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 Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2012 12:12 pm
A Gift From A Friend maskedquerade Memi jingled in the door. She seemed to be doing that a lot lately. The staff that she had slung over one shoulder jingled, Asclepius jingled, and the box was was carrying jingled. She thought that jingle should be a movement verb for her, and found the thought extremely funny. She opened the door quietly--as she was able--and came into the shop, her home. She was sleeping in a storeroom, as Aclepius had so artfully reminded her, but it was home. It was a comfortable, warm, safe feeling. Now she just had to find Zero.... Zero Dream Which, on all account, would not be so hard. The teen had been lured down by hunger, looking through the fridge, unaware that anyone, even less her friend, had just entered. Disadvantage of someone permanently humming in your head, maybe. maskedquerade "Zero! You're up!" Memi rushed over, chiming all the way. "How'd you sleep?" She tried ineffectually to hide the box behind her back. It was wrapped, so it wouldn't really matter if she saw it or not, but... it was a surprise! Zero Dream "Long. I can't believe I slept for four. freaking. days." She mumbeled. At least she hasn't felt asleep since then... This was so freaking confusing... She blinked though, noticing the box and comically leaning, only managing to stay stranding was by her grip on the fridge door. "Nani ? You went shopping ?" maskedquerade "It seems pretty normal around here," Memi said sympathetically. "It seems like everyone but us sleeps like sixteen hours a day. Maybe it's a god thing. And yeah, I did." Memi tucked her staff under her chin, an odd and awkward position, and offered the blue paper-wrapped box to Zero. "For you." Zero Dream "Ne ?" She blinked, then smiled. "Seriously ?!? Domo arig- errr, thank you, I mean." Her quest for food forgotten for the time being, Zero took the box and handled it like if it was fragile crystal. "Let's go to the couchs, ill be better to open it there !" Excited and happy, the teen was allready scampering off before she had even finished her sentence. maskedquerade Memi bounded after her, staff back in hand; she wondered if Zero would like it. Or if Echo would like it. She jumped onto a couch next to Zero and settled herself in, squirming like a puppy. "Go on, open it!" Zero Dream Zero basically leaped into the couch herself, attacking the paper as soon as she had stopped moving, grinning like a 5 years old high on sugar on a christmas eve. And when she finally opened it, her eyes whidened.  "WHOA ! This is so cool, Memi ! And so pretty ! Where did you find it ?!?" Very pretty, yes... and such a beautiful sound... maskedquerade "There was a little craft store that opened before I... um... left, that my Mom goes shopping at sometimes. I went back today, and I thought you'd like this one." Memi was grin like the cat that ate the canary. "It sounded the prettiest." Zero Dream "It's wonderful." She smiled, poking it with one finger gently to get the sound to play. "Really really wonderful. Echo loves it, too... Arigato." She seriously wanted to go and try to find something to give to Memi, but realized she wasn't quite sure just what... Oi. She had to find something... She would, in time. maskedquerade "You're welcome," Memi said, pouncing Zero for a hug. "I'm so glad you like it. It's kinda for the both of you, since you like metal and echo likes music..." Asclepius shook himself, chiming self-consciously. Memi giggled. "I think he wants one too." Zero Dream Zero returned the hug, grinning. "I can see why." The teen visibly decided against moving for now. "Maybe we can go get him one later, and you could show me where the shop is ?" She asked, a bit curious. She'd never spotted a shop with chimes before... but then, all things bared, she hadn't been in gaia for that long. maskedquerade "Maybe, sure! It's just this little place with lots of chimes and other things my Mom called "rustic" even though they looked clean to me," Memi said. "We could get one for Beryl, too, maybe. She'd probably like it better than Asky. He'd probably make the cleaning sprocket keep it shiny. We don't really have a window to hang it in anyway, so no breeze." That was one problem with living where she was. No windows. While there was a lot of really neat stuff, it was like she was closed in a box. It was a reason she stayed out and awake as much as she did. Zero Dream "Yeah, im sure she would love it." The teen mused, running an hand to the side of the chime to keep it's sound flowing, with a precision on the start and end that could make wonder who was really handling the movement. "We could always ask Beryl to make some wind for us ?" "But then, perhaps, did she not tell you you could decorate your room as you may ? It might be possible to make a window...""Jinx." Zero announced, frowning a little bit. "But I dunno how." maskedquerade "Me either. I wonder how we get our own rooms, if there's paperwork or something." Memi looked up at the ceiling in thought. "Probably not. I hope gods don't have paperwork. Hey, maybe we could be roommates for a while? If you want. I don't know how it'll work after, but I think that could be cool. Or we each get our own rooms however it works and stay with each other, like a sleepover." Memi was obviously in love with the idea. "With popcorn and chocolate and funny movies!" Zero Dream "Better yet, have our own rooms right one next to another and have some kind of secret passage in between them ! So we can visit each other all the time without anyone noticing." Sage nod. Sounded like a plan, a plan indeed... maskedquerade "Ooh, I like that a lot!" Memi snuggled up to Zero. "I'm glad you're here. I have so much fun. I need to ask how we get rooms so we can do that..." Zero Dream "I could ask Beryl next time I see her..." She tapped her chin with her free hand, the other still holding the chime in the air, as if it could catch wind that way. "Because, in a sense, we can't just mooch off part of their room forever, ne ? Im amazed Beryl isn't annoyed at me... Im kinda loud without really noticing it sometimes. And Vertigo loves to knock things down." maskedquerade "Yeah. I wonder if we can even get rooms. Maybe there's an age limit, or th gods have to get them..." Memi wrinkled her nose. "at least we can ask." Zero Dream "An age limit sound a bit silly." She mimiced Memi's face without really noticing. "I mean, I bet we're not the first ones to just... stay here, yanno ? But I've yet to see another host, just gods... ...Do you think we are the two only ones ?" maskedquerade "Maybe... feels kinda lonely, though, to be the only two not-gods here." Memi shrugged. "I wonder how many of them we've really met. I dunno. So what are you doing today?" Zero Dream "Not much, really..." She tried to shove the thought of being the two only hosts in the closet for now. "I was gonna get something to eat... probably go outside shopping. I promised Beryl I would decorate my room so... I guess finding things to put in it would be a nice start ?" maskedquerade "Well, you've got one thing," Memi said, inordinately pleased with herself. "What were you gonna get?" It was ideas for more presents. And they were going to room right next to each other--which would be even cooler! Would Panacea and Echo like each other as much as Memi and Zero did? Zero Dream "Well, probably..." ...Actually, she had no idea. "...Alot of blue... maybe some musical instruments for Echo... Im sure she'll love that." She tapped her chin again. "...Things like that, you know ? I was actually planning on just going by impulse, kinda." ((Looks like this one wasn't finished either...))
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Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2012 12:13 pm
Worry Quote: Two notes are slipped under Beryl's door: Memi Zero, I'm going home. Sorry I didn't give you any notice, but I thought I needed to do it soon. They're worried, and as much as I want to stay, I think I owe it to them, even if they don't listen very well. I'm going to try to be back in a week, and if I'm not, I'll think of something to run away again. Asky is with me so I'll be safe. Please don't worry too much. Memi smile A sequence of seven numbers is scrawled next to a few hearts and a windchime with several music notes floating out of it. The teen read through the note a few times before seeming to finally grasp the situation, falling a bit limply onto her bed. She could not blame Memi... if her father had been there, she would have done the same. All the logic in the world could not keep her from being basically eaten by worry. How likely was it that her parents would even let her go?!? What if... Oh, boy. My one, you should not imagine the worst yet. A week can span a lot of changes...Memi had told her not to worry too much... but she wasn't sure if she could do that. The note found itself safely tucked in between two photographs on her desk, directly below the windchime, Zero looking at it and making it jingle a bit before sighing and leaving to go downstairs. Worrying her head off all week would not do any good.
