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 Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2012 9:34 am
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And So She Left
Zero Dream She waited.
This had the potential to go very easily, or very badly, and she had no idea which one of them it would be. Still, she felt like she owed her children at least this - an explanation. They deserved to know what she was doing, and why. They should not have to wonder just why their mother left and why she had not told them anything - she feared that going though the world tree would take quite a long time, more than she had thought this journey of hers would take if her previous two attempts had worked out. She had figured that they would have taken a few days, tops.
But this could most likely take weeks. Months. She had no idea how to navigate the world tree. The only thing she knew was the direction she needed to go in. Down.
Her children deserved to know how much she trusted them, as well. To leave them with only a few adults to watch over them as needed.
She forced inside the sigh that threatned to come out, and called for them - her voice easily travercing the walls and reaching out the whole place, even as she sat in the middle of the garden, to reach them. She did it now, less she lose her courage to do so if she dared to wait.
Her biggest fear was that they might resent her. Hate her. The goddess was not sure if she could deal with the three of the most precious ones in her life hating her.
Thabara  It did not take long for the first to heed her call to breathlessly arrive on the doorstep to the atrium. It only seemed natural to assume it would be either Kios or Lacrymosa, as both of them had obviously inherited their mother's excellent sense of hearing. The same probably went for Soto, but with him it was more of a matter if he actually wanted to hear.
"Mommmm~!" the little blue-skinned goddess shouted, zooming towards her mother at a speed which made it almost impossible to believe she was actually blind. But this was home and she literally knew the location of even the smallest pebble. Unless Soto moved things around again.
"Look, I'm wet!" she exclaimed happily, wrapping her thin arms around her mother's legs. And, indeed, she was – her dress being soaked completely, and droplets of water dripping from the clingy strands of her hair. If it wasn't for her ridiculously happy grin, she would look like The Ghost Of A Drowned Girl incarnate.
Reyna Crelos  Soto's little face screwed up in a scowl befitting that of his father as he stomped towards his home. He had just nearly caught the lizard he had been stalking all morning when he heard his mother's call. Normally he would have simply ignored her outright, but there was a sense of urgency to her voice he did not feel inclined to ignore. That, and there was the overwhelming concern he felt for her currently.
His father's absence had worn on her terribly, and he did not like to think of it. He was almost irritated with his father that he had left her alone for so long. He would certainly give him an earful about how he felt about that once his father returned. And he would return! Even if it meant he had to stomp his way all the way to... wherever he was! Yeah!
With that thought he marched into the atrium and towards where his mother and sister had already gathered. His stormy expression softened a bit at the sight of both of them, but he still held tightly to his foreboding mood. He'd weather bad news better that way, or so he had convinced himself.
Zero Dream Oddly enough, beside being one of the closest children, Akakios was the last to make it there. He had been writing, as he often did, and simply refused to go before he was done with his sentence. Once that had been done, however, the child slid his quill back in the inkpot and let himself slide down his hair to his feet, padding his way to where his mother had called for them. He likewise did not seem very warm about the idea, as if some kind of sixth sense was telling him something was about to happen. The godling made his way though silently, however, and waited, leaning against one of the pillars there, his expression blank as it mostly was, betraying little of his inner doubts."I can feel that." She had avoided the word 'see' on purpose, scooping her daughter to rest her on her lap in spite of the water dripping on the floor. As if a little wetness would stop her for loving on her daughter... and it was probably the best place the young one could be at. She could not see her take what she had to say very nicely at all.
Her two sons followed soon enough, Sotiris looking rather somber and Akakios much like his usual, though there was something in his eyes that she could not quite identify or recognize. It would be easy for her to ignore what she had to say now, and simply enjoy their presence, but... she owed them that much. It would only bring more pain to all of them if she fled now.
"Thank you." One hand reached to ruffle her eldest's hair with obvious affection. "I will not keep the lot of you away long, but... I need to tell you about some things, my darling. About your father... and what will come now. You three know what a promise is, yes ?"
Thabara "Like a pinky swear," Crys said sagely, snuggling comfortably against her mother's form. She loved sitting on mommy's lap, it was always so warm and comfortable. "Or ..." She frowned, trying to remember. "'Cross my heart, hope to die, stick a needle in my eye.'" She smiled proudly. "Grace taught me, that's what you say if you are really, really serious about a promise."
Reyna Crelos Soto folded his arms over his chest and gazed over at his mother levelly. He grew very still, and very quiet as he waited intently for his mother to speak. It was the equivalent to watching a storm brew in the distance. Keeping still and quiet was never his forte but this was obviously important. He could fairly sense it in the air that surrounded his mother.
A small frown tugged at his dark lips before they twitched slightly with the beginnings of smirk. "Promises things that you don’t break,” he said with a knowing look as he surreptitiously glanced over towards his little brother for a brief moment.
"Things that make trouble if you break,” he went on. "Especially if’a soul breaks promises with Da~aad,” he sing-songed.
Zero Dream "S'something you say only if you truly intend to keep it." Akakios' glance met his brother's for a moment, but he was back to looking at his mother a split second afterward, his expression never betraying just exactly that had been about, save for a small glimmer of mischief in his eyes. That is, if their mother had even seen the twin gesture at all. Though, that glimmer very quickly faded and was replaced by the same look as before. He, perhaps, more than his two siblings, most likely knew exactly what it was about. "s'about daddy... isn't it ?"Echo could not help but smile a bit at the explanations her children gave her, though she settled again at her youngest's question. "That is right. Well, I have made a promise of my own, to your father." She was not trying to dumb it down for them. They did not need it. She knew that much. "He left to remake his realm... And neither of us, not even him, knew exactly what would truly happen, and how long it would take. He has told me he would send word if he could, but..." Her glance settled on Akakios, who nodded silently. "There has not been anything. What I have promised was, that if he did not send word to me, in one way or another, that all was well... That I would go myself and see what had happened." She stopped there, alternating in between hoping for the best and fearing the worst.
Thabara "So," Crys pursed her lips, trying to figure out things for herself. "We're going to find dad?" If he had become lost, and that was what it sounded like, the more people to search for him the better. So it was just natural for her to assume that she and her siblings would tag along.
