The Celebration of Magic [Serenity/Roxanne/Open]

[Rivers]

Rivers listens to Serenity's question and finds himself also curious about the answer, as he pours some gravy on his chicken and listens to Roxanne's reply. He founds himself feeling a slight sense of pride when she said Haven was her favorite part of this world. Then as she turns to him and asks her question he smirks and answers without hesitation.

"Noku Noru's wine cellar, though its probably the last of such bottles I will be able to get in the near future." He responds simply.

Now that it was his turn he began to consider what to ask himself, it seemed like they were starting out light so he should probably stick to something like that as well. "Serenity, what is the thing you would most like to try in this world?"

[Serenity Caine]

Serenity nodded, understanding her answer. She really hadn’t been here all that long, Serenity had forgotten that fact. She smiled when Roxanne had finished speaking, and laughed when her question came out, the same as before. Serenity was really starting to like this woman. Her gaze moved to Rivers as without hesitation, he answered Roxy’s question.

You stole it from the King? Her eyes were wide, and after a beat she picked up her own glass drinking some. Well hell, then it has to be good! She laughed, putting the glass down and starting on the chicken, cutting it into small pieces before eating any. When Rivers spoke her name, she glanced up, realizing now that the question was for her. Were they just going in a circle now? But what would she most like the try in this world? She’d never thought much about that. Her main focus had been finding a purpose, and before that… well it was whoring around, drinking.

Honestly? Well.. In past experiences, I’ve always been… Ahem. Not one for families, or relationships of any sort. Now, that’s not to say I haven’t been with anyone, because I certainly have— just not like that. She blushed, looking at her food before decided that she didn’t need to be flustered. She could be as blunt as they were. Essentially, as much as I enjoy galavanting around, I, at some point, would like to try finding a family in this world. Eventually. She shrugged, popping a piece of chicken into her mouth. Rivers really had done quite well on the food. But now it was her turn.

Rivers, I’m quite curious. How old are you? she smirked, the answer hardly mattered to her, he was still the same person, but it was a question that had lingered in her mind for quite some time. He seemed far to wise to be at her level.

[Roxanne]

Roxanne grinned at Rivers answer, clearly impressed. "The own King's wine huh? We should probably enjoy it, if it's the last bottle," she said, reaching to sip her glass. "It pairs well with this delicious chicken, too," she added. Then listened as Serenity answered her question. She raised an eyebrow at her as she seemed to stumble slightly with her words then smiled as she settled on wanting a family. "That's a very noble goal, Serenity" she said honestly. She'd never really had a family and she wondered if either of the other two had either. Perhaps that would be her next question but for now it was Rivers turn to answer.

[Rivers]

As the two look at him in surprise he blinks a few times and smiles. “The castle only just recently put up blocks against teleportation, I know the layout from when I go there as a bard so I just reached in and grabbed a few bottles a while ago.” He explains with a shrug, to him this did not seem like that big of a deal, the King was less likely to miss them.

Though after listening to Serenity's story a smile spread across his face. “That's a very good goal. I think you'll do well too.” He tells her with a genuine tone of admiration, this was something that he never really saw himself being able to achieve. The wind passed through places and sometimes lingered, but it could never stay somewhere indefinitely.

“If there is something I can do to help you with your goal let me know.” He offers, not in a suggestive way, but as a friend honestly offering support.

Though as he finished speaking she suddenly came back with a question he had not expected. He actually found himself chuckling as he contemplated how to answer the question. “Well that question is complicated, time does not work the same across the worlds but let's see...”

“I spent 27 years in Feyerlun, four on earth, 14 in Fort Cairne and it's world, three in the various crystal worlds, one in Berk and I think I'm forgetting a few years in a world or two...the occasional bout of amnesia makes it hard to keep track sometimes.” He explains and continues to think. “That means, I've lived about fifty years. Though I got aged back into a baby once and a teenager once so I've done my teenage and young adult years a few times, physically I think I'm in my mid-twenties.”

