Windy-Wind, Flowers and Conversations: Part I
Location: Lady Luck
Post-Meeting The Court of Miracles
Adelaide sprawled across Luro's throne chair as she drank from a bottle and ate nuts snatched out of Zilia's hood. Her ankles crossed over the arm which lifted her legs up to support a stack of papers she was reading. A pencil twirled between fingers, occasionally pausing to make marks on the pages. Her feet kicked back and forth as she waited for Luro to finally show up.
It'd been three weeks since Jack's ex-spy partner joined the Stardusk crew. With every port they anchored at, she seemed to find someway to continue sailing with them - an excuse here, a muted decision there - even though the original assumption was her departure at the first. The first week consisted of her and Jack stuck like glue: they were seen with heads together, whispering secrets and hush arguments, never spending a minute apart. When not completing ship duties, they were locked in the kitchen. After that week, something changed. They pivoted north to south, going from inseparability to barely sharing a glance. Adelaide acted like it was the most natural thing. She talked to the rest of Stardusk, making friends and being social like she hadn't been ignoring them since she boarded. Only Jack's silent treatment suggested a heated disagreement occurred. The situation hadn't laxed since; which possibly prompted Adelaide to be here, reclining in the carpenter's territory with a piece paper stuck in her hair. It read "Crown" with a rough sketch next to it.
Luro stared at his notebook scratching the side of his head as he went over a few of his notes, he had walked through the ship as usual and for some odd reason he felt like something was off. He wasn't sure what it was but the balance on the ship had shifted, he wasn't sure how or where but he could feel it in his bones at this point. He decided to return to his room to try and figure it out and opening the door he noticed that Ali was sitting in his seat; blinking a few times he shut his notebook as his question was answered.
"Oh hey Ali," Luro said entering the room and closing it behind him. "I don't really get visitors in here so this is something. I'm glad you got something to drink I'm not good at that courtesy stuff like the others so I never know what the offer."
Luro turned to Ali with a grin before his eyes widened for a moment and running over to the chair in the corner he grabbed it and pulled it to the other side of the room, with a bit of effort he managed to move it in front of the other chair.
"I can finally use the guest chair! Yes! This is so much fun!"
He didn't seem to pay much mind to the presence of the lady in his room, it was just nice to have a visitor for once, he was sure they had talked on a few occasions over the last few weeks, he was pretty sure he told at least three stories, two of which he wasn't sure even happened.
Luro walked over to his wall of rum and trailing his finger down picked one from the lower section looking at the bottle with a small smile. Content Luro plopped down in his chair, he blinked a bit and shifted in the seat slightly, he could never tell which one was more comfortable deciding to mess with the idea later he looked back at Ali.
"Are you comfortable on the ship and all that? The spare room isn't uncomfortable right?"
Luro took a swig from his bottle with a content sigh before pointing at himself.
"If you need something else than that you might want to talk to someone else, building and destroying stuff is pretty much all I can do."
Adelaide's head tilted as he talked. She didn't seem to mind his odd nickname for her-- at least, she didn't give indication that she noticed. Her gaze, wide and blank, never left his. She swigged the bottle and handed it to him. "The room's just fine," she assured him.
Sitting up, Adelaide crossed her legs in the chair. It was big enough that her knees didn't touch the arms. Despite her casual posture, it wasn't hard to imagine her on a royal throne in a palace, as effortless and comfortable as she existed in the carpenter's territory. Pushing the "Crown" paper farther up her head, she smiled and handed him the papers. "You're a very smart man, Lo," her mouth twisted for a moment, dissatisfied with the nickname. She continued without addressing it. "I couldn't resist taking a peak while I was waiting for you. I hope you don't mind… I made a few notes of my own."
They were Luro's engineering notes. True to her word, new notes clustered in the margins, some mimicking his drawings with tweaks added, others short notes with arrows leading back to the original portion. "I particularly like this part." Flipping the pages forward, she pointed to the notes that regarded the Armament gloves. "Jack told me about them. He finds them a fascinating concept. He doesn't seem to understand you will one day make him a demigod. You have to admire his humility."
