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 Posted: Fri May 30, 2008 7:29 pm
Seasons had never been so alive with activity! The plants literally grew out from the windows and into the pathways, their branches acting like welcoming arms, and the scent of freshly grown flowers danced into the alleyways and onto the streets, making the entire neighborhood seem that much cleaner. Perhaps it was the vivacity of a breeze from the Harbor that cooled the area, or maybe it was the distant yells of children playing some sport, but the district seemed alive again, for the first time since the rift had closed and the ghosts had left.
Even the Green Lady was greener than usual, and it seemed that she had lately been entertaining someone rather befitting the adjectives "tall, dark, and handsome": he wore an apron as a shop helper, but he never actually touched any of the plants, so one could only assume that he was only there to take inventory in the closet...or something scandalous like that.
The truth was far less interesting, and as Persy hefted a large pot out of the main building and onto the front porch, she looked out into the livelihood around her, and somehow made her brightened green eyes look weary and jaded. Abbot was dead. They had failed. But they had to move on.
It was the moving on part that took the longest, she had found.
Persy looked down at her hand, where curled up in her palm lay a seashell on some sort of necklace, a simple item on its own. But, the symbolism behind it ran much deeper, and as she looked at it, her fingers slowly closed around the shell. Old ones die, and new ones take their place. Was that not the cycle of the Seasons?
Then why did it suddenly feel so wrong to her?
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Posted: Fri May 30, 2008 8:13 pm
Zyanya...Felt bad. Actually, she felt horrible about the explosion she'd had with her mother after she'd been told that she was going to be married to Rafael. The wedding contract had already been drawn up and signed, leaving the two 'friends' (if they could be called that) with no choice. For the first time in her life, she blew up at Isabella, and had broken the image of the 'perfect daughter.'
Traditions. Pah. Traditions! Zyanya wanted to make her own traditions. She was her own person, and she would not sit and be the perfect little house wife. Barefoot and pregnant all her life, with a million children around while her husband went to work. No. It may have been fine for her mother, but for Zyanya...She wanted more.
After the initial adrenalin rush, Zyanya realized the hurtful things she'd said and had made her way to a floral shop to get something for her. While it was a good distance away, and Zyanya had little money of her own, she could afford some kind of daisy bouquet or something. Sure, she could have picked them from a neighbor's lawn...But it wasn't the same.
The girl pushed open the door to Seasons, quietly looking around. Maybe this place would have something in her price range. "Hello?" She said, looking around with wide brown eyes.
Those eyes landed on Persy and she blinked a few times. Wow. That was...different. "Uhm...Hi..I...Am looking for flowers. I hope you're cheap here!" There was a bit of nervous laughter, her accented voice sounding rather small. Shy? No, she was just rather soft spoken.
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Posted: Fri May 30, 2008 8:20 pm
Persy looked up just as the girl walked in, expecting the look and responding with a sigh, shaking her head as she crossed into the interior of the shop. The godling didn't even know what she was really here for, joy of joys. How was it that Anubis got to do all of the easy introductions?
"I actually have some flowers you can have for free," Persy answered, pulling free some white flowers potted in a blue ceramic bowl, the light color a nice contrast to the girl's tan skin, and wrapping the necklace around them with careful precision. Wiping the mass of green hair from her face, she returned to the girl, then paused, holding out the flowerpot and pointing to the necklace.
"Do you know what this is?"
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Posted: Fri May 30, 2008 8:23 pm
...Free? Nothing in life ever came for free. "I...Uhm, thank you, Senora, but I would much rather pay. How much would they be?" The girl fiddled with the small pouch at her side for her money. Taking things for free meant debt, in some form. At least, that's how she saw it. She did not like to think of herself as owing anyone anything.
Her gaze drifted to the necklace that was wrapped around the flowers, "Should I, Senora?" she asked softly. It was quite the pretty necklace, though. She'd always loved water - it was quite difficult to get her out of it when the time came. Always fought with her father when he tried to pull her out.
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Posted: Fri May 30, 2008 8:31 pm
"This necklace contains power. Potential to change the world as you see fit. Perhaps end that engagement that you seem to be so bothered about." Persy offered a knowing glance, then placed the potted plant on the counter, unraveling the necklace and holding it out to the girl on its own. "You see, this necklace is an entry pass for the Game, and you've been chosen to play. Accept it, and your life goes on the line for a shot at immortality, or deny it, and spend your life, however safe, behind the mechanisms of a kitchenette."