The convoluted circumstances were actually amusing even to him. Though then he found himself pondering what to ask himself. He was tempted to follow through with a dare for Serenity, but decided to instead shift gears as an amusing thought came to him. “Roxanne, I dare you to recite me a poem of sonnet of your own making.”

[Serenity Caine]

Thank you, both of you… It’s not something I see happening for quite a long time, but in the long term… it seems nice. But who knows what can happen before then. She winked at Rivers jokingly and smiled at them both, laughing. She took what he’d said to heart as well, if there was anything he could do to help— she knew he meant it friendly. However, when the answer to her question came, she had to do math. She wasn’t overly surprised by the age, but it was a tad older than expected.

Technically you’re nearly 50, but physically, mid-twenties? Hmm. Okay. She nodded, sipping her wine. She hadn’t known what to expect, but she knew he had to be older than herself. When he dared Roxy, a smile slid on her face, curious as to what she’d come up with. 

Hmm, Rivers, while Roxy works on that, I dare you to... do your best impression of Miss Roxanne over here. She gestured to Roxy, smiling, and laughing lightly. It could prove to be interesting.

[Roxanne]

Roxanne continues to munch on her chicken as Rivers explains about the wine and she nods to say that made sense. Then she listens carefully as he answers Serenity, trying to keep up with the math in her head and smiling when he summarized it. “That is complicated indeed and puts you older than both of us, I should think,” she said, grinning. In general, she liked older men. The younger ones tended to be much less mature and practically needed a babysitter.

Though as Rivers makes his dare, Roxanne looks at him in surprise. A serious demeanor follows quickly and she carefully set down her fork and rinsed her mouth with more wine, clearly thinking. It took her several minutes, but finally she smiled, almost sadly though and recited the makeshift poem:

Transported to a world so new, yet familiar in it’s own way, too.
Once the present, now the past; both so fleeting they never last.
Accepted only by a few, a soul so dark they never knew.
Slowly, it has come to light; a shining dawn at end of night.

So judge me not by prior deed; a human I just cannot be.
Cursed by a father I never knew, yet also not a demon true.
Half of both, a constant fray, trying to stay in the gray.
I’ll admit my soul dark, please judge me only by my heart.

Afterwards, Roxanne kept her eyes lowered for a moment before daring to look at the other two. Then she remembered that she still needed to ask her question or dare. “That makes it my turn, I should think,” she said, grinning again briefly before lapsing to thought. She turned to look at Serenity. “What did you leave behind that you wished you still had here?” she asked.

[Rivers]

Rivers raises an eyebrow in response to Serenity as she winks and seems to be making some certain suggestions, suggestions that he did not find at all unappealing. Though he simply grins as she begins to laugh, there was certainly no rush to make an decisions and Serenity should take the time to meet more people than just him and Kail, the world was big and there were a lot of guys, and only a very few who wouldn't drop almost everything to if Serenity asked them too he imagined.

Though as Serenity asks him to do an impression of Roxanne he almost spits out his chicken laughing. “Well I suppose I can give it a shot, though I do not know her that well.” He hedges and then puts on a disguise ring smoothing his features and giving himself long red hair. He still looked male as the ring could not make extremely large changes.

Rivers suddenly changes his sitting posture to mimic the more relaxed languid posture Roxanne displayed, his eyes turned from a sharp stare to a wider and more amused expression and he took an expression of contemplation to mimic Roxanne's.

“You're going to pay for making me do this later.” He says to her with a playful grin in a slightly higher pitched voice and then he got to his feet and went through a silent series of motions and expressions, the first was of an excited warrior, it shifted to someone in celebration and then finally to someone who seemed hesitant and nervous about the people around him, afraid he might hurt them or that they might come to hate him.

As he finishes Roxanne spoke her poem and he found himself wondering if perhaps he'd gone to far. He takes off the ring and gives Roxanne a reassuring smile. “That was beautiful.” He tell her honestly, a hint of tenderness in his voice.