Reaching for the nuts, she munched on them and tapped the papers again. "So far you've unlocked ice and fire, no? Perhaps I could unlock a third." Raising one hand, it unraveled into gentle breezes that blew around Luro. Adelaide smirked. "This island we're docked is known for their wide, open fields. Largely undisturbed on the best of days. What do you say? You and me and a little experimentation?"
Luro took the bottle with a smile before his brows arched as he was handed the notes, he was surprised she had been able to read them. Most that tried to either ended up convulsing on the floor muttering in strange tongues or unconscious, Ali must have been a very resilient person. He viewed the notes his brows lowering a bit only to rise as he poured over them, offering a nod every now and then to show that he was still listening to her.
Honestly the notes made no lick of sense.
It was like trying to load a bullet into a normal sword if he had to put a word to it, he tilted his head at the concepts offered, he couldn't apply these to the gloves. However what was written here showed a good technical understanding and though he couldn't apply this knowledge to the gloves, another experiment came to mind that these would be perfect for. He smiled a bit at this and decided to try them out at his earliest convenience.
"Nah I'm not that smart, but thanks. Kadi's the smart one on the ship I just make stuff. Thanks for the notes I already got a few ideas, especially from this one in the corner, that should help with the acceleration considerably."
Luro looked up from the papers moving them into his sleeve for later as she mentioned Demi-god's. He closed his eyes happy for the compliment but he felt the gloves were still behind in their creation, he barely considered them weapons at this point much less tools for a god to wield, though he smiled a little at the idea. He was sure a few of the people on the ship were already considered Demi-gods, Alicia and Sara being two of them, the cults did have statues of the both of them after all. He quickly pulled himself away from such thoughts, especially when Ali brought up how far he had gotten, which he returned his attention to her offering a small nod to confirm her question. At the idea of unlocking a third his brows arched a bit at the show of power.
"Ohhhh," Luro said offering a small nod. "That would wonderful!"
Luro brought a hand to his chin at the very thought, he had gone through far too many scenarios to unlock more potential from the gloves, he wanted to bother Alicia about it constantly since she could shape the wind herself but something stood in the way of that venture currently. Ali was an opportunity he couldn't let escape, if he could find a way to harness the power of the breeze it would help everyone considerably and he'd be a step closer to his ultimate goal.
"I'd be happy to take your help Ali," Luro said offering a nod. "Especially when it comes to experimentation."
He laughed a bit at this but it quickly died down after a moment and he tilted his head at her confusion quickly taking over his happiness as his brows lowered slightly.
"Though I want the help I don't really know what I can offer you in exchange for your help. I'm a pirate and all but even I'd feel guilty taking from someone's who's taking time out of their day to help me. Oh! Did you want me to build you a ship or something? Fix a broken thing?"
Her eyes danced with mischief while watching him read the notes. She honestly didn't know what they meant; Jack hadn't been wrong about that. Whatever their logical sense, she'd done her best to riddle it out, regurgitating hypotheses. It made no sense -- and obviously, Luro agreed. He did appear to get something out of it, though.
Placing her feet on the throne's seat, she stood in one fluid motion, stretching her hands over her head and bending her back like a cat unfurling from its nap. She hopped down. At her full height, her eye level equaled Luro's, thanks to his sitting position. Invading his personal by leaning forward, their noses nearly touched. A winning smile charmed her face and pulled at the scars on her cheek. It felt like the smile was meant for Luro-- and only Luro. Surely Jack himself never witnessed such warmth from her. "Splendide... Lai?"
Her head tilted, the paper falling again in her curls, the newest nickname hanging in the air. Her sparkling almond gaze bore into his lighter hazel one. They danced in endless mischief but the longer he stared, the more he may have witnessed something other shifting behind them. A second truth she kept hidden and out of reach. She leaned closer, searching for something in his eyes. A huff came next. "Lai. Beginning, middle and end?
