[SE] Glitter makes everything better

Nova

She wasn't fragile like a flower.

Grabbing Calypso by the arm, Nova leads her sister out of the shop, large shopping bag in tow. The craft store had exactly what she'd needed: copious amounts of glitter. It was the last - and most important - item on their list for their home defense system. If anyone or anything was stupid enough to try invading their home, they'd be finding glitter in every imaginable crevice for the next year. It makes Nova giggle with excitement, secretly hoping that someone gives it a try. Although she doesn't think they'll make it far afterwards. Not with the Marin triplets close on their tail.

With that mischievous glint in her eye, she hands Vesper the bag to add with the others, skipping along down the street towards their new living arrangement. "I think we probably have everything now! Let's get home and set it all up!" She doesn't wait for any arguments or exasperated looks, shooting Caly a large smile. "What should we work on first? The colorful paint balloons? The bright flash grenades? The trip wires? Or the grand finale?" Perhaps there's a little too much excitement in her eyes, but she doesn't disguise the dangerous chaos bursting behind her eyes.

She was fragile like a bomb.

i know i should trust my gut
'cause i know that there's something up

Calypso’s own excitement radiates from her chest in golden arcs of overwhelming happiness. She couldn’t ask for a better day, really, not with the plans they have made, and Nova’s brilliant mind already set to work in planning all the chaos that surrounds protecting their home. So, as she’s nearly ready to depart the store with her siblings, she’s snagged by her sister, letting a bubbling laugh erupt from her lips as she’s lead, casting a glance over toward Vesper with an affectionate smile.

“We could divide and conquer it and work on the grand finale together?” She suggests, head tilting enough that her golden hair sprawls out on her sister’s arm as they make their way back home. “Or start in order of the fun? I guess I wanna leave the grand finale for last. I think that’d be the most fun.” She decides, a snicker leaving her lips as she lets her amber gaze focus between her two siblings to see what their opinions might be.

Calypso

i just hate the place that that path would lead me down

Got a head full of spiders & a heart that isn't here

For all the colours and different textures emitted from the mind's of his sisters, Vesper's expression is wholly neutral if not slightly detached as he gazes around the market, waiting for them to finish up inside of one of the shops. With a toothpick of peppermint bark in one corner of his mouth and his hands in his pockets, Vesper leans against the side of the building looking for all the world like a bored older brother. Caly and Nova's thoughts are easily recognizable amidst all those who pass by, but it's on the unknown masses that the demigod focuses even as he casually adjusts his sunglasses and glances up toward the cloudless sky.

Whispers of intrigue in his sisters tickle the fingers of his magic from inside the shop, whereas out on the street there's chatter of recent improvements to Torchline. Really Vesper is only concerned if any of it has to do with their dear old dad, though. 

Dutifully accepting the bags, Vesper pushes off of the wall and trails behind his sister's like a pale shadow. "If we each take a part and do it on our own, it'll be a surprise for the others if and when it eventually goes off." He mutters in a low voice, not wanting to be overheard.

VESPER

Styling stolen from Sky (obviously)

Nova

She wasn't fragile like a flower.

Looking to her sister, she tugs her a little closer, sharing in the mischievous grins. "Then we'll save the grand finale for the end! That way we can finish in style." She flashes her siblings a knowing wink as she weaves them through the crowds, leading like a whirlwind as her rainbow striped skirt flutters around her legs. Most people shift out of the way when they approach, but Nova doesn't give it a second thought, not caring if it's in fear of the chaos brewing or to get a better view of their striking appearances. Whatever the reason, it makes it easier to skip through.

Whether she hears Vesper or not, Nova doesn't let it diminish the bubbling anticipation as she runs through the plans in her mind. But, knowing her brother like her own shadow, she can practically sense the lack of enthusiasm. "Perk up, Vespy! We've got work to do!" As evidenced by their home appearing ahead and the large amount of bags filled with the makings of some very creative booby traps.

