El Brillo Solitario

isola affiliated Thorns of Arknights

[nervecorrode]

THORNS from ARKNIGHTS

An Aegirian Operator from Iberia who joined Rhodes Island based on a recommendation from his "friend"/"rival".

Aegir are typically thought of as "seaborn" and have animalistic traits of sea creatures. Thorns here is a sea urchin which is just amazing because otherwise he just looks like some guy.

An expert at pharmacology, particularly toxins, and combines his swordsmanship with his development of toxins

Cares about his work more than he cares about orders - agreeable to the extent in which he interprets orders given. So, you know, he's okay-ish at teamwork. maybe.

Always looks messy - even if his hair were to be brushed it'll end up sticking out at all ends. We're all just lucky that he's even dressed so let's take what we can get.

[plantamagicae]

[ 🌱 ] no matter the weather, the witch had often found herself at the base of the giant tree within cotes fantasci; not only was it magnificent, but it made a wonderful place for willow to occupy herself. usually, it would involve practicing plant magic or studying botanical journals, but something else had caught her attention this day.

thankfully, willow's outfit of choice came equipped with a hood, protecting her and her palisman from the rain. as such, she was dry... well, for the most part -- just damp and uncomfortable. but that didn't stop her from sneaking glances at the boy who seemed occupied with some sort of shielded plant and the roots of the tree.

when he spoke on her attention, willow blushed slightly; oh geez, he caught her peeking. well that was embarrassing. no need to keep to herself, now. without further ado, willow tucked her books into her satchel before drawing closer to the boy.

" do you want me to get you something to keep yourself dry? i can go see if they have anything in the library if you'd like! "

willow would take any opportunity to make a new friend.

[nervecorrode]

"Huh?" His hair somehow remained spiked despite the rain, as though it as an urchin itself, resisting the water around it. She looked concerned for some reason or another, as though he hadn't been in far worse field conditions than this.

"No, this field equipment is fine. I needed to save space for samples." Pulling off his backpack, he puts said sample in with the others, the soft clink of glass indicating there are more bottles in there than just the one.

"I grew up near the water." Better to admit that than to admit he was an Aegir, given he had no idea who or what she was. "So this kind of weather doesn't bother me."

If he was being entirely honest, it was kind of nice. Better than the dry desert.

[gracesavestar]

QUESTIONING THE HONOR OF HIS VICTORY, of course the reaction he offers is gutted. ❝ Rejected?! No way! Do you have any proof that it's a rejection and not me having found my way out, just for them to wipe my memory of how to bring me back? ❞ farfetched is an understatement with a wild scenario as this, and yet he carries on with it, almost as if he's as serious as ever on the matter. well, at the very least, he doesn't plan on backing out of that possibility, given there is some logic to it, no matter how idiotic it may sound.

❝ Can you even say you made it here at all? ❞

not a particularly strong argument, though it makes a point that he's at least been able to become familiar with where they were. ❝ I still know my way around this place, anyway. That's gotta be worth something! But I guess if you don't wanna admit it, you're free to figure things out yourself, too, y'know? ❞ that was hardly a threat more so a taunt in return, offering the aegir the freedom to find out things himself than rely on his own intel, as willing as he is to share.

[nervecorrode]

"Now I have, and I haven't been rejected yet." He points out, given how entirely illogical the idea of them bothering to wipe his memory of his escape is. Elysium might make for an entertaining test subject, but not that entertaining.

Thorns does consider the proposal - while working together would be best, there was a matter of being able to compare notes at the end of it.

"One month." He holds up a gloved finger, almost in his companion's face. "I will explore on my own for one month, and then we'll see what one month of my own research is worth compared to your twice rejection."

The Aegir pulls out the phone he had been given, marking down the date on the available calendar. One month to gather samples and do his own research.

(Mostly, he wanted an excuse to compete with Elysium, but he was a bit unaware of that at the moment.)

"Where do you live? You can host us for the meeting one month from now."