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Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2012 12:14 pm
Party At Your Place ! Zero Dream How could two days just feel like a bloody eternity ?!? The stress level had not gone down one bit. Instead, it had just kept going up and up and up until she couldn't take it anymore, took out her cellphone, and called. Hopefully it would be Memi who would answer, and not her parents... maskedquerade "Wysor residence," said an older female voice. "This is Ba--" "Hello!" Memi said cheerfully into the phone, effectively cutting off her mother. Zero Dream "Memi !" Ohthankgodohthankgod. But was her mother listening ? "How are you doing ?" maskedquerade "Zero!" Memi squee'd loudly into the phone. "Mom, can Zero come over?" "It's nice to meet you, Zero, but..." Memi's mother sounded hesitant. "Pleeeeeeeease?" Zero Dream "Ne, onegai ?" blank. "Oh, I mean, please ? I promise not to be too much of a bother, miss Winsor." maskedquerade "Wysor," Barbara corrected automatically. "Well, if it'll cheer Memi up, come on over. Do you have our address, dear?" "I don't think so," Memi piped up. Memi's mother gave Zero the address, along with any directions she needed to get to the house. "Do you have a particular cookie preference?" Zero Dream "Gomen, go- I mean, sorry ! Any will work, thank you !" She answered, quickly jolting the whole down onto a notepad. "Ill be right there !" She hung up then, and she was tumbling down the stairs as soon as she had changed into her hoodie to hide the jewel. maskedquerade Memi and her mother hung up the phones. "Memi!" Barbara went halfway up the stairs and called up, "Come down and help me make some cookies for your friend. What kind does she like?" "Chocolate chi~ip!" Memi ran down the hall and jumped down the stairs past her mother to go to the kitchen. Plus, she'd get to eat the raw cookie dough left over! Zero Dream The fact that the teen could simply not hold in place and had to just RUN all the way there was probably just a bit amusing. She stopped at the doorstep a bit to catch her breath, then finally knocked. maskedquerade "Coming~!" Memi called, racing to the door. She was, however, beaten there by her father, who opened the door and looked at Zero in a slightly confused manner. "You're Zero? I thought you'd be closer to Memi's age." He looked dour--it seemed to be normal for him--and stepped aside. "Come on in, the cookies are coming out of the oven soon, and you better take some of the extra cookie dough from Memi before she starts bouncing off the walls." "Yay Zero!" Memi latched on to her friend in a very tight hug. "You came, you came!" Zero Dream "Ah, ne, ne, it's allright, I get this alot, mister." She smiled a bit, kicking the cute and innocent act in full gear. She was barely inside before she was tackled by Hurricane Memi, and smiled from ear to ear. "What, you thought I wouldn't ?!" She teased, pulling her into an hug. maskedquerade "Never," Memi said, hugging Zero and then pulling her along to the kitchen. "How is everyone?" She was trying to couch everything in as neutral terms as possible until she could get Zero up to her room for a little privacy. Memi's mother was bent over the oven, pulling out two trays full of chocolate chip cookies. "Would you like some milk, Zero?" Her father was 'sneaking' comically over to the trays as his wife opened the refrigerator door, and tried to slip one of the cookies off the tray. He failed, and backed off, sucking molten chocolate off his middle and ring fingers. Zero Dream Zero knocked off her sneakers before Memi could completely drag her inside, but otherwise offered no resistance. "Yes, please." She answered with a smile. "...I haven't seen them much lately... but I think they're alright." She sat on one of the chair, shifting into a cross-legged stance after a moment, and could not help but giggle at the failed attempt. maskedquerade Barbara weilded the carton of milk in one hand, and the cookie spatula with the other. Handing the spatula to her husband, she poured three glasses while he put the cookies on the racks. It looked like he was deliberately breaking a couple. "He's only allowed to eat the broken ones," Memi whispered to Zero, and giggled as her father winked at the two girls. "Here you go," Memi's mother set the three glasses on the table in front of Memi, Zero, and Frank. Memi picked up her glass and took a long drink. "Can we take some up to my room?" Zero Dream Zero laughed again, especially at the wink. Smart, very smart. "Thank you." She sipped some milk from the glass, waiting to see what the outcome of Memi's request would be. maskedquerade "You know we don't like you eating up there," her mother said seriously, taking a towel and moving an empty cookie sheet to the sink. "I'll be extra neat, I promise," Memi said, "cross my heart." Frank picked up a broken half of cookie and took a bite. "It's just cookies, Barb. Here, have a plate, girls," he said, opening up a cabinet and getting what looked like a meat serving platter. "I'll get you a tray to carry them up on. Just be careful and don't drop anything," she fretted, starting to open cabinet doors in an attempt to find the lap trays, which were apparently so far in disuse they were bordering on lost. Zero Dream "Yes, promise !" Zero did a cross over her heart as well, careful not to bump into Echo's jewel and create an odd moment, through she could feel it clearly, even through the hoodie. "Ill carry the milk, Memi. Show me the way ?" maskedquerade The two carefully took their burdens up the stairs and down the short hallway to Memi's room. Asclepius met them in the hallway with a jingle, but didn't say anything until the door was closed. "I'm glad to see a friendly face," he said warmly, hovering over the plate of cookies. "If my sensory data is correct, those should smell delicious." "I'm so glad you're here, Zero," Memi said, sticking out her tongue at the door. --- Meanwhile, downstairs... "Why do you have to undermine my authority, Frank?" Barbara asked cleaning up the cooling racks and cookie trays. "Relax," he replied, eating a cookie and taking a sip of milk. He frowned at little bits of chocolate floating in the glass, and, with shrug, downed the whole thing. "She's home, let her take a little extra." Zero Dream "I missed you... it was like I was going completely insane." She admitted, shifting a bit and resting one of the trays in balance on her knees as she sat on the bad carefully, resting an hand on the fandangle. "I take it you didn't get a warm greeting ?" She asked, before turning to Memi again. "How are things going ? It's silly, but I was worried. Gomen." maskedquerade "They're locking me in my room at night," she said, plopping down on the floor. "I made a really big scene about it in the morning too." Memi giggled. "It was less than mature," Asclepius informed her diplomatically. "We went to the hospital, and Panacea fried one of the medical ma-gi-ologist's brains when they tried to figure out what the stone was," she continued, grinning. "And then Mom took me shopping to make up for locking me in. I think they took the fire ladder too." Zero Dream "Jeez, paranoid much ?" Even if there was more than enough reason... "Yeah, sounds messy." She bit into one of the cookies, pondering this. "So they are afraid you'll leave again ? ..And well, im not sure doctors are used with dealing with gods, uh?" maskedquerade "Yeah, they are. She says they're bribing me to stay, but I'm not going to. They don't listen very well." Memi inhaled a cookie, and took another drink of milk. "It was kinda funny, though I felt sorry for her. She took the rest of a day off. But they know that my cancer's gone!" Not many any prepared to touch the divine.Zero Dream As it always was."I hope they where happy about that, at least ?" She said. "Do they know that you're not staying ?" She rubbed her wrist a bit, trying to relieve the soreness there. Probably had played too much yesterday... maskedquerade "Yeah, no more hospital for me," Memi said with a smile. "And I've told them I'm not, but my mom thinks I'm joking, though Dad's more relaxed now than he's been since I got home. Wonder why..." Asclepius hovered closer to Zero. "You appear to be in difficulty. Would you like some assistance with your wrist?" Zero Dream "Oi." This might not wind up pretty... At least she had told them. It could have been much worse... "Maybe he's just feeling better that you're home, or something ?" She wondered. "...Dad always was a bit happier after I came home after a long time being gone." The words flowed out without her thinking, and the teen wished she could had held them in, but a second too late. "Ne ? Ah, no, im fine." She gave Asclepius a smile. "It's just a bit sore. I might have made a wrong move or played too much guitar." She said with a small chuckle. maskedquerade "Could be. It's like he was mad at me yesterday--probably because of what I said on TV--and today he's happy. It's really nice." Memi breezed right on by without whatever negative feeling Zero might have thought it would evoke. Asclepius shook himself and started to glow, though it was more warmth than light. "You are fine, but you could be better. I'm detecting some slight tissue damage associated with overwork..." His voice became more mechanical, and Zero's wrist became a little warmer, then cooler. "Damage regeneration: 10%" Zero Dream "You where on tv ?" Zero blinked, tilting her head a bit. "And well uh..." The fandangle had already started his "countdown" before she got the next word in. "...okay ?" It felt just a bit weird, and she couldn't help the slight shiver of surprise that went down her spine. "...Cool." maskedquerade "Yeah, I got upset because Mom and Dad were telling them that bad things happened to me, and they didn't and the reporter was all like "tell us about your harrowing ordeal" and I don't even know what harrowing means do you know?" Most of that was out in a single breath. "Damage regeneration: 20%" Zero Dream "Reporters are full of s**t and don't know what they are talking about half the time." She mumbled, keeping her wrist as still as possible, not knowing if moving might throw the fandangle off-guard or not. "Harrowing... means something really bad or really hard. It's negative, anyway." maskedquerade "Damage regeneration: 40%" Much of the soreness was gone, but the joint was feeling stiff like it had been slept on all night. "Maybe, I guess. Oh, oh, and then Asclepius tried to convince them that they weren't my parents because they wouldn't believe me that Panacea is a god," Memi said, not certain herself why the logic followed. "It was so funny, but I had to stop him because Dad was getting upset." Zero Dream ...Which, knowing Zero, was an option that was probably true. Unfortunately, Zero was drinking milk with her free hand as Memi had mentioned that one detail. SNORT. She coughed a bit, visibly having choked on her milk as she swallowed it, then exploded in giggles. "Holy s**t, in lack of better terms, he sure has some balls..." maskedquerade "Damage regeneration: 65%" Memi giggled and offered Zero a napkin. "I wish you could have been there. Oh... hey, did you bring a bag or something?" She looked around and said quietly, "I want to send some stuff back with you, so in case I have to run, I can have some clothes that fit..." "Damage regeneration: 80%" Zero Dream "Nope." She sighed, shaking her head a bit. "But never understimate the power of the hoodie. If you got a plastic bag somewhere, im sure I can hide it in there without anyone noticing..." To say the teen wore loose clothes was a striking understatement. The hoodie looked like it was made for someone 3 times her size at least. maskedquerade "Bet the security people love you in the mall," Memi said with a laugh. She started digging around in the shopping bags at the foot of her bed, rearranging it so that one bag had a set of pajamas, a shirt, and a pair of jeans in it, and everything else in the other bags. "If you could just take these back with you? It'll be nice to have some actual PJs, and not just sleep in a shirt... I really want to go back. But they don't understand yet." Zero Dream "Oh, you got no idea." She broke into laughter, visibly remembering things that had happened before. "I've gotten about everything you can think of." She nodded after she had finally calmed down. "Yeah, I can... and I understand." She was just hoping that nothing would happen... "If you need help, tho, call me ? Im sure I could at least tell Illumin..." Not that she saw the light god all that much. maskedquerade Memi nodded. "Your cell phone? I don't think I have the number. Before I left, Beryl and Revei said they had plans, and I left them notes too, in case I can't get away. Beryl said she'd carry me away like an angel, and Revei wanted to walk up and explain to them. I'll drop out of my window if I have to." Memi polished off her glass of milk and sighed. "I don't feel like I belong here anymore. Zero Dream She just nodded, oddly not knowing what to answer... how to somehow find the magical words to make things better. She jolted down her number on a piece of paper. "And ill... uh... smack things with my guitar ! You know, like those rock stars ! KA-PLING !" Hopefully that'd make her laugh. maskedquerade Predictably, Memi started laughing. The thought of Zero hitting her parents over the head with a guitar wasn't unattractive. She leaned back and looked up at the ceiling, smiling. "Did you want to watch a movie? I already asked them about a sleepover at your place," Memi said, "but Mom didn't go for it. She wanted to meet your parents first..." Zero Dream "That would be a problem." She twirled a finger around her braid. "...And I doubt having Beryl and Illumin spot at my parents would work." ... ... GIGGLESNORT. "Damn, where did that COME from ?!? And uh, sure, what movie ?" maskedquerade "One big, happy, god-family," Memi said, giggling. It was very hard to imagine Illumin and Beryl in any sort of loving relationship, since the wind goddess liked to tease him. Though Mom said that that was how boys said they liked you, Memi thought it was silly not to just say it. And Beryl wasn't a boy. "Um... what kinds of movies do you like? We've got lots of animated stuff, and Dad has some action movies." Zero Dream "Anything will do." She smiled, still trying to make herself stop. laughing. already. "The ideas I get in my blackhole of a brain..." Probabely the worst case of coupling ever. maskedquerade "Want to go downstairs and pick one?" Memi stood up and brushed off her back. Asclepius had been silent for a relatively long time, but there was a faintly electric tingle through Zero's wrist. "Damage regeneration: 100%" A pause, and then in a more normal tone, "How does it feel?" A couple seconds later, there was a knock at the door. "Memi? Your father and I think we should get ready to go to dinner now to beat the rush." "Mom, we were going to watch a movie, can't you go without me? I can get something in the kitchen," Memi offered, looking between Zero and the door with disappointment dawning on her face. "No Memi, you know we don't like leaving you alone at your age." "Zero could babysit!" "No offense to your friend, dear, but we don't know her and can't trust her to babysit you. Sorry Zero," she said, sounding genuinely embarrassed, perhaps about having this conversation in front of a guest. Zero Dream "Better." She smilled at the fandangle, nodding a bit before flowing a bang out of her face. "Thank you." She remained silent during the exchange that Memi and her mother had, frowning a bit. HA, if they only KNEW... "It's alright, Memi." She answered loud enough so that her mother could hear. "My parents would prolly expect me back for dinner too... I can always come back later, ne ?" She tried her best not to sound annoyed, securing the bags and then whispering "Everything will be okay. Ill see ya, okay ?" maskedquerade "Of course you can," Memi said, glaring at the door. "Where are we going to eat, anyway?" She stood, picking up the cookie dish and the glasses. "We're thinking the steakhouse." Memi rolled her eyes and leaned toward Zero. "Definitely," she whispered, and waited until Zero was arranged before opening the door. Her mother had left, presumably to go to her own bedroom, where there was the sound of a closet door opening and closing. "Come on," Memi said with a sigh, "I'll walk you out." Zero Dream "Okay." She nodded, getting up and following silently, not willing to try to slip anything important out while her parents where so close. It almost felt like she was a spy on a mission, oddly enough. All that was missing was the James Bond music. maskedquerade Memi's father was puttering around in the kitchen, putting away some dishes from the dishwasher. He turned and smiled at Memi and Zero. "Going so soon?" "Mom said we're going out to dinner," Memi said, looking at him curiously. "Oh. Well, she's the boss," he said with a shrug. "Sorry about that, Zero, but feel free to come back anytime. Just call beforehand so that there are cookies waiting." He winked at her, and took some utensils from the rack and put them in their drawer. Zero Dream "It's alright." She smiled. "I better get home before dinner myself." She gave a polite bow. "Thank you for receiving me, ill be sure to come back." The teen turned to Memi, smiling. "Ill see ya soon." Only the two girls could know exactly what that statement meant, and after kicking in her sneakers, Zero was out the door to allow Memi and her parents to get ready.
