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 Posted: Fri Sep 23, 2005 9:24 am
A diplomatic response. It didn't surprise him at all- he might have sounded as neutral as possible, but her heratige was part siren. She could probably tell from his voice alone that he was nervous as all hell about telling her his story... and whether she would believe him or not.
She was also right in thinking that his newfound abilities were a kind of problem for him. If there was any more sacred ground, it was the mind itself- or at least, he believed so. Using his abilities was enough of a problem for him.
But fear never got him anywhere, did it? She would just have to discern for herself whether the story was true or not.
I suppose I should start today, seeing as I'll need all the time I can get. I'm going to warn you of two things, though.... The first part of this story is a legend, while the other is true. The lines between the two will definitely be confused. I won't ask you to believe me, just that you listen.
He closed his eyes- not like he had to; the entirety of the story was ingrained into his mind- but he liked a clear head when he told something like this.
First. a question. I don't suppose you've heard any Norse legends and myths, have you?
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Posted: Fri Sep 23, 2005 10:07 am
"Fine. Let's start then."
She gave him a quick but warm smile, took two cushions from the nearby couch and made herself comfortable on the windowsill.
Still she wondered why of all people she was the one Evan wanted to tell what had happened to him. Not that she thought it to be bothersome. Maybe it was only helpful to get to know each other better if they were going to be GSF mates. Yet Lucind couldn't fully figure out his motives.
Somehow reminding of a cat, she leaned against the corner between windowframe and wall, watching him calmly, even when he hinted his story might be hard to believe. Little sparks of the afternoon sun flared up in her eyes.
To his question she replied: "Little I know about those things. So you better start from the very beginning wink "
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Posted: Fri Sep 23, 2005 10:46 am
Well then... Seeing as the entire creation story would be too long... suffice it to say that it started with one- Odin, the allfather. Simple as that. All the knowledge one could ever have was his, including the Power of Creation.
He was the leader of the Aesir- a race of gods who were warriors, though they were mostly good and true. Or at least, that's what the people who believe in them say. Mostly knowledge of battle tactics and the like. The Vanir, of course, was the other race, and there were gods of fertility and water. They had knowledge of magic and sorcery.
Of course, with all the knowledge he had, Odin was still curious as to what was going on in the Nine Worlds- for there were nine in all. So he sent his two ravens out into the world to see and hear what they could, then report back to him. These ravens were named Hugin and Munin.
They weren't just birds, though... They carried something quite important. Hugin was the Raven of Thought- the carrier of the vast amounts of knowledge that Odin had collected. Munin was Memory- she carried not only Odin's memories, but Hugin's as well.
They acted as Odin's eyes and ears... and sometimes his hand. Battles and wars were fought, kingdoms and castles brought to ruin. Those that were brought to destruction were said to have lost Odin's favor. Most of these had become so corrupt that one could infiltrate any level of society and destroy the whole thing from the inside.
Basicly, that's what they did. And if either was lost, Half of the allfather's mind would be completely gone, as well as a serious tactical advantage.
That happened one day... two millenia ago. The conflict between the gods was becoming tense- all too tense for words to describe. Both ravens knew it was going to be war, sooner or later. One decided to talk it out peacefully- to try and reason with her people. The other decided to get to the heart of the matter and find out who was responsible for the incidents.
Of course... not every plan is successful.
Odin was starting to become suspicious of Munin- perhaps her peaceful ways were a sign that she was working for the opposing side? No one knows what he was thinking at the time, but he didn't like it. Of course, it was found out that the god of lies and trickery, Loki, was behind the trouble.
Odin declared war shortly after the death of Balder, god of light... Loki and his cohorts were shut down handily. But even then, Munin made attempts to make peace and stop her brethren from slaying each other.
It was a mistake. Soon after the war, Odin cast her out of Asgard, on the charge of treason... and all Hugin could do was watch.
The Ragnarok- the final war between the two races- came soon after, and by the beginning of the age of men, all the gods and their servants were destroyed... save for a few.
It was here that he stopped the first story. He casually waited for any sort of response.
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Posted: Fri Sep 23, 2005 11:07 am
She listened intendly, only eyelids and chest moved rhythmically.
While he went on telling this myth, her look traveled sidewards until she was absently staring at some distant point in the room.
Pieces of what she had once heard or read about the world of those gods came back to her.
The raven of Odin...? It sounded familiar but Lucind had no idea in this moment where she had met this phrase before.
When he stopped, Lucind took some seconds but found that everything was clear so far.
In the library's twilight her voice seemed to sound deeper than usual.
"Go on, please."
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Posted: Fri Sep 23, 2005 11:31 am
Evan nodded and continued. He had planned to tell this story to someone else, but it was best to tell everything while it was fresh in his mind. Not like it was ever going to leave that mind anytime soon, as she was going to find out.
Afterwards... things didn't look too good for the world. Loki was one of the ones who had survived the War of the Gods. And he was looking for the last remnants of the allfather... the Ravens. If he got his hands on them, the destruction of the world would be complete and total, and he could recreate it anew- in his own twisted version- with the vast knowledge of Hugin and the memories of Munin, which included the Power of Creation.
