Welcome to Gaia! ::

It seemed too late now for the little flame. A wandering dust bunny had caught his attention and off he fled, laughing and chasing it down the hall. There seemed little else for it, and the room would have to wait.

And wait.

And wait.

But such things were of fleeting concern to a mind that was as vibrant as it was scathingly full of motion. It danced and shimmered and flickered and raged. All with the energy and shortness of an ember. Sometimes warm, often scorching, always brief.

Buttercup gave a chug that was almost a sigh, belched green smoke and clanked off after her master. It seemed that she was as fond of his antics as he.

The Mop!
Joint RP: Byrne, Desidero, Illumin, Reverie

Once again, it must have been longer than he thought. Time was as slippery as water was. Just not wet. Well...he wasn't sure about that fact, as he'd never been splashed by time, but he didn't think his fish would like to swim in Time, so therefore it must be a pretty dry thing.

Like...everything else all of a sudden.

Out of the recesses of his empty room, he stared at what was once a fertile garden. The green blackened and dead, the blues of the water now seething and red with lava.

The lava was an improvement, he thought...but he rather missed the flowers. And the bugs that buzzed about them. And the birds that sang amongst. And...there were no fish that could splish in lava...so maybe that was not such a good change after all.

He stared at the temple. The austere grimness of it through narrowed eyes.

He understood immediately what it meant.

Harmodious's colors had run completely.

Destruction had reared his head.

Flapping through the door, he called "where's my mop!?"

Alex had kind of gotten used to how things were around here...but then, she'd never seen it any other way, so she had nothing to compare it to. Although it was pretty damn weird, she had to admit, it got easy to take if for granted after awhile.

She was kicked back on one of the couches, her arms behind her head...just lying there, idle, not even thinking much. Even Rio was quiet, having finally given up on getting her to get her booted feet off the couch.

The call for a mop startled her alert though, and the vampire sat up, eyes narrowed in confusion. "Huh?"

Byrne, He twirled on the speaker in consternation. "My mop! Ill need it now!" His eyes darted about nervously, the cavernous depths, the coldness of it all. "I'll need it!" he repeated in a flurry of feathers.

"Uh...right. Whatever, dude." Alex scratched her head, looking every bit as confused as she was. God...looking for a mop. Desperately. Hey, umm, Rio...what the hell is up with this guy, you know?

Nope, he replied casually, before venturing, But you could be nicer. Help him look for it, maybe, if he's lost it?

Look, feel free to be as nice as you want, but it's not really my thing.

'Feel free,' hmm? Don't mind if I do, Rio purred, slipping into control of his host, who didn't know enough to know what was coming. She might b***h at him later, but well, he could only take so much of the attitude she had with others sometimes.

"I'm afraid my host isn't the helpful sort," he said after a moment, the tenor of voice changing just slightly as he spoke instead of Alex. "Have you lost it?"

He blinked. "Lost? Hm." he considered this. "I don't think so. But maybe I did...did Harmodious's colors all run?" He seemed to recall the core problem all of a sudden. "Cause if they did, it's not good. It wouldn't be good at all. Very not-good. Bad." He nodded emphatically. "No bucket either..." he sighed.

Rio lifted one hand to cover a small smile. Whoever this was, though it didn't come to mind, was...kind of cute, really, if a bit confusing.

"If you mea-" he stopped, cut off as he pierced his..err, his host's..bottom lip with her fangs. He was definitely not used to this. Putting his index finger and thumb to it to stop the slowish trickle of blood from the accidental wound, he murmurred, "Oh, damn. Sorry."

"But if you mean," he continued, speaking much more slowly and with slightly muffled words, "If Harmodius has become Destruction, he has, but I haven't seen him myself."

"What do you need your mop and bucket for, if I may ask?"

"Why?" he asked, with a confuse frown. "For...protection of course." why ELSE would one need a mop and bucket?

He stared at the wound with a frown. "I could make that better...but it'd prolly hurt more if I did." he flexed his fingers. "Fire hurts, you see."

"Oh, of course," he said quite seriously, but inwardly he was chuckling. The amusement was good-natured, though. "I should have known."

Taking fingers from lips and rubbing them together a moment, looking thoughtfully at the blood smeared on them, he grinned sheepishly. "Thank you, but it might not be the best idea...I suspect this body and fire don't mix well."

"If nothing else, this'll remind me to be more careful until I get used to it." He smiled ruefully, looking up at the bright god, whom he was quickly taking a liking to. "I'm Desiderio, by the way, Rio for short. Love."

"I'm Byrne." he said, smiling sunnily. "Byrne for short." sticking out his hand, because he had seen others do so, he looked upwards. "I must have been in my room for an awfully long time. I don't remember seeing you here. And Harmodious was still just running colors a litle before..." he trailed off. "But of course, it has been a while since he ran all the way now. That's not good."

He sat down on the floor, arm still sticking out. "Where are you from?"

"Glad to meet you, Byrne." Returning the smile, although his was a bit bloody after his earlier mishap, he took Byrne's hand and shook it. "I haven't been around long, but I believe my host has been in and out for...a couple of months? I only recently fused with her, and Hunt has since taken her in for awhile."

"From?" Slowly, he swung his legs around and planted his feet on the ground, so that he could sit facing Byrne...and take care of his host's annoying habit of putting her shoes on furniture, for now. He smoothed out her skirt, taking a moment to consider just how strange it was to be in a woman's body. He didn't mind, per se, but it was definitely odd.

Looking to the other god again, he stifled a chuckle to see he was still holding his arm out. "If I was from anywhere in particular before, I don't remember."

"That seems a common thread," Revei drawled from the staircase. "The lost, the lonely, and those without a past. So few of the hosts have ripped themselves from full and loving lives to come to us." He paused and shrugged. "Someday, maybe," he said flippantly.

"Oh!" Byrne laughed. "That's allright then! I don't remember where I come from either. Except I always was. But for a while I wasn't...before I was again." he shrugged, and gave a half frown. "Months? Those are moon cycles, right? Or was that seasons? Maybe mops?" frowning more he counted on his fingers. "How many fingers are a month?"He wiggled them.

At the new voice he leapt to his feet. "Hey! Hi! I remember you!"