Djal, it don't suit you either." She sounded disappointed.
At the mention of repayment, the smile returned, a degree colder than before. "You are too kind," she said without genuity, "Do not worry. I have a way for you to repay me. You will see soon."
*****
Arc-en-Ciel Ile, aka Rainbow Isle
Second Day of Shore Leave
They waited on the edge of the port town, next to a flower shoppe nearly overrun with an array of tulips and snapdragons so boldly vibrant, the shoppe embodied the island's namesake. The smell of florals wafted to their noses long before it came into view. The place was quaint, with white plastered walls and dark wood beams. A series of hand-painted mosaics decorated the front along with the many flowers, as if it didn't have enough color.
Adelaide leaned against the outside counter while waiting for the keeper-- who was currently rummaging in the back-- her pack at her waist stuffed full with fresh flowers. Pale foxglove, yellow carnations, sprightly meadowsweet and lively orange lilies all bulged in the soft leather pouch. An extra lily replaced the false crown in her hair. The two seemed to know each other; they talked pleasantly in the same language Adelaide occasionally used with Jack, and was known to be Sid's native tongue. She told Luro it'd be a quick pit stop before they'd headed to the open fields. Peeling a banana as they waited, her eyes slid to the giant.
"Why Stardusk?" she asked out of the blue. "Why stay with them instead of a group that's more accepting of you?" She took a bite out of the banana, taking time to chew and swallow before adding, "The tension between you and some of them. It's palpable."
Luro tilted his head slightly as Adelaide rose from the seat, she was a rather strange person. He was sure this was the woman Jack had spoke about in the past, he got that kind of feel from her.
His mind was already distant with the many wonders that could come from this venture, due to this he paid little mind to Ali until she got closer. The only acknowledgement that he noticed her was a return of her stare. He shook the bottle wondering how much was left in it. To him there seemed to be little change in where she was now compared to where she was a moment ago.
Seeing her smile he returned it with one of his own, it spreading into a toothy grin. He was pleased to see Ali was pleased, there'd be no point in all of this if she didn't want to do it after all.
He wasn't sure himself but he was positive there was something else in her eyes that he couldn't see, he didn't really think too much on it though,
Luro made no attempt to move as she leaned closer keeping his eyes open since she seemed so interested.
"…are we having a staring contest?" Luro asked tilting his head to the side slightly. "Also you smell nice."
His eyes were surprisingly honest, there was no real depth to him at first glance, the smile on his face resided in his eyes as well and with curiosity filling his being there was even a shine to them. He had little reason not to trust the woman in front of him and it showed, though hearing her try again with the nickname a small chuckle escaped from him and he gave a small shrug.
"Haha people are bad at giving me nicknames. I only got a few of them," Luro said with a nod. "Uhhh okay Let me know whatever it is whenever I suppose."
Luro took a small look around the town his hands hidden in his sleeves as his eyes seemed to move from place to place, every now and then he'd run his fingers over one of the buildings, rub something between his fingers before returning his hands to his sleeves again. Luro's eyes moved from flower to flower sniffing in the direction, he'd smile or his mouth would twitch to the side every few flowers. Luro started digging in his sleeves for something the sound of wood and metal colliding before he raised his head as Ali spoke to him again. He had stopped paying attention since she seemed to be speaking in that other language again, he didn't feel like watching faces to figure out the meaning behind the words so he normally kept himself busy whenever they needed private conversations.
At her question Luro crossed his arms before bringing a hand to his chin, with a small tilt of his head he responded to her.
"I'm not sure how to put it into words so sorry if it doesn't make sense," Luro said. "I'm a traitorous murder who will put a bullet in his closest friends head without a moment hesitation if need be and I'm open about it. Not many places really want me."
He said this looking back at Ali with a small smile.
"That and the genocide but that's another story."
Luro waved a hand in front of his face before continuing.
"I'm pretty fine with the tension, I'm used to the whole being hated part. It's surprisingly comfortable actually; what I'm used to. That and-"
Luro trailed off and tapped his chest where the tattoo was.
