what big teeth you have

Fool me once, fool me twice
Are you death or paradise?

She'd never been to the Celestine, but Thal faintly recalls meeting someone who claimed to be the Caretaker. It wasn't something that interested her at the time - and she might even say that it still doesn't. After all, she's never been a flowers and kittens kinds of girl. The company on the other hand, is a different story. It's why she hadn't thought twice about accepting the bait, curiosity trumping all else.

Thoroughly intrigued, she takes in the greenery that begins to bloom around them, twilight dusting the leaves and petals in a shimmering light. Gentle flutters and chirps echo through the space in a beautiful song of nature that serenades the whisper of a breeze. It's soft and elegant and pretty in a way that makes her starkly aware of the sharpness of her own features, a defiant snap of her tail the only outward sign of her jealousy.

"If this 'big scary monster' turns out to be a blink hare, I will be stabbing you and it will hurt." Despite the joking tone and gleam in her eyes as she looks up at Vesper, Thal lets her hand rest against the hilt of her obsidian dagger, knowing exactly where she plans to place it.

Now you'll never see me cry
There's just no time to die

Thalassa

if you try and chase the sun you're never gonna catch it

Vesper doesn’t flinch at the threat—not from the sharp glint in her eye or the casual hand on her dagger. If anything, his smirk deepens, the shadows of the Celestine catching in the angles of his face as he tilts his head to glance down at her. "If it was a blink hare, I’d have called Nova," he drawls, voice low and velvety as twilight. "I wouldn't dare to bother you for anythin' less than a dragon."

His hands stay in the deep pockets of his coat, sleeves pushed up, collar open, exposing the faint shimmer of starlight that catches on the constellation freckles crawling lazily across his throat. The Celestine glows soft around them—moonflowers trembling open, distant birds preening on their perches—but there’s something sharper beneath it now. Something hungry.

"I’m serious, though," he adds, tone quieter now, as the footpath winds between swaying trees and bursts of silver blossoms. "This thing’s not like the rest of what they’ve got here. Looked half-dead. Worse than that. It’s in one of the shaded enclosures, near the back—looked like it might’ve ripped a man’s arm off before someone got it caged." Then, just as she passes beneath a trail of glowing ivy, he leans in a little, his voice brushing her ear. "Thought of you immediately."

And now it's turning out to be the worst of my bad habits

Code 100% taken from the queeeeeeen herself, Sky <3

Fool me once, fool me twice
Are you death or paradise?

Thal gives a low hum of mock skepticism, a smirk twisting onto her face as she taps a finger against her dagger. She doesn't remove it quite yet, letting him think that she's waiting to see what lurks ahead before deciding his verdict. Even a dragon could be extremely underwhelming after all - a tiny runt with a runny nose and nubs for horns wouldn't be very intimidating. 

She doesn't have to duck as the curtain of glowing pink ivy arches over the path, although she slips ahead in the narrow walkway, momentarily distracted by the way the plants darken to deep purples and greens, their glows less like starlight and more like moonlight - a mysterious and dim presence. A familiar shiver runs down her spine as the moment is accentuated by Vesper's warm breath against her ear. She tilts her head to listen, turning her head just enough so he can see the way the blue of her eyes burns bright in the shadows. "I'd have taken a lot more than an arm before winding up in a cage." Because if something wants to pin her down, it better be prepared to lose more than just a limb. 

However, it isn't lost on her that Vesper's first thought was her.

Now you'll never see me cry
There's just no time to die

Thalassa

if you try and chase the sun you're never gonna catch it

Vesper’s eyes don’t leave her—not as she steps ahead beneath the ivy, not as the shadows kiss her shoulders, not even as the bioluminescent hues shift and ripple across her skin like liquid moonlight. His smirk returns, slow and dark, curling like smoke beneath his words. "That’s exactly why I thought of you," he says, voice low and curling behind her like a trailing touch. "You’d take the whole damn forest down with you, teeth and claws and all, and leave whoever tried caging you beggin’ for mercy they wouldn’t get."

He moves to follow her, his footsteps near soundless on the mossy path. The air between them hums with layered things—the heat of their last encounter still etched into his memory, the lingering burn of her hands on his skin, the razor-wire thrill of her fire and fury and feral will. Of course she reminded him of the creature he saw; beautiful and bloodthirsty, trapped but not tamed.

"Besides," he adds as he comes up beside her, gaze flicking sideways with a glint of something more feral in his eyes, "I wouldn't complain about seein' you in action again." A comment he'll leave to her to decipher.

And now it's turning out to be the worst of my bad habits

Code 100% taken from the queeeeeeen herself, Sky <3

bones, bones, bones, bones, bones, bones, bones, bones, bones, bones, bones, bones, bones, bones.

---

You've encountered the OG random event! This allows you to skip one levelling requirement with the character in this thread. (Unfortunately does not count for characters over level 10, how sad.)

Fool me once, fool me twice
Are you death or paradise?

