I hope you dance

Nova

Better.

Twirling through the conversation, Nova lets out another bubbly laugh, her hair flaring around her like a green and blonde halo. Koa's reaction only makes her smile brighter, delighted that he 'knows' her mom. And not only that, she's his patron? It makes her like him a little more, pulling him a little closer as she grins up at him. "Oh really?! That's amazing!"

It's easy to talk about her family, and Nova does it effortlessly as she spins and keeps up with every beat of the music. "She's really great, isn't she?" His question makes Nova spin with a little more energy as her magic shimmers around them, her happiness palpable. "She's the best mom ever. What's not to love? Mom's gorgeous and powerful and sparkling and loving and-" She cuts herself off with another laugh, knowing that she could go on and on and on about how incredible Safrin is, so long that it would take all night for her to run out of words. Instead, she just lets the music take her again as she asks, "What do you think about her?" Koa doesn't have to be very smart to see that she's fishing for compliments for her mom. She is her mother's daughter after all.

There is a certain beauty in chaos,
magnificence in the uncontrollable.

I'm bringin' sexy back
Them other fuckers don't know how to act

"She is," Koa agrees quickly and automatically, adoration thickening his warm voice. He listens to Nova with a crooked smile, love for his goddess mixing with something maybe a little envious. Koa had always been a momma's boy, and wouldn't have traded his mother for the world. But she's gone, and he'd give anything to have back those halcyon days of maternal affection and security. "So does that make you a demigoddess?" It would explain the glitter that surrounds her like starlight, the effortless confidence, the newness to the world.

As for what Koa thinks of Safrin? Now he laughs, bright and ready, while twirling Nova in another spin. "Man, how do I even start?" It's both the easiest and hardest thing to answer, because he thinks so much of his goddess, and all of it is good. "She's been, like... the best thing that's happened to me, in a lot of ways. Gave me a purpose. Made me stronger. Believed in me when I didn't know what the fuck I was doing with my life." Koa shrugs, but it isn't bashful. He's proud of what he is to Safrin, confident in the security of her grace. "My mom died a while ago so like... I dunno. It's been really good to have someone to look up to like that again." Koa is, after all, a knight who needs a queen.

Koa Carpenter

If that's your girl, better watch your back
'Cause she'll burn it up for me, and that's a fact

Nova

Nova laughs at the question, bright and full of starlight that twinkles around them. "Me? Oh no. That's my brother - I guess brothers now? Whatever. I'm a hybrid! Isn't that cool?! And my sister's Attuned." Because why not just tell Koa everything? Not that she looks concerned in the slightest, her feet moving quickly as she twirls across the dance floor, a beaming smile on her face. 

Between the beats of music, she can hear the passion in Koa's voice, the torch he holds for her mother and everything she's meant to him. After finding out she was the result of an exchange, Nova had felt momentarily bitter towards her mom, but she can't be upset when her positive emotions are reaffirmed by nearly everyone around her! To even take this man under her protection? Nova giggles, looking up at him as she spins back into his arms again. "Does that make you like an honorary sibling?" Not that he'd ever be a real sibling, but if Safrin cares for him as much as it sounds like, she can't just ignore that bond.

There is a certain beauty in chaos,
magnificence in the uncontrollable.

I'm bringin' sexy back
Them other fuckers don't know how to act

Multiple brothers and a sister - Safrin has been busy. Koa's eyes widen as he tries to do the mental math, quickly giving up. Deimos and Sunjata had both warned him about the goddess' penchant for having children with her followers, so this really shouldn't be such a surprise.

Koa blinks, letting go of the concept of a goddess' brood.  "That is cool!" he agrees brightly, spinning the girl with a renewed sense of curiosity and respect. "I dunno, man - you may not exactly be a demigoddess, but you still seem more than a little divine to me." He winks, a bright grin lighting up his face.

As for being a sibling to them? "I wouldn't go that far!" Koa laughs, coloring slightly at the ears. Certainly some of the thoughts he's had about the goddess do not belong between a mother and son. "I'm happy just to have a bit of her favor for myself, and to serve her where I can. Which extends to you and your siblings - anything I can do for you, just say the word!" Especially if the requests remain in the vein of this one: dancing with a pretty girl.

Koa Carpenter

If that's your girl, better watch your back
'Cause she'll burn it up for me, and that's a fact

Nova

She spins out and back again, basking in his praise like moonlight on the glittering ocean. It's not uncommon, but she won't ever tire of hearing how amazing she is, especially when it comes from people other than her siblings. Nova's never been called 'divine' though, and her delight is like a shooting star that brightens her features, grin and all. "I like you, Koa." She winks back at him, giggling as she twirls with a little extra sparkle this time. 

Being the naive young woman she is, Nova takes his blush as embarrassment for not getting to be part of the club, and she taps him lightly on the chest. "That's okay. I won't hold it against you." Her tongue sticks out playfully, humming a little to the music as she taps her feet. She only pauses when he makes the mistake of offering his services. 

Nova likes the sound of that. 