[gracesavestar]

MAYBE THIS WAS SIMPLY FATE. how many times has he been here, meeting so few, if any, fellow operators and guests from rhodes island itself? and yet to find one that was his undying rival and a dear friend, he can only wonder if the stars have finally, at long last, given some sense of grace. not that he was any proverbial fish floundering out of the pond when it came to new places, unlike his companion who speaks up to make his presence known.

❝ Huh? Of course it's not. It is an island by the sea, but it isn't part of Iberia, ❞ he confirms, fiddling with a few bangs before brushing them aside. ❝ Rhodes isn't around, too. You might luck out and find a few fellow ops come and go if you keep an eye out, however. There's a couple already here. ❞ whether or not thorns could find them or was willing, well... that was truly up to him.

❝ Given that lost look in your eye, should I guess that you've just arrived? Heh. I win this round. I've already been to Spirale three times! ❞ as if that were anything to truly brag about, all despite the slight puff of his chest as he offers a chuffed reaction to the claim itself.

[nervecorrode]

Thorns makes a noise of acknowledgement at Elysium's confirmation, or that there were others here. Or both. or maybe neither. Elysium's instinct was right on the mark, unbeknownst to both of them, that Thorns was likely not entirely interested in meeting up with their comrades.

(Having already met up with Elysium, he met his quote, anyway. Or maybe he just preferred things this way. He's unsure.)

"Is that winning?" He finally says after a while, looking up at his rival. If anything, it seemed to be more of a taunt. While he could admit that for once (perhaps twice now) Elysium knew more than he did, he doubted that whatever had happened was winning any rounds.

"Seems to me that the place rejected you at least twice."

[nervecorrode]

"Did anyone ever consider that roots run two to four times the side of the top of the tree? That's a pretty good chunk of the place for one tree. What a weird island."

[nervecorrode]

Thorns didn't have anything from his lab, although there was no shortage of interesting aspects of this island to explore and experiment. The bloom acquired at the mountain was in a glass container - also acquired at the market - as he compared the extracted root system to the giant tree.

The canopy stretched so far over the ward that it wouldn't be surprising if these roots were sourced from the same tree.

Perched outside, the incoming rain heavy enough to fall through the canopy was ignored as he looked at the systems of the two organisms.

A young girl was also around the tree, and he had originally ignored her in the same way he ignored the rain.

But she seemed to be watching him with some measure of interest, so he sighed and turned to her.

"In lieu of a lab, I'm forced to work outside."

"In any case, the rain likely won't be letting up soon."

@plantamagicae

[nervecorrode]

While most seemed more preoccupied with the various storefronts and stalls at the Opalarian Market Town, one scholar was much more preoccupied with the plant life and growth lining said storefronts. Getting in the way, with seemingly little care for things such as interrupting regular business. He pokes at one of the flowers with a gloved hand, face expressionless as the petals close around his hands.

"Are you...Uh...Gonna buy something, sir?"

Thorns looks up at the owner of the stall, and then at the blonde woman in the brightly colored dress. And then back to the owner of the stall.

"You have a flower growing out of your stall." The flower opened back up, as though to show off when mentioned. "They seem to be an invasive species. Or, I suppose, they could be reclaiming the area with how deeply rooted they are." He pokes at the cracked stone.

The stall owner sighs, looking back to their other guest: "Sorry about that. Can I do anything for you?"

@toadstoolism

[nervecorrode]

He wasn't entirely surprised to see Elysium here.

After all, it seemed they always ended up in the same place. Of course, not due to some nonsense such as fate or predestination, but simply because Elysium had already recommended him for one job. And they worked well together - likely due to their Iberian influences in fighting styles.

He approaches quietly, the brisk winter air smelling of salt. It's hardly strange, too, that Elysium would be walking with such ease in this new place, whereas he has no idea where they've landed.

"This isn't Iberia." He says by way of greeting, noting the proximity of the water. Falling into step with Elysium, he continues. "And the landship isn't here, either."

@flagbearing

[nervecorrode]

;; feeling a little crazy feeling a little deranged here's an uncapped starter call for Thorns - length may vary!

[az-tanaka]