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 Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2012 11:18 pm
Dragon Slayer, Dragon Savior
Crispin?
"Yeah?" Crispin replied, looking up from the book he'd been reading. He still hadn't gotten the hang of thinking at Shaiming, but while they were alone - what did it matter? "What's up?"
I need to speak with you. The dragon's 'voice' was serious, and a bit of misgiving crept into the pit of Crispin's stomach.
"Um. Sure. What about?" He glanced around to make sure Toki wasn't in the room, but the Aoide seemed to be occupied elsewhere. "Is something bothering you?"
I must speak to you about myself, Crispin. There are things you must know...
"Okay. Shoot," Crispin said, trying to stay casual, but his stomach knotted. Whatever Shaiming had to say, it was definitely not going to be sunshine and roses.
In the past... you know already that I am no mere god, but a Dragon King, one of nine sworn to Lord Harmodius. My title is the Starscale Consort, the Worldshield... the powers I wield are for protecting the realm of men from the strength of the gods. Though I do not hold those powers now; my rebirth is yet too new... but they would do this world much good. A note of anguish, of guilt, came into the dragon's mental tone. Though I am sworn to my Lord and love him fiercely with a loyalty unshakeable, the truth remains thus: the unbridled power of Destruction is devouring the worlds. Do you understand me?
Crispin looked stunned. "I.. but..."
This world was not always so. There was a garden outside, Crispin, a garden! Stars in the sky! Life in the streets! And now there is but wrack and ruin and I am called too late, too late... Shaiming sounded more forceful and - angry? - than he ever had, and Crispin was shocked by his intensity. We must climb to power by tooth and nail, my host, my child... and we must do it as soon as we can before all worlds are destroyed and we are the gods of nothing at all, lords over dust and bones. And then we die again, for dust and bones will sustain nothing, not even gods...
Crispin swallowed, hard. "I... is there anything I can do...?" Then, he blinked. "Wait. All worlds...?"
Were I able to show you your own, I promise you that it, too, would show the mark of Destruction's power. Not in the same way as this, and not quite so intense as this area - for this is the focus, the center - but the taint is there. And strengthening. The dragon sounded very tired. I am sorry.
The boy was silent for a long moment. His friends, his parents... how long ago had it been since he really thought about them? What must they think of his vanishing without a trace... for all they knew, he was dead. And here he'd been running around fantasy-land like a giddy child!
"No... it's not your fault," he said, finally. "Just... just tell me what I can do."
You are afraid.
"Damn right I am!" Crispin shouted, his voice echoing sharply and suddenly. "How could I not be? But... I can still do things even though I'm scared, right?"
That is the soul of true courage, my boy. Approval warmed Crispin from the inside. Truth be told, I think there is nothing you can do, not at this time - for it is time we wait for. Until that time for the next step comes, we must wait... but I will speak with you, and teach you all I can.
"Why? I'm just gonna... gonna vanish, right?" He squirmed a bit. Confronting his own mortality was not pleasant.
I have my reasons. It will prove a distraction if naught else. But - I wanted you to know the truth. Any less would be dishonorable.
"Thank you," Crispin said, and meant it. "Honest."
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Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2012 11:19 pm
Toki's Plushie
No, no. That star system is several million light-years beyond that one... your scale is completely off! Please pay attention, Shaiming scolded his host, mentally.
Crispin, who was sitting at the desk with a pile of books and papers in front of him, looked aggrieved. "Aw, come on... astronomy is cool and all, but this isn't even a proper sky!"
Just because this chart is not the cosmos of your world does not make it improper, the dragon replied, firmly. Attention to detail is vital, most especially in the reaches of the stars! They are fragile things, in their way. Now...
The afternoon dragged on forever, or so it seemed to Crispin. Shaiming had taken his promise to teach his host very seriously, and now it seemed there wasn't a waking moment when the dragon wasn't peppering him with one question or another, or trying to force some kind of knowledge into his brain.
Thus, it was with great relief that Crispin heard the door open, and looked up eagerly to see Toki coming in with a tray of food. "All right! Snack time!" he said, pushing back from the desk and getting up so quickly that a swirl of papers tumbled to the floor. Shaiming sighed in the back of his mind, but he ignored the dragon in favor of Toki's tray. "Whatcha got?"
"Yes, yes, young master... tomato soup, bread, cheese, and coffee."
"Coffee! Awesome," Crispin said with relish, snagging the mug off of the tray and taking a long sip. He felt Shaiming recoil from the taste, and couldn't help but be a bit smug - with the dragon's usual insistence on tea, it was nice when Shaiming got to be the one going "ugh" for a change. "Thanks, Toki! You're the best."
"You flatter me," Toki said, but he was pleased. Yet he put the tray down, Crispin spotted something odd... well, something odd that wasn't garden-variety odd... about him.
"Toki? What's that?" Crispin pointed with his free hand. The Aoide had something black and soft-looking tucked under one arm.
"Oh, this? I found it outside the door, young master!" Toki pulled whatever-it-was out with a huge grin. "Isn't it the sweetest thing?"
Crispin blinked. The black thing was, in fact, a plush cat, all black, made of soft cloth and floppy filling. It had a cute face stitched on and was generally adorable. "Uh, yeah, it's pretty cute... but it was outside the door?"
"Perhaps an offering. Oh! Your first offering in your new form, barring my own, my lord!" Toki bobbed up and down in a series of short, eager bows. "How exciting! I will enshrine it at once in memory of this momentous day!"
That will not be needed, Toki... Shaiming said, his mental voice rich with amusement and just a hint of confusion.
"Shaiming says you don't have to-" Crispin began, but the Aoide was off down the hall, twirling with the plushie and humming under his breath.
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Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2012 11:19 pm
Dear Gods, What Is That Thing?
One week later...
Crispin slept soundly that night, wearied from study. Shaiming had thrown him into studies with an intense determination, everything from the histories of the gods and the study of the stars to less-obvious fields of research, like diplomacy and etiquette. It had all been fun at first, and to some extent it still was, but Shaiming wasn't willing to teach a few hours a day and then let it go. It was 100%, all the way.
That day, there had been something a bit more exciting than a pile of books and papers; Toki had brought back a sword, a real b*****d sword, and the dragon had set Crispin to that as well. Still, Crispin was fast learning that real swords were rather heavy and difficult to swing, and the strenuous practice made his muscles ache powerfully.
So he lay curled up in the center of the bed, sore and exhausted, and slept through the black night... that is, until a noise came from the armoire across the way, where Toki had carefully set the kitten plush. It sounded like a few soft creaks at first, but quickly grew into a long, sharp tearing sound as stitches split...
"Mrgggh..." It was loud enough to wake Crispin, who sat up blearily, rubbing his eyes and fumbling for his glasses. "Whassit?"
Something inside the armoire creaked, and Crispin squinted at it. "Whosat?"
Creeeaaak....
The door shoved open a bit, and that sent a shiver up Crispin's spine. "Uhm. Toki? Tooooki? Is that you?"
No answer except for a soft, quiet pit-a-pat noise from inside the armoire.
"Um... heh heh... Shaiming?!" He hissed the god's name with urgency, now fully awake and aware.
Mmm? The dragon's voice was sleepy too; apparently he hadn't gotten the creeped-out adrenaline message that Crispin's brain was sending to the rest of his body, as goosebumps spread over his arms.
"You're not... doing anything, are you?"
I'm sleeping, Shaiming replied, a bit out of sorts.
"Uh."
The door creaked again, and something fell out, flopping to the floor with a distinct squelch.
"Uhhhhhhhm." Crispin quickly scooted to the edge of the bed and fumbled for the sword he'd left leaning against the nightstand. "Toookiiiii?"
Whatever was on the floor scrabbled around, but said nothing.
What's making that noise? How odd, Shaiming put in, his curiousity now raised.
"Well, thanks for joining the party!" Crispin steeled himself, one hand firmly holding onto the sheathed sword, and inched the other free hand towards the light switch.
Scritch... scritch... taptaptaptaptap...
"Ah-HAH!" Crispin yelled, flicking the light on at the same moment. Brightness flooded the room, and he scrambled to peer over the edge of the bed at...
At Toki's cat plushie, which now had a grotesque and bloody hand forced out of its back. A hand which was now dragging itself around the floor, making the formerly cute stitched face flop around in a terrifyingly unnatural fashion.
"AUUUUUUUUUGH!" Crispin screamed, and catapulted out of bed. Immediately, the hand started flopping towards him, moving itself on its fingertips, the cat body twisting in the air above it. "Get away! GET AWAY!!"
How uncouth... but it's only a stuffed animal, Crispin... Shaming attempted to push a calming air onto his host, but the boy was having none of it.
"Oh man... get away!" Crispin danced back again as the hand pattered towards him, then darted for the open hallway. A door, a door... door!
SLAM!
Crispin threw the bathroom door closed and locked it tightly, then leaned against it shaking from the adrenaline. "What the hell..."
Something scratched at the door, and he recoiled and jumped back into the bathtub. "Augh!"
... sigh...
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Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2012 11:20 pm
The Great Escape, and What Came of ItMeepfur Three days after going home, Seppa had run away again; oh, she wouldn't stay away so long this time, but the house and all the visitors - mourners, she thought - were stifling. She needed out, away from the suffocating mood of the house, even if it meant going back to the chaos of the outside.
And eventually to the ashy, familiar dark of the Edelsteine shop, where she curled herself up on one of the couches to think. She'd thought all the surprises were over, that all she had left to do now was wait.
It had never crossed her mind that in a month's time, she'd be making a nest for herself...and not to die in.
Seppa wasn't sure how she felt about that yet. Sosiqui Crispin, most courageously (or so he thought) had finally emerged from his bathroom barricade upstairs, having darted from bathroom to hallway with no looking back, just waiting to feel the grip of the hand on his ankles the whole way. He slammed the door behind him, left the sword leaning on the wall near it - might give others the wrong idea if he came downstairs brandishing a weapon, after all - then bolted downstairs and skidded into the kitchen, leaning against the fridge and panting. Oh, well and bravely done, Shaiming said after a long moment, dryly, as if he couldn't quite believe the situation. "Shut... *gasp* Shut up," Crispin managed. "With... all due respect..." I told you, it is an Aoide manifestation in progress. It won't hurt you, as a host. It will come to serve you. The dragon explained calmly, for what seemed like the hundredth time. "Then it had better quit being so creepy," the boy mumbled, then turned around to open the cabinets. "Man, I'm starving!" You were in there for quite some time. A whole day? Please do not damage my body with malnutrition."Mmf. It's my body until the fat lady sings," Crispin said, finding a baguette and tearing the end off before taking a huge bite. A bit more rummaging in the fridge produced a chunk of cheese and an apple, and Crispin carried the whole thing out to one of the couches and started stuffing his face. Consequently, it took him a moment to notice Seppa, but when he did, his eyes widened with wonder. "Mfftyt!" he said loudly, through a spray of crumbs. Shaiming facepalmed internally. Manners, wolf child!Crispin swallowed. "Mmf, sorry. Dude, it's a giant kitty!" He beamed at Seppa, obviously unsure if she could talk or not, but not discounting either possibility right away. Meepfur Seppa wasn't expecting company...much less a spectacle. One eye cracked open, she watched the young man from her spot on the couch, bemused. It was hard to figure out what the conversation was about when you could only hear half of it.
