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 Posted: Tue Aug 06, 2024 7:29 pm
Quote: Ophelia gets curious about the stables she passes every morning to swim and decides to check them out, only to find Clint and his faithful steed Dandelion.
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Posted: Sat Aug 24, 2024 8:45 pm
   stables ✭ dandelion & ophelia
Maybe it was from years of waking up at the asscrack of dawn, but Clint couldn't find it in himself to sleep in now that he had the opportunity. Like clockwork, he rose with the sun despite not having to anymore. Didn't even need coffee as he threw a black tee on and a pair of jeans. Tucking his hat onto his head and slipping into his favorite boots, he headed down the hall while ignoring the morning report that Hector was giving him about who was sleeping with who. It was actually impressive how incapable of taking a hint the ghost was.
While his head was telling him it was a mistake not to make a detour and stop at the main hall for something to eat, he found himself avoiding it anyway. There weren't many people up this early. Most of the people there would be staff. Yet something about being in the common areas dressed as himself felt off. Almost like he wasn't following orders properly. He wasn't supposed to be "Clint" here, but he also wasn't sure what anyone expected from him. David felt like a foreign concept to him at this point. The nice suits. The dancing. The royal mind games. A part of him wanted to curse his father. It was hard to remember when he'd learned that his coming to the stables hadn't been some act of good will and knowing that he would thrive there. No, it had been a sale. A pathetic bid for power that left him feeling less and less ready for anything that he'd experienced here so far.
Okay, with the exception of getting piss drunk on the night of the explosion.
The rest of it was an experiment in trying to remember anything about royal life from when he was five. And frankly, that wasn't going so well for him. It was hard enough trying to ignore the disembodied voices that felt the need to talk over everything, let alone not looking at the spectral bodies they belonged to. Even in the kingdom of spirits when people knew what his powers were, he'd learned young that it unsettled those who couldn't see when he would stare off into space and talk to nothing. Here? He couldn't imagine the reactions.
A chuckle rumbled in his chest as he stepped into the stables. The smell was so animal. So familiar. This was where he felt the most home in this school. Helped that Hector had no interest in following him here and it was the one place he could usually get some peace. The ghosts here were usually more quiet. And even when they were loud, they thankfully weren't the gossips that the ghosts that littered the halls of the school were. It was muscle memory at this point to walk to Dandelion's stall. She nickered seeing him, giving a little shake of her head to him. "Good morning to you too, Dandy." Her nose pressed into his shoulder, nudging him. His calloused hands came up, gently catching her chin in one hand and scrubbing his other hand over the bridge of her nose. "I know, I feel cooped up here too girl."
Their tender moment was interrupted with an annoyed flick of Dandelion's tail and a tapping of her hoof. "Fine, fine. I see how it is." With a laugh, Clint got started with cleaning out her stall around her so he could put fresh bedding down for her. Dandy had the grace to shove him and try to steal his hat while he worked. A sure sign that she was ready for him to be done so she could get her breakfast. But then, she also just liked stealing his hat most days anyway. By the time he was done and had given her fresh hay the only thanks he had gotten was an ungrateful flicker of her ears.
Giving her flank a pat, he smiled. "You're on borrowed time girl. I need to rebraid your tail when you're done. Someone's been telling me you've been a real spitfire with the other fellas and the state of your mane and tail are telling me that's true." He couldn't help a chuckle as Dandy flicked her tail before continuing. "Who are you showing off for anyway?"
Knowing he needed to clean up after himself, he decided to take a moment for a small break. Settling down onto a nearby hay bale, he rested his elbows on his knees and dropped his head into his hands. Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath. The comforting sounds of shovels scraping stall floors, nickering, and soft whinnies. Peace washed over him as he took a moment to just listen. These were the moments that he cherished, when there weren't 30 voices speaking on top of each other and he didn't have to divide his attention in so many different ways.
Soft footsteps startled him, making him jump. Thinking he recognized them he called out to their owner. "Naddaha Briar, you scared the s**t outta me. I need to get you a cat collar or -" As he spoke, his head rose from his hands to meet Briar's eyes. But the eyes he found when he looked up didn't belong to his little sister. "- something." The words died in his throat as he finished his sentence, his eyes going wide at the girl he recognized from one of the early classes when she'd needed help writing notes. His hand scrubbed down his face, trying to figure out how to make this even slightly better.
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Posted: Fri Aug 30, 2024 4:57 pm
   LOCATION: Stable's xxx COMPANY: Clint and Dandy xxx CLOTHING: bare bones Dress
It was the only place that felt right.
When the building pressure of the outside world could finally compare to the silent, crushing weight Ophelia was drowning beneath internally. The only difference was that here, she had control. A place where she could hold her breath until her lungs burned, until the shadows of her own design crept into what little she had left of her vision. Tangling her fingers into the sea grass beneath her, she kept herself firmly planted at the bottom of the lake so her wide eyes could gaze into the streaking light above her. Counting each gentle turn of the water as it clashed against its opposite, sending a different color down for her eyes to perceive. It was so similar to how people's emotions in this school moved... but far less complex and overwhelming.
It was naive of her to believe this place would be easy and uncomplicated. That attending a school like this would finally bring her all the friends she had been kept from growing up, and she would finally be able to locate that self-worth that often eluded her... Mother sun DARE she teater anywhere close to true happiness, or maybe even a love story or two. Well, she did manage to find some of those things. If you were being generous and looking on the bright side, which Ophelia often tried to do!
But even she couldn't deny that It was one of those overly complicated things she had mentioned earlier. This duchess just couldn't shake the feeling that she was owed something, a new title of some sort. No, not of the royal kind, of course. She knew her place in the world and would proudly bear the life she was born into with undiluted light and warmth. The title she was looking for, was from Oliver. Some type of step above friend... because friends didn't kiss the way they did, right? They didn't look at each other with those colors and continue calling themselves friends. So why was she stuck waiting?
Syena was the most likely reason.
Bubbles slipped from Ophelia's lips as she mutely cursed the thought of him. That man was so drenched in anger, pain, and disgust her stomach rolled, her mouth tasting iron each time she was near him. There was no way she could stomach even being in the same vicinity as him. This was why she began waking up before the sun now. All so she could pack her bag and meet with the kindest chef, Suzan, to help her prep school breakfast. She was always so kind, prepping Phi a small go-bag of her favorite fruits before she could escape through the servant quarters to find her refuge in the lake. Yes, that was the reason. No correlation whatsoever between her recent friendship with the cook and the fact she was terrified of running into Syena at the breakfast.
