[SE] [Training] Shifting dreams in shifting sands

Elizabeth

Well shit.

Elizabeth wakes up with a view very different than her previous one. An expanse of water opens up before her eyes, glittering and blue with only a few speckles of land that dot the horizon a lot father from where they were before. It's hard to tell with the slight fog still on her post-nap brain, but as she rubs her eyes, she's fairly certain that the island has moved. She'd waded onto a nearby stretch of land to get some peace after helping calm the chaos of the party, and now she can barely swim back to the mainland. 

Muttering under her breath, Elizabeth moves to stand, brushing the excess sand clear from her warming skin and pulling her pink shawl over the cream bikini she still wears. She tucks a strand of hair behind her ear then crosses her arms and pops out a hip, debating what exactly to do next. Maybe she should call for help. She could scream or shoot some lightning into the sky. Or maybe she should just try to swim; but Halo isn't known for its comfortable swimming locations and she didn't have a lot of practice growing up. 

Her lips quirk in concentration, debating her options while hoping something else might magically appear to save her.

Sometimes in the waves of change
we find our true direction

Dantalion

how the fuck am I supposed to know

What Danta has in the magically appearing category, he might completely fall flat on in the saving her category - but that is largely up to Elizabeth's personal opinion. Nevertheless, overhead a very dark and very crow-shaped bird is freewheeling among the paler crowd of hels, spooking most of them from their regularly scheduled shenanigans. The crow appears to be fighting for what looks like half a donut in the possession of one of the other birds - and he succeeds in snatching it in his greedy little talons, too, before divebombing towards the sand where Elizabeth has just woken up.

Only once he's - very smugly, might he add - devoured the stolen morsel does Danta deign to shift back, dusting the sand from a floral shirt best described as loud and peeking around, only to finally realise he isn't alone. "Oh," he says brightly, adjusting his sunglasses and rising to his feet. "Hey. This is a pretty remote island, huh."

if we're in love or if we're in pain?

Code blatently stolen from queen of codes, Sky!

Elizabeth

Very deep in her own world of thoughts, Elizabeth doesn't expect or notice crows or anyone else on the beach until there's a voice behind her. It's so startling that she jumps and spins, her hands raising to her chest where it races against her ribs, a scream already crawling its way up. Her magic jumps to the ready, but calms when she sees a man standing nearby in a brilliantly floral shirt that she doubts someone planning to threaten her would wear - although the diamond horns suggests he certainly could. 

Still, Elizabeth braces a hand against her knee, taking a deep breath as she laughs, warm as the sunlight brushing against her flushed cheeks. "Geez! You scared me!" After a few more breaths, her panic calms and she rises to stand with a friendly smile accompanied by another disbelieving chuckle. "I guess it's remote enough that I hadn't been expecting to find anyone else here."

Tilting her head, she tucks a strand of brown hair behind her ear, curious as she looks around. "Did you get stuck here as well?" She hadn't noticed him before, but it's not a small enough island that he couldn't have been hiding.

Sometimes in the waves of change
we find our true direction

Dantalion

how the fuck am I supposed to know

"Did I?" Danta raises his eyebrows, glancing around as if wondering which part of him has been particularly scary. Don't get him wrong, he's all about that sort of shit when he's doing it on purpose, but a man-crow and his donut are not the most intimidating thing in the world. "Mm, it's a ways back to the mainland," he agrees, adjusting his sunglasses again as he peers out across the water towards the Ahi Coast.

As for whether he's stuck, Danta scoffs an easy laugh and shakes his head, spaded tail flicking idly at his heels. "Nah, I flew." He points overhead at the still swooping hels and their angry calls in response to his audacious theft. "How'd you get here to get stuck?" he wonders.

if we're in love or if we're in pain?

Code blatently stolen from queen of codes, Sky!

Elizabeth

Shaking her head, she offers an amused smile. "It's not your fault. I was a little too distracted." Elizabeth knows she tends to do that a lot, whether it's having her head in a book or the clouds, it can be hard to break through, making her easily startled when it does. The man isn't to blame, and she immediately releases any panic or tension that had entered her system. Although she still has the matter of getting back to the mainland. 

He doesn't appear to have the same issue and Elizabeth glances to the sky filled with angry hels, curious what that must feel like to be carried on the winds. "That sounds convenient." Having not seen his shift in her focus, she spends a moment wondering what from it might be before addressing his question with an indication to her beach towel and discarded book. "I found a peaceful spot to sunbathe and fell asleep, not realizing that the island was planning to move." She laughs, warm and less bothered than one might expect from someone stranded without any obvious means of escape. 

