[J] Akakios :: Lament

[A Wandering Esper]

New Lives
Week of Hell

Zero Dream

Everyone had gone their separate way, now - Ea and Illumin had gone, and so had Ankou, absent from even his own chambers, once he had made sure they, well, expecially her was settled. Wherever the spirit guide was headed to, he hadn't told. Perhaps he knew she needed time to digest what he had told the pair - how long they had actually been gone, and how it had affected her - or, more fittingly, how it had affected the chidlren. And then there had been the revelation that almost everything she had gathered for herself, the home of precious and bitter memories, the small place she had made her home, gone with only unstable rubbles left behind and a few things the boys had managed to get out from either sides. That was indeed a whole lot to process, all at once.

The violin and guitar where mostly whole, but the strings had given in to decay. Maybe, later, she would restring them with some of her own, divine ones. She honestly had no idea if they would grow back if she cut them, or if it would hurt her - they seemed to have a mind of their own, lashing back and forth like a cat's tail. But now wasn't really the time for it.

Or, perhaps, the spirit guide knew what was to come, and gave the pair the intimity needed for such a moment. The three remained whisps darted, back and forth, as if impatient and waiting for something to happen. They where strong and bright, now - each with it's own distinct color - one a pale blue, the other a pale purple, and the last, the bold one, a vibrant shade of emerald green, and all she could really do was look at them, weariness and fatigue apparent on her face.

Apparently, the children where ready, she had no idea what do to, and the one person she could think could tell her how to do this... was missing an arm and probably had much, much more important things to worry about.

Thabara

Nergal had spent most of the past few minutes pacing up and down, until Echo had shot him a wary and annoyed glare which made him stop in his track immediately. For now he remained standing ramrod straight at the window, glancing out at the devastating landscape, hands folded behind his back.

The news Ankou had brought, the loss of their joined house, was bitter, but did not hit him as hard as it apparently was the case for Echo. To him, it always had been but a temporary dwelling, something he hadn't allowed himself to get overly attached to, despite everything. The star-painted ceiling in the bedroom, however, he would sorely miss.

But all this paled in comparison to the onslaught of voices. War, Plague, Famine and Decay - each of them had claimed plenty of sacrifices. And while the world might now seem surprisingly quiet and devoid of people to everyone else.. to him it now was more crowded than ever, a constant reminder of his own shortcomings. He sighed, and then - in a sudden move - slammed his open palm against the window pane. Such an outbreak was atypical for him, telltale of just how upset and frustrated he was. He should have taken Destruction's offer, no matter the consequences. He should be able to do something, now. Do something for the dead instead of merely have them heed his command.

"I am sorry," he murmured, glancing at Echo's tired and distraught face. " I did not mean to unsettle you.." He left the window, kneeling down at her side, his gaze filled with concern. "Is there anything I could do for you, something I could get you?" The children were due soon, Ankou had told them, the time flux between the world having abruptly sped up their growth and massively drained the goddess bearing the little ones. It was obvious they were ready to be born, even if the Spirit Guide hadn't taken the time to explain. Their little life flames were burning brighter than ever, a faint streak of hope in this world where everything seemed to fall apart and go downhill.

He did not know what to do. His domain was death. Births.. where about as opposite to it as it could possibly get.

Zero Dream

The slamming, sudden and loud, only helped to add to her rapidly-growing headache, ears pinning down in reaction. "It... is alright." But even that seemed forced, in the state she was in right now. Ìt was already a wonder she was keeping her voice low and level, as is.

The three wisps continued to dart back and forth, waiting, and apparently where a little bit impatient. Still, that did not give her any idea as of what she was supposed to do with them. This was, granted, a bit more abstract than the way she would have expected to have children.... Not that she'd actually expected she would. ...Just like she had once expected the Underworld would not return her feelings.

Though, with how everything had been so... scrambled and non-stop action ever since he had returned, that seemed like ages ago in her mind.

Jinx had come to stand at the edge of the room after Nergal had slammed the window, suddenly worried something else had broken in, and had been about to turn back to her rooms on softly padded feet before she hesitated. They both looked quite... lost. And honestly had no idea what the hell they ought to be doing. She barely repressed the urge to facepalm. There where days where the feline would have liked to have the station to be able to smack Ankou silly.

It was unorthodox, but that wouldn't be the oddest way she would have seen little lifeflames form out. She padded the few steps separating her from the bed and whispered something in Echo's ear, simply nodding along to the confused look the goddess sent her.

Thabara

"What did she tell you?" Nergal asked. Obviously whatever Ankou's aoide had told her wasn't meant for his ears, or there wouldn't have been the need to whisper in the first place, but Echo's confounded look more than perked his curiosity.

Zero Dream

"...Sing." She still looked a bit dumbfounded, even as the black-furred form slid into another room, restoring the intimity of the two while remaining alert as she needed to be.

But really, it was quite silly for her to hesitate, given that she had no idea on how to do it, herself. So, she stopped overthinking the matter and closed her eyes. The first wisp, the bright emerald green one, darted to her, settling in her cupped palm. Even there, getting it - no, him, she realized now, to stay still was a struggle.

Her firstborn would be a son.

The little lifeflame was not making a sound, but to her it almost seemed like it was talking very loudly, and very clearly. Eyes still closed, she moved forward, face level with the top of the little flame, so close that it seemed to caress the tip of her purple lips as it flickered.

After a few seconds that had felt like hours, those lips finally parted.

"Silence and cold, crisp air
Standing still into the tomb of kings
Only I stand, akin to a statue, watching, waiting
For those that would dare defile the dead.

Nothing escapes my eyes
For I am the Guardian of the earthly remains of those who passed."

When the last intense word was spoken, the wisp trailed down, flickering, shifting - taking the form of green-skinned boy, with equally jade-colored strands of hair on top of his head, a small tail trailing down along Echo's leg as he laid against her, apparently now asleep and exausted by the process of finally coming into proper existance.

Thabara

Underworld watched - listened - with bated breath as his first child was sung into being. For a little while he did not dare to move, as if even the slightest action taken by him, ruler of all which was dead would undo this miracle somehow.

Child.

His child.

His.

He had a son.

Finally he sidled closer to Echo, gently laying one arm around her waist, while his other hand reached out to touch upon the deep green skin, trailing lightly along the pointed shape of the ears, ruffling the silky strands of hair, just a little. He still did not dare to speak, but his eyes were wide, filled with wonder.

Zero Dream

She leaned against him, without really noticing that she was. With her son settled against her, her hands rose again, and the light blue wisp trailed in her cupped palms, though she seemed calmer, easier to keep still.

She. A daughter, now. The sorrow that lingered around her surprised her for a moment. She probably should have seen this coming - that the current times, perhaps, would call for her. So many lost, so many under her influence before she could even be.

"Death takes all, and leaves me behind
A touch of sorrow in the wake of loss
But without I wounds would remain raw
and broken hearts would never mend in the wake of loss

Nothing left behind by the tears I've shed
For I am the Grief that follows loss."

Just like the first, the second flame moved - and as it did, shifted into being, smaller than the one that had preceded her, more delicate. Pale blue skin and raven black hairs framed her face, but even as her eyes where closed there seemed to be something different - her eyelids shutting flat as if there was nothing behind them. She settled against her brother soundlessly, also asleep.

Thabara

He cradled Echo's form closer against his own, noticing how she seemed to tire, even if she herself did not. Intently he listened to her Song, committing the verse to memory as the second child was born, taking on physical form.

A girl, this time, with the pale blue skin and the black hair eerily reminiscent of how he had looked while his hosts features had still dominated his appearance. Sorrow? No, Grief, he corrected himself, again not able to resist the urge to touch, fingers trailing the strangely dull strands of black hair.

He noticed something seemed off about the girl's face, fair as it was, the look familiar from the sunken in eyelids of the mummies which had been placed under his protection in days of yore. He wondered if Echo had noticed, but did not dare to voice his concerns before the last would be born. It would not do, to distract Echo from this tiring yet wonderful task.

A moment later, he was entirely distracted by the discovery the boy had a tail, wagging ever so slightly in his sleep. Underworld's expression was.. quite priceless, if anyone actually paid attention to it.

Zero Dream

With the pale blue skinned girl settled, there was only one left, the pale purple wisp, who seemed to linger for a moment, as if unsure if he really wanted to do this or not, but eventually fluttered in his mother's awaiting palm just like his siblings had done before him. He could not stay here forever, and, really, it was lonely here now that his siblings had gone.

This time, it was a familiar feeling that came off from the lifeflame, words spinning and waiting to be strung together and told. She would have smiled a little wider, if that had been even possible for her physical form to do so.

She would not be the one to lead the dead where they should go, but there was no bitterness in conceding this part of her to her own son.

"I follow Her lead, by her side to stir what she leaves
crafting beauty from tears that fall, moving hearts in my wake
Song or words, it matters not to I, for they are mine to weave
Both have the one thing in common, governed by sadness

May they follow my voice, wherever they lay
For I am the Lament of ages to come."

Just like his siblings, the third started to shift, even through there was an apparent problem - there was no space left in mommy's lap. Oh well. Instead of going downward, he darted sideways - there was more than enough space left in daddy's lap, after all. Features shifted, reminiscent of his mother where their sole daughter had seemed to take for him, or at least, what he used to be. Fair, deep skin with strand of hairs thin like spiderwebs, much like his father's had been before being dreaded once more, through the effect was mostly ruined on a visual level due to the pale lavender coloration and the slight wave. The last child settled against Nergal's chest with a small, tired whine.

Thabara

Nergal already barely dared to move, but as the last small lifeflame headed into his direction unexpectetly, he stilled completely, not wanting to accidentally do anything which might scare it away. A tremor went through his body ever so slightly as his last child took on physical shape as well, an unruly mess of silky lavender hair coming to rest against his chest.

Finally, Underworld stirred, one hand gently stroking over the boy's fine hair before he struggled to somehow include the other two children in some sort of awkward embrace.

"Welcome to the world," he finally whispered, his voice almost giving in. What were those tears doing, springing forth from his eyes? This was a joyous moment, not one to weep, and he was smiling indeed.

Where there had previously been lovers, a couple, there now was a family.

Zero Dream

And at last, it was done, and Echo opened her eyes at last - finally able to see her children for the first time, and she was quite sure her heart skipped a few beats. She seemed to barely be able to believe this had actually happened for a moment, one hand going for the girl's dull black hair, touch light as if she was afraid to hurt them as they sleep.

My daughter. My sons. ...My children.

Much like her lover, there was unhidden awe in her eyes, and tears sliding down her cheek.

Thabara

He did not know how long they had been sitting there that way, Echo and the boy comfortably huddled against him, the only sound the soft hum of her wings and their deep, regular breaths. For the first time in months, ever since he had been taken - maybe even before - things felt right.

The green one was drooling in his sleep, he noticed, not entirely sure if he should feel amused or appalled by it. And the girl.. He interrupted his own train of thoughts, sighing internally as he noticed something.

"Have you thought about names?" he asked, gently, not wanting to disturb the content and peaceful atmosphere. But he couldn't refer to his children as 'the green one', 'the girl' and so on all the time, nor did he comfortable referring to them by their domain.

Zero Dream

The sudden sound of his voice, after the long silence, seemed to startle her, as if she had been just about half asleep.. "Not... not yet." There hadn't been time. She had learnt of their existence, and then they where off. The events unfolding in their quest had not given here much time to think, even less about something so serious as names.

And yet, it was painfully apparent that the time would also not be now. The goddess was struggling to remain awake, as is.

Thabara

He nodded quietly, half having expected an answer along those lines. It was more than obvious she could barely keep her eyes open now. "Sleep then," he said, breathing a kiss upon her cheek. "Rest. It can wait." Oh, how he wished that was true.

Zero Dream

She nodded in answer, and then quickly fell asleep, right where she was - through her sleep rather quickly became deep enough so that he could move her without even coming close to waking her.

Thabara

He sighed, knowing she had fallen deep asleep when her body grew heavy against his. Gently he let her slip down into the pillows, and lifted the lavender-haired boy from his lap to rest against his mother's side. For a while he busied himself quietly with arranging pillows and blankets, so that they'd have it as warm and comfortable as possible. Time and again he simply stopped to gaze upon his little family, eyes still filled with wonder and trying to grasp the miracle which had occurred, that he'd just become a father.

Except for the girl they didn't look anything like him, he realized, and even she only resembled his former morphed, still half-mortal form. But then again they were gods, so this didn't mean much. Before they had been reborn they had not been bound to unchanging physical shape like this. Their forms had been many.

"I wont be gone for long," he said, gently, and breathed a kiss upon Echo's lips. She was asleep, but that didn't mean she wouldn't hear him.

That she wouldn't sense him leave.

"Just.. We have been gone for weeks, on this plane. I need to find out.. What there has been going on in the meanwhile. If there is hope." Four weeks. They had been gone for four weeks in this world. And while it otherwise would only have been naught but the blink of an eye in his divine life, now it was..

He sighed, shook his head. There had been another question lingering on his lips, but it would have to wait, just as his children would have to remain nameless for now. He rose, straightened. There had to be something he could do.

Now.

 

[A Wandering Esper]

Names, Names, Names
Week of Hell

Thabara

Nergal had a hard time resisting the urge to simply slam the door back into lock. That demon's pretentious behavior had been infuriating, the stabs of his provocations even more so.

His gaze falling upon his lover and children huddled against each other, all sound asleep still, caused his anger to simply evaporate from one second to the next. Underworld's features softened, and he caught the door to close it very, very quietly, leaning his back against it and content to simply watch for a little while. He did not want to disturb his little family's sleep.

What could he do? The throne wasn't his, even though he hadn't even tried thanks to that obnoxious demon's interference. But, certainly he'd know if it was his to take? He sighed. Perhaps. Perhaps not. He really had to stop to simply make assumptions.

But what could he do now.

His gaze rested upon his children. He knew their domains, which was more than Eamnonn had known for quite a while of his children, and yet..

He pursed his lips thoughtfully. The Pantheon had a grand library, he knew so with certainty from Li-- from Cosine. Certainly there must be books on names? He sneaked back out just as quietly as he had come, only to return about two hours later, bearing a huge pile of books in his arms.

He had met no one in the library, apparently neither gods nor aoidei tending to the place right now, so he had left a note detailing which books he had signed out and where to find them. As long as they remained within the building, he figured, it would be fine.

As quietly as he could, he nested on the edge of the bed and started to flip through the first book.

Zero Dream

Echo had not moved any in the time that he had been gone, sprawled in exactly the same position that she had been when he had left to the library, hair having come undone from her ponytail and surrounding her as if it was some sort of aura. The culprit would become known when it would be noticed that lament was clutching the ribbon she had used to tie it up. While it seemed like the children had awakened and tossed about a bit, now everyone was calm, silent, and asleep.

A completely different scenario than what was going on outside.

One blue on blue eye opened when he sat at the other side of the bed, a lazy smile drawing itself on her face. This wasn't a bad image to wake up to, not at all. And it seemed that they where now completely alone - even Jinx was nowhere to be seen.

"Guess we will need to apologize to your brother for the sudden invasion of personal space, hmm ?" Yet, even as she said that, she did not move an inch. She was awake, but apparently not quite willing to separate herself from her children at the moment.

Her children.

It still felt surreal, somehow, yet they where there - three beautiful little ones that could not have been more perfect in her eyes.

Reyna Crelos

One of the children stirred in its sleep with a faint whine and grumble as though protesting to the very thought of being a conscious part of the waking world. He flailed out with one arm and wiggled his way to curl closer to the warmth of his mother and siblings before one eye squinted open blearily, quickly followed by the other.

He yawned, tongue curling a bit like a pup who had just woken from a long nap before he wobbily moved to sit up while scrubbing at his face with tiny hands. He peered up at the beautiful woman next to him and up at the looming, pale figure that was haunting the door. His gaze then settled upon the sleeping forms of the people that were quite obviously more 'his' size.

The emerald skinned child remained silent and still for a long moment as though contemplating his surroundings and the people he had woken to. Mother. Father. Brother. Sister. Everything else was strange and new, and he was not certain he appreciated it.

It was then he decided he shouldn't be the only one that had to suffer and promptly pounced upon his brother in a haphazard fashion with a delighted giggle as the sudden movement sent him tumbling.

Zero Dream

Up until now, the world had only been warmth from his mother and siblings, warmth and comfort and security, and it had been perfectly fine that way.

That is, until something tangible and, most of all, heavy, collided to the physical forms he was still not quite used to being, and both eyes suddenly snapped open, faint golden pupils on platina backing, and he let out a startled wail at his sudden, and rather rude, awakening. When he realized just exactly what had entered in collision with him (nothing too scary, it turned out - only his brother) there was only one proper course of action to answer this.

That was, of course, to pounce right back, with an impish grin on his face, all the while laughing rather innocently and cutely, even if his retort almost sent them tumbling off the bed. That did not seem quite important at the moment. What was important was that his brother was here, he was awake, and they could play, and somehow it was even more fun that way than it had been before.

Thabara

]Suddenly the place which had been so comfortable and warm until now was jerked into motion, disrupting the small goddesses' peaceful slumber. Pale blue eyelids fluttered open, and her nose crunched up with annoyance. She did not like this, not at all. Her small fingers dug into the fabric of her mother's dress, and she gave off a small whine to voice her displeasure.

Nergal looked up from the book he had been studying and quietly watched the scene unfolding, too mesmerized for now to see the tiny godlings move about and in action to really mind the sudden disruption of peace. "He wont mind, I don't think so," he said, adding with a small smile: "He always was the kinder one, I seem to remember."

Reyna Crelos

Guardian paused in his flailing, pouncing, and wrestling of his brother at the sound of his sister's whine. He clambered towards her clumsily enough that the bed still wobbled and rocked, albeit to a lesser to a degree than it had a mere moment before. He wrapped an arm about her, and in the process his mother as well, and leaned his cheek against his sister's shoulder to murmur something nonsensical that was meant to be soothing.

He was still for a long moment, but before too long it was obvious he was itching to squirm and move about to see what other sorts of things he could see and do. His apparent lack of proper motor skills was hardly enough to stop him. What he lacked in general finesse and ability, he made up for with abundant enthusiasm.

Zero Dream

"I guess so." Echo smiled, sliding an arm around the two that where in her reach, a smile that only widened a bit more when her son started to wriggle around once more. Apparently her eldest could not sit still for long, but that somehow.... seemed fitting, for what he represented.

She had been about to ask just why he had brought so many books, but, still waking up as she was, thankfully she answered her own question before it could be voiced out. Names, of course, what was she thinking ?! The matter was getting rather.... pressing, what with the children already moving around and all that.

And to think they where.... ...how long had she slept for, anyway ? She honestly had no idea.

"Have you found anything fitting ?" When the emerald-colored child wriggled out of her loose hold, she settled to stroke her daughter's cheek, in order to continue to calm her.

Hey, hey - where had his big brother gone ? They where just starting to ha-

Oh. Oh. When he realized what was going on, he was hot on his brother's heels - which was not saying much, because, even with the the lack of motor skills, the older boy was still much faster then the youngest. By the time he got there, he had started on his grand discovery of the world of the bedroom - fact which the youngest did not seem to mind, as he half-stumbled and half-crawled to lean on his mother's back. He made a discontent face - through that only made him somehow look cuter - and stayed put, even if he had obviously wanted to get closer to his sister.

