.~Edelsteine~. - Ankou's Journal by Zero Dream

[Zero Dream]

The Mural And The Priestess
Week of Hell

Zero Dream

When the group had reached the courtyard, it was already quite dark - and it had been evident that the young boy was tired, and thus they had stopped to rest.

Ankou had stayed awake all night in despite being a bit tired himself - just in case. He was the one who required the least rest, so it was a given in his mind that he should be the one to keep guard. It was simply too dangerous - the faint godly power that remained on the library provided some safety, yes, but not enough for the spirit guide to allow the others to sleep unprotected.

It would not be long until the sun rose, and then he could wake the mortals and the aoide and resume the search that had remained fruitless the day before. He'd taken to watching his surroundings, and his attention had been mostly held by a mural on the wall - faded by time and decay, but enough remained visible for it to be worth a closer look once the sun would give off enough light to do so.

Xanil

Eddard woke before sunrise, his fae blood never ketting him sleep for too long in situations such as these. He gave a quiet nod to Ankou as he silently stepped away from the sleeping camp moved some distance where he could comfortably make low noise, scooping his things up in the process.

Eddard neglected to care for his sword the night before, deeming sleep more important. After finding a suitable place to sit and digging oil and cloth from his pack, he slid the sword from its sheath, over his lap, and began to apply a thin layer of mineral oil. After a few strokes of the sharpening stone, Eddard was content for now. It was still too dark to really do a proper job, but this would suffice until they returned to the pantheon.

Resheathing his sword, Eddard began to do a bit of his morning routine. He didn't want to make much noise so he only did his stretches, with careful attention paid to his back and shoulders, they being a little sore from sleeping on the ground. As he did so, his attention was drawn to the same mural that had caught Ankou's attention, becoming more visible in the gradually lightening sky.

The mural consisted of two mediums, fresco and mosaic, and depicted a large phoenix rising in the sky and shedding what must have been light while straps, which Eddard assumed to be the very jesses they were here to obtain, fluttered in the wind. On the ground, a priestess was display, a large white and gold tome under one arm, and rod or other tool used to worship raise to praise in the other. The rest was faded or covered by overgrowth that had long since died and dried up.

When he was finally done with his stretches, he went to sit near Ankou while the others slept. "Did you find any rest last night?" he asked, hoping that Ankou had. He knew the importance of getting at least some sleep, and how it could effect the outcome of the day if he hadn't.

Zero Dream

"Hm-n." He shrugged, non-comital as best while watching idly as the knight took care of his blade - there was definitively interest in the god's eyes as he watched, sliding down from the pile of rubble to land on his feet almost soundlessly. "What about you ? It seems they haven't quite dared to try and break in so far. I've felt them all in the distance, but not close."

The god's attention turned to the mural once more once Eddard's did, and he went and tried to clear some of the dead plants away, through it mostly clung and most of what was underneath had faded.

Xanil

"I've found enough sleep this evening, I can always take an extended rest when we get back to the pantheon. I normally take it upon myself to keep watch all night since I sleep so lightly in these situations to begin with. Thanks for letting me take a nap in your stead. If ever there is a next time, I will repay the kindness," he said responding to Ankou's inquiry. "And yes, it would seem that the blessings and rites bestowed on these grounds are indeed strong enough to hold the legions at bay. This must have been inhabited by the extremely devout for a long time for their faiths to hold this long."

He watched Ankou begin to work at clearing some of the dried growth away and tryied to make out some of the details as they were uncovered. Unfortunately, Eddard never had an eye for art such as this, only to smithied crafts of utility to knights and warriors, and the murals aged subtleties were lost altogether on him.

Zero Dream

There wasn't much under the growth that hadn't faded due to time. The god gave a nod of acknowledgment to his companion as he kept doing so - after all, there might be something that was still clear under there - and it seemed they were still waiting, anyway...

The sun had continued it's slow rise in the sky, and as it did, something rather out of the ordinary happened. It was rather faint, at first - so faint the god wondered if he was seeing things... But it spread, and quickly - the stone in front of him started to glow in a errie light, causing him to take a few steps back.

All beside one part - a circular spot, a pendant at the priestess' neck.

"Eddard... !" Could.... this be what they had been searching for ?

Xanil

Eddard nodded, unsure. He squinted to see that in fact the pendant around the depicted priestess' neck lacked the magical luminescence that the rest of the mural eerily possessed. He slid his dagger from his boot and handed it to Ankou, "See if you can pry it out with this, I'll go wake the others." He turned and stalked to the sleeping companions.

He gave the aoide a gentle shake of the shoulder and then moved on to Myles. In a stern voice, "wake up, boy," he ordered.

The boys eyes fluttered open and he quickly sat up. "G' morn..." he started before his sleepy eyes caught sight of the glowing mural. With a gasp he quickly came to his feet to take in the whole picture.

Normally Eddard would expect the boy to quickly break his camp much the way he had, but this was an extenuating circumstance. Promptly, the boy came to his senses and turned to roll up his bedding, and begin as Eddard had intended.

Zero Dream

The god gave a blank stare at the dagger that was put in his hand at first, clearly still in shock for a few seconds before he got a hold of himself and started to do as he had been asked. His accuracy with a blade was far from perfect, but after a few tries he had managed to find a wedge the tip of the blade in between the circle and the rest of the mural. The reason why it did not glow thus became evident - it was not a part of the mural itself, through it probably was unseen before Decay hit and the edges started cracking.

Obvious, yet unseen.

It took a few seconds of going back in forth around the shape to fully detach it from the rest of the mural, revealing the hidden crevice behind it - he had to knock away debris with his hand before he could fully reach in and slide out a small wooden box - it was cracked in places, but it seemed to have succeeded at keeping what had been put within safe and in one piece. He slid the dagger into a loop in his belt to his side to free his other hand and slid the cover off.

There was a pendant inside - the cord had long ago broken down, but the stone itself seemed to have held - a large ruby on a gold setting, with a long, fire red, and slightly glowing feather - which had probably once been part of the necklace.

It had been left there...

...Perhaps to be found once more in a new life....

Maybe it had belonged to her. To the priestess.

He put the box back into the small slot carved for it, but kept the pendant - at least for now. It... could be useful, but he would return it before he left. With that done, he turned and walked back to the group.

"That is what I found." He held his hand out so that they all could see.

Jinx had always been a light sleeper, so she was awake the second Eddard had touched her - but her reaction was a slightly more graceful, wide-eyed stare. She peered down at the object, tail going back and forth in though.

"Myaaa.... Do you think it might act as a key ?"

Xanil

Eddard nodded in possible agreement. Perhaps it was indeed a key, but to what? They had found no locked doors, or at least conventional doors. "If it is indeed a key, we best fan out and search the premises again. I think this time we'll all split up, we'll cover more of the temple in a shorter amount of time." He paused briefly, considering their findings. "Call out if you think you've found something, keep an eye out for slots and other shapes that the pendant might fit into. Oh and if you find a demon, any of you, run as fast as you can. Don't yell, don't scream, as that might give your position away to its allies, and don't get caught. Ankou, do you want to hold on to the pendant?"

Zero Dream

"I can do that." The god nodded, reaching to his belt to return the knife to Eddard, before he could forget about it. "Better be careful, yet swift. The glow of the mural might be a sign..."

When everything was decided, they each turned and went off in their respective directions.

Xanil

Eddard moved with great haste toward the western side of the library which was on the opposite side of where the mural was located. As he ran, he couldn't help but feel the magical energies that seemed to be reinvigorated in the early morning light of the large sun who's full form hadn't even broke away from the horizon yet. No wonder the enchantment hadn't died just yet and was strong enough to repel the demons, it may very well derive its strength from the light of each day.

Eddard came around a corner and caught his elbow on the opened beak of a fair sized sculpture of a phoenix. As he dabbed the blood from his elbow away with the ends of his cloak something caught his attention. He hadn't noticed the opened beak sculptures before, in fact, everyone he had seen the day before had closed beaks. He looked at this one and then on down the hall noting that all of them had open beaks in this corridor.

On a blind whim, Eddard bent down to look in the mouth and saw that the mouth was highly sculpted and detailed. Confused, he went down to the next statue. Though the exterior was uniform, being a near exact replica of the other statue, Eddard noticed that the inside of the beak and mouth had different details. Intrigued, he moved on. As he went he noticed another attribute, each mouth he came to seemed to be in various stages of opening. After about his 20th statue, Eddard noticed they were starting be in various stages of closing and figured it out. The beaks opened and closed, based on the sun's proximity to the horizon. As it peeked over the horizon, the mouths would start to open, reaching their apex when half of the sun had cleared the horizon and start to close, completely closing when the sun no longer touched the horizon. He gathered that this must be because of the new morning and tied to the theme of rebirth.

Again he was struck with another notion. He remembered the great phoenix statue in the west wing that faced west to see the setting sun. Its mouth had been closed too, perhaps it would be open. He sped off again, an excitement growing in his stomach.

He came into the the great west wing of the library, the morning light pouring through the oculus in the domed ceiling and bathing the large statue in light. Eddard circled around the statue to see its face and noted that the beak was in the same transition as the rest of the statues here in the west wing.

The statue was roughly twice his height, maybe more, with its out stretched wings, but the beak was close enough to the ground that a couple quick hops confirmed Eddard's hopes. Inside the beak was a faceted notch where the pendant would fit. With some luck, it would trigger something.

Eddard reached up, placing one hand on the upper beak and the other on the lower and held them open, his well muscled arms rippling onder the closing mechanism. He was fortunately stronger than it allowing him to hold the beak open indefinitely.

"COME QUICK! I THINK I'VE FOUND IT!" he shouted toward and down the corridor he had entered through.

Zero Dream

Thankfully for Eddard, it so happened that Ankou, who had gone south, had been the closest to his location, and turned around to dart off the second he'd heard the knight's voice shatter the silence. The library, thankfully, still seemed to be empty save for them for the time being.

It took a few minutes for Ankou to run his way down the halls and some looking to wind up where Eddard was. The god kind of stared for a moment, but seemed to understand, going to the statue and doing his best to place the pendant in the statue's break, which... was easier said than done, as he now found himself wishing he hadn't chosen a host that was shorter than average.

Or, on the flip side, that he had actual, functioning wings. After a few moments of hopping about like an idiot, he went for a slightly unorthodox approach - using one of Eddard's arms to lift himself off the ground and slide the pendant when it did fit perfectly.

Xanil

While Ankou worked the pendant into place, Jinx and Myles filtered into the room, Myles stifling his laughter at the sight of Eddard and Ankou working at the statue. Eddard gave quirked a brow in his direction and the boy straightened up, finding his discipline.

"I jest Myles, we must look ridiculous."

When the pendant finally slid into the proper position, the sound of gears and other archaic mechanical sounds came from beneath the tiled floor. Over on the eastern wall, the same wall possessing the entrance to the corridor the entered this part of the wing through, two of the book shelves shifted apart slowly and smoothly to reveal a stair case that spiraled up.

Eddard could feel that the beak of the statue was no longer trying to close and so relinquished his grip. He turned to Ankou, "You think when we're done here we should deliver the pendant with the Jesses? Perhaps he can award it to a deserving priestess in this era. What do you think?" he asked inquiringly.

Zero Dream

"To be honest, I... do not know." The god shook his head, doing his best to ignore the leftover giggles coming from his aoide. "I was going to put it back when I found it... Let rebirth decide for himself. I can bring him here if he wishes."

The god glanced to the staircase, waiting for the rumble, the movements and the sounds to stop before speaking once more. "Well, we should get going, shouldn't we ?"

