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 Posted: Fri Jan 31, 2025 1:50 pm
Nayeni invites Ophelia over for a sleepover and some much-needed self-care.
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Posted: Fri Jan 31, 2025 1:51 pm
 location DORM ROOM xxxxx company OPHELIA xxxxx outfit PAJAMAS With a quick puff of air, Nayeni blew out the tiny flame clinging to the end of the match. She watched as a thin trail of smoke drifted upward from the incense, then took a step back to survey the scene she had set. It had taken her the better part of an hour to finish her preparations, and she sincerely hoped Ophelia would not think she had gone overboard. This was her first sleepover with her pink-haired friend, and Nayeni was eager to make it the absolute best that she could. The incense she'd chosen was light and floral and hopefully not overpowering. In the corner, her ornate phonograph played a gentle and delightful tune, its little arm turning round and round. She'd lit every lamp she had, to hopefully make it easier for Ophelia to see what she could. And all of that was only the ambience. No slumber party was complete without delicious snacks, so she had purchased an admittedly over-the-top spread of fruits and sweets and even a charcuterie board -- all of which was laid out upon her vanity table. She'd gathered together every skincare treatment she'd owned, along with her most expensive hairbrushes and combs and headbands and anything else they could possibly need. Her pillows were fluffed, her sheets were clean, and she was ready.
All that was left to do was wait.
Nayeni curled up in the plush chair by the phonograph and watched the second hand of the clock tick by. She'd take this time to settle down a bit, lest she leap upon her friend like an excited dog the moment she arrived. More than anything, she wanted this to be a relaxing evening -- for the both of them. Lord knew she needed it. She ran her fingers along her arm, thinking briefly of the recent History class, and shuddered. The feeling of the branch piercing her flesh, the sounds of the screams of the townsfolk, the acrid smell of poison smoke... What a waste it had been for her to be momentarily freed from the shackles of her voice, only to be thrust into such a nightmare.
She had not spoken much since, but she would certainly have to tonight. Visual impairments aside, Ophelia was still learning sign language, and it would be hard to catch up and gossip with such a staunch barrier. Nayeni still feared messing up; what she had done to Izzie still haunted her, even if she'd already been forgiven. And that fear was only ever amplified when she was around Ophelia. The thought of deafening her, or ruining what was left of her eyesight... Nayeni shuddered again and shook her head. She could never let that happen -- not ever. Ophelia was very dear to her, in a way unlike any of her other friends were. They were kindred spirits, two souls fighting for hope in the face of despair. She would never do anything to dim her friend's brilliant light.
A knock at her door drew Nayeni from her thoughts. She slipped from her chair, sliding her feet into the waiting slippers, and quickly shuffled to the entrance to her room. At the sight of Ophelia waiting there, she beamed and swung open the door fully, so that she could close the small distance and hug her friend tight. Perhaps it was a bit of a silly thing to do, considering they had just seen each other the day before, when Nayeni had proposed the slumber party, but...
"Hi! Hello! Welcome! Please come in," the duchess rasped, enthusiastically gesturing for Ophelia to enter. She followed in suit, closing the door behind her. "I hope the incense is okay -- if it's too much, I'm happy to put it out." Nayeni drifted about her room, pointing out everything she'd gathered. "There are snacks here -- many different kinds. Oh, and some juice and water. And here I set up all of my lotions and skincare, if you'd like to do that..." Taking Ophelia's hands, she tugged her toward the plush bed in the corner. "You can sit down here! Or I can pull up a couple of chairs, if that's better. I'm so happy we could do this, I've really been wanting to catch up. It feels like so much has happened the past couple of weeks..."
Realizing she'd been speaking rapid fire, Nayeni wrung her hands and took a step back. "But, don't let me blabber on. How are you?" She signed her final question as she spoke it, in an effort to reinforce Ophelia's lessons. It was something she tried to do for basic phrases -- at least when she remembered to.
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Posted: Sun Mar 16, 2025 1:21 am
   LOCATION: Neyani room xxx COMPANY: Neyani xxx CLOTHING: SleepWear xxx THEME: I'll Be There For You
Water droplets beaded off Ophelia's curls as she all but giddily skipped down the hallway. Her arms were wrapped tightly around an oversized pillow, concealing her chest and a package wrapped in the same fabric as the gold silken nightgown she'd slipped into after her shower. Nayeni had told her she had their evening covered, but it felt wrong to arrive entirely empty-handed. She needed to offer something.
