Holy High - IC III - Open!

[Charlia]

"Inside's fine with me," she said, thinking curiously about what could be going on.

Then her eyes widened.

I've read enough books to know where this is going, she thought eagerly.

"Cade, are we doing what I think we are?"

He chuckled, and set the sundae on the table before he pulled out her chair for her. "Well...it depends on what you think we're doing, I suppose. If you were thinking we're sharing a sundae...well, yeah, actually."

Her face lit up.

"I've read about people doing that in books, but of course I've never done it myself. Thank you, Cade!"

[Castle Crashers]

He chuckled, and set the sundae on the table before he pulled out her chair for her. "Well...it depends on what you think we're doing, I suppose. If you were thinking we're sharing a sundae...well, yeah, actually."

Her face lit up.

"I've read about people doing that in books, but of course I've never done it myself. Thank you, Cade!"

"Well, now you get to try it!" He beamed. "You're welcome." He sat down across from her and picked up a spoon, but even though he did such a thing, he was going to let her try it first.

[Charlia]

Her face lit up.

"I've read about people doing that in books, but of course I've never done it myself. Thank you, Cade!"

"Well, now you get to try it!" He beamed. "You're welcome." He sat down across from her and picked up a spoon, but even though he did such a thing, he was going to let her try it first.

Taking her own spoon, she hesitantly took a small scoop from the sundae, bringing it to her mouth and then letting it melt on her tongue, the flavor enveloping her taste buds in sheer happiness.

"...This is incredible," she testified. "Go ahead, try some!" she continued encouragingly.

[Castle Crashers]

"Well, now you get to try it!" He beamed. "You're welcome." He sat down across from her and picked up a spoon, but even though he did such a thing, he was going to let her try it first.

Taking her own spoon, she hesitantly took a small scoop from the sundae, bringing it to her mouth and then letting it melt on her tongue, the flavor enveloping her taste buds in sheer happiness.

"...This is incredible," she testified. "Go ahead, try some!" she continued encouragingly.

He smiled. Okay..." He took a spoonful for himself and stuck it into his mouth, delighted by the smooth, flavorful taste of the french vanilla ice cream. "It's incredible, I agree..." He said after he'd swallowed. He then took another spoonful and savored it.

[Charlia]

Taking her own spoon, she hesitantly took a small scoop from the sundae, bringing it to her mouth and then letting it melt on her tongue, the flavor enveloping her taste buds in sheer happiness.

"...This is incredible," she testified. "Go ahead, try some!" she continued encouragingly.

He smiled. Okay..." He took a spoonful for himself and stuck it into his mouth, delighted by the smooth, flavorful taste of the french vanilla ice cream. "It's incredible, I agree..." He said after he'd swallowed. He then took another spoonful and savored it.

She took another bite at the same time he did, and for a moment their spoons met in the ice cream. She couldn't help but giggle to herself. That was how it always worked in books, wasn't it? She was pretty sure that was how things were done.

[Syrixces]

Nodding in agreement, Hyperion waved his hand at the glowing orb, floating over to it gently, and picking up the tiny object, revealing the glowing newborn within. Gently rocking the baby star back and forth, Hyperion put the child back into space, letting it float into its eternal orbit, and nodded, smiling gently.

"Well, sorta. Gaia less gave birth to me, than just kinda conceived me. I mean, she's still technically my mom. But I was born from the stars. So, she's more a half mother, the other parent being a ton of radiation and nuclear forces."

Turning back to her, he smiled, and ran his fingers through his gleaming golden hair.

"What about you? Was she any better a parent? Or just as distant as she was with me?"

Tect, meanwhile, was a little taken aback by the new kids strange greeting. Standing back, he looked at him quizzically, and spoke, "You're not exactly from these parts, are you? Where you from, friend? I'm Tect, by the way. Human, sometimes mortal, and keeper of the Thunderbirds.

Thunderbird, singular, you fool. Don't sell yourself out already. We both know how well that tactic works with females, let alone peers.

[Great Qin]

Nodding in agreement, Hyperion waved his hand at the glowing orb, floating over to it gently, and picking up the tiny object, revealing the glowing newborn within. Gently rocking the baby star back and forth, Hyperion put the child back into space, letting it float into its eternal orbit, and nodded, smiling gently.

"Well, sorta. Gaia less gave birth to me, than just kinda conceived me. I mean, she's still technically my mom. But I was born from the stars. So, she's more a half mother, the other parent being a ton of radiation and nuclear forces."

Turning back to her, he smiled, and ran his fingers through his gleaming golden hair.

"What about you? Was she any better a parent? Or just as distant as she was with me?"