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Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2012 12:15 pm
A Spirit ? In My Chime ? Zero made her way upstairs and back into her room, putting the bags on the bed and throwing off the hoodie to reveal her usual navy shirt underneath. Whew, it was so hot ... The room was a bit less bare that it had been, as various trinkets had found their way inside. Posters, a support for her guitar... It all looked much more alive and occupied. ...And those strange hovering green eyes were a nice touch too. ...Wait, WHAT ? Zero stopped all movement, staring at the eyes of the creature that had visibly taken residence around the chime that Memi had given her. She had not caught the misty hairs and body on the first glance since they were so pale. The spirit seemed to stare back at her with the same kind of interest. "...Hi!" "...What the hell?" The teen blinked, trying to manage to keep her jaw CLOSED. "There's no hell in there." The spirit answered, curling around the chime. "My name's Lyric." "...Zero. Where did you come from?" "...Here?" Lyric seemed a bit confused, pointing at the chime. ...Objects in Gaia were hardly normal. "Oh." "I like it here, it's pretty." Lyric smiled, dancing a bit around the chime. "Not a lot of wind, though..." "...Want to go outside?" Lyric perked. "You would?!?" "Sure." Zero smiled, leading the way. He seemed harmless enough...
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Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2012 12:16 pm
Dealing With A Worried God Sosiqui Illumin was restless again, stalking up and down the length of his room until he was sure he was going to wear a rut in the floor. He shouldn't be so worried, Sosiqui teased him about it nightly - and he welcomed the diversion, the chance to indignantly pretend he didn't care.
But he did. She'd been gone too long, too long for his taste - and while he was sure Memi wouldn't come to any actual harm (since she did after all have a goddess within her), he wanted her to come back.
If nothing else, so he could see her again before Medicine devoured her... he shook his head, startling the nearby sprokets. The entire process of becoming a god had been thrilling to him, but the thought of Memi vanishing into her own goddess was repulsive to him.
Tired of doing nothing, Illumin went out into the hallway and stalked down the stairs. At least a change in scenery would help. Maybe. Zero Dream Visibly he was not the only one to have thought about that. Zero was sitting in one of the couches, staring out of the window, visibly lost in her own thought, cellphone open and looking like she was expecting a call at any second now, and that it simply wouldn't come at all. Guitar laid still on her knees, not minding so much her odd position as the rest of her body was leaning, her elbow resting on the armrest to support the rest, black locks sprawling everywhere. No news where good news... right ? Of course. Sosiqui Illumin was surprised to see someone up at this hour - usually when he prowled around the house of an evening, everyone had retreated to their private chambers or wherever else they went. For a moment, he couldn't remember her name. "Music?" he asked, instead, since that he certainly recalled. Zero Dream She perked a bit, sending a glance back at him. "...My name is Zero." She reminded him, not sounding too annoyed or anything of the sort. "Im not music - not yet, anyway." As if she needed a reminder. "What sends you down at this time ?" She tilted her head a bit, visibly a bit curious. Sosiqui "Zero, then," Illumin amended, remembering how Sosiqui had hated being called 'Light' before he had become dominant in this body. "I am... worried. You know the girl who came her at the same time you did? Medicine's chosen?" He had no idea how much contact Zero had had with Memi. Zero Dream "Memi ?" Blink. "Of course I do... She's my best friend, you could say." She sent a glance at the cellphone, but pried her eyes from it. Staring at it wouldn't make it ring... "...I take it you want to know how she is doing, then ?" Sosiqui "You know?" Illumin scooted over to her chair so fast that it was startling. "Er, I mean... you know how she's doing? She's been gone too long. I'm Illumin. Light. She's been staying with me." Illumin paused and shook his head, as Sosiqui's laughter crackled through his mind. He struggled to regain composure. Zero Dream "Errrr..." Startled ? Yes. Somehow, she managed to calm herself, and shift to sitting straight up. "I went to her house... uh... A few days ago ? Take that with a grain of salt, I keep falling asleep for days on end, so I have no idea what today is." She mumbled a bit. "She's fine." Sosiqui Illumin nodded. "Falling asleep... perhaps Music is on the move, then. I did much the same to my host." He moved to sit cross-legged on the floor next to Zero's chair - not in front, though, as that would seem subservient. "What happened? Tell me everything. Er. Please." Zero Dream "I figured so, since I've never had narcoleptic tendencies." She shrugged. "...Not much, really. I was worried so I called her, her parents let me come over, we had cookies and talked a bit. Her parents didn't seem to believe she wasn't staying... But im sure she'll make it work." Sosiqui "Her family, yes." Illumin drummed his fingers on the side of the chair. "Will they stop her, do you think? Are they hampering her? She had said that she felt... stifled sometimes. Overly controlled." Zero Dream "Yeah, seems like that type. Well, more her mom than her dad, at least that's what I could tell while I was there. I know they locked her in her room at least once..." She frowned a bit at the thought, visibly not too pleased. "...But I don't think that can stop her. I told her to call me if she needed me - she hasn't yet." Sosiqui "They restrained her?" Illumin's eyes narrowed, and he frowned. Clearly, this was not what he wanted to hear. "And do they believe in the gods? That we exist? That Medicine has their daughter in thrall as surely as that disease once did?" Zero Dream She blinked a bit in thought, a little surprised at all the question, probably. It sounded almost as if she was being interrogated... She shifted a bit uncomfortably. "I know at the very start they didn't. She did call them sometime before going home. I think they might at least be starting to acknowledge it... I guess if she told me more, it slipped. I know Panacea confused the hell out of a doctor, but well..." Sosiqui "I see..." Illumin looked thoughtful. "Perhaps the appearance of other gods, gods manifested, would... convince them." He turned to peer at the phone as well. "So that box talks to her across distances? Fascinating." Zero Dream "Or might freak the hell out of them even more and make them even more paranoid. I don't have an idea myself... Memi knows them better than we do - so im waiting on her, really." It sounded like a smart thing to do, anyway. Kamikazing herself in with a light god might not make things work. And then, Illumin spoke again and a very slight "WTF ?!?" look formed on her face. "....You... don't know about phones ? Not even from your host, or anything...?" Zero Dream "Human trinkets," Illumin said dismissively. "Although 'electricity' is fascinating. So very good for light, certainly very useful... but gods have other ways of talking across distances. I think." He looked puzzled, as though the proper answer was something hovering just out of reach. Zero Dream "...Well, I figure they would. But us humans can't, so we have to use our imaginations to create things." She shrugged. "Some "trinkets", as you call them, are actually considered extremely important to everyday life - like a phone, or electricity... And some well... ...err... I still refuse to believe a machine that ties your god damn tie for you was an essential thing to create." Tengent ? Sosiqui "... tie?" Illumin shook his head. "Clothing, feh. Humans put too much stock in such things. But... we are drifting off course." He drummed his fingers on the chair's arm again. "Can you speak to her with that phone? Do you know how to make it... do what it does?" Zero Dream ...Well, what did he take her for, a total moron ? "Well, given that I assembled it myself down to the last screw, I think I might." Oi. "I can try to call." Sosiqui Illumin frowned at her impudence, then crossed his arms. "Well, go ahead." Zero Dream She barely kept herself from muttering a few choices words in japanese, instead taking the cellphone from it's case and flipping it open, quickly inputting the number before bringing it to her ear, waiting a few moments... then frowning a bit, flipping it closed. "Answering machine. Guess they're not home." Sosiqui "No answer..." Illumin got up and paced, then turned to face her. "If you went to her home, you must know where it is." Zero Dream "Well, yeah." God, he was really taking her for a idiot... Why was she bothering about helping ? Something about Memi caring about him came to mind. Beh. "No use going there if there's truly no-one home." Sosiqui "Can you tell me where it is? How did you get there? Damn these wings." Illumin turned his head around as best he could to glare at his wings, as if their being too small yet to support flight was a personal insult. "I am sorry... I am just rather concerned for her. She was resting under my care, you know." He puffed up a bit at that. Zero Dream Must not... send phone... flying... "At least you have wings. It's not too far from here - a few streets down. Easy to get there just by walking." Sosiqui "A few streets down... where? Do you have directions?" Illumin asked, eagerly. "And you may yet have your own... in a sense. My host didn't have wings until we merged and I gained dominance." He flapped his wings experimentally, then scowled. Still no use. "Would it be musical to fly, do you suppose?" Zero Dream She frowned a bit. "...Im a very visual person, not too good at explaining things just by talking. Think there's a pad of paper and a pencil somewhere ?" She seriously could not find a way to word directions into words without somehow winding up sending him to Timbuctu. And she would hold off that for a bit maybe - her mind was visibly willing to lynch him at moment and be perfectly able to stand him when... well... he wasn't taking her for an idiot, or at least while she considered he was doing such. "I have no idea, really - I haven't seen a lot of gods, but they all had wings. I don't really know if it would make sense for Echo to have wings or not... and I never really thought to ask her, to be truthful." Sosiqui "Oh... yes, a map, of course." Illumin darted into the kitchen, there were several loud bangs as the god looked through drawers in rapid succession, and then he emerged again brandishing paper and pen. "Here," he said, holding them out to her as he returned. "Echo, that's Music's true name? How... interesting." Zero Dream She nodded at the last bit, scribbeling down onto the paper. "At least do me a favor and don't go in there alone and completely freak her parents off ?" not that she could stop him... "I think it might be good if I was there too. It might soften the blow, so to speak." Sosiqui Illumin frowned at her. "I believe I can handle two mortals... but I will consider it," he said, examining the map carefully. "It is too late to go now in any case, and I would not make any move under the cover of darkness." He spit out the last word as though it was something repulsive. Zero Dream She rolled her eyes a bit - visibly someone was missing the point - but that quickly turned to something else. "...Well, now that's reminding me of something." She blinked. "Echo doesn't like silence. Not as much as you hate darkness, but... she's always humming, or singing, even when she sleeps... Constantly trying to break it." She wasn't sure why she even mentioned it. Sosiqui "Ahh... yes. Someday I will be able to break the darkness." Illumin looked pensively out the nearest window, where night covered the streets. "I heard there was a goddess of shadow, but she has not been heard from for some time. A good thing for her." Zero Dream Zero did not seem to find it all too odd - it made sense in her head, that a god of light would dislike shadows. "I haven't heard anything about a goddess of shadow, either." She shrugged a bit, getting up to go put the pad and pencil where they belonged, handing Illumin the sheet with the map. Sosiqui "Fortunately. Harmodius might not like what would result." Illumin made an almost feral grin in Zero's direction, then carefully folded the map. "Thank you. I will... think about it. Perhaps go and look... not do anything, simply look and see..." Zero Dream She just nodded. Even if he decided to go further... well, she wasn't his mother. Something else, however, caught her attention. "...Harmodius ?" Sosiqui Illumin raised one eyebrow. "Lord Harmodius." He gestured towards the closed doors that lead to the elder god's chambers. "He was the first. Creation." Zero Dream "Ahhh." She nodded. "I see..." It did make sense that creation would be the first, after all. Sosiqui Illumin frowned again at the dark windows, his wings rustling a bit in agitation. "It's too dim down here," he said, abruptly. "No wonder I never come down, not enough... lamps..." He turned towards the stairs. "Thank you for your help, Zero... I will let you know if I decide to move, perhaps. Where can you be found?" Zero Dream "Well, if im not in there..." She thought a bit. "...Im either outside if it's warm, or in my room if it's not. ...Well, my room..." Kinda an overstatement. "I figure you know where Beryl's room is ? There should be a door nearby, closer than the other ones - just knock and ill hear you if im not asleep..." Sosiqui "Ah. Beryl, of course." Illumin said with a sigh, and turned away. "Well. Thank you." And with that, he padded up the stairs again, breaking into a run near the top as though he couldn't wait any longer to flee back to his blindingly-lit sanctum. Zero Dream Zero was much slower about it - setting the guitar on her back and clasping the phone to her belt, before making her way up to hopefully get some sleep that will not wind up lasting a few days instead of a few hours.
