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Posted: Sat Jul 11, 2026 2:32 pm
Quote: The Lilypads (16) : You can find them in lakes, ponds, reservoirs, and waterways throughout Destiny City. Giant lilypads--some large enough to support the weight of a person--appear overnight. You can try, if you want. It's become a local trend, and pictures are all over social media--of people looking for the largest lilypads, or the smallest ones they can stand on. You'd think the unnatural bubbling around the lilypads would be enough of a sign not to mess with them, but sometimes people need to learn the hard way. Beneath the lilypads lurk strange frog-like creatures that regard nearly everything as prey. The largest of them are roughly the size and shape of a bean bag chair, but they can be as small as a fist. Their broad heads are crowned with lilypads that serve as natural camouflage, allowing them to hide among the floating vegetation until they strike. They move with startling speed and can launch themselves impressive distances with powerful kicks. Long, whip-like tongues lash out to snatch prey, while thick mucus-like saliva can cling to skin, clothing, and even immobilize unfortunate victims. Their skin carries a toxic coating that can cause irritation on contact. The creatures announce themselves with a deep croak that sounds uncannily like a large bell being rung just by your ears. Unfortunately, for anyone that was respecting nature, these strange creatures are aggressive and will also attack without provocation, often attempting to drive even innocent bystanders away from the water's edge. However, if sufficiently threatened, they may retreat into the water. Once submerged, they become impossible to track. Note: If you choose to encounter one of these frog-like creatures, your character will recognize they are not youma. It is impossible to tell if it is a single entity or if there are many. The creature does not seem to understand or care to listen to human words. All toxic and mucus can be washed away, but effects may persist for a few hours after this encounter. The creature cannot be killed and will always evade lethal blows. While it is rare to find multiple large creatures in the same vicinity, smaller creatures often cluster together, or may be found with a larger one. This RP can be used as a battle requirement as long as there are two powered characters involved; you must be interacting with another player’s powered character. This does not count as the one youma battle per stage for growth. This can only be used as a battle requirement once per character, but there is no limitation for how many times a player can use this prompt. There were more lilypads again, and Winters was watching them with half dread, and half longing. It had been fun to play on them. Balancing and running across them…but they weren’t. Friendly. Of course, these might be different! This pond might not be infested with those monster frogs…this could simply be fun lilypads to play on and things would be fine.
She didn’t have the guts to try though and lingered near the edge, staring almost longingly at the large green circles.
Were they circles? Not really circles, but circle enough things.
The sickening feeling of what she now knew was Chaos filled her senses and Winters stiffened. It wasn’t someone stronger than she was. They were on even footing so that hopefully meant she wouldn't have to panic…and that meant there would hopefully be no dead people tonight.
…But even if there were, she had to suck it up and deal with it. She belonged out here. No matter what her cousins said.
Crossing her arms over her chest she turned in the direction of the aura. “You can come out. I’m not that scary.”
If the worst came to the worst…hopefully whoever this was didn’t know about the frogs.
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Posted: Sat Jul 11, 2026 2:45 pm
"I'm afraid I'm not that scary either." Came the reply. "Not for lack of... well, no, that's a lie. Pretty much no trying on my part. Unless you're particularly afraid that someone's gonna remark that you look like a Target Tree Skirt." They sauntered out, thumbs tucked into their belt, and glanced around. "JE-bus. I heard about the lily pads, but I hadn't gone to see any yet. If I gave you a little shove, do you think you'd sink? That's what we're supposed to do, right? Fight, and all cause you're some kinda intergalactic force of evil?" They waved a hand indicating her costume up and down. "...are you like, more dangerous around Solstice or what?"
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Posted: Sat Jul 11, 2026 3:21 pm
“Nah they totally hold you weight. I’d be happy to spot you if you wanted to go and jump on them. It’s pretty fun. They’re easy to balance on too which both surprised and upset me.”
Winters shrugged, eyes narrowing as she took in the look of the other. Their hair was…nice. A pretty color but…messy…
And like.
“....You know you have stuff on your face, right? Did you forget to wash up after hanging with little kids or something?”
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Posted: Sat Jul 11, 2026 3:27 pm
"Oh yeah, I heard your side likes recruiting little kids, so I thought maybe I could impress someone with my finger-painting skills. Pretty sick, right?" They grinned. They glanced at the lily pads and then back, arching an eyebrow. "What... is there some kinda creepy Senshi of Lilypads chilling under one waiting?" They edged slightly closer to the water and stuck a boot toe in before drawing back. "Yeahhhh.... I trust you about as far as I can throw you. I bet you attack with like, Christmas ornaments or something and I'd have a hard time balancing on the dang things."
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Posted: Sat Jul 11, 2026 3:44 pm
Winters rolled her eyes so hard it nearly hurt and she scoffed. “I’m fifteen. I’m practically an adult, thank you very much. No, I don’t think there’s any Senshi of Lilypads. There’s no other feelings out here besides you. And also no. I’m the Senshi of Tradition. And I am more than happy to show you just what my magic can do if you’re asking for it.”
