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 Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2012 10:22 am
Uncovering the TruthMeeting ItztlacJoint RP #6 Tsunake He was in a daze. Left, right, up, down--none of it made sense anymore. Nothing in this world made sense. From the maw of the apocalypse to the sudden guarantee of peace, all brought on by that man... No, whatever it'd been, it wasn't a man, but Arden was too tired to even begin to describe it. All he knew was that the imminent danger, whatever it'd been, had vanished. And yet, the parasitic gem still clinging stubbornly to his neck remained. It had done little since that wave of blackness had consumed him, and even all mocking traces of its rasping voice had disappeared. Had whatever entity inside of it been banished with the rest of the events in this place? Arden found himself wandering through the halls of the Pantheon, armored feet mindlessly carrying him forward until he had to pause. He recognized these surroundings, the shattered windows... This had been the place the strange, horned woman had brought him. He remembered nothing after that. With a disgruntled shake of his head, Arden slowly seated himself on one of the kitchen stools, brown eyes muddy with exhaustion. Though the starvation had left his face, his eyes bore deep, dark circles. Sleep was a sweet, fickle thing that continuously slipped through his fingers, though his thoughts were often churning too frequently to let his body rest. He'd still heard that voice, on occasion. Brows furrowed slowly as he brought the memories to the surface. But it'd been so weak, almost feeble. A groan slipped past his lips even as the man let his forehead thunk dully against a plated palm, working to massage his temples though his armored fingers did little more than agitate the thin layer of skin. He wanted... needed to get out of here, to find a way to patch a distress signal back home. Maybe then the gem could be analyzed by the Federation's medics, and it could be removed. Somehow, the thought made his stomach sink, and the man wondered why such a thought felt like wishful thinking. Meepfur  Finally, after too long lingering in the back of his recalcitrant host's mind, Itztlac was himself again; the truth was, however, that he had yet to find much joy in it. There was no sky, and with it no stars or moon - only darkness, and darkness alone did not make night. While better, perhaps, than perpetual light, it was still not to his liking. There was some comfort, of course, in the fact that he was alive to be dissatisfied at all, and confidence that eventually, the sky would be restored, but in the meantime he remained somewhat sour.
It was a little like the claustrophobic feelings that had plagued Finn-att, he supposed. His host, while a definite presence at the fringes of his consciousness, had not bothered to speak of lately. He had never been talkative, though, so it was hardly surprising that Tlac got little more than feelings and vague impressions from the herd-chief whose body had become his.
This centaur body took some...getting used to, that was for certain. It was hefty, he thought, ungainly in indoor environments, and he did not appreciate the loudness of its hooves on manmade surfaces. They announced his presence as he made his way down the wide stairs, which he was little more fond of than his host had been. Wide enough for him to use, yes, but he had still not been made with using them in mind.Tsunake Hooves...? Clip-clop, clip-clop, the sound coming too fast and too frequently to be a single pair of legs. Confusion briefly penetrated the shroud of despair he'd cast over himself, and the marine lifted his head slowly as though to unconsciously search out the source. It was a dull comprehension as he took in the massive beast, the muscular torso that tapered upward into a face that was almost human, but so alien in nature that he found himself struck by its flatness, by the bright eyes. The horns and strangely shaped ears. Nothing human, this creature--but he'd seen horned beings in this place before, and his own experience with the she-devil made him regard this newcomer with blank, expressionless features. Words stuck awkwardly in his throat as he considered speaking, though his wariness made him reluctant to call attention to himself. He feared being taken prisoner in his own body, probing his thoughts with unexpected ruthlessness as though to rouse that snaking voice so it could mock him before devouring his consciousness. Flesh shuddered underneath his protective armor, and the soldier decided enough was enough. "'Lo." His voice was husky, raw from disuse and more than a little unsure. He was used to a whole matter of strange creatures... but his fingers twitched longing for the useless assault rifle he'd eventually deemed worthless. He'd stored it away in the room Gideon had first brought him to, hoping no one was around to care or mind. He'd retrieve it soon--he had full intention of picking it apart and seeing what he could salvage of the technology. Meepfur Just one little syllable. Itztlac's ears flicked as he reached the bottom of the stairs and paused, and after a moment his silver gaze found the man sitting on the barstool. Host, or servant, or other - certainly no god. It was a pity, really, as he would have liked to speak with a fellow deity; only upon Finn-att's arrival and encounter with Destruction had he done so.
Nonetheless, unlike his host, he was not quite so inclined to ignoring people. Politely, he returned, "Hello." Tsunake Silvered eyes, yes--so strange as they sought and kept his gaze, and the man found himself unconsciously growing straighter. Was it merely another bizarre life form on this place? Or something... more? A short, slightly awkward nod was offered at the greeting, like he'd temporarily forgotten that he was the one who'd reached out for contact in the first place. Arden was again at a loss for words. He didn't feel like talking, didn't know what the hell was going on anymore. It made one feel small, insignificant... especially when he was a stranger who had seeming survived an apocalypse. Hell, even the very name of this planet eluded him. "...Were you there? For that... ceremony?" He'd offer slowly, a bit cautious to extend the information as though the other could somehow use it against him. When had he become so paranoid? The soldier shifted wordlessly again, not liking the realization. This could be a potential ally, someone that could help fill him in on what all had happened--and these gods they kept talking about, the gem embedded into his throat. Armored fingers twitched silently with agitation, stirred into motion by his thoughts. Meepfur Tlac watched the stranger carefully, quietly, with a slight tilt of his head. He was twitching a little...and why would that be? There were any number of possibilities, and he was curious as to which it was.
"Yes," he answered after a moment, blinking slowly, "After a fashion." Tsunake The answer was enough to make him still a little, trying to keep his nerves under control. All right, all right, that was good, well-worth his efforts. A silent breath was sucked in through his teeth while the marine strained to think of how to phrase his next question--and figure out what he even wanted to know. "...Who was that? Why did all that happen?" The splitting of that pulsing thing, the man who'd spilled out onto the floor... None of it made sense, and yet, he remembered bits and pieces of what had been told to him from before by that Delmin guy. Maybe he didn't want it to make sense. "...Is this... planet in danger anymore?" That was the most vital thing, at least for right now. Meepfur
"That was Harmodius, the Twin Crown, who is Creation and Destruction; but for now, Creation." So it seemed, and so he hoped. They had all had enough of chaos and hurt. The answer to the man's second question was more complicated, and Itztlac took a moment to decide how to word himself. "What happened was that the End was avoided. Just barely."
"I...believe it is safe, for now." He shifted his weight from one forehoof to the other while he thought. "But it is difficult to say. We will see the Grigori again, I think."Tsunake Twin Crown...? God of Creation and Destruction? He remembered that too, and he found himself more disturbed that he was being told these things so lightly, so calmly. And then the creature spoke of the End... Shifting hooves neatly snatched his attention again, and Arden was quiet for a long time as he struggled to digest it all. Why now, though? Wasn't this the same knowledge he'd spat on and shoved back into the dark recesses of his mind? He hadn't wanted to believe any of it, still didn't. ...And yet, he had seen. He had watched this very planet warp and change over the past few weeks, slowly shriveling up until the existence of life itself was threatened. With the birth of that man--no, god... it had stopped. "Grigori," He spoke the word allowed, the harsh title unpleasant. "They did this? What are they? ...Gods?" And was this creature before him, was he, too, one of these self-proclaimed beings? But that was an accusation he could not afford to toss out so lightly, and so he was silent, tired as he watched the not-man and waited for an answer. Meepfur
"No," he said sharply, stomping a back hoof for emphasis. "They are not gods. They are Fallen. Wielders of Void. What they were before that, I do not remember. That is a question better put to Knowledge. But yes, they did this."Tsunake The retort was a violent snap, its arrival so sudden and vehement that Arden's face hardened with unconscious tension. But there was no attack, not that he'd expected there to be any, and the man shook off the instinct with a rattle of armor. Cryptic words, things that flickered through his mind and trailed away without leaving any substance. "These gods." He started slowly, eyes flicking away from the alien face for a moment only to return. "...Why... are they parasites?" His right shoulder twitched unconsciously, as though trying to dislodge the gem buried within the thin flesh of his neck. After a moment, his hand lifted to slowly trailed hardened tips across the stone, drawing attention to it for the other's benefit. "...That what this is? A god?" Some god. Some world. Meepfur
Itztlac nodded, seeing no need to sugarcoat the truth - 'parasite' was a very apt comparison. "We Faded, and Harmodius collected what was left, our essences, into stones such as yours. We each require a host to fuel our rebirth, their body and soul to make up for what we've lost."
"Some are willing, some are not, but we must have them either way." His own had been deceived.Tsunake Faded... It sounded so grave, somehow, and yet Arden felt his throat growing tight. Body and soul, to make up for what had been lost. He hadn't missed the pronoun used, either. "So you are... one of them." He said slowly, almost cautiously. "Without you... will this planet start falling apart?" Did this place need these things? These gods? His fingers rubbed slowly at his temple--and froze at the mention of deceit. Had he... been tricked? Perhaps these creatures truly were parasites, simply claiming the lives of unwary hosts in order to manifest themselves. His jaw set itself grimly at the thought, and the urge to get back to his base in order to get this thing removed was stronger than ever. Meepfur
"We are...necessary, yes, though to varying degrees. I am sure you have noticed by now that there is no sky - this is because Universe was Eaten before we were able to to stop the End. I do not care to imagine what the consequences would be if such a thing were to happen to Gaia. Perhaps the worlds would literally crumble without her. It is difficult to say, but it would be dire indeed."
Tsunake He blanched faintly at the mention of the sky disappearing, something he'd been noticing just a few days before. Eaten...? "Can it be brought back? Is it gone... just here? You said Universe--what if there'd been a craft, an entire base suspended in the sky?" Oh, God. His gut had clenched sharply, but he knew how to rationalize and stay in control of fear. "How do you know what you're playing host to?" He divulged sharply from the conversation at hand, knowing he needed to consider his options now but also gripped with a morbid curiosity. "...Or is that only known once the host is... gone?" Meepfur
"I believe it can be brought back, yes. It will not be Lucius, because he is gone, but I'm certain our Lord can make Universe anew. And yes, it is gone everywhere - we are the true gods, of all worlds. All of this has affected Everything." He tilted his head, silvered eyes focusing on the man. That was a very specific question, about a craft suspended in the sky. "There is nothing left to hold it there. It would not have survived."
The next also made him curious...what god did this man carry? "We may speak with our hosts, if we wish."
Tsunake Lucius...? The marine frowned a little, not understanding, but only nodded a little. Perhaps that had been the god before? And while another god of Universe could be created, it would not be the same. The creature's reply made his jaw slacken, as though he was unable to grasp such an event altering everything. And then he felt the corners of his vision dim a little at the final statement, felt his throat grow thick and close itself off. They were all dead. Everyone. An armored hand slowly lifted to clamp itself over his mouth as though he was about to be violently ill. It took him several moments to regain his composure, armor rattling with each heaving breath he had to take. "It only talked once." He managed to say hoarsely, his hand still reluctant to leave its newly assigned position. "Everythin' went black 'n then it... hasn't talked since. Whispers sometimes." His thoughts wouldn't still, whipping through his mind with horrified denial. Meepfur
Itztlac was patiently quiet while the man coped with the information. He had nothing to offer, nor any real desire to. While he was willing enough to answer questions when it suited him, that did not make him kind.
"Perhaps you should try talking to it." He shrugged. "But whoever it is may not wish to speak."
Tsunake There was a slow, barely aware nod at the other's words, and the man was valiantly attempting to lock his shocked horror in the back of his mind to deal with later. All of it. Later. He didn't have any more questions, at least none that he could think of right now. "...What are you?" His voice sounded strange to his own ears, somehow numb and very far away. He wanted a name, a domain, anything. This... man-god had been a good source of information to him, and he appreciated it, would have thanked him had his tongue not felt too swollen to form the words. Meepfur
"Itztlac," he answered, "I am Night." It did not show much in his appearance, yet. For the most part, he was still the bright bay of his host, with just touches of dark creeping over it. Only his wings were really the proper color, and his eyes.
Tsunake Was that the way his eyes reminded him... Were they like moons? Stars? He didn't know, and only nodded slightly. "...Arden Valkov." And he hesitated slightly, perhaps waiting for that rasping voice he'd come to recognize, but there was nothing. "M'sorry." The man said after a moment, pulled himself more firmly onto his feet. "...Thanks for the info." He needed to go sit down and think to himself, somewhere where he could be alone. This clearly wasn't it. There was a faint nod once more to this... god of the Night, and Arden silently began to move back towards the stairs where Gideon had taken him. Host to a parasite. It was something that was going to weigh heavily on his mind... until eventually, he supposed, he succumbed to it.
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Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2012 10:23 am
Of Monsters and Maulings...Meeting Xia Lu LingJoint RP #7 Tsunake The meeting with the god of Night had left him wearied and bitter, and many a knuckle had suffered the wrath of his gnashing teeth. They ached now, some bleeding, other's bruised, and he'd reluctantly allowed them to escape into the protective metal confines of his suit. How could his people be gone? How could the Universe be gone? He stumbled through the lush paradise that had once been a land filled with death and destruction, but couldn't bare to stop and appreciate the metamorphosis. No longer a formidable structure of stone, this place, but almost like an open garden... Heavy steps lead him towards a small, wooden structure, the mindless babble of a nearby stream a soothing balm against the dead thoughts that floated, stagnant, within his mind. If what the centaur-beast said was true, then there was no hope of going home. There was no hope of communication. That vaguely tickled a thought in the back of his mind, something Itztlac had brought up. Trying to speak with whatever was in this gem? Hesitation, but now wasn't the time. Later. Right now, he needed to stop, to assess the situation.... and to pick up all the pieces, and stop hoping for rescue--it was time to try and figure out what the hell he was going to do on this planet. Fingers scraped roughly over the gem embedded in the side of his neck, almost as though musing over there was really a parasite within this thing. Slowly pressing his back into the teahouse, Arden slid to the grass as though his legs were too tired to carry him anymore. There were fruit trees around here, he was noting dully. Maybe later, he'd get up and get some... His fingers still ached. Syrie 
Like any good dog, Xia Lu Ling was skulking around the Pantheon as part of his self-assigned watch. His Master bade him speak with the mortals and guide them. Focus and protect them from not only the World as it was, but from themselves. They were...unsettled and very fragile - but the threads of Belief and Hope had began to weave together; a bond that would grow ever stronger.
The Dragon King was a dark blur against the lush greenery; the light from Illumin's temporary 'sun' glinted dully on his thick coat and the blue under scaling. His many eyes caught all sorts of movement on the Pantheon Grounds -- Arden wasn't the only mortal around, but he was the only mortal that caught his attention and required a closer look.
Once noticed, Xia Lu Ling made his way over to the exhausted-looking man; he was no longer quadrupedal (though he could have been) but even in a bipedal form the Dragon King carried the look of his host-beast: Lengthy claws, elongated canines, large fluffy ears, horns, thick fur (now with 40% more scales!) and the ever creepy multiple eyes. Eyes that even Gianfar of Knowledge had been unsteady and unsettled by, when they had been focused on him.
'Ah, another mortal-but-not.' Curling into his muzzle and tickling his senses; the distinctive scent of a God-bearing mortal. The gems changed those carrying them in scent as well as mind and body; they were tainted with the divine power. Sometimes more, sometimes less - it depended on how long the host had been fusing with the God (or Goddess). "Greetings, 'O weary one bearing the mark of my brothers."
Not Brothers, like the Kings, but brothers - they were all of them Children of the Twin Crown, siblings in that sense, were they not? Even so, the morph-fused Dragon King had an air of command and authority about him. He would not request to join Arden, but do so at his leisure. "I am Yu, the Five Claw. Emblem Pillar to the Crown." Xia Lu Ling left out his given name for the sake of brevity and also because that was what the mortals called him by - it was more likely Arden would have heard that set of names.Tsunake He would have been hard pressed to ignore the sleek ripple of ebony muscle and fur that was approaching his position at a rate more rapidly than he liked. On instinct, his fingers twitched as though to curl themselves into fists even as he sat up more straightly, and the throbs of pain that danced down the small bones in his hand were enough to remind him that he'd wounded himself. Whatever it was, it moved with a confident, animalistic grace; if it was hostile, he'd be easy pickings, and perhaps a meal. It should have jolted him with adrenaline, forced him up and perhaps limping inside the tea house behind him for shelter, but he was quite honestly captivated by the strangeness of the beast, and was tired of fighting for his life on this godforsaken planet. It looked almost as though it had been structured after a canine with its snout and fur, but the eyes were what made his jaw grit instinctively. Too many, and the way they seemed to pin and pick him apart... He was half-tempted to drop his gaze, but only swallowed and eyed the scales, the twisting horns and fur. Quite the chimera--and intelligent, if its gaze was any indication. He was used to all sorts and sizes of aliens, and his surprise was quickly dimming as he took in the natural weapons of claws and teeth. Still, the weary marine looked quite obviously surprised when the thing spoke. Not just any rambling ravings, but a tone that possessed... well, dignity. He was hard pressed to snap that it was a parasite's mark he bore, but his sanity hadn't quite left him yet; the last thing he needed was to antagonize anyone, and... had it said brothers? It too, bore one of these foul god seeds? Though not a dull man, Arden was having difficulty keeping up with the one-sided flow of conversation, Yu, Five Claw, Emblem... Pillar to the Crown? Some ancient lore kept by his people, perhaps? The man didn't know, and would hesitate before clearing his throat. "Ah. Arden Valkov..." He'd about to been introduce himself as a marine of the Federation, but if what Itztlac said was true, there was no Federation any longer... Swallowing again in vain hopes of making his voice less scratchy, his armored fingers waved uneasily at the gem embedded into the side of his neck. "...I don't know what it is." There was subtle loathing on his tongue, disdain. The voice that had consumed him had been male, and he'd only heard it a few times after that period of unconsciousness. "....Was told I could... communicate with it, but I haven't tried." Syrie Critical eyes sized up Arden rapidly - Yu could appreciate the man's build and wariness; such things would hold him in good stead. Whomever had taken this mortal as a host had chosen well in form.
"Well met, host Arden Valkov." That the mortal did not recognize him was of no bother to the Dragon King; not all on the grounds knew him and most certainly there were more coming and going daily. He could not know them all, only Gianfar of Knowledge would have that ability. Yu cocked his head at the weary man before him; wondering what he thought of having been taken by an immortal for the purpose of rebirth - he chose not to inquire as some were happy, some sad...and some bloody well pissed off about it. He really didn't want to get into one of those conversations again -- he'd argued before, through his host, with David.
Ah. There, with that tinge of loathing to his tone Arden gave away his feelings toward his new status in life. "Hmmm..." Yu settled his furred body near to the man and watched him a moment. "You do yourself a great disservice to not communicate with the One that Chose you. The being within the gem embedded into your flesh is your greatest ally now; no doubt you have questions that they could answer for you." The Dragon King paused and reflected inward a moment, two of his six eyes closing thoughtfully. "Being a host can be difficult for some, but ultimately, it is an honor to be chosen as a vessel. I hope that you will come to understand this, with time."
Granted, his host had been all too eager for Destruction to give-over the serpentine gem that had housed his spirit...Yu had to remember that many did not embrace the merging as wholly as Fragment. He should speak carefully, make the man comfortable before he went on about such things. "My apologies to you and the One Within, Host-Arden. You are tired, hungry and no doubt unsure of this place." It was an offer - did Arden want something to eat? A more comfortable resting place? Had he questions that he wished to put to Xia Lu Ling? Tsunake Again, the intelligence behind such monstrous visage surprised him more than it ought; he shifted uncomfortably at the unwanted title that preceded his name. It occurred to him, vaguely, that he might have offended his strange new companion—it was a host or god-thing itself, was it not?—but it was too late to reconcile. As the creature that called itself Yu took a seat, Arden reluctantly let his weary gaze flick again over the other’s strange face, and the words offered were enough to give him pause. “...It hasn’t acted much like an ally.” The soldier stated, his tone a bit gruffer than he meant it to be before he sighed. In some ways, Yu was right; he hadn’t even attempted to speak to the thing, whatever it was. “To be chosen as a sacrifice? To help... rebirth a god?” Arden questioned. Yes, he could see why it would be. But up until this point, he hadn’t fathomed such beings even existed. Who knew if they were truly gods, or if they merely called themselves such things in a mad bid for power? Still, the chaos that had consumed this planet told him that immense forces were at work here, and he best tread wisely. The apology surprised him, and he waved it off with a trace of unease; Yu owed him no kindness, though the sentiment was appreciated. Eventually, he'd force himself to find something to eat, and though the weight of early conversation held with the god of Night made him reluctant to pry, he'd be a fool to turn down another source of information. "...How do I communicate with it? ...Does it just read thoughts, or is there something more?" Syrie Very little this side of the Grigori could offend Yu in these times; he was quietly over-joyed with the return of his Lord Creation and busy with His request of aiding the mortals. It was this mood paired with his own nature that kept the Dragon King from being easy to offend, to anger. He chuckled a little bit at Arden's words and attitude - no, this one was quite obviously not in the best of spirits with having been made into a Host...but perhaps that would change in time. After all, Arden had survived to see the Rebirth of Creation, had he not? So many mortals had fallen to the Weeks of Gehenna while this one stood strong - weary, but alive.
"Yes." The King cocked his head at Arden for a moment before continuing. "It would take too long to explain all of the details, but there was a time ages past when we - the True Gods - began to die off. Knowledge called it the Fading. After a time, we began returning - through the gems that housed our spirits...but we needed a vessel...a Host that would provide form and energy to facilitate our rebirth." A parasitic relationship, really...but it was so much more - the relationships between Host and God were complex and varied, far too difficult to explain in mere words.
"I cannot explain nearly so well as Gianfar, the God of Knowledge. I suggest you find him in his Library...he is better equipped to answer questions you are certain to have, though I would try." Xia Lu Ling's thick, muscular tail thumped against the lush carpet of grass beneath them.
How to communicate? That was definitely a question that the Dragon King could answer - he had conversed with his host, the Fragmented Creature quite often - but then, the relationship between the Dragon King and Fragment had been very close, even from the start. "You can speak aloud, if you like...but they are part of your conscious and unconsious now...so simply thinking towards them should be sufficient. It does require some effort on their part, so if your God is weary, they may not be willing to speak at length initially." Tsunake Yu's story stirred some flicker of remembrance within the marine; he'd heard something about the gods dying before. Delmin Brock. The name came slowly, but without protest, and he seemed a little more at ease now that he could finally attach a more fitting title to such a catastrophic event. The Fading... He shook his head faintly, but it wasn't to deny the Dragon King's words. Perhaps it just made more sense than he would have liked it to. "So the gems contain your souls..." Unnerving, that, but he'd heard stranger things. Shifting his shoulders some, the man nodded wearily and stored the name away for later. Gianfar, the god of Knowledge... "I appreciate it." He said sincerely, eyes straying briefly to the thick, odd tail. Strange--wasn't that something canines did when pleased? He wouldn't know, as he'd never met one, but from the old tapes he'd seen... Arden listened careful to the instructions of sorts, considering that with only the faintest shifting of his jaw. The silence stretched between them as he tentatively sought to prod within his own thoughts, feeling somehow very stupid. Consider then, perhaps, that if someone had to help you learn how to utilize your own consciousness for communication, there was a reason you were used for grunt work.His jolt of surprise was obvious, and it was clear that the marine was startled, but recovering. "I see." He said tersely; that had definitely been the voice he'd heard before everything had gone black. ...What are you?Bazyli, the Hollow Mouth. Give my regards to the Dragon King, Arden Valkov. And he somehow 'sensed' that this... Bazyli was finished with their brief discussion. "...Bazyli, the Hollow Mouth, gives his regards to you." The man said slowly, clearly a little taken aback by all this. Syrie Indeed, there were (or rather, had been before Gehenna had been triggered and the Weeks run their ruinous course) heavy volumes in the Library with Gianfar that covered nothing but the Fading. Gianfar himself was a fount of information -- when one could locate him (Yu had few problems doing this, but he had inherited his host's keen sense of smell) and once located, lure him away from either his ruined Library or his two lovers. The Dragon King watched Arden's expression to see how the man was processing all of this; was he wrong, or had there been the fleetest glimmer of recognition? Understanding?
"The gems are a temporary house for our souls, yes. We reach out to those we find worthy...and then fuse with them for the purpose of Rebirth. Occassionally, a host will be unsuitable or will fail us." And each time the god or goddess felt the effects most heavily; it was no easy task to find a host and fuse with them. Just doing that required the newly-housed god or goddess to go into a sort of hibernation while they stored power and slid little tendrils of Self throughout the host's heart, mind and body.