Oh, well. Mommy had been pretty far away, he deserved the rest. He leaned the side of his face against Echo's back, the glow of her wings making him look almost ethereal. He blinked once, twice, quite obviously thinking hard and looking for something that wasn't exactly easy to pin down. And apparently he couldn't find it, and grumbled, instead lightly resting his hand on his sister's shoulder so that she knew he was right there, and big brother was close too, and daddy and mommy too and everything would be fine. "S.... Sis."

Thabara

"Not really. Not yet." Nergal paused and gave a smile as he watched the-- his children's antics. The boys certainly seemed lively enough - being a father also enticed that he would probably be held responsible for any havoc they wreaked, it started to slowly dawn on him - but the girl.. The way she stayed put and clung to her mother, turning her head at every new sound and voice. Nergal's smile faded a little, unsettled that his daughter would be born handicapped like that. It seemed not right, least of all for a goddess.

"I was thinking however," he said, putting the smile back on his face for Echo's sake and holding up the book he had been flipping through. The font on the title seemed outlandish, yet looked distinctly familiar. Greek. "To perhaps stay with the classics?"

The girl's soft whine had quieted down upon her brother's touch and the sound of his voice, and her pale lips pulled into a smile, though the corners of her empty eye sockets were still glinting with the moisture of first tears. Hesitantly she stretched out one tiny hand to feel for him, awkwardly patting Guardian's hair, fingering his pointed ears, and getting a good grip on his nose for a moment. Then he was gone again, and the young goddess looked ready to erupt into a full out bawl at his disappearance.

Luckily enough her younger brother's approach distracted her, and her small lips formed into a quiet 'oh'. Cooing quietly at the sound of his voice, she reached out, the fingers of her hand opening and closing in an attempt to get a hold of him. Where was he?

Nergal blinked, slightly puzzled. They were speaking already? Well, sure enough, the wisps following Echo about, had seemed aware of their environment. And the way they were already moving about.. They needed clothing, he made a mental note to himself, not to mention a babysitter, a nanny of sorts to watch over them. Which reminded him - where the hell were their aoidei off to?

Reyna Crelos

The 'green one' clumsily half-crawled, half-fell off the bed. If it caused him any harm, he was by no means distressed. He looked around as he oriented himself with his surroundings before crawl forward on his hands and knees towards where his father sat. He was going to help! With what, it hardly seemed to matter, but he had large, interesting things that opened.

Annoyed at the pace of his crawling he shifted himself upright and attempted to pull himself to his feet by bracing himself against the wall. He laughed, tail wiggling with excitement when he succeeded. The actual walking part was what would prove a challenge.

Carefully he put one foot forward only to reel backwards to land with a flop and an irritable mutter. In his point of view, being trapped into this form was officially starting to become a royal disappointment. It was far more fun fluttering about at will.

He gazed over at his siblings from where he lay with bright eyes before pushing himself up to begin the tedious process of walking yet again. He wanted those books! He didn't know what they were, but he was going to help.

Zero Dream

"The classics, hm ? That sounds like a good starting point, really.." She smiled, shifting to at least sit, mindful of the two children that still clung to her while keeping a close eye on the third, through it seemed she would not intervene unless he got hurt, or was about to break something. The goddess had moved slowly, making sure to do her best not to startle her daughter. It seemed that she had also noticed, but she was either not making a big deal out of it, or keeping her expression extremely guarded on that matter, because nothing showed other than a bit of surprise and wonder. She hadn't expected them to be so... so.... active ? At least not so soon. They must have picked up more as wisps than she had thought. This was a bit awkward, really, but... it may also make things easier ? Because they would probably be able to tell if they did not like the names ? ...If they even understood the concept, of course, but so far, all three had surprised her in their own way.

He moved as his mother did - crawling the last few steps that separated him from his sister and sliding to hug her, letting out one of the cutest little grins Echo had ever seen. "Sis !" Apparently now he'd grasped that word a little more fully, and he glanced at his older brother. He wanted to try to, go and explore, but he seemed intent on waiting until his sister was ready, almost as if he also knew she might require someone to act as her eyes, and had no problem with being that someone.

Thabara

"Well, this one has sorted names by meaning, not by alphabet, which.. might just be the best way to go about it. To find something which would fit their domain?" He raised from his seat, taking another book from the pile in addition to the one he had been currently browsing, and snatched his firstborn off the floor as he walked towards Echo. "Your pick," he offered, with almost a grin as he adjusted the wriggling child's weight against his waist. "Latin, or Greek. Or something else entirely. There is even more in the library, this.." He glanced at the pile of books back where he had been sitting, with a slightly sheepish look on his face. "This is all I was able to carry safely."

The little goddess wriggled excitedly has her brother's arms wrapped around her small form, her little hands reaching up immediately to touch him, to get to know him. Oooooh, there was that soft, silky stuff again~! With a thoroughly happy grin she stuffed a strand of her younger brother's hair into her mouth to nom on it.

Reyna Crelos

He flailed and wiggled and squirmed when he was hefted quite suddenly from the floor. He had been making such progress! And yet his father had intervened! He huffed a bit irritably, but his consternation was quickly shoved aside when he realized what his being picked up truly meant -- not only was he closer to his dad, but even closer to the books!

Clearly, this worked in his favor. How, he was not entirely sure, aside from the closer proximity to both. (The fact that he was also being carried back to his siblings and mother was simply a bonus.) His fascination with the large tomes however, dissipated almost instantly when he found something else that was infinitely more interesting: Dad's hair. It was not like his! Nor was it like his mother's, brother's, or even his little sister's!

With wide-eyed fascination he reached out with one grabby hand and yanked on one loose dread, giggling all the while.

Thabara

"Maybe we sho-- Ow!" Nergal gave his eldest a disapproving glare but couldn't do much without either letting go of the boy or the books.

Zero Dream

"Gentle." Echo's voice was firm, yet remained soft and kind, somehow. "Touch, but don't pull, okay ?" ...Now that was just plain intervening, but that would at least be better than daddy being a playpen, wouldn't it ?

With that in mind, she glanced up at her lover, smiling sweetly. "You where saying, dear ?"

Lament did not seem to terribly mind becoming his sister's... lunch ? And instead giggling happily, one tiny finger poking the tip of her nose. That was new ! So many new things !!

Reyna Crelos

"Genle?" He frowned, little brow furrowing and darkening in a way that was highly reminiscent of Underworld's own forboding scowl. No fun, no fun, no fun! He relinquished his grip on his father's hair and resumed his wriggling. Down, down! He wanted down!

He strained and flailed out with one arm towards where his brother and sister were, grumbling as he struggled in his father's grip.

Thabara

"Nothing," Nergal mumbled, adjusting his grip on his son slightly so that he wouldn't slip off despite his energetic wriggling. "It can wait. Names first." He relinquished his hold on the lively child only once they were right next to his calmer siblings, and he took up seat next to Echo himself, handing her one of the books. "I can get the others too," he offered, "and even more from the library."

The girl flinched back a little when her nose was poked out of nowhere, but mostly out of surprise, because the next moment she was giggling, one hand moving with finger outstretched to retaliate. Where was he? She aimed for where the voice had come from, but poked into something soft, not-nose. Hm.

Zero Dream

The mirrored expressions almost did her in, but she managed to disguise the sudden fit of giggling into a well-timed cough. At least, that was what she hoped... but that had been so cute !

The something soft, not-nose was actually their mother's side, through she did not seem to terribly mind. Kios giggled a bit, sliding off to her side where she could reach him a bit more easily, hand outstretched as if to invite his brother closer.

Echo was going through the book that had been handed to her, half-reading and half keeping an eye on the children. Mortal languages where rather interesting, and made for interesting names idea, through for most, she either liked the name, but not the meaning... or the other way around. Through, finally, she seemed to come upon something interesting.

"What about Sotiris ?" It fitted the older boy best, of course, at least as far as domains went, but she wanted to know what Nergal thought of it.

Reyna Crelos

Free from his father's arms, little Guardian ambled gracelessly to his other siblings and moved to curl against his sister's back with a grin as he played with her hair. Much softer than Dad's! And longer than his own. He burbled some sort of nonsense to her and finally seemed to be slowly down as his energy waned a bit.

"S-o-TO!" he declared brightly, bright eyes dancing with merriment as he beamed over at his mother.

Thabara

The pale girl poked at the softness once more, before - more confident now that her brother was holding her - she finally let go of her mother's dress. Both hands free now, she rose them to her own face, exploring its features and trying to figure out what part of it she had touched. After a little while her tiny hands came to rest on her cheeks. Soft. Hm, that must have been it? She pursed her lips to a thoughtful pout, not entirely sure.

Nergal frowned a little, expression puzzled. "Salvation?" he asked, not entirely sure if he had recalled the meaning correctly.

The little goddess cooed happily, feeling much more comfortable now that both brothers were back at her side. She didn't like being alone. "Soto~!" She parroted, trying her tongue on that new word.

Zero Dream

"Hm-n." Echo nodded, head tilting to the side so she could look at him. "What do you think ? I like it. And I think they like it too, come to think of it." Her features grew into a smile that was getting rarer as days went by - as the situation around them worsened.

"So-to ?" Lament babbled along with his siblings, an adorable grin on his face. That was a pretty word !

Thabara

"Sotosotosotosoto-to-to..to..to.." She sort of stumbled over the syllables, voice trailing off. Blinking a few times with a puzzled expression, she opened her mouth to feel for the tongue.

"I do not think we have a choice left in that matter," Nergal mused with a wry smile. "It is a good name." One that bore hope for better times.

Reyna Crelos

Content for the time being, little Sotiris lounged lazily over against his sister and mother. He had a name! And a good name at that. Hearing his siblings say it was also quite nice. "Sis! Now!" he announced as he pointed towards her and glanced up at his mother with wide eyes. It was her turn! She needed one too. And his brother as well, but it was quite obviously her turn.

Zero Dream

Well, it was her turn indeed, wasn't it ? Echo was more than happy to follow her son's guidance on the matter, returning to the books. She flipped the pages, a vague frown on her face. No, no no no, that wouldn't work, neither would this ! Perhaps she was being over-critical - but that was her daughter, of course, and while Sotiris' name had pretty much snapped into place as soon as she's read it, nothing seemed to work for her little girl. She put the book she was holding at the opposite side than the one the children where gathered, and reached for another on top of the pile. This went on for quite awhile and a few books, and anything subjected in the meanwhile was shot down quite promptly, the goddess seemingly oblivious of how big of a brat she was being right now. But she had to find the right one.... !!!!

At one point, when the pile of book read was taller than the one left unread, she apparently found it. Well, something close, but... maybe... "What about... Lacrymosa ?" She glanced, edger to see if her choice passed "inspection".

Thabara

Thankfully this strange new world offered plenty of distractions for the children to not get bored anytime soon. Nergal picked up one of the books Echo had set aside, flipping through the pages while keeping an occasional eye on what his offspring was up to. Luckily enough they seemed content to keep each other occupied, as he had no idea whatsoever of games, or where to find toys for them.

After a while he stacked the books back onto their pile, apparently satisfied, while Echo was still taking her sweet time. Well, there was nothing wrong with taking this matter seriously..

By the time Echo looked up to make her suggestion, Nergal had their daughter sitting on his lap, keeping himself occupied with her strangely lusterless hair.

The little girl wiggled every now and then, but mostly managed to sit still. Only... daddy's hands were so cold! "La-ci.." She turned her head towards where her mother's voice had originated from, browns furrowing as she focused on pronouncing that complicated word. "Mos-mos?"

Reyna Crelos

Sotiris actually had the presence of mind to laugh at his sister's disjointed pronunciation of the proposed name, but quickly stifled his giggling to avoid hurting her feelings. He reached over and poked at his brother with one hand before snuggling closer to the warmth of his mother.

"Crys?" he queried as he attempted to try out the syllables himself.

Zero Dream

Heheheh... that was funny~ "Mos-mos." He chirped, pressing noses with her with what was probably an overdose of cute, one hand reaching to catch his brother's. "Crys !"

Apparently the name had passed inspection indeed.

When Sotiris came close enough, Echo scooped him up in a loose hold in her lap, knowing full well he probably would not remain there long.

Thabara

"Cwys!" the girl chirped, throwing her arms into the air. Obviously the name had been accepted, even if she did seem to have trouble pronouncing the "r". "Cwys-mos~!"

Nergal gave his lover a fond smile. 'Tearful'. "A name well chosen. A good thing that, despite its meaning and her domain, this doesn't seem to be her nature." He finished off his daughters braid, and - giving her a small pat on her head - released her from his lap, holding his hand out to his youngest. "Would you like a braid too," he asked gently, "Akakios?"

Reyna Crelos

A look of mischief fluttered across Sotiris' face as he contemplated kicking his brother. Why? It hardly seemed to matter. Reason mattered not when terrorizing younger brothers. He thought better of it when he suddenly found himself in his mother's arms entirely.

He smiled and wiggled closer and through one arm haphazardly about her shoulders, before glancing up to peer intently at her face. "Mama's pret'y," he informed her as he reached to touch her cheeks and gaze at her vivid eyes.

His attention was diverted when dad said his little brother's name. Kios? Well. Fine. He supposed that one was okay. He almost thought to pout when he noticed that both his siblings were (or were otherwise about to) have braids and his hair was not quite long enough for such things.

Oh well. He had Mom's lap to himself, they did not. So there.

Zero Dream

Apparently Kios did not seem to notice the lack of enthusiasm about his own name, or the fact that he been seconds away from being on the receiving end of a kick - he crawled in his father's lap with the biggest happy grin his little face could summon forth.

That seemed like answer enough to anything. Of course he wanted to be pretty too !

As for Echo, she apparently was in complete awe over her firstborn, gently pushing some strand of vivid hair to kiss his forehead. "Why, thank you." Soto's eyes where very interesting, now that she could see them from this close. Little flickering flames.... quite literally. She could probably have looked at them for hours, not that the little boy would stay still that long, of course. Her fingers went to comb through his hairs lovingly.

Thabara

The newly named Lacrymosa fingered her braid, a small frown forming on her pale blue face. She didn't like it, she decided, too tight. She liked her hair better all over the place and flowing freely, the way it had been before. "No!" she exclaimed, small hands fingering the woven hair almost frantically, until she managed to undo the braid. "No, no, no, NO." She shook her head, sending her hair flying wild, and then ruffled through it for good measure.

There, that was better.

Could she have seen her father's face, she would have laughed, because - for a moment - Nergal really looked crestfallen. "Kios~?" she piped.

Nergal sighed, with a slightly sheepish look upon his face. At the very least his youngest seemed to approve of both, name and braiding.

Reyna Crelos

Soto, if he could, likely would have purred at having his hair petted. His contentment was shattered at his little sister's sudden panic and he ambled away from his mother's arms as quickly as he could to tend to her.

"Siii~iiss," he murmured sweetly as he looped an arm about her shoulders and nuzzled over against her wild hair.

Zero Dream

Her daughter's sudden outburst startled Echo, but when she noticed nothing was really wrong, the goddess calmed down a bit - and again almost burst out laughing at the look on her lover's face. Well, at least he had Kios to focus any braiding urge he may have, it seemed.

As for him, the little boy seemed conflicted. Braid ? Sis ? Stay put and be prettied up, or go assist his sister ?

.... DILEMMA.

Eventually, it seemed like he made his mine, gave his father the cutest smile to ever exist as if to ask him to wait just a second, and scrambled over, sitting by and doing his best to untangle the knots that had formed as Crys had released her hair from the braid. There was an obvious difficulty and lack of motor skills, but the boy was careful not to pull - even if it meant it would take a little longer.

...And, really, sis looked prettier with her hairs loose. "Sis pretty !"

Reyna Crelos

"Like Mama," Sotiris nodded in agreement to cement that fact. He too began helping to untagle Crys' hair. He wanted to help too! And no way was he going to be upstaged by his baby brother.

Thabara

Young Grief had been angry, upset rather than panicking, really. Now she was quietly cooing with delight, pleasantly surprised at the immediate attention her tantrum had gained her. Mom and dad didn't seem to care much - especially dad, as he had put her hair into that awful shape - but her brothers, they would be always there for her.

"Wus pwetty?" she inquired. It must be something good, she thought, because mom was like that. To be like mom, in any way, had to be a good thing.

Nergal sighed, but the smile Akakios had given him, and watching the two brothers fussing over their sister's wellbeing almost made him melt. Those three would be a handful, he was certain, but it was sweet to know they cared for each other like that.

Zero Dream

"Ya !" Agreeing with Soto's agreement, he then turned thoughtful. "Pretty is.... is..." Oh, this was hard to explain, expecially with a limited vocabulary. Anything relating to sight would be beyond her understanding, he at least realized that much. "Pretty,,, good ! Crys pretty like mama."

Echo did not interfere, mostly curious to see what explanation her eldest would have on this rather delicate matter. As handful as they would be, all three had her completely charmed - and such was obvious.

Reyna Crelos

"Pretty like Mama," Sotiris said again before reaching out to touch his sister's face and hair. "Pretty," he insisted before dragging his sister's hands up to her own face. "Sis's pretty!"

He wrapped his arms tightly about her and gingerly scoot the both of them closer to their mother. He grabbed up her hands again so she could feel and touch her mother's face. "See! Is pretty!"

Thabara

Curiously her little hands trailed across her mother's face, gingerly touching upon the brows, the forehead, the hairline.. The pointy ears, then back to the cheeks, the closed eyelids, the nose, the lips, the chin.. Then they were raised to her own face once more, to compare. They were much the same, she found, only that her mother's was warmer, and everything was bigger.

"Pretty~!" she chirped, a wide smile appearing on her face. "Pretty. Like mom!" Arms spread wide, she gave her mommy a hug, snuggling against her, and blinking with confusion when a sleepy yawn escaped her lips.

Zero Dream

And Echo remained perfectly still, letting her daughter examine as she wished. When she had finished, she hugged her back and kissed her little forehead. "Yes, my dear. You are very pretty. Probably more pretty than I am, even."

It seemed like the children's energy was waning a bit.

With everything taken care of, there was only one thing left to do, really - Kios crawled back into daddy's lap. There was a braid to be made, after all, and daddy better not think he had forgotten about that !

Reyna Crelos

Soto moved once more to curl against his mother's side, eyelids drooping as the sudden burst of energy he had waned and left him swiftly crashing. He idly watched his brother get his hair braided with a bit of envy, but soon enough he was fast asleep and snoring softly.

 

[A Wandering Esper]

New Discoveries
Week of Hell

The world was a shiny, wonderful place to be in, full of new things to discover and learn and understand. The fact that it was all in danger of ending blissfully went feet over his curly-haired head, as did the fact that everything could shift under another influence at any second, now. It had been more than one week, not that Akakios was familiar with such things, just yet. The concept of time still eluded his young mind - all that he knew what that he could move more freely - independently from his mother to which he could not go too far away from before he had formed a body of his own, and yet was much more restrained in his movements - as he could not fly and flutter about. An interesting contradiction, and one he was slowly starting to learn to work with.

He'd already gotten from crawling about to actually walking about - a bit wobbingly, but that was indeed a walk. He would lose balance every now and then, fall flat on his a**, scream and wail a bit (the multiple occupants of the tiny sets of rooms had quickly learnt one thing - lament wailing was not exactly a wonderful sound, and slowly but surely the young boy was starting to understand how to time this to his advantage), only to calm himself after a minute or so only to start the whole process anew. While not quite to the level of motion of his older brother (watching mommy's aoidei run after him was funny - Soto apparently was quick enough to wriggle past them most of the time !) he was getting there.

