Amalgamite Magic

Ayu
Rising Soul

STATS
STUFF
SIDES

PL: 1,500
XP: 34,661
Seedling (x3)

Tag: @undecided
Posts: 65 Female

Amalgamite Magic Mar 20, 2024 18:44:15 GMT -5 Zuqetta likes this

Quote

Post by Ayu on Mar 20, 2024 18:44:15 GMT -5

And here it was, another fall. This body was so clumsy, it was the third time Ayu had tripped and landed beautifully with her face hitting the ground. Was it because of her tail or lack of balance or this feeling of not being adjusted to her body... Or all at once? It was uncomfortable and uneasy and she didn't like it - but she was trying not to cry. Ayu tried to repeat in her head everything that could prevent her from tearing up. It won't fix anything. It won't change her back. It will only make her sister and brother worried if they see her crying. It will make her a nuisance as her Grandpa used to say a lot... So she couldn't cry more now. Especially because her little big sister was watching. Sniffling just a little, nodding, and rubbing her nose, Ayu made a scrunchy face, carefully touching her cheeks. She smiled at Zuqetta and gestured that she would be alright - the wounds would heal, as usual. It didn't change that it still hurt - ouch... Nothing seemed to be damaged but two hits on her nose were making it a bit sensitive to touch... And red, which looked quite prominent compared to her pink and blushed cheeks.

Not to mention that being so clumsy and causing trouble in this situation, which wasn't in her intention, wasn't making things easier. Still, it happened, making Ayu feel guilty and embarrassed. It... It felt like she should go to her room, hug Lumby, and not bother Calot and Zuqetta when they would be thinking about what to do... But her room was over there, in Palace, and they needed to get there first. Sitting on the ground, Ayu tried to collect herself and not give in to those worries that were still sitting in the back of her head. Patting her cheeks to make sure she was alright, she dusted her shoulders and was ready to get up and be back on their walk - when an unexpected view grew right in front of her.

Zuqetta was crying. O-Oh no. Seeing teardrops making her black eyes shiny and then quietly rolling down her round cheeks made Ayu stare at her in shock. What... W-Why? What did she say..? It was a question, but Ayu was so alarmed by her tears that she didn't hear it at first. Only half a minute later the sense of words got to her. She wanted to know if she was angry with her little big sister, and she asked if she made her upset..?

Ayu's yellow eyes snapped wide open and she started to shake her head in panic. No, no, no..! O-Of course not... What has she done now, to make her big sister think that she was upset like that...? Ayu's shoulders shivered and her fingers started fidgeting. Granted, she was unhappy that even when she tried to plead, Zuqetta still attacked that poor, hurting being from back then, but she was only sad about it, not angry or disappointed. That attack from back then made them miserable and in pain. Raising her hands, not knowing what to do, Ayu waved them in a flustered, anxious manner, trying to calm down the misunderstanding... But how could she do so?

The thought that somehow she made Zuqetta think that she was upset with her, to the point that it brought her to tears, made Ayu teary-eyed too. If anything, she would be the one upsetting her, for being clumsy, tearful, and scared, despite her big sister comforting her so much... That's why she had to be brave, right? The guilt swelled up and tied a clutch around her neck.

Ayu's finger wrote the letters in the brown and orange sand next to her. Be brave to not worry her sister further. Right. Though the only thing she could do was to lower her head and shake it again, this time slower. Tears dropped on her lap, staining the clothing with wet dots... But her hand still moved.

She really wasn't upset, she wasn't... The only thing Ayu felt now was worry. Zuqetta was tearing up and she didn't know what she did wrong. But she did something, otherwise, her sister wouldn't be asking about it, right? Her fingers, no, her arms were shaking. The panic she felt at the sight of little Queen's tears started now to grow inside her chest, fueled by fright that she had done something, again, again, and again. Something that irritates others so much that-

So, she was reminded of her grandfather. Of this giant man who was always being upset at her that she did something - or that she didn't. Still, it was her fault. A heart-clutching realization came to her, mercilessly poking Ayu's core with cold needles. It wasn't the first time she felt this concern and confusion, that she made someone very angry or sad and she didn't know why... It was similar to the situation from back then. To her time living in the tiny, cramped house near the forest.

Grandpa Zhang was right... She thought in panic and now her eyelids started to swell with tears but Ayu could only nod, trying to wipe her face. Maybe Grandpa was right after all - she was bothering everyone too much.

PL - 1,500
WC - 884
TWC - 7,408

Ayu hasn't yet learned how to control her Antisense ability, so during threads her energy
signature switches between off and on without her noticing.

