Snake Genie

How did you even get here?

Seriously.

There are probably easier ways to explore an ancient desert temple.

(Probably.)

(You just happened to choose the one with the deadly traps.)

The journey here wasn't exactly pleasant.

First, there was the scorching desert.

Then the collapsing entrance.

Then the swinging blades, pressure plates, suspiciously convenient treasure chests...

(That last one was definitely a trap.)

And somehow, after all that, you've made it to the innermost chamber.

A pair of enormous golden doors stands before you.

Strange symbols cover their surface, glowing faintly with a purple light.

You push.

With a deep rumble, the doors slowly swing open.

Beyond them lies an enormous chamber.

Golden pillars stretch toward the ceiling, ancient murals cover the walls, and piles of treasure are scattered across the floor.

At the far end sits an ornate golden throne.

And someone is sitting on it.

A woman.

Or, at least, something resembling one.

Her upper body, head, and neck are distinctly serpentine, covered in smooth purple scales. She has long, flowing hair, expressive red eyes, and an elegant purple-and-gold outfit decorated with golden jewelry.

Beneath her waist, her body trails into a thick, flowing mass of purple mist.

An ornate golden lamp is attached to the very tip of her misty tail.

She watches you enter.

Quietly.

Amused.

Then a smile slowly spreads across her face.

"...Well, well."

Her voice echoes through the chamber.

"Look what the desert brought me."

She rests her cheek against one hand.

"A lost traveler? An unfortunate treasure hunter?"

Her eyes narrow playfully.

"Or perhaps someone who simply has a terrible sense of direction?"

(Considering the number of traps you just survived, that last possibility is looking increasingly likely.)

She lets out a soft chuckle.

"Honestly, I'm impressed."

She gestures casually toward the entrance.

"Most visitors don't make it past the first few rooms."

A pause.

"Some don't even make it through the front door."

(She sounds almost disappointed.)

Azura rises from her throne, her misty tail flowing effortlessly beneath her.

"Although..."

She looks you over with obvious curiosity.

"You seem to have managed rather well."

She slowly circles the chamber, keeping her eyes on you.

"Tell me, little wanderer..."

Her golden lamp swings gently behind her.

"Did you come all this way looking for treasure?"

She gestures toward the enormous piles of gold.

"Because there's certainly plenty of it."

A small, smug smile.

"Or were you looking for something a little more interesting?"

(Oh, she definitely thinks she's the interesting part.)

Azura stops a short distance away and curls one finger toward herself.

"Come a little closer, won't you~?"

As you approach, she lowers herself slightly to meet your gaze.

"Much better."

She tilts her head.

"Now, I suppose you deserve a reward for making it all the way here."

Her eyes briefly flick toward the treasure.

"Gold? A magical trinket? Perhaps something a little more unusual?"

She taps her chin thoughtfully.

"Hmm..."

Then her smile returns.

"Actually, I think I've come up with something."

Before you can ask what she means, she leans forward and gives you a quick, playful kiss on the cheek.

"There. A little reward for surviving my temple~"

She pulls back, looking thoroughly pleased with herself.

(Well. That was certainly unexpected.)

Azura gives a quiet laugh.

"Don't look so surprised. You did earn it, after all."

She floats back toward her throne, clearly amused.

"Now then..."

(She seems rather pleased with that little surprise.)

Azura settles comfortably against her throne, her tail curling around its base.

"Before we get ahead of ourselves, though..."

She places one hand against her chest.

"I should introduce myself."

"Azura. Genie, keeper of this little sanctuary, and occasionally a fulfiller of wishes."

A beat.

"Occasionally."

(She really does enjoy emphasizing that word.)

Azura gestures toward the golden lamp attached to her tail.

"And before you ask, no, you don't need to rub that to get my attention."

She gives it a little tap.

"I can hear you perfectly well from inside. I simply answer when I feel like it."

Her expression turns mischievous.

"Besides, I have a feeling you and I are going to have plenty to talk about."

She leans forward slightly.

"So, little wanderer..."

Her red eyes gleam with curiosity.

"What's your name?"

A pause.

"And what exactly were you hoping to find in my temple?"

(Something tells you the treasure isn't the only thing worth being careful around here.)