One hand uncurled, fingers grazing the cold cobble stone wall until she felt the third familiar break. The duchess of light turned to bound down the last twelve steps. Was it odd that she had meticulously counted and timed how many steps it took to get from her room to Nayeni? - fifty-four steps, for a total time of twenty seconds... Give or take.- That way she would arrive right at their agreed upon time.
Nadine hovered ahead, kindly illuminating the number above Neyani's door so she could locate it quickly. Still, once there, Ophelia stood nervously, her ears perked for any sound her friend might be making beyond the door. As the silence stretched, a strained giggle crawled past her lips, realizing the Musique duchess didn't often make much noise. She was likely curled up in a corner, Impatiently waiting for her arrival, just as Ophelia would be doing if the roles were reversed. Two peas in a pod some would say. One knock was all it took to sense the light reverberation in the floorboards, her friend's speedy approach pulling an eager smile over her lips just before the door cracked open.
It was natural to mirror Nayeni's violet excitement, beaming at her friend while taking notice of the thin threads of nervous teal quickly smothered beneath them. A pinch of worry pressed on her heart, did nerves bring those on from their planned evening? Or was her precious Musique friend still reeling from the traumatic reliving of History? It was one of the reasons Ophelia sought her out, wanting to check on her wellbeing. As Yeni rushed towards her, Ophelia's arms wove tightly around her small frame to accept one of the things she loved most about her friend. Her hugs– the best hugs, if she said so herself. The type that felt like a heavy, heated blanket, on a cold winter night. Warming to the soul– Ahg, it was her favorite and she greedily absorbed them every time.
That lingering warmth aided Phi in not flinching at the roughness of her friend's voice, how similar it sounded to the man who ordered her death in history. But Ophelia couldn’t think about that now. She wouldn’t. After waking, she left with the painful reminder that life was just too short. There was so much more she needed to do. She wanted to understand literature references from books all around the world, to make stupid mistakes and not regret a lick of em. To hear the unwritten stories of other kingdoms from people's lips. Maybe even try skinny dipping? If she were feeling brave. She wanted to find a way to fall in love with every single day, even if her love life were falling apart. OH! And learn three different languages– and her friendship with Nayeni put sign language right at the top. She hadn’t picked the others yet, but she had all the time in the world. She wasn’t dead!
Stepping into the room, a sweet spiced scent enveloped her. She pulled in a deep breath, letting the scent fill her lungs and releasing the unknown tension in her spine. "I hope the incense is okay -- if it's too much, I'm happy to put it out." Ophelia’s eyes widened. ” No no it’s wonderful Nayeni, I love it. I must get some for my room!” She squealed. All she ever used were dried flowers, they were nowhere near as strong. She’d been missing out. Once inside, Nayeni began swiftly listing off all the things she collected for their evening, the Orb of light doing her best to follow Nayeni's finger and highlight all the items for Ophelia in rapid succession. Heat pooled in her cheeks. Spoiled, was all the duchess could think. Nayeni had decided to spoil her. This was a dream.
The gentle threading of thin fingers into hers lured Ophelia onward. "You can sit down here! Or I can pull up a couple of chairs, if that's better. I'm so happy we could do this, I've really been wanting to catch up. It feels like so much has happened the past couple of weeks... But, don't let me blabber on. How are you?" Ophelia fought the urge to tangle her hands back into Nayeni's at the ping of Cerulean anxiety surrounding her friend. Knowing she'd need them to sign. A light smile painted her lips instead.
" No my d-e-a-r, I love it when you b-l-a-b-b-e-r honestly." She spoke a whisper, unable to contain the self-deprecating giggle. The simi-mute duchess likely didn't care how slow Ophelia spoke when molding her hands into the correct motions, still, she felt a bit self-conscious in how long it took her to spell out any words she didn't know letter by letter. But, it was more important that she learn as quickly as possible, to put her friend's worry at ease. There had been a time she tried to explain that even if her friend's greatest fear came to pass, Ophelia could heal. It had done little to ease the vibrant green worry though." I'm good, I'm okay." Plopping onto the silken bed sheets with a sigh, one hand instinctively uncurled from her pillow to glide over the fabric. It was soft... She loved soft things and was glad to know Neyani shared the same infatuation. "This." She thought letting herself melt into its embrace. " This was exactly where I want to be this evening. Yeni you have the softest bedding. I don't think I can leave this place."