Zuqetta
Dreadspawn

Saiyan Monarch

STATS
STUFF
SIDES

PL: 160,160
XP: 3,018
Raging Spirit (x5)
Super Saiyan (x18)

Tag: @zuqetta
Posts: 1,413 Female

Item Malus: 5,000

Minion PL: 48,048
Minion Forms: Super Saiyan (x18)

Amalgamite Magic Mar 21, 2024 1:58:11 GMT -5

Quote

Post by Zuqetta on Mar 21, 2024 1:58:11 GMT -5

Ayu was in a panic, even Zuqetta could tell, it was so easy just by looking. Yet what was this? What was this overwhelming feeling of guilt and worry? Of self depreciation and fear? Zuqetta brought her hands up, stupid tiny little hands that would rub at her own tears; she shouldn't be crying, she knew it, especially reading the message Ayu wrote into the sand, yet the negative emotions only seemed to amplify. They felt even more complex, she was angry with herself for allowing herself to lose control when she needed to be strong for Ayu; yet it was as though she was being assaulted by a swath of troublesome, childish emotions.

She could feel it in herself, despite her outward appearance, she was an adult, she was still Zuqetta. So why then, why were her rational and logical thoughts being so overwhelmed? Worse yet, it was in such a confusing fashion... She felt less like Ayu was upset with her, and more like she was worried about being upset with Ayu, but she most certainly wasn't! Even worse, her emotions began to be assaulted with doubt; her body began to shake with how overwhelming the feelings and thoughts were. Her tears simply wouldn't stop, she was losing herself to the stress and confusion; Ayu wouldn't be in such a situation if it hadn't been for her, but they were right, she simply bothered people too much, Grandpa Zhang was right-

Wait... who?

Zuqetta's chest tightened, what was that? That thought? That stray worry? More importantly, who was that?
The emotions were still there, still threatening to drop her into a bawling mess no matter how much she knew she should stay strong, but a rational seed was planted and began to grow.

"Grandpa Zhang?" Zuqetta muttered, but loud enough that Ayu might certainly hear her, "I don't have... such a grandpa..." she'd say through her heavy sniffles, a hiccup there as she tried to contain her crying.

Her breathing was increasing, at this rate she was sure to hyperventilate; she needed to stop, but it wasn't so easy.
Patience, she needed Patience.
She needed to focus on what Abbott Patience had taught her back on Earth; her energy was low, her magic was malfunctioning, but she would always have access to the teaching of Patience...
She bit the side of her lip, her tiny fang enough to draw blood; the thoughts were still so overwhelming, but she focused still on her teachings. To maintain patience, she had to know herself; and there was no a strong fact she could use to do that, one thing she knew well about herself despite it plaguing her thoughts, she hand no Grandpa Zhang.

It was incomplete, it was unfocused, but it was more than enough to bring a calm to Zuqetta in mere seconds. Her eyes had become red and puffy from the crying, but her expression was straightforward, determined and strong. At least, as strong as a child could make; the tears finally stopped, and she'd lifted her head to face Ayu proper. She felt it, a disconnect as she focused on herself; upon focusing on Ayu however, the same rush of worrisome emotions attempted to assail her. It was be a difficult balancing act, but she began to understand.

She released a breath, her tail flicking behind her anxiously; without another moment of hesitation, she rushed into Ayu, stretching her little arms as wide around the woman as they could go. It was strange, stranger than strange as Zuqetta buried her face into Ayu's chest. Being so close, the emotions raged like a monsoon, but Zuqetta understood it; she grit her teeth, bit her lip, forced the tears to remain inside. These weren't her emotions, these weren't her thoughts... these were Ayu's.

"Don't cry-" Zuqetta's muffled voice would speak up as loudly as it could, her face still pressed against Ayu's chest.

She was worried herself, worried that if she looked up towards Ayu, she'd fail to contain herself and would break down yet again. She had no choice however, as difficult as it was she needed to explain it to Ayu before they both fell apart. She pushed away slightly, her chest convulsing a bit as she struggled to contain the tears; she looked up at Ayu, bearing a serious but kindhearted expression. She felt like she needed to breathe, she felt as though her heart was being squeezed, like something was suffocating her, but was this her own emotions or Ayu's? She reached up, placing her tiny hands on Ayu's cheeks, wiping away the girl's own tears, as awkward as it may have been due to their difference in size.

"Thank you, I'm glad you're not upset!" she forced out, "I'm not upset either, I could NEVER be upset with you!" she'd exclaim, trying to assure the girl.

Ayu seemed smart, mature, quick to catch on, that was what Zuqetta thought at least; realization set in however, Ayu was still just a child despite how strong she tried to be, she was just a different child than Zuqetta had been. Zuqetta remembered being Ayu's age, a complete cry baby incapable of controlling her emotions; Saiyans an emotional control went together like peanut butter and fish! Ayu had control, but that didn't mean she wasn't feeling anything! Perhaps she'd caught on a bit when Zuqetta mentioned Zhang before, but regardless, Zuqetta would make it clear now.