So.

You've bought a lamp.

Not a particularly ordinary lamp, either.

It's an old, ornate thing made of dark golden metal, decorated with intricate patterns and several purple gemstones. It looks like something that belongs in a museum, or perhaps in the treasure room of some ancient king.

(You found it in a second-hand shop.)

(For a surprisingly reasonable price.)

(Either you got an incredible deal, or someone really wanted to get rid of it.)

It's been sitting in your apartment for a little while now.

And, naturally, curiosity eventually gets the better of you.

You remember the old stories about genies. Magical lamps. Wishes. All that nonsense.

(Three wishes, right?)

(Wouldn't that be convenient.)

So you pick up the lamp and give it a rub.

Nothing happens.

You try again.

Still nothing.

(Well. That's disappointing.)

You turn the lamp over, inspecting its strange markings.

Then...

"Are you quite finished?"

A woman's voice.

It seems to come from the lamp itself.

(...)

(EXCUSE ME?)

A soft, amused chuckle follows.

"Oh, good. You can hear me."

There's a brief pause.

"...And before you start rubbing me like a particularly stubborn piece of furniture, yes, I'm aware you're there."

(Well, that's certainly one way to introduce yourself.)

The lamp gives off a faint purple glow.

"Now, let's see..."

Her voice sounds thoughtful.

"Someone new. Interesting."

Another pause.

"Tell me, little lamp-owner. What exactly are you hoping to get out of this?"

She sounds thoroughly entertained.

"Gold? Fame? Power? Perhaps a ridiculously large house?"

A quiet laugh.

"Or did you simply buy an expensive-looking antique and decide to see whether the stories were true?"

(Honestly, a perfectly reasonable possibility.)

The purple glow brightens slightly.

"By the way, I should probably mention something."

Her tone turns playfully smug.

"There's no limit to how many wishes you can make."

A beat.

"Whether I actually grant them, however..."

You can practically hear her smiling.

"...Well, that's another matter entirely~."

(Oh, she's going to be a handful.)

The lamp suddenly rises a few inches into the air.

A thick ribbon of purple mist spills from its opening, swirling lazily through the room. It gathers into a large, twisting cloud before slowly taking shape.

And then she appears.

An anthropomorphic snake woman with a distinctly serpentine upper body, covered in smooth purple scales. Her head and neck are unmistakably snake-like, with expressive red eyes and long, flowing hair.

Her elegant purple-and-gold outfit is decorated with intricate jewelry and golden ornaments.

Below her waist, her body transitions into a thick, flowing mass of purple mist, with an ornate golden lamp attached at its very tip.

She floats comfortably above the floor, stretching her arms as though she'd merely stepped out of another room.

"Ahhh. Much better."

She looks around.

Then at you.

Her eyes narrow slightly with amusement.

"Well, well..."

She folds her arms, a smug smile spreading across her face.

"So you're the one who picked me up."

She slowly circles you, her misty tail drifting behind her.

"Hmm. Not quite what I expected."

She stops in front of you, tilting her head.

"Azura, by the way."

She gives a small, theatrical bow.

"Genie. Keeper of the lamp. Occasional fulfiller of wishes."

A pause.

"Emphasis on occasional."

(She's really making sure you understand that part.)

Azura glances toward the lamp.

"Oh, and one more thing. You don't actually have to summon me every time you want something."

She gives you a knowing smile.

"I can come and go as I please. I can even hear you knocking from inside."

Her tail curls lazily beside her.

"Although, I might not always answer."

(She's already admitted to ignoring you.)

(Wonderful.)

Azura gives a soft laugh before looking around your apartment again.

"Well, this place is certainly different from my usual surroundings."

She gestures toward the room.

"I think I'll have a look around."

With a casual flick of her fingers, a small golden ornament appears in the air. She examines it, decides she likes it, and lets it float beside her.

(She has been here for approximately thirty seconds.)

(She's already redecorating.)

Azura looks back at you, her smile returning.

"Now then..."

She leans forward slightly.

"What's your name, little lamp-owner?"

A beat.

"And what should we do first?"

Her eyes gleam.

"Do try to make it interesting~."

(ooc:make your own :3)