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 Posted: Fri Feb 24, 2012 7:38 pm
"Already?" he responded, teasing, but once they arrived at the town, Rio started to 'behave' himself so that he could look around, curious. He wondered, sometimes, what made certain gods decide to live elsewhere, although he supposed it made a certain amount of sense, given Tien's domain. She probably liked the privacy.
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Posted: Fri Feb 24, 2012 7:45 pm
She turned Mocha down a side path and headed through a small but complicated course of what might qualify as alleyways. Eventually they headed out into a little open area with a fair sized house.
It was a surprisingly respectable looking place now that it was cleaned up some. Three stories, small porch at the front on the front with some chairs, balcony on the third floor and a makeshift stable of sorts on the side.
"Well, here we are. You can head inside while I take care of Mocha. Gul is expecting you, so it shouldn't cause a panic or anything."
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Posted: Fri Feb 24, 2012 7:50 pm
"I would hate to cause a stir," he said with a chuckle, planting one more kiss on Asherah's cheek before dismounting. "I'll come and find you after?"
Whatever she answered, he would make his way to the door to knock.
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Posted: Fri Feb 24, 2012 7:56 pm
"Sure, I'll probably be downstairs until things are settled. Besides I'll have to return you sometime anyway." She grinned and winked at him. After that she rode off to the side of the house, to feed and unsaddle Mocha.
Gul answered the door after he had barely knocked; she had been watching from the window, waiting for them to return. She smiled politely and moved out of the way, holding the door open. "Lord Desiderio, I presume?"
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Posted: Fri Feb 24, 2012 8:12 pm
In answer, he smiled amiably and gave a slight bow, one hand pressed to his chest. It was then that he seemed to remember he was still wearing his katta shape, and let it fall away. He would reassume it later, when he was finished.
"And you must be Gul," he said as he entered, his wings shivering as he adjusted himself once again to his normal form. He always felt cold after, without the fur.
This other aoide of Trickery's was beautiful, too, a demoness like his own, with lovely colors to her.
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Posted: Fri Feb 24, 2012 8:19 pm
"I was starting to wonder if you two would make it back tonight." She quirked an eyebrow when he changed back, now she understood why Asherah had been so tardy in returning. He was handsome as he was now, though the catgirl probably preferred the shape he had come to the door wearing.
"And, yes, I am. Would you like tea or something, before you head upstairs?" It had been a bit of a trip after all, and it might help fend off the chill.
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Posted: Fri Feb 24, 2012 8:28 pm
"It's a bit of a ride," he answered honestly. Despite efforts to do so, he hadn't really delayed Asherah's mission to 'retrieve' him.
When asked if he'd like tea, he looked very much like he wanted to say yes, and he very nearly did. He was a little cold, and more importantly, it would mean spending some time with Gul, but...Asherah had brought him to help, not to socialize. She'd been good about her task, and so would he. He smiled, a touch of regret in the expression. "I'd love some, but another time, perhaps."
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Posted: Fri Feb 24, 2012 8:34 pm
Gul smiled, nodded in understanding and motioned across the room pointing out the staircase. "Tien is upstairs. Third floor more than likely, its where she goes to be by herself." She started to turn away and head back to the kitchen, pausing to look back at him. "Thank you for doing this. It will help, I think, even if she isn't pleased about the idea at first."
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Posted: Fri Feb 24, 2012 8:39 pm
"Of course." Rio inclined his head in acknowledgement of the demoness' thanks. "I will do what I can."
Readying himself for whatever he might encounter, he made his way up the stairs to look for the goddess. It was a little intimidating, knowing he was going to be 'intruding'; she had not invited him here, and as Gul said, probably wouldn't be pleased to have uncalled-for company when she was clearly in a mood of some kind.
As he neared the third floor, he called in a low, cautious voice, "Tien?"
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Posted: Fri Feb 24, 2012 8:52 pm
No one answered him but he would find the door on the third floor half open and soft music could be heard. Once he opened it he would be able to see that the whole floor had been opened up into a single room. It had a second balcony facing the back of the house and both sets of doors were thrown open wide to let in the night air. The only light in the room came from candles, which there were quite a few of set on tables in a few spots across the room. The few couches and other furniture that was in the room were pushed off to one wall, leaving the middle of the room open.
The goddess he sought was there dancing in the open space in the room, oblivious to everything around her. Sure, her hair had been made longer so it could be pulled up into a bun and her wings had been banished but it was obvious enough that it was her. She was dressed in a way that might be considered indecent by her own standards: a short tanktop, leggings and ballet slippers.
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Posted: Fri Feb 24, 2012 8:58 pm
He had definitely not expected that she would be dancing, and while he enjoyed the view, it was one of those odd, awkward moments to intrude on, where you had the decision of interrupting or waiting. He didn't want to startle her, but he also didn't know if she'd take kindly to his watching her without knowing.
His wings drew in slightly, and he ventured again, gently but hopefully loud enough to catch her attention, "Tien?"
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Posted: Fri Feb 24, 2012 9:11 pm
That time she heard someone say her name. Her eyes flew open and she toppled mid spin and crashed inelegantly to the floor, landing on her behind. Rio was the last person she expected to see standing at the door, without any sort of advance warning no less! Tien wore no mask, it lay discarded with the rest of her usual attire on the couch. She felt oddly exposed.
"Desiderio...?" It came out as a question, meant more as 'Why are you here?' than anything else. She had a feeling her aoidei had something to do with this.
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Posted: Fri Feb 24, 2012 9:19 pm
Rio flinched openly when she fell. That looked like it hurt, and it had been his fault. "Aah, I'm sorry!" He moved to offer her a hand up. "I really didn't mean to startle you. Are you alright?"
In addition to looking guiltily apologetic, he also looked like he might be hoping she wasn't going to retaliate somehow for his invasion. The question in her tone was obvious, so he answered it with only minimal hesitation. "...They asked me to check on you."
The 'they' was probably obvious, but it felt a little less tattle-tale than specifically saying 'Asherah,' for some reason.
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Posted: Fri Feb 24, 2012 9:26 pm
Tien took his hand and rose, far more gracefully than the tumble had been, before releasing it. "I'm fine, it isn't the first time I've fallen doing this." Her expression was was mostly impassive, except her eyes, they spoke of irritation. The emotion however, wasn't directed at him. "They don't listen at all."
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Posted: Fri Feb 24, 2012 9:30 pm
"They love you," he said gently, "There is no fault in that." The last thing Rio wanted was to get Asherah and Gul in trouble for doing what they had thought was right. Some gods could be very...strict with their aoidei, he knew, and he didn't want to be the cause of any ill favor.
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