#toa ic

[chosenoneofdusk]

an odd man points a furious, accusatory finger at you. he seems completely beside himself to the point of speechlessness; were he to open his mouth, no words would come out. all he can do is point and stare. menacingly.

The heroine had barely stepped onto the stage when a man she feels she had never truly beholden steps in front of her and merely points and stares. Had she seen him before? No she would remember his auras. Yet his pointing continued. That could only mean but one thing; he must have heard tales of her coming and was in awe of a true heroine. "Has my radiant countenance left you in awe? Yes it must be! Every heroine has those that follow to tell of their mighty deeds! Come, friend, tell Ophelia Dusk of the one that will be her loyal bard of her heroics! Reveal thine true name!" Nailed it!

[chosenoneofdusk]

lo, at long last, she hath arrived! she whom he cherishes above all others in his heart. she, who leaves blooming flowers in her wake, casting rays of light upon the dark and dismal corners of the earth. she, starlit ophelia, his very pride and joy! his beacon amidst the tempestuous storm of darkness, a guiding light to those who have lost their way, even unto him, who sometimes loses his way himself.

odin stands before her, exuding the majesty of a proud father. a broad smile stretches across his face, illuminating his features with a warmth that contrasts his imposing presence. arms spread wide in a gesture of welcome, and his voice, deep and resonant, booms out for all to hear.

"hark! what vision graces mine eyes? could it be?" a pause, a grin most brilliant. "the chosen heroine, in all her glory! in this most welcome twist of fate, dusk meets dark once more, and all is well in our fabled world."

he remains there for a moment longer, statuesque and poised until he can bear it no longer. odin sweeps her into his arms, and plants a loving peck on her forehead.

"welcome, ophelia. you don't know how overjoyed i am to be reunited with you. now, come! let us get you settled in. you'll need to tell me about your trip in great detail. spare nothing."

Exiting the carriage that had carried her from port to fort, a lone presence stands by the gates. It is a face she could recognize even in her sleep, without need to behold the figure for some time. The one who had given her the fateful tome that had revealed her destiny upon her, the courageous soul who would tear asunder the world if she but asked. How she had missed him when he departed for the school, and to see him now, alight with joy, brought a kindling of warmth she had so desperately needed. 

Her cape, made of the twilight upon which she derived her name, billows from behind her as she reaches her fated encounter with the one who had given her life and blazed the trail she now stepped upon. Seeing his arms spread to welcome none other but her, all the weariness from travel fades as she makes a delighted squeal to see him, before remembering herself and her composure as a chosen one.

“It could only be that which has been written in the stars! It is I, Ophelia Dusk, come to lay claim to my destiny! To accomplish such a feat what could the chosen do but seek out her master on the path that so few dare tread?” She feels eyes rolling and there’s a crowd of whispers, but this moment is not for the bystanders of fate. It is for the two heroes.

She shrieks in delight when she is brought into her father’s arms. Wrapping her own around his neck, she buries her face in his chest. This was what she had missed most in the time her father had been gone, his letters only quelling the loneliness that stirred her soul. Tears threaten to gather at her eyes but do not spill. “I missed you, Father, more than you’ll ever know.” At his words, she smiles. It had been a wondrous trip, but the destination was infinitesimally better. “Very well! As the captain departed from the port closest to home, the wind picked up and WHOOOOSH! Nohr had vanished before I even had a chance to say farewell to the land of my birth, but as a true heroine, I stood true and held fast to my intentions! It stormed and stormed as we traversed the sea, but I used my channeling powers to quell the thunder and make sure we arrived to port safely. But just because we had arrived safely did not mean our troubles were over yet! O’er mountain and valley I traveled by carriage, seeing much of this wondrous continent, before we were set upon by bandits! However they were no match for my magic and finally the heroine’s journey ended with reunification with the blade of darkness and fellow chosen one!” 

[chosenoneofdusk]

The Ball is life bruh (ball tracker)

Ophelia looks stage left, then stage right. The ball is in full swing by the time she arrives, but the heroine is never late, the others are only early! Smiling a full bright smile at all the radiant auras, it almost feels blinding. She will make the most of this ball, and meet all her new classmates and impress them all!

Taking to the floor, she joins hands with the first of many partners through the night.

Ophelia has a teardrop crystal brooch!

Black Feather: Lovely and Charming Princess Maria

White Feather: Most Esteemed Professor Ivy

String of Pearls: Illustrious friend Mitama

Small Bell: Regally Proud Soldier Citrinne

Teardrop Crystal: Quest Giver Bernadetta

outfit under the read more!

[chosenoneofdusk]

[ Chocolate fountain ] - A seemingly endless fountain of chocolate, accompanied by plenty of biscuits, cakes, and cookies to dip in.

is it just her, or does this girl remind her of someone familiar? either way bernadetta peeks out from underneath the white tablecloth, waiting for an opportunity to be alone with the peculiar chocolate paradise sitting right above her. she waits. and waits. and waits again after that. still nothing. eventually her craving wins out against her anxiety, so a gloved finger pokes ophelia's foot.

"um..." is she willing to come out? no, not really. probably not even for the rest of the night. so instead her hand pokes out from the tablecloth, offering one of her teardrop crystals.

"bern... i-i mean, i'll trade you." for a chocolate-dipped fruit skewer? for another teardrop crystal? both? ideally, both. but who knows? "please?"