The pard regarded him quietly until he finally took notice of her. She raised her head, sniffing curiously in his direction. Cheese! Seppa loved cheese.
"Did you leave anything in there for the rest of us?" she asked in her mindvoice, offering him a feline smile and glancing towards the fridge. Sosiqui Crispin blinked, then broke out into a huge grin. "Dude! Telepathy! That is SO cool." He practically sparkled at Seppa. "Sure, there's still stuff in there. I was just really hungry after being locked in the bathroom for so long. What's your name? I'm Crispin." Shaiming let out a long-suffering mental sigh, but said nothing. Meepfur "I'm glad you approve." Seppa chortled at Crispin. He seemed so...so happy. When had she last been around someone so cheerful?
"Pleased to meet you, Crispin," she said, slipping smoothly off the couch to have a look in the fridge herself. The pard hooked her paw deftly in the handle, pulling the door open and poking her head in. "Locked in the bathroom?" she inquired absently. "That's a funny place to be." Sosiqui Crispin looked aside for a moment, embarassed. "Well, the Aoide brought a stuffed cat, and it was cute and all, but then a day or so ago this horrible hand burst out of it, and now it's crawling around my rooms!" He twitched. "And the bathroom's the only room with a lock..." She feels familiar, Shaiming said, suddenly. Inquire for me, will you? Ask if she bears a jewel."Um..." Crispin looked awkward. "My... er..." What if she didn't have a jewel, or had no idea? Then he'd just look stupid. "Do you have some kind of a special jewel?" he asked, finally. "Miss... er... what was your name, again?" Meepfur "You have a...living hand in your room? Like Thing?" Seppa couldn't remember anymore whose idea it had been to put that weird movie - what was it called? - in one night. Taru's, probably.
Aha! The pard's tail lashed behind her in excitement as she stuck her head further into the fridge and seized a good-sized chunk of a plastic-wrapped, pale cheese in her jaws. She backed herself out and pawed the door closed before answering Crispin.
Hadn't she told him her name? No, wait, she hadn't...she'd been too intent on exploring the fridge to remember. "Seppa," she supplied, sauntering back over to the couch with her prize. "And yeah, I've got one. Some dragon guy everyone seems to think is special." Sosiqui "Yes... yes! Like Thing, exactly like it! Only it has a cat plushie on the other end and... man, it's hard to explain. But it's there! Seriously." Crispin followed up his hurried defense with another bite of food. "I'm not sure what I'm gonna do about it." You're going to not worry about it, as befits a host of dragons - as she also seems to be. Please inquire further, Shaiming prodded. "Yeah, yeah," Crispin mumbled, then swallowed. "Hey, a dragon, that's cool. That's what I've got too, see?" He tugged aside the blue scarf he'd gotten in the habit of wearing, and displayed the band of dragon visible from the front. "The gem's on my back, though. How about you?" Meepfur "That sounds...singularly bizarre. I don't blame you for locking yourself in the bathroom. I think I would have bitten it." Curling up on the couch again, she carefully unsheathed her claws to drag lightly across the wrapped cheese. This stuff was always such a silly bother.
"You have one, too?" Seppa perked her ears, lifting her head to look. "Lucky," she murred, before she spread her jaws wide open to illustrate just why she thought so. "Zhijian's in here." Sosiqui "In your MOUTH?" Crispin cringed. "How'd it get in there? That's not very nice. I don't think much of whoever's gem that is. The dragon king I, um, have, is called Shaiming. Maybe they know each other!" Zhijian... hm, was Shaiming's only response. Meepfur "I was carrying it," she explained. "Albi gave it to me, and I was going to take it back to my room." Her ears fell back a little, and she bent her head again to start picking at the wrapping on her cheese. "I don't think much of him either, to be honest. Maybe they do know each other, but he doesn't talk to me much. I tell him not to, it bothers me."
"I take it Shaiming actually asked you, then." Why did she have to get stuck with a rude one? Sosiqui "Yeah, he did... yours didn't? Um. I'm sorry. The other guy with a dragon jewel that I met had his just kinda take it too." Crispin squirmed, clearly uncomfortable with the whole idea. "But Shaiming talks to me all the time! He's really important, I think... and we're kinda waiting until he can grow. As a god, I mean. So he can stop some of all the destruction and the mess..." Meepfur "Oh? You're the only other person I've met with a dragon. Ohh drat," she complained, working her mouth open and shut as she tried to dislodge a piece of the cheese's wrapping form between her teeth. "I hate plastic."
After a few moments, she managed to work the offending scrap loose and spit it out. "Illumin made the dragons out to be very important, but beyond that I don't know very much. Do you really think they can fix all this?" Sosiqui "Do you need help? It must be hard, without hands," Crispin said, tilting his head at the pard. "Who's Illumin?" He was vaguely aware that Shaiming was thinking, hard, and the intrusion of the dragon's thoughts was clouding his own. Mmm. Offer my greetings to Lord Zhijian, he said, finally. "Um. And Shaiming offers his greetings to Lord Zhijian," Crispin added. Meepfur "Could you?" Seppa lifted her head, brightening. "Maybe I should have been a Plastic Mage," she joked. "Then I could actually get to my food." She pushed the block of cheese towards Crispin with a paw. "Illumin is Light. He stepped on my tail." The greeting offered from one King to another caused Zhijian to stir and wake within the pard's mind. And Zhijian gives his own greetings to Lord Shaiming.Seppa considered being spiteful and not relaying the information, but after a moment of hesitation she gave in. "Zhijian returns them to Lord Shaiming," she repeated, somewhat unhappily. Sosiqui "Of course!" Crispin grinned and unwrapped the cheese, setting it down on a plate in front of Seppa. "There you go. I'll wash the plate too, when you're done with it... that's kinda hard to do without thumbs." Shaiming acknowledged the greeting with a quiet hum, then thought some more. Crispin shook his head to try and keep coherent. "Man, whoever your dragon king is... he's sure making Shaiming think a lot. It's hard to hear myself think when he's so busy!" That's indiscreet, Shaiming scolded, at once. Well then. Please inquire for me about the Twin Crown. Has he spoken with our Lord yet? "Oh, fine, now he's mad at me," Crispin said, rolling his eyes, but his tone and expression were cheerful. "Shaiming says that he wants to know about the Twin Crown, and if Zhijian has spoken with him yet...?" Meepfur "Thank you," Seppa purred. A plate, even! Crispin was such a nice boy. It was a pity he was going to get eaten, even if it was willing.
"Zhijian's considerate enough to keep to himself, I do have to give him that. Sometimes I can almost forget he's there." At least he gave her peace and quiet instead of chattering or hmm'ing away.I do not know what about me merits such deep thought, he said, bemused. Zhijian didn't bother dictating their answer - the pard could anser that question herself.The mage set into her plate of cheese - she didn't have to worry abou talking with her mouth full. "Destruction? No, neither of us has, for all I keep hearing about him." Sosiqui "I saw him once, before Shaiming talked to me the first time," Crispin said, quietly. "He was... very big, and very imposing... a lot of power there." Understatement."Hush. Er, that was for Shaiming, not you... but yeah, he just gave me Shaiming's gem and told me he'd share me into his magic. Shaiming's magic, I mean, not Destruction's." Meepfur "I think I'll count it as a good thing that I've never met him," she said. "Maybe I'll get lucky and never will. I don't think we'd get along very well."
"Shaiming's magic, hmm?" Seppa chewed carefully. "Is that why you did it?" Sosiqui "Um... I guess so." Crispin looked thoughtful. "I mean, the world I'm from doesn't have any magic at all, y'know? But we have books about it, fiction and stories and games too, and I always loved it, so when I had a chance to try real magic... I took it. But Shaiming told me who he was and what he wanted before I took the gem as part of me. I knew..." He looked down. "I knew it'd be the end, but... it's magic. It's my only chance to be anything like a hero." He smiled, crookedly. Meepfur There was something strangely sweet and sad about Crispin's longing, and the way he'd found to fill his want to have something greater. Be something greater.
"I've never really dreamed of much," she confessed. "Sometimes now I wonder if I should have. But magic's always been a part of my life." Eyeing his glasses, she felt for them with her gift...metal wire, that would work. With a brief moment of concentration, she lifted them just a little from his nose, gently. Sosiqui "Well, you can dream about being a go-HEY!" Crispin flailed and grabbed at his glasses, jamming them back onto his face before giving Seppa a vaguely hurt look. "Be nice to those! I don't have any spares!" The pained expression quickly smoothed out into a smile, though. "That's cool. Hey, can you do that on this?" He quickly rummaged through a nearby drawer and came up with a butter knife. Meepfur Seppa laughed - a very strange imitation of a human sound, formed in a feline throat. "Don't worry, I wouldn't break them. Well, I could, but I wouldn't."
"Of course," she answered when presented with the dull, serrated knife, lifting it from his hand to spin slowly counter-clockwise in the air. Sosiqui "That's so neat! Are there more of you somewhere? Can they all do magic?" Crispin passed his hands over and under the levitating knife, all agog at it. An unusual skill in a host, especially for Zhijian... but she seems quite proficient, Shaiming observed. Meepfur "That's easy to do." Amused by his awe, she floated the knife over to herself to rest on an upturned paw. "There are pards all over Gaia, but only about a tenth have gifts. There are healers, seers, mages like me, even prophets now and then."
"Mages have specialties - mine is metal. We're also the only ones who can speak like this." Seppa was proud to be what she was.
...she also had a touch of show-off in her. Unable to resist entertaining the boy further, she focused her attention and skill on the knife once more, this time with the intention of changing its very substance. Very slowly, starting at the handle, it began to turn to gold. Sosiqui "Wow..." Crispin leaned in and watched as the knife began to change. "You'd better keep it a secret that you can do that. I bet there's lots of people who'd love that kind of power," he said, looking soberly at Seppa, with a worried expression on his face. Meepfur "You're right," she said distantly, the spread of the change slowing as she divided her attention to speak. "But I'm safe enough. I live with a large pride, and a woman named Sabah. I think she would be fearsome thing to contend with for anyone who did us ill."
"Although I would prefer of course not to find out. Don't tell on me, hmm?" Crispin's concern was touching. Sosiqui "No, of course not!" Crispin shook his head. "It's just, y'know, I know a lot of stories about people or things or animals that can make gold, and it doesn't often end well. But that's fairy tales for you..." Crispin? I think we'd best be getting back soon, Shaiming cut in, prodding at his host. Crispin winced. "Hang on, Shaiming..." No. I know you're trying to avoid confronting that thing, but you cannot hide down here! Thank Seppa and let's go! And give my farewell to Zhijian.The boy sighed. "Um. Shaiming wants me to go back upstairs and confront the nasty hand-thing that's crawling around up there. I don't really want to..." Meepfur "Yeah, that's fairy tales," she agreed, urging the change to spread further. Usually she wasn't bothered by the time it took, but with an audience it felt like it took so much longer. At least it went more quickly than it would have if she'd been changing a soft metal into a harder one.
