[SE] why are blueberries purple?

The wind is at your back, the world is at your feet

She'd heard of a new ice cream shop in Haulani and immediately had to try it. Despite the slight chill that still hangs in the air after LongNight, Nova will not be discouraged, because apparently this place has ice cream in every color of the rainbow. Just the thought has her steps bouncing along the cobblestones, a twinkling hum chiming through her body and mind. The tune has her head bobbing side to side, a smile ever-present on her lips. Her hair is dyed with a deep purple streak, complimenting the star-patterned bleached jean jacket she wears over her pink floral dress that flutters in the ocean breeze.

Raising up on her toes, Nova tries to look through the crowd of people milling the street. The excitement is palpable as she asks, "Do you see it?" Her own height doesn't let her see much more than the top of the buildings, but that's one of the reasons she's dragged Vespy along. That, and she just knows that he'll love the sweet treat. After all, the newly risen sun goes perfectly with ice cream, like Vesper and shadows or Caly and sunrises.

Nova

just because the fog is there

Vesper easily keeps pace with Nova's excited steps, his stride long and languid beside her bouncing enthusiasm. Despite the gentle, amused tilt of his lips, his cool gaze remains watchful, scanning the street ahead with casual vigilance. With the sleeves of his dark shirt rolled up, the shifting constellations on his arms shimmer in the early morning sun, subtly mirroring his sister’s glittering mood.

As Nova rises on tiptoe and asks if he sees their colourful destination, Vesper chuckles quietly, effortlessly glancing over the heads of the milling crowd. "Think I see somethin' bright enough ahead," he murmurs, his tone dry yet fond as he briefly casts her a sidelong glance. "And if the sugar’s anywhere near as bright as your imagination, Nova, you might just bounce yourself straight off to the stars."

He lets his telepathy stretch out gently, basking in the sparkle of her excitement and anticipation. Protective instinct and genuine affection have him placing a guiding hand lightly between her shoulder blades, steering her easily through the bustling crowd toward the promised land of sugary delights. "Let's hurry up and get you your rainbow fix before you explode," he teases, voice low and warmly amused.

don't mean nothing's behind it

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

The wind is at your back, the world is at your feet

Nova stretches up higher on her toes as if pure desire might lengthen her body a few inches to see the shop ahead; but when she remains stubbornly fun-sized, she lets Vesper's guiding hand lead the way. Still buzzing with excitement, she glances up at him. "That would be fun! You really think it'll be that sweet? I've heard such great things about it!" She pictures pink cotton candy and sugar sticks, making her thoughts into landmines of flavorful bursts of sweetness. Her mouth waters just thinking about it, and another bounce of energy nearly separates her from her brother. Giggling, she gives a playful wink. "Ooh! Wouldn't it be such a pretty explosion though!" She certainly thinks that her innards must consist of rainbows and glitter, which would make her ultimate demise quite the show. Besides the whole dead part and all. But luckily for her, the explosion crisis is averted when the shop appears ahead of them, crowded with people eager to try the variety of treats. 

It takes a minute to get through the throng of people, but Nova's eyes widen in awe when she sees the display of ice cream behind the glass. There's every flavor imaginable, and some she's never even thought of! She places her hands on the display, reading names like Blueberry Bubblegum Bazaar, Chocolate Caramel Delight, Peppermint Forest, and Crunchy Peanut Butter Daydream. Each sounds delicious, and she lets out a frustrated groan. "Uuuugh. It's so hard to choose!" Her face scrunches in concentration, eyes flitting between the myriads of colors. Part of her wants to try all of them, but she doesn't have enough arms to carry that many cones, and they would certainly melt before she finished them all. Not that the knowledge makes her decision any easier. 

Looking up at her brother, she tilts her head endearingly. "Which one are you getting, Vespy?" Sadly, they don't have any 'shadowy' flavors, but she might have read one with 'Midnight' in the name, and that seems just as fitting.

Nova

just because the fog is there

Vesper watches as Nova practically vibrates in place, her face pressed against the display case like a kid staring through the window of a toyshop. His smirk deepens, equal parts entertained and resigned, as he leans a hip lazily against the counter. The sheer force of her indecision is almost comical, her mind flitting between flavours at a dizzying speed, each thought bursting like a sugar-dusted firework in his telepathy. "Could just get one of everything, y'know," he drawls, knowing full well that such a thing would only end in sticky fingers and a disastrous sugar crash later. But as she tilts her head up at him, all wide-eyed and expectant, he exhales a slow, amused breath.

