Nadine

~ Mistral Jamboree Dragon ~

Nadine, a story by Aloice, (Edited by Catkinstarchild)

Water is the source of all life, or so Nadine declares; she is as ardent and as mysterious as the depths of the ocean which called her to life, and in which she has made her home.
Her colors, a meeting of the sky and sea, also wrote her story; Nadine would yearn for the romantic and the contradictory, and throughout her life, she would be filled with countless desires, in particular a desire to meet those vastly different from her and those with incredible stories to tell.

At the Oakheart territory's far shores, Nadine lives like a mermaid- barely ever ashore, drifting where the whim takes her, collecting seashells and rainbow fins. She has a talent for crafting, especially in achieving iridescence in what seems to be everything she touches, and thus many flock to her in the hopes that she can bring a new life to their scales or most prized jewelry. Nadine herself is fond of silks, especially those that match the color of her beloved sea in all its moods, and is renowned for her elegance and beauty, moving like a dancer through the waves. The haughty fashionista Aisling is actively jealous of the Imperial's natural beauty, and has tried on numerous occasions to coerce Nadine into employment as a model for some of Maia and Aisling's fashion lines, however Nadine is much more interested in colours and shapes for the sheer enjoyment of experience, not for some imagined applause.

Although mermaids are not meant to live out their lives on land, Nadine can often be seen above water, soliciting merchandise, observing and trading with those who appreciate her handiwork. Some speculate that she has fallen in love with a land-bound dragon; other rumors circulate that a prophecy has led her to await a serendipitous meeting with someone divine just as she comes out of the water. All such rumors have never been substantiated, and when Nadine herself heard of these rumors, she neither confirmed them nor dismissed them, instead continuing to walk and smile serenely about, shimmering with seawater still fresh on her fins. The enigmatic secrecy of Nadine's actions only further gain prestige regardless of her intentions, and now many visiting dragons take pride in just being able to talk to her for an extended amount of time.

In reality, Nadine simply desires company; especially while she is still young and has yet to find a mate. Her life underwater isolates her, and since so many are intimidated by what is mostly just a shyness that she finds difficult to shrug off, few have truly understood Nadine and her passions. Nadine often feels like she has trapped herself by her shyness: she enjoys the others' high opinion of her due to her quietness- it is easy to seem deep and mysterious when one simply does not often engage- but at the same time would prefer that they truly talked to her instead of admiring her from afar. Recently, Nadine has often cast her eyes on the newer additions to the clan, and is trying her best to speak up in order to be heard. 'I'm lively and fun! Promise!'- she wishes she had the courage to say, but instead she just smiles, and swims adeptly away when they come too close.

She supposes that she'd have to try harder. At the very least, she's managed to become close friends with a bubble nymph, a sweet spritelike creature who surprisingly shares her colors and a wish for companionship. She sees him every morning before she meets everyone else - for nymphs are notoriously shy- and he gives her silent, psychically-spoken encouragements that brighten her morning. You will meet the right one, soon. Soon, he always says. And that’s become Nadine’s mantra.