Strange Tidings (Ranger Princess)

[Tassadar]

Re: Strange Tidings (Ranger Princess)

Spoiler

Lavender: HP = 50, PP = 42, EP = 74/86, Status = Fine

The water nymph beamed at Lavender for her compliment, and continued to do so even as the mermaid turned to the air nymph and asked to be released. The unnaturally pale woman pouted, but released her. "Awww, you were so comfy right there~" she said lightly, and as Markus pulled Lavender to her feet (and handed over her trident without a fuss) the air nymph stood as well. She was the first to answer Lavender's question about names; "Oh where are our manners! We must have gotten too.... Excited... About the prospect of guests that we forgot to introduce ourselves properly! The last people that visited us called me Ash, so you may call me that as well~ And your friend is correct! I am the air nymph of this humble isle!"

The earth nymph turned to Lavender, smiled, and added; "Yes, that was probably all my fault... I'm Selesca, but people usually call me Seles or just Sel!" The last of the three fairies then stepped out of her pool, or rather off of her pool, and said; "And my mortal-given name is Tora, it's nice to meet you Lavender and...." She paused and turned to Markus inquisitively, and he grunted; "Markus. As if you didn't actually know, you heard me say it on the beach!" Ash rolled her eyes from behind them and said; "Yes, but there are these things called manners! You should collect some, as yours seem to have been lost with your ship. Tis impolite to not allow someone to introduce themselves you know!" That drew a very dark look from the man at her side, "Yes, manners... And impolite things... Like spying on people, and sneaking up on them, and then laughing at them from the damned bushes!"

The two proceeded to glower at one another for a moment, and in that time Lavender initiated her mental contact with Tora the watery nymph. She seemed quite surprised at hearing Lavender's voice in her head, at least judging by her expression, but then she smiled and answered; 'Unfortunately no. His ship was attacked outside of my realm of influence, so I didn't become aware of him until he'd been drifting for a while. By the time he was within my reach, your friend had almost frozen to death and had a pair of reef sharks circling him, so it must have been a while at least. I don't even know what attacked him; there aren't many squids in our area, and the few around here are all very small. But... Recently, the creatures of the sea have become very... Distressed. They refuse to speak to me about it, and the numbers of the larger creatures in this area have begun to thin, which is very odd for this time of year. Something is happening within the ocean, but I don't yet know what it is.'

 

[Ranger Princess]

Re: Strange Tidings (Ranger Princess)

Lavender smiled at everyone throughout the introductions, her cheeks turning rosy whenever Ash looked at her. There was something very disarming about that one! "Oh I know what you mean. I always get so excited to meet new people too! It's the thought that counts I guess, hehe. I'm a big believer in that."

She turned to Seles, her face turning consoling. "Aww don't worry. I'm sure we were kinda freaky too appearing on your island unannounced and all. Do you get many visitors here?"

The mermaid cringed at the back and forth between Markus and Ash, but smiled to Tora anyway, deciding that everything was okay.

<Really, reef sharks? That must have been close then. That was really nice of you to help him. He was in really bad shape when I found him on the beach. I was so worried... but I'm not sure he's saying everything about what happened. Maybe I can talk to some of the creatures and find out if they know anything more later on. ...You won't tell anyone what I really am will you?> Lavender finished her last thought with an innocent, hopeful smile.

Strange things were definitely afoot in the sea these days. First, news of an unexpected squid attack, and now the situation was getting even more murky and confusing. If the attack didn't come from a great squid or other large creatures, then what could it be? Lavender didn't know, but she was sure she had to get to the bottom of it!

 

[Tassadar]

Re: Strange Tidings (Ranger Princess)

Spoiler

Lavender: HP = 50, PP = 42, EP = 74/86, Status = Fine

"Precious few sadly," Seles replied to Lavender's question about visitors, "We haven't seen anyone else in months! Tora has the sea beasties and Ash can talk to the birds, but the only things that live on this island are bugs! Can you imagine talking to no one but bugs and your sisters for months on end? It's soooooo boring!"

<'Ehhh, the sharks around here are usually pretty docile. They were mostly just sniffing at him~ But all the same, it is good that I got him to land when I did. His wounds were worse when I found him than when you did, but I'm not much of a healer. I was going for Seles when I felt you coming, but you got to him and healed what I couldn't first. I'm ahhh... Already told my sisters that you're a mermaid. Sorry! But I won't tell Markus if you don't want me to.'> Tora returned her hopeful smile somewhat sheepishly, but just then Markus and Ash began to go at one another again.