For him, it was a nice thing - he wanted to explore, after all - but oh, the aoidei where not looking forward to have two little boys running about. Especially since in despite the fact that the boys fought a bit, it seemed like the youngest was never far from the eldest as far as mischief went, and Kios was more than happy to follow in Soto's trail, or to act as diversion, something which he was surprisingly good at - apparently one of the earliest skills learned had been to put on an innocent face to mask less innocent intentions. He was, after all, the prettiest of Echo and Nergal's children - fact that otherwise would probably have fallen on his sister if it wasn't for the obvious lack of eyes.

Which was not to say Akakios could not be perfectly behaved. He could be.... when he felt like it, which mostly consisted of providing a distraction to his young mind. The child was an information sponge, and as long as his mind was focused on something new - say, Alto and sign language - he could be coaxed into remaining perfectly still for extended amounts of time, leaving only one active boy to worry about until Sotiris apparently got bored of this and caught his brother's attention in some way or another. It wasn't exactly useless - already the young boy knew a few of the simplest signs, the more simple ones, both their meaning and how to do them.

The poor world had never seen them coming, and already it seemed like the children where hitting in for all they had. And the unsuspecting uncle would probably return to his rooms only to see most of his belongings moved around and handled by tiny, curious hands.  

[A Wandering Esper]

I Has One. You Don't.
Week of Hell

Reyna Crelos

Soto resisted the urge to kick and fight his father as he was carried away by his father to where his brother and sister were waiting. Perhaps the only thing that helped to soothe his general restlessness when it came to such things was the fact that he had a fantastic story to tell them. He especially could not wait to tell his Sis. He did so enjoy telling her things, because she listened so very well and took him seriously. He respected that. Kios was Kios, and thus just a baby in his mind's eye, but he was still his brother. Even if he was a baby.

Once near enough to where they currently resided, the little godling resumed his kicking, flailing, and his newest trick, biting as he demanded in a fit to be let down so that he could skitter quickly to where his siblings were. He had things to do and Very Important things to tell them! "Waaa~aaaaaaaannnnnnt dooooo~ooooowwwnnnn...!!"

Thabara

He bit?! Nergal flinched, albeit more out of surprise than pain - the youngling's teeth were by far not enough to do any real damage. With an internal sigh he set his son down to the floor.

"You know," he said sternly, "you could have simply asked, instead of.." He shook his head. It was obvious the energetic child wasn't paying much - if any at all - attention to his words anyway. "Do not bite me ever again," he finished instead, "is that understood?"

He was still having a good hold on the squirming boy, and it was obvious he would not be free to go unless Nergal got at least some form of acknowledgment of his words. He didn't even expect as much as an apology.

Reyna Crelos

"...'kay," Sotiris replied calmly, or at least as calmly as he possibly could. So excited, so excited! He could hardly contain himself. The fact that his father managed to keep hold of him and force him still for even a moment was a remarkable feat. "Can go now?"

Thabara

"Yes, you can go now," the pale god sighed, and let go of the wiggling bundle of excitement. No doubt he'd hold his promise by scratching him the next time, or kicking. If he remembered about it at all. Nergal had his doubts.

I should probably be thankful that out of the three, only one turned out like this. It could have come worse.

Zero Dream

Echo had been busying herself reading one of the books she had found in the library - fairytales - to a rather wide-eyed and attentive public when her eldest dashed inside like the little green whirlwind he was.

"Sotiris." She sighed. "Where had you gone ? I was very worried, you know. You shouldn't wander off alone like that... Why not ask me next time so we can all go together ?" Really, she doubted he would listen, but she had to at least attempt.

Kios had been laying on the floor, listening to the story until his older brother came in, which was when he moved to stand again. "'was it ?" He whispered. Really, he'd provided the escaping cover, he had to know ! "Soto find something ?"

Thabara

Crys had been listening to the story enraptured, even though there were soooooooooooooooo many things in it she didn't understand. The book itself for example, to begin with. Her mother had allowed her to touch it, after she'd made her promise she'd be very, very careful. But it had turned out to be a boring thing, with a funny smell to it. Every 'page' was feeling exactly the same, and yet there were stories coming from it. How so?!

"I picked him up in the throne hall," Nergal announced, realizing with a sinking feeling that he'd probably be made to explain just how it had come that Soto ended up being 'rewarded' for his escape. Not only to the boy's siblings, but to his lover as well.

Reyna Crelos

"Was e'sploring!" he announced proudly as he burst into the room in a flurry of excitement.

He looped an arm around his brother's shoulders and leaned in close to whisper. "Found a puppy. Name is Shima. Can keep, but is downstairs still." He smirked broadly, his own puppy tail swishing to and fro happily. He shot a thoughtful glance back towards his father before turning his attention back to Kios to whisper even quieter, "Dad does not like e'sploring."

He bounded over towards his sister and mother and cuddled up next to Crys' side, quiet content with himself and the world at large.

Zero Dream

Ohhhh, really really really ?!? That was so exciting that he barely remembered to keep it to whispers. "Puppy ?! Wassit look like ?!"

Maybe he ought to do this exploring thing, too. Maybe he would find a puppy too. Maybe one for Crys too, if he was lucky ! Kios was fairly confident that he could get away with it, in typical little kid fashion. Unfortunately for the world at large, he had already realized he had high chances to cute himself out of most punishment, with his angelic face and innocent gaze.

He followed Soto, but sat next to Echo instead, since there wasn't really enough place left to squeeze himself in between the wall and Soto. He was tiny, but not that tiny.

Silly brother was too big. He wanted to be closer to Crys, but Soto was there so it would be fine. But still.

Echo, of course, could hear the boys in despite them probably thinking they where the top-notch of shealthy, but mostly pretended not to hear a thing, but the puzzled look she gave Nergal did, indeed, promise that explainations would be needed. Wouldn't rewarding the boy's sneaking only make him do it more ?

"Well, then, maybe we should all go exploring together next time, what do you think ?" She offered her eldest with a smile.

Thabara

Crys latched onto her older brother immediately, contently starting to nibble on his arm or whichever part of his body she'd managed to get a hold of. "Puppy~y~y~?" she inquired curiously. She had no idea what a puppy was, except that they were supposed to have tails, just like big bro, because daddy had said so. However, excited as her brother was, it just had to be something special.

Nergal sighed and sat down next to Echo. Her inquiring gaze, and the way she arched her brow, was more than enough to tell him that an explanation was indeed in order. "Said 'puppy' would be an.. acquaintance of mine. A shifter, preferring beast-like forms. She came here to--" He shook his head, fingers closing tighter around the golden round Shima had returned to him. "I will explain later. Not in the presence of the children."

Reyna Crelos

Sotiris wiggled happily and snuggled over against Crys. "Yah. Is a puppy," he informed her with a grin. His gaze settled upon his parents for a moment, face nigh unreadable. He leaned in close to whisper against his sister's ear, voice so quiet and faint it was very likely that only she would hear. "Am to find one for Dad," he told her, "Think he needs one. Will be big surprise."

Thabara

She blinked, and her mouth formed a quiet 'Ohhh'.

"Is secret, yes?" she whispered back, excited now.

Zero Dream

The promise of future explanations seemed to be enough, as Echo simply nodded and began to absent-mindedly comb through Kios' curly hairs with her fingers. If she had overheard anything of Soto's super-secret plan, she wasn't reacting in any way to it, humming a bit to herself. With her wayward firstborn returned to her, she seemed much calmer now.

The worry hadn't been so much of the fact he had wandered off, it was the fact that it had been.... Well, Sotiris. Kios wouldn't dare leave the building probably, shy as he was, but Soto ? The green godling would probably do it if he ran out of things to explore, probably.

"Well, at any rate, it is getting pretty late for the little explorers, hmmm ?" Echo smiled, lifting Crys into her arms and taking Soto's hand into her own. Kios would follow, she was pretty sure - he did not sleep much, she had already noticed, but he definitively looked ready to doze off. "Bedtime for everyone. And that means you too, dear." She poked Soto's nose lightly. "No more escaping tonight, mommy has had enough worry for one day."

Reyna Crelos

Soto glanced away with a pout after his mother had poked his nose. "Oookaaay," he lamented before attempting half-heartedly to stifle a yawn. His hand tightened in hers and he toddled off alongside his siblings, content for the time being to dream of exploring and finding puppies

 

[A Wandering Esper]

...Invisible Friends ?
Week of Hell

The world was still an odd, new place for the young lament, through he was starting to learn of quite a few things indeed. Like this thing called sleep, in which his sister and brother seemed to indulge rather freely ? It seemed rather hard for him. He slept for an hour, perhaps two, and then he couldn't really do it anymore. Fact which seemed to drive his mother nuts, even if he was very clueless about it all.

That night was one of those nights. He slipped away from the room he shared with his siblings with a growing expertise - he'd managed to slip out without awakening Crys this time. Soto.... always slept like a brick, so it would probably take him trampling all about his brother to get any reaction out of the young guardian.

His bare feet soon where in contact with the wooden floor, and he slid to the side to get his tunic. Getting clothed all by himself was still a bit problematic, even if daddy showed him how to do the knot on the sash. It took a few tries before he finally got it to hold, and then he slid outside to the main room. This was where all the interesting things where, though there had been something odd in the last few nights where he had done this.

There was something else there. Someone, try as he might, that he could never see. Each night, the presence seemed to become stronger, until it became presenceS. The room seemed packed, the air thick with something, yet he could not see anything.

This had the young lament quite puzzled, which resulted into him coming here, night after night. The air seemed as thick with presence as last night...

Hello

One ear perked slightly. What was that... ? Did he hear something ?

Do you hear me ?

His odd eyes went wide, and he turned, in a circle, until he got dizzy and fell down on his bum. He heard something, but there was still no one there !!!! And there where so many voices !!

Young Lament....

"'m Kios." He pouted, not bothering to get up just get. "Who you ?"

The unseen mass went silent, as if trying to settle on an answer before speaking as one once more. Friends, young one.

Can you sing for us ?

For all those who are lost ? ___________

There are many who found their way....

But many more who are still lost. ___________

....He didn't quite understand. Sing ? Like mommy ? Why didn't they ask mommy instead ? He wasn't quite good at that. "...Friend ? No see... No see friend !"

That would be "invisible The voices corrected, clearly all a bit amused.

"In-vi-si-bl ?" The young boy echoed, as best as he could. That strange new word felt quite foreign indeed, and he did not seem to realize he might wake others up if he kept all that noise up. And for some reason... he was not afraid. New people where usually scary, but not these ones. They felt almost familiar, in a way, as if they had always been there.

Will you please sing for us, young Lament ? The voices asked once more.

The lost ones will hear you.___________

They'll come where they will be safe.

The young boy turned pensive, as the shock of surprise dulled in his mind. They where asking nicely. This was something mommy had taught him to do. "...Sing what ?"

Anything, young one.

With your voice... And your father closeby...___________

They will find their way.

"Daddy ?" Akakios perked. He had no idea what daddy had to do with all this... he would have to ask later. Some part of him wanted to say that this was NOT how things worked, that one couldn't just sing ANYTHING...

...But yet he wasn't quite sure why.

He finally worked himself back on his feet. Not here. People could hear and see here, and he didn't want them to. They might laugh at him. He wasn't good at singing like mommy, after all.

There was a tiny room to the side, with a window, where things had been packed to make space so they could sleep in a room of their own. He used a desk to get up and sit where he could see though the window, and, slowly, starting humming.

Yes, young Lament.

Just like that.___________

It would do. Others would come.

It started slowly, but then, he could feel it - more came, more ghosts stirred from whatever hiding places they had found to save themselves from the demons to come closer. Some stayed still, echoing his voice further - after all, this voice did not break great distance like his mother's, though it was pure and full of sorrow, even if he did not quite realize it so far.

A suitable call, indeed.  

[A Wandering Esper]

Sing Into The Night

Zero Dream

It was late, very late in fact - or very early, depending on how one looked at it. Definitively a time where everyone was asleep, at least that was what the young boy thought as he slipped out of the room he and his siblings shared. It was something he found himself doing more and more often as days passed - sleep in short burst then wake up at odd hours, with nothing to do. Crys and Soto almost always still slept, and he wasn't quite willing to wake them up, ence why he slipped out only to re-enter another room, one which was empty... at least to the untrained eye.

It was okay, his siblings could sleep. He had his invisible friends to keep him company, didn't he ? There where still many that lingered here, after he had made them come. They where less scared now, and that was a good thing - he did not like them being scared. He had no idea what had them so frightened, but that didn't mean he couldn't do something about it.

The young Lament perched himself on the wide windowledge, pressing his hand on the glass. Then, he closed his eyes and sang. It was mostly non-sence babbling at this point - he simply did not know enough words to string them together in a logical, flawless fashion. Jumbled sound or not, the fact remained that his childish voice was beautiful. And sad. Sadness would probably have been a foreign emotion for the young child, had it not been so closely tied to him. The truth was that he knew what it was - and with no one around to make him laugh, or make him smile, it was what he defaulted to instantanously. One of the first things he had learned, even as a wisp, was to hide it. It would make mommy worry, most of all, and he did not want it to happen.

However, a tiny smile formed as he sang, feeling his invisible friends stirr, and some far away slide closer. It clashed with the rest of his face.

Reyna Crelos

Green eyes widened and she tightened her grip on her companion's hand. There it was again! The singing! It beckoned and called to her in the way that Lord Nergal had. No, he had never sung to her, and he hardly seemed the sort to do so, but it felt like him. She turned to the little mouse-girl and smiled reassuringly.

"We're close," Anika whispered. So close! Though there were still obstacles in their way. Specifically, the demons that prowled the streets and some of the angrier, less-than-nice ghosts.

But the singing helped. It guided their way and for whatever reason, it attracted others like them. It had to be him! It just had to be! Who else could call to the dead? Who else would want to?

Thabara

A pair of gray eyes cracked open when Underworld first heard his offspring stirr. He'd made it a habit to remain at Echo's side when she went to bed, usually staying until she was sound asleep and then venturing out to explore the library for something or other. Anything which might prove to be helpful. Until now, he had found nothing, nor encountered Knowledge.

That at least one of the kids would have inherited sleeping habits akin to his own came as no small surprise to him, and he was - at the very least - relieved to find it wasn't Soto moving up and about.

Just as the nights before he raised, and breathed a kiss on his sleeping lover's forehead, before he left himself, quietly following after his wayward youngest. It was the same room he'd gone to, again. And sure enough, after a little while, there was the sound of song, just as there had been before. No words which made sense, yet still hauntingly sad, hauntingly sweet, luring closer all those who had lost.

His bare feet not causing the slightest sound on the wooden floor, Underworld slipped closer, carefully peering through the small gap left ajar.

Zero Dream

Not noticing that his father not only knew of his nightly whereabouts, but that he was right there and listening, Akakios continued to sing, undisturbed.

"I really hope so..." Melody was quite obviously skittish. She'd gotten used to being dead by now, even if it had been quite traumatic at the start - the problem was really the mean ghosts and the demons who would just love to have her and the kitten as a snack. She had wanted to stay close and at the very least watch over Echo - the goddess had come for her, she simply knew, but in her panic she had gotten herself.... lost. Quite lost, in fact. Thankfully, Anika had found her. "We should hurry, Annie. Before they find us."

Maybe that Lord Nergal the kitten kept going on about would tell her where Echo was ? She hadn't been at the house, and neither had been the boys. There wasn't even a house left !

Reyna Crelos

Annie nodded and picked up her pace as she skittered along, careful not to lose track of her newfound friend. Closer, and closer they circled, avoiding the beasts that prowled and the angrier, more dangerous of those that could now be considered their brethren.

She at least had experience in life with demons, and more specifically, avoiding them above at all costs unless beckoned by her... by... She scowled. She would not think of him. Not ever again. She did not have to, b*****d that he was. He deserved his fate more than anyone. She hoped his death was a misery and that he suffered.

She paused again to allow Melody time enough to match her pace so that she was never far from her side. "Almost there," she whispered, eyes alight with hope as she listened and desperately clung to that enchanting voice that beckoned her forward.

Thabara

The melody of the untrained godling's was easy enough to follow, making it hard for his father to resist the urge to join into the tune, especially as it was calling out to his own nature. But he had failed to sing yet in the presence of his parents and siblings, so maybe the child was shy, uncertain of its abilities? In any way, Nergal kept his quiet as he stood vigil over his son, not wanting to disturb him.

Zero Dream

Melody almost wished she still had her hat, if only so she could clutch it nervously. The mousegirl did not like this, not in the least. Demons and ghosts had really been the least of her worries when she was still alive. In fact, while she knew that they existed, she never had taken the time to think twice about it. She did her best to keep up with Annie, as she seemed to know all there was to know about not letting themselves known. Sticking with the kitten was her best hope of survival... Well, whatever survival was when one is already dead, anyway.

"I think this is it... ?" She glanced at the lava pools a little wearily.

Reyna Crelos

Anika simply nodded, eyes wide with something akin to awe. "Hurry!" she hissed as she ran towards the building, dragging the other girl along as she did so. That's when she heard it. Something was running along with them, after them, and not far behind. "HURRY!" she yelled.

If they could get inside, they'd be safe! They could hide, and everything would be okay. Insideinsideinsideinside..!

Thabara

HURRY!

Nergal whirled around, gray eyes widening with surprise as this one word cut so clearly through the cacophony of voices he heard at all times. That, and it was familiar, oh-so-familiar - he recognized it immediately.

"Annie?" he whispered hoarsely, carefully scanning the room for her presence. No. Not here. But her voice had seemed so close.. Close, and troubled.

He had granted her his protection. Who, or what, would dare to--

Drawing the blanket he had wrapped around his shoulders closer and clutching them with one hand, he stormed off, no longer caring to move as quietly as possible. It was rare to see Underworld move about in such an attire, or moving with such haste, taking several steps of the stairs at once - but luckily most of the Pantheon's inhabitants seemed to sleep at night, and no one crossed his path.

He almost stumbled at the bottom of the stairs, his wings fanning out instinctively, yet being of little help in retaining his balance. Useless appendages, as always. But their mist had thickened, growing almost substantial and swirling ahead of him, as if it had a mind of its own, as he dashed towards the heavy doors to pull them open.

Zero Dream

There was a scream, all of sudden - he knew that much, even if he hadn't quite understood what the word had been, followed by.... daddy's voice ?

Akakios stopped singing immediately, eyes wide. Oh, he was in trouble, he was sooo in trouble now (that was a little odd, being in trouble all on his own without Soto, through he was just a tiny bit proud of the fact) and his little mind was already racing to prepare an excuse to why he was awake when he was supposed to be sleeping with everyone else, preparing just the right face to pull it off, and then....

..... Uh ? Daddy was gone, going straight for the door and leaving it open in his hurry. Now rather curious, he did the only thing a child his age would do, really.

He followed, from a bit of a distance - daddy, after all, looked upset.


There was something huge and scary behind them and and and and...

It was a good thing that Anika had started dragging her along, else she would probably have frozen in place with fear. With the forced movement, however, it wasn't long before she began to run alongside her.

Reyna Crelos

Anika darted in through the doors, and hardly noticed that someone had opened them for them. It wasn't until she was full inside and had dragged Melody along with her that she took a moment to pause to see her surroundings.

