todays bird
Monterey Bay Aquarium
🩵 avery cochrane 🩵
Cosmic Funnies
ojovivo
Jar Jar Binks Fan Club
Noah Kahan
Love Begins
noise dept.
Andulka
Xuebing Du
Fai_Ryy
pixel skylines
The Stonewall Inn
d e v o n
Game Changer & Make Some Noise
gracie abrams
cherry valley forever
NASA
shark vs the universe
seen from Ukraine
seen from Bangladesh
seen from T1
seen from United States
seen from Bangladesh
seen from United States
seen from Malaysia
seen from Japan
seen from Ukraine
seen from Bangladesh
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from Saudi Arabia
seen from Türkiye
seen from India
seen from United States
seen from Paraguay
seen from Greece
seen from France
seen from Pakistan
@gondul-fang
"I loved the Black Fang. Nergal and Sonia have ruined it, but… The Black Fang that my father and brothers made… Everyone was so kind, I thought of them as my family…"
MUSE / MUN / INTERVIEW / STATS
Nino (FE7) | Closed RP blog affiliated with the Officers Academy | Black Eagles student | Portrayed by Aunyx
the abyss gazes back
Nino & Legault - Ethereal Ball - Reunion
“I wasn’t properly taught.” He keeps his voice low, as if sharing a dire secret. “But we’ve both learned how to pick things up by watching and listening, haven’t we?”
Relief softens the humor in his smile—Nino deserves mentorship and care, more than a life of skills scrapped together through observation. He may not be able to provide much on that front, but she’s at a place where others can. She’s safe. She can grow.
“Ah—dancing is supposed to be done with clean, happy faces.” She’s doing her best, but she’ll ruin her dress if she uses parts of it to keep scrubbing at her tears. He grasps at one of the loose ends on the knot holding his shawl together and brings it close to his sleeve, finagles with a blade concealed beneath his clothes until he successfully cuts the end of the fabric free.
(Ideally, this will be the only reason for him to use that blade tonight. The habit of needing one on him at all, even at a place like this, is another reason that it’s for the best for Nino to be cared for by someone else.)
He offers the makeshift kerchief to her. It’s a proper penance for making her cry, mucking up his own clothing instead.
“I’ll show you how to to dance if you show me how you have danced before while we do it. How's that sound?”
Nino tries to avoid sullying her dress any further, but her tears won't stop, even though she feels better. She tries to use her hand and her arm to wipe her face, but it's just no use. She'll have to deal with her face being a mess on the dance floor.
Until...Legault swiftly cuts part of the tie of his shawl and hands it over to her. Something about the flash of the knife beneath his sleeve is...oddly comforting, even if he tries to hide it from Nino. The irony of hiding a hidden blade makes her choke out a giggle.
"Thanks," she says, dabbing at her face. This material perhaps wasn't meant for this purpose, but it does the job. She focuses on getting her breathing under control, and finally, her tears subside.
How did Nino dance? It's been so long since she tried. Back when she lived with Sonia, when her brothers were away. When she was alone, and she thought she was happy.
She tries to remember what she'd felt then. Her world had been so small. She had no reason to think much was missing. As long as she tried harder, made herself more lovable...things had to get better, right?
Nino steps onto the dance floor with a stiff upper lip, dauntless. She holds out her arms, spinning on one foot, her skirt suspended in a twirl.
She knows now that she no longer needs to grovel to be loved. She dips forward, backward, sideways. Clumsy, but free. She meets Legault's eyes, beaming.
Housekeeping!
Below is a list of threads currently in Nino's rotation. I maintain my thread trackers manually, so please let me know if I missed yours or if a turn order is wrong. Please also reach out if you would like to drop or discuss a thread - I don't want to rush anyone, but Nino does have a lot of replies/starters that have been hanging for a while, even long before the ball.
I'm not actively seeking new threads for Nino, but still feel free to reach out (preferably on Discord) if you'd like to thread with her.
