what it means to praise the sun [OPEN]

[fauxmarth]

WHO: Lucina, y'all who pop in or i force in
WHERE: allll over
WHEN: Juuuune
WHAT: THINGS and STUFF
WARNINGS: maybe one whole feeling somewhere in there



CLOCK TOWER (Maurtia Falls) (open to friends of LUCINA, ODIN, and LEO)*
The clock tower in Maurtia Falls is being spruced up for the summer seasons: Not only are Leo's lovely arrays of flowers blooming finely with all the warm sunlight beaming in, but Lucina's taken to decorating, too!

...It's not all terrible, honest: In fact, if were one to drop in unexpectedly, they'll find her happily humming and lining a shelf with some colorful shells she scooped up with Jonathan down in Heropa. There's also a pile of beachy-looking garlands she found at a dollar store and an inflatable palm tree still in its box, dumped on the sofa for later.

There's also some flamingo lawn ornaments on the floor by the door, please watch your step!

(It's not all terrible, but this is Lucina; some is bound to be tacky.)


MAURTIA FALLS
This being the city of her residence, Lucina can be spied here quite often. One may find her walking Odin's dogs -- Lon'qu and Lissa, two very, very large boofers -- around the canal and nearby parks. There's not an outing without these two big lugs yanking her off her feet to go check out an interesting passerby or familiar face -- you could be next!

But perhaps you also have a means to fly, and in that case you may encounter Lucina flying above the city. She's grown to love the pastime now that the weather is so much fairer than chilly, thawing springtime. She takes breaks atop rooftops, enjoying the view, spying out trouble she may need to intervene in, and maybe getting in a few practice swings with her sword.


DE CHIMA
Lucina volunteers some of her days at the clinic in De Chima, still more inclined to ensuring Iris doesn't overwork than really advancing her savvy with first aid. She just can't seem to get the art of wrapping gauze right...perhaps an encounter with a banged-up imPort will help her improve?

Otherwise, she might be spotted at a nearby coffee shop...for donuts, not coffee. She'd not insult Iris' coffee-making skills like that!


NONAH
Nonah is the city that Lucina visits the least, and she figures that while things are relatively calm, she ought to take advantage of that and explore. She needs ideas for a proper birthday gift for her cousin, so she sniffs out antique shops or other storefronts with obscenely sparkly or tacky items on display. Her fashion sense is broken beyond all repair...what's your excuse?



*ACTUALLY if you feel like daring to break & enter into this abode and get attacked for it, lmk at whyellewhy on plurk
OR ANYTHING ELSE...yeah....hmu

Comments

ARCHIE

[fauxmarth]

Your footing's still a bit off, Archie.

[she's walking around him, eyeing not only his footing, but how he's holding the training sword aloft, trying to be as nitpicky as Frederick would've been with her. such strictness served her well, even though it had been a huge pain back then... she intends to teach Archie properly -- the best that she can!

she walks up, gently nudging his heel with her toes until it moves to her liking.]

There. Good. How's your balance feel?

[h2no]

[he shifts slightly, awkwardly wobbling a bit as he tries to shift as instructed at the same time as actually looking to see the new position she's nudging him into. he does it without falling on his ass, somehow, archie's clearly not very... graceful on his feet, but he's doing pretty well with her tutoring. she'll make a sworder of him yet.]

Like this? [he asks, balancing properly again.]

NEGOTIATOR

[fauxmarth]

What in the world...?

[why is this aisle so congested?! she grimaces at the cluster of people who are just...hovering at the endcap, rather than actually going about and seeing to their shopping. this won't do at all. who's causing such a disturbance?

huffing, she adjusts her grip on her little shopping basket and sets to bullying through, pardon me and exCUSE me all the way until she clears the cluster to behold--]

Oh!

[it's that green man! the one who was friends with talking dolphins. no wonder people are hesitating to approach, opting to just gawk from a distance.

unlike these people, though, Lucina has no problem at all with weird green aliens! she's good friends with one already -- why not another?]

This is a pleasant surprise. Greetings! [who cares if he's busy scowling at the magazine rack? who doesn't love being prompted for conversation at random?]