She turned and looked behind her to make certain there was no beast about to pounce. No, there was no beast, but she did scream. Really, it was more of a squeal of utter excitement than a scream, but it was doubt enough to rattle her companion.

"MR. LORD NERGAL!!" she shouted joyfully before all but tackling him into a hug. She shifted forms as she did so and went from being a delighted little girl to a happily purring kitten as she perched herself upon his shoulder and nuzzled against his hair and neck.

Thabara

They had reached the sanctum of the Pantheon, would have - probably - even if he hadn't opened the doors for them. Unless they possessed some ghost repellent properties, which wasn't completely unl--

"MR. LORD NERGAL!!" If the outcry wasn't sure to make him lose track of his current train of thoughts, it was the act of the ghost girl jumping him in a hug, and then - shifting forms - quickly clambering up to his shoulder, demonstrating her her utter joy of being reunited with him in an entirely kitten-like manner. Nergal blinked, his hands reaching up to catch and pet her, too surprised to think of the fact they were required to hold onto something.

Slowly, but decidedly gracefully, the sheet he had used to cover his naked form floated towards the ground.

"Annie.." he murmured softly, closing his eyes as her furry cheek nuzzled against his. Her presence brought back a whole lot of painful and terrifying memories - much more so than Shima's arrival had - but soothed them with the comfort and utter devotion her presence had always meant to him.

A moment later though, his eyes snapped open again, sensing that something still was-- dared still following after the two delicate ghosts. Some demonic creature, yes. Large, swift, yes. But too dumb to realize when to abandon its chase.

The mist bleeding from Underworld's wings streamed out of the door like a floodwave as he attampted to establish a hold onto the more powerful ghosts close by. There were many, a good part of them beckoned within the Pantheon's vicinity no doubt by his son's aluring voice.

"Get it." Underworld hissed, his grey eyes narrowing.

A first stone - a small pebble, no more - flew and hit the demonic creature's temple. By far not enough to hurt it, but it served well to distract, make it utter a growl of irritation - and miss another rock lifting itself into the air behind its back, this one the size and weight of a brick.

Nergal smirked, his expression cold, but decidedly satisfied. Demons devoured souls, it was natural, for them. To be overpowered - and threatened to be stoned to death by quite a number of what they envisioned to be "snacks" - that had to be a whole new experience.

Zero Dream

^Poor Melody would have probably been staring at the scene that had quickly unfolded in front of her if it hadn't been for the beast that had followed them. With a squeak that could only belong to a mouse, she scrambled off to hide behind the (very naked) god, eyes squeezed shut as she didn't want to see what was unfolding out there.

Isitgoneyetisitgoneyetisitgoneyet...

As for the little godling, well, Akakios was still further back, staring at the scene that unfolded in front of him with wide eyes, through this was more out of sheer admiration than surprise.

Not that it was anything he didn't know yet, but, man, daddy rocked.

But still, being a child, and remembering all the epic arguments his daddy and Soto had on that very specific subject, he could not exactly help himself. When the awe had passed, it started with faint giggling - which quickly became an amused, very childish laugh.

Reyna Crelos

Any worry Anika might have had vanished the very moment that Nergal had reached to pet her. She was safe and nothing could hurt her now because she was there with Him. She purred happily, eyes sifting half closed as she pressed herself over against his cheek.

She paused in her contentment when she heard giggling. That voice. Familiar, alluring, sweet, sweet voice! She launched herself gracefully from Nergal's shoulder to hop down onto the floor. Her form quickly shifted again and she was once more a little girl.

Absently she handed Nergal his sheet back before heading directly towards the source of the giggling. "Awwww!" she exclaimed, "He's CUTE!"

Thabara

"I guess he must be," Nergal spoke softly, turning to peer up at the source of the giggles for but a moment. There wasn't really a need to do so, he would have recognized that voice anytime, anywhere. He let go of the door, his ears picking up the first sickening crunches of bones being broken just before it clicked shut. There was no need for the little ones to witness this, as much as he personally found the demon's fate to be satisfying. "As he is my son," he finished.

He glanced down at what Annie had pressed into his free hand, and - realizing just what it was - wrapped it as gracefully and dignified as it was possible around his body in the style of a toga.

"You there," he said to the mouse-girl still clinging to his leg, "have I not seen you before?"

Zero Dream

"I-i-i-i-isitgonenow ?!?"

After that rather unimpressive display, the small girl (though, on closer inspection, it was proved that she was not a child, nut instead... very short) detached herself from his leg, and did her best to calm down. It was okay. It was gone. It was safe here...

She glanced up at Nergal, vague puzzlement on her features. "I... don't think so ?" It seemed that the little skittish mousegirl remembered what she was there for all of sudden. "Oh, I am so terribly sorry for bothering you, mister ! I, uh... I am looking for a goddess, maybe you know where she is ? I-I liked her very much, and she came for me but I was already... well, dead. I want to watch over her, if im just going to stay around like that, but I have no idea where she went, or if she's okay. Her house is gone..."

She did not seem to notice she was quite nervously rambling.

Yay ! More invisible friends ! "Hi !" Kios chirped in Annie's general direction, making the cutest face he could manage. "All okay now ?"

Reyna Crelos

Annie quickly forgot about her companion, and thus paid her no mind. Instead her already large green eyes went wide. "You have a son?" she exclaimed before all but latching onto him in a hug. "Eeeeeeeee... he is sooooooooo precious. Was it you that sang so pretty and guided our way?"

She relinquished her hold on him and turned back towards Nergal, head tilted to the side as she admired him. He had changed. He was still essentially the same. He definitely felt the same, but ... changed. Different. Somehow.

"Oh yeah!" she piped up as she listened to Melody speak, "She said her name was Echo. Do you know her? I told Miss Melody about you. Well. A little. All the good stuff, ya know? I figured you might know of others, too, and that you wouldn't mind helping..?"

Thabara

"Two actually," Nergal informed her jovially, "and a daughter." There was a certain amount of pride in his voice he was unable to hide. Not that he had actually tried to.. I may just have ended up with a second daughter..

"Lady Echo, as it is, happens to be their mother." He peered down at the tiny mouse person. At least she was not clinging to his leg anymore, which had been somewhat awkward. "Melody, I remember now.. She taught you, didn't she?"

Zero Dream

Heee, being hugged by something he couldn't see ! That was funny ! The young boy flailed about a bit, giggling as he tried to hug her, but had no idea where she was, and apparently couldn't quite touch her. "Uh uh !" He grinned, apparently very proud of that fact. "'m Kios !"

"Oh... oh, yes !" Melody chirped, suddenly thoughtful. "I had no idea... She told me she, well liked someone, but never a name. Or that she had children, on that matter. He's so adorable !"

Reyna Crelos

The changeling all but melted at the sheer cuteness the child exuded. Oh this was so happy! They had found her Lord and Melody her Lady. She froze, eyes still impossibly wide as she stared up at Nergal with a look akin to awe. He had more children! And oh was he proud! Rightfully so.

She clasped her hands together in a nervous fashion as a shy smile appeared on her face. His pride extended to her, as well? She was filled with a sort of happiness that she only knew in brief, stolen moments and tears began to well in her eyes at the very thought.

She turned her back on Nergal and sniffled a bit before scrubbing at her face. She focused her attention intently upon the beautiful child before her and reached to ruffle his curls affectionately. "That is a fine name, sweetling. I am Anika, but you may call me Annie."

She hadn't a clue as to whether or not he could hear her fully, but if all else failed, she knew his father could translate.

Thabara

"The children.. are admittedly a rather recent addition." He was thoughtful enough not to mention just how recent, as Melody seemed overwhelmed enough as it was.

Curiously he peered at his son. "You can hear her?" he inquired. "But not see her?" he added after a small moment's observance. Well, that shouldn't come as much of a surprise, the child's powers being tied to the domains of death and sound.

Zero Dream

"Annie~ !" He parroted, trying to commit the name to his memory, the cute grin not leaving his face, head tilting to look at his father. "Uh uh ! Invisible friends." He chirped, looking just slightly worried. Daddy wouldn't think he was being silly, wouldn't he ? He could hear them too, right ? And that thought made him pout. Oh, yeah, if daddy remembered he was up when he wasn't supposed to be, he would probably be in trouble...

Which meant it was time for a diversion, if only he could think of one, looking still perfectly adorable as he tried very hard to think. "Have lot of invisible friends. They scared. Kios no like that." He pouted again.

Reyna Crelos

Any shred of sadness Anika might have had at that moment fled as the child mimicked her speech in an effort to learn her name. "Oh oh!" she all but chirped, "Yes, yes! I'll be your friend!" She had always wanted to have friends that were more her age. Technically the child before her was far younger than she, but it hardly seemed to matter at that moment.

She wrapped her arms about him again with a giggle. Afraid of getting in trouble with Dad, was it? She grinned and nuzzled over against his hair in an affectionate manner. Maybe she could smooth things over, if the situation came to that. "Little Kios! You are my and Miss Melody's hero! Your singing was our guiding light!" she announced before placing a kiss on his cheek.

Thabara

"Well, they are not truly invisible.. Though to most people they admittedly would be.. They are dead. Which means I can hear and see them perfectly well, but most others cannot." He walked up to his son, crouching down to be on eye's height with him as he gave him a concerned look. "Are they.. too loud for you? Are they what keeps you from sleeping properly at night?"

"I heard your singing," he added, "it was very beautiful." It was hard to be truly upset with Kios, and he was more concerned about his son's wellbeing than anything. He could tone out the voices of the dead for most of the time, but there had been times.. when he had not been able to do so.

Zero Dream

He giggled as he felt the kiss - the concept of heroes was still a bit beyond him, but it seemed like a good thing, so he chirped happily. "Anything for Annie ! Melody, too." That seemed to bring the mouse-girl into another fit of squeeing over how cute he was.

"...Oh." That sudden realization seemed to leave the child perplexed, rather than scared. "...Issdat why they sad ? Because they dead ?" The child seemed to become oddly serious for one of the maturity level he had displayed all this time. Serious and sad.

"Sometimes." He admitted, strange eyes glancing at his father. "Sometimes they scream, real loud. Kios sings... they calm down. They come play with Kios too."

At the mention of his singing, that only seemed the embarass the boy slightly, for some reason. He was, indeed, a bit shy.

Reyna Crelos

Anika stuffed her hands to her face to keep from squealing along with Melody. He was the most precious thing ever! Definitely the sweetest person she had ever encountered. Her face fell a bit when he spoke of the ghosts and a bit of sadness crept into his voice about what exactly made them what they were -- death.

She crept back over towards him and looped an arm about his shoulders. "I'll help chase them away," she told him, "I will! I won't let them get to you." If she could stand up to demons, surely she could handle an angry ghost.

It was a scary prospect, but she couldn't stand the thought of them harrassing poor little Kios. She just wished she were bigger and could do more than shift into a kitten. She wasn't quite old enough to properly call upon her other more impressive form like Miss Isabella and Miss Cobalt.

With a pout she realized she likely never would be.

Thabara

"That is why they are sad. And upset." Underworld nodded, gently ruffling his son's hair. "I want to make a place for them, but I am.. still not powerful enough. One day, though, I will be."

He rose back to his full height, wings stretching before they folded against his back. Annie's fervor was amusing and touching the same, it was feeling.. surprisingly good to have her back at his side. "We should return," he suggested. "If your mother woke up, she might be starting to get worried about now."

Zero Dream

"S'okay." He gave Annie a smile, through it still clashed with the rest of his face, expecially the sadness still lingering in his eyes. It was almost if, in despite being so young and having a vocabulary so limited, the boy was wise beyond his years... at least for this. "Kios no mind... 'less they screaming."

A place for the dead... ? His attention returned to his father when he spoke, suddenly very curious. What would a place just for them would look like ? Would they still be invisible there ? "Kios can help !" He announced, of course not quite understanding how hard it could be to create a world. "Make it pretty. So..." He struggled on the new word a bit. "So ghosts not scared 'nymore ?"

To the last comment, he nodded, holding his arms up so he could be carried off.

Reyna Crelos

Annie nodded in solemn agreement with Lord Nergal. "And we definitely wouldn't want your mother to worry!" she replied, "That would be just awful for her to be wondering where her sweet little boy wandered off to. I'd be worried sick, myself. Yup!"

She paused for a long moment before turning to glance over at Nergal. She fretted for a moment before skittering over to hug him about his waist and to peer up at him with her large, expressive eyes. "So," she began slowly in a hopeful voice, "Can ... can I stay with you?"

Thabara

Nergal stiffened slightly at the hug, but relaxed only a moment later, his hand raising to trail through the girl's unruly hair. "But of course," he murmured softly, surprised she even had to ask. "Had I.. been more in my right mind back then, I would have looked for you, taken you with me. But I.." His voice trailed off. To her, at least, there was no need to explain. She knew which was comforting and unsettling the same.

"I am sorry I had to leave you behind," he added nonetheless. "And I am truly glad you found your way to me." He bent down to brush her forehead with a fatherly kiss. "Welcome. You too, Melody."

He ruffled through Annie's hair, and then went to pick up his son. "We can talk about that tomorrow, yes?"

 

[A Wandering Esper]

Bringing The Pieces Together
Week of Hell

Cinderfae

Karaskis stepped down the hall of the Pantheon her fiery eyes looking over the corridor. Behind her Ashe followed along a quite looming presence, he had once served as a bodyguard for various clergy in her temples and now had taken the task up again; this time over his goddess. Karaskis had allowed him to, she felt that he seemed to find calm with it. "We are almost there, perhaps we will find if what was done was only in vein."

She was wearing the clothing of her host though not what she would have normally prefered it was more suitable for the current situations. The heavy boots sounded hollow as they sounded against the floor of the hall. She had pulled a dark leather jacket over the white tank top that Cinder usually wore under her flight suit; the jacket was one of the cast offs from Taj. His wings didn't allow him to wear much of his old clothing, the seamstress they had acquired seemed up to the task of altering his clothing even in such strange times as they were in now. After walking for a time that seemed much longer then it actually was her eyes drifted over settling on the door that she had visited once before. She wondered how many had been forced to seek refuge in the Pantheon, she was finding the transition somewhat cramped and uncomfortable. Cinder had known Kaelin well but the Goddess found staying in Water's room unsettling.

Stopping outside of Ankou's doors she raised her hand knocking lightly, she hoped that Nergal would be in. The pieces that were collected seem more then somewhat strange to herself but she hoped the others would have an idea of what needed to be done now.

Thabara

Her knocks were answered immediately, the door first opening a gap just wide enough to allow a pair of curious eyes to pear outside and examine the visitor, then being flung wide open, the pale, slender shape of a male aoide bowing to her. With his shimmering golden wings he rather looked like he might be a servant of Greed's.

"Lady Karaskis," Ishum intoned, loud enough for Nergal to hear in the room next door, "it is an honor. Please step inside and make yourself comfortable. My lord will be with you any second." He bowed again, the fiery goddess' presence intimidating enough for him to remain formal.

"Lady Karaskis." Nergal quietly closed the door to the neighboring room before turned to incline his head in a polite greeting. "So you found the note. I am relieved to see you are well." He knew better than anyone how vulnerable the still half-mortal body of a morphling could be.

The children were asleep for now, taking a nap, which was a good thing. Hopefully he'd be able to enjoy the current peace and quiet for a little longer.

Zero Dream

It did not make long for Echo to drift in, as well - she had quite clearly overheard anything, and made sure the children where indeed asleep before sliding in. "Lady Karaskis." She smiled, strings trailing back and forth behind her as if they where a cat's tail.

It was awkward, really - this place wasn't her own, wasn't her home, but... "Please, do take a seat, both of you." She gestured to the table at the center of the room. Tempo had found it for her, along with a few chairs, to make things a little more confortable for the increased numbers of residents in the room. Anima had said it would be alright, at the very least...

Eftemie

Walking quickly up the staircase to the rooms on the floor above, Taj glanced around for the door that was said to be Ankou's. He had not met Nergal nor Ankou, but from the description someone had given him, Echo was the goddess that had been there that day when Samyaza had been there. The one who sang so beautifully. He was so looking forwards to seeing Sam kicked back to the void. Minus Gaia's arm of course. But for now, he simply hoped that everything was getting back on the right path.

Putting Aristogeiton back together would do part of that. He might have information if they could get the pieces to fit. Taj envied Ari. None would be closer to their Lord than he. Hopefully if they could not get Ari back as he once had been, then there would be someone to take the consort's place. They would only know when this was finished.

Knocking, he suddenly smiled at a stray thought. Who would greet him if he had gotten the wrong door? Various faces of those he had already met dropped down.

Amusement echoed as Jaster pushed upwards. Just don't shoot them, Taj.

Brat.

Thabara

Nergal glanced at the door with confusion when it knocked again, so shortly after Fire's arrival, wondering who it might be. Lord Illumin perhaps?

He motioned for Ishum to open the door, but the aoide glanced back at him over his shoulder with an uncertain look and a barely noticeable shake of his head. It was no one he knew.

"If you came to seek out the Spirit Guide," Ishum said cautiously, "he has left a while ago for some distant place, and it is unknown when he will return."

Eftemie

His lips twitched upwards in amusement. Too many shared the few rooms here. Hopefully that would be remedied as soon as demons were driven away or executed. The plans to move into a house was already on his mind. Not just for the oni sheltering with him, but also for the others. His tail twitched faintly wanting it to be soon that the world was settled.

Writing on the pad, he held it out to the aoide in front of him. Mystery needs no guide in the dark, but to be in the midst of putting an unknown star together. For a long moment he thought of letting the immortal figure it out entirely, but as they could be on a time limit, he relented merely grinning, flashing white teeth as he added, Karaskis? to what was already scrawled.

Thabara

Ishum read what was written on the pad, and then scooted quickly over to Nergal's side, whispering into his ear. The chtonic deity nodded, motioning for the aoide to open the door fully, and beckoning Mystery to step inside.

"Be welcome, then, to my brother's chambers. I am Nergal, the Overseer of Souls, and this is Echo, the Voice of the Countless. Karaskis, I take it, you already know." He wondered if more would come, drawn by that announcement he had made on the makeshift noticeboard.

Zero Dream

Another came in, looking familiar to her yet... yet not quite. She had seen him before, but...

Ah, there. Then. It might have been the host, when the grigori had came. However, no name came to her memory - hopefully the god would not terribly mind.

"Welcome. I... am glad that you seem well." It provably would not make sense to the others, but he would probably figure out what she meant. It was an amazing thing that the only one to have been harmed beside Gaia had been Cosine's twin... It probably would have been much, much different if the void-thing hadn't been focusing on fleeing.

Eftemie

Glancing over at Karaskis, his lips twitched upwards at the sight of her in his jacket. His fondness for her was easily seen as he watched her in amusement. But turning to his host and hostess, Taj nodded, smiling as he greeted Nergal and Echo both.

Inclining his head to them in way of a short bow, he wrote quickly. I-my host Jaster- met the Lady Echo. That day. My voice has become wings and a tail. Fitting that Mystery is more mysterious. I was with Karaskis to retrieve. Let us hope that fel creature did nothing further that we cannot see that will prevent reshaping Aristogeiton. That was the most he had written, but now was little time for the cryptic as he would have preferred.

It had been ages since Ari's soul had been broken into pieces. And with none of them knowing, it could not be certain that Samyaza had merely separated him and cast the slivers adrift. Just as she obviously had power over their Lord, so too she may have taken the opportunity to do more to the Consort's soul. They could not know for certain unless she admitted it from her own foul lips.

