.~Edelsteine~. Desiderio's Journal by Meepfur

[Meepfur]

Solo #59
697

In the afternoon - or what amounted to it, anyway, given the lack of any way to measure the time of day - Desiderio left his rooms to go for a walk. Rather than wander aimlessly, however, he had a goal in mind: town, and an odd little shop that had once stood there. And stood it still did, for the most part, though the windows had long since been broken, much of the merchandise made off with, and little left to show what it had once been. Though it was not surprising, given the events of Gehenna, it was no less disheartening, and he looked upon it with a heavy heart for some time, until...

"Nobody's there," came a quiet female voice from behind him, a hint of sadness in the tone, "There hasn't been for a long time."

Turning to see who spoke, Rio met the red gaze of a young woman, a little on the short side, wearing jeans and a plain white t-shirt, her medium-brown hair pulled back into a ponytail. "Ah," he said, at a loss for moment, as he'd not realized there was anyone else here. And something about her was vaguely familiar, but he couldn't place it, which was bothersome. "Do you know what happened to them?"

The vampire - surely she must be one, with those eyes and that pale skin - shook her head sadly. When she spoke again, a glimpse of fangs comfirmed his suspicions. "I wish I did, but they're just...gone. I come by sometimes, just in case, but it's always like this. Just empty, no trace of anyone."

"You must have a Velvet, then," Love inferred. "Perhaps you can help me."

"I do." She nodded. "You must, too, then. What do you need?"

"Mine...I've had him for years, but he's never come alive like he was supposed to. I'm worried there's something wrong with him, that he never will."

"Years, really?" The woman absorbed this information with obvious surprise. "I've never known anyone that happened to. I know one that never grew up, but..." She shooked her head again and sighed. "I'm afraid that's not anything I can help with. Maybe Nar, if he were here, but he hasn't been."

Nar...that must be the other vampire he'd met here once, just after receiving Nanda. "Naraka?"

"Yeah," she confirmed, nodding. "He's disappeared again, though, and I don't know where to find him. I'm sure he'll come back again eventually, but who knows when that'll be? He's so old, I don't think he realizes sometimes how long it's been."

Realizing she was beginning to go off-topic, she seemed to snap herself out of it. "Anyway, it doesn't matter I guess. Nothing I can do about it. But it's nice to see someone else with a Velvet, for once. I didn't catch your name?"

"Rio," he answered with a pleasant smile and a slight bow. "My apologies for not introducing myself sooner, Miss, you caught me quite off-guard. May I ask yours?"

"Iden," the vampire supplied, and at last it connected for him why she seemed so familiar. He'd met her once or twice, when he'd been Alex, but she looked different now. She'd been human then, with green eyes and dyed hair.

"Well," he said, his smile broadening, "I believe we might have a mutual friend. Do you know Ashoka?" That was a little easier than 'I think we met back when I was someone else.'

"'Shoka?" Now she, too, smiled. "Of course! I was just on my way to visit her, actually."

"Oh, you're going to the Pantheon?" Today was turning into an odd little series of coincidences, wasn't it? Not that he minded.

Iden blinked, surprised again. "Yeah, you know it?"

"I live there, actually." He chuckled, offering her his arm. "Perhaps we could walk together?"

She considered him and his offer for a moment before understanding came to her expression. "You're one of those gods, aren't you? Like Zhiji?"

"Not exactly like, but yes. I am Love."

Another second of hesitation later, she placed her cool hand on his arm, observing with a soft giggle, "Well, that explains the pink."

[Meepfur]

Solo #60
1007

Rio and Iden continued their chat all the way to the Pantheon, an hour during which it came to light that Iden was, in fact, rather familiar with the story of the reborn gods, thanks to her friendship with Ashoka and the late Seppa. And, curiously enough given that she'd known Zhijian's host, was quite accepting of and unbothered by it - in part, he gathered, because of recent events. On the whole, she struck him as a pleasant individual, kind and calming and accepting of life in general, someone content to be tugged along by the current of the world.

And it was very nice, for once, to not have to explain everything - that he was a god, how he'd returned, about Gehenna, all the things one usually had to run through with mortals like Nashwa and Sarka. It was indeed a happy coincidence that she was a friend both to the pards and to the errais, providing them with mutual acquaintances, in addition to each other. She had been quite surprised to learn that he'd once been Alex; though she'd known of the slightly older vampire's fate, she hadn't known which god had claimed her.

"That explains why you looked familiar," he shared as they climbed the Pantheon stairs, "Though I confess I didn't place you until you gave me your name. It's your eyes, I think, and especially your hair. Brown is it's natural color, I take it?"

Iden chuckled, sweeping a stray lock behind one of her pointed ears. "Yeah. I've had other things to worry about besides dyeing it. If you can even find hair dye now," she added with a chuckle. "I haven't tried. Besides, it's probably time I grew up a little and gave up on the silly colors. It was fun while it lasted, really, but I don't wanna look like a walking cliche forever."

"Oh, there's nothing wrong with a little dress-up now and then," he assured her, winking.

She laughed and thwapped him gently on the arm. "You're terrible, you know that?"

