RP:Flower Crowns
Summary: Loravelle and Leoxander, Lita and Xiembantointh crafting flower crowns at the close-out of the solstice festival in Enchantment.
Xiembantointh drops his arm from around Lita to hold her hand within his so they may follow Lora. He nods with a smile down at Lita, "I think Ty would love that," even though the flowers would surely welt long before they reached the continent he's not, but he didn't have the heart to add that part. Once they sit down, he suggests, "I'll make you one and you can make me one." Then he studies her face for a moment (as if he hasn't done that enough already). He starts to pick out the orange shades of flowers that will complement a sunflower nicely because it will go best with her dark eyes in his opinion. Then he glances over to the couple with them, "have you had them over to see the new deck and fire ring yet?" It seems she is close with them, so why wouldn't she.
Lanara pauses as Leo takes a step close to her on her way out and she catches his gaze. Did he come to apologize? She can’t imagine him on a pony. Should she be civil or scowl? Unsure how to react, she simply stares and forces her lips to curve into a friendly smile.
Loravelle gets to work on her own flower crown first since it looks like Leo is going to chat with Lanara. She quietly hopes that their conversation is a positive one, given the other day... She looks the witch's way and gives an apologetic smile, but quickly refocuses on constructing a crown. "You have a fire ring and a new deck?" She asks Lita, after hearing Xiem's question. She wants to walk the words back quickly afterward for eavesdropping. "I bet it looks great!" Maybe whenever she and Leo had their home built, they'd have a fire ring at least...
Leo was sorely tempted to trip Xiem up for just a moment of wishful thinking when he sparked that idea, because now he could bet that Lora was expecting him to participate and make her one. But it was his comment once he settled that drew a look over Leo’s shoulder in the contractor’s direction - he was sure the man was unaware of the rogue’s history with that building, but it had definitely been overdue for repairs. Looking back to Lanara as she seemed prepared to leave, he wasn’t quite sure how to go about the conversation. ‘I’m sorry’ would have been nice, sure, but that would be in direct violation of one of his seven commandments. “Don’t take what I said personal, a’right? I get what you were feelin’. Tiber’s just got a natural talent fer pissin’ me off.” Chalked right up there with his knack for strumming an instrument. He didn’t bother keeping his voice too quiet - the other lycan would probably hear him, one way or another, if he was present. Hopefully he didn’t just flip a card and offend her husband with his attempt to level.
Lita isn't really the host-get-togethers type. If people showed up at the beach house it was usually because someone was bleeding, recuperating, drunk, or Leo. She side-eyes the pirate at this thought as she's weaving together a flower crown for Xiem with every shade of pink she can find. "No?..." she draws the word out a bit. Was she supposed to invite people over for that sort of thing? Leo would probably just complain about 'he would have done it' instead. Or maybe she should give him more credit. She takes another pull on that cigarette before handing the last bit for Xiem if he'd want it. She nods finally at Lora. "Xiem built them as a thank you for his tattoo." She offers. "You'll have to come out and see them. We'll fly kites again!"
Loravelle has to give Lita something as a thank-you for her tattoo, now that she thinks about it. She can't build parts of a home but she can put together some crafty looking home décor, given her sun catcher still hanging up nearby. Maybe Lita might like a sun catcher shaped like a wreath of flowers for her home? “Do you like that sun catcher over there?” She points out hers, uncertain if Lita knew she made it or not. “I want you to have it if you want! And I'd love to fly kites again!” Her eyes bounce between Xiem and Lita, uncertain if her next suggestion might be too presumptuous. She's only just met the guy and didn't want to be nosy about Lita's personal life, so instead of suggesting some sort of double date thing between them, Leo, and herself, she tries something else. “Maybe we could all...hang out together? And cook food? S-since it's a fire ring...” Gosh she felt so silly.
Lanara tucks an unruly strand back into her braided bun and listens to Leo’s attempted apology. He’s not the type to say he’s ‘sorry’ so she doesn’t expect any sort of flattery or groveling to occur. She definitely doesn’t see him blaming her husband for his comment coming, and she scoffs, at first. Lana is known for holding grudges, but she considers Leo to be an ally and his sentiment amuses her because it’s so unpredictable. Plus, she has a bit of a temper, just like the pirate! “We’re cool, Leo. I was irked at the moment because you -know- my fear of snakes, but it’s not a big deal. Besides… You -and- Tiber have talents for ticking me off.” She turns his statement around and gives him one of her signature grins. “Go have fun with Lora and the others! We’ll touch base soon, I’m sure.”