Reyna Crelos Soto watched his mother’s expression closely after Crys spoke up. His frown intensified. No, that did not seem to be the case. Mother would not look nearly so worried were that the case. He ducked his head and stared down at his feet. He wasn’t sure what to say or do. He didn’t think that he was going to like what he was about to hear.
Zero Dream The youngest seemed like he was about to say something... but stopped himself before the words would come out, looking over at his brother with a slight frown on his face. Apparently, they were thinking much the same thing... Soto was very easy to read, most of the time at least, though at the moment he found nothing amusing about it... Even though there was something attractive about the buildup of what he knew would happen, even if at the same time, he disliked it.
He couldn't help but wonder if everything that happened so far, and everything that could happen in the future... had been worth it. His mother's worry and sadness, beautiful and ethereal, and now her... departure.Echo was, indeed, very easy to read. It was probably a good thing that her daughter could not see her expression at the moment, almost as if she'd been tugging at her heart directly. But her long silence, as her mind raced for the words to smooth this over as well as possible, most likely betrayed her.
"It.. is not that simple, my dear." She started. "This... will likely take a some time, to get to where he is. And it is likely very dangerous. If I took the three of you along... and something happened..." She shook her head. "I would never forgive myself. Until I know it is safe..." If only it had not been for the matter of that possible danger, of that unknown... The goddess would have likely took them along. But would they understand that their safety was, for her, more important than anything else in the world, even if they would recent her for it ?
Thabara Crys couldn't see her mother's face, but that wasn't necessary. She could feel how her body tensed under her touch, hear how there suddenly was a discord in the soft hum of her wings, long before she said anything.
Mom was indeed going to look for dad, but she was going without them.
Mom was leaving.
Her mind latched onto something else she'd said, and she sat up abruptly, pale blue fingers digging into her mother's gown to hold onto it. "What," she said, a slight quiver in her voice already, "if something happens to you?"
Reyna Crelos "Dad would not allow that," Sotiris insisted firmly as he crossed his arms. His tone left no room for arguement. He believed it to be utterly true without question. If something terrible had happened to their father, wouldn't it be Lament and Grief who would be the first to know?
He did not speak those words aloud for fear of causing further upset. He also knew that it would not stop their mother from leaving. Just because their father was not dead or dying did not mean he did not need help. He desperately wished to go with her, to protect her, but his siblings would need a Guardian far more than his mother did.
Zero Dream It simply seemed so much easier to be silent right now than to attempt to interject with anything - right now, it seemed no one was paying attention to him, and that was a very good thing, he thought, with his face frowning in a mix of thought and upset. He was not happy with this turn of events, of course he was not, but he could see how it was needed. If only for their mother rather than them - she would never truly settle unless she knew what had happened.
To tell the truth, even he started to be a little worried by now, though he was certain there was a perfectly good and logical explanation somewhere. However... he simply could not think of it at the moment. It was not like he could have missed a message, that much he was certain - the ghosts knew how to easily get his attention before, so why could that have changed any ?The goddess had been about to speak when she was interrupted, oddly enough, by her eldest. It took her by surprise, to see him defend her decision, but she said nothing of it other than a thankful glance, instead running fingers though the dull locks of her daughter's hair to calm her. "Beside, you are needed here." She said, softly. Weither or not the little girl truly realized it... she was. She had seen it at the funeral, and time and time again - perhaps even more than she was. It had been company with the little girl that had managed to dull the pain in Allysia's heart, as well as so many others. And there was Caleb, and Grace... "I will need someone to keep track of things for me. Could you... ?" Perhaps... Perhaps giving her something else to focus on would dull the pain.
She doubted it, but she could not think of anything else that did not simply involve glossing over the details, or outright lying. She refused to do that.
Thabara Crys wasn't one for logical explanations, but Soto's words at least caused her to abruptly press her lips closed to a thin, determined line. It was her 'I'm-not-going-to-cry' face, though she still looked as if on the verge of tears.
"What things?" she finally asked hesitantly, her voice still decidedly shaky. She didn't feel at all as if she was needed. And she most certainly didn't want her mother to leave! Part, because she worried for her, and part for her very own selfish reasons. No one was as calming, warm and comforting as mommy, so whose bed was she supposed to climb into when she woke up at night now, feeling all alone?
Reyna Crelos Soto's face fell into worried lines at his sister's sudden distress. He didn't want his mother to leave. He felt plenty of sorrow over his father's departure. He could only imagine his sister's grief being that it was her very domain. He edged towards her and placed a hand upon her shoulder before idly twisting a lock of her hair in his hand.
"I need you, Sis," he declared with a serious look that was horribly reminiscent of his father's own stern features, "And much more people need you still." There were still others that came by day after day that needed both his siblings. He knew it to be true, because when he was out exploring he saw them firsthand.
He wrapped his arms about her shoulders and leaned his cheek atop her head. "No worries," he said as sunnily as he could muster, "I'll keep you safe, Sis. Kios, too."
Guardian. That was his domain.
Zero Dream *I need you, too." Lament said without any hesitation, though he stayed right where he was, left the physical shows of affection for his brother to give, He would do the same later. He did not doubt, for any moment, that his sister knew of the depth of his affection for her, if only by the intonation of his words alone. He came closer, though, and slipped his hand into her's, laying his head against his mother's legs as she sat. "Creation, too. And Allysia." He had not been there, but he had heard - heard that his sister had been there, wailing in the architect's lap as she did the same, sharing in the half-elf's grief.
He had been very proud.
Other words did not come, so he fell silent. Silent, but present. Crys would know he was still here. The sound of his breathing. The touch of their joined fingers. He would always be here if either of his siblings needed him like this. Always.Echo watched, in silence, as the scene around her unfolded, and said nothing until both boys were done. And then... it did not seem like there was anything else to add.
They would do well in her absence. They would pull though. She could see it now, very clearly, and she could at least be sure of that.
"My followers will require guidance while I am gone." She said, voice soft, combing though Crys' hair with slender fingers as she often did. Crys was the principal candidate for many reasons, though she kept those to herself, and moved her hand to pat her Eldest on the head.