Xanil

Eddard nodded, walking toward the opened passageway and the stairs beyond. The passage was nothing more then a wide shaft shooting straight up, hidden within the structure of the building by its thick walls. Once inside and climbing, the group could see that the walls were covered in art, similar to the the one outside that concealed the key, but in much better condition as it has been hidden from the elements and the light of the sun. It must have told a story as the pictures seemed to have a sequence of scenes that were laid out in conjunction with the spiraling stairs. Unfortunately, Eddard paid little attention to them, too focused on the goal at hand. He realised that if they were stumped in some fashion, perhaps he could comeback and reference the tale, but for now he was too occupied.

The shaft took them several stories up and ended in a narrow hallway that seemed to lead them back towards the center of the library. Again, the mural that was in the shaft picked up and continued, the same scene mirrored on both sides of the hall.

Before they knew it, they were standing in a large open room. The walls resembled that of the clerestory level of an old basilica style cathedral with windows so big that the phoenix must have been able to come and go as he pleased. The room was relatively dust free, likely because of its elevation allowing gusts of wind to blow through fairly unhindered. Little remained aside from a chest near the center of the room and what must have been a large perch at some point but was now only a rusting metal frame with evidence of spots where gems had once been sat.

Eddard crossed the room too look out one of the many windows. Aside from the rising dome that was apart of the main central structure of the library and a large tower elsewhere in the city, this must have been the highest point in the metropolis. The dwelling was well hidden, for no matter which window one looked out, the only building you could ever see was the dome, the other large tower in the city being on the other side of the dome and hidden from site. Eddard began to understand why no one had ever found there way here. Even from outside from anywhere in the city the room was well obfuscated and thus forgotten.

Zero Dream

The murals definitively caught Ankou's attention, however, and he often found himself stopping to watch them and take in the details, not realising that he often held the group back by doing such. Nothing familiar to him, but yet... yet so interesting.

Eventually he made it to the room as well, and found the view rather amazing. If the worlds hadn't been ravaged by the threat of the End of All.... It must have been rather breathtaking, before now. Hopefully it would be again.

After the view, the chest was the next thing that caught his attention, and gold-yellow eyes went to Eddard is silent inquiry. This was probably what they had been looking for.

Xanil

Eddard caught Ankou's glimpse and turned away from the open window he was looking out of and approached the chest near the middle of the room.

Giving it a once over, the chest was indeed finely craftly aside from its age. It was probably weak enough for him to break into but with the precious contents within, not to mention the sacred nature of the place, Eddard would proceed with caution.

"What would you have me do? Do have any means of opening the chest with finesse? I'm afraid my own means might be a little...mundane to say the least."

Zero Dream

"Let's see..."

The god knelt in front of the massive chest, taking a look over. The lock had apparently rusted off, and all it took was a few careful pulls to break it off. The rest of the chest, however, apparently would not be so easy - the top had joined with the bottom in a mix of time and decay. This probably would not be as easy, but he would rather not have Eddard force it and risk breaking things. It took a moment, but an idea finally came - he reached out to take the knight's dagger once more and, after a few attempts, managed to wedge it in place and start to break the formed bond. This wasn't exactly an easy task, nor was it like slicing a knife through butter, but apparently this was going to work.

Xanil

Eddard watched Ankou work on the chest, providing him with help when asked. With a bit of sweat and effort, Ankou managed to to open the chest, revealing its contents. Within were a few feathers, oddly in fine condition for something that ought to have decayed long ago, a few bits and baubles, and lastly, the jesses wrapped in withering cloth. "Well done, Ankou, have you done this before?" he asked, not accusingly, but more as a means to compliment his excellent work. Kneeling down to examine the various contents, Eddard could see that though the jesses had withstood the passage of time, they were in dire need of care. That could wait until they returned to the pantheon, in the meantime, it was probably best that they find their way off this realm and it demon infested lands and into the arms of safety.

Zero Dream

"I..." The answer had started to come out on it's own, but he found himself stopping "I may have. There... is not much I can remember, of the life before. Such is the same for most of us."

He rose back on his feet then, apparently sharing a similar thought than his companion. "We should get going now... Unfortunately for us, this means going all the way back to where we entered, as I doubt I could create a door on my own." There was a moment of hesitation, but he knew there was only one way to do this. "Jinx... you will go ahead and catch their attention. You are, I believe, the fastest of all of us."

The catgirl nodded in agreement, and completely understood the undertone : Don't let them catch you. Not that she wanted to have it happen, after all.

When they reached the outside, some of the demons had thankfully given up, but that still left the most determined (and therefore, the most dangerous ones) behind - but Jinx did not seem to be scared. She darted off in the opposite direction as soon as she could, the plan working out as the rest of the group was able to make it's way back to the door.

Reopening it wasn't a problem and, after sending Eddard, Myles and the jesses back, he waited for Jinx and left, closing it behind him as to make sure the demons would not follow. It was then determined that the jesses should remain in the knight's possession until rebirth could be found.

[Zero Dream]

Situating Oneself
Week of Hell

He had left the jesses in Eddard's procession once they had returned - it simply seemed safer that way. He was not quite sure how he now was situated as far as time went, but he knew for sure that the children, his nephews and nieces, where born by now, through he did not know how many there where, and what mix of the above they would be.

He still was not quite sure how he felt about that - the idea still seemed a bit abstract in his mind. He figured he would get used to it when they where actually present as themselves, and not merely as little lifeflames. When they could talk, walk, and probably wreck his living space.

That last part, he had to admit, he was not quite looking forward to.

He thought about simply going into his own rooms and thinking later - the lack of sleep was starting to catch up to him... But he knew he would probably be assaulted with questions the second he stepped inside, and he did not really feel like that right now. He really wanted to be alone, at least for a little while, so he let Jinx do as she wished and headed downstairs.

Nothing felt any different than when he had left for the burning city - or from when they had been in it, he noticed. Nothing seemed to have changed, which was rather comforting. If he had lost some time in a flux, then it was not much. It was still quite hard to say without some actual way to tell a precise date.

"My lord." Anima was the first to see him, and bowed. For a moment, the Spirit Guide was taken aback. There where... so many people here ! So much for peace and quiet, it seemed. Some bowed, or gave other signs of respect, and some seemed to ignore him completely - some faces he recalled as having led them here himself.

"Anima." He answered, and watched as the demoness rose, having been acknowledged. "I am glad to see that you have returned, and that you are well."

"So am I." She hadn't really been worried, beside the initial shock of finding her master gone once she had returned from Koiso with Ishum. While she did not always see eye to eye with Jinx, she knew that she would defend their lord to her last breath if needed.

The god then continued to walk, with his aoide at his side - careful not to disturb those who had gathered there. "How long have I been gone ?"

"Well, since Lord Nergal said you left not long after he had returned... Which was not long after I had left... I would say about a month or so." The demoness said all of this with a straight face, which clashed quite brightly with the look of shock that crossed the spirit guide's face.

One MONTH ? Oh, now this was bad. Very very bad. Before he could start thinking about what to do from there, and how badly things may have degenerated, Anima interrupted him. "A month, yes, but things have stayed the same. There had been no shift after the fall of hell, master."

"Nothing at all ?" How was that possible ? If it had been a month, and influence changed every week... Anima said nothing, but lead him in the throne room. He had not honestly went in there ever since he had been reborn - he had always had something else to do - so seeing the chrysalis with his own eyes was a small shock - he found it not quite as bad as Adrian's reaction had made it, through in retrospect he could see just how intimidating it could be, expecially for a mortal. What caught his eyes next, however, answered all the questions he had.

There where chains, on the chrysalis, wrapped tightly around it's form - tiny golden links that glimmered under the faint light that came in through the still-broken window. He knew exactly what those had to be, in despite not having seen them before. "The manacles..."

"These are indeed the manacles, my lord." The demoness stood by her master's side, a few paces away from the bound chrysalis, as if greatly intimidated by it. "They have been found and put in place, as you can see, through I do not know by whom. Ever since they where, nothing had happened."

"They are binding the end." Ankou looked sideway to his aoide. "...For now. We have been given more time, but they will not last forever." Tian Yue had said as much - it had been predicted by the fate stones. They seemed strong now, but how long would it be so ?

"Yes, my lord. I know. What should we do, now ?"

"I have found and returned the jesses to this world, with the help of a host - but we have no idea where to find Rebirth so that we may return them properly. Can you find his wereabouts for me ?"

"Yes, my lord." Anima gave a polite bow, and pretended not the see the look Ankou gave her. She knew she did not have to do those things in his presence, but it felt right to do so, all the same. Then, she turned and was gone, leaving the spirit guide to his own devices. When she was gone, he returned his attention to the chrysalis in quiet contemplation.

One month, then... He had quite a few things to catch up on, but first of all, the jesses had to be returned.

[Zero Dream]

Return To Owner
Week of Hell

Zero Dream

It had taken him a bit of investigating, but the god believed that he had found the right place - a door with flames on it. He could not help but hesitate, for a moment, taking a side-glance to Eddard and the jesses. His lack of memory on the matter still bothered him, honestly - he had to have known Rebirth in the life before, it could not be otherwise, due to the very nature of the both of them, and yet...

And yet nothing came. It fell wrong and so oddly empty, where there ought to be at least shards.

But it wasn't the time to think about this. He shook his head, as if trying to shake the thought away, and, as it looked like the knight was ready, knocked on the door.

Xanil

Eddard waited patiently, holding the jesses. He noted Ankou's subtle annoyance but figured it had nothing to do with him. His thoughts turned to his encounter with Rebirth. He knew little about the god despite the mentioning in the journal that Gianfar had given to him soon after his arrival in this realm. Several questions flooded his mind. Was Rebirth responsible for the reawakening of the gods is some fashion? Could he possibly save Eddard from the fate that Eid had awaiting him after his ascension in the form of reincarnation? Just how far does the god's domain stretch? Does it include any or all other natural cycles or is it too specific? Eddard couldn't know, and knew that questions such as those would be likely a waste of time. They were here today to present a long lost possession, not berate Rebirth with questions. Pushing the the notions aside, Eddard awaited patiently.

Chaeval

The door made the knocking a clarion call. The metal translating the mudane to sublime. Even as ash and decay lay below and outside, the metal remained untarnished. Someday it might, but for now it resisted the chaos Without. The flames glinted as the pallid light filtered off it, seeming to keep the blaze alive, if muted. There was a soft sound of voices
behind the door, before there was the sound of a latch being thrown back.

The door slowly swung open.

A nose protruded first, followed by the brim of a beaten hat. The rest of the face seemed to follow after in a rather desulatory manner. Eyes brimming with age and mirth stared at them for a moment. "May I help you, Lords?"

Zero Dream

The clear, pure sound that resulted from his actions caught him off guard for a moment, clearly unsuspected by the one who had knocked. The door opened shortly after that, revealing someone which, by his speech, did not seem to be the one he had been seeking. A servant, perhaps ?

"We were wondering if rebirth would be here - I must apologize, I do not know which name he goes by nowadays, being freshly reborn myself - and if he would be willing to see us for a moment ? We have found something that belongs to him on a journey, and wish to return it to him."

As crucial as the jesses may end up being in the future, it did not feel right for him to keep them, unless they had the god's permission to do so. Some gods seemed closer to their past lifes than others, so, really, he had no idea what would happen, or what he would think of all this.

Chaeval

There was a hint of a grin still remaining. "My Lord often leaves things lying about. I am not surprised that you've found something." he pulled the door open more widely revealing a largely barren but now swept clean room. In the center lay a nest, obviously reconstructed and well worn. Even now there was a figure fussing it carefully.

There was a rather rude braying to the side, as a donkey glared at them in a disgruntled manner. Next to her lay two piles of what appeared to be ponies of various sizes and colors.

"My Lord Byrne." the man said cheerfully. "I've some guests come to visit!"