She was fragile like a bomb.

i know i should trust my gut
'cause i know that there's something up

“Oooh!” Caly says with a soft laugh, shooting a bright smile at Vesper for that beautiful mind of his. In the meantime, though, she’s ferried through the crowds of people by her sister, hand snagging her brother’s in whichever way she could given that he holds some of the trinkets for their game. It’s only so that she doesn’t lose him in the throng of people as Nova brings them back toward their home – something that sparks immediate relief and brimming excitement through the young attuned.

She clears her throat and snags one of the bags once they reach their door, peeking into it to seek out which bag she’d grabbed to see which portion she’d be working on. “Now, now, where do we start…” She muses, tilting her head as she starts to think up so many sunshine golden thoughts.

Calypso

i just hate the place that that path would lead me down

Got a head full of spiders & a heart that isn't here

If people shift out of the way of his sisters as they trudge through the crowds, it's likely as much to do with the forces of nature that both Caly and Nova have proven themselves to be as much as its Vesper's shadows weaving forward. He'd learned that most folks were at least vaguely aware of where their feet were, and by placing tendrils of shadows in front of them, he could subconsciously guide them out of his sister's way. Of course those who weren't paying attention just ended up tripping only to find that apparently they'd stumbled over nothing at all.

"What, I don't look perky?" Raising his dark brows, Vesper snorts under his breath before setting their bags down as they finally reach their home.

"I know where I'm gonna start." Grinning, the demigod fishes into the bags and pulls out a packet of glitter and a pane of glass. Bouncing his eyebrows, he turns and heads just to the side of their front door before hunkering down to get to work.

---

Vesper is working on a booby trap if anyone starts looking around their front door for a spare key.

VESPER

Styling stolen from Sky (obviously)

Nova

She wasn't fragile like a flower.

Nova releases her tight hold on Caly to tilt her head at Vesper. "Maybe not 'perky,' but certainly pretty." She stretches up to ruffle her brother's hair with a giggle as she grabs her own materials from the assortment of bags in his hands. When she spins around, her skirt gives her the image of a blurring tornado sucking up a rainbow. It inspires Nova with the perfect idea of where to start on the protection of their home: Rigging the flower boxes to explode in a cloud of rainbow paint powder if anyone attempts to open the windows from the outside. With her mind made up, she flits out of the house, humming as the mechanism formulates in her mind. 

It takes her an impressively short time to get the trap situated, and anyone unfortunate enough to tamper with the window clasp would find their outfit (and face) fashionably redesigned and possibly rearranged with a wide array of bright colors. If they weren't immediately caught by the Marin triplets (which seemed unlikely), they'd have about a week to find the person with unnaturally dyed skin. Just the thought has her giggling again, gliding into the house on hopeful wishes of break-ins to check on her siblings' progress. "How are things going? Almost done?"

She was fragile like a bomb.

i know i should trust my gut
'cause i know that there's something up

Snickering to hear the banter between her siblings, the attuned only has to agree with Nova as they drift toward their home. “Of course he’s pretty. We’re all pretty.” Vesper can’t take all the credit – even if he was the only pretty boy in their trio.

Anyway.

They arrive at their house and Vesper’s grin is bright as he stakes his claim and Nova claims her own – and all of Caly’s thoughts begin to narrow in like an arrow. Vesper has the front door and Nova has the windows, which leaves the back door available for Calypso to add her own embellishments. Snagging her bag and zipping through the house to get to the back door, the young attuned begins to place gold powdered glitter all along the back door frame (similarly to Vesper, in case anyone searched for a key), and a bit along the door itself that they'd notice if fingerprints that weren't theirs were left behind to mar the surface. That way, if anyone tried to search around they’d leave golden fingerprints behind like ink markings to show them where they’d been (or the lack there of).

"All done, Nova!" She chimes, her fingertips dipped in gold as she waggles them toward her sister with a bright chime of a laugh.

---

Caly makes the back door dusted with gold in case anyone tries to get in the back door!

Calypso

i just hate the place that that path would lead me down

Got a head full of spiders & a heart that isn't here

Despite the way the corners of his lips begin to wrinkle as a frown ghosts across them, Vesper allows Nova's fuss. He'd learned that there was no better way of achieving an effortlessly tousled hairstyle than by letting Nova run her fingers through it, and while he didn't have any need to impress his sisters with his looks, who knew when someone might come around to the Marin home? Hence the boobytraps.