"Ayu, Ayu sweetie-" she began, feeling it becoming more difficult to contain her emotions, "-I can't explain it well, but I need to not just to be strong for me. I need you to REALLY feel it! I'm not upset with you, Calot won't be upset with you, and you haven't done anything wrong!" she'd exclaim, tears beginning to well up again, "I love you, Calot loves you, you're not botherin' anyone!" she hiccuped, she could barely hang on to her rationale, "It's okay to feel scared... but know that you're safe! It's okay to worry you're making mistakes... but know that no one's upset if you do make any! You're young, you're growing, you're learning!"

That was it, she'd reached her limit, the small essence produced from her momentary Way of Patience would fade and her mind would be overwhelmed by the previous thoughts. Despite this, despite the tears that began to roll down her cheeks again, Zuqetta would speak a final time. "You're so smart, so creative, so much stronger than you think and such a brave little girl for enduring this! You're feeling bad, I can feel it, I mean that literally! I don't know why, but I can!" she'd try a final time to encourage, blubbering most of her words; she'd push her face into Ayu's chest again, feeling as though she would break down, but her muffled voice would speak loudly, "I don't know who Grandpa Zhang is, but forget anything he said! We love you Ayu, and you're not a bother at all!!"

Her words ended, she needed Ayu to get a hold of herself now as she became a mere sobbing mess. Her own suppressed emotions couldn't be contained, the anxiety, fears, worry and trauma Zuqetta herself felt had now mixed with the emotions Ayu had kept deep within. If Calot was here, he had certainly given her a scolding for her inability to keep it together; was this her own though, or Ayu's? Did it even matter at this point?

Post - 8

WC - 1,255

TWC - 7,640

Ayu
Rising Soul

STATS
STUFF
SIDES

PL: 1,500
XP: 34,661
Seedling (x3)

Tag: @undecided
Posts: 65 Female

Amalgamite Magic Mar 21, 2024 18:31:38 GMT -5 Zuqetta likes this

Quote

Post by Ayu on Mar 21, 2024 18:31:38 GMT -5

Fates of living beings twist and coil in the most amazing ways. Like the most curious plants... It's hard to predict what could happen next.

Ayu's ears twitched a little when she caught on the silent mutter and the name she didn't expect to hear here. She thought about Grandfather Zhang a second ago, sure, but why Zuqetta's voice was mentioning him all of a sudden? Did she meet him, no that was impossible... Even if Calot mentioned him to the Queen, why would she say the name of Ayu's previous caretaker right now? It was so weird and out of the blue that Ayu started to stare at Zuqetta blankly. Tears still slowly rolled down her cheeks but her yellow irises were glued to the little big sister, in a soundless wonder and confusion.

It only lasted a couple of heartbeats and Zuqetta's change in behavior made Ayu worry. She looked so focused, her gaze so sharp, as if her thoughts were somewhere else for a moment. It wasn't a meditation... Even her energy felt different from before, like a flickering flame that started to burn brighter. Concerned, Ayu pulled down her sleeve and gently wiped the drop of blood from Zuqetta's bleeding lip, looking at her with an anxious expression. It lasted only a moment more and then the little big sister raised her head to examine her. Maybe it was the reflection of the setting sun but her eyes seemed peculiarly solemn. Or maybe she was imagining things..? Her eyes met Ayu's tearful, insecure gaze, while the child in the adult's body wasn't sure what else she could do. Zuqetta wasn't upset with her about acting this way and, perhaps, being so clumsy to slow down the walk. Or maybe it was something-

She didn't expect the sudden embrace. It felt so unusual - until now Ayu was the one who was easily hiding in a warm hug, covered by safe arms and smiles. She was - emphasis on was - small. If she was uneasy, she would hide behind Calot or under Zuqetta's arm. She would cover her face in their clothes and the world seemed to be less scary then. Calot's hands were big, warm, and rough from all the scars he had but when she was anxious, she would hold them. Zuqetta had a long, fluffy tail that it was easy to fall asleep on when the Palace felt strange and alien. They were there... And now her sister's embrace was smaller but not any less warm and reassuring. Little hands, short arms, round face... Ayu couldn't help but sniffle, trying her best not to cry more. Maybe, deep down, she badly wanted to be comforted in this twisted, scary, and magical situation but given their circumstances, she wanted to be brave. And being brave meant no tears and not bothering anyone, right? She wanted to be brave for Zuqetta - to not worry her anymore. She wanted to be brave for Calot, so they could get home soon and not make him upset with the long wait. Very gently Ayu's hand stroked Zuqetta's back, tears were swelling her eyelids, brazenly rolling down her face. Who was being calmed down now..? She was trying to hold it in, for at least the moment, sister asked her to... But why it was so hard?