"Revei." The name came from his on host's memory as he looked up, smiling. "Or...Iluzie, I think she labeled you." His smile slipped then, and he nodded. "The ones who have nothing to lose, or believe so. Maybe something to gain."

Looking back to Byre, he grinned. "Moon cycles, that's it. You'd need thirty fingers to count a month, though. Maybe 28 or 31, depending on the month. Too many even if you used your toes, too."

That many? In dismay, he sat back down, hoding up feet and hands and looking at all his digits.

"Ow." he said with a sigh. "why so many toes and fingers in the moon? Who thought of those things anyway?"

"Are you awake again, then, Byrne?" Revei inquired. "How do you like the new decorations? I find them a little - perhaps - less relaxing," he mused.

"Yes. And you are - ? Please forgive me if I do not immediately recognize you. My memory is so very hazy, and you are no longer who I met, I do believe." Revei bowed to Rio.

"I don't know, I'm afraid. Maybe there's a Moon to ask?" he speculated.

"Nothing to apologize for. I'm Rio, Love," he answered to Revei, inclining his head politely. "Alex is still here, of course, but I thought I'd talk to Byrne myself. She was being rude."

"Im awake." he answered soberly. "Harmodious's colors all ran. That's why it's all like this." he wiggled his toes and put his feet down. "I should have been around. Maybe it wouldn't have happened then. I promised I'd protect him."


Revei's expression closed slightly at the information that this new god was the other Love. He smiled a little coolly. "Welcome, Rio."

He folded himself neatly to a cross-legged seat on the floor beside Byrne, holding a hand out, fingers spred. "Between the two of us, we would have enough digits," he offered, amused. At Byrne's next statement, he sobered again. "We cannot choose when we sleep, Phoenix," he said quietly.

That cool smile made Rio frown inwardly, and almost outwardly as well. He touched index and middle fingers to his punctured bottom lip and nodded.

"Thank you," he said from behind his fingers, a touch of something like apology in his expression. He knew his other had come before him, and that she had not endeared herself to the other gods by any means, although he didn't know the specifics.

He smiled a little again as Revei offered to help Byrne count. He hadn't quite thought of that.

"Oh hey!" Byrne's expression lit up. "We DO have enough for a moon!" he observed for a few moments and his face fell at the next comment. "Im not supposed to sleep. That's what SHE does. Alot. Not me."

Revei nodded to Rio, eyeing him a little warily. He seemed polite, seemed nice enough, but Revei had no memory of him. Was Love like Dream, forever at odds, or were they allied?

"Shouldn't, perhaps, but we are so used to it," he observed sourly.

Fingers lingering at his bloodied lips for another moment, he finally let his hands fall into his lap. It was hard not to keep toying, especially when it hurt, but poking wasn't going to help that at all. He expected Alex would have a good few things to say later. That thought, at least, made him quirk a smile.

"I can't remember sleeping," he added to the conversation, thoughtful. "For long periods of time, I mean. But maybe I did, or maybe I didn't. Hmm."

Byrne had lost interest in the digit-counting, and was now on his feet, stalking about looking for the reason he had originally stormed in. Wigglign under the couch, he sneezed and waggled his tail.

"Sleeping's boring." he said, voice muffled and plaintive. "Much more exciting things to do. Have you seen my mop?"

"No, I haven't," Revei answered. "It wasn't with you when you woke? Do we have a divine broom closet? I am not yet quite so familiar with the rooms down here since it shifted." He rose and shook out his wings. "Come, o Rio, we will help the Phoenix locate his weaponry so he may drive back the forces of darkness with his flames and his mop."

So it was back to the mop, then. Rio grinned, leaning forward to look down and watch as Byrne wriggled under the couch. He couldn't help but think that might be an uncomfortable place to be, with wings and all.

"Always a pleasure to be of help," he said with a nod, also rising...a little too quickly, and he put a hand back on the arm of the sofa to balance himself again. He looked down at his host's choice of footwear with a sigh and a wry smile. "And I can make sense of how to walk in these at the same time."

"Mmhphsefh!" came the reply from under the couch as it bucked and Byrne vanished beneath it. There was an uncomfortable few moments when the couch looked very unsteady, and then his head popped out at the other end. "Not here!" he announced. "Where could they have gone? I mean..."

He wiggled, got stuck, and then forced himself out the rest of the way, wincing as his wing cramped and his feathers got mussed. He was a bit dishevelled and cobwebby as he sneezed again.

"Where did you leave them?" Revei prowled around the room, looking for likely places that a mop might conceal itself. He hid a smile at Byrne's cobwebby state as the couch settled back into place.

"Why bother?" He threw a puzzled look at Rio. "Take them off, unless you have some use for them. They do not look comfortable."



As the couch bucked and Byrne finally reemerged, Rio decided he was very glad he'd just stood up. That would have been a strange sort of ride, to be sure.

"That would make sense," he said to Revei's solution, and grinned. "Probably why I didn't think of it." He set about following Dream's advice, although it he had to sit back down for a few moments to tug off the boots. He set them carefully to the side of the couch and stood again, wiggling his bare toes against the floor. "Aah, freedom."

Now that he was much more comfortable, he cast a look around, musing, "Where on earth would a mop get to with its wielder asleep?

Byrne had not paused for the conversation, instead throwing himself at the other couch with gusto. This one was identical to the other, so he began to wiggle his way under it.

"I don't know." he answered. "I was sleeping."

There was a muffled snort of laughter from Revei's direction at that exchange; not derisive, though. It was a very Byrne sort of thing to have said. "Perhaps it has been possessed," he suggested.

Rio tilted his head as Revei mentioned the possibility of a possessed mop, a very strange image coming to mind. Something about..mops (or were they brooms?) marching along, carrying buckets. And there was...some sort of mouse? He wrinkled his nose, bemused. He'd have to ask Alex just what that was all about later.

"Well, if it now has a mind of its own, maybe it's gone to where it thinks it should be. Wherever mops ordinarily belong?"

Byrne had made his way through to the other end, and stood up against the wall, twice as bedraggled and dirt ridden.

"If you were a mop...where would YOU be?" he asked them.

Revei, having no personal experience with mops, consulted the hazy, fading memories of his host, and found with some interest that the young feline had had none either. "Where does one store a mop?" he asked, laughing, and went across to Byrne so that he could use his sleeve to brush some of the worst of the dusty and cobwebs away.

