Deli

Well, this was a little awkward! Deli always liked to think of themselves as a punctual creature, but they had done a really great job of arriving late to probably the most important thing they'd ever do. There wasn't much of an opportunity to show off art or anything, but they were definitely looking forward to putting some color commentary on the weirdos that were just throwing magic and running around and hitting each other for some reason.

As they jumped to get a good spot, they just managed to see the first performance. They cleared their throat, wishing very much they had a better way to project their voice, before yelling loud enough to be heard. "Well, would you look at that, folks! The black cat's got some fire up his pelt! It smells like burnt toast in here, anyone else pinching their nose?" They cackled loudly, tail wagging happily behind them. "But now look at him go! Looks like he's setting his eyes on fire! Or no, wait, some kind of glowing spell? Damn, that really looks scary! Wooooo, wouldn't wanna meet someone like that in a dark tunnel, eh?"

Eyes widened at the sudden combusting and they yelped. "Well, now they've gone and SET THEMSELVES ON FIRE?! That's some crazy shit! And we start our first show off with a literal bang! Have fun trying to top literal spontaneous combustion!" They cackled again and waved at Sebastian as he stepped off stage. "Give it up for Sebastian the Black-Hot Wonder! Hm, that doesn't sound that great, white-hot wonder would have been better. Oh well, there he goes! And now, we have..." Oh, he went ahead and shut up as the gembound introduced herself, just standing there and waiting a moment, annoyed to be taken this chance to introduce her. But, whatever. Petty things.

"And, our friend Azure offers an odd choice of display, by apparently making a flower never wilt and then telling us what she wants to do instead of showing it! Huh, very strange tactics, folks, but I guess that's it for her round! Give it up for Azure!" And, with no less enthusiasm, and the same cackling laugh, Deli clapped wildly for the hybrid as she walked out of the stage.

"Alright, and next up, we have...Tahi-Shei! Hopefully they give us another stunning show, but I don't know, watchers, the bar's been set pretty high!"

---

The pressure was on. While Tahi-shei didn't want to adumbrate the previous competitor -- Azure, apparently, who was a pretty creature but apparently either having very bad luck or very little skill -- but the bar was... pretty low. Well, at least when you didn't take into consideration the light show that had been the fire display. Still, Tahi was glad that he was towards the beginning. He had a chance to make an impression on the judges -- one of whom was Pride, and he offered a shy smile towards the larger deer -- before they started to get bored. Most creatures recalled the beginning of something and the end of something the best, but less often the middle parts.

"For my first trick," he murmured, thinking back on the tactics he'd shown Madhukar and the ones she'd shown him, he scraped his front left hoof across the ground in as graceful a way he could manage and did his best not to think about the actual cast too hard, instead focusing on what, exactly, he wanted it to do. That was; draw one of the judges (in this case, Pride, because Tahi had practiced by drawing pictures of himself) with his Fungal Wake spell.

He was going to make an image of Pride out of glowing, pale blue mushrooms. He was going to make an image of Pride out of any mushrooms, really...

Tahi swore under his breath. "Well, that was supposed to be a picture of one of the judges," he admitted. "Would've been cooler if I'd been able to pull it off."

Tahi shook himself out and took a deep breath. It wasn't a big deal, really. Everyone made mistakes sometimes, and especially with being so new to magic, it was no wonder that he'd make them, too. He tried out a big, goofy grin and then decided, what the hell -- he might as well try the same thing again. Nobody would have any way of knowing what he'd tried to do the first time, and he didn't figure making a big field of mushrooms or one big one or even a pink one would be very impressive.

Pride. Deer-shape. Mushrooms. Go! he thought, the voice sounding a little bit like Madhukar's as he flicked his ear and focused intensely. This was a spell -- or, at least, a use of it -- he figured he needed some level of concentration on so it didn't just go totally wild. He did a spiral motion this time, to make it look like he was trying something different, and then...

Nothing. Two measly little sprouts that weren't even the right color. Tahi deflated a little bit. Maybe the first competitor had psyched him out...? Or maybe, Madukar really was totally right, and he just needed to get over himself and cast. Get angry. Lose it a little bit!

Tahi stopped his hooves and flailed his spikes, which just barely passed for antlers, around like he was having a temper tantrum. It wasn't very graceful, but he was genuinely frustrated and angry. And maybe, just maybe, a little bit... embarrassed. He'd wanted to impress the judges here, especially Pride, and now nothing was going his way, just like that Azure. It sucked that magic was so... temperamental! He felt like crying and screaming all at the same time, and he channeled that energy, trying to make it into something physical. His badass frills seemed to only manifest when he was losing it a little bit, so maybe this would finally work for him.

Just in the nick of time, some admittedly meager black frills sprouted from around his throat. A natural defense mechanism, certainly, but they were beautiful in their own way and made him look awfully fancy, even if the spell was a little bit... exhausting. He puffed up a bit, proud that he'd managed at least one spell, even if his fancy mushroom pictures hadn't worked. Tahi breathed deeply and sighed, relieved. At least he hadn't made a total fool of himself, even if he'd been hoping that this would go much, much better.

He'd have to revisit this theory of Madhukar's. Evidence thus far was anecdotal, but... well, it seemed to suggest that balance was the key.