"Actually, I have many assurances to the contrary," he said with a laugh of his own, though it faded as they approached his door. "I suppose this is where we must part, then, if you're off to see your friend."

"Hmm? Oh!" Iden had, in fact, quite forgotten about the purpose of her visit, so distracted was she by her charming new acquaintance. "Well...I'm sure she won't mind if I'm a little late. She probably already knows I will be, anyway."

"Well, in that case, I'd love to continue our...discourse." How delightful! Rio, always happy to have a pretty guest, opened his door and gestured for her to enter. When she had, he followed behind and closed the door. "Welcome to my humble home," he offered as she looked around, clearly intrigued by the garden-like rooms to either side of the door.

"This way." He offered his arm once more, leading her to the sitting room and seeing her settled on one of the fine pillows. "May I offer you something? No blood in the refridgerator, I'm afraid, but I do have some wine...?"

Iden chuckled, her cheeks dimpling pleasantly. She was, Rio was finding, delightfully good-natured about her...condition. It was quite refreshing, and made it rather easy to forget that she was in fact a predator, of a sort. "Wine would be wonderful."

"As the lady wishes." With a polite bow, Rio went to the kitchen to fetch the wine and returned in short order with the bottle and two glasses. He filled them both and gave one to his guest before taking a seat. They clicked them together gently and drank.

"You don't seem at all like a god, you know," Iden said after a moment, "Not like Zhiji does. I mean, I've only seen him a couple of times, but he's all, well...more what I'd expect, you know? Not friendly and...you're more like a normal person."

Love laughed gently. "We're all very different, but I wouldn't be much of a Love God if I weren't approachable, now would I? Besides, being high and mighty and godly isn't nearly as much fun as enjoying good conversation and a drink with a lady."

Iden blushed, and the sudden color on her pale cheeks was quite fetching. "Well, I'm glad I'm not boring, at least."

"I doubt you could ever be boring, my dear." She was, after all, a woman, and they were never boring - not to him. Iden was most certainly no exception to this simple fact of life that women were always fascinating, each in their own way. "So tell me, if you don't mind, how did you come to be a vampire? Was it this Naraka fellow?"

"Nar?" She laughed, as though the very idea were absurd. "No, it wasn't him. It is kind of a long story, though..."



A few hours - and the entire bottle of wine later - and Iden had started to lean a little to one side, prompting Rio to surreptitiously scoot a bit closer and offer his support, which she accepted without hesitation. "So, anyway. Yeah. I think that's about it?"

"You would know better than I," he said with a chuckle, "But it sounds it, yes." And quite the tale it was! One that would have had the wheels of his mind turning, if he hadn't had quite so much wine. Still, there was something enjoyable about the hazy thoughts and sleepiness it brought. "I fear you're now in no shape to go visit your friend, though."

"Mm, you think so?" She considered this for a drawn-out moment, blinking several times as though that might help clear the haze in her thoughts.

"I do," the god affirmed. He was, of course, completely without ulterior motives for such a suggestion - or not. Definitely not. "Maybe you should stay here for awhile."

"Hmmmmmm. I could do that. 'Shoka won't mind..."

"Of course not. She probably already knows, after all."

[Meepfur]

Solo #61
518

Now, as tempting as it was, Rio was a little too principled to take advantage a very intoxicated girl, vampire or no. And besides being of questionable morality, it was also a fast way to ensure it would be a one-time-only event; not that those weren't okay sometimes, but he preferred actual relationships. He was Love, after all, not Lust, although the lines could occasionally become a little blurry.

Instead, their conversation had continued, at least to the extent that it could, before Iden dozed off. Before following suit, he mused about what she'd told him of her situation, which was more than she probably would have without the wine. When it came to relationships, hers was one of the more complicated he'd heard, at least in current memory. It stirred some memories of Alex and her sire, Hart, but significantly less dysfunctional - now, anyway - and without the abandonment issues...and, well, without the rest of that horrible trainwreck. Really, there were only a few passing similarities.

But it still made him wonder - should he do something to try and help them along? From her story, she made it sound like they'd made a lot of progress, that this Vlad had finally begun to settle, but there was still some ways to go. Rio could speed that process up, if he so wished. But the question was, should he? Or should he let them continue on their own? There were certain potential risks that came with his brand of assistance, of forcing one person to love another. Most people never realized that there had been any interference, but that wasn't always the case. It was part of the reason he'd never given more than a fleeting thought to 'fixing' his relationship with Orin - what if the wolfman found out, or put it together? He could lose even his friendship.

Granted, this vampire had no idea of his existence or ability, but Rio got the impression that he was both exceedingly clever and slightly paranoid. He could always come to suspect some manner of 'foul play,' and on the off chance that he did...it could ruin everything, and the reaction would be unpredictable, could very easily be dangerous for anyone involved. This wasn't someone who would take kindly to being forced to do anything, Rio was sure of that after everything Iden had told him. It was just so hard to leave well enough alone! He wanted people to be happy, especially people he liked, and Iden was a nice girl...or nice vampire, as it were. He couldn't always meddle, though, even if it was his first inclination to do what he thought was helpful. Not everyone saw it that way: whether or not the ending was happy, he could imagine there were a fair few people who would resent it if they knew their happiness wasn't of their own making, or even of Fate's. He wouldn't rule it out completely, not yet, but this one was going to require some thought.