She tossed back her hair, looking proud. Well, trying to look proud.
“I made one person cry with it so it’s obviously fantastic.”
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Posted: Sat Jul 11, 2026 3:53 pm
"That is... like, the shittiest endorsement of magic I think I've ever heard. It's like you went to a magic show and they just kinda slapped you around and maybe yelled that song from Fiddler on the Roof while you were at it." They reached up and scratched the side of their head in some confusion. "Besides, that's a...like, really specific view on tradition. Super specific to be looking like the Michaels holiday aisle, so weird. What if I don't celebrate Christmas? What if I was like... Buddhist or something? Does your outfit ever change or what?" Just to be on the safe side, they summoned their.... melted ice pop, Oh yes, super intimidating, they sighed and waved it, crinking and, not even remotely threatening as it sagged side to side. "Throw freaky 'ELF' magic at me, and I will figure out how to slap someone with this thing."
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Posted: Sat Jul 11, 2026 4:55 pm
“What’s Fiddler on the Roof?”
It wasn’t something she had heard of before and it sounded…kind of dumb and dangerous.
Why would someone want to fiddle on a roof? Was that some kind of sexual thing? Ew.
“Also I don’t care if you don’t celebrate Christmas, I didn’t ask for my outfit to look like this, but I look good in it so I’m not mad. A bit out of season, but that’s fine…what…”
Her eyes landed on the ice pop in their hand and she blinked rapidly for a few moments before bursting into giggles. “What’s that for? You’re more in season but, why do you have that? At least it’s blue.”
It matched her hair, and it was a lovely color.
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Posted: Sat Jul 11, 2026 5:02 pm
"Yeah yeah, yuck it up, that's my weapon. Thank you so much! I haven't earned a good one yet." They folded their arms and looked a bit insulted, ok a lot insulted. It wasn't like they -chose- to be armed with something so silly. "You just wait, I'll punch people if I have to, but I'm not gonna be stuck with this thing forever. I bet your magic isn't all that either[." They huffed and glanced away, folding their arms and tapping their foot impatiently with a small crinkle from the ice pop. "I can't believe you don't know Fiddler on the Roof either! It's a musical! It's like... a reference to being in a precarious position and trying to make the best of it."
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Posted: Sat Jul 11, 2026 5:34 pm
“Uh, yeah it sounds dumb. I bet you will be stuck with that forever. Same with your face scribbles.”
Winters looked thoughtful and then rather smug. “It’s not elf magic, you know. It’s just…well….”
The smile was bright suddenly. ”It’s Tradition.”
It was so good that her magic was done with words that were so simple to slip into conversation. She was awesome.TemporaryEnde It's Tradition! Winters blows outwards and a flurry of what looks like silver sparkles heads towards an opponent. At their feet, a small one foot in diameter patch of 'ice' appears. In the ice, visible only to the one who is affected by the magic will play memories of some sort of past tradition, good or bad. The memory will last for twenty seconds, and during which, the affected may feel some tingling in their extremities, as though they had been watching for a long time, longing for the memories, and their limbs have fallen asleep. Her magic can go no further than 10 feet and can be used twice.
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Posted: Sat Jul 11, 2026 5:45 pm
"Yeah no, not gonna be stuck with this forever; maybe you'll be stuck in that dumb....What the..." They raised their hands to defend themselves from the sudden onset of glitter. "What the craft section Bull sh....iii....." Their voice trailed off as they stood for a moment, slack-jawed and experiencing a memory of a past family tradition, perched on ice that only they could see. "Wha...." They finally managed, as the memory faded, leaving their extremities tingling and strange. "Now CUT THAT OUT!" they demanded, trying to shake off the recollection. "You can't just make people remember dead people like it's real again!!" They stomped forward and moved to bop her repeatedly on the head with the soggy ice pop. "You should be doing homework or something! You're ... what'd you say? 15? You can't even drink yet!"
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Posted: Sat Jul 11, 2026 5:55 pm
“It’s summer you dumbass! Who has homework over the summer?”
University students who were in summer classes…and stupid people who were in summer school…maybe some homeschooled kids too…but that wasn’t important.
Clearly her magic had done something, and she was delighted by that fact…far less delighted that she was now being smacked on the head by an unfrozen ice pop and she swatted at it before dashing away. “You’re just jealous you’re not as cool as I am, and never will be. So eat my dust, freak of nature.”
Oh…oh but a better idea would have been to push the loser in to the pond…but she wasn’t that smart, or that quick in her mind…next time. If she found the lilypads next time she would absolutely shove everyone into the pond that annoyed her.
”You go do homework, and pick on someone your own age next time. Later loser!”
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Posted: Sat Jul 11, 2026 5:59 pm
"W...Well, GO FIND SOME!" They shot back. "Clearly you need some extra schooling cause you're a fine one to complain! You're the one who started it!! Freaky icy, glitter herpies! Next time I'm stuffing an ice pop up your... your NOSE!!" They shook their fist and huffed; clearly they had won since the other was retreating, but lord only knew if they'd run into her again.
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