The only downside was tip-toeing past the war student's camp outside. But recently, Mother Sun was on her side because she found that if she took the long way past the stables, she could avoid that man's camp entirely. And that ment-
Dark tendrils skittered across her vision, drawing Ophelia from her thoughts. She hadn't even noticed the heavy thrum of her heartbeat in her ears, or the way her chest convulsed as it pleaded for fresh air. Swiftly, she uncurled her legs and pressed her feet into the silken sand, kicking up a cloud of dust on her rapid ascent back to the surface. A guttural gasp ripped from her throat the second she broke the water barrier. Drinking oxygen into her starving lungs in an attempt to appease the starlight dancing through her gaze on her swim back to shore.
That was enough swimming for one day.
Wring out her underdress, she padded over to her bag and yanked out the skirt and corset she'd packed away earlier this morning. It was the bare bones of her usual attire, but since she planned on returning to her room to shower before class today, she didn't see much harm in it. As much as the duchess would love to strut around the school in a wet nightgown, she had an image to uphold and enough respect for others not to wear something so scandalous. God forbid she give Syena any more ammo against her.
"Are we Green?" Orby was zooming away before Ophelia could finish the question, checking the perimeter for any lingering eyes and flashing a bright green light to indicate it was safe to change. It only took her a second to peel off the dress, but her brief exposure to the elements left gooseflesh littering her skin while she worked into her skirt and corset. Skipping the ties, she grabbed her bag, pulled out the apple Suzan had slipped her, and replaced it with the wadded-up gown she wore for swimming.
Being the type to enjoy the little things, Ophelia opted to make her walk back barefoot. Carrying her shoes in one hand and the apple in the other as she slowly meandered back to the school. It would be too cold to do this type of thing soon- swim outside, walk barefoot, lay in the grass.. So she would savor these last mornings with everything she had before finding a new morning addiction. Swimming inside was always an option, but that never offered the same effect for this water fiend.
When the earthy smell of hay and woodchips wrapped around her, Phi's heart dipped, realizing how abruptly her morning seemed to be ending. Did she really have to go back in there already? "Better go check to see if Wall Crusher is up." She whispered to Orby, knowing by this time the scary student had a tendency to wander the grounds. And honestly? Getting caught up with him was the last thing she wanted. Leaning her back against the wall, she watched Orby disappear before closing her eyes to listen to the sound of working hands and animal whines.
"You're on borrowed time girl. I need to rebraid your tail when you're done. Someone's been telling me you've been a real spitfire with the other fellas and the state of your mane and tail are telling me that's true." A low voice, smoother than whiskey echoed out from the stable beside her, drawing Phi's attention. "Who are you showing off for anyway?" Realizing that it was a man wrapped in shadows, talking to one of the horses had a smile pulling at her lips. His breathy laugh was contagious. How he spoke to the horse reminded her how the stable boys in her territory would often talk to the animals like that. She even caught her brother doing it one time after winning a horse race back home. Oh how he babied the animal. So much so that he wouldn't even let her ride it... Or at least that was what she told herself, too proud to admit it had been his worry of her disability that prevented her from riding alone.
The memory tugged at her heartstrings. Why hadn't she heard from him yet? It had been well over a month now, with no word from her brother.. Goddess of daylight, she hoped he was okay.
It was just another thing to add to the weight closing in on her. Shaking from her thoughts, Phi decided that maybe a little more distraction wouldn't hurt. She could love on a horse for a while, maybe get one of the stable boys to let her help if she played her cards right. But first. Her image. Bitting into the apple, she held it in her mouth and dropped her shoes. Her fingers tangled into her corset strings, attempting to tie it off. Even if they were all the help. It was essential to at least look like a Lady. Right? But, that also didn't stop her from moving inside after her feet slipped into her shoes, fingers working at the knotted mass she had created during her walk back.
Slowly moving through the stables with wide, eager eyes that traced the markings on each horse, she tried to memorize each defending feature that set them apart. That way, once one of these workers paused long enough to talk to her, she could learn their names and match them with ease. Like a game- "Naddaha Briar, you scared the s**t outta me. I need to get you a cat collar or -" Phi's body tensed, a tiny assault of water droplets her only defense as she whipped her head to the side and slammed her jaw shut, cutting off the yelp that worked up her throat and simultaneously sending her apple tumbling from her lips. It wouldn't have been hard to save the treat if it weren't for the noose currently strangling her fingers, successfully locking her hands behind her back. But that was the tiny lie she told herself since her body couldn't do much of anything after the smokey blue eyes beneath a wide-brim hat locked on hers. Their intensity sent a cold chill down her spine, or was that from the escaping droplets?
"- something." The man continued, seeming just as surprised as she was. His sentence finally seemed to settle at that point... A cat collar? What an odd gift. Instead, she focused on her realization that the man had, in fact, mistaken her for someone else. Knocking her own body back into motion, she offered a shy smile and turned her attention to the floor in an attempt to hide the slight pout that balanced on her bottom lip as she scanned the ground for her apple.
The apology had Ophelia's head tipping to the side, her coiled pink curls draping over her shoulder as she leveled him with a curious look. What a strange way to communicate with loved ones. With such aggression. How her brother would die before speaking to her that way. " N-no it's fine." A small laugh pushed through her words in an attempt to hide the tremble there by reassuring the man. " The fault is mine. I shouldn't have been-" But a house whinnying to the side of her cut off her shaky sentence, drawing her attention to watch as the beautiful beast aggressively bobbed its head up and down to reach whatever lay in shadow just out of it's reach. " Ah! I bet that's where it went. She thought as she untangled her fingers and shuffled to the side. Oh, right, she needed to finish her sentence. How rude. - "- Walking?" The word was laced with a humorous tone that raised her voice as she crouched before the stable and began tapping her hands along the shadows.
" You know.. Hair pins might work better." She began just as her fingers bumped against their hidden prize, sending the small apple rolling out of the shadows and into her line of sight. Pride settled on her shoulders at the small accomplishment as she stood to turn back to the stable boy. Rubbing the apple against her chest, her other hand lifted to tap her temple as she continued with her idea. " Hairpins with bells I mean. As a sister, I would love it if my brother got me hair accessories and... well, that would be so much cuter than a cat collar." It was now somehow her job to save this man's sister from receiving such an odd gift. Bells would look cute in any woman's hair.