Small, warm hands touched Ayu's cheeks, wiping away the marks that the tears left there. From this distance, almost inches away from her nose the little big sister was staring at her. Zuqetta's face was so round, and squishy, with a hint of a nervous blush on her cheeks and nose and eyes wet from tears... But her voice was serious, albeit at times weaker from the raging emotions. Ayu's face flushed anxiously and she tightly closed her mouth, scared that she would start to weep if she would only open her trembling lips. The shoulders shivered and she nodded. A strange fusion of relief and guilt was making her chest tight as if screwed one time too many. Zuqetta wasn't upset with her, she said that she wouldn't be, no matter what... It made her shoulders lighter, but her heart heavier. Calot was saying the same thing too, over and over, and yet... She knew that. Ayu remembered that but she could still feel the doubt in the back of her head, growing colder and numbing each time something started to feel out of place. Because, what if it was her fault, in the end? It was hard to get rid of that feeling - but Zuqetta's black eyes were looking at her firmly, so firmly despite the swelling tears that she was taken aback. And then, after Ayu closed her eyes and hot drops fell down her face, she nodded calmly. Right. Right...

Nod. And another. And one more. Ayu's heavy heart and head made her lean forward a bit, her forehead obstructed by green messy bangs was resting on Zuqetta's, lightly touching her black hair. As she listened, she nodded again and again, because the words her older sister said, she wanted them to be true. It made her, as simply as it was called, happy. More tears of relief were now staining her clothes, washing away the shame and festering guilt. Having Calot and Zuqetta near was making her so glad... That's why the fear of making them upset was equally as strong. She loved them and she desperately didn't want to burden them in any way. In the end, Grandfather didn't put in much of a fight, he gave up on her - and Calot was there to take her with him. What if... They would get fed up with her too..? That thought seemed to be offensive to her family, considering Zuqetta's genuine reassurance - but once the fear was rotted deeply, it wasn't easy getting rid of it. Ayu was still afraid.

She was loved. Her heart was growing, and she tried to smile while nodding. But there was always something... Like this unsettling, sticky, and muddy doubt of making others upset, sticking to her core like a tick feeding on her fear. Forget about Zhang, that... That she wanted to do, yeah. The mere thought of Grandfather yelling at her for bothering her again made her pale. Ayu gently wrapped her arms around Zuqetta who leaned in for a hug again, closing her eyes and breathing slowly. On the back of her sister's hand, the green, slightly shaking finger drew a heart shape, as a little response to what she heard before. Ayu loved her too. She loved Calot as well. They both were important and precious, so, so much... The cordial and deep sensation warmed her heart against the other odds.

She wasn't a burden. Or a nuisance. Ayu didn't make Zuqetta upset, it was an emotional misunderstanding... And they both were going to get back to the palace and no one would be upset with her... Right?

Tears exhausted Ayu so, but her little big sister was right. In, and out, quietly. For some unnatural reason, she was able to tell what Ayu was feeling. With her promise to stay brave and fight with fears and burdens, she must have been putting Zuqetta in the middle of unsettling waves of emotions. Ayu wouldn't mind feeling shame over learning that but she couldn't let herself feel that either - everything would come to Zuqetta. That's how she knew that she was feeling guilty, or who Zhang was too... That's why Ayu focused on her breathing and on that only, slowly inhaling air with her nose and exhaling through her mouth. Despite tears, gently but cheekily escaping the corners of her eyes, she was still trying to get rid of unpleasant thoughts and worries.

With a bit of luck, she could take some strain from Zuqetta's little shoulders. Ayu just hoped that whatever was happening inside them wouldn't bother her sister along the way.

In, and out.

She stayed like that for longer, in a warm, tearful hug... Oh, she needed that today - she and Zuqetta both.

PL - 1,500
WC - 1,346
TWC - 8,754

Ayu hasn't yet learned how to control her Antisense ability, so during threads her energy
signature switches between off and on without her noticing.

Zuqetta
Dreadspawn

Saiyan Monarch

STATS
STUFF
SIDES

PL: 160,160
XP: 3,018
Raging Spirit (x5)
Super Saiyan (x18)

Tag: @zuqetta
Posts: 1,413 Female

Item Malus: 5,000

Minion PL: 48,048
Minion Forms: Super Saiyan (x18)

Amalgamite Magic Mar 22, 2024 5:36:39 GMT -5

Quote

Post by Zuqetta on Mar 22, 2024 5:36:39 GMT -5

Time passed, and the ball of anxiety that was Zuqetta would steadily begin to calm; she had no idea how long it took, but it was clear her words had reached Ayu to an extent. Slowly but surely, the fear, the worry, the invasive thoughts, they would begin to fade; Zuqetta had been a crying mess for likely far too long, surely it couldn't have been any longer than a few minutes but it certainly felt like an eternity. She wasn't in control, this unfamiliar power felt like it would tear her apart as she experienced not only Ayu's emotion and thoughts, but began to relive her own trauma as they played through her mind. Finally, Ayu would reach a state of calm, one just well enough that Zuqetta's own calm would level out.

