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Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2007 7:55 pm
Tian Yue had at last managed to track another of the Dragon Kings - and it was right under his own nose, in the Pantheon itself. Toki would probably always treasure his strangled "What?!" when the Aoide had smugly told him the news he had feretted out.
Qian Lung the Black Dragon. They had met, but before Crispin and Shaiming had become one, and his sister had not been very talkative then. He had barely known her for what she was... though Shaiming had, softly.
But now it was time to gather them in. He wondered that Qian Lung was here, instead of drawing near to her lady's side... but then, he supposed other questions could be asked of him. He wasn't sure what business the Black Dragon or her host could have in the chambers of Insanity, but... well. He raised his hand to the door and knocked.
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Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2007 8:34 pm
Kheviel arched his eyebrows as even the dragon stirred in attention at the knock. Calico certainly did not knock on her own door, so who was here? He set the mug of coffee aside, rising carefully.
You think it is someone for Calico?
"Who'd come visit her though?" Kheviel asked out loud, almost as though asking himself. It wasn't exactly common knowledge that he was still staying here, unless someone had been watching, and that made him terribly uneasy. FOr quite some time now he - and Xuan - had been holed up here or his own house... partly in trying to bring themselves to a closer balance. And partly because he was still worried about certain remnants of his old life coming back to haunt them. Now knowing more about all this, it was chancy to think that he now held a diety so vulnerable and dependant on him. If he died... so did Xuan.
And that alone was reason enough for him to keep out of sight. ANd he'd also been less then social, but that was more because he was still dwelling on certain aspects of life - and not life. And not liking this whole... end of the world jive.
He stopped at the door, exhaling slowly. If someone was waiting to try to kill him, he was ready to fight, and he felt Xuan alreadu preparing mentally in case. His hand gripped the doorknob a moment as he fucsed and steeled, openign the door-
-and finding someone not ready to kill him. He exhaled sharply then, visibly relaxing at least halfway. His gold eyes seemed slightly weary, yet vibrant with life behind them. "Ah, hello."
Xuan picked up quicker on what stood before them, giving a short draconic snort to Kheviel to be a bit more proper. Another of the Kings stands here.
Kheviel did, in fact, perk up more then, feeling at least more at ease about the situation. "Sorry, not used to actually having visitors," he explained.
"Greetings..." Xuan trailed that off, uncertain now how to address this particular king. It was one, yet... not as remembered. Puzzling to say the least, Xuan tried to put a name to the face.
Kheviel picked up faster, remembering a meeting once. "...Cripsin?" Was it? It reminded him. Oh right... changes. Now he felt downright silly. "Erm, would you like to come in?" He felt particularly awkward, suddenly addressing a dragon king who resembled someone he had met once... even after Mintaka it was still hard for him to adjust and accept. Why now, though?
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Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2007 9:13 pm
"Crispin once, yes... Shaiming once, also, but now I am Tien Lung, and called Tian Yue." The Dragon smiled, and the new confidence in his demeanor was clear. "It has been too long since we talked last - how are you, Kheviel, and how fares the Black Dragon? I bring news from the Twin Crown."
Part of him was worried, though. He had spoken with Kheviel before the merging, before his birth as Tien Lung, and at that time he thought the assassin had been carrying Qian Lung's jewel for some time. And yet... the host was still here? Strange.
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Posted: Tue Nov 13, 2007 6:34 am
Kheviel stepped back, allowing room for the other to enter into the somewhat perplexing nature of Calico's room. At least enough of Min still lingered for it to not have gone completely out of whack... He absentmindedly scratched around the jewel in his chest then a moment, picking the right words to answer the question.
Xuan was more interested however, hearing words which were most important. News from the Twin Crown... I hope good news.
We'll see, he thought back. "Well, we are both well as we can be, all things considered." He gave a short noise of displeasure. "Kind of hard to have the best outlook on life when the world's not what it once was." Nevermind his own predicament of leaving the mortal coil, since that was far less plesant in the scheme of things, and he almost welcomed it in the face of what the world was becoming. Too long outside was depressing, to say the least. Xuan at least made it more tolerable by reminding him of things and giving him someone to talk to.
"I can't say either of us is exactly pleased with the state of the world, but we've both deicded at our current point in time we're not quite able to do too much yet about it." He flopped into one of the two chairs near a small table in the room, rubbing his head. "We've been working on working together though, so that should things have gone sour, either of us could work fluidly, if not together."
Xuan poked forward then with something to add. "Not that, in the current state of things, I feel I have an exact place. There is no one officially for me to shield, now, is there?" A hint of amusement and resignation laced the voice, a slight weariness as well. "You'll forgive me, Tian Yue, but there are things which plague my thoughts on the state of the Twin Crown and the world. I worry considering the world we were born into now." There was an apprehensiveness to the dragon, which carried quite clearly to the host's form.