Cinderfae

Karaskis moved into the room without much prompting, Cinder's brief meeting with Ankou's host giving them some bit of peace over entering the abode. Smiling she inclined her head to Nergal and then Echo, "it is a pleasure to meet you both, and yes I saw the note and thought it prudent to get things taken care of as quickly as we can." As she spoke her voice fluctuates between that of just the goddess' into a mixed speech of both Cinder's and Karaskis'.

At the sound from the door she turned her head before finding some place to sit waiting to see who else might be joining them. She smiled faintly watching Taj with the servant and then with Nergal and Echo. After letting the three take a moment she spoke, "since his change he hasn't spoke, I would attempt to get more of a reason from him but I have a feeling Mystery may not be forthcoming with answers." Her fiery eyes flicker to Taj as she speaks a hint of amusement in them. "He was very helpful when it came to recovering the pieces we went after. And has aided in keeping them safe." For a moment the voice shifted to only that of the pilot, and as the two were melding they knew that Mystery and Jaster were as well so speaking of both as one being had become a habit.

"Now the pieces, which I'm sure are what you are most interested in are in a locked chest in Kaelin's room. As we found some refuge there when we were forced to flee the lake house. The person is staying there as well and doesn't seem to have any idea of what is happening." Faran's cluelessness to everything left Karaskis wondering what exactly his part would be in it all, if even anything could be done. The two voices seemed to settle into speaking in only Karaskis' dusky tones at least for now.

Thabara

This was a strange meeting, Karaskis speaking with three voices - yet still getting straight to the point, just how he seemed to vaguely remember her - and Mystery with none. To hear that the Fire goddess had found refuge in Water's rooms, of all deities possible, made Nergal pause for a moment, quirking a curious brow - but he did not inquire.

The Judge of the Dead waited until everyone seemed to have settled down, more or less, before he raised his voice once more. He himself apparently preferred to remain standing, tall and upright.

"Two of the fragments found remain in the safety of Hunt's temple for now. One of them is the body of a youth, unearthed from an ancient mausoleum. Untouched by Time, unlike the other bodies found there. It was born without a soul, a vessel never to be filled. I was the one to find it." He paused, remembering something which hadn't struck him as peculiar back then, but now that he knew the Grigori involved.. "That place bore no inscriptions, gave no names, nor dates, nor causes of death. It may not mean anything."

"The other fragment is a decanter, filled with a clear liquid, and a golden, key-like thing attached to it. It was obtained under great sacrifices, too great, mayhaps." He hesitated, but the fact were this specific relic had come from, was simply too important to not be mentioned, despite his desire to not expose Hunt and Light's involvement in this. "It was retrieved from the Ashlands, the Grigoris' exile. A deal was struck, though I do not know the details, but the result of it is known by all - Samyaza was freed."

He bowed his head, for the first time giving thought to what Sana--, Aristogeiton might feel like about all this: So many lives destroyed, just to see him restored..

"Here is a curious thing: I know of the circumstances of his last death, when he bore the name Sanatruces. He was.. struck with a weakness while dwelling in my domain as a guest, and no one, neither Gaia, nor Healing, nor Medicine, nor even Death were able to discern the cause of his sudden illness, or help him. He perished within a week, and then his soul was lost. But.. that must have been after he returned from the Ashlands."

Zero Dream

Echo seemed to ponder something for a moment - if the god had no voice, then perhaps... "One of my aoidei is skilled in sign language, if you wish to learn it. It would not be too useful with most, but could probably come in handy with those you frequent the most."

When Nergal started to speak, she went silent, and then picked up where he had left off. "The last two pieces we found in Wellhaven where a fetish, made from a root and looking erriely like a person, and a ghost on one of the consort's past incarnations... probably from after his soul had been broken into fragement ?" She sent her lover a questioning look, then - he would know better than she as far as that went...

Thabara

Nergal nodded. "It must be. It is from an Age long after the Fading."

Cinderfae

Karaskis nodded slightly with a small frown, "I'm afraid it's far from my domain to figure out this puzzle," her eyes drifted toward Taj a moment before looking back toward the others, "the pieces we collected I'm sure you gathered one was a human. A very clueless human and a rather unremarkable one. We also recovered bones and scales from what appears to have once been some sort of young dragon in life. And of course the pendant."

Karaskis smiled slightly as she heard Echo, her eyes once again returning to Taj. She wondered how he would respond to the offer. She was certain that mystery had his own reasons for this silence.

As Echo turned her gaze to Nergal Karaskis did as well curious what the Lord of the Dead would have to say about the spirit. "If the ghost is part of one of his reincarnations...I wonder then what Faran may be."

Pausing for a moment Karaskis looked to Nergal again, "Kaelin has a most interesting caregiver looking over his daughters. She is a witch of some ability, a mortal, but she may be able to tell you something of the fetish."

Eftemie

Taj nodded to Echo at the suggestion, smiling faintly. His lips twitched slightly as he wondered if he should. Maybe at some point, but was not Mystery for others to solve? And if he gave the answers- more than a clue or two, what did that accomplish?

He listened to the descriptions closely and caught the thought of puzzles. A slight twitch to his jaw indicated he heard her. A faint thought that it was perhaps in the combination of the items that was the meaning. But one thing he knew for certain, if Samyaza had done this deed ages ago, plotting and planning, then she left little chance that they would solve it before she returned. It was what he would have done in her place and most likely was a double-edged sword aimed at all of them. Just as her distraction had been while she got away with Gaia's arm.

Writing on the pad, he then held it out to Nergal. Evil may still have laced more than is seen. She would know what we would attempt to do with the pieces. She is empty.

It was a warning that they needed to look for more than was seen. Even the briefest mention of one of the items somewhere could lead them to understanding what needed to be done. And the first place was what killed Sanatruces or Aristogeiton in the first place.

Thabara

Kaelin.. had daughters?! Nergal blinked, once, twice, and then forced himself to return his focus to the matter at hand.

"So the pendant itself is a fragment as well? That.. certainly is new to me. The bones and scales.. I wonder if there is some connection to the dragon kings? And an actual living person." He tilted his head, mulling over that fact. "As his soul would contain only a fragment of Aristogeiton's it seems only natural that he would indeed be 'clueless'."

Nergal nodded to Mystery, acknowledging the warning. "There are those who have gone seek artifact weapons of old to fight the Grigori. My brother is among them." He paused, thinking. "It might actually be of advantage if we gain that wretched b***h's attention. It would draw her out, distract her from the task of building a gate and free her kin. We would only have to fight one, instead of many. But.. that is admittedly not the matter at hand here."

He clasped his hands behind his back, forehead creasing into a frown as he thought. How were they to bring all these pieces together? "Byrne, Rebirth might be of help but it's been years since I last saw him. Gaia, perhaps, if she is well enough. Some research certainly would not hurt either." A witch, eh? He seemed to recall as much - the root, the alraune being utilized by alchemists and users of the Craft alike.

Zero Dream

Echo, to put it quite bluntly, had no idea how they where supposed to put the consort back together. "Do you think Ankou would know... ?" Too bad he was gone now, even if it was something as needed, perhaps even more needed in the circumstances. "Or that he may even be able to do it ?" She knew firsthand how limited one could be when freshly reborn.

"As for her, well... who knows where she crawled off to hide." The goddess shook her head. "But it would seem likely indeed that she, or some from her people, caused this all to happen in the first place. And who knows what more they may have plotted in the ages they spent locked in the Ashlands..."







There was a such a thing as too quiet, really, and while mommy and daddy where busy talking about such serious matters, one of the children slowly awoke from his short-lived slumber. Akakios made a face when he realized Lacrymosa and Sotiris where still asleep (did they have to sleep so much ? Really ?) and slid off the bed, bare feet tip-toeing his way outside their shared room, careful not to wake them, sliding out and closing the door behind him.

Still slightly dazed, the young lament made his way to daddy, and started to thug on his sleeve. Apparently he wanted up. But that was when he finally noticed a very important fact.

There where other Big People here. Big People he didn't know.

Suddenly startled, Kios scrambled off to hide behind daddy, peering off the side at the unknown god and goddess.

Cinderfae

"I do intend to relieve the human that is a fragment of his clueless ness. I feel it only fair that he not be kept in the dark, and that it is beyond my right to use him as a piece of a puzzle or whatever game has been made without his knowledge." Karaskis smiled faintly but the look held no humor the expression was very reminiscent of her host's, "I'm sure he has observed the changes Mystery and I have undergone since meeting with him and has questions as it is." Karaskis sighed, she really wasn't looking forward to such a conversation but it was something that should be done. Really she wasn't sure how to approach it or what to say exactly, the humans she had met either had been unbelieving or in the case of those in her service had embraced what they learned.

Karaskis' eyes flickered over toward the small purple haired godling as he dashed off behind Nergal to hide, smiling faintly she tilted her head in an attempt to get a better look at the new arrival. "Greetings." It seemed that Underworld had children of his own, she glanced a moment toward Echo and then Nergal before looking to the child again. She did not know the two well but guessed the child likely belonged to them.

Thabara

"I am not sure," Nergal replied to Echo and shook his head. "He may be of help in liberating the fragments from the relics - or persons - they've become a part of, perhaps even be able to unite them.. But I do not know the current extent of his powers, we barely talked before he left. As for Samyaza's whereabouts - I could send out the spirits of the dead, attempt to fi--"

Something tugged at his sleeve. Slightly puzzled, Underworld interrupted himself to look down and find his youngest peer at him with a hopeful expression on his face. Next moment though, the youth had skittered to hide behind his back, shyly glancing at the unknown visitors from that safe spot of hiding.

It was a strange and rare thing to witness a genuine smile creep upon the Judge's blackened lips, as it did now. He ruffled the boy's hair, and easily lifted him up to rest his weight against the side of his hip.

"Akakios, our youngest," he introduced the child, his fond sidewards glance at Echo giving away that she indeed was the mother. "He has two slightly older siblings, a sister and a brother. I hope they will not prove to be too much of a distraction from the current discussion, should they wake as well.." Kios and Crys would not be a problem, those two were very well behaved. But Soto.. Inwardly, he cringed at the thought of trying to keep up a serious discussion while that small green whirlwind was running rampant.

"If you would speak to the mortal, Lady Karaskis, it would be much appreciated. Whatever we do come up with, his cooperation will likely be required, and as the will and belief of the mortals, choice, seems to draw through everything like Ariadne's golden thread.. To force him, would be the wrong way I feel, though I would not hesitate to do so, should there be no other way." Underworlds gaze hardened.

"And I would certainly like to speak to that witch of yours, to gain more insight on that root's attributes. The ghost.. It seems he used it to aid his powers during his lifetime. It is more than a mere talisman, an item of True Magic. Even in death it still strengthens him, and he will not go far from it, unless forced."

Eftemie

Taj smiled faintly when he saw the child, winking at him. It was obvious that Nergal and Echo loved their children from the way they watched him. It reminded him of someone in a memory.

My mother, Taj. Jaster whispered faintly. The same look of love and joy.

He considered what Jaster said and then agreed. That was exactly it and he thought about what he knew of Jaster's life for a moment. Feelings of anger at the man slipped forth but Taj shoved them away. Now was not the time though he would have to think about what he knew of before the fading. Perhaps he had his own memories that were waiting to be unlocked. A father and mother who had loved him?

A frown slipped free as he thought of Faran. He would uphold the man's choice also, but at what point did they press him to really looking at what was happening? And at what point did they push him straight down the path to what he was- keeping him from deviating so that all was fixed? Taj honestly hoped that it did not come to that. Faran needed to make that choice freely or they were becoming what they had been before the fading. It simply was not an easy situation on any of their parts. And then there was no guarantees that it would even work. What he would do was unknown even to him until it came down to that moment. Then he would do what he felt he needed to. Just as he and Jaster always had.

Zero Dream

Echo only smiled at the scene that unfolded in front of her - there was no need to remind the young boy to behave himself, really. Without his older brother to drag him along into all sort of mischeif, Kios behaved himself.

Well, most of the time. He was still a child, after all. There was only so much behaving they could do.

"Yes, I agree. It would not be... right, to force him, if such can be helped at all. Hopefully the fragment can be taken from him without endangering him..."

It was probably wishful thinking, but the goddess hoped for it all the same. There had been too much death already - some even caused by her hand.




The purple-haired child gave a small startled eep as he was quite suddenly picked up, too busy looking at the Unknown Big People to remember it was what he had wanted to begin with. After that, he just cooed happily. Daddy was cold, but he never really seemed to mind much - or if he did, it never showed.

"Hiiii~~ !" He gave Karaskis the grin - the one which, so far, had pretty much made everyone he's came across melt on the spot - and then noticed the man winking. This made him laugh, and Kios winked back.

The adults where talking about something, some kind of puzzle and pieces and putting together, through most of the conversation seemed to go blissfully over his little curly headed head. Still, apparently they where wanting to put something back together.

"Kios knows !" He chirped. "Glue." Glue stuck things back together, yes, yes ? That HAD to be what they where looking for ! Silly adults. Really, he looked quite proud of himself.

Cinderfae

Karaskis smiled slightly to the child, chuckling gently at the glue comment. "Glue would be wonderful if it would work in this case but I have a feeling it is beyond that." Karaskis sighed slightly in thought, "we should bring the pieces together, perhaps something will be more clear once that has happened. Which means we will need to contact Illumin and Ea, and I will speak to Faran with Taj. Perhaps he can be made to understand but as many from the world he is use to he will be slow to respond to belief."

Karaskis paused a moment in thought, "if you think you could contact the others we could go speak with Faran today. Perhaps it will give him more time to adjust or consider..." from Cinder's thoughts the goddess was not sure how speaking with Faran would fair for them.

Thabara

"However, some way of binding will be required.. I.. We will arrange for all the fragments to be brought here." He breathed a sigh and turned to Echo. "If you would send out your aoidei to take care of this.. I have seen neither tail nor wing of mine since we returned," he admitted with an apologetic smile.

"Who knows, perhaps some solution will present itself once the fragments are assembled close to each other, something we overlooked until now.." The chances were low, but at the very least he hoped that the fragments might strive to form a whole again once they were in the vicinity of each other. "I will send message as soon as that is taken care of. If in the meanwhile the pendant and the bones could be brought here? I would like a closer look at these, if possible. Especially the pendant."

If only my brother was here.. Binding souls he felt fairly confident about, but only as long as they were of the dead. This 'Faran', however, was very much alive. Ankou, he felt, would probably be better matched to deal with transitions between the both as he was..

Eftemie

Glue of some sort was needed, but to find the proper one was the problem. Somehow he suspected that all they needed was within the items themselves. With a nudge in some fashion to get them moving, and the rest would take care of itself and leave Aristogeiton standing before them. He hoped that they did not open a Pandora's Box instead because of something that the Grigori had done. But if so, then they would deal with it as best as they could. The Grigori were not smarter than they were. They simply had had more time to set things in motion while the gods slept. Now they were awake.

Taj nodded, glancing over at Karaskis. They should go talk to Faran and bring the things here. Perhaps Nergal or Echo would be able to see something that he and Kara had not. Underworld and Music were further along with their powers than either of them.

Zero Dream

"Of course." The goddess answered with a smile. "I will send Tempo off to seek Ea and Illumin as soon as he returns." Perhaps they might have an idea of how to put it all together, as well, as things such as souls and, more importantly, putting one back together where very much beyond her. She was music, after all. While she had gotten a small experience of dealing with ghosts thanks to her choice of lovers, it was really as far as her knowledge went.

"Well, I do figure the empty body would be what the rest of the other fragments will have to be bound onto... somehow. It does seem to be it's purpose, as it was made without a soul..."







"Need strong glue, then. Kios find for pretty lady." He could tell Soto to look out for some next time he ran off. Or perhaps look for some himself, through he seemed a bit less inclined to break out on his own and explore, shy as he was - but it seemed that said shyness also dissipated rather quickly. When Echo patted his head, with a fond look on her face, the young boy giggled.

Cinderfae

Karaskis nodded slightly to Nergal, "If Taj and I were to leave now to speak with Faran I could send the bones and pendant back with Ashe for you to inspect. Does that suit you?" She quirked a brow questioningly as first her voice and then the blending of her voice and Cinder's was heard.

Remember how I reacted? Karaskis had not been around for Cinder's first arrival to the shop so the pilot lent a few memories to her.

Mortals are often rebellious in belief...perhaps some of what Ari remembered will be with him. Karaskis knew she was perhaps being overly hopeful.

If you are extremely lucky...should get this over with.

Karaskis flickered her gaze over to Taj seeing if she could gauge the Mystery god's reaction.

Eftemie

Taj nodded his agreement to Karaskis with a faint smile. It would give them the opportunity to speak to the man and make sure that he understood what was going on. And it would also give others a chance to look over the items they had retrieved.

He glanced over at the boy, taking a gold coin from his pocket. It was one of those left over from the trip to the shops with Eddard and Saljin, but it would work for what he wanted. Placing it on his fingers, he then rolled it into the palm of his hand. Moving one finger and then a second only slightly, he obscured the path the coin had taken across his fingers to his palm. Taj was quite certain that Echo and Nergal would be able to see what he had done, their powers far above his own, but it should amuse the child to see it seemingly vanish before his eyes.

Zero Dream

Ohhhh, pretty shiny... Kios' attention had definitively focused on Taj the second the coin had come out, and his odd-looking eyes went very wide indeed when it simply vanished away from his sight. Whaaatt... ?!?

The little godling struggled in his father's hold, if only to be able to try and peek. "'Where pretty go ?!?"










Echo, just as he had expected, saw through the little show, but said nothing of it. In fact, she put on a thoughtful face, one finger tapping the side of her face in thought, if only to help cultivate her youngest's wonder. "Oh, it's gone !"

Eftemie

Taj grinned, moving his hand towards Kios' ear. The coin appeared between them as if the boy had it all along and the god twirled it slightly in his fingertips. Holding it out to the boy, he indicated that Kios could have it. With a wink at Echo, he turned to Karaskis. They should speak to Faran.

 

[A Wandering Esper]

Day of the Dead :: The Unseen Help
Week of Hell

Today was daddy's day !

...Or at least, it was what he had understood from the long explanation his mother had given to both him and his elder siblings. It was something daddy and uncle Ankou had worked on for quite a long time, even if it seemed they never could quite agree as to what would be best. At night sometimes, he had overhead them in heated conversation, when they though everyone was asleep. In despite the harsh tones that had flown by sometimes, he had ultimately felt amused. They sounded like him and Soto, sometimes !

Maybe it was just a brother thing. Uncle Ankou was daddy's brother, like he and Soto where brothers, but not like how mommy and the Lady Cosine she talked about sometimes where sisters. That was very, very complicated indeed. It was hard to imagine that daddy and uncle Ankou had been small like him and Soto once.

...Maybe they hadn't. It was just too weird to think about.

But more importantly, he had been given a mission. A very important mission, but apparently it was a secret. Daddy was not to know about it. Uh ? It was really odd, but he had agreed to it. It had been uncle Ankou's idea, and he yet still remembered what he said.

That day will be a day for the dead, but for the living as well. On that day they will come, and if all goes well, will be able to see their lost loved ones. This should bring them some comfort, but we can also do more. They will remember this day for as long as they live, but we can give them hope. Hope can take the oddest form... These people have lost everything.