My Turn:
Fun fact! Most students are literate - Tine
Wanna see my cool trick? *shoplifts a lipsmacker* - Tina
Starter for Selkie
Serra at the ball
Partner's Turn:
the abyss gazes back - Legault
quicker than a ray of light - Ninian
happy little clouds - Eliwood
heart in a headlock - Heath
a blade heaven made - Forrest
a charm of powerful trouble - Ewan
my teacher and I saved the world once. yeah it was crazy. - Erk
take a look, it's in a book
*Unfinished Starlight Dreams threads (with Caspar, Sin, and Mark) have been dropped due to the three month clause.
ACTIVITY CHECK: MAY 2026
Total Skill Points: 8 >>> 9 Allocated: Reason C >>> C(1/2) Classes Accessed: N/A Classes Mastered: N/A Items/Abilities Required: Joyous Lantern (pending)
@gondul-fang sent:
[ FLOWER ARRANGEMENT ] - No matter how many flowers you gather, your bouquet won’t look its best unless you have the skill to make it so. A couple of students have taken upon itself to imbue their peers with the knowledge of flower language and the art of flower arrangement, and as a result the garden has become something of a workshop.
"Woah, that's a whole lot of flowers!" Nino takes hurried steps over to the pincurl-blonde girl, as if she could hold up a leaning tower of blooms. "Do you want a hand with those? I know a thing or two about arranging flowers, y'know. I'm Nino!"
This is perhaps the first time in Marni's life that anyone has ever implied she might be having trouble carrying something. Normally people would see her shield or axe (which she has unfortunately been banned from bringing to this stupid event) and assume that she's capable of carrying just about anything. Which, to be clear, she can. Weapons, dead kings, there's probably nothing she wouldn't be able to lift without breaking a sweat.
But flowers? Marni, member of the Four Hounds, struggling to hold flowers? Flowers???
People used to scream when they saw her coming, you know!
"Look, it's not that I'm struggling, got it? There are just so many that it's a little awkward to hold." As if to prove a point, she offloads a handful of lilies on the other girl. "See? Perfectly manageable. Besides, what's there to know about arranging flowers? You just have to pick out all the ones you like, right?"
Huh, she's a little bitey, despite her cute looks. Still, Nino does get some nice lilies out of the deal, so she can't complain. "Ooh, thanks! Well, you can just pick the ones you like, but you can play with shapes, too...see, like this."
Nino adds a bright purple hyacinth to the center-front of the bouquet. Okay, the shape is still weird. And the girl's not paying much attention, anyway. She hurriedly tries to push and pull the lilies so each of them can be seen at once, and after a few moments, she's satisfied.
"I lied," says Nino. "I...don't really know much about flowers. But I hope you get some pretty ones!"
[ SLIP-UP ] - As it turns out, a lot of people at the monastery make for great body doubles in the dark. What do you do when you slap a friend on the back only for you to find out when they turn around that it’s not your friend at all?
There had been a couple of familiar faces tonight. Folks he had recalled from the last he had been taking jobs around the academy, and those he fought beside long ago. The person he spots in the crowd is the latter - and when he does spot the guy? Oh, does he have a thing or two to say.
"Hey! What's someone like you doing here? Not causing trouble, are we-" The last words trail off, however, when something doesn't add up. There's no bark back at him, for one. Maybe he confused Lugh with Raigh, then? He goes to apologize but, no, this isn's Lugh, either.
Who is she?
"Uh, I mean..." He searches for something to say, but struggles to do so. He's too distracted by how familiar she looks. She could probably tell him that she's the long lost triplet, and he'd believe her.
Someone's calling out - certainly not for her. The only people who'd talk to her like that are...well. She'd rather not think about it. It's not them.
Nino turns around anyway, though. Just in case. But her brothers are not there. The guy who'd called out is unfamiliar, and he seems just bewildered as she is.
"Hi," she says, tepid but friendly. "Are you looking for somebody? I'm Nino. Anything I can do to help?"
He racks his brain to see if the name's familiar to him - and when he draws nothing immediately, Hugh shakes his head. "Kinda? Not exactly...I travel a lot, so when I see a familiar face, I gotta say hi, yeah?" This actually isn't true in all cases, but Hugh's not going to correct himself on that.