"I made a promise and I gotta keep it. I'm comfy here, everyone could turn their weapons on me tomorrow and I'd have no regrets, it's fun every day, my friend could kill me at anytime if she thinks I've changed and the glares I get, oh and the silent judgment too, that's the best!"
Luro laughed a bit folding his hands behind his head, a bright smile plastered on his expression.
"Stardusk is fun no matter what's going on. I love it here."
Luro looked over at Ali his brows arching.
"You don't gotta place like that? A place where every day is fun no matter what happens?"
Adelaide smiled. Her expression remained unperturbed by his explanation. If anything, she was wholly unsurprised by it.
"Bah,
djal," she responded once he was done. She sounded disappointed as she used that word a second time. Looking around, she plucked a yellow carnation from the clerk's desk and walked over to Luro. She made a crouching motion, as if she was about to sit in a chair, and a funnel of wind spiraled from beneath. It lifted her up, this windy seat, until they were eye-to-eye. She reached up and placed the carnation behind his ear. "Of course I have a place like that. The world is my place. To have as much fun as I desire, and a little more in the unexpected corners." She pecked his cheek with a kiss and returned to the ground. By then, the clerk had reappeared.
A potbelly of a man, wearing a striped button-up with a red bow tie, waved them around the building. He talked in a chipper and fast tone, completely in Trovalian, to which Adelaide responded in kind. The signs were subtle but she seemed to readapt herself to the man. She started using more hand gestures to match his own. Her laugh came out a little more bubbly, an octave higher than what she used with Luro.
At the back of the flower shop two saddled stallions waited for her and Luro. One was chestnut brown with a black mane. The other had a golden beige coat and spotted face. Adelaide gave them a once over, then exchanged money with the shoppe keeper. He pointed towards the sky; Adelaide nodded and patted his shoulder in reassurance. He shuffled away, taking one glance at Luro as he did. He hadn't once addressed the giant before.
Adelaide went to the golden stallion. She blew into his nostrils and petted his nose, acquainting the beast with her scent. A low hum thrummed in her chest to calm him as he pawed the ground, and the stallion quieted, submissive. With ease, Adelaide swung herself into the saddle. She looked down at Luro. "I hope you can ride. We won't reach the fields otherwise. Not before sundown." Nudging the stallion forward, she paused while waiting for Luro to mount before swinging back around. "What about Maka?"
Luro's eye seemed to follow Adelaide as she hovered in the air, taking a moment to consider how useful that ability had to be to reach stuff in trees. At her response to his question he blinked a few times tilting his head slightly after the peck, Adelaide was a strange person…the yellow was going to contrast with his red hair immensely.
"Ah I guess that makes sense, still stinks to not have a room to yourself though…could probably make a house in a tree but the animals aren't going to respect your space…"
Luro crossed his arms imagining Adelaide in a tree house shooing away squirrels trying to store nuts for the winter, he looked over at her as she spoke to the shopkeeper eventually turning away from them seeing as their conversation didn't require him.
Once she walked away he met eyes with the shopkeeper offering a grin to him before he watched Adelaide 'speak' to her horse, he gave a small nod seeing the horse respond in kind to her.
"A wise man once told me that horses are like people, just gotta know how to speak to em'. He was killed after a horse reared him in the head but I at least know how to ride them," Luro said. "You're pretty good with em' too, most people don't take the time to get to know them."
Luro walked up to his horse, the moment he got close the horse reared up almost sensing animosity from the man, Luro stared at the horse making sure the meet the animal's eyes with his own; the moment he did the horse immediately settled down returning his stare. The two seemed to stare at each other for a moment, a silent conversation forming between them, both watching the other in relaxed stances; eventually the horse seemed to nod as if understanding Luro's intentions.
"Glad we came to an understanding," Luro said reaching in his sleeve.
He fed something to the horse and pet her for a moment before hopping on.