"Midnight something or other seems on brand," he muses, scanning both the menu and her mind with casual ease. "Reckon if it ain't got actual shadows in it, at least it sounds cool." He flicks his gaze down at her, smirking. "But I'm thinkin' you should get somethin' as obnoxiously colourful as you are, Nova." Despite his teasing, there's a note of indulgence beneath his words. Vesper's always been weak to his sisters when they look at him like this, all expectant and eager, and it's not as if he minds humouring her. He nods toward the overly bright, swirled concoction that looks like it might actually hum with unnatural levels of sugar. "That one’s got your name written all over it."

don't mean nothing's behind it

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

The wind is at your back, the world is at your feet

At Vespy's words, she seriously considers the decision, analyzing whether she can even put that much ice cream in her tiny body. It doesn't seem feasible, even taking into account her passion for the sweets. So, instead, Nova silently vows to come back every day for the rest of Flowerbirth until she's tried each and every flavor. 

Nodding her head to solidify her very clever choice, she looks to inspect the 'Midnight Madness' for her brother. It's a dark chocolate ganache with the addition of blueberries giving it a purplish tint like the physical embodiment of shadows at night. Smiling, she glances up at Vespy with a teasing smile and a giggle. "I think you'll look very cool eating that." Since it's ice cream and all. 

Distracted again by her own choice, Nova finds the one that he points out. She can tell that he's joking, but she plays along, pressing her face closer to read the label, as if 'Nova' might suddenly appear there. "Really?! I only see 'Unicorn Rainbow.'" It was one she'd already been looking at, so she isn't surprised that he notices it too. Instead, she bounces lightly with a small clap of her hands. "It's decided then! I'll get Unicorn Rainbow and you get Midnight Madness." Her smile beams up at him, her feet shuffling in anticipation of the sweet explosion of color and deliciousness.

Nova

just because the fog is there

Vesper huffs a quiet chuckle, shaking his head as Nova fully commits to the bit, pressing her nose against the glass in search of some hidden proof that the obnoxiously bright ice cream was made just for her. "That's what I said," he repeats dryly, lips twitching as he lets his gaze flick between her and the violently colourful swirl of sugar she's about to consume; unicorn rainbow and nova could be synonyms for this sister, as far as he was concerned.

Her excitement is damn near contagious, and while he wouldn’t normally be caught dead ordering something called Midnight Madness, he figures there are worse things than indulging his sister for an afternoon. "Alright, alright," he drawls, pushing off the counter to approach the vendor. "One Unicorn Rainbow and one Midnight Madness, before she combusts right here on the street."

Fishing into his pockets for a few coins, Vesper sets them on the counter before turning to watch Nova bounce in place, the energy practically rolling off her in waves. He can already see the impending sugar high in her future, and—fuck, he's probably gonna have to be the one to deal with it. "Y’better eat it fast when it comes," he warns, smirking as he ruffles a hand through her hair just to be annoying. "Would be a shame if all that colour ended up on your dress instead."

don't mean nothing's behind it

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

The wind is at your back, the world is at your feet

When Vespy finally places their order, Nova giggles, ready to turn away to find a suitable place to enjoy their sweet treats together. At the last second, she spins around, her hair and dress flaring at the force of her sudden movement. "OH OH! Can I get sprinkles on mine?!" The attendant seems shocked by her sudden outburst but nods her head slowly with a thin smile, and until Nova sees the rainbow flakes on top of the colorful scoop of ice cream, she wiggles, standing on her toes to watch the process. 

When it's finally ready, she reaches out two grabby hands to snatch the cone from the attendant, her smile beaming at her prize. Only Vespy's interruption breaks her from the trance, bothered by the ruffling of her hair. She gasps, pulling the ice cream close to her chest. "I would never." Although the myriads of colors would go great with her outfit... No. Nova shakes her head, taking another admiring look at the Unicorn Rainbow before dragging her tongue through it while she skips away from the vendor. The flavor is a mixture of every sugary thought, splashing across her tongue as she hums with delight. 