Deep blue eyes blinked in sets, tail still thumping against the plush greenery lit by non-solar balls of light (provided by Illumin and held up in a great expanse of Nothing). Now the man was thinking; obviously putting a question inward. Yu would wait; long-tipped claws gently brushing across Creation's verdant landscaping. No point in disturbing the host while he was attempting to converse with whatever god or goddess had taken up 'residence' inside.
Ah-ha! After a stretch of soundless contemplation on Arden's part - Yu was extending his senses outward to assure himself trouble was no where near them - Arden's body jerked slightly; surprise. Perfect. Contact was made, yes. One set of blue eyes closed in a sort of pleasure: helping a brother along was a good feeling. The more of the Pantheon turned whole (or nearly so) and strong, the better. And with Arden being rather...military in stance...well, that could be a great help in the Battles to come.
"It is good to regain a brother, no matter how...hungry he might be. Welcome Bazyli, may you and your host find strength in each other." The Hollow Mouth. Yu felt a tingling of connection within his mind, but could not piece it together. There had been two failed Rebirths and much of what he had once known was Gone. He was intelligent enough to hypothesize that the title "The Hollow Mouth" might mean that Arden Valkov was now host to Hunger or Famine, or something very close to those. Tsunake "That's what it's doing?" Arden said abruptly, paused and felt his lips beginning to curl into a frown. He. Bazyli. A fusion between them, hollowing out his body until it was little more than just a shell that needed to be filled--was that what he was to believe? But it was the mention of failure that made the marine refocus, meeting those strange eyes with an unwavering stare. "...What happens then?" He could only imagine. Would that destroy them both? He wasn't about to even try, but it was something to ponder on. Still, these god-things were simply trying to live again, and it made him feel oddly conflicted. The thumping tail distracted him more than once, and when he glanced back up, one set of gleaming eyes had shut. Concentrating? He didn't know. He wasn't sure whether or not to nod to the creature's words, feeling awkward knowing it was the voice inside his mind being addressed, rather than him. Though he would wait for several seconds, the dry rasp was gone, and he exhaled a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. "That was a god," He phrased it like a question, but was more or less hesitantly waiting for Yu to confirm what he felt he already knew. Hollow Mouth--it'd struck a sour chord with him, and had he not been so used to clamping down on more irrational emotions, he'd might have started to display signs of severe agitation. It was one thing, perhaps, to sacrifice oneself to a noble cause. To bring about something devastating was another story entirely. Though the soldier stirred, he remained where he was, intently focused on the strange being beside him now. "Why... Wouldn't it be better for everyone if some gods didn't come back?" He didn't need to say much more than that; no more suffering, no more violence. He didn't understand. Didn't want to. "It seems unnecessary." The man finished, somehow feeling as though it didn't matter. "There's no way to remove it, is there?" khiarhu Another set of deep blue eyes closed and the beast-god bowed his head; perhaps in sadness or in homage to his previous hosts - Adren would have no way of knowing and Yu the Five Claw was not inclined to hand out his own, personal rebirth story so familiarly to one he had scarce met. Reborn 'son of Creation or no - there were some things that one did not give over so quickly.
"If the chosen host fails, they die. The god returns to His hands, less a part of himself that had been there before." Yu opened his eyes and focused his gaze intently upon The Hollow Mouth's burly host before speaking further. "One then searches All that Is for another host..." Again, holding something back: should there be multiple failures, it was entirely possible that there would remain so little of the god as to make rebirth impossible. Arden seemed entirely too intersted in such things for Yu's tastes; he would not give the mortal man any of that information!
Once more the heavy, furred-and-scaled head dipped. "Yes. The voice you 'heard' was a God, one that has deemed you a wothy vessle for rebirth." It was a noble cause - even if one were housing what appeared to be a malevolent god. Each one had a purpose, no matter how they may or may not offend mortal sensibilities.
"No, Arden Valkov, No. There is no way to remove the gem that houses The Hungry Mouth, nor would it be better if certain of our number remained entombed in their gems. All that Is requires balance, just as the Twin Crown requires balance so that we all may live. Good and evil are abstracted concepts you mortals shackled to the Gods so that you may understand and relate to us better, but know this: for every destructive God, there is a constructive counter within the All." Tsunake He could sense that he was treading on a tender subject, and as another pair of gleaming eyes shuttered closed, the man found himself shifting faintly as though preparing himself for something. So the host was doomed, no matter the outcome. Oddly enough, he was content with that. What was there left for him on this planet? Could he truly settle and find a place for himself without constantly feeling as though there should be something more? Something beyond restless wandering and plaguing insecurities? The soldier's gaze flickered for a moment as Yu spoke of some piece of the god disappearing, wondering exactly what that entailed. So failure did not come without a price... Yes, he did brood over that for a moment, his lips thin before he eventually would shake his head as though weary. But, as the Dragon King revealed, the process would not stop. Another would be found, another would die. And perhaps, inevitably, the god would be reborn. Worthy. He was too polite to let his lips curl into a sneer, and only dropped his gaze as though tired. So, this was something beyond his understanding, something more immense than he or any other mere mortal could apparently understand. Such knowledge rankled, but the soldier only offered a curt nod to show he at least understood what the other was trying to convey to him. Balance. Was it necessary? What harm could come from peace and life without dischord? "...I'll keep that in mind." But he was frowning, remembering something that he'd been told. "...The Twin Crown. ...That was the ceremony? I only saw the one, pale...being, he fell outta that chrysalis... That was Creation? Destruction?" Syrie Quite a tender subject, but one that the Dragon King was willing to broach in the interest of furthering his breathern's understanding and knowledge of how and why things happened. Otherwise, he would not let another so near such a raw wound so quickly after meeting them - god-host or not.
Against the lush greenery underfoot (and arse) Yu's tail twitched and flicked; the grass tickled at his fur and the flesh under it's thick layer of fluff. Arden had listened to all he had to say but did not seem as though he were taking it as well as one might hope...but then, how many of the host-beings had shown such excitement when told that they would cease to exist so that another - older - entity might live in the flesh again?
"Yes. He is our Lord and our All. The Eldest among us, reborn through mortal belief and the efforts of the True Gods currently reborn." Fuzzy ears swiveled to take in all the sounds around them; Xia Lu Ling was ever vigilant, even when he seemed to be resting. "The one you saw that day was the Creation aspect of the Twin Crown. He is two sides of the same coin, so to speak. Creation and Destruction, in turn. It is in keeping His being in balance that allows All that Is to remain in balance." Tsunake Arden's brows were furrowed as he studied the lush green just underfoot, trying to ignore the thick and undoubtedly powerful tail as it twitched to and fro as though enjoying the sensation. The Eldest, reborn through... "Mortal beliefs?" He confirmed quietly, seeming to take an interest in that aspect. "He was reborn... because of us? Mortals?" The man corrected himself; this world was still strange to him, and it was hard to believe that he could have lended any sort of hand in the rebirth of a god. Still, though the marine was known more for his reflexes and his brawn than the ability of his mind, he was not stupid. He was thinking, puzzling through this, and at last, he would ask another question. "Is it possible... to meet with this Creation? To speak with him?" There would be a heartbeat of silence before he said, "I appreciate what you've told me." He didn't want the Dragon King to think anything otherwise, and, though his features were strained, he would attempt to smile for the other. "...I just think it best if I... try to understand what I should do, to prepare for this." Syrie
Yu nodded at Arden's question. "Indeed, Host-Arden. It is through mortal beliefs that we True Gods garner much of our power. We grow stronger with belief...the Twin Crown also follows this ruling." He sighed a little and seemed to ripple his very flesh to settle upon the ground more comfortably. "The importance of mortal belief cannot be stressed enough. It is by their efforts and their belief as well as Ours that the Crown was called back to the form you see now. Without mortals, Creation would not have returned to us and All that Is would have been destroyed."
As imposing as the Dragon-King's form might have been to Arden, it would be very obvious that the thought of everything ending scared him. His ears swept back against his head and he seemed to shrink and hold himself closer than before; it lasted only a moment, but it should have been enough to add emphasis to what he had spoken of.
"It is very possible, Host-Arden. Creation loves all His Children dearly and willingly extends His hand in welcome to any that come to Him." Yu's multiple eyes brightened; his Lord was a subject he verily enjoyed - Xia Lu Ling lived and breathed for Creation's touch, His command. With care, Yu placed his hand on Arden's shoulder, head slightly bowed to show that he did feel the other's distress and discomfiture towards that impending fate.
"Do not be afraid, but welcome the change. It is no easy road that you have been brought down, but you make take comfort in knowing that many have gone before you and would be willing to give you aid -- as will the god within you." Here he paused and removed his claw-tipped hand from the other man's shoulder to stroke at his muzzle thoughtfully. "I think you would perhaps feel better if you spoke with our Lord, Creation. His presence and touch are a balm that soothes like none other." Tsunake So these creatures needed people for more than just parasitic reasons, and that somehow seemed to ease some of the tension in his shoulders. True, while that belief could be extracted through crueler methods, it still signified some sense of order. That, and if the gods could potentially be destroyed if that belief were to fade--his thoughts weren't allowed to finish, for Yu said something that made him freeze. "...All the destruction that just happened... was that... from a lack of belief?" He could see the tension, the fear that had gripped the imposing creature, and that sent tendrils of worry slithering through his gut. "But now it's fixed." Arden continued cautiously, knowing it must be so. It was clear that he was baffled, shaking his head slightly even as he continued to try and absorb what the other was telling him. Something powerful enough to destroy the entire universe... The man lifted his gaze when the Dragon King's tone seemed to lighten, and he was momentarily struck by the almost joyful emotion he could see scrawled within those unnerving eyes. Did the thing sharing his mind with him--did it feel the same way about this Creation? But there was no answer. The touch against his armored shoulder surprised him, hardened features momentarily softening with surprise, and then, gratitude. Whether this was false sympathy to soothe him, or genuine, it didn't matter at that moment. "...I'll keep that in mind." Arden said quietly with a slight nod of his own, straightening slightly. He had never been afraid of death before. If this were to be his time, at last, then he would meet it head on, and fall. A balm. The man's lips threatened to twitch into a grimace. He could use some of that, right now. "Do you know where I can find him?" In the very least, he at least sounded a little less tense, only tired, but also ready. Syrie Truly there were many reasons why the mortals had meaning and use to the True Gods - not that many of them would know or realize it until it was too late - like before. For the moment, they did - they had seen their belief bring Creation from that twisted, garrish chrysalis - and so those mortals that attended the ceremony (and those that heard first, second, and third hand from others) believed and knew they had been Important.
And now the gods left the Pantheon to labor amongst the mortals and aid this Rebirth and Renewal of their worlds. Rebuilding with Creation's blessings the world(s) that they had nearly lost. "Not fixed, host-Arden. He is still out of Balance and All that Is still withered, limping and broken. It will take much time and effort to 'fix', as you put it." Yu scrunched his eyes a bit, leaving the lowest set open to watch the other male thoughtfully. "The moment He returned, ripples of energy, power...of Creation slid across All, bringing Life back to places charred and bent past recognition." As he spoke, the Dragon King felt the rightness of his words, felt his awareness outside this small place expand. He felt the life growing in Other places, outside-and-yet-not-outside this place.
It pleased him even more so than the gratitude of the mortal-host did. "Yes. I can take you to him, if you wish...or I can direct with words." His tail twitched again, long-tipped ears moving against the silky hair that fell from atop his head past furry shoulders. "You have but to say which would be your pleasure, host-Arden." Tsunake His mouth thinned as the Dragon King explained that things, perhaps, no matter how they seemed, were still so fragile. Did that mean there was a chance this world could slip back into despair, should He fall? "But," The soldier ventured slowly, his brows furrowed, "So long as things are starting to be repaired... as long as there's hope, then that's all that matters. If people don't forget," And there'd been so many at that ceremony, so surely some faith had been restored... "Directions." The man said wearily, but would glance at that strange, muzzled face to show he meant no offense with his curtness. "...I need to think, for a while." Collect his thoughts, decide his next plan of action. He intended to discuss things with this "god" before he did anything else. "...I appreciate your help, Xia Lu Ling." It took him a moment to remember the name, unused to the dialect, but hopefully managed to pronounce it without slaughtering it in its entirety. Syrie Indeed, they were fragile, but they were growing stronger every moment that belief dwelt in mortal hearts...as well as with Creation's return. "Yes. You are correct, Host Arden Valkov." The Dragon King almost purred in pleasure - the mortal was getting it, without nearly so much trouble as he might have had.
"Of course, I will tell you how and where He can usually be found." The pitch-colored creature chuckled and explained that Creation could be found in the Pantheon proper or in His rooms. Once he had given the requested information, herose to his feet in one fluid movement.
"You are always welcome to call upon me, God or Host." He felt no rancor at Arden's request of time; certainly he did understand - and he would give the man just that; leaving to prowl the perimeter as he had originally intended...or perhaps to go and speak with other mortals. Either way, Arden would be left without the beastial King's company - but with the ability to go and find either Creation or Yu at any time. Tsunake The soldier listened carefully to the instructions, and would eventually dip his head in an awkward semblance of a bow. "....Thank you. I'll remember that." But the graceful, feral dragon had gotten to his feet. He lingered in front of the tea house for some time, digesting the information he'd been offered before at long last, he too would rise. Seeking out this Creation was important, but he also had this god to deal with. He wanted to know more about it, figure out its intentions... The thought made his lips thin grimly, but the marine would soon wander off, seeking somewhere more private to converse. Speaking out loud to seemingly nothing at all was, of course, a bit awkward to those who didn't exactly know better.
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Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2012 10:24 am
Confrontation
Solo RP #8
The conversation with the Dragon King had answered many questions, but had also given birth to many more. Armored feet carried him across the open stretch of green that now surrounded the Pantheon, considerably more lightly than when he’d first trekked out here perhaps an hour ago, but, as before, he wasn’t particularly focused on where he was going. This thing in his head... It was still hard to really believe it, and although he’d heard it speak. Again. Perhaps that was why he was stretching his legs now, carrying himself farther away from the little tea house so he could again address the deity-to-be.
It was an old habit, more than anything. No one could really intrude on a conversation going on in someone’s mind. Then again, stranger things had happened here. For a long while, his thoughts hesitantly prodded and probed for some sort of reaction, acknowledgement, anything. He wanted to talk to this Bazyli; Yu had gotten him to understand that there was no running away from this fate.
Your bravery is commendable.
A foot jerked, then settled on the ground once more and stilled. That was a different tune from the snide insult earlier, though still peppered with dry sarcasm, and as he wasn’t quite yet comfortable to ‘think’ a reply, the marine opted for speaking out loud. “He said it was an honor.”
And to some, it is. They are being used to sustain a being much greater than themselves.
That provoked a frown from the stoic soldier, and he was shaking his head somewhat. “Assuming they’ve been informed. Some of them—“
Are like you. The god cut him off before he could finish. You did not ask for this. But no matter how many times you repeat such a thing, nothing will change. This is the fate that has been handed to you.
“It isn’t that I didn’t ask for it,” Arden’s voice was growing strained with temper that rarely surfaced, rankling at the tone the deity continued to take with him. “That... that thing you did, where you possessed me.” That was the only way he could describe it, and the resentment was unmistakable in his tone. “You didn’t explain a goddamn thing to me, you and that woman—“ He broke off before he could let himself get out of control, taking in slow breaths.
Ah, I see... The voice mused. That was unfortunate, yes.
The man’s brows narrowed, and he said nothing.
You were in no condition to be consulted during the weeks of the Gehenna, particularly the week you found me. You wanted to do what you could to help the people on this planet—the people all among the stars, did you not?
“You were helping.” It was meant to be a question, but skeptism forced it flat.
And had to force you into a state of unconsciousness while doing it, yes. And he went on to explain the workings of the throne, the week that had given him such an extraordinary boost in power and how he had attempted to lend his aid to finding a solution for putting an end to the Gehenna. And, of course, his domain.
“Famine.” The soldier said grimly. The week he’d set out, the week he’d found this gem. The silence stretched on for a moment, and perhaps the deity sensed it would be better to let the man think rather than pushing him into a decision. “You wanted to help.” It was a sigh then, reluctant, but almost understanding.
It was wrong what I did to you, and I will admit that. It rather exhausted me after my week was up, and you did not seem inclined to talk to me either.
Arden would silently consent to that.
You still want answers. Seek Creation—the one whom you saw spill forth from the chrysalis. That is of whom the Dragon King spoke.
He bristled, despite himself. “I have no reason to trust you.”
No. But perhaps you will learn. You seemed to trust the Yu the Five Claw well enough. It sounded as though the deity was smiling, and the soldier felt his mental walls fortify themselves even as he set his jaw. Bazyli said nothing else.
The god had a point, came the grim decision, andn Arden squared his shoulders before reluctantly turning himself around and strode back through the gardens in search of this Creation. -insert direction snippets here-
fin.
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Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2012 10:25 am
Our Lord, Creation...Meeting HarmodiusJoint RP #8 Tsunake The consultation with voices that may very well have existed in only his mind had been disturbing, to say the least, and the rock-steady soldier found himself rattled again. This planet was apt to shatter his stability, and whenever it felt like things were going smoothly... Well. He'd recognized the voice that had barely been able to even whisper through his mind. There had been no blackouts then, as if whatever entity that reigned within the gem burrowed firmly in his skin was too feeble to even attempt another hostile takeover. Famine.It brought an unbidden shiver to his skin, and perhaps later he'd mull over the fact that he was apparently... about to give his body over to such a destructive god. No--not give. It would be taken from him by force. There was a shift in his mind at that, the feeling so strange that his armored feet temporarily ceased in their movement. A wisp of a chuckle met his ears, and the man set his jaw firmly to keep his temper from rising. Their conversation had been civil, true, but Arden had no plans to trust this creature. Find Creation. That was what he had been told, and the naked being that had spilled from the guts of that thing came instantly to mind. With a rough shake of his head, the man found himself wandering towards the pale upraised structures that had replaced... well, everything he'd been accustomed to. Carefully he found himself scaling the first of the platforms, the larger of the two structures. "...Creation?" His voice was rough and hoarse from disuse, and tired eyes trailed briefly to stare out at the greenery that had transformed this realm. Lord creation..."...Lord Creation?" He tried again, this time failing to feel the faint stirrings of disapproval and assumed that, for now, he'd satisfied the thing that had brought him here. Ivynian  While there was no physical body, calling seemed to take the empty room and summon into it the sense of a presence. Form followed function, and a voice came from near the staircase of the great room, "Yes, Mr. Valkov? " Creation waited there, a hand on the stone banister, at least having rediscovered the merits and functions of clothing more completely since the rebirth from the chrysalis. Tsunake Wariness instinctively tightened his features as the bodiless voice drifted, and the fact that it knew his name was cause for concern. At least it reassured him when his eyes settled upon the strange, pale being with vivid hair, thankfully clothed this time. Unconsciously, the unpleasant memory of this man--god--spilling forth from that thing twitched to remembrance, and Arden shook his head faintly before refocusing on Creation. "...I've been told I could come to you, with questions." He faltered at the unexpected eagerness that he felt rippling through him, knowing it was not his own. Bazyli? But the voice said nothing, and after the brief pause, the soldier spoke again. "...I heard that... that space itself was gone. That anything caught within it..." It pained him to even try to think of such a thing; surely the Federation couldn't have been wiped out so simply! Was it true? That strange pulsing in his mind continued, but there was no words or influence. It only served to make Arden feel less and less comfortable. Ivynian "Those objects and beings close enough to worlds were dropped into their atmosphere and orbit, to land with whatever relative safety their skill, condition and teh planet surfaces allowed. Those in deep space were Eaten by the Void even as Lucius himself was...unraveled into Nothing. I'm sorry, but your Federation is mostly broken, as you suspect. Some members survive here an there. Spare transports made it through the hardest hours, worsted in that none can travel abroad for there is Nothing to travel within. Repairs to many that are in pieces are halted by the simple lack of manpower, expertise or even available resources. "
"Cold comfort all the reports of that I have to offer. " Tsunake He swallowed briefly at the grim reality of the situation, the icy truth freezing any semblance of hope in its tracks and refusing to relinquish it. However, it helped in crushing his delusions, and he could now look at his situation as... well, remaining permanent. Some had survived, that was good--but it sounded as though the losses far outweighed anything they'd ever struggled with before. Strangely, it soothed him; the Federation might be able to rebuild itself with time. And if it fell to pieces, well, another group would surely rise to confront the menace of the Space Pirates. After allowing himself to digest that, he nodded wordlessly. "...I understand. ...I'm sorry to hear, about Lucius." So that was the name of the god-thing that had ruled over Universe--he'd remembered Itztlac telling him as much. But how could a god die?That feeling of eagerness again boiled through his mind, laced with streaks of impatient that made him shift somewhat awkwardly. Are you satisfied? Came the thin, reedy voice, and to the marine's surprise, he thought he could detect... concern. Brows furrowing faintly, he only sent a silent note of agreement in turn. Then, would you permit me to speak? That was something that made him jerk a little vehemently, recalling the still-unexplained blackout, and the god interjected once more before he could gather his thoughts enough to refuse. Don't be foolish; I haven't the strength to attempt something like that again, nor do I want to. ...I will explain myself later, if you must know. But I would be grateful if you complied; just let yourself relax...His jaw grit itself uncomfortably for a moment before he allowed his metal walls to drop, tension still radiating from his wary form as though to lash out should he sense anything astray. There was only a strange sensation of his vocals beginning to quiver without his consent, and the same, hungry voice spilled forth. "Lord Creation..." Arden was surprised to hear none of the scorn he was accustomed too, but only an admiring sort of reverence. I am pleased to see you so well... considering. I am ashamed you must see me lacking the strength to even bow to you, but alas."Arden wasn't sure how to take that bit, and stood uncomfortably in, well, relative silence. Ivynian "Even as it is by my hand the gems are made, so it is I watch each grow and return to glory. Trouble not your condition in my eyes, for it will be remedied with your growth and learning. "
"Empty Mouth, welcome and returned, your domain is strong for now and will serve you well at the fringes, the far worlds who only now feel tremors as the threads of the middle repair and pull taut. " Tsunake The mortal was startled to feel his lips twitch at the other's words, curling faintly into a thin smile that the rest of his face failed to mimic. "Then I shall flourish beneath your gaze." Arden bristled against the coaxing touch he felt ripple down the back of his spine, and, of his own accord, he let himself bow awkwardly to Creation. Crude. The god sighed in his mind, and he had to resist the urge to rub at the back of his neck. Not easily settled, this one--but he'd had commanders worse than this, and the knowledge helped him cope. His face, however, would tighten briefly at the cryptic words. Empty Mouth--Famine, obviously. But that mean there were worlds that hadn't been restored like this one had...? "Their suffering will be my gain. Unfortunate, yes, but I will waste no time in mourning in what has happened; only take advantage of it until your influence has reached All once more." Had he been able, a careless shrug would have been offered to fill his pause. "Far be it from me to request anything from you, my Lord, but my host is weak still from his untimely arrival upon this planet. We wander now like vagabonds, and I wish to beg a boon from you, a place for us both to recuperate and gain strength." Another pause then, and Arden's eyes swept uncomfortably across Creation as they waited. Ivynian "A Haven is important, and while your influence wanders, certainly your feet need not at all times. This is easily accomplished. Seek the door that is made of teeth, and shape the unformed space beyond to your likings. It is a beginning, and you are not forever bound to only this one dwelling. But please...enjoy it and know that it will always be here for you to use in your times at the Pantheon. "
Tsunake "Gracious, my Lord, and I humbly thank you." The dry rasp of a voice was beginning to recede back into the depths of the mortal, for he'd exerted what little strength he'd stored. The initial takeover had taken its toll on the god, and though he regretted nothing, this was becoming an irritating inconvenience. Forgive me. My strength wanes..." And then he was gone. Arden shifted his jaw experimentally before he straightened, able to at least sense how tired the god was from only a few words. A door of teeth... Shape the uniformed space? He trusted that Bazyli would know what to do, and he wavered quietly as though unsure whether to stay, or go. He had questions left unanswered, however, and after clearing his throat, the soldier spoke again. "...I'll die when he gains strength, won't I?" Ivynian "That is the most likely of outcomes. "
"Famine....He is a child of destruction and not known for mercy. Too weak to move, covered in sores and cracked skin, those who starve know only pain in movement and lethargy of mind. "
"The minds of others, such as plague, have been more gentled by their hosts. I cannot predict if your tempers will have the same effect. Every sacrifice has something...some trait, weakness or strength, that is needed by their god. Something so precisely attuned that few are the other potential matches. I am sorry. You are given no choice, and little certainty, but that is the humor of Famine. "
"At best, seek in yourself and your knowing of the god....what it is that you are to the rebirth. You are not wholly powerless, and if your will is iron....maybe you can accomplish some sort of good in or out of the god. In cooperation or opposition to him....as your nature deems."
