ZINNIA

[sixtrillionyears]

Zinnia is a feral, cursed child, cursed by the old gods for lacking a tribute she didn't know about. As a result, she is half-monster, bearing ears and tail and fur and claws. She is feral, raised by monsters in the wild, able to use their techniques to survive. The one person who showed her kindness, the one person who saw her as a human, is now the only one in the world who matters to her, and she will follow that girl to the ends of the earth.

Zinnia is:
- A half-monster. Her sclera are black, her eyes are red, her hair is black and turns red at the tips. She has animal ears, a tail, and when agitated, gains more monstrous traits, usually her right arm becoming a beast's, long and large enough to drag on the ground, with wicked, sharp claws. She can also shapeshift out other monstrous traits, but it is borderline-uncontrollable.
- Cursed by old gods. In addition to her monstrous appearance, she is also prone to berserker fits, and brings misfortune to those around her, as though her mere presence invites bad luck.
- Loyal. Her chief trait, her greatest strength, is her infallible, absolute loyalty to those who have given her kindness.
- Feral. She doesn't understand most human social structures. She's trying her best, but she still has a way of thinking close to monsters, that anything should be done to survive, and that hunting and killing are a necessary way to live. That said, she will also never allow killing or harming others that isn't done to survive.
- Human. No matter her body, her heart is human.

Zinnia is not:
- Cruel. She is feral, but not cruel. She accepts killing, even other humans, if it must be done to live. But killing without purpose is something she will not accept. She can be prickly, especially to people she doesn't know, but she will never hurt others willingly, though her berserker fits can sometimes cause problems.
- Stupid. She has trouble with understanding human norms, true, but she is still sharp. She learns quickly.
- A monster. Judge her at your own risk.

Prompts:
Assumed CR, AUs, setting transplants, suddenly you're in a jamjar, anything goes. You can make up your own! Otherwise...

You may run into her into a town, where a woman covered by a cloak is walking. And if you accidentally bump into her... Well, you can see her freaky eyes, big animal ears, and what is definitely blood around her mouth. Maybe you should do something?

Comments

[sixtrillionyears]

... It... would be bad, to waste Aster's resources...

[She growls to herself, thinking.]

Then, what should we do? Take what we need?

[magender]

Oh, like stealing?

[You know, this is now going in a direction they hadn't anticipated. And if Mage had any morals to speak of, they might be horrified at the suggestion. Or even just, if they had a proper sense of self preservation?

But they don't have either of those, so they just thoughtfully hum to themself for a moment.]

Well. We certainly could do that. I don't really object.

But if we got caught I don't think we could come to this town anymore.

[sixtrillionyears]

... Stealing?

[she seems... to not quite be aware of the concept...]

We would. Keep more. Gain more. But...

[magender]

...

[gods give them strength]

Stealing is when you take something that belongs to someone without their permission. It is generally frowned upon.

Mostly by the law.

[sixtrillionyears]

[... ?]

Stealing to survive is... normal. All life does it.

[magender]

Ah, but see... People like to pretend they're "better" than such things, even though they're actually much worse. They're great at pretending that way.

[sixtrillionyears]

[That gets... it's not quote a laugh. It's more like a bitter snort, or perhaps a huff.]

If I... took off my hood, we would see... just how 'better' they are.

[magender]

Hm, indeed.

[It doesn't get a smile out of Mage, but it does get a smirk and for them that's close enough.]

I'm not so averse to stealing myself, as a concept - I've done it plenty of times myself - but if anyone saw it would be this whole thing... Most likely, guards would get involved. That would be exhausting.

[sixtrillionyears]

[She growls. The idea of guards... Oh, she wants to do it. She wants to cause a scene. The cursed blood in her, the wild blood, demands a fight, demands revenge.

But...]

... Aster would not want that.

[magender]

No, she would not. So let's try to avoid disappointing the princess too terribly.

[sixtrillionyears]

We will... Buy. Normally.

[she growls at the idea, but...]

... Food. Spices. Cloth to mend. Repair your weapons.

[magender]

Mhm. And while we're doing all that, I'll stop by that place.

[Mage turns their head towards the shop that initially caught their eye, which first made them want to ditch in the first place. It's a bookstore.]

[sixtrillionyears]

... Nothing we need is there.

[JUDGING STARE...]

[magender]

Oh, can you see inside the whole building from here? That's amazing. I had no idea your eyes were that good.

[sixtrillionyears]

Not see. Smell.

... And see.

[magender]

Hm, I see.

So that's why you don't need me to warn you about that thing.

[They look over Zinnia's shoulder, at something behind her.]

[sixtrillionyears]

There is nothing.

[SHE'S WISE TO YOUR GAMES, MAGE

or rather, she just, knows there's nothing there that merits her concern]

[magender]

Ah, you're right. I guess it's nothing to worry about.

It is just the Princess, after all.

[sixtrillionyears]

[that's not possible

because if it was aster, that would mean claire is still up to tag, and if claire is awake at this time i feel like i would need to CHASE HER TO BED]

... I do not understand what game you play. But I would advise you to not.

[magender]

Hm. You're right. Games are awfully childish, aren't they? I should just clearly communicate what I want...

Is that right?

[sixtrillionyears]

That is right. Speak clearly.

[magender]

Alright.

I'd like you to look over there for a bit, if that's alright with you. Please?

[sixtrillionyears]

Very well.

[she's going to look over there...]

[magender]

[And when Zinnia turns back around...

No Mage.]

[sixtrillionyears]

[fortunately

she's just. gonna track mage down by smell.]