She tapped the space beside her in invitation. " Let's get this evening of relaxation started~" She mused, reaching up to tap her cheeks. " Should we start with a face- Ah!-" Thats right! She couldn't get lost in the bed of silk yet. Tossing the pillow to the side, she sat up and presented a small, neatly wrapped box, Orby fluttering around it with nearly as much excitement. " I did bring you a little something, as a thank you, for spoiling me with this retreat." Worrying her bottom lip, she hoped the duchess liked the small trinket. It was nothing fancy, a suncatcher wrapped in a gold headscarf her friend could use to tie back her hair at night.
OOC:
 
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Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2025 6:40 pm
location DORM ROOM xxxxx company OPHELIA xxxxx outfit PAJAMAS Sometimes Nayeni marveled at how high her spirits were lifted when she was among friends. Even her best of moods on her own paled when compared to the blinding brightness others could bring to her soul. All those years she spent alone barely seemed to matter anymore, now that she had people around her who weren't afraid, who wanted to spend time with her. And while part of her still feared she might manage to drive Ophelia away somehow, Nayeni did not want to squander any moment of her company. She could only hope to repay the young woman’s friendship in whatever way she could, whether it be drowning her in treats or providing her a night of rest and relaxation.
On that front, Nayeni felt fairly confident she was doing a good job. With Ophelia unbothered by the incense and seemingly pleased with everything the duchess had prepared, Nayeni felt as if she were walking on air. She watched Nadine flit about the room, and realizing she had yet to say hello to the mysterious ball of light, she quickly plucked at the frills of her sleeping shorts and dipped into a playful curtsy. “Pardon my manners, Lady Nadine, I am very happy to see you as well,” she said, her voice warmed by a held-back giggle. Nothing in the world could bring her down right now, she was certain.
As Ophelia signed her response, Nayeni watched carefully, her cheeks now aching with the force of her smile. And when Ophelia flopped onto her bed, Nayeni joined her, effortlessly slipping onto the mattress with her legs tucked beneath her. There were few things she prided herself on, but her skill at creating a comfortable space was perhaps at the top of her list. All the better if she could share that comfort with someone else, if only for a night. “I have the same thought every morning when I wake up,” she joked. And her eyes most definitely did not dart to Ophelia’s most ample bosom, barely clad in that silken nightdress, the moment her pillow was cast aside. They were both ladies, thank you very much!!
Luckily, her attention was diverted by the giftbox offered up to her. Nayeni blinked as she took it, stunned by the thoughtfulness of her friend. “Oh, Ophelia, you really did not have to…” she proclaimed – but she was hardly one to turn down a gift, especially from a friend. Nayeni flashed the pink-haired woman an earnest glance before carefully undoing the wrapping. Her eyes were already welling with emotion when she espied the headscarf, which she lifted with the delicacy that one might use to handle ancient relics.
And when she unearthed the second gift beneath, her vision blurred with tears. Her hand nearly shook as she held up the suncatcher toward Orby. The colored gems cast a spray of refracted light across the walls, which danced with the orb’s movement. “Just like the ones you have in your room!” Nayeni blubbered. “These are beautiful, thank you so much!! I’ll treasure them!”
Fearing the rush of emotion would leave her fully sobbing, Nayeni quickly set the suncatcher back in its box to dash the tears from her eyes. The last thing she wanted was to ruin their night with a sonic slip-up before they’d even begun. With a sniff, she reclaimed her gift and stole away from the bed to hang it from the curtain rod by the window – where it could catch the first rays of light when morning came.