Her chuckle is living flames and the darkest depths of the ocean bubbling up between them to heat the air. "I can't argue with that logic." Mainly because that's exactly what she'd do, and she's more than a little flattered to be seen in such a violently chaotic light. If that's what Vesper thinks of her, she can't wait to see what kind of creature might have evoked such a comparison.

The suggestion in his eyes makes her body tingle with the echoes of their last meeting, a suspicion as to their real purpose out here making her playfully coy. Thal seems to melt into a darker patch of shadows as she slips around a tree, her steps as light and graceful as a dancer, a sweet hum bouncing aimlessly through the garden. When she reappears on the other side, her body is lithe and lethal, lingering just within the darkness that wraps around her like a second skin. She tilts her head, her wolfish grin catching the glow of a blooming black flower while her voice sings of vicious seduction and dangerous promises. "Just name a time and place."

Now you'll never see me cry
There's just no time to die

Thalassa

if you try and chase the sun you're never gonna catch it

Vesper watches her slip around the tree with a predator’s patience, letting his gaze track the sway of shadows and the hum that threads through the garden like a lure. When she emerges again, draped in darkness and danger and just enough invitation to make his blood warm, he doesn’t move right away. Just smiles—slow and knowing—like he’s already accepted whatever challenge she thinks she’s posing.

"Mm." His eyes flicker down, briefly catching the bloom at her side before returning to her grin. "Do you always go outta your way to slay strange serpents in the desert?" he drawls, the moonlight picking out silver threads in his hair as he closes a little more distance. "Or was that just a one-time thing?" There’s a teasing note beneath the words, but his gaze sharpens slightly, curious. Not just about the monsters—but about her. About what drives her to chase them. Or if, like him, they just seem to find her.

And now it's turning out to be the worst of my bad habits

Code 100% taken from the queeeeeeen herself, Sky <3

Fool me once, fool me twice
Are you death or paradise?

Taking a single step closer, Thal crosses her arms to lean casually against the tree - her posture anything but. From the balance on her toes to the tilt of her lips beneath her calculating gaze, she might as well be patiently waiting for a deer in the woods. "Not always." Lifting an eyebrow, she thinks of the times she's flirted with danger in one way or another. "At least it's not always serpents - or the desert." Seeing as how hunting Void creatures has been something of a past-time recently. No one seems to mind when you shred a purple plagued pest, no matter how bloody or violently you decide to do so.

Thal recalls the day fairly well, the serpent's scales still tucked somewhere in her ship's cabin. She still hadn't decided if the trip had been worth the efforts, but the way her gaze drags down Vesper's silhouetted figure, she could make a convincing argument. Her voice lulls on a warm breeze as she says, "It sounded like a fun challenge that no one else had been able to conquer, and if you haven't figured it out yet, I'm very competitive." And when her blue eyes meet his again, the challenge in her eyes serves to remind him of every detail he most certainly hasn't forgotten - the smirk on her lips a teasing quip.

Now you'll never see me cry
There's just no time to die

Thalassa

if you try and chase the sun you're never gonna catch it

Vesper watches her like a man watches fire: fascinated, a little too close, utterly unwilling to back away. Her pose might be casual, but he sees the intention in every line of her body, the poised readiness, the hunger behind that tilted smirk. It draws a slow grin from him in turn, dark and deliberate, as if they’ve already begun a game neither of them agreed to but both are eager to win.

"Competitive," he echoes, rolling the word over his tongue like he’s tasting it. "Is that what we’re calling it?" His gaze flicks down the line of her body before returning to her eyes, unbothered by his own boldness. "I figured it was something closer to bloodlust with better lighting."

A breeze cuts between them, carrying the scent of petals and distant starlight, but he doesn’t look away. Doesn’t move. Just watches her from across the narrow dark as if he might unravel her with a thought. He already knows the echo of her pulse, the sharp thrill of her mind at full tilt. And here she is again—burning bright in the shadows, all heat and sharp teeth and invitation wrapped in a laugh.

"I take it that means if I bring you to see something that hasn’t killed anyone yet, you’ll be disappointed." His voice lowers, a lazy drawl meant to provoke. "Or are you only interested in things you get to break?"

And now it's turning out to be the worst of my bad habits

Code 100% taken from the queeeeeeen herself, Sky <3

Fool me once, fool me twice
Are you death or paradise?

She finds his attempt adorable - they both know her insatiable hunger isn't something all Ancients possess. But she lets him define it however he will, a dismissive shrug of her shoulders giving him permission to do so. "Whatever helps you sleep at night." Or not. She's not picky. 

Raising an eyebrow, she wonders if he's suddenly doubting his own decision to come out here, nervous she may find his choice of creatures lacking. She doesn't hesitate to call him out, a teasing little bite to her words. "For your earlier comparison to be accurate, it would need to have some blood on its hands." At this point, he's kept her in so much suspense that she might just find it herself if he leaves, although she has to admit that she'd be a little disappointed - just a little. 