Fierce bawling would degrade to quiet sobbing, until without warning, becoming nothing at all. Ayu might have mistaken Zuqetta for being asleep with how still she'd become, but that simply wasn't the case. Zuqetta sat in Ayu's lap, held within her grasp, her face still buried in the girls chest. She dared not pull away, not yet, she knew her face was likely a mess after all that but she at least felt an incredible relief washing over her. She closed off her thoughts, burying her personal traumas once again; her own emotions stabilized, and she could once more feel Ayu's.

Ayu composed herself, emboldened herself; she felt relief which gave Zuqetta relief, her breathing was long and labored, but seemed to bring her calm. Zuqetta nearly laughed but refrained entirely, Ayu was certainly far more controlled and mature than she had been at her age. It was embarrassing in fact, and knowing she'd broken down now, leaving Ayu in a panic was a terrible wound to her pride. Yet, that pain wouldn't last... the feeling of Ayu drawing a heard on her hand melting away the sting.

Zuqetta would finally begin to move, it was a subtle motion, simple breathing; she copied Ayu, taking deep long breaths as she closed her eyes and began to focus. After all that crying she was tired, after all that walking she was tired, after all these hours she was so damn tired! She would give an incredibly long sigh, rubbing her face against Ayu's chest a bit as she tightened her hug momentarily before finally pushing away slowly.

"This vessel is limiting..." she'd say in a rather deadpan manner, her expression denoting just how exhausted she was; but she would look up towards Ayu, expressionless for a few moments before a strained smile came to her face, "Well, that was... fun, huh?" she'd say sarcastically with a small tired chuckle.

She could once more become strong, even if she didn't appear to be so; Ayu had calmed enough that she was once more in control, but she could feel it. It was subtle, but it was there; deep within, she felt pain, certainly not her own, which meant it could only be Ayu's. It was deeper than Zuqetta thought the little girl capable of suppressing, and it was impressive considering how in control Ayu seemed now, but it was there. Obviously Ayu would feel pain, this was all likely incredibly scary for her... but... it seemed like a LOT of pain. Pain for herself, pain for the land? Pain for others? Pain for-

Zuqetta shook her head, her focus was waning as she got deeper to connecting with that pain she felt in Ayu. She'd push away from Ayu entirely, finally standing back up; she wobbled, feeling like her legs were jelly and she'd collapse at any moment, but held strong as she regained her balance. Her toes splayed out, playing with the red sand beneath her feet; her tail would begin to sweep the sand as her mood improved, a feeling of... playfulness, finally coming to her heart and mind.

One final, incredibly deep breath, before she'd bring her tiny hands up and smack them against her own cheeks; it was hardly a -pomf- with how squishy she was, and honestly she wasn't sure she used nearly the same kind of strength that she'd have used as an adult, but her cheeks were a bit red none the less.

"Okay!" she'd exclaim, quickly turning back towards Ayu with a smile, cocking her head a bit, "I need a break!" she'd say with a wide grin, "And you do too, no arguing!" she'd declare, pointing a finger at Ayu before adjusting the loose crown upon her head.

It felt dangerous, it felt... sad, the further she was from Ayu the more in control she was; the nearer, the less... She understood Ayu could grow plants, make them... she could... speak with them? Could she? Zuqetta had never given it much thought but she wouldn't be too surprised if the little girl could; she was piecing things together, their magic was swapped sure enough... but was Ayu an empath? Could she feel the emotions of others and hear their thoughts? Was this was she was always so quiet??

Zuqetta moved forward, moving the girls bangs, gently stroking through her hair and moving it to the side to reveal her face. "Hm?" she remarked curiously, "Hey, lookie here-" she'd say playfully, taking hold of Ayu's hand and bringing it to her own head; Zuqetta would guide Ayu's hand, until, "-you've got little horns, like a baby goat." she'd say with a laugh as she had Ayu feel her own horns; she hoped Ayu wouldn't be bothered by the remark, but Zuqetta's expression would soften further, her smile much more genuine, "I guess you really ARE my little sister then! Ya know, I actually have an older sister too, her name's Zerori, and she had suuuuuuuper big horns, just like these!" she'd say, hoping the synergy would encourage the girl.