When Crispin said he had to go, Seppa raised her head, stopping the steel's transformation to something softer. "Here, take this," she said, floating the knife back his way.
"You could always stab it." The suggestion wasn't actually a serious one. Sosiqui "Thanks, but it's okay - I have a sword, I just left it upstairs." Crispin smiled. "If I need to stab it, I have a big blade..." You may not stab it, I told you."Pft. Shaiming says I shouldn't stab it, but I don't know why. It's creepy. Well..." Crispin sighed. "I guess I'd better get going. Nice to meet you, Seppa - I live upstairs, in the room with the dragon and moon on the door. Feel free to drop by if you want to, okay? And don't mind Toki, he's a nice Aoide... ignore the bunny ears." Meepfur "I don't know why you shouldn't stab it, either," she put in, pulling the declined knife back to herself. Not that she had any particular use for a half-gold, half-stainless-steel utensil.
"It was good to meet you, too, Crispin. Thank you." Seppa favored him with a feline approximation of a smile. "Try not to let Thing get to you too much."
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Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2012 11:21 pm
The Ultimate Showdown of Ultimate Destiny
After speaking with Seppa, Crispin reluctantly crept back up the stairs and hesitated by the door to his chambers. The b*****d sword was still leaning against the wall there, sheathed and waiting for him... but, worse, he could hear the faint, creepy tap-drag noise that meant it was still waiting for him too.
Well, my boy... now's the time to show your quality, Shaiming said, prodding him. If you can't conquer this foe...
"I know, I know," Crispin gulped, and picked up the sword. It was cold and heavy in his hands, and he unsheathed it and let the scabbard fall to the floor for now. "What should I do, though? Do you want me to... kill it?"
No! I told you, it's not a monster... or, if it is a monster now, it will not remain so! It's an Aoide, a servant of the gods, nearly ready to be born... I think.
"You think! Pff," Crispin sighed. "So if I can't kill it, then what?"
Cow it. Do not let it terrify you! You wanted magic, well... magic has its monsters. You know this.
The boy squirmed. "Yeah... I guess," he admitted. "Okay... um..." Crispin steeled himself, and reached for the doorknob with his free hand. "Ummm... HIYA!"
With that yell, he flung the door open, and dramatically leveled the sword's blade at....
....
absolutely nothing.
"Um." Crispin took a step back. "Where'd it go?"
Shaiming prodded him. It matters not. Advance!
Crispin gulped, but made himself walk forward into the room, easing the door closed behind him. There was no sign of anything, no sound, nothing. "Toki? Are you here?" No answer.
You must find it. You must face it if you are to conquer your fear! Shaiming insisted.
"I think I would have rather it have thrown itself at my face when I opened the door, instead of having to look for it," Crispin complained, creeping slowly over to look under one of the chairs. "Um. Creepy thiiing... where aaare you... come on out, you horrible creature..."
There was a tap-drag behind him, and a shiver ran up Crispin's spine. Slowly, he turned to see the hand standing on its fingertips, the mangled cat plushie flopping grotesquely atop the the thing's wrist as if in challenge.
"Um." Crispin took a step back, and the hand scootched forward a bit, the fingernails clicking on the floor. "Could you... please stop that?" he squeaked.
The hand paused - and then, abruptly, flung itself at his ankles.
"Gah!" Crispin jumped backwards, then brought the sword down flat-first to bat at the thing. There was a clang and a brief spurt of sparks as the blade hit the ground. "Dude, seriously, quit it!"
Corner it! Show it you are the master here!
"I'm trying, I'm - AUGH! Get off get off GET OFF!" Crispin flailed as the thing clamped around one ankle, the grip cold and clammy. "Shaimiiiiing!" He tried to whack at the plushie with the sword, but the angle was odd.
Don't just flop around at random! You'll cut off your own leg and then where will you be? Shaiming scolded, and Crispin felt an insistent flow of calm radiating from the dragon's psyche. Take control!
Crispin gritted his teeth, then let the sword drop to the ground with a clatter - and lunged for the plushie with both hands. "Knock! It! Off!" He grabbed it by the torn plush body and pulled, falling over onto the ground himself as he lost his balance. "Let GO!"
Well done! Sometimes you must take things into your own hands - just because you have a weapon, it doesn't mean that using it is automatically the correct solution, Shaiming counseled as Crispin tried to work the thing's fingers off of his ankle.
"Ngh... let... GO!" Crispin pulled back at another finger, and suddenly the hand released, falling limply back and twitching slightly at him. He picked it up quickly by the cat-tail and let it dangle in front of him, at arm's length. "Oh man, you're icky..."
The hand twitched and wiggled its fingers at him in a gesture that might have been obscene.
"Oh, come on! Look, I'm bigger than you, AND I have a sword, AND I have a dragon god, so... so don't mess with this!" Crispin declared, standing up and giving the dangling hand a glare. "I... I guess you can stay here, but you have to shape up! Otherwise, you're out of here! Got it?"
The thing flailed at him a bit more, but Crispin held on tightly, and after a few minutes it fell quiet, hanging limply.
"Got it?" Crispin insisted, shaking it a bit.
Finally, the hand waggled its fingers in a gesture of acknowledgement.
"You promise?"
The hand waggled again.
"Um. Okay then." And Crispin let it drop, keeping his glare focused on it.
The hand flopped on the floor, then meekly crept over to Crispin and flipped the cat-plushie part up at him to be petted.
Well done, Shaiming said, warmly.
"Um. Thanks?" Crispin felt shaky now that it was all over, but... well, there was a definite sense of accomplishment. He reached down tentatively and brushed the plush fur, and the hand waggled in pleasure.
"Oh! How lovely... see, I knew you would be friends!" Crispin turned to see Toki entering the room, beaming in delight at the tableau before him. "What a precious scene!"
"..."
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Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2012 11:22 pm
Ninja of the Night
Crispin looked contentedly up at the ceiling from his place in bed, feeling happier than he had in a while. Things had settled down... the education Shaiming had been giving him was getting more interesting now that they were done with star charts... he was actually getting more fit so that the sword practice wasn't so draining and painful... and the truce with Thing (as he'd dubbed the hand-cat) was holding.
Yep. At this precise moment, life was pretty good. Crispin rolled onto his side and nestled into the blankets, yawning and closing his eyes. "Mmm. 'Night, Shaiming."
Good night, mine host. The dragon was radiating pleasure back at him, too; the lessons had gone well today. The rest was well-deserved.
Crispin let himself drift off in the direction of sleep for several glorious minutes of warmth and comfort... when, suddenly, an odd ripping noise sounded through the room. It sounded disturbingly familiar.
"... What was that?" Crispin groaned and pulled the blanket over his head. "Please tell me Thing isn't changing into something nastier."
I wouldn't know. I can't see through blankets and closed eyelids any more than you can, Shaiming said, a little peeved.
"Fine, fine... no more cowering, gotcha..." Crispin sat up, tugging the blankets off his head, when suddenly something hit the bed with a massive whomph!
Crispin yelped as he felt arms wrap around him, and squeeze, and he struggled as best he could, waiting for the end that was surely coming, oh gods...
"My lord! Oh, my lord, my lord, myyyyyyy LORD!" was what came instead, a gleeful and high-pitched voice speaking at approximately the speed of light. Something yanked the blanket the rest of the way off of his head and began... licking his cheek?
"Hey! Hey, come on, whatever you are, let go!" Crispin protested, trying to get away, and managed to squirm out of the thing's grip. He clambered to the edge of the bed, and then looked back, fumbling for the light switch.
And there, perched in the middle of his bed, looking forlorn with the blankets gathered up in her arms, was a girl.
With cat ears.
And a tail.
And wearing a big smile.
And nothing else!
Crispin stared.
"Master!" the catgirl squealed, and scrambled towards him.
The blush suffused Crispin's face so fast it felt like his cheeks would burn off from the heat, but he jumped out of the bed and backed away from her. "Um... hang on! Who are you?" he stammered.
The catgirl paused on the edge of the bed and looked hurt, pouting at him. "I'm Nebula! I finally got out of that nasty nasty place I'd been stuck in for so long... and now you won't even hug me?"
Crispin, she is the Aoide we've been waiting for Thing to produce, Shaiming cut in, quickly. No doubt she sensed my presence and was drawn to you.
"I... you surprised me... um..." Crispin inched up to the bed and cautiously put one arm around the catgirl's back, blushing fiercely.
She threw herself forward, making him stagger, and he was acutely aware of her... endowments... pressing warmly against him. "I missed you!"
"Ummmm...." Crispin flailed for some semblance of coherency. While he was deeply grateful that Thing was gone now, this was... um...
Tell her who you are, who I am, and take her fealty. I do not remember her; she is new-born, Shaiming instructed, and Crispin felt the dragon swiping at the naughty thoughts currently pervading his mind.
"Um." He took a deep breath, and managed to duck free of the catgirl's glomp. "I am Crispin, and I'm the host of Shaiming, the Dragon King, Starscale and Worldshield. You owe your loyalty to him, not to me..."
The gleeful Aoide immediately dropped to one knee and bowed, her tail lashing gently against her flanks. "I am too forward. I apologize, my lord..." she said, with surprising restraint considering her prior behavior.
"Um. It's okay? Just.. dial it down later?" Crispin managed.
"I swear unending fealty to you, my lord Shaiming... I would count myself richly honored if I could serve you for the rest of my days. I am Nebula, She-Who-Paws-Among-Stars. Truly we are well matched!"
I accept your fealty, Nebula, Shaiming said. Rise now, and speak with Toki, my first servant... he will meet you, and teach you. My host is weary now, however, and we would sleep.
Crispin relayed the words, and Nebula bowed her head in shame. "Yes, my lord... I am sorry for disturbing your rest!" She stood up quickly, and darted on tiptoes to the doorway. "I will not trouble you further! Rest well!"
And with that, she was gone, leaving Crispin stunned and blinking after her.
"What... the hell..."
Easily excitable, but she will be of use. Shaiming directed a mental thwap at Crispin. Now, to bed! You must be well-rested, for tomorrow will be a busy day.
"Ow! Yes, sir," Crispin grumbled, climbing back into bed and fixing the mussed blankets.
But it took him a while to get to sleep, and when he did, he dreamed of flicking cat tails, giggles and licks, and... pillows...
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Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2012 11:23 pm
Winter Memories
Something resembling snow was drifting down outside the shop today - it was more gray than white, and fell slushily down to be vaporized by the hot vapors rising off of the lava below, but it was close enough to make Crispin feel homesick. He looked out the window wistfully, remembering.
A penny for your thoughts? Shaiming said, softly.
"Pft, you don't have to pay... you could dig in whenever you wanted," Crispin said, but he smiled. "Thanks. Um... I dunno. It reminds me of home. I guess it'd be nearly Christmas there... I bet my parents are worried about me, and my friends too. But I haven't thought of them much. We've been so busy... and every time I feel lonely, you're there."
The dragon chuckled, radiating warmth and kindness to his host. It is true... though, do not let my presence stop you from considering those you care for. And I must again apologize for calling you away... if it was in my power, I would let you go back and see them once more...
