”You’re going to be late!” The songbird twittered nervously at the Regent, fluttering about his head.
Ipomoea shook his head, eyes focused on the plant he was tending to.
”There’s plenty of time, Odet,” he said, but his tone was far-off and distracted. ”I just need to finish this first…”
The plant had clearly seen better days: it’s leaves had curled in upon themselves, and it shivered at Po’s touch. He’d known the risk when he’d uprooted the plant, but he couldn’t help himself. In his wandering he had come across a patch of strange plants, with patterned spots decorating their leaves. He had been curious, perhaps dangerously so; he knew he’d had to get back soon, but he wasn’t confident he could find the secluded spot again.
Odet was tugging at his mane by the time he strode back into his own chambers, trying (and failing) to redirect him. But Po shrugged him off, making his way over to the window. An empty flower pot floated up at his command, righting itself on the window.
Carefully, gently, lovingly, he lowered the plant into the pot, tucking it in with spare soil he had collected. A few drops of water went in next, until he was satisfied. The plant leaned into his touch, shuddering: it had so little energy left, he hadn’t anticipated it being so fragile…
”Po!” the jay interrupted his thoughts again, fluttering in front of his face. His wings brushed against the boy’s face. ”They’re starting!”
Time had slipped away from him (as it usually did). A quick glance outside his window confirmed this: everyone had gathered, and he recognized the golden frame of Somnus striding to the pedestal.
In that moment, he wished he could fly; it would be a much shorter trip through the window.
But instead his legs sprung to action, carrying him swiftly out the doors. He nearly tripped going down the stairs, but somehow kept his balance; Odet raced ahead of him, a blue streak that vanished around every corner.
It seemed to take an impossibly long time before he finally left the shadow of the castle, and only then did he slow down to a brisk walk. It wouldn’t do to be seen rushing across the courtyard, or to arrive out of breath. But as Somnus began to speak, addressing the gathered crowd, Po slipped in behind him and took his place amongst the other Regime members.
Most of Somnus’ words were drowned out by his own thoughts; he knew already what the Sovereign wanted to address, understood his reasons… but his own thoughts were still tumultuous. He couldn’t remember the last time Delumine’s borders had been closed, neither in his lifetime nor in the history he’d read. Delumine had always been open, a place of learning and enrichment that encouraged others to come and go. It was impossible to experience the world when you were stuck in one place indefinitely.
But desperate times called for desperate measures, he supposed.
His ears tilted sideways, catching Pavetta’s smooth voice. “A trap?” he interrupted, his interest piqued. How could they trap something when they didn’t know what they were trapping? The Regent sidled closely to the unicorn, his wings dancing nervously. ”Sign me up for a patrol as well, Ulric. Any time is fine.” ”As long as I’m not alone,” he didn’t say - although he certainly wanted to. His heart skipped a beat at the notion of wandering Viride without company.
@everyone have a late po <3
@pavetta and @Ulric specifically
Ipomoea shook his head, eyes focused on the plant he was tending to.
”There’s plenty of time, Odet,” he said, but his tone was far-off and distracted. ”I just need to finish this first…”
The plant had clearly seen better days: it’s leaves had curled in upon themselves, and it shivered at Po’s touch. He’d known the risk when he’d uprooted the plant, but he couldn’t help himself. In his wandering he had come across a patch of strange plants, with patterned spots decorating their leaves. He had been curious, perhaps dangerously so; he knew he’d had to get back soon, but he wasn’t confident he could find the secluded spot again.
Odet was tugging at his mane by the time he strode back into his own chambers, trying (and failing) to redirect him. But Po shrugged him off, making his way over to the window. An empty flower pot floated up at his command, righting itself on the window.
Carefully, gently, lovingly, he lowered the plant into the pot, tucking it in with spare soil he had collected. A few drops of water went in next, until he was satisfied. The plant leaned into his touch, shuddering: it had so little energy left, he hadn’t anticipated it being so fragile…
”Po!” the jay interrupted his thoughts again, fluttering in front of his face. His wings brushed against the boy’s face. ”They’re starting!”
Time had slipped away from him (as it usually did). A quick glance outside his window confirmed this: everyone had gathered, and he recognized the golden frame of Somnus striding to the pedestal.
In that moment, he wished he could fly; it would be a much shorter trip through the window.
But instead his legs sprung to action, carrying him swiftly out the doors. He nearly tripped going down the stairs, but somehow kept his balance; Odet raced ahead of him, a blue streak that vanished around every corner.
It seemed to take an impossibly long time before he finally left the shadow of the castle, and only then did he slow down to a brisk walk. It wouldn’t do to be seen rushing across the courtyard, or to arrive out of breath. But as Somnus began to speak, addressing the gathered crowd, Po slipped in behind him and took his place amongst the other Regime members.
Most of Somnus’ words were drowned out by his own thoughts; he knew already what the Sovereign wanted to address, understood his reasons… but his own thoughts were still tumultuous. He couldn’t remember the last time Delumine’s borders had been closed, neither in his lifetime nor in the history he’d read. Delumine had always been open, a place of learning and enrichment that encouraged others to come and go. It was impossible to experience the world when you were stuck in one place indefinitely.
But desperate times called for desperate measures, he supposed.
His ears tilted sideways, catching Pavetta’s smooth voice. “A trap?” he interrupted, his interest piqued. How could they trap something when they didn’t know what they were trapping? The Regent sidled closely to the unicorn, his wings dancing nervously. ”Sign me up for a patrol as well, Ulric. Any time is fine.” ”As long as I’m not alone,” he didn’t say - although he certainly wanted to. His heart skipped a beat at the notion of wandering Viride without company.
@everyone have a late po <3
@pavetta and @
elizahveta art
