After her first week in Castle Thorne and no Ravka in sight, Zoya's resigned herself to accepting what High Mage Ambrose Rhett had told her: she truly is here, and it's because of her apparent exploits. Regardless of her questions of him (don't they know her country needs her? While it's all well and good that she's been summoned away based on her feats and reputation, Ravka needs her most), she's come to understand that Ambrose Rhett suffers from what most men she's encountered suffer: selective hearing.

She ventures out into Castle Thorne, dressed in pants and a blouse. Zoya looks a vision even in a strange city she doesn't know the layout of. She walks with grace and confidence like she's been here her entire life, although her expression would call that into question. She surveys the debris with a furrowed brow.

Although she postures for being incredibly vain back home, when Zoya comes across a few people clearing up debris, she doesn't turn her back. She approaches them, introducing herself as Zoya, and offering to lend them a hand.

Of course, there's a reason for what many people would claim is an 'out of character' moment. (Wait for it.) Ignoring how her hands grow dirty instantly, Zoya gets to work.

"What happened here?"

The Storm Witch was bound to find herself here.

She stands off to the side of the magic lessons with crossed arms and a small, amused smile. She can't help it. This reminds her of the Little Palace and how the Grisha she trained would struggle to harness their abilities, blocking themselves by thinking too hard and flicking their wrists too forcefully.

Determined to observe and learn more about this world, she inevitably opens her mouth. After all, this is her talent: summoning wind, creating storms, and being as electrifying as lightning.

"You need to let the wind come to you," she murmurs to one of the students, who seems to be struggling to grasp the entire concept. While the lesson focuses on uttering a few words, Zoya knows better. The making at the heart of the world requires openness. Reciting words is good, but not opening oneself to be a conduit is blocking them.

When Zoya flicks her wrist and summons a warm, gentle breeze to sweep around them, she calls attention to herself. (One may notice the black scale-like bracelets infused into the skin of her wrists.)

a) get in loser, we're going shopping —

Of course, Zoya's going shopping.

Although she should save what little coin she has to spend, she loves finer cloth. Zoya intends to buy something blue—it's important she has enough of it, given that it's her colour!—and mingle with the stallholders to find out more information about where she is and why. While she's not one for a smooth tongue (she's not Nina or Nikolai), Zoya flirts. (She's good at flirting. Everyone wants to flirt with her.)

She holds a bottle of wine in her hand at one of the stalls. (No, she's not going to let that go—she needs a good drink after everything.) Surveying the jars lined up along the table, she listens to the stallholder as they suggest a few items for her to consider. Zoya avoids anything with honey.

Holding one of the jars up, she furrows her brows and repeats incredulously, "Vampire blood?"

Yes, she's heard that Nocwich is home to mythical beings that belong in stories meant to scare children. That doesn't mean she's had any better luck believing it.

b) hot springs —
potential nsfw

Two things attract Zoya to the hot springs: the idea of pampering herself, and the dragon longs for the hot stones. It's strange to consider herself listening to an ancient beast that's embedded itself deep within her soul, but as they have the same goal in common, she doesn't question it.

The lack of modesty at the hot springs doesn't see her blush. Zoya feels she's in her element: eyes are on her as she confidently sheds her clothes, leaving them in a neat pile off to the side of the water where it's dry. Eight claw marks scar her back; her long, black hair covers most of it, and Zoya gives those surrounding the hot springs little chance to study them. (Her insecurity doesn't lie within her nakedness, but in the baring of her survival.)

Perhaps she should be spending this time asking more questions and plotting a way to return to Ravka sooner, but she needs a break. She deserves it. Even though it's been a few weeks since she was trapped in that purgatory with Nikolai and the Saints, she still feels Elizaveta's sap in her hair. She's sticky all over.

She wants a break—one moment to herself.

She sinks into the water, sighing. Saints, it feels good to feel her muscles relax, the heat sink into her skin, and be.

Though, she could really use a massage. (And wine. Why didn't she go to the spa?)

[ Zoya is from the end of King of Scars (Grishaverse books).

Feel free to wildcard me any prompts from Castle Thorne and Nocwich! I picked the ones that Zoya would be attracted to. Although my prompts are written in prose, you can action spam me and I'll match. Feel free to to pm me if you've got any qs. ]