How this had actually evolved into plushies, made from all kind of leftover fabrics and rags, into multiple kind of wooden beads and charm, he honestly had no idea. Apparently, things like this, processions, small objects of comfort, where very important to the mortals. So important that some civilizations had created intricate tombs to hold the worldly things of those who had died. Most of Ankou's explanation had went right over his curly, lavender-haired head, but that part had remained with him sorely because it reminded him of his own brother so much. Guardians appointed to guard such tombs...

The introspective daze of the child was broken as he suddenly looked upward, Tempo casting a curious glance at him from the side of the small booth they had taken over with the various objects. The air was starting to become thick with presence. His invisible friends where coming... The living would be soon to follow. He kind of wished he hadn't been the one chosen for this, because the more playful souls, the children, where already whispering to him. They wanted to play, and so did he, but he'd promised mommy he would do this.

Maybe they could play until people started coming in... ?

***

It did not take long before curious mortals, survivors in search of refuge and comfort, started to trickle in, drawn in by the lights and sounds. He seemed to catch attention very easily - odd child that he would be to them - and it worked at his advantage. The shy one had needed some prodding from the aoide to begin with, but once he noticed how the people reacted, excitement seemed to take over and he was much more eager to reach out for people. Some where scared, though he had no idea why exactly - the idea was simply foreign to him. He had, litterally, spent all of his young life surrounded by ghost, poltergeist, and all other kind of manifestation of the dead.

He suddenly took note of a little girl, sobbing against some rubble, and he slid away while Tempo was not paying attention to him. He was not supposed to get too far away from his mother's servant, but children.... rarely did as they where told.

"'sokay." He whispered, extending one hand for her to take. A pair of brown eyes, still filled with tears, looked up at him, startled and full of wonder. The godling grinned at her and, after a few moments, smiled in return. Before she could take his hand, however, she let out another startled cry.

"Stop that." His voice had taken a more stern tone, perhaps more belonging to his father than the small form he held. "'Or 'm telling Dad." Sometimes, the dead children became so focused in play that they did not realize they where terrifying people. He could not see them, but he could hear their little voices - they only wanted to play, that he knew, but the little girl didn't. If there would have been any protest to his makeshift order, his second sentence silenced it before it could be voiced, the unseen voices simply going on their way, giggling merrily.

The girl still stared at him with wide eyes, but he... seemed to be real. She took the still-held out hand and worked herself back on her feet, letting out a long sniffle. "For you." He handed her one of the plushies, and she smiled, before darting off.

"Daddyyyy ! Look what I got !!!"

The young lament simply smiled, and turned to go back to the booth. If he was yet aware of the irony of a domain focused on sadness spreading joy, he gave no outward signs of it.  

[A Wandering Esper]

Day of the Dead :: Waiting
Week of Hell

Ankou and Cosine have a bit of a catchup session on the makeshift carnival's grounds, and gets walked upon by Nergal, Echo, Akakios and Lacrymosa just as things would have started to get a tad more... intimate. Amusement ensues. >D

Logged here

 

[A Wandering Esper]

Day of the Dead :: For Those Who Remain Behind
Week of Hell/"Paradise"

The day – daddy's day, he had come to call it to himself – had been filled with so many wonders and so much excitement for the little godling, so much that he had issues remembering all of it. After he had eaten many tasty things with his family and had been done with handing out the small wooden shapes uncle Ankou had made, he had gone to another place where they had been many other children, with Alto always following him from a distance, though he did not mind that all that much. He ended up at a small booth of sorts ran by a woman named Xing, who made all sort of candles and pretty pretty lanterns shaped like the red flowers that where all over the downstairs of the pantheon. He'd managed to touch one, as they left earlier, and the petals had been so soft and gentle on the touch.

He had watched, silently, until the woman saw him, and invited him closer. It had only been when Alto gently pushed on his shoulder that he actually dared to come closer. As always, he was a shy child at first, and he needed a little encouragement for the ice to melt. She seemed to know him, which was puzzling, but then she said she knew daddy, so this all made sense then, somehow. When she asked him if he wanted to make a lantern, the boy nodded, and was taken to sit with everyone else. He was not quite sure what a lantern was, but Akakios did not mind much. It simply meant he would discover it !

He wound up making two lanterns – one for himself, and one for his sister. Lament had wanted to make one for Soto, too... but he wasn't quite sure Soto would -like- a lantern shaped like a flower. Because Soto was silly like that. So instead he asked Xing to melt one of the green crayons and spiral it on one red candle. He had wanted to do so himself, but both the lovely lady and his mother's servant had been very opposed to the idea. Pfft. But there was a Soto-candle now, so all was well and good again.

Crys' lantern was the one he put the most time on – gluing many layers of different papers, fabrics, and other wierd-feeling-to-touch things so his older sister could spend time to touch and “see”. The colors didn't make sense, but the godling didn't mind. His own lantern had wound up relatively simple – simple markings and swirls of colors, some looking rather oddly close to actual letters... Or was that simply Xing's imagination ?

The woman had assured him that she would take good care of the three items, and that his parents (and most likely her siblings) had dropped by some time ago while he had been so busy gluing felt on Grief's lantern. They had gone to the cathedral – the big building with the bell inside – and that he could rejoin them as soon as he wished. Kios chirped a thank you to the kind lady and went off then, leaving his place for other children to make even more lanterns.

He had gotten to the cathedral rather easily, in fact, though before he could get inside, there had been a... distraction. One that was still ongoing...

“You're it, you're it !” The small boy chirped, darting off in the opposite direction after clinging on the godling's arm for a moment, having used the boy's thoughtful state to tag him and run off.

”Hey, s'nofair, no fairrrr !!!!” Lament was quick to dart in turn, following the small group of happy, giggling children – some he recognized as ghosts, his invisible friends, though... they where not invisible anymore, oddly enough, and some still alive. There was little to no distinction in the group from mortal, dead, and god – none of the children gathered cared much about the nature of one another. Kios gave a grin as he lunged for the taller boy who had tagged him and tackled his back. “It !” The godling was quick to let go and dart away as quickly as he could, less the little ghost lunge for him again.

Before anything else could happen, however, the bell far above them rang, it's sound deep and beautiful in a way that it should not have been. One by one, the children stopped, and listened.

“What was that ?”

”Mommy and Daddy.” Lament announced proudly. Unlike the rest of the children gathered, he had felt the energies linked deeply with the sound of the bell – so familiar that it would have been impossible for him to mistake them for anything else.

”Kios thinks it mean, go back to Xing now.” He nodded to himself, as his parents and his sister came out from the front door.

“Where's that... ?” One shy little girl – one of the living children, asked, clutching her doll close to her chest.

”Follow Kios.” The boy offered one of his rare smiles – though it had been forced for her comfort – and that seemed to do the trick, the girl smiling back at him as Lament took his father's offered hand, his small band of children following closely behind the family.

There were so many people here now ! This was kind of scary in itself for the shy child, but he wore a perhaps all-too-determined look and refused to give in to the urge to hide behind his father. He was supposed to show the other children the way, after all. They where not just other children, they were his friends. For them, he could overcome the sudden dizzying feeling of voices, feelings, and mingled presences.

There where suddenly noises, and it made the child perk in curiosity – a trumpet wasn't something he had ever heard before, after all – being born into the current, stretched out “week” of the downfall of all that was, though the young boy had not seemed to realize it. For all he knew, this... was normal. The sound was followed by other ones, and mommy drifted off and played her flute. That sound, he knew well. Soto darted by from somewhere behind, to join the dancers, and it caused the young Lament to send a few thugs on his father's hand, his shyness completely overcome by excitement. He wanted to go, too ! And so, when Nergal released him, he darted off, with a speed and determination that looked like it was more fitted to his elder brother. However, he did not get far before...

„Kios!“

Uggghhhh.

The godling turned, though only darted back when he saw his older sister being set on the ground. Daddy continued, though he honestly was not keeping attention beyond being told to take her hand – which he had already done on reflex. Though it did indeed look like he was listening, face serious as he nodded when it looked like daddy was finally done. Thankfully he heard the request to meet up again at the Pantheon, nodded once more, then darted off with his sister in tow, to meet back up with their older brother. So many things to do and see, and he had to tell them about the lanterns and the candles, too.

But for now, there were too many interesting sounds and other things pulling at his attention to be able to do such thing. Dancers, musicians, some very colored people throwing and catching balls... he had to relate all of this to Crys, also.

It seemed that they arrived at the pantheon all too quickly and, true to his word, Lament led his sister back to their father. As for Soto... he had probably wriggled away again. With puppy, or with Uncle Ankou maybe. All the different sounds faded, one by one, until there was just a big, deep tap...tap...tap... and then nothing else.

Silence.

At least, it was so until his mother rose her flute to her purple lips once more, and played a song, deep and heavy with feelings and many things that seemed to catch his attention and pull. His little hand tightened around his sister's, and her's the same – clearly feeling something similar, if not identical – one being the emotion and the other, one of the many means to express it.

It was only when his father and mother moved that he remembered to do the same, gently leading his blind sister inside. Akakios was protective of his sister, yes, but not as overprotective as his parents tended to be. If there hadn't been so many people, he probably would not have held her hand constantly. Though, maybe holding her hand brought him some calmness among the large crowd, where otherwise he would have wanted to do nothing other than hide.

Maybe.

His father started talking once they had gotten inside, and the godling tried to listen. He honestly did. But, daddy was using some big complicated words, and there was this strange thing wrapped in golden chains catching his attention, and he was whispering into his sister's sensitive ears all about his plans with the prettypretty lantern he made for her, the candle he made for Soto, and his own.

When people started moving, he gathered his courage and did the same. He still had no idea where silly Soto was – figures – so he would have to carry the candle for him...Which meant letting go of his sister. When Xing handed him both lantern, he gently coaxed her's into her awaiting hand. ”S'Fuzzyfuzzy.” He grinned, then, gently, let go of her hand. ”Kios take Soto's candle. Follow close, kay ?” There was slight worry in his voice, but he did not have much of a choice. When his sister nodded in acknowledgment, he started going forward, sending glances to make sure she was still following and not getting lost. It took some coaxing to make her leave the lantern behind, as he had done with his own and the green-speckled candle – it was veryvery important, he told her. - but after finally finishing exploding all the different fuzzy things her brother had put on for her, Lament managed to coax her into it and, sliding his hand into her pale one once more, turned to follow everyone else out, not registering the sudden sound of the trumpets as anything abnormal...

Everyone was laughing and everyone was happy, all of sudden, when his daddy and uncle Ankou came out, passing out some sort of drinks that smelled odd and bitter – thankfully those qualities made sure that the young boy wanted nothing to do with them – and he could feel his sister's energy start to wind down. It was, indeed, pretty late for the two of them – where as he did not quite feel fatigue just yet, being more like his father on that aspect. So he ignored everything around them, made sure not to bump into any of the all too joyous mortals and, upon finding his uncle, with a rather asleep Sotiris in one arm, handed over Crys to be carried in the other, and left along with them.

And the young boy couldn't help but think that, one day, be wanted to be big like Uncle Ankou, knowing manymany fancy words like his daddy, and to be the one some would turn to to find solace, as he waved at the small troupe of children that had become his friends along the night.

He had no idea how much that future - along with everything else - was in danger of never unfolding itself.  

[A Wandering Esper]

New Beginnings
Week of "Paradise"

Sosiqui

Tian Yue climbed the stairs with a faint frown on his face - oh, the Manacles were still holding, but there were cracks now, and who knew how long they would hold? While he was grateful for his full ascension, it certainly had taken a long time objectively, even if it hadn't seemed that way subjectively. He had not expected to return a full two months and more after his departure... but things were going well. Gods were moving. Mortals were moving.

They could still do this.

The Dragon King paused at the top of the stairs, peering down at the activity below. Few of the mortals had approached him, perhaps intimidated by his horns and tall stature, but their mere presence was a very good thing. He had so much to catch up on and do. He could only hope he had enough time in which to do it.

Zero Dream

Amist the gathered mortals, there was another presence, a rather small one, but yet very distinguishable in aura. The young boy scampered his way through the gathered crowd, visibly a little lost and perhaps even intimated. Where had all those people came from, and where did mommy go... ?!?

Eventually he found his way out, only to collide with Tian Yue in a dash for the stairs, which caused him to stare at the dragon king with rather wide eyes. Well, THAT was new.

Sosiqui

Tian Yue blinked in surprise as something rather small collided with him at the top of the stairs, and he quickly whipped his tail around behind the child so he wouldn't tumble right back down the staircase. "Hello," he said, gently, hoping that would get through to the little one; if he was intimidating to the mortals, could he be 'scary' for a child? "Where did you come from?" he added, perplexed. This was obviously a god, but a very small one... not just in stature, but in age as well. A child-jewel taken over a child-body? But that didn't seem right either.

Zero Dream

"Aaa...." Clearly, the intimidation was winning out at that moment, and the child weaseled his way out of the tail's grip as small children tended to do, darting off down the hall.

"Mommy !" Finally, there was mommy, oh, was he ever glad now ! Exploring was fun, but not with THAT many people around !

Mommy, thankfully, hadn't been too far behind, and she scooped up her son in her arms as soon as she was in range. "Thank you." She gave a bow of her head and a smile. His voice seemed so familiar, yet she could not quite place it.

Sosiqui

Tian Yue sighed a bit, internally, as the child squirmed away from him with an obvious look of discomfort on his face. He wasn't used to being intimidating, and while he supposed it had its uses, at the moment it was something else new he hadn't yet gotten the hang of. And then - ah, there was the child's mother, a woman... no, a goddess... with blue hair and startling eyes...

"You're welcome," he replied, bemused, trying to figure out who she was...

Wait.

He didn't know anyone else who hummed naturally whenever she moved. The wings... were different, but not quite enough... "Echo?" he asked.

Zero Dream

"Yes ?" She answered on pure reflex, then rose an eyebrow. This was obiviously someone who knew her -

Wait. She only really knew one dragon, did she not ? She had thought it may be one she had not met, but now the similarities where too strong. "Tian Yue... ?"

Apparently now more calm with his mother about, the lavender-haired child peered rather curiously at Tian Yue - mommy's reaction to the tall scary man wasn't so bad, maybe he wasn't that scary after all.

Sosiqui

"Echo!" Tian Yue repeated, delighted - so she, too, had ascended a bit closer to her true nature. He reached out and put one hand gently on her cheek, beaming. "You've changed... and so have I, obviously," he added, glancing down at himself with a sheepish look. "It's so good to see you!" His tail waggled back and forth, betraying the depths of his delight. "And who's this little one?"

Wait... Mommy?

Tian Yue paused, and his eyes grew wide. "'Mommy'?" he added, giving Echo a mock-accusing look.

Zero Dream

"It is very good to see you indeed ! We've been looking for you... oh." Her smile turned impish. "What, does this mean I need to smack the messenger ?" She gave a bat of her eyelashes before she couldn't keep it up anymore, and broke down laughing.

"S'mommy." Kios announced with a nod, looking rather amusingly serious next to his mother. That was exactly what he said.

Adults. Pffft.

Sosiqui

"I'm sorry... I know I was gone for a long time. I hadn't intended for it to be quite so much, but apparently I needed it. To ascend." He smiled proudly, a faint blush suffusing his cheeks. "I'm not entirely sure how it happened this way - perhaps it was sheer desperation - but I am now fully Tien Lung again. Completely. Full stop."

Zero Dream

"Well, I was worried mister." She gave a mock-pout, then smiled. "I am glad for you, desperation or not, it is most welcome in time like these..." She send one glance to the side and, now that her son seemed to have calmed, let him down once more. "This is Akakios, my youngest. Do not take it too personally, he is rather shy, like young children tend to do."

Kios blinked a bit at being let down, but at least he did not show any sign of running off anymore. Intimidation seemed to have been mostly replaced by curiosity as the little boy peered at the figure in front of him.

Sosiqui

"Nergal must have returned, then," Tian Yue said, slyly, then crouched down to look at the child from his own level. "Hello there. I'm Tian Yue."

So these were the children Ankou had told him about; he remembered the rest of the note suddenly, and glanced up at Echo. "Godfather?"

Zero Dream

Ah, so Ankou had delivered the note after all. "No, a stork delivered them, silly." She stuck out her tongue playfully. "Though I am not quite sure where he's holed himself up today. The library seems likely." Her expression smoothed into a smile. "Yes. That is, if you want to."

Well, he didn't seem that big and scary from this angle."M'Kios." He peered a little closer.

Sosiqui

"Of course... it would be my honor, though I may not be able to take up my duties until after more pressing matters are attended to." Tian Yue frowned slightly. "How goes the preparations for the great ritual?"

He smoothed the frown out into a smile again for the godling's benefit. "Nice to meet you. What do you rule over?" Strange, to see a god newly born... they had all been so, once. Had other gods once held whatever domain this child had, now never to be reborn? He wasn't sure how it worked.

Zero Dream

"That is more than understandable." She nodded. "Word is starting to spreads, and plans are starting to take form. The note that was left was kind of vague... Do you remember what it is that you saw ?" She had been pondering about her own involvement, what she needed to do, and how to best spread the word further - either to send messages or seek all those she knew one by one - the second would take more time, but would insure the message reached it's destination.

"Uh...." The child's expression turned pensive. He'd been explained all this, if only so he could retell it. He'd been explained multiple times, in fact, but it hadn't quite seemed to stick - after all, he was but a child - not a grown god with duty and followers on his mind. What was that big complicated word again ? Ah. "S'lament ?"

Sosiqui

"I saw the note, yes." Tian Yue looked amused. "My brother is spare in his speech, always; I'm sure he would have been more specific if he'd known I would have been absent for such a long time." The amused look turned into a frown; while he was grateful for his ascension, he wasn't yet sure if the increase in himself was worth the cost of time.

Well, he could make up for it now. "Let me think..." He shifted to sit on the floor rather than crouching, his tail swishing around to curl around him automatically. "The great gathering of gods... begins with a song, a singer... your sigil, I think. There were shells?" His brow wrinkled in vague confusion. "A song to soothe Gehenna and to inspire the gathered. There are gods there, many, and Aoide, and some mortals. Mortals also wait at a distance, their belief... is focused." The memory of the fate-stone wrote in lines of white fire across his thoughts. "A number. Two. The sigil... is a crow. I do not recognize the deity. The power merges with the song."

He took a deep breath, his eyes still closed, concentrating. "More of the divine gather... Fire, Water, Wind. Light. Gaia. Universe. Those who are given little powers to create as Origin once did. They mimic those ancient actions, and echo again the act of Creation in their movements. A feather, a flame. Rebirth's sigil. His power is critical, as is the support of the Mother. A flame of rebirth to succor the Chrysalis. Fire helps him, her cinders mingling with his."

"Now, the sigils of before. The rat, the atom; their child, the thing they birthed, bearing the sign of the Mother and of Rebirth. Further succor for the Chrysalis, to strengthen Origin within, and awaken Him." Tian Yue's eyes moved under their lids, visibly, like a man dreaming. "The mortals, now - names, hundreds, thousands, ancient and new, pouring in like wine from every direction. Even the distant ones focus, chant, name, name, name. So many names. Names to remind, to redefine, to drown Gehenna and re-awaken Origin. To undo what the Grigori did. The Old Tongue is invoked, and... the Chrysalis shifts, opens like the bud of a flower... He steps forth..." The Dragon's words trailed off, and he wobbled for a moment, then opened his eyes and smiled. "And... that is that."