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Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2012 12:18 pm
Dear Diary, Again I forget to write in this book a lot... But a lot of things have been happening since I last wrote and I'm not sure if I can manage to write it all. My thoughts are a bit jumbled... as if they mix with Echo's sometimes. Makes me think I might not have much time left... But I... need to be me when Memi comes back. I *have* to be me when she comes back. I don't want to... leave without saying goodbye, at least. It sounds stupid... I thought I had accepted this, but then why can't I stop thinking about all the things I have wanted to do and never will able to do ? Why can't I stop thinking about the father I left behind ? What if he is waiting, what if he knows I'm alive and trying to find a way... What if, what if... God. Too many what ifs. I hate being so insecure... Lyric has been a help... kind of. He still doesn't know... He still thinks I will be there forever. Echo seems to have taken a liking to him, so at least that's good... He's a little bit like a child, cheerful and nice. I'm not sure if he would understand if I told him about it all, but I will have to, and soon. I can't just run away like that. It'd be the shittiest thing EVER. I'd just love to stop worrying for once. - Zero
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Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2012 12:19 pm
Time For Explanations It took some time, but Zero finally had worked herself to tell the playful spirit everything. Use positive words, don't scare him... But little did she know that, just behind the door, Lyric was not only the way she remembered him, the little boy-like spirit she enjoyed taking walks outside with... The one she told all her worries about Memi to. It seemed like it have been years since the teen had heard of her best friend, and, of course, she could not help but worry. More defined features were pensive. He wanted to stay, stay with this girl he appreciated - and felt at home with - the girl that he knew was holding a secret. But what if she didn't want him to stay? When the girl put her hand on the doorknob, the spirit peeked out of said door. ... "WHAHHH ?!?" Zero about leaped out of her skin, and Lyric went straight back. What a marvelous start, wasn't it? "Lyric! What are you trying to do, kill me ?!?" Blink. "Wait... Lyric ?!?" That was Lyric? What was it with her being surrounded by beautiful males, gods, spirits or otherwise?!? She got in and closed the door behind her, watching the spirit that was sitting on her bed and trying to will her jaw to stay right put. "I, well... I've reached a state where I'd like to stay, if well, the both of you don't mind." "I think there's something you need to k-" Pause. "...Wait, both ?" Lyric gave his characteristic cute little smile, hovering to "curl" around her out of habit. "You talk a lot in your sleep. That and what I've overheard here and there clued me in. Do you think Echo would mind?" The look on the teen's face was somewhere in between "I what?", surprise, and a little bit dejected - and all very much priceless. "No, she'll be happy, I think." "Then there's no problem!" he chirped, toying with his braid a bit. Why did this kind of situation keep happening to her?
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Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2012 12:20 pm
Writing For The First Time ...It feels weird... to add my writing alongside my host's in this book... but she has shown her desire that I do so.
I am in control again, but I fear showing us in this state... I find ourselves too weak. I feel it much safer here, for the time being. Much less risky... and the sound of Lyric's chime is soothing. My one and I have agreed to offer him a book where he will be able to express his own thoughts in a private manner.
I have had a conversation with him... a charming young spirit, he is... he understands the situation much deeper than my one thinks he does. I am glad he is not confused... or sad.
I also sense pain from my one... But I need to wait, I know. Where healing the body is lady Medicine's matter (I wonder how her and the young one are faring... We have not seen her in a while, I am afraid) healing the soul is more in my grasp. But I cannot do so until she is ready to open up... I cannot rush this. I refuse to rush this. She is making the ultimate sacrifice for me, and I owe her the deepest respect I can possibly owe to another living being.
Thus I will wait. And I will help. Time has it's place for each and every thing...
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Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2012 12:21 pm
It's the beginning of the end
I don't know where we lost control.
It's the beginning of the end and
I know that I am all alone.
"Beginning of the End" - Spineshank The Changes Begin Zero Dream The teen took small, almost soundless steps down the stairs... as if trying not to catch too much attention. The fact was a bit canceled by the fact she was humming to herself, visibely not noticing any of it as she turned to go toward the fridge. God, she was hungry enough to eat a freaking BEAR. maskedquerade Memi was trying her hardest to read the book, she really really was. But it was boring. She should have just looked everything up on the internet rather than trying to be traditional about it. She flopped back on the couch and stared at the ceiling for a moment, before noticing a faint strain of music floating down the stairs and into the kitchen. Zero! She hadn't seen Zero since she'd come to her house. Excited, Memi plopped the book on the couch and walked quickly into the kitchen doorway... but paused. Bowling her over with a hug might not be the best idea... Awkwardly, she stood in the door and tried to think of a good way to start this conversation. Hi, I hit puberty overnight?Zero Dream It seemed like she would get some more time to figure that out, because Zero seemed to have the attention span of a gnat at the moment... or maybe said attention was too focused on "OMGIMHUNGRYDAMNIT" to notice that there was an actual world around her and the fridge. That was also a possibility. Bahhh... Hey, cola ! That would be a good start until she decided what the heck she was unlazy enough to cook. Grinning a bit, she spun the can a bit before opening it and taking a glup. maskedquerade Memi shifted a bit, still unsure of what to say. If she'd kept the book, she'd at least have something to clutch uncertainly. She hated being this way. Weird feelings, bouncy things that made running difficult, and no benefits. Nervously, she cleared her throat. If you can say anything, make a noise; at least they won't be as scared out of their skin when you're quietly looming. Hey, she was tall enough! She could loom now! Okay, one benefit. Zero Dream Uh, there is... someone there, my one. Goddess or not, poor Echo visibly didn't know too much about how to deal with this, apart smacking Zero with a cluebat. She rose an eyebrow a bit. "Thar bwe wha ?" Speaking while drinking was not a good idea. Neither was turning at that very moment, even if the cluebat took effect and Zero perked. Then blinked. Holy s**t what the ******** Memi ?!? ...Why was Memi TALLER THAN HER ?!? And thus, she promptly choked on the soft drink. Most awsome. After she finally managed to breathe again.... "...Memi ?!?!?" Well, that wasn't something she was expecting to see. maskedquerade "Zero, are you all right?" Memi rushed over to her friend and carefully took her soda, setting on the nearest counter. It sank in how... well... short Zero was, and how much shorter she had been, since she used to look up to her. Zero Dream "...Well, that went well..." Ohhhh boy. "Oi, quiet." Zero coughed some more, both visibly not noticing they where speaking out loud at the moment. She gave Memi one of those pair of eyes trough, the perfect OMGWTF eyes. "...And what happened ?" How fun. Visibly people towering over her was an habit. maskedquerade "Panacea. She said something about hormones and proteins and whatever. I woke up and ripped my PJs to shreds trying to move..." Memi smiled at Zero, then sat down on a stool, hoping to equalize their heights. Somewhat. "How have you been? I missed you." Zero Dream ...That still didn't make much sense. But questioning anything in that building was a surefire headache. "...Oh." Catching her can again and hoping not to make a repeat, she took a sip and then spoke. No use hiding it all. "Drifting... in and out." She sighed a bit. "It's like the lines in between who's in control and who isn't is starting to blur all of sudden. Took me by surprise." maskedquerade "I can tell. You talk in two voices." Memi leaned on the counter and looked sadly at Zero. "It's all going downhill, it seems." Zero Dream "We do ? How odd, I do not notice..." Echo trailed off for a moment. "Yup. Going downhill like a cute little handbasket." A question took her mind over, and, as much as she tried to make it leave, it refused to. And who will be the first to fall ? maskedquerade "Well, we are pretty cute. Probably the cutest girls in the building," Memi replied, giggling. Zero Dream "Well, of course we are !" She grinned, winking, and also VERY glad for that change of conversation. "We'll put the goddess of beauty to shame~" A laugh followed, almost musical in tone. "My, my, girls... Oh, I apologize, lady Memi. I will attempt to keep quiet...""Tho, a little voice in my head is telling me to invest in high heels or platform shoes, and it isn't Echo's." Zero looked a bit embarrassed, but laughed anyway. maskedquerade Memi smiled. "I'm sorry I'm so much taller now. It's... awkward. I'm borrowing some of Illumin's host's clothes for now, and they aren't quite right, but...." She shrugged. "Don't worry about it, Echo, everyone has their moments." Zero Dream "Oh, that's not your fault. I blame the fact I was hit with the short end of the genetic stick." And that was nice and all, but Zero suddenly remembered one very important thing. She was hungry. And therefore, she migrated toward the fridge again. "Mann... I dunno what I wanna eat. I hate it when it happens." maskedquerade "Pan-- Hrm, you don't like pancakes. How about... well, pizza. I could try to make spaghetti... or hamburgers." Pancakes had been her thing. Trying to think of something else to make took some effort! Mintaka She was skipping back, and pointed to her followers to go rest as she skipped in the back door, humming something vibrant. She almost didn't notice there were bothers til she almost tripped. "Aaaa!" That's generally what happens when you don't keep your eyes open, after all. And with less then graceful accuracy, she went face first into the floor. "Ow..." Her tail flicked. Least she didn't hit the jewel. She was sure that the goddess would be mad if she did. But the rest of her hurt. Zero Dream "Spaghetti sounds good... You could make the pasta and ill make some kind of sauce... You like tomato ?" Just as she reached off for a pot, she heard a sound, and perked. "...Nani ?" "It sounds as if someone felt... perhaps we should go check if all is well, my