"Far away from this misbegotten place," came a somewhat sour answer from the stairs - the activity had attracted Illumin's attention. The god looked surprised to see so much activity, but he descended the rest of the way with a hopeful, if somewhat put out, expression. "Why do you need a mop, anyway?"

He hadn't seen Byrne in quite some time, but he did remember the phoenix-godling's animate fridge. Did he also have a wandering mop? Maybe he really is a secret god of kitchens.

"Oh!" another face he...sorta knew. He thought. Squinting he turned his head almost as an owl would, and stared at him from a nearly upside down position. "Hm. Far from here?" he rolled the thought over in his head. "Where is that?"

"Hmm, let's see..." Unfortunately, Rio was just as much at a loss about the living places of mops as the others.

Hey, Alex..? he ventured. He could feel his host hanging back, observing.

I am SO not talking to you right now.

Come on, please?

Only if you promise you won't pull this s**t again without asking.

He sighed. Fine.

Try the kitchen, maybe a bathroom? Or just any old closet.

"Hmm...kitchen, closet, or bathroom, I'm getting," he relayed, before looking up at the sound of a new voice...again from the stairs. But Rio quickly looked away again from this other god, reaching a hand up to rub his eyes.

But despite this new drawback of his host's form, he grinned. "Why? For protection, of course."

Illumin raised one eyebrow. "I didn't mean literally... did you try looking in the broom closet, or maybe the kitchen? Perhaps your little fridge stole it," he added, trying to be jovial but falling a bit flat.

Wasn't his fault the mood of the downstairs sucked all the humor out of everything. He did frown a bit, though, noticing the other figure turn away from him. Hmmm...

"Hrm." he commented. That last hint about "away" had seemed promising. Fun. But Illumin apparently didn't seem to think it was a real place. Maybe it was...and he just didn't know?

He'd have to find "away" sometime.

"Butercup wouldn't have eaten my mop. She doesn't like taste of wood." he offered. "And besides, she likes my mop."

Fluttering, he started digging his way into the kitchen area, snaking in and out of the barstools.


As he listened, Rio's brow furrowed. "What, there's a possessed fridge, too?"

He laughed and crossed his arms...or tried to, anyway, but these things just didn't work the same way in a female body. After a moment of visible indecision, he settled for crossing his arms...under...and muttered, "Dammit, more trouble than it's worth."

He looked up again then, careful not to look directly at the god with the glow to him, and smiled a bit sheepishly. "Not quite used to this, I'm afraid," he explained of what he was sure looked a bit strange. "Forgive me, I should introduce myself. I'm Desiderio, although I prefer Rio."

"Do you not enjoy the light, Desiderio?" Illumin asked, frankly. He didn't like how the other god had flinched away from him, new though he might be - the body had no touch of divinity about it yet, how freshly manifested was this one? - and the atmosphere was making him twitchier than usual. "I am Illumin, God of Light. Consider this carefully." Formal, and prodding ever so gently at the other god, in case he was something to be concerned with.

Not having foudn it yet, oblivious to the other two having a non-staring match, Byrne went on his way to the next target, shying of the fridge, although it did not appear to be a god-killer...yet.

Tackling the closet, he was soon burined in the folds of items there, a clang every now and then heard.

"I don't have a problem with it, actually. But my host does, and looking at you hurts her eyes. I thought I'd save her one more ache when she comes in control again." He touched his bottom lip again, fingers tracing the smear of dried blood below.

"She's a vampire...perhaps not the most ideal host, but mine nonetheless." With a lopsided smile, he sketched a small bow, since the other was being so formal...but it was playful, not mocking. "I am Love."

"And I believe we've lost Byrne to the depths of the closet," he noted, glancing in the direction of the clanging.

"Ah... my apologies," Illumin replied, dampening his natural glow some. Usually he would be grumpy at the very idea, but it was a natural failing - and one this god would surely mend, later. "Love, then? Have you met your... ah, counterpart?" His expression soured.

As if to hide that, he turned to the closet. "Byrne, have you found anything? Do you need some extra light?"

There was a muffled banging from inside, and a loud crash. Then a subdued banging.

"Thank you," he said gratefully, venturing to look at Illumin finally...it was still not pleasant, but it was better. It bothered him not to look at someone he was speaking to.

"Khiviance? No, I'm afraid not, although I don't know just how much I care to, given the reputation she seems to have earned herself." He sighed unhappily, running his fingers through his host's hair - Too long, he thought of it absently. For all that he had hoped 'Vi might receive him well, he was beginning to doubt that very much, after what he'd heard.

"Oh dear." He winced at the crash from within the closet. Moving closer, he peeked inside. "Byrne, are you alright?"

"I can tell you, if you want," Illumin said, promptly. How open was this kin of Khiviance to knowing truth? "It is true that there is, hah, little love lost towards Love in her other aspect..."

"Ah, turn your head... I will illuminate things," Illumin warned, then spun a low-light glow ball and sent it arrowing into the closet, where it brightened. "Byrne?"


Tumbling out amongst the remnants of proud clothing and utensils came a rather bedraggled Byrne. His feathers drooped and shifted unsteadily, but he had clasped triumphantly in his hand a rather ratty looking mop.

"Look!" He exclaimed proudly. "Not mine, but it will do!"


Obediently, Rio turned his head away, laying one hand across his eyes before speaking again. "I would like to know, if you care to tell," he admitted. "Eamnonn's explanation was vague at best, and I may not like what I might hear, I think I'm better off knowing."

When he heard Byrne's triumphant exclamation, he fanned his fingers out to peek, and grinned. "A fine specimen! It'll serve you well, I'm sure."

"Well done, Byrne," Illumin said solemnly, though he caused the light ball to fade off into soft sparks, that flitted merrily around the mop-bearing god before vanishing. "What will you do with it, now that you've found it?"

Then, he turned back to Desidirio, his expression sober. "You have seen Destruction? Harmodius was not always like that; when I came, he wore his Creation aspect and this place was alive with plants and other beautiful things." He took a deep breath.

