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 Posted: Tue Apr 16, 2013 10:42 am
Cyrus led them away from the temple to the battleground that had once been home to the richest and most influential. The buildings were still in their various states of desolation, but he had cleared the streets that led to the temple. It had been one of his many tasks while he was searching for Elora's key.
The Rose Garden stood as a rose among thorns. Between him and Maia, they had sorted out and rebuilt the front face of the old home. He had found glass panes and re-fitted the windows with them. Inside, he and Maia had worked on stabilizing the staircase and cleaning out the upstairs. There was a large pile of debris in the back garden, but the upstairs was open and clean, ready for repurposing. Elora had taken to cleaning and refitting their living area with homey touches. It was a far cry from its glory days, but it felt like home.
"We decided to start here for a stable roof over our heads. My next goal was to rebuild your temple," Cyrus explained as he opened the shining door and gestured for Isambard to enter first.
Laughter drifted from the front parlor where Maia and Elora were working together to paint the cozy room.
"And what did you do after that?" Maia laughed and looked over to Elora, not hearing the front door open in their merriment.
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Posted: Tue Apr 16, 2013 11:09 am
Well, that was impressive. He thought as he looked up at the building. It was surrounded by devastation, rubble and destruction, though the building shone, not as bright as it had done once, but still. There were drapes at the lower windows, actual windows, a new door. Though they had certainly had plenty of time to rebuild it.
"Yes, the temple will be high on my list, though perhaps getting some life back into this city will come first." He stepped into the once grand hallway of the fallen brothel and looked around. The laughter of women, a familiar sound, though an unfamiliar voice.
Elora laughed too, she was enjoying the company of Maia, she had given her purpose again, someone to take care of and nurture, as much as she would not admit it she had that need in her.
"Well, what could I do?" She smirked.
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Posted: Tue Apr 16, 2013 11:15 am
Maia laughed more and shook her head.
"I bet she was livid when she found out," she smirked and gave Elora a cheeky wink.
Cyrus stepped in after Isambard and Nisha and turned to the parlor. Smirking a little as he heard the familiar female laughter, he went to the parlor door and peered in. They were in a bit of a state with paint splattered on them, but that was just the way things were when rebuilding was on the books.
"Elora, we have a guest," he announced and turned to face Industry with a smile. "He has something of yours."
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Posted: Tue Apr 16, 2013 12:03 pm
Isambard stepped into the room before Cyrus and looked between the two young women who were sat there, one he did not recognise. She was most certainly mortal and not of Albion, at least he did not think so. It had been a rather large melting pot of peoples. The second woman he did know, she looked as she always had, even covered in paint, a curious, timeless creature of great beauty. Elora could wrap many around her finger and that was useful to him.
"Elora." He grinned, "It's been a long time pet."
Elora looked up as Cyrus entered and looked to his guests, one she recognised, Nisha. Industry's right hand and right b***h. She glanced up at the man, no boy with her and stood.
"Do we know each other?"
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Posted: Tue Apr 16, 2013 12:12 pm
Maia turned at Cyrus's announcement, her brows raised in surprise. In all of her time since arriving at the abandoned city, there had been no others. When the young man entered the room, she blinked and felt her cheeks warm slightly. Well, he was certainly attractive, she thought. Her eyes slipped away from him to the other and she swallowed a little. There wasn't much in the world she was afraid of, but snakes definitely got the honor of her fear. Not that this was a full snake that had entered their quiet home, but the hybrid of reptile and woman was maybe even a little more unsettling.
Cyrus felt himself bristle slightly at the familiarity of his lord towards Elora. He really had been too far removed from civilization for too long, he decided.
"Elora, this is my Lord Industry. He has finally returned to us," he smiled a little and looked across to her.
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Posted: Tue Apr 16, 2013 12:36 pm
Elora raised an eyebrow at the endearment and stood as introductions were made.
"Industry." She said, walking up to the boy and looking him over. He certainly looked nothing like him.
"What's wrong Elora, you don't like my new guise?" He smirked, holding his hands out and gesturing to himself.
"Well I have to say my lord I never cared much for your old one." She grinned, knowing she was probably one of the only ones who could get away with a comment like that. "But I was not expecting this."
"It's temporary."
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Posted: Tue Apr 16, 2013 12:42 pm
Maia listened to the introductions and tried to follow them. Surely they did not mean that this young man was the god they so often spoke of? Turning a little, she set her paint brush down and picked up a rag to wipe her hands with.