Xanil

Eddard followed Ankou and Byrne's servant into the room. He did so silently, awaiting for introductions and other ettiquette the phoenix might abide by. He wasn't sure what to think of the quarters, but realistically couldn't have expected anything else from someone who had spent most of their existence as a bird. On the bright side, he was civil, the stench that normally accompanies the nests of larger birds such as rocs not being present.

He was also amused. The servant making the comment about how Rebirth left things lying around made Byrne seemed bird brained. A pun Eddard would have kept purely to himself if it weren't for Eid's snort of contained mirth from within at the passing thought. Still, it was something he would never say allowed to anyone under any circumstance.

Zero Dream

Ah, a name, thankfully. It would make matters a bit less awkward. There were perhaps some that preferred to refer to one another sorely on their domain, but Ankou was not one of them. He stepped inside after the door had opened, and had they not just gone onto the journey they had, the nest might have surprised him. Instead, the donkey and the pile of colored, plastic... horses ? was what did it, but he did not dwell on it. To be honest, he was unsure on what to do now, so he waited, glancing sideways to make sure Eddard had the jesses more out of said nervosity than anything else.

Chaeval

Zero Dream

To be honest, Ankou was getting pretty confused now. He hadn't really known what he had been expecting, but this... clearly was not it. And yet it seemed better than never-ending protocol. Byrne seemed more... childish than anything else.

"Yes, no tailfeathers. Alas. Perhaps later on, if I am to be lucky." He couldn't help but smile. "A bucket ?"

Xanil

Eddard always made it a practice to accept gifts from a host when in another's dwelling. "Yes, and thank you," he responded politely, exchanging a mildly confused look with Ankou. He considered cutting to the chase and presenting Byrne with what was his, but thought better of it. He had been one of the earliest gods to reawaken, surely there was purpose to Harmodius' will in that. Perhaps there was something to glean from this encounter. He continued to stand by idly, curious as to the directions any conversations with the god would go. The jesses, still in his hands and partially concealed by a bit of cloth that was in the very chest they procured them from, made relatively silent sounds of metal on metal as its alloy bits occasionally bumped into each other.

Chaeval

Smiling, Byrne went to the door and removed both a mop and a bucket that was one of two guarding that entrance. He presented the battered prize out as if a great treasure was being offered. "It's always best to have a bucket." he intoned. "especially now." his grin faded a bit.

After making his gift, he walked back to his nest and sat in it almost daintily. It seemed the closest thing to a throne for him, despite the gaudy fluff that comprised it. But rather than indicate the others sit as well, he just blinked up at them. It was as if after making the offering, he expected that their business was done. "Did you come to see the pony?" he then asked after a rather awkward moment.

Zero Dream

"That is not exactly what we came for, but it is nice to see the pony." Really, he wasn't quite sure about what the bucket had supposed to mean, but it would be rather rude to refuse it. "I am Ankou, the Spirit Guide, and my companion is Eddard. We came to see you because, well... Do you know Gianfar ? He sent us to retrieve an item, something that will be very important later on, and he told us that it once belonged to you. It seemed rude to us not to, at the very least, ask if you wanted to keep it yourself. I know I wouldn't be happy if someone took something that was once mine without asking me first, you know ?" The god said with a smile.

He sent a glance to Eddard, signaling that it was time to hand the jesses over.

Xanil

Eddard stepped forward, taking a knee before Byrne. Unwrapping the tattered cloth from the jesses, Eddard presented the leather straps, their metal pieces reflecting what light was in the room. Eddard had taken the time to oil the leather and polish the shiny bits, giving them the care that he would have wanted his own things to receive, the care this artifact so deserved. Eid had sent a wave of approval to Eddard when he first had the notion to clean them, and was now revisiting the sentiment as his host presented them. "I hope you find them to your satisfaction."

Chaeval

Byrne blinked in bemusement at the offering, cocking his head in a very bird like fashion. "Hm." he said, a low sound in his throat. Taking the small offering, he cupped it in his hands, smiling at the slight jingle made as metal clinked against itself. He rubbed the leather, feeling the oiled smoothness of it.

"You wanted to keep these?" he asked, peering at them with some odd alertness.

Zero Dream

Oh, great, he must have messed up somewhere... Perhaps it would have been better to let Eddard do the talking. "Not really, no. All I want is them to be safe. I must apologize, I am... not exactly the best with wording out my thoughts... Perhaps I never was. I meant no insult." He wanted to elaborate, but it seemed much safer to simply keep quiet, and let the knight handle the situation ?

Really, he wished he wouldn't keep messing things like this up. Spirits were easy to talk to, but other beings, even of his own kind ? Not always so much.

Xanil

"It is not that we really need to keep them safe either," he added. "Great Byrne, Lord Ankou and I are under the impression that these Jesses were once wielded by you in opposition to the ones known as the grigori. Lord Ankou and I embarked on an adventure in which we traveled to an old archive, one that once served as one of your places of worship, in order that we might find them with the intention of returning them to you so that you might wield them once more against the grigori," he paused for a moment, considering his next words. "Conversely we realize that just as none of the gods are as they once were, the Great Byrne of today might not be the same Great Byrne of the past and possibly decline the task at hand for any number of reasons, deeming someone more capable as bearer in his stead, someone to champion for him...for you. Either way, Gianfar has named the Jesses a great weapon and Lord Ankou and myself have taken it upon ourselves to make sure it is utilized in some fashion or another since we have a personal stake in their destiny."

He looked to Byrne, awaiting his response. Hopefully he hadn't overwhelmed the god or misspoke in any way. Eddard was known for being strong willed and passionate in his various causes. With some luck, those qualities may not drive the phoenix away.

Chaeval

"Hm." Byrne was still looking thoughtfully at his hands. There was
something slightly unsettling about that gaze that could only be identified after some thought. He was not blinking. He tilted his head again, weighing the leather and metal in his hands. They were a bit small now, but he didn't remember that being a problem. He didn't think it would be now.

"Well." said the man, nose quivering "perhaps you should give an old man his due and explain exactly who these "grigori" are, and why they must be fought?"

"Hm." Byrne just repeated, sitting on the edge of his nest, legs folded beneath him and tail splayed delicately.

Zero Dream

Well, it was evident that the knight was better with words that he was, so staying silent and letting him explain the whole thing was rather tempting. Tempting, but ultimately a bit cowardly. His gaze returned to the group - he hadn't even noticed he had adverted it until now.

"I do not remember much about the origin of the conflict itself, but I can tell you what I do know, expecially about the current situation." He was silent for a second, obviously trying to get his thoughts in some kind of logical order. "The grigori are a race, a group of people that do not follow the gods. They seem to have control over void itself, which do make them extremely dangerous to begin with. It did seem like they were always rather hostile, even before the fading itself, as they wound up banished in another world called the Ashlands, where only two influences existed - Universe, and Gaia. They were trapped there for a long time, until recently - their leader escaped back into this world - she struck down Lord Harmodius, creating the chrysalis in the throne room and resulting into the world breaking down further and further, as you probably have noticed. Void is powerful enough to unmake even Destruction, which in turn results in unmaking Creation. In time, things will continue to degenerate further and further until there is nothing left, since there nothing to truly support the very fabric."

He rose an hand to slide a bang of gray away from his eyes. "In despite a few of us rushing to the throne room to try to stop her, their leader, Samyaza, escaped with one of Gaia's arms - which we believe she may use to get the rest of her kind out of the Ashlands. There are solutions in the works to rebalance our lord and avoid the end of the worlds, but the fact remain that they will probably try to interfere again when they realize their initial plan is no longer carrying itself out. The only way to do lasting damage to them is by Creation aspects, as well as certain weapons attuned to it - the jesses being one of those, as well as you being one of those aspects." He glanced at Byrne. Was it really a good idea ? He just seemed so... young, somehow.

Still, he could not just not tell the whole truth if it was asked for. He glanced over at Eddard. "Did I forget anything ?"

Xanil

Eddard nodded. He didn't know too much about the situation or whether or not Ankou's explanation was entirely accurate. It was, however, more than he himself really knew. He had been whisked away right after Samyaza's departure from the pantheon on a quest to recover the final pieces of the consort with Karaski's and Tajnevaki's hosts at the time. Both had since been reborn, their mortal hosts shed or absorbed. After a brief few days rest from the journey, he took up the mantle of this quest which was drawing to a conclusion. He did know that time didn't afford them much consideration and that action was now what was needed. He sat by, holding the jesses, hoping that their true master would take them up or appoint an appropriate champion. All the while he could feel Eid churning withing, but keeping his thoughts separate from Eddards.

Chaeval

Byrne looked quizzical even as Amaros nodded pensively. The old man seemed to have contained his exuberence for the narration and hereafter. Byrne had gotten back to his feet, not attempting to move with grace, but unable to mask the shimmering beauty of tailfeathers that each waved as a seperate dancer.

"If Harmodious needs help." he said, his bird bright eyes on them "of course I can help." He remembered his last meeting with a pang, but understood in a way that things sometimes were as they were. It was a brief moment of lucidity that was crowded out by a thought that he would have to shine his bucket for battle.

Holding out his hand he cocked his head slightly. Amaros could only hope that once he took the items, that he would not bury them in his nest and forget about them.

Zero Dream

"And your help would be greatly appreciated." He smilled, not bothering to hide his own relief that his words seemed to be in tune with what he was actually thinking. Why was it so hard ? Well... he wasn't sure. He had good days and bad days, really, and this kind of situation did not help. He was not used to be in the spotlight, to be the one to give information directly - that, and he had expected them to be aware.

"I do believe each and every one of us will be needed for this... Oh, I almost forgot - there is a noticeboard on the bottom story - it holds a lot of information, if either of you are interested. It is quite possible that a few things have slipped from my mind." He gave a nod to both Byrne and Amaros.

[Zero Dream]

Settling Home
Week of Hell

here

[Zero Dream]

Preparations
Week of Hell

He should not have been so surprised to see Nergal remain so interested into the day of the dead even days after he had mentioned it, but yet it was indeed rather surprising. Not so much that there was interest, but how deep that interest went. And that he actually wanted to organize things for it. A carnival, of all things - really, it was a good thing he had not been drinking anything when his older brother spoke of that one, because he probably would have choked on it in surprise.

There were a few small hurdles in the realization of such a event : a lack of time, a severe lack of useable resources, and differing points of view. Nergal's idea of a carnival was definitively different than Ankou's own, and the brothers often found themselves butting heads. The biggest argument had been the location itself. He had wanted a burial ground - both for ease, keeping in mind what his brother wanted to pull off, and the fact that there was one in relatively decent condition nearby. Underworld, however, wanted nothing of it - after all, such places where holy sanctity for the dead. They'd argued that one for hours - if one could count point, counter-point, and staring at each other arguing, as neither actually raised their voice. Eventually, to Ankou's own surprise, Nergal eventually relented, and with a location, they could finally progress.

Being the one with the most time on his hands, he was more often than not the one to survey things. Nergal had the children keeping him busy, and he did not mind so much. It gave him something to do beside worry. Something constructive. While he understood the need to stop and think out their next move, he preferred to be active, and part of the action. Staying still made him feel like if he was wasting time they had precious little of.

And this was indeed very constructive. This wasn't just an event - it was a gathering of mortals. It was belief, it was proof, and ultimately it was hope. All of these things would be needed in the events to come, he knew at the very least that much.