He blinked for a moment, slightly disoriented, at the pink-haired face peering back at him - ah, yes, the little one.

Zero Dream

Ah, this was more like it, more like what she had wanted to hear - some kind of basic structure, some kind of idea what to prepare for, through one detail caught her attention more than the rest. "Shells, you say ?"

Then, it came back to her. Something had been nagging her ever since Glaucon had visited her - some kind of memory that refused to take shape and be remembered. But now, finally, it did.

Conch Shell. Divine sound. Made in His name...

"....Yes, that's exactly it ! Conch Shells. When I made them..." Oh, that was too far away, too broken and too gone for her to remember how she had done such, but she could clearly remember that she had. "I either made them, or dedicated them, to Him. The memory is hazy, but there is definitively a connection there."

She shook her head, as if trying to shake off the memory. "I know who you speak of - Lady Cosine, of Numbers. She was part of the group that brought the lotuses back... I will be sure to let her know."

Granted, most of what had been said had went right above his curly-haired head, but apparently the young lament knew a good story when he heard one. He was rather comically mirroring Tian Yue's position, sans tail of course, and seemed rather attentive as the ritual was recounted.

Sosiqui

"I should write out that information for the others as well; I'm sure they'd find it helpful." Tian Yue laughed, then, at the little one's mimicking. "You don't have a tail, hmm? That's fine, I have enough for both of us." He flicked the end of his tail lightly at the godling, the new fan on the end rippling with the movement. Tian Yue himself stared at it for a moment, then shook his head and looked up at Echo. "I'm still not used to this," he said, tapping the side of his head with one index finger. "All this being me. I couldn't shift to dragon in here or I'd seriously risk destroying the building..."

Zero Dream

"Yes, I know what it feels like... It is rather disconcerting at first. At least, it was, for me. I got used to it quite fast, however...Perhaps it will be the same for you ? Kios, don't pounce." It did seem that Echo had rather quickly mastered one of multiple indispensable parental sense - seeing everything.

In answer to this, the child pouted. "...'kay..." Why did mommy had to see everything ? The dragon's tail was much, much, much bigger than Soto's, didn't that mean that it would be funner to play with ?!?

Sosiqui

"I pounce back," Tian Yue informed the godling, solemnly. Then he grinned. "I certainly hope so. Dragon-form is especially startling... I'm not used to the scale. There's three hundred more feet of me to manage.... see, look, even here, saying that, I don't quite believe it. If the Grigori come back, I could just step on them."

Zero Dream

"Really, that is... quite big, I must admit." There was awe in her voice, and at her last comment, she had to bite back her laugh. "I do believe that would be quite efficient, yes. Through they probably deserve worse after what have been done..." Her ears pinned back slightly, and a small frown drew itself on her face.

Really, they deserved much worse. Non-belief in itself was one thing, but jeopadizing the whole world in the process... She had seemed to be much too aware of her action not not have known.

The young boy simply pouted again, but instead moved to touch - fact to which his mother did not seem to mind any. The horned man's tail felt quite different from Soto's tail ! He seemed quite delighted by that discovery.

Sosiqui

Tian Yue waggled his tail again, amused; the new fan on his tail-tip was a bit sensitive still, and twitched away all on its own from the unfamiliar sensation of being touched. Strange indeed.

"At least we have a plan now," he said to Echo. "And my followers have done astonishingly well in my absence. It seems to me that the major problem right now is getting everyone informed, and their actions coordinated before we run out of time."

Zero Dream

"Yes... But we will find a way. We can do this." She said with a nod. They couldn't have come so far only to fail.

It couldn't be so. She would do all she could to make sure of it. But for now, she watched her son's antic, visibly amused yet not intervening. With Kios, she trusted that he would not pull or anything like such.

When the tail darted off, Kios followed - not even bothering to get up and instead zooming after it, going for the main part once more - he seemed to have noticed the fan seemed more sensitive. "Wasdat ? Not fuzzy." What a mystery ! Scales, clearly, where foreign to him.

Sosiqui

"Penny - one of my followers - tells me that Dream sent out messengers into mortal reverie. I hope to meet with him soon. Perhaps he can repeat that again. Almost everyone sleeps... though you might have to tell Nergal yourself." He grinned.

The godling was clearly confused by his scales, and Tian Yue reached out and tapped one claw on his tail. "Scales," he repeated. "Nice and hard, like armor."

Zero Dream

"Ohhh, yes... That would be the perfect way. I have not seen him in quite awhile..." This ought to be solved, really. The sooner the better, really. It seemed like it had been forever....

"Ohhhh." The young boy nodded along, before tilting his head to the side rather cutely, eyes wide and attentive. "...Armor ? Wasdat ?"

There was a faint giggle that came from Echo had that. Ohhh, Tian Yue had no idea what he had just unleashed upon himself...

Sosiqui

"Penny said he was cordial, but seemed wounded somehow." Tian Yue looked pensive. "This age has taken its toll. The sooner we can end it - on our terms - the better."

He glanced down at Akakios. "Hard, see? For protection." He tapped his claw on the tail-scales again. "Armor is like scales, made like clothes so people without scales can wear it and be protected."

Zero Dream

"Wounded ?" Worry slipped through in her voice, and one hand rose to her chest in an even more obvious display of said worry. What could have happened ? Oh, dear... She would have to go look for him. Just to make sure everything was mostly fine...

"Last I had heard of him, he had left on a quest on his own - that was quite awhile ago, long before all this happened..."

Again, he nodded - almost as if he was absorbing the information like a sponge took up water. This was all very interesting to him, to learn things like this. "S'pretty, too !" He said with a grin.

Sosiqui

"I've never met him, myself - and if any of his creatures tried to bring word to me while I was gone, I don't think they were able to get in. I was... rather busy." Tian Yue snorted quietly.

"Why, thank you," he added, amused by Akakios' cheerful curiosity. "Your hair is pretty too."

Zero Dream

"I will look for him... if he is here, I know where to find him." The goddess nodded. Her time was limited, but she definitively would take off of what time it would be needed to seek out her friend, expecially if he needed her in some way.

"Thanks !" The young child gave a wide smile, but turned pensive once more, as he stood and pointed at the shoulder spikes, apparently barely resisting the urge to touch. "...Wasdat ?"

Apparently, the dragon was not quite done with explainations yet.

Sosiqui

Tian Yue glanced at where the child was pointing, then chuckled. "Those? They're... useless and irritating in this shape, unfortunately. They mostly ruin my clothes and impale my bedding. But maybe in better times, I can show you how they're supposed to look..."

But now wasn't the time, as much as Echo's presence and the bright curiosity of her child had helped to improve his mood. He sighed, then smiled at Echo. "There is still so much to do... and time is running short indeed. I should probably continue in my tasks. I pray we will be able to talk at length later, when we have all the time in the world again."

Zero Dream

"Yes, there is much left to be done." The goddess said with a nod, bending down to lift her youngest son from where he was still staring at the dragon in wonder. "I have many things to focus on now, also... Much to prepare. And I believe someone is due for a nap. I shall see you soon then, gentle dragon."

At the sound of the word nap, the child made a face. "Nuuuh.... No sleepy." He protested, but it seemed like it would not do to convince his mother.

 

[A Wandering Esper]

The Stars Are Fading Out...
Week of "Paradise"

Daddy was busy. Mommy was busy. Alto and Tempo where busy. Crys and Soto where sleeping.

Really, lately there was so little fun to be had. Downstairs was so full of weird-unknown people who kept asking him odd questions that made no sense at all. Even as a child, it seemed evident to the mortals below that he was not a normal child, and the fact that he probably should have been seeking that attention eluded him. What was so scary and so important, anyway ? Things had suddenly changed the night of daddy's party, in a way he could not really understand or explain, but somehow everyone was worried and fretting.

A soundless sigh escaped the godling's mouth as he slid off the bed he shared with his brother and his sister and made his way into the main room. Mommy was there, but she seemed still busy. He shook his curly head and moved sideways to the window that gave a view of the outside, pressing both hands and his nose on it in hope of being able to see though the darkness of the night. The glow of the lava below helped somewhat - he was curious about that and had wanted to go see for himself, but both mommy and daddy had been very, very much against it.

Bah.

He turned his attention skyward. The bright dots twinkled in the sky, as they did each night. At least, they did most nights - sometimes they where covered by clouds... at least it was what daddy said. And if daddy said so, it was probably right. But they seemed to look different right now... Dimmer, almost.

"Mommy ?"

"Shouldn't you be sleeping, dear ?" He heard her slide out of her chair to come toward him, but did not move to look toward her. His eyes where locked on the sky - the stars had yet gotten dimmer, it seemed. There was something off about this, even he could tell - he watched them every night, but it had never happened before.

"Not sleepy" He mentioned absent-mindedly, before pointing up at the sky. "Mommy... Look."

One dot went out, and his eyes widened. Had he really seen that ?! Yes, it seemed he had. It did not end here - another, then another, quicker and quicker, wave after wave until there was only inky black left in the sky. "S'gone !" He turned to look at Echo then, with childish innocence where there was worry and fear on her own."Stars come back... Right ?"

Silence. His gaze did not leave her, waiting for an answer expectantly. They had to come back, they had to ! What else would he and daddy look at while everyone else was asleep ? Still, mommy was silent for way too long before she finally answered him, and even he could tell something was off.

"Yes, dear. They will come back. We... just have to find them. Maybe they're playing hide and seek ?"

"...Maybe." He wasn't sure if he believed that. That had to be one big game of hide and seek... and they should have invited other people then !

"Kios... You really should be in bed now. I know you don't sleep much, but you still need to. Can you go try again ?" He did not feel like it, expecially not now, but mommy still looked worried. He really did not like it when mommy looked so worried, and she always seemed to be. He knew better than to add to this worry, young as he was.

"...Want hug first.." The child pouted, reaching his arms upward to be held, and mommy was quick to deliver the demanded hug and carry him back with his siblings. She almost had smiled.... but not quite.

Maybe he was starting to get worried too, after all. Something was happening, but no one would tell him. All those worried faces around him...

For the first time in his young life, Akakios was starting to wonder if the world around him was as it seemed - if this was supposed to be normal, but he lacked the maturity to seek things out further, and the words to formulate the questions.

Yet, like his mother, he did not sleep at all that night.  

[A Wandering Esper]

The Ritual of Renaming
Week of "Paradise"

In which the world is saved. Yays~

Here

 

[A Wandering Esper]

The Dawn Of A New World

Everything felt different. Akakios had noticed this the very second it had went in motion, back at what he now knew to be called a ritual - which wasn't a bigcomplicatedword and rolled rather smoothly on his tongue, unlike most of them were.

He had no idea, truly, of the accomplishment, of the miracle that he had just witnessed, that he had ended up being a part in - and it would probably take the small boy quite awhile to come to know and understand the events that had, in a way, directly created his own existence, as well as the one of his siblings. Or, at the very least, had made them occur sooner than it would have, otherwise.

To his parents, to his uncle, and to many other people, himself and his siblings had been like little flames, little stars that shone bright in despite apparently having the odds stacked against them. But now, their survival was more assured - they would be able to grow, blossom, and live their lives without it being cut short by the end of all they knew.

...The very air itself felt different. Lighter. The boy peered though one of the many windows of his uncle's rooms, squinting as if it would have been able to help him see though the darkness. Mommy and his siblings had fell asleep quite some time ago and daddy had... gone to do whatever daddy always did while everyone else slept. Probably at the library - he knew the purpose of such a place, loosely - a place with manymany books and other things for learning.

Which left him alone, mostly, and much to excited to catch an hour or two of sleep as he usually did. The sky was still... gone. Broken. This wasn't a good thing, of course, he had come to learn, but...

But there was some sort of beauty in it, even if it was, at the same time, so empty and wrong and horrible. There was an odd sense of appeal from those who where sad, those who mourned the loss of the skies over their head. The young boy did not know that there had been a god representing all this, and that said god was now gone. All he knew was that there was only inky blackness where there had once been a sky, and clouds.

Was it wrong, to feel that way ? To see beauty in what seemed to tragic, so heart-wrenching ? Simpler versions of those questions trotted though his head, though he had no mean to truly answer them. Lacked the words to be able to express them correctly in a way others would understand.

No mean to know that it was his nature. That it was what he was, being Lament. And that it should simply have felt natural. Once he became older and wiser, he would know - but for now, those questions remained unanswered.

Though, at the moment, he was content to sit, and watch - the sun slowly rose along the horizon.

The dawn of a brand new world, of something completely new for him to discover.  

[A Wandering Esper]

Answering the summon

((Note - There is more to this rp than this, but only the bit relevant to my characters have been logged))

Thabara

Nergal's wings drooped slightly, as always they were an indicator of his feelings much more reliable than his face. „Mh. I already thought as much,“ he admitted, pale fingers gently touching upon the vial, toying with the thin silver chain which kept the starry treasure to his neck. „Some things may change, others never do. And while … change may be something required, there has also always been the need for stability, something constant. Eternal. Besides, my domain has always been naught but a shadow, a distant echo of the Living.“ He gave a weak smile, one tinged with melancholy and regret. Still, there was the possibility of one lone star. The Day of the Dead, which he had promised to those living and dead alike, perhaps it could be used to hail that event. Maybe.

He led the way, up the stairs, and down the hallway, keeping a deliberately slow pace. Towards a door that was clearly not his own, but his brother's, the Spirit Guide's. Perhaps a miracle would happen, the aodei having sensed his coming somehow, and magically managed to clean up the place in the blink of an eye just before they arrived at the threshold. The loud, eerie banshee-like wail that could he heard even out in the hallway and only be his daughter's, however, shattered his fragile hopes immediately.

Ah well. He has fathered enough children of his own. I should imagine at least some of them were as troublesome as--

„Welcome,“ he mumbled, clearly embarrassed, and pushed open the door. He invited Harmodius inside with a small bow, quickly trying to scan the common room for the current situation at the same time. Somehow the idea of Harmodius accidentally tripping over one of the children's toys was horrifying much more right now, than any possible threat the Grigori might pose. „And I do apologize for the current … mess.“

He glanced at his daughter and Priya, both - child and aoide - seemingly frozen in their fight over a … piece of crayon? Not again...

Priya was the one to let go of it first, bowing low immediately as soon as she caught glance of whom it was that her Lord had brought as a visitor. „My Lord ...“

„Daddy,“ the young goddess seemed to have ceased her wailing for now, and instead held up the piece of red crayon that was hers to keep for now. It looked … decidedly soggy. „She says I can't keep this.“

„That is, because she keeps trying to eat them, Highness,“ Priya quickly interrupted.

„Because you said they're different.“ The miniature goddess pouted, and quickly searched the ground with her free hand until she came across another piece of crayon – a blue one – which also bore obvious marks of having been chewed upon. „Well, they're not. They both taste awful just the same. Bleagh!“ She stuck out her tongue with disgust, and then - a little belatedly – took notice that her father hadn't been the only one to arrive.

„Who's that?“ she inquired curiously, lids blinking over empty eye sockets.

Reyna Crelos

His sister had proved enough distraction for Priya that Sotiris had long since snuck free of the confines of his family's current living quarters. It hadn't taken him long to figure her out upon her return to his father. Now if he could only find a way to escape the ghosts that his father sent after him his life would have been positively golden!

He frowned. Dad had returned. And with some else. The pretty man who hatched from the funny egg that had been decorated with flowers. Who had his father said he was? Creation. He squinted in thought as he hovered around the edge of the entry way just behind where they both stood. Yes. It had to be Creation.

He sighed. There would be no sneaking back in now. This was the part where he did usually get caught. Oh well! He had treasures to share with his sis, and she obviously was in need of them since Priya was being a jerkface as usual.

"No be upset, Sis!" he declared, announcing his presence as he simply sidestepped his father before he could be grabbed, "Brought treasures." He paused for a moment and pinned Priya with an annoyed look that was strangely reminiscent of his father's own scowl. "No need icky crayons. Have better things for you, anyway."

Zero Dream

Thankfully, Priya had at least one child that she ought not to worry too much about, at least in theory. Akakios had taken one curious nibble at one crayon, found it's taste to be nasty, and had not attempted the feat again since. There were much tastier things to eat, after all.

Though it would be wrong to think that the purple haired boy, who was calmly laying down on the floor doodling some nonsense that almost resembled letters, did not have his part with his elder brother's escape - if only because he was not surprised to see that he had been gone. "What Soto find ???" The young boy went up on his feet and padded toward his siblings, glancing up to Harmodius with wide, surprised eyes. Who was that again... Oh, oh !

"S'.... Pretty-flower-man ?"

Oh dear.

At least, the cat had not been alone in her task to keep tabs on the three little... darlings ? Through her helper did not seem much focused on the task at hand, staring out the window rather blankly, almost as if he had been glancing and listening to someone unseen.

Well, unseen to most, at the very least.

It was the ghost, a young woman, that alerted him of the entrance in the room, and then was promptly gone, just as Ankou turned to face them. "Lord." He said, bowing his head respectfully. "It is an honor, though... you might want to watch out for crayons."

Yes, he'd actually spend so much time with this rampant chaos that he actually said it with a straight face. Echo had seemingly gone somewhere with her aoidei, but it was not such for him.

Ivynian

Soft explanations to float down from unseen sources, “If you touch the faces of your brothers to 'see' with your hands, you will note they are different. It is the same with the crayons, though their shape is the same, there is a 'seeing' difference. The difference of Light, which is that heat and warmth that plays on your face when you near a lamp or Lord Illumin, which can be brighter or darker. "

"Flower Man?" Creation looked up to the boy still toying with the coloured wax. "Well, I made some, yes. But I am not only flowers. "

He slid his feet, rather then step, so that any crayons in danger would be slide out of a path instead of broken under adult-sized feet. "It is no trouble. In long ago days a family's worth was counted of its blessed children. The Lord and Lady here are well enriched, and you the Lucky Uncle. Perhaps a lesson from elder to younger brother? Though long faces worn at windows rarely speak of secret sweethearts."

"The pieces?" The feel of them in the room was unmistakable. Nodes of familiar energy that had worn close to his own out of mortal thought in ages ago. Tens of ages ago.

Thabara

„I do consider myself blessed. To have a family like this … it is a treasure indeed.“ There was the hint of a smile upon Nergal's face, widening just a little as he cast a sidewards glance at his brother. He knew all too well about his not-so-secret sweetheart. „I daresay he has begun to catch up already.“ It was evident that he was much more at ease, in the presence of his family, his demeanor less formal. This was – albeit borrowed, and only temporary, from his point of view – 'home' after all.

He handed the garment which had been returned to him to Priya to take care of it. Apparently this saved his firstborn from 'getting his ears pulled until they were as long as a rabbit's' – at least if he'd caught the aoide's hissed whisper correctly. „I will have word with him,“ he promised. „Later.“

Priya rolled her eyes. So far, her Master's lectures and sermons held to his eldest seemed to either have no effect whatsoever, or it evaporated into thin air as soon as he stepped out of the door and the children were on their own. „Yes, Lord,“ she muttered, glaring at the green boy showing off his 'treasures' to his sister. „You'd better, Lord, because one of these days I'm going to sew a thread through his ears, and hang him up by them. I am certain that'll improve his ability to listen a great deal.“

Nergal quirked a brow, but he knew all too well about the child's startling talent to trigger one's fuse in no time whatsoever, including his own. „I will talk to him,“ he renewed his promise, settling to give Sotiris an admonishing glare for now. „No bugs or worms crawling about in our bedroom, is that understood?“

„Treasures~?“ Crys clapped her hands in anticipation of the things her big brother might have brought back from his 'adventure'. This caused her to drop the crayons, of course, but she didn't care – her brother's 'treasures' were usually much more entertaining anyway. She hoped it would be something creepy-crawly. Maybe he had found one of those centipillars he'd talked about?

