To Chase a Shooting Star [Closed: Claria, Lucius, Collin]

[LuckyBlackCat]

Guilt prickled at Claria as she looked over her shoulder at Lucius, who remained kneeling, forlorn. Had she been too harsh? A realisation crept over her - if he really did hail from an age long gone by, he was in all likelihood grieving, his blunder having reminded him of his fallen followers and the way things once were. The Zora had suffered their own losses during the Calamity, most notably that of Princess Mipha, but out of everyone, the Hylians had been hit hardest by far.

She let out a sigh of her own, shaking her head in response to Collin's question. "Can't say I've ever met him," she murmured. "He'd be rather... memorable." That and his lightning-based combat style wouldn't exactly go down well in the Domain. "If he truly is an instructor though, he'll know a thing or two as a referee, squirrel whisperer or no."

Just as she turned to approach Lucius, check that he was alright, the knight stood with a lively and fetching sweep of his hair and cape, his confidence renewed - at least outwardly. He caught up with surprising agility, despite his heavy plate mail, but then again, the red tints in his eyes indicated he probably was part Sheikah.

At his question about their choice of route, Claria mulled over the options, her frown mirroring his as she scanned the flatter, better-trodden paths, as well as the outcroppings that loomed over them. "It would certainly be smoother to navigate," she replied, "but if any monsters or unsavoury types are hiding out along it, that would cancel out any convenience." Especially given her... unfortunate tendency to attract attention. Between the three of them, they'd be able to fend off any direct attackers, but combat skill wouldn't keep them safe from sneak attacks. Only utmost vigilance would.

Her gaze shifted to the steep, rocky path that led directly to the nugget of light. "As for any other route, there'll be less chance of an ambush, but... well, this region isn't known for easy terrain." The crags, however, didn't seem to deter Collin, who plucked his cane from his belt and used it to clamber up them as if they posed no obstacle. She looked from him to Lucius, noting the knight's obvious unease at the prospect of taking the well-trodden path. If he spoke the truth about his history, he'd have plenty of experience traversing rough landscape. As for herself... well, not only did she live in Lanayru, but she was well accustomed to the treacherously rugged hills, cliffs, and valleys of the Depths.

"If you're both ok with it, let's take the path less travelled." With careful steps up the bumpy slope, she ventured a little ahead of Collin, leading so as to illuminate any trip hazards.

[El]

Tangible relief softened Lucius's expression, a pleased smile taking rest upon his lips. He nodded with encouragement, "A wise choice, Miss Stellamaris: it is far easier to anticipate the potential dangers of terrain, than it is to read the minds of the living."

Fortunately the Zora had little trouble navigating her homeland - as was anticipated - and even the Hylian demonstrated some easy agility. Lucius was glad the cane at his hip was simply a tool, rather than indication of a hindering ailment. He would have hoisted the man up into a dignified carry if need be of course - such a task would've been effortless and he'd be glad to assist - but it only did a soul harm when their vulnerabilities were exposed to strangers. No doubt Claria had her own preferences too, being a warrior of the waters, but they were doing well nonetheless!

With graceful gusto Lucius followed suit, initially eager to champion the head of the small group only to instead fall back to cover their rear instead. Claria had made a point to claim that spot herself and appeared to take a quiet pride in casting her illuminations to aid visibility. Neither of these things Lucius struggled with, but past experiences informed him that it was best to keep such facts to himself for now. Everyone wanted to prove useful.

As the sky began to crowd with ripe rainclouds, the first of many cold droplets striking his cheek in an elegantly glittering teartrail... Lucius found himself thinking on his earlier attempt at poetry. The majority of his processing power was still focused upon their surroundings of course - his crimson pupils expanded wide to drink in a greater wealth of information - but unbidden a hum of enlightenment strummed the pleasant chords of his throat. In a silken-smooth melody of a whisper Lucius murmured,

"Dawn was bleeding through the veil,
"...Budded dew, glittering anew-!"

Hmn. Yes. That rolled off the tongue well. It was a vast improvement on his earlier attempts at the very least. Though it still lacked a certain-... well, a conclusion. A more concrete turn of phrase to act as the foundations of purpose. This was a poem about the stars after all: specifically those which fell.

"Shivering atwinkle as they did-
Hmn no.
"At Naydra's sigh the heavens shook,
"Shimmering askew, one fell and struck true."

Displeasure clicked Lucius's tongue. Now it felt too literal. Plus there were too many words encumbering the ease of rhythm.