Tect, meanwhile, was a little taken aback by the new kids strange greeting. Standing back, he looked at him quizzically, and spoke, "You're not exactly from these parts, are you? Where you from, friend? I'm Tect, by the way. Human, sometimes mortal, and keeper of the Thunderbirds.

Thunderbird, singular, you fool. Don't sell yourself out already. We both know how well that tactic works with females, let alone peers.

Ao's expression dropped slightly as he realized that, as he had feared, the types of greetings considered normal had dropped his way from the roster.
"I am from..." He struggled to recall the name in English, which he had last used around 1901. "Donghai...shenme shi Donghai...Sea of Korea? No, that's the old one..." he muttered. Then his eyes brightened. "Ah! East China Sea! That's it." He pulled himself up a little out of his more relaxed position. "In that sea, I am the King of Dragons." Whatever you do, don't bring up the siblings!

[Silverakia]

Aileen was sitting on a bench, taking a bite of her ice cream sandwich. It seemed like a couple were sharing a sundae. Aileen smiled. How cute!

[Ranoria]

Ryujin laughed in return at that, "Well that's true enough," with that, he took his younger daughter into his arms, cradling her gently, "Now, was mommy nice to you while I was gone? Or was she mean? If she was mean I'll have to get her in trouble."

...Not exactly sure how I'd pull that off, but whatever.

He couldn't help but smile down at Niji, so innocent and sweet and pure. Definitely the best accident ever.

Niji reached up and patted his face, before playing 'got your nose'.

"Ice," she declared, and then giggled as she showed that she had stolen his 'nose'.

"Well, okay." He said, before he began deciding between which flavors he wanted. He settled on a french vanilla sundae, one that was large enough to share. It was both cheaper and more romantic than buying two, and he knew his red-haired companion would like the idea when she understood what he was doing. He took the sundae when it was ready and headed to one of the tables by the window. "Do you wanna sit inside or outside?" He asked, wearing a wide grin.

"Inside's fine with me," she said, thinking curiously about what could be going on.

Then her eyes widened.

I've read enough books to know where this is going, she thought eagerly.

"Cade, are we doing what I think we are?"

Ryujin gave her an absolutely befuddled look, as if he never could've anticipated such an unforeseeable turn of events, "Hey, I need that nose." He scrunched his eyebrows and leaned down, "Can I have it back?"

He thought he did a pretty convincing job of acting surprised and absolutely helpless to his daughter's nose-stealing whims.

[Charlia]

Niji reached up and patted his face, before playing 'got your nose'.

"Ice," she declared, and then giggled as she showed that she had stolen his 'nose'."Inside's fine with me," she said, thinking curiously about what could be going on.

Then her eyes widened.

I've read enough books to know where this is going, she thought eagerly.

"Cade, are we doing what I think we are?"

Ryujin gave her an absolutely befuddled look, as if he never could've anticipated such an unforeseeable turn of events, "Hey, I need that nose." He scrunched his eyebrows and leaned down, "Can I have it back?"

He thought he did a pretty convincing job of acting surprised and absolutely helpless to his daughter's nose-stealing whims.

"Mm," Niji mumbled, as if thinking. Then she bit the thumb that she was pretending was his nose, and said, "No."

Amaterasu started laughing uncontrollably.

[Ranoria]

Ryujin gave her an absolutely befuddled look, as if he never could've anticipated such an unforeseeable turn of events, "Hey, I need that nose." He scrunched his eyebrows and leaned down, "Can I have it back?"

He thought he did a pretty convincing job of acting surprised and absolutely helpless to his daughter's nose-stealing whims.

"Mm," Niji mumbled, as if thinking. Then she bit the thumb that she was pretending was his nose, and said, "No."

Amaterasu started laughing uncontrollably.

"Ouch," Ryujin rubbed where his nose should've been, or where he was supposed to think it was, as if it hurt when she put it.

Oh god, I can't even control her now. What's going to happen when she can walk?

Ryujin snorted, unable to suppress a smile that crept up his features, Niji was just a little bit too adorable for him to not find the whole thing comical, "But what if I lose you and don't have my nose? I won't be able to smell you then."

Ha, logic.

[Charlia]

"Mm," Niji mumbled, as if thinking. Then she bit the thumb that she was pretending was his nose, and said, "No."

Amaterasu started laughing uncontrollably.

"Ouch," Ryujin rubbed where his nose should've been, or where he was supposed to think it was, as if it hurt when she put it.

Oh god, I can't even control her now. What's going to happen when she can walk?

Ryujin snorted, unable to suppress a smile that crept up his features, Niji was just a little bit too adorable for him to not find the whole thing comical, "But what if I lose you and don't have my nose? I won't be able to smell you then."

Ha, logic.

Niji looked thoughtful, as if pondering her father's words.