Affectionately rolling his eyes toward Caly, Vesper hunkers down and gets to work.

To say that he has an advantage over his sisters when it comes to keeping secrets is putting it mildly, and no sooner have the girls begun than Vesper's mind is filled with images of exploding flowers, ink-stained fingers, and what might as well be considered Nova's version of a scavenger hunt if ever they had to go looking for the culprit of a break-in attempt. Grinning to himself, Vesper lifts his head. "Yep, all done out here too."

VESPER

Styling stolen from Sky (obviously)

Nova

She wasn't fragile like a flower.

Caly's shimmering gilded fingers make her squeal with delight, running around Vesper to playfully avoid the Midas touch of her sister. She giggles, ducking (not that she needs to) behind his large frame, her own paint tinted hands smearing rainbows along his back. As if the childish competition isn't happening, she claps her hands. "Perfect! Then let's work on the grand finale." 

Nova sneaks around her brother and any grounded furniture to keep a barrier between her and Caly. Eyes focused on the threat, she stumbles to pull the fake chest towards the middle of the room, grunting at the effort. "I'll work on the mechanism while you guys fill this with glitter." If only to keep her sister from lunging at her, Nova shoves the large bags of glitter in their direction, a bright smile on her face. Without a moment's consideration that they might not want to do that, she dips into the other room to fidget with the machinery of the contraption. Maybe it's her humming or deft fingers, but it actually takes her much shorter than expected, rigging a spring motion to trigger when the lip is opened by would-be-thieves. And with so much time left, she glances around before sneakily removing the jewelry supplies from a smaller bag. She and Calypso had agreed that she'd put them together in secret before the big reveal to Vesper. Trying to keep a secret from your telepathic demigod brother is near impossible, but Nova tries her best, humming loudly and letting instinct drive her actions more than thought as she quickly configures the opal accessories. 

When she appears from the other room shortly after, a giant grin is spread across her face. Throwing Caly a wink, she holds her hands behind her back. "I have presents!" Really, it could be anything: a rotten fish, a blast of glitter, a bomb. She lets her mind run over possibilities if only to try and disguise the truth from Vespy, but luckily, she doesn't have to keep it up for long. With as much flare as she can muster, Nova presents her hands, striking a dramatic pose. "Ta-da!!" In one hand is a delicate gold chained bracelet interspersed with diamond stars and centered with a pristine opal. It's nearly identical to the one now on Nova's wrist, save the silver chain. Meanwhile, the other holds a ring of thick silver lined with black, adorned with a large opal marred only by a single black line. She offers them to her siblings, beaming with pride. "To keep us connected. Always. Not that you could ever get rid of me." The familial bond pulses strongly as she embraces the love she has for them.

She was fragile like a bomb.

i know i should trust my gut
'cause i know that there's something up

Calypso’s grin only brightens more, snickering mischeviously as Nova hides behind their brother – which, leaves her with no other choice obviously than to reach up with her golden fingers to boop Vesper on the nose leaving a little gold mark. She withdraws with a little shrug and dip of her shoulders that screams sorry, even if she isn’t really that sorry for bringing their brother into it. (Jinx’s little mic drop moments.)

Anyway, her lips part to protest being stuck with the glitter when her sister’s already vanished and she huffs a little sound that could be considered a laugh as she wrinkles her nose and looks up toward Vesper. “I mean.. I guess.” She drawls, very much keeping her mind off of any gifts that would be incoming despite knowing about them, and instead focuses so intensely on trying not to get glitter all over herself (instead leaving golden fingerprints all over the place). The gold prints are left on top of the container as she opens it, dumping a bag in and holding it open for Vesper to do the same, when Nova returns.

Immediately nudging her brother with her shoulder, Caly straightens up – her excitement a glittering dawn over her thoughts because she already knows what to expect, so her eyes focus intensely on their starry, shadowed brother with the reveal of the opal to match with the black line down the center, just waiting for his reaction before she wipes her golden hands on her pants and leaves a striped pattern behind, plucking up the golden bracelet with utmost excitement. “Always.” She reiterates it like a little mantra, squeezing her sister’s arm before she goes to slip her bracelet on.

