negative expression she's made, but the twinkle of her blue eyes doesn't dim. Nonetheless, Nova quickly decides that she doesn't like the sensation, angling her head up in optimistic determination as she dismisses the downward angle of her lips. "I guess we'll just have to see what they have!" Their progress into Haulani so far tells her that she shouldn't have a problem finding something that suits her tastes, its vibrant array of paints and designs making it hard to find a place for her eyes to focus. 

Nova joins her sister's laughter with her own, imagining what it would be like to suddenly see an adult instead of an infant, much bigger and smarter (and prone to trouble). Grabbing Caly's hand affectionately on her arm, she bites her tongue playfully. "I hope 'shocked' is an understatement. Maybe we can mess with him before he finds out!" Schemes and antics start filtering through her mind; funny telepathy pranks, 'fan-girling', random run-ins. Maybe they could even spend some time experimenting with their various abilities. The smile on her face is enough to imply the trouble sparking. 

Vesper's practicality isn't surprising, and she sighs dramatically in response. "I gueeeess." She secretly shares Caly's smile and sentiments. The 'future' and 'plans' had been the farthest things from her mind. Her only thoughts were of diving into whatever excitement she could find, and if that didn't suffice, making some of her own. However, the logical part of her brain realizes that her brother is right, and it will make things easier if they have a base of operations. Titling her head curiously, she asks, "Any idea where we should live? A colorful condo in town? A cozy treehouse in the forest? A relaxing hut on the beach?" Obviously, she has her opinion, but she's curious to hear the others' thoughts, especially since her brother always seems to have thought these things through.

Life is nothing
without a little chaos to make it interesting

Code blatently stolen from queen of codes, Sky!