[Training] make sure you can back it up

I have seafoam in my veins, I understand the language of waves.

The small spitfire of a woman makes her way through the port, her pace somehow carefree yet filled with purpose as she hums to herself. She's very proud because she only stops once to admire a particularly shiny bauble even though there were so many! She absolutely plans to come back, but that's beside the point, she's on a mission that cannot wait. With her new magics appearing, and mean girls biting her, Nova thinks that maybe it's a good idea to get some pointers. Not that she needs them, but it could be fun to learn some new tricks to show off to her siblings, especially if they involve glitter or sparkles. And the only person she's seen who could rival her own abilities is the very man she shares blood with.

But despite everyone else seeming to understand the determined look in her glittering blue eyes, one man halts her at the top of the gangplank, widening his stance to block her. He still refuses to let her pass even with the fluttering of her eyelids and pouting lips, which she can't seem to understand. Apparently, sailors don't think young women in flouncy blue and pink floral dresses with teal dyed hair strands and silver tipped starry fingernails are appropriate visitors for the Ark. However, Nova isn't one to be told 'no,' and she stands on her toes to peek around the towering man. "Hey, Jack?! You here?!" He probably already knows she's there from the beaming kaleidoscope of her ADHD mind, but she doesn't know that, resorting to mundane methods like shouting into the void.

Nova

JACK

"She's good, Bassian." Jack waves off the hulking man, who raises an eyebrow at the captain over his shoulder before stepping aside to allow Nova on board with a soft nod of acceptance. "No big brother in tow today?" This he directs to the girl in question, Jack smirking around the cigarette he places between his lips, slipping his matchbook out of his back pocket to light it.

The Ark is abuzz with the sort of activity that suggests she's going somewherequite soon, which is true; his ship has been bobbing around in port for long enough, and especially with things heating up void-wise, he feels as though he ought to get the wind in her sails before the next crisis. Their destination this time is the Greatwood, though it'll be a few days yet before she sets off.

More than enough time for some father-daughter bonding, evidently.

Shaking out the match and inhaling deeply on the cigarette, he raises an eyebrow expectantly at Nova. Not having dealt with her as often as her siblings, he nevertheless knows she'd not come to see him just for the hell of it.

you're the last of a dying breed; write our names in the wet concrete
I wonder if your therapist knows everything about me

Code stolen from Queen Sky

I have seafoam in my veins, I understand the language of waves.

The lazy tone of her father draws her attention, and Nova doesn't have to wait long to see the man. His casual dismissal of 'Bassian' earns the burly man a teasing show of her tongue as she skips past him to board the Ark. She even gives an extra flick of her hair before turning to Jack with beaming smile. Although nonchalant, she tilts up her nose up as if it might somehow make her look older or more capable. People seem to be questioning her abilities a lot recently, so Nova tries to emulate the 'authority' of the Captain with a casual dismissal of her own, "Nah. He's busy." 

In reality, she didn't tell him about her plans. It felt weird to tell her siblings that she wanted 'help' with her magic. That might suggest that she didn't know what she was doing, which was certainly not true. She just needed some tips, then she'd easily be the most powerful magic user in Caido. Even better than Jack. 

Her head lifts imperceptibly at the prideful thoughts, only turning when she notices the bustling movement of the crew around them. Her head shifts to take it all in, a slight pout coming to her lips. "Are you going somewhere?" Did that mean he wouldn't have time? It isn't like she needs him, but she came all this way...

Nova

JACK

"I'll believe that when I see it," Jack quips, of Vesper being busy. The demigod of Safrin's triplets usually occupied himself riffling through his decks of cards and making himself a nuisance at The Hanged Man, if his sources are correct - and they usually are, given how Jack comes by the knowledge. Nevertheless, he easily turns his attention from talk of Nova's brother to the girl herself, especially as she lifts her chin in a gesture of a would-be captain.

Hiding his smile around another draw from his cigarette, he breathes a whorl of smoke into the air above them, letting the cool Flowerbirth breeze carry it away. "Always," he drawls - his ship is almost always going somewhere, whether for business or pleasure. "Settin' out for the Greatwood in a couple days. For now, though, we're anchored." So what do you want? he might have said, though he merely raises his eyebrows in place of a verbal question.

you're the last of a dying breed; write our names in the wet concrete
I wonder if your therapist knows everything about me

Code stolen from Queen Sky

I have seafoam in my veins, I understand the language of waves.

A small scowl briefly spreads across her face as she fights the urge to jump to Vespy's defense, but he doesn't need her to. He's strong enough to do that himself. Plus, mention of the Greatwood nearly has her rambling on about the forest, her eyes brightening and mouth opening to take a deep breath for the long-winded tales of her travels. Only the impatient raise of his eyebrow makes her reconsider sharing her opinion. Her mouth slowly closes in disappointment, and she glances away. "Good." As if her input on their itinerary is important, or wanted. 