Then, there was a gentle tap against her back, knocking Ophelia forward and forcing her to scramble to catch herself. It wasn't hard, but Phi wasn't exactly graceful either. She turned, red tinting her cheeks as she faced the most adorable culprit bobbing its head up and down in silent demand. Anyone could tell what the horse was really after, but the sight of it still had a smile curling on her lips and a plan settling on her tongue.
Straightening her posture and smoothing out her dress, she put on the best 'Lady of the land' voice as she turned back to the cowboy. "Anyway, I do regret to inform you that I've been sent here by the groundskeeper to ensure everything in the stables has been running smoothly." for dramatic effect, she slowly dragged her gaze up and down the stable. Lingering on the other stable boys as though she was, in fact, here to inspect them. Now that she thought about it, that job wouldn't be half bad, honestly. "I am sure the groundskeeper would hate to learn of his stable boy napping while on the clock." Okay, that one hit below the belt. She knew he wasn't napping, and it was probably wrong to attempt to get her way by dropping the groundskeeper's title. But she had seen that handyman. He could scare anyone into submission; she was sure of it. "But I could be generous and keep this information to myself.. With one condition. You allow me to brush her hair." She couldn't bring herself to look at him while she laid out her lie. Something about him was oddly familiar, and she just couldn't quite place him yet. Instead, she turned her attention back to the horse and whispered. "What do you think? Would you be okay with it?" Toggling the apple up and down, she urged the horse into nodding its agreeance.
Kneading her bottom lip between her teeth, she flicked her gaze back to the Stable boy, offering an ' I-know-you-know-I'm-lying-but-please-humor-me' look as she finally offered her apple to the horse.
OOC: I am painfully aware of the fact I went ham on this post. Back to our 1500 or less NEXT post.
 
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Posted: Sat Sep 07, 2024 7:19 pm
stables ✭ dandelion & ophelia
Recognition didn't seem to dawn in her eyes as she flinched at his words. Then again, according to that ghost she was supposed to be blind. Didn't look too blind as she stared right at him, but what did he know? Clint dealt in ghosts and most ranch animals. Not including ducks. Definitely not in eyes. He wasn't going to claim that he had the first idea about how eyes worked. Or ducks.
"N-no it's fine. The fault is mine. I shouldn't have been-" The tremble on her lip betrayed her, but he wasn't enough of an a*****e to point it out. If she wanted to put on a brave face, he wasn't going to stop her. Dandy's pathetic whinny and the bobbing of her head as she tried to reach something cut the girl off. Some kind of realization bloomed in her eyes, but she quickly seemed to remember herself to finish what she was saying. "- Walking?"
"Pardon?"
It took every ounce of discipline in his body to stuff the laugh that threatened to erupt out of him back down. Somehow he managed, but he couldn't prevent the amused smirk that twisted his lips and turned his brow. Naddaha only knew what was going though her head. Not only had she apologized for walking, but now she was crouched down fumbling under Dandy's stall like she was looking for something. Good thing he'd just cleaned it.
"You know.. Hair pins might work better." Apparently his question had gone right over her head, distracted as she was from... Whatever she was doing. She was lucky Dandy wasn't trying to n** at her fingers with all that digging around. Quickly her hand pulled back out from under the stall, now holding an apple. Scratch that. This girl was extremely lucky she'd managed to come out with all of her fingers in tact. A fact she didn't even seem to realize as she cleaned the apple off on her clothing. "Hairpins with bells I mean. As a sister, I would love it if my brother got me hair accessories and... well, that would be so much cuter than a cat collar." Finally frustrated with having a snack she couldn't have paraded around in front of her, Dandy shoved the girl with her snout.
This time Clint couldn't hold back his laugh as she caught herself and straightened. The smile she shot his horse didn't go unnoticed. "Darlin' you haven't met my sister." Or if she had, she didn't realize the six foot Victorian princess who spoke in outdated tongue and loved anything if it was dripping in enough black lace was related to him. He could easily picture Briar wearing any sort of bell if he made sure there was enough frills on it. Maybe have it outfitted with a cameo or bones or something to really tie it in with the rest of her style.
Then she straightened again, like she was trying to make herself bigger than him. She was going to need to try a whole lot harder than that. "Anyway, I do regret to inform you that I've been sent here by the groundskeeper to ensure everything in the stables has been running smoothly."
Oh.
Oh.
The amused smile settled back over his lips as she attempted to threaten him into having her way. This princess thought he was the help. It made sense. How many other princes would willingly wake up at the asscrack of dawn to shovel horseshit? Easy mistake. One he wasn't planning on correcting. Especially not when she was making Dandy agree with her using the apple. It was honestly kind of cute. He was also really starting to think that ghost might have been full of s**t. Though if she could see, it was strange she hadn't recognized him yet. This was the third time they had met after all.
Nibbling on her lip, she shot him a look that was practically begging him to let her get away with what she was trying to pull. "I reckon I better let you brush her then. Wouldn't want you to report my little break there, would we?" Clint placed his hands on his knees, pushing off of them to stand up. He hadn't noticed when he helped her in class how tiny she really was. He also hadn't noticed it when he'd lifted her over his shoulder and carted her down the hall from that white haired p***k. But that night was also hazy after leaving the cellar. He was pretty sure he'd also gotten an eyeful of Ivan's a**. Thankfully that memory was a faint whisper in the back of his mind.
His body went into autopilot, putting away the shovel and cleaning up the last of his mess. Then he grabbed a brush, a bucket of hot water, and a few bottles before making his way back over to Dandelion's stall. Setting everything out of the horse's reach, he caught her chin again to force her to look at him. "Alright Dandy. You're going to be polite, do you hear me? Mouth to yourself." The only response he got was a huff and an annoyed flick of her ears. It was a futile warning anyway, and he knew it. Clint wasn't about to leave a blind girl he was convinced could definitely see to detangle a mane without hovering. And that meant Dandy was going to be enjoying her favorite pass time of stealing his hat.
As long as it was his hat and not this girl's hair or dress, he could live with that.
Reaching out, he pulled the girl in so that her back was to his chest. If she was tucked between him and Dandy there was less of a chance that she would get nipped. He was used to it. Being a shield for her was no big deal. Standing so close to do it though? That was for him. If he was going to let her think he was the help, he was going to have a little fun for it. Leaning down, Clint attempted to make himself a little closer to her height. "Here baby girl, let me show you."