Then his smile turns rye, and he decides to also ask the question of Serenity, he takes a long drink from his wine glass, as he started to feel the pleasant buzz and then he says “Serenity, lets hear about your most adventurous sexual exploit, I've gotta admit I'm curious.”

[Serenity Caine]

Serenity began to laugh at Rivers nearly spit out the food— she hadn’t expected such a reaction, but she couldn’t help but keep laughing. She watched as his features changed, she also hadn’t expected him to go in such detail, but it was quite amazing. She laughed lightly as he made his face change, different emotions coming across it. When he told her he’d make her pay later, she arched an eyebrow at him— We shall see. She had no clue in what context he meant it, so she kept her response vague.

When Rivers was finished and Roxanne spoke her poem, the mood visibly shifted. Miss Roxanne… That was splendid… She really could connect with the words spoken, and found herself smiling sadly with her. Though, once they both turned against her, her face turned from solum to stunned. Roxanne wanted to know what she wished she could have brought with her, and Rivers wanted to know her most adventurous sexual exploit? Serenity sighed.

Well, I really wish I had the painting of my mother that my father kept over the mantle. I used to despise it, as I had never met her, and was always told it was my fault for her death— during my birth. The only real thing I knew of her, was that I was a spitting image. That used to make it worse, but looking back now, I rather miss it. So I’d have to go with that. She shrugged, taking a larger sip of her wine. She was going to need it, jumping from a small sad tale, to a inappropriate one. Dammit Rivers.

And as for that question, Rivers… Let me think. There’s been a lot. She laughed, looking up at the ceiling. There had been the numerous times at the taverns, the various times she’d slept with men for power on earth… ahhh.

Oddly enough, it’s from this world. I had run into this man, the biggest asshole I have ever met, looking back, but it was clear, just looking at him, that he was strong, independent, and knew what he wanted in life— at this point I was still very new to Nova, and all I wanted was to find a way to survive here, I needed a mission for my life. I convinced him I could be used to help his mission— he wanted to hunt down this demon that had slaughtered his family years ago. I got information out of the bartenders, that the demon had been here, but he didn’t look like a demon. It wasn’t him that was memorable, it was the platnum blonde elf he was with, with apparently the most stunning purple eyes. Once I gave that information to Kuro, he was set. So, basically, as long as I kept sleeping with him, he would give me a mission in this world. I believed him, and continued to use him as much as he was using me— had me kill a few people… Anything he wanted as long as it brought him closer to that demon and his dainty elf. I went along with it, up until he hurt me. And I don’t mean emotionally, I was never attached to him. No, he tried to make it so I could never walk away from him, but slicing the backs of my kneecaps. She shrugged, sipping wine again. She had a feeling this wasn’t the answer Rivers had wanted, but in all honesty, it was the most adventurous sexual exploit she’d ever had. 

Needless to say, I’ve never seen him again, but I’ve met the demon in which he hunts… poor guy. Anyways, Roxanne, I wish to ask you the same question Rivers asked me. I do believe my answer was not quite what he wished for, so perhaps yours will be. She sipped more wine.

[Roxanne]

Roxanne looked at Serenity, surprised by her request for Rivers and then watched as he tried his best to comply. She ended up laughing along with the other red head. “I didn’t need to see what I would like as a male but that’s not half bad, Rivers,” she commented, still laughing a bit and smiling.As the other two complimented her poem, she blushed lightly. “Thanks, I’m not much of a poet though,” she insisted.

The half demon then turned her attention to Serenity in amusement at Rivers’s question for her and waited also for the reply to her own question. She worked to finish off her chicken as she listened to the answers, nodding her satisfaction to Serenity’s answer. “I lost my mother when I was thirteen. I’d have to say you’re lucky having not known yours at all rather than to lose her later at a difficult age. I intend no offense though,” she mused, sounding solemn.