Yes, please, he's yours to deal with more then myself. I'll be... over here listening in then, somewhat. Maybe. Ugh... I feel so awkward. The chitchat he gave was merely a mask for the even greater unease he had feeling the dragon's pensive and restless nature. Hopefully this news was good... or at least something which didn't mean that tomorrow was not gonna happen.
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Posted: Tue Nov 13, 2007 6:52 am
"Of course." It made sense, really - while Shenlei exulted in the wild storms that Destruction could bring, Qian Lung was ever the protector of the Empress, Gaia, Life itself. He wondered in the back of his mind how Kishara was in these times.
"I have met with Kishara, but she does not seem to have resumed her station and come back into her power - but then, who of us has?" Tian Yue made a face. There was only one fully ascended deity that he knew of, and Universe was Sinned and bound. "No, the Twin Crown seeks His dragons together. He charged me with bringing us together. I think the continued unbridled movement of his influence is... affecting him, somehow. He needs us." The last sentence was imploring.
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Posted: Tue Nov 13, 2007 11:37 am
Both the dragon and Kheviel recieved such news with a steeling resolve. He needed them. Well, Xuan, but Kheviel had to go along as well, no? The tone spoke volumes more then mere words, as though the situation was indeed worse then it might have seemed.
I do not like that tone, Kheviel said with concern. Not after such news. Then again, I have little room to talk considering I once held homage to such a god, although my reasons were somewhat... not as destructive in ways most would consider.
Yes, but we both know things out there are bleak and grim, and if the Crown is affected by what he has wrought, then we must go, we must be there, even if we seem powerless. Perhaps things will change.
I know... We both have bene preparing for these days, and I suppsoe we best make what we can. I will do anything needed, if you cannot; we made the bargain, no?
The tension was evident in the body shift and expression apparent. "I would not leave the Twin Crown alone," Xuan said evenly. "Even though I have no station to perform specifically, we all support the Twin Crown." Xuan leaned forward somewhat, voice lowering. "To be honest, the nature of Destruction's reign and time within has been of concern to both of us - Kheviel and I. And something we've both been concerned about. I am thankful my concern has not been completley unfounded."
Let's hope something can be done, Kheviel mused.
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Posted: Wed Nov 14, 2007 9:50 pm
"Naturally," Tian Yue murmured. "While my loyalty is to the Twin Crown and not to either aspect in and of itself, if all continues as it has... then eventually the worlds will crumble before the onslaught. Unless my power returns in force... right now, all I can protect is a single building." He shook his head sharply. "The worlds will fall and then so, again, will the Pantheon. We cannot truly Be without mortals to sustain us."
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Posted: Thu Nov 15, 2007 11:16 am
"Much as I hate to admit such," Kheviel said with brief interruption of Xuan, "I believe Calico has mumbled such concerns of mortals." He gave a rather exasperated sigh following that. "She's ... been cranky over certain people who feel her 'touch' - or some such - ending up killing themselves because of 'the end of the world' ..."
He lapsed into silence, feeling all too well the resigned nature of such words. The end... if it wasn't enough for him to be seeing his end at last, but to also witness what could be nothing left of the world - or worlds - he knew just... icing on the cake really. If he had to die to make things better, make it right, then he accepted that. Always had, every time he took a job. But ... not the world with it.
Xuan gave a sigh as well. "It is true, and I have no doubt that perhaps others feel this... and the younger ones brought back cannot afford to have no place in which to rest and be supported. We fell once from a lack of faith. Some are drawn closer to us by this, but many more have also cursed the gods for what has befallen, and many of our renewed cannot profect or aid very much at all." The voice had lightened somewhat from what it had been, a bit wispier and more saddened almost. "It pains me to think, in truth, that Kishara may also be affected such. It is her world after all suffering, wether He intends it or not."
Xuan shifted uncomfortably, and rubbed at one eye then, almost absently. "Without Him, the rest of us have nothing left either. We must do what we can, as we can. Somehow. If not only for Him, for everything. I, personally, don't think I could bear to see Kishara fall again. Not in my current state."
Kheviel felt something he hadn't before from the dragon but kept silent. It was something he knew well enough himself though, and he would have to address it later perhaps. We won't, Kheviel assured, trying to soothe the dragon.