Maybe a lot of thought. When he was less drunk.

[Meepfur]

Solo #62
513

Thicket's dainty hooves clipped down the hallway floor as she made her way towards the green door behind which the God of Love lived. She'd never met him, but she was acquainted with his two aoidei, who were demonesses like her. They had much in common, though their gods were very different. That was neither here nor there, though; she wasn't here to visit, but to introduce her master to theirs.

Itztlac followed behind her, his much larger hooves making a heavier sound. He didn't walk right up to the door, but stopped just before it to wait.

It was Ishkhara who opened the door, and greeted the darker aoide with a friendly embrace. "Ket! You're just in time for l-"

"Oh." When she noticed the imposing figure who accompanied Thicket, she sobered and bowed her respect. "Please, Lord Itztlac, do come in." Though she'd heard Ket describe him, he was very...impressive in person, and that was putting it very lightly. Intimidating was a much more fitting word.

She led him into the foyer, then into the sitting room, bidding him to make himself comfortable wherever he liked while she went to fetch Rio.

Night observed his surroundings with polite interest. Love's taste was as one might expect - comfortable, but a little ostentatious. He would not be surprised if the god turned out to have a harem room, though he didn't go snooping around. He simply settled himself carefully on a large cushion on the floor to wait. That, at least, was an element of design the centaur-bodied god could appreciate. Floor seating was far more suited to his needs than couches or chairs, which were utterly useless.

Once informed that he had an unexpected guest, Rio wasted no time in going to meet him. He paused only long enough to check that he was presentable, then entered the room with a warm smile and a friendly bow. "My apologies for keeping you waiting. Had I known to expect you, I'd have prepared something for your visit."

"But no matter, guests of any kind are always a delight." Love settled himself on a cushion opposite Night. Ishkha hadn't been exaggerating when she told him who'd come to call and waht to expect - the god was huge. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Itztlac. I'm Rio, as I'm sure you know."

Itztlac waved a dismissive hand. "It wasn't a long wait, nor an unpleasant one. I commend your taste in...alternative furniture. It is I who should apologize, for giving you no warning. I hope it's not too much of an imposition?"

"Of course not," Rio assured him, studying the reborn god who rested before him. Itztlac was quite striking, even discounting his equine half. The shape of his face and his all-silver eyes were fascinating. He was quite attractive, in all honesty, as much alluring as he was impressive. Still, even if he'd been more fully human in form, Love imagined that Night would still have been intimidating, as he also had a rather intense manner about him: calm, collected, and polite, but undoubtedly capable of rising to action if he so wished it. He thought to himself, as they sat facing each other, that this was a god he would not want to ever be an enemy of.

...not that there were any he actually did want to be an enemy of, but some would be worse than others. "If I may be direct in my curiosity, to what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?"

He nodded obligingly. "I have a friend in need of assistance, of a kind my servant tells me you may be able to provide. She's expected to...wed someone she would rather not, and I would appreciate your help in solving the problem."

"Well, you certainly have my interest." Love smiled, excited by the prospect of using his power to help someone in need. Before he could say more, Ishkhara and Thicket came into the room, setting between the a gods a platter of fruit and sweets, and pouring for each a cup of chai. They came and went quietly, leaving the gods to their discussion.

Rio selected a little cake to nibble on. "I may well be able to help. Tell me more, if you will?"

Itztlac chose a shortbread from the offered snacks, then proceeded to explain Neirin's situation - and the situation of the Tylluan in general - to his fellow god.

"You see, it would be best for all concerned if Taranu were to pursue...other interests, and for Cwmwl to do the same," he finished. "Neirin's position would then be secure, and their traditional color bias made a non-issue."

"So, will you help me?"

Rio considered all that he'd been told carefully, before agreeing with a nod. "I'd be happy to help, but on one condition: I'd like to meet them myself, and choose the matches I think best."

"Of course," Night allowed. "It is, after all, your area of expertise. I only ask that you keep color in mind, and that you leave Dedwydd be. Neirin will take him, when she's free to. And of course, discretion is of greatest importance."

"I understand. No one will ever be the wiser, you have my word." Rio finished his drink and set the cup down. "How soon can we begin?"

Itztlac smiled, appreciating Love's eagerness. "As soon as you'd like."

[Meepfur]

Solo #63

Cwmwl

[Meepfur]

Solo #64

Taranu

[Meepfur]

Solo #65

Ffyrnig

[Meepfur]

Solo #66

Derw

[Meepfur]

Solo #67

Colomen

[Meepfur]

Solo #68

Disgyn

[Meepfur]

Solo #69

Cadno

[Meepfur]

Solo #70

Decision: Taranu/Colomen, Cwmwl/Cadno. (With Tlac)

[Meepfur]

Solo #71

Arrow-carving, shooting, maybe more follow-up with Tlac.

[Meepfur]

RP #72
855

Just a Little Break...
Rio and Ankou

[Meepfur]

RP #73

Little Bit O' Love
Rio and Blessed