"Lucius, an ascended deity, loved Harmodius and sought to have him whether Creation wanted this or not. Khiviance helped him, and with her aid he was able to wound our lord grievously. It was only through the great effort of many godlings that we were able to retrieve Harmodius - and then he began to change aspects, until he and this place are what you see now."

"Hm" Byrne said with a frown. "Not sure...." He hugged the mop to him, listening to the explanation.

"His colors ran." He added solomnly. "Just like the colors of the land and sky bleed."

With the ball of light gone, Rio dropped his hand from his eyes as he listened attentively to Illumin. His frown deepened as the story went on, before it finished and he nodded, gravely. "I have not seen Destruction, myself, but he's very clear in my host's mind. He frightened her somewhat, I believe, and deceived her."

Tapping his chin, he leaned back with a sigh. "I'm sorry for what Khiviance has caused, for what little it's worth."

He understood now, somewhat, just what Byrne had been talking abot with his imagery of bleeding colors. He nodded to the Phoenix, although his understanding could perhaps never quite be full...he had not been present, nor seen the change at any stage.

It is not your fault," Illumin said, shaking his head. "Destruction leveled judgement upon them both, though I do not know what Khiviance's punishment was. We were, ah, never on good terms... though I hope to be with you?" He gave Rio an appraising look.

"It's okay, Byrne," Illumin continued, feeling a little awkward - Memi had been so much better at this sort of thing, but he moved to put one hand on his shoulder. "Pana is out looking for the solution to the, uh, colors running, right now... and she has help." He didn't mention who the help was, but hey. She had it, as odious as it might be.

"Did she look "anywhere"?" he asked with sudden brightness at the comfort. "Perhaps it's there, right?" his tone was hopeful and concerned while mantaining it's sunny disposition. It was quite a talent...had it been intentional.

"Hunt said she cannot speak, but that's all I know." His frown stayed for a moment more before he shrugged it off and smiled instead. "It would be my pleasure, Illumin."

"Well, there's no knowing until you look, I guess." Rio nodded, smiling with humor. "Anywhere is just as likely as somewhere else."

Then he shook his head lightly, grimacing. "I think maybe my time is up, for now, and I'd best get elsewhere so that Alex can have a fit without inflicting it on anyone else."

"I look forward to seeing you both again," he said sincerely, with a final smile, before taking his leave up the stairs...and forgetting Alex's boots, but that was probably a good thing - he might not have done well with them on the stairs.

"Farewell," Illumin said, pondering as the other god headed up the stairs. What an odd duck... quite friendly, but with an air of maturity about him. Hmm. He made a note to speak with the other god again, before turning back to Byrne.

"There are places in 'anywhere' for her to look, I think, and that's where she's going," he said. Illumin actually wasn't sure where she was, at all, but perhaps Eamnnon could shed some light on that later. "I'm sure she knows how to find Aristogeiton."

"Aristogeiton?" he asked, tongue working on the strange sounds. It was a fun sound...like Marmalade...but odd nonetheless. "What is that? Is it like a mop that cleans up runny colors?"

The image brought a smile to his face. He would love such a device.

This time, Illumin laughed, a surprising and probably rare sound in the lower floors now. "Aristogeiton is one Harmodius loved - who is, apparently, the answer to restoring his colors," he told Byrne. "Is that what you wanted to use your mop for?" he added, gently.

"Well..." he said, looking at the tattered and bedraggled utensil in his hands. "I thought maybe it might stop them from running more. Guess not, huh?"

His wings drooped a bit. "There's no fish outside now. Even if I don't like the water, I liked the fish."

"I don't think it quite works that way," Illumin said, trying to let Byrne down as gently as possible. "But it was a good thought," he added, encouragingly. "Maybe if you show Harmodius kind and nice things, he can remember some of his other nature?"

It was worth a try.

"You mean like...puppies or something?" he asked doubtfully. "Or Buttercup?" he got to his feet and looked at the mess at his feet with a frown.

"Or maybe..." he sighed. "It's not easy being grown up, is it?" there was a rather plaintive tone in his voice.

"No. No it isn't." Illumin paused. It wasn't, really, though his only experience with it in this lifetime had been watching Memi. So many things in her had shifted when Medicine had pulled her into (near) adulthood far too quickly. "You have to think about things more," he said, slowly, "and if you get into trouble nobody will come and fix it for you. But, you can make your own choices in the good way, too?"

Okay, so it wasn't much, and it was awkward, but it was the best Illumin had to offer. Probably only Byrne could have gotten that kind of reaction out of him.

"Thinking is hard." he agreed with a frown. "It seems alot of work to be an adult. Do you like it?" There was a rather toughtful look on his features, despite his comical appearance, surrounded by junk with a mop in his hands.

Why did people grow up anyway? It seemed a hassle, all told. If colors bled with age, as they did with Harmodious, why bother?

"I... guess? I don't really remember not being one." The myth hadn't said anything about infant raging light and shadow. Maybe he'd never been a child.

The thought had never really occurred to him.

"Oh." he answered. Then suddenly smiled and hugged him. "Well, thanks for finding a mop for me! Even if I can't stop the colors from running, you never know if there's a god-killer around, right?"

They might need it then. Who knew?

"You keep your mop ready, just in case," Illumin said, soberly, though he was fighting to quit from grinning. "Good luck."

With that, he turned and headed back upstairs, stopping to wrinkle his nose at Alex's discarded boots - Well, that's questionable taste indeed, my my... - before going up the staircase, glow increasing as he went.

Feed me a stray cat!
Joint post : Byrne, Harmodious

Byrne had emerged victorious from the building with a squirming handful of not one, but 2 puppies. Presenting them proudly to Gaia, he had then immediately run off, half gliding with happiness back to his room.

Sitting down, he stared at first one, then at the other trying to decide.

Which one? Which?

Thinking again. Thinking was hard. Finally he just held out his hand and closed his eyes. The first one that licked at his palm was the one he snatched up.

Surely this would help? Wouldn't it?

Surprise colored Kishara's face when Byrne appeared triumphant with an armful of wiggling canines. She could hardly believe he had found one, let alone a pair in this city where so much had been forced to either die or vanish to other whereabouts. But they seemed healthy and happy enough, implying that a mother was not far away, and Byrne was so pleased that it was hard to mention the pups might miss their parent. From the brief flash she'd seen of them before the feathered god had floated off on cloud nine, they had looked to be old enough to survive on their own.