Maybe at another time she'll regale him with her amazing stories. Right now, she's come with a goal in mind. 

She waves a lingering tendril of smoke from her face before turning her face back to Jack. Smiling in a manner that usually gets her exactly what she wants, Nova starts with a 'flattering' compliment. "You seem pretty good with magic, and I know you've seen my own powerful abilities," her head lifts again, pride at the meager formidable magic she now possesses, "so I thought you might want to pass on some tips or tricks." It's not really a question, but the request is there, the opportunity for some 'fatherly wisdom' or 'family secrets' to be bestowed upon her like a blessing.

Nova

JACK

"Mm, glad we've got your approval," Jack drawls, dipping his head towards Nova in mock deference and flicking the ash from the end of his cigarette. Having lowered the smoke, it means his crooked smile is on full display in response to her sunny, butter-wouldn't-melt expression, as well as her... compliment? Pretty good, his ass. "Ah, yes, the puddle moving and the tide jaguar," he remembers. "Awe-inspirin', truly."

But she comes out with it at last, her words matching the kaleidoscopic burst of her thoughts, and the captain looks her briefly up and down before gesturing off the gangplank. "My first tip - don't play with magic on somethin' that can sink or explode," he says, flicking the half finished cigarette over the side of the ship as he passes her and heads down towards the docks.

"I know a quiet bit of beach. You can show me what you can do, an' we'll go from there."

you're the last of a dying breed; write our names in the wet concrete
I wonder if your therapist knows everything about me

Code stolen from Queen Sky

I have seafoam in my veins, I understand the language of waves.

Nova feels like she should be offended by what she guesses is sarcasm, but she just raises her head again with a roll of her eyes. "I have more than that." Other than her multiple magics, she's got her charm, wit, and unwavering self-confidence. What more could someone want - or have for that matter? She certainly considers herself to have more going for her than most people.

As Jack slips seamlessly into his first tip, Nova perks up more. Who knew that was even possible, but her eyes brighten and an excited smile spreads across her face. She nods her head because of course they shouldn't practice on the ship, although she wouldn't mind showing off in front of a crowd. But whatever the Captain wants. Skipping to follow behind, she gives a playful salute of her hand along with a flurry of illusion sparkles. "Yessir!"

She lets him lead to wherever they're going, humming along the way as she tries to picture what kind of expression Jack will make when he sees how amazing her abilities are. There's a lot of colors involved, a few gasps, even one of him fainting - although it's harder to picture. But there's only one way to find out, and when they finally get to the empty patch of beach, Nova is practically buzzing with magic. Grinning, she asks, "Are you ready?" She raises her hands, the illusion magic sparkling at her fingertips like little stars.

Nova

JACK

"Of that I got no doubt," Jack drawls, grinning over his shoulder towards Nova before focusing once more on the short trek to the beach. He's noticed, since their arrival, the way each of the Marin siblings is not unlike him in certain aspects. Caly possesses his calculating nature, amoral and capable, he thinks, of making difficult decisions with dangerous ease. Vesper, cursed with his own magic, walks the same road Jack does by default, but he can sense the quiet determination in the boy as well.

And Nova?

She reminds him of his younger self in more ways than are comfortable; swaggering, (over)confident and brimming with ambition. The flamboyance and energy are all her own, however, and as he falls to a halt in the soft sand, she's already practically vibrating with her magic.

"Ready when you are," he quips to her, gesturing for her to go ahead and give him her best shot.

you're the last of a dying breed; write our names in the wet concrete
I wonder if your therapist knows everything about me

Code stolen from Queen Sky

I have seafoam in my veins, I understand the language of waves.

With the opportunity to show off everything she's got, Nova has to keep from jumping up and down. She contains it to a little bounce, splaying her hands to call the magic out of her tiny body. "Okaaay! Here I go!" Her tongue stinks out in concentration as she starts through her rotation of elemental magics. 

First, she twists a small tendril of water from a receding wave. It moves upward like a snake that has been run over by a wagon wheel - multiple times. Some sections are thicker than others, and the movement is as graceful as a seizing golem. But Nova is proud of the display, and she directs the water into the sand, where she manipulates the grains into a small tower. She doesn't have the control to give it windows, or a door, or bricks, or a spire, or anything more than the piling of sand, yet she grins like it's a sandcastle constructed by the gods. 

Satisfied that she has Jack's full attention and admiration, she giggles and pushes a breeze of wind against the 'tower.' Most of it falls into something even less recognizable, but a few grains scatter into the air. Nova pushes them higher until the creation magic cracks through her veins like a firework, turning the sand into glitter that drift down. With a final wave of her fingers, splattering of starlight weaves in amongst the sparkling pieces as they fall around the pair like confetti. 