[stabbyfingers]

[ Negotiator has to eat too, so as plebian as a trip to the supermarket is, he's here, with a basket on one arm. (It's all meat.) But as he was heading to the checkout he spotted the magazines and one in particular.

TIME.

Sheer curiosity gets him to pick it up, and while judging it viciously he hears a voice addressing him and looks up. He makes a split second decision not to be a complete asshole; Negotiator doesn't want to make too many enemies among the imports, after all. ]

Greetings. You were from the Network, correct?

JAIME

[fauxmarth]

[this country has a great love of holidays -- holidays for animals, for foods, for historical events and people...and families, she's discovered. Mother's Day came and went in a blur, and while she found the abundance of beautiful floral arrangements charming, it didn't quite shake her the way suddenly encountering rows of Father's Day cards does now. and to be fair, she wasn't expecting it, having gone out to just pick up some things for the clock tower.

she's lingering her amid the cheesy puns and sentimental rhymes, picking up one after another and musing on them. she's easily moved by such honest, heartfelt things (she is not so cynical to believe this is just a money grab by greedy greeting card companies, you know!), that she can't help but feel her eyes watering as she picks up one with watercolor bears embracing -- father and daughter ones, with simple, childlike wishes scrawled in foil script.

if only her father were here. she misses him so terribly, regretting some of the terrible resentments that have lingered in her heart for having lost him so young. she wonders what it'd be like to be able to present him with one of these sentimental little cards, which can barely convey all that he means to her. she'd need at least twenty! maybe more...]

Gods... [she sniffs, realizing the state she's getting herself in, quickly swiping at her eyes.]

[khajidont]

[ Father's Days have come and gone for Jaime four times now, which makes the whole affair a little less painful. He thinks about his family with greater frequency than most, he thinks, determined to make them proud even from a distance, and Father's Day is no exception, but at least he's become a little more numb to days that were once filled with family that he's filled with friends instead.

Still, it's a little sad seeing all the Father's Day cards while he peruses the aisle, searching for a birthday card for a classmate, knowing that he has no need to buy the customary present and card combo, knowing that he can't go and needle Milagro to draw something or to pull her weight for a change. He sighs a little, grabbing a cheesy card and turning to go to the register when he spots Lucina.

It always feels a little duplicitous, talking to someone he knows as the Blue Beetle as Jaime Reyes and vice versa; it's something he tries to avoid, if he can. He has no love for leading a double life. But then he hears her sniffle, and... well, he can't exactly stay away, can he? He cares about Lucina. It'd be a cruel thing to just leave. ]

Hey - are you all right?

NONAH

[forgeabettertomorrow]

[As Lucina shops for her around for her cousin, there is a really strong chance she'll here the constant sound of hammer on steel echoing throughout the commercial and industrial district of Nonah. It's too rhythmic and not loud enough to be a factory or anything of that ilk. If anything, it sounds like one person just hammering away.]

[Well, that's because it is.]

[Should she choose to follow the telltale hammering, she'll come across a warehouse that has been converted into a smithy. And there is another blue haired individual at the anvil, pounding away at what looks like to be a gleaming longsword. Inside are racks upon racks of weapons and armor and other assorted gear that she would likely be more familiar with than any other modern day weapon found in this world.]

[fauxmarth]

[even after all this time in this strange world, Lucina's ears can still pick up the familiar clang of steel. it's such a particular tone, too -- hard to ignore once she's already gone through second-guessing and decided to go seek it out.

peering in through the open bay door, her eyes light up, surprised and delighted. an actual smithy? in this world? truly? (sure, all those swords Owain's collected have to have come from somewhere, but...)

she slips inside, sidling up against the wall beside the entrance, knocking on it in-between the hammer falls for his attention, unable to keep the delighted smile off her face.]

LEO

[fauxmarth]

[Lucina hasn't had a proper picnic since her outing with Hearthstone, back when spring was still struggling to shake winter off the city. and while the reminder of her sweet, pale-haired friend does make her heart ache a little, she thinks it only good and right to enjoy a lovely day like this -- not just for herself, but to do right by him!

and her present company, too. actually, dining outside had been his suggestion -- she offered picnic in reply, and here they are, smoothing out a quilt from the clock tower (so of course it's like, black and purple with white thread stitched in like webbing or whatever) and settling down under a large oak tree in one of the Maurtia Falls parks. it's close enough to the canal for the view's sake, but not near enough for it to be so noisy.]