I don't know that story- bits and pieces of it are lost in time to me. But Hugin's part is definitely clear. He went looking for who was, at the basest level, his sister. The mental link between the two of them was, by all means, weakened beyond repair. He had to find where she was before the signal was gone altogether. It was the first time he was actually worried for someone.
Things took an interesting turn about a century and a half ago. A war between two armies, the likes of which are forgotten, was about to take place. Of course, Hugin was in his human form at the time, looking for any traces of Munin around town. He found none, and was about to skip town, but a certain incident had him stay.
Evan shook his head- it was a mistake to stay in that town longer than one should.
He worked as a reconnaisance agent for the township's defense force, scouting out enemy numbers, positions, the works. They were all too ready for the attack- but they had one trump card. A mercenary who was just passing through. Even now, I think it was a mistake to hire him... I mean, when I retell the story.
He almost made the mistake of leaving it there. She would notice, surely... and he knew it. But Evan pressed on anyways.
The mercenary had the power to command thunder itself- to wield plasma to his will. It was astonishing to them, but Hugin knew someone who could do that- Thor, god of thunder, who was in some part responsible for the beginning of the Ragnarok. Hugin was looking for him to set things right. His kin were slain because of Thor's actions.
Thus, he waited, high over the battlefield. The whole thing turned out to be a good battle for the defending town, especially with Thor in the middle of it. But the battle- no, even his sister was not his target at this moment. He wanted to kill Thor and put his own soul to rest- because he could've stopped the War of the Gods earlier.
In any case, Thor was not looking where he was going, nor watching where he was aiming. The final attack- a massive shockwave that covered a few good miles and decimated a good portion of anyone surrounding, knocked the Raven out of the air.
In his last attempt to preserve what was left of the mental connection between himself and his sister, as well as the vast amounts of knowledge, he locked himself away in his own mind. He didn't feel much of anything when he hit the ground, but when his mind was lost, so was his avian form.
He was basicly in his human form at this point, and suffered a good knock on the head... everything went black for the majority of three weeks.
Evan shrugged. The first story ended there... of course, the second one wasn't going to take much longer. She would be quite surprised at the end of this one, though...
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Posted: Fri Sep 23, 2005 12:11 pm
Hugin the Raven
Even now, I think it was a mistake to hire him... I mean, when I retell the story.
By this, Lucind shot a glance at him, one corner of her mouth curled into a quick smile. She didn't make any comment on that, just kept on listening. Tilting her head she finally spoke up: "Well, all I can say now is that those last events of your tale don't sound all too much myth-like anymore..." Of course, her mind tried to foresee what else was to come, where this story would lead to, to connect pieces and hints.
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Posted: Fri Sep 23, 2005 12:25 pm
Evan looked at his watch and rubbed his eyes.
How time flies when I'm here... guess that's what I liked about this place. I mean, while you were still running it. I'll be sure and come back tomorrow with the other half. Don't worry- I won't forget anytime soon.
He rose from his seat and began walking out- but not before turning around at the door and waving goodbye.
Thanks for letting me tag along- I promise I won't be a burden. Good night, and see you tomorrow. Try not to forget what you've heard... it might be of importance later.
With that, he walked out into the streets of Latent.
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Posted: Sat Sep 24, 2005 11:10 am
[ Message temporarily off-line ]
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Posted: Sat Sep 24, 2005 12:34 pm
The next day, around midday, the whole Feimurgan crew scuttled through the building, up- and downstairs to check a last time if everything was on its place.
The library section wasn't yet complete, only half of all shelves filled - but maybe that would be an incentive for the customers to help growing the stock of volumes.
Lucind had to admit that she, too, was a bit nervous when she went outside to stick the "Re-opening today"-label on the poster in the showcase and turn around the sign hanging inside at the window next to the main door, signalizing the store was open now.
Quiet, pleasant music - mainly new classic and jazzy tracks - sounded on the first and third floor.
Lucind encouraged her staff to stay calm and cool and walked behind the counter, into the kitchen, sipping on a fresh cappuccino.
She grinned.
"Let the games begin..."
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Posted: Sat Sep 24, 2005 1:18 pm
The place looked different- much different- when it was actually open. Or maybe it felt different; he didn't know.
What he did know was that he felt quite good to be back here. He had gone around Latent earlier that day, seeing the town that the stadium had been built around and how it had prospered. It was good to see that at least something of humanity was still decent- to a degree, that was.
In any event, Evan walked into Feimurgan for the second time that week, and nodded approvingly. The first floor was certainly busy enough- too bad there weren't more customers at the moment. The second floor, he assumed, was still as bare-boned as the other evening, though even that too would change.
He didn't wear anything bearing his rank- he never did when he was out and about like this. He wore his casual white outfit- a white shirt, a sport jacket and some silk slacks, white dress shoes, and his usual mirrored shades, which was the only notation of his being in the GSF.
In any event, he waved hello to the staff and sat down, ordering himself just a basket of onion rings and a Sprite for now. He certainly hoped Lucind was here today- he had an obligation to finish his tale.