He glanced up from the stone he had taken a moment to sit on, watching the aoidei drag the generator - if it still worked, it would hopefully provide enough power for the lights they had scavenged - Nergal's idea, actually - should those actually still work. This was a whole lot of ifs and maybes, but ultimately he liked challenges. His attention returned to his current task - a pile of old wood to his left, and a small bucket full of charms on his right. A whole lot of the wood had rotten off during decay, but there where still bits and pieces that where usable and could be carved, if he was very careful. It was something he remembered doing, in his foggy memories of the ages lost - something he remembered he enjoyed then, and something that he still enjoyed now, though had little time to indulge in. A simple hobby. Wooden skulls, and wooden notes - little tokens, things easily carried. Remembrance.

It seemed fitting. And he knew already just how to hand them out...

"No, no, not there, -there- !!! Tempo ! MYYYYYYYYYYYYYYAAAAA !!!"

The Spirit Guide sighed, flicking the knife closed and getting up. Apparently, he liked challenges indeed.

[Zero Dream]

DotD - Waiting
Week of Hell

Ankou and Cosine have a bit of a catchup session on the makeshift carnival's grounds, and gets walked upon by Nergal, Echo, Akakios and Lacrymosa just as things would have started to get a tad more... intimate. Amusement ensues. >D

Logged here

[Zero Dream]

Day of The Dead :: For Those Who Remain Behind
Week of Hell / "Paradise"

Everything seemed to be going smoothly, from what the Spirit Guide could tell – even as he had spent some more time with Cosine, and that he had come to loosely supervise the green hurricane better known as Sotiris, he made sure to keep an attentive eye to the unfolding events and their execution. He had a responsibility in these events as well, even if it was nowhere as deep, complicated, and most likely draining as his brother's, and thus wanted to make sure everything went as it should. He also kept a close eye on Nergal, as well – though he had seemed to lose track of his elder brother quite a bit ago – but he seemed to hold up pretty well, in spite of the strain he most likely felt.

Which did not stop him from carefully looking out for his elder brother. For he knew, quite well, that things where not always as they seemed. Especially lately, and especially as when Underworld was concerned.

There was still frustratingly little he actually knew. He might not have been able to help – but maybe he could have been able to bear some of this burden, some of this pain he still caught from his brother for time to time.

...No matter. Nergal, he figured, had his reasons, and the Spirit Guide could not be angered or fault him for it. There were many things, he assumed, and he would not feel comfortable confiding in, even to his own brother.

They were close, no doubt, but both were also separate. And a tad secretive. Had it always been so ?

...It didn't matter, he decided. It was the present and the future that mattered, and not the past. He knew this, but yet... He figured it was only normal for one to unconsciously pine for what had been lost. The god figured this was normal – as long as one did not allow it to paralyze oneself completely.

His introspective state was broken by the sound of the bell – the signal they had agreed on and, making sure both Cosine and Sotiris would follow, he started toward the cemetery entrance. Once there, he waited, long finger stroking a lone crow's feathers as the bird came to perch on his outstretched arm. The beast seemed to rather enjoy the gesture, and it was where the Spirit Guide remained, leaning against one of the metal guards until the rest of the family showed up, and broke into step neatly.

Family. It was still somewhat an odd thing to wrap his head around. Not so long ago, there was only one he was willing to consider family – and it was the tall, pale and somber deity that preceded him. He was not as freely giving of the title as the petite goddess that walked as his side, elegant as she always tended to be, strings slowly going back her forth with her steps like a tail. She had been the first he had slowly come to silently extend the title to, perhaps even before Nergal had dared. And then there had been the children, which had been impossible to deny. They had managed their way into the Spirit Guide's heart the second he had seen them for the first time – he had pondered, first of all, if he hadn't simply gone soft, too soft, but he had forcefully driven the notion out of his head. He knew where this path lead, and he refused to walk it again.

And then, there was Cosine... which was a different matter altogether. A foreign feeling of deep affection that he was slowly starting to pin down and accept. A small feeling that some may call love, perhaps, though...

The group in front of him stopped, and so did he – letting himself fall back among the crowd. There where so many gathered here, from all walks of life or unlife, more than he had dared expect, which was a good thing. He knew what was coming, and he waited – settling the crow on his shoulder, not reacting as the claws sunk though the cloth and slightly inside the tender skin. He had discussed this with Nergal, it had been one of the many things they had ended up squabbling about, and ultimately he had no idea how it would unfold beyond the very basic explanation he had been given.

There was a trumpet, first of all. Some of the crowd seemed to panic, before they realized it was not the trumpet they all feared. Then drums, their sound low and steady. And then nothing... Until, apparently, Music could not resist, and joined the fray.

It managed to make a smile crack though his otherwise neutral expression.

”Just imagine Echo's face.” He had said back then, not even bothering to look up from his carvings as his idea of a more lived procession had met resistance.

The Spirit Guide, it seemed, had been rather right.

The whole started to move once more, toward the Pantheon, and this was where his knowledge of the whole thing ended. Nergal had told him they would head there, of course, but he had not managed to bring anything out of his elder brother beyond that. Which was odd in itself, and made him... rather curious, to be honest.

Even as Sotiris wriggled free from the hand he had taken moments before, and the other children did much the same, Ankou remained back, and while not quite as stiff as his brother would come across, did not quite just go and start dancing either. He simply continued to walk causally, the crow on his shoulder preening as he did his best to avoid a head on collision with the more outgoing members of the procession.

When they reached the pantheon, they stopped once more, and the Spirit Guide listened to the unfolding of instruments and meanings – drums like the beating of a heart and Echo's rather heavy fluteplay- in appreciative silence, the meaning of the whole quite obviously not lost on him. When Echo and Nergal turned to enter, he started moving once more – and as his brother rose on top of the dais, he remained behind, with the two goddesses and the children. The idea of all those people staring at him so expectantly was somewhat off-putting, and he much rather preferred to stay behind.

Most of what Underworld announced was things he knew would probably happen. About them, their nature, about the potential end of all that was and the steps taken to attempt to prevent it. He had to admit something – Nergal was much better with words than he was.

After he had motioned those present to leave their lanterns and candles as offerings, however, something quite... usual happened. Something that left the Spirit Guide completely silent and caught off-guard.

_____„From now on, there shall be a night and a day each year, on which the dead shall be free to leave my domain and mingle with the living. It is my wish and my tribute to Creation, that they be able to relish in the beauty of Creation, Gaia, and their Children once more. It is my admission to the mistakes of the past, and my concession to the living that there be a chance for reunions, last good byes, unfinished business to be taken care off. I do know the pain of loss of a loved one …“

...Well, that was new, and he was rather oblivious of the fact that he most likely looked like a deer in the proverbial headlights, even as those around him started to move. Once his shock faded, though, even as he kept his face near unreadable, he could not help but agree. Of course he agreed, as he could clearly remember pulling a smaller scale of this off, year after year, for centuries until...

Until the both of them were no more, most likely.

Well, this sure saved him some trouble.

Ankou was among the last to move toward the small pile of offerings, pondering just what he had to give himself. He had been too busy either with Cosine, or with surveying the whole thing, to bother with lanterns or candles, though he felt that Akakios and Lacrymosa had a point, even if they did not notice it.

As deities, they ought to be examples.

One hand traveled to his back, yanking one feather from where his “wings” emerged from his back. Even detached, it seemed to still be carrying a vague mist to it, as he bent to set it on top of the children's lanterns.

”Let these help guide you home, Lord...” He said, softly, before turning to leave. He had come out of the doors when he heard it, just faintly.

____________The sound of a trumpet...

He stopped dead in his tracks, the crow on his shoulder giving a rather irritated squawk of protest as he turned suddenly to catch the closing doors. There was no sign of Nergal anywhere, and, as it seemed no one was paying attention to him, he slid his way back inside. Sure enough, his brother was still there, staring at the dais like if he had been a fish pulled out of water.

“Nergal ?” The Spirit Guide frowned, carefully crossing the distance that separated them, mindful of the offerings as he did so. “What it is... ?”

It was only when he would stop beside Underworld that he would get an answer, eyes going wide. Fine, hairline-thick cracks in the manacles...

“s**t.”

There was no answer to the colorful slip, but rather - „Echo and the childen?“

”Outside. Probably wondering what is keeping you inside by now. I...” He couldn't take his eyes off the manacles. For it to happen tonight, of all nights, could end up being problematic, but at that thought, he frowned. “Though, when the trumpet sounded... They seemed more relieved than scared. As if they thought it meant things would get better instead of worse.”

To that revelation, his brother only shook his head. „It is the calm before the storm.“ Underworld turned, soon followed by his brother. „Let us go. If the mortals are not worried yet, there is no reason to raise concern with my absence. Leave them ignorant for now, let them eat, drink and be merry, and enjoy the brief reunion with their lost.“

At that, Ankou couldn't help but frown. How was that even supposed to help ? ”Eat, drink, and be merry' – are you not you forgetting half of that ? 'For tomorrow we die', isn't it?“

„They will come to know soon enough,“ The answer was both soft and unusual, causing his frown to turn into a mild curious glance..„This may be the last chance they have to relax and enjoy themselves.“

”...True.” Try as he would, he couldn't argue that point. So he did not, instead opening the doors once more so they could exist... only to stop dead in his tracks when a loud cheer was heard – even if it was clearly not directed at him. When a somewhat drunken woman came and pressed as cup in Nergal's hands, it did not take a mastermind for him to figure out just what it is, and with that realization, a grin broke though, successfully wiping the last of the concern off his face. Eat, drink, and be merry, hmm ?

”...I believe a toast is in order.” He said, calmly, but rather loudly. Loud enough, it seemed, as the crowd gleefully answered.

For some reason, Nergal's death glare in his direction only made it all feel more worth it, though he did not say to hear of the speech that resulted (or to figure out what kind of cruel and unusual punishment Underworld had in mind for him), as he went to pick up two rather sleepy godlings. Echo seemed to be much too busy laughing, and Nergal would probably not be able to weasel himself out of this for another few hours.

”Looks like it's bedtime, hmmm ?” He spoke with an unusual fondness in his voice as he rested both Sotiris and Lacrymosa against his chest, and Akakios followed behind, as usually the most awake of the trio. The day had been rather busy and draining... for all of them – the Spirit Guide would not mind the short time of relative silence he would be able to earn in his room before the couple returned.

[Zero Dream]

Aftermath
Week of "Paradise"

Ankou had slid out of the festivities quite some time ago, and put the children to bed on his own - and even the young Lament slept peacefully, for now, the boy a tad more tired than usual after the events. He could not blame him - the same could also be said for himself. He had heard Nergal and Echo return a few minutes ago, but had remained in the room he had managed to keep as his bedroom, and waited for the signs to carry on with what he had planned to do. He could wait, and sleep afterward.

...That had honestly went better than any of then expected, he could not help but think. One look outside revealed that many of the partygoers were still right where he had left them, some drunk enough to still be celebrating full stop, but the atmosphere as a whole had dimmed down - and it was time for heartfelt goodbyes, for the dead to slip back to being present, but unseen. As far as the mortals would know, they would be gone once more.

But for now, it would not truly be a separation. Not in the ways it had been before, and not in the ways it would one day be again. The ghosts would remain close to their loved ones - they would not stray far, at least it would be the case for most of them. Those who had passed were often very protective of those who remained behind, he had come to notice, after months... years... centuries... millennias of dealing with them. Not true memories, but an imprint. Leftover subconscious knowledge.

Sometimes it was easy to make them let go. Sometimes it was not. And then there was all the variations in between.

All were unique, after all.

The god figured that, in time like theses... The added protection would not be so bad. In numbers, the bolder ones could drive off malicious spirits and sometimes even demons on their own. He had seen it happen before, and he would probably see it happen again.

...The span of the task that would be his had been very visible to him, this night. But the god did not mind. He would take it all one day at a time, once he was ready. And he would have to find if his Valkyries still remained, somewhere... The task would be much easier if he had proper assistance, after all.