Now that I think of it, this idea to sit out is even better than I first thought. [she rummages through the large canvas bag she'd brought and pulls out a paper bag, patting it before digging for the rest of the things in there.] I don't think I would've finished those strawberry tarts if they were left sitting at the clock tower, but right now's a pretty good excuse.

boofers

[fource]

[It's not a huge surprise that Quatre finds himself on the receiving end of two excited, enormous doggos. Besides the fact that he is a pure, goodhearted boy who loves animals and will happily spoil them rotten, he also happens to be carrying a briefcase full of dog treats. By the time Lucina catches up with the dogs, Quatre is trying (and failing) to hold the briefcase high above his head so the dogs can't reach it, making ineffectual hand motions with his free hand to try to coax the dogs into sitting when he tells them to. It'd probably work better if he weren't having such a good time with it.]

Sit-- no, sit-- oh, hello Lucina! [He looks up and smiles at her, just in time for one of the dogs to make another sniff at the briefcase.] --No, shush. Sit first.

[fauxmarth]

[perhaps once, long ago in their puppyhood, these two lunkheads once were trained quite well to the proper dog commands. but that was before being housed by Odin Dark, whose verbosity and enthusiasms have no doubt had an effect on these two.

Lucina cries out with alarm at their initial attack, nearly sent flying off her feet as they zoomed in on Quatre, but she's quick to regain her feet.]

Lonnie, Lissy, please! Stop it! You can't just--! [she's caught by surprise to see a familiar face through all that hopping and fuzz.] Oh! It's-- HEY!

[she barks a sharp command, startling the dogs to tippy-tapping back on all fours. it's not a perfect response, but at least there's no more jumping.

Lucina sighs, sweeping hair out of her face.]

For-forgive me. They're incredibly determined when they know what they want...and apparently they want your attention!

nonah

[couldbebeautiful]

[Veronica's excuse is that she's from the eighties, and this dress? This chaotic mess of black and white and color splashed haphazardly around like a two-year-old's first art piece on the fridge but in dress form? Is way up her alley, despite what her current blending-in outfit might say, so of course she's going for it. She just—

Well, she hadn't expected somebody else to be reaching for it at the same time. The moment her fingers brush against someone else's, she draws her hand back and whips her head around to look at the other girl, surprised to see that someone else apparently shares her propensity for colorful clothes.]

Um. [She gestures to the dress.] Did you want this?

[fauxmarth]

[Lucina yelps, startled, and retracts her hand, gawking back at Veronica in turn as a wave of embarrassment rushes over her. she'd been so transfixed by the amazing array of patterns on the dress that she completely tuned out her surroundings!]

Oh--for-forgive me! I was barely paying attention. Please, [she gestures, too.] I'm sure you were here first.

Nonah

[flightforfreedom]

[ He spots Lucina on his carpet, after just having happened to talk to Peter about Odin's birthday party. Serendipitous, huh?

He angles the carpet down and comes to float next to her, looking through the window at all the gaudy antiques. BB-8 is with him, but oddly enough, so is a chocolate lab named Polly, panting happily and wagging her tail, now fully used to the concept of flying and even enjoying it. ]

Fancy meeting you out here, I was planning on getting a hold of you anyway.

I'm assuming you're coming to this party Peter is throwing?

[fauxmarth]

[the little droid's hello whistle is what grabs her attention, prying her eyes away from the tacky display. she's surprised -- because floating people and their droids and their pets is still not a common sight -- but quickly delighted when she recognizes a friendly face.

and a dog.] Oh-!! [she giggles a little, hiding it behind her hand, shaking her head. what a cute dog oh no.]

Greetings, Poe! [she at least does give him a smile even with the distracting presence of dog. she's not a monster.] How lovely it is to see you. Is-- [she wants to ask about the damn DOG but reels it in.] Ah--yes, of course I am. I'm helping arrange it, actually.