Tsunake An iron weight settled deep in his gut at the simplicity of the other's words; in truth, he preferred blunt honesty over something ridden with pity. It made it easier to break down and digest; death was something that often came along in his line of work, and he had never expected to live to ripe old age. A child of destruction then, a beast that reveled in pain and suffering. That, perhaps, was what Arden had issue with most; he had not chosen to bring forth a demon of torment, rejected it violently, even now. There was no doubt that the god in question was listening. He had been chosen? That knowledge snapped Arden's eyes back into focus, having blurred with the speed with which his thoughts were whipping by. A strength, a weakness, a trait--was it humanity that needed to be injected into a god such as Famine? He was at a loss, then. What else could he hope to bring to such a deity that would not serve to strengthen it? No, he would oppose this for as long as he could still fight. Lean jaw gritted during the course of this revelation, he listened, and listened well. So, there was still a chance. He could set things right, somehow, even only slightly, should his will remain unbreakable. A mission, then. His last. He was to find what he could bring to Bazyli, the god of Famine. Rebirth. A new chance, a chance to start over. What was he, but a man? Still, the marine tiredly drew himself up straight in front of the Lord Creation, standing as a simple soldier before his commander. "I will do what I am able." And if he could not at least try to alter his fate, then perhaps he deserved to be swallowed up and lost forever, a nameless victim among millions in the war. Bowing his head low to Harmodius, Arden turned and slipped from the raised platform as quietly as he had come. To the door.To the door.
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Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2012 10:26 am
Understanding
Solo RP #9
The silence bore down heavily on his shoulders as he struggled to make his way through the Pantheon, the scenery so warped from when he'd last made his way to the room of Plague--even the room where the wolfman, Gideon had led him was little more than a vague and distant memory. The door made of teeth, Creation had said, yet he only found himself wandering with a rising sense of loss. After the meeting with Harmodius, his thoughts felt thick and simultaneously scattered, struggling to cope with the near-impossible task that had been set before him.
It hadn’t slipped his mind that he could simply sit back and do nothing. Sit back while this monster cracked forth from the seed it had implanted to him, swallowed him whole before its dripping maw gaped again to engulf the entire universe.
You flatter me.
His feet scraped against the stairs as they slowed, and Arden rubbed wearily at his brow. His own resentment was threatening to boil, the fact that this being had sought to play him and... well, he didn’t know. From what Creation had said, he could only assume that Bazyli had one thing, and one thing in mind; to devour him, and to regain his status and power as quickly as possible.
The marine shook off the weight of those thoughts for a moment as his gaze suddenly landed on the very thing he’d been searching for. A door... made of teeth. The cold, dull stone that surrounded the frame caught his eye for a moment, and even as he watched the menacing maw, two ropes yanked themselves upward as though sensing his gaze, dragging sharp canines with them as they did. He could now clearly see the two gates that still barred his way, torn between fascination and revulsion. Then, the first mouth opened with a noisy rattle of steel, gaping wide as though to crush him should he dare to step across the threshold. The second gate dragged itself open horizontally, not unlike some alien species he’d met, but the barbed tips still protruded from the frame—which now horribly resembled some pair of monstrous lips.
No longer a door of teeth, but a mouth, it seemed. He was almost reluctant to enter, as though expecting the structure to bite down, but it didn’t so much as stir as he gingerly stepped inside. The room, (well, no, it was a dwelling ) was not at all what he expected. Dimly lit, there was a polished sort of elegance to the place—but the low, sloping ceilings made him feel vaguely uneasy. Still, the place was quite bare still, though he did locate a bed in one of the back rooms. There was a spiraling staircase just outside said room that lead to god knows where, and after a moment, the marine awkwardly made to seat himself on the piece of furniture.
“You lied to me.” He said after a long while, his tone oddly bland.
It would have made things much easier, had you not decided to be nosy. The god replied with indifference, sounding rather amused. You will sacrifice yourself for me, be a part of something much greater than your Federation.
“You mean help become a monster that will kill millions. Already did kill millions.” Arden pointed out, only able to imagine how many had died during... what was it, the Gehenna?
Balance. I thought you were paying at least a lick of attention to our Lord; you don’t want to attempt and figure out what you are to the rebirth?
The jibe was well-aimed, and the soldier was silent for a moment. What was he, to this whole process? A gentling force?
A strong frame, and little more. It was not the wit of your mind that I chose you for. The god pointed out.
“You can’t do much, right now.” He would slowly respond. He had no idea how to even implement himself into this whole... process, but he would need to learn quickly if he wanted any chance at making a difference.
Good luck.
Arden didn't bother to reply to that, and, after a moment, stood up to force his armor to finally release his exhausted body. It complied with a disgruntled hiss of compressed air, and he extricated himself of its confines before tiredly settling on his bed. Perhaps some rest would clear his mind; his body could surely use it.
And maybe his dreams would provide some insight.
fin.
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Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2012 10:27 am
Dream Pilfering
Solo RP #10
The man’s breath was deep and steady as he slumbered, some of the tension that had gripped his face for most of the day having finally faded into barely visible lines. He likely wouldn’t age well, not with as much stress as he dealt with on a daily basis. Well, fortunately, he wasn’t going to live much longer. Though the host’s mind was blissfully unaware, Bazyli was shifting through the man’s thoughts with delicate precision. So far, there had been nothing of interest that had caught his attention, and he paused as the marine muttered something and turned onto his side.
Bazyli resumed his idle investigation, stretching the man’s memories back to the time before he had been able to take root, and had he possessed lips at that moment, he would have started to smile. So. It was a Dragon King that had encouraged him to seek out the jewels of the gods and goddesses. That was potentially the only reason that Arden had even paused on that burning, dying ship to take his gem, unknowingly condemning himself to the fate he possessed now. Delmin... With amusement, he noted that the Dragon King had never revealed his name; he only had the gem and the relative appearance of the host to go off of. That was fine. There was something about the way that the other spoke that both amused and appealed to him. Perhaps, at a later date, he would find this King and his host, and see if they could not again help persuade Arden into losing more of himself.
Deliberately then, the god would finally obey the advice offered to him by Creation. He allowed himself to feel for his domain, knowing it would take time and patience both. This planet was still healing. The others were not so fortunate, not yet, and he could feel the starvation and hunger that radiated from what species were still alive. He drew on their pain, their suffering and empowered himself, forced his influence to wrap more tightly around his host’s mind.
The first use he made of this strength was to force the man into a lighter sleep, hoping to both exhaust and frazzle. It was a subtle step, the first of many. To wear down and grate on the nerves... Well, if Arden could grow distracted with other things, vent his frustrations on them, then he would be less aware of Bazyli’s intentions.
That, at least, was the plan.
For the rest of the night, the god would pause and siphon strength from the famine that raged across the stars, unchecked and unnoticed for now. It was a pity he had not been more capable during the prime of the chaos... but he would make do with the remnants that remained, and would continue to ascend until he was able to discard this body origins and make it into his own.
He was patient. He had been patient for centuries, and only now were things beginning to fall into place.
fin.
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Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2012 10:28 am
Distress Call
Solo RP #11
His eyes would eventually crack open from his unexpected slumber, gritty and bloodshot from the sudden rest after far too many days without it. It took more effort than he would have liked to haul his legs over the side of the strangely comfortable bed, and the marine sat for a long while. Rubbing a calloused palm over his haggard face, he again allowed himself to take in the surprising elegance to the room; the door had hinted to him that the interior would be little more than a dungeon, at best.
Your lack of faith in my taste wounds me. The god spoke dryly and despite himself, Arden felt his lips twitch. The action made him flinch, so unused to the motion that he'd rather forgotten how it felt. Stranger still was how easy it had been to grow accustomed to this strange, whispering voice in his his mind. Better this than insanity, though.
"It wasn't mean to offend." He admitted, stretching out slowly until his shoulders offered a reluctantly satisfied pop for his efforts. Still, now that the brief flicker of amusement had faded, the familiar sense of something darker and more grim claimed his mind once more.
Troubled again? I thought I put your worries to rest. Bazyli sounded more thoughtful than annoyed, and Arden was vaguely aware of what felt like thin fingers roaming underneath his skull.
"...I want to check in, with the Federation." The soldier stated tonelessly, waiting with bated breath for a backlash or reprimand. The god was silent for several, stretching seconds; that had clearly not been what he was expecting. Or had it?
Harmodious would not lie to you. It was a slow rasp in his mind.
His brows furrowed with mild confusion, until he realized Bazyli was speaking about Creation. His name was Harmodius? How did he know that...? "So I'm not allowed to make sure." Arden countered, and the question was nonexistant.
No, but do you truly want to confirm it?
"I must."
Masochistic, aren't you? Still, the god mused. When his host chose not to reply, he spoke again, faintly exasperated, How do you plan on doing this?
"My helmet. ...It was taken from me, before you stepped in." His features were stony as he stared mindlessly at the dark, cherry wood that spread across the floors of the bedroom, indulging in their warm colors as though it would help stopper his bitter feelings.
Ahh, Kiania...
"Was that her name?"
She is a servant, of mine. If it had not been for her, I would have never been able to regain my influence when it was most vital.
"You mean when the starvation was at its peak so you could bask in it." He was straying dangerously close to what Harmodius had spoken about, how merciless this simple, elderly voice was. It was hard to imagine, but Arden hadn't ever been paid to let his mind run wild. The god's gem was silent. They both knew, for now, that the mortal had the upper hand in the situation. The tables would turn soon enough, and the man possessed a vague, unsettling feeling that Bazyli would relish when that day came. Still, this was the last thing he could do... for his own sake, and for what remained of the universe.
"I need it back."
Your arrogance astounds me. You wish to break yourself once more when you find that the thing you fear so much has come true? Clearly he was irritated enough to drop his kind and friendly facade for now, and Arden could sense the faint scratches of displeasure against his throat. She is here. The god groused, but wasn't about to sway the stubborn fool from his course.
His tongue flicked outward to moisten cracking lips before he called, "Kiania?" How she had gotten in here... Well, if she was a servant to the god, then that should have explained it all.
The soft, telltale clop of hooves against the wooden floor surprised him more than ought to; the tall woman leaned soundlessly into the door frame, sensuous, pale lips pulled into a faint smile upon seeing him even now. Though the urge to straighten his shoulders in preparation (for what?) was maddening, Arden only watched her with slightest traces of discomfort.
"You have need of me?" She intoned, her throaty voice holding a slyness that he instinctively didn't like.
"My helmet." Would be her only gruff reply.
That smile widened for a moment before she inclined her head and disappeared, offering him a sway of her generous hips before the sound of her strange feet faded further into the house. She returned again shortly, both her hands wrapped around the helm even as she approached to offer it to him. Ignoring the lump in his throat, he took it curtly and jerked his head, signaling she could get out. The Aoide might have chuckled a little as she went.
Not fond of women? Bazyli questioned, immediately amused at the sudden snap of rejection his host projected.
'Not that kind of woman." He muttered, before slipping the thing over his otherwise armor less body. For a moment, there was only darkness, and Arden wondered if it had finally died completely. Snow soon cluttered his vision, immensely at first, then dying off to a slow enough trickle that he could at least make out his surrounding. The tracking system had almost failed completely; it blipped and shivered strangely whenever he attempted to focus on something. Proceeding carefully, the marine attempted to establish contact with the main database of the Federation--and felt his heart sink when a blaring error message had him seeing red.
I did tell you, Bazyli began to say before a sharp ping made to interrupt; there was a ship here! Another ship, sending off distress signals not too far from their current location. Barely able to believe it, the man quickly got to his feet, searching for his discarded armor before inserting his limbs inside the protective casing.
It could be his men down there, somehow--they could have survived the unexpected disappearance of space, managed to touch safely down on the planet. Creation had said a few had survived, hadn't he?
And you know better than anyone that your race is not the only one to infiltrate the depths beyond the planets.
He knew. He would proceed cautiously... but optimistically, at best. The man stepped stiffly past the golden-horned woman who watched him even now, her bright eyes boring holes into his back. Now only the door made of teeth stood before him, and it ground its sharp edges together as though irritated before parting its jaws with a rasping sigh.
Now would be the time for some good news to finally come his way.
fin.
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Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2012 10:29 am
SalvageMeeting JamesJoint RP #9 NinetailedNightmare With the return of Creation, the world was beginning to replenish itself. It took back what it could in small measures, and what couldn't be broken down would be covered. The ship lay still in the wasteland that broke its fall for weeks, then months, crying weakly for a calvary that would never come. The rotted remnants of the plants that came from the week of Decay covered the hull first, making Tzechlokzynza's finest camoflauging systems obsolete as the debris outlined the ship for any who cared to pay mind to it. The throes the land took to split for the demons knocked the attribute out entirely anyway, and the ship was as helpless as a battered victim as its weight sunk it just that much farther into the earth. Grass etched its way slowly after the trauma of the Gehenna's coming subsided, then weeds. The ship stuck out like a sore thumb among the onslaught of greenery and flowers, even half burried, but no one came. It had managed to plant itself far enough from any real civilization that, in the commotion of the universe ending, it was overlooked. This was a problem. Of course, things happened the way they were supposed to, but none of the parties involved -or that would become involved- would see it that way. It was a standstill for the ship and its owner. It could be years until someone discovered the ship. Or never. And the one harbored inside would never be the wiser until the chemicals ran dry. While the ship was no longer functioning at its full capacity, it could stay in stasis forever. --- He wanted to wake up, desperately. There were so many aspects of himself that were controllable, but sleep and dreams were not one. How many times would he be forced to sign the papers? How many visits would he relive? Sit across from her and make idle chatter, all the while knowing and not being able to do any different. A prisoner, was what it made him. It was when things faded that he was thankful, and when he lived a life in another world. But he never remembered those for long, just the ones that made him writhe and know, bitterly, that his real body had not so much as twitched. There would be no breaking glass, no reprieve until he had reached his final destination. How long...? ...wake up...In his dreams, it may as well have been his voice. He was begging for the same thing. Wake up, damn you...Tsunake The signal was weak, and sometimes sporadic. Like a flickering, feeble pulse, the distress call waxed and waned as he methodically turned his head from side to side, trying to pinpoint the general location of the obviously downed vessel. His progress was slow, but certain; though it was much farther away from the Pantheon then he first assumed, there was no mistaking the ship for what it was, despite its sorry condition. His breath washing up against the interior of his helm in slow and steady breaths, Arden gripped its base and pulled it firmly from his head in order to squint more clearly at what it was. Not a ship of the Federation, not of any model or make that he'd been taught to recognize. He circled the craft meticulously, eyes flickering over the damage and overgrowth that had overtaken the thing; clearly this wasn't a recent thing. Hell, whoever it was might have left long ago, hoping that someone of their own species would sense the signal, and come to their aid. Not that such a thing was possible anymore... His lips thinned quietly at the thought. You plan to just leave it? From the cynical tone, the god clearly was at least curious enough to know what may or may not be inside. Slowly slipping his helmet back on, Arden forced the sputtering systems to scan the ship until the entrance was found. If it was locked... well, the Federation could no longer provide backup to help him crack open the electronics, but there was still enough power left within his suit to issue a powerful, sudden burst of silent signal. If he was lucky, hell, it'd open. But if not, there was no way he could try to pry open the thing without the proper tools... NinetailedNightmare Many of the ship's operating systems had overheated or were otherwise destroyed in the crash. Its inner programming told it, despite its failing power, to keep things locked tight until help arrived. If no signal came, it should simply wither away but, under no circumstances was it to open up to the outside world without the proper coding. For all the owners of the technology were concerned, they would rather the inhabitant rot than be exposed to the eyes that weren't classified to lay upon it. Except the ship wasn't discriminating between electronic signatures anymore- it couldn't. So when the command came to open, the ship flickered online momentarily to comply, albeit weakly. The slab covering the entrance jutted open with a small hiss, and suddenly, there was liquid. What looked like water gushed free of the cracks as the door made a feeble attempt to move aside, spilling in torrents across the grass. It seemed the whole compartment of the ship must be flooded, but there was no water to speak of anywhere close. The door, impeded by the molding that covered its surface, would only open a few feet before it ground to a halt. Though it twitched weakly, it was clear it wasn't going anywhere without a decent shove, or else Arden was going to have to slide sideways into the unknown. The ship, perhaps surprisingly, was not dark inside. It was filled with the light from the outside world like a wall made up of windows, made dusty from the soot and other materials clinging to the hull. Tsunake Something that sounded suspiciously like a chuckle whispered through his otherwise empty mind as he struggled to register the door had acted like a sluice; whatever had come roaring out had been a clear fluid of some sort. Toxic? He didn't know. His armor would protect him temporarily, at least enough to let him know he was in mortal peril. So it had opened, then. The soldier wasted several moments peering through the partially open door to check out the interior, scanning for any signs of life with his badly malfunctioning helm. From what he could see, there was nothing. One blocky shoulder was inserted between the inside and the door, and the man grunted as he shoved hard up against the thing. It moaned and reluctantly allowed itself to be cracked a bit further, the plant life snapping and ripping under the abuse. Soon, there were only the sounds of his armored feet clanging against the inside of the ship, grateful for the light that filtered in through filthy windows. What else was there to do but explore? Both mortal and god were silent as they quietly picked over the interior, and Arden was careful not to touch anything. NinetailedNightmare The inside had been left pristine, both because of the fluid that had once been contained within it and because of the lack of influence from the outside world. The walls curved in a gentle sphere around the central dock, which seemed to be the only metalic part of the ship on the inside. The floor itself was paneled with clear tiles and below one might be able to catch a glimpse of objects, shrouded mostly because the windows below showed the earth it had been burried in and not the sky. Probably the cargo hold. Panels that looked like glass jutted out all around the ship, looking as if they might serve some sort of purpose but there was nothing upon them of any sort. It was a small craft- definitely a personal vessel. There seemed to be more space running below than there was where Arden was walking. In the middle was a tangle of metal chords for the most part, but there was one exception, should the man continue one. There was a break in the machinery at one point in the shape of a large, crystalline container, more than twenty feet high. It glowed with soft light, but even with just the light of the outside world, it was very easy to distinguish that something was being contained in there. Fourteen feet of serpentine monster was what it was. Head bowed in a delicate arch of sleep, it floated within the clear liquid like a lab specimen, totally unaware that there was an intruder upon the ship. Three rows of green lights seemed to glow faintly within its great head, but upon further inspection, one would see a film-like substance that suggested eyelids. Aside from slender, slick appendages, there were ribbed fins that decorated the sides of its head, the length of its spine, and the tail. At the base of the tube, there was a clear panel that projected the condition of whatever it was, written in a foreign script. Tsunake The interior might have fascinated him at another time, but Arden was looking for things that could be potentially useful--scavenging, one might say, or at least looking for any sign of who might have once commandeered the vessel. All foreign materials and equipment, from what he could see. So one being dwelled here, or at most, only a few. He kept his steps light, unconsciously wary of invading another's ship, seemingly deserted or not. More than one hostile encounter had started this way, and he wasn't soon to forget it. There. The god pointed out so casually that Arden turned without expecting much. Hell, at most, maybe it was a corpse. But to see the massive, suspended life form drifting soundlessly in stasis... The marine stiffened before he could help himself, eyes narrowed behind the faceless mask of his helmet while he rapidly sought to take in details. Aquatic? The thin eyelids suggested it, as did the webbing. Whatever it was, it was clearly alive. You aren't thinking of releasing it, are you? Bazyli clearly was not amused at the thought of losing his host to some alien, but the man stepped forward without heed to his words. A brief pause, a glance over his shoulder to reassure his escape route if the thing proved to be hostile, and his plated palm pressed experimentally to the panel that seemed to show the vital signs. He couldn't read the script, and didn't bother to scan it; there wasn't a database for him to refer to, anymore. NinetailedNightmare Arden's hand would go through the writing to the panel, and the machinery would blip and hum at him as if in protest as the writing went static around his wrist. There was a whirr from inside the machine as it injected an invisible chemical inside the water as a panic method. In a matter of seconds, the adrenaline was absorbed into the beast's system and those eyes shot open. James was rudely pulled out of his dream state, but he couldn't have been more thankful. His vision swam as he realized he was in possession of all his eyes and not just the two, and from the lasting effects of the cryogenic drugs. He opened his mouth to breathe in, gill slits glowing at the sides of his neck as he did, and unconsciously exposing an innumerable amount of sharp teeth. It took him a second to realize he was staring back at someone, and if he could have looked surprised, he would have. Instead he just tilted his head back to stare at the... human? What was a human doing on the vessel and... His panic faded as he decided that he didn't care. It was no longer his prerogative to keep secret the presence of his race. If there was a human on his ship, he had been commandeered or there was some sort of problem. The Federation suit also helped to settle him- that meant this was a good agent and not some sort of pirate. Humming quietly, he sluggishly stretched one hand to the inner panel and tapped in the manual command for the cryotube to drain. As it did, he turned his head back to look at Arden, studying the man with the keen interest. He raised his hands to show the empty palms, trying to somehow project that he didn't mean any harm. Despite the gesture, however, it seemed pretty clear he was armed enough to do so if he so chose. Tsunake Projection? He studied the crackling language for a moment as though trying to figure out what that meant before a definite shift in gears made his head snap up reflexively. Six pairs of gleaming eyes unexpectedly met his own, and he was painfully reminded of a certain Dragon King who had an equally unnerving gaze. I would suggest you back up, if the notion hadn't already crossed your mind. Bazyli snapped as his host unexpectedly found himself staring down a tooth-lined maw in what could be perceived as a less than friendly motion. The soldier did take a step back, and the beast studied him with open intelligence; that didn't mean it necessarily wasn't considering him for breakfast, but it was better than nothing. His legs jerked without warning, and he almost smashed face first into the tank of sorts. Now. The god snarled, and Arden reluctantly obeyed. Seeking distance to place between him and the now awakened alien, he watched warily as it seemed to issue some wordless, humming command, and the liquid instantly began to drain from the containment chamber. The universal sign for peace, it seemed, was offered up in the form of bare, slimy hands revealing themselves to be empty, but neither deity nor man was convinced. If it is intelligent, it could very well be feigning; it doesn't need a weapon to deal with you. Came the grim thought. "I know." He muttered unconsciously aloud, wishing not for the first time that he had his assault rifle fully functional for situations exactly like this. Useless against parasitic gods? Perhaps. Against aliens, not so much. Still, he waited; he had a few more tricks up his sleeve (quite literally, in the case of his right arm), should things go badly. Still, the god-thing in his mind was less than convinced. NinetailedNightmare He wasn't offended when he saw the other stepped back- he knew good and well what he looked like. Once the water was drained, the glass door of the front of the tube slide aside. Glistening, the beast took a slow step free of the small compartment, staying near the tube as it slowly made to stretch its limbs. No muscles to cramp, but he was checking to make sure messages were reaching his extremities alright. Fins flared and relaxed slowly. He was keeping an eye on the soldier the whole time, hoping the man wouldn't flee. He would love to get some sort of information from the man before that happened. He could see that he was grounded now, somewhere that looked a lot like Earth. Knowing Arden wouldn't be able to understand him in this form, he held up a webbed finger to signal 'one moment' before he took long strides toward the control panel. He paused as he saw that it wasn't responding to his approach, as it normally did. And now he could see better the depth that the ship was burried in the ground. There was an unconscious churr of surprise and grimness as he assessed, clinically, that he must have crashed here. Reaching for the panel, he found it unresponsive, shaking his head. This would have been so much easier if he could have turned on the translator. So instead, he began to write upon the panel with his fingers, choosing to go with English as he had thought that was what he had heard the man speaking to himself. His fingers left trails of black slime as he chose to use some of the more excessive chemical compounds that he had stored in his body. When he was done, he stepped far away, and gestured to Arden empathetically to come and see. It was written rather large, so perhaps he could see it from where he was. Hello, soldier.
My name is James. I know what I must look like, but I mean you no harm.