"No... it's okay. It kinda comes with the territory, I guess... magic and heroing and stuff like that isn't meant to be easy." Crispin sighed, and watched another handful of flakes evaporate into steam. "I'm used to it. I only hope they are too... if you ever can, will you tell them what happened? And give them some kind of blessing or whatever you do?"
Of course. There was silence, as Shaiming thought. In the future...
"Hm?"
... No, nothing. The dragon sighed mentally, the feeling washing across Crispin's consciousness with an odd tingle. There is much to be done. Time marches on, and we must rise to meet it, you and I.
"I'll try my best." Crispin looked up at the mottled and ferocious clouds above, that distantly crackled lightning and thunder both. "I hope they're doing okay, on Earth... I don't want to fail them."
You won't. Keep your courage and your mind, everything I give you, and you won't.
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Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2012 11:24 pm
A Meeting of Like Minds
or, Foot-In-Mouth DiseaseSosiqui You have to get out sometime, and I have to vacuum, so shoo! Shoo! Enjoy the sun, Toki had said, cheerfully, before shoving Crispin out the door of his chambers. And when the Aoide had said it, it hadn't seemed like such a bad idea... But as Crispin trudged along the streets, he couldn't help but think this was the sorriest excuse for sun he'd ever seen, even when he'd gone down to Los Angeles on a bad smog day. Shaiming had led him through the few still-functional portals that skipped away from the devastated area around the shop, and they'd come up in a town that still had enough people and commerce to still be counted AS a town. Still, the sun was wan, moreso than could be accounted for by the season, and Crispin wasn't enjoying it much at all. He flopped down on a bench at last with a sigh, and watched paranoid people scurry past, going about their business. "This stinks." At least there are still people here. But Shaiming's voice was full of concern, rich with worry. The dragon was fretting. "Yeah, well..." mistalina13 Morgan had been walking most of the day, so by now the edge had worn off the shock of being someplace else. Somewhere totally different from home. Somewhere like the places she wrote about in the games that she played and loved so much. She paused for a moment to shift the gaming gear she was carrying around. Pack to the opposite shoulder, bags and tacklebox to the opposite hands before setting off again. This place was definately a bit strange, not so many people and none of them seemed to be from the same place she was. She had taken to listening to little tidbits of conversations of the people she passed, to get a sense of the place. As she rounded a corner and headed up the street she spotted a bench, albeit someone was already sitting there, but perhaps they wouldn't mind some company for a bit while she rested and got her bearings. Sosiqui Crispin had been letting his mind wander - not much else to do - but Shaiming got his attention with one sharp mental poke. Someone comes."Huh?" He looked around quickly. "Oh... hi there," he said, scooting over a bit so the girl had room to sit down. "Sorry for taking up the whole bench... holy cow, how long have you been walking with all that?" He blinked at her, and all the stuff she was carrying. mistalina13 "Most of today actually.." Morgan dropped the smaller bag and the tacklebox beside the bench, pulled off her backpack and set it down as well. She collapsed on the bench and pushed her glasses up on her nose. "...and on top of that I'm quite lost." She glanced over at the young man, he looked fairly normal, at least by her standards. She managed an awkward smile, smoothed out her jeans and pulled her black t-shirt down before offering up her hand. "I'm Morgan." He would probably notice a few small oddities about her, besides all the gear. There were a few small pouches on her belt, mostly soft leather and handsewn from the looks of them, not to mention 'How High Is Your Sneak Attack?' on the front of her t-shirt. Morgan just hoped she didn't look like too much of a mess at this point. Sosiqui "I'm Crispin! Nice to meet you. Where are you trying to go? Maybe we can help you get there," Crispin said, taking her hand and shaking it - and only then noticing her shirt... and wait, were those dice bags?! This realization made him blush suddenly, just a bit. Whoa. A girl! Not only that, but a girl who maybe... liked the same things he did? You are a strange child, Shaiming observed, his voice tinted with amusement. "Um... maybe I'm reaching here, but you haven't been gaming, by any chance?" Crispin said, then immediately scolded himself for sounding stupid. She is no different than she was thirty seconds ago, but my! The difference in your thoughts..."Stop rummaging around in there!" Crispin hissed, under his breath. mistalina13 "Nice to meet you Crispin." Morgan laughed. "Yes, I have actually, s'where I was last night, and this is all my gear. I was on my way home, I took a shortcut and ended up here." She looked Crispin over again, nothing about him, at least at the moment screamed gaming nerd, but appearances were deceiving. "It seems at the moment, I can't find a way to get home. So, you wouldn't know a place I could stay...would you?" She smiled a little, then rested her hands on the dice bag on hip, out of habit more than anything. But, wait a second..did he just...blush? Sosiqui "Where are you from?" Crispin said, tilting his head in puzzlement. "If it's around here... maybe you just fell into a portal or something? Unless you're not from Gaia...?" Oh, do be a gentleman and invite the lady home, Shaiming put in. She looks tired.And a deeper blush suffused Crispin's face immediately. "I... I can't do that! It's not proper!" he spluttered. "Quiet down!" Then, he realized he was in the presence of someone who was not used to people talking to themselves, and slumped. "Um. Sorry. I was talking to my Dragon K... wait, that sounds COMPLETELY STUPID! Argh! Okay. Start over. Are you from around here?" he finished, hopelessly. "I know this sounds insane, but I can explain..." mistalina13 "Gaia..so..that's what this place is called..." Morgan whispered and scanned the area around them before look back at Crispin. "Huh?" She turned on the bench to leaned closer to Crispin when his face suddenly reddened. "You okay?" She frowned slightly, but her eyes shown with concern and partly puzzlement, and laughed nervously when he started talking to himself. "No, I'm not, I'm from Earth..." She layed an arm on the top of the bench and rested her head against it. "...please do explain, but only if your not going to like, die of embarresment or something..." She gave him a reassuring smile. "...and it's not like I think your a nutjob or anything, it takes a bit more than talking to yourself to convince me of that." Sosiqui "You're from Earth! Oh, thank god, that's where I'm from!" Crispin breathed a sigh of relief, doubly so at her not backing away from him and running. "Um. Okay. This isn't Earth... this is a different world. It's called Gaia... and it's usually a lot prettier than this, or so I'm told," he added, gesturing at the bruised sky. "And it's got magic... portals all over the place, and every kind of magical creature you'd hope to meet, and... basically everything you can imagine! It's amazing!" And what about me? Shaiming said. "And, er... this is going to sound weird, but the reason I was talking to myself - well, no, I wasn't talking to myself. There are gods here... but they lost their followers a long time ago, and now they're just living in jewels... but they need hosts. People to bring them back to being gods again. And, um, I have one... and he talks in my thoughts and... er." He ducked his head and looked embarassed. "Does that make any sense at all? If it helps, I can prove it to you. We live a short while from here, not too long if you portal-hop, where the gods meet and their leader lives." mistalina13 Morgan quirked an eyebrow and considered what she'd heard for a moment. It sounded almost like a game she would've written, and that part amused her, she might...enjoy this place. "Sounds cool." She grinned. "And given the way the rest of this place is...the part about the gods isn't so unbelievable...though I'd still like to see this place if I could?" She asked. It would be certainly interesting, an adventure of sorts. "Though, I do have to ask...what's it like, having a god shacked up in your head?" The idea intrigued her, as strange as it sounded. How did it work out, sharing such a private part of yourself as your mind with someone else? Sosiqui Crispin stared at her - then started laughing, helplessly. "I don't believe it... the one person I meet today is not only from my world... but takes all this completely in stride..." It may well be that she was called, as you are, Shaiming said. Crispin felt the dragon peering at Morgan through his own eyes. But I cannot tell."Maybe... sorry, Morgan. But it is cool! It really is! It's just kind of... messed up at the moment." Crispin straightened up, then sighed. "The main god is like... Creation and Destruction both... and right now the Destruction part is in charge. And everything's crumbling. Apparently there's something my god - he's a Dragon King, his name's Shaiming-" Pleased to meet you."- oh, he says he's pleased to meet you," Crispin relayed. "But there's something he can do about that, when he gets more powerful. I don't know what it is, though. But it's not bad... having him with me." He smiled, fondly. "He showed me magic. He brought me here... I always wanted something like this world, real magic, to be true. And now it's real." mistalina13 "When I first wound up in this town, I thought I was like...hallucinating or something." Morgan smiled. "...because it was so different. So much like a fantasy novel...but now that I know it's real, it's even better." She listened quietly as Crispin explained about Destruction and her expression saddened. "Every world has to balance, it seems...but it seems like the scales tipped too far one way." She sighed softly, having mostly mumbled that to herself. "Well, I'm pleased to meet him as well, both of you actually. Before now, I had no idea what I was going to do. I was mostly just hoping to find a place to sleep, but now it seems I have friends..." She hesitated for a moment, and flushed slightly from embarrassment "...if I may call you that...things seem a bit better." Sosiqui "Friends..." Crispin grinned. "Yeah, sure. Um. Shaiming says you can come back with us, if you want to. The shop's pretty big... there's couches and stuff, and food... maybe there's a room you could use, somewhere. But you'd have to stay out of the way of the other gods that live there," he added, with a worried expression. "I don't think any of them are bad, but they're all gods... and some of them aren't that friendly." I am sure she could stay with Toki and Nebula, Shaiming added. "Um. Yeah. But... we can go whenever you want. Can I carry some of that?" Crispin offered, gallantly. mistalina13 "If you want. I suppose I can trust a fellow gaming nerd with my gear." Morgan got up from the bench and picked up her bagpack. "...just take the bag and the tacklebox, I've got the rest." She couldn't help but giggle at his attitude. "Trying to be a knight in shining armor are we?" She teased and smiled playfully. "..it's adorable. I'm sure girls just..looove it." She laughed now, it really was cute, making jokes was just a way to keep her from making a fool of herself, in front of him and the Dragon King. Sosiqui "Hey!" Crispin protested, blushing again. "Um. I dunno. I haven't seen... there aren't a lot of girls around here... except for some of the hosts, but the only girl host I've met is actually a giant cat... er..." Open mouth, insert foot! Repeat!Calm yourself, child, Shaiming said, amused. Honestly, you set yourself forth better before gods than before women!Crispin shook his head. "Anyway... um... I guess I've kind of been learning how to be a knight though. In a way," he added, offering the information a bit shyly. "Shaiming is sort of like a knight, and he's been teaching me all kinds of things. History, the stars, even how to swordfight. So I guess I'm like his squire, in a way." He shouldered the bag and hefted the tacklebox, pleased at how easily they moved now - the sparring practice and swordwork really had made him more physically fit! mistalina13 Crispin's initial reaction to her comment only caused her to laugh more, and nearly double over. It might be amusing one day to see just how red he could get from blushing. "I still say it's cute, and noble." She said after she managed to stop her own laughing fit. "...at least I know Chivalry still exists, in some form or another." She smiled and pulled the second strap of her backpack onto her other shoulder. "Sword fighting sounds rather neat...if you two have the time, think you could teach me?" She grinned sheepishly, sword fighting was just one of those things she had always wanted to learn, especially since she got into roleplaying. She was suprised at herself though, being this outgoing, usually she wasn't. Under normal circumstances she wouldn't have