The god turned from where he had been standing in front of the large window that allowed him to see to the front of the pantheon, took a few steps, and waited. There was a very rare silence that had felt over the Spirit Guide's rooms, a calm that very rarely took hold. Just as he had thought.

As quietly as possible, he made his way out of one room and, quickly, into another, closing the door behind him but not clicking it shut. Just as he had expected, the couple was sound asleep. Even his brother, though he had no idea if passed out was a better way to put it.

It was a good thing he was not like the young Guardian, who would probably have had a field trip (though of crayons and very accessible foreheads came to mind) even if, granted, he was going to make use of the situation in a different way. He waited a few seconds more, making sure no one had stirred, before taking the few steps that separated him from the resting form of his brother.

A familiar scene, really, but with reversed roles. He had to worry not to awaken the goddess, as it seemed not even an earthquake would awaken Underworld at the moment. But that was all fine. They would talk at length later.

Just as foolish as I. The yellow-gold eyed god thought, a fond look on his usually blank face, as he reached back toward what had manifested of his wings.

Or it is I, who am foolish just like you ? It didn't matter, in the end. They were who they were - proud, stern, serious, near-unmoving Underworld, and the near-lonely, chaotic, always-moving and unpredictable Guide. Both had things in common, it seemed - including pushing themselves to their limits if the situation called for it.

The Spirit Guide's hands ran though the feather-covered appendages, pulling a few on his way and ignoring the small pinprick of pain that he caused to himself in the process. He wasn't like he was using those for anything just yet, after all. The feathers he had pulled where large ones, flight feathers, shimmering strongly with the leftover magic and power that lingered even after being separated from the god. These would do nicely, he thought.

And with that, Ankou placed them, neatly, on the very visible gem on his brother's chest. The second they made contact, the dark feathers starting to disintegrate as soon as they touched the surface, their leftover mana being absorbed. It was not much, but... But it was something. He liked to at least think of it like that. Perhaps it would help. Perhaps it would simply be a drop in the ocean, so to speak.

He did not mind either way.

"Rest well." He dared to whisper, and then turned and was gone, as if he had never been there.

[Zero Dream]

Opening Doors
Week of "Paradise"

Sosiqui

Leave no stone unturned. Leave no resource untapped. The scattered mortals they had gathered were all well and good, but this area was devastated, stripped and broken. There was only so much they could do in this area - and the greatest resource of faith Illumin had yet encountered would have to come into play if they were to succeed. Wellhaven.

The time fluxes were dangerous, he knew; they had been affected by one on the way back from Julstecca's court and missed several weeks here. There was always a chance that he could return into chaos, miss the rituals, or worse - he might come through the door, through time, and into the heart of Gehenna. The thought made his stomach twist, but even with that cost, the amount they stood to gain easily outweighed the risk.

While they had opened the door to Wellhaven together, Illumin had little idea how to twist his own power to make the gateway, and little inclination to waste precious time in figuring out how it worked, much less risk trouble caused by his inexperience. The god who had guided them so expertly would be the key again.

Illumin left his room and padded down the hall, stopping by the stairs to glance down at the activity below. It seemed there was always something going on down there now, some planning or movement; the gods and mortals were slowly coming together. With any luck, the Spirit Guide would be among them.

Zero Dream

Indeed, it would turn out that Ankou would not be hard to find at all. The space downstairs was indeed busy with people, most of them mortal, some in worse shape than others.

There was little power at his disposal beside leading them there - but power was not all. He could act as an additional pair of hand, tending to injuries and mending what he could - which was exactly was he was doing.

Perhaps once, a long time ago, doing such things would have felt degrading, but not here, not now. The crowd made him a little uneasy, but he could deal with that.

He caught Illumin from the corner of his vision, but finished the bandage he had started before nodding to the woman and sliding away toward the other good. "Light."

Sosiqui

"Ankou." Illumin descended the stairs; several of the gathered mortals stared at him openly, but most didn't; perhaps they'd come to see gods often enough that they no longer felt the need to gawk. "If only Medicine were here to aid you. No doubt we'd have everyone put back together in no time." The old ache of Pana's absence had dulled, now, under the fresh wounds of Gehenna, and the thought no longer made him uncomfortable inside. There were far bigger things to worry about now. "If you have time, I could use your aid - I presume you've heard of the plans to gather mortal belief for Creation to try and call Him home?"

Zero Dream

"Yes, I have." Ankou nodded in answer as well. "I have been doing what I could - ultimately it is easy for me to lead them here, make them follow me to safety, but beyond such... I am afraid I handle spirits better than I handle mortals. My knowledge is limited, but we have been applying it the best we could."

He paused for a moment. "Did Nergal told you that we were still planning to try and put the consort back together ?" Most of the others had seemed aware, but Illumin he had not seen ever since the group had returned.

Sosiqui

"Are you?" Illumin said, a little awkwardly - he hadn't done anything regarding the relics or Aristogeiton since their return from Wellhaven, nor had he made any move to reclaim 'his' piece from where it was stored with the others. "I wish you luck, then - but, for now, I think my path leads elsewhere, and I could use your aid to get there. We left Wellhaven singing our praises, and I want to harness that belief in service to Creation."

Zero Dream

"That is indeed a great idea." More belief, after all, couldn't hurt. He could agree to that, and... well, most of the work ahead seemed to be his own. There was no need to hold Illumin back. "I can open the Door again, but... it may be dangerous. When Hell crashed, the worlds shifted... it might also take me some time to find it again." There was also no way to be sure it hadn't been destroyed in the process, thank to the time flux. Their return date ultimately did not cement anything.

Sosiqui

"I'd rather take that risk than lose the potential power," Illumin said, part of him rather grateful that he hadn't tried to just do it himself. "So this... calm, this peace... it is the opposite of the Hells collapsing. What else is there left to destroy?" That made him feel very uneasy. He could only think of one answer.

Us.

Zero Dream

"I cannot be sure, but... it would make sense to me.." Really, he lacked a way to explain it. "I've felt something happen, something [i­]shift but... it wasn't as clear as when Hell fell. Everything being so calm only ultimately worry me more." He shook his head, but the unsaid was clear, and the same thought occurred to him.

The calm before the storm..

"If things get too dangerous... I will come get you. There is no telling how long this may last."

Sosiqui

"I appreciate the offer, though I sincerely hope it won't come to that. I will be swift - as long as it takes to speak with Queen Julstecca, no more. I don't think that should take very long, given the state we left Wellhaven in." True, many, many things had happened since then... but he had to trust that she would still be there, that they would still be willing to turn their hearts towards the gods. Surely what they had done warranted more than a few weeks of faith. "I am ready whenever you are." He brushed one hand along the mirrored edges of his finery from the Queen; it seemed best to approach her wearing that offering.

Zero Dream

At Illumin's last sentence, the Spirit Guide sent a look back - the small group had resumed from where he had left off, and everything seemed to be fine. They, after all, did not require constant attention - just enough to make sure their health was not in danger, first of all, and then enough to spark belief.

He had noticed so many of them had become more determined to live once they had found something to hold on...

"Then I am, as well."

Sosiqui

"Thank you." Illumin turned to go up the stairs, pausing to make sure the Spirit Guide was following. "Which door would be easiest? The one we used before?"

Zero Dream

"It does not matter very much... At least it does not, keeping in mind the circumstances. They may have some "memory" per-se, of who opened them and what path they took, but with everything shifting as is... I will have to find the plane again. Would it be more convinent for you if I used the same door ?" After all, there was no telling if he would need to send others on their own journey... Or that he would not need to undertake another one, on that matter.

Sosiqui

"Choose whichever you feel is best - I've no opinion on the matter, and I'm sure you know more than I do. Whichever will get me there the quickest, and back safely."

Zero Dream

The Spirit Guide only gave a nod in answer, stepping in in front of the first unmarked door, setting both hands on the smooth surface and closing his eyes, letting himself spiral within. He had not really looked at this perspective ever since the night Hell fell and he had focused all he had to keep everything up, but even as the fact that he kind of knew what to expect did dull the surprise slightly, but he was still taken back by what he saw.

So many worlds were missing, and suddenly he feared the worst for the one Light sought. He checked from where he had initially felt the links of the scepter go toward, so long ago, but of course there was nothing there. And so he looked, felt for the familiar energies. Hopefully...

Ah, finally, there it was. It had moved quite a bit away from it's initial location, but at least it was still in existence. How things truly were, however... He couldn't tell. He tried to make the connection as quickly as he could, but it seemed almost... harder, somehow.

Needless to say, the Spirit Guide did not like this one bit. That done, he followed the trail back and took over his body once more, backing away just as the runes flared to life.

"There. It is done."

He couldn't quite hide his worry.

Sosiqui

"Thank you," Illumin said, and he reached out tentatively and squeezed the other god's shoulder, unsure of how to properly express the depth of his gratitude for his aid - repeating 'thank you' didn't seem enough, somehow. "I will return as swiftly as possible, with the faith of Brilsworth behind me."

He took a few steps towards the door, letting his hand fall back to his side, took a deep breath. Opened it. Stepped through.

Zero Dream

Ankou seemed a bit surprised by the other god's reaction, but he simply nodded. "Yes... Be swift."

There was no telling how long everything could last. If the influences shifted again... No, he did not like to think about it. He waited until Illumin was gone before turning back and heading downstairs again.

He had to do what he could, at least for now.

[Zero Dream]

Attempting to Pull The Piece
Week of "Paradise"

In wish there is an attempts at putting the crown's consort back together, and things... do not go quite as planned.

Logged here

[Zero Dream]

Aftermath
Week of "Paradise"

Fire and Mystery had felt some time ago... An hour or so, maybe ? Or perhaps more, as the Spirit Guide was not quite keeping track of time at the moment. The pair (in more ways than one, it seemed) was soon been followed by Nergal, as it seemed they had all reached an impasse as to what they where supposed to do next. Each had their specific idea, but in the end, the four deities seemed to have reached an impasse, and each retired to think further about the situation and about how, exactly, to tackle this.

As to how they where supposed to put this rather complicated puzzle back in a single, working piece... He gave another look over all all the gathered items and shook his head. He figured Mystery's idea might have merit – that the Eldest would know, once he came back... if he could be called back.

And yet...

And yet.

There was something that gnawed at him, something he could not quite shake. The feeling of having failed. Perhaps not Harmodius, but... them.

They had all looked to him as of having the answer, when he had first entered Water's rooms. Even Faran himself, who had seemed to have been hoping for freedom after he would have taken what would have been needed.

His brother approached him, thinking he could pull it off. Karaskis and Tajnevaki the same, most likely. They had probably waited for him to return from looking for the firebird's jesses for that specific reason...

And yet, it seemed that he had held so little answers, ended up answering so little. And all they had to speak of it was one less piece to worry about, and one less ghost trailing Nergal. Which he figured was better than nothing at all, yet...

Yet it did not get them that much closer to an answer, did it ?

"...Damnit." He muttered, looking up once more from where he had ended up leaning against the wall, arms crossed. He had never been that prone to what mortals called cussing before, at least he did not think to. Result of the circumstance, or part of what he had to absorb from the flame that had been his host ? Who knew, and he had more important things to worry about than himself. Subtle changes due to outside sources where truly the least of his worries, in the face of this specific matter and, more accurately, the end of all that was.

If they failed to prevent that, then little else held any true meaning, did it ?

"Myaaaa ?"

The cat-like sound made the frown on Ankou's face soften, and he looked up fully to see Jinx, holding many scaps of cloths and even a pillow in her arms.