Persy thought that might turn the odds in her favor.
"But really, have you never seen this before? Not in daydreams, in stray thoughts...anything?" Normally, the god or goddess left a more profound mark on the child. This one looked practically human.
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Posted: Fri May 30, 2008 8:36 pm
Zyanya was about to respond to that, when Persy mentioned her engagement and her eyes narrowed significantly, "How do you know about that?!" And then, because she couldn't help it, a string of Spanish spilled past her lips, Have you been following me for some reason? Unless her mother knew her, and she sincerely doubted that she did, that was something the woman should not know.
However, breaking the engagement to Rafael...No. It would bring shame to her family. She shouldn't do it. She would always be the good daughter, even if Rafael would hate her for not being the perfect housewife. She'd at least do as her family asked and marry him.
"Immortality does not interest me, Senora." she said softly, though she kept feeling drawn to that necklace.
Take it, Zyanya.
Her eyes widened as the voice whispered in her head. "Who said that?!"
I did, came the soft voice, alluring, The one who brings you the gift. I was waiting for the right moment to speak to you. Now seems as good as time as ever. Take it, Zyanya.
"No," she said firmly, "I have not." Like hell she'd let someone know she was hearing voices.
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Posted: Fri May 30, 2008 8:48 pm
Persy sighed, then, after a lingering moment, pulled the necklace back to her body, closing her eyes to collect her composure and think of a way around yelling everything out to the stubborn girl. However, she'd dealt with others far more stubborn, and far less resilient to a little magic show. So, looking at Zyanya with her bright green eyes, she motioned at her, then came to a nearby plant, waiting for the girl to follow.
"Watch this carefully," she instructed, reaching out into the life of the plant with her thoughts and easing it forth, causing the tendrils and branches to seep up into the air within seconds, a single yellow flower unfolding itself into the light, having been little more than dirt and nutrients only moments before. Persy watched the plant grow, then with a flick of one of her fingers, had it growing towards Zyanya, where the flower bowed towards the girl, almost as if it were a figure with petalled plumage upon its head than a supposedly lifeless thing.
"Immortality is not all that I offer," Persy commented, and with a wave of her hand, another flower protruded from the curling vines, and then a third, the trio all bowing their petals towards Zyanya, "And for the most of us, seeing visions of the formerly unknown are the least of our worries. You may still refuse the offer, but I can't guarantee the goddess with a hold on you will leave. I can, however, guarantee that some of your tribulations will be rewarded, should you accept."
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Posted: Fri May 30, 2008 8:57 pm
Now immortality may not have held great allure to her (who would want to live forever, after all?) but the magic? That, that certainly did perk her interest. "Dios, she breathed, reaching out to touch the little plant with her index finger.
Then, when more blossoms came forth, she took a step back and looked warily at the woman. She heavily reminded her of the story Snow White with the tempting apple. "Are you a witch?" she asked carefully.
A witch, dear Zyanya, is the least of it. came a laughing voice in the back of her head, I need you, child. I can give you so much more than she shows you. I have been with you all your life. Why do you think you have such affinity for water?
"...Goddess?" she said a moment later, "B..before I take anything, you tell me without fancy words what this is. What this game is. What the rules are. What the risks are."
No, she wasn't stupid. She would have her answers before she agreed to anything.
Insufferable child, Chalchiuhtlicue murmured, Though that inquisitive nature is one of the reasons I chose you. You're special.
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Posted: Fri May 30, 2008 9:13 pm
Curious. Couldn't blame the girl for being curious about selling her soul.
Nevertheless, Persy was rapidly losing her temper, and as her fingers curled into a rapid fist, the tendrils of the flower pulled away, almost with a wounded sort of speed, like a child pulls away from a stove after determining how hot the stovetop is. Likewise, Persy's expression hardened, and in a rather characteristic manner, she crossed her arms, though it didn't look quite as fierce as it used to with her long, flowing hair and her pastel dress.
"The Game is just that: it's a game played by the gods and goddesses, through mortal vassels," she paused, pointing to the girl, "to determine who gets to rule the cosmos for the next reign. As the vassel for your goddess, you would carry her traits and her powers, and fight others like yourself, and defeat as many as you can. The one who defeats them all, the last one standing, is the winner."