said more than a few words to him, or even simply passed him by. Sosiqui "Um, I guess I could try and teach you...? I mean, I'm not that good myself, but you could at least swing the sword around a bit if you want to," Crispin said. "It's heavy, though. You ready to go? We have to take two portals to get there, and the first one's just this way." He pointed down the street. mistalina13 Morgan nodded. "And I'm ready as I can be to get going." She rocked back and forth, from the heels to the balls of her feet. It was the same rush as a good roleplaying game, she laughed a little at herself, then looked to Crispin again. "Lead the way, you're the one with the directions." Sosiqui "Alright... follow me, then!" Crispin grinned, and led the way. The first portal was down an alleyway, sitting in a special doorway that had once been more elaborate, but was now worn and run-down. It was obvious that the people of this town no longer wanted to go to where the portal led. The portal itself was a shimmer in the air between the doorposts, shifting and bright. "That's it. We just step through. Are you ready?" Crispin looked back at Morgan. mistalina13 Morgan followed just after him, humming as they made there way along the street to the alley. Though she tried to keep her eyes other places, they kept wandering back to Crispin. Part of her mind it seemed, was interested in checking him out, the other part was busy trying to deny the fact and figure out what that odd tattoo was on his neck, that she could only see a part of. She barely noticed that he suddenly stopped, and snapped back to reality when he spoke. "Yes?" She said questioningly, in her mind, at this point what was the worst thing that could happen to her? Sosiqui "Okay, just making sure. It's a little weird, if it's your first time, but just keep moving forward and you'll be fine. Follow me..." Crispin stepped through the portal and strode onward, ignoring the odd feeling of being stretched, and the buzzing in his head, and within a few steps his foot landed again on gravel as the portal spit him out the other end. He stumbled a bit, then turned and waited for Morgan. mistalina13 Morgan took a deep breath and relaxed. "It's no worse that Miami Pipeline slide at that waterpark." She muttered reassuringly and stepped through the portal. Actually going through the portal was somewhat of an odd experience, which left a tingling feeling on her skin once she was spit out the other side and and she shivered a little, being less used to the feeling than he was, and took a few uneasy steps toward Crisipin. "I'm okay. Felt a little strange though." She grinned. Sosiqui "You good to keep going? We can rest if you want," Crispin said, concerned. There's my gallant squire. Got ahold of yourself now? Shaiming asked. "Hush... er, sorry, that was for Shaiming, not you. I can never remember to think back my answers to him when he talks," Crispin explained, grimacing. "The next portal is a few blocks away..." The place they were in now had been a town once, but it was now completely abandoned, and the houses were giving in to the elements and the increased rate of entropy from Destruction's power. The town looked abandoned for years, not months. mistalina13 Morgan simply nodded. She looked around after and her eyes widened, everything was gone, a breath caught in her throat as she stared. This was, almost crazy. What Crispin had mentioned about a power shift, seemed almost understated. She closed her eyes and forced the breath out. It was amazing how powerful Destruction truly was, she didn't have a sense of it, until she saw it with her own eyes. Totally different than seeing something on television. After a moment she opened her eyes again, and focused on Crispin, hoping he was ready to go again. Sosiqui "Sorry," Crispin said, seeing the look on her face. "Unfortunately, where I live is right in the epicenter of all this... but the building itself is protected, mostly. It's just the outer world that gets the spillover, in spades... this way." He beckoned for her to follow him down the street, where another portal waited. Half the doorframe had rotted away, but the shining color of the portal itself still remained. "Second verse, same as the first. Don't be scared when you come through the other side," he added. "I'll be waiting..." With that, he took the long steps through, and ended up underneath a dark and empty sky - but not dark from night, or from clouds. It was simply dark, parched and stained by Destruction's power. Around him was desolation, cracked and crumbled. But a block away stood the Edelsteine shop, and a few other buildings that had survived. The main building itself was oddly lit from the glow of the lava below. mistalina13 Morgan followed him quickly to the second portal an tried her best to keep her gaze from drifting back to the desolation around them. It got worse than this? She shivered and was grateful when they got to the portal, at least that meant they were one step closer to their final destination. "Second verse, same as the first. Don't be afraid." She bolted through the portal after he disapeared through it, Morgan didn't like the idea of staying alone anywhere near here any longer than she had to. When she emerged on the other side, she very nearly barreled into Crispin, and was slightly unsteadier on her feet. Sosiqui "Whoa!" Crispin leaned forward and steadied Morgan as best he could without dropping the tacklebox. "Are you okay? We're almost there... I know it doesn't look good, but I promise you it's a safe place..." For certain definitions of 'safe'.mistalina13 Morgan opened her eyes and looked around, Crispin hadn't lied, this was worse, and quite a bit darker. She held onto him for a moment, until she felt like she could stand on her own. "I'm...okay." She took a few deep breaths and swallowed hard. "...I think.." The last part was said considerably quieter, and she hoped Crispin didn't hear it. "I trust you...the sooner we get where were going...the better." Sosiqui "Just a bit further," Crispin said, and forged on. He was shaken by her reaction, though - he'd become so accustomed to the landscape around the shop that the true extent of it had been dulled. He guided Morgan down and up to the shop's door, past the lava, and into the sepulcheral front hall. "And... here we are. This is the central area." A quick glance confirmed that nobody was on the Throne, which brought another flood of relief. While he knew he would have to meet Destruction someday, right now, with Morgan here, would not be the time. "Are you hungry? You can put your things down by the stairs," he added, putting the tackle box and backpack nearby. mistalina13 Morgan let out a sigh of relief when they actualy got to the shop, she was still shaking a little. She looked around, making sure to stay close to Crispin, she smiled weakly and set the rest of her things down. "I don't think I could eat just now, it'd probably come back up." Now they were indoors, it made things a little more bearable for her. After a few moments her shaking subsided and she seemed a little more like herself, though still uneasy. Sosiqui "Okay. Um... well, that there is the Throne of Destruction. Don't go near it, though," Crispin warned, indicating the throne with its backdrop of flames at the farthest end of the shop. "He's not there right now, though... fortunately for us. Not that he's mean, but he is... imposing... but he's not evil. I really don't think he means to destroy things, it's just his essence, his nature... he can't help it." He is Who He Is."Er..." Crispin cast about for something more interesting, and alighted upon the jewel cases. "Do you want to see the gems? Where the gods sleep?" mistalina13 Morgan nodded. "No one can help who they are...or in some cases even what they become." She murmured, having been gazing at Destruction's throne. It was certainly imposing, as are all those sort of things, but it was still darkly beautiful, in it's own right. Her gaze snapped back to Crispin when he spoke again. "Oh...sure..." She smiled a little and rocked back onto her heels. Sosiqui Crispin crept over to the 'display case', with no small amount of reverence. "The sleeping gods," he proclaimed, indicating the jewels with one sweeping gesture. "I'm not really sure how it works, but when they find their hosts, they join with them." He fiddled with his scarf, then took it off and tugged down the back of his sweater a bit, at the neck. "Shaiming's jewel is here." The dragon's gem glinted in the light, set into the skin at the base of Crispin's neck. What looked like an intricate tattoo of a purple dragon encircled it. mistalina13 Morgan glanced at the gems in the case for a moment, then looked to Crispin. So thats what that was on his neck that she noticed before. "Wow..." She stepped closer to get a better look, "...it's beautiful, and the dragon seems so detailed, it looks like it could be alive." She let her eyes follow the pattern of the scales, "...you're very brave Crispin, to do something like that." She blushed a little and looked away from him quickly and back to the gems in the case, so many different colors and shapes, some rough the others smooth and polished. She clicked her tongue against her teeth absently, what would she do, if she was asked to become a host for a god? Sosiqui "I don't know about brave..." Crispin blushed, and shrugged his sweater back into place before putting the scarf around his neck again. "Shaiming asked... and, I mean, I've been fascinated with fantasy and stuff all my life... and this is my chance to actually make it real. To be a sort of hero, I guess, for a little while." His voice trailed off, and then he cleared his throat, to change the subject. "I wonder what kinds of gods are in there, sometimes. There's so many of them." mistalina13 Morgan nodded and forced the blush to disapear from her cheeks. "There are a lot..." She put her hands behind her back to prevent the temptation of wanting to touch the case getting the better of her. "It's so amazing though, and I could see how you would wonder...about the gods..." She bent slightly over the case to get a better look at some of them. "Such lovely stones..." She murmured to herself, before glancing over at Crispin again. "Do you, think I'll ever get home?" Sosiqui "Um... I don't know," Crispin admitted, looking away. "I haven't gone home, and Shaiming doesn't know if there's a way. I got here because of Toki... he's one of Shaiming's servants... but he told me it wasn't his magic that brought me. But maybe it's different for you. There might be a portal somewhere. I've just kind of given up on going back myself, for now." He hesitated. "Um. How are things on Earth? Shaiming said that Destruction's influence spread over all worlds, not just this one..." mistalina13 "There's been a few more natural disasters than there usually is...hurricanes and whatnot, but I'm not sure what that could mean. People on the news just keep blaming it on climate change." Morgan shook her head. 'Though, even if I can't go home, this place isn't so bad.' She thought to herself and let her gaze drop to the floor afterward and she chewed her lower lip for a moment before speaking again. "So, is there anything I can do in return, for you or Shaiming, since your letting me stay with you?" Sosiqui "Hm. Well, that's not... too bad. Yet," Crispin said, with a sigh. Hopefully his family and friends were fine, but if things went on like this... "Anything you can do? Er... I don't know? I don't think so. We have most things that we need, really. The Aoidei - those're the servants - take care of it. Although..." Crispin looked thoughtful, then grinned. "I haven't had a good gaming run for a while. Not now, but maybe sometime? If you want." mistalina13 "Easily done. I've got at least three other campaigns ready to go, more fun with just two though, perhaps Shaiming might be interested in learning to play, since it is about strategy?" Morgan giggled, then grinned widely. "Though, you'd have to forgive my lack of actual DM'ing skills, I usually just write." Sosiqui "Awesome!" Crispin beamed. "That'll be great. For now, though... I'll show you where you can sleep. I don't have an extra bed in my actual room, er... but the Aoidei quarters have I think three little rooms with beds in them, and only two are taken. It's upstairs." Crispin moved to pick up the backpack and tackle box again, and pointed up the spiraling stairs. mistalina13 Morgan nodded and picked up the rest of her gear again. "Thanks again, to both of you, for letting me stay." She held the other smaller bag over her shoulder and waited for Crispin to lead the way.
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Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2012 11:26 pm
Preparation of Power
Crispin leafed eagerly through the most recent novel Toki had aquired. Against all odds, there was a small old bookstore not too far from the shop that was still open - perhaps a fearless shopowner with respect for the gods, or even the protection of one of them - and the fresh reading material was much appreciated. "Ah, a book! A book that I'm reading for fun!" he proclaimed.
The histories are perfectly entertaining! Shaiming retorted, well aware that he was being deliberately baited.