'Only you will hear the things your brother will miss.' Her lips only barely moved, and her voice was so low that only Crys could make out what she was saying. 'Take good care of them, my dear.'. |
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Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2012 9:40 am
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Suddenly Alone
His mother had left only a mere few days ago, but he already missed her. That much was a fact.
Akakios had spent those days mostly in his room, thinking and writing. It was only by Ianthe's urgings that he wandered outside of it, the aoidei insisting that the little godling needed to occupy his mind with something else for at least a moment.
After all, he was too young to worry, was he not ? At least it was what most people liked to think. But he was not too young for that. Far from it. Lament still wished she would at least have taken Soto with her. After all, he was not only the Guardian, but also his older brother to boot. In his mind, there was nothing that Soto would have been unable to protect his mommy from !
But at the same time... He knew his older brother was right. Their daddy would simply not allow anything to hurt mommy. It was impossible. He could not argue against that.
All was silent when he finally stepped out of his room. More silent than he had ever heard his home to be. There were no signs – either visible or to his hearing – of his older siblings. Maybe they had wandered outside, with the other aoidei, and all he had to do was look for them ? Still, it was a little eerie how their living space seemed twice as big as it was in reality when it was empty.
Almost as if his mommy had taken the life that had always hung around this place with her as she left... But that was a little silly, wasn't it ? ... Maybe not.
He stopped by the garden to make sure the flowers were watered – he quite liked them, thank you, and he could always go see Adi if he needed any help ! His cousin would be happy to take care of it, he felt – before calling out for the aoidei. ”Ianthe ? 'm going out. You're coming ?” Some time outside would do Ianthe some good, really. He wouldn't be so pale then !
Maybe.
”Of course.” Ah, well, that was perfect. Especially since the decayed aoide was tall enough to reach peaches, and he was not. Double-win !
He led him out toward the hall, then paused with a frown. There.... There had to be more people that he could help out there, wasn't there ? Harmodius had mentioned others that cared about the fallen Universe – friend... lover... traitor... – and wouldn't hearing his lament be important for those people as well ?
But how was he supposed to do that ? How was he supposed to find them ? The little godling wasn't about to start knocking on every door ! The thought had entered his mind once, when he had been younger, but daddy just said this just wasn't something that someone did. Unless they had a very good reason to do so. And that some other gods did not like to be bothered, oh no.
The small boy made his way down the stairs and, after one peek revealed a lack of both his siblings and Creation, whom he could have asked advice from, the godling made his way outside, one book under his arm. Apparently, he rarely ever left without at least one book on his person. After all, who knew when he would get a sudden flash of inspiration, or would need to write something down ! To have nothing to do that if that happened would have been quite a tragedy.
But now, he was hungry, and he knew exactly what he wanted... and where to find it. Lament stopped under one tree and called out again. ”Iannnnnthhheeee~ !”
By now, nothing else was quite necessary. The aoide reached with his healthy arm to pluck one fruit from the tree, handing it to his little master, who then scampered off toward one of the teahouses with his prize. Ianthe could only chuckle lightly at the sight, and followed, though at a more demure pace. It always amused him to see the little boy, who was usually so calm and even a little scholarly, suddenly burst into a more typical child-like energy and activity. He spoke little unless asked – this was simply the way he was. The way he always had been, at least he thought so. A lot of things were... fuzzy in his mind. That aspect, however, seemed to fit both him and the godling just fine, so he did not mind it.
Akakios had leaped on the table proper, using the height at his advantage to look but... nope, no sign of Soto or Crys. Where could they have gone... ? Ah, oh well. He would see them later, most likely. The boy let himself slide down and sat properly on the bench, taking a bite out of his fruit and using his sleeve to wipe the resulting juice away from his face before it could dry and make him all sticky. That it made his sleeve all sticky, however, seemed to escape him completely.
Though with so sibilings with games to keep him entertained, he drifted into thought again. About his task, and what he ought to do about it. Just singing in the bottom level of the pantheon might have done it, but... It was not that he did not like to sing, but he would rather not. He felt... ill-suited for it, somehow. He could do it... but he preferred writing and thinking up things. Largely preferred it. He could have asked his mommy to sing... but she was gone. And it was his and his sister's task, was it not ? Not her own.
...Maybe he should go ask one of his uncles. They would know, would they not ? Or Gianfar. Gianfar would definitively know, he knew everything after all. But Knowledge seemed rather busy. Maybe Tian Yue ? He needed to go see him soon, he felt. He had to thank him, after all. Had it not been for his books, then maybe Gianfar wouldn't have been able to continue teaching him how to write, he very well might have never been able to do this at all ! And that was an horrible thought.
That seemed to settle it. He would go visit his uncle but... not right now. A bit later. He could enjoy the fresh air and his fruit for now. And hope his home would feel a little more alive once he returned to it. |
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Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2012 9:41 am
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Stars and Grief
Zero Dream Things were rather odd now, that both parents were gone. There were still the aoidei, of course, to provide some sort of authority, or perhaps attempt to apply some sort of authority was more exact of a term, but on the most part the children could now do exactly as they wished.
Akakios, however, had not done much yet with his newfound freedom, beside the usual - write, go to the library, learn, sleep a little, raid the garden for peaches, rinse and repeat. Though now he figured he could go out and seek out his uncle, whom he had not seen in a while. He had to thank him - without his journals, he might not have been able to write at all !
And that was an horrible thought.
Carrying his folded pair of wax tablets close to his chest as he almost always did, the godling stopped before one of the door. This sounded accurate as to what the cat-like aoidei in his uncle's service had told him. "Think that's it..." He murmured, and reached one tiny fist to knock.Ianthe, for his part, simply remained at the young child's side for now. There was little he could do, especially out of the loop as he was. A long glove and a shirt found somewhere was enough to hide most of the decay on him, and he could almost have looked normal had it not been for the hue of his skin and the exposed bone on his face, as well as the black eye. He needed to learn more about how things were now, and he could do so mostly by following the young one on his daily activities. This also had the advantage of him keeping a close eye on the child. He knew very well that his Master would be very upset should anything happen to his youngest.
