Danielle's Domain (archive)

I miss playing D&D, but life is far too erratic to peg down a proper schedule

I originally started this blog 2 years ago as a League art blog (hence why my first few posts are just pictures). People started talking to me eventually though and it just kinda became an RP/ask blog

I own a pet hedgehog named Basil. He's a grumpy little ball of love who enjoys to take naps with me while watching TV as well as the occasion back rub

I love food, cooking and baking. I often spend my days off something interesting when I feel motivated

While I really love playing TF2 and League, I also try to play a bit of DDR at least a few times per week due to my aforementioned love for food, cooking and baking. 

The gentle knocking sound as well as the familiar voice that followed it beckoned the explorer to rise up from the comfort of his desk as he briskly walked over to his door and grasped the dusty handle, pulling it wide open with surprising strength.

You really are something else. And I’ll do whatever it takes to make you see that you have a hell of a lot more potential than just for summoning.

You’re gifted. Not just in magic, but also in creativity, and that can’t be learned from any spell book.

The gentle knocking sound as well as the familiar voice that followed it beckoned the explorer to rise up from the comfort of his desk as he briskly walked over to his door and grasped the dusty handle, pulling it wide open with surprising strength.

He considered thanking her again, but the need to do something better than that suddenly permeated the entirety of Ezreal’s head, and before his mind and body could properly synchronize, he found himself reaching forward with the arm that held the sketch in his palm to pull the summoner into a gentle embrace, making sure he didn’t accidentally crush or bend the sketch with the motion. Continuing to grin, he closed one eye before drawing in a shallow breath to speak, knowing he was more than likely going to sound a bit redundant at what was to follow. 

"Y-you're welcome," she mumbled quietly. She looked up at him while looking a tad stunned as her mind tried to calculate what had happened.

Was I just hugged by a celebrity? 

When her mind was able to finally grasp that her previous thought was, in fact, true, she inhaled deeply and resumed speaking a bit more clearly.

The gentle knocking sound as well as the familiar voice that followed it beckoned the explorer to rise up from the comfort of his desk as he briskly walked over to his door and grasped the dusty handle, pulling it wide open with surprising strength.

"This is incredible…” he spoke, eyes lighting up as though he were a small child finding a favorite toy that had been lost underneath the bed for a rather substantial amount of time. As his gaze traced over each intricate swipe of…charcoal? Pencil? He wasn’t sure exactly what the drawing medium was, but whatever it was completed with proved to make the scene come alive on the off-white texture of the parchment, a breathtaking display that could only be accomplished by someone with raw, dedicated talent.

Just looking at the image itself made Ezreal want to run down the hall and find some way to get to Ionia immediately, and he was certain that he’d even be able to somehow muster the will to swim across the Guardian’s Sea with the amount of determination he now had.

"I was expecting sketches, yeah, but this isn’t like anything I imagined, really. The rocks seem to have taken on a life of their own, though that’s typically what happens when water runs down on them for long periods of time.” the explorer spoke, gently grazing his free hand against the paper and making sure not to accidentally smudge the summoner’s hard work that lay there in shades of grey. “…the shapes are smooth. As though they were carved instead of made by nature. It reminds me of how long it’s been since I last visited Ionia, and now I really wish I could go back and explore something like this. Heh.” Ezreal chuckled, noticing a few drops of water that had stained the very edge of the page but didn’t take away from the drawing at all.

"Y-you really think I'm getting better Ezreal?" Her smile was so broad, it was hurting her face slightly. "Thank you so much! I mean it. You're the first person in a long time to take interest in my environmental sketches. Your words were what encouraged me to keep practicing them, you know. I truly appreciate it." She turned her attention back to her sketchbook momentarily, tapping gently on its pages as she contemplated on how thank him properly for the inspiration he's provided her. After a few seconds, she made up her mind and, with a quick motion of her hand, the page's connection to her book had been severed. 

"Ezreal, I know it isn't much, but if this image interests you, please keep it as my way of thanking you." Her eyes remained locked on her sketchbook. While she had no problem keeping his eye contact while providing him with a snack didn't bother, something about offering him a page from her personal sketchbook was a bit more embarrassing to her.

The gentle knocking sound as well as the familiar voice that followed it beckoned the explorer to rise up from the comfort of his desk as he briskly walked over to his door and grasped the dusty handle, pulling it wide open with surprising strength.

"I’m sure it tastes just fine." he spoke, grinning as he tried to stop the saliva from dripping down the corner of his mouth. Gulping audibly as he carefully adjusted the container in order to make his posture more comfortable, he could smell the sweetness of the batter even through its clear surface, and this in turn caused his stomach to growl rather loudly in the presence of the summoner who faced him. "…whoops. Heh." Ezreal chuckled, grinning sheepishly as he showed his teeth, limply shrugging his shoulders.

"Why of course! I just figured I'd save the best for last." She paused in thought before opening her book once more to Ezreal's gaze. "Well unless the cake was actually the highlight... but you seemed to be more intent on me returning with sketches rather than sweets." Regardless on the order on which her souvenirs were presented, her tanned slender fingers flipped through the book in search of the new additions to its pages. She had actually tabbed the pages this time though, so it only took a moment to get to the correct section in her book. The first two page she stopped on appeared to be different angles of a partially submerged cavern.

"Remember how I mentioned some of the areas we used to swim when I was a child? We revisited some of the more distant pools of water. Apparently, in some regions the water had actually managed to make a few caverns. We didn't go to far, of course, but it was certainly interesting. A tad too dark and damp to sketch in some of them though." The waterfalls of Ionia had always fascinated her. The way nature had been able to carve into itself and make interesting and intricate sculptures out of the rock face was but a new fascination.