She gave Ayu a moment to collect herself further and get her bearings, all the while, moving around her and cleaning her up. The dirt and sand of Plant stuck well, annoyingly well, Zuqetta would pat Ayu down, focusing especially on Ayu's massive mop of hair-

"Oh!" a thought came to mind, and she'd quickly pat Ayu's shoulder, "Hey, hey! Guess what, your big sis can make more than just swords and stuff! And now, you have my magic." she cleared her throat, hoping to sound a bit more mature and wise as she lifted a finger and spoke, "So that said, if you focus, I'll bet you can materialize a brush! Or maybeeee... a comb? I was always pretty aligned with metallic elements, so a comb might be easier if you're where I was when I was younger." she'd explain, her smile beaming with curiosity and interest on if Ayu could do it.

Zuqetta was no slouch either; hoping to encourage Ayu further, she brought her own hands together. Nature, it was a strange concept; Zuqetta never had a connection with nature, but she'd made the little cooling leaves on her hands well enough. What could she make? How much focus did she need? What circles of magic should her mind weave together? Honestly, these secret little thoughts were making Zuqetta excited, easily seen by her unsuppressed smile and bright expression. To be able to be on the side of learning again was... fun? Was it merely her small self affecting her thoughts on it? No, she'd always loved learning, and when she thought back to the vines that entangled her and the leaves currently on her slightly less swollen hand, she realized it.

Something... pretty, happy, small...

She didn't need as much thought, she didn't need the demonic magic circles Zriracha had taught her; all she needed was emotion, and a bit of focus. then, she felt it, and her eyes would shoot open wide. She'd rush back around, standing before Ayu, her tail flicking back and forth behind her with delight. She played with Ayu's bangs once more, stroking them aside; this time however, they would remain aside as Zuqetta seemed to tie something in the girls hair.

"There! Much better!" she'd exclaim, stepping back quickly and picking up the heavy dagger she'd dropped, "Here, whaddya think?" she lifted the dagger, showing the flat of the blade to Ayu; it's reflective surface allowing Ayu to see herself like looking into an awkward mirror. In the girls hair, a strange pink flower with a golden center and two protruding stamen, a flower a bit bigger than Zuqetta wanted but pretty all the same; it's stem was flexible, easily used to bind and tie Ayu's bangs back, allowing the flower to rest comfortably on the side of Ayu's head.

Post - 9

WC - 1,457

TWC - 9,097

Ayu
Rising Soul

STATS
STUFF
SIDES

PL: 1,500
XP: 34,661
Seedling (x3)

Tag: @undecided
Posts: 65 Female

Amalgamite Magic Mar 29, 2024 16:03:17 GMT -5

Quote

Post by Ayu on Mar 29, 2024 16:03:17 GMT -5

After one soundless sob and another, Ayu lost track of time. She was hugging Zuqetta tight, stroking her hair, and focusing on her breathing... In and out. Slowly. Her body was trembling and she could feel tiny shoulders shivering with every weep that the little one made. It made her concerned but it was clear - their connection was at fault here. Everything Ayu felt was coursing also through Zuqetta... She would be ashamed of that if it only wasn't another strong emotion. Thus, for the sake of both of them, she had to be calm. Ayu had to close her eyes. The pained mind, brimming with confusion and fear, crinkled and crumpled, was starting to feel at ease. Slowly...The worries were smoothing out. Yeah, like this. Ayu was making sure that her mind was keeping track of all the nice and warm things. Like head pats and sunflowers, her favorite flowers. Or sweet and sour gummies and books and drawing, and snuggling before falling asleep...

It seemed to work. Soon enough she was able to wipe away tear marks from her face, watching how Zuqetta sprung back. Standing straight, with her tiny crown and tail wiggling to the side, she reminded Ayu of a character from a book. A tiny brave princess - yeah, it matched perfectly! Even the attitude, when Zuqetta showed a wide smile and ordered them to rest, was as if she read it from the book. It actually made it more fun! Maybe Ayu should draw and also write something like that... But how does one make a story?

She couldn't help but blink, still sitting on the ground with her legs tucked under her. Zuqetta's words made her snap out of her deep thoughts. Break? Break. So be it. They could use it, that was the truth. Zuqetta's attitude changed almost drastically but she wasn't the one to say anything... Literally. Ayu, realizing that her emotions were echoing through her sister's heart, tried her best to stay calm, maybe a bit blank, though it was a failed battle. She always felt so many things that trying to cut them out was impossible - so the least she could do was to try and keep her breathing in check. In and out.

Thought when Zuqetta started stroking her head, she closed her eyes. It reminded her of all the times she had her hair patted by someone... It always felt warm, like a tiny furnace inside her was gently heating her heart. Ayu nodded and smiled shyly. She was a little embarrassed when her sister mentioned her horns.