The solemnity didn’t last long however as Serenity started in on her answer for Rivers, it gave way to surprise and disgust both of which fought for dominance on Roxanne’s face. When she had finished, the half demon shook her head. “If I ever meet this ‘Kuro’ person, I shall make sure that he won’t behave in such a manner towards any one ever again,” she muttered, a scary gleam coming into her eyes for a moment.

Roxanne was distracted from her garish thoughts almost immediately though as Serenity posed her a question, the very same Rivers had just asked and she grinned. “I suppose you could say mine was also from this world, but not this time of it. It was during the time I spent basically as a demon and I looked a lot different from what you’ve seen of me,” she chuckled lightly, imagining their reactions if they ever saw her in the demon armor.

“Anyway, I was after a dangerous criminal. I found him in this little village tavern, a real shady place. He was wanted for murder but all his victims had been women, and I suspected there was more involved. So I dressed up and baited him, almost seducing him really. He cornered me in the alley outside after I pretended to leave and I let him have his way with me, which turned out to prove my suspicions. Aside from the dirty conditions and situation at hand, the sex itself wasn’t bad;a little rough, maybe. Afterwards, he pulled his knife and I let him start trying to cut the strange symbols he’d been leaving on his other victims. The look on his face as each one healed instantly was priceless,” she chuckled again, sounding darker this time before continuing, “Then, once he realized something wasn’t right, I gave him a taste of his own medicine, screwing him senseless and then slitting his throat. The bounty didn’t say he needed to be alive,” Roxanne finished, shrugging. She didn’t want to go into too many details. She also didn’t usually mix business with pleasure which is what made the answer perfect, in her opinion.

Realizing she needed to ask a question or a dare, Roxanne turned her attention to Rivers. “You might as well join us, Rivers. Same question, what’s your most adventurous sexual exploit?” she asked, figuring fair was fair and grinning.

[Rivers]

Rivers smiles as Serenity explains what she was missing from the world before here. Family was indeed important and unlike Rivers and Roxanne, she was far away from home, but despite that she still seemed to be moving forward. Then Serenity told her story, Rivers face remained impassive as she spoke, he watched her, taking in everything she said. As she finishes her story the temperature of the room would seem to drop as Rivers' back straightens and he sets to slicing some more of the chicken.

“Well that is hardly the way to treat a lady is it? You'll make sure to let me know if you meet your friend again right?” He asks Serenity raising his eyes and smiling at the girls. Despite the calm and almost carefree smile it was Rivers pale eyes that drew the gaze. They were cold, flat and emotionless, Serenity might not have seen eyes like his, but Roxanne certainly had he had the eyes of someone contemplating and comfortable with a plan involving cold blooded murder.

Though the mood quickly lifted as Roxanne tells her story and Rivers finds himself laughing at its conclusion. “I cannot say I approve of killing the man, but that end certainly does have a sense of poetic justice.” He admits as he reigns in his laughter. Rivers had known Roxanne killed people, and even if he did not approve he certainly could not call fault for murdering a monster like the one she described.

He could feel the woman's worry that revealing this part of her might scare him and Serenity off, but he simply gives her a kind smile. “Roxanne, that's a good story, but do me a favor and do not start hunting people down, if you find yourself low on cash just stay at Haven, I can help you find a job that doesn't require killing.” He offers, though as he makes the offer he starts to realize that he had been doing a lot of reassuring, but not a lot of sharing himself.

When Roxanne asks him for his exploit he finds himself trying to think back. “Well it's not as good'a story as either of yours, but I once slept with a woman on a dragon that was flying 2.000 feet in the air before dropping off to play in a concert.” He says, though in response to both of their intense tales he found himself wondering if this was really an equivalent story. “Though since she was my girlfriend I suppose it is not quite as impressive that we were doing something adventurous.”

Rivers thinks for a few moments and then comes to come kind of decision, the question seemed silly, but he was curious as they seemed to be playing it safe. "Roxanne, what is the question you want to ask me but are afraid to?"