"It's funny, but you actually remind me of two people. Couldn't be anymore different, but from behind, I'd sometimes mix one of them up for the other." He takes another look at Nino. Even in the dim lighting, there's a lot that reminds him of the twins. Strange.
"Here." Deciding not to linger on this for too long, he presents Nino with an orchid. "The name's Hugh! Ahaha, sorry about the mixup, but the same goes for you, ok? It's pretty dark right now, so I can't imagine actually trying to find someone right now."
"Two people?" Nino racks her brain. It's not ridiculous to think that she might be mistaken for someone else, but to potentially be mistaken for multiple people by the same person is...odd. Are they siblings, maybe?
There could be something interesting there, but she shrugs it off. Still...even in the dark, something about this man's eyes looks familiar. It'd be rude to stare, though. So she stops.
"Thanks," she says, mind preoccupied as she takes the flower. "Hold on! I've got one for you, too." She's pretty sure the hyacinth she hands him is white, but it looks blue-ish in the light. "Have a good evening, Hugh. Hope you find who you're looking for."
[ SLIP-UP ] - As it turns out, a lot of people at the monastery make for great body doubles in the dark. What do you do when you slap a friend on the back only for you to find out when they turn around that it’s not your friend at all?
There had been a couple of familiar faces tonight. Folks he had recalled from the last he had been taking jobs around the academy, and those he fought beside long ago. The person he spots in the crowd is the latter - and when he does spot the guy? Oh, does he have a thing or two to say.
"Hey! What's someone like you doing here? Not causing trouble, are we-" The last words trail off, however, when something doesn't add up. There's no bark back at him, for one. Maybe he confused Lugh with Raigh, then? He goes to apologize but, no, this isn's Lugh, either.
Who is she?
"Uh, I mean..." He searches for something to say, but struggles to do so. He's too distracted by how familiar she looks. She could probably tell him that she's the long lost triplet, and he'd believe her.
Someone's calling out - certainly not for her. The only people who'd talk to her like that are...well. She'd rather not think about it. It's not them.
Nino turns around anyway, though. Just in case. But her brothers are not there. The guy who'd called out is unfamiliar, and he seems just bewildered as she is.
"Hi," she says, tepid but friendly. "Are you looking for somebody? I'm Nino. Anything I can do to help?"
Wanna see my cool trick? *shoplifts a lip smacker*
Continued with @gondul-fang
Even more disappointing than the state of the already unlocked lock and the loss of the chance to show off her cool skills is the lack of anything interesting in the room. Or rather, the lack of anything at all. What was the point of this?
Tina pouts and kicks her toe against the floor. "Ew-uh this is so boring-uh! There's gotta be something more exciting we can find."
But something Nino said clicks into place in Tina's mind and she perks right back up. "Hang on, you pick locks too? Oh man, we gotta hang out sometime! I'm still learning how to do it manually but I have a staff that lets me open anything without even being near it! And the Thief Staff lets me, well, thief! I knew you had to be cool when I saw your hair!"
Nino's eyes widen like dinner plates. "A staff?" she repeats, trying to imagine such a thing. Nino hasn't worked with staves very much; Erk taught her the basics when she joined Eliwood's army, but she certainly hadn't used one that could open locks.
(A vision pops into her head, of herself swathed in cleric's robes. A young and unassuming girl, carrying a single staff. The things that she could get away with...)
She shakes out her hands, banishing the thought. She's supposed to be giving up all the things her family taught her growing up! But it's...difficult.
"That's really cool," says Nino. "I'm learning magic, but I've only gotten the hang of anima so far. Isn't there a torch that lets you light up dark rooms, too?" Like this one, she thinks to herself. Must not be that important if it was left unlocked, but her curiosity still incessantly calls.
[ SEQUESTER ] - Some rooms remain unused, and while by the padlocks on their doors you suspect they are meant to remain that way, some poor sap seems to have forgotten to make sure they were locked properly. They make for an excellent space away from the chaos of the rest of the ball—though you may not be the first one there.
"Whoa! Cool hair!" Though their hair textures are different, it's still exciting to Tina to see someone else with cute green hair in a style similar to hers. "I'm Tina! Wanna see a cool trick?"