Is this the "god world"? Tsunake Sinuous and graceful; if the creature could function this easily on land, he loathed the thought of being trapped in the water with one. Those barbed fins held his wary respect for now, and it was hard to not be aware of how at least one of those gleaming eyes seemed to remain focused upon his person. How long had it been cooped within this ship? Somehow it'd gotten enough nutrients to its body in order to survive--clearly the stasis played a hefty role in that. Tension briefly rippled through his armored frame as the alien held up a single finger towards him, clearly asking him to wait. But for what? He watched soundless as it shifted away from him, the strange sound it unexpectedly made clearly one of displeasure. From the way those webbed fingers tapped on yet another panel, it was clear that the ship had lost most of its power a while ago. It was a wonder to think he'd even managed to get the door to open as much as it did. Something dripped from the strange, long fingers, and the soldier found himself squinting from where he was despite the fact that the creature wanted him to come look. After a moment, however, he would indeed take a step forward, eyes flicking quickly over the somewhat sloppy writing. So it knew English--that helped put him a little more at ease. It also knew him to be one of the Federation, or so he assumed, and Arden had to wonder what species this thing was. Nothing immediately sprang to mind, but it could be saved for later. The last bit, however, had him stiffen. "...Arden Valkov." He started with hoarsely, introducing himself. Bazyli had started to stir with interest, but the man continued on before the other felt compelled to interject. "...There are... gods here, yes." But how did... James, know this? That was the unspoken question. NinetailedNightmare The headfins twitched with polite interest at the marine's introduction, just one new thought among the many swimming through the Esarian's mind. Arden Valkov. Well, there should be time for questions about the man later. Right now he bowed his head slightly to the answer, then gestured that it was going to begin writing again. Thank you. You must have saved me.
I can speak if I make a change. Will you wait for me? He could tell the man must be suspicious-- afraid, perhaps? It was entirely possible for him to facilitate a change here, but from his experience among their kind, no usual human would have stomached it very well. Even someone who must be accustomed to aliens and other shifters. Tsunake Saved... So it would have been stuck in that stasis had he not come along? A grim fate, that, but likely more peaceful than the one he'd been assigned. His eyes ran slowly over the rest of the ink splattered words, and his brows furrowed faintly with confusion. Was it a shapeshifter, then? Or did 'change' mean something he couldn't comprehend? Either way, after a moment, the man offered a curt nod. He'd wait. This alien had finally sparked his interest, and there was little point in fleeing now; it surely would have blocked his exit with its size alone if it had truly wanted to prevent him from going. Besides, his own mind was swimming with questions now... How did this creature know about this world? NinetailedNightmare The alien's many eyes stayed upon Arden for a moment, as if scanning him for honesty. Then the Esarian moved away, sliding onto all fours with an effortless grace as it went to a nearby tile in the floor and physically shoved it aside, opening up the cargo bay below. As it made to descend head first, its slender body slowly contorted itself around the opening not unlike a snake's, disappearing to shadow as it went below, shifting among the various boxes and whatever else was down there until it was gone entirely. James took his time with the change, which meant all of about five minutes for Arden to wait. He found his clothes even in the dimness, checked to make sure every part (or no extra parts) was accounted for before he made to climb the ladder back up. The change was, needless to say, not all that impressive. The mousey-looking human male hauled himself up onto the upper floor, idly soothing out the wrinkles of his sweater as he made his way back to Arden. "Sorry about that," He said, somewhat strained, clearing his throat and humming a few notes beneath his breath to better get in tune once more with his human figure. A singular pair of green eyes now peered up at Arden through a mess of brown curls rather than down. He wasn't even six feet tall anymore, and was dressed like he was ready for a rigorous game of chess in the park. "A little embarrassing, actually. Can I get you a chair? Although... those panels there are very sturdy, and equally useless at the moment." He looked tired, and felt it, too. His lips, however, were making a valiant effort at a soft, almost shy smile. Tsunake The marine watched as the creature slipped off into the distance, prying open the floor tiles and all but diving into whatever space was underneath. He vaguely recalled studying said space when he'd caught glimpse of it, thinking it little more than a cargo hold of sorts. From the way it was designed, however... Well, he had to wonder what its real purpose was now. Clearly it was a storage of sorts, from the way it rattled around in there, but the silence that quickly filled in its wake told him that the creature had seemingly vanished for good. It'd have taught you a lesson if you'd lost one of your legs. Came the quip as time seemed to stretch on for far too long. "You say that now." Arden murmured, and could have been amused when there was no reply, but found himself focusing on the sudden appearance of what seemed to be human. Armored fingers lifted briefly to his masked temple, and the helmet sputtered as it quickly ran an internal scan. Not human. He had to marvel at the brief image of what seemed like a hollow cavity roughly where the torso was, and it seemed as though every organ had been lodged in there. A skeletal structure, but it was vastly different in make, and a large brain. Then the helm threatened to die on him completely, and he allowed his hand to drop. A hesitant pause, then the hand returned with its brother, and he slowly tugged his helm free with a hiss of compressed air. Shaking his head lightly, the man now took in the seemingly ordinary man. To think all those coils of sea serpent could be compressed into such a simple package... "James," He tested out the other's name for a moment before he went on, his long face tired and strained. "How much do you know about what's been going on here? This... god planet?" His normally quiet, almost awkward tone was now firm with authority, reassuring without crossing the line of pushy or overbearing. This had been his job once, after all. Taking control of a bad situation was something he could say he was used to. NinetailedNightmare The brunette studied the other man with what seemed polite curiosity as the helmet came off, taking a mental picture of the marine. A rugged man, he thought, with what looked like scars tickling bits of man's throat from what he could see above the armor. He wasn't surprised- Arden looked like your standard-issued human soldier down to the toes of his boots. His eyes would snap to meet the hardened gaze as his name was spoken. "I don't know anything," He said simply, honestly. "My initiative for coming to this planet is to research it to the best of my capability and gather data. When I was assigned here, I was told that there were creatures supposedly like those of deific lore. This is my first time waking up in the world, as it is suggested a journey over a week's time be spent in cryogenic suspension. ETA from my planet is eight weeks. However, I assume something must have gone wrong, judging by my ship's condition. It's supposed to wake me up when we've reached a safe place." Tsunake It was an interesting sensation, having one's jaw go slack as he forced his mind to become re-accustomed to a way of speaking he hadn't heard for months. "Assigned--what is your species, exactly?" Researching for data; sounded as though information was prized highly, wherever James had come from. Clearly that wasn't his real name, so why did he introduce himself with it? A puzzle; sudden pressure against his mind made him hesitate, balking against the feel of the god. Normally, Bazyli would relent, but to his surprise the god fought so strongly that his knees buckled, and he felt as though his mind was being split in two. When had he built up such strength? Their conversation with Harmodius had left the god feeble and tired, so why-- "I assume you arrived during the time of the Gehenna." The god mused, though his host's body was still struggling to regain control of itself. "The destruction of life as you know it... Lucky." Arden's lips curled slowly into a smile that contrasted sharply with the almost furious look in his expression, a vein pulsing above furrowed brows. T"he connections between space are gone now, as my host was slowly getting to. Even if you could repair this sorry state of metal, you are stranded here. To put it less eloquently, Universe is dead."NinetailedNightmare Lips pursed themselves as his species was questioned, his instinctual response being to shut up. Not even a Federation soldier would be allowed the information he had without just cause. But, he thought reasonably, he did owe Arden his life. Not only that, but he had no intention of going back to where he'd come from, thus he would face no punishment. He knew very well what the purpose of sending him to this out-of-the-way planet had been. Esare didn't want him back. Before he could muster an answer, however, he was being spoken to. There was a new voice in the air, but it was Arden's lips that were moving. The contrast of expressions was not lost upon James, and he blinked once at the information that began to spill from the soldier. He was still so tired, though, that he could not manage to make his face as surprised as he felt. He didn't really feel like it would be appreciated anyway. "Well," He said thoughtfully, "I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be, so I won't be needing to leave anytime soon. The concept of what you're saying, as I understand it, is a little hard to comprehend, however... Excuse me, may I ask who I am speaking with now? You said host..." The brunette tilted his head slightly, trying to figure out if he had actually come in contact with someone who suffered from Multiple Personality Disorder. He had only read about it in books, but supposedly the different characters of a person could assume different voices for themselves. Granted, the new vocal pattern was kind of stretching it for what James would have assumed Arden could manage, but... On top of these thoughts, the other things that had been said were being twirled about. Gehenna, the end of the world... Lucky. Universe. He'd said Universe like a name, not as in "the universe". Hm. Too bad he could only say one thing at once, really, or else he'd spread out multiple questions. It seemed most polite to ask who he was talking to now, though, before trying to wrench any information out of them. Tsunake "The Hollow Mouth. Famine." Came the languid reply, and clear the god had no intention of making things more personal between the two of them for now. It was just as well, for his body was threatening to seize up, furious at being quelled so. Still, he forced his will, still seizing control of the man's ability to speak; to try and control the whole body would drain what strength he'd managed to snatch, but this was an excellent time for more of his influence to wriggle forth, pushing demandingly into the cracks of the soldier's mind. An armored hand dared to lift itself, fingers flexing aggressively for a moment before the entire appendage suddenly clamped itself around Arden's throat. Bazyli sneered a little at such defiance, felt the body beginning to choke as the windpipe was compressed more than it should have been. So he wasn't bluffing, then. A dry chuckle spilled from the soldier before the god idly withdrew his influence, making sure the point was made that he had much more control of the situation than Arden knew, and it was only by his will that he was letting the host regain it. Not to mention that much longer of that would have wastefully whittled the strength he'd so carefully siphoned. Doubled over for a moment, the man wheezed to himself, his throat feel raw with indignation that he'd mistreated it so. Mental defenses furiously hiked themselves up further, attempting to box the still-amused god into a corner so he couldn't pull a goddamn stunt like that again. It was rare that his temper spiked like this, but he'd been caught unprepared and put into a situation that could have turned ugly very fast. "Those are your creatures of deific lore." He spat, trembling slightly with violent emotion that he was keeping carefully repressed. "Parasites." NinetailedNightmare "A title?" James began, and then Arden proceeded to strangle himself. For a moment, he was frozen in place, watching as the man's body seemed to work against him (or for him, as the case really was). He would feel horrible later for the spark of curiosity that came from being too far from human contact for too long. When it finally struck him that he was concerned for the soldier's life, he started forward, making a startled, wordless noise. When Arden looked up, he was very close, poised to try and grab the man. It then turned to a concerned sort of hovering, as James realized he wasn't really sure what he was doing. Try to save the man's life? From himself? His brows pinched as the voice returned to the original timbre he'd heard, albeit more scratchy with strain, and also from the cryptic information it supplied. "Are you alright?" He asked, hesitating a moment before he decided he shouldn't touch the relative stranger. Males usually took such gestures to be offensive, and Arden already looked very angry. Swallowing, he took a polite step back from the man, but still retained his concerned posture. "Would you like me to find you something to drink?" Tsunake The man stared at him wordlessly for a moment, refusal roughly snapping his head from side to side before he hesitated, and then nodded. All right, yes, he could use a drink, it would help ease his throat at least somewhat. Better than just sitting here and... His face eased into a more uncertain expression as he realized he'd likely just alarmed the other, with that little display. "I'm sorry." He said awkwardly, almost as though bewildered by what had all just taken place. "They're... gems, these creatures. Their souls... have been, trapped inside." The marine arched his neck for a moment, baring the sickly little sphere currently burrowed within the mass of scar tissue. "...They need a body, to rebirth themselves. The True Gods." He still wasn't sure if they truly were, but their meeting with Harmodius had helped solidify his belief, if only a little. "...It's a little hard to cope." The man admitted, however reluctantly. NinetailedNightmare What a conflicted man. James just had to watch as the other softened and went on, far too polite to just leave him when the man was delivering vital information. He nodded as if he understood, even if he really didn't yet. "Alright," He said appeasingly, "Well, you just... Sit over on that panel there, maybe? I'll go get you something. I hope you don't object to telling me a bit more when I get back..." With that, he stepped back and hurried along back to the cargo hold, coming back soon after with a large, clear tube in his hand. "It's um... it's a little thick, but it's good for you, assuredly." It looked a lot like what had come out of the ship when it first opened, actually. Water that seemed to have an extra sort of shimmer to it. James would twist aside the metal cap of sorts before he offered it to the man. He'd been thinking about what Arden had said on the way down and his eyes now sought the gem in the man's neck. "So, this god is... possessing you? Forgive my crude terminology..." He implored mildly, "Why do they need to do something like that, if they're deities? It was to my understanding that it was mortals who were dependent upon them. Thus, the worshipping." Tsunake He couldn't help but feel as though James now thought him mentally deranged; Arden watched him go a little unhappily before he sighed and eased himself onto the panel, metal joints squeaking in protest. This must have been how Delmin felt when he was trying to explain, came the bitter thought, and that only made him feel worse. His tired eyes flickered up as the not-man reappeared before falling suspiciously to the liquid he held. 'Thick' did not sound promising. Reluctantly reaching out to take the thing, he hesitated, then took a swallow. His first reaction was to spit it out, admittedly, but he forced himself to swallow without making a face. "What is it?" Came the awkward question; he probably should have asked before simply chugging some foreign, possibly toxic substance. "...In a manner of speaking." Arden would nod, rolling his shoulders as he strained to remember what he'd been told. "...Something called, 'The Fading'. All the gods... died. Somehow, their souls were saved and implanted into these gems, but they couldn't regain their true strength without a host. ...I guess they... become their host, in essence, use their body and energy to return to their former selves somehow..." But not at all. Not if their host could change them somehow, influence their rebirth. But that was something he'd yet to figure out right away, and he kept silent for now. NinetailedNightmare "It's a manufactured supplement liquid. It's like... Earthen vitamin water, if you will, only over a hundred percent more potent. My species... we can live off of this alone." His lips quirked up a little, "I know it probably doesn't appeal to your tastes, but it's good for you. I promise I wouldn't poison you." He hopped up onto the dead control panel a few feet away from the other, folding his hands in his lap as he listened to the other with great detail. As far as he knew, this was all the truth. As a researcher, he was inclined to believe the man whether it was scientifically stable or not. The simple solution would be to just do some inspecting himself to see if those words were true. "How does one kill a god, I wonder..." He mused, and made a light gesture that Arden was not expected to answer him. "I admit, it does sound parasitic. Do they do anything for you in return? And all gods are this way around here?" Tsunake He absorbed that with a slow nod, wondering. Sounded like it'd be a real kick in the rear if one was badly in need of some energy. "...Thanks." The man offered after a moment, realizing belatedly that he hadn't said so in the first place. Perhaps he was embarrassed that maybe his thoughts had been read so plainly, though his lips did attempt to quirk and failed. "People stopped believing in them." He recalled quietly. "No more prayers, not enough faithful worshipers to keep them alive. I don't know the details." It might have been a fantastic story, but it only served as unfortunate and grim reality for him. "I don't know. As far as I know, you die... but some consider it a great honor, being used to help channel the rebirth." And had it been another, more benevolent god, Arden might have seen it in such a fashion. "...I don't know. I think the process, is the same... but some are more kind towards their hosts, I've been told." From how flat his tone was, clearly he was not implying that he was one of the lucky few. NinetailedNightmare There was a simple nod in return to the other, as if it were not at all a problem. True, he didn't know how long the rest of his stores would last him, but just one wasn't going to make all that much of a difference. If he were that sort of character, he could have considered it trading for valuable information. But as it was, he was simply not the type to see anyone suffering, especially not someone who seemed like they may be a good person, potential scavenging aside. "My, I suppose that makes sense. Not a nice way to go, is it?" He murmured about the fading, and would blink at the horrible truth of what happened to the hosts of the gods. "You are to be Famine." At least, that was what he thought he had gleaned from all of this. James was silent for a little while, before he inquired, "Where are the rest of the gods? I can only assume I've landed in a more rural area. If there are hosts, there must be other people, which means some sort of village or metropolis... correct?" Tsunake Arden didn't particularly want to dwell on what was slowly happening to him, and a stiff shrug was offered by means of answer. Clearly the question had been rhetorical, but regardless. Another nod to the question--he himself wouldn't survive that long, he figured, but that was to be the general result. "I don't know." He offered simply. "...There is a place where the gods and their hosts gather, but I've met no other civilians. They call it the Pantheon." And that was all he knew, really. After Creation had assigned them--or, rather, the god--a place to dwell, he'd admit he'd felt more at ease, knowing there was a place to retreat to when it all got to be too much. NinetailedNightmare The brunette would nod as well. Well, it wasn't as if he could expect Arden to tell him anyway- that'd be far too easy. Besides, he wanted to go and have a look himself. Even if he wasn't going to be reporting to anyone, researching was truly a joy for him to do. Perhaps it was ingrained in his very DNA, and he was the optimal Esarian aside from his one damning flaw, but that didn't matter now, and he would make no steps to change himself. "I would like to go to this Pantheon," He told the other candidly, and his eyes seemed aglow with eagerness now. The upside, or downside, of being what he was was that things that should disgust a human did not impact him as much. And it certainly did not stop him from wanting to learn about it. "Do you think I, as I am now, would fit in alright? And would you be willing to take me there? These gods and their hosts... would they be hostile toward a civilian?" Tsunake Only a rapid blink would hint at his surprise, and the soldier drew himself up as though to study the other a little more closely. The Pantheon would be safer than remaining out in the open, surely, but if supplies vital to James' health were here... "It will take nearly a day." He cautioned, hesitating briefly before he continued. "...If you need nutrients, or a way to keep yourself hydrated, then it'd be wise to get that in order." The last thing he wanted was for the alien to get himself stranded out where he couldn't care for himself properly. Too many had died already. "...They bore no issue with me, when I took refuge there." His tone was a little stiff, suggesting that he'd remained in the Pantheon before becoming implanted with the gem. His own fault, and he berated himself for it even now. "It's safer there, than here. ...You're welcome to stay with me, for a while, when you grow tired." It was easy to assume that James wanted to explore the place, and though Arden couldn't blame him, he wasn't sure that he felt like accompanying the man. Still, should something happen to him, he'd be wholly responsible. The marine shifted a little before he jerked his head towards the door. "...I'll be outside, when you're ready. Gather up what you need, and we can head out." He turned then, treading carefully until he could squeeze past the door once more, heavy boots sinking into the soft soil around the vessel.