I take it you will be in attendance, since you're asking?

nonah;

[itssacrifice]

[Andrew actually likes sparkly and tacky things thank you very much. It's not so much that his fashion sense is flawed as he'd had to learn a long time ago how to hunt for a good bargain, and that the best places to find them are often shops like these. He's studying a shelf full of an assortment of knickknacks and tiny figurines when he happens to glance up and spot her.

With a smile stretching across his face, he approaches.]

And here I thought you'd avoid the city for awhile after your last run-in with the paparazzi. You're not ducking in here to hide out are you?

[His tone is teasing.]

[fauxmarth]

Eh-?

[Lucina blinks, catching Andrew's approach distorted through the reflection on an ugly, brass teapot crafted like a toad with a bloated throat. she does a bit of a double-take, once for realizing she's being addressed, and twice in realizing she's familiar with him.]

Oh! Greetings, sir! [she smiles, a little color in her face out of bashfulness.] No, not hiding at all. I've no trouble in this city on a day like today so far-- most everyone seems to mind their own.

How nice to see you again, though. You surprised me!

NONAH

[deathboss]

Eikichi's excuse? He's fabulous. Tacky silver necklaces appear to be his thing, from the number he already has around his neck. When he notices he's not the only one looking into the nearby storefront he gives the other a wave.

"Hello babe! Name's Eikichi Mishina! Don't think I've seen you much around these parts!"

Sorry, she would perhaps later learn that he just babes everyone.

[fauxmarth]

"Ah..."

Eikichi may learn faster how little quarter Lucina gives to such repellent labels, for she feels a little, crawling feeling of dislike at the sound.

But...she's a princess. She's been taught to be kind and polite, to treat others with respect, and do her best to not judge on first appearances.

...Even if his hair makes him look like some low-level Plegian bandit.

"Ye-yes," she replies slowly, turning to get a proper look at him, because perhaps the reflection does him ill. Sort of. "I'm no native to this city, nor this world. Merely here to explore today. Greetings."

HEROPA; lmk if this needs a tweak and you may also get a Pete later

[shiroics]

[ When you're in space, no one cares about one more strange-looking human with strange-looking human clothing. Earth is another story, but between the time he's been away and the different universe, Shiro still doesn't have a great grasp on the local style. Fashion has never been a priority for him, but he likes to look presentable, and not draw attention to himself for the wrong reasons.

After spending far too long standing in a shop holding up different shirts against himself in the mirror, Shiro finally turns to the nearest customer with a polite cough. ]

Excuse me, ma'am. Sorry to bother you, but off the top of your head, which of these shirts do you think is better?

[ They're both black, both long-sleeved, but one is a henley with a subtle waffle texture, the other a button-down with an equally subtle sheen -- maybe it's linen? A real risk-taking trend-setter, this Takashi Shirogane. ]

it is Good

[fauxmarth]

Hm-?

[Lucina turns at being prompted, eyebrows raised curiously and her mouth quirked in a small, polite smile. her eyes flicker to the two dour offerings, folding her arms and tilting her head between them.

...they're both quite plain, aren't they? not much to speak of as far as interest value, save for the texturing on the one. she gives a thoughtful hum before unfolding her arms and reaching to touch each in turn.]

Well...I believe they'd both serve a pretty similar purpose. But this one may leave you too uncomfortable in the heat. [she tugs at the henley.] Black is tough to pull off with the sun on your back, you know. [she looks up at him, mouth quirking.

something about the look of his face and hair gives her an idea very suddenly, though, and she holds up a finger.] Actually, I think...Where was it... [she turns, walking around the display of gaudy patterns and sundresses she'd been picking at, over toward a row of hats and scarves. she pulls out a shiny, silver scarf, turning back and offering it out.]

This may help! To keep your neck out of the glare, and a sneaky way to dry off sweat when no one's looking!

[and it's mad shiny. like whoa. a silver streak, just like Shiro's hair!]

JACOB

[fauxmarth]

"I admit, I am a little confounded with myself," says Lucina, shrugging her bag of gym clothes over her shoulder as they exit. "I see that ankle sweep coming a mile away and still can't get a proper response to it in time."

The pride of being young does leave her a little bruised, but as far as Lucina's concerned, it's merely a matter of time before she can master a counter. It's why she can shoot Jacob a grin even now after the number of losses.

