Perhaps the closest equivalent of Caido’s golden retriever energy, Zavien has been the light in an otherwise patch of darkness. Always putting others first, working hard at being a Dragoon and helping Stormbreak thrive in kindness, and always being optimistic, Zavien’s outlook is refreshing and wonderful even with drama and terrible things occurring around him. He always has something helpful to say and a willingness to lend a hand that makes it so fun to keep up with him and we can’t wait to see what else comes his way.
Congratulations, Zavien!
Credits
Court of the Fallen was created in October of 2018 by Odd, Honey, and Crooked.
Skinning and hosting by the epically talented Kaons, and functionality fanciness by the coding magic of Neowulf. If you ever see either of them around, make sure to show them some love!
09-03-2024, 11:29 PM (This post was last modified: 09-04-2024, 03:34 PM by Catalina.)
Every fire burns brighter in the darkest night
Tides of Tranquility
Discovering Coastal Bliss
The heat of the sun was unrelenting, casting a shimmering haze over the bustling port. With her fiery red hair pulled back in a loose ponytail, her freckles dancing across her cheeks, she looked around at the scene with a blend of awe and exasperation.
She sighed, her breath visible in a puff of relief as she slipped her brown leather shoes from her feet. The worn leather creaked in protest, and she tucked them under her arm, feeling the cool touch of the sand against her bare soles. "Goodness," she muttered to herself, her voice a soft melody lost amid the din of the crowded port. "How many people could possibly be in the world? It feels like they've all gathered here!" She had never been around such a large group of people.
Her eyes, bright and curious, scanned the chaos around her—tricksters peddling dubious goods, silver-tongued liars promising fortunes that never seemed to materialize, and merchants hawking their wares with exaggerated enthusiasm. Despite the overwhelming throng, Cat couldn't help but find some charm in the lively spectacle. There was a vibrancy to the chaos, a rhythm to the disarray that she found oddly comforting.
The sea stretched out before her, its waters reflecting hues of turquoise and emerald, and she allowed herself to be drawn toward the shoreline. As she walked along the beach, her gaze was captivated by the strange and colorful sea shells scattered across the sand. Each one seemed like a tiny, treasure-filled mystery waiting to be discovered. She crouched to examine a particularly vibrant shell, her fingers brushing its smooth surface with wonder.
"Look at you," she said with a bright smile, holding the shell up to the sunlight. "You’re the prettiest little thing I’ve ever seen!"
Her journey to Torchline had been one of hope and longing. She had ventured here in search of a singular pearl, a precious gift she wanted to give her father in memory of her mother. Her heart ached with the thought of the gift that had eluded her, but she remained resolutely cheerful. The search for the pearl had been difficult, and the port's array of characters had proven to be less helpful than she had hoped. Yet, the joy she found in the simple beauty of the world around her kept her spirits high.
Catalina's laughter rang out as she continued her exploration, her bubbly nature and genuine appreciation for the little wonders of life evident in every step she took. She picked up another shell, this one a deep, iridescent blue, and twirled around, as if dancing with the very essence of the sea. Not paying any mind to those who passed by or gawked at the woman who danced.
Her emotions were drained after scouring the port for first mate candidates. Too many were either inexperienced and looking for glory (which meant they wanted to usurp her on her own ship) or they were so old they could be related to Astaroth, barely capable enough to walk without a cane, and often missing a limb or two. After hours of inquiring with other captains and sifting through packed bars, shed finally gathered an 'acceptable' array of candidates. The four sailors had been sent to the ship in preparation for their final assessments while Thal took the opportunity to reset before unleashing her wrath on the poor sounds. If they were going to work with her, they'd have to get used to it.
As she made her way to the beach, she lifted a few fruit tarts from a stand, snagged a particularly shiny pocket watch from a suspiciously healthy beggar, and flashed an attractive man a vicious fanged grin that had him reconsidering the lecherous glance he'd sent her way. And when her black boots finally hit the sand, she was annoyed to see the overabundance of tourists already occupying the sandy space. She threw them all a glare as she weaved through, but her dark hood and Ancient features were more than enough to have people leaning back with a healthy level of caution.