Fluttering her eyelashes, she looks up at Koa, a mischievous yet dazzling smile on her face. "Then maybe you can do me a favor and get me a drink?" Because all this dancing has made her thirsty, and she's heard that's what people are supposed to do at bars.

There is a certain beauty in chaos,
magnificence in the uncontrollable.

I'm bringin' sexy back
Them other fuckers don't know how to act

Praise rolls easily off Koa's tongue - too easily, some might say, given how often he's gotten himself into trouble with playful flirtation. But it's impossibly not to wink and smile as Nova spins before him, her giggles like bubbles in champagne, fizzing pleasantly before bursting with glittery, playful pop!s. "I like you too, Nova," he laughs in response, deciding firmly in that moment that while she may have initially come off as a bit of a manic pixie whackadoo, fuck it, yeah, he does like her. He likes her quite a lot.

His laugh rolls out unabashed at the mischievous request, cus yeah, ya boy really did walk right into that one. "Your wish is my command, Princess," Koa replies with playful chivalry, eyes glittering as he leans over to press a knightly kiss to the back of her hand. "Any requests, or shall I surprise you?" If he were to guess the flavors Nova likes he'd probably say something colorful and fruity, with a bright splash of tartness and more of a kick than one might be given to expect.

Koa Carpenter

If that's your girl, better watch your back
'Cause she'll burn it up for me, and that's a fact

Nova

The term 'Princess' is one she could get also used to, and Nova immediately reaffirms her approval of the man with a pleased smile. If he keeps showering her with compliments and such sweet words, she might never let him leave. Maybe she'd even get him a collar with sparkling diamonds so he can follow her everywhere. She doubts her mom would mind as long as it makes her happy.

Pausing in her dancing, Nova faces him like a true deified princess, letting him press the kiss against her delicately held hand. Her giggle shimmers in the atmosphere around them, girlish and full of flattery. She rocks onto her toes, leaning closer so he can see the excitement playing across her lips. "I like surprises!" Nova also happens to be very inexperienced in the realm of alcoholic beverages, having only tried a few thus far, so she wouldn't have been able to tell him what to order anyways. But she'll try anything twice - once for the initial impression, and twice for the real opinion.

There is a certain beauty in chaos,
magnificence in the uncontrollable.

I'm bringin' sexy back
Them other fuckers don't know how to act

It's a shame that Koa can't read minds; we'll never know what his reaction to Nova's image of him as an oversized poodle might have been. Blissfully ignorant, Koa is able to maintain his cheeky grin, eyebrows raising in eager acceptance of the challenge he's set up for himself. "Surprise it is!"

He weaves his way through the crowd with the ease and confidence of someone who's done this a thousand times, and is comfortable in his body. Catching the attention of the bartender, Koa orders a whiskey sour and a pomegranate spritz. As the drinks are being prepared the Dragoon turns his attention back to the dance floor, leaning against the edge of the bar as he searches for the telltale burst of color and glitter that makes his companion easily recognizable, even in the steadily growing crowd.

Koa Carpenter

If that's your girl, better watch your back
'Cause she'll burn it up for me, and that's a fact

Nova

Every girl needs some arm candy, and Nova's liking the idea of it being Koa with his every action. What's not to like about a guy who says flowery things and offers to do anything for her? It helps that he's conventionally good looking and obviously strong enough to fight off anyone she dislikes. So when he moves to get her a drink, she doesn't let him too far out of her sights. 

Still dancing and swaying to the music, she moves less through the crowd like someone who's done it a million times and more like a playfully sparkling breeze that has people parting with pure bewilderment. Nova catches snippets of conversation as she drifts her way leisurely closer to the bar, giggling at strange words or muttered compliments that catch her attention. It shouldn't be hard for Koa to spot her before she's twirling to his side, head tilting to blink wide eyes at him. "I heard someone mention something about 'dragon snap.' Is that a game or a dance move? Can we try it?" She bounces lightly on her feet, her curls mimicking the movement as he dress flutters, all delight and excited curiosity.

There is a certain beauty in chaos,
magnificence in the uncontrollable.

I'm bringin' sexy back
Them other fuckers don't know how to act

Call Koa a herbaceous preserver because flowery nonsense is his jam. He brightens to see Nova pick her way through the crowd, glitter forming a comet's tail as she winds over the dance floor and toward his perch beside the bar. "Couldn't stay away?" he greets the girl, raising an eyebrow in playful challenge as Nova swirls into existence like a hypomanic whirling dervish. "Your drink, my lady." He pushes the ruby-red spritz and its sprig of rosemary over the bar toward her, raising his own to take a sip when she brings up dragon-snap and, well.

Cue spit-take.

"You mean snapdragon? That's definitely not a dance move. It's..." For a brief few seconds Koa works his jaw, clearly at a loss for how to explain the dangers of drugs to someone like Nova. "It's a drug that'll make you feel pretty great, but also makes people do a lot of dumb shit." Gods know Koa's done more than his fair share, after taking a bump (or three). "Lowers inhibitions, that kind'a thing. Maybe a bit ambitious for your first night in the Houses." But then again they're both young and stupid, and Koa has less than a stump of a leg to stand on when it comes to making the smarter choice.

