[sfw] ❀ Wings Room ❀

[awuka]

[The new witch's house they found had been a huge success! Alluka got a good night's rest that night, exhausted from casting her first spell. She hoped it would get easier with time, feeling particularly optimistic as she tucked into bed.

The next day, Alluka has another menu item on her plate. Beaming with the eyes of an explorer, she keeps bugging Killua over breakfast to take her to that weird, feathery door that resembled an angel's wing. He convinces her to wait until breakfast is over, but assures her they can go. Before they leave, she dips into her walk-in closet and comes out clad in an ethereal green fairy tutu dress with pink accents and small rosettes. The front of the skirt is adorned with flowery vines. Today, she feels more connected to fae than usual, so the choice comes naturally to her. She grabs her cat bag with two potions and snacks for later and slings it over her shoulder before they head out.

Killua insists on opening the door first, of course. Alluka holds her breath, her hand squeezing Killua's to keep him from getting sucked in. The other side is a beautiful pasture with distant hills and mountains lining the backdrop. Just barely visible are huge trees on either side of the meadow that pierce the sky.]

Ooooh, I wonder what this leads to?

Comments

[awuka]

["I'll be right behind you."

There's a reassuring glint in his eyes that puncture straight through to her heart, and, with all her faith placed in his ability to save her if something goes wrong, she reaches her arms for the sky and strokes against the wind while her glittering wings defy gravity. A rose-tinted rainbow splashes across the ground, bathing the grass in an unstable glow that fades and returns with each jerk of her wings. The movement of her wings is methodical and rhythmic beyond her experience as if controlled purely by an instinct she wasn't born with. The top halves of her wings lunge forward first, followed by the bottom segments which sweep elegantly in their wake like a silken wedding train. The top swings back. Everywhere it goes, the bottom is sure to follow.

Alluka hovers higher and higher above him, subtly bobbing up and down and waiting for them to unite in the sky as she maintains her elevation effortlessly. Holding a deeply satisfied smirk on her face, she forgets her imitation swimming and holds her hands up to her mouth as she calls to the bird boy down below:]

I'm really doing it! And it isn't as hard as I thought it'd be! Let's fly together, Oniichan!

[devil_or_angle]

*breathless, joyful laughter rises from killua's chest at the sight of his sister hovering above him all on her own, triumphant and proud. the motion of her wingflaps is so different from his, an elegant, rippling overlap to contrast his straightforward strokes. it's fascinating to watch her fly, but there's nothing he wants more than to join her.*

i knew you'd figure it out!

*with a powerful pump of his wings he's in the air again and whirling effortlessly around her, still laughing playfully.*

[awuka]

[Killua's wind knocks her off balance slightly but she persists in the same spot. She follows his circle with her eyes and envies his mobility, wanting to glide like him.]

This is so...so amazing! Having the freedom to fly around and go wherever I want...it's all I ever dreamed it would be!

[She tilts herself forward and splays her wings out, riding the wind current without the need to flutter aimlessly. She isn't nearly as fast as Killua but the speed is enough to make her pause and flap in place with a curling tummy.]

Oooh...I'm really not used to this yet..

[devil_or_angle]

*killua keeps pace with his sister, flapping his wings more often to slow himself down to her speed -- but even this seems to be too fast for her, and he circles around her as she hovers in place again.*

no need to speed. we can take it slow.

*he's eager to see what's at the top of the mountain, but he doesn't think she'll fare well with the height. instead, he sets his gaze on a serene little lake nestled in the foothills, pointing it out to alluka.*

think you can make it to that lake?

[awuka]

But seeing you fly like that makes me wanna do the same thiiiiing...

[She whines, her little hands balled into determined fists. If Killua can do such a thing so easily, why can't she? But his attention is pulled to the hillside at what looks like a small lake bordered by a ring of trees and bushes. It connects to the main path via a scenic side trail.]

Y-Yeah, I can do it!

[She hovers quite slowly in its direction and carefully descends downward, eyeing the rocks and trees nervously. If she fell, it wouldn't be a very comfortable landing...]

[devil_or_angle]

*killua nods encouragingly as alluka sets off toward the indicated clearing, flying slightly behind and beneath her so he can easily catch her if she runs out of steam. she seems determined to make it on her own, so he tries not to make his subtle stewardship known, just flapping casually after her as they approach their destination and praising her progress.*

almost there, you're doing great!

[awuka]

[The amount of flapping she has to do is somewhat exhausting, so she considers just gliding down instead. But the thought of that is gut-wrenchingly scary for her, so she relents.