There were three pairs of horns poking out of her green bangs. Her fingers again, guided by Zuqetta, gently traced the new addition on her head. Curious, why would she even have horns as an adult? Was she related to some... Well, Ayu wanted to think deers, but she wasn't one at all. That would be silly. It seemed that her race had tails and fangs and... Horns, yeah. They were kind of stubby, gently curved, not really imposing or scary. In fact, their surface was soft and velvety. She spotted them earlier when she was glancing at the smooth ground like in a mirror, looking at her current appearance... They were so small, probably puny compared to the ones the fabled Zeorori had. The biggest pair wasn't even the size of her thumbs, the middle horns were half the length of it, and the smallest pair was like her nails, barely visible from between green strands of hair. Comparing her to a baby goat wasn't that weird... It made Ayu chuckle softly, and the gentle though inarticulate murmur of her voice could be heard when she smiled.

A comb? Or a brush, maybe... Ayu had a brush in her belongings that she used to keep her hair in check. Zuqetta asked her to make one now, and she could guess why - her hair was quite an untamed beast. Brush or a comb. A comb. A pretty, silver comb... The adult girl raised her hand to her mouth, gently pressing a lightly curled fist against her lips. With closed eyes, she was thinking if she could even make something like that - though she did create all those daggers before... So it shouldn't be impossible - but how to do it? All this time Ayu was trying to make flowers or simply, she gathered some of that clear and sharp mana, and by default, it was shaped into a blade. Though a comb was like a lot of tiny blades in a row melted together. Right? They weren't sharp though, and they were thicker, flatter, joined together by their handle so it was easy to hold them. A comb... Ayu was reminded of the fairy tale books she read in Calot's library. There were stories about princesses, knights, damsels, and dragons. The pictures there were very pretty and one lady was combing her hair with an elegant-looking silver comb.

A piece of metal, like a raw lump of ore, started to form in Ayu's hands. She tried her best to shape it but still... With her cheeks blushing, showed her big little sister her creation. The comb was a flat piece of silver, with an uneven, kinda messy row of teeth but the handle was adored with openwork, all the details were making a floral and only slightly misshapen pattern. The item was a bit tacky and one side felt a bit heavier than the other but undeniably it was a comb. Though it wasn't perfect...

But before she could give it to her, Zuqetta leaned closer. Her now small hands were gently brushing her green hair away, fingers playing with bangs, maybe not to style them, but to make them more obedient. Ayu smiled a little seeing the focused expression on her face. It made her round and squishy face cuter but she dared not to write anything about that... Well, as her little big sister was tying something around her head, a smile bloomed on her face. She gave her the dagger, so she looked at her reflection on the cold blade... The first thing she noticed, was of course a flower. Tips of her fingers touched the smooth and delicate petals carefully, tenderly. The vines growing from it were used as a headband of sorts, Ayu's bangs were now kept on the side of her face and the vine was resting between her horns, additionally secured to not snap by accident. It looked pretty but it made her a bit shy, Ayu wasn't used to showing her face like that. Stroking her flushed cheek with her finger, she smiled abashed and mouthed thank you to Zuqetta, finally giving her the comb she made a moment earlier.

It was obvious that she wanted to comb and braid her hair and Ayu wasn't the one to stop her. The long, bushy green and white locks that she had were at least twice as thick as her child-self hair. Gods knew it would be more comfortable to have a braid while they were walking to the Palace... However, when she looked at little Zuqetta, the wild, black Saiyan hair could use some combing too.

Ayu never had a chance to comb, tie, or braid the hair of any other person. Calot's hair was too short and she didn't have any friends that she thought she could ask that... So maybe..?

While she was gathering courage, she felt that Zuqetta started gently combing her hair. The metallic comb was moved down her two-colored locks, in a rhythmic pattern that in this unusual situation, Ayu found comforting. She closed her eyes.

PL - 1,500
WC - 1,277
TWC - 10,031

Ayu hasn't yet learned how to control her Antisense ability, so during threads her energy
signature switches between off and on without her noticing.

Zuqetta
Dreadspawn

Saiyan Monarch

STATS
STUFF
SIDES

PL: 160,160
XP: 3,018
Raging Spirit (x5)
Super Saiyan (x18)

Tag: @zuqetta
Posts: 1,413 Female

Item Malus: 5,000

Minion PL: 48,048
Minion Forms: Super Saiyan (x18)

Amalgamite Magic Mar 30, 2024 0:22:21 GMT -5

Quote

Post by Zuqetta on Mar 30, 2024 0:22:21 GMT -5

A twitch here, a fidget there; the occasional blush, and a constant thought. As Zuqetta helped pat Ayu down she could feel it, the constant thought in the back of her mind. As clear as her mind was now however, it became ever more apparent that the subtle thoughts and feelings were not her own. She couldn't say how or why, but the pieces had fallen into place; it was most certainly Ayu that had been affecting her, and now that she was aware, her mental guard would be stronger for it.