one."maskedquerade "Tomato, sure. Chunky, though." There was a thump from the living area, and Memi dashed off to see. "Mintaka! Are you all right?" Memi, her new height a significant advantage, vaulted over the couches and knelt beside the woman. "Hurt anything besides your pride?" Mintaka "I am not sure... no. I'm fine, they're fine, everything is fine." Sure, it was mostly into the floor, but hey, it was truthful. Nothing broken, nothing that wouldn't stop hurting. Sort of like that root last night! She looked up, looked again, and gawked. "Er, am I, well, that is..." She didn't want to say losing her mind. From what she could understand, that was likely already done in a way. Well, hard to have a mind when ti was incomplete- erf. She was thinking too much and that hurt. "Hi Memi! Wow, I missed something!" She scrambled up partly to sit. "I was coming back because I was, well, hungry. Berries out there weren't that great - least compared to the pancakes." She scratched at her forehead absently, claws sliding on the gem a moment, and managed to pull free a twig from her hair. "Ha!" She peered around then, feeling awfully awkward. "I feel like I fell into something." We think your Timing is Good enough. Since you have not Eaten in awhile.Zero Dream The teen peered a bit, blinking. "Well, we where gonna make spaghetti... Works for you ? Or you two could always make pancakes and ill survive." She stuck out her tongue playfully at Memi. "Friend of your's ?" maskedquerade "Yeah, Panacea decided I was too short," she joked. "If you're hungry, come with me. I'll introduce you to Zero, and we were just about to cook lunch." Memi rose, then leaned down and offered Mintaka a hand. "Pancakes aren't on the menu this time, though." Mintaka "Oh, wow, nifty!" she said, taking the proffered hand to stand. "I was just being happy and content and wham! I fell ... again." She coughed slightly. "I was out in the Gardens awhile." She smiled, waving to Zero. "We met a few ago. And here i am again. All better, I think." She tilted her head slightly. "Mmmhmm. Oh, something different? Can I watch, maybe learn something?" Her ears flicked slightly as her eyes peered about a moment to ascertain it was only them. maskedquerade "Of course. You might want to watch Zero more than me, since she'll be doing the sauce, I'm just boiling pasta." Memi stretched. "I also see," she said, "that you've found someone." She gestured at the gem that had attached itself to Mintaka. "Who is it?" Zero Dream "I don't mind." She smiled, waving back before dissapairing further in the kitchen, looking for tomatoes and a plank to cut them into dices without making a mess. Mintaka "Oh, yes, well, she found me more, when I woke up. She's what's been bothering me. She called herself Calico, because the others don't wan tot talk right now." She shrugged. "I think her domain is linked to the mind somehow... she hasn't been totally clear yet." She bounced over slightly, mindful not to fall, to watch the tomato chopping. At least, then she could learn something. "Oh, I don't think I introduced myself. I"m Mintaka!" Hm... We do not recall this Spaghetti thing. So we shall see too. She ell into silence then, content to rest more now. It would be awhile, certainly before they saw the strength return, but for now... they could be sure She was well.
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Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2012 12:22 pm
An angels smile is what you sell
You promise me heaven, then put me through hell
Chains of love got a hold on me
When passions a prison, you cant break free
You're a loaded gun
Theres nowhere to run
No one can save me
The damage is done
Shot through the heart
And youre to blame
You give love a bad name
"You give love a bad name" - Bon Jovi The Battle For Creation Zero Dream The sensation... well, Zero was the first to feel it. But with the ongoings downstairs, no one had heard her scream, thankfully.
After it finally receded a bit, Echo was left in control, her host unconscious. And she knew what she had to do.
It was hard to even walk. Music had to hold the wall, and even then, she felt on the bottom.
She... would not be the most useful, but she had to know, had to know...
"...Goddess gracious." She echoed under a breath, trying to understand the scene unfolding in front of blue eyes, their deep glow being the only hint that Zero was not quite herself. Sosiqui "Memi!" Illumin followed her, moving swiftly to match his movements to her own, even as Beryl nigh-exploded through the door. Good, her motherly protection and angry winds were actually welcome now, though he still tried to keep himself between Lucius and Memi.
To his surprise, Khiviance was there, near Lucius. "Love, what are you doing? How can you condone this?" he shouted in her direction. Mintaka Calico wavered, watching the chaos erupting around there, but full anger at Harmodius being so. A request, from one who likely caused such injury... how base.Mintaka snapped control back a moment, easing fof all three as they frothed with mixed emotions. She grimaced at Memi, knowing she was putting herself in danger barring the way of a god. Calico wrested it back. You control our movement, nothing more. You let me have at him... he is Mine. Something in the cold acidity of her inner voice silenced the rest in her head, ears pinning back in rage. "Let our Lord go..." A deep guteral growl. "We - I - will not tolerate this. Unhand Our Lord."
Even from here, however weak her powers were she could sense the unrest of Lucius' mind writhing within, and it scared her a bit, to think of what untamed power Universe was, driven by craze. She might have considered awe, any other day but this.Keep to this side, attack the back if you're so inclined. I condone it and will laugh on your mark. Mintaka figured there wasn't any reasoning, and knew the logic was sound. More then barring his way. Draconayzia Beryl's own voice was dangerously tainted. "Why? You have done something grievous, brother. It if were just you and I, I would. But you have done something that has hit us all. I cannot stand down for you this time."
Her feet may have been glued but that didn't stop her from whipping up a maelstrom. Her fair flew about her but she never blinked nor lost her focus. She was letting her feral side out. She was letting it take over. And for once it felt right. Mintaka Illumin was letting his emotions run him, good. All the better, Topple one, the other would fall, so long as the first to drop was Memi. Not hard, as the child did not deserve it, but enough to keep the goddess therein at bay.
"I can condone it because it is about my own Domain," she said flatly. "You all step in matters that do not matter to you, back down!"
The wind however, and Beryl, made her cringe back slightly, her hand drawing Unbreakable then. Fear was a powerful thing, and she knew she'd need something if things went bad. She was outmatched by Wind, but she stood a change against the rest. Ivynian "Then you are no sister, and truly offered no consolation to my pain. Begone." He let harmodius' legs drop, halting in his own steps long enough to stretch out his arm in the cutting winds. "Fight no light with light, nor rage with rage, no suffer the walls of the younger to bar the way to freedom. You will all contest your wills and strengths with the mass and pull of a White Dwarf. " So it formed in the mouth of the front door, intended to pull Beryl back from him and the others from the garden door. He put his free arm around Khiviance's waist and held her to him. Sosiqui "What you have aided in has affected us all, therefore it is our affair... don't be a fool, Khiviance," Illumin barked, his aura of light pulsing in time with his heartbeat. "Have you considered, perhaps, this child's love for Lord Harmodius? Is there only one manner of love worth your support? You are acting the fool, Khiviance. I thought you wiser than this."
Then Illumin cringed and tried to brace himself as Lucius did... something... and something began to tug at him, with power. "No!" he hissed, moving to kick violently at the couch, trying to send it into the maw of the strange star Lucius had created, in an attempt to block it. Maskedquarade "Harmodius concerns everyone," Memi said. "Is this why you didn't help him before?" She then began to slide forward. With a squeal of panic, she turned and grasped the doorknob of the garden door with both hands. It would not last long. "I hope you have a place to go, Love, because I think you will find scant welcome here after what you do today."Zero Dream She watched the situation unfold... horrified by what she saw, managing to work herself back to her feet... but unable to move otherwise, or speak. She was simply frozen.
As it always was. She reminded herself, without wanting to. Always you are afraid... always you cannot protect.
She knew it was the truth.
She shielded her eyes from Illumin's light for a moment, a lump forming in her throat. She should have remained upstairs. She should have...
Yet she knew she couldn't have had. Draconayzia She saw the lustling move and her smile turned wicked. "Don't little fluff. I don't need a sword to cut. And I would like to see you attempt to fly as your wings fold and you find no help from my skies." She would make the winds go against her and the wings cause no stir in the air. A small twitch of a wing and hairline cuts trickled crimson on face and hands. "You are the one who said as much. Yet you never came when I called you that night. Never asked what I had to say. You once asked if we would know each other when we grew. I was wrong, I know you no longer, brother. I am sorry." Her heart ached at the thought. She had tried but his madness had consumed him first. She felt the tug of gravity behind her but never looked towards it. Dark sky flared behind her and the winds increased, making small cuts along arms and legs to those who held their Lord. Never enough to kill. She would never be a murder. Not again. But she would hurt. She would injure. And she would not back down. Mintaka "Ah, hell." Mintaka's voice, clearly as she willed herself and dove over the counter quickly into the kitchen, cracking a shin and granting a loud yelp. She was pressed against the cabinets and shelves painfully then, and whined. "May you burn eternally Universe! WE WILL REMEMBER THIS INSULT!" Summoning all her will nad strength, even with Oblivia's aid, she attempted to cause some writhe extra, some pain and mental anguish to Lucius. Feeble, maybe, but a sharp reminder of the wrath of a angry goddess... however weak.Mintaka was shoved back and wailed as she felt something pressing into her, shoving her legs out to deflect assorted pots. She was left in control now and drained by the efforts. "Someone just... do something..." Pain... quite a bit of it as winds lashed, but she held, grasp tight on the sword even as it raged about her. She pressed into Lucius, gritting her teeth. She had faith in him. Faith he was right, faith all was well. Over the rage, she shouted at the errant light and Medicine. "You believe what you do - I believe what I do. Does that not make us both wrong and right then?"