Then she spread her chubby little arms in a magnanimous gesture and said simply, "Mogu."

[Ranoria]

"Ouch," Ryujin rubbed where his nose should've been, or where he was supposed to think it was, as if it hurt when she put it.

Oh god, I can't even control her now. What's going to happen when she can walk?

Ryujin snorted, unable to suppress a smile that crept up his features, Niji was just a little bit too adorable for him to not find the whole thing comical, "But what if I lose you and don't have my nose? I won't be able to smell you then."

Ha, logic.

Niji looked thoughtful, as if pondering her father's words.

Then she spread her chubby little arms in a magnanimous gesture and said simply, "Mogu."

"Mogu?" Ryujin pondered her words, or word, carefully, unable to understand what she'd said, glancing at Ama to see if she had understood, then back at Niji, wondering if he was getting his nose back or not.

[Charlia]

Niji looked thoughtful, as if pondering her father's words.

Then she spread her chubby little arms in a magnanimous gesture and said simply, "Mogu."

"Mogu?" Ryujin pondered her words, or word, carefully, unable to understand what she'd said, glancing at Ama to see if she had understood, then back at Niji, wondering if he was getting his nose back or not.

Niji nodded solemnly, and repeated the mysterious word "Mogu."

Then she poked his face as if to give him his nose back, and said it again.

"Mogu."

[Ranoria]

"Mogu?" Ryujin pondered her words, or word, carefully, unable to understand what she'd said, glancing at Ama to see if she had understood, then back at Niji, wondering if he was getting his nose back or not.

Niji nodded solemnly, and repeated the mysterious word "Mogu."

Then she poked his face as if to give him his nose back, and said it again.

"Mogu."

He rubbed his nose, seemingly confirming it's presence, and tilted his head again. "Mogu..." He was happy that she wasn't upset about not being understood this time, but he still had no clue what the baby was saying.

[Charlia]

Niji nodded solemnly, and repeated the mysterious word "Mogu."

Then she poked his face as if to give him his nose back, and said it again.

"Mogu."

He rubbed his nose, seemingly confirming it's presence, and tilted his head again. "Mogu..." He was happy that she wasn't upset about not being understood this time, but he still had no clue what the baby was saying.

"Mogumogumogumogumogumogumogumogumogumogumogumogumogumogumogumogu," she babbled in response. "Fun. Mogu!"

A sly grin crossed her tiny face, and she said, "Mogu Daddy."

[Ranoria]

He rubbed his nose, seemingly confirming it's presence, and tilted his head again. "Mogu..." He was happy that she wasn't upset about not being understood this time, but he still had no clue what the baby was saying.

"Mogumogumogumogumogumogumogumogumogumogumogumogumogumogumogumogu," she babbled in response. "Fun. Mogu!"

A sly grin crossed her tiny face, and she said, "Mogu Daddy."

Ryujin mentally slapped himself, having been thinking for some odd reason that she was speaking in English, but still didn't know what she was trying to say. "I don't understand..."

[Charlia]

"Mogumogumogumogumogumogumogumogumogumogumogumogumogumogumogumogu," she babbled in response. "Fun. Mogu!"

A sly grin crossed her tiny face, and she said, "Mogu Daddy."

Ryujin mentally slapped himself, having been thinking for some odd reason that she was speaking in English, but still didn't know what she was trying to say. "I don't understand..."

She wiggled around a little, getting as close to his face as she could, opened her mouth wide...

And then performed a strange, mouth-open sort of kiss-thing that really didn't make a lot of sense, but she was a baby and babies didn't make sense.

[Ranoria]

Ryujin mentally slapped himself, having been thinking for some odd reason that she was speaking in English, but still didn't know what she was trying to say. "I don't understand..."

She wiggled around a little, getting as close to his face as she could, opened her mouth wide...

And then performed a strange, mouth-open sort of kiss-thing that really didn't make a lot of sense, but she was a baby and babies didn't make sense.

Ryujin laughed, finally understanding, and kissed Niji's head in return. He wasn't really sure what she was doing, but that was okay, she was a baby, he wasn't supposed to understand what she was doing all the time. "Niji, you're just silly."

[Charlia]

She wiggled around a little, getting as close to his face as she could, opened her mouth wide...

And then performed a strange, mouth-open sort of kiss-thing that really didn't make a lot of sense, but she was a baby and babies didn't make sense.

Ryujin laughed, finally understanding, and kissed Niji's head in return. He wasn't really sure what she was doing, but that was okay, she was a baby, he wasn't supposed to understand what she was doing all the time. "Niji, you're just silly."

"Ehlee me," she replied solemnly and nodded.

"Well," Amaterasu said, "I think we know which parent she's going to cling to. She never talks that much to me."