"Not so much if you weren't actually there," Crispin replied, settling in to bed to read it. Toki and Nebula were down in the kitchen fixing dinner - or, more likely, Toki was cooking while Nebula bounced around after anything and everything - so he had some peace.
For a while, he read quietly, but Shaiming was thinking about something, and the dragon's thoughts hazed over into his own until he had a hard time keeping his mind on the story. Finally, he sighed.
"Okay, dragon. What's going on?" he demanded, putting the book down.
Was it that obvious?
"Extremely. What's bothering you?"
Crispin felt Shaiming squirm, mentally. I believe it would be a good idea to meet once more with Destruction, my host.
"Destruction?" Crispin looked away. The Twin Crown was imposing enough the first time he met him... and Shaiming had since told him that Destruction had been wearing an aspect of mortal disguise at that time. Since then, he was sure to have grown wilder, more powerful, and the increasing decay of the world outside the shop attested to that. "Why?"
I am sworn to him, Crispin - he is my Lord, my reason for existence. I owe him my fealty, and I would offer it once more... and show him how we are becoming one.
"I... I don't know." A cold, uncomfortable feeling crept into the pit of Crispin's stomach. "I mean... it's important, but..."
Shaiming sighed. I will not press you, but it will need to be done. When you feel ready. I would not have you go before Destruction unprepared or unwilling. That is not my way.
"No, I know... er... thanks, I guess."
The dragon lapsed into silence again, and after a few moments Crispin went back to his book, but the air of comfort and rest was broken.
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Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2012 11:27 pm
Dragon's Dance
Name me a star in the constellation Draco! Lunge left! Shaiming demanded, as Crispin pivoted on one foot, swinging the sword forward with a grunt of effort.
"Um. Arrakis!"
Good. Parry right!
Crispin turned, and swung, panting, feeling the sword sing in the air as it moved. "Is there a reason... why you're quizzing me... AND making me do the sword... at the same time?" he gasped.
Physical skill is best when paired with mental strength, Shaiming said. But now - rest. For a few minutes.
Crispin immediately flopped into the nearest welcoming chair, sheathed the sword, and panted. "Ugh... oh, man."
Your improvement is remarkable. Though your skill with the sword is only intermediate, it is a huge step for you, Shaiming said, pleased. Moreso, that you can perform with such distraction.
"Yeah... well..." Crispin managed.
I am most pleased... I think it is time for me to show you the shape of the true sword. I have been hoarding my strength for this, the dragon said, decisively. Stand.
"That wasn't a long rest," Crispin objected.
It matters not; this strength shall be mine, and not yours. Rise! The dragon's voice was so commanding that Crispin found himself on his feet, reaching for the sword, before he was really aware of it.
"Okay, okay... what do you want me to do?"
Stand... and let me move... Something in the dragon's voice had grown wild, but there was a joy running under it - and suddenly, without warning, Crispin moved.
Or, rather, his body did. Crispin's mind watched in astonishment from within as Shaiming took control, unsheathing the sword with one graceful movement, and then flowing into something that was half swordplay, half dance. They whirled and spun together, the dragon exulting in skills long unused brought to life again, the sword's blade singing as it swished through the air. It sung more wildly for Shaiming than it ever had for Crispin.
And then, after a few wild and dizzy intoxicating minutes, it was over - Crispin abruptly found himself holding the sword, and nearly dropped it as Shaiming relinquished control. He sat down, hard, where he'd been standing. "Shaiming..."
There! See... that is my power. The skill of old! Ah, to hear the blade's joy as it moves through my domain... it is beauty to behold! The dragon's voice was tired, but exultant. Remember those movements. I know them, and now your muscles also will remember... and you may learn. Someday, you may learn.
They lay there for a moment, both gasping from the effort, but with the thrill of what they had just done blazing through them. After a few moments, Crispin raised his head.
"Now what...?"
No more of the sword... not for now. I want you to think on what you have seen and felt.
"Yes, sir."
But, there is still time for some history. On some points you are sorely lacking. Come, boy, stand up... we'll go downstairs. With luck, the throne of Destruction will be clear for you to see, and I will tell you something of the stories of the gods.
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Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2012 11:28 pm
The World of RainShenlei  Late in the afternoon, a single figure shoved open the door to the shop and stalked inside. A short man with feminine features, standing just above five feet, stalked inside with a look of irritation and dismay. His aqua hair was damp and his white horns glistened. Shenlei closed the door behind him. He had grabbed his fresh clothes from his follower, Remiel, just before entering the shop -- so at the very least, those with fur lined at the sleeves and neck, and brocade underneath, were dry. The first half torn couch near flames was where the irritated dragon sat to rest, leaning his head back to the ceiling as he dried. He was clutching Futs Lung's jewel in his hand as he closed his eyes.
Distinctly, he could remember seeing the face of Selvica peering at his jewel. A weakling dragon form that he had taken interest in. He had not returned to this place since, although he had more control over this body now. Even then, he could picture the poor man tumbling in through the ceiling in a lack of graceful movements. A small chuckle fled from Shenlei's lips and he leaned forward again, opening his eyes. What a strange time to think about my host...Sosiqui Crispin was downstairs at the time, but for once, not because of a coffee raid... instead, he was standing and looking in at the currently empty throne room, eyes slightly unfocused as Shaiming spoke to him of the history of gods. ... so, you see, there is the Twin Crown, and we Dragon Kings serve under him. There before you blazes the throne of Destruction, surrounded by the sigils and signs of His Kings... ah... Shaiming's voice trailed off, and Crispin felt the dragon's attention shift. He turned automatically, following Shaiming's mental movement, and blinked as he realized he was not alone. "Hi-" he began, smiling at the nifty-horned newcomer, but was surprised as Shaiming slapped down the rest of the sentence from within. Softly, mine host. This is another of my kind, another King of Dragons... but further ascended than I. Offer him greetings in my name.The whole exchange took a matter of seconds, swift at the speed of thought, and Crispin gulped - but changed the greeting into a respectful half-bow. "Greetings in the name of the Dragon King Shaiming, the Scarscale," he said, remembering what Shaming had taught him about etiquette and formalities among the gods. "I am Crispin, host of the same." He felt Shaiming looking intently through his eyes. So others came before me... and have grown this far. It is good to know. Shenlei...Shenlei Shenlei liked to pretend he couldn't hear Selvica, but their appearance was so alike that when he looked in the mirror, he hardly remembered his host. At the first sight of the quivering boy, Shenlei smiled. Familiarity, but he could tell that he had a stronger soul than Selvica had.
"So formal..." Shenlei breathed in a loud whisper. He smiled again, to only show that he was playing. The shogun of storms slid off the couch in a fluid movement and closed in on the other, coming to stand a mere few foot away. He dipped his head into a respectful bow in exchange. "Pleased to meet you, Crispin, Shaiming." Shenlei spoke to each respectively, a breath of relief in his eyes when he heard that the Worldshield had already found a host. "I am Shenlei, my host is Selvica, although he does not speak much." It was difficult for Shenlei, so exhausted, to be so polite. Twice today he had changed forms and traveled such a long distance.
Shenlei raised a hand gently, forming a small raincloud as he spoke. "I am the Dragon King who reigns over storms." He said to Crispin, purposely trying not to scare him. Shenlei regretted scaring Selvica so badly. He was normally outspoken and blunt.
Sosiqui Crispin breathed a small sigh of relief when the response to his greeting was friendly - from Shaiming's reaction, he'd almost felt it was dangerous. Nothing of the kind... Harmodius would have something to say if his Dragon Kings feuded amongst themselves. But a good beginning is vital. It has been so very long."It's nice to meet you, Lord Shenlei," Crispin said, politely. "Wow, storms? That's awesome!" He couldn't resist the excitement creeping in. Crispin..."Huh?" Rest on the couch, will you? I would speak to Shenlei directly."Uh... okay... just a moment, sir, Shaiming wants to talk to you himself... but he's not strong enough to do that and stand at the same time..." Crispin quickly scooted over to the couch and sat down on it. The change was immediate. Crispin felt Shaiming surge to the forefront of conciousness, flinging a wave of exhaustion at Crispin as he moved. It was easy to succumb, and Crispin slumped into the couch as he fell asleep. A moment later, his eyes opened again, with a different bright fire in them. "Forgive me for not rising to greet you, Summoner of Storms... but I have already expended my strength today, in guiding my young host through the paces of swordsmanship..."Shenlei
Shenlei watched, vanquishing the storm cloud from his fingertips. He felt a morbid fascination in the way that a host and Dragon King could actually get along harmoniously. Shenlei moved back to his original spot, and sat down beside Shaiming. "Perish the thought." He said, his expression much more serious.
"I'm not exactly at the top of my game, either. I've flown to what feels like the edge of the world and back today..." As he spoke, he unfolded his opposite hand. ".. to retrieve this. Futs Lung." He held up the black and red rounded jewel. Shen Lung took a deep breath, his hair and skin had dried completely by now.
"His host failed." The short young man frowned, lightly disheveled hair sliding forward across his horns. "Harmodius has requested that I help to gather the Dragon Kings and find a new host for Futs Lung."
He looked over at the other Dragon King. "Crispin is cute." Shenlei commented, more carefree in his tone. "It has been a long time, Shaiming."Sosiqui "It has indeed," Shaiming said, his voice now an odd mixture, wavering between his own deep baritone and Crispin's high tenor. "Quite some time since we met - but I am Lord of Skies, albiet higher than where you spin your storms, and it is good to see you once more." His lips twitched in a faint smile, all that he could manage. "One more greeting from a tired old king of dragons. Would that I could mount the skies and meet you there, but as you can see... quite impossible."
However, Shaiming's eyes widened in surprise at the gem. "A failure? Surely not... but the strength of one of our kind is great, and requires a strong soul in return. But at least the essence was recovered. Have you a host in mind, or does your quest continue?" Shenlei
Shenlei's hand closed on the jewel. "My quest undoubtfully continues. Selvica rarely got out, so my host knows no other possibilities, and I am still searching."
"Nothing is impossible." Shenlei said, standing as the small bits of rest gave him more energy. "Our master wishes for you to grow strong, and I will help in whatever you need to do so. I am not nearly as strong as I'd like to be, although I hate to admit such a thing." Shen Lung removed the coat and left himself in only brocade. "Selvica was a dragon with an affinity for water. I was lucky to be reborn in someone who does not argue back. Does Crispin understand yet what it means to host a Dragon King?" Shenlei asked.
Selvica piped up in the back of his head. His consciousness stayed holed up in a dark corner at all times, except when his faint words crept out and Shenlei's eyes dulled a moment to accept them. Please, stop using was.. Shenlei chuckled inaudibly in response.Sosiqui "Such strength will come, in time. In short order, I think... and it needs to. This world, all worlds, need my protection desperately. I have come too late, the dam has burst, but there may be something I can do once my strength returns. Crispin..." Shaiming paused. "He is a good child. Stronger than he thinks, bright and quick to think, honorable, and innocent in the best way. Yes. I was afraid at first, but he will serve... he will be better..." The dragon's words trailed off into silent thought. Shenlei
"With your guidance, I have no doubts." Shen Lung looked to the throne, mild disappointment at it being empty. Where was Harmodius? There was no need to put up a facade.