"Oh, and yanking someone's support out from under them and pointing a spear at a person who hasn't done anything to you is a REALLY good example for proper behavior! I bow to your argument sir~" Ash said mockingly, and Markus' voice grew cold as he retorted; "Neither would have been necessary had you three not decided to sneak up on us. Perhaps you and your sisters ought to greet your guests more courteously from now on, hrm? Your next visitor might not stop with just threatening." They glared at one another again, and Ash's eyes begin to glow, the two pinpricks of blue light rising in brightness until they were visible over even the light of the sun. Lavender felt Markus tense next to her, his features slowly turning into a smooth mask that had no trace of emotion, but before things could get any further Seles stepped between them.

"I'm sure that you're both hungry.... Why don't we all have something to eat? That would be nice, right?" she said, smiling brightly as she stepped up to Markus and Lavender. "It could be like a picnic! We could all relax and get to know each other a little better~" Tora piped in; "I think that that's a wonderful idea!"

 

[Ranger Princess]

Re: Strange Tidings (Ranger Princess)

Spoiler

Using Siren Song

When Seles said all she could talk to normally was bugs, Lavender had a look on her face that was probably normally reserved for little injured dolphin calves. "Awwww.... Yeah that sounds really boring! The part about the bugs I mean.." The mermaid added sheepishly, touching the Earth Nymph's arm gently. "I mean... ewww... do they even talk? Yowzers... Haha." Lavender shivered just thinking about it!

Lavender was smiling to Seles and Tora when she noticed the tension between Ash and Markus amping up several notches. The tension was making Lavender nervous, especially when she felt the pin prick of magic filling the air. It sent shivers down her spine, prickling goosebumps on her neck. Lavender got so nervous about the situation, in fact, that she started to sing! A strange response maybe but almost a natural response for a nervous mermaid. At first her voice was soft and meek, but it gradually built up strength, drawing from her natural Siren abilities. Lavender was standing, hugging her trident to her chest as she sang, her voice carrying strongly through the area, soothing and drawing the attention of everyone around her.

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The seals, they cried in jubilee
The sharks, they howled along with me
And birds, they flew into the wind
The whale, he roamed the lonely sea

And I dived into you
I dived into you
On this ocean hue
'Cause I dived into you

The lighthouse dog lifted his brow
The crippled trees bent low to growl
And swans, they wrestled with lifetime's grasp
In hopefullness, they nestled the past
Teachers and travellers made their mark
They dined and feasted on whale and shark
And so the ocean lost its depths
And boredom reigned as the ocean wept

Birds they raised their young for dead
And ladies used feathery pillows for bed
And black snow came, and black snow stayed
And froze the ocean out of love
Out of love!

I lay quiet, next to you
Transformed a whole
Transformed anew
No longer diving into
But lying quiet next
To you

As Lavender sang, she looked much more confident than usual, standing straight and strong even though she hugged her trident. She looked everyone in the eye at least once with her serene purple eyes as she sang. Her voice was mostly soft and peaceful throughout, but when she cried out "Out of love!" her voice, carried all throughout the entire island before becoming soft and soothing again until she finished when she just kind of blinked and smiled innocently.

 

[Tassadar]

Re: Strange Tidings (Ranger Princess)

Spoiler

Lavender: HP = 50, PP = 42, EP = 74/86, Status = Fine

All went silent when Lavender began to sing, and for a few moments each and every one of the people around her simply watched and listened. Markus was fairly impassive, his gaze distant while he remained fairly impassive, but the three fairy sisters were all smiling in a slightly less mystified manner. Ash and Tora began to shift back and forth in rhythm with her voice, and Seles began to nod her head as she closed her eyes. When the mermaid finished her siren song, the magic of its rhythm slowly fading, the three sisters all continued to smile as Markus shook his head as if he were dizzy. Ash was the first to speak, "That was wonderful! Where did you learn to sing like that Lavender?"

The other two women nodded in agreement, and Tora added; "Yes... That was very good! Will you sing for us some more later?" They all looked at her hopefully, but Markus interrupted before Lavender could respond; "What.... What just happened? Isn't it a bit.... Out of place to just... Just break out in song like that?"