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Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2012 10:31 am
Path to the PantheonAwkward Male BondingJoint RP #10 NinetailedNightmare As they walked the wide and mostly desolate terrain to the Pantheon, James kept looking through the corners of his eyes. He had been saved and given a brief introduction to the world he was to examine, even spoken to a god, however brief the encounter was. His savior, however, this Federation soldier who called himself Arden, was still a mystery to him. Oh, sure, anatomy-wise, he could give a more than suitable guess as to what the other man had. Humans were all manufactured the same way, after all, unless afflicted with an unfortunate mutation, like any other species of animal out there. The personality and the history, though... That was where everyone differed. He knew little to nothing about this human male, what drove him, or why he was even out here in the first place. Arden didn't know him at all, or even what he was capable of, and yet he had trusted him enough to stay around while he changed, was allowing them to walk side by side to what had been proposed to him as a safe-haven. He had even offered to let James stay in his quarters! It was all very curious indeed. "So Arden," He would begin, a few minutes or so into their journey, "How did you come to be here? Did you have an assignment on this planet?" He shifted his shoulder bag lightly to a position closer to his neck, turning his head to regard the other man more candidly. From his peripherals, he could see his ship still behind them. He had done his best to shove the door back in place when he came out with supplies, which meant it was closed up once more. Hopefully it would deter anything else out here that may be looking for some place to stay or scrounge through. The door was heavy, and no human hands were going to be able to pry it open again. He'd brought his gun, but it still wouldn't be pleasant at all to come back here and have to deal with some creature running amuck in his ship. Tsunake Call it a gut instinct. He'd tangled with bigger and nastier things than James before, things with tempers and things that had less than passable intelligence. The other was a whole new species he didn't think he'd ever encountered before, but there was no way of checking the database now to make sure. Regardless, there was one basic and simple fact; the other hadn't attacked him in his 'first' form, when he clearly had the power to do so. While his armor provided him some protection, well... It'd have been an easy thing to crunch him up like a tin can, get to the fleshy good stuff inside. Bazyli had been quiet since his earlier stunt, and that was just fine with the marine; he was still seething from the attempt, the successful attempt to take over. They were moving now, tentatively back in the direction where he knew the Pantheon to be. His suit, though feeble, still had its tracking systems intact. It was the question that made his eyes tiredly slide to their corners, observing the deceptively ordinary man. He honestly didn't feel much like talking. It was more of a chore each day, trying to remember how his tongue worked, hearing his own gravelly tone. The memories, to, were painful, but the marine only reflected quietly on the events that had stranded him here on this planet. Talking kept him human, too, after all. "...We were attacked by Space Pirates." Came the bland statement, hoarse, but devoid of real emotion for now. "...They must have had some sort of weapon, something... Blew out the engines of our ship. Their first ram had knocked me out, so I don't remember what happened, but I should have been dead. The ship crashed. I managed to get out, but it was too late then. I was dying." He was no storyteller, pausing briefly to remember the heat of the flames, his own frustration that he couldn't even save himself. "...A local here saved my life. I had a spare energy tank, so that healed the nerve damage and the broken bones. He was the one who brought me to the Pantheon." A moment more of reflection before he lightly shook his head. "There's no going back now." NinetailedNightmare James would be lying if he said some carnal part of him wasn't satisfied with the taste of meat, but the habit of actually indulging in it was something that had been bred out of his race centuries ago. It was barbarism, survival, to consume anything other than the mineral concoction that came supplied to him. Besides, fighting was so crass a function to him when one disliked even having to impose any physical strength against another, necessary or otherwise. Arden was safe when it came to the possibility of being consumed. Being analyzed, however... Green eyes flashed briefly as the soldier relayed his tale. How exciting. Space Pirates... Yes, he knew of them and their kind. They were the scourge of the universe, after all, although he had never personally come into contact with one in all his years researching. He knew others that had, though. He had simply been fortunate. "No," He agreed, thoughtfully, "In all likelihood, the main Federation bases have been annihilated with the rest of space. And from your tale I can only assume you were the sole survivor of your convoy. That's... quite frankly, amazing. You were lucky, at least in terms of the odds." After he'd said it, he had the good sense to realize that it may have come out a little more blunt than he expected it to be. Humans, even men of Arden's creed, could be delicate, and sometimes required some gentle handling. "I apologize, if that offended you," He said quickly, a bit softer, "I... I haven't interacted with a human for a little while now. I don't mean to sound callous." A hand lifted to fiddle with his glasses somewhat, sheepish before he asked, "Did you have anyone waiting for you at home, when you left on your mission...?" Tsunake A creak of tired metal was the only sign that the man within the suit had stiffened at how the other so easily dismissed the death of hundreds of thousands of lives; those people had selflessly devoted themselves to guarding the sanctity of space for everyone, keeping trade established and keeping war from breaking out between the various planets and galaxies. Was it really something so insignificant? Although he was weary, Arden wasn't prone to losing his grip on his temper, and only continued on in silence without acknowledgment to his "luck." "They did not deserve to die. And I cannot say I would have been opposed to dying with them, rather than deal with what fate planned for me." The man eventually spoke, his words not unkind. The other didn't sound as though he was attempting to deliberately to rile him, so there was no point for needless aggression. Many would die for the honor that comes with acting as a host, regardless of the Domain. You cannot tell me you would not be content if you were host, to say, Peace? The man seemingly had no reply for that. "It's all right." Arden only said, shrugging faintly to better emphasize no harm had been done. "...That makes two of us." He paused at the question, reflecting for a moment before he only shook his head. "No. I was an only child, and my parents had long accepted that war would claim me one way or another. We did not keep in touch. ...Did you?" NinetailedNightmare As the other stiffened, James felt guilty for having not picked his words more wisely. He was ready for the other to be mad, but was relieved when he wasn't. At least, not as visibly. The words were more than enough to chide him, despite any of Arden's intentions. "I see. No woman?" He would roll his shoulders somewhat as the question was posed to him as well, shaking his head. "Not a one. Not in the way I meant for you. I have colleagues who will await my results, if indeed my planet still even exists. Personal, though... no. I never knew my parent. It isn't a practice my planet follows, familial relations." Tsunake Arden found himself clearing his throat in embarrassment as the questions grew more personal; there had been times when he'd dwelled on a relationship, but in the end had decided that it would save much heartbreak for everyone when things fell apart. That wasn't to say there weren't old flames, certainly... Just thinking about it was bringing all sorts of awkward memories to mind. "It was never important enough." He finally settled for, knowing that wasn't what he meant but unable to think of how else to phrase it right now. Thankfully, James steered the conversation in another direction--one he was all too willing to follow up on. "...I see." A brief pause, an attempt to console. "...If this planet still exists, I don't see why the others wouldn't." Unless Creation's presence had something to do with that. Arden didn't know. "What... exactly is your species? I've seen similar, but nothing like your true form..." Shapeshifters, he meant. NinetailedNightmare "Ah..." He could sense the awkwardness, and though his lips quirked minutely, he got the cue. They could leave it, for now. Except the line of questioning was now on him, and in a place where he became instinctively quiet. He recalled that Arden had asked him before, and that he had decided to answer his questions, but had been interrupted by the one who called himself the Hollow Mouth. "My planet is called Esare," James told the man, the name a mere melodic sigh from his lips, "My species, Esarians. Very few know of us, even those within the Federation, and even less have seen what you have. That is my species' original form... Were you anyone else, my mission would have already been compromised. And, I suppose, anyone else might have killed me or left me for dead. I'm aware of how monstrous I must appear." There was a faint smile there, delicate when considering how toothy he had been not an hour or so before. "When we get to this Pantheon, would it be too much of me to ask that you call me human?" Tsunake Esare... No, he couldn't place it in his mind, and though he wouldn't make any boasts about his memory, the syllables should have at least jogged some sense of familiarity. "Because I am a marine?" He questioned, brows furrowed faintly. So they spent their lives living among other species? And if they were caught--what did he mean by compromised? He mulled over it as they continued to walk, glancing over to the man when he spoke again. "I've seen worse. ...You'd have been within your right to lash out, within someone unknown on your vessel." Not the brightest thing he could have done, surely, but it had all worked out for the best. "...Of course. But, there are many," A pause, and he struggled to search for the right words. "Different species, from what I've encountered so far. ...I doubt it'll come up." He finished lamely, not exactly sure what point he'd been attempting to make. Regardless though, he'd nod at the other. "I'll remember." NinetailedNightmare He nodded, "Agents of the Federation are authorized to be aware, usually on a need-to-know basis, but... I trust you, too. You seem like an honorable man." There was a small, but sincere smile there. Indeed, he wasn't really used to working on feeling alone, but it only seemed fair if Arden trusted him enough to welcome him in his own shelter, he owed the man the benefit of the doubt. Arden would gain little to nothing from this union, or so he believed, and even if there was, it wasn't likely the human knew about it. "It may not be necessary," The alien mused, "And I'll let you know. To be honest, though, I like this form. And if gods are the natives here, it would do well to make myself as humble as possible so that I may move more easily around here. Thank you." Speaking of moving about, what were the habits of these people? "What do you normally do around this place? Do you often go so far from the Pantheon?" Tsunake There was a faint blink at that, and the arm wrapped around his helmet shifted a little against his side, unconsciously stifling his own awkwardness. Still, his shoulders pulled back some as well, not unlike a dog unused to praise. His lips felt wooden, but they would twitch in a feeble attempt to return the expression. The intention was there and genuine, and Arden carefully lead them around what seemed to be a field of withered, ruined bushes; their scraggly limbs would undoubtedly be sharp, and though he wouldn't feel a thing, he wasn't sure how stable James' body was. "...So you've used it before?" He questioned, quite frankly curious. There was an urge to ask more, but the marine held his tongue. Wasn't his business, really, especially if this was a race who held their secrecy in high regard. A curt nod was offered to the thanks; James, it seemed, was taking this all very well. Then again, he wasn't staring his own death in the face, day after day. "I was pretty badly injured after the crash... and the world was falling apart." Arden hesitated for a moment. "...I picked up your distress signal, and I came to see if anyone needed some help. Normally, before, it was safer to stay inside. I don't know what to do with myself most days, now." NinetailedNightmare Well, it was something, at least, and James was pleased to have gotten a positive reaction, however stifled. He'd follow the soldier curiously, eying the bushes as he passed. No, with soft skin like this... it wouldn't do well to put himself near anything that could cut him. "My last project was on the planet you know as Earth..." Those memories were bittersweet for him, and he reached to fiddle with his glasses, recalling his dreams briefly before Arden was speaking. Then he focused on the marine, nodding to show that he understood. "You're still young, for your race. How old are you, mid-thirties? There must be something... What interests you? Have you ever given it any thought?" Tsunake His attention was instantly pricked at the mention of the blue planet, and he turned his head fully to meet the man's gaze head on. "You were on Earth?" The soldier's tone was even despite his notable interest. He'd never been the planet--standard protocol--but had seen it, been taught about it. It was where his forefathers had originated from, after all. The technology granted to the humans of the Federation was something Earth had never seen, and probably never would so long as it and its solar system remained isolated from outside influence. "Thirty-five." Arden replied obediently, giving the second question more thought. "Weaponry." It was a serious answer, and he rolled his shoulders a little. "Our... our group of men were one of the 'front lines' so to speak. Normally shuttled from one planet to the next. Didn't have much time for much else. ...I've never thought much more about it." He finished awkwardly, realizing he was rambling. NinetailedNightmare "I was." James confirmed, his lips taking on a curl that was all too curious. The Federation, though they had human recruits, had left Earth untouched. It was refreshing to see the civilization there prosper by its own devices, so content to believe that it was the only living entity within the galaxy. So primitive that it was charming in its backwater ways. He doubted that Arden had been there himself, but perhaps the man had some sort of questions to ask him? Considering the information the marine had so generously shared with him about this world so far, he would have been all too willing to appease. Perhaps a later time. Weaponry, said the man. It wasn't unusual, all things considering. Even a man who spent his life pushing papers could have been interested in devices capable of rendering another place or being obsolete. There was just something so phallic about a gun- weapons, therefor, were quite manly. "I see," Was what he said, "Well, that's understandable. In a place so rural as this seems, though, I can see how such an interest might suffer. My race did not produce any weapons." He sounded a bit apologetic at that. Though he carried a gun of sorts with him, he did not find it prudent to forfeit it to the man to look over. Aside from what his body could manage, it was his only other defense. "But I think it's good for everyone to take a hobby. Now that you're here, perhaps it would do you well to broaden your horizons? So to speak. If nothing else, perhaps there would be raw materials around here that you could collect. With a world so full of power, you could find an alternate energy source, I'm certain." Tsunake The man listened quietly, and he would be a fool to deny that his own interest had roused up questions about the blue jewel that was the planet of their origin. This wasn't the time or place, however, and he was alert to their surroundings in case they were set upon; either by hostile locals, or by predators. They might as well have been one in the same. His gaze slid back as the alien admitted that his race did not create weapons, and there was a look in Arden's eyes that suggested he was curious; the galaxy was too dangerous to roam about in unarmed. Then again, his natural form had been rather impressive. Maybe he didn't need mechanical weapons to defend himself. "I don't have time to establish a hobby anymore." It was flat, but not unkind. A blunt truth, and nothing more. There was a faint, rather grim twitch to his lips, and an armored shoulder shrugged itself as though agreeing. "Maybe." But there was no time anymore...and what time he did have would be better spent focusing on how to control the deity that was now attempting to inhabit his body. "Could be something for you to focus on, while you're here. ...The people need it." This world needed it, all the help it could get really. His stride lengthened a little, focusing on the pull of the muscles in his legs in order to distract himself from all negatives. They weren't helping to solve the problems, therefore, they were distractions. "...What's your hobby, then?" He didn't glance back this time. NinetailedNightmare James' features drew a little at the other's words, the melancholy in that voice weighing on him. He decided to address the question first, his own voice a little brighter as he told the man his personal passion, "I like to research. It isn't just something I was made to do. When I lived on Earth, I posed as a novelist and I thought that was rather fun. I also... used to collect. Fish." So many fish. Whole rooms of the house were dedicated to tanks of both salt and freshwater denizens. He'd even had a small shark and a few eels on top of the colorful collection of fish. When he had been left alone in the old, large house, he filled it with aquariums. "I had quite a lot of hobbies, I suppose." He quieted as he went on, and perhaps some of his worry was apparent as he glanced to the other man. "So, what will you do?" Tsunake Fish. It was something so simple, so not what he expected to hear that the broad-shouldered marine seemed to relax a little more. A researcher, a novelist, and a fish-collector. It sounded almost normal, as far as human standards went, he supposed. "I see." Arden said quietly, and would stay silent until the next question came. "I was told that a host influences the god, in some way. If my will was iron... I could change him for the better." Somehow. Whether by fighting him, or cooperating with him; he remembered Creation's words well. It was the mantra he held onto now, the driving force that hardened his mind and refused to let him falter against the seeming impossibility of the task set before him. "...I'll do what I have to." He finally would answer the question, glancing to James once more. "What I need to." NinetailedNightmare There was a sense in finality in Arden's words, yet still James took the time to mull and pull them apart. That time was only a few seconds. From how the other man spoke, the outlook of his life seemed bleak. Against his will, he was to be sacrificed to bring a god to whom he clearly held some enmity into the world. He thought that if he was harsh and strong, then there would be a chance something would last in the god, some trace of him. "That is quite noble of you..." James said at last, but there was something to his tone that suggested that he would not simply leave it at that. He was about to argue, setting Arden up with a more mollifying phrase before he did. But his green eyes grew a little steadier on the man when he said, "But you should also consider that these will be the last days to yourself. Surely you do not think trying to enjoy them will make you weaker? If I may ask, what is it of yourself you wish to leave in him, that you must focus so belligerently on it?" Tsunake For a moment, the soldier would look to the being beside him, attempting to decipher if he was simply mocking him, or if he meant it. The latter seemed to fit the situation better, and so he accepted it. James, however, kept talking, and the man felt himself growing exasperated even if only pressed his lips together a little to keep himself from being rude, or snapping. A deep, steadying breath was all he needed before he trusted himself to speak. "...My last day to myself was the day before I found the gem. Eats at your mind, this thing. It's there, all the time." He just sounded weary at this point. "I don't know. ...If I don't try to stop him, millions of people..." If there were even millions left on this planet, "...might die. His domain is Famine; what's to stop him from sucking this entire planet dry if he's allowed to do what he wants?" I assure you, I am not quite so stupid. Your lack of intelligence will not hamper mine.Arden ignored that. "If I die without trying to do anything, knowing what he's capable of..." The man trailed off, and shook his head. He didn't know how else to better explain it, how it was eating at him to know that he might be responsible for unleashing this thing upon the remaining inhabitants of this world. "I don't know." The man repeated again, after a moment. "I don't know how I'm supposed to do anything. I was told I needed to do it, somehow... I just..." There was a shrug of his shoulders. How was he supposed to shape the personality and desires of a god? NinetailedNightmare He didn't know. James didn't know what he had been expecting, so that answer seemed to suit. He knew better than not to pay close attention to the worries of the man that had saved him from a probable never-ending slumber. Not only would it serve him to better get a sense of what was going on around these parts, but it also seemed as if Arden needed to explain it to someone. Had his concerns gone unvoiced or unheard, here in the world where the coming of a god must be natural? It must be hard. Hard to know you were dying, harder to know it wasn’t for a cause you could believe in. His throat felt tight all of the sudden and he didn’t know quite why. It only took a thought to adjust it, a chemical buzz to get the skin to soften once more and even out the flow of the lifeforce beneath. “I understand,” He would say eventually, and he did. While it didn’t seem possible for him to empathize, he could sympathize for the man and his plight. He could comprehend it. His dark emerald eyes searched the man’s face for any ease and it looked so remarkably human, pursing his lips into a concerned line. “You’ll do what you have to. I know I cannot offer you a resistance by any means, but I owe you my life, Arden. If there is anything I can do to help you, do not hesitate to ask.” It was a poor consolation prize, to be sure, but that's all he had to offer. He was not a god- he could not will the other's fate onto anyone else. Perhaps, though, the former soldier could find some use of him in the future, even if it was someone to bend an ear to him. He could be that person. Tsunake Brown eyes would flicker to their corners at the simple statement, not offended so much as he was... well. Curious, he supposed, perhaps confused. He knew James couldn't understand having a so-called god sucking the life out of him slowly, so what did he mean? The marine eventually decided to simply take it superficially; the alien was offering sympathy, and he accepted it with a silent, curt nod. "Yes." He was struck by the sincerity of the other's expression, and it was impossible to tell if it was truly genuine or not. Whether James was humoring him or not, it didn't matter. It was nice having someone... well, to talk to. For once. Someone who didn't already know what all this business was about, and saw it as a perfectly normal way of life. "You don't owe me anything." The marine said quietly, and he did his best to offer a faint smile. "It's my duty, to help others. ...But I'll keep it in mind." And he appreciated it, truly, tired and frustrated with his own lack of control over his own body. That incident back on the ship.... No, he didn't want to think about it. "If you don't have any other place to stay," He began somewhat awkwardly, casting his gaze back out towards the horizon. The Pantheon was in the distance, but they were drawing steadily closer to it. "...You're welcome to stay in the room that was given to me." To Bazyli, really, but the god could only use it through him. NinetailedNightmare He tilted his head as the other began to make him a proposal, curious about how the man seemed to be grinding it out. However, it did seem genuine, and he was indeed a little surprised. "You really are quite dedicated," Came the eventual response, followed by a soft, throaty chuckle. "The only shelter I have is my ship, for now. If you wouldn't be overcrowded with me in your home, I'd be delighted." In the spur of the moment, he reached up and clapped the man on the back of his shoulder, a wayward attempt at what he perceived as a gesture of male reassurance. "Thank you." In the distance, there was the shape of the Pantheon, and he became absorbed on it just as Arden did, not wholly aware that he may have just put the other man in yet another awkward position. He was too busy eating up the scenery that didn't consist of scrub or the occasional tree. Tsunake The soldier only tilted his chin down a little, silently acknowledging. It was his duty. A faint frown creased his face when James spoke of his ship--that was too far away for the other to be truly safe, should anything happen. "Of course." He felt obligated, to say the least. Bazyli sighed wordlessly in his mind, though he could do very little to prevent what would eventually be his personal space from being given away so freely. A blink came at the sudden thump to his shoulder, slightly bewildered, but he offered an awkward nod. It was fine. Luckily, James seemed to be quickly distracted by the massive structures that lay before him, and they continued the rest of their journey in relative silence. The Pantheon was truly a beautiful place, with its gardens lined with elegant statues and the like. Arden would linger whenever the other seemed particularly taken with a certain bit of scenery, but would eventually gently urge them on by beginning to walk once more. Up one of the raised platforms, down into the enclosed area... It wouldn't be long before they reached the silent, menacing snarl of teeth that marked the entrance to Famine's domain. With a rasp of mechanics, not unlike a sigh, the fangs would draw apart and allow them passage. Arden entered somewhat stiffly, but wouldn't hesitate to step past the maw. There was an elegance to the place, however small it was in comparison to the abodes of other gods, the sloping ceilings adding an eerie elegance to the place. Artifacts and antique vases lined themselves on dark furniture, some of them bearing resemblance to space technology, while others were clearly of Famine's choosing. "There's a room, behind the staircase," And he gestured to it, a spiraling thing that led to a small sleeping space upstairs for Kiania and Phaaze. "That's where you can stay... If it doesn't bother you." He would trade places with the other, if he so wished it. To the left of the staircase was a slightly larger room, intended for host and god, clearly. With Harmodius still freshly reborn, things would remain moderate. There was no sense in taxing him too greatly on comforts that even Arden himself wasn't quite used to. NinetailedNightmare James had many things he'd like to look at, but he knew it was something he could dwell on later when he didn't have Arden's patience to test. He soaked up the atmosphere with a critical eye, noting the structure of the gardens and the shape of the architectures. Most of it seemed so Earthen that he was almost, but not quite, disappointed. If there was a place he was particularly fond of, it would have been Earth. There just wouldn't be a whole lot for the records. Into the Pantheon they went, a structure far too perfect for human hands to meld. He let his eyes cast along just so far as they were allowed while his legs kept pace with the taller man, and when they came to the door of teeth, he paused. How could a structure like this be present in a place so archaic? And yet, there was a hiss of mechanicals as each part of the serrated structure slid apart for Arden. Were he more prone to indulging paranoia, he would have entertained the notion on the great maw snapping him to bits just as he tried to pass. Just the same, he let Arden get a certain distance inside before he quickly stepped past the barrier, the soldier's voice far away in his mind for a moment as he turned to admire the framework now that he was out of harm's way. He turned his head in time to see the man pointing to a section of the hall which would, indubitably, be his quarters. "Of course not," James replied amusedly, his lips quirking, "I hope you didn't already forget where you found me." As much as he would rather not sleep again, the lasting effects of the cryogenesis coupled with the walking they did made him feel as if he could rest for a year alone. However, he would not surrender quite so quickly. "May I have a look around?" Tsunake The teeth would quiver for a moment before they ominously slid shut, as though sensing James' gaze and keeping him from slipping past if such a thought had even crossed his mind. He was trapped now, seemingly, but should he approach them with the intention of leaving, they would reluctantly part to grant him passage once more. "I wasn't sure if you'd be comfortable, out of liquid." The gruff tone sounded faintly apologetic; cultural awareness was important when interacting with another species, and he was fairly terrible at it. A wordless shrug was offered for the question; the marine certainly didn't mind. "Not upstairs, though." It was more of a warning. "Keeps his servants up there." Arden was still very uncomfortable with Phaaze, the little creature having relocated himself up with Kiania some time ago. With that, the man would step to sink quietly onto the bed with a soft sound of whirling mechanics, mulling to himself. NinetailedNightmare "Ah, it'll take a while yet before I dry up," He returned assuringly, another faint flicker of closed lips before James realized Arden was lurching off to go lay down. Poor man- this really must have been quite the day for him. The Esarian's green eyes flickered up the spiraling staircase curiously, but the other's warning brought no figures for him to inspect. He should like to have a look at these servants, he thought, but it could be left for later. James drifted to the door as Arden sat down on his bed, armor and all. Was he planning to sleep in that? How curious. He hung there in the doorway a moment, trying to gather what he should say and condense it so he could leave the man to his own thoughts. "Thank you again, Arden," Was what he finally settled on, soft and vaguely humble with a subtle dip of his head. Any more might have been awkward for the human, and after he was done looking around, there was work to be done. He slipped off wordlessly afterward, going to inspect his room then look around. Eventually, though, he would be back to where he was assigned, making a point to leave the door open in case his host needed something of him. Tsunake That finally earned a soft snort from him, a sound that could easily be taken for amusement. Dry up... That was a possibility he hadn't even considered, his armored fingers rubbed briefly at his temple. He'd glance up again at the thanks, and shook his head some. "Just glad you're all right." Was the only thing he'd say, but the other was already gone. Slowly, he hauled his legs up onto the bed and stretched out, staring at the ceiling. He didn't plan on sleeping, not in this suit, but he was thinking about what had happened back on the ship. It unnerved him. James was welcome to come and go as he pleased. Should he linger, he might see the scantily clad, crimson Aoide make her way down from the staircase, observing Arden if only to make sure he was still there and in one piece. Otherwise, the marine was quiet. It wouldn't be long before, despite himself, he'd have drifted, his sleep light and uneasy.
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Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2012 10:32 am
Grim Tidings
Solo RP #12
He realized he had been terse with James, even more so than usual, and he was already starting to regret it. It was only a minor relief to think that he had at least offered the man his own quarters as a place to stay, but once the small, mousy man had slipped back out into the hall... well, Arden wasn’t sure if he’d see the other again or not. The conversations the other had been attempting to instigate made him tense and uneasy. He didn’t want to talk about what was going to happen to him, or pretend like everything would get better. Bazyli was growing stronger, so much stronger—that stunt in the other’s ship proved it.
How had he failed to notice? That much was obvious; the god would keep everything from him until it was too late. He sank down onto the bed as though weighed down by the realization, and his jaws grit themselves together tightly.
How much time did he have left?
Not much, I hope. Why the sudden panic, Arden? Didn’t everyone tell you this would happen? Bazyli purred.
“Shut up.” The man snarled through his teeth like a dog. Panic, no, not quite, but his agitation was steadily mounting. He was supposed to be... not stopping this process, somehow, but molding it into something beneficial. But he didn’t know how. There was nothing tangible to hold onto, and trying to delve into his own thoughts was...
Christ. He was afraid to look into his own head now.
Ah, that’s not even the best part. Watch.
His fingers twitched without his consent, and the man bolted to his feet with a wild look in his eyes. That had sent an electrified bolt of fear down his spine, and he struggled even now to quench it and force it back to where it’d came from. It was too late, though—the god was already laughing.
You see? Such ordinary, simple actions for you can bring me such great pleasure... You will be the first mortal who I bother to remember, and that makes you important indeed. It’s not as good as a medal, I’m afraid, but it’ll have to do. Bazyli was practically crowing, and he couldn’t have been more pleased with himself.
“You do that again—“ The man was threatening, stumbled across the room and crashed into the nearby desk, sent the strange and bizarre trinkets and pottery scattering across the surface. He stood there for a long moment, both hands planted firmly on the desk even as he sucked in a few breaths to steady himself. It was impossible to drown out the chortling, and so he did what he could to ignore it. It was why the sound of hooves went unnoticed by him, and only when the soft, husky voice floated from the doorway did he jump.
”You are all right?” For once, the Aiode’s tone lacked the mocking, flirtatious quality he’d grown so used to, and he shot a harsh stare over his shoulder to search for that pale-lipped smile. Instead, her beautiful face was impassive, lips parted with... uncertainty?
“No.” He growled, and faced forward once more, trying to regain his bearings.
The silence was uncomfortable, but only to her. His head was still filled with the mirth of a god who only cared about devouring him until there was nothing left. But then, she moved, and the broad muscle of his back bunched up threateningly as her hand ghosted across it.
”It is not easy.” The goat-woman murmured, her eyes lidded by golden lashes even as she peered down at him. ”But it is necessary, yes. And you are a strong man.”
“That doesn’t mean a goddamn thing if I can’t change him.” Arden spat, jerking away from her to stare at her straight on. There was only a twinge of dislike when he had to tilt his chin up to meet her gaze, but his stance was firm.
I do apologize. Perhaps if you let me in a little more, I’ll consider it.
He ignored that, hardened gaze still fixed on the Aoide’s face. She only stared at him for a moment, measuring , and her expression was impossible to read. Then she sighed.
”You are a soldier. You do not plan ahead; you react when the situation presents itself. So do not fret over what will be, and what must happen. When the time comes, you will know, and you must act. And if you cannot... the world will not end. Balance. That is the way of things. If you cannot change him, then that is fate, and whatever ripples it sends out will be dealt with accordingly.”
She left, then, but not before pressing her lips to his forehead in a fashion that was almost motherly.
Arden stood where he was for a long time after that, his mind strangely empty.
There was no more laughter in his thoughts, as though Bazyli was considering them, too.
fin.
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Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2012 10:32 am
Musings and MusicMeeting EchoJoint RP #11 Tsunake It had been a slow, but somehow soothing journey back to the Pantheon. The tempered soldier hadn't realized how much he appreciated the gift of company until it had slipped effortlessly from his metal fingers. James had his right to explore the place, but there was now a new weight on his shoulders even as he found himself mindlessly wandering, at a loss of what to do now. You feel responsible if he winds up in a less than fortunate situation? You never thought to consider that beforehand? The god was cynical, as always, deeply amused with his host's unease. To protect and serve indeed. Concern yourself with your own fate, rather than his.The marine stonily shifted his jaw, refusing to take the bait as he'd done back upon the downed ship. Physical activity had always helped to ease his mind in the past, though he'd never before had a mocking entity sharing mental space with him. It was why he paced now, wandering the Pantheon with no true destination in mind. He wanted to think, but it was difficult, knowing that the bony fingers of Famine were constantly trying to rustle through his thoughts. With selfish luck, James would return soon. It was easier, pitting himself against his fate when there was another to confide into. Arden soon found himself standing within the moss gardens, lingering there for a moment with a tired, almost bitter expression pulling at the corners of his eyes. How much more of this could he endure? Zero Dream  ...And then there was the sound of a flute, it's melody filling the air.
It came from some paces away, from a small woman sitting near one of the tea houses - blue hair shifting to purple under the faint light of lanterns, strange wings folded against her sides and eyes closed as her fingers all but danced along the slender, silver-colored instrument that she had brought to purple lips, long sleeves much like a kimono's folded back at her elbows to allow her freedom of movement. Her fingers moved almost as if she had been playing for centuries - as if she had been the one to have invented the flute itself, and knew of all it's secrets. The tune was intense, unlike anything Arden would have heard in his life, and yet there was somehow a sense that the woman was holding back, that if she hadn't been, the instrument just might have shattered under sheer power.
That woman, while petite and delicate, somehow gave the sense of being much more than just that. She had not seemed to outwardly notice Arden, beside one long, pointed ear had tilted in his direction.Tsunake His life had been filled with the chatter of weapon fire, the scream of the damned and dying and the harsh bark of orders in his ears. That had been his music, his lullabies, and the burly man found his footsteps beginning to slow, dragged down with confusion. A high, piping note; it cut straight through his thoughts and simultaneously muddled them, wrapped around his mind until he found himself simply staring. It was beyond him to think that it might be rude as he tried to understand the woman he was seeing, her lithe, somehow alien features both unworldly and comforting. He knew little about the finer details of music, had heard some in his time, but found himself captivated now as the sound seemed to thrum through his very body. There was power in what she was doing, a strange and foreign sensation that failed to shock him as it should have. It was simply too easy to stand there, wondering. Quite a display. But Bazyli, too, was musing, somehow relaxed within the presence of a Sister so far along. Arden's lips were moving without his consent, but he allowed it this time, the bone dry whisper swallowed up instantly by the radiating melody. "You honor me with your song, oh Siren."The soldier stiffened at last, forcefully untangling the fingers that had woven about his vocals while his guard was down. That was enough. If the god could not even say us, then the man felt no shame in silencing him yet again. Only a chuckle drifted through his mind. Zero Dream Swallowed up perhaps, but not lost to the woman who sat there. Her tune slowly died down to nothing, finished - and it was then proven that it had not all been the flute play - some of the tune had come from her wings, and even now, it continued on.