"Shaiming." Shenlei called the other dragon's name to gain his attention. "I will not be false with you, or my other kin. I have no intentions of helping to attain balance again within Harmodius. What are we in Destruction's absence but useless tools? Humanity has been disrespectful for too long!" Shenlei paced in a circle in front of the other, a rumble of thunder filling the room as he got worked up.
"Futs Lung carries the means to bind the End for the time being until you grow strong enough with Crispin's help to shield the world yourself." Shenlei flipped his bangs from his face. "You may not agree with me, and I am prepared for that, but I will do anything that is asked of me, and I will oppose any God or Dragon that seeks to restore Creation's pull over the Twin Crown." Shen Lung clenched his fingers. Had he just said something wrong, too rash, to quick? Destruction, he preferred, he had no plans to betray either influence of the Crown. Had it sounded like he would? He paused completely, starving distantly at the walls. "Forgive me... My thoughts ran away with myself."Sosiqui Shaming smiled, wryly. "Ever were you most closely allied with Destruction. I understand, though I care not to take sides. The well being of our Lord, regardless of what form he should take, be it wrathful or merciful, is my only concern. Should he shift states, my care and concern will be as strong then as it is now. I am neutral in this, old friend. Make no such sallies towards me... but do not dare to attack Creation either, else you destroy your reason for existence... as Universe nearly did. His treachery is my sorrow."
And indeed, there was a hint of deep sadness in Shaiming's voice. Sadness for his Lord befouled without his shields there to stop it... and sadness for another old friend brought low by folly. Shenlei
"Never would I think it." He turned quickly, answering without thought or hesitation. Shenlei crouched down in front of Shaiming. "The blame lays with all of us. We will protect him this time." He put a hand on Shaiming's knee, the other reaching up to the face of the Worldshield's host, brushing some of his bangs away and resting on his cheek. "You smell of ancient air, before the world was created. We are reborn for the most important purpose. Every breath we take, as you know, is devoted only to the Twin Crown and his wishes." Shenlei smiled at Shaiming. Something warm, with compassion. "I will rest for a bit, then return to my duty."Sosiqui "It ever is, as it should be," Shaiming murmured, leaning ever-so-lightly into Shenlei's touch. "And then Tien Lung shall mount the skies again, to fly vigil over your stormclouds' wrath... it will be beautiful. I wish I could..."
His eyes slipped closed, then... and when they opened again their gaze held only Crispin, and curiosity, and a bit of surprise at finding the other dragon so close to him, but he was too tired to move. "I'm glad. He was happy to see you," Crispin said, quietly. "He's so tired. I worry about him." He paused for a moment. "Do you... do you know if there's anything I can do? For him?" Shenlei
Shenlei watched Shaiming fade back, a bit of a wistful distance in his gaze until Crispin spoke to him. He smiled at those words, though. "Shaiming has a hard job to do. You are already doing a good job, I know he feels that way as well. Learn as much as you can about the world you are already a part of." Shenlei reached up and ruffled Crispin's hair.
"Stay healthy, rest, and grow stronger. Shaiming will need your help. Our lord had us reborn this way for a reason."Sosiqui "I'll do my best, sir... Shaiming's been teaching me a lot. That's why we were down here - he was teaching me some of the history of the gods and the Dragon Kings. There's so much of it..." Crispin turned a bit, finally finding the strength to sit up straight, and looked at the empty throne of Destruction. "He's calling the Dragon Kings back?" he said, softly. "Do you think he'd want to see me? Shaiming?" Shenlei
"Yes." Shen Lung answered firmly. He lowered his hands from Crispin's face. "Harmodius under Destruction's influence, especially as tilted as the balance is, desperately needs the Worldshield. It protects all things, as I'm sure Shaiming has told you. I'm positive that he would like to see the progress that Tien Lung has already come."
"If possible..." Shenlei looked over to the throne. "I would like to have all Dragons bow before him.. as soon as possible."Sosiqui Crispin swallowed, hard. "I met him once," he said. "He was... intimidating. The scariest and most majestic... powerful... thing I've ever seen... but he gave me Shaiming's gem." He poked experimentally at Shaiming, mentally, but the dragon did not rouse from sleep. "I've been kind of scared all this time... I don't want to have done the wrong thing for him. So. Um. Thanks for the reassurance." He smiled. Shenlei
"Harmodius is intimidating, yes -- but you have done nothing wrong and have nothing to fear from him." Shenlei spoke softly around Crispin, to not scare him. He stood slowly, pulling his jacket from the couch. "I'm not sure how the hosts are chosen, but..." Shenlei paused for a long moment. Selvica was lightly prodding at his consciousness.
"I believe that both Harmodius and the stones choose their hosts." Selvica answered for him, Shenlei's eyes dulling during the process. "Pleased to meet you, Crispin. I am Selvica."
Sosiqui Crispin blinked. The voice had changed, but... was this akin to what Shaiming had just done, while he slept? He'd seen Xuan speak through Kheviel too, but never, never the other way around. He hadn't known it was possible... "Pleased to meet you, Selvica," he said, as calmly as he could. "I... didn't know the hosts could speak... like that..." Shenlei
"I don't.. have.. much time." Selvica breathed roughly. "Shenlei doesn't like to be bottled up, but I wanted to say hello. Normally, I can't.. but he let me speak." The features on his face slid into a weakened smile. "I'm going back n-"
"Never do that again." Shenlei's eyes brightened. I hate that, Selvica. He raised a hand to his head. Instant headache. He was only vaguely conscious of what Crispin had said. "The body is still in the process of becoming my own. I, although further along, do not have control of this body fully."Sosiqui "I see... sorry, I've never seen a host do that before. I thought they just kind of vanished totally as soon as the god got control..." Another mental prod at Shaiming, and again no answer. The sudden loneliness was startling in its intensity. "But, well. Now I know." Crispin half-bowed to Shenlei again. "Shaiming is sleeping now... I think it would be best if I went back to our rooms, to rest as well. He'll recover quicker that way, if I'm not up and about using up our energy. But it was nice to meet you, sir." Shenlei
Shenlei nodded. He feared he had frightened the boy a little more about how they changed. "Not everyone vanishes." Shenlei reassured out loud. "Rest well, Crispin. Send my regards to Shaiming when you speak to him again. I think I will head off to rest as well."
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Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2012 11:29 pm
Readiness
One long nap later, Crispin was sitting up in bed, flipping through his book, but not really seeing the words. His attention was instead focused entirely on Shaiming, who was still asleep...
"Are you okay, Master Crispin?" Nebula asked. The cat Aoide was curled up at the foot of the bed in a small ball, as if she were full feline. Her tail lashed back and forth, occasionally, brushing the tips of his toes. "You look so worried!"
"I'm fine... I'm just worried about Shaiming. He did a lot today..." Crispin shook his head, then brightened as Toki entered the room. "Toki! Did you bring it?"
"Yes, Master Crispin," the Aoide replied, setting a tray down on the bedside table. A teapot steamed there, with a cup at the ready. "It's all brewed up."
"Good..." Crispin put the book down and inched over, making a face as Toki poured the tea. "Well, okay. If this doesn't do it, I don't know what will." He took a deep breath, picked up the teacup, and took a long, long drink.
...
"Shaiming?" Another sip, despite the taste.
Is that tea?
Another long gulp, to get it past the tongue faster.
That's a terrible way to treat a good oolong, boy.
Crispin put the cup down, and smiled. "Welcome back."
I don't think I've had enough tea to be truly back yet...
He sighed, and finished the mug, making a face at the end. "Blegh. I don't know how you can stand it."
Such a noble sacrifice you've made on my behalf! Shaiming said, sarcastically. Then, softer, Thank you. Your thoughts... are touching.
"Are you okay?" The two Aoide watched Crispin anxiously as he spoke. "I was worried... well, so were Toki and Nebula."
I am. The nap helped immensely, as did the tea. Just... used too much. But it was so nice to speak with Shenlei again.
"I'm glad. He's fine, you two, you can stop staring at me," Crispin added, and the two of them sighed with relief and began going about their business again. "Shenlei seemed kind. His host talked to me too..."
Did he? What did you speak about?
"I didn't talk with Selvica long..." Crispin thought about bringing up how odd it was, that a host could still speak like that, but decided against it in favor of more important things. "But Shenlei said he thought I was doing a good job helping you."
And you are, make no mistake.
"And he said... that he wanted all the dragons to come before Destruction." Crispin bit his lip. "And... um... I think I'm ready. To do that, I mean. To meet Destruction again, with you. To show him what we've become."
There was a long pause, then a rippling mental sigh from the dragon, and a feeling of quiet pride and pleasure. I am glad. It is indeed time, and I am glad that you feel it too.
"When?" Crispin said, quietly.
When he comes. I will know. We will prepare together, and speak together.