It took her a few minutes to find a relatively empty portion of glittering beach and Thal finally settled into the warm grain of sand with an exasperated sigh, absorbing the heat like a cold-blooded reptile. Longheat may have come, but she always appreciated the scorching Torchline environment. Maybe she would even take a dip in the water.
Eager to enjoy her peace and quiet, Thal pulled the tarts from her black cloak. Placing the first treat into her mouth, she closed her eyes in blissful satisfaction. The pops of ripe fruits with the creamy custard was a beautiful combination. She let the moment linger for a second longer before she turned her attention to the next. However, before she could place the delectable dessert in her mouth, a spray of sand was kicked up from a spinning ginger, coating the sugared glaze in inedible grit. A low growl came from deep in her throat, her gaze lifting to the culprit. The blue of her eyes blazed like fire with a promise of violence and death. This woman had made a terrible mistake.
And deep down, you know it too. That’s what scares you most.
Catalina laughed as she twirled around in the soft, golden sand, her ginger hair catching the sunlight in a brilliant display. She loved the feeling of the sand beneath her bare feet, the rhythm of the waves as they crashed against the shore. In her joy, she spun a little too hard, and with a quick flick of her foot, sent a small spray of sand flying.
Unbeknownst to her, the sand went flying directly towards a mysterious and begrudging woman who had a disdain for many people indiscriminately. Catalina, still humming to herself as if she had been in her own little world, finally caught sight of the woman’s intense gaze. The private world of hers melting away, meeting the tense gaze. She paused mid-step, noticing the dessert and the look of irritation on the woman's face. Her eyes widened in surprise. The mid-step nearly caused her to trip and fall, but Cat planted a foot firmly in the golden sand.
Her own seafoam colored gaze widened in horror at the mishap. Not for the glare that she had been receiving, but the fact that she had made a simple mistake and might as well had ruined someone's day. How could she had been so dismissing of those around her to not even notice when a woman crept up near her, and now Cat had sullied her snack with the sand?
The primalistic growl caught Cat off-guard for a moment, the smile dropped from the woman's normally cheerful demeanor. "I'm so sorry!" Cat had apologized. The woman even though sitting had carried herself with an air of respect that Cat didn't see much, leading Cat to believe she was either someone important, or someone to not be trifled with. Though, that didn't stop Cat from at least trying to apologize to the woman.
"I didn't see anyone near me. I was just caught up.." Thoughtfully Cat had tried to find a resolution to the problem that she had created. Then suddenly, an idea had popped into her head.
"Why don't I buy you fresh ones?" Cat didn't find the pearl she had been looking for, so she had the capability to do at least that. "Twice as many as you had?" Catalina offered with raised eyebrows, clearly sincere in her offer. Unbeknownst to Cat, the woman had taken the desserts of her own free whim. Though, that wouldn't had mattered too much to Cat at this particular moment.
Cat looked down at the shells in her hand, which would had been common to see amongst the coast of Torchline, not many residents would had just snatched up shells like that and danced as happily as she did, clearly being a visitor, instead of residing here. Sliding them into her pocket, she kept the shells for safe keeping.
09-06-2024, 06:40 AM (This post was last modified: 09-10-2024, 01:05 AM by Thalassa.)
Thalassa
You could do anything, if you only dared.
Messing with the Captain's sweets was akin to a death warrant. Her sailors often begged for mercy at the slightest suggestion that they may have ruined her delicious desserts, groveling and pleading. However, they also knew that her hand could be softened with an offered replacement or substitute.
As Thal stared down the woman, her fangs were on full display as she debated which method of torture was sufficient for the transgression. A quick beating maybe? Or the piercing of her fangs? Perhaps her flames would serve as a long-lasting reminder? Even her shiny new daggers could be a viable option. All this was going through her mind as she pointedly ignored the apologies and excuses. It wasn't until the redhead offered double the original tarts that the Ancient's expression shifted.
