Warrior's Heart
OC CHARACTERS INVOLVED
Nirene Strigandr ♔ Nova Nagako
Nova grinned as she entered Earthrealm and more specifically the Shirai Ryu. She had her hair in a high bun and it was being held in place by a black snake pin but in the sunlight, like it glowed dark purple it was a parting gift from Shang Tsung that she thought would look good with her outfit. Speaking of which, she was wearing a split dress that was split on both sides stopping at her waist and promptly showing off her thighs, black was the main color but it also had gold designs all over then to top it off she was wearing knee-high boot heels.
Nova walked into the gardens two boxes in hand, by the way, to see teens setting up Shirai Ryu-based designs and seemingly preparing for their tradition to their new Grandmaster. That was the whole point of the celebration right? Not Kronika's defeat, not Kitana's leadership nor Liu Kang's it was about someone else who deserved it at least in Nova's heart he did. Nova walked to one of the main temples and knocked on it with the tip of her boot heel since her hands were occupied. "Who is it?" Nova rolled her eyes "The only loving and caring person who has been looking after you for the past decade." Nova said loudly for effect and then there was a pause "Erron?" Nova made a face of shock and agitation she kicked the door much harder this time and drew the attention of some assassins and a startled yell out of Nirene.
"Jeez," Nirene said under his breath as he slid the door open and Nova walked right past him and into his new inherited abode. Nova laid the boxes down on a nearby table taking the smaller box off of the bigger one and putting it off to the side. "Alright, are you ready- what are you doing?" Nova asked as she saw Nirene on his knees- praying. "I'm praying." Nova made a look of contempt as she looked at him on his knees. "Right I forgot that monks do that. Anyways come on so you can get ready it's almost time." Nova said as she looked over to Nirene who was stretching as if he had just woken up and that was probably the case. Nova looked up at Nirene and stared at him "Were you attempting to do make-up?" Korë asked and Nirene gave a posture of mock offense.
"I was attempting eye makeup and it just wasn't my best...please help." Nova nodded as she sat down on the floor and summoned a mirror and her Outworld kosmetics. She patted the space beside her signaling for Nirene to sit or lay down next to her and he did. Nova was sitting next to Nirene's head because he decided to lay down with the addition of spreading his arm across her lap for comfort. Nirene kept his eyes closed while Nova dipped one of the smaller brushes, in water to wet it then dabbed it in the black before carefully applying it to his eyes "Is your lover coming?" Nova finished up in the black for each eye and moved away for Nirene to talk while she repeated the process with a different brush and a different color. "He had a last-minute mercenary job but he's going to come to visit me on his way back." Nova let out a hum and Nirene had an understanding as to why she wasn't fond of the cowboy mercenary more of an understanding to her why he doesn't like the shapeshifting sorcerer.
Nova gave it thought but still hesitate in asking the question "And Yujiki?" Nova asked and let Nirene open his for this question. He opened his mouth then closed it. He was thinking. Nirene didn't tell her but something in his gut told him that she already knew. "I don't tell you that I appreciate you enough," Nirene said and it took Nova back but she hid it "Where did this come from? What do you mean by that?" Nova asked as she laid her brush back in the water bowl and looked down at Nirene as he shrugged his shoulders. "You're such a good friend and person, you make me feel alive when I had been dead for so many years when I had been surrounded by death for so many years. I feel wanted by you and I don't think I express that enough to you." Nirene finished as his head migrated over to Nova's lap in replacement of his arm.
"No you don't but I came to understand that linking words to emotions always doesn't come easy to you," Nova responded as she tucked a piece of hair behind his ear and raked her nails through his scalp soothingly. "It really doesn't and you understood that when nobody else did. I wonder who I killed to deserve someone like you?" Nirene asked himself but turned to look at Nova instead and she let out a breath "I could ask myself the same thing. But some questions are better left unanswered it's just more fun that way. Plus we won't be separating from each other anytime soon...not with our lifespans." Korë joked and Nirene chuckled and nodded his head his teeth chattering together as the hum from the chuckle was given out. "You are right," Nirene said as he stood up and walked over to the box that Nova had put on the table earlier. "For me?" Nirene asked her how an upbeat child would when they are handed something out of the blue.
"Yes for you," Nova responded as Nirene opened the compartment and gasped. Nova had made an entire outfit for him! He was so happy! He took it out and held it in front of his eyes and the more he looked at it the more he fell in love with it. It was similar to what Nirene would wear on a daily but with Edenian designs and with the Shirai Ryu scorpion on the back of it. Nirene first pulled the vest over his head and onto his body as Nova started to secure the back of it he began to put on the pants. Nova backed out of the mirror's view so Nirene could look at himself in all his glory "You look wonderful Grandmaster Strigandr." Nova said as Nirene turned around to face and she winked at him. Now with his mask on to cover his mouth, she could look at his eyes to tell his emotions.
Nova cleared her throat as she got up and walked towards the door with Nirene following in her footsteps. She slid the door open for him and was now walking behind him as he entered the main area of the Shirai Ryu Gardens and stood in front of his fellow assassins and future apprentices. Nirene was never the best at giving speeches but he had gradually gotten better and his confidence was boosted with the help of Korë. After the formalities and Nirene got true ownership of the Shirai Ryu it was truly a celebration! Nirene spent most of it with Liu Kang and Kung Kao who congratulated him and Takeda who seemed to be talking about something important but Nova never interrupted letting Nirene have his time. She actually spent most of the part with Jacqueline Briggs. She always held a soft spot in her heart for the Briggs more often than the Cages.
Nirene walked up behind Nova and tapped her shoulder "Nova I need your help...assistance?" Nirene asked confused at his own words for a second and Nova turned around almost dizzyingly from the sound of her name being uttered. "Yes?" Nova leaned in since Nirene was whispering "Just follow me." Nova nodded and took an internal note of Nirene's change of mood. Nova followed behind Nirene away from the celebration until the only thing that was being heard was their breathing with the mixture of crickets and cicadas. They didn't stop until they reached burial land "Every Shirai that has died whether from a mission or sickness, just anything they are buried here and always given a proper funeral." Nova nodded as they stopped and she slowly down to see 'Here lies Hanzo, Harumi, and Satoshi Hasashi reunited once again.' Nova let out a small gasp and a small 'oh my'.
Nova now watched from afar as he is put his fist to the chest and then raised his fist in pure silence. Nova stared at the graves and kneeled out of respect since she wasn't a Shirai Ryu. They were now walking back to the celebration but Korë announced her leave to Nirene "I have to go but I'll be back soon to visit. I promise but I left one more gift for you it's on the table in your temple." Nova said as she hugged Nirene and gave him a tight hug then squeezed his hand before entering a portal seemingly returning to Outworld. Nirene smiled as he settled down for his sleep that night but before entering his bed he grabbed the smaller box and sat down. He breathed in and then breathed out. He opened it and sighed with a smile evident on his face a mask and a sickle. The mask had a teal outline and black as the base pigment. The sickle seemed to be regularly curved but the handle had the same color and design as the mask with a butterfly chain hanging off the end.
"From your favorite Butterfly Princess to my one and only favorite Grandmaster with a heart of a Warrior."
Happy Birthday to Nirene Strigandr! @anxietymuffin.
