The outburst freezes Nova in place, not having expected the timid woman to raise her voice, or for her to have been the cause for the cat's annoyed mood. She falters a moment, the shimmering starlight and snowflakes around her flickering like a glitch in reality, a flinch at having been accused of bothering the creature when she doesn't remember doing anything mean.
But the shift lasts only a millisecond, Nova opening her mouth and leaning forward like she might point out how he hadn't been very nice from the start. Only for Calla to push on, having found her voice along with some very hurtful opinions.
For the first time in a very long time, Nova actually shrinks, deflating with every blow. Her larger than life attitude is battered away by the words, each insult landing clean and deep. 'Rude.' 'Loud.' 'No sense of personal space.' And one she adds on her own: 'Too much.' Her shoulders fold in, attempting to protect her from the barrage of scrutiny by this stranger she'd only just met. Like a black hole or a concussive blast, her magic suspends between them, frozen in time and space while Calla says her piece. Then it sucks in, a vacuum of magic and emotion pulling it back into her veins where it can't be seen, where the stranger can't touch it. Even Jeff curls closer, trying to escape the confrontation as much as the heat.
Nova doesn't hide the pain well, looking very much like a kitten that's been kicked. Tears glisten in her eyes while she wraps her arms around her middle, a pout forming where there had been brightness and laughter. Now, she just looks like a young girl, dim and plain, and much too fragile for this world. But she doesn't fall apart completely, fingers pulling tighter at the bright pink fabric of her dress as she raises her head. "Fine! You don't deserve my snowflakes anyways!" She tries to look tough, tries to put anger in the pout of her lips, but the small tremble gives them away as she turns to leave, hurt shining bright in her blue eyes.
But the shift lasts only a millisecond, Nova opening her mouth and leaning forward like she might point out how he hadn't been very nice from the start. Only for Calla to push on, having found her voice along with some very hurtful opinions.
For the first time in a very long time, Nova actually shrinks, deflating with every blow. Her larger than life attitude is battered away by the words, each insult landing clean and deep. 'Rude.' 'Loud.' 'No sense of personal space.' And one she adds on her own: 'Too much.' Her shoulders fold in, attempting to protect her from the barrage of scrutiny by this stranger she'd only just met. Like a black hole or a concussive blast, her magic suspends between them, frozen in time and space while Calla says her piece. Then it sucks in, a vacuum of magic and emotion pulling it back into her veins where it can't be seen, where the stranger can't touch it. Even Jeff curls closer, trying to escape the confrontation as much as the heat.
Nova doesn't hide the pain well, looking very much like a kitten that's been kicked. Tears glisten in her eyes while she wraps her arms around her middle, a pout forming where there had been brightness and laughter. Now, she just looks like a young girl, dim and plain, and much too fragile for this world. But she doesn't fall apart completely, fingers pulling tighter at the bright pink fabric of her dress as she raises her head. "Fine! You don't deserve my snowflakes anyways!" She tries to look tough, tries to put anger in the pout of her lips, but the small tremble gives them away as she turns to leave, hurt shining bright in her blue eyes.
Nova
Chaos is a prelude to creativity