Without waiting for the answer, Tina grabs Nino by the hand and pulls her off toward a door she assumes is locked. She's gonna think she's so cool knowing how to get into a place like this!
But after messing with the lock for a second, Tina pouts. "Aw man, I thought it was locked! I was gonna show you how to break in!"
The girl is like a whirlwind, introducing herself and whisking Nino away in what feels like a single breath. Normally Nino is the one to get the jump on somebody like this...in a friendly way, of course.
She's always up for seeing cool tricks, and is excited to see what Tina has up her sleeve. It seems, however, that her plot has been foiled by someone carelessly leaving a hidden room unlocked. "Aw," says Nino, genuinely despondent. "That's too bad, I like to see how other people pick locks. I'm pretty out of practice."
Nino peers into the open room, finding only darkness. "Uhh. Do you still wanna go in?"
[ MINT CANDY ] - For when your breath isn’t as fresh as newly-fallen snow.
"Matthew!" Nino waves emphatically at her old friend (old coworker?) from across the dance floor, her steps loudly clicking as she approaches. "It's been a long time! I hope you've been well!"
Nino digs around in the pockets(!) of her dress, hoping to find a suitable gift for her old acquaintance. All she procures is a foil-wrapped mint. "Uh, I grabbed this from the entrance table, would you like it? I'm not saying you smell bad or anything! I just like to give people stuff."
It occurs to Nino mid-sentence that perhaps one of her flowers would've made for a better presentation, but hopefully Matthew forgives her clumsiness.
And speaking of disarming...
"Hi, Nino." He smiles in turn, her cheery energy infectious. "It's good to see you."
Matthew watches as she rummages, looking for... something. When she comes up with a mint, he can't help an amused grin. He takes the candy, relegating it to one of his own suit's pockets.
"Thanks. I'm glad you clarified." He clears his throat lightly, a mite sheepish despite himself. "...Your dress has pockets? That's impressive. I'm sure many a lady here tonight are gonna be jealous, even if they won't say so."
It sounds practical, after all. But if it's function at the cost of form... unfortunately, Matthew doubts if it's a trend the elite will latch onto anytime soon.
"Oh! Right! One good deed deserves another, so they say..." He plucks up a tulip, offering it to her with a flourish. "I hope you've been well also. You're attending as a student, I take it?"
"Oh! Thank you!" Matthew's offered flower is appreciated, but it only reminds her of her faux pas. "You should have one of mine too, yeah? It's only fair!"
Nino offers Matthew a bright blue hyacinth, a lovely contrast to the rest of his bouquet. Her smile dims, just a little. "This isn't, uh...another good deed, by the way. It's a package deal. So you don't owe me anything! I hope you have fun tonight, Matthew!"
the abyss gazes back
Nino & Legault - Ethereal Ball - Reunion
“Nino…”
Her brave little mask shatters. The shards of it cut him, even as he holds fast from letting his own expression show any cracks. Beneath the sting there’s an odd sense of relief, truth be told. A girl so young shouldn’t be so hardened against her own heart. It’s a good thing if she hasn’t built up the scar tissue to hold her own emotions in place.
“If you were hoping to find me at a time where I wouldn’t be happy to see you alive and well, you were playing a losing game. Don’t blame yourself for that.”
Legault moves his features into a careful smile. An equally careful angling of his body helps shield Nino’s tears from as many judging eyes as he can manage. He can't wipe her tears, not when it's his fault that they're running down her face. Instead, he lightly curls a hand around hers.
Quietly, like the way he’d offer a little adventure when she was small, he says, “I’d rather teach you something nicer than how to skulk about. Do you know how to waltz?”
She braces herself for whatever could happen. Which includes, but is not limited to, complete rejection. Maybe she's been steeling herself for that all this time, for the bitter truth that Nino will only hold him back. That so little remains of what she called a family, and the last of it may slip away for good.
But Uncle Legault surprises her again. He's...happy to see her? He's not even all that ruffled about the timing. And now he...wants to dance?
Something about it forces a chuckle from her throat, a harsh and ugly sound. She dabs at her eyes carefully with her sash - oh no, is there snot running down her nose, too? What a mess she's made.