There are many things a heroine should come to expect, but a poke at her foot is not among them. She startles at the unexpected contact, but quickly looks down to see who she presumes to be another student poking at her foot.

Seeing the student stammer out an ask, Ophelia lights up. "Oh you wish to make a request of a true heroine? It would be my honor and delight to assist you! Just a moment!" Even a simple job could lead to better ones down the line! Every heroine started somewhere!

Taking two skewers, she spears fruit and biscuits onto both before dipping them in chocolate. She offers one with a crystal of her own. "Mother once told me it was polite to offer food when you have some for yourself! Now that we have settled this at least, Bern please tell me of your woes so that I may assist you!" A hand reaches out in front of her face!

[rigelwitchofhope]

[  glance  ]

He almost thought it a trick of the mind or eye, when he spotted her.

Lukas had not seen the lady Rinea in life, but it was difficult to forget the sight of body and soul alight in molten agony and adoration. It...should not be possible. Not only for her to be here, alive, but to be...of herself. There was no coming back from being turned into a witch, as far as he knew.

That was part of what made them terrifying, wrong. They were a carved out puppet of what had been, mimicking the memories and personality of the person that was no longer there. Their soul taken by Duma, replaced by dark power.

Duma, who now slumbered eternal with Mila.

So how? How could this be?

Lukas was staring. He was staring intensely.

non-verbal memes || Accepting!!

Rinea felt eyes on her for quite a while, her studies interrupted by the feeling that she was being watched vigilantly. Knowing she was getting nowhere with this immense distraction, and anxiety inducer, she began looking around, searching for the source.

And she found it very readily. A young man in red, who seemed familiar, but in a way that made her head throb with pain and made the burning sensation begin at her fingers again. She could hear screams that sounded like her own, voices shouting in pain, was his one of them?

She didn't like it. It churned itself into knots in her belly, the reminder of what happened to her, of what she had been forced to become. Of the reality that she continuously rejected.

But if she ran, that would just confirm it, wouldn't it? Confirm that what happened was real? No, she wanted her happy reality for just a little longer. Standing up shakily like a newborn fawn finding its legs, she walks over, all smiles, even as her nails bite into her palms. Even as she felt a slight singing of the fabric of her glove, she smiles.

"I couldn't help but notice you staring at me over there. Is there something I can do to help you?"

[rigelwitchofhope]

[  flower  ]  sender  places  a  flower  behind  receiver’s  ear

The gardener is tending to the bellflowers. Sanaki watches, distracted from her book. It seems a shame to just let the flowers fall to the ground, when they're still so vibrant.

On a whim, she stands and picks up the freshest cut blossom, turning to the girl with whom she had shared a quiet afternoon on the greenhouse bench. Watching for any sign of resistance, Sanaki carefully tucks the bellflower into the other's hair.

Sanaki steps back, admiring her handiwork. The colours really do match, she thinks, smiling.

non verbal ask meme || Accepting!!

The greenhouse had always reminded Rinea of an expanded version of her mother's garden back in her small estate. In a way, it was like a piece of home so far away from her actual home. It was a nice place to study, as it was always quiet.

Another seems to have picked this place and time to enjoy the atmosphere of the greenhouse, as they had quietly enjoyed the same bench for quite a while. When the other girl stands up, Rinea looks up, finally looking up from her studies, only to see the other girl place one of the fallen bellflowers into her hair.

She smiles softly, thinking of how she'll probably press the flower later to preserve it.

"Thank you. Ah, wait a moment."

She goes over to the flowers herself, and as the gardener has moved on to the hyacinths, the takes only the most pristine ones that would have gone to waste anyways and comes back with a makeshift bouquet of blue hyacinths.

"Here, for you. My name is Rinea, may I have your name?"

[rigelwitchofhope]

Do you ever feel like an imposter?

Loaded Questions || Accepting!!

Rinea swirls the sugar cube in her tea, considering her answer. How much of her history should she reveal to the other student? It was all extremely painful even now. But something in the other girl reminded her of herself, and she found herself opening up.

"I used to. I went from impoverished noble family on the brink of bankruptcy to being engaged to the nephew of the Emperor of my homeland. My every move, my every word, was scrutinized heavily. I felt as though I didn't belong amongst them."

She then realizes how poorly that might reflect upon Lord Berkut, and an urge to defend him still overtakes her.

"My fiancé, well former fiancé, never made made me feel that way, but the Court."

She shudders. But her expression falls.

"Due to tragedy and hidden machinations, we never made it to the altar. I sometimes wonder, what if?"

But she turns back to the other girl, rueful smile on her face.

"Nowadays, I no longer feel that way. Amazing what effects the lack of a Court breathing down your neck can have?"

[rigelwitchofhope]

"How much do you enjoy being in control?"

Loaded Questions || Accepting!

Panic surges through Rinea at the thought of even remotely being in control. She looks to her Professor, wondering whatever could have given her the impression that she would ever enjoy being in control. That was part of what made things work so well with Lord Berkut, he took charge and she just had to follow along. It was a peaceful existence, until he started spiraling and she could no longer comfort him.

"I loathe being in control. I could find myself quite happy following along with someone else."

Of course that would just be her repeating the same tragedies that had befallen her before, wouldn't it? But wouldn't be a more peaceful life, one she could be content with until the end came, as long as it did not come the same way? Would she fight the end if it did more if it did? Who's to say. She didn't like to think such thoughts.