"But I'm not going to resort to simply floating away just yet. I'm going to figure that one out."

A MILLION YEARS LATER

[darkpants_warmfeeling]

Jacob takes a long drink from his water bottle and pauses to stretch out a Lucina-induced kink in his shoulder before he replies, walking beside her.

"You gotta learn to anticipate it even before you see it," he offers in a casual tone, more sharing than lecturing. "Your reflexes are good- they're just responding to your eyes instead of your experiences. You'll get faster once you know what's coming even before your eyes tell you."

It wasn't so long ago that Jacob didn't have that kind of experience himself, being trained more in shooting than in punching. But by this point, he was comfortable enough with the world of close-combat to feel confident giving Lucina pointers. And it felt good to be helping her out.

DANGER

[fauxmarth]

Lucina's favorite park is in Maurtia Falls -- not just because it's so close to the clock tower, but because the canal that runs through the city is in plain view and adds a nice accent to the busy, condensed shapes surrounding it. It's much-needed openness in such tight quarters, and it's quite like a physical breath of fresh air and chance to stretch one's limbs.

She relays the park name and location to the curious entity Danger, who, while having a naturally imposing sort of delivery, Lucina finds to be agreeable and interesting enough to entertain for an afternoon. She's sure there's a lot of good to be gotten from learning about her, and in turn, she hopes to do some good in sharing what she knows.

While she waits, Lucina sits with a small atlas she purchased, lightly penciling out some points of interest and things she's curious about. Things she's already established as good and worthwhile have been committed to ink, and there's plenty of that, but this city is big. This world is vast. There's always so much more.

[mortalweapon]

The landscape hasn't changed too much — and even if it had, the park in question isn't a difficult place to find. It's marked by that impressive clock tower, a landmark that Danger sees from far off as she flies in from De Chima. The open stretches make for an easy landing. She touches down lightly, touching down with such control that she only just bends the blades of grass.

There's a young human sitting at their meeting spot. Danger wastes no time making her approach. Nevermind the stares from all the other park-goers — she's used to that. A couple hundred pounds of blue metal walking around does tend to attract some attention.

"Lucina, I presume?"

de chima

[carbonfrozen]

Han Solo limps into the clinic one fine June day with a stormy expression on his face and a noticeably sprained ankle. "I tripped over a dog," is all the information he's willing to give, and also, "no, you don't have to call anyone, it's fine, I got a car parked outside, I can get home—"

Unfortunately for Lucina, he's already trying to get up as he says this. He puts his weight on his bad ankle and just immediately goes to one knee with a pained hiss and a wince that is expertly hidden away, before he draws himself back up and onto the chair. It says something about him, maybe, that he's got a sprained ankle and he still insists he's doing fine.

"Let's just call it a day," he says. "You got other patients anyway," he adds, trying to disguise his desire to go with concern for other people.

[fauxmarth]

Volunteers at this clinic have grown to rely on Lucina for cases just like Han -- those sorts who don't enjoy being fussed on, won't sit still for more than a moment before becoming antsy... It doesn't take long for the doctor on duty to call for her and she appears, cracking her knuckles and eyeing this fidgety patient.

"Right, then, let's--" She stops short, eyebrows lifting. Her mouth slowly curves into a small smile. "...Goodness. I didn't expect to see a familiar face here. Mister Solo, what sort of trouble did you get up to that's landed you in our care?"

She doesn't wait for a reply before walking around the examination table and planting her hands on his shoulders, firmly pressing down to oblige he sit.

MAURTIA FALLS

[izanyagi]

"Ooh look at them, they are adorable."

Yu doesn't step back or look afraid as the dogs come towards him. He even kneels down so they'll be able to greet him properly and pets them as much as the dogs will allow him to do so.

"Are they yours? They are very handsome.

[fauxmarth]

"Oh--"

Lucina is about to shout down at this little frenzy of dog kisses, but this stranger's taking it in such an easy stride that she holds her tongue, her mouth twitching in a small, sheepish smile.

"My, my cousin's, actually," she replies, swatting at Lon'qu's tail to get his attention and send him her way -- as much of a relief as she can provide without having to get more involved. "Forgive them, they get terribly excited for attention from any which-way."

Not unlike their owner, really...