 

[Ranger Princess]

Re: Strange Tidings (Ranger Princess)

Lavender's smile was radiant from the fairies' reactions, lighting up her soft features with her happiness. "Thanks Ash... It's just something I learned from my family. We all like to sing together, hehe." The mermaid replied, and it was true enough.

Smiling equally brilliant as Tora complimented her, Lavender was just opening her lips to reply when Markus spoke up in confusion. The mermaid pursed her lips shut, rocking against her trident a bit nervously as she thought of a reply. Eventually she looked up shyly, batting her lashes as she replied. "I don't know Markus... is it so weird to sing for your friends? I was just trying to help everyone feel happy." Lavender then looked to Tora and the others. "Haha, you're going to make me embarrassed... but sure I'd love to sing for you. Maybe everyone could join in too, and we can have fun."

 

[Tassadar]

Re: Strange Tidings (Ranger Princess)

Spoiler

Lavender: HP = 50, PP = 42, EP = 74/86, Status = Fine

"....Right...." Markus said wearily, and after that he simply dropped the conversation in favor of staring off behind Lavender. With the adrenaline of the fairy's arrival fading, he seemed to be growing weak once again. The three fairies all looked delighted at Lavender's agreement, and each of them smiled at her eagerly at the opportunity to join in, leaving the human among them as the odd man out. "Come then! Before you two drop over from hunger!" Tora said happily, and then the three women ushered them a short ways away, into a clearing in which the grass seemed to form a natural carpet for them, and it was here that the three women all took a seat, sitting together on one side and gesturing for them to join them, and Markus made his way over immediately. The man was growing increasingly sluggish, and when he reached the clearing he simply sunk to the ground, masking a soft grown as he did so and obviously struggling to keep himself awake.

Seles stuck two fingers into her mouth and let out a whistle, and the grass beneath them rustled for a moment before going still once more. The other three women remained at ease, and Markus didn't seem able to muster the energy to complain while they waited. Lavender was free to speak as much as she liked and do as she liked in that time, and the three would prove to be quite eager to talk to her, though they would remain silent if she didn't start a conversation herself. Moments later, the grass rustled once more as a wicker basket suddenly rose from the sands in front of them, leaving Markus slightly astonished as the still-nude Tora reached out and opened it. Tropical fruits the likes of which Lavender had seen often enough whenever she looked to land filled the basket, and the fey spread them across the grass-coated ground quickly. Smiling brightly, Tora took up a piece of fruit for herself and said; "Don't be shy! Dig in! We don't have much of a selection out here, not on such short notice at least, but this should do nicely!"

Markus, despite his exhaustion and the now audible rumbling in his stomach, hesitated for a moment even as their hosts ate freely. "Thank you" he offered hesitantly, and then watched the three women across from him as they ate for a moment before leaning forward and taking some fruit for himself. Once the initial barrier was passed, however, Markus began devouring the fruit every bit as ravenously as he'd been when he'd been drinking from Tora's pool.

 

[Ranger Princess]

Re: Strange Tidings (Ranger Princess)

"Ohhh a picnic, that sounds fun!" Lavender smiled brightly before blushing at a small stomach rumble. She rubbed her belly, smiling sheepishly. "I guess I am pretty hungry..." Lavender was starting to get the hang of walking a little more now that her leg muscles got more used to the strange human movements. Even still, the mermaid didn't dare try to go without the support of her trusty trident! So she clambered along after the fairies and with the weary Markus. The way he was acting was a little worrying for the kind-hearted mermaid. She frowned as she watched him, wondering if anything was wrong until she decided that he must just be tired from the long day and recovering from his wounds.

Eventually Lavender laid her trident down in front of the group, sitting down on her knees next to Tora. "It's so pretty here..." Lavender trailed off, looking all around at the soft green grass on the island clearing before perking up curiously. "Don't you ever feel the urge to explore though? That's how I felt being cooped up in my home for so long. It was so nice... but I always felt like the rest of the world would offer so much more to see...I guess that's why I decided to go for a... ummm.. swim... out here even though it was so far. I'm so glad I did!"

The mermaid played with her light purple long hair idly, smiling at the faeries when suddenly the picnic basket appeared. "Wow! This looks tasty!" She immediately picked up something orange and pink, nibbling at it. "And tastes tasty too!" Lavender added happily as she nommed the rest of the fruit she picked. After she finished her fruit, Lavender subconsciously leaned against Tora, her soft jellyfish silk dress brushing against the blue haired faery's arm with the light breeze as she rested her head on Tora's shoulder. "Can you show me more of your magic?"