She closed her eyes, sighing slightly. Why was everyone so blind to such matters, so willing to destroy such emotions without any understanding. So many condemned simply for Love.Maskedquarade Panacea was never a goddess for the battlefield. She had always been there to soothe the aches and pains, and never to deal them. And in a body that was as helpless as a child, that was, in fact, a child... "Bittersweet Love, no one is completely in the right. But she told you that Harmodius was weak, and you are a party to this... atrocity. Does your love destroy the object, if only to possess the dying spark?"What kind of love is that? Sosiqui "You would tell me this is all for love?!" Illumin shouted over the noise, then coughed as the abuse on his vocal cords returned the favor with a shot of pain. "I tell you again, your definition is incomplete. You limit yourself, Khiviance - and it is well that you do, if this is your answer to the domain you command." He hoped desperately that the objects he'd tried to shunt towards the front door would catch, hold and block the strange suction really soon now, if they were going to. His leg muscles and wings were beginning to ache powerfully.
Surprisingly, he caught Panacea's voice in all the tumult as well. How odd. Apparently Medicine had some sense to her. Ivynian If Khiviance was to be protected, he could not fade from solidity. Where wind could not reach, it could not cut, and at the first lashes he brought his wings in and succored Khiviance in his bright feathers, she must come through this too, or he would have to turn to asphyxiation to achieve his goal. He would take what wounds would be offered. "How long will your wind last, Beryl, before it is turned to the pull of the star as well? You will have to do better then that. I have studied some of modern science, and it is gravity of sun and moon that make wind in this age....where does that leave you paltry earth wind? Do better, rage more! Or you have all lost this battle. " He smiled, blood coming from cuts along his lips and neck, welling down onto the grey figure on his arm. He started going again for the door. Zero Dream All for love...
"Sometimes love is simply blind to the truth." She whispered to herself, finally managing to take a step, wincing from the pain. She would, however, not stop.
Protect the child, Light... I cannot. Hopefully there could be a decent end to this... She tried to shove the feeling of hopelessness and uselessness away.
She was neither fighter, neither protector nor philosopher. What could she do in a situation like this... ? Sosiqui He was not in his right mind - that was obvious to Illumin. He had to do something, surely... but what? He had no offensive power to speak of, though he was sure he had, once. But why would he need to fight here, at this time?
A lack of foresight, truly. Illumin flailed against the star's pull - then had a sudden idea. He gave in, suddenly, but flailed to the right, catching hard on the brick of the fireplace. Light struggled to work his way behind the shelter of reassuring brick, peering up through chimney where light beckoned. If he could get outside, perhaps he could block the door and -
And what? Trap them all inside with an insane god? "BERYL!" he cried out, trying to catch her attention. If SHE could get outside... Draconayzia "You would steal our father, Lucius! I cannot allow that!" If she were to keep Lucius from succeeding with his mad plan she'd have to let all her emotions out. So she did.
The last of her control broke and she did rage. All the pent up anger and hatred and all other dark emotions she'd been hiding away broke free. The result was frightening. He body turned the color of a tempest sky, nearly matching Lucius on parts. Winds cut harsher, striking harder and cutting away brilliant feathers to hit the flesh below. Hatred burned in her, for what Khivance had done to her, for the lies she'd been told, the heartache she felt and everything else. She grabbed onto each pained memory as though it were her blood kin and let them all loose.
With a scream she shot forward, ignoring how her wings protested the murderous beat against the pained pull from the star. Just last long enough for this.....
Her hand slipped through feathers as meerest mist and found the hilt of the sword. The other found Love's thin neck. With a maniac grin her grip around the lustling tightened and the other pulled the sword out inch by painful inch. The beating of her wings set more slashing cuts against the conspirators.
Lucius would have to choose. Mintaka Throw something at him, maybe you'll get lucky... She knew her work would be useless, though maybe at least she could say she tried.
Cannot fail. Must do something...Mintaka's hand wrapped about a meat tenderizer, gripping it tightly so as to not lose it. Her back was screaming from the pain, being repessed, and she knew she risked losing footing if she were to do more then stand. She crawled, grinding teeth. "Oblivia... I could use you right now." "Fine." She took control, movement labored by the effort. She was angry, she was pissed, and she had everything from the others. And she had a wea- ooo knives!
Using tail and hand, she grabbed several, and cackled. "Ahahaha.... so perfect. Come little Universe, bleed like you never have... I will show you Pain, and you will writhe."
She crouched, trying hard to factor for the gravity, the wind. It was as though insanity itself had exploded to live here. Perfect, tasteful, and lovely. Home sweet ******** home. She slid the tenderizer in her belt, and grabbed a knife. Twice the stabbing rage. She tensed, waiting. Beryl's winds would hinder greatly... or maybe she could-
She aimed, throwing one knife hard, quick, and praying it hit Lucius.
"For our Lord." Sosiqui Illumin's eyes widened as Beryl shot forward, her wings groaning with exertion - it was a wonder they didn't break, but then maybe they had - he hardly was in a place to know. So she had her own plans, and he had no place in them. As usual, something inside muttered bitterly, but he brushed that away. Not the time.
Memi... Medicine... was still in front of the door. Illumin clawed his way out of the fireplace, soot-stained, skin scraped raw in places by the unforgiving brick, trying to reach her. "Panacea! Hold fast if you can, I will try to aid you!" he called out, wincing as one hand slipped and he had to struggle to dig into into brick again. Mintaka So much, so fast, chaos erupting. It shouldn't have been this way, it shouldn't have... she should have thought harder, planned further...
Something on her throat, painful, tightening. She gasped, her sword hand grasped also. Panic, fear, she felt tendrils twining deep. She needed something, anything.
"Lucius!" she managed, struggling with Wind and the blade. She couldn't, snarled as she felt air escaping her needs, and pain as cuts were lashed.
"You'll kill us both!" she managed, her own wings struggling to try and get her to let go, desperation running high. Lucius could go, perhaps, but then what? What of her? Could she find her way later... would she even survive this...
"Go if you must Lucius!"
Foolish maybe, but she would see the love and his treasure free. Pain, and blurring vision.... was this the end before? Maskedquarade "So if I shout louder than you, I win? FINE!" Memi screamed at Lucius; she could feel a little tearing in her throat. Panacea tried to squash the girl back down into the ocean of the subconscious, but Memi was terribly tenacious and refused to allow Panacea her say.She heard Illumin then, and paused in her scream to cling to the doorknob. The pull was strong, and she would slip soon, but for as long as she could, she would bar the way. He can't go! I haven't found Aristogeiton for him yet...Zero Dream Light had a plan... the door. The door, maybe...
Music struggled, attempting to take one painful step in front of the other. She had to have some way to help... She had to, had to at least attempt something.
"Light !" She finally managed to force the words out, loud enough so that they could at least be heard. "Is there any way... I may make myself useful ?" Sosiqui Illumin's fingertips were scraped raw, but he managed to flail, kick, crawl, and otherwise make his way back to Memi. "There may be safety if you run - I do not know if I or Medicine can protect you if you are in his way," he gasped from his place on the floor, flattened onto the ground to try and hold on. He was tired, so tired, but the adrenaline rush would not let him go and he would NOT leave Memi as the sole guardian of the door.
Illumin turned, wincing as even that movement made muscles scream in protest, as he heard Echo's cry. "Music... outside! Can you get outside? Bar his passage with benches and trees if you must!" Maskedquarade "I will not move until I can't hold on anymore," Memi told him vehemently. She could maybe tip one of the cabinets, but then... it might hurt Harmodius even more. Sosiqui "As you wish, then..." Illumin squirmed ungainly up towards her, wings beating uselessly as if to speed his movement, then threw all his weight against the door, moving to sit against it, his feet braced into the floor so hard that the 'knuckles' of his toes turned bone-white. "We will live or die together, then... I hope Medicine will use her arts if they are required, which they may be. I will do what I can."
What could he do? Light... light... hm... he licked his lips as ideas came through his agitated mind, most sorted through and then discarded rapidly, but one... one might work. It would not do to fight alone, but as a support tactic... hm. He would wait and see what Beryl's attack caused. Zero Dream Outside.
She did not answer Illumin, but her attempts to get to the door doubled, which showed that she had understood.
This would not work... She would have to get a little... creative.
She surrendered, letting gravity push her... landing near a window, and then music, ignoring the glass shards, slid herself trough it.
She had to work from outside... and block the door. Would it work, she had no idea... Maskedquarade Memi, rather shocked by the door she was holding on to opening and closing by itself. She searched for whoever it was, and could barely see a faint outline. "Help Harmodius," she said, voice hoarse and breaking. "Lucius hurt him!" Ivynian A knife came from what wasn't blocked of the opening nearest the kitchen and dug into the nearest wing, but Lucius had more pressing concerns. The second pain in that wing meant Beryl was solid again, which meant only one thing. He arched out the pained limb and she was removed from closeness to Khiviance. And now Eamnonn was here. There were getting to be too many ....if they were left in control of themselves, there was no hope in the venture. What could take control away from them? There was only one answer. All the gravity of the Edelsteine grounds nullified as in space. Zero Dream Music did not see the hunt's landing, still recovering from her fall as she did so.
She was so, so, so never trying to do this again...
Slowly bringing herself back up, and trying to ignore the drops of red that felt from the side of her face, her hands curled around the nearest bench, and she tried to pull it torward the door.
Explaining this to Zero would not be something Echo would look forward to.
But then, that thought was quickly discarded as she... started floating ?!? Her grip on the bench tightened, and the goddess let out a shrill sheik of surprise. What was this ?!? Oh, this wasn't getting better in the least... Maskedquarade With a hiss she pulled the injured arm back. Still that didn't bother her so much right now. The other had succeeded in pulling the sword from Harmodius.