She paused, looking upwards as if she was listening to something, then nodded her head, her gaze looking down at the girl once more.
"It might interest you to know that your husband-to-be is also a potential vassel. Rafael, he will also play the Game."
Let's see how she handled that one.
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Posted: Fri May 30, 2008 9:27 pm
"So if I don't win, I die." It wasn't a question - she'd gathered enough information from that speech to know the answer to that. What was the pros of joining the game?! She'd read a lot, and there were millions of gods. There could be millions of players.
But you will not be alone, Chalchiuhtlicue said, insistantly, I will help you. I am strong, conetl. You will not lose. It was highly improbable that she'd win, but Chalchiuhtlicue wasn't stupid enough to say that.
Zyanya was about to turn around and walk out - in fact, she drew herself up and had turned around when Persy mentioned Rafael. He would be playing the game? She would have a chance to show him that she was not below him?
The girl whirled around in that moment, on impulse, snatching the necklace, and breathing deeply, "Fine. I'm in. Though it better be worth it."
That's my girl.
"You still haven't told me the rules, Senora."
The rules are there are no rules, conetl. Except you never let anyone know who I am.
Zyanya ignored her, wanting to hear it from this woman here.
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Posted: Fri May 30, 2008 9:37 pm
Persy shrugged. "You could die, you could lose your powers, you could just get partially maimed...there are a lot of ways to lose the Game, just one way to win."
Satisfied that she'd gotten the girl's attention, the goddess relaxed again, glad to be back in her element. Although the girl ruined her complete mastery of the situation by snatching the necklace, Persy took it in stride. She'd accepted the offering. She'd entered the Game. It was done.
"Your goddess will know of alliances and enemies who you will want to befriend and fight respectively," Persy responded, nodding her head. She was the scorekeeper: she most certainly understood the rules. "Should you ever need help, I am here to answer questions about the other Players, but it will cost you in information. To give everyone an opportunity, they receive one free question, and can earn more upon doing favors for me. After you leave the shop today, any question you ask me will count as a favor owed, should I answer. After all, information is valuable."
"The only other person you want to know is Anubis. Tall, dark-skinned, has jackal ears. If you die, you go to him. Likewise, you don't want to piss him off. He determines if you come back to life or not."
"Any questions?"
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Posted: Fri May 30, 2008 9:41 pm
"Yes," she said slowly, "Who is Rafael's god?" He was the one person she wanted a one-up on, and there was no way she was going to use the question she was given - according to Persy - on something else. Perhaps it was not the smartest strategy, but this was, after all, to make her seem like something in Rafael's eyes.
Ouch. Brutal.
The goddess's comment simply made her smile. Brutal was good, in a game, wasn't it?
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Posted: Fri May 30, 2008 9:45 pm
Persy hesitated when she realized that the girl was using her free question, as opposed to just clarifying the rules. To use the question, so early on in the game...
Suddenly, Persy had a good deal more respect for the girl.
"Raphael is the prophet for a god named Tlaloc," Persy responded, the foreign name sounding odd on her tongue. "I'm afraid I can't give you any other information on him, though. I myself have not met Tlaloc. Your goddess and I have only just been acqauinted ourselves." Again, Persy shrugged. "It's a big group of beings. Somwhat hard to know them all."
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Posted: Fri May 30, 2008 9:51 pm
"Thank you," Zyanya said, tucking the name away. She would have to go to a library, and research. She would do research on as much mythology as she possibly could - though she supposed it wasn't mythology if these Gods truly did exist. No, she would not lose this game - and she'd found a competitive streak she hadn't known existed. Perhaps it was the fact Rafael was her opponent.
I would not be so cocky, dear one.
"I will take those flowers after all, Senora. And maybe just a bit bigger than those. If I'm to tell my mama."
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Posted: Fri May 30, 2008 9:58 pm
Persy nodded silently, then turned back to the little blue clay pot. Gently holding it by the rim, she watched as the flowers bloomed and multiplied, filling the little pot to the rim and spilling over the sides in one swift motion. She then brought the flowers over to Zyanya for inspection, offering them up as a gift. The girl seemed gentle enough, and Persy would know if they'd been harmed.
"Are these big enough for you? Keep in mind, they still have time to grow."
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