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Posted: Sun Sep 25, 2005 8:23 am
Lucind was too familiar to this business to be disappointed that Feimurgan wasn't bursting with customers four hours later. Even though they had distributed flyers and posted throughout Latent and made a homepage, it would take some time until people got accustomed to the new store and integrated it into the daily town events.
When she left the second kitchen in the cellar and stepped out of the elevator at the book-cafe floor, she saw Evan sitting among other guests.
After helping an old lady finding the wished paper she walked over to his table.
"Good day, Mr. White. Everything satisfactory here?"
A grin spread over her face to show the formal adress was rather a friendly joke.
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Posted: Sun Sep 25, 2005 9:52 am
Evan nodded, a small smile on his face at the joke.
Aw, it's as good as it was when the first cafe was open. Thanks for asking. Of course, you seem to be a bit shorthanded on customers at the moment... that's too bad, really.
He looked towards her and took his glasses off, revealing his indigo eyes, which looked like two amethysts instead of two eyes. They seemed to give off a soft light of their own- at least, they seemed to, as all eyes did when the light hit them just right.
Anyways, I'm about finished here, he said, gesturing towards his almost-empty basket of onion rings and half-empty drink. Shall we get upstairs and finish what I started? I certainly hope you remember everything from the first half... then again, you wouldn't forget so quickly, would you?
With all he knew, Evan didn't know whether he was treading on unwanted territory with his common words. Then again, no one did when they said something.
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Posted: Sun Sep 25, 2005 9:16 pm
Slowly pushing the front door open she stepped inside the newly constructed building. A mirriad of delicious scents washed over her, her stomach let itself be known with a low but very persistant growl. Wrinkling her nose at herself she blushed slightly as a few people looked up at her out of curiousity of someone new walking into the cafe. Stepping further into the establishment she shifted her backpack to her side and moved towards the left and one of the tables.
Slowly sinking into a chair she laid her pack on an empty seat, and her staff leaning against it as well, trying to keep both well out of the way of others. Realising she probably looked odd to the other customers she raised a hand to her hair, trying to smoth it down to some sort of semblance of order. When a waitress came up she quickly asked for a cup of cherry almond tea and a smoked turkey and swiss sandwich, watching as the waitress wrote down her order with a smile before going back to the kitchen with it.
While she waited Nixxy let her gaze wander about the place, she had been in many places like this some worse, few better, but this place she almost instantly felt that someone had taken alot of time and effort in building. Even though new, the soul of this place was strong and comforting, perhaps here she could find answers about the stadium. Someone in this town she was sure knew about the place she was searching for, someone perhaps even knew her mother..
Blinking and looking up as the waitress placed her order before her, she nodded her thanks and glanced at the tab as it was laid beside her plate with the sandwich. The price was very reasonable yet she knew that she was going to have to get a job soon to replentish her traveling funds. Picking up half the sandwich she took a bite, then sitting it down she turned slightly and began going through her backpack, pulling out a folder that had all her important papers in it.
The cafe being new they were possibly still hiring. Laying the folder down on the table she began to eat her sandwich again, looking at the resume that she had pulled from the folder.
It was almost a map of her life, every town that Nixxy and her mother had been to she had found work. She was not afraid of hard work and it showed, doing everything from light construction to day care. Never keeping a job for more than 9 months, not because of her lack of work ethics but her mother would never stay in one place long. Her list of refrences sounded like a who's who from the various towns she had lived in, and each she knew would give her decent marks if contacted.
Taking a sip of the tea, she sat back in her seat with a smile..finally relaxing a few moments before actually asking one of the existing staff as to the whereabouts of the owner or manager.
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Posted: Mon Sep 26, 2005 11:07 am
"Ah well..." She shrugged and used his remark as an opportunity to scan the room. "It is okay for a start. I'm contented. And...,"she slightly smiled,"it feels good to really run such a place again. As I told yesterday, I was gone for half a year. And even before that I worked more and more in the background." Evan Shall we get upstairs and finish what I started? I certainly hope you remember everything from the first half... then again, you wouldn't forget so quickly, would you? "No...I didn't forget." Her smile was still there, though for a split second it became hollow and a faint trace of bitterness mingled with her words. He couldn't know. It wasn't his fault. Yet he had just reminded her for the second time of her cowardice... * * * The waitress, a young woman with jet black hair and tanned complexion, answered Nixxy: "Over there, this is the owner - Miss Varhetel^^" She pointed at a table to the left of Nixxy's where Lucind chatted with the white clad man and casually tucked a blue strand behind her bat-like ear.
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Posted: Mon Sep 26, 2005 11:59 am
Blinking she looked up at the waitress then over to the table and the person indicated. She nodded her thanks and took another sip of the tea takinga moment to gather her thoughts and courage. Standing up she looked again towards the owner and her guest, hesitating a moment and wondering if it was prudent to interrupt. Taking a deep breath she shook her head, and picking up the resume she headed towards the other table.
Stopping at a discrete distance to be polite she waited till her presence was acknowledged before saying anything. Not wishing to interrupt she stood quietly taking in the appearance of both the owner and the male that she was speaking to.
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