That was right, he had sent her to... "Thank you, Jinx." He said, shaking his head and sending loose bangs of gray and pale red about, as if trying to shake all these thoughts away and focus on what was important at the moment "The corner, there... It should do well to allow him rest." Out of the way of curious children, mostly. Even as he spoke, he reached to take some of the burden from the black-furred cat aoide and reach toward the space he had pointed to her, laying the sheets, bed covers, and some assorted pieces of cloth, soft fabric and material in order to make a more comfortable place for the unconscious boy to lay. Like some sort of colorful, eclectic nest. That would be remedied when he would wake, if he wished to remain in his presence.

When would he wake ? Would he wake ? He had no mean to know this, at very least not at the moment, but to leave him laying on hard, wooden floor seemed wrong, somehow. Another new learned thing, perhaps, this kind of care.

He settled the pillow in the middle and rose once more, letting Jinx fuss with it in turn as he went to take the engineer's body to carry it. The man was rather light, thankfully, as the shape of his host left him with little to talk of in physical strength, and laid him in the makeshift bed they had managed to make as comfortably as he could, pulling the last sheet to cover his form up to his shoulders.

"We should let him rest, now." He said, softly, as if he feared he might rouse the boy - even if moving him had done nothing to - and turned to leave, followed by the black cat.

"Master ?" She asked, once they had come out of the back room and into the main one, Ankou carefully locking the door to keep it out of the reach of the children. He would check periodically for signs of the man's awakening, less he may think the god was attempting to keep him inside, and not others out.

"Hmmm ?" The Spirit Guide answered, tilting head to look at her.

"Everything will be okay, mya." The cat said, softly. "I know it. Everything will be okay..."

Ankou reached, to gently scratch behind one ear, as the aoide always loved.

"I hope so, Jinx.

I hope so..."

[Zero Dream]

Fading Stars
Week of “Paradise”

He needed out.

The act was foolish at best, logic would dictate – going out at night, into the remains of a town full of demons and rubble, was about as bad of an idea as it would get, especially for a still rather freshly reborn god, who held little of his station of old and knew little about self-defense beyond taking his bone mace and whacking things with it.

At the moment, he did not care.

It wasn't that he did not enjoy the presence of Nergal, Echo, the children, and the horde of aoidei that followed the fray – far from it – but in the end, he was still a less social person, who valued silence and loneliness to some point. He doubted anything would be able to change that, no matter what – while it was a part of him that had become much less extreme in his rebirth, it was far from gone completely

The point was that all that action, all that noise in what he liked to consider his personal bubble was starting to drive him crazy. There was always something happening, one child to watch over... which did not help with focusing and thinking about the current matters, especially the consort. As much as he wished to get moving, this was one of the things where rushing head first into it, where leaping into action and trying to accomplish concrete efforts could not only prove very ineffective, but potentially disastrous.

His attempts had not ended as he wished, and clearly he needed to think of what he thought was the best course of action in order to be able to offer it to the others involved. This would go after the ritual he'd heard so much from – this was after all, first priority – finding the perfect solution would do them no good if all around them still ended. As important as it was, he had no powers or skill that could truly aid in that purpose, beyond leading mortals to the relative safety of the pantheon and helping kindle the flame of faith in ther hearts – directly or indirectly. Therefore, he allowed much of his thoughts to still wonder on the Aristogeiton problem, so to speak.

And it was what led him outside his rooms, outside the pantheon, far from the dim glow of the lava pools and into the relative silence on the abandoned, broken town. Most of the people who had lived in the place surrounding the pantheon had been lead there – a few by his own hand, even – leaving the broken rubble mostly silent, and eerily still. He had remembered seeing the city active even though the influence of Destruction, from behind his host's eyes, but now...

But now, that was all gone. Broken. Splintered. Shattered. Destroyed in truth beyond the reign of that influence alone. The Spirit Guide figured that some of these rubble may yet be able to be salvaged, but... the time was not now, not yet. He forced those thoughts and ideas away, one pale hand reaching to smooth over some feathers of one lone crow that had managed to find him and perch on one broad shoulder. Even these were a rare comfort, now – the black birds had managed to thrive even in the influence of Destruction, but there was no amount of craftiness that could have saved them from the unwinding of the influences and of All That Was. There were so few left now, and even those who had managed to survive looked like they had seen much better days.

Like most of us, I figure...

The way to at least stabilize all may reside into the imagery of lotuses and Creation, but there would still be so much to be done afterward should they succeed. Rebuilding. Remaking.

Making sure it would not happen again...

The god shook his head. Perhaps that resided in the mortal consort. Perhaps not. But those before him had gotten too far down that path, sometimes even to drastic repercussions, for it to be all given up now. All the pieces where there – easy to find, secured as much as they could be – but the problem was putting it all together. In that respect, he felt almost as if he was the one missing pieces. The more he thought about it, the more the Spirit Guide felt it would be right that, given that he was the most recent incarnation, that he would be the bigger piece. The base. What had to be used to put everything into one again. He had thought of it as equal parts, perhaps, but right now that seemed foolish. Too orderly and neat, maybe, for a force that had splintered.

It was perhaps more true to reality to believe that that the soul was whole at first, then spiraled, splintered across each successive out of control re-incarnation, a piece forcefully ripped away by the force of the broken enchantment. Maybe that isn't the truth either, but the more he allows his mind to wander that direction, the more he starts to believe this might, at least, be closer to the truth. He knew what he would have to build on, and that was a start.

...Maybe he was not looking at it correctly – maybe there was other symbolism, other powers needed to carry it to an end. Rites he did not know of. This could be indeed very complicated...

It was a soft sound that caught his attention – not the off-worldy screech of some demon lunging to rip his throat, but the panicked screams and weeping of a woman. A trap ? It might be, but yet the Spirit Guide moved in that direction, his slender shape allowing him to bypass some of the rubble. It took some time for the god to clear the rubble enough to find the child – a young girl, looking about 15 or so, as far as he could tell, huddled in a corner where the debris had mostly avoided her. When she heard him approach, she looked up, brown eyes wide and still wet with tears, clearly scared. “W-Who are you ?!”

”Shhh.” Ankou took one step closer, and the child backed off further against the broken wall. ”I am not here to hurt you.” The god stopped in front of her, crouching to be at eye level. ”See ?”

It was sudden, the shift – she went from being huddled into the corner to basically latching onto his chest, nearly sending the god recoiling with surprise – almost as if the child had noticed he was real. “Make them go away ! Please ! I've never seen so many of them around before, they're trying to hurt me !” She wailed.

”... Them ?” Ankou inquired, getting up once more while gently coaxing her to do the same, though her grip did not lessen. There was no one else there, even less demons, only...

Only spirits. Only ghosts. Only the dead.

Was it what she saw ?

”They will not hurt you. Not here. Not with me here.” He kept his voice level, and his surprise locked inside, as he gently ran his fingers though her pale blonde hairs. That always seemed to calm Lacrymosa, at any rate, as long as he did not attempt to do anything else, like her apparently still clueless father.

And he was right. They would do nothing to her. These souls were twisted, malicious – demons in life, maybe, or broken by the impending end ? - and while he had little in the way of stopping them at this very moment, little means of carrying the threats that flashed in his eyes as what had manifested of his wings spread wide behind his form, he had very direct ties with the one that could.

And these souls knew, of course. Or maybe it was simply the fact that this one was not groveling down in fear, but was very directly glaring at them. Whichever reason it ended up being, the malicious spirits left, leaving the tamer ones to slowly start to tinkle in, apparently having all been rather scared. The girl's deathgrip on him seemed to have finally let go, at the very least, and that was a good thing. The still partway mortal body still required to breathe, after all.

”They are gone now... See ? Well, the hostile ones.” It was kind of hard to think of ways to make the girl understand that not all of these strange things where malicious. ”The others were scared too, you see ? They're coming out now.”

The girl wasn't looking at him. The crow on his shoulder was shrieking much like if it was feeling Death coming on.

She was looking upward, her expression no longer locked into fear, but into horror.

And then, following her glance, he wound up taking a few scared steps back himself, eyes locked on the sky and only stopping when his back hit the wall.

The stars... One by one, the small dots seemed to dissipate, as if swallowed by something unseen. The effect seemed to spread like wildfire, like a sickness.

….No, it was not the stars that were taken, he noticed belatedly. The inky blackness left behind seemed much too deep, much too empty.

No, it was the sky, he realized with another wave of horror. Everything above the earth... was gone, in the span of seconds.

“What was that ? Where did the sky go ?!?” The girl seemed to panic once more. “It's... It's all gone !”

”...It is all gone.” He repeated after her, almost as if he had issues believing it himself, in despite of having seen it unfold with his own eyes. This was bad, but calling it simply bad seemed like the understatement of the century.

“...M-maybe's the world really is ending after all.” She stammered, as if threatening to start crying once more. “I don't want to die !”

It was hard to gather his composure, in the face of what he had just witnessed. Even harder to try to comfort the girl. ”It will not.” He said, lamely. ”It will not. We will prevent it. We will... Call Creation back, and fix all this...”

He had to keep on believing. If he could not do that, how would those who looked up to him for guidance would ? ”It is not safe here.” Another understatement of the century. ”I know of a safe place... I would like you to come with me.” He said, his voice soft but finally recovering some sort of composure for her sake, though it was mostly faked. The Guide of the Dead, guiding the living... Some would probably be delighted in the irony. ”And you all as well. I know the location of the one you seek.” He glanced away from the brown-eyed girl with those words, and toward the many ghosts. That... was a bit more like it.

“What are these ? And who are you ? What are you ?” She asked, still rather spooked.

”They are ghosts.” He answered, pushing some rubble so that they could pass safely. ”Poltergeists... spirits. However you prefer to call it. And I am their Guide.”

“Ghosts ? But... There hasn't been so many before...” From the look of it, her Seeing was not a recent event. Perhaps it had been the sharp increase that had spooked her.

”Many died, in the weeks before now.” He answered, simply. Short and to the point, until he realized something. ”What is your name ?”

“Lenneth.” She answered, clearly still nervous. Was he really right ? Would he lead her to safety ? She had lost everything she had – her family, her friends... only to see the same faces trailing and scaring her. She had to take the risk. Even young as she was, she knew she would not last long alone. That she had survived so far was nothing short of a miracle. “And you ?”

“Ankou.” He pondered about adding his title, his purpose, but stopped himself. She had a lot to digest – he would attempt to explain all that to her later.

...And she was not alone, given the glances they both kept on giving to the empty sky. The two made their way back to the pantheon, mostly silent all the while and followed by many who would be unseen, both thinking and digesting slowly what they had just witnessed.

An end.

[Zero Dream]

Final Preparations
Week of "Paradise"

The time leading to that evening had seemed to be nothing but a blur in the god's mind. He'd had little in actual power to offer to the ritual itself beside, as he had been explained, names - which would have cemented his decision to be present for it if he had not already decided so.

Little in actual power yes, but he had two hands and two feet that worked very well, and thus ended up doing a whole lot of the moving things around and the more physical work in preparation of the area. As well as some more plotting with Nergal. They would be there, not only to give names, but just in case. Lenneth had been working along with him, the young girl nearly inseparable from the god in her fear that the world would end, though Ankou was starting to slowly convince her that things could be saved, after he had managed to recover his own stability after watching the sky be eaten.

He was slowly convincing her that not only the worlds would be saved, but that they would be the ones to do it.

Ankou honestly doubted he would even be much of a distraction to a grigori should they have figured out their plan and attempt to stop it - but he could not stand to do nothing in a situation like this.

Not with so much at sake. His own potential well-being be damned, he would be there, and, while he dearly hoped it would not be the case, he would be willing to fight if needed.

For all the things he had already learned in his rebirth. For the lives of his niece and nephews.

For the mortals who could not do so themselves.

For everything that existed, and would ever exist.

If they failed now...