"Oh you're a beauty, I think I'll call you Masu the second," Luro said rubbing the horse's side. "You like that name?"
The horse gave a small snort and Luro gave a small nod.
"Well if you were a male horse I'd call you Alicia the fourth but you're a lady so it's Masu."
Another snort and nod from Luro.
"Okay I'll call you that name in private then but not in front of Ali."
Clearing his throat Luro rode up next to Ali before remembering she asked a question.
"What about Maka? You wanna know how he's doing?" Luro questioned before moving ahead. "He beat Lai in cards so he's doing the 'I beat you dance' I think."
Adelaide consider him. "Can't imagine Lai enjoying that well," she said at last.
For most of the trip Luro asked random questions, if Adelaide had Jack cook her favorite food, if she could push ships with her wind, what kind of fish she liked…random ones about a mess of topics, including bunnies as they made their way down the road. They had chosen a beautiful day for the experiment, a sunny morning without a cloud in the sky, fair weather overall. This was the kind of day that was perfect to ruin, it was oddly comforting to be outside in weather this nice.
"Oh man Ali this day is amazing, there's even a nice breeze that's perfect for what we'll need. Hehehe I can't help feeling even more excited, there's so much waiting ahead!"
She smiled, reflecting his enthusiasm. "
Djal, you have no idea."
Throughout their trip, she answered Luro question for question. Her responses were patient but left Luro wondering if she was speaking the truth even on the most innocent inquiries. When she could, she turned the question back on him. Their conversation sounded like a nonsensical interview to anyone who passed by-- if any passer-byers were there. The roads were empty.
Gradually, soft floral fragrance wafted stronger on the breeze. Adelaide closed her eyes and lifted her face to the sun, inhaling deeply. She released it at a slower pace with a look of satisfaction. "We're nearly there. Tut tut."
Adelaide encouraged her stallion into a fast trot, leading the way out of the woods. They came out of the shade, into a field of rainbows.
The
flower pastures of Arc en Ciel; the island's namesake captured in a picturesque landscape. Row after row of stunning blooms stretched from Luro and Adelaide's hill to the misty blue mountains nestled on the horizon. Rich red roses, pastel pink snapdragons, lavender, blue forget-me-nots, bridal tulips, lilies and every color of a petal existed in well-tended, meticulous rows that expanded across the island's heart. Blossoms as big as Luro's hand vied for the sun's attention on long green stalks. It was breathtaking, and a small wonder why nobles coveted their villas here.
Adelaide gazed upon the splendor with a curl of the lips. It was a fraction of contentment she normally showed, and yet somehow softer.
"If I had to choose a place to die, it'd be here," she said absentmindedly. She flicked a smile at Luro. "C'mon. Just a little farther."
She turned them westward, following the treeline with the flower pastures on their left. They continued until they were out of sight from the road. Adelaide stopped them in an open clearing with a view of the scenery. It was quiet, remote. Nothing but bird calls to break nature's silence. They were miles away from the ship, Stardusk and the town. No one to witness them. Adelaide dismounted and picketed her horse on the shady side, far enough away to be undisturbed by whatever she and Luro were about to do. She took one look at the fields, breathing in long and slow breath.
"Let me know when you're ready," Adelaide told Luro over her shoulder. "And what you'll need from me."
"He doesn't like that the others joined in mainly, Maka normally wins," Luro said with a shrug.
Content with their conversation and a better understanding of his current travelling companion, who was apparently a bit of a thinker, Luro made sure to keep up with Adelaide until they made it to the field of flowers. When they did arrive his brows arched a bit at the collection of colors around them, this place…was really hard on the eyes. A part of him had a strange inkling to set a very specific part of the field on fire, but at Ali's words and the fact that would be destroying something beautiful for a reason he quickly pushed that feeling aside. That and he knew the source of the feeling and would consider it a lost battle if he actually acted on the impulse.
Luro knelt down in front of the Forget-me-not's for a moment then moved his attention over to the Lilies, Z loved flowers and since she always listened to his ramblings he had taken her lessons on different plants, ones he wasn't able to escape anyway. Granted some of those lessons were to find the poisonous ones but he at least knew the names of these flowers.