Xiembantointh shrugs with an apologetic grin at her hesitant 'no'. Then he continues weaving the stems together or easing the ends through the holes so nothing would stick out and jab Lita in the head while she wears it. He seems adept with his fingers which is odd for a construction type guy who works with larger tools, but the work he does at creating a beautiful, yet sturdy flower crown so a woman he is starting to have strong feelings for can wear it. The sunflower is the star in the middle, but shades of orange and darker yellows frame it beautifully in a descending fashion on both sides. Out of curiosity he glances to see what Lora's and Leo's crowns look like before finally landing on what Lita was working on. He grins, remembering it matches the tattoo she did for him - it was perfect already. Lora's suggestion is met with an excited expression from Xiem, "that sounds wonderful Lora. I could make some chick, steak and veggie kabobs. Maybe I'll whip together a fruit salad for dessert," knowing Lita can only taste the sweeter treats.
Leo almost forfeit a smirk toward the end of her response but it was covered by the headwrap turned mask. Maybe a hint of a wink with his words “Yeah, but we’re pretty damn good at sneakin’ out of the doghouse an’ back into bed.” Her name and the dismissal to rejoin the group of three brought a glance toward Lora back to Lanara with a nod. “See ya later.” Hands in jean pockets, he backstepped a couple paces before he turned and made his way to the rainbow sea of flowers, picking up one of the lilies along the way to actually smell it. Flask removed from the back of his waistline, he took a seat on the other side of Loravelle and twirled the bell shaped blossom, watching the trio work on their crowns with another sniff against his sinuses.
Lita would have assured Lora that she didn't have to get or give her anything for the tattoo. But she's not a mind reader. She glances at the suncatcher in question and while it hadn't been the one she'd voted for earlier, she nods. All of the suncatchers were creative, after all. "You don't have to give it to me." She's saying, even knowing how insistent the girl can be. "But thank you. It'll look really cute by the back door, near the hammock. Does it ward away evil spirits? Maybe Leo will stop trying to steal my hammock." She teases. She glances towards Leo and Lanara, making a mental note to ask the pirate about what he'd done this time. She glances back at the pair to find Lora and Xiem making dinner plans. This was fine. This was nice. "If Xiem's willing to cook." She agrees as he chimes in his agreement. She was fairly useless in a kitchen and that was fine with her.
Xiembantointh whispered something to Lita.
Lita practically chokes on air, coughing a bit to clear her throat as she picks up a daisy and chucks it at Xiem.
Xiembantointh grins while pulling away from Lita’s ear to inspect the flower crown he’s made since it’s done. “Here we are,” he adorns the crown on Lita, it fits perfectly and he grins victoriously. “It looks adorable on you,” he mumbles so hopefully only Lita hears.
Loravelle is almost done with her flower crown. She's chosen hydrangeas primarily for some very impractical headpiece, but instead of cramming it on her head once she's done, she tries to very carefully slip it over her wide-brimmed hat over its band of fake flowers. It may look a bit silly, but any way to sneak some more flowers home. “I bet if I sprinkled some pixie dust on it he'll stay away from your hammock,” Lora jokes. Since Leo returned, she figures she might as well start making a crown for the pirate. “Pick a colo-” At the sound of Lita choking, she looks over with alarm. “A-are you okay?”
Lita makes a thumbs-up gesture at Lora's question, waving her hand as she mumbles something about something she drank going down the wrong way. That's plausible maybe. She pauses, finishing up the crown of lilies and pink roses when Xiem sets his atop her head. "I'm as pretty as Leo now." She says proudly, lifting her more simple creation for him to wear. It stands out against his hair and eyes at least.
Xiembantointh skips over the choking and answers Lora, "she's fine." He starts working on a crown for one of his grandchildren. Xiembantointh glances to Leo - was he threatened by that comment Lita made? Not in the least as he says in a defeated manner, "no one is as pretty as Leo, unfortunately." It was a lighthearted joke that hopefully earns maybe a little teeny tiny grin from the grumpasaurous of a pirate? Then he bends a little so Lita can place the crown she made and he wears it proudly, "I'm pretty."
Leo was fairly quiet while they discussed such pleasantries as kite flying and cookouts. There was that sinister voice in his head again, taunting him about being domesticated. Captain of the flower crowns. But all in all, he couldn’t deny that the moment was fairly peaceful if not for the itchy sensation that was starting to irritate his exposed arms and eyes. “Yer hammock, huh?” The feud was ongoing. Letting his gaze linger on Lita for a moment to indeed make sure the vampire wasn’t about to suffer undeath by oxygen, he glanced back toward the various bouquets and played along, setting the purple flower down to pick out a bloomed fire lily, handing it Loravelle’s way.