The god did not want to think about it. He really did not want to think about it - oh what unwinding would end up following the undoing of influences, the moving of hell, and the sheer destruction of the sky over their head, looming over them like a dark void speaking of things to come.

One in their midst had already fallen to this. It would not be long until such would happen to the end of them, to everyone, if this was not stopped.

But it would work. It would all work. It had do. At this point, there had been so much done toward that goal that he refused to believe otherwise. To believe otherwise would be to allow fear to take hold at this point.

Ankou was not the most rational, or logical, but he at least knew as much. This was the last thing that needed to happen. Keep on looking forward. Stay optimist.

Such he had done his best to be... and such the mortals he was around seemed to become. They drew strength from the gods.

They drew strength from him.

Detaching his gaze from the empty sky, the Spirit Guide glanced back inside his own rooms. He was alone, now, the night before the ritual. He needed the calm and the silence after the last few busy day, to rebuild his resolve.

Was it odd ? He did not find it so.

At any rate, tomorrow would be a very important day... the most important day of his new life so far.

No matter what happened, history would be made the following day.

[Zero Dream]

The Ritual of Renaming
Week of "Paradise"

In which the world is saved. Yays~

Here

[Zero Dream]

Seemed to stop my breath
My head on your chest
waiting to cave in
From the bottom of my...
Hear your voice again
Could we dim the sun
And wonder where we've been
Maybe you and me
So kiss me like you did
My heart stopped beating
Such a softer sin...

(I'm melting, Im melting)
In your eyes
I lost my place
Could stay a while

-- "I Caught Fire" - The Used

The Crow And The Butterfly

midnight_medea

For moments after the rebirth of Creation Cosine could do nothing but stare and watch. Her hand was still firmly in Echo’s, it was almost as if she were waiting for something to happen, the grigori to burst in or the world to implode. Her legs felt like jelly.

Around them people started to move. There was excitement, a festive atmospehere that began to erupt like a wave as the bubble of tension burst with relief and jubilation. People started to come up to them, move and talk. Cosine released Echo’s hand and flexed her trembling fingers. She felt as though she could curl up and sleep for another eternity but there was someone she wanted to seek out. If this were a time to celebrate, she wanted to celebrate with him.

She spotted him across the room, standing off alone. A smile graced the goddess’s lips and she fought her way out of the bubble around them and across the hall, not too far from the throne. She felt odd, weak, but functioning. It was almost as though she was floating, or high on that stuff she and David had smoked.

Cosine came up behind Ankou and paused for a moment. She hoped that she was not interrupting anything. There were probably more important people he would want to be talking to at this moment. She counted to ten, a soothing number, stepped forward silently and leaned to his ear.
“We did it.” She said softly, hoping he would hear her above the noise in the room.

Zero Dream

The more the crowd around him became active and cheerful, the more out of place the god was starting to feel himself be, oddly enough. He felt rather weary, moreso emotionally than physically. This was not quite over, far from it, but the worst had been adverted. He had managed to shy away from the festivities, from the mortals and his kin, actually planning to head off, but it seemed like his brother and Echo had gotten the idea before he did, and the spirit guide had a good enough hutch he wouldn't want to walk on those two anytime soon.

Drat.

The hint of a smile, however, crossed his features once he heard her voice, and he turned to face her. "It seem like we have... thanks to you."

It was, after all, her findings and her actions that lead them to this - and he wasn't planning on letting her forget it.

midnight_medea

Cosine smirked as he turned to face her and gave a laugh.
"Me?" She said, raising an eyebrow. "You do me too much justice and make me blush. It was all of us. We all did it and you most certainly helped. I would never have gotten the courage to follow through with Baadris if you had not encouraged me." She glanced to the floor between them for a moment and gave a shy smile. "It doesn't seem real does it? Or at least, it seems fragile some how. I'm almost afraid to breath in case it breaks."

Zero Dream

"It not not quite over just yet... But at least, the immediate crisis was adverted." For now, at least. But right now, he did not really want to think about it. Seeing her reaction made him smile.

"Shall we let them celebrate, then ? I fear all this excitement is starting to wear my boring self down." The god grinned. He had no idea where to go, but... he could figure it out.

midnight_medea

Cosine nodded slowly and glanced around them, it was like they were the only two stood in sensible conversation. Around them people danced and sang and laughed and cheered. She wondered if they knew this was not the end.

"My boring self feels the same." She smirked a little and looked up to his eyes. "That ritual, it zapped what energy I had left, maybe ... we could go upstairs and have some tea? Relax a little for the first time in months."

Zero Dream

"Yes, I agree... That was rather emotionally draining." He was already in motion, to leave the throne room, in a slow pace that his companion could follow easily, with the bottom of his trenchcoat no longer brushing up ash like it tended to do ever since this body had become his own.

"There is only a slight problem with that plan... My brother beat us to the idea, along with Echo, and I... get the feeling we do not want to go in there at the moment." His smile turned impish.

midnight_medea

Cosine followed after him, nudging people out of the way as she walked. She did not want to get caught in a group, if she did she was so small she'd probably lose him. Oh she hoped her next transformation might give her some height.

As she caught up with him she raised an eyebrow at his words. Nice, so the rest of them were supposed to hang out on the street whilst they got it on.
"Heh, well, I guess they're not having tea in the conventional sense." She said, returning his smirk and laughing a little. "Yes I really do not think I need to be blinded now the world is saved." She chewed on her lip a little and allowed her brain to work a little. Somewhere nice and comfortable to relax for a bit. Maybe ...

"The people of Baadris have taken over the inn and made it their own. Maybe they'll have a room we can relax in until Echo and Nergal are done celebrating."

Zero Dream

"I do not wish to lose my sight either." Really, he needed that just a little too much. Hopefully Nergal's ear where ringing like a choral of church bells right now... that would teach him.

"That would probably work. And be less crowded. Lead the way, then ?"

midnight_medea

Cosine smiled and started to walk down the path that led away from the pantheon. The sky was dark from the fall of universe and she reached for his hand. Sliding hers into it without hesitation.

It was as they approached the ramshackle inn that something crossed her mind, something Lisana had told her.

"I have a room." She said with a small laugh at her own idiocy. "I was so eager for company that I did not stay there, but I am sure it is still mine."

There were lights on at the in, dim with the lack of real power but they had managed to re-start a generator and keep it going. She smiled at the people in the lobby who greeted her and led Ankou to the stairs.

"It's at the top I'm afraid." She declared as she began to climb.

Zero Dream

He could not help but smile a bit when he felt her hand into his - it was such a strange thing - had it been anyone else, he probably would not have liked the physical contact too much, but when it was her...

When it was her, it was okay.

The god followed her though the building, though he could have sworn he'd heard a giggle somewhere in the amassed group of mortals and rose an eyebrow. What was so funny ?

midnight_medea

Cosine glanced to the left at the giggles and shrugged. God, people assumed so much sometimes. Didn't they have anything better to do. When they reached the top they stood in a hallway with two doors opposite each other.

"Right, now where did I put it." She muttered to herself releasing his hand and starting to rummage in the bag she carried everywhere. After a few moments she managed to find the key, attatched to it a plastic fob with a number. "Hah, this one." She turned to Kou, grinned and unlocked the door. The dim lights were on inside, as they were all over the inn.

Offerings had been left, the room had been decorated by the people of Baadris, carpets on the floor, cushions, some candles, pots a few boxes of supplies. Things she would need if she had stayed there. She was pleased to see a silver tray with things to make tea. They could make a fire in the hearth maybe. It would be rather homey.

"Well, here we are. After you." She gestured with her arm for him to go in and slipped the key back into her bag. Maybe she would make this her home after all.

Zero Dream

It already felt much better here... no, much calmer, he should think. This was one of the best outcomes they could have had, but he was not kind the kind to stay back and party it up like the others, it seemed. This was definitvely better.

He stepped inside silently, and waited for the goddess to come inside before looking around in more detail, and waiting for her to decide what to do. This was her private space, after all, even if it had been mostly unused before now.

midnight_medea

Cosine followed him inside and closed the door. She looked around the sparse room and smiled a little.

"Okay, um ... Tea?" She asked, walking over to the carpeted area and dragging a couple of cushions over in front of the fire place. It was cold now universe had gone.

"Um, can you make a fire?" She asked, looking up at him and reaching for a battered kettle. "I have no idea where to even begin with that kind of thing." Water, she really hoped the water was working.

"I'll, um, I'll just go and fill this up."

Zero Dream

He almost smirked. Almost. But instead, the god settled on looking amused instead. This was slightly ironic, he had to admit - had it been his host in his place, a fire would have been the least of her problem, but that power was not his to wield. "Tea would be nice - it has been awhile."

He simply nodded and went to work, thankfully there had been a small pile of wood put on the side of the fireplace, so he at least had something dry to work with. There did not seem to be any paper around, as it had been a rather rare resource now, so he had the more complicated task of starting the fire with none, and some of the matches refused to ignite, but eventually he managed, and a few licks of fire started to consume the wood.

midnight_medea

The water was working at least and seemed to be clean. She sniffed it, yep, it would be a shame to have come all this way and then get sick on dodgy water. She had not thought so far ahead as to how she was going to put the kettle over the fire but that was a bridge that could be crossed when she came to it.
"Oh, excellent." A smile crossed her lips as she walked out into the main room and saw the fire glowing.

"Just need something for this." She placed the kettle on the floor and crouched to rummage in all the things that had been left. "Do you think this is really the end?" She asked, looking back at him over her shoulder. "Now that Creation has returned."

Zero Dream

"No... I don't think so. Not completely, at the very least." The god slid off to the left in search of something to support the kettle. Clearly, if Cosine had wanted to hear someone tell her that everything would be allright, she had not picked the right one. "There is still the grigori to think about... There is no way to know what they will do when they realize their plan did not come to pass... They may even have already noticed."

He shook his head. It was so odd really, to talk like that about things he had never even seen, but only heard of. "There is still that to think about... But the worst has been adverted. For now."

And, as he watched her, right now, he could not help but feel glad.

midnight_medea

Cosine listened to the crackle of the fire and nodded, of course she had known that. There was a battered world to repair and .... them still at large.
"This will work I think." She pulled out a metal grill that was blackened. For cooking perhaps. "The Grigori. Yes, I imagine they will not be the happiest people at the moment." She made a face and crossed the room, kneeling before the fire so that she could attempt to balance it over the burning wood, supported by two bricks.
"Though, if there is one thing I have learned about all this." The goddess began, turning to pick up the kettle and a bag of tea leaves. "We should enjoy this small reprieve whilst we can. Even if the party might be short lived. There, perfect." She smiled and crawled over to sit on one of the ornate cushions, holding her hands out to the warm glow of the flames.

Zero Dream

"That does indeed sound like a great idea.." To think about something else. Just for one night. One evening. Things had been this way for even longer than this body had been his, and the events that had led to this day had constantly been the center of his priorities.

...Yet he had no idea what he was supposed to do.

He was in here, alone with her in the first time since a very long time, with apparently nothing to worry about save the passing curious spirit or two. And... he had no idea howsoever what he was supposed to say. Or do. He knew what he wanted to do, but... not really how to do it.

The idea still embarrassed him somewhat, and he still wasn't quite sure how to get to it... or if he even should at all. It seemed rather... silly.

midnight_medea

Cosine smiled and rubbed her hands together, glancing over to him for a moment, a slow smirk spread across her lips.
"You're a god of few words aren't you?" She asked, raising an eyebrow a little. "You make me feel like I'm boring you with my rambling." Her eyes flickered away to the fire for a moment. "I'm not am I?"

Zero Dream

Oh, way to go, dumbass.