And if she couldn't choke one..... Draconayzia The loss of gravity meant little to her save that her wings had to move more. And oh they hated her for it. Rage led her actions, arm going snug around Lucius' throat as the other pulled it tight against jugular and windpipe. The injured arm could not do much on it's own, but with the good arm pulling and slowly tightening it was a viable weapon. Her colors were still dark, swirling under her skin, making it hard to see where one deity ended and the other started. Perri The Hunt heard the girl's words, recognizing the speaker as one he'd met before. Godling, godling, gods... his eyes hardened when he saw the knot of people by Harmodius, a very irate Beryl among them. Something sucked strongly at him from across the room, so he crouched to the floor, digging claws into the boards, and not a moment to soon. The press of gravity suddenly lifted, and he had to pause a moment to get used to it before moving again.
Clawing his way forward as fast as he could, the Hunt moved quickly towards Lucius, wings folded tightly against his wings and camouflage still in place. Sosiqui Illumin suddenly felt a bobbing feeling of weightlessness and snarled as the pull of the gravity well increased. "Help Beryl - Lucius has harmed Harmodius!" he cried at whatever had opened the door, clinging onto the nearest bit of furniture, struggling to remain close to Memi.
Then, looking away, he sent an orb of light arrowing at Lucius. It hovered in front of him, then let off several blinding stacatto pulses of light as it vanished, in an effort to blind the god temporarily, or at least disorient him. Mintaka "What the-"Mintaka flailed, slicing her arms as she suddenly went... up. UP. Her brain was screaming loudly Things do not work like this on earth and I do not fly! very loudly, almost drowning the goddess as she flailed- Then was still as she smacked the ceiling. No more chopping one's self up flailing. She kept a hold of the pointy shiny objects, lest they float into her. "Hey, stupid!" she shouted at Lucius. At least she felt better. Oo, score one for Oblivia.
Blood was trickling out and about in crimson glory. "Oh, stay in there," she demanded of it, pushing herself around... erf... this was hard to cope with. No wings, no means of ...
"I hate you!" she screeched, failing and tying to right herself, kicking around... er, wait... door. Floating towards the door...Mintaka whirled around, shoving the knives in the ceiling. Anti-gravity + strong gravity was bad. Very bad. "So help me I'm going to pluck your wingfeathers off!" Anger was not a kind thing. Maskedquarade Memi suddenly felt herself afloat... no, that wasn't right. She was where she was before, but she was light, and her feet left the floor as she clung more tightly to the door... and they stayed afloat. "Uh?" This is a losing proposition."I don't care," she said, her hands grown clammy; Memi knew that she couldn't let go now to wipe them dry. She was being pulled, now parallel to the floor, as she tightened her fingers around the doorknob desperately. Mintaka Hell hath no fury like an angry woman with an agenda who'd just been choked. Pressing against Lucius, she sputtered, freed of the pain, but a new assault on- Lucius!
She writhed around, swinging blade up to strike at Beryl. If Harmodius didn't like one of these, how would Beryl like the other of them? Wing, arm, something to force her away. "Just give it up already, we're not trying to kill Harmodius!" she snarled as her limb arched around. Ivynian He's here somewhere...I can see the barest shimmers...but not where-Lucius howled, ducking some as the stacatto of light bursts hit his eyes which were perfectly open trying to keep stock of all his enemies. His wings both flapped impulsively with the panic, Beryl was going to go for a ride. If I can't see, I can't see his claws. Can't see. Cantcantcantcant- Maskedquarade "With a sword through the chest, I don't believe you!" Memi shouted at her. Then Lucius started flailing. Oh no... what about... "Harmodius?!" Lucius wouldn't let go, would he? Draconayzia How in the blue hades she ever managed to aim where she was thrown after going incorporeal would be an eternal mystery to her. When Lucius started flapping his wings instinct just took over. Thank the heavens it wasn't straight into that star.
Rather she landed with her feet against the wall and stood as though she were on the floor. A perfunctory *thud* of a knife in wood marked where her anchor was, a knife from the generous Insanity.
Still raging she flapped her wings as hard as she could causing patterns of wind in the room. She could not concentrate on the others just now. Not if she wanted to stop the duo from taking their Lord.
Regrets could be grieved later.
Every flap, every stroke hurt but she still sent wave after wave of cutting winds at them, kicking up the dirt from the floor, the counters, the dustbin, anything and everything she could reach and flung it all in a hurricane of tiny missles around Love and Universe. Sosiqui Illumin hissed in satsfaction as he saw Lucius recoil from the light, and prepared another orb just in case - it was all he could do, but damned if he couldn't do it well. Still it was quite hard to concentrate on that and on staying in one place at the same time... his fingers were so sore, they felt like they were on fire. The kicking of his feet as though in water had become almost a reflex, aching muscles moving only on adrenaline. "Hold fast," he called to Memi, "if you can..." Perri Eamnonn snaked towards the group, pushing off the ground at the last second, foot claws still embedded in the floor. Raising a hand that had twisted itself into a forest of claws, he wrapped it around Lucius's leg, flexing ominously and just piercing the skin. His camouflage melted away, and his mind raced towards other things he'd once been able to do.
"Stand down or I'll bleed you dry, pretty. Your femoral artery is a bad thing to puncture." The Hunt growled, feeling shadows with teeth respond to his anger. Mintaka "We do not feel very well in all of this!" Calico managed as she held onto the knives... which was carving slowly through the ceiling from the pull and grip. "Not liking one bit! OW!"One hand slipped as Min was thrown back to the forefront in the chaos and snarled, trying for the other blade and failing. Her tail wrapped about something gravitating along as well, and swung it around a few times, aiming for Lucius' legs. Can't walk far when you're in pai- *slip!*"Damnit!" she snarled as her otherhand and blade broke free and she zipped off towards the door, impacting above and losing her breath. Oh, that hurt. That hurt.... We hope that Lucius suffers much agony for this...She was fine again, aside the lashing wind and pains... at least til she heard an unfamiliar voice growling threats. She glanced down as he went visible, and hissed. Someone likely as a match in Beryl's strength...
Neutralizing them.
She concentrated. She did it once, to her host, she could focus outward. Make this maddened green one desire Beryl like nothing else. Beryl was worthy of being chased, even in the heat of things right?
At the least, trying to concentrate with a raging hard-on and a strong desire had to be a b***h. Yes... you wanted beryl little green one. Mmm...
I only hope this works. Ivynian Light will find an event horizon for this....get out of that if you could.....damnHis wings poised out, the wounded one shaking despite the rest of Lucius' stillness. Beryl's weight had torn something...he would be lamed to fly. Like a statue in all of the flying debris and lines of blood that streaked to the raging star. "So I am held, cobra..." Draconayzia Beryl's wings started to beat oddly, then broke rhythm before finally giving up all together. There were limits to everything. That was one.
Still she panted for breath, clinging to the knife hold in the wall with her working arm. The other seemed disinclined to acquiesce to her request. Damnit. If she concentrated hard enough even without her wings she could cause quite a bit of discomfort and hard breathing for the duo.
And then she saw Khivance concentrating on Eamnonn. It made her want to laugh. She was playing with something already seemingly embedded in the Hunt. After so long he should have control. Or go feral on both their hides. In any event she just clung there and tried her best to blind and sting them. Sosiqui Illumin panted, and caught the bare whisper of Lucius' words. Held? Held? "Memi, I think we did something, I think they did something," he babbled, feeling light-headed. His hands were slipping... no! He redoubled his grip on the shelf he was clinging to for dear life. What now, what now? Zero Dream There was, indeed, a limit to everything.
Echo had not been strong to begin with. The body was awkward, powers she only vaguely remembered where absent, blood spilled, the muscles ached...
It was too much. Slowly, she slid into the same inconcience that her host visibly had succumbed to, hand letting go as she simply floated, motionless.
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Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2012 12:23 pm
Broken, Dreaming She was not strong enough. She would never be strong enough. She couldn't outlive this, could she ?
It seemed like even the insides of her where burning. How could she survive, alone, stripped of those who had given her life ? They had taken her creation from her, they had taken everything, those who had remained had long since died and it hurt, it hurt, it hurt...
It threatned to consume her whole.
She could not fight her own unraveling, and she suffered alone, having sent them away (them ? Who, who, who...) in order to preserve what might be left of her own pride, preferring to fade in seclusion rather than scar them.
She had heard, of course, of many others who shared her fate, but yet she had been too weak to answer the call. Would he think she had betrayed him, or...
The last thing she saw, vision fuzzy, was him. She did not beg for her life, bit instead welcomed the darkness. The pain had finally broke her.
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Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2012 12:24 pm
Broken And Awake maskedquerade Panacea busied herself tending to Harmodius, Nev'n, Beryl, and Zero. Nev'n leg had to be cleaned out and rebandaged. Harmodius' gaping chest wound was checked every four hours. Beryl was beat all to hell. And Zero had a series of long gashes from putting herself through a window. The goddess was only 99% sure she'd gotten out all the glass shards anyway.
She hummed, taking some herbs from the garden and crushing them in her mortar. It was a medicine she was more familiar with; as an added bonus, it smelled much better than these "modern" antiseptics. Zero Dream Zero simply laid there, motionless... until she finally awakened, in a way much did when they witnessed a nightmare. She bolt up in panic, trying find one thing, only one thing that was familiar and soothing. Her eyes locked on Panacea. Memi ! No, wait, no. Those eyes. Those eyes where not Memi's, that she knew. Then, if they weren't... "Panacea ?" She asked, wincing a bit when her right foot hit the floor, and settled for sitting. "What happened here ?" Her eyes traveled to the bandages. "What happened... ?" Zero, of course, knew nothing of what happened the night before. maskedquerade "Lucius shoved a sword through Harmodius' chest, and no one liked him for it," Panacea said simply. "The shop now has no windows and a rather large hole in the roof. Move around a little, but carefully." She knelt down beside Zero with the mortar in one hand. "You'll know I didn't get all the glass out by the searing pain that will cause. I'm fairly certain I got all of it." Zero Dream Confusion was apparent on her face. She only recognized Harmodius's name. Illumin had mentioned him, didn't he ? The creator... "Oh." She said, finally understanding. "...I take it Echo tried to help. I didn't see any of it..." She glanced down at her ankle, hissing a bit as she tried to move it. "I think it's sprained..." Using logic, it would be. She wouldn't have been able to get up at all if it was broken. Or so she had been told... maskedquerade "It's not that bad, but I'll wrap it up for you all the same. The only crutches I have handy are Nev'n's, and he's about a foot taller than you are," she said thoughtfully, then shrugged. "But I've forbidden him from moving, so I might as well put teeth in it and cut them down."
Mintaka had brought in miles of gauze the night before, and Panacea had needed it. She cleaned Zero's ankle, then smeared the herbal mash over the swelling, and began to wrap the sprained ankle tightly.