Elizabeth tilts her head with a glint of curiosity. "What were you looking for on this remote island?"

Sometimes in the waves of change
we find our true direction

Dantalion

how the fuck am I supposed to know

"Ought to be careful with that. Never know who might be creeping up on you," Danta says with a fanged grin, not that he's the creeping sort unless the mood strikes him. Usually people can see and hear him coming and then some. "Oh, it moved? That explains it. Does it have a schedule, or are you just stuck here until it takes pity on you again?" he wonders, kicking a bit of sand and turning to gaze back to the shore before turning his attention back to her.

"I wasn't looking for anything," he says cheerfully, peering back up at the hels. "I was stealing donuts from them. Came down here to eat - now I'm done," he explains. "I'm Danta, by the way. Good luck with your... with this?" He gestures vaguely to the sandy patch of nothing she's marooned upon. He's not the heroic sort, and couldn't likely help even if he wanted to.

if we're in love or if we're in pain?

Code blatently stolen from queen of codes, Sky!

Elizabeth

Perhaps she should be more worried about the mischievous glint in his eyes, but Elizabeth is pretty good at reading people, and he's not giving off 'danger.' Instead, she accepts the advice with casual ease. "True. If it'd been Pierce, I don't think I'd have stood a chance - at least not without my magic." And that barrier had certainly done something to her abilities, leaving her more vulnerable than usual. 

Elizabeth lets her eyes sweep over the expanse of water again, more analytical than before. "That's a good question... maybe next time I'll take some time studying it instead of falling asleep." Tucking that stubborn strand of hair back behind her ear, she briefly wonders if she should just accept her predicament and do some research of the area. Someone would eventually find her after all, or maybe this man would be willing to send help. 

Laughing lightly at his choice of amusement and curious what it says about him, her smile is as warm as the sand tickling her bare feet. "I'm Elizabeth. And thanks. I guess?" Since she isn't really sure what 'this' is either. Shrugging her shoulders, the curve of her lips turns more playful. "I don't have any donuts to offer, but you're welcome to join me. Or if you have some place to be, maybe you'd be willing to send a boat my way?" At least then she wouldn't have to start preparing to stay the night on the island.

Sometimes in the waves of change
we find our true direction

Dantalion

how the fuck am I supposed to know

Wrinkling his nose instantly at the mention of Pierce - he and Asta had ducked out of that mess pretty early on, but he knows enough about the man to know he doesn't want to get in the way of his fists - he glances over the stranger fleetingly as if realising for the first time by the way she speaks that she's Abandoned. "Ah, not so good with traditional methods?" he says, miming a punch into the palm of his opposite hand.

Wiggling his toes in the sand as if trying to figure out whether they'd be able to feel the isle shifting again, as Elizabeth introduces herself properly he offers another easy smile and shrugs his shoulders. "Nowhere to be just yet. If you want though, I can wait with you a few minutes to see what this place makes of having two people on board. And if nothing happens, I'll go let someone know you're out here. You in town with anyone I should contact?"

if we're in love or if we're in pain?

Code blatently stolen from queen of codes, Sky!

Elizabeth

Laughing, she shakes her head and shrugs her shoulders. "Not particularly, no. My magic packs more of a punch than my fists." As if in emphasis, she holds up a very poor mockery of a boxing guard, her fists clenched loosely by her chest. Nothing about it screams 'experience' or 'threat,' looking more like a kitten than a dangerous brawler. 

Elizabeth lets her arms fall to her side as she offers him a pleased smile. "I'll never turn down company." She'll take a good conversation over a good book any day, although she hadn't been doing much reading before he came along. Chuckling lightly, she thinks about who Danta might be able to contact. "No. I travel alone most of the time, but my parents live in Haulani if you wanted to try finding them." Not that the older couple would be much help other than talking the ear off a friendly boat owner until they agreed to come find her. 

Tilting her head, she asks, "I'm guessing you don't live around here then?" She assumes the Hollowed Grounds, basing her suspicion off his own unfamiliarity with the isles and obvious Ancient-ness.

Sometimes in the waves of change
we find our true direction

Dantalion

how the fuck am I supposed to know

"Oh? I find it's best to keep both pretty sharp. Never know when you're not going to be able to rely on it. Speaking of which, did you try to use any of your magic at that party? Because I couldn't do shit. Well - except punch, I suppose." Grinning and feeling privately glad that he hadn't decided to play fisticuffs with the brawler of The Family, Danta turns to start strolling along the small outcrop of sand where Elizabeth has found herself stranded.