Leading them to the beach to find a bench, she does a twirl in the middle of the street, licking her ice cream a few more times. Her mind is a swirling of tunes and flavors and colors all crashing together, too bright and shifting to describe, but it doesn't impede on her ability to enjoy the treat. The only thing that does that is a sudden chill in her head. Skidding to a stop, she clamps her eyes shut, holding a hand against her temple. "Ooooh! What's that?!"

Nova

just because the fog is there

Vesper trails after Nova, his own ice cream in hand, watching as she twirls her way toward the beach like some kind of human fireworks display. The sheer force of her enthusiasm is almost exhausting, but he lets a smirk linger on his lips, indulging her in silence as he takes a slow, thoughtful bite of the dark-hued ice cream. The rich bitterness of dark chocolate and the tangy burst of blueberries melt across his tongue, a stark contrast to whatever sugar explosion Nova is currently devouring.

He’s just settling into the rhythm of watching her bounce between licks of her ice cream when she freezes, skidding to a stop with a sharp wince, pressing a hand to her temple. Instinct flares hot and fast in his chest, his amusement vanishing in an instant as he steps toward her, his free hand hovering just shy of her shoulder. "What’s what?" he asks, his voice still easy, but laced with quiet scrutiny.

Then, he feels it.

A sudden, sharp pulse against the edges of his telepathy—like a bright, piercing chime ringing through his skull, too fast, too sharp to be one of Nova’s usual thought patterns. Vesper watches Nova with sharp, assessing eyes, every muscle in his body coiling in preparation for something—anything—out of the ordinary. But then, she whines, clutching her temple in a way that is far less ominous and far more dramatic, and he immediately realizes what’s actually happening.

He exhales, long and slow, before dragging a hand down his face. "Nova," he says, his voice flat. "Are you tellin’ me you just gave yourself a brain freeze?" She might as well have been attacked, the way she’s carrying on. He watches her with the unimpressed look of a long-suffering older brother, waiting while she battles against the horrors of eating her ice cream too fast.

Taking another leisurely bite of his own—not suffering the same fate, because unlike Nova, he has self-control—Vesper leans against a nearby post, smirking. "Surprised you even got enough brains to freeze," he teases affectionately.

don't mean nothing's behind it

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

The wind is at your back, the world is at your feet

Pressing the palm of her hand to her head, the cold, sharp pain slowly eases, leaving behind an aching tightness. Her eyes are scrunched closed as she waits for it to reach a bearable level, her glittering blue eyes only opening to meet her brother's when it's nothing but a dull twinge. His exasperation is palpable, making her giggle through the discomfort. "Maaaaaybe..." She flashes him a bright smile, not a morsel of remorse marring its intensity. It certainly doesn't stop her from resuming her aggressively enthusiastic assault on the ice cream, humming with delight as the colors spread across her mouth. 

His teasing comment does make her pause for a moment, tongue half out as she shoots him a glare. "Hey! Just because I don't take ten years to think about things - like you and Caly - doesn't mean I'm not smart." There's a small note of hurt in her mind, even as she knows he's just playing and would never actually insult her, but it still takes a second for her bouncing to resume as she forces the smile back on her face. Her finger wags accusingly at his chest. "And maybe I got one because I have a big brain, and you don't." It couldn't possibly be related to 'self-control' or 'restraint.' 

Taking another long lick of her ice cream, Nova hops onto the edge of a small planter box. She balances with all the grace of a cat, dipping her feet along the side and twirling around as she devours the food, humming a jaunty tune between each bite.

Nova

just because the fog is there

Vesper catches the fleeting flicker of hurt in Nova’s mind before she covers it up with another bright, bouncing grin. It’s small, barely a ripple against the constant shimmer of her thoughts, but he notices. He always does. And yeah, maybe he’s an ass, but he’s not about to let her sit with that feeling—not even for a second. "Hey now," he murmurs, his voice still dry but losing some of its teasing edge. "Didn’t say you weren’t smart. Just said you were dumb enough to nearly take yourself out via dessert, which is… kinda impressive if I’m bein’ honest."

He steps back, watching as she hops onto the edge of a planter box, balancing effortlessly as she twirls, ice cream in hand, humming a tune that matches the energy constantly buzzing around her. Vesper leans against a post, letting his own ice cream melt slightly before taking another slow bite, letting the bitter tang of dark chocolate sit on his tongue.