Deftly, his hands carefully pulled the matted braid in the mane before him out then wet the loose hair down. Catching the girl's tiny hands, he poured a generous dollop into her palms from one of the bottles he'd grabbed. Putting it down, he rubbed her hands together to coat them in the product. Pressing her palms into the wet hair in front of them he spoke again. "Make sure to work it in. It's detangler and helps the brush glide through without hurting her." Once she'd completed the task he'd given her, he placed the brush in her hand without letting go. "I reckon you've brushed hair before, but I'd rather be safe since you've been sent by the groundskeeper." Clint couldn't help the wicked smile that turned his lips as he said it. It was just to prevent her from back talking. She couldn't get out of this without admitting her own lie. "Start at the ends. Make sure you hold above where you are brushing so it doesn't hurt her." With that, he let go of the brush to let her work without stepping away.
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Posted: Sun Sep 22, 2024 6:30 pm
LOCATION: Stable's xxx COMPANY: Clint and Dandy xxx CLOTHING: bare bones Dress
Part of her was surprised he gave in so quickly, but Ophelia wasn't the type to look a gift horse in the mouth—especially when she had one, no two, if she counted the man, eating out of the palm of her hand. Making a conscious effort to Ignore the pang of guilt that settled at the bottom of her stomach, she exchanged the amused smile that filtered over his lips with a proud one of her own—content with the fact that her little white lie worked. But then he was standing, and the moment the cowboy rose to his full massive height, her smile faltered. Every thought in the duchess's mind quieted as her head lifted to a too-familiar angle, eyes trailing the black markings that swirled up his neck into that same square jaw. The realization that dawned had Phi quickly opting to busy her hands in her hair, turning her focus towards anything else to hide the embarrassed hue that flared over her skin.
"No, that can't be right. He couldn't be the same man from the night of the explosion. Why would he be running drunk through the school? Though stable boys-.." Shooting her panicked gaze to the side, she watched as the man moved about, as if staring at him while he shifted through shadows would somehow get his prominent figure to shapeshift into something unfamiliar. "-Stable man have to be housed somewhere, right? But drinking on a weekday?" It was pathetic; her best argument was that it would be in poor taste for the staff to drink on a school day…But what the heck did she know? Did she thank him, or was it acceptable to scold him properly? Well, that was out of the question... She couldn't just scold him out of the blue now; It had been too long, and he wouldn't understand what he did wrong. "Dang it, Ophelia, he's not a dog." Maybe she could thank him and then kindly inform him that wiping the blood off someone's lip with your tongue isn't the most hygienic way of cleaning a wound. That was if her memory even served her right. Her vision was practically sapped from her after healing Syena.
"Alright Dandy. You're going to be polite, do you hear me? Mouth to yourself." The gruff voice snapped her back to reality. If this was the same man, he sure had a lot of nerves saying anything about keeping one's mouth to themselves. Sucking in a slow breath, she nodded her head, mentally prepping herself to probe this giant fellow. But the words never had a chance, replaced by a soft gasp as she was yanked back and her shoulders connected with a hardened chest, knocking the primed words back down her throat.
A rigidness coursed through her body, closing off her airway but not at the contact. No, with her petite frame tucked between the man and Dandy, he had unintentionally cocooned her in shadows. Accidentally robbing the duchess of sight. Panic sunk its claws into her spine, forcing Ophelia to fight against the tremble that threatened her outwardly calm demeanor. "Here baby girl, let me show you." Ophelia tilted her ear towards the pet name that swirled through the darkness, a distraction that redirected one stressor onto the next.
Show her.
She could hear the busy sound of fingers scratching through coarse hair. But what exactly was he doing? Ophelia’s hands twisted up, curling over the corded muscle in the man's forearms as though it would help her envision what his fingers were doing. Was he expecting her to follow suit? Disappointment etched its way onto her features. It seemed that coming clean about her struggles would be the only option. A bitter lump formed in her throat at the thought of it. She hated asking people for things like this—special treatment and accommodations for an issue that was wholly her own.
But Mother Sun was on her side today as the man caught her hands. Ophelia breathed through the mix of discomfort and relief swirling through her, focusing on the cold gel that filled her palms and the feel of callused fingers grating against her knuckles as they worked it into a lather together.
"Make sure to work it in. It's detangler and helps the brush glide through without hurting her."
If she'd had her sight, Phi might have showcased the pang of offense that shot through her. To be handled and spoken to in the same tone her father used. As though she were a child, people couldn’t trust to make the right decision. But she couldn't judge the man for being thorough; He didn't know her gentle nature, and it was his literal job to care for the animal's wellbeing. The most she could do now was ensure the results she offered were excellent. Yeah. Closing her eyes, she confidently worked her fingers through Dandy's mane, deciding she’d be the best hair washer on this side of Utopia.
And as far as she knew, she was! Phi must have done a damn good job by how quickly one hand was being detangled to have a blunt round object pressed into it.
“I reckon you've brushed hair before, but I'd rather be safe since you've been sent by the groundskeeper. Start at the ends. Make sure you hold above where you are brushing so it doesn't hurt her."
” Ahhh, that's why he’s being so handsy.” He was worried about his job, not that she was inept. Alright, she’d let him off this time. Pushing a laugh through her nose, she nodded, putting herself to work while tilting her head up to where she imagined his eyes to be. ” Believe it or not, I learned pretty young that hair like mine doesn't favor brushing. At least with something like this.” Shaking the coarsely haired brush, she continued. ” And my brother was never one to let me practice on him. So, I'm not too proud to thank you for the tutorial. I'll be sure to inform the groundskeeper of your in-depth knowledge of hair brushing.” The humor in her tone rose to match his as she followed his instruction and worked further up the horse's mane, then she felt the slightest change in the temperature of the hair. The way heat from the sun absorbed into dark colors was unmistakable. It told her that if she managed to push herself up, just a little bit. She might find the sunlight again.
Using the man who seemed comfortable hovering at her back, Ophelia leaned into him as she pressed herself onto her tiptoes. Rising until warmth finally bled over her delicate features. Tilting her head up, she opened her eyes to find the familiar blurred man above her. If ‘Oh there you are’ had a look, Phi was wearing it. ” By the way, my name is Ophelia. Phi to friends…” Her voice tapered as she looked back to her hands, pulling the hair up out of the shadows to watch as she brushed through another strand. ” And drunk stable boys turned saviors.” It was the best she could come up with to broach the subject she'd been putting off.