At last, both eyes opened to look at the federation soldier - blue sclera on white and lighter blue pupils that shifted along with the tone of her wings, along with her words. "You flatter me." She took in the sight of the man in front of her, tail strings going back and forth, sliding along the blades of grass, much like a metronome. Power there, but faint. An host, perhaps ?
"I do not believe we have met." She said, smile traced upon her lips - pleasant and kid. "And who might you be ?" There was a sense of duality in her voice, the question addressed to mortal and god both. Ultimately, she had not known which of the two voices had spoken to her. Tsunake The same realization had come to the man when it seemed she'd stop giving voice to the instrument in her hands, and though he could not tell where the sound originated from... Well, no, wasn't it simple? It came from her, her very essence, and Arden could very much believe she, indeed, was a god. Her eyes might have seemed eerie if he hadn't been used to the bizarre, the glowing blue reminded him of Phazon and causing his hidden scars to itch. But there was a kindness to her face, and her glowing gaze was somehow as captivating as her song. He resisted the urge to shake his head, but forced his mind to focus; there would be time later to marvel privately to himself. "Arden Valkov..." It felt incomplete without his introduction as a marine, but the Federation was no more according to Creation. His voice was rougher than the first that had spoken, but gentle. He allowed himself to reflect heavily on that for a moment. Bazyli was pressuring his thoughts now, unable to seize control of his voice when he was so unwilling to give it, and the soldier briefly entertained the thought of withholding it from him. "...Host to Bazyli, the Hollow Mouth." Mutual respect goes a long way. He thought at the god, and it was his turn to suppress a faint smile as he sensed the disdain and irritation. Clearly Famine didn't enjoy being lectured. "Ah. It's nice to meet you, Miss...?" Zero Dream "Echo. I am of Music." She filled in with a smile, one hand going to scoop the side of her wide skirt. "Would you like to sit ?" There was definitively space for the both of them to sit there, mostly aided by her small frame.
Hollow Mouth... Famine ? She remembered well, when that influence had taken over All in it's grasp, for that one week. Perhaps it was what had the man so troubled ? Mortals, after all, had notions of 'good' and 'evil' that were much different than their own. Which did not mean she had to like the influence and it's effect... But the god, however, she would remain cordial to unless given a reason to be otherwise. Tsunake "Miss Echo." He repeated, his own lips twitching awkwardly as he attempted to return her smile. He hadn't smiled much these days. Muttering some quiet semblance of thanks, he slowly took a seat beside her, careful not to crowd her. There was silence for a moment as he tried to think of what to say, his mind blank. He'd never been good at social situations, better at grappling conflict than clever cadences. "...You play... very well." You expected anything less? His mouth pulled itself into a grim line at that. It was meant to be a compliment. Yes, perhaps it was necessary that the goddess of Music was immaculate in all things related to her domain, but... He could sense Bazyli's desire to speak, debated fighting it once more. But, he could also sense the god's tiredness, and knew that whatever conversation occurred would not last long. The soldier relented, and both of them knew that only Arden was allowing this to happen. "He knows little the wonders that Music can bring. It is good to see you so strong, dear Echo, considering the ordeals we've all faced..." There was a dry amusement to the voice that clearly did not belong to Arden, but respect nevertheless. He was not here to pick bones with his brothers and sisters, not after centuries of slumber. Zero Dream Thankfully, she seemed to take it like a compliment. "Thank you. You make a fine audience indeed."
And the voice changed once more, and now at least she knew how to tell host and god apart. "Indeed..." There was melancholy in her voice, and in those blue-on-blue eyes, at the mention of the hardships that had been faced. At least some of those events had to have been more aligned to Famine's taste - such was their nature. "But in the end, we pulled though." Things would have been... rather dire had they not.
"How do you fare so far ?" Again, the question was directed to both god and host. Tsunake There was another awkward attempt to smile, but Arden felt surprisingly pleased at that, relieved that he hadn't offended this strange being as he seemed often prone to doing. Both man and god listened quietly as she spoke, sensing that she'd had her own struggles during the time of the Gehenna. "That was... that ritual, with Creation." Arden ventured cautiously, having pieced it together thanks to his other few encounters with the residents here but never shying from the chance to expand on his knowledge. Yes, he'd witnessed it and understood little, only remembering with shock as the rainbow hued not-man had spilled forth from the pulsing cocoon. The marine would pause at her question, as though seeking whether or not Bazyli wished to speak, but the god of Famine had no words for now. "...Still alive, at least." Came the bland answer, and he'd leave it at that if allowed. Zero Dream "Yes." The goddess answered, voice soft. The marine had been there, then... She could not recall it, but did not doubt it was true. She had been so focused on her own song that she had missed many aspect of the Ritual, and overlooked many faces, after all.
Echo just seemed to know, or at least could tell in some way - she did not press the matter further, even if that left her at a loss of things to talk about. She was not really sure what she could talk about that Arden might appreciate, what subjects he might find pleasant. He looked like some kind of soldier, and Music knew little of war. Her expression had turned thoughtful, lips pursing in thought. "Would you like me to play something else for you ?" Tsunake The chance for company seemed to be enough to sate the marine at this point, and it hadn't dawned on him that there was a chance that his introverted nature was sabotaging any attempt at a decent conversation. He paused then, brows furrowing as though he, too, had recalled what had taken place. He hadn't been able to see much, true, but his ears still worked well enough--if she was Music, had it been her he'd heard...? More than likely. The request had his rough features cracking a little with surprise, clearly taken aback by the offer. Still though, he would nod, armored fingers twitching awkwardly before he simply had them settle in his lap. "...If you aren't opposed, I'd like to hear more." Anything to let him forget this hell, just for a little while. Listening had always been something he was good at. Zero Dream Ah ! This. This she knew how to do. "Very well, then." She said with a smile, eyes alight with some kind of inner fire as she brought the flute to her purple lips again. The tune that resulted was bright and uplifting, pleasant even to the untrained ear, though there were sublities that Arden might not be able to pick up from the rest of the melody. He would still feel them, most likely.
If the lack of sheet music or book nearby was to be of any indication, that melody was also made up on the spot... for him and the god he bore alone, though Famine's taste perhaps preferred darker melodies. She could not know for sure. Tsunake He listened and watched with no little fascination as the goddess again resumed her playing. While Bazyli might need to remind him that staying host to a parasite, no matter how powerful, was an honor by some, he didn't need someone whispering in his ear to understand this was a privilege. The tune was enough to make his lips twitch, feeling... well, better somehow for it. It was a strange concept, but one he could severely appreciate right now. As far as the god was concerned, this was the first time in a long, long while that he'd gotten to indulge in Music's talents. Later, perhaps, there would be time to be finicky. For now, he allowed the man to enjoy in the song, only settling back to quietly listen as well. Zero Dream The melody continued it's course, remaining just as complex as it had started, with the tune of her wings interwoven once more. It started to fade slowly, gently, before it had finally ran it's course and Music lowered her instrument once more, tilting her head to look at the man in front of her.
"Did you like this one ?" She asked, lips perking up into a smile again. She could only hope that it had, and that it had soothed him, somehow. Tsunake Those wings again... His gaze absently swept over them, wondering just how quickly they had to quiver in order to produce such fine, controlled sound. Before he was even aware of it, the tune drifted slowly off until silence gently took its place, and he met her gaze with another, somehow more natural smile. It was shy, too, but pleased, and he did seem more relaxed as he leaned back to tilt his head up towards the sky. "...Yes. ...It sounds hopeful." And what of all the men and women up there still? Mostly decimated now, but if they could somehow come together and regroup... Perhaps the sudden loss of space had taken out a good number of the Space Pirates' fleet as well, and it was a grim consolation. "Your wings... do they make music, as well?" He ventured slowly, unsure of whether it was too personal of a question. Zero Dream "I am glad." Echo answered, with a nod of the head and a smile. If the question was too personal, none of it showed on her face. Truth was, she did not mind. "Yes, they do indeed produce their own melodies, which tends to vary greatly." Mostly according to her inner feelings, she had noticed. With nothing else being played, their light hum was easier to hear for what it was. It was simple, but it was loud enough for most beings to hear.
If the strings of her wings were to be of any sign, though, she was likely able to use them as instruments as well... Tsunake "Are you... capable of flight, with them?" The soldier inquired curiously, feeling slightly reassured that he hadn't offended the woman. Goddess. Surely gender still made a difference between them--the voice in his mind was definitely male. Had he lacked any sort of proper etiquette, he might have reached out to tough one of the gossamer strands, but politely watched them instead as they seemed to tremble and hum simply because they could. More questions ticked away at his mind, and Arden shifted his jaw uncertainly before he decided to hell with it. It couldn't hurt--and if she was displeased, she could send him away and he would apologize and go. "...Miss Echo," He began hoarsely, glancing at her from the corner of his eye. "...Your host... How did they react, to all of this?" Zero Dream A very valid question, that, she had to admit. "Unfortunately not. They certainly have their advantage, but they do not carry me into the skies. But there is little use for flight for I, beside idle distraction." Her voice reached well wherever she wished - walls and any other sort of mortal-made material could not hinder it. There was no need to gain vertical distance to be able to project herself best.
His second question was a bit more delicate, she had to admit, and she pondered it carefully. "As well as one could handle such thing, I presume. She had known exactly what would happen, and exactly what she was going to go though... Well, for the most part. I am not Fate, to be able to predict every twists and turns of one's life. You do have to understand that it was a long time ago and things... had been quite different back then." There had been no end of the world on the horizon, back then, and she had stood to see the end of Creation's long reign. She had been one of the firsts to be reborn, as far as she knew - few were those older, and many where those younger than her, at this moment. Maybe it was why Arden thought her fit to handle such question. "We found strength united, in the end - no longer two, but one whole. I will never forget her, for she has made me into what I am now... And everything that I have, I owe to her."
A gentle being, yes, but with the determination and the will to act when such was needed. Tsunake The man seemed somehow satisfied with such an answer, leaning back quietly. So, for their expected use, they could not perform and instead made up for it with a talent that seemed more than fitting for the goddess's domain. Not a fluke, clearly. His shoulders rolled with a shift of metal, quieting almost instantly when he sensed her considering her thoughts, not wishing to cause idle distraction. He wanted to know the answer--and some part of him needed to hear it. "I understand." He offered simply, his reassurance; a long time ago... So her body had been more goddess than woman for who knows how long at this point. Something in his hard-lined face seemed to soften as she spoke of her host, and the gratitude she expressed. He doubted--no, he knew that Bazyli did not share the same sentiments, and it was a sobering thought. "...I see. ...Did she... help you, somehow? Change you, that you know of?" Creation had told him as much, that he could somehow alter the god should his will stay strong. The man exhaled slowly, armored fingers coming to touch at his brow. Anything he could do to lessen the impact of Famine's rebirth... well, that was a reason worth fighting for. Zero Dream "I think we were... very similar in ways, my host and I." Echo answered, her voice soft as she remembered her time with Zero. Similiar in ways, but even in her own soft-spoken way, Zero had been more bold than she had, more willing to step up and do what had to be done. Less afraid, in a sense, than she had felt before they had become one.
Her expression then settled on a thoughtful frown, as if it was hard for her to find the words to explain exactly what she wanted to say. "And with the two of us together now... I feel... stronger than I have been before. More willing to step up and defend what I hold dear. Less... afraid. If that makes sense..." She was not really sure it would, to the mortal man. Tsunake His brows would knot faintly as she started to explain herself, understanding at least the concept, if noting that it was something that he was never going to experience himself. There were no similarities he cared to consider between himself and Bazyli. Cold, cutthroat, and merciless--the soldier found himself shifting wordlessly as though to shake off the thought itself, his attention still held by the goddess. "...Like you have someone at your side, even if she isn't really there." He ventured slowly, seeing if he could understand. "...She's given you strength in other ways." And that was what Creation had been talking about, it made sense. So what was there to offer a god that didn't care for compassion, for defending anything unless it was his and could aid him in some way? "And I am glad that her presence is able to comfort you so." It was the god that seized control to speak now, his voice a little hoarse, if not thoughtful. Yes, sweet, fragile Music. Let her take comfort and rely upon mortals-- it seemed more fitting than watching proud Fire bow her head. "He will learn to accept me." Even if that meant breaking his spirit before it was swallowed up, leaving his body free and willing.Zero Dream Ah, yes ! That was exactly it, and Music gave him a warm smile. "Yes, a bit like that, I figure. It is rather hard to explain... and different for everyone." That much seemed evident, but she mentioned it nonetheless.
Then, the voice changed again, from host to god. She figured it would have to be so. It was not like Arden had choice in the matter, but she figured it was better not to speak of it and accidentally upset the soldier. "I long to make others comfortable... is it what I do." It may look meaningless to others, but she knew better, now. Zero Dream Ah, yes ! That was exactly it, and Music gave him a warm smile. "Yes, a bit like that, I figure. It is rather hard to explain... and different for everyone." That much seemed evident, but she mentioned it nonetheless.
Then, the voice changed again, from host to god. She figured it would have to be so. It was not like Arden had choice in the matter, but she figured it was better not to speak of it and accidentally upset the soldier. "I long to make others comfortable... is it what I do." It may look meaningless to others, but she knew better, now. Tsunake He could feel the man struggling against his hold as feebly as a bird beating its wings against the bars of an iron cage, and his expression remained devoid of any real emotion. Sympathy, amusement--none of it mattered, as he was fully focused on the graceful goddess beside him. "They need it now more than ever. It is your gift." And it was likely that her host had sided with her more easily because of it; had she been of a more destructive sphere, well...
"Mortals are quick to split the lines between 'good' and 'evil'. The sense of balance is lost upon them." Arden, though he would say nothing, would rather the worlds be too prosperous and wealthy than suffering from any sort of disease or death. Bazyli mulled on that for a moment before, he reached to take her hand, lifting it so his lips could lightly brush the backs of her fingers. "It is a pleasure to see you again after so long, Music, truly." He'd let her go then, watching her with a slight twist to his lips.
He wouldn't linger here for too much longer. It would be on his terms that this discussion would end--another victory to drive into his rebellious host. Zero Dream That was true - balance was more important than the concepts of good and evil. Too much good could be just as damaging that too much bad, at least in mortal perceptions of such.
She did not get to voice such thoughts, however, as her hand was taken and kissed. She nodded along to the motion, watching at host and god turned to leave, with the goddess unaware of the implications of that sudden departure.
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Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2012 10:37 am
Acceptance
Solo RP #13
The god led him away from the one who called herself Echo, perhaps the one person he’d truly found himself able to relax around. His body had been seized in a show of strength that inwardly rattled the marine’s worst fear. He grew more powerful each day now, and he recalled Harmodius’ words with a sinking feeling; Bazyli must be feeding off the destruction and famine that still clung to the other worlds like stubborn shadows. Slowly, too slowly, they’d have no choice but to vanish as Creation’s influence spread throughout the galaxies once more. That was what he had gathered, anyway, but if the god bound to him continued to progress at this rate, he wouldn’t live long enough to see it happen.
He chose not to fight even as his limbs mechanically led him out of the gardens, and they would eventually stutter and relinquish control back to the host once more. Kiania had heeded him to conserve his strength, but now he wondered if it had been a ruse all along, baiting him to lower his guard so it would be that much easier for Bazyli to take over. Regardless, it was impossible to figure out the truth right now.
You seem troubled. The god said, clearly looking for a reaction. Arden’s violent actions back on that strange, alien ship had been priceless—as well as granting him the chance to dig his roots in just a bit deeper.
“That wasn’t necessary.” Came the grunt, and he unconsciously flexed his hands as though to make sure they were still fully and thoroughly his. A level stare was fixed over this shoulder, and he debated for a moment if he should return to the goddess of Music and apologize for the sudden departure. Tension still thrummed throughout his shoulders, but the soldier had chosen to ignore this battle and would stick by that decision. Working himself up like he had back on James’ vessel did little more than horribly amuse Bazyli. He wouldn’t give the other that satisfaction.
No? I’m sure sweet Music will forgive me. She spun you a pretty tale about her host—a host who died so she could be reborn.
“Enough.” The man snapped, coldly shouldering off the blatant jab and the chuckle that followed, refusing to let his temper surge forth. His anger had never been a problem before coming to this planet, before finding that gem, but the longer this dry, dismissive voice gnawed away at his thoughts, the harder it was to even feel like himself.
It would be easier to die for something good, he imagined, something that inspired hope. Everyone continued to speak to him of this Balance, of its necessity and how it was important. But he had seized the bit between his teeth, no longer able to believe such a thing or reason out his sacrifice like it was okay, even admirable to die for a monster. There was no need for anyone else to die, either, and no ‘Balance’ could justify this to him. If Famine was reborn, death would follow. Though there was nothing he could do to prevent it, the man would never let himself be convinced of the contrary. He was suddenly aware that his thoughts were racing even as he stood on the outskirts of the gardens, and that Bazyli had fallen silent. More wary than unnerved, the man began to walk back towards the main structures of the Pantheon, intending to head back to the fanged door to rest.
You continue to carry the weight of my renewal upon your shoulders, as though you are at fault for causing it. Bazyli noted aptly; he knew what plagued his host’s heart, had heard him voice his concerns and laments enough to what few others they had encountered. But what makes you think anyone will remember you long enough to blame? Furthermore, are you truly so arrogant to think that this turn of events was avoidable? The Hollow Mouth kept his tone deliberately amused, seeking to work Arden’s mind into another flurry of thoughts so he could worry away at the host’s sense of stability, the links of his mind that kept him confident, content, and rational.
Arden had no reply. He did not feel like talking to the god at all at this moment, wordlessly shouldering his way inside and walking down one of the many hallways. He would accept this fate.
It did not mean he would ever have to like it.
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Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2012 10:39 am
Darker InspirationMeeting PhaedraJoint RP #12 Tsunake He'd already experienced the world almost ending once before, when he'd crashed into this apparently doomed planet and slogged through the chaotic weeks that had been caused by the Gehenna. Now, those same, agitated feelings were consuming him, and the marine knew there would be no salvation this time. The god's control was becoming unfathomable, his strength steadily rising with each passing day. It wouldn't be long now, and he could feel it in his bones, his thoughts frayed and agitated. Because of it, he was constantly on edge now, trying to listen to the advice the aoide had offered him and conserve his strength until Bazyli attempted to consume him in one, enormous surge, but he was now having second thoughts. What if there was none? What if the god continued to break him down piece by piece until one day, he simply faded? The god had taken to whispering at him, a constant stream of foreign influence that he couldn't block out, no matter how he struggled. Just relax. The more you fight me, the more quickly you wear yourself out and offer me ample opportunity to do as I like. The more you ignore me, the more I can spread and get rid of all these useless thoughts in your head. Either way, you have lost, and that is the way of things.He could no longer tell if it was a jibe meant to deliberately rile him, or if the god was simply offering some condescending sort of advice. To try and keep himself from dwelling on the thoughts, Arden had taken to mechanically stalking through the twisting corridors of the Pantheon, the sound of his armored feet loud and rattling. He stalked to and fro, not thinking or considering that there might be inhabitants within the rooms he continued to pace by. He was a disheveled mess, pale and lacking the strength his sturdy frame once provided him with. Just relax. Bazyli offered again, and it was with a thin, pleased smile to himself that he felt the soldier shove against him for a moment, possessed by a fit of fury before he unexpectedly broke and withdrew. Soon. Until then, the sound of his noisy steps would do to fill the silence. Sosiqui It had started a few minutes ago. Generally, Phaedra was not bothered by sounds out in the corridors. Sometimes she heard footsteps or faint conversation, but it pleased her to know who was coming and going, and to steal snippets of information from those who passed by. However, this was another thing entirely. This was irritating, a rattle-stomp-clomp that showed absolutely no signs of stopping. With every stomp, Phaedra's tail twitched a little more. Until... "I have had enough," the goddess proclaimed abruptly, shoving the scepter she'd been examining off her lap; the thing tumbled and shed a few flakes from its brassy exterior. "Avita!""Yes, Imperatrix?" "Open the door.""... my Empress?" "You heard me. If someone wishes to stomp about... then I'll offer them more room to do so. And make sure you arm all the traps in the Labyrinth," she added, a feral grin on her face. That would be a decent punishment for disturbing Greed's rest. Doubly so since she would get to watch. "As you say, Imperatrix," Avita said, and scurried off. A few mechanical clicks in the walls indicated the arming of the traps; Phaedra sauntered leisurely across the room and settled herself at one of the peepholes that had a view of the small Labyrinth. If nothing else, this would be amusing. A moment later, Greed's door swung open, invitingly. ((So! The Labyrinth is a small maze with generic traps in it; have fun? XD; I don't have any specifics for it, other than that it's not too large, the rooms are slightly claustrophobic, and the interior is paneled with dark wood. Traps include things like drop ceilings, bladed pendulums, etc; nothing too incredibly lavish and no level changes since it's just crammed into the front of Phae's rooms, but. Enjoy wink and if this doesn't work for you, I can re-write, just occurred to me that Phae would particularly enjoy tormenting someone who bugged her XD)) Tsunake A door swung open without warning, silent, and yet somehow coaxing. It was impossible to not stare at the glittering gems that stretched themselves across the otherwise smooth surface, and Arden stood there for a long while, simply staring. He was waiting for a voice, perhaps, a figure, but there was nothing. Wary, the soldier's steps were suddenly soundless even as he began to approach the darkened interior. You think this is wise? Bazyli chuckled in the back of his head. That was enough to give him pause, and he would eye what he could see of the room so far. Cramped, somehow, with dark wood panneling... "Hello?" Arden would call out after a moment, taking a step inside. Strange--several paths. With the way the walls seemed to threaten to close in on him, he couldn't help but hold his shoulders a little stiffly before deciding to simply head straight. As soon as he stepped into the first room, it was sheer, simple instinct that probably saved him. Something swung from the corner of his eye, and the marine spun instinctively, jerking back even as a curved blade soundlessly dove at him and scraped with a loud shriek of metal against his chest. Eyes wide for only a brief moment, Arden ducked quickly back into the hallway and stared, his posture wary now and hunched. I did warn you. Bazyli said coolly, though he likely would have been snarling had his host been actually gouged. The man felt the god press against his mind, demanding control, and after a moment, he would reluctantly relinquish it. "I will be most displeased if you intend on staking my host's head up on your wall as a trophy..." Bazyli quipped, not knowing just whom he was dealing with yet, but assuming someone had lured them in here intentionally. Arden was glancing back towards the door as though debating getting the hell out while he could. Sosiqui The door chose that moment to swing closed, latching itself with a rather final-sounding click. Phaedra purred under her breath, intensely amused by the little show that had played out for her thus far.
Her eyes narrowed at the voice that issued from the stomping creature, however. She could feel the god-taint now, stretching through the creature's body in a way she found oddly familiar...
... because she'd felt it before, only powerfully intensified. That feeling of hunger gnawing helplessly in the pit of her stomach, of skin stretched over bones and a mouth parched and empty. Phantom feelings during a Week of...
"Famine," she purred, raising her voice enough to be heard, her tones echoing through the little Labyrinth. "How kind of you to... disturb me, brother. I did not know you walked the worlds again."