@temperantia

oh, that first demo — wow. damask stirred in her seat as the black cat burst into flame, eyes alight. effort showed in the tightness of his jaw, the rasp in his voice; he'd worked for this, hurt for this. she nodded along with pride's approval, then shifted her attention to the next magician.

a unique sort of soul, mismatched, soft-spoken. nerves so high, they were almost electric. damask's ears flickered back and forth to catch the words, jawline cocking minutely to the side. azure's magic faltered, failed, failed once again — but her wavering explanations were enough for damask to at least imagine it: an everlasting flower, a miniature chrysalis, a softly glowing light. out came a pouch of jewelry, and the picture came to life. she leaned in, tuning out the raucous commentary. that's artwork. artistry. secondhand emotion tugged ever-so-slightly at her features. maybe she'd made the smarter decision, but azure had made the braver one. damask raised her voice, began to speak ... aah, too quiet — ! a clear of her throat; another go. "they're beautiful," she called down, even as the competitor turned and hurried away. "thank you." not a winning performance, no denying that much — but ... she felt for her.

and then, a younger contestant, gifted with an element she recognized. it didn't work out well for him. looks like he's got the other kind of confidence issue. somehow, this one did not invoke the same kind of sympathy. she remained silent, glancing sidelong at the other judges. next.

Deli

Deli watched quietly as the next contestent took the stage, already starting to get bored as yet another one just went and failed all their spells. Well, that was anticlimactic! "Uh, ALRIGHT! So, our competitor decides to do the same thing as the last one and just tell us what they wanted to do! And they...made mushrooms grow on them! Fantastic, what a wonderful display of incredible magic!" They clapped loudly and cackled again, waving the deer off the stag.

"Next up is, uh..." they narrowed their eyes as the next one came up. "It's! Temperantia! Alright, wheel with wings, lets see what it can do!"

---

Alpha is spectating!
The Overseer shuffled in a few participants late, having had to shove itself through the narrow opening of Orion and trudge to Polaris. Its flanks and nostrils heaved with exertion, and a faint metallic tang clung to its chest, but don't fool yourself into thinking Alpha would show that off. Each lumbering step was steady, and it barely grunted with the effort of sitting down to observe the proceedings, just as the little Lesser-looking deer trotted out of view. At least he was a little more confident, now.

Toxic eyes registered the many-eyed wheel drifting forwards to take its place (maybe it faintly recognized them from Cetus) and canted sidelong. Flashes of white and monochrome. Two that saw through it. One that betrayed it. One that understood it. Alpha straightened as subtly as it could - not at all - and tilted its head slightly. Not particularly hiding the dullness of its eyes, the particular unkempt raggedness of its quills, the barely-scabbed over green fluorescence marring its face; no... just...

Just keeping it out of view. Keeping questions away.

Alpha kept its eyes on the competition. It was here to find strong magic-users, that's all. Even if it was immediately at the end of its rope hearing Deli's grating, awful voice. Who let that thing talk?

Temperantia floated out, in front of the judges. A pile of dirt laid in their innermost wings. They flapped slowly, drifting to keep from jostling the pile. "Hello," they began simply. Temperantia did not feel fear. But they felt awkward. Very awkward. How were they supposed to begin this?
"We will present to you today." Temperantia said, rather robotically. Though that wasn't too different from their normal voice. Stray eyes watched the judges and crowd. They didnt recognize many. They felt a jumble of emotions, too entangled to recognize, when they recognized Aure. The one that had cleansed them. Maybe it would've been better for Temperantia to stay underneath Mother.

They were taking too long, they realized. They looked frozen. Afraid. Though Pride was here, and watching. Temperantia turned worried eyes on them. The thought they might judge them on their performance here was frightening. Right, they needed to begin. Eyes flicked to the pile of dirt held between wings, some closing to aid in concentration, and their bright orange gemstone began to glow. And fizzled out. Into nothing. Despite themselves, Temperantia's heart jumped. Why wasn't it working!?

"A mistake," they said, breathlessly.

"When I speak."

When I think.

Temperantia could do this. They dropped the pile of dirt on the stage. It looked awkward, pointless now. Fear crept up. They disappointed Mother. Had shown they could not protect her. They did not want to disappoint Pride. "We will try anew."

With a trio of wing flaps, Temperantia flew. They flew, wings flapping until the gembound below were small. They pulled on their magicka. Begging it not to fail again. With an intake of breath, spiracles wheezing, they dropped. The shield formed around them, gleaming purple. As they landed, the shield sparked. A bright flash on impact, and they bounced. Sent flying into the air once more. Wings fanned out, stopping their ascension, and slowing their descent. They landed gently. Impressive, they hoped. Not blinding.


"When I speak."

When I think.

They had done it. Something to impress Pride. The fear fluttered down. They felt...pride in themselves. Temperantia had done well. One spell well, atleast. Wings closed in slightly, before they remembered their turn had yet to end. They blinked, looking down. The pile of dirt was still there. Perhaphs they could try again. The lowermost pair of wings gently scooped up the pile, folding it together until it was packed between wrists. With confidence renewed, they felt the surge of magicka flow through them.

It flooded into the pile of dirt. Joy reverberated through them. They focused on the color they wanted. A bright, glittery gold. And then the dirt, slowly, shifted colors. Glowing within their pale wings. Temperantia launched the now baubled dirt into the air, and it glimmered as it fell, a bright, sparkling rain. They flapped their wings, floating beneath it, keeping bits of it hovering for as long as they could. Finally, the last of it fell. They closed their eyes, and their body dipped in the closest it could get to a nod.

"We wish for the next contestant's sucess."

Temperantia floated off. When it found a nice view of the next performance it settled, eyes focused and bobbing gently.


"When I speak."

When I think.

@Svartis