"I take it that means that you can't feel any glass? I do believe Echo threw you through a broken window," Panacea said, stretching the gauze. Zero Dream "I don't think so..." She sighed a bit, forcing her leg to be immobile to aid Panacea's work, but trying to figure out if there was any other glass shards in the other wounds. "I could just hop on one foot." She shrugged. "...Or stay sitting right here like a good little girl." She sent another glance across the room. So many, wounded... It must have been horrible. "Is there anything I can help with ?" maskedquerade "Frankly, I don't care what you do, though I think it would be best if you recuperated elsewhere. With Beryl and Eamnnon refusing to leave his side, it's hard enough to maneuver," Panacea said, exasperation lacing her voice. "Don't worry about them. As of this moment, it's all maintenance unless someone decides to exert themselves." Panacea secured the gauze around Zero's ankle. "There. Is it too tight?" Draconayzia Hearing her name Wind sighed softly, making Ea's hair flutter a bit. It seemed he was still asleep. That was good.
She seemed well enough if sore until she tried to move. Then her wings rebelled. Biting her lip to keep from crying out she slowly shifted Eamnonn's wings from around her. Zero Dream "Looks allright to me..." She answered. She wanted to stay... stay with Memi, even if she wasn't there. But if Panacea wanted her out of the way, what could she do ? She was quite good at hiding her deception, however, managing to work herself up, leaning against the wall in order to keep her foot from touching the floor. "Ill go in the kitchen then... hopefully that'll give you more room." And some people might be hungry when they woke up. She sure as hell was. maskedquerade "Well, while you're here, toss me that new roll of gauze from that shelf beside your head," Panacea said, walking over to where Beryl stirred. "Good morning, such as it is, Wind." The goddess knelt beside her elder. "Do you need a rewrapping?" Draconayzia My wings...." Her breath came out as a hiss of pain. Breaking one had never hurt this much. And this pain didn't ebb.
They were a worthy distraction from her arm. Zero Dream She did as she was told before starting to limp off, waving at Beryl on the way. She would have to find something she could remain seated to prepare, or else it would be hell... But mostly... the nightmare was bothering her. It almost seemed real... too real. Was it how... Echo had died ?
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Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2012 12:25 pm
Now This Is Random Laundry always sucked. Nothing would ever change that. Ever. But what sucked more than laundry ? PUBLIC LAUNDROMATS. But clean clothes were required. She muttered something to herself in her home language, shorting the colors as best as she could without flashing her underwear to the world, checking pockets for leftover things (pockets are like black holes, you see.) But it was rare to find something you did not put there to begin with. Which was exactly what had happened. A... golden mouse? A computer mouse, at that? She couldn't help but glance around, almost expecting someone to start laughing at their prank, yet there was no reaction from any of the strangers gathered there. What the... Hey, it was kinda cute. It found it's home once again in a pocket, this time one belonging to the pants she was wearing - and hopefully would not be forgotten there.
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Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2012 12:26 pm
She shines
in a world full of ugliness.
She matters
when everything is meaningless.
Fragile, she doesn't see her beauty.
She tries to get away.
Sometimes, it's just that nothing seems worth saving.
I can't watch her slip away.
I won't let you fall apart.
"The Fragile" - Nine Inch Nails The End Of One Of Them Zero Dream The last few days had been... bizzare... to say the least. And pretty much uneventful. The teenager wasn't too sure wither or not to be thankful for this. She sighed a bit to herself, fingers running on the cords of her guitar, creating nothing specific, only random sounds. Her ankle was still hurt a bit, so she tried to walk as little as nessesary, and had it nested on the other side of the couch. It wasn't like there was anyone who would want the space for the moment, so she had decided to lay in it instead of sitting. maskedquerade Panacea came down the stairs in her nightgown. It was a bit of a splurge, but she didn't want to wear the clothes of Illumin's host forever. In fact, hardly at all would be wonderful. "Mmm." She adjusted the sleeve while she stood at the base of the stairs and listened to the random musical noises from the main gathering area.
Either Zero was around, or another god had taken up the guitar as a hobby.
99% likely to be Zero or her goddess.
She walked to the opening nearer the fireplace and looked out at the couches. Not actually seeing anyone--the girl was short after all--Panacea shrugged and said, "Are you in pain?" Zero Dream The notes stopped as the goddess spoke, and the teenager slid into a sitting position, her head becoming visible. She recognized the voice enough to know who it was. "Im not too..." And then, she saw her. "...bad." She finally finished her sentence after a few second of lagtime, and of trying to remind herself that, well, damnit, staring isn't polite. A slight melancholy slid on her face, as it did not take her a diploma to figure out what had happened. It was okay. It had to happen. Right ? Beside, it wouldn't be polite to Panacea if she followed her first instinct and reacted badly... In an strength of will she barely remembered she processed, she forced the thoughts away. She could cry later. When no one was looking. "...My ankle's still sore, but it doesn't hurt as much as she used to." She shrugged, running an hand in her hairs to try to put the bangs back in place. "What about you ? Did you rest well... ?" maskedquerade Panacea noted the pause and shrugged to herself, privately annoyed that everyone so far had been disappointed to see her. What was it about that child?
"Not particularly," Panacea said simply, coming around the sofas and kneeling beside Zero. With a glance, she could visualize the precise state of Zero's bones and muscles; the goddess began to unwrap the girl's ankle. "Now that I actually have some small measure of power, it should not take long for this to heal." Zero Dream She simply nodded as an answer, moving her guitar out of the way to allow the goddess more space to work, if she saw fit. Happy of the happenings or not, it was obvious that she, at the very least, trusted Panacea. She gently set the guitar on the opposite side that she was it, doing her best not to move the lower body in the motion. She still didn't know much about that night... Lately, Echo had been extremely quiet, and it worried her sightly... Especially after what she had seen. It was still a bit surreal to think that Memi was... gone. If it was so, she couldn't be far behind. Each time she thought she had made peace with this, dread and fright came back like a curse. "Im sorry." The words left before she could even think about them, almost unconciously. maskedquerade "It is nothing to express regret over," Panacea replied, piling the bandages on the floor neatly. She held her hand over Zero's ankle, getting a better feel for what had healed and what had not, and then started massaging the girl's ankle--swelling now that it was out of its compression bandage--with her index and middle finger.
After her touch she left glistening dots of what looked like clear gel, which the goddess rubbed into Zero's ankle. It was almost cold to the touch, and she held the ankle firmly against any muscular spasms her comparatively rough treatment might elicit. "It will begin to hurt less in a few moments," she said, sitting back and rubbing the remainder of the balm from her fingertips with her thumb. Zero Dream And it was cold - which made her shiver a bit, instinctively, even if she was doing her best to stay immobile. "Maybe... but I still felt like it had to be said." The silence was so heavy, that she didn't seem to be able to handle it at the moment. Or was it Echo's subtile influence ? At any rate, rough or not, the motion did not hurt all that much, or, at least, as much as Zero thought it would. She simply closed her eyes, and tried to empty her mind. maskedquerade A long bandage unwound itself from Panacea's wings and fell to the floor, coiled like a snake. One end rose up, bobbing as if to scent the air, and then took off in the direction of Zero's ankle. Hoisting itself up on the couch cushion, it then began to wind itself around her ankle, putting gentle pressure on the damaged joint.
Panacea watched and directed it, eyes darting around to follow the loose end as it tucked itself neatly into itself. How convenient. "There." maskedquerade Her eyes calmly went open, and she watched the process with unhidden fascination, unhidden curiosity. This all seemed to amazing. So soon and... And what would she be able to do ? "Arigato, ne-" She caught herself in mid-sentence. "Thank you. Is there anything I can do for you ?" maskedquerade "I don't think so," Panacea said, perhaps a bit brusquely. "But if I think of something, I'll let you know." She brushed the last of the gel from her fingers and studied Zero's other bandages. "And your lacerations?" Today, it seemed, Panacea was all business. Zero Dream The harshness stung. She bit her lip silently... It was almost as if there was a rift. But she didn't want to think about it. "Most of them closed." She, visibly, gave up on idle conversation. "Only the bigger ones are left." maskedquerade "Are you satisfied with that, or do you want them looked at?" Panacea asked, somewhat impatiently. What had she come down here for anyway? She shifted her wings, the bandages hanging from them like serpents from a tree. Zero Dream "No, no, it's alright." She shook her head a bit. The goddess had better things to do, it seemed... and it was a miracle she had not broken down yet. "I should get going, anyway..." She didn't even bother to make up a reason, taking her guitar with her hand, before getting up and pretty much using it at a crutch. She only managed a wave with her free hand before she was gone.
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Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2012 12:27 pm
Heaven's gates won't open up for me
With these broken wings I'm fallin'
And all I see is you
These city walls ain't got no love for me
I'm on the ledge of the eighteenth story
And oh, I scream for you
Come please I'm callin'
And all I need from you
Hurry I'm fallin', I'm fallin'
Show me what it's like
To be the last one standing
"Saving Me" - Nickelback As The World Falls Apart The calm, odd strength lasted until the door of her part of Beryl's room closed, and the guitar safely put aside. And then it all shattered, like glass. She crumpled, fell onto the ground, screaming as loud as she was able, but it quickly dissolved into almost chaotic sobs. Lyric was the first to know, the first to notice - the spirit almost knew this the second the girl had stepped in, and was at her side almost at the same time as Vertigo, the feline trying to lick the salty tears away from her face, purring like 10 engines as if it would make her stop crying... "Zero, what..." The spirit knew it had to be something awful, something grave. It was only more evident when she looked at him, usually bright blue eyes now dull and empty. "She's... She's.... She's gone." She kept sobbing, even if she wished she could stop. "Damnit, she's GONE !" Lyric knew exactly who she was talking about. The little girl. Memi. Her... plan of short had been extremely evident. In Zero's head, she was hoping to be the first to go... a little selfish wish of hers, a hope that she wouldn't have to face this. But it was not to be. "Damnit, I... I didn't even.... get to say.... goodbye.... I..." The rest was lost, in incoherent sobs, and it was probably better that way. Lyric could not find words, but instead he slid... curled around her in the best way that a spirit could hug someone else, whispering at her ear, anything, everything, any words that might end her pain, even if it was hopeless and futile... Tried to console this teenager he had grown so attached to, trying to get some of this burden of grief away from her. Minutes became half-hours, that finally became a whole hour of this... the teen only stopping when she had no more tears to shed, and no more energy to create new ones, and gave in, closing her eyes to sleep, if only to forget, for a moment, that this day had ever happened, at all. Hoping that, when she woke up tomorrow, Memi would be there... The chime spirit sighed to himself.. not abandoning his post. He could not carry her to the bed - so his presence would have to do. Vertigo could only curl beside the two and continue his purring... and Yoko, having watched all of this from her perch, could do little more but try to send her good dreams.
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