Of course, that didn't mean she was going to let him out. Not yet. "Your host's pretty little head is safe... however, you should keep him from rattling and rumbling so. The next god may not be so magnanimous, so forgiving," she chuckled. Tsunake He grit his jaws together to distract himself from that sinking feeling of concern when the door snapped itself shut, just as decisive as the jaws to his... Bazyli's room. And, oddly, it was the handle on the door that suddenly caught the man's eye. He'd never been a materialistic man, but it looked as though the thing was made of gold... Distracted, the man gave himself a shake and glanced ahead of him once more, watching the bladed pendulum silently plunge back and forth, threatening another impalement attempt if he should dare stick his nose out again. Still, the god had recognized that sensation, and as the sultry tone flowed throughout the cramped maze of sorts, they both listened. "Lady Greed..." Bazyli rasped, truly pleased. "I apologize, my sister. He thinks movement will keep me at bay and help ease his agitation, but had I know that it was you he was bothering, I would have urged him elsewhere."Arden didn't understand why the god was relaxing, considering the door had failed to open yet. Grimacing, he started to speak, "...I'm sorry, I--" Words would no longer leave his throat, and he could only numbly close his mouth. You've already done enough to get yourself into this situation. Bazyli said dismissively, then would speak aloud. "You are well?" He would inquire, and that was before the ceiling above them gave a groan and a shudder. Both god and host were struck dumb for a moment before instinct had Arden diving through the swinging blades, and the ceiling crashed down where they'd stood only moments before. Rolling, his eyes darting from blade to blade even as he finally made it to the next of the rooms, and he sagged against the wall for a moment, his breath steady despite the adrenaline pumping through him. "And it is truly a pleasure to know your sense of humor has not changed a bit." Came the dry statement after a moment. Sosiqui Phaedra chuckled, even more amused now - not so much by her brother's discomfiture as by the host's. "I am quite well, moreso for your presence. What say you, brother mine? Shall I require your mount to demonstrate his paces for our joint pleasure? Or shall I display mercy?" While neither Bazyli nor Arden could actually see her, a pleased, indolent smile spread across her features, and her tail curled with amusement. Tsunake Blood roared through his ears, made it hard to listen to what this... goddess was saying exactly. Once he'd puzzled through her words, his head dropped a little, and though, perhaps, there should have been an instant feeling of relief. Surely the god wouldn't dare risk the body of his host...but as the silence dragged on, he felt his muscles stiffening with anticipation. "Oh no, my dear." The god said thoughtfully. "The fun is only beginning; I wouldn't dream of depriving us of this."Arden only grit his teeth together, forcing himself to straighten up somewhat. This... was a gamble he did not expect Bazyli to have taken, but the other's tone seemed final. "Perhaps when he begs, I will reconsider." It was a dry chuckle, and the marine squared his shoulders even as he tentatively began to route his way through the next room. If he hadn't been wearing his armored suit, he'd likely have been impaled as spikes jutted themselves out from the floor, smashing and scraping against his suit. The man lost his balance and fell, had to wrench his neck to avoid losing something more important, like an eye, and struggled to more or less wade his way through the hellish mess. This was insane. This place couldn't be that big, but he didn't even know what he was looking for, as far as an escape route went. Sosiqui Phaedra actually applauded. "Oh, well done, faithful beast of burden - if it weren't for my dear brother's ascension, I would be tempted to keep you around, to run you through a proper Labyrinth when I have re-established my empire. It would be most entertaining. Tell me, how do you feel about acid pits? Too standard? I ought consult Trickery, or Guile. Such things are not truly my office, beast - I merely steal and put slivers of their mastery to my own ends."
Sadly, Arden was only two rooms away from the end - though the next room did have a collapsing ceiling. "Or Animals, perhaps - we did liase, at times. A collection of exquisite venomous snakes or insects might suit. Set a beast against beasts." Her tone was sing-song, amused, and patronizing as all hell. It was obvious that she considered the marine to be little more than an animate meat-pile for her brother to ride. "You're so close, beast. Only a little further~" Tsunake Just listening to the way the goddess jabbed at him, spoke to him as he truly was this beast she kept insisting he was... There was a flare of anger deep in his gut, but there was also a dawning sense of horrible realization. This was the monster he feared of becoming, a creature that cared little for the lives of men, women, children. They were playthings, puppets to tote about on fragile strings that could be tossed aside and replaced as soon as they showed signs of wear and tear. Entertainment, pure and simple. It shouldn't have rattled him, but it did, and even as he stepped blindly into the next room it would be such a simple distraction that nearly cost him his life. Though he lacked a helmet to fully protect himself, he threw his arms up anyway, using the last reserves of his energy to flood forth. The ceiling slammed into him with full force, and would have crushed him had it not been for the suit that stood firm under the brutal weight. His limbs quivered, and the marine found it quite impossible to move; if he gave even a little, he'd surely be finished. "To think; all you'd need to do would be feed and water him, fill his head with silly thoughts and let him fight to defend them..." The god's amusement rubbed him the wrong way, and with a grunt of effort, the man dug his heels in hard and, using the last ounce of his strength to haul the impossible stone just a little higher, inching his way towards the exit. He threw himself desperately at the last possible moment, felt the stone crash only inches from his armored feet, and it would take several minutes before he could get up again. His arms felt swollen and battered, but none of that mattered right now--he wanted a way out. "You think this is some sort of game?" The man said hoarsely, knowing he didn't want an answer. This was his fate. Only now was he fully getting to understand just what that would mean for the rest of the world. Sosiqui Whether or not Arden's words were addressed to her, Phaedra still answered, her smile bright and predatory. "Of course it's a game, silly beast. All a game, and all playthings. Did you enjoy it, pitting your soldier's instincts against blade and clockwork instead of flesh and bone?" For what else could he be but a soldier, with the way he moved, the way he was clothed?
"It is enough to earn entrance, I suppose." Phaedra turned and padded over to her self-proclaimed throne, settling herself on it and taking a moment to arrange her feathers and gown perfectly. Then she raised one claw and pointed it at the attendant Aoide.
"Open, sesame. And do be on your guard, my dear, in case the beast proves rabid."
Avita quickly tugged at the door that would let Arden into the room, glancing back at Phaedra and placing one hand on her waist, near the pommel of the dagger carried there.
The door creaked open. Tsunake No, he didn't enjoy it, was his first, violent thought. Only later would he realize how true her words were. It was the only thing he knew how to do, using his instincts and his physical strength to survive. Did he enjoy it? He caught that last bit about his questionable self-control, and found his teeth clenching as the door swung open. He didn't know what to expect, but the sight of another goat-like woman was enough to make him pause, noting the position of her hand and the weapon hanging from her waist. He wasn't here to cause trouble, and would watch the Aoide warily even as he cautiously stepped inside. The Lady Greed was striking in a way he hadn't imagined, her feline qualities only enhancing the itching feeling in the back of his mind that he was being toyed with. Peacock feathers seemed to frame her, their plumes colorful and luxurious, and everything about her seemed to scream of fine, expensive detail. The soldier was at a loss for words, staring at the goddess as though he'd been expecting a much more sinister face. "He won't bite, dear lady," The soft drawl was amused and assuring. "Your beauty has shocked him into silence. Perhaps I would be as well, had I expected no less." His compliments were free for his sister, though he sorely regretting expending his energy to possess Arden fully during their meeting with Music, rather than now. Sosiqui Phaedra smiled and traced one claw-tipped finger along the armrest of her 'throne'. "Flatterer," she purred. "I would have sought you out sooner had I know you walked the worlds again. How long has it been, brother-mine? When did you awaken anew?"
There was, as always, an itch in the core of her that she couldn't scratch; every audience now brought to mind her most glorious days upon the Throne, when she had commanded power beyond her own, when she had ruled All - however briefly. She focused more firmly on Famine and his host, trying to ignore that niggling hunger. "The worlds were in great turmoil not long ago." Tsunake "I do not waste my words unless they are true." Bazyli only replied, a dry smile lilting his tone, and the marine felt revulsion peck at his thoughts until the very taste of it soiled his mouth. "Too long, my dear lady. And I can hardly fault you, no matter how much I'd have appreciated your company; you were undoubtedly preoccupied with the End so close."He could only imagine what she had been, during the week where Greed had ravaged the land. Breathtaking, surely. "When my domain was at its prime, most ironically. It was a shame I could not truly benefit, but it served its purpose to guiding this one to me. I only gathered bits and pieces of what befell our Lord... and though I am pleased to see him well again, it is a pity to think it will be some time yet until I can meet Destruction again."He would have plenty of time soon enough, seemed to be the unspoken words, and Arden's shoulders bunched subtly under the sleek frame of his suit. Sosiqui "Mmm. I have considered seeking Him out." While Phaedra certainly didn't hate or oppose Creation, He was not her Other, her Emperor. "The power... was glorious. Intoxicating beyond all reason, all description." The tip of her tail twitched slightly. "Yet, I would rather... yes, I would rather have our Emperor whole. Than that. Yes. I would." There was a very faint undercurrent of unease to her words, as if she was trying to convince herself.
"But let us talk of better things - the End averted is, of course, to our benefit. Yet I find this time of rebirth and renewal somewhat... lacking. It's simply no fun to topple what's already ruined," she sighed. "Tormenting insects in a wind-blasted plain is poor fare compared to taunting a debaucherous city. I am at loose ends, brother-mine."
She hated being at loose ends. Tsunake "Perhaps you should." But it was little more than an idle, spoken musing; the Lady had always done whatever she wanted to, or so his hazy memory told him. Surely he would remember her better in time, though he was pleased to see that her roots had not withered in defeat because of the Fading. Two of their number, then, were still strong, and it satisfied the god enough that he would only pause as she spoke. "To think you could envoke envy even in me." It was amused, rather than disdainful, and it truly was his biggest regret so far. Better to seize the opportunity when he was able, but it had set him back so far that it could hardly be considered worth it. A taste of power, however, was often the motivation one needed. Her unease intrigued him, capturing his attention like a wounded animal caught the watchful eye of a patient predator. Still, he wouldn't press her--it would be little more than a lie if he said he desired Creation's presence to Destruction's. "Too short, our time. But with the Grigori still afoot..."He let that hang, and mildly cleared his throat. Better things indeed. Arden was feeling vaguely sick, listening to them talk, and had adverted his eyes from the dark-skinned goddess as though to better block out her presence. It was failing miserably. "My attention lies in gathering strength, for now, but no doubt I will soon join you in your restlessness. Why not reach out to what mortals still live, use your influence to tempt them as you will? Gathering them to you, like moths to flame... Ah, how they might worship you." Had he lips, they would undoubtedly be curling. Desperation, too, led to motivation in a way he could not ignore. "Leave them." It was a hiss through his gritted teeth, and Bazyli chuckled quietly without reprimanding. The soldier was slowly growing incensed now, unable to bear the thought of such broken people being thrust in the hands of Greed herself. Sosiqui Phaedra actually clapped her hands in delight. "'Leave them', you say? Silly, silly beast - don't you know that nothing in all the world stirs Greed to greater fervor than being told no?" Her eye glittered with delighted malice. "Pity that all the mortals near here are already aligned to their own gods, and while filching followers might well prove entertaining, I believe there is more profit to be found in staying my hand than in moving at this early hour and inviting reprisals. Never let it be said that Greed cannot take a long view." She grinned at Arden. "But oh, how you tempt me, both of you, with your offer and your refusal... the latter more than the former."
"No, my dear Bazyli, my plan is to bide my time, to gather from the fringes those like-minded, those susceptible. A delicate and subtle amassing of strength. I will be adored, oh yes - but I take as much delight in the well-executed plan as in the swift, spontaneous attack. More, perhaps," she purred. It was ever so nice to know her own superiority, and to it prove again and again. Tsunake She clapped as though his words had been the funniest thing she'd ever heard, and the man felt his mouth go dry at her suggestion that his outburst might have simply enticed her all the more. What happened to the balance that Harmodius had spoken of? Who was to keep this... thing in line, stop her from ravaging the already decimated survivors? Both he and god would listen as she explained a little more, and he could not continue to meet her strange eyes. Her mouth was no better, for it soon pulled and bared white teeth that glittered against the blackness of her skin, and Arden began to feel very hollow. Words failed him now, and he could say nothing, rendered mute by the possibility that his denial had amused her so. How was this balance? Had what Harmodius told him been a lie? The god would exert himself enough that Arden's head tipped in a slight bow, and the action was enough that the host fought back wildly until Bazyli had no choice but to surrender control. Still, he had made his point, and there was a grin behind his words as he spoke again. "Of course. I would expect nothing less from you, my dear... How it pleases me to see you as strong and cunning as ever. Some of our siblings fail to hold onto those ideals." The Self should have been greatest; to dilute it with the blood of mortals was to weaken oneself. It was, indeed, a pity. Sosiqui "Our siblings? I have met dear Shk'hin, seen him rule most nobly and well from the Throne during the march of Gehenna's days; if any others of our kin live, I have not met them. Do you bring more news to further sweeten your arrival?" Phaedra tilted her head to one side.
She couldn't help but arch one eyebrow and grin knowingly at the host's obvious discomfiture. "Dear me, I seem to have disturbed your poor beast. Will he be quite well?" she asked, innocently. Tsunake "I regret to say that I missed his time of glory as well." Bazyli replied, and his tone was somewhat regretful. "But no. I only met with him when I myself was upon the Throne, and I do not know if any others have yet been reborn. And yet, I found myself musing over his attachment to the woman who had once been his host. He did not allow her to merge with him, this is true... But she has influenced him, he says, and it did not sit well with me." One of Arden's hands twitched, as though to casually dismiss the notion. "But. In the end, he may do what he likes. It is of no consequence, to me..."Arden resisted the urge to bare his teeth at the feline goddess, but refused to allow himself to be baited so easily. "No, I don't think he will." Bazyli mused, a chuckle floating along with his words. "Which makes it all the more easier for me."Easier? His mental walls fortified themselves tenfold in response, and he felt amusement rippling through his mind, as though his very efforts were laughable. He wanted out, and, casting a wary look at the goddess' hand servant of sorts, he began to turn towards the door. Bazyli immediately fought with him at first, paralyzing his legs, and the soldier gritted his teeth furiously. Sosiqui Phaedra waved one hand dismissively. "I am quite sure no mere host could hope to taint the truth of our natures. I have gained some things from my dear little kitten-" She ran her other hand down the length of her tail, curling it up at the tip. "Useful tools indeed." The goddess grinned. "I am sure Sh'khin has taken no more from his own... fertilizer."
She spoke that last term very deliberately, making quite sure Arden knew that epithet applied to him as well. Tsunake "I see." He didn't, not quite yet, but his sister's story fell in place with Sh'khin's, and it seemed to be enough to mollify himself for now. "I do not doubt you, my Lady. No one can doubt how very alluring your... new attributes are, indeed." Something along those lines, anyway, and the god chuckled with a rasp under his breath. He felt calmer now, appeased. When he was more himself again, he would seek out Plague. Not that he would ever apologize for his doubts, but he would subtly let it be known that he harbored them no longer. A full-body flinch temporarily took Arden's body, and by the way Bazyli did not reply, it was clear that host and god were fighting. This was different than the earlier struggle, similar to a full-blown panic, and Famine had no choice but to allow himself to be shoved back and away. "No more." The man snarled, and his skin crawled by just remaining in this creature, this goddess' presence. His stance was rigid now, aggressive, and he warily eyed both Phaedra and her servant of sorts with resentful, near-wild eyes. Fertilizer, fertilizer, as if he had no voice, as though he were something replaceable. It went against everything both Yu and Creation had told him, and, still watching as though to make sure they wouldn't lunge out and stop him, the soldier began to back away, towards the doors. "Ah, it seems as though our time," The god paused, fighting with effort to try and speak, and ultimately failed. Disgraceful, really, but Greed would surely understand. Arden wasn't quite sure those doors wouldn't slam shut on him if he tried to slip by, but he'd take his chances. Anything was better than lingering here, feeling the claws of her words dig into his mind and tear free what hope he still had left. Sosiqui "Oh - farewell, my dear brother, good beast," she called after them, delighted with the reaction she'd managed to draw out of the host. "Ride my way again, won't you? I will miss you both terribly."
The doors did not slam shut - indeed, they stayed open, traps silent, all the way out - but Phaedra's laughter dancing after them was perhaps a worse fate.
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Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2012 3:02 pm
Limit BreakSolo RP #14 She was a demon, an ebony illusion of a nightmare given substance by the life of someone who he could not imagine to be anything but unwilling. Beast, she’d called him, like he was something less than sentient. Fertilizer, she’d said, as though it would be best to hury up and die so the god within him could feast and be nourished by his dying mind and rotting body. And it was hard to forget that Bazyli had smoothly taken this she-devil up on her offer of a game, a game whose consequences would involve stealing his life for good. The god needed him, Arden had thought. Had it all been to show him that another host could be easily obtained? He thought he remembered being told that some would consider his position to be an honor. From the Dragon King? It sounded right, but he wasn’t wasting time on details right now. Maybe it had been a boast to this Phaedra—a demonstration? He didn’t know, didn’t know anything anymore it felt like, and it made him feel queasy. Fleeing from the maze, from those bright eyes and that wicked grin, Arden found himself back in the room that had been granted to him— No, not you, never you, you’re nothing—by Creation. He was pacing wordlessly, armored fists flashing out to smash priceless vases adorning the nearby furniture, knocking tables over, generally destroying the place to senselessly work out the emotion stewing. He was wild with anxiety now, the fear gnawing at his guts, and perhaps later he would be ashamed for losing control like this. --what is this place, what is this place, how can they do this, why do they do this-- When he’d finished trashing most of the place, the man slumped against the wall as though spent, breathing raggedly. He caught a glimpse of himself in one of the long, elaborate mirrors he’d cracked in his fury, staring at his shattered reflection. There was an animalistic sort of panic flickering through those brown eyes, almost masked by the disheveled bangs hanging in his face, and they wandered down to study the scratch gouged into his plated torso where he’d nearly been impaled back in Greed’s quarters. What that creature had done to him, both mentally and physically... His shoulders sagged a the sight. This was like losing his mind all over again, struggling endlessly only to be pulled under the surface that much more quickly. Are you prepared for it?For it, for that to be what he once was, once is, once... once, once, once he’d been unafraid of death, not so much brave as he’d simply chosen to not acknowledge it. It was everywhere now, a taint curdling in his veins until they’d one day burst and he would be overcome. But it was his job to make it less toxic, less lethal. It always had been. He wouldn’t havewish this upon anyone else, which let it fall to him. He stared at his fragmented reflection with dawning realization, touching his guant cheeks as though to make sure they were really there. His job, his duty. Your duty is to give in to me.“Eventually.” He’d hoarsely agree, his first word in ages. His mouth was still dry with that cold fear, and his heart thumped dully against his ribs. Still, he was calmer. They were trying to make him lose focus, force him to forget. He wouldn’t. He studied himself for a long moment more, ignoring the mess all around him and the god’s dissatisfaction before he turned at last and left the room, left the Pantheon. You are fleeing from the inevitable.“Evening the playing field.” The soldier replied curtly, his voice too unsteady to give off the impression that he was unaffected. He couldn’t stay in that place right now, surrounded by those things, not anymore. If he were to die, if his death were to be something that altered this god, he would do it on his terms while he still had the chance. His feet led him out into the open, empty land, and he did not stop to think about where he might be going, or what he was leaving behind. Anywhere but here. That was all that mattered.