And Ianthe knew very well what an angry Nergal could do...
So he stood still, and waited. If the deity inside did not appreciate his presence, he would simply go.
Sosiqui Toki slid silently out of his Lord's room; the Aoide had been staying faithfully at his Lord's side as he slumbered, mind and body brought low by the tremendous efforts he had made so soon after his ascension. Even gods had limits. The world had been changing; he had heard it, felt it. Smelled it in the clean breezes that crepd through the cracks in the windows. He had not cared. His Lord was everything, the only thing that mattered. Xing Yun would care for the humans; his place was here, at his Lord's side until he woke again. For he would wake - of that much, the Aoide was sure. The soft rapping noise was not enough to do so, but Toki went to it anyway, curious - his Lord's followers would not knock, nor would any of his Lord's exalted brothers and Kings. Who would come to seek the slumbering Dragon? He opened the door with care, looked down, and blinked.
Zero Dream  Well, he had not quite expected this - though it made sense that the dragon would have aoidei like his father and mother (and him, he liked to think). Hopefully he had not knocked on the wrong door, else the young boy was likely to bolt off of embarassment,
"'scuse me." He said, not exactly noticing the rabbit-eared (oh, he'd never seen that before !) aoidei's surprise as seeing someone so tiny, in all appearances. Though rather small indeed, he definitively had the energy of a god to him, though it was faint. "Is Tian Yue here... ?"
Sosiqui "Ah... young Lord," Toki said, after a moment; he bowed, though it was not the full obeisance he would offer to his own Lord. "Forgive me, I did not know you." This one was divine, clearly, though of a different kind - there was no ancient power singing through his bones, but a fresh, new strength that Toki had not experienced in many, many Ages. "My Lord Worldshield is indeed within, though he sleeps. And has slept. For some time." Absently, Toki reached up and straightened the tip of one ear, apparently unbothered by how it sagged down again immediately. The Aoide hesitated. It was true that he was somewhat concerned about the length of his Lord's sleep, but he was loath to awaken the slumbering Dragon King without cause - if he slept, so, did that not mean he dearly needed what gifts sleep could provide? Rest, solace, dreams, silence. Lethe, his mind filled in. Toki bowed his head. "Perhaps your coming is a sign that the time to sleep has ended," he said, quietly.
Zero Dream "Asleep ?" For some time, even ? Well, that did explain why no one had seen him around. There was perhaps something worrying about it, given the aoide's reaction. "Can I go see him ?" If the dragon slept deeply, then he would not awaken him. His matters... were not exactly important, after all. All the young one wished for was company other than his siblings and the aoidei - someone who would not tease him for sitting in his room and write for hours.Ianthe had been about to interject, say that perhaps it would be better to let the Dragon King sleep, but his young charge had spoken in his brief moment of hesitation, so he remained quiet.
Sosiqui Toki squirmed for a moment, unsure of what to say. This young one was a god, no doubt about that, but... "Forgive my ignorance, young Lord, but... who are you? Ah, I mean no disrespect," Toki said hurriedly, bowing his head in a quick movement that set his bunny ears askew. "Just, to know... would help?"
Zero Dream The young god did not really know what to think of this. Wouldn't his uncle's servants know who he was... ?
Hm.
"Akakios." He said, in a way that made it apparent he rarely pronounced his complete name, though he was getting better at it. Though, he figured, that would not give the bunny-eared man much in term of information. "Tian Yue's my uncle... Mom is Echo. Ill go, if you want..."
This was starting to get slightly ridiculous.
Sosiqui "Ah!" Toki's eyes widened; he bowed again, several times in quick succession. "Lady Music's child! I apologize, young Lord- of course, of course you may enter - a thousand apologies, truly-" Toki forced himself to stop bobbing and babbling, and took a step back to open the door completely. It was only then, apparently, that he caught sight of the godling's companion; the already-anxious Aoide jumped visibly, but said nothing. "This way, this way, young Lord-" Inside was dark and silent, warm and stuffy. The air was slightly stale, and while the rooms were in impeccable condition due to Toki's constant cleaning, it was clear that the rooms had been kept in dark silence for quite some time. The curtain that separated Tian Yue's sleeping area from the outer room was closed, but the sound of the Dragon's breathing was clearly audible in the absence of any other sound save Toki's quiet footsteps. The Aoide very, very carefully moved the curtain aside and bowed again, clapping one hand to his head to keep the bunny ears from slipping off. "If you desire to wake him, young Lord, I will not stand in your way," he whispered, after a moment, squirming a bit more. The decision to wake was not one for an Aoide to make, no. Let gods wake gods, and set things in motion again.
Zero Dream Lament could not help but make a face when the aoidei all but launched himself in apologies. This one... reminded him of Ishum. A little bit. Blabbed on and on about as much, really, once he got started...
"Ianthe, wait here." It was hard not to notice Toki's nervousness, and so he thought this might lessen it a little.In answer, the other figure simply bowed. "As you wish, Young Master." He would get other opportunities... And the situation seemed rather different than either had thought it may be.It was only with that done that the child stepped inside. This one certainly seemed more reserved that most children his age would be, stepping quietly and following Toki. His eyes wandered in curiosity, but he did not try to touch anything. This all seemed so odd, the room was clearly silent in a way he could not quite explain, but understood. His uncle must have been asleep for a long time. Maybe it was what gods did when they did something important... sleep for a long time.
Maybe that was what his daddy was doing too, and his mommy had to go wake him up again ? The thought was even odder than the current situation. He had never seen his daddy sleep at all.
The boy hesitated for a moment even once they had reached the sleeping area, proving that even he was not quite sure what was best to do here. "Uncle Tian Yue ?" He called out, softly. If such a sound woke him, then he probably was not sleeping very deeply to begin with. If it didn't... then he would leave it be.
Sosiqui What had been deep and dreamless sleep for - how long? he wasn't sure - had given way to something more fitful, more prone to dream and nightmare both. He had roused once, he thought, but it was muffled and distant; woken only briefly into stifling heat and silence and fallen asleep again, unnoticed.
It was easier to continue on, dazed and silent-
"Uncle Tian Yue?"