Swinging her ocean gaze up to catch his expression, she caught Orby floating in the window. A gasp tore from her lungs as her hands darted up, aggressively motioning for the orb of light to stop. Not wanting to to get any closer. "Does Dandy spook easy?" Curling her fingers, she pointed towards the orb, hoping to draw the cowboy's attention to her constant companion. " This is Orby. My light. It uhh..." Well It was now or never really. "Helps me see in the shadows and dark. And I would hate for it to scare her."
OOC:
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Posted: Thu Oct 03, 2024 8:28 pm
stables ✭ dandelion & ophelia
”Believe it or not, I learned pretty young that hair like mine doesn't favor brushing. At least with something like this.” The little thing caught between him and his horse had spunk, that was for damned sure. In a way, Clint already knew that. How many other girls would slap a man a head taller than themselves who looked ready to commit murder after all? ”And my brother was never one to let me practice on him. So, I'm not too proud to thank you for the tutorial. I'll be sure to inform the groundskeeper of your in-depth knowledge of hair brushing.” The corner of his mouth twitched, amused. The humorous bite she had in her voice was something he was sure she was only letting him hear because he was the hired help. The horse that was currently chewing on his rolled up sleeve probably wasn't helping with the misconception.
The press of her back into his chest as she shimmied was odd at best. For someone who had spent the entire time between him and his horse acting as uncomfortable as all get out, it was strange to have her do a complete one-eighty and start shimmying up against him. Backwards. ”By the way, my name is Ophelia. Phi to friends…” Her voice trailed off for only a moment as she got distracted with a lock of Dandy's hair. Pushing it up into the sun as if the mild shadows of the stables were too dark for her to see what she was doing. ”And drunk stable boys turned saviors.”
Ah. So she did recognize him from that night. Just not from their first encounter. Honestly? How could he blame her? All dolled up and spit shined Clint looked like a completely different man. If you didn't count the tattoos, anyway. But the only ones that could be seen during classes were the ones on his neck, peeking out over the collars of those stiff as cardboard shirts he was made to wear. At the very least he was grateful that she was able to recognize him at all. Considering she was supposed to be blind and all.
A small smirk twitched the corners of his mouth up. The realization that even if she wouldn't outright call him a friend, she was putting him in that category in one way or another wasn't lost on him. Dipping his head like he was going to tip his hat, a smile hit his eyes. "I go by Clint, Miss Phi." It was a cute name, suitable for the cute lady pressed against him. It was a shame that the moment was being ruined by the voice that had spent their entire nighttime jaunt through the halls calling him every foul name under the sun.
"Oh great, this ******** again."
His lip twitched, though he kept his composure better than he had expected to. Not when all Clint wanted to do was throw back his head, groan, and kindly ask the dead b***h to <******** right off. This wasn't his first rodeo with a ghost that wouldn't leave a companion the ******** alone when they couldn't see or hear them. It was a shame she was busy desecrating the sacred ground that was his stables right now, he'd come here for some peace... Peace? A wave of realization hit him. The volume of the room had just lessened, half of the cacophony of shovels and whistling and grunting under the weight of hard labor had evaporated at the sight of this one specter. It was impossible not to let the shock show on his face as two things occurred to him.
First there were the handful of ghosts that already haunted the stables. Just people who loved horses reliving their lives day by day, phantoms taking their phantom horses out for a gallop or to run an obstacle course that was no longer there. The sound of her voice had been like nails down a chalkboard to these spectres. Every single one of them seemed to stop in their tracks. All because of this one woman. A few quietly gasped, and Clint was only just barely able to make out a name in all of it. It was so bizarre it was almost impossible not to react to, but what reaction could he have had without seeming like an odd stick? It wasn't often that one spirit halted both worlds so thoroughly.
Then there was Ophelia. She'd looked up to him and suddenly her face had dropped into concern. Then the arm waving and aggressive hand signals started. Curiously, his head turned to c**k a brow at the ghost floating at the window. Then back down to the pink haired spitfire using a brush as a warning for a no-ghost zone. "Does Dandy spook easy?" Then back up to the blonde ghost that was currently giving him the smuggest look she could muster on the face of someone who was already dead. "This is Orby. My light. It uhh... Helps me see in the shadows and dark. And I would hate for it to scare her."
"You can see her." It wasn't a question. Clint's gaze turned back to Ophelia, taking in the way she was looking at the woman floating above him that he had expected to be the only one to hear and see. It reminded him of that night, when he'd hoisted her up over his shoulder. What they'd said was hazy, where he'd left her was hazy, but he'd remembered her reaching for the ghost. It had seemed so odd at the time, but now it made so much sense.
"Not the way you think, s**t-for-brains." A shrill laugh came behind him, as if she was enjoying watching him piece together this strange puzzle. And it was strange. Ophelia didn't look like she was from Siscia. For the most part, they all tended to look like gloomy ********. But then, his brother's fiance wasn't all that gloomy at all. Maybe it was possible. Still, he couldn't sit here and not give the little lady a response. Shooting an unamused look at the spirit, he gave his attention back to Ophelia.
A wicked smile curled over his lips as he leaned down, purposely trying to provoke the ghost that had scared off all the dead stable hands. Lifting his arms up to truly trap her against the horse earned him an annoyed stomp from Dandy, her tail flicking as she shuffled to tell him how rude it was to take away her shirt snack. In retaliation, her neck craned around so her long, black muzzle was pressed against Clint's cheek. Snorting hot breath onto his cheek, she bobbed up to snatch his hat before turning to face forwards again. Unable to help himself, whatever mischievous façade he'd been putting on for the ghost's sake fell through and he started to laugh. Leave it to Dandy to ruin a moment.
"Baby Girl," "I've already told you, she's-" "Dandelion's been raised with -" "- not your 'Baby Girl' you indignant -" "the dead. One little ghost -" "- sack of s**t." "- isn't going to spook her."
It was the truth, but the way he'd said it had managed to strike a nerve. Good. This ghost was clearly a problem of some kind. The kind he usually would have been on the road to clean up after to make sure they didn't start s**t. The question was how she slipped through the cracks. Clint was planning to find out, one way or the other. The madder she got the more she liked to talk, so he would be more than happy to provoke her. Especially since it mostly meant talking to the princess that had wandered into his stall.