And yet. Legault is happy to see her.
Nino smiles as she shakes her head. "I've never danced," she admits. "Well, not...with anyone. Could...could you show me?"
the abyss gazes back
Nino & Legault - Ethereal Ball - Reunion
Legault’s whole body freezes in place. There’s only one person who calls him by that name, and she shouldn’t be here. She shouldn’t be anywhere near him. The underworld he’d fled to had no place for a child, especially one so kindhearted, and he’d made sure she didn’t follow.
And yet, here she stands.
“Little Nino. I…”
She’s not quite as little as she was in his memory. It’s not just in her height, or her face—there’s an assertiveness here that couldn’t flourish under the thumb of her mother. Nino is defying his own words from their last parting, pushing against his authority. A true, courageous Black Fang. He can manage a sincere smile at that, even if his heart clings to his throat at the sight of her. “I’m glad you’re well. You look lovely, Nino.”
She does. She’s as bright and full of potential as ever. His brows draw together with concern, and his voice grows quieter. “Why on earth would you look for me in a place like this?”
Her eyes burn, but she won't cry; Fiora had done such a nice job on her makeup. She wants to throw herself at Legault, to sob and be held. When she was small, she could do such a thing without question. Even now, she cries silently; Sonia had ensured that from the time she could walk.
But...no. Not here. Not in this dress, not around all these people, not in front of Uncle Legault.
(He hadn't even scolded her for calling him that again. Even now, he's slow to anger. Even when he has more to lose by having her around.)
Nino manages a chuckle. "This might be the only place I wasn't looking for you," she says, "but here you are. It's good to see you."
She is fifteen now. Practically an adult, or at least, not a child. She will play that part, even if the shoes are too big.
"I thought," she continues, gaze cast at the sparkling tile floor, "if I could find you, you'd know that I'm not a little kid anymore. And that I remember what you taught me." Nino forces a smile. "I guess it didn't work. I didn't find you when you didn't wanna be found."
Something about forcing her expression flips the switch. Her face crumples, and tears race down her cheeks. She doesn't move, doesn't make a sound. She's fallen apart, and she's failed.
the abyss gazes back
Nino & Legault - Ethereal Ball - Reunion
Weeks have passed without a single sign. Short of wandering straight into the underground streets - which would certainly be a stain upon her permanent record - Nino has searched every nook and cranny she could think of, at every possible time of day. A few times, she even slipped out in the middle of the night, avoiding the watchful gaze of the knights, hoping for a shadow, a rumble.
Nothing.
Until, of all places, here - a dense and spinning crowd, so many eyes and ears. Contained by the ballroom's four walls; well dressed, perfumed, clean shaven.
Nino blinks, rubs her eyes. She follows that flickering purple streak like a bloodhound, striding between twirling couples and poofy skirts until finally, she has caught her prey unaware. Would he be proud, in any other circumstance? Or is this too easy - something about fish in a barrel?
She closes the distance. She looks up - not as much as she once did. Her eyes are sparkling, still youthful - yet hardened. She balls her nicely-pressed skirt in her fists.
"Uncle Legault," she says, as if it's the third or fourth time she's tried. Not unkind, but demanding swift attention. "There you are."
@katabatiic
Nino has never seen anything so grand: the soft lighting of the ballroom, the dazzling dresses and suits of the fellow dancers who pass her. Even the carpet is sumptuous; everything around her is so distracting! There's even a band, indicated by soft, distant strings as she crosses the threshold. Uncle Jan had sent over just a little bit of money, along with a short letter wishing her well. (It had taken her a while to decipher it, but she's getting better!) Nino had perused the racks of a finer tailor, unable to afford anything custom, but managed to find a cute teal dress appliqued with big flowers on the front. It's a soft material that catches the light, like liquid metal. An attendant heartily welcomes her, and entrusts her with a bouquet of hyacinths. "Hand them out to as many folks as you can," they say, "and you'll receive some, in turn. By the end of the night, you'll have the loveliest arrangement!" Dizzy and starstruck, Nino nods, like the fate of the dance depends on the distribution of these flowers.