The comment seemed to leave him rather speechless for a moment, and slightly startled. "I... figure I do not not speak much, but that would make me the boring one. You..." He hesitated for another moment. "I could listen to you for ages... Even if I had no idea what you where talking about. Even if you where going on about a very complex mathematical equation that left my puny mind somewhere in the dust, ill'd still sit there, listen, and smile."

He shook his head, looking oddly uncertain as he came closer. "I have never been very good with words, I do not think... Nor with things like this. Will you... forgive me ?"

He looked almost afraid, completely vulnerable. In a sense... he was.

midnight_medea

She watched him, his movements an his nervousness. It was sweet, she thought to herself, that he was so shy and that he was saying these things. He liked to listen to her talk? She blushed a little an shifted closer to him.
"Oh really?" She gave a teasing smirk an looked into the fire for a moment. "Maybe I should explain a complex theory and see how long it takes you to fall asleep." She gave a laugh an leaned her shouler against his.
"Conversation doesn't have to be intellectual you know. In fact it's far more interesting if it isn't."

Blind leaing the blind. A voice from deep within her said wryly.

Cosine frowned at it an chewed on her lip for a moment, the feather of the charm in her hair falling into her line of vision an making her smile.
"This charm. You made it yes? What else do you do when no one is looking?"

Zero Dream

She did not seem quite upset. Judging from her expression, she seemed... not really upset at all, fact that did not help him feel any less foolish, but... still wound up making him feel a little better. He hadn't insulted her, it seemed, a revelation which was much more comforting that he dared show, though his anxiety seemed to diminish as he smiled back.

"I shall attempt to be less boring, then, my lady." It was hard to tell if he was joking or serious, though his smile looked rather genuine.

He was startled for a second when he felt her lean against him, clearly unused to being so close to another, but it was not... uncomfortable. In fact, he dared think he quite liked it. He slid his arm across her back to hold her side in a loose embrace, slowly, a bit clumsily - as if he was afraid that he might hurt her. The fire crackled wild flames in front of them, and he gazed at them until her question came, where he turned to look at her once more. How could someone be so beautiful, so kind, and yet seemingly not realize ?

"Yes, I have made it. It was Jinx's way to keep me still and in bed while I was recovering from my taking over." He gave a small laugh - that had worked well enough. "I think I have always liked doing this... liked to work with my hands." There was memory there - carved bone, a king without a crown... he knew full well what it was, but he did not want to think about it just yet. "I figure it might be my way to honor the individual that I appreciate... since I seem not to be so good with words."

One day, he would make her another, something special, something just for her

midnight_medea

Cosine smile as his hand found its way aroun her. It felt nice, warm, comfortable. He always made her feel comfortable and she liked that he was shy, not arrogant an self important like some she had met.
"I think you worry too much Kou." She smiled, resting her head on his shoulder because it seemed like the natural thing to do. You don't have to be good with words to express your feelings. Lien taught me that I suppose. Life's too short, even when you're immortal to worry about such things" She smirked a little and watched the fire, steam starting to rise up from the spout of the kettle.
"I really like it." She said regarding her charm. "It's better than words, I can keep it."

Zero Dream

"It is very possible that I do." He mused, more to himself than anything else. There was only really one thing he knew right now, and it was that he did not want this moment to ever end.

He never wanted to leave her side, but... It was impossible, he knew that. For now he could, but eventually, the Underworld would exist once more. Eventually, he would be bound by duty once more.

How foolish, then, to allow myself to...

...Was it the feeling they called love ? Something that felt so odd, yet so right ? With her so close... he could not possibly deny it. Deny how close he had gotten to her, how much he appreciated her presence, her smiles, her little quirks, how much he would move words for her if it was even possible.

This couldn't possibly be a good idea. Would she not deserve someone to be at her side whenever she needed it - someone smart, someone less... shut in than he was ? No, this couldn't possibly be a good idea at all, even if she held similar feelings that he did.

The goddess was right - he did worry too much, and the thought brought back a smile on his thoughtful face.

"I could show you." He suddenly broke the silence that had once more taken place. "If you want, of course..."

midnight_medea

Silence fell again. This time she found that it did not bother her. Did not make her feel uncomfortable. Maybe it only had before because she was nervous and unsure of her feelings and how to deal with them. She was still learning how to be with people, how to react to them and this ... this new feeling he made her feel, it was so strange and unnerving it was hard to know what to do at all.

She relaxed into the comfortable silence, his warmth and waited patiently for him to speak again.
"I'd like that." She said finally, moving her head to look up at him. She smiled, he was so sweet an handsome. How could she have such luck? "I'm glad I met you."

Zero Dream

Clearly, her last sentence surprised him, from the look that came upon his features before he could even stop it, and words mixed themselves up in his head before he finally could answer.

"I am glad too."

The sudden sound of steam hissing out of the kettle almost made him jump, but he stopped her before she could move. "Don't." Perhaps not the best word to use, but it got his point across, and he let go - he still did not want to - and took the plate with the cups and reached toward the fire, careful to take the kettle by it's handle. His host had been rather unresponsive to hot temperatures, but he was not intent on finding out if such applied to him as well.

midnight_medea

At first she was worried, the look on his face made her think that possibly that had been the wrong thing to say. Maybe she was misreading the situation. His response however set her mind at ease. He was glad too. She smiled to herself then jumped as he did, startled more by his movements than the kettle.

don't. The word, under usual circumstances would have been a demand, but, it was not in this case. More an outburst that showed his awkwarness. She smiled, hugging her knee an resting her chin on top.
"I'd almost forgotten about the tea." She said, grinning a little.

Zero Dream

"So had I. So awfully absent-minded..." He trailed off, a smirk on his face as his light teasing aimed to both himself and her. He settled down to pour the steaming water into the two cups the goddess had prepared - he had no idea what kind of tea was in there, per-se, but now that he had been reminded, he was eager to find out. He hadn't really had something warm to drink in a while - it hadn't been a necessity, but a comfort, in times like these. And he dared think he had earned the little bit of comfort he was sharing with Cosine right now.

He balanced the tray on one hand as best as he could as he returned to sit beside her, letting the tray down on the table in front of them.

midnight_medea

Cosine took the steaming hot mug of tea in her hands and held it up to her nose, she brathed in the perfumed scent and smiled a little.
"Jasmine." She said, looking up at him and then setting the cup of tea back down on the table for it to cool a little.

Wasn't this nice and awkward. She thought as a silence fell betweeen them for a few moments.
"Are you hungry?" She asked. "Maybe there is some food in all this?"

Zero Dream

Food... the idea had it's charm, honestly, but that was a rare thing as it, better kept for those who needed it more than he. And, beside, if that meant going away from her, from here, well... he did not feel quite interested. He took a sip from his cup - that was a pleasant taste, in all honestly, somewhat floral as the name would have one expect. Not something he'd have picked if given the choice, but he did not mind it.

"Not really... But if you are, I am sure we can find something." He finally answered, letting his eyes fall closed. It was rare that he actually felt that comfortable around someone else, comfortable enough to drop his defenses, so to speak. The only others, before, had been his brother, and his aoidei.

...He really needed to think up something to say, didn't he ?

"...It really feel like it has been longer than it actually has been, was it ?" He started, even if it just might be the weariness talking. It only occurred to him afterward that she probably had no idea just what he was he was going on about. "Ever since I first saw you." It had been what.... five months ? Six ? The simple blink of an eye for immortals like them... Yet it felt so different, by the way he felt. By how comfortable her presence made him. It almost seemed like centuries ago, with how many things had happened.

midnight_medea

"I'm fine." She aid, blowing on her tea for a moment before taking a sip. It was just right, hot but it did not burn her mouth. His eyes fell closed and she remained silent, merely watching and waiting for him to speak which she knew he would.

As he spoke she listened and smiled a little, she remembered that day, only months before in reality though it did seem like a lifetime ago. She smiled a little and nodded.
"Yes, it seems like forever." She placed her mug on the floor and shifted a little closer to him. "Though not in a bad way. I feel like I've known you forever, though ... perhaps I have if I knew Nergal."

Zero Dream

"That may be possible." The Spirit Guide answered her statement quietly. "Though I do not... Quite remember much from that time. I get the feeling that I was distant. That I have kept myself aside from most of everyone. The reason why, I may probably never remember, and... this just might be for the best." This was a new start, a new beginning. In a sense, it was probably better to not be burdened by most of the past. A past that would never be just as it were again. A past that, no matter how little he actually remembered, seemed much different than what he was now. Than what he wanted to be now.

He opened his eyes again, noticing at last that she had come closer. Just at arm's reach. One hand reached to run though subtly shifting hair, almost by pure reflex, smoothing it out and grntly untangling it as if he was used to doing so.

To think of a life withdrawn again... No, that wasn't what he wanted. Not anymore. He would find some way to prevent it, if it had been forced to him by his whereabouts before.

midnight_medea

"I think I was much the same. I can remember the library. I think I spent much of my time there." She shrugged and closed her eyes as he groomed her hair, looking much like a purring cat.
"That was then, I do not think I will make that mistake again. I am finding that I quite like company." A pause as she opened her eyes once more and tilted her head up to smile at him. "Some more than others."

Zero Dream

"Indeed." Ankou grinned, knowing full well just what the goddess was referring to. "Such would be the same for me, though... I am much too boring for a wide circle, like Lady Echo."

Then why couldn't he tell her just how much he cared ?

He watched her, silently - why could he not tell her in earnest just how beautiful she was, in every way of the term ? How he probably had no hope to be a match for her keen intellect, and just how afraid he was that he might, one day, hurt her without meaning to ?

Those cherry lips looked so tempting...

His hand moved, gently, softly - one finger running across her yellow-tinted cheek before settling to loosely cup her chin. The god, to be bluntly honest, had no idea just what he was doing, if it was even the right way to do this, and if he had been interpreting the situation correctly. At the moment, he did not care - at worst, he figured, he would return home with a rather interesting story for the kids as to how he might have acquired a black eye.

The space in between them was so short, and so easy to cross...

"Though, I must admit that I just may have preferences." He said, softly. "I have never found the right words to say... but maybe words are over-rated."

Just as he was done speaking, his lips locked with her's in a rather amusingly inexperienced kiss.

midnight_medea

A half smirk brewed on her lips as he reached out to touch her cheek. There was a time where she would hav shyed away ... she thought. Though what did she really know? What did any of them know about what used to be.

His lips touched hers and she smiled, reaching out to place her hand on his cheek and kissing him back, a little bolder than he had dared.

Zero Dream

To be honest, he had no idea what would happen beyond that point - though apparently her kissing back in such a manner had not been one of the possibilities. Though, he was not complaining.

Far from it.

He liked this, he quickly seemed to decide - letting her take the reigns, so to speak, and slowly letting himself lay against her fully.

Words where overrated, indeed. The spiritual presence in the room seemed to dempen - the curious ghosts most likely going to report this rather tasty piece of information to their lord, but at the moment the Spirit Guide did not care.

midnight_medea

Cosine had not quite expected their little party to take this turn. She had thought about it several times since she had grown closer to Ankou but did not want things to end up like they had with Ishum. That had been a huge mistake. She was till not sure what had possessed her to do such a thing.

Ankou shifted to lay against her and she slipped her fingers into his long hair. She realised her actions might not be seen as very respectable but with life and immortality still hanging in the balance they had to sieze the moment.

She eased back from him slowly and smiled, her lips still against his.
"Do you want to stay?" She asked, raising an eyebrow in the same manner her host might have done.

Zero Dream

"Hmmm." The answer was rather vague and non-committal at first - one on hand, his brother might wonder just where he had skipped off to...

...Had he not probably been too busy, and would be for quite awhile. The thought made a lazy smirk draw on his face. Let them - after all, the more he thought about it, the less he actually wanted to move from here.

"That does sound like a good idea indeed..."