"Ah, your parents? I'll be sure to let them know you're trapped - if you still are when I leave," he says casually. "And if you let me know where to find them, of course."

As for his not being from around here, Danta turns, his toes in the shallows now and a broad, fanged smile on his face. "I am not," he says, sketching a roguish bow. "Theocrat of the Hollowed Grounds, at your service. Mostly." In his loud floral shirt and all.

if we're in love or if we're in pain?

Code blatently stolen from queen of codes, Sky!

Elizabeth

"I suppose it can't hurt, although I haven't the faintest idea where to start." He's already seen her very 'impressive' stance, and she gives him an amused smile. "Any tips?" From one person with magic to another (and someone who's obviously not a soldier), Elizabeth wonders if he might be less judgmental of her lacking skills.

As for her abilities - "No. It took a second for me to notice, but my magic went dormant at the party." She raises her hand, a few tendrils of lightning sparking across her fingertips. Shrugging her shoulders, the electricity gets absorbed into her veins, settling back to the familiar hum beneath her skin. "Based on the glares being shot at the host, I'd venture to say he had something to do with it." Although there's always the possibility of another source. 

Chuckling, Elizabeth follows Danta down the coastline, her eyes turning to inspect the distant mainland. "I could even draw you a map if it helps." Especially as he confirms being from the Grounds - the Theocrat of the Grounds. Her brows raise, even more curious about the man and his peculiar image as a leader. There are plenty of leadership styles and preferences, but she's rarely read of such casual and... exuberant individuals in the position to guide others. 

She sketches out her own mock curtsey with her shawl, a playful smile on her face as she scans him with more interest. "I'm honored."

Sometimes in the waves of change
we find our true direction

Dantalion

how the fuck am I supposed to know

"Tips? I find hitting stuff to be the best tip," Danta admits, letting the warm waves lap at his toes for a few moments before he pads back across the sand to Elizabeth. "Show me what you got - and let it never be said I don't do nice things for pretty girls." Grinning, he subtly adjusts his stance and beckons for her to come at him with a punch.

Evidently, though, he has no intention of stopping their conversation, Danta watches the lightning dance across her fingers and disappear again with the sort of curiosity reserved for cats at playtime. "Impressive," he purrs. "And no, it wouldn't surprise me if The Family had something like that. All the more reason to stay away from them if you ask me."

Nodding at the idea of a map - it could never hurt, if it came to having to peck on someone's windows to help a stranded woman on an island - Danta inclines his head in response to Elizabeth. "The honour is all mine. Now hit me."

if we're in love or if we're in pain?

Code blatently stolen from queen of codes, Sky!

Elizabeth

Laughing, she tilts her head and tucks the lingering strand of hair back behind her ear again. "I can see how that might be helpful." Although she isn't necessarily expecting to hit him, and her eyes widen when he beckons her forward. "Do people often accuse you of not being nice?" It's a playful stall, trying to work up the courage to punch Danta, and equally curious about what kind of person he is. 

Between getting called pretty, the compliment to her magic, and the warm sun streaming down, Elizabeth's cheeks are a light pink, her smile warm and easy on her lips despite the foreboding topic. "Or all the more reason to find out more." 'Know thy enemy' and all. Abilities and motives are only a few of the things she thinks they should seek to discover about the Family. 

Elizabeth rises from her 'curtsey,' chuckling at his blunt words. "How can I say no to an order from a distinguished leader?" That doesn't stop her from pausing for a moment to bite her lip or aiming her poorly executed punch at his shoulder.

Sometimes in the waves of change
we find our true direction

Dantalion

how the fuck am I supposed to know

"People accuse me of all sorts," Danta says easily enough. His is the kind of windblown chaos that means a person might love and hate him in the same day; the kind that has him scooping ducklings out of a storm drain or throwing water balloons at kids or picking a fight to the death with a stranger. "Nice is on the rarer side of the scale, though not unheard of I guess."

He can't help but scrunch his nose at the thought of finding out more about The Family, even if he supposes he can concede the point for curiosity's sake. "Pretty sure it only ends up one of two ways for people who go poking around in that sort of thing," he says nevertheless. "You end up standing with them, or dead."

Falling quiet, before he can respond to Elizabeth (who ever said he was distinguished, ha) she's swatting at his shoulder with a punch that has him rocking back just a bit on his heels, eyebrows raised at the attempt. "Damn, you weren't kidding," he says with a smirk, beckoning her closer to show how to make a proper closed fist.

"Like this," he says, gesturing to the placement of his thumb. "And you want to put the weight of your arm into the punch. Try again."

if we're in love or if we're in pain?

Code blatently stolen from queen of codes, Sky!