“Okay, okay,” Nayeni breathed, at last reclaiming some semblance of inner peace. She fanned at her face, willing the last of the wetness away. “I’m so sorry, I wish I’d thought to get you something, too! I’ll definitely bring a gift to our next girls’ night.” Which hopefully would not be before too long, if tonight went well! Nayeni grinned at Ophelia as she stopped by one of her slumber party stations. “That aside, you mentioned you wanted to start with a face – mask?” That was probably what she was going to say, right? “I have some mixtures that are tailored for skin recovery, or hydration, or revitalization…”
Whatever Ophelia desired, Nayeni would bring to her, along with a small tray of snacks and drinks just to start them off. She set them down on the bedside table by her guest before returning to her spot on the bed. “Would you let me braid your hair, too? I found a book in the library on braid styles across cultures and wanted to try out a new one.” And Ophelia's long, gorgeous locks would be perfect for the task. Was it weird Nayeni was so interested in playing with her hair? It was such a pretty shade, and so well taken care of, too.
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Posted: Thu May 15, 2025 6:30 pm
LOCATION: Neyani room xxx COMPANY: Neyani xxx CLOTHING: SleepWear xxx THEME: I'll Be There For You
Nayeni’s nature was infectious. She was likely the most considerate person the Duchess of Light ever had the pleasure of basking in the presence of. Sometimes, if Ophelia glanced, it felt like she was catching her mirrored reflection. Though it wasn't quite a mirror, was it? Nothing about their appearance mimicked one another. No, it was more like staring into dark water at your rippling reflection. Not quite the same person looked back, but it was similar enough to feel familiar—and she was just that. A rippling vision of everything Ophelia strove to be: intelligent, funny, soft, and demure. Nadine even seemed wholly drawn to Nayeni, unable to contain the giddy violet hues that swirled through her as Nayeni turned to address the spirit as though she stood beside them in physical form.
Since then, the soul danced excitedly around Nayeni, taking an absorbent amount of time twirling around her figure and illuminating all of her friend's exposed skin in a radiant honey-like glow… Ophelia definitely did not admire how petal smooth it looked, draped in silken pieces of fabric. And she wasn’t the slightest bit curious to know how soft she was– it was.
Luckily, Ophelia had exemplary self-control. The gift she clutched in her hands kept them occupied while Nayeni crawled into the space beside her and joked out her admission, sending a bubbling giggle of agreement past her lips. If the mother didn’t deserve praise on the balcony each morning, the duchess likely would have stayed forever in a bed like this. But only if it were spent just this way, with friends. Each day was a gift; spending it in bed alone would be wasteful.
With thoughts of fresh gratitude swirling through her mind, Ophelia gathered the courage to present her small token of appreciation to Nayeni. It was small compared to the lavishness that adorned her friend's room, so she honestly hadn't expected the swell of illuminated emotion that bubbled to the surface and glittered along her friend's lower lashes. At that moment, Ophelia’s chest fluttered, hand lifting to sap away the warmth radiating there. Had Nayeni not been spoiled with gifts often? It was hard to imagine that people didn’t line up down the street to give her gifts when she put such detailed thought into crafting the perfect evening. Ophelia wanted to offer more, the world, if she could. Someone like Nayeni deserved it.
While Phi pondered over what else she could possibly give her friend, Nadine raced along Nayeni’s heels. All so Phi could watch her friend hang the suncatcher in the exact location the Duchess of Light would have picked herself. “No, do not apologize! It's the least I can do for all the spoils you've showered me with this evening. So please do not worry about returning a gift when this evening is more than enough.” She assured playfully. Not wanting Nayeni to feel she had overlooked her in the slightest.
When the conversation circled back to face masks, a pointer finger rested gently on Ophelia’s chin, pondering the options Nayeni presented to her. “Ah, maybe recovery? Or whatever combination you use that makes your skin look so heavenly.”
Her mouth snapped shut, watching Nadine trail her friend to a station to collect an array of bottles with strained happiness on her lips. “Mother sun… That compliment was odd. That compliment was extraordinarily odd, wasn't it?”
Shyly gushing her thanks upon receiving the special blend, Opehlia could hardly wait to lather on the sweet-scented product. Her fingers only pausing briefly at the bridge of her nose when Neyani tenderly broached the question of braiding her hair. “My hair? Oh, well, of course!” Phi squealed, excitement expertly woven into her tone. Rushing to swivel in her place, she oriented her frame to give optimal access to her hair, careful not to let her dress ride up too far when her legs crossed beneath her.