He was flying, soaring after a comet, and no matter how fast he moved, how much he whipped his tail against the sky, he could never, ever catch it- but the clear, soft voice intruded, making everything else seem faint and unreal in comparison to its sound.
Something important-
The Dragon King was curled in his bed, the furniture almost too small for his frame now; it had been designed for the needs of a smaller Dragon. Had he been in dragon-shape, the full room could not have held him; as it was, his tail spilled over the edge of the bed, lashing occasionally at the floor. He stirred a bit at the godling's voice, but did not yet wake."A long time, too long perhaps - perhaps I was in error," came Toki's reedy, nervous voice from the other room.
Zero Dream "What do you mean ?" The boy's voice called out in inquiry, but his attention did not leave the dragon - instead, he came closer, watching and mindful of the tail's movement as he stood on the tip of his toes to peer at his uncle's face.
It didn't look all that comfortable...
"Uncle Tian Yue ?" He called out again. Something nagged at him, and the more he saw, the more he felt that the dragon should wake. There was something... familiar in the air.
Sosiqui "Couldn't decide, couldn't," Toki said, unhelpfully; perhaps he hadn't even heard Akakios' words in his fretting. "Needs, wants, who knows, too much..." The dream-stars were fading all around him; he flailed at them, roared desperately. They shouldn't be so fragile that a child's voice should knock them from the sky-
"Uncle Tian Yue?"
None of the Dragon King's dream-movements were echoed in his physical form, except for a sharper movement of the tail. But Tian Yue was curled up tight, visibly tense even in sleep-
-and then, with a slow exhalation, he woke, blinking dazedly at the stifling, stagnant darkness around him. "Who," he said, finally, voice ragged from lack of use, "speaks?"
Zero Dream ...Well, apparently there wasn't much help to get from there. The child's face shifted again in slight irritation, but it settled back once the dragon showed signs of finally waking. The sensation of familiarity only became much stronger then, and he had to bite back his sigh.
Where was Crys when he needed her ? She could deal with this better than he could...
"Kios." He answered, peering with wide eyes. "You okay ?" It was a moot question - he could already tell that he was not.
Sosiqui "Kios..." Tian Yue hesitated for a moment; then his eyes focused on the godling. One blink, and he relaxed, the tension flowing out of him. His head felt like it was full of cotton, muddled and muzzy from the long sleep. "Yes, of course, little Lament." He smiled, faintly, and rested one hand on the child's head. "I am..."
He hesitated again, torn between honesty and diplomacy. "... not entirely well," he admitted, at last.
Zero Dream The boy simply nodded, sliding one hand on the dragon's and sliding in even closer, in a slight hope that the conversation might escape Toki's hearing. "What it is ?" There was no childish innocence there as he spoke, peering into Tian Yue's eyes, and there was also the impression that he already knew. But that wasn't the matter here. No, the matter was that his uncle needed to simply let it out, because otherwise it would simply keep on eating at him. And he would keep on suffering.
And while tragedies were beauty for this boy... it did not mean that he enjoyed seeing the people close to him suffer. Far from it. The look Lament gave him was a mix of understanding, worry and respect, which looked all too strange and foreign on such a tiny face.
Sosiqui Ah, yes, that was why sleeping had been so appealing - because under the haze of sleep lay reminders of what he had done, and what he hadn't.
Saved everything. But not the most important thing. And that thought alone was selfish, but he'd promised himself-Shaiming, they'd promised each other, that they were done grieving and mourning for the ancient past.
But that is not ancient. That is... was...
"How long has it been since Creation's return?" he asked, quietly.
Zero Dream The boy seemed to ponder it for a moment. "Hmm..."
Time was not something he was very familiar with. Or that he truly had any reason to track. Though he's overheard people talking, every now and then, and he took a moment to sit on the floor beside the bed and focus on his hands, apparently counting. "Hmmm..." He repeated again. It had been a long time, that he knew of. So long that both his parents had time to leave. "9 months ?" He offered. That seemed about right.
Sosiqui "So long..." The Dragon King looked blank for a moment, then sighed and shook his head. Definitely time - past time. While he had stretched his newly re-ascended Self and powers to their limits, especially so soon after said ascension, that amount of time was rather excessive.
Especially considering the task his Lord had laid him to - but that thought almost made him want to lay back down again, curl up tight, and forget. "Thank you, little one," he said, after a moment. "It is... good that you came to wake me." He could feel the unpleasant burn and ache of too much sleep in all his muscles as he sat up fully and stretched; one of them protested with a sharp ache, and he hissed at it reflexively. "To sleep forever... I could have done that in the gem, could I not? Or in Gehenna's embrace?"
Even though he was speaking, his own words seemed as distant as Kios' had, before waking.
Zero Dream Distant or not, apparently this was not what the godling wanted to hear. His tiny face settled into a frown as he stood up again. "I got enough with one god to mourn." It was a good thing his mommy had not come to know this - she had already been distressed enough with not having any news from the man she loved. Perhaps that had been the only thing that had kept her from seeing the dragon out had been just that.
"What it is ?" He asked again.
Sosiqui Lament, Grief, Guardian. A suited three; Guardian I thought closest, but now the other two may be best suited to Tien Lung. He remembered roaring at the starless sky, straining his ears for answer or echo and finding none; the Ritual had been great and glorious, swollen in power and unity sufficient to rebuke the End Itself.
But it had come too late.
We barely knew each other.
Didn't have a chance.
Wasn't fair-
But none of it had been fair; the mortals had lost much. But he had lost the Stars - you barely knew him! - and-
He shook his head, sharply, frustrated to the core with the endless, unstoppable turning in his own mind. "The stars are gone, and all our power could not save them. All my power cannot bring them back, little one," he said, voice barely above a whisper. "You are Lament; your sister, Grief. Will you help me know these things you rule?"
The pain lay buried under layers of exhaustion and denial; things he did not want to face, felt barely able to.
Yet... I must.
I am Tien Lung. All is new again. I cannot be so... weak...
"Please," he added, and it was not so much a word as a breath, a faint movement of lips.
Zero Dream And then, suddenly, it made sense.