"I'm more curious about 'Orby' baby girl." "What did I just tell you?" A small smile tugged at his lips as the ghost took the bait, hovering closer and closer until her head was leaning over his shoulder. "Are your ears ******** brok-" Clint's hand flew up, pressing a finger to her lips to silence her. "Shush 'Orby.' Mommy and daddy are talking." That shut her up good for just a moment, the ghost fit to be tied over his shoulder before biting at the air where his finger had been just moments before. When he'd realized what she was going to do he had pulled it away. "Ah, ah, ah. Manners."
Curious humor sparkled in his eyes as he looked down at Ophelia, thankful that she could at least see the exchange and it wasn't one of the cases where he looked like he was out of his mind to a near stranger. "Now then, Miss Phi," Keeping up the stable boy pleasantries felt odd on his tongue, but he was determined to commit to the bit. "How much Siscian blood do you have? After all, you must have some if you can see 'Orby' right? I would know." The smile and angle of his brows were playful, full well knowing it was against the rules but barreling ahead anyway. Rules weren't being broken if he was just the hired help, after all.
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Posted: Sun Oct 20, 2024 9:53 am
LOCATION: Stable's xxx COMPANY: Clint and Dandy xxx CLOTHING: bare bones Dress
"You can see her."
Well, this wasn't a reaction to Orby Ophelia was used to. Usually, there was a shocked gasp, some excitement, or even fear directed toward her floating light. But this Clint fellow? He was looking at her as if she was the strange enigma floating around. And-" Wait, wait, wait, hold it... What did he just say?" Knitting her brows together, Phi's gaze shot to Orby. "Her?" The question seemed to fall out of the air, and Phi didn't know what she expected, but the devious expression crossing the oversized stable boy's sharp features sure wasn't it.
Highlighted mischievous emerald and irritable orange colors were the only precursor to Ophelia's personal space shriveling beneath the cowboy's looming figure. All chances of escape were quickly barred by solid arms on either side, keeping her pinned against the animal behind her. Left to fend for room to breathe, Phi held the brush like a shield, as though the threat of a good combing would frighten the rugged stable boy off somehow. No such violent action would be required since Dandy was quick to the rescue, bellowing her glittering red frustration straight into his cheek, successfully cutting the tension by closing her argument with the theft of a wide-brim hat. Phi muffled her laugh behind her shield, the Infectious hues of silly pink filtering around Clint thrummed with the booming ring of his laugh.
"Baby Girl, Dandelion's been raised with the dead. One little ghost isn't going to spook her."
It wasn’t the return of his wicked intentions that left her stunned. The nonchalant terminology had Phi's mouth dropping open. Unable to vocalize the clashing thoughts spiraling through her head. Who was this man? And what was he doing to Orby? The ghost?
The.. Dead?
That had never been a possibility to inch across the duchess' mind. Willfully Ignoring the fact Orby was sentient. It had emotions. It reacted to situations. It had opinions. It protected her. Not it, she. She did all those things for Ophelia. Maybe some naive part of her refused to recognize the timing of Orby's arrival. This conversation rudely ripped back the curtains, uncovering an invisible wall she had built to block the possibility that her greatest blessing was the tragedy linked to her failures.
"I'm more curious about 'Orby' baby girl."
The blood draining from her face settled in her stomach, wide eyes unable to break from the apparent ghost gleaming with rage-filled red hovering over Clint's shoulder. Orby's origin story was off-limits. Barred from conversation like the arms still caging her in. It was probably better to warn the soon-to-be-blind stable boy how mad Orby was getting. Something, maybe the nickname was pissing the orb-Ghost off when his finger flew up. "Shush 'Orby.' Mommy and Daddy are talking." That was one way to shake the duchess out of her trance. Reeling back, she stuttered out. "E-Excuse me?" He did not just call her mommy? The comment seemed to go directly in one ear and out the other since the man was too busy playing with Orby, teasing out something about manners.
All she could do was stare, dumbfounded. Being the odd one out in a verbal conversation was a new experience for the blind girl. But the burning sensation of jealousy coursing through her was shocking. Usually, she was the only one who communicated with Orby. Yeah, it was through colors and emotions and has always been entirely one-sided. But it was hers. The humbling thought had her chest tightening as she absorbed how Clint eyed her companion like she was a person. One he didn't seem to keen on conversing with. Could they switch places?
"Now then, Miss Phi," Her gaze snapped back to the ghostly pair staring down at her. " How much Siscian blood do you have? After all, you must have some if you can see 'Orby', right? I would know."
There was no hiding her surprise. Because at this point, Ophelia's brows might as well have shot straight off her forehead and into the scaffolding. Really, the intricate linework Orby painted red at his neck should have told her what his kingdom of origin was. But it wasn't every day you found out your source of sight was a person—the ghost of a person blazing every shade of pissed off under the sun. Excuse her for missing a few hints. Something in the teasing twang that bounced through his words jogged her memory. The loss of Orby resulted in her gaining a quid-pro-quo relationship with one of her classmates to get them through class. Ophelia couldn't help but wonder if that meant Clint and her classmate came from the same place?
There was no way to be sure Clint and David were really connected, but that didn't stop the duchess from using this to her advantage.
Confrontational was the furthest attribute used to describe Ophelia. Still, the uncontrollable need to protect one of her most essential companions ignited the nervous blood that had drained to her stomach. Bringing a crimson hue to her puffed-up cheeks, she reached out to cradle the glittering ghost at his shoulder and bring it to her side. Where she belonged. If he wanted her to be mommy? Then fine. She would channel her most stern mommy energy. " Not a drop young man. We.-" A finger jumped off her hairbrush to flick between her and Orby. "Are full-blooded Alorean." He was nothing more than a stable boy. There could hardly be any repercussions to sharing this truth, but that didn't stop her voice from dipping as she unveiled the name of her country to any unwelcome listeners.
Placing all the force of her spine into her self-proclaimed shield, Ophelia pressed the hard bristles against his sternum. Confidence was key in this situation, and she eyed the massive man as though she were the six-foot-something tall one who could swallow him whole. " My turn. Does the name David hold weight in Siscia? Your shared accent is quite prominent, and I don't think the other royals would care to know their staff is out and about breaking the rules." Searching his face for any reaction, she hoped this name had enough weight to give her the upper hand to make requests. Straightening her arm to get his back pressed against the wooden wall, she continued, doubling down. " Lucky for you, my shoulders can easily hold the weight of two secrets. I fully believe David to be a kind, forgiving man, but we wouldn't want to risk it, right? " If it was possible to take Clint's expression and paint it on her face- she was doing her best. But it didn't feel right on her rounded features; something didn't fit the mischievous role she was trying to play. Feeling her mask slipping, she dropped her arm to cross them beneath her chest; turning to Orby, her eyes softened at the glowing, smug blue-violet shade it produced.