Koa Carpenter

If that's your girl, better watch your back
'Cause she'll burn it up for me, and that's a fact

Nova

Tilting her head at his question, Nova's eyes glitter with playful amusement. "Couldn't let you get away." A giggle follows her words, along with a wink as she accepts the drink. "Thank you, kind sir." Without hesitation or suspicion, she lifts it to her lips, taking a sip of the sweet mixture. The first hit makes her nose wrinkle, not sure she likes it - but she likes the fizz, and she follows the first take with her second in quick succession. It tastes a little better, making her wiggle approvingly at the drink. Yep, she'll keep him around. 

Koa's surprise has her pausing in her enjoyment, initially disappointed that it's not a dance move. But when he mentions that it's a drug, Nova's eyes blink, unfazed curiosity on her face. "Oh really?" Like he just mentioned that it's going to rain tomorrow or that he'd spotted a friend in the market. Because nothing he says gives her any reason to believe she should avoid the substance. If anything, she wants to try it even more.

The real question is: Does Nova have inhibitions? She does what she wants when she wants with little care for people's thoughts or opinions - and she wants to do things even more when people think she can't. So when Koa suggests that it might be 'ambitious,' she leans forward, a brightness to her eyes that should probably frighten him. "I can handle it!" Her smile shimmers, bursting across her face like starlight. "They say it's fun, right? So, why not?!" Humming, she glances around like it's already decided - after all, he did say anything. "Where do we get some?"

There is a certain beauty in chaos,
magnificence in the uncontrollable.

I'm bringin' sexy back
Them other fuckers don't know how to act

Seems there's little hope of deterring Nova, much to Koa's lack of surprise. Koa purses his lips, still firmly unconvinced that Nova on drugs is anything resembling a good idea. "Let me rephrase: I'm not sure you need any help feeling good. You seem to be having a great time as it is." It's a perfunctory protest, one he doesn't wxpect to be heeded. There's a stubborn fire in her eyes that reminds him achingly of Noe, the kind he had learned it was easier to work with, rather than against.

Risk mitigation and all that.

Taking a heavy pull of his drink, Koa shakes his head. "But if you really wanna try it, I can find a good source." Gods save him, he's not about to let Safrin's daughter get fucked up on bad shit her first time trying drugs. He can think of fewer surefire ways to his ass smote into such a crisp that even Frey wouldn't want a taste.

Koa Carpenter

If that's your girl, better watch your back
'Cause she'll burn it up for me, and that's a fact

Nova

Switching to the tiny straws in her glass, Nova takes a few cheek-sucking sips of her drink before letting out another girlish giggle and a wiggle of her eyebrows. "I am, but I wonder if it's possible to have a better time." With no references or descriptions for what the experience of being on drugs may be like, she's willing to just skip the caution and try it. After all, what could be the harm? Especially now that she knows Koa will do anything for her, she doubts he'd put her in harm's way (not that she wouldn't be able to get out of it on her own). 

Nova rolls her eyes playfully at the stalling tactic, having already expressed exactly what she wants to do. Pushing off from the bar top, she holds her drink at the ready with two hands as she looks up at Koa. A glittering smile plays across her lips, eager and willing to do some smiting of her own if he doesn't hurry up. "Then what are we still doing here? Let's go get it."

There is a certain beauty in chaos,
magnificence in the uncontrollable.

I'm bringin' sexy back
Them other fuckers don't know how to act

It's always possible to have a better time, but the highest peaks tend to come with the most abysmal valleys. That's something everyone ought to experience for themselves, though, and hey - maybe Nova's celestial heritage will provide her a divine level of tolerance.

Not to mention that Nova seems dead-set on doing a drug no matter what he says. The time for preventative measures is over; we're in risk reduction territory now.

Koa finishes the last of his drink, setting the glass on the bar with a thunk before shoving himself off it. "Alright then, let's go." Tilting his chin for her to follow, Koa sets off into the crowd, milling his way along the edges until he finds a hulking man covered in tattoos.

Who directs him toward a boisterous waiter, who directs him to a petite girl dressed in full goth attire, who hands him a bag with a lifted eyebrow, glancing sardonically between the pair. "Thought you were too good for us these days, soldier" she drawls. "Never too good for you, Luna," Koa winks in reply, leaning over to press a kiss on the top of her head. "Say hi to your mom for me, yeah?" He chuckles as he turns back toward Nova, Luna practically hissing like a cat under the flush on her pale cheeks.

Holding up the little bag, Koa cocks a brow at Nova. "Alright, Princess. Snapdragon acquired." Two tiny pearls shine within, waiting to be popped under a waiting tongue. "My friend Mateo made it, so it's the highest quality you can get. Always get your drugs from a reputable source."

Koa Carpenter

If that's your girl, better watch your back
'Cause she'll burn it up for me, and that's a fact