Orchid |
|
|---|---|
 | Basic Information: |
| ALIAS(ES): | Pink (Navy) |
| PRONOUNS: | She/Her |
| SPECIES: | Orchid Mantis |
| AGE: | Mid 40s |
| RESIDENCE: | The Golden Settlement | Other Information: |
| OCCUPATION: | Explorer Librarian(formerly) |
| RELATIONSHIPS: | Purple (adopted son) Navy (husband) Ochre (close friends & former co-workers) |
| AFILLIATIONS: | The Explorer's Association |
| STATUS: | Deceased |
Orchid is a former thrill-seeking explorer who was part of Team Petal who has long since passed after a mission.
Orchid is a tall orchid mantis with long wavy antennae. She has long slanted bright pink eyes. Most of her chitin is a pale soft pink, with a bright hot pink and pale leaf-like green accenting. Her entire body resembles that of an orchid flower, like the species. She also wears dark blue rectangular glasses.
Orchid is a bug driven by a need for new experience. She detests boredom and slow moments, often wanting more. Whether it's fights, sights, or simply anything new, she'd take any escape from her hometown. This initially manifested in a interest in books, but the encouragement from Navy is what pushed her to become an explorer. As an explorer, she thrived in the adrenaline of combat, and loved every part of the job. From helping others, to the thrill of combat, all the way to the logging in the bestiary.
This constant want of entertainment and feeling led to a intial blindspot. When her and Navy decided for a pet, they found Purple and missed the red flags that he was an awakened mothfly. She wasn't an idiot nor in denial though, as she realized what and who Purple was. This realization led her into a new fondness and appreciation for the slow moments, as she needed patience when working past the communication barrier, and she loved Purple as her son.
Orchid grew up in the Golden Settlement. Outside of the Golden Festival, it is a painfully slow and boring farming town. The most interesting thing about it was Venus' altar, and she never believed in Venus too much. Growing up in a slow town, she ended up going with a slow career, deciding to be the librarian to a small new addition to the settlement. She did have a love for books, mostly as fantasy and action provided a much needed escape from the boring environment.
She first met Navy while on the job. He was stopping by the library to drop off an overdue book for a friend, and the two chatted. She expressed her reasoning for why she prefered literature, but Navy could read between the lines: her job was still pretty damn boring and she wanted more. Navy expressed interest in exploring, as he was pretty sick of the Golden Path and wanted to see more and actually do something fun. The two met after for a date, and the dates became common, although they often consisted in playful sparring and training.
It was a few years before Orchid even brought up the possibility of exploring. They wouldn't just be seeing more and indulging in combat, but they'd be paid to do it and even better: helping bugs. It was decided then, they'd work to being Explorers, and after a few attempts, they found their way in the Assocation.
After years with the Association, her and Navy decided on adding a third party member. Navy wanted one of the various breeds of chomper or even a domesticated millipede, but neither of them spoke to Orchid. They eventually settled on a mothfly due to their social natures and intelligence. They ended finding and taking in Purple, completely oblivous to him being an awakened mothfly. It didn't take long for her to recognize the signs, however. The way Purple talked and copied them, the way he acted, and he was much smarter than the common mothfly.
She realized her mistake quickly, and immediately went to fixing it. She treated Purple as he was, a child, and had to dabble in homeschooling. Navy was irritated by it, as he kept saying Purple was just a mothfly, and it was clear he wanted to back on the field. Orchid ignored him, even if teaching Purple was a little frustrating at times, but the more she stuck with it, the easier it got to handle. For the first time in years, she found herself not minding the slow and small moments in her life. Things she used to hate, like cooking long recipes and gazing at scenery, went from tolerable to enjoyable to her. It was nice. A lot nicer than she gave it credit for.
She found herself getting homesick, and although combat was fun, she wanted to experience the Golden Settlement in this new lens. She was second guessing her career as an explorer, especially that Navy insisted on dragging Purple into it. She hated the "training" Navy did with her son, and she was slowly starting to consider her relationship with Navy. He encouraged her impaitence, often spoke low of her hometown. For a while she even hated it and her old job, and she wasn't sure if Navy brought out the best or worst in her.
It was a few years as she reluctantly followed Navy along. She wasn't as happy anymore. She enjoyed staying at inns a lot more than fighting enemies. She enjoyed Navy's absence whenever he went to run an errand. She enjoyed Purple's company, and the progress he made. Eventually the two stopped by the Golden Settlement, but she couldn't stay home long. Despite as much as she missed it. Navy had picked up a bounty poster, one with a high reward. Reluctantly, she agreed, on the condition Purple couldn't come. She wasn't bringing her child to a bounty. Even if Navy found it ridiculous, he also agreed.
But Orchid's feelings were beginning to boil over. It all came to a burst when Navy made a comment on her treating a mothfly like a child, and it escalated into an arguement. The two went back and forth, Orchid defending Purple and herself as Navy went as far as to call her delusional. They didn't realize they had made it to the bounty. It ambushed them, and before she could react, she got struck with a potent venom. She was out immediately, and although alive, she didn't have a lot of time left. She was brought to a doctor's, and passed in the hospital, but not without regrets. If she could've done it all over again, she would've struck Navy and left the bounty to him. She didn't care if it was a selfish thought. It was cathartic, and despite everything, a part of her was glad. She got to see her home again briefly, and the thought that in another life she stayed for the golden hills and simple conversations with the aphid shepherds brought her solace. Even the Venus mimic, as cruel and terrifying as it was, in that brief sight, its petals gleaming in the sun, it was beautiful.