[Serenity Caine]

She smiled at Roxanne, I get the feeling you are right, meeting her may have been worse. She ate more of the chicken, loving the flavour. She felt the mood shift down once she’d finished her story, like ice had shielded the room. Glancing at Roxanne, she saw her face shifting.

Thank you darling… That means a lot. Like I said, I haven’t seen him since, but drugging an injured woman and leaving her alone in a shady hotel room… well it makes you hate a person I’ll admit that. She subconcisouly tucked her dress back under her legs, hiding the horrible scars. What she wasn’t telling them, was the scars were still very new, and Kuro had only seen her a month or so before. Serenity looked to Rivers now, and felt her heart speed up. He had a smile on his face, but it seemed very forced, and even the words he spoke were off. I-...Of course I will… She cleared her throat and finished off her glass of wine. She could see his eyes and they gave her goosebumps.

Next was Roxy’s tale and like hers, it was dark. I 100% approve of that method, I must admit. She laughed slightly. If she had been stronger in her world, there was no hesitation in her mind, she would have murdered all the men that had taken control of her, and used her. When Rivers spoke, Serenity glanced at Roxanne, then back at him. Huh… that’s very different… She shrugged and popped a piece of chicken into her mouth.

Rivers, what world that you have lived in, has been your favourite?

[Roxanne]

Roxanne noticed the change in Rivers as well but unlike Serenity, it didn't bother her. Instead, she admired that he had a side like that and gave him a knowing look. Though as he requests her not to hunt people for a living in this timeline, her look shifts to one of surprise. "I don't really have any other skills, Rivers. I'm a weapon, it's what I was raised as. Being a mercenary is all I know," she questioned, confused. The admission was a sad one but it was the truth.

The mood shifts as Rivers answers her question though and she finds herself impressed. "I find that very adventurous actually," she said, her tone genuine. Just because it was his girlfriend didn't make it impressive. Most people with girlfriends didn't screw them while flying on a dragon.

His next question caught her off guard and she blinked, just looking at him for a moment. "Alright, I guess there's nothing getting past you. What do you think of me, Rivers? What do you see of me, the half demon with a troubled past that kills people easily enough for money or lesser motives?" she asked, still looking at him. She wasn't sure if that counted as being a question of her own or the answer to his.

[Rivers]

Rivers shrugs at Roxanne as she mentions not having a skill other than the blade. “If you don't have them right now then all your need to do is practice. You are already a skilled mage, I bet if we worked together we could set up a pretty good entertainment routine.” He points out leaning back. “That being said, but those thoughts are for another conversation at another time.”

He takes another sip of the wine and a thoughtful expression appears on his face as Serenity asks her questions. He had never really thought about which world he liked the best, they were all just the world he was in at the time. He considered making a joke of the question by saying something like, 'this one since you two are here,' but it would ruin the game if he did not answer the question in earnest. After several minutes of contemplation he finally says. “My original world, Feyerlun, it's not that it was the world I had the best experiences in or that I even have the most fond memories of, but in many ways it is the place I originally belonged, and it was the place I learned to be who I am.”

As he finishes speaking his eyes take on a faroff caste as he seems to be remembering something from long ago. After another moment he snaps back to the present to hear Roxanne's answer to his question. As she did not then ask him something different or make a dare he assumes she decided to ask the question from his question.

“What do I think of you and your past huh?” He echos as again takes on a contemplative expression. He raises his hand to his chin and strokes it a few times before opening his eyes and looking Roxanne straight in hers. “Honestly, it is too early to say, my first impression is that you are someone who has experienced a lot of violence and your are good at it. It sounds like your old life revolved around killing and basically doing as you pleased, the later of which I understand and empathize with.”