With a short laugh and a disbelieving shake of her head, Gaia started back toward the Pantheon. She couldn't be sure that the pups would cure Harmodius of his wrathful status, but it certainly would have made her job easier if it were so.


It was almost as if the horribleness that was "outside" did not exist. Bouncing from his room, he looked around expectantly, holding the squirming bit of fluff close to him.

"Harmodious?" he queried tentatively. Where could he be now? Perhaps in his room? Maybe on the throne? Or....

No matter! He'd find him.

Screams overlapped upon screams, reaching out like the countless claws, fingers and wings spread up in supplication to the darkened heavens. All was dark, but not as ithad been in the beginning. Should it be so, then all would know true Fear. Theyd quake and coddle against a dry teet only to find blood and ash to meet their thirsty lips. But it was not his purpose yet, that final laugh.
He could hear the music of the ages again, certainly they all must be able to hear it now. His progeny, his Edelsteine, his reborn many that could populate the darkness and the first Nothing like the stars in the sky that would never again stretch out any hand to anyone.

He stood in the garden, in the lava looking up, his own arms and hands raised and glowing dark in the dark, seeping true Night into the sky with his six wings unfurled behind him.

Byrne's ears flickered as he looked inside briefly. Then realized he had been looking back into his room.

Silly. Harmodious wouldn't be THERE.

...would he?

Surely not.

He peeked in again to be sure. Nope. No Harmodious.

Looking around again, he leapt up into the sky, making sure that he had a VERY tight grip now. He wasn't sure if the puppy was like his fish and enjoyed heights, but he needed a better look.

He almost missed the sight, but zipped down joyfully when he saw the dark speck against the molten glow.

Even the evidence of Harmodious fully run out of colors could not dismay him.

"Harmodious?" he asked, grinning hopefully up to the god.

One of his light, his little lost lights. Harmodius' gaze turned down and his slowly brought down his hands withteh deliberate attention of Ages of immortality. "Byrne, what brightens your face this fate-filled night?"

He nearly squirmed as the puppy did then, blinking at the gaze levelled upon him.

And not even his mop on him!

Rolling his hunching shoulders back, he looked down at the wriggling thing in his arms and then offered it out to the other God with the same pleasure as one would a priceless treasure.

"I- I found it for you." he said, with an eager grin.

How quaint, and such an earnest, brave offering.

"A puppy? For me? " His mouth spread into a smile, lips slashed too far to be natural, the line too long and jagged with fangs.

"So vibrant and alive. Fresh." He took the animal in one hand, a great palm and thin, vice-like fingers wrapping about it's wiggly middle. He brought it to his other arm, holding it properly as his stepped out from the lava flow onto the solid black stone next to Byrne.

He nodded a bit, having to look upwards to see the other now. "Yep." he answered. "We looked all over for him too! In buildings and alleys and even in the sky."

His eyes were a bit beseeching. "Do you like him?"

"Thoughtful of you, dear phoenx. I had not expected my first proper offering to be from you. I'm touched....though he's a bit small. Perhaps I got ahead of myself....such grand sacrafices can come later, I am yet young to the world again."

As he spoke he pet down the puppy's head, scruff and neck. The poor creature shivered and held still, liek a rabbit beneath a predator's paw. He grasped the scruff again, like grasping onto the corner of a table cloth. As if mimicing the magic trick, Destruction pulled the skin and fur off in a quick, single motion. THe muscle and sinew, bone and quivering organs that were left shivering on his arm blackened and smoked, meat layed on an incinerator.

He shook off his arm when it was but black flaking carbon and pet the pelt. "Thank you."

Byrne gave a muffled sound, trying to back up. He tripped over himself and sat down, hard. There was a sound of crumbling fall leaves and he winced at the sudden pain.

He had shattered some of his plumeage. But that didn't distract him for more than a moment as he scrambled to his feet.

"Wh-why?" he stammered, still in slow retreat.

"For the gift and offering, naturalyl, Byrne. My altar is oblivion, I am Destruction. I hadn't figured you would figure such a perfect gift...virile little life. " He slowly strode past Byrne, smile still wide on his lips. Pleasure rolled along the contours of his posture.

"I shall have to return the favor, dear one."

Byrne almost wilted once Harmodious had passed, before he remembered that the other puppy lay alone in his room.

If HE found that one...

Wincing again as he forced himself into a trot, he knew instinctively that flight without the stabilizing affect of streamlined tailfeathers would not be prudent, he slipped into the empty room and shut the bronze door hard.

Was the other one still here and okay?

Crawling around and under the scattered debris of leaves and twigs, he finally found the puppy and curled up around it, shivering.

"It's okay." he said softly. "It's okay. I won't let him harm you."

Kidnapping
Joint Post : Beryl, Byrne


Byrne had ventured but once from his room. A mission of mercy to purloin more dog food in which to feed the non demanding pet. Only the rumbling stomache and minor wriggling gave indication of it's hunger. It was enough to pull the Phoenix from his lassitude. But only just. Once his mission was completed, he settled back down amongst the tattered nest remnants and fell back into the quiet daze from which he had only briefly arounsed from.

Her wolf was grumbling at her. He hated coming back to the shop and kept swiping at his nose the whole time and clung to her side like a pup. But something was making him draw her back. She didn't want to walk through the downstairs, doubting her own gumption would survive. Rather she wrapped her arms around the furry brute's stomach and lifted them up to flicker in through her window. As soon as his paws touched the floor Hidalgo was out the door and down the hall, whining softly for Beryl to follow.

Illumin's lights had gone out long ago, but there was neither comfort nor fear in the lack of defining brightness. He noticed it not. Nor the mustiness, nor the lack of sensation or emotion. When his tail pained him, he merely shifted until it pained him less. Then he fell still again.

Hidalgo was pawing at Byrne's door. That got Beryl to run down the hall and switch into full worry by the time her hand had raised to tentatively knock. "Byrne? Are you in there?"

The puppy was squirming again, and he let go a bit, sitting up slightly to pet it. "Come in." he replied, not looking up. "Hello, Beryl."