It all made sense.
"To mourn the stars." The boy said. Oh, he knew this. He had come to know this, of course, as it had been one of the tasks that had been given to him and his sister. To carry on the Universe's passing. It.. had not simply been for the Father.
It all made sense now. And the more he saw, the more he wondered if adults really knew what was best for them sometimes. To allow himself to suffer that way...
Adults. Fff.
"Don't know where sis is." The godling admitted, but that did not seem to stop him. Instead, he hesitated but a second and came closer, to whisper in his uncle's ear. His voice did not hold the same characteristics that his mother's, but had it's own way to draw someone in and listen.
And press just all the right buttons in a person's heart, apparently.
"There were once stars in the sky
Bright and clear
Dancing and dancing
Even if clouded
Then a great shadow cast
Darker than night, feel of absence
Stretching, covering all
And there was nothing left
Mortals panicked, screamed, wept
Thought they did not know
It was not only the great sky that was lost
But someone beloved
He will never come again
But He will never be forgotten
His memory kept close
in people's hearts"
Sosiqui Tian Yue grew very still as Akakios' soft, clear voice filled his ears; the young one was not Music Herself, but the impact of his song was no less than if it had been Echo's voice. He closed his eyes and allowed the godling's lament to guide him, to open up the spaces inside of him that had been hidden and held fast, lest the hurt of it all become too much to bear.
And it was not too much to bear, he realized, as he bowed his head and allowed himself to weep, claws digging into the rumpled robes he still wore. Not too much, with Toki shivering in the next room, and with his awareness of his own Lord's bright presence, the sharp stars of his brothers and sister, the warm flames of his followers that still flickered bright despite Tien Lung's sleep.
The stars are gone. I cannot replace them.
... It is how it is.
And while it was something he knew he'd have to teach himself anew each day, again and again, merely learning that lesson was the beginning. There was something healing, something cleansing in that release; and Tian Yue slowly rose, tears still falling down his cheeks, and held out one hand to the godling. "Will you sing that again? With me, to the sky?"
Zero Dream "Shhh." It was not to make him stop that the godling did such, though, but simply for comfort, just so the dragon knew he was still there and that he understood, most of all. This was better - keeping one's tears inside did not help. On the contrary.
The young Lament still wondered what it was with adults not allowing themselves to cry when it was what they needed to do the most.
In answer, the godling only nodded. The idea terrified him - to sing to everyone at once but...
He was the only one who could do this.
He had to.
Sosiqui "Thank you," Tian Yue whispered. He leaned down and scooped the godling up with ease, then stretched upward in one long motion.
It began as merely reaching for the catch of the skylight above; the movement transitioned into one of transformation, rumpled robes tearing away as the Dragon coiled through the skylight before he became too large for the room to hold him. Around him the air was warm and sweet, and he took an almost disbelieving breath before cracking his tail into the breeze and spiraling upwards, transferring Akakios to sit on his neck, just behind his head, his mane and long horns providing easy handholds.
The sky above was devoid of All; a task set, not yet completed. It would never again be as it was - perhaps that was another reason he had been so loathe to move forward on this quest, partially self-appointed, partially given him by his Lord. Replacing the vibrant, living Stars with a firmament that could never be more than a facade...
An admission. An undeniable admission that he is gone.
"Sing, little one. Please," he rumbled, trailing his claws against the edges of emptiness.
Zero Dream It was one thing to know something, but it was another thing to see it for one self, apparently. He has very well known that is uncle was a dragon, after all it was what his mommy had said.
But it was another thing to see it happen, and suddenly - very quickly - being up in the air, so high, so high - higher than he thought possible without the inky blackness eating you --
He was reminded to sing, but he almost did not hear it, clinging to the horns with a near death grip and staring almost straight downward. Everything was so small... It was almost as if his young mind could not grasp it.
He settled to look forward, however, and sang.
Sosiqui Tian Yue tilted his head back, then, and roared - the sound a counterpoint to Akakios' song, reverberating against the hard edges of the blank firmament above. Music was not his forte, but he allowed the sound to go as it wished, echoing Lament's words.
Perhaps - very likely - no-one could hear them. The air was thin here, so high up, but that mattered little to the divine.
But he had not brought them here to be heard. Not by those below.
I am sorry, Universe. I will fill the heavens again and I will not forget you in doing so; I will make new constellations, shape a new sky that Yours might always be remembered.
I will remember.
Tears dampened his long whiskers, rolling down before being torn away by the wind of his own flight.
"Child," he said, after both their voices had fallen silent, "thank you."
Zero Dream There was no way his voice could truly keep up with the dragon's roar, but that did not mean he did not try. That had seemed to be enough encouragement for the child to practically scream as loud as his tiny lungs could possibly bear, no longer worrying or even thinking about if people down there - so far down there - could even hear them.
Let them.
This is for them, too.
Eventually, he had to stop, letting himself fall against the dragon's neck to catch his breath. "S'okay." He whispered. Weither it was in answer, or about something else entirely, was unclear.
Sosiqui "Facing one's grief, singing so, mourning - are paths to healing. I had forgotten," Tian Yue said, then tilted his head back and laughed, abruptly. The sound was not entirely pleasant, but there was a faint undercurrent of genuine amusement in it. "A dragon sleeping on a hoard of memories, loathe to see anything else. Whatever sent you to me, I am glad of it."
Because of Akakios' position, it was physically impossible for the Dragon King to look his rider in the eye; still, he flicked one ear back to brush lightly against the godling in an affectionate gesture. "What can I give you, in return?" There had to be a reason why the young one had come looking for him, after all.
Zero Dream "Silly." The child chided, seeming as serious as one his side could possibly be, even though it was a playful berating at best. "Not many people know." Those words were more pensive, however.
The question seemed to catch the young one by surprise for a split second, until he did, in fact, remembered that this had not been the reason why he had came. Though, it had been a good thing that he had.
"Just wanted to say thank you." The boy started. "Gianfar showed me what you wrote so I could learn to write." He hesitated for a moment, then continued. "Felt lonely too... Soto and Crys are always outside doing things."