[AmJanky]

Having collectively strayed off the road en route to the shimmer in the distance he found himself thoroughly sandwiched between the two taller creatures and couldn't find himself able to assess yet whether that was a place he was comfortable or not.


Claria graciously illuminated the path before him, a blessing and a curse her glowing freckles had to be. At this time of night she sent out a very convenient light to see by. But at this time of night that was also a very convenient light to be seen by.

As she had turned to check on Lucius, even while mostly obscured by her armor, he'd seen scars covering part of her face and running down her neck. They were a clear indicator of having lost at least once. From Collin's perspective that would just prove anyone more determined. Uncomfortable as any visible scarring was - not to mention underlying complications, both physical or mental.
They were still here, granted a chance to learn from past mistakes.

Nevertheless, it left Collin with little doubt about Claria's capacities as a guard. She had so far given him the impression of a protector, someone who'd assess a situation with deep thought before stepping into it, but also still a bit of a stick in the mud.
He refrained from prodding her more with said stick, though, not after having been swatted down with the most truthful thing she could have answered. Squirrel whisperer or not the knight would undoubtedly know a thing or two. Not just about duels.


Behind him, the enigmatic knight muttered, when Collin paid attention to the mutters he could make out a rhythm in the sentences and the chosen words to rhyme. Either confidently or stupidly, the instructor was in the process of producing poetry. Adding an audible component to Claria's visual to be heard by.

Even so the old soul really was an artist.

Collin was not a poet, and had never aspired to be, but he was a trickster at heart and giving a yank at some chains every once in a while was his core business. With Claria off the hook, for now, he redirected his mischief. He counted on his fingers a couple of times, his face clearly showing thought. Something- something- squirrel? Nah.

After a minute of thought he chuckled,

"A star fell down from the sky,
The knight watched it fall,
Intellectualizing."

He squinted, not just against the raindrops that started falling, but as soon as he had finished, he felt something was off. "Shoot, I remembered wrong, that's not how a Haiku works... Shame, it came together so fast too..."

While out loud he lamented light-heartedly on the structure of his haiku being wrong, the words hid the fact that this rain annoyed him greatly.
As most Hylians - not of the sage or hero variety - he relied heavily on his ears and eyes. The susurration of falling drops and curtains of water on the wind dulled these senses considerably.
Not to mention the straying off the path had made the footing unstable to begin with, rain was a complication he didn't quite need.

Even with the visual and audible cues giving them away to any possible incoming inconvenience, perhaps he still was in the best place between the two, perhaps not. Only time could tell.

[LuckyBlackCat]

Navigating up the rocky hillside, Claria kept checking back on the other two, as well as all around for any possible threats. This path, for all its inconveniences, brought less risk of a hostile encounter, but didn't eliminate it. Her ability to guide the group towards their destination could well also guide monsters towards them. She kept each footstep purposeful, not just to maintain her balance on the uneven ground, but to feel for distant tremors that would signal an approach.

As another obstacle arose, she began to question her choice of route. Rain started spattering the crags, turning them slick. Normally, it would be welcome. Although the changing weather set off dull aches in the old wounds across her upper body, they weren't anything debilitating, and the relief from the soothing effect on her scales outweighed them. However, when it came to traversing steep and rough terrain, the downpours typical of Lanayru complicated matters. Casting another glance at Collin and Lucius, she slowed her steps. No matter her eagerness to reach the star, making sure nobody slipped and got hurt was more important than arriving with plenty of time to spare.

Through the pitter-patter, Lucius murmured to himself, having decided to spend the journey improvising poetry. Claria studied the surroundings again, wary of any potential drawn attention, but at least Lucius kept his voice low, and the rain disguised the sound to an extent. Initial alarm aside, she couldn't deny the elegance of the wording he used to capture the scene. Poetry, like dance, was something Zora of the Domain were expected to learn from a young age. While Claria wouldn't call herself particularly skilled at it, such an upbringing had instilled in her an appreciation for well-crafted verse. Not that Lucius found his wordsmithing to his satisfaction, a tongue click following lines he kept altering.

Collin piped up immediately afterwards, seizing the opportunity to get some mischief in with a playful jab in not-quite-haiku form. Even though it had an admittedly pleasing rhythm, Claria looked Lucius' way with an inward wince. If he did indeed have Sheikahn ancestry, or if he viewed poetry as a serious matter, chances were he'd take grave offense at the bungled structure. Goddess help Collin if both were the case.