" If Orby is a person, I would prefer you not antagonize it-ah." A peak of her frustration slipped with a violent shake of her head. This was a person; it wasn't an object she owned. As Clint so clearly pointed out, It was a soul, and she deserved the right to be recognized as one. Running her hands nervously over the back of her arms, she tried to rub away the guilt that left gooseflesh in its wake. "Shadows curse it all. Her. Antagonize her. I don't like seeing her raging red and she is all I really have, so please. Just be kind to her. And" The duchess shrunk, unable to find the force she had pressed into her words prior. Turning her gaze back to the stable hand, she offered a sad smile.
" Clint, don't want to keep calling her Orby if she is a person. I promise, I swear on my sight I won't tell a soul of your napping or secret-spilling. I was teasing the entire time, and the groundkeeper actually scares the daylight out of me. " He'd yelled at her once for picking decorative flowers out of his new garden once. But that was beside the point; It wasn't a good idea to build a relationship on blackmail. Ophelia wanted to be friends with the man who saved her, and being honest with him was the first step. This was the type of interaction she should feel comfortable in, where there wasn't a need to put on the pretty facade of the Duchess all the time, act all proper and puffy. Around people like Clint, she didn't need to pretend. " Please, can you tell me her name?
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Posted: Thu Oct 24, 2024 7:36 pm
stables ✭ dandelion & ophelia
The confusion that flittered across her face told him two things. First, she couldn't hear a lick of this ghost's bitchin' and screamin'. No, the fact that she had been so shocked that Clint had called the blonde woman spittin' and hissin' over his shoulder a woman was hard to fake. Unless she was a damn good actor. And they both knew she wasn't based off of her earlier speech about letting her brush the horse. Second? Well Ophelia wasn't seeing a ghost. Or, not in the way that he did. To him the blonde looked like a pale, transparent specter of what she had looked like in life. Well, what he assumed she looked like in life considering that's what ghosts just looked like in his experience. Phi was seeing something alright, but what was out of his reach.
Somewhere along the ride, Ophelia'd stopped being so surprised and started trying to puff up to intimidate him. "How dare you." The little thing before him wasn't the only one. "She didn't need to know any of this you - you -" The blonde was in his ear again, but not for long as Ophelia reached out and seemed to grasp the ghost's face and pull it in. For her credit, the blonde allowed it, coming to float upside down with her head cradled protectively in Pinky's arms.
"Not a drop young man. We.-" The tone her voice had taken as her finger jumped between the ghost and herself was amusing. Almost as cute and puffed up as her cheeks. Did she know he was younger than him? "Are full-blooded Alorean." The way her voice dipped on the name of her country made him smile. Like it was meant just for him. Phi definitely thought he was just the hired help if she was willing to say it, but in all fairness Clint hadn't helped a lick by offering his own country of origin first.
Even if the entire thing was tainted by the wicked smile that had crossed over the blonde's face.
You would never know just how small the girl trapped against his horse was. Not with the way she straightened and pushed the brush into him. "My turn." The request was fair enough and he gave her room to get her next thoughts out. After all, she'd let him antagonize the b***h in her arms just a little bit. "Does the name David hold weight in Siscia? Your shared accent is quite prominent, and I don't think the other royals would care to know their staff is out and about breaking the rules. Lucky for you, my shoulders can easily hold the weight of two secrets. I fully believe David to be a kind, forgiving man, but we wouldn't want to risk it, right?"
Wait. What?
It was his turn to be shocked. But his shock didn't bleed away into frustration or anger. Pulling one of his hands back, he clasped it over his mouth to hide the smile. Clint would not laugh. He could not laugh while she was still in the middle of telling him off. Not when she wasn't taking this all too well. He could be an a**, but not that much of one. The blonde flashed him an annoyed look, seeming to understand how amused this whole thing was making him.
"If Orby is a person, I would prefer you not antagonize it-ah." The frustration that laced her words seemed to help him swallow his laugh back down. Thank Naddaha, the last thing he wanted was for Phi to think he was shitting on her moment of profound realization. "Shadows curse it all. Her. Antagonize her. I don't like seeing her raging red and she is all I really have, so please. Just be kind to her. And" Ophelia almost seemed to wilt under the weight of her thought. "Clint, don't want to keep calling her Orby if she is a person. I promise, I swear on my sight I won't tell a soul of your napping or secret-spilling. I was teasing the entire time, and the groundkeeper actually scares the daylight out of me." This time he couldn't help a light hearted chuckle at her words. That might have been the most honest thing she'd said to him.
"Please, can you tell me her name?
"Na-" "Nadine."
Cutting the ghost off had been more satisfying than he'd originally thought it would be. First her face had bled into shock, then rage. It was almost like she had thought he was deaf or something. It might have taken him a few minutes to realize the stables had quieted down with her presence, but to not hear the hushed chorus of 'Nadine' that had rung out beforehand? Clearly the ghost didn't know who she was dealing with. What he'd spent his life dealing with.
For her part, Ophelia was making it hard to want to be outright cruel to the ghost. Not when she was putting it all out on the line like this. There was clearly a lot of love between the two of them. Even if one had a mouth that could rival a farmhand turned sailor on a good day. Oh and was also dead and probably should have been exorcised ages ago to prevent a problem just like this one. What was his life that it had to be this right now?
Closing his eyes, he placed the hand that had been over his mouth to his eyelids and leaned his head back. Fine. He could do this. It was no different than just pretending she wasn't here. Just like old times. "Okay." His voice was a breath as he scrubbed down his face and met the pink haired girl's eyes once more. "On two conditions."
Holding up one finger, he leaned back down and earned a stomp from Dandy. Rolling his eyes at her theatrics, the hand that had been on his horse swiftly pulled Ophelia from the beast as her mouth came back around to hit whatever she could with his hat. "Dandelion. Rude. We get the point." His brow furrowed as he gave her a half hearted scolding, guiding the duchess to the far side of the stall where they were less likely to incur the wrath of his steed.
Shaking his head, Clint restarted. "Where was I? Right, first condition." A finger shot out to point at Nadine. "You need to have a stern conversation with her about language. If you think I'm the problem, you would roll in your grave listening to her." This had earned him a few choice curses that Ophelia simply could not hear.