Sosiqui Tian Yue snorted in surprise - that hadn't been what he was expecting to hear at all. "Gianfar showed you what I wrote? Really. It wasn't anything embarrassing, I hope," he added, tilting his other ear back.
"Regardless, I am glad you came. It was past time for me to awaken." Now, with the wind against him, underneath him, he could feel the fog in his mind beginning to disperse. "The sky must be filled again, even if it cannot be the same as it once was. How does your family fare?" He canted his head downward just enough to see greenery below; while the signs of Destruction's Age and Gehenna's narrowly-avoided reawakening were still visible, they were blunted under new growth, new life.
Zero Dream "Very embarrassing." There was a teasing tone underfoot, though, which proved that it probably had not been so at all.
"s'Complicated." It was the first word that came to mind, and the godling frowned a little. "Daddy left... make his place again, called all the ghosts with him. Been... very silent." He had gotten used to it, certainly... But there were still times, in the middle of the night when everyone else was sleeping, that everything felt too silent. "Said he would send word but... didn't. So mommy left to see what's going on since I can't tell. I think... He might be sleeping like you were."
Sosiqui "Hmmm." Tian Yue's rumble was thoughtful, that time; he turned and began spiraling lazily downward, descending at a speed that wouldn't be uncomfortable for his young charge. "Many things are being made new, in these days. It would not surprise me to learn that your father's realm was among them. I smelled one who is dead, in the antechamber. One of yours?"
Zero Dream "He not really... dead." Kios pondered for a moment. To him, dead meant that he could not see the person, and he could see Ianthe just fine. Though the aoide had certainly seen better days, and that could not be denied. "Is daddy's. Ianthe. Im watching over him for now."
There was some undertone in his voice, however, that betrayed that he did not look forward to the day where he would have to 'give up' Ianthe at all.
Sosiqui "Ah, I see. And your mother is gone as well, you say? That must be lonely, for you." Lonely for him, too, come to think of it; he missed Echo abruptly. Still, it was not as if she was the only one who understood him. My brothers... my Lord. I must reconvene with my brothers, at the very least. A faint thought of Tien, too, flickered across his mind, though he cringed away from it. Anything he might do with her, now, would taste too much of a... a rebound.
She deserved far better than that.
Zero Dream "It's weird." The boy admitted. "...but kinda fun." Of course, for children this young, having no parents about was a rather odd freedom, though they had not been left alone, but in the care of his uncle and aunt, as well as the aoidei.
But sometimes the latter had... issues asserting authority, so to speak.
Which was amusing. Expecially when Soto was busy driving them crazy.
Sosiqui "Hmm." Tian Yue smiled, faintly; he dragged his claws deliberately through a cloud as they descended further, bringing a trail of mist to dissolve in his wake. "I have missed much. I was to care for you all, know you all. I should have been there." And that could have been another chance for guilt to gnaw at him, and yet...
"But I am here now. For a time, until I fly in search of a new sky as Lord Harmodius charged me."
Zero Dream The motion seemed to delight the young god, who even dared to let go of one hand to attempt to grasp at the cloud, though the mist simply slid though his fingers in an odd sensation of wet-not-wet. It was hard to explain, and the child made a small, startled noise that could remind one that, in spite of it all, he was still just that - a child. He had learned a whole lot in the past months, but there was still so much his young mind had to get to know and understand.
"Things happen." He said, after the surprise passed, though he was still turned to watch the remainder of the mist flee into the blackness. "And things don't always go as wanted." If anyone knew this, it was he, who wrote of the tragedies others dreaded.
Without those things... he would simply have no reason to be. Just like the world couldn't be all good things, it couldn't be all bad things either.
"Look for new sky ?" ...He had no idea where one could find that.
Sosiqui "I must number the worlds again, and so stitch together a seeming to cover what has been lost." Poor child, had he... he had seen the sky whole, had he not? There were children being born now that would never know the way the sky had once been.
A sobering thought.
But that thought led to another. "What of Ankou? Does he travel with your father and mother as well?"
Zero Dream "How does one do that ?" That left the child perplexed - not so as to what a sky was, but more so how did one... made one. After all, if it was that easy, wouldn't someone had made one a long time ago ?
"No, he's here. Goes outside to bring stuff back for the mortals. Auntie Cosine moved with him when we moved out."
Sosiqui "How, indeed," Tian Yue murmured. Still, the task would not be asked of him if it were impossible.
He did, however, raise one eyebrow at the rest of Akakios' words. "Aunt Cosine?" This was new.
Zero Dream "Yes. Auntie Cosine makes Uncle Ankou all weird~" The godling said in an odd sing-song, meant to amuse but falling a little flat. It was rather easy what 'weird' was supposed to mean in this case, especially with the family ties tacked on, though, as the dragon himself proved, aunt and uncle could certainly be used beyond any kind of 'true' relation, but rather bestowed to those Echo called dear.
Much like Cosine had been before Ankou, though the godling had little memory of such a time.
Sosiqui "Hmm." A faint, sad smile appeared on the dragon's face for a moment. "I see. Perhaps I will speak with him, in the absence of your mother."
They were low to the ground, now, and Tian Yue marveled at the changes that had come over the land; gone were the lava pools and the distorted facades, replaced with grass, water, and elegant pavilions. Had he not instinctively known his own home, he would not have recognized it in the least. "I see Creation's influence spreads." He felt his heart lifting as a warm breeze brushed his scales; it was impossible not to feel at least a little less dour and stuck with the evidence of the world's rebirth surrounding him. "Do you still dwell at the Pantheon, young Lament?"
Zero Dream "Hm-n." The boy nodded in answer, using the dragon's decent to snatch up a peach from the outstretched branch from a nearby tree, managing not to drop it in spite of the speed of the decent. "Right down the hall. s'the door with people on it." ...Rather general definition, but then it was also a child doing said explanation. They were closer to the ground now, so it was a little less scary, and so the child dared to take a bite from the fruit.
Sosiqui Tian Yue angled his flight towards the bright glint of water in the distance; he was large enough now that an uncontrolled landing could do damage to the landscape, and the ache of long sleep hadn't quite left him yet. Instead, the Dragon King opted to land in the water, trailing spray and making waves lap up eagerly on the shore.