"Elora, would you like for me to put on some tea?" she asked with her usual smile back in place.
Cyrus smirked at Elora's words and folded his arms over his chest as he watched her appraise Isambard's new form.
"My lord has brought something back to you," he announced.
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Posted: Tue Apr 16, 2013 12:56 pm
Elora smirked and turned to nod at Maia's query.
"Yes please Maia. Have you my Lord?" She asked with a smirk, it was easy to slip back into old routines. "And what might that be?"
Isambard produced the key and held it out in his palm to her.
"Oh, where did you get that?" Elora took the key and looked at it for a moment.
"Nisha found it. I don't know where. But it seems you don't need it, you're looking as radiant as ever."
"Well, I can see it is you now, it sounds like you. Always the charmer. We all know I look terrible." She held the key tightly in her hand. "Come in, take a seat, both of you."
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Posted: Tue Apr 16, 2013 1:03 pm
Cyrus felt an inexplicable relief wash through him as Elora's heart found its way into her hand. Glancing to Nisha at Industry's comment, he had to wonder how she had come into possession of the key. It was such a small thing and as far as he and Elora could tell, he had been the first to arrive in Albion since its full abandonment. At Elora's invitation for them to sit, he rushed forward to quickly make the sofa presentable and comfortable for Isambard. He did not care where Nisha found a perch. He would not have his lord sitting in paint.
"How long were you planning on staying here in Albion, my lord?" he asked, gesturing for him to take a seat.
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Posted: Tue Apr 16, 2013 1:12 pm
Isambard took a seat on the sofa that had seen better days.
"Well, not long, I wanted to see what was here, return the key to Elora, and now I have seen and returned the key. I have a rebuilding project going on in the world I have come from. I want to lure them here somehow. Pastures greener and all that, only I suppose they're not so green."
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Posted: Tue Apr 16, 2013 1:18 pm
"Well, I suppose not, when you have memories of what it was before. But I would imagine the opportunistic would be more than willing to restore the jewel in your crown once they realize that the sickness is gone and there is plenty to work with here. After all, it was not razed completely. Many of the buildings just need some care. Albion still has her resources."
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Posted: Tue Apr 16, 2013 1:31 pm
"Yes, all this is very true. How can they not want to make this place great again. You should see where they are living now. Little more than hovels a lot of them, though there is talent there. They have glass makers like nothing I have seen here."
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Posted: Tue Apr 16, 2013 1:40 pm
"That seems impossible," Cyrus smirked, though he did not doubt his lord. His eye for craftsmanship was unparalleled for obvious reasons.
Maia returned to the parlor with a tray between her hands. Walking over to where everyone was gathered, she knelt down and set the tray on a low table. As she poured out the tea, she kept half an eye on the snake woman and stole curious glances at the young man they were all so interested in. While he was handsome, he didn't look much like a god. Though there was certainly an aura of power there, she decided. Lifting one of the mismatched cups they had salvaged, she held it up to him with a warm smile.
"I hope you enjoy it. I collected it while I was travelling through the desert lands."
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Posted: Tue Apr 16, 2013 2:00 pm
Isambard hadn't really noticed the girl other than when he had first walked in. He glanced at her briefly now she spoke and looked to Cyrus.
"And this is?" He asked rather rudely.
Elora rolled her eyes a little and smirked.
"This is Maia, she has been helping us. Still mannerless I see."
"We can't all meet your exacting standards Elora." He grinned and turned back to Cyrus.
"Unparalleled I promise, like nothing you have seen. This was not the only place destroyed, there are many others, worlds, universes. Just think the best craftsmen and engineers reside around the Pantheon of the gods."
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Posted: Tue Apr 16, 2013 2:07 pm
Maia swallowed back a smirk of amusement at the young man's rudeness and Elora's admonishment for it. Glancing to Elora, she gave her a smile and then bowed her head to him with respect as she waited for him to take the offering of tea from her. She wasn't entirely sure what one said to a god when being introduced, though it didn't seem to matter as he skimmed over the introductions and turned his attention back to Cyrus.
Cyrus smirked as he watched and listened, then inclined his head as Isambard addressed him about what had collected at the Pantheon.
"All the more reason to sell this place and its charms to them. Albion would be even more glorious than before."
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