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Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2012 11:30 pm
The Star-Blade's FealtySosiqui Crispin had been reading when Shaiming suddenly perked up. He is here, the dragon had breathed, softly. We must go to him. Swiftly make ready, Crispin, as we have planned...And so it was, that after a brief flurry of activity on the part of Crispin and the Aoidei, he was heading down the stairs towards the throne room. Shaiming had had Toki make some new clothes for Crispin for the occasion, something more formal than his usual. So the young host was respendent in an outfit that was simple, but cut well - more suited to his status as host to a Dragon King. The b*****d sword hung at his side, pommel shining from Nebula's polish. Be not afraid, Shaiming soothed, sending waves of calm outward. "I'm not afraid... I'm just nervous," Crispin whispered back, then fell silent as he stepped from the last stair to the floor. With grace, now...Crispin took a deep breath, and stepped forward into the throne room, seeking Destruction. Ivynian  Destruction lounged, his seeming almost that of a fallen lord, draped on his throne as a discarded body. His face was down, forehead supported on corner of his left arm that in turn was supported on the armrest. It was difficult to see more, the great arches of his wings swooped down like Amano capes as screens. Sosiqui My lord... Shaiming breathed, and Crispin took a step forward. "My lord Destruction," he said, in a firm and clear voice that surprised him even as he spoke. Crispin then bowed low, coming to one knee. "The Dragon King Shaiming and I have come to you..." Crispin felt Shaiming's conciousness surge forward, and prepared to fall into slumber as usual - but instead the dragon caught him up, and breathlessly Crispin found his mind mingling closely with that of his dragon king. "I have come to you, my Lord, with my host... to renew my fealty to you once again, and profess my undying loyalty." Crispin could not tell which of them was speaking; it seemed to be both himself and Shaiming, at once. Ivynian "You sound hale. And the boy is braver for the spine implanted by your scales. I had not expected that he could be made to face the true form while yet he was in control of your joint body." His wings slowly moved, the drawing back of great curtains before the great stage. Moving was like a chore, heavy under quicksilver water. Destructions lifted his face, stretching out his arm and heaving a deep breath before he turned his gaze. And here was his Worldshield, such as he was. "You have come some way, since I last looked on you both. " "Your fealty, warrior. scholar. philosopher. It has been a thing long missed, and I look forward to your full return to the sovereignty of the Realm. " Destruction quirked his head, great horns accentuating the curious motion, "You are getting along, then." Sosiqui "Together we have grown, my Lord... this host was well-chosen. We are close. Crispin's hidden strength has become my own." Again, Crispin couldn't quite tell who was talking - the words, the tone, was Shaiming, but he was aware that he, too, was behind the words in a way he couldn't explain. A breathless rush. Is this what it's like, to be a god? Silly child, Shaiming thought at him swiftly, a bolt of affection, before refocusing wholly on Destruction. The dragon was exultant, as he had been when demonstrating the art of the sword. "I pray that the Starscale's power will ascend soon, and again my power will go to work on your behalf. We shall not be gods of dust and ashes... we shall be gods of a world that has known the power of the divine, beyond a doubt!"Crispin/Shaiming drew the sword, and lay it at Harmodius' feet. "If there is anything we can do to speed this, let it so be done... we swear to you, Shaiming and Crispin both. Dragon and Host together, we both swear; god and human." Ivynian "Well done, and well charged. I have spoken with your brother, ShenLung, on matters regarding the tasks before you all. Your help in this world shall be a pivot point, Shaiming. At least, insofar, as alleviating some of the madness caused by my reign for the mortals. Seek out ShenLung. The time has come for the dragons to unite. "Faithful serpents all, and yet there was that that roiled in the depths of his own darkness and memory. He hoped there would be time. Fan, scale and mane should fly swifter then light and wind, swift as endings. The Crown's attention waned, turned inward in some consuming whirlpool. His ears pinned, "It will not be much longer." Sosiqui You swear for me as well? Crispin asked Shaiming, forcing the thought through the reverie, the rush of emotions and swift thought that was Shaiming's mind, suddenly grown so much more vivid and vital than his own. I heard you speak of Destruction kindly to Morgan. I know you, child - I know.Yes...The loyalty and love radiating from Shaiming's bright mind was effusing Crispin's own, and he realized with a start that, at that moment, he would be willing to die for the figure on the dais before him. It was a bizzare feeling, but somehow... not as alien as he might have expected. The entire exchange took place lightning-fast, within a blink or two, and Crispin/Shaiming spoke on when it was done. "I have indeed conversed with Shenlei, my Lord - he spoke to me of the need to gather the dragons, and of Futs Lung... how his host was not suitable, and failed." Crispin felt a dizzy sense of accomplishment at that - he hadn't known you could fail, but someone had, and he hadn't - he must be doing something right... "Using my magics to soothe the mortals has been foremost in my mind these many months, Lord. But until such time as that becomes possible again, what may I do to assist you? Though I rest still within my host, I would serve you, as would Crispin - human though he is, he is kin to my every thought. Whoever is in command, will follow." Ivynian "I would have you see to the matter of your old consort, in truth. While my love for that one is fair said, unwell, perhaps it is not entirely left to chance that he has become as he is. The greatest skies have no memory of the foretime. While that may not be unseemly in some, his memory is there, but locked in some strange web. Use your sword as best you see fit to to cut him free. You will need his help, together were you guides to the celestial realms. " Sosiqui Consort? This wasn't something Crispin was familiar with, but though he sent a wave of confusion at Shaiming, the dragon shrugged it away without a second glance. "I have spoken to him as well, before my joining with my host," Shaiming said, with regret, and Crispin felt the deep rapport begin to crumble, unconciousness beckoning to him as the dragon moved to speak about things that were not shared. There was a slight shift in posture as Shaiming took over the body fully; a new stiffness as the dragon's lower degree of control required less movement. "Yes... Lucius. Universe," the dragon said, softly. "I have spoken to him. I have seen his wounds, his marks - I know of his treachery. It pains me deeply... as does that other pain. That he cannot recall the times we were flung through the stars side by side..." Shaiming closed his eyes, and looked down. The lack of recognition had hit hard.Ivynian The Crown shifted, and his bones creaked through his blackened form. "It began as most things did, in courting. The sanctum of the sky still stands, in the furthest reaches of space. You will have to find your way there, and search for relics or mementos. If such objects themselves do not avail you both, then perhaps taking him there. "Sosiqui "As you say, my Lord." Shaiming looked up at Destruction again, then nodded, slightly. "It will take time to ascend so high, but once dragon form is mine once more there will be no limits to my flight. If it is within my power, I will be the force behind this redemption... for while he is as all things second to You, he was... also dear to me, once. I would have that again." But there was a wash of sadness and resignation underneath it all.
"I thank you for your kindness, my Lord. I will seek you in earnest once more, when the ascension is complete. Where shall I place my shields once Tien Lung has awakened? I will make that my first act of power, before all else. I had thought to shield this area closest to this place, to bring back mortal men to walk near the gods, but if you will it, they will be placed elsewhere." Ivynian "Speak to Kishara on such matters of how or where her best loved are...I have little enough compassion. It would likely please her to have a hand again in protecting the masses, and she would better predict the flow of mortals unenlightened already to other gods' protections. " Destruction laughed, then, some private joke coming to the fore of his mind. "Creation's old Empress came here once before. She will appreciate your presence more then mine, I am certain."There was that odd grinding again, as the great wings slowly folded down. The Twin Crown seemed faded, the edges of him indistinct or fallen away from perception. Sosiqui "The host of Xuan Yi has spoken to me of the Empress. It is fair that she walks among the gods reborn, though I have not yet laid eyes on her. I will seek her out as well, fear not." Shaiming bowed his head.
"It is... good to see you again, my Lord. Someday again soon we shall roar at the sky together, you and your Dragons flanked in glory." The dragon then fell silent, merely soaking in Harmodius' presence - out of balance as it was, that did not matter. He was home. Ivynian "I have awaited long the return of my most prefect companions, childer, as it were. Princes among gods, Kings among mortals. When you have time, there are gifts for you upon your altar here. Take them at your leisure." The Crown curled down again, laboured and settled back to his previous position. True to his words, one of the altars before the great dragon statues glittered so as to catch the King's eye. A great tome of platinum discs bound in pale leather and etched in old tongues the poetry and wisdom of ages long dead, a sword spun from amesthyst with a modified basket-like hilt of jade, and a strewn collection of fine fabics and coins enough to begin rebuilding a fine sleeping horde. Sosiqui "You are most gracious, Lord. I thank you." Shaiming looked surprised, then pleased, at the sudden overflow of gifts. "Forgive me if I do not remove them to my chambers at once - this body will not hold them all, and my Aoidei are... skittish, still." Crispin's body was trembling now, from Shaiming's effort to hold on to control despite his waning strength. "I fear I do not have much time left before you." Ivynian "Overstrain is irresponsible at this point in the game, my sky-serpent. You will have all eternity in this rebirth, when you are come to full power. Patience, and you will find your strength again."" The Twin Crown hissed behind his fangs, wrinkling his nose in disgust. Times could only worsen. "Rest you both, and meet your destiny well. " Sosiqui "We will take our leave, then - well met, Lord Harmodius! may our next meeting be in better times-" and a wave of exhaustion so total that it nearly knocked him over hit Crispin full in the face, as he suddenly snapped back into full awareness and control. Softly, mine host, Shaiming whispered, lending Crispin what little strength he still held. Softly bow, farewell, rise, and turn before we fall.Crispin managed the bow, barely. "Thank you for your words, Lord Harmodius. And... um. Thank you for Shaiming. For bringing me here. More than I can express." Shaiming's surprise radiated through Crispin, but the boy merely bowed his head again, then turned and moved out of the hall, trying his very best not to stagger - until he reached the foot of the stairs, and there were Toki and Nebula to support him. Then and only then did he allow the collapse.
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Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2012 11:32 pm
Recovery
"Ungh..."
Slowly, Crispin drifted back to consciousness, like a half-drowned man re-emerging from the watery depths. His head felt clouded, as though someone had filled his skull with cotton wool, and he squinted against the light on the nightstand. "Mrgh."
"Master Crispin?" A dark-colored face entered his vision, but it took a moment for the boy to focus on it clearly. "Are you awake? Are you well?" The black thing leaned in, and something warm and damp lapped tentatively at his cheek.
"Nnng... Nebula?" he managed, finding coherency but slowly. "My head hurts..."
"I have drink - one moment," the cat Aoide said, quickly. There was a flurry of movement, and then there was a mug of steaming liquid at his lips. "Drink..."
Crispin took a tentative sip, then pulled away, suddenly. "Eugh! What is that?" he managed.
Nebula's hopeful face fell. "Um... well, we didn't know who was going to wake up so I thought... maybe if I mixed coffee and tea..."
"Um... nice thought... but no... just water, okay?" Crispin sank back into the cushions.
"Of course! I will be back as soon as I can," Nebula promised, and scurried off.
In the silence, Crispin closed his eyes again, his mind drifting back to what had happened... last night? Last week? When had it been? He had no sense of time, since then...
Destruction. That awe-inspiring, terrifying form - for a moment, he had been sure he would shatter away before the face of Entropy made real.
But Shaiming had been there, lending him strength to stand... and then they had joined, somehow, a deep rapport. Even now, looking over what he remembered, Crispin could not figure out which mind had prompted which words. They had been... together. For a time, until Shaiming had gently put him to rest and he had known nothing until the dragon's own strength had faltered.
Is that what it will be like, to become Shaiming? Togetherness, and then nothingness?
Crispin thought about it. The idea was... not altogether bad. There are many worse ways a man could die, than feeling overwhelming joy, love, and being part of the best friend I've ever had...
He was almost surprised, now, that Shaiming wasn't right there, a mingled part of his conciousness - or had he been part of Shaiming's conciousness? It seemed impossible that such a joining could ever be reversed. He'd half expected never to wake again, with a passing, faint regret of not saying good-bye to Morgan.
But he had, and here he was - still himself, still human, still confused.
"Shaiming? Are you okay?" Crispin prodded him, experimentally.
Mmmm. It wasn't so much a response as a bone-deep rumble, the low growl of a dragon sleeping in a deep, dark cave. ... boy, Shaiming said, finally.
"Are you okay?" he repeated.
I am... tired. Indeed, the dragon sounded more weary than Crispin had ever heard him. I have had much to think about, and speak about... much. But I still think... that I am right, and I will not be faulted...
"What do you mean?" Crispin looked confused; the dragon's voice sounded dazed, with a sing-song quality to it that suggested Shaiming wasn't fully awake yet.
It is my choice...
"Shaiming...?"
"I'm back, young master," came a worried voice from the doorway, and Crispin looked up to see Nebula standing with a pitcher of water and a glass. "Are you quite well?"
At the sight of the water, Crispin realized how thirsty he really was. "Yes... water, quickly, please?"
The water was poured swiftly, offered to him; he drained it and held the glass out for more. Two glasses later, he finally felt the thirst slake. "Is there food?"
"Food, yes... we will get it for you. Toki is in the kitchen; I will tell him you're hungry. One moment." The Aoide bowed again, then pawed away silently.
Crispin settled back into the pillows, this time sitting up a bit more. "Shaiming?"
I beg your pardon, Crispin, the dragon replied, sounding much more awake this time. I was... not myself.
"Don't worry about it," Crispin said, with a sigh of relief.
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Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2012 11:32 pm
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