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Posted: Thu Nov 15, 2007 7:45 pm
"I believe many of the young gods are feeling the strain, feeling helpless before the onslaught... though some revel in it, I'll admit." Phaedra, for one, though it was getting to the point where he'd be willing to restore balance to things solely because it would piss her off. "She will not fall, not if the Dragons hold strong - she has strength in her as well, still, even if uncertainty surrounds her. I saw her, once, but before we became Tien Lung." And I'm sorry I couldn't protect Koiso for you, Empress. Soon... soon. Perhaps.
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Posted: Thu Nov 15, 2007 8:59 pm
There was a distinct snort of disapproval at revelling, followed by silence a moment. Xuan pursed his lips a moment, eyes focused on the other dragon. "Who else, of us, also knows? And how soon?"
Kheviel felt a dis-ease about things, something akin to an impending doom feeling. The what-if potentials were staggering and too many were unplesant. He kept silent on the musings of how many gods outside the Dragon Kings actually did care about the state of things and setting them right. He hoped that something could be done; much as Xuan and he had butted heads - and likely would still - it'd really really... suck if he was unable to actually do anything to help this all.
Suck more if the 'sacrificing' of the mortals to bring the pantheon back was for naught, too. But that one he certainly kept to hmself.
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Posted: Thu Nov 15, 2007 9:16 pm
"I have spoken with Zhijian, Fangbridle - he goes to seek his tack, I believe, a task set to him by the Twin Crown. Otherwise..." Tian Yue spread his hands, a look of regret on his face. "I am trying, but we seem to be spread all over the land." Which still makes no sense whatsoever. "I do know that Futs Lung's original host failed him, and that Shenlei, Shen Lung, is seeking out a new vessel. I have my Aoide seeking information on the others... but it is difficult. If you have not spoken with our Lord recently, though, it may be prudent to make yourself known once more. It may reassure him, at the very least."
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Posted: Thu Nov 15, 2007 11:54 pm
Xuan nodded slowly, displeased by the news of one dragon fallen by lost host and another seeking a new vessel. That left them incomplete in supporting the crown; at least in terms of numbers. They could make up that difference.
"I shall, now that I am stronger," Xuan said evenly. "It is not a burden I would have otherwise wished upon my host, to deal with the Twin Crown as He is; Kheviel ... it's a bit daunting to him."
Hey now... that didn't need to be public knowledge, Kheviel whined slightly. He didn't want to admit he disliked the notion of even being near Destruction; perhaps just an innate fear of the end, perhaps... concern he might say something wrong, too. After all, he'd had a hard enough time with the Dragon within, but what about a full feldged god? Who had punished others?
I'd rather be honest, Xuan Yi said calmly. Aside, it is my duty and task to seek Destruction and talk to Him. Not yours. I would not ask such of you if you were not willing... or ready. His presence in such form can be quite ... bothersome to most.
"I hope fervently that more of us may be found and brought together. I presume our scattering is merely due to the choosing of a proper host; after all, even though there are many mortals, not every one makes the cut - as was proven." Xuan sighed then, rubbing the bridge of the nose a moment. "If there was or is a way I could help further, do let me know."
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Posted: Thu Nov 15, 2007 11:58 pm
 "In his current aspect, wilder all the time - he is intimidating to most beings with sense, I think," Tian Yue said, with a nod. "I simply fear... there was a Beginning of All. There could be an end." Everything devoured up by Destruction, and then in the end... what? Our Lord devouring himself, tail by tail, until nothing is left and All is Naught. His tail lashed once, sharply, at the thought. "I will do what I can, to the best of my ability. My rooms are in the Pantheon as well, marked with stars and my dragon sigil - you are welcome at any time. Your host as well, naturally," he added, with a smile for Kheviel, whom he knew was still within, somewhere.
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Posted: Fri Nov 16, 2007 12:08 am
"It is good to know," Xuan said, "I shall keep it in mind, as well he will too."
Kheviel gave a bit of a sheepish smirk. "The thought it welcomed," he said giving a slight stretch. "I'll be sure that we make a chance to see Destruction. Not that there is all that much else going on to distract."
Xuan gave thought again to the comment of a beginning and an end. "I do not think now is yet the time... if the end were meant, it would have been in our great fall before, not once more when a second birth arises. We merely need to set things right again; even amongst us there is no perfection." A light chuckle at such an admittance; after all, they were still subject to the same flaws as their mortals when it came to some things, such as love and power.
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Posted: Fri Nov 16, 2007 1:30 pm
"I hope so..." Tian Yue paused. "I was with Destruction as he brought an end to a distant world, in wind and fire and a rain of oil. It was great and glorious and terrible. According to Him, it did not host sentient life. But the supply of such cannot be infinite... and surely such an act cannot be without consequences." He shook his head. "But no, we will prevail. We must. There would be no sense to any of this without hope and the will to survive."
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