Thal lifts her head 'defensively' at his other implication, her posture tightening slightly. "And I don't always break things." Her smile turns sharp, a wicked gleam in her eyes as she looks back to Vesper. "It just depends on how entertaining they are."

Now you'll never see me cry
There's just no time to die

Thalassa

if you try and chase the sun you're never gonna catch it

Vesper’s smirk returns, slow and smug, like he knew exactly what kind of answer she’d give him and wanted it anyway. "Mm. I’ll try not to take that personally," he murmurs, voice low and amused as his gaze drags down the length of her—coiled posture, flashing eyes, danger dressed like temptation. "Though if you do break me, I’d rather it be from something memorable."

He starts forward again, the path ahead winding deeper beneath hanging foliage and bioluminescent blooms that pulse like heartbeats. The air is cooler here, quieter, like even the stars are holding their breath. Vesper lifts a hand, gesturing with a curl of his fingers. "Come on, then. The thing I came to show you’s just ahead. And I promise—" his glance slices back over his shoulder, "—it’s got blood on its claws."

And then he turns away again, shadows licking lazily at his heels as he leads her down the path, already grinning to himself like he knows she’s going to love what’s waiting at the end.

And now it's turning out to be the worst of my bad habits

Code 100% taken from the queeeeeeen herself, Sky <3

Fool me once, fool me twice
Are you death or paradise?

She should tell him she's having too much fun with him for there to be any real risk, but where would be the fun in that? Heating under his gaze, Thal hums in consideration of his request, a playful smile on her lips. "Maybe if you ask nicely." Or beg. Again, she's not picky. 

Watching him leave, Thal lingers a moment just to stare and appreciate, especially the shadows that lick at his heels like loyal dogs on the prowl. It isn't until Vesper summons her with a crook of his finger that she deigns to move. Pushing off from her tree, she graciously lets him lead the way, slipping like an assassin at his back. Thal knows he can't see the fanged grin on her face, but it arises, nonetheless, a thrill of excitement charging the air as she follows closely behind him. 

It's not until they get closer that she hears a strange sound filtering through the garden - a low rumble of undistinguishable noises that she can't place yet. Whatever it is, she likes the way it hums in her ears, stirring the primal beast in her to respond. The sound that comes from her mouth is a purr of delight that vibrates in the thickening air, her tail weaving in anticipation. "What do we have here?"

Now you'll never see me cry
There's just no time to die

Thalassa

if you try and chase the sun you're never gonna catch it

(lmao sorry I had to)

The growl grows clearer the closer they get—low and garbled like an animal trying to speak, caught somewhere between menace and absurdity. Shadows stretch ahead of Vesper’s boots, winding like smoke down the starlit path as he rounds a tight bend in the enclosure wall. There’s a gleam of moonlight on glass, and then—

Standing tall before them, beside a perfectly groomed flowerbed and beneath a shimmering arc of celestial ivy, is not a cage. Not a beast. But a mirror. And beside it, in vibrant animated hues, a poorly enchanted cartoon chimera bounces in place. It has a giant head, a ridiculous grin, and one too many limbs for comfort as it gestures to a sparkly caption overhead:

"Only YOU can keep the Celestine clean!"
Its voice booms with cheerful horror, warbling through enchanted projection like a children’s show left running too long.

Vesper steps aside with an exaggerated sweep of his arm, barely suppressing the smirk that twitches at his lips as he gestures to the reflection now lighting up the mirror’s surface. "There she is," he drawls, glancing sidelong at Thal with a glint in his eye. "Bloodthirsty creature spotted in the wild. Fang count inconclusive. Approach with caution. Or don’t—she bites either way."

And now it's turning out to be the worst of my bad habits

Code 100% taken from the queeeeeeen herself, Sky <3

Fool me once, fool me twice
Are you death or paradise?

As Vesper moves aside for the grand reveal, the excited grin on her face shifts to nothing, an expression she has perfected over years of leadership. Her steps slow to a stop, her body a deathly - deadly - still as she assesses the influx of emotions. Sure, there's a sense of humor there, maybe even a laugh deep down. And there's a bit of delight that he couldn't find anything more dangerous than her, even if she's certain it's nothing more than flattery. But that's all buried by a very deep-seeded embarrassment that sharpens to anger - annoyance with herself at having been played so thoroughly. 

He brought her to a damned mirror.

She doesn't move, but the quiet tension in her body speaks volumes as she takes in the rest of the space; the hideous childish creature, the disgustingly positive caption, the gorgeous ivy that she wants to rip apart. Her eyes settle back on the mirror and the woman staring back - the one who'd been tricked - the one poised for murder. 

A humorless smile melts onto her face as she finds Vesper in the reflection. There's a predatory tilt to her head as her voice twists in a 'teasing' tone dripping in saccharine-sweet poison. "You realize I've killed men for less." Not a question, a threat; her hands itching to fulfill her previous promise, casually hovering just above a dagger. She doesn't act quite yet, waiting to see how he might justify his decision, to see if he could prove that he hadn't brought her here just to toy with her.

Now you'll never see me cry
There's just no time to die

Thalassa