She grins and claps her hands as she dances in place. "Soooo? What do you think?! Amazing, right?!" Beaming, she twirls a strand of hair around her finger as she brags, "I also have fire magic, but there isn't a lot of fire out here." Her giggle bubbles around them as she looks to Jack, eager to hear all the praise he has for her.

Nova

JACK

He might have suggested to Nova that she not announce when she's going to be using her magic in a real fight, but he assumes this is all part of the show he can practically feel bubbling to life in her mind. Watching as she walks him through the elements - water, earth, air - followed by illusion, along with the snippet of knowledge about her fire magic, his eyebrows raise and he strolls closer, circling her.

"You certainly got variety," he agrees quietly. It's not not impressed, though the seeds of her magic that will one day render her a force to be reckoned with have yet to properly sprout. "But I don't reckon you'll do much damage with any one of 'em. That brings me to my next tip - don't start fights you can't finish." He raises his eyebrows, obviously referring to Melita.

"Which one's your favourite?" he asks. "Out of the water, air an' earth, preferably. We'll start there."

you're the last of a dying breed; write our names in the wet concrete
I wonder if your therapist knows everything about me

Code stolen from Queen Sky

I have seafoam in my veins, I understand the language of waves.

Nova straightens as Jack circles her, chest puffing with a combination of pride and attempted bravado. It may not be much of a complement, but she absolutely takes it as one, unable to hide the way her mind flashes like an explosion of warm starlight, bursting in a kaleidoscope of pure bliss. She smiles, bouncing from one foot to another just to exert some of the adrenaline coursing through her little body. 

Even with the warning, she isn't easily discouraged. Tilting her head with wide, innocent blue eyes, she asks, "How do I know if I can finish it?" With Melita, she'd certainly thought she could 'finish it' (whatever that meant). Is there some way to tell? People appear very unassuming sometimes, especially in Caido. She should know!

The question stumps her for a moment. She has to pick?! Nova taps a glittered finger against her lips, letting out a contemplative hum as she thinks about all the benefits of each (which turns out to be how pretty they look) before finally coming to a decision. "I think water is cool! It's so sparkly when the sunshine hits it! Like stars!" As if Jack doesn't know what stars are, she throws her hands in the air.

Nova

JACK

Able to feel the burst of colour in Nova's mind as it vibrates throughout her small form, Jack has to resist the urge to press his hands down on her shoulders merely to create some facsimile of stillness. It wouldn't be any use even if he tried, he knows, and so instead he merely draws up beside her, watching the barely-there evidence of the sand tower she'd made.

"Practice, mostly," he says, kicking a bit more sand over the tower as if to cover it up further. "Though I'd recommend a test shot or two, if you can help it. Then if whatever they throw back is more'n you can take, get the hell outta dodge." Shrugging, he glances sidelong at her and inclines his head to hear that water is her element of choice.

"Works for me," he says, striding back away from her before turning on heel. "Block me." It's an invitation as much as a command, and Nova will know what she's expected to block a mere moment later as Jack fires a powerful jet of water in her direction.

you're the last of a dying breed; write our names in the wet concrete
I wonder if your therapist knows everything about me

Code stolen from Queen Sky

I have seafoam in my veins, I understand the language of waves.

Her face goes through a myriad of undisguised emotions, starting with disgust. 'Practice'? Does that mean she had to keep picking fights to find out what her limits are? (Although she's not certain she even has any - not that she's seen anyways.) That sounds like a lot of work. Can't she just use her magic to put them on their butts? 

Switching to thoughtful, she taps her finger against her lips again. Maybe it wouldn't be such a bad thing. She does like showing people how strong she is. So maybe people will start taking her seriously. Although that still leaves the question of "How do I know how much I can take?"

However, deep in thought, Nova doesn't notice that Jack has already moved on to the demonstration part of their lesson. The jet of water is only spotted as she turns to ask her question, making her squeal in surprise. Only on pure feline instincts, she ducks down under the stream, pushing her water magic against the bottom to keep it from hitting her upside the head. Once it passes her with only some sprinkling on her hair and clothes, Nova lets out a relieved giggle. "Woah! That was close!" Whether it's considered 'blocking' or not, she's looking at Jack with a self-satisfied grin.

Nova

JACK

Had Nova been more aware of his magic and its similarities to Vesper's, Jack might have pointed out that her magic in its current state likely won't be putting anyone on their butts. But that can be shown as much as told, if they keep up this little training session. As for how she'll know how much she can take, the captain bares his teeth in a wolfish grin and she'll likely know the answer before he says it. "Practice," he drawls.

But then it's on to actually flinging magic around, and Jack is pleasantly surprised to find her able to push up against his jet of water to avoid getting wet; it might not be a block in the traditional fashion, but it'll do. "Good," he says curtly. "Again." This time the water arcs towards her horizontally, intending to sweep her off her feet like some ill-timed skipping rope.

you're the last of a dying breed; write our names in the wet concrete
I wonder if your therapist knows everything about me

Code stolen from Queen Sky