Leoxander gave Xiem a look but it wasn’t the usual murderous, sun-in-the-eyes glare. Instead he said to Lita, “Sorry to break yer heart, babe, but the man’s got a point.” His flask opened and raised in a cheers to the dragon before he took a long drink. He rested his arms on the table, folded over one another. "You know me. Fans everywhere..." He idly spun the flask on its back, glancing around the emptying grounds, watching the array of sun catchers spin in the faint breeze, throwing specks and spots of light in the shade below. “She wasn’ too comfortable watching the naga Queen in the pit the other day. An’ I guess I managed to say somethin’ to piss her off. Can you believe it?” A sidelong look back in Lita’s direction through the hair in his eyes. “Then again that bloke she’s with gets a burr up his arse every time I even look ‘n her direction.”
Lita said to Xiembantointh, "Don't encourage him." As she sets about making a blue and pink flower crown for one of Xiem's grandkids. She's no idea what they like, only that they sound cute. From afar.
Loravelle settles down with Lita's thumbs up and Xiem's confirmation that she's okay. Thankfully she has the distraction of flowers to keep her from curiously prodding and making extra sure Lita wasn't in any danger. With Leo handing over a fire lily, she grins, and gets to work assembling a crown for him made primarily of that flower, with random red and yellow blooms mixed in. She looks up at Leo from time to time, only to pause just before completion to dig in her bag for more of that allergy potion. She slides a bottle over to him just in case he might need it.
Leo rested his arms on the table, folded over one another. "You know me. Fans everywhere..." He idly spun the flask on its back, glancing around the emptying grounds, watching the array of sun catchers spin in the faint breeze, throwing specks and spots of light in the shade below. “She wasn’ too comfortable watching the naga Queen in the pit the other day. An’ I guess I managed to say somethin’ to piss her off. Can you believe it?” A sidelong look back in Lita’s direction through the hair in his eyes. “Then again that bloke she’s with gets a burr up his arse every time I even look ‘n her direction.”
He settled his gaze on Loravelle’s hands to watch her weave those plants together while he picked up the small vial of bluish purple liquid and unstopped the cork, drawing the scarf down in order to knock back the potion like a shot of liquor. Only a slight face made for the bitter, earthy taste. “I’m surprised he doesn’t lift a leg on her any time I’m a stone throw away.”
Xiembantointh nods back to Leo and then simply grins to Lita at her demand. "You're not my boss," he winks playfully, then puts out the cigarette he'd finished off in the grass under his work boot to move onto making his son a flower crown made with every single color. He catches some of what Leo is saying about another couple, but keeps his mouth shut even though it does sound like a lot. "Whoa that one looks cool," he mentions to Lora as she is making a crown for Leo.
Lita snorts a laugh at Leo's comment. "You know, a couple's proclivities are really none of your business." She shouldn't be encouraging this, probably.
Xiembantointh said to Leoxander, "I've known a lot of women in my hundreds of years. Some women like that," he shrugs. "I don't get it either." Xiembantointh concludes, "so, in that case, I wouldn't take it personally if I were you."
Lita glances sideways at Xiem, wrinkling her nose. Gross.
Xiembantointh feels the need to clarify with the clearing of his throat, "not the lifting leg part. The over protective and jealous mate stuff."
Loravelle knows that Leo's just joking, but she can't help but wonder if that's a thing lycans do sometimes. “You better not lift your leg up on me.” With Leo's crown done, she proudly holds it up. “Thanks,” she says to Xiem. “Only the coolest for him...” And then she hands it over to the rogue, her typically timid expression shifting to something that seems like some nonverbal dare to actually put it on.
Leo mimicked the shrug back to Xiembantointh. “We’ve hit some storms and waves over the years. I guess she’s got more ‘n enough reason to be angry, but she gives me some slack for the most part. Loravelle’s comment causes a chuff of a short laugh in his chest, mostly because there’s a very real possibility she took his joke as serious. Ceasing his fidget spinning of the flask, the vicious pirate complied to lean in and bows his head enough for Lora to crown him King of the fire lilies. There wasn’t much left of the crowd to witness the moment, but clearly the rogue's affection for the petite bard outweighed his ego. At least in that moment.
Loravelle does in fact crown Leo King of the fire lilies and tries her best not to look a little worried about that laugh. Did that mean he was serious, or was it a joke that he'd turn into a real thing now? “You better not do it,” Lora warns, as if he might actually get up and do something that ridiculous right now.
Leoxander murmured a reply with a slight shake of his head, now sporting the fire lily flower crown. “I’ll do m’ best to refrain, Dove.”
Leo didn't seem too shocked with a piece of Xiem's age revealed. Even through the thick floral perfume in the air and a mask drawn back over his nose, he was privy to the dragon's distinct scent.
Xiembantointh said to Loravelle, "But, Lora, if he doesn't then all the guys wouldn't be able to resist your charms," then he looks to Leo in hopes the rogue will continue his joke. "Right?" Unfortunately, Xiem can't help the jovial grin that cracks over his whole face as a short chuckle comes from him, "sorry."