"The snapdragon's pretty nice," Luro said pointing at one of the snapdragons.
"They represent grace," commented Adelaide with a tip of her head, "and deception."
A small nod was all Luro offered at the idea of moving ahead, standing up he hopped back onto his horse continuing to follow Adelaide.
When they arrived at their destination Luro's arms were full of sticks, during their travel Luro had veered off a few times but always remained somewhere in sight, returning to Adelaide only to go off the trail again. Making sure his horse was out of the predicted range Luro gave a nod to Adelaide grinning as he turned and dropped the sticks onto the ground.
Luro took a few steps forward on a wide grassy plain before kneeling down to run his hand along the grass, giving a small nod at their new destination. He had wanted to move far away from the ship just in case there was a repeat of last time
"This is a good spot…it's perfect," Luro said. "One sec."
Luro dug in his sleeve and starting pulling out rope until there was a pool of it at his feet, tossing some straw onto the ground as well. Kneeling down Luro started wrapping the wood, pulling out some cloth as well from under his shirt, his hands continuously moving as he hummed to himself until his creation started to take a shape. At the end of it all Luro raised a scarecrow and stabbed it into the earth, he took a step back admiring his creation, working with the materials he had it wasn't half bad, it would easily be confused for a person at a distance. However his smile softened a little as he realized something was missing.
"Hmmm it's lacking something…"
Luro stared at the face of the scarecrow and snapped his fingers, walking up he dug a picture out of his sleeve and attached it to the scarecrow's head, seeing Rin Goodwin's mug on the scarecrow Luro gave a content nod.
"There we go much better," Luro said before turning to Adelaide. "Okay Ali."
Luro pulled out two small jars and removing the tops set them on the ground, he moved them here and there getting them even from one another but at a decent distance. He gave the scarecrow a small kick to ensure it was stable before pulling out one of the gloves.
"Jack just told you about the gloves right, did he show them too you or anything? You'll be channeling that ability into them so understanding how they work will save us both from getting killed…oh and the forest. There'd be little more than a crater left if things go wrong."
Luro grinned and pumped his fists.
"That's half the fun of it though. High risk high reward or something like that…ah but I made changes and stuff so it's less likely to do that. I have a good understanding of the Captain and Jack and how to adjust it but your ability is different. Jack would yell at me if any harm came to you. Oh yeah and Cedric too…probably Alicia as well…maybe Masu…hm."
Luro brought a hand to his chin figuring Zilia would also be on that list but put it aside for the time being.
"There's just a few things I gotta observe here."
Luro then explained what he needed from Ali, if possible he needed wind in the two jars guided by her hand if possible, he needed her to attack the scarecrow as if it was a person, informing her that she could attack it anyway she chooses, the last part was a little bit different.
"After those things I'll need you to use the glove without your power…then with your power to observe the difference."
Luro pointed at the gloves.
"That one's fire, once I have that…I should be able to move to the fun part…well this is one of fun parts cause you get to attack Rin the second…I'm envious."
Adelaide listened intensely to Luro's instructions. She crouched on her haunches in front the scarecrow, giving Rin Goodwin II a small wave once the giant was done staking him into the ground. Head tilted, curls bouncing in a breeze, contemplating the setup. Her gaze lingered longest on the pots. She scratched at her scars.
"Three things:
Un, Jack did explain the gloves but neglected a demonstration. How about you do one for me instead?
Dois, I can't fill your pots. I am wind; my wind is me. I afflict breezes around me but I don't manipulate them. Putting wind in your pots would be cutting off my arm for you.
Treis…."
Standing straight, she unhooked the whip at her hip and turned to Luro. "Three. Before we continue, I want something in return,
djal. A conversation. Collecting your favor as it were. After this is said and done. Do we have an accord?"