Hidalgo immediately began sniffing the pup over, huffing a bit and showing he wasn't happy about it's living conditions. "Byrne? Why are you in the dark? Where are you?"

She moved through the room, searching for the warmth that usually flowed from the bright little bird. "Byrne, what happened? You don't sound like yourself."

"Im here." he answered. "Im sitting down."

Carefully using her wings as whispers she found out where he was. Even before she sat down she was carefully winding her arms around him as her wolf picked up the puppy by the scruff. "Poor sweet little bird. You shouldn't be alone in the dark." Bringing her wings around she made sure to include the puppy and her wolf, trying to create a temporary sheild between them and the rest of the world.

"It's not so bad." he replied. "I had to go out to get the puppy some food."

"Byrne, it's not good for him to be in the dark either. He needs light and clean air and places to run and play." She didn't list the other things for now. Carefully tucking the phoenix's head under her chin she started to rub his back, trying to make him feel safe.

"No places like that now." he replied simply.

"There are. Just not here." Her hands found injuries, turning to vapor as she tracved them so she wouldn't cause Byrne any more pain.

"Destruction is everywhere." Byrne answered.

"True, but that doesn't mena his influence has reached everywhere yet. There are still green places for now. Places where the sunlight comes through and there are other animals. Do you want to see?"

"No, it's okay." Byrne replied. "But you can take the puppy there."

"But he'd miss you. I know he really likes you. Even with others there I think he'd be scared if you weren't there." Hidalgo let the little nervous bundle of fluff hobble back to it's owner.

Byrne picked him up and put him back in his lap. "He'd be okay. If it's nice there like you said."

"Byrne, I'm not leaving you here by yourself. You're hurt, your exhausted and I know you're scared." Giving him a motherly kiss on the forehead her voice saddened a bit. "And there's really nothing you can do here."

"Im not really scared anymore." he replied. "And I can make my tail better when I feel like it."

"They why don't you?" Beryl just wanted him to be safe, she was getting more worried the more she talked to him.

"I was thinking." he answered.

"Oh? Of what?" She pulled him closer, letting him settle on her lap like any other child.

"Im not sure yet." he answered. "Just thinking."

"Well that's still good."

"Maybe." he agreed.

She sighed into his hair, idly petting back the firey locks. "Byrne, I'm really worried about you. And I don't know that I can come back here again. I figured out what those little candles are you mentioned. It means I'm going to have children and I'm afraid Destruction will try to destroy them as something unacceptable. It would make me fell so much better if you would come for me. Even if you fell you have to come back here and check on things. But I can't leave you here alone and in the dark."

"You shouldn't be here, then." he replied. "Don't worry, I'm okay. I just need to think a bit more."

"You're not ok. That little fire that went off every time you walked into a room is gone. Please, Byrne?" She was worried sick over him. Apparently it was warranted if his present condition was testimony.

He just shook his head and lay back down, curling back up to the puppy. "It's okay, Beryl. Illumin is still here. He said if I needed anything to ask." he didn't mention that he hadn't bothered to ask, but thought that perhaps such information would be a comfort

Laying next to him she used her wing as a blanket. When she spoke agina her voice was soft. "Why do you need to stay?"

"Why not?" he answered. "There's no reason not to."

"Actually, there are several reasons not to stay. And you're proving several."

"If you say so." he answered, not moving.

"I do. And if it takes me saying so to get you out of the dark for a while then I say so to that too." The entire time she'd been talking her hand had been petting the godling's bright hair and plume.

"I don't want to talk anymore, I don't think. " he said.

"Then I win?" She gave him a small half smile and a hug.

"If you have to." he replied. He wished she would go away so he could think again. Maybe she would now.

"Good." With that she carefully scooped him up, puppy and all and started from the room, followed by a disgruntled wolf who kept growling at odd shadows.

Byrne didn't protest, although closing his eyes and turning his head away. There was the brief flash of annoyance, quelled, and then the same quiet apathy.

He could always come back, if he felt it worth moving.

Beryl started a soft singing that she remembered he used to like as she carried him. She didn't let him go the entire way back to her re-discovered temple. A few breif words brought about a merry fire in the large pit and a flurry of black furballs followed. The puppy was politely investigated while the older cats went to work nesting around the dispairing godlette, trying to groom, soothe, and calm.

The light from the stained glass window created a colorful collage on the gently shaded floor. He was not looking at that, however; his attention was riveted through the dark red portion of the window.

Much like Destructions handiwork...that bloodred color. Through it was the spectrum that HE had designed. Shades of carnage and of anger. Shades of pain and of waste.

He stared through that aspect for a long, long time.

The Hunt wandered idly through Beryl's temple, enjoying the press of people who parted like water as he trailed through their midst. There was something to be said for being somewhat anonymous in a place of worship - no one intruded on your thoughts and asked you to decide something. He usually enjoyed the constant doings at his own temple, but now that his coming confrontation with Harmodious loomed, the green god found himself withdrawing into his own mind more. He wished his host was here to advise him.

As she was long gone, he went looking for Beryl to get some council and comfort. She wasn't here at the moment, but there was enough of her scent clinging to the building he didn't leave right away. Leaving his feet to find their way around, he strolled without seeing where he was going. Finishing a train of thought he looked up, and was suprised to find himself alone in a room with Byrne of all people. Why was he- oh yes, Beryl's note had said. Well, that was one less thing to worry about in the coming trial.

"Hello Byrne." Eamnonn said softly, stepping up beside the other god. "How are you?"

Blinking, the voice didn't register at first. Turning his head slightly to catch the Hunt from the corner of his eye gave him a wary and unnatural air. His eyes were normally vibrant and dancing, reflected now the dullness of scratched gems.

"Hello." he replied. It was a rather inflectionless echo of Ea's own greeting and little more. "Beryl's not here."

That seemed a very typical thing for him to say...a statement of laughable obviousness. Except there was no pleased grin accompanying it.

His gaze returned to the window and beyond.


Eamnonn frowned at the change that had come over the usually cheerful god.

"That's all right, I came to see you." he lied smoothly, giving Byrne a friendly smile. "You're living here now?"

"Beryl wouldn't leave unless I said so." he answered. looking back askew at the god. "She's pregnant and worried."

It was odd to see him so chillingly unmoved by anything. Fire was never so.