Lita pouts a little at seeing Leo in his flower crown and then glances at Xiem. "You're right, nobody's prettier than Leo."
Xiembantointh nods in solemn agreement with Lita, "when I am right, I'm right." Then he drapes his arm over her shoulders with a wink as if to secretly tell her through telepathy that she is, in fact, the prettiest.
Lita leans sideways a bit into Xiem and hands him the second flower crown she's made. "I don't know what Ty's littles like, I guess." She says a bit apologetically. "Maybe we should just send toys or something instead."
Loravelle is bouncing between wanting to giggle at the ridiculousness of this scenario and worrying about how little she knows about lycans. She almost chokes similarly to Lita at the notion of having charms. “M-me?!” Well, all that confidence from earlier answering questions and riding on a pony is gone. She tries to shove the attention off of herself and onto Leo, then. “He's the pretty and charming one.” It's the hair, obviously. And that crown. ...And the comments about lifting legs.... And she's back to worrying again.
Xiembantointh also better put some distance between himself and the pirate if he's going to keep sniffing him so romantically because Xiem likes Lita, but he could be convinced. (ooc :P)
Leoxander said to Xiembantointh, "I mean... she doesn't much favor wearin' a ring, so what's a man gonna do?"
Xiembantointh watches as Lora seemingly shrinks into herself and he smiles kindly to her, his azure gaze twinkles with warmth as he offers to the way she compares herself to her mate, "it's a give and take, Lora." They seem cute together and good for each other where the other lacks. Then he looks at Leo, "oh? You've offered her a ring then? You two are engaged?" It seems like an odd question to ask a couple he's just met, but he mentioned a ring.
Xiembantointh grins down to Lita, "that sounds like a wonderful idea." Then he gives a peck to her forehead like she is the most precious thing.
Leo drew down the scarf from its fit over the lower half of his face again, the burn on his jaw cleared up but his scruff a bit uneven where it had been. “Quit. Makin’ me blush…” Said in a flat monotone before he helped himself to another drink from the emergency flask. He nudged his lover with a shoulder lightly as he swallowed. “Not bad with the smarts out there. Guess all that readin’ pays off, huh?”
Lita stands from the flower table, lifting a hand to the back of Xiem's neck and scratching idly into his hair. "On that note," she teases Leo about that ring comment. "Buy her a pony." She says with a grin as she leans in to press a kiss against the pirate's cheek. She'll give Lora a hug too before she's taking Xiem's hand and likely dragging him off to look at other festival things.
Xiembantointh waves to the happy couple, "it was a pleasure meeting you both. Have a wonderful night!" His infectious grin spreads across his face as he's letting Lita pull him away.
Leo wasn’t oblivious to the other pair and picked up on their body language and the quiet conversation of sending presents to children. Not the best at small talk, he would have addressed Xiem more with the intention of information. Who was on the island, where and when, and for how long. But before he could get the question out, Lita was quick on the trigger about the pony purchase and leaving him to man the trenches left behind. “Yeah. See you two.”
Loravelle didn't have rings on any of her fingers, even if she did have a fondness for jewelry. She never expected one for their engagement and instead found herself smiling fondly at the little black dot inked in her thumb knuckle, but her gaze lifts at Lita's words. Buy her a pony. “...I wouldn't mind one. One day.” The flower crown on Leo's head was enough for now. She could badger him about a horse later. With practically everyone clearing out for the evening, Lora does the most roguish thing she's ever done and just starts scooping up the remaining flowers left behind for the event to take them home. They might not last for long on the ship, but they're pretty. ...And she might be able to press them into some books instead of reading them. “Let's get you home, Your Highness,” she says to Leo, teasing about his flower crown.
Leo closed the flask, gaze moving from where the couple disappeared back to Lora as he secured the lid on the container nearly drained of whiskey. A slight face made as she began gathering up flowers into a giant bouquet, but the allure of leaving enchantment was too great to deflect by questioning her intentions with that. Picking up the single purple calla lily he’d taken from the pile, anything else she had to carry would be collected by the rogue. If his arms were free, he’d even take some of those colors from her so she wasn’t entirely blind to the path. “Anywhere but here…” Even with that medicine, his eyes were getting more red and bloodshot by the moment.
Loravelle fully intended on taking all of them back to the ship. Her botany tome was there, and was large enough to press a decent amount of these flowers. "Your island?" Lora suggests. This is a lot of flowers that she's cradling in her arms. Maybe Simon liked flowers. "We could stop by Simon's on the way back to the ship..." She's eager to hurry out so Leo doesn't have to endure any more dust. "Let's go."