"You know, you keep goin' like that, and one day you're gonna trip and fall straight into another dimension or somethin'," he muses, watching as she dips and twirls with unbothered ease. "Wanna try a lick of mine?"

don't mean nothing's behind it

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

The wind is at your back, the world is at your feet

Accepting his 'apology' with an upward tilt of her head, Nova's smile deepens, no traces of insult lingering in her mind. Another lick of her ice cream gives her a moment to bask in the brilliance of her own demise. "Well... if I ever go out, I would absolutely want it to be in an explosion of sweet colorfulness and glitter!" She throws out her arms, a flurry of very real glitter appearing around her, some of it even falling around Vespy's head (much to her delight).

Unsurprisingly, the suggestion that she might 'trip' falls on deaf ears, but 'another dimension' certainly catches her attention. She spins to look at her brother, her blonde and purple hair flaring out around her head like a halo. "Wouldn't that be cool?! Have you heard of those people who came from other places?! It sounds amazing! Do you think we could visit one day?!" Her eyes sparkle in childish wonder as she leans down to lick at his ice cream, a playful grin spread across her face.

Nova

just because the fog is there

Vesper watches Nova's glittering display with a flat, unimpressed look that he holds for exactly half a second before his lips twitch upward in reluctant amusement. He sighs deeply as flecks of glitter rain down over his shoulders and hair, glancing at Nova with exaggerated suffering. "Great, thanks," he drawls dryly, though the faint smirk lingering on his lips gives away the lie. "Now I'm gonna sparkle all damn day. People might think I've got your taste in fashion."

He offers his ice cream up for her to sample, watching as she steals a lick with her usual infectious enthusiasm. At the mention of other dimensions and Outlanders, he raises a brow slightly, considering. "Heard plenty about 'em," he admits, voice casual, though beneath the surface his curiosity flickers briefly. "Reckon it'd be interesting, seein' how they do things different somewhere else, but I'd want a guarantee we'd be able to make it back here." Unlike however many Outlanders who were left, who were just deposited in Caido with no hope of seeing their homes again.

Vesper pauses, his gaze briefly distant before refocusing on his glitter-covered sister. "But careful what you wish for, Nova. Knowing your luck, you'd land somewhere with no sugar, no glitter, and a strict ban on spontaneous musical numbers." He gives her a teasing smirk, eyes glittering mischievously.

don't mean nothing's behind it

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

The wind is at your back, the world is at your feet

It's her turn to ruffle her hand through his hair with a playful giggle. "Good. We need more people with fashion like me." A puff of glitter falls from the movement, and she winks before spinning around to take another lick of her delicious ice cream, very pleased with her contribution to his outfit.

Nova can't disagree with Vespy's stipulation on dimensional travel, not liking the idea of being stranded gods knew how far from her siblings. It's almost as bad as the other idea he plants in her mind, and she gasps in horror. No sweets?! No glitter?! No singing?! She clutches her ice cream close, shielding it from the nightmare that threatens to rip it from her clutches. "Such a world can't possibly exist!" Pausing, she seriously considers it, eyes narrowing suspiciously. Suddenly very concerned by the idea, she gapes at him. "Can it?" It's like imaging a world without color, like death.

Nova

just because the fog is there

Vesper allows Nova her moment of playful horror, thoroughly enjoying the way she clutches her ice cream close as if protecting it from imaginary monsters that might snatch it away. Her exaggerated reaction tugs another smirk from him, deepening the amusement that dances in his cool blue eyes. But beneath his dry humour, there's warmth and affection for her earnestness—for the genuine dread she seems to feel at the prospect of a world without her favorite things.

"Hell if I know," he drawls, shrugging one shoulder lazily. He flicks a stray bit of glitter off his shirt, eyeing it disdainfully before looking back up at her with a teasing glint. "But if it does, bet they're probably all grumpy as fuck. No smiles, no rainbows—just endless boring days with no sparkly disasters runnin' around."

His tone remains purposefully casual, though something a bit gentler softens his smirk as he nudges her foot with his own. "Luckily for you, you're stuck here—with glitter, sugar, and all the obnoxiously colourful things you could ever want." He takes another slow, thoughtful lick of his dark ice cream, arching an amused brow as he adds, "Which means I'm stuck with it too. Lucky me."

don't mean nothing's behind it

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