Her mind told her to simply breathe in and out, it was easy to want to do that already considering her own attempts to remain in control, but she was certain these were more thoughts provided by Ayu. Then, a lapse, a spread of thoughts, a greater moment of concentration; Ayu brought her hand up, a loose fist which touched her lips. Zuqetta looked on curiously, until within moments, Ayu would successfully materialize something other than a dagger, a comb!

Zuqetta had taken to adjusting Ayu's bangs with the flower she herself had materialized, she was happy to see Ayu's bashful smile at her own reflection; another emotion that bled through slightly into Zuqetta, but she would keep it under control. As Ayu mouthed her thank you, Zuqetta would smile, taking the comb in hand and giving Ayu a soft pat on the head. It nearly seemed as though the earlier momentary turmoil they both experienced had never happened at all, but Zuqetta would not drop her guard. She could feel the subtlety in Ayu's emotions, the judgements she had in herself for her creation, the anticipation for Zuqetta's responses, the enjoyment being fawned over in such a way; if Zuqetta hadn't known better, she'd have though Ayu a narcissist, but she knew Ayu was just clinging to what was familiar for solace.

"Ooooo, what a pretty design!" Zuqetta would remark as she stood behind Ayu, examining the comb, "And silver too? Hehe, makin' such a pure metal on a first attempt, nice job sweetums!" she'd cheer, genuinely impressed. She made no remarks on the crude make, there was no need for judgements; if Ayu had such latent ability in her then perhaps one day Zuqetta would instruct her properly on materialization, but considering Zuqetta herself had only been able to make plants so far, she figured regular object might not have been the child's forte.

Zuqetta would take to combing gently through Ayu's hair, using her fingers to gently undo any tangles so as to not snag her with the comb, while keeping her hair well lifted to prevent the uneven design from scratching her. She would give a deep, subtle breath; feeling a comfort wash over her, as well as a stray thought to have her own hair combed through, undoubtedly more thoughts and feeling offered by Ayu.

There was only a minor difficulty in the process; now that Zuqetta had more time to think, she was able to better judge their respective situations. Zuqetta knew her body well enough, from a young age she'd been short and only got a growth spurt around fourteen so it was difficult to judge her age. What was previously a shirt was now more like a dress and was mere centimeters from touching the ground; comparing her shirt to Ayu's torso, Zuqetta judged the girl to be roughly the same height as Zuqetta had been. Ayu seemed... more shapely, something that gave Zuqetta a small annoyance, but not something she would address. All in all, it seemed as though the two had precisely swapped ages along with magic, despite the fact that Zuqetta was certain she was smaller than Ayu had previously been.

But why?

Further, as calm and comforted as Ayu seemed; Zuqetta could sense something... deeper. Something darker, scared, pained, wild; it wasn't impossible to have simultaneous emotions but the sheer grief Zuqetta felt didn't seem like Ayu at all. She wondered if it had something to do with the previously mentioned Grandpa Zhang, but Zuqetta was wary to touch the topic lest she negatively impact Ayu's mood once again. Still, now was the perfect time to speak; so as she continued to gently comb through Ayu's hair, the mop steadily becoming tame, Zuqetta would inquire.

"So Ayu-" she began, attempting to get the girls attention before speaking further, "-I'm curious, why dontcha tell me more about yourself! We got ta explore the castle a bit when ya arrived, but we haven't gotten ta have any girl talk ta get ta know each other!" she'd laugh, "You were pretty brave ta separate from big brother like that, hehehe, I don't think I coulda done the same when I was your age. I know I said it before but, good job!" she'd encourage, hoping to loosen the mold a bit and bring down any potential walls the girl might have still had up.

"So then, ya like books, ya like plants, what else do ya like?" she'd remark, before getting a bit curious herself, "Oh! Actually, don't write nothin'-" she'd remark, giving a little wave of her hand outstretched past Ayu's arm. She'd lean alongside Ayu, looking up at her with a wide smile; tapping her own temple, Zuqetta would speak again, "-just think it, start small like... hmm, what's your favorite color?" she'd ask, before pulling back to stand straight again, returning to combing Ayu's hair, "Then just go from there and... heheh, think about yourself!"

Post - 10

WC - 927

TWC - 10,024

Post by Ayu on Mar 20, 2024 18:44:15 GMT -5

Post by Zuqetta on Mar 21, 2024 1:58:11 GMT -5

Post by Ayu on Mar 21, 2024 18:31:38 GMT -5

Post by Zuqetta on Mar 22, 2024 5:36:39 GMT -5

Post by Ayu on Mar 29, 2024 16:03:17 GMT -5

Post by Zuqetta on Mar 30, 2024 0:22:21 GMT -5

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