Well, if the other two insisted on passing the time with poems, she might as well get in on it, show Collin how it was done. After once more glance in all directions, she began to whisper.

"The night sky's treasure
Draws challengers to its gleam
Who will claim the prize?"

By now, they'd ventured close. So close she could see reflected shimmers on the damp spires that cradled the gem, its jutting facets growing discernible, its proximity filling her with yearning. She scanned the nearby area, her gaze settling on a grassy expanse flat enough for the duel to take place.

She strode towards it, taking her place. "Would you say this is a suitable location?" Her fists curled so tight the tendons in her wrists stood out. The divine challenge would soon start in earnest.

[El]

To weave poetry as they waded through the rain in search of a fallen star! And they said romanticism was dead!

Lucius's forged heart glowed with delight, though his grin shone far brighter: perfect teeth in a perfect line, perfectly impervious to any veiled mischief. The Knight quite literally sparkled, the air about him twinkling with flecks of electricity... and yet there was zero static in his shimmering, blonde mane.

"Almost!" He encouraged Collin, with a firm nod. His voice was pitched with pride, with nary a demeaning note or inflection. After all, everyone started somewhere! The fact that Mr Riot had the brass to step out of his comfort zone and attempt it at all was the greatest step one could take - he had begun. And in weather he found uncomfortable, no doubt! Extra marks!!!

Lucius caught then, Miss Stellamaris glancing back at them with cautious concern.

Concern... why?

The Knight had little time to fret over such a quandary however as the truth of it all soon revealed itself: she had been reflecting upon her own verse! That she had felt so deeply - openly - anxious did little justice at all to the poetic lyrics which then wove from her lips. The twinkle about Lucius was mirrored then in his eyes, their corners pinching with a deepening sincerity of near-blinding delight.

"Evidently the praise I have heard - oft - about your people and their penchant for beautiful verse was not at all exaggerated, Miss Stellamaris." The Knight glowed, sweeping into a prompt bow of deference. "Thank you for your guidance." He made a mental note, amidst the flow of his abundant praise, to pay a proper visit to the Domain some day soon. Clearly he had much to learn from them! Their city was beautiful, their soldiers admirable, and their peoples' hearts noble.

No, it was not an illusion. The gleam in Lucius's pupils did indeed keenly resemble that of the stylised hearts lovesick teens embroidered on gifted handkerchiefs.

Now, however, was the time of a fated conclusion: the duel.

As Claria strode boldly into a suitable clearing, taking position at its centre, Lucius swiftly followed suit. With a sweeping gaze he surveyed their surroundings in turn, nodding with assent. "Yes, this will do nicely."

A good few feet in front of the Zora, the Knight struck the steeled heel of his boot into the sodden earth. With one sweeping strike a line was scorched straight and true, a hissing blade of crackling steam arising from the shallow fissure. This would mark their starting positions - a division. As for the perimeter...

That too was promptly dealt with.

It all happened in a handful of seconds - a mere moment really. At first there Lucius stood. Then in a blinking breath and a glorious swish of a valiant red cape, the strapping figure snapped into a blazing greatsword. The sparkling blade didn't so much as linger, instead immediately slicing into action, searing into the burning grass a mathematically perfect circular border. It encapsulated a generous amount of space, but not an unnecessary amount. As soon as the two ends met - the border completed - there flashed Lucius, blinking back into existence mid-stride, with a perfectly soft step.

"As a revision, the rules of the duel are as follows,"  The Knight began, his voice taking on a sombre tone that reflected the gravitas of the situation at hand. This was no trifling matter. Honour was at stake here. "First: Weapons are strictly prohibited - blunt force of your limbs only. Second: The first to successfully land three blows on their opponent, shall be honoured as the victor. None shall obstruct their rightful claim to their prize, the star fragment."

His precise, militaristic march came to a prompt halt beside Claria, taking point at the head of the central dividing line. "I feel it would also be appropriate to add - in the security of clarification - that neither of the duelling parties are to aim for any vitals: namely the head and neck. This is NOT a duel to the death, nor an attempt at causing grievous harm. It is an honourable discourse in which to discover a victor."

Standing tall and proper, Lucius's arms then folded behind him, hands neatly interlocking. There was a puff to his broad chest and even broader shoulders that betrayed how often he'd held this role, and how proudly he'd performed it - each and every time. "Any objections?" Draconic eyes flashed between both the Zora and Hylian, giving them ample room to voice any grievances or prematurely surrender.