"Secondly," He started only to pause immediately. How did he word this? What would make sense? "I want to know how you see her. s**t. I mean... What does she look like to you?" The wording still felt clunky in his mouth, but it would get the point across and that was what mattered. With a slick smile and an arch to his brow he continued. "If you agree, I can show you how I see her." The offer likely didn't make sense to her, but it would come together with time. One way or another.
Leaning against the wall of the stall, he crossed his arms over his chest and let a lazy smile tug at his lips. "For the record baby girl, I have it on good authority that Prince David wouldn't give half a s**t about my behavior here today. So what I'm trying to say is," He paused for a moment, finding the right words before barreling on. "I'm agreeing because I want to. Not 'cause of some threat you made on a lick and a promise."
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Posted: Tue Nov 05, 2024 7:29 pm
LOCATION: Stable's xxx COMPANY: Clint and Dandy xxx CLOTHING: bare bones Dress
"Nadine."
There wasn't any hesitation, the swift confidence in which Clint responded though his fingers told her this wasn't some game to him despite his humored coloring. Orby really was a person. Ophelia parroted her name on a breathless exhale. "Nadine."
Guilt curled at the realization that she couldn’t pin a memory to it. Back when she found herself in the healing tents, there was hardly a moment of rest long enough for her to receive names. On the frontline, the sun was like an hourglass, power slipping away with each passing second. No grain could be spared over such trivial things while her hands worked to find the strongest threads of light the mother could offer in healing. Ophelia hated to recall how many people were lost to her each time the final string of light from a setting sun was ripped from her grasp. The corpses quickly carted away before she could tie a name to her failures.
Ophelia's diamond gaze intensely watched the hues shifting around Clint. Laying out her truth seemed to set off a mental battle that deepened the creases of his ghostly eyes and tightly knitted those thick brows above them. His erratic tints of humor fought against yellowish hints of annoyance, sending callused fingers up to aid a dramatic show of frustration that had her worrying her lip. Was he upset with her or Nadine?
The groan that rolled out as he dropped his attention back down had her stiffening until an exasperated "Okay" finally calmed her frying nerves. "On two conditions." Warmth returned to her weakening smile as she waited, rather impatiently, for the terms of their building agreement. It seemed she wasn't the only eager one, though, seeing as Dandelion wasn't having any of his prolonged conversation. The thwack of a hat coming back to hit him brought a giggle to Ophelia's lips. Smirking at the sassy horse as if to say. "Get him girl; you tell him what you want."
Now, standing in the corner after the colors around Clint exposed how adorably feeble the reprimand of his steed really was. The duchess waited with an eager grin for him to stumble back into his line of thought. "Where was I? Right, first condition." He started, prompting Ophelia to wonder if that train was sometimes stuck running in multiple directions. She could see it becoming overwhelming for anyone between her, Dandelion, and Nadine. Were there others he was dealing with as well?
"You need to have a stern conversation with her about language. If you think I'm the problem, you would roll in your grave listening to her." Ophelia's lips parted to gape. Nadine, flashing every shade of crimson under the sun, pulsed simultaneously with the striking hues of red and yellow around Clint. Did that mean? Was.. Was she cursing at him right now?! Jaw snapping shut with an audible tick, Ophelia's wide eyes burned a warning towards the ghost. If she hadn't seen the exchange of colors, Phi wouldn't have believed it based on Clint's deadpan expression alone.
The scolding that swelled her shoulders halted at a change in tone. Clint's second condition came in the form of... well, probably the most adorable question she'd ever heard. "I want to know how you see her. s**t. I mean... What does she look like to you?" A relaxing innocence permeated the air, dropping Phi's shoulders to watch as he stumbled through the inquiry she hadn't expected. Even with his own light-hearted obscenities sprinkled. "If you agree, I can show you how I see her."
The return of his mischievous hue had her peaking a brow in teasing interest. Was this massive man full of all the spooky party tricks? Tilting her chin down to tap with her pointer finger, she pursed her lips and made a prominent show of weighing her options. Knowing full well, she would jump at the opportunity to see Nadine and hear her respond to a proper apology.
"For the record, baby girl," That strange nickname had Phi casting her gaze back up to catch the sly curve of his lips. "I have it on good authority that Prince David wouldn't give half a s**t about my behavior here today. So what I'm trying to say is." There was no stopping her body from physically bristling, heat spotting its way over her chest at being caught. "I'm agreeing because I want to. Not 'cause of some threat you made on a lick and a promise." Being so blatantly called out, paired with the use of that phrase, sent her blush into a full inferno. Panicked fingers rushed up as she turned on her heels, catching her cheeks to stop the spread of unbearable warmth.
" Of course, a man as good as him would be so well acquainted with everyone from his kingdom." Grumbling through her embarrassment, she took a selfish moment to fan her face, trying to get that smug expression out of her head. Huffing a breath, she returned to the smirking stable boy, her boastful confidence intact as she settled on touching another topic. " I agree to your terms. But we can talk about 'my threats' after we've broached the topic of you and your habit of." Her hand flailed towards his face. " licking women." The shine building in her peripheral vision had a pointed warning flashing through her gaze. "Be. Nice." She advised nadine. "While I appreciate the assistance, He doesn't need to hear your input. I can handle the big bad Cowboy on my own." The red tint halted mid-shift, melting into a balanced mix of contempt. It wasn't clear to Ophelia if all red hues were cursing, but at this point, she wasn't taking any chances if it meant protecting the poor man's mental state.
She wanted to tease haphazardly about the events of that night, but a haze fell over her eyes at the memories unfolding. " Actually, Let's start with your second condition." A distant tone unwillingly accompanied her offer, aiding her decision that this would be the safer topic for both parties involved. Swallowing, she turned back, mimicking Clint's confidence by leaning a shoulder against the wall, her naturally warm nature returning at full force for the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to explain how she viewed something for once. "In case my poor name choice for her wasn't Obvious, Nadine looks a lot like this to most people." Her presentation started by forming a large circle with her hands to look at him through. "But glowing, A lot like the mother." Passively, she broke the circle to twiddle her fingers towards the nearby window. "I wouldn't recommend looking directly at it. She also changes colors." Worry heightened her tone at the slip of her ability, the topic of colors and their linked emotions a touchy one. " It's how we've learned to communicate."
Closing her presentation with that tidbit of knowledge, she ran an anilizing gaze over her new partner. " So, Do you feel like I painted a vivid enough picture to receive a reward for my efforts?"
OOC:
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