Still, she rose her head to listen as Creation spoke to her, the soft sound of his voice all she needed to pinpoint his location and appear to be looking at him, despite of the obvious lack of the organs needed to do so. She mulled over his words, pursing her lips slightly as she did. Some of it made sense to her, some not. Colors, just as the difference between light and dark, continued to leave her utterly mystified. „I still don't understand ...“ she finally complained with a pout, though she didn't seem to mind much. She did take mental note of the name 'Illumin' however, registering it as a person worthy to be bugged with questions about such things, should she feel like it.

Nergal sighed, giving each of his children a quick ruffle through their hair. „I will explain later,“ he promised; then straightened his posture and smoothed out the folds of his garments as Harmodius' inquiry reminded him of what they had come for. There would be plenty of time still to spend with his family later.

„Over here, Lord,“ he said, indicating a certain door to one of the adjacent rooms. He strode ahead to open it, avoiding to step on any crayons or other playthings left lying about with practiced ease.

Nothing had changed within, it seemed, the room's contents having been mostly left untouched ever since Lady Karaskis had left the last two pieces in his care. Only a bed had been added, for Faran to rest more comfortably.

Zero Dream

While Harmodius' comment seemed to catch him slightly off-guard, and that he had been about to answer (after all, it seemed like Nergal had not overheard what he had been talking over with the ghost, and it was important, for now, to keep it that way.), but it seemed his elder brother was more than willing to answer for him. And if he had not realized that what he liked to think was pretty secret was in reality the worst guarded secret of the universe, he surely did now.

"Treasures indeed." He repeated Nergal's own words, and seemed honest enough about them, in despite the rather pointed glance he was sending his elder brother at the moment... Which would have possibly been more threatening if his cheeks had not started taking on the same color than the back of his long hairs. He liked the children well enough, even if they made his personal space an ever-shifting chaos. He did, in fact, like to sneak out with Sotiris every now and then, to play tag or some other such of game that suited the more active child's fancy.

He gave the green terror a wink when he looked toward him, in despite still looking quite embarassed indeed, and when the reason of Creation's presence in the wreck that had become the shared living space of many in the last few months, he let himself slide to his feet and caught up with the rest of them.

"There are seven pieces... or, more accurately, there were seven pieces." He started. "Your own pendant, the one you gave to Lady Panacea, the bones and scale of some species of draconic race that I unfortunately could not identify, a decanter filled with blood that has a key attached to it, a soulless body that I can only assume was to be used for his next reincarnation, a petrified mendrake root, belonging to the ghost of a shaman... which merged with the last piece that was found, a living mortal known as Faran."

He probably sounded quite clueless not to know what to do with all these things to make them one once more, and he certainly felt like such if his reactions where any indications. But fragmented, living souls... perhaps these had fallen under the jurisdiction of his Other, whoever he or she had been. That, or he had just plain forgotten how, which was troublesome on entirely too many levels.

Though, with the way Tian Yue had managed to rename the being that walked alongside them, make Harmodius whole again... What if he could have been put together in a similar way ? The crown's consort held many names, who was to say, after all, that Aristogeiton was his true name ? Did mortals have true names much like the gods did ?

This was worth some thought.

While it was true that Akakios' mind seemed on a wholy different level of development that his somewhat limited speech would make the clueless onlooker think, it was also true that he had never, exactly, found words to explain to his older sister exactly what colors where like. Which did not mean he had never attempted. Though those attempts where most often than not in vain.

He'd acknowledged the answer he was given with a nod, but it seemed the adults where busy to do adult things and he left them to such, though the boy seemed very amused by his uncle's reaction. "Thinking 'bout auntie Cos again..." He whispered delightfully with a small, amused giggle, that clashed with the look of his face.

Though, when Ankou started to speak, he attention was captured once more, and he listened intently, even as Soto would show his treasure - it was for his sis and not for him, after all, so there was no reason to keep complete attention beyond satisfying the curiosity of just what it had been.

When the three gods had dissapaired behind the door, he padded his way to it near-silently, one ear laying on the smooth surface in hope of being able to overhear some of this.

Reyna Crelos

Sotiris' scowl darkened further at Priya's announcement of how she would go about making him listen better. Who was she to boss him around?! Pfft. Silly aoide. Just because she belonged to his father certainly did not mean she was the boss of him.

He sputtered a bit indignantly when his father ruffled his hair and insisted that they would speak later. He wanted to declare his father a traitor in supporting Priya's demands that he behave. He didn't feel he was truly misbehaving at all! Sure, he went on adventures outside of the confines of their living area, but he had not broken anything (on purpose) in a really, really long time!

Instead of yelling at his father he kept perfectly silent and wrapped a protective arm about his sister's shoulders. "No worms on floor," he agreed with a sigh. He had gone out of his way to catch centipillars, too.

His eyebrows lifted in curiosity as his father, uncle, and Harmodius trekked into another room to discuss the strange things he was not allowed to touch. He smirked when Kios put his ear to the door. It was best that he listened in. He was cute enough to avoid getting into trouble.

Soto turned back to his sister after rummaging through his satchel and handed her a small box he had found while rummaging. "Cannot give you centipillars right now because of Dad," he said with a pout, "But here, has a spidey-thing instead? Dad did not say no to spidey-things."

Ivynian

Creation’s hand lifted and hovered for moments over the shallow-lifting chest of the young engineer. The stillness of the Eldest was stark, practically unliving, against even that dim unconscious. “There is no choice left to him; it is already begun.”

Scanning the pieces he shifted his hand and lay it over Faran’s closed eyes.
“The key upon the decanter is of no use any longer, its place and treasure were Eaten. The Sword is lost.”

“Here is what must follow. The mandrake should be powdered and added to the blood. The Body should be burned and the ashes collected. The bones, left alone initially. The pendant will rest upon this boy’s throat and he shall be opened…the blood mixture and bones put into him as his own. Then he will be closed, the funeral rites performed over him proper to a king of men. The ashes painted over all of his skin, especially the wounds of surgery. Then silent and singular, sealed in state for seven days he must be lain. No longer then that. Upon opening the tomb, what was sundered will be seen to be made anew. “

And then? The soul will remember, no doubt, but it has been so long…and for the first time since the beginning I myself am new. And I am not I that he would desire, but the other half of the same. In novelty faith must be given that pining love will not falter or grow into bitter fruits. “Joined, his soul will remember its name, though the body and person will need new calling to answer to. Aristogeiton nor Sanatruces, those known by you, were not Truename, rather they were use-names as much as Harmodius is upon my self. “ He answered the unspoken question as well, the curiosities of the others filtered through his awareness stronger with his distraction. Of all places, he was most there in those rooms and place.


“The task is gruesome. Perhaps best to remove its completion from a home of mirth and children. I can take this burden. “

“Your troubles in gathering the pieces alone are a task of wonder and renown. I am in your debt. “

The pieces faded one by one, vanishing to some unknown keeping away from the gathering.

Thabara

Nergal frowned ever so slightly at the mention of the sword, but the expression was fleeting, barely noticeable. So, one more weapon against the Grigori was lost, how unfortunate … He shook off the vague (and irrational) feeling of being the one responsible, listening closely to the Elder's voice instead. He never would have thought of burning the body, none of them had. It made so much sense that he was barely able to resist the urge to slap his forehead to not have thought of it himself – but his … all their minds had been paralyzed, perhaps, by the prospect of possibly losing one of these precious pieces after they had finally managed to bring them all together …

“Mirth and children in my house, hm?” Somehow he found the thought to be strangely amusing, enough to bring the hint of a smile to his darkened lips. But he was indeed relieved to see the pieces spirited away, gone from the presence of his beloved and children.

“I had my own reasons to aid in gathering the pieces,” he replied softly. “There is nothing I would ask for in turn,” he added, the talk of debt being too reminiscent of his own. Surrounded by family, the woman he loved at his side … The renewal of his realm was his to take care of, and even what he had desired most … He gently touched upon the phial dangling from his neck upon a length of silver chain. A star for his own skies, however small and lonely it might turn out to be ... Truly, he couldn't think of anything he'd ask for, not right now. He was truly lucky, he realized.

“On the contrary. If you would have my aid in what is to be done next, I would be more than willing to help you carry that burden.” He glanced up at Harmodius, his expression sincere. While he'd never been able to read expressions or body language particularly well, there did seem to be some uncertainty akin to his own. “And while it may not be in my place to speak for her in her absence … The Lady Fire had a hand in gathering these pieces as well, and I am certain she would make the same offer as I. In fact she has been a great help, lending her presence and powers to incinerate a great many of the funerary pyres as of late.”

Much of this task would be his own to do, he realized, should the offer be accepted. There were little to no servants left in his service, barely any new disciples gained. The divinities of funeral and embalming were still gone, maybe never to return at all, if the birth of a wholly new Lament and Grief was a hint. But to arrange for a tomb, the funerary rites, a pyre for the body, he could do that. The cutting and the sewing perhaps as well - it had been part of the embalmers tasks. Already he was compiling a list in the back of his head, of the oils and balms he would need, the linens and amulets to wrap the body …

He could do this, he felt, his enthusiasm and eagerness obvious for everyone to see, even in spite of the possibility of finally restoring his own realm singing quiet but constant siren song deep within his consciousness, ever since it had first been mentioned.

"There are, however, two small requests I had intended to bring up anyway ..."

Thabara

"Spidey-thing~!" Crys cooed, unaware of the attention her brother's paid to the door their father and his visitors had passed through. Even though, unbeknown to herself, she couldn't help but keep 'staring' at it. There had been something about the stranger their father had brought along, some profound sense of loneliness and sadness, that kept drawing her attention.

"Can I eat it?" she inquired, quite aware by now not everyone seemed to approve of her devouring the things that had been gifted to her, especially while they were still alive.

Zero Dream

Ankou listened to the explanation just as attentively as his older brother did, perhaps even moreso, at the detailing of the steps that would be needed. Right now, it seemed like no wonder that much of this had always seemed to escape him - it was much more complicated than replacing pieces of a broken soul as one into one body. And, without the consort's true name, as his thoughts where confirmed by the Eldest, he figured there was little he could have done, anyway.

Especially at the state his powers were now.

Perhaps the Eldest sending Medicine on this task had been specifically for this purpose...

"Two of the weapons have been found." Ankou straightened and peered upward once more at the mention of the sword... and it non-existence. "I have retrieved the jesses of Rebirth myself, along with the host of Lord Oath." Even though Byrne now... well, he was well-assured Harmodius knew of that. "And I am certain Your Dragons found Gaia's shears and returned them to safety as well." He had not heard much of this, but he was certain that it had to be so. There was no hesitation in the Spirit Guide's voice.

"If the consort's sword is lost, then... Lord, can you remember the location of your own glaive ?" Perhaps eaten along with the sword, perhaps too late, but he had to know. "If it yet exist... I believe it would be safest to have it found and brought here. For when they return."

Not if.

When.

But now he was just pushing his luck, he seemed to notice belatedly, and his speech of sort calmed. "Likewise, Lord Harmodius - if I may be of any help, even if sorely as an additional pair of hands, please do not hesitate to call upon me." He would have His way to be able to do so no matter his location, of such he was certain. He was likewise glad that pieces where moved - mostly out of curious small hands, and that the whole process would happen elsewhere. Had it had happened right here, he was certain, Anima would have had his head for the amount of cleaning up afterward.

Thankfully, even with being able to hear the three voices somewhat clearly though the door, Lament did not understand much - far too little to wind up horrified by the process, if he even would have.

It was all very interesting, but also mostly beyond his understanding. "Hmmm..." He pondered out loud, softly, before returning his attention inward.

Ivynian

“The weapon of my station yet exists, though it is gone from its long rest and lays in trusted keeping yet. ....” He seemed to consider over the object, and come to some unspoken decision, “It will come to a better purpose soon enough.”

“Requests? By all means, speak and what can be granted shall be. “

Thabara

Nergal remained uncertain if his offer was appreciated, but decided to drop the matter for now and to not insist. It could still be discussed at a later time should the need arise.

„While my brother and I are certainly close, and I know for sure he much cherishes the presence of Lady Echo and the children … I feel we should not take advantage of his hospitality for much longer.“ He offered an apologetic smile to his brother. Ankou had never complained, but he seemed to feel the need to escape the confines of the crowded and lively quarters they shared just as often as he himself did. And Cosine would likely appreciate the privacy as well …

„Rooms to share with my betrothed and our children for while we stay at the Pantheion. I will not require separate ones for my own use.“

„The other request ...“ He clasped his hands behind his back seemingly calm, but could not quite avoid that his wings shuffled uneasily. „There is an item I would like to retrieve from Lucius' rooms, if it actually withstood the influence of Decay. A board game, which belonged to his host ...“ He pointedly avoided to look into his brother's direction now. „It is of sentimental value to me,“ he admitted somewhat embarrassed, „and I think … the children would like it.“

Nergal glanced down, immensely grateful his blush no longer showed. He had passed by the door to Universe's empty chambers almost every single day, but to simply enter without permission had been completely out of question. He could take his children with him, he thought. If Lament and Grief were to accept the Elder's request, Lucius' rooms might be a good starting point for them to figure out what to do.

Ivynian

“Seek then a door of supplicants, arms raised in song as they move along winding paths to find the lands of the dead. These doors will bring you to apartments that you may shape to your need and as you find pleasing. The greater part may be achieved by your blessed union, though a space aside is set for each child to shape as their own will, for gods they are, and greater yet they will grow to be. ”

“Of Lucius' rooms and once possessions, you are also free to enter and take what you and your family will. Most of what he called his was moved long ago to a place apart. But there is so little that can be...had...in these first spans after Gehenna that all Things should find use and care if there is such to be had of them. “

"You're requests are simple, Underworld, and not deviated from the ordinary. There was little need for hesitation."

Zero Dream

The Spirit Guide simply gave a nod of the head at the explanations given, and did not press the subject any further, instead remaining silent as his brother voiced his requests. The first he had seen coming, and was more certainly glad for (as much as he appreciated their presences, the Guide also kind enjoyed his own privacy... of which there had been little in rooms so crowded.

The second... certainly seemed to surprise him, but he said nothing. He had not known that his brother had been close to the fallen Universe... And while he wondered what would happen with that, what would become of the sky, as he doubted Lucius himself would return from the Eldest's words... He did not ask, for he was quite sure Harmodius had to deal with that question near-constantly. He could ask Nergal later on.

Thabara

Nergal bowed respectfully. „Thank you.“

He himself would not make use of the granted quarters all too often, he felt, given that he'd likely leave whenever his business here was finished. But for Echo and the children, as well as his brother, this would be a boon. Though he'd rather not think about what his children would come up with for the part of the chambers they were allowed to shape as their own, especially Sotiris. Given, his only daughter's fondness of worms, snails, mud and all things 'squishy' in general was just as worrysome …

„Now, if there is anything else I can do which lies within my powers ...“ The death god's voice trailed off, obviously at a loss of how to proceed. If this was his realm, his court, surely this wouldn't prove to be a problem. But in the privacy of where he currently lived … He wished Echo was here. She easily would be able to come up with something, he felt. Smooth out this awkward moment with her laughter, with a song she'd come up this very moment. Where was she anyway? She'd longed so much for Creation's presence, it seemed a real shame she would miss his visit.

Ivynian

“The greatest help to me, and to yourselves, is to seize your powers, your powers, and raise up again your temples. Raise your followers. Order your duties of old, and evaluate them, and become...Gods. As Underworld, raise up and open the gates to house the wandering and lost souls....they are legion now. As Guide....help to bring them to those gates. I cannot do all these things of my own....not and accomplish what there are no hands to accomplish but mine. ”

“Worry no longer for the resurrection of Aristogeiton. Perhaps he will seek you out, though, when he is returned. He will need the help of all the Gods, and will be a great ally among you in dealing with Destruction and in leading Mortal races. In these tasks he is kingly fit. “

Zero Dream

Ankou nodded at the Eldest's words. It was up to them to do things, after all. "I have been leading any I could find, alive or otherwise, to this place, for the time being. I have also started going though the ruins to see what can be put to other purpose, what can be re-used." It was not what he had been meant to do, no, and perhaps it would sound a little silly - but with no Underworld, and the fact that he was mostly rooted to one plane, with little to no easy mean to hop from one world to another in search... He could use the Doors, yes, but he found it rather tiring on his mana to open and close many too quickly. That would come later. One by one. Still, those points were not enough to stop him from at least trying to do something.

And he'd, apparently, gained some attention in the process. Within these halls, there could be some protection for the survivors... at least he hoped.

That, and heading too far by his lonesome... did not seem like a good idea. Not at the moment, at any rate.

Followers, temples... Surely he had once had such, but he remembered nothing of it. Perhaps this was better - he would have no memory to try and match once the time came. No expectation rather than do.

The small, lavender-haired godling had not moved from the door, though he still did not understand just what the adults were talked about. The child pouted, but refused to give up just yet.

He was sure it had to be rather interesting, but... !

Thabara

If there was any reaction at his offer having been denied, Underworld at least did not show it openly. But neither did he insist on the matter, nor did he seem offended, which said enough on its own. Resurrecting Aristogeiton, the intimacy of it, it was probably something best be kept between these two … But he'd at least wanted to make the offer.

„It shall be,“ he only said with a curt nod, aware of the constant whispers of the dead more than ever in this moment (while his children were suspiciously quiet, he couldn't help but notice). His temples of old, not soaring high but instead burrowed deep into the bowels of the earth. The tombs hewn into massive rock, built to last for eternity. Some of the ancient structures ought to have survived, and could be put to use for the living, though the idea of it irked him to no end.

He put that aside for now, his posture straightening. „The next time we meet, it may well be in my own halls.“ It was both, promise that things would be taken care of, as well as a tentative invitation for some unknown future time.

Ivynian

“May it be so. ”

Harmodius bowed to each in turn, having little else that seemed appropriately formal to add. Seeing and Knowing things were different, and the gathered Ages that had passed since last hoping for any news felt like dust of cement that had fallen long from a great height. A trap watered and hardened with tears and time. Awareness nearly fled altogether rather then fully confront the possibilities in immediacy.

And distraction was tantalizingly present and near in the sounds of small breath and bright souls beyond the door. JUST beyond the door in some cases. In mood, however, the airs and Lord-Father in question seemed stolid as ever. Staying on, or requesting leave to enjoy the company of the small ones was no doubt out of the question.

“It is impossible to wholly express the gratitude felt for your efforts. ...but again, thank you. I to mine own tasks and thee to thine, as it were. “

Thabara

Nergal merely nodded distractedly, thoughts already traveling back to the Gate, the prospect of what could have been done already, if only he hadn't … if only he hadn't … „As it were,“ he agreed absently, already brooding over too many things at once to truly notice the Crown's leave, or that he was possibly being rude. The matter of the Consort done with and out of the way, there was still so much else that needed to be taken care of now.

He had been idling much too long.