Fresh Air (OOC: during the V-Day dance)

[Demeter]

Flora was momentarily startled before she grinned darkly. "Yes, but are you willing to whatever it takes to win?" she purred. She ran her fingers through his hair before stealing a very passionate kiss. She drew back, her golden eyes sparkling with far too much passion. "You, professor, are one hell of a kisser."

[Palladium]

Taking a step back from Flora, Palladium knew that he was walking a very fine and dangerous line. But he also was at an absolute loss as to how else to keep himself safe. Feeling disgusted with himself for stooping to such tactics as flirtation, but knowing that they were working to some extent, Palladium arched a brow, deciding to keep up the charade for a bit longer so that he could buy himself more time to develop a better plan of defense.

Laughing, Palladium crossed his arms over his chest, hoping that he would come across as mildly uninterested. Forcing himself to smile cynically, he replied, "I think you need to reconsider who exactly is in over their head - because, it isn't me."

[Demeter]

"And you are a horrible actor," she said blandly, arching an eyebrow in amusement. "Who are you trying to fool, professor? Me? Or yourself?" she asked. She was trying to keep her temper slightly in check so she didn't lash out and hex him.

The more she thought about it, the more like a beast he seemed. But she'd hold off on turning him into one - unless he provoked her enough to actually have her try.

[Cora]

Cora hid in a small, albeit thick and dark, patch of trees and brush, watching the interaction between Palladium and Flora. Knowing that she was would not be visible to either one because she was too far away and even more, hidden by the shadows, Cora nevertheless crouched closer to the ground as a precaution. Although she had promised Palladium that she would leave, she just couldn't bring herself to do as he wished. Somehow she just knew that he was going to need her - it would only be a matter of time.

Still feeling somewhat weak from losing almost all of her powers, Cora briefly closed her eyes, hoping that it would help to keep her nausea at bay. It was best to rest; that way, should Palladium need her help, she would actually be of use. Taking a deep breath, Cora reopened her eyes in time to see this dark version of Flora kiss Lenwë passionately. Feeling her heart wrench painfully, Cora averted her eyes, not able to stomach seeing her friend in the embrace of someone else.

[Palladium]

Palladium stared at Flora and began, keeping his voice flat and unwavering, "I may be a poor actor, but at least I am not a coward, as you yourself obviously are. Now, you are about to protest this fact, are you not? Well, allow me to finish first. You see, you stand here playing mind games because that is all you can do - you are too afraid to actually attack me. And even more, you are too afraid to even admit it. Perhaps you fear what I will do to you? Perhaps you fear that you are not so powerful as you think? Perhaps you are unsure that you really can be a match for me? In any event, I have found you out; therefore, for the sake of moving this along, either be done with it and attack me or leave me in peace - either action would be more worthwhile than this standoff we are having."

[Demeter]

Flora's golden eyes closed for a moment and she whispered something so faint that Palladium couldn't quite catch it. Vines erupted from the ground around him, surrounding him. Her golden eyes opened and anger danced in them. "You've really annoyed me now," she hissed. A small ball of flame formed in her hands and she threw it straight at his chest.

[Cora]

"No! No!" Cora whispered, her face contorting in pain as she watched Flora attack Palladium. Seeing her friend stagger backward, Cora pressed her hands against her mouth to keep from screaming out. Why wasn't he fighting back? She knew he could and yet . . . nothing. He was just standing there taking it. Why?

Knowing that she had to do something, Cora bit her lip as she mentally ran through the long list of spells that she knew. There had to be something she could do - she wasn't just going to sit there and watch Flora destroy him. And yet, she still hadn't regained all of her strength, meaning that whatever spell she could cast might not even phase the fairy . . .

Wincing at this thought, Cora shook her head. No. No, she mustn't think that way. For once, she would have to act first and think later.

Turning her focus back toward Flora, Cora narrowed her eyes and then held her palms out so that they were facing Flora, and began whispering an old confusion spell her father had taught her long ago. It was powerful and it would, without a doubt, send Flora into a pit of swirling colors - but only for as long as she could keep chanting. And judging from the way her body was already trembling from lack of energy, she wouldn't be able to continue for long.

[Palladium]

Staggering backward as the ball of flame slammed against his chest, Palladium almost cried out in sheer pain. Knowing that now was the time to react, to fight back, Palladium began to raise his hands to create an energy sphere, but as he began to feel the heat rush toward his fingers . . . he stopped. He couldn't attack her. That thing was right; he wouldn't dare hurt Flora or anything that resembled her. Even if the thing before him wasn't truly Flora mentally, physically, it was. And that was enough to make him stop.

He would just take it. Whatever that thing did to him, he would take it.

[Demeter]

Flora's golden eyes crinkled up in delight when she saw him move to attack and then let the spell fizzle out. This was quite delightful, perhaps her master would let her keep him as a pet, something to entertain herself with.

She did feel a little dizzy and a little off balance. She shook her head, trying to clear it. Her golden eyes crossed for a moment and faded to her normal green color before her eyes returned to a bright gold.

Oh, he was asking to be cursed into a cute fluffy thing.

[Cora]

Seeing that her spell wasn't affecting Flora as much as she would like, Cora knew that she had to come up with an alternative plan. And fast.

Looking again at Lenwë, Cora flinched, not able to comprehend why he would allow himself to be hurt when she knew he was strong enough to fight back - and win. It just didn't make sense. Shaking her head to clear her thoughts, she pushed aside her confusion, knowing that now was not the time to be thinking about this. Now was the time to be helping Lenwë. If he wouldn't protect himself, well then, she would.

Closing her eyes to center herself and focus her energy, Cora blocked out everything except thoughts of her power and Palladium. When she opened her eyes again, it was as though Flora did not exist, so focused was her attention on her friend. Whispering a protection spell, Cora smiled as she watched her magic work on Lenwë. Around his body, an orange glow formed, successfully shielding him from Flora's attacks.

[Demeter]

"Interesting.. Did you cast that spell?" Flora asked, tilting her head in question, a habit that she picked up years ago. It was something that earned the "Oh, how cute!" response when she was younger. She debated turning him into a beast - but making the spell a slow acting one. One that would change him ever so slowly. It would be amusing - and next to impossible to trace back to her.

Master Darkar, would the gem Icy's supposed to give me allow the spell to work the way I wish it? she thought, allowing him access to her mind so he could read her plot.

[darker]

The Dark Phoenix swooped down onto the little scene playing out by the lake. Darkar took in the destruction that his Flora had done. He was pleased with what she could do. Landing beside Flora, he changed back into Dakar's normal form. "Hello Pet. I see I am just in time, the gift I was talking about." Darkar said waving a hand in her direction as the jewel appeared on the front of her outfit. "Do give it a try."

[Demeter]

Flora looked up at Darkar. "Thank you, my master," she purred quietly, then glanced at Palladium. "I told you I had a new friend," she said, with a wink. She laughed quietly. Things were going to get very interesting shortly. Very interesting.

[brandon2]

Brandon came to finding that he was indeed a beast. Not only that but Flora was purring Master?, Brandon must have hit his head harder than he thought. Sitting up with a groan. "What happened?" he tried to say but it came out more as a growl.

[Demeter]

"Finally the furball awakens," Flora said quietly. "I was beginning to think you died on us." She glanced up at Darkar. "What do you think?" she asked quietly.