"This world is healing," he said, submerging his muzzle in the cool, clear water, his words trailing off into bubbles.
Zero Dream The waves were high enough that a few stay drops reached the child, but he managed to resist the temptation until the dragon was still - only then did Lament let himself slide down the side and barrel down in the clear water.
"Hmm." Was the only answer that came until another bite of the fruit was taken. "Everything... so different." And it was. After all, he was a child born during the worlds' spirals into complete destruction - that decay, that destruction had been the only thing he had known. He had never truly seen flowers before the lotuses, or even known that the grass was supposed to be green, and waters supposed to clear, and trees full of leaves and fruits.
"Do you think s'like that everywhere ?" The godling asked, tilting his head in inquiry, wet curls of lavender hair framing his face.
Sosiqui "I certainly hope so - everywhere will not be as glorious as this place, but Creation's return will have set certain things in motion. Rebirth and re-growth." Tian Yue closed his eyes and slid down into the water again.
Water instead of lava, greenery instead of ashes - it had been this splendid everywhere once, but Tian Yue himself had been reborn into the Age of Destruction and become used to constant decay, which had only accelerated when the aborted End began to move. True, the Pantheon under Destruction had been splendid, in its way, and he would serve the Twin Crown in either aspect as eagerly, without reserve, but...
He surfaced again, resisting the urge to shake lest he stir up waves and swamp the godling; instead, he flicked his tail up and held it over Akakios like an umbrella. A very wet, dripping umbrella. There was something about the open curiosity and wonder in his face that made everything seem sweeter. "I am sorry I was gone so long. I will have to make amends." He grinned, showing all his sharp teeth.
Guilt is only useful to a point; beyond that, it is a fetter. And I did promise, didn't I?
Zero Dream drip drip drip...
Apparently, the custom was that when one got the other wet, revenge was the norm. At least, this was perhaps the explanation as to why a rather sharp wave of water hit the dragon's side. There was no true malicious intent, though, as proved by the quiet, subdued giggle that escaped the child. It did seem like the young one could be coaxed to play, even though he had acted mostly serious until that moment.
Sosiqui Tian Yue moved carefully, aware of his size in comparison to the child - if he wasn't careful, he could practically inhale Akakios! - bringing his tail down and up under the godling's feet, lifting him lightly out of the water. "Yes?" he said, giving him an amused look.
Zero Dream The boy made a small startled sound as he was lifted out of the water - those fans were definitively stronger and thicker that they looked like they were - but he quickly settled and made a face, crossing his arms on his chest.
"That's cheating." After all, it was obvious who had the advantage here !
Sosiqui "Oh, is it?" Tian Yue said, mildly, then rumbled deep in his chest, amused. "Though your domain is bound up in sorrow, it seems you yourself need not be. A good lesson," he added, that last more to himself than to the young god.
Zero Dream "Hm-n !" The boy continued, apparently a little clueless as to what the dragon was truly alluding to. He was himself, and he did not especially like to think of it beyond that.
Small hands let go of their grips, however, as he went to squeeze some water out of his tunic. For now, he was actually glad his mother was gone - he had no idea how she would have reacted as he came home soaking wet.
Sosiqui Tian Yue carefully lifted his tail so that the young god could step off of it onto his - relatively dry - back. "Shall we go back? I am sure you have much to tend to with your mother and father gone."
Zero Dream He did not really want to go back, to be honest - he liked it here, he liked flying, and going though clouds. He kind of wanted to do it again, and again, and again... But Ianthe was probably wondering just what was going on that was taking him so long. And he probably ought to tell Ankou that Tian Yue had asked about him...
"Yeah..." The godling reluctantly said.
Sosiqui "We can do this again, you know," Tian Yue reminded him with another amused rumble. "Now that Gehenna's claws have been sheathed, we have all the time in the world."
For the moment, at least.
Zero Dream Well, that seemed to do it. "'kay." The boy seemed to be at least less reluctant, holding on the dragon's mane as he lifted off. "Soon, then. Will bring Soto and Crys too !" They needed dragon rides too. Yes they did.
Even if they did not know it yet. |
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Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2012 9:42 am
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Relaying The Message
Uncle Ankou, Lament figured out quickly, was a rather slippery fish to catch. He had never noticed it before. After all, when they all lived together, he saw his uncle nearly every day. After they had moved out, he had never actively sought the Spirit Guide – his uncle had been the one to come, to talk with his daddy and his mommy, or to bring gifts for him and his siblings.
This was the first time Akakios was had gone looking for his uncle. And he had to say waiting for Ankou to come to him was the simplest approach. Ankou was never here when he knocked on the door, and it was frustrating. Aunt Cosine could likely predict his coming now, every day. Like clockwork. As tempting as it was to let Ankou come around, he had a message to deliver and it was important. Even if Tian Yue only wished to talk to his uncle and there wasn't anything else to it – it was still important !
He could have asked Cosine to relay the message. The young boy had no doubt his aunt would remember to do so. But the task had been given to him, and so he would do it !
Lament let the door close behind himself, and then looked down the hall. Maybe today his uncle would finally be around. What was it with everyone leaving lately, anyway ? His daddy, then his mommy, and now his uncle, too ?! Honestly. He was not quite sure he liked this.
The purple-haired child looked... just in time to see exactly the person he had been looking for go down the stairs. Ha ! There he was ! And oh no no no, he would not escape quite that easily, Lament decided. Not now that he was finally in reach !
”AAAAAANKOOUUUUU !!!!”
Being louder than everything else worked wonders to get attention. One of the first things he learned.
And sure enough, by the time he had made it down the stairs, his uncle was looking at him with a mix of puzzlement and... worry ? Ha. Silly adults. ”Akakios... ?”
”Hi !” The boy chirped, giving one of his rare grins. ”Was looking for you.” Though that expression quickly turned into a pout.
”And what for, little Lament ?” The Guide crouched to be at eye level with him, though the boy was not sure why. Height differences never bothered him much. After all, his daddy towered over anyone, even his mommy ! And Uncle Ankou... was not very tall to begin with, at least not when compared to