Calypso

i just hate the place that that path would lead me down

Got a head full of spiders & a heart that isn't here

Glancing toward Caly as she wrinkles her nose up at him, he shrugs at her in return. Already he'd learned not to argue with Nova when she made up her mind about something (the same went for Caly too, of course), and so as the bag of glitter was thrust at him, he merely accepted it without argument before dumping it into the chest after Caly.

The more Nova tried to keep her thought secret from Vesper, the more the demigod was aware of what she was doing. Not unlike the way an oyster eventually creates a pearl from a granule of sand, so too did the way Nova kept running her thoughts over and over the idea in her mind in an effort to keep it sealed away from her brother make it sparkle and shine all the brighter. Assuming what she had planned was a bouquet of flowers which would explode into glitter when he bent down to smell them or that she'd swapped out his shampoo with something that would dye his hair pink, he was content to leave her to her scheming knowing the delight he'd be able to leech from her mind on the other side of its grand reveal would be well worth it. 

Only when Caly's mind begins to grow equally as luminous does Vesper grow properly suspicious, eyeing the darker-haired blonde as she nudges him before glancing toward Nova as her mind explodes like a prism set ablaze. "Now why would I ever want to do that?" The demigod drawls as his blue eyes flit to the gifts she holds out. Sensing no surprise from Caly's mind he rightly assumes she was in on this already; the way she swanned over and plucked up the bracelet all but confirming it. "I assume this one's for me, then?" He asks nodding toward the ring which was far too large for either of their dainty hands as his smile turned wry and then softly adoring.

"You two are the best, y'know that?"

VESPER

Styling stolen from Sky (obviously)

Nova

She wasn't fragile like a flower.

As Caly accepts her bracelet, Nova's heart flutters with joy, leaning into the contact like a hug. Looking to Vespy, she grins brightly and pushes her hand out further for him to take the ring. "Of course! Don't be jealous, but when we finish our quest, ours will get blessed by mom to let us keep connected. If you want yours to do the same, you'll have to ask her yourself. For now, it'll just serve as a reminder of us." She puffs out her chest a little, excited for when they ultimately finish and get to see Safrin again. 

Giggling at the lovey-dovey sentiments between them all, she shares a smile with Caly. "We know." Nova throws a wink his way, before spinning around to retrieve the internal mechanism of the glitter bomb. Humming along, she lifts the metal contraption into the chest. It takes some effort and multiple grunts that halt her tune to get it properly in place, but when she closes the lid, Nova has no doubt in her mind that the next time it opens, the entire room (and whoever happens to be in it) will be covered in glitter. She places her hands on her hips, admiring her work with a large smile on her face. A nod of her head shifts her blonde and pink hair as she says, "I'd say that about does it! Good luck to any thieves or spirits or any other beings!"

She was fragile like a bomb.

i know i should trust my gut
'cause i know that there's something up

Lips parting to offer her agreement, it’s muffled in the soft chime of laughter that escapes her as Nova answers the of course! just as Caly was about to say it, too. Content to watch him take the ring, she’d be lying if she wasn’t wholly focused on ensuring he loved it. “We made one for mom, too, so she’d always be a part of us.” She offers onto Nova’s explanation – the Marin family, connected in so many ways and not just in their heads.

But as he takes it and his smile turns soft and adoring, Caly practically beams – a sunshine glow about her smile and thoughts as she nods her head. “We always do our best, V.” She teases him, but she does reach for his wrist to squeeze it gently with the hand now wearing a bracelet to match Nova’s and the very ring for Vesper while their sister finishes the contraption.

She releases her hold on his wrist to stand beside him and lean into his arm, snickering a sound to Nova who seems absolutely confident that they won’t have any issues with thieves. “Now we just gotta remember it’s there, yeah?” Comes the playful tease, the wrinkle of her nose – but pride lingers alongside it, too, having created such a beautifully colorful deterrent, a truly grand reveal.

Calypso

i just hate the place that that path would lead me down