Luro looked at the jars as Ali explained the situation; he made a chopping motion on his arm then looked back at the jar once again. His eyebrows lowered realizing it would be bad if they went back to the ship and Ali was missing her arms, he didn't see the conversation going in a good direction. He was already slipping on another glove when she mentioned her third request, his brows arching at her as he stared at her blinking a few times at her request. Seeing that was all she wanted he offered a small nod to her before adjusting the glove.
"A conversation? I think I can do that sure," Luro said. "If that's all you want as a favor I can handle that."
Raising a hand as an extra indication that he was fine with her third request he pointed at the glove and gave a brief explanation how it worked also demonstrating it. A moment later a blue wisp of air surrounded his body and he knelt down onto the balls of his feet.
"I can't use Haki so it won't be as strong in my hands compared to Jack or the Captain's so I'll do something simple," Luro said before poking the ground.
The blue air around him quickly ran down his arm brushing over the grass, ice started forming from the spot where his hand touched and started washing over the grassy area around them, moving under their shoes and covering the field in a blanket of ice. Luro's gaae moved over to the scarecrow and the ice went around the spot it was stuck in and continued branching out, Luro pulling his finger away once he felt satisfied. Holding his hand out he closed his fingers together causing a snapdragon to form in his hand, with a small toss the ice flower fell its stem dug into the ice upon landing and small buds started bursting out of the ice. Multiple snapdragons started to form before they spread like weeds, quickly covering the ice field imitating the one they had passed just moments ago.
"There you go," Luro said motioning to the flower field. "Nothing too fancy. I'd ask Jack or the Captain for a proper one if you want something big."
With that said Luro dug into his sleeve and set an apple on top of one of the jars before taking a small step back and folding his hands behind him.
"Instead of putting the wind in the jar just use your power on this apple and scarecrow, that'll be enough for me."
Bending back over, Adelaide gingerly touched the ice snapdragons, her fingers grazing the fragile petals. Her breath came out in white puffs. "
C'est beau," she observed.
The woman stood back with a flick of her whip. She gave him a nod-- that was enough a demonstration for her. Her eyes flicked to the apple. She smiled. "Doable."
Waving at Luro, Adelaide took several steps back herself until she was on the clearing's edge. At this distance, her whip wouldn't reach Rin Goodwin II or the apple. It coiled at her side like a snake in the frostbitten grass, waiting to strike.
A roll of the wrist and the whip cracked forward. Her wielding arm disappeared in a gust of wind.
The cold of Luro's demostration proved to be in his favor. Adelaide's wind was hot; it rolled across the clearing with a shimmer of steam making it visible. Three wind scythes erupted along her whip's length, the leather weapon acting as a guide to their trajectory. Two hits struck the scarecrow: they curled into a X-shape and cut it into four pieces. Bits of twig and straw geysered to the sky as it flung apart, each piece sailing to a different end of the clear. Rin's head, with his likeness still attached, rolled to Luro's boot tip.
The third wind blade warped into a funnel as it approached the apple a fraction behind the other. The funnel curled around the apple and lifted it up, holding it at Luro's eye level for a brief moment, turning it this way and that for his viewing pleasure. Then, the wind still visible against the cool air around it, it divided into multiple finger-like blades that started carving it. The apple's skin dropped to the ground in one long coil as the core and seeds were split away, and then it was divided in two. One half thrust itself at Luro. Adelaide caught the other one and bit into, smirking wide.
During her little showcase, only Adelaide's weapon arm appeared affected by her power usage. It warped in and out of nothingness and even disappeared entirely when all three wind prongs hit their targets. Now it was reattached to her shoulder, whole again.
"So," the Windy She-Devil asked between bites of fruit, "how was that for a demonstration?"
Luro leaned forward a bit offering a small nod to Adelaide glad the demonstration was enough. She was showing him something so he felt it only fair to do the same if she asked. His eyes slowly widened as Adelaide continued, his eyes would follow the steam, linger on the effects of her power on the scarecrow, though his eyes didn't move to the head at his feet not wanting to miss what was laid out in front of him. His eyes sparkled with light and he bounced up and down a little, and in the span of a moment the light faded, his eyes narrowed and he quickly wrote in his notebook, his mouth moving but no words coming out and the pen dancing across the paper, easily filling multiple pages of notes before he slammed it shut and caught the apple slice that came at him.