The gentle knocking sound as well as the familiar voice that followed it beckoned the explorer to rise up from the comfort of his desk as he briskly walked over to his door and grasped the dusty handle, pulling it wide open with surprising strength.

"A friend and I spent the better part of many days scouting out the scenery of Ionia, though there were a few days I went by myself to get some better pictures. There are a few festivals going on this time of year too, so I had the chance to experience them for the first time in a while. It was nice to see my family too. I miss my mother's cooking sometimes, especially her cake. ...oh right! Cake!" With all the excited chattering she was doing, she had almost forgot one of the reasons she had come to visit him. When the reason came to mind once more, she proceeded to extend the container in hands forward, gesturing for him to take it.

I am a terrible liar. Twisted Fate has taught me nothing except how to lose at poker.

She observed the explorer closely during his explanation. She listened to his words and studied his body language. He spoke about how it was his free week, the one week where summoners could freely call him to battle without the need to fully earn the privilege. Many champions had voiced their complaints and concerns to her in the past when it was their turn to provide both new and veteran summoners with their skills. Yet, as she listened to Ezreal, he seemed to use it more as an excuse than a restraint. 

I wonder what his reasons are. Clearly it's very complicated indeed.

Eventually, her concerned look transitioned to one of curiosity, and finally a small grin tugged at the corners of her mouth. She concluded that he clearly had his reasons for staying, and chose to accept his blatant excuses for the truth rather than pressing the matter further. 

Her smile became slightly lopsided at his suggestion of leaving for a bit. She contemplated the idea. The Institute had become more than just a place of work over the years. It had become her home. Still, even she needed a break from it on occasion, and it wasn't as though she couldn't apply for some time off. Her head tilted slightly from left to right periodically, as if she were weighing her options.

"I suppose my mom did ask me to return for my birthday. I could also put in some extra time finishing my work for the Tribunal early, I could probably put in a request not to participate in a few matches for a little while, too. Yes, I suppose I could do with a vacation. If I exited through the port in Piltover, I'd get the added bonus of seeing that beautiful region as well." She continued to mumble a bit to herself as she pondered the plan in taking a summer vacation. In the back of her mind though, something was still troubling her about the whole situation. After a pause in her ramblings about how to make herself happy, she finally voiced the issue that was causing her a bit of guilt.

 "You're also right that travelling there is certainly a lengthy endeavor. Well, it is for most people at least. As I'm sure you're aware, summoners are trained in teleportation magic. Some are so talented in the art of teleportation that they can use it quite well outside of the Institute." She placed her left hand on her chest, as if gesturing to herself. "I've been studying it a bit more in depth myself actually. I can teleport items a lot better than I can myself, but I've learned to be able to make short trips. I prefer self-cast healing spells rather than teleportation though, since healing definitely leaves me less drained..." Her last sentence was muttered rather than spoken as clearly as the previous ones as she recalled how much more effort she needed to put into displacement than healing. It was definitely a spell that required some concentration compared to some of the others she had learned since joining the Institute as a summoner. After revisiting her insecurities about her magic, she felt like tonight would be another study night.

"A dull person?” the explorer inquired, cocking an arched blonde brow over his left eye as he observed the summoner, scrutinizing her as though she was an artifact that he had been suddenly presented with and needed to be thoroughly studied before ever leaving the curve of his palm. “Summoner, I don’t mean to come off snobbish, but uh…I don’t consider myself a person who seeks out quote-unquote dull people to make conversation with. If I wanted dull conversation, I’d just go talk to a Noxian or something and have them chatter at me about weapons and bloodshed and war. Obviously, that’s not you and that’s not where your interests lay, which means you’re far from dull.” he said, slipping his hand away from the curve of her shoulder and slipping it into his pocket, his digits tingling with the softness of the vibrant fabric.

Is it wool? Or silk? I’ve never been able to tell.

"I believe you," she said, nodding slightly. "Thank you, Ezreal. The fact that you find be boring actually means a lot to me, you know." She was still surprised by the fact, but trusted him regardless. When he asked if she had any recent sketches, she took a moment to brush one of her long curls behind her ear while she contemplated what scene she would show him today. "Well, I do have one that's pretty recent." Danielle pulled out her sketchbook she never left her room without and angled it so they could both look at it. "And don't worry. I don't usually mind showing anything in this particular book. You're just one of the few people to ask."

She opened her sketchbook and flipped through the pages with her thumb, images and scenes passing in front of their eyes for a fleeting second with every turn. The interior of the Institute, the Fields of Justice and even numerous champions -- including the Prodigal Explorer himself -- were memorialized on the papers. At last she stopped on a scenic image. She tapped the page to emphasize a particular waterfall in it.

Oh right. Being in the same place for so long does that.

"I certainly don't think you're the only one who likes to observe the little nuances of this place. I, for one, am rather fond of observing the world around me. When it comes to art, nothing teaches better than real life, I find. Still, I feel at least partly responsible for your boredom, Ezreal. I mean, I do work for the League that's keeping you here after all. I may have joined this place willingly, but I know that's not the case for you." As she spoke, her eye contact with him slowly faded until she was gazing at his shoes. With her head hung and after a moment of chewing her lower lip in contemplation, she continued. "I know I've probably presented myself as a dull person and I can't readily deny that fact, but if there's anything I can do to help alleviate some of that boredom, don't hesitate to ask, okay?" Though her offer was sincere, she wasn't entirely sure what she could do to help him.

What do most people do to have fun again? Read books? Cook? Talk about their pets?

—-

Workload? 

What else does a summoner even do, anyway?

Though Danielle’s tone brought a small trickle of optimism to become present on Ezreal’s features, his soft grin couldn’t help but wilt a bit at her inquiry, and although he paused before speaking, he figured the limp shrug that preceded the opening of his mouth would be a good enough answer anyway.