🪻Flower Tracker: Rose - Hector Tulip - Matthew Lily - Marni Orchid - Hugh Hyacinth - Tine
happy little clouds
Nino & Eliwood - Mission Board: Infamous - [Flying +1]
The monastery is truly beautiful. When he feels cooped too long in his office, or his classes seem to stretch endlessly, there is always the thought that he can soon stretch his legs across the monastery's grounds. There has been little time to rest with how exuberant he finds his new students.
A clatter sounds nearby and his thoughts scatter in a flock. He turns to find a familiar shade of green hair that frames a youthful face. "Nino?" Surprise breaks into a warm smile and he makes his way toward her.
"What a surprise. Ah, let me help." He stoops to pick up her canvas and notes that it looks...uninspired. "I didn't know that you paint." He's still not sure if she paints.
He rights the canvas on her easel and turns his attention back to her. "It is good to see you again, and in such high spirits."
That's the Eliwood she knows, Nino thinks, as he bends to collect her scattered supplies. Always so kind and noble, ready to lend a hand at the slightest notion. Even in such a beautiful and exciting new place, Nino feels lonely; every old friend she bumps into at the monastery dispels any storm that threatens to form over her head.
"Oh," she says, becoming a little shy as she gathers her brushes in hand. "It's for an assignment. Kind of. I've...never actually painted before, but it's for something important. If you have a minute, or maybe a little longer..."
Nino studies Eliwood's form for a moment, wondering how she could get the silhouette of him to look anything like a wyvern. She frames him with her hands held in front of her face, her tongue poking out as she thinks.
"Could you please," says Nino, "lift up one foot a bit? And spread out your arms? Hold your head up? If you get tired, it's okay to take a break." She beams at him, lifting up a rather large brush and pointing it toward her canvas.
happy little clouds
Nino & Eliwood - Mission Board: Infamous - [Flying +1]
"A wyvern...without being a wyvern."
Nino has repeated her task to herself so many times that her throat has gone dry. What if she just goes to the stables and paints an abstract form, and insists her model was something else? No; Nino's a bad liar. But what looks like a wyvern without being a wyvern?
She's never even painted anything before, but there had been an announcement about the competition in yesterday's riding class - and it just so happened to be the day after she'd eyed a beautiful saddle at the market. Like some kind of miracle, the prize money would be the perfect amount to make it hers.
Not that Nino has a pegasus. Yet. But that's a trifling detail.
Maybe she's just barreling into something without a plan, like usual. Nino sighs, near to giving up, when she spots a familiar head of red hair strolling across the courtyard.
"Oh my goodness!" Nino cries, jumping up so fast that her canvas and brushes clatter to the cobblestone. She waves emphatically to her old commander, jumping in place. "Sir Eliwood! Over here!! Do you have a moment?"
@of-pherae
Fun fact ! most students are literate
"That's a brilliant idea! Granted, I don't really remember how it was to learn to write, but it's mostly a mechanical skill, right? Maybe I can somehow help; ask professors for advice if you feel awkward since you're new."
She talks on and on quickly and excitedly.
But
"Ah, I'm sorry for pushing myself onto you so much. Well, how to say that always wanted to help people "
She used to be helpless to protect herself, and she knows she's already done many things to change the world for the better, but now she just feels.
That she wants to do something smaller
more personal.
" A-h well outside we have a tea garden; it's the primary social hub for many students. I like tea myself, but nowadays I usually drink it in my room."
"Oh," says Nino, "a tea garden!" She holds some questions on her tongue, realizing how naive they may sound. Is it a garden where they...grow tea? No; from Tine's description, it must be a place specifically set aside for drinking tea. How luxurious!
"You mean like, tea parties?" Nino asks. "How does that work? Do people dress up? Have you ever been to a tea party, Tine?"
It's hard to imagine anybody asking Nino to tea. Is it a sign of status, to do such a thing? Sure, the monastery is home to commoners and nobles alike, and as little distinction is made between them in the cirriculum as possible, but...Nino is just. Nino.
"Ah, I got excited again." Nino chuckles a little sheepishly. "All of this is still so new to me."