Her smile became viciously sharp. "That might suffice to spare your life, but you still owe me." Standing slowly, her short frame did nothing to diminish the dangerous grace of her steps. The black cloak hid all except her blazing blue eyes, a few strands of dark hair peeking out like shadowy wisps."Are you willing to pay for your error?"
And deep down, you know it too. That’s what scares you most.
Cat had offered a bubbly, toothy smile in comparison to the woman's sneering grin. "Of course. It's the only right thing to do." It seemed as though that the ginger haired woman didn't air on the side of caution, let alone had any regard for her own life or realize the immediate threat that she had been in.
If it had been Catalina's sweets that were ruined, there was no telling how the red head would react. In truth, she probably wouldn't had said anything. Something that was a striking difference than what this woman offered.
"The.. Only thing is I'm not sure where you got them. If you wouldn't mind leading the way? It's my first time here." Though olive toned, it was obvious with how Cat had been dancing about in the sand that it was her first time on the beach. Thinking for a moment, as the woman would be doing something for Cat in that regard.
"I'll get you three times what it was if you could make it at least that much easier for me. Unless you want to wait here until I find it... Which...." Cat looked at the crowd over the woman's shoulder with thought. "Might take longer than you'd care for, or me for that matter... There's no telling where they end and the shops start." Cat gestured towards the crowd, blinking her seafoam gaze widely. It seemed as though more and more were pouring from the skyships. She couldn't tell where one person began and another ended.
Having already claimed her secluded spot in the warm sand, Thal was not tempted to walk away, even for the reward of new fruit tarts (especially considering she hadn't paid for the originals). Her annoyed glare was all that was needed to communicate her intentions. Instead, she gestured towards the crowd of people and the shop with a flick of her wrist. "Anyone over there can tell you where they're at. There's a very long line." Her smile was not in the least bit sorry for the inconvenience, satisfied that the woman would have to suffer for the short time.
Slowly, the captain lowered herself back onto the sand, as gracefully as one whose lived on the beach her whole life. She leaned back to lounge on her arms, crossing her legs. "The longer you delay, the less forgiving I'll be feeling." Thal raised her eyebrow expectantly. Catalina may not be from here, but she was going to learn quickly that errors had to be remedied whether you knew how or not. Otherwise, the consequences could be dire.
And deep down, you know it too. That’s what scares you most.
Catalina took in Thal’s exasperated gesture with a nod of understanding, her smile unwavering despite the challenge ahead. “Thank you for pointing me in the right direction,” she said with genuine enthusiasm. “I’ll head over to the shop right away.”
As she made her way through the bustling crowd, her excitement palpable, she was briefly distracted by a silvery-tongued vendor trying to sell trinkets. “Beautiful baubles, rare finds!” he called out, attempting to draw her in with a charming smile and glittering array of objects.
With a polite but firm shake of her head, Catalina gently shouldered past him. “Sorry, I’m on a mission for some fruit tarts,” she said, not pausing in her stride. The vendor’s calls faded behind her as she continued toward her destination.
Arriving at the shop, Catalina navigated the long line with determination and patience. After some time, she finally completed her purchase, getting four times the amount of fruit tarts originally agreed upon—one for herself and the rest to replace the tarts that had been ruined.
With a sense of accomplishment, Catalina made her way back to Thal, carrying the tarts with a cheerful grin. “I’m back!” she announced, presenting the packages. “I got three times the amount, just as requested. I hope these make up for the ones that were ruined.”
She looked at Thal with a bright smile, eager to ensure everything was as it should be. “Sorry it took so long.. " She apologized.
"I'm Cat by the way ~ " She cooed a little, inspecting her own tarts as she hadn't had anything so sweet before. Inspecting it closely, like a child would a puzzle.
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