M E S S A L I N A . //
Winter had arrived, and with her descent upon the land, Messalina felt her spirit lift in a way that only the snow’s frosty kiss could induce. The season of holidays and rejoice had warmed even Mother’s heart, and she’d release the girl from her lessons and practices with an almost tender warning to “keep out of trouble.”
She reflected upon these memories with fondness as she wrapped her velvet cloak tighter around her shoulders. Rumor was that the Eluetheria Plains boasted the most bountiful display of snow in Novus, and Messalina had set off bright and early that morning to see the sight for herself. Thankfully, the rumor had been correct—the snow thickened the closer she was to the Plains, and when she finally arrived, the whiteness of the undisturbed blanket before her was blinding in its magnificence. Were it not for her red cloak, the ivory-pelted girl would’ve blended in seamlessly amongst her surroundings. Her braids fell across her eyes as she lowered her head, nose lightly touching the frozen ground. How cold! Lifting her crown with a start, her frosty eyes danced as an idea flashed across her mind.
She’d observed the other children building one of these on many a wintry day from her window, and once she’d even tried it out herself, attempting it under the cloak of night. She’d failed miserably. It was a collaborative effort to build one of those snow-men, and with her own strength alone, she'd found it impossible to place the balls of snow on top of each other.
But Novus had gifted her with telepathy. Surely she’d be able to build one herself now.
~~~
Messalina had thought herself alone in the discovery of such an untouched area of the Plains, and was thus appropriately startled as voices arose from behind her. Quickly, she kicked over the sorry mess of a snow-man she’d been sculpting, releasing a breath of frustration. Heaven forbid if another caught her next to such a pitiable creation! Snow-sculpting would never be a skill of hers, it seemed. She abandoned her toppled work without sparing another glance towards it and headed towards the flurry of noise, curious as to whoever else had ventured out as she did to these snow-covered plains.
A crowd of four emerged as she neared, one hanging noticeably back as if he did not belong among the others. Squinting her eyes against the blinding light, she traced out the form of a familiar painted figure. Ipomoea, the Emissary of Dawn. Messalina did not recognize the others surrounding him, but it was her duty to greet her Emissary, and—her eyes widened as she noticed the snow-man next to him, so perfect in its alignment. How he managed it, she did not know; but a smile graced her face regardless as she approached.
@Ipomoea, @Cynix, @Isorath, @Tamran
notes: joining in on the fun! ;u;