One of the cats crawled into his lap, but he paid it little mind until it nudged insistantly at his hand to be petted.


Eamnonn nodded. "Yes, pregnant and worried. My fault on both counts."

The Hunt cocked his head, looking the other god over with every sense he had as he tried to discern exactly what was wrong. It wasn't working. "Byrne, what's wrong?"

"Wrong?" he repeated and looked out the window and then back as if he was unsure of the intent of the question. "Wrong with what?" his tone almost indicated the question "what wasn't wrong?" ... but almost only.

He almost repeated that Beryl wasn't around, but he wasn't sure such information would be of any use for the Hunt. His fault how?


"You're not acting like I'm used to you acting, so I'm asking what has made this happen, and if there's anything I can do to help you be happy again." the green god explained, sitting down next to his friend. "I'm sad when my friends are sad, so I like helping them to be happy again."

"And besides," he said with a tired smile, "it would be a good distraction from the mess I've gotten myself into."

"Oh." he answered. "I'm just thinking, is all." he stared back out the window and then looked down at the purring ball of fur in his lap. "Why are you in trouble?"

"Because Gaia is going to speak to Harmodious soon, and I have chosen to stand with her as her guard." he said after a moment's hesitation. "That's why Beryl is worried. There's a chance I might die."

"What are you thinking about?"

He looked back at the Hunt with almost widened eyes. They looked very much like a startled bird. "Talk to him? About what? Why would you talk to him?"

Eamnonn smiled and shook his head. "Kishara will be doing the talking, as she is better at it than I and knew him once in better times. She hopes to find away to swing him back towards Creation before he destroys everything."

He looked again at the cat purring and nudging his hands. "I don't think that's a good idea." he replied. "You shouldn't make Beryl sad."

"If Destruction isn't stopped we will all cease to exist, and then no one will feel anything." the Hunt said in a harsh tone. "I would rather Beryl and our children sad and alive then dead. I want to protect them."

Byrne flinched, curling up on the chair and looking out the window. " Go away please." he whispered softly.

The Hunt frowned, mentally cursing himself for letting his darker feelings surface.

"I'm sorry Byrne, I didn't mean to upset you. I'll go. Will you keep Beryl company for me while I'm gone?"

"I can't do anything." he answered. "Just go away, now." Byrne didn't look up or move from where he was. He hunched his shoulders more and pulled his head in.

Eamnonn sighed, his heart aching at the sight of Byrne's unhappiness. He leaned over, wrapping the other god in a hug before he did as he was asked. "You can do plenty if you want to, little one. You are rebirth, the life that springs from destruction. You are the eternal light, the happy one, and hope you can return to that soon. Be yourself, and things will turn out right."

"It doesn't matter." he just replied simply, and not even sadly. "I don't remember how to do any of that anymore."

He was thinking hard...but nothing resulted from the effort. Was that the way it would always be? Everyone sad, and he completely lost.

Destruction could have easily treated him as he had the puppy. Why did that thought not bother him?


"You're numb from shock." the Hunt said into the other's hair. "That will go away with time."

"Byrne, when the children are born, well..." he patted a firery shoulder and sat back a little. "I'd love it if you'd been their godfather if Beryl hasn't asked you already."

Byrne stared at the Hunt for some time, almost as if he hadn't heard the request. Then he shook his head. "I don't think that would be a good idea."

He didn't explain. Perhaps the words were too difficult, or he wasn't exactly sure of why it wasn't. There was nothing in his voice or expression that spoke of screaming tension or even sadness or loss. It was the same rather vague and quiet tone of ever.

Be responsible for others? No. Not a good idea at all.


"Please?" he asked quietly, squeezing the other's shoulder. "I'd really like you to be a part of our family."

He nearly squirmed. The only option that seemed available was delay. Perhaps that would change their minds.

"I'd like to think about it." he replied, knowing that thinking was not his strong suit at all. He might never come to a conclusion that way.

"Okay." Eamnonn said, lingering for another moment before releasing the other god. "I'm sorry, you asked me to go away. I'll leave."

"Thank you." he answered, looking back out the window. Through the red in the glass, the landscape took on the proper proportions of destruction.

Flying the coop
Solo Post: Byrne

To say that Byrne's flight was planned would be overinflating the
process that led to it.

While it was true that Beryl and Ea were otherwise distracted, this
fact was not clearly evident to the young god that did nothing other than
sit at the window to his room and look out over a land tainted.

While it was also true that he was surrounded by a plethora of purring
felines, none of them that had wings...this also did not factor into
his thoughts.

That there may or may not have been a Werewolf stalking his room at his
master's orders was also not apparent.

Ultimately, Byrne did what Byrne did. It was not motivated by careful
thought, or planning, or even impulse. For amongst all of these, even
impulse relied somewhat on consideration...if only a momentary flicker.

What the god did was done with none of the above. He merely opened the
window with one wing, and was out it and awing.

He did not know where he was going. He did not let it trouble his
already sober and muddled mind. He merely flew. Away. Towards. Somewhere.
Nowhere.

His feathers flayed in the air, and his shadow streaked across the
ground. But it was something neither the Hunt could scent, nor the Wind
could call.

Fire did not decide where it would spark or rage.

Memory of a Feather: Part 2
Solo Post : Byrne : Quest

His curiosity was piqued. Did not the man feel the biting wind or even see the destruction about him? Was the statue someone important?

He remembered that Beryl had been a statue at one point...perhaps that was it? Another god?

Walking forward, he noticed that the man had a white rag over his eyes. That would surely make seeing hard, wouldn't it?

Covering his own eyes, Byrne wondered if that was the key to the statue. Perhaps it was playing hide and seek? He stayed like that for a few minutes, before peeking.

The statue had not moved, still staring at the other man with a wide and happy grin. Byrne felt a small tug at his stomache again. He knew that smile well.

"Um. Hello?" he finally said, as the man bowed again to the statue. "Can you hear what that statue is saying? Or is there a trick to it?"

The man started, turning about to where he had heard the voice. But then chuckled. "A trick? Possibly so. I did not hear you approach, stranger. Do you have a need in these dangerous times?"

Byrne blinked. The man did not offer the solution to the trick, and merely asked more questions. Strange. But oddly comforting. Harmodious was like that. Sitting down, he also bowed to the statue. Maybe he was proud, like Illumin?