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Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2012 3:04 pm
Escaping the InevitableMeeting Viira and the god of Desert, AshantiJoint RP #13 Tsunake After the encounter with "Lady Greed", seeing her and what she was, and all the thoughts that had come rushing afterwards... Arden had finally broken under the pressure. Without thinking, he'd fled from the Pantheon despite the obvious disgruntlement of his host, and though teeth had sunk deep into his mind until he'd staggered from the pain, the marine was on a mission. He wouldn't be deterred, no matter how much Bazyli mentally tore at him and sent waves of agony flaring down his spine. Reluctantly, the god withdrew, but not without hissing some promise that Arden would regret getting himself into whatever mess he was undoubtedly running headlong into. Where he was walking, he didn't know. He'd picked a direction and ran with it--quite literally for some time until eventually a stab in his side forced him to slow. Those walls had been closing in on him, trying to trap him so he could die quietly on the god's terms. He couldn't handle that, not right now. Minutes passed, probably hours, and the soldier kept going with an aimless, mindless sort of drive. Of all things he expected to find, the town had not been one of them. Basic curiosity was enough to overload his numbed senses, and his feet eventually slowed even as he slowly, uncertainly began to walk among the buildings. Buildings... This was a city? So close, all this time? If only he'd found this place first-- Arden cut off the thought even as Bazyli made to encourage it. You might have lived.Gritting his teeth, the man began to search for signs of... well, anyone. He knew he would stick out from the inhabitants here in his armored Federation suit, but it didn't do much to deter him. Someone, anyone would be good to see right now. Assuming this place had done all right during those weeks of hell that had tried to tear this planet apart... SkieBorne Having been forcibly removed from Neva's dwelling a few days before - the boy was well enough to wander on his own and Viira had recovered completely - Ashanti was not pleased. Not at all. Viira was proving to be a far more stubborn and willful mortal then he would have liked, and his lacking the influence to wear her down bit by bit frustrated him. In fact, the only thing that seemed to work was a shifting between his spheres of personality. A god with two faces, Ashanti naturally slid between the harsher, drier personality and the milder, gentler facet. And that, experimentation had revealed, struck the mortal offbalance, sewed doubt in her heart and allowed the sands of his being to slip further into her soul. Which was all well and good but being able to connect more completely to the core of your host still didn't mean you had the power to force that core, only be more in tune with thoughts and emotions.... to more easily manipulate. And that suited him just fine. If he could not sear her into obedience, he could mold her into what he wanted - inside and out. Hmph. "Oh stop brooding and plotting you overgrown dust storm." Viira grumbled loudly as she wandered through the streets, trying to figure out where they would stay this 'night'. Night, for them, had become a routine of 'sleep' and 'not sleep'. With 'not sleep', of course, being daytime. "Is there any where in particular you fancy my resting tonight, sand flea?" He roiled up against that tone of voice, the hot, scorching touch of his mind against Viira making her wince, You will refer to me as Lord, Viira, or master. Whichever you prefer. And yes, I want a proper palace bedroom... but, alas, you lack the resourcefulness to find me such a place.Despite the ache behind her eyes, Viira grinned. Harassing the god within her as a means of retribution for his intrusion had become a bit of a game to her - albeit a sadistic game. Though, to her mind, she might be slated for oblivion, but that sure as hell didn't mean she'd go without leaving her mark. And as long as she was able to - he'd remain locked up like a child in that corner of her mind that he'd 'conquered'. "I prefer sand flea. Or Ashanti. You're in my body yet, there, Desert. And I have a say in what happens." At his comment about a proper palace bed, she laughed. Really? It never ceased to amaze her how much of a brat this so-called god was. He sounded like a spoiled child with an overblown sense of importance more often then not. "Sorry, no royal beds for you. But a bath or a swim sounds good... I know the townsfolk said there's a stream that runs nearby..." He lurched at the mention of water and strained against her consciousness, seething at the smug sense of satisfaction she seemed to garner at playing upon his most obvious phobia. Water. He hated it. Loathed it with a passion. Everything was so much better off bone dry in his opinion. She stopped when he shoved against her, a more forceful push this time and frowned, shoving back against him as a sibling might shove his rival. An rapid-fire exchange of insults and threats followed, with the result that an onlooker might think she had snapped. Tsunake Stop. The god sensed another of his kin nearby before Arden could spot or hear the woman talking, and so the man ignored him. Fangs plunged into the side of his throat, into that messy scar tissue and he flinched despite himself, stumbling to the side. That was when he caught sight of the woman with the scar on her face, arguing loudly to the empty air around her as though someone was holding a heated conversation with her. It was an eerily familiar scene, and he felt himself stiffen slightly despite his better judgment. Not waiting to hear what Bazyli had to say, he slowly approached the woman, his steps slightly cautious, but unafraid. "Ma'am?" It was polite, if awkward, and he straightened his broad shoulders to look at her for a moment. He looked like hell, and felt like it, too, but continued on as though there was nothing amiss. "Are you all right...?" She'll look like you, soon enough. The god offered with mocking indifference, and his host stiffened visibly at the knowledge. Bazyli seized the opportunity--and Arden's tongue. "You will be able to enjoy silencing her more efficiently soon enough." It was a dry, hollow sound, and a rasping chuckle rolled just underneath the words. "I did not expect my host's fumbling to turn up something worthy of attention..."Arden just grimaced. SkieBorne "I said shut up, you imperious basta-" She blinked when someone spoke, having been too involved in her own internal argument to notice the other's approach, and tilted her head, "Eh? Besides having a rock that think it's a god stuck to my mouth, I'm alright. You should be asking that of yourself, however, soldier - you look like I did a few weeks back. Captain Viira. Do you have a name?" You are not a captain. You are a vessel for a greater being, Viira. You would do well to reme-"I told you to shut up Ashanti." She rumbled, a little more forcefully this time, and crossed her arms as she glared at nothing in particular, "And I am a Captain. Of the Stormseed. So stop blowing hot air down my spine and-" It seemed a pattern of being cut off was being established for Viira's words were broken into by Famine's haughty remark. Her brow arched at that, " Excuse me?" Her surprise at the other's remark allowed Ashanti the chance to surge forward, as he recognized one of his kin, " Not fast enough." The extreme frown that had twisted her face as the words, dry and strong, had answered Bazyli quickly contorted again into another expression - that of irritation. Ashanti was weak, yet, having overtaxed himself with earlier attempts at to strut about the devilish Winter. Fuming, the god railed against Viira and she curled forward, eyes fluttering shut as the sensation of scorching sand cut across her back. Hissing with pain, she was forced a step forward but shook her head, determined not to give in. Every whiplash would make her stronger - she'd been through worse - or so she believed. Ashanti's remark, however, made her laugh bitterly and she glanced at Arden, "Apparently he's 'certainly worthy of your attention. Only a fool would fail to recognize that fact.'" Tsunake A captain! Arden found felt his hopes soar instinctively to find he'd discovered someone of military rank, and his superior, besides. Well. Technically. A rock that thought it was a god... Immediately, whatever eagerness he felt crashed just as soundly and thoroughly as his vessel had all those months ago. To his horror and Bazyli's endless amusement, a dry, masculine voice took over her own briefly, and Arden watched uncertainly as the woman struggled to control herself fully. It looked... painful almost, not unlike the treatment Bazyli had forced him to suffer through only seconds ago. But why hadn't he done that before now? Using pain to break you down would never obtain the humiliated results I strive for. The god said simply, and the man almost wished he hadn't thought about it. Ashanti... The marine shook his head almost vehemently at the woman's last words, not choosing to dwell on what she'd called the god. "His attention, perhaps, but not mine..." A pause. "...I'm sorry to see you're in the same situation." He would straighten more formally, offering a salute. "Arden Valkov of the Federation Marines. Stormseed...?" It was nothing he'd ever heard of before, but that was to be expected. "Bazyli, the Hollow Mouth of Famine. It is good to find a brother at last who's unafraid to keep the pecking order as it should be." There was thin and reedy laughter before Arden fought for control again. He noted grimly that Bazyli let him take it, rather than being driven back. "I didn't know if there'd still be people alive here, Captain. I saw the city, and thought I'd investigate." His brows cinched with concern. "Are there... others, with gems?" And if so, were they all so cruel? SkieBorne "I didn't have much choice in the matter..." Viira replied sourly, "From what I pieced together, I was the object of a cruel joke." That, at least, was something she and Ashanti could agree upon. She nodded at his question, "Aye. Stormseed, one of the largest Cityships of the Korinth... or rather, she was. Some sort of cataclysm destroyed my home and with it, the vast seas I called home. My crew is mostly dead now..." Her gaze dropped, the deaths of a great many people weighing heavily on her mind. Even now, she still blamed herself for the tragedy... for the lack of survival. She'd tried so hard and yet, in the end, only she and the boy had escaped. Fate was a fickle and cruel thing. I disagree. Fate is an ally. You are simply too stupid to see beyond your own limitations. Ashanti's comment cut across Viira's saddness and she grimaced, not in pain but in anger. Her grief was a private thing... she lost friends, family... lover. She approached the other host then, holding a hand out as she offered a weary smile - showing perhaps a hint of the storm she'd weathered in coming to this place. Her stride was confident and her gaze even as she regarded Famine, a sneer playing across her lips, "If you are Famine, then I owe you no courtesy. My people starved before we found shelter in the great tunnels, your touch killed many." Expression hard, it took a minute for the anger to subside when she realized Arden spoke once more - it was so disorienting to speak to two souls that shared the same body. Silence! Hold your tongue, fool! You speak to my kin! Her mouth closed slowly, as if being forced against her will, and she snorted, finally letting the god silence her for a moment. If nothing else, he actually seemed excited. It was odd, that instant switch between sweet and sour... " Famine? One of the Seven, then, and not a brother but an ally. I am Desert... or I will be. When I am able, at last, to wear away this pitiful flesh into something more appropriate." Okay. That was enough. Viira's frown deepened as she snapped at him mentally, I am not piece of pitiful flesh! Without me, you'd still be a rock and Neva would have crushed you! Gods, why'd I get stuck with you? You're insufferable.Her (well aimed) barb, however, fell by the wayside as Desert and Viira alike registered Arden's question. And, for once, the two were in complete agreement, allowing the Captain to seize control once more, though her voice fluctuated between hers and Ashanti's as they spoke, returning the salute with one of her own, "There is one, though she is no longer bound by a gem as you and he are," there was a brief pause at the second pronoun, as if the two struggled to speak their point of view, "Winter. Neva. The cold-hearted she-bear of the frozen wastes. Fit not for this company, I look forward to the time when we can force feed her her own icicles." A grimace, made all the more potent by shared intent, twisted Viira's face into something awful. The Captain spat. Neither Desert nor Captain seemed to hold much like for the goddess, though whether Ashanti's ire was rooted in being kicked out and bested several times was of less obvious nature. Tsunake A frown creased the haggard lines on his face when she spoke of a joke, and it only hardened further when she recalled a tale that was similar to his own. The word Cityship caught his attention raptly, and he had to wonder if she'd scoured the darker corners of space... or if she was referring to one of the vessels they'd learned about, the ones that sailed upon the water. "Mine as well." The man said, quiet but grim. "Took us straight out of the skies. ...No one survived but me." Her sorrowful expression suddenly twisted, and he could almost peg what was going on; the god was likely conversing with her. It was a strange, but morbidly interesting thing to watch. He'd never met another host before, he realized belatedly, and it somehow helped to make him feel less of an outcast. He'd have never wished this fate upon anyone. Arden took her hand awkwardly, but his grip was strong and firm. As she addressed the god himself, Bazyli seemed to rouse with interest. The marine felt his lips thinning as a chuckle floated through his head. "Take pleasure in knowing then that their agony helped quicken the process of undoing this one. I assure you, there was no malice intended." Arden's lips even twitched a little, before the god would force them to smile. Then, he dismissed her, focusing on Ashanti's words to silently appraise the other with newfound interest. "Indeed. Desert..." And it's a rasp of simple pleasure, both upon hearing his domain and simple amusement for how he spoke of his host. "It has been a long time. I particularly look forward to when you gain strength--surely my domain has impacted the planets still far beyond Lord Creation's influence to provide for you." It was generosity that Arden had never heard from the cruel Famine, and he had a sinking feeling about the entire thing. Both god and host listened as they were told of Winter, this Neva. Bazyli seemed considerably more intrigued than Arden, even going so far as to chuckle at the venomous dislike. The man only shook his head, only able to manage what the goddess had done to warrant such dislike. "She's here? In this city?" He confirmed. Yet another to avoid, if possible... SkieBorne Viira nodded, sympathizing with his loss. Though, he comment about sailing the skies confused her and she tilted her head, "Skies?" Even those who dwelled on the land kept to the land. The skies were the realms of the spirits... and the oceans the Korinthians' domain. Within, Ashanti quirked his lips in a bemused smile, an expression Viira recognized as that of a conspirator's. The god was so very abrasive... why was he taking a liking to Famine of all things? Famine killed, and cruelly too. She shook her head, her own expression sour - she felt like an onlooker in her own body... an accessory at best. Being a creature of water, Viira, the ebb and flow of power on the land would be beyond you, mortal. Famine is an ally. He could not remember for a fact that Famine was indeed an ally, but he felt it was true... and firmly believed with time and resource, he could reclaim his memory along with his glory. Again, Arden's question pulled her back to the present and Viira nodded, "Aye. Back that way, somewhere. In the better looking part of town - she's conscripted survivors and gotten them to rebuild things. Ashanti got me kicked out after he had another spat with her." Tsunake "A spacecraft." He corrected himself after a moment, nodding slowly. "The Valkyrie. An Anhur-class gunship, state of the art. Our duty is to defend the space from threats, primarily a race known as the Space Pirates." There was a pause, and he hesitated. "I'm not familiar with a Cityship." It was a tentative question at best, not wishing to pry. The marine wasn't exactly surprised when the god seemed to be finished with speaking, satisfied on a level Arden had yet to experience before. It was true that many of his memories, too, were still lost, but he still remembered strongly who was powerful, and who wasn't. Ashanti fell in the former, he was certain--and did not seem to have mellowed, like Fire had. So Winter had gathered enough strength to begin gathering both mortal influence... Bazyli made a wordless, thoughtful sound, undoubtedly storing away this information for later use. He would need to reacquaint himself eventually with the frosty goddess, but perhaps it would be better suited for when he had claimed this body as his own. "She's... kind to them?" The man questioned despite his better judgment; even if she wasn't, was there anything he could do? Instinctively, he'd want to try, and there was a curt nod when she mentioned being kicked out due to the clashing gods. "There's a place near here..." "The Pantheon." Bazyli interjected for Desert's benefit, clearly exasperated with his host. "It might at least be somewhere safer to stay." Arden would finish slowly, trying to rein in his temper. "That's where I've come from." SkieBorne Viira pursed her lips at that, confused causing her brows to furrow, "I have never heard of such a vessel. But your duty echoes mine well enough." She smiled, "Cityships are the cities, as it were, of the Korinthian people. We are a proud race of sailors, self sufficient. I commanded a vessel of nearly three thousand souls. To those who are land-bound, I suppose you could say a Cityship is a floating country or city... though each vessel in autonomous. We reign over the Seas." There was pride in her voice, even if sadness shadowed the smile. "What did you vessel navigate, if not the seas?" Enough. Speak no more of ships and oceans and irrelevant things. Famine tells of the Pantheon. Have you a guess at what the might be? Ashanti cut through her conversation, the need for information and control of the body shifting his personality more towards the cool embrace of his twilight mentality. It was soft spoken and seductive, the question a request more then a demand and it made Viira pause. The cool touch was soothing against a mind that bore the searing regard of Ashanti, causing her to sigh in relief but allowed the god to slide into control. " I see. I have not been returned long enough to establish a base of operations. One can feel the presence of the Throne but it is difficult to track in this current state, especially with the constant interference of a willful vessel. Point the way my Ally." While the voice that spoke was still clearly Ashanti's, it was smoother, somehow, and lacked as many rough edges. Tsunake A floating country or city... The man's auburn brows arched themselves at that, impressed, and he listened intently to her description. So... Like a spacecraft then, flourishing with its own sort life and armed with people to defend it. He'd never seen seas before, but didn't voice as much aloud, instead quietly reflecting on the knowledge. It was ironic, then, to find a woman of military status such as he. Though she had, so he assumed, been the commander of her vessel and he was little more than a grunt, they'd both lost their crews, as well as the ships themselves. Now they were here, saddled with the burden of playing sacrifice to a god. When the god spoke again, Arden was surprised at the cool, smooth tone that was issued rather than the harsh rasp of before. If Bazyli knew anything about it, he said nothing... but the marine had an inkling that this was new to him, as well. Not knowing what else to do, he allowed Famine to speak. "That is to be expected." The god said with dry sympathy, not choosing to divulge that it had been dumb luck that Arden had introduced to the Pantheon before he had even found his gem. "But a strong host will only help aid your rebirth, even if it makes the preliminary tasks more difficult." If only for Viira's sake, and he would cast a glance at the woman, the marine would turn. He didn't want to go back to that place. And yet... he couldn't leave her here, either, trapped in this city with a goddess who already seemed to be vengeful towards her and Ashanti. "It's a few hours walk from here. ...Are you ready to leave now, or are there things you'd like to bring with you?" He asked, regardless of Bazyli's sigh at the hold up. SkieBorne When Ashanti's presence withdrew from the forefront of her mind, she almost sighed with regret - his touch, when in such a mood, was almost gentle, reminding her of the relief a cool cloth pressed against a fevered brow imparted. You know, I would be more inclined to work with you if you weren't such a b*****d all the time.It should not matter what I am like, woman. I am Desert, a god, and should be treated as such regardless of your opinion - which, in your case, means obedience. Her quips seemed to inflame the god as easily as anything else, and he was quick to revert to a more temperamental state. She sighed and shrugged, deciding against her urge to argue further with her little parasite. "Once I have my adopted son with me, I will be ready. Besides me, he is the only survivor from the Stormseed." Ashanti did not speak up, however, at the delay, having decided that the boy - at so ripe and malleable an age - would be a fine specimen to mold into something of use. Everything, after all, had a place. "Avalin!?" She called, wandering away from the marine, "Avalin!?" It was several minutes before a boy appeared, covered in grim and grit and though he smiled, there was a sort of somberness to it that detracted from the otherwise infectious grin. "Yes, Cap'n?" His eyes settled on Viira then slid off towards Arden, to become glued to his armor. "Armor!" Avalin's exclamation heralded his quick approach and he went so far as to poke one of the many plates Arden wore, "I've never seen armor like that before. If we wore armor, we'd rust and drown... are you some sort of Knight?" Viira laughed as she approached, her mood picking up considerably with the boy's appearance, "This is Arden, of the Valkyrie. He's a crew member of a gunship, I believe he said." "A Gunship? Like the schooners that chase Pirates and Outlaws?" He blinked, looking up at the taller man with surprised respect. Not even the Stormseed chased the Pirates! It was too big and had too many civilians to actively seek combat! Tsunake The soldier would give his nod of assent, though his expression shifting from mild surprise at hearing she had a son, then to a hollow sort of understanding. At least someone had survived. Especially one so young; though the event would likely shadow him for years to come, there was still time for him to survive and flourish--just like how this world was rebuilding itself. Avalin... He would watch with polite, if quiet interest as the boy came trotting over. The grime on him was hard to miss, but, despite himself, he felt his lips woodenly attempting to curl into a smile. Whatever he'd expected when the boy lay eyes on him... well, it wasn't excitement. Arden didn't seem to mind as he was prodded some, though he knew with a faint grimace that the smooth, sleek suit was probably never going to be able to get a tune up. There was no end to this particular mission. "If I had my helmet with me, I could breathe underwater with this suit." He said mildly, and after considering the question, he'd nod. "Somewhat..." Viira chiming in was helpful, and he'd hold out a hand to the boy. "Good to meet you, Avalin." Eventually, if a little awkwardly, there would be a somewhat sheepish smile for the boy. He liked children--it'd just felt so long since he'd even gotten to see even a scrap of innocence here. Echo had been the closest to it. "Yes, we chase the Pirates..." He supposed it probably wasn't worth getting into what sort of pirates, and the fact that they did battle was probably millions of miles away from where they were from. "It's our job to keep everyone safe from them." Bazyli was noting this exchange with idle interest, but seemed to lack anything scathing to add. It usually meant he was thinking, and that hardly reassured Arden. SkieBorne Avalin pondered that a moment, "Really? I can hold my breath for a long time but I can't breathe underwater..." He dropped his gaze, trying to figure out how a helmet gave you gills. When Arden held out his hand, the boy offered that same somber-sincere smile and shook it with his own small hand. "If you hunt pirates, you keep Captain Viira safe. She says I'm too young to do that... And," He stopped, dropping silent as he struggled to say the truth. "Commander Merkesh and the rest.... they're all dead." Viira's hand was upon his shoulder almost immediately, though she did not say anything. She would not deny the boy his grief. Spirits knew she was still grieving. "He's going to show us to a place where we can rest. And not have to deal with Neva. I expect you'll want to come, Avalin." She seemed relieved to be away from the city, "And no more minions for Ashanti to play peacock around." There was a flash of a grimace across her face as he reacted to that, and proceeded to berate her. They were, after all, his potential worshippers... they should be conditioned and familiar with the practices of worship. Tsunake So young. Arden suppressed a sigh at the boy's expression, but knew that only time, and possibly the presence of loved ones would really be able to heal those sort of wounds. There was a mild flicker of surprise over his face at the request, but staring at the boy's face as he sought to tell him about what had happened to the others... It seemed almost cruel, knowing he might be dead soon, but Arden knelt before Avalin for a moment, better able to look him in the eye that way. "I promise. I won't let anything happen to her. ...And then, one day, you can be old enough to make sure she stays safe." With that, the man got to his feet, and Bazyli made a dry sound of amusement in his head. Noble, but useless in the end. The man only grit his jaw, then cast his gaze to the woman. "This way, Captain." And he set off at a slow, if steady enough pace, mindful that he wasn't too brisk. Bringing back another to the Pantheon... at least James had, thankfully, been gem-free. SkieBorne "Thank-you." Avalin replied, a sudden smile flashing across his face. Now the Captain would be safe. She was a tough person, they both knew that, but everybody on the ship also knew how much she'd relied on Merkesh... and now... now that he was gone, she needed a new friend to watch out for her. It wasn't a sentiment that Viira exactly shared with the boy, but she appreciated his concern for her and so she hadn't reprimanded him. A friend or two after their ordeal, and dealing with Neva, was a much appreciated reprieve. Even if it was with Famine. And Desert. Viira nodded and moved to walk alongside him, gaze ahead as if trying to discern the bumps that denoted the Pantheon from this far away. "What is it like, this Pantheon? And you'll have to describe your home to me, I've never heard of helmets that allow breathing underwater or space ships. Seems far more complex then the Storm Seed." It was an offer to trade information and give reason for future conversations... a friend would be nice - someone other then Ashanti to speak to (thankfully he was quiet now). Avalin had chosen to flank Arden, walking on his other side and just behind as if he fancied himself a guard to the Captain and her new ally. He kept looking at his armor, wondering how it worked and what it was made of and if, maybe, he didn't happen to have more. Tsunake The genuine smile made to warm his heart a little, and the marine felt his lips woodenly curling to try and return the gesture. There was still some good in this world, despite the cruelty of the gods that tried to rule it. So it seemed, anyway. There had been a few he'd met that had been kind, true, but... Compared to creatures like Phaedra had been, they almost seemed powerless in comparison. His eyes slid to their corners in order to better evaluate the woman, and the man tilted his chin up with a barely discernible sigh. How to best describe the place... He'd never been a very elaborate man, as far as details went. "Filled with gardens," He finally said, remembering. "Tea houses, too. Very green... Life's returned there. It's peaceful." If one stayed outside, true. "Raised platform structures, as well, all open to the air. Columns and statues... places for the gods and their hosts to stay, as well." He tried not to shift uncomfortably at the thought of that fanged door, and her question about home was much easier to focus on. "For the majority of my life, I was raised on a space station." Arden struggled to put it into words. "Like an enormous base, all the way up in the stars. One of many. From there, the Federation keeps an eye on the planets in its jurisdiction, and its respected sectors. It's very cold in space, and since there's no oxygen, we're required to wear these suits for protection." His knuckles thunked dully against the front of his scarred armor. "I'm apart of the military, now. It's our duty to go wherever we're needed, and keep threats at bay." He was thoughtful for a moment, then caught himself, and shook his head. "What's... this Storm Seed of yours like?" SkieBorne "So it was a city ship among the stars? I wonder what it was like to sail the stars... how do you navigate then?" She murmured thoughtfully, setting a hand on Avalin's shoulder as the boy perked up at the mention of sailing stars and having to wear special suits and the like. This man was fascinating for the boy, and a figure he could focus on... something he desperately needed. With only Viira, he'd figured he had to play tough and protect his Captain like Merkesh had done... with Arden here, maybe he didn't have to do that so much? Maybe he focus on something other then their painful, desperate trip here? Maybe. "At sea, the law is set by the ship's Captain. There are rites and privileges shared among the Korinthians, but for the large part each city ship has it own rule." She replied in kind, "The Storm Seed was a wonderful vessel. She'd seen centuries of sailing, passed from one Captain to the next. She boasted an Oracle and a Shaper and prospered until the continents cracked and the Seas drained. A city ship is a floating city. There were small, contained gardens and individual cabins for families... a handful of communal messhalls... she was a beautiful ship. She didn't deserve the end she met, though she was dependable to the very end." There was sad fondness in the Captain's voice as she spoke, moving alongside the soldier, "I have no drawings or I would show you. There's nothing like a city ship and the Storm Seed was among the largest of them. I so loved captaining her. Good, dependable crew." Avalin smiled as he, too, remembered the Storm Seed, "I never got to see the shore. We stayed with the ship for all our lives - the Landbound people didn't like us." His addition made Viira chuckle. "Yes. There was enmity between the Korinthians and the kingdoms of the continent - those of my people who took up pirating were unparalleled and wealthy." She shook her head, "I never stood by piracy but I must admit racing circles around royal schooners would have been entertaining. Arrogant folk, the Landbound were. Still, no one deserved the end they met." Tsunake "Yes." That was the most simple description that could be applied to the station, and Arden seemed quite content with answering questions. It had been a long while since he'd met anyone who didn't know anything about the technology of spacecraft--or the Federation, for that matter, and it was a relief that someone was still curious enough to learn. "Engines power it, mostly, keep it from drifting. It's a stationary unit mostly, but it can move itself when necessary. I'm not sure if you'd have heard of the fuel sources for it--phazon is dangerous, but has the most potential." He wouldn't mention the scars hidden by his armor, nor point them out to demonstrate just how deadly the neon blue could be to human flesh. There was no phazon on this planet, so he prayed, and his own dislike of the stuff did not need to be voiced in this particular conversation. It was the marine's turn to listen now, and he did so stoically, paying careful attention to detail. A ship on the water... "Like our ships, then. We have smaller ones that are sent out, but they're all ruled by the Federation. Was there... a head of command, that all your ships would obey?" The names she listed sounded like ranks, to him, though her ship sounded more... well, like a city, as she described, than the sleek, machine-based vessels he had grown up on. “I’m sorry, for the loss.” The man would attempt, glancing at her for a moment. He himself would have never become a pilot of a ship, no matter how much he climbed in rank; he was a fighter, not a supporter. His specialty was on the ground, in physical combat rather than in aerial dogfights. “Everyone onboard is part of the crew, or do people live there simply to live?” That was another question he found he had. “There’s no sets of idle hands onboard our ships.” Then the boy spoke up, talking about how he never saw the shore. Arden could only nod ruefully. “It was the same, with some in the Federation. As a soldier, it was my duty. I got to see more than most.” So there was disunity between those that ruled the lands and those on the waters. The soldier listened silently, absorbing it all, and he might have seemed quiet with his lack of response. Finally though, he would speak. “I was only told of what happened to the rest of the Federation. I doubt I’ll get to see them. With luck, they’ll rebuild.” For the sake of the galaxies, he hoped so, at any rate. All he could do was keep his gaze on the horizon now, trained on the faint, if massive structures of the Pantheon in the distance. SkieBorne "Phazon? No. But it sounds like some sort of explosive. Those are unreliable." She wrinkled her nose at that. "The Captains were a sort of... Council, I guess you could say. We speak for our people and we lead our people. A single commanding captain would not have been able to manage our far ranging ships." Communication was not as easy for Viira as it was for Arden, with mirrors and smoke and birds as the primary means of long-range messaging causing time delays in delivery. "Hm? Oh. Yes, every man, woman, and child is a member of the crew and the ship as a whole is maintained by its population. If you don't contribute you don't get to partake. The Elders, however, have earned their rest and while they might not man the sails or decks as they used to, they still taught the youths." She smiled. Everyone had a place and everyone was included. It wasn't as perfect or workable as it sounded - there had been issues - but for the most part each vessel prospered. The boy blinked then frowned, "We weren't allowed to go on shore. Only the special traders. You're lucky. Did you get attacked lots, being a soldier? What kind of soldier were you?" Viira filled in the blanks then, sighing, "Our culture was so at odds with the land's letting the normal crew off shore often resulted in trouble. It was a tricky, fine line to walk when in port. I hope they do as well. It doesn't seem your Federation experienced such a final end as my world did, so with luck and determination they'll pull through." She knew first hand, that sometimes things really did only come down to luck and determination. She turned her gaze to the horizon when she noticed him looking that way and squinted as she spotted the silhouette of the Pantheon, "Is that where we're going?" Tsunake Unreliable--if only they knew how much. The soldier dipped his head in curt acknowledgment, and listened quietly to the explanations he was offered. Though not a man of many words, he enjoyed listening and learning. Questions and answered were passed back and forth between the odd trio, with Arden answering as best he could. Though it was difficult to speak, it was refreshing in an odd sense, and he was guilty for it. Though communicating with other, normal people after so long had helped ground him once more, the cost weighed heavily on his shoulders. This woman would die, too. He told her as much as he knew of the Pantheon, and warned her of some of the inhabitants that lurked in the shadows, claiming to call the place "home". Though Viira might be able to care for herself, surely they would see Avalin as easy prey, and the thought chilled the marine to the bone. The answer then, was simple. He would watch over them as best he could and protect them, perhaps direct unwanted attention onto himself instead. After all, there was nothing more for him to do with himself, save for inevitably trying to influence a god that cared little for anything save his own self-indulgence. They would pause when night fell, and though the man did what he could to sleep, morning arrived and left him as drained and tired as the last. Still, the end was in sight now, and it would not be long before the Pantheon was reached. There was never a question as to where the woman and boy would stay; Arden would merely take them to the horrible, toothy door and told them they could stay for as long as they liked.
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