Even though it's way too slow, she eventually reaches the edge of the lake and perches in the grass. She takes a moment to catch her breath, her face shrouded in a rosy blush.]

I landed on my own..and I'm just fine! That's surprising, haha..

[devil_or_angle]

*killua watches her flutter her way down to the lake like a little butterfly, not brave enough to ride the wind like him yet but determined to arrive at her destination. killua swoops down beside her once she alights, lifting his wings and pulling her into a sidelong hug that smushes her cheek against his chest.*

i'm not surprised. i knew all along you could do it.

[awuka]

[Alluka nuzzles into his chest happily, putting one of her hands over his and giving it a firm squeeze.]

That's true. I can do anything with my Oniichan around~

[She giggles softly, her wings twitching graciously with the movement of the rest of her body. Then she looks at the water, spotting dark shadows swirling around the rippling, blue surface. Reminded of catching fish on another day, she points.]

A person named Pitou caught a fish for me in the stream once! It was really tasty. Did you know they call me "princess?" It's really fun!

[devil_or_angle]

*killua tilts his head, loosening his grip to look down into her eyes.*

pitou? the cat-lady?

*he remembers alluka saying they were friends, and has witnessed them hanging out before, but he still pouts when he hears the nickname, mumbling,*

i call you princess, too...

[awuka]

[Killua's voice is tinged with jealousy as he mumbles at her in response. She reaches up and strokes his face, standing on her tip toes to smooch his nose.]

Of course it's more special when you say it..It kinda feels weird if it's anyone other than you.

[She giggles softly and runs to the lakeside.]

I want to try fishing myself! Can I?

[devil_or_angle]

*placated by her response, killua slides his hands in his pockets and follows her to the lakeside with rosy cheeks, putting her friendship with pitou out of his mind. right now, she's all his. he peers into the water, keens eyes picking up subtle movements beneath its calm surface.*

we can try. gon's taught me a few tricks.

[awuka]

Yay! Show me, show me! Then, I want to try!

[Hyped up, her fairy wings spread with her arms. The glow of the sun ripples pink throughout the water. Hesitant to go in first when she doesn't know what she's doing, Alluka looks to Killua for some brotherly guidance.]

[devil_or_angle]

*killua crouches by the edge of the pond, peering deeper into the water as he deliberates aloud.*

well, we don't have a rod, so our options are limited. he showed me this one method where you dig into a crevice and pull a fish out with your bare hands... but i prefer to spear them.

*he extends the claw of his pointer finger, shooting a sly grin up at his sister. but instead of using it to skewer a fish, he retracts it and opts for a less violent solution. alluka doesn't have claws outside the cat room, after all.*

let's look for a deep spot.

[awuka]

[Observing curiously, her eyes glitter when she sees his freshly sharpened weapons. She's seen them a few times, but hasn't yet considered their utility.]

I wish I could do that!

[However, he rolls back to the previous method. Slightly disappointed, she nods and kneels down to unbuckle her pink mary janes.]

'Kay. Just gimme a second..

[devil_or_angle]

*killua snorts, lightly flicking her forehead with his dulled finger.* no you don't.

*while she sorts out her shoes, he kicks off his sandals and spreads his wings, taking to the sky again. he flies a wide circle over the lake, eyes trained down below its surface, looking for any darker spots that would indicate deep caves for fish to hide in. he returns to his sister's side in a gust of flapping wings, pointing behind him.*

looks like it's deeper on the other side!

[awuka]

[She stops for a second to look up at the majestic silhouette of her brother flying overhead, then resumes, pulling off her shoes and socks and setting them neatly on the flattened earth.

The dirt and fresh air feels freeing to her previously cramped toes. Spreading them out, she realizes just how sore the sides of her feet had gotten from her brand new shoes. Usually, she wears her berry boots which are well-worn. It's a pointed reminder to break in her footwear before taking it to new rooms.

She stretches out her legs before Killua comes back to her, and she looks where his finger is pointing. She nods and runs around the lake, bending over to see all the little fish-shaped shadows swishing about the surface. Alluka takes a careful step into the cool water and a shiver runs up her spine. Her feet are typically kept warm and cozy by her boots and socks, so it takes her a moment to get used to it.]

Chilly--!

[devil_or_angle]

*laughing, killua stoops to bunch up the cuffs of his pants as he chases her around the lakeside. he steps in behind her, letting the cold water pool around his bare ankles before shuffling through it toward the deep spot he'd scouted.*

see this shadow right here? reach down in there and see if you can grab a fish.