"I was just tired." he said. "The wind was really strong and I wanted to rest some. I saw you were talking to the statue and I thought it might be another god. But I don't think he likes me."

The man chuckled again. Another god? "This is the Lord Buddha. He has much to teach, but I have yet to hear his image open its mouth and speak to me, young one."

"Oh." Byrne was almost disappointed. "So...you were just talking to him then? Were you lonely? I sometimes talk to my pets when Im lonely, although they can't talk back."

The man nodded. "In times like these, friend...there is much that needs to be considered and sometimes it helps if you can hear your own thoughts."

Aha! he knew why the man wore a scarf on his face now! "So you have your eyes covered to help you think?" he hadn't considered that before. "Does it help at all?"

The man was a bit startled, and then burst out into full throated laughter. But it was not mocking, but rather a warm and delighted sound. It warmed Byrne to his toes.

"No, friend." he said with friendliness. "It is not that I need the darkenss to ponder, but rather that I was long without sight. I am blind."

"Oh." he said, awkwardly. "Im sorry. Does it hurt?"

"No." he responded with a smile. "It does not hurt. And perhaps you are more right than you know. One does not know what one is missing when it is there."

He gave a tentative smile. "...I guess. Who is One?"

The man laughed again. Surely but a child. But why was he alone? The man heard no other nearby.

"Are you lost, young one? IF so, perhaps I can help you find your way home? My name is Tsai." he got to his feet, even as Byrne lept to his and offered help. "Thank you." he noted the wiry strength in the arm and then stepped back.

"I'm Byrne." the other greeted. "I don't know where home is. It's been too long asleep to remember."

He tried to remember what home had been one time. But failed. Only the destruction now, and the green gardens before came to him. And apples.

"I remember Apples, though." he mused. "Golden and shimmering in the moonlight. Great orchards where they shone like stars."

The man nodded. "We have apples, young Byrne. But I do not believe they are golden, but the normal reds and greens that grow around here. Where are your parents?"

"No parents." Byrne answered. "Do you think I need those?"

The man chuckled to cover his faux pas. "You made it this far without them, did you not? Perhaps you are looked after by a Higher power."

"Harmodious." Byrne nodded. "he took care of us when we slept."

"Then perhaps we need to find him?" the man asked.

"No." Byrne frowned. "That would not be a good idea now. He's Destruction."

The man considered the words, wondering at the meaning. The boy spoke in riddles, perhaps afraid of his keeper. If he had no parents, he was likely a waif, or wanderer. But apprently a harmless one. In the way of these days...he was likely one of many.

There was one way to be sure.

"May I touch your face?" he asked. "Since I cannot see except with my fingers, I would like to know who it is I speak with."

Byrne considered. "Can I touch yours?" he asked back.

The man chortled. "That seems fair, doesn't it?"

The phoenix nodded. "Okay then."

The old man reached out even as Byrne did, tracing the contours of the young face. The hairless chin, the smooth and blemishless cheeks. A young teenager at best. Although his innocence bespoke a younger soul. His hair was short cut from what he could feel. Nodding, he let his hand drop.

The others touch was friendly and probing without being hard. A light touch. Despite the soulless wind, his fingers were warm.

"Satisfied?" he asked.

Byrne nodded. "I've never said hello that way." he replied, taking his hand away. "It's nice."

Tsai grinned. "Indeed. It does the job nicely. Did you want to come in and have an apple, Byrne?"

"Sure!" the other said, happily skipping after the old man, troubles forgotten for the moment at the memory of a shining forest.

Memory of a Feather: Part 4
Solo Post : Byrne : Quest

Now I will believe
That there are unicorns; that in Arabia
There is one tree, the phoenix' throne; one phoenix
At this hour reigning there.

The Tempest - (III.iii.27)


He was mentioning that "one" person again, Byrne thought. Who was "one" anyway? He was going to ask, but the other thing he had said seemed more important.

Hope? He guessed it was important. That was what they needed to survive, afterall. But wasn't it ... unfair?

Byrne had never really considered it before like that. If they expected him to do something...and he really couldn't...wasn't it like lying? That was almost as bad as breaking a promise...

"Look." he said quietly. "Maybe it's good that you look forward to things. But I don't think... I mean...why ask the Phoenix for help?"

"Tradition, mostly." he answered. "They have been the guardians for far longer than my ancestors can recall. But we digress, I think. Weren't you going to tell me what troubles you so?"

He squirmed a bit. He hadn't remembered saying that he was...but he guessed he must have.

"Im not sure where to begin." he answered.

"At the beginning." the man smiled.

So Byrne closed his eyes and did. He pulled up every disjointed feeling and memory that could be dredged up and spoke it.

He reminisced of golden apples and royal orchards. Of princes and finely shaped cages. Of wolves, and maidens and jealous brothers.

He spoke of the southern sky and how he presided it. Served it even, at times. How the stars shone there, and the winds blew there. He spoke of how the sun's lights touched the horizon, teasingly at first.

He spoke of myths and poems. Playwrights and stories. Legends and songs.

He spoke of the darkness that came to all of them. The long sleep. The quiet and loneliness.

He spoke of Chaeval. How he first felt her touch. How she had cradled him from his sleep, protected him from the strangeness that was the Now at first. How she had encouraged him and most of all how she had loved him.

He told of his promise to her. Allowing her Dreams to be of his life. Giving to her the newness of discovery, an escape of the doldrums of her life. Releasing her from the cage of normality.

How he still walked the ocean, uncomfortable as the sea air was. Because there he could still feel her, hear her voice in the waves. Sometimes even sense her sighing in her sleep.

He recounted his promise to Harmodious, how he had fallen to slumber again for a short time thereafter, wakening to Destruction.

All of this, his fault.

And finally, he mentioned the disastrous attempt at mollifying the god. How his offering was slaughtered before his eyes. The tears that he was too shocked to cry then welling in his eyes.

There was a touch on his cheek, as Tsai searched for the moisture there. Then awe on the other's face as his fingers detected no lie.

"My Lord." he said, dropping to his knees immediately and bowing.

"Don't." Byrne said softly. "Please don't. I told you. I can't do anything!" And he burst into tears once more