Luro didn't respond at first kneeling down to pick up the head and observe where it had been cut, doing the same for the apple as he held each in his hands observing them with a small tilt of his head. He walked briskly over to the ice and ran his fingers along the route the wind had traveled; he ran over and picked up the other pieces of the scarecrow comparing them to the head, and with a small nod set them back down.
With a bright grin he turned to Adelaide and threw his arms out.
"That was perfect Ali! I think I made some good progress. I may have figured out what's been eluding me all this time," Luro said with a small nod. "I still need to test one more thing, it's risky but…I think I'll be able to properly find the answer I'm looking for."
Luro said this picking up a few pieces of straw and shoving them into his sleeve.
"I'm a man of my word though…well most of the time. You wanted to talk right as you did just help me. What did you want to conversate about?"
Luro smiled at this pulling a bottle of rum from his other sleeve before taking a swig from it.
"I'm not that smart so I can't promise much if it's complicated stuff. Kadi's more the person for that."
Adelaide grinned despite herself, and surveyed her work with no small hint of pride. She curled up her whip and nodded to Luro.
"Come on," she waved at him. "Let's go to the fields. Leave the horses."
It took a few minutes' walk to reach the flower fields again, and another ten before Adelaide was satisfied with the spot they arrived in. She pivoted in a slow circle, surveying the rainbow sea around them, noting that no soul was around. She gave a nod of satisfaction. Kneeling, she patted the ground. "Sit," she commanded.
Waiting for Luro to do so, Adelaide walked around plucking flower stems here and there. Geraniums, foxglove, more yellow carnations, orange lilies and meadowsweet filled her hands. She came back to Luro and knelt in front of him. Her gaze roamed over his red for awhile before she reached up and added a sweet white foxglove next to the carnation she'd placed in his hair from the shop. She added another one, and then an orange lily to the other side. Her eyes met his and they were a mere inch apart.
"I don't want a conversation with
you," she smiled a sickly sweet smile. "I want to talk to
djal. Imposter. Impersonating Imposter. Don't tell me he's beaten you so far gone?" Adelaide leaned forward and her eyes seemed to bore into Luro's and beyond, seeking for who she wanted most.
Luro remained silent through the walk back scribbling in his notebook for most of it, mumbling to himself here and there. Rows of words filled the pages and he only raised his head once they had returned, his head tilted a bit as his eyes rested back on the numerous flowers surrounded them, his gaze moved to the side almost as if he was looking for someone but what he was searching for didn't hold his attention for long. He stared at the spot she had pat for a moment and walking over plopped down returning his notebook to his sleeve.
Ali was a rather strange person but he didn't think that was a bad thing, she seemed to really like flowers for some odd reason, he closed his eyes thinking of someone else who had a habit of picking them. He smiled a little at the distant memory opening his eyes hearing Ali approach him again.
Ali reminded him of a puppy whenever she did things, she really liked being close to people and was friendly with practically everyone. She at least smelled nice so he didn't mind, as he was wondering if it was all the flowers he looked back at Ali as she revealed what she wanted. Blinking a few times Luro's eyelids drooped a little and he rubbed the side of his head. He kept his eyes focused on hers to keep from being rude and he gave a small nod to her.
"Well I don't like people meeting him but I did promise so I'll let him speak," Luro said. "Be careful while you're there. I'll pull you out if I see him try something so don't be mad if that happens."
Luro's gaze remained clear as it always had been, traces of something appearing behind his unblinking stare. Unlike before however something seemed to reach out towards Ali through him. Her reflection in Luro's eyes slowly became distorted, and the scent of lemons filled the area around them for a moment. When Ali blinked she'd find she was no longer in the field of flowers with Luro.
END OF PART I