[Castle Crashers]

He smiled. Okay..." He took a spoonful for himself and stuck it into his mouth, delighted by the smooth, flavorful taste of the french vanilla ice cream. "It's incredible, I agree..." He said after he'd swallowed. He then took another spoonful and savored it.

She took another bite at the same time he did, and for a moment their spoons met in the ice cream. She couldn't help but giggle to herself. That was how it always worked in books, wasn't it? She was pretty sure that was how things were done.

He smiled, happy to see she was enjoying herself. He got himself another spoonful, paying more attention to her than he was to the ice cream. He was glad he was able to make her feel so happy, to be able to make her smile and giggle like she was. There was nothing he loved to see more.

Nodding in agreement, Hyperion waved his hand at the glowing orb, floating over to it gently, and picking up the tiny object, revealing the glowing newborn within. Gently rocking the baby star back and forth, Hyperion put the child back into space, letting it float into its eternal orbit, and nodded, smiling gently.

"Well, sorta. Gaia less gave birth to me, than just kinda conceived me. I mean, she's still technically my mom. But I was born from the stars. So, she's more a half mother, the other parent being a ton of radiation and nuclear forces."

Turning back to her, he smiled, and ran his fingers through his gleaming golden hair.

"What about you? Was she any better a parent? Or just as distant as she was with me?"

She shrugged, watching the young star float into its orbit. "Well...Gaia herself is more of a distant relative than anything, she isn't necessarily my mother." She pointed out. "I never really learned who my mother was...I just know that my father was Chaos, he was the only parent I've known." She shrugged. "Not that it really matters, I guess. I've lived so long, it shouldn't anyways."

[Charlia]

She took another bite at the same time he did, and for a moment their spoons met in the ice cream. She couldn't help but giggle to herself. That was how it always worked in books, wasn't it? She was pretty sure that was how things were done.

He smiled, happy to see she was enjoying herself. He got himself another spoonful, paying more attention to her than he was to the ice cream. He was glad he was able to make her feel so happy, to be able to make her smile and giggle like she was. There was nothing he loved to see more.

"You know what's funny?" she asked between bites. "Technically, I'm thousands of years old, even if I look like a teenager. But I really feel like one, right now," she said with a laugh. "A lovestruck teenager. I keep feeling like the sun's going to dim and romantic music will start playing in the background, not that I'd mind too terribly if it did. I... Man, I don't think I'm ever going to be able to say this enough. Thank you, Cade. I know, you've told me not to thank you, but I can't really help it. You make me happy... happier than I ever was before I met you. I love you so much..." She sighed, completely blissful. "Right now," she whispered, "it's like there's never been anything wrong with the world. I wonder if this is what Eden felt like?"

[Ranoria]

Ryujin laughed, finally understanding, and kissed Niji's head in return. He wasn't really sure what she was doing, but that was okay, she was a baby, he wasn't supposed to understand what she was doing all the time. "Niji, you're just silly."

"Ehlee me," she replied solemnly and nodded.

"Well," Amaterasu said, "I think we know which parent she's going to cling to. She never talks that much to me."

"Maybe that's because I'm prettier. I've heard that babies like the prettier parent." He smiled, then changed to his baby dragon form, little enough to snuggle with Niji, "Or maybe it's because I'm more relatable."

[Charlia]

"Ehlee me," she replied solemnly and nodded.

"Well," Amaterasu said, "I think we know which parent she's going to cling to. She never talks that much to me."

"Maybe that's because I'm prettier. I've heard that babies like the prettier parent." He smiled, then changed to his baby dragon form, little enough to snuggle with Niji, "Or maybe it's because I'm more relatable."

Niji poked him, and then Niji became a little baby dragon as well.

A little, shiny baby dragon the color of a golden coin, who looked at Ryujin with big, multichromatic eyes and then sneezed.

[Ranoria]

"Maybe that's because I'm prettier. I've heard that babies like the prettier parent." He smiled, then changed to his baby dragon form, little enough to snuggle with Niji, "Or maybe it's because I'm more relatable."

Niji poked him, and then Niji became a little baby dragon as well.

A little, shiny baby dragon the color of a golden coin, who looked at Ryujin with big, multichromatic eyes and then sneezed.

Ryujin blinked, his jaws parting just slightly.

That's adorable.

Ryujin hugged his daughter, who was about the same size as he was now, and laughed. "I didn't know you could turn into a dragon. You're just the cutest little thing I ever saw."

To Ryujin, while human babies were adorable, it was sort of like comparing, for a human, a human baby to a puppy to compare a hatchling to a human baby. While Niji was adorable either way, this was even better.

"How long's she been able to do that?" Ryujin tilted his head, looking up at Ama.