 

[Tassadar]

Re: Strange Tidings (Ranger Princess)

Spoiler

Lavender: HP = 50, PP = 42, EP = 74/86, Status = Fine

"Oh yes, it's quite nice out here!" Ash replied earnestly, before licking a bit of juice from her fingers in a decidedly distracting manner, though such efforts could very well have been wasted given that she only managed to get a raised eyebrow out of the increasingly drowsy Markus. "Yeah, sometimes we get the urge to go out and explore... It can get really lonely out here!" Seles supplied jovially, and Tora and Ash both nodded in agreement. "But if Ash and I left, who would care for our baby sister?" Tora added teasingly, causing the palest of the trio to giggle and the darkest to frown and roll her eyes.

"Take care of me? More like the other way around! You two would both be lost without me!" she retorted dryly, and the other two sisters giggled and didn't disagree. "Maybe~ But we could up and leave one day anyway, and then all you'd have to talk to are the bugs!" Ash interjected, having apparently given up on her teasing Lavender and Markus for the moment. Blanching, Seles said; "You'd better not! I'd go crazy in a week!" Tora reached over and patted Seles on the head, "Don't worry little sister, we won't abandon you... At least not until we're both carried off by some dashing pirate captain~" Seles looked crestfallen at not being included in that plan, though it became apparent that it was all in good fun when they all fell into a fit of giggles together.

Markus watched the exchange with a look of exhausted bewilderment, but merely shook his head and ate heartily of the provided bounty rather than offer any comment. After she'd finished eating and rested her head onto Tora's shoulder, the faerie leaned her head onto Lavender's and nuzzled lightly into her, causing Ash to briefly look slightly jealous. "Of course!" the nude faerie replied softly, and with a wave of her hand she caused a small fountain to shoot up from the ground, water that smelled fresh spraying out and over their heads, dousing the five of them in a light sprinkle of clean-smelling water. More fountains erupted until they formed a criss-crossing pattern, creating an x and then a star over their heads and coating them in a light rain of cool water. The sunlight hitting the tiny droplets formed a rainbow, enshrouding their picnic in layers of brilliant color such that even Markus managed a smile.

 

[Ranger Princess]

Re: Strange Tidings (Ranger Princess)

Lavender couldn't help but laugh at the banter of the faeries, joining in with the giggle fit, smiling and munching on her yummy tropical fruits. Everyone seemed so nice that the mermaid couldn't imagine why her teachers and fellow merfolk hated the land people so much. Was it really so bad for merfolk out of the sea? These people definitely seemed nice enough and they even knew what she was, the faeries did anyway. Lavender wasn't sure what to make of the feeling, but it felt good.

The mermaid leaned closer to Tora, letting out a fluttery sigh as the water faery nuzzled her. "Yaaaaay" Lavender exclaimed happily when Tora started the magic. The light sprinkling of the water made her smile. Lavender loved water of course, and her body, even her jellyfish silk dress was made for it. The rainbow was what really caught Lavender's attention though. Living in the water, the mermaid had never even seen one. She stared up at the vibrant colors, shining through the sprinkling rain in absolute awe. Pressing her hand to her mermaid heart, Lavender gasped softly. "That's beautiful.... It's like the colors just came out of nowhere..."

 

[Tassadar]

Re: Strange Tidings (Ranger Princess)

Spoiler

Lavender: HP = 50, PP = 42, EP = 74/86, Status = Fine

"It really is," Tora agreed softly, earning a nod from her sisters as they too watched the light cascading through the fine mist of water. The rainbow slowly grew around them as the falling water became slightly more dense, turning the light sprinkle into a soft rain, another thing that the mermaid had likely never experienced. "Just a trick of the light," Markus said softly, though there was an odd hint of sadness mixed in with his exhaustion. He had eaten ravenously, but now seemed to be fighting his exhaustion to keep awake with everything he had, which seemingly wore away at his surliness somewhat.

"Yes, but it's a beautiful trick of the light!" Tora said, and Markus simply nodded agreeable before shutting his eyes for one second too long. He slumped over, but Seles caught him and gently guided him down into the sand in his sleep. "Poor dear... He's exhausted!" the dark-skinned faerie said, while Ash rolled her eyes and looked to Lavender with a smirk, "I was starting to think he'd never pass out! Striding on eggshells was getting really annoying." She tilted her head and gazed at the mermaid curiously for a moment, and Tora gently lowered the shroud of water as her pale sister asked; "So, what brings one of the sea-kin to join us landlubbers? I'm curious, we usually don't get many mer visiting us even this far out at sea."