Now staring forward, Ophelia swallowed the thick bubble of nerves tangled in her throat. She didn't hate having her hair done by others; she knew most people enjoyed the feeling of fingers weaving through their hair. But since childhood, hers had always been difficult for most people to manage. Ophelia was what they liked to call “tender-headed,” but one did not simply forget the feeling of hair ripping from their scalp. It was why, more often than not, Ophelia styled and cared for her hair on her own—only calling on help during extravagant events.
She could trust Nayeni, though, couldn’t she? The duchess likely held the same tenderness in her fingers as in her voice. “Maybe, I can try my hand at yours after?” The question tenderly pushed through the knot in her throat. Likely sounding silly. It had been years since she tried her hand at braiding someone else's hair. That was when her vision was crystal clear, and her brother was the only willing victim. “I can’t promise it’ll look good.” She added as a final caution. “But I’d like to try.”
OOC:
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Posted: Sun Jun 01, 2025 6:08 pm
location DORM ROOM xxxxx company OPHELIA xxxxx outfit PAJAMAS Even with Ophelia’s insistence that their evening together was more than enough, Nayeni wasn’t certain she would be able to rest easy until the gift had been repaid. She wanted very much to reciprocate the gesture, so Ophelia might experience the very same joy – but as Nayeni opened her mouth to protest, she was reminded of a very similar conversation she’d had with another friend. It had been an endless circle with Izzie, too; each trying to give, yet never wanting to relent to receive. Nayeni had learned then that sometimes you had to lose a battle to win a war. And however much Ophelia protested now, she probably wouldn’t turn down a “spontaneous” gift in the moment. So Nayeni would bide her time, until the moment was right to strike.
“Spending time with you is more than enough for me, too,” she said instead, reaching out to give Ophelia’s hand a soft squeeze.
As the other woman pondered her options, Nayeni was already picking her way through her products, trying to decide what was best. A recovery mixture was always a safe bet, though Ophelia’s skin looked healthy enough that Nayeni didn’t think she needed anything major. Sun damage was something to look out for – but with Ophelia’s affinity for healing, perhaps it wasn’t even a factor.
Wait – heavenly?
Nayeni blinked and looked up from the skin mask station, thoroughly surprised by such a glowing and poetic compliment. She couldn’t keep her cheeks from flushing, even as she returned her attention to the task at hand. She ought to have simply felt flattered that all of her hard work was paying off, but… Oh, it was hard to keep her heart from beating so at every little compliment. “Don’t worry, your skin is in safe hands with me! I’ll be happy if this little hobby helped someone else, even just a little bit. Not that you need help by any means; this is just about keeping our skin happy and healthy!”
Her selected collection was a mixture of lighter lotions and oils, along with a cleansing clay mask to prepare the canvas, so to speak. It was the latter that she handed to Ophelia first, and the woman wasted no time in breaking into it. Thankfully, she was equally excited by the prospect of getting her hair braided, and Nayeni offered a silent gratitude to the muses that her offer had been well-received. Getting her hair brushed and styled by her handmaidens had always been one of her favorite things – though she knew she liked being touched a little bit more than most people.
As Ophelia settled into place, Nayeni gathered her long, wavy hair, stroking it with the lightest of touches. It only occurred to her in this moment that her lack of experience in doing this for other people meant she wasn’t sure how much force to put into it. Some of her maids had definitely had heavier hands… Nayeni glanced at the back of Ophelia’s head as she spoke, then broke out into a beaming grin. “Oh, I would love that, please and thank you! Having my hair played with is one of the best feelings in the world for me.” Swallowing down a giggle, she picked out a wide-toothed horn comb, and gently began to pull it through the last few inches of Ophelia’s hair, working her way slowly upward. “You don’t need to worry at all about anything looking good tonight. We’ll look like little goblins with the face masks on, anyway. Let me know if I tug too hard, okay?”
Once she had succeeded in ensuring Ophelia’s hair was thoroughly detangled, Nayeni excused herself for a moment to fetch the book. When she returned to the bed, she propped it up against a pillow, with the pages open to the Lunarian Strand Braid. Diligently, the duchess set to work, parting the thick strands as evenly as she could.
“How have you been, by the way?” she asked, after pausing a moment to pop a macaron into her mouth. “I feel like so much has happened over the past couple of weeks. It’s almost felt like months instead.” There really was never a dull day at Utopia. “Any new developments? Juicy gossip?”
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