The Celebration of Magic [Serenity/Roxanne/Open]

[Rivers]

Rivers listens as Serenity recounts her embarrassing story and shakes his head. “You know,it's really unfair that even your embarrassing fantasies wind up being so sweet,” he complains light heartedly. He realized that she was probably upset about how things had gone with Kail and that his comment might be a little insensitive, but he couldn't help but find her embarrassment cute.

Though as Roxanne makes her vow Rivers grins at her. “I believe this might be the first time someone has referred to me as a good influence.” He admits with a barely controlled chuckle. “Well be that as it may, I have no intention of asking you to change your past, those are the experiences that made you who you are today. It is what you do from here on that matters...well that and how well you can embellish the events of your past, never underestimate the power of a good tale.”

He closed his eyes and listened with a smile and Roxanne related her desire and then her question. This was good, this banter and back and forth was good. Realizing it was his turn he opened his eyes and looked back and forth between the two. “Roxanne, what do you know about the center of Nova?”

[Serenity Caine]

Cute? I have no idea what you mean. She looked down, poking at her food. She wasn’t offended, as the situation between she and Kail had been resolved a few days before, and aside from feeling a tad foolish, it was over with. Roxanne’s comment caused her to smile, and look up at the woman. I suppose you’re right. Once Roxanne thought about it, and answered her question, Serenity smiled again, only bigger. It looked like they weren’t so different, she and Roxy.

When Rivers spoke about changing, and about how it’s what you do now that counts, Serenity found herself nodding, taking in the advice as well, though it wasn’t directed at her. If she was to go into detail of her past, it wouldn’t be pretty. She was never a nice person. But things could be different now.

Roxanne asked her question, what was the thing Serenity liked the least about Teair, and she had to lean back into her seat and think, but it didn’t take her long. You know… I really don’t like the water here… I mean to say, the ocean, or sea, or whatever it was. During the matchmaker festival, I was set up with this woman, and immediately we both decided we didn’t want to be near one another. But when we tried to leave, the Goddess I assume, sent us to a boat, in the middle of the polluted body of water. After a while of her taunting me— she really wasn’t nice— I was going to jump in and swim. She told me of monsters and such that would in it, keeping me from doing so… She also took my face… like, magically transformed her face to be mine. I really didn’t like it. She and I are fine now, but goodness she needs to work on her manners. But anyway, the point is, the water set up really lacks here. It wasn’t fantastic in London, but we didn’t have monsters in ours… Aside form that… the only thing I can thinks of is that God awful woman. Sev-Something or whatever. Serenity shook her head and cleared her throat thinking of what to ask. She heard River’s question to Roxanne and figured she should ask him one to make it even.

Rivers, I dare you to make up a song, and sing it for us— please and thank you. She smiled, her mind going back to the time she’d first met him and the song he’d sang then. It was awkward at the time, but looking back it was funny.

[Roxanne]

Roxanne smiled as Rivers admitted he wasn't used to being considered a good influence and nodded in agreement with his next bit of advice. She couldn't change her past if she wanted to so the only logical option was to make the best of the future. She couldn't help but laugh at the suggestion to embellish the details though. "Of course you would encourage embellishment," she said, her tone light and teasing.

She listened as Serenity answered her question, the look on her face surprised and amused by the tale. "Dirty water. monsters, and irritating people are all good things to dislike. I'm glad I wasn't around for this 'blossom festival' though," she said, laughing a little. Roxanne was distracted by Rivers next question. "The..Center of Nova? I don't know what that is," she answered honestly, sounding a bit confused. "What is it and why do you ask?" she returned, settling on that for her question.

[Rivers]

Rivers listens to the pair curiously, though a wide grin spreads across his face as Serenity asks him to sing them a song. He clears his throat and suddenly there was a harp in his hand. He wondered for a moment about what to sing and then settled on something:

I sing for you the tale of the moon and the earth
A tale of the greatest love this world could birth
A prince of stone, strong and bold
And a princess of power and beauty untold

So strong did the red thread bind
They proved that love is truly blind
Blind to pain and consequence
Blind to people and good sense

They fled to Earth to declare their love
and brought with them war from above
The Silver Princess and Golden King
Died before they could exchange a ring

But time moved on and as many know
Tragedy only helps love to grow
For to a love so great death is but a trifle
and the pair was reborn from the endless cycle

They met again in a land of ice and snow
Connected by a bond stronger than they could ever know
The princess an artist with silver locks
the boy a hero with the wit of rocks

Again they danced and treasured one another
And again they were torn apart by something darker
So back into the cycle of rebirth they fell
Waiting for a chance to end it well.

As Rivers finishes his ballad he raises his glass to friends of a time long passed and drinks in their honor. Then as Roxanne asks him her question he shakes his head. “Unfortunately I am going to need to request the dare from you if that's your question.” He admits “since I refused my question I do not get to ask one.”

[Serenity Caine]

Rivers seemed all to eager to do as Serenity asked, as a harp appeared and he instantly found something to sing. She knew not if the lyrics spoke truth of a tale he’d been apart of, or if it was a tale he made up long ago, either way it was quite beautiful. When he was finished, she clapped lightly. That was quite beautiful Rivers! I especially like the line “For to a love so great death is but a trifle and the pair was reborn from the endless cycle.” Very nice. She nodded, and looked to Roxy as she answered Rivers’ previous question. She too had no clue what the centre of Nova was.

When Rivers refused his question, and didn’t ask one, the turn was now hers. She’d not been asked anything, so thankfully she had nothing to say. She noticed how it seemed to be easier for them to ask questions than dares.

Hmm. Once we are done eating, can I dare you both to join me in the springs? I think we are in much need of a redo of the other night. Don’t you agree? She smiled at them both before looking down at the little bit of food left on her plate. The game could always continue once they were out there of course.

[Roxanne]

Roxanne listened intently to Rivers's ballad. It was a love ballad, with tragic undertones and it was beautiful. "That was lovely, Rivers. You have a nice voice for singing," she said, smiling. She figured he probably heard the song in some world he'd visited rather than made it up himself but that didn't take anything away from the story itself or his performance of it.

When he refused her question and insisted on the dare, Roxanne frowned briefly then shrugged. What difference did it make to her really? "Very well Rivers. A dare, then. Hm.." she said, thinking it over for a moment before grinning. "I dare you to do a trick for us." She didn't specify on purpose, figuring that would allow him more room to be creative and thus more entertaining.

Speaking of entertaining, Serenity's next dare was directed at both of them and Roxanne laughed. "Does that really count as a dare? I accept anyway. After all that sparring, I could use a relaxing soak. I have this sore spot on my back that I have no idea how it got there," she replied, her tone teasing as she clearly poked at Rivers for kicking her.