 

[Ranger Princess]

Re: Strange Tidings (Ranger Princess)

"Wow..." Lavender gasped softly, lips agape with amazement as she watched the rainbow expand and become even more vibrant. She was sure that if nothing else, her trip to land was worth it just for that! The rain didn't bother her either as she was used to the water, even if it felt a bit odd to be sprinkled on with little droplets instead of being immersed in the liquid like usual. She didn't even have to squint, her purple eyes being so used to underwater exploration.

When Tora finished, the mermaid beamed brightly and clapped. "That was so pretty! You are really talented Tora!" Lavender smiled, only to soften more as she saw Markus pass out. "Awww..." She cooed, giggling as Celes caught him and set him down. He must be so worn out from all the activity, she thought to herself before cringing slightly at Ash's response but still smiling.

"No, no, do not call yourself that!" Lavender responded in innocent concern when she heard Ash use the phrase "landlubbers," a rather vulgar expression in merfolk lingo! "It's ummm... not very nice. You are a wonderful faery! But yeah, I've not seen a fae before either. It's so much fun to meet new people right? You probably wouldn't meet a mer too often because we merfolk usually stick to ourselves. Travel out of the borders is strictly forbidden without the proper permissions you see, and those are pretty rare." Lavender paused, almost giggling a bit as she got shifty eyes and then smiled playfully mischief. "I kind of just left without telling anyone!"

"Running away was so scary at first, but once I was around the corner I felt so excited! I had just heard so many stories. The old teachers and priests, you know all cranky and stuff, try to make it sound so scary. I mean it's so awful sounding, that just can't possibly be true! My father told me about his journeys as a merchant though and I don't know... it just sounded so magical and wonderful. I had to see for myself." The mermaid paused again briefly to catch her breath before continuing excitedly. "I don't know if I would have come here to this island or not. I didn't really know where I was going..." Lavender gestured to Markus as she kept going. "I saw him dreadfully hurt on the beach, so I just had to come cure him...... and then well... I couldn't just jump back in the water and swim away or he would know what I am." Lavender frowned cutely, shrugging, "For some reason he is very picky and cannot drink from the great sea, so we went in search of water without salt in it... and well here we are. I am so glad for it now though because I got to meet you three, and this is the most exciting day ever!"

 

[Tassadar]

Re: Strange Tidings (Ranger Princess)

Spoiler

Lavender: HP = 50, PP = 42, EP = 86, Status = Fine

Tora beamed at Lavender all the more brightly for her compliments, and while her little performance had been anything but complicated or difficult, the faerie clearly took a measure of pride in being able to please the mermaid. Two of the three faeries noted her cringe, however, and while Seles was seeing to the still unconscious Markus, both Ash and Tora took on concerned looks of their own - though directed at her rather than the exhausted human. Lavender's explanation about the term that the faerie had chosen to use managed to clear that up slightly, however, and Ash grinned at her again and said; "What, landlubbers? Heh, I had no idea that that was an insult in your culture!"

"You're not wrong, we've not seen any of your kin on our little island in a long time!" Tora added, her smile growing somewhat wan. When Lavender admitted to running away from home, both women looked on her with wide eyes, and were joined in that a moment later by Seles. They watched her throughout her explanation, not commenting until the end, at which point Tora worriedly asked; "I don't know why your people are so isolationist, but... Isn't someone going to be worried when they find out that you've just run off?" Seles added; "Is it dangerous near you? What if somebody goes out looking and ends up getting hurt?" Ash rolled her eyes, "I think it's great! Being able to go out and explore the world is a wonderful thing~"

Tora frowned, but then the water nymph offered something of an explanation; "Most creatures who aren't born in it can't drink sea water. The salt is poisonous to them, and so they seek out water without it. Didn't you feel the difference when I was summoning the water fountain? That's what humans like Markus call "fresh water" and is what's safe for them to drink." Ash tilted her head and opened her mouth, but before she could ask whatever was on her mind Seles piped up; "Why don't you want him to know what you are? Do your teachers really make it sound that scary up here? It's not that bad!"