Rivers goes silent again for several more seconds. “However, that is the impression of the person from the stories you have told. The Roxanne I have met in this world is someone who is unafraid to use her power for something she wants, but she is truly bloodthirsty. Someone like that would not come here and live peacefully with Serenity and myself, she probably would have chosen to assist Claire or possibly gone her separate way. So in essence I think you are trying to figure out what you want to be.”

His expression turns slightly somber. “I like the person you are becoming and I think that person will be someone to be proud of. Right now, I trust you, and I hope that will continue. Beyond that, well we'll find out as time goes on.”

Rivers then thinks about what to ask for his question and instead decides on something else. "Serenity, what was one of your most embarrassing fantasies?"

[Serenity Caine]

Serenity kept her commentary on Roxanne’s background to a minimum. She knew the woman even less than Rivers’ claimed to, and did not want to say something that could be taken the wrong way. Instead, she ate her food quietly, having finished her wine, and felt the lovely warmth in her chest that came with it. She looked up when Rivers answered her own question, finding herself smiling softly. His answer seemed so honest.

I think, that if any of us could change worlds as you could… Our original homes would probably always be our favourites. she agreed with him, nodding slowly. The focus changed, as Roxanne asked her question, which was also the answer to River’s last one. Again, she stayed quiet, as it was not directed at her, though she had to agree with how Rivers responded. She did not know much of the woman, but the stories she’d heard, in comparison to how she acted now were very different in Serenity’s opinion. If Roxanne were to look at her, Serenity would smile, wanting to show that she too, trusted her.

Most embarrassing? She shook her head— only he would ask such things. She popped another piece of chicken into her mouth while she thought. Serenity was not one to think of such things, but there had been one, perhaps out of context to what he meant. Well if you’re ready for things to get a tad awkward, I can tell you. If no one protested she would continue. Well… Okay. This is probably not in the context you want it, but it’s embarrassing. Because of how my mind works, and how, before, I was looking for ways to connect to my world, I always thought that if I could get Mr. Lancaster to notice me.. well. I would have a family with him. she blushed. A lot. However! I know now that that was foolish thinking, far to forward and fast, and find the whole idea preposterous now. So there. Very embarrassing, and simply…. ugh. She shuddered, finding her previous obsession with Kail weird now.

Roxy darling, what is your dream?

[Roxanne]

Roxanne nodded at Rivers’s reply concerning her skills and let it go. Another time, perhaps. For now, she listened as he answered Serenity’s question and named Feyurlun as his favorite simply because it was his original world. She missed it herself sometimes, even if Teair was similar enough. It wasn’t quite the same but she intended to make the best of this new start.

His answer to her question only reaffirmed that decision. Roxanne’s face held a look of understanding as he described her past and what she was now. She smiled as he said he trusted her and noticed that Serenity seemed to hold a similar thought as she was giving an encouraging look as well. “I can’t change my past. I can say that I made an effort to be good, in my own way, and that I’ve realized lately that my effort wasn’t enough. You’ve been a good influence, Rivers,” she commented before finishing off her wine. It wasn’t an apology, just a statement of fact.

The attention was then diverted to Serenity as Rivers asked for her most embarrassing fantasy and Roxanne tried hard to keep a straight face as the other woman answered. It wasn’t really funny. She just found the obvious distaste for the idea that Serenity displayed to be amusing. “We all learn from our mistakes, especially when those mistakes involve men. or women.” she said, adding the last on as an after thought to not offend Rivers.

Then looked surprised as Serenity asked her next question. Her dream? What did that mean? Like her goal in life maybe? She didn’t know if she had one of those. It sounded like it might be a similar question to the one Rivers had asked earlier. Her confusion persisted while she thought for several minutes. Finally, Roxanne answered. “My...dream. This might sound silly but I want a life, with friends. Something that has meaning and... happiness. I want to be happy,” she said, not sure if that was what Serenity meant and sounding very much like something she only just realized herself.

Roxanne knew that made it her turn to ask or dare. “Serenity, what is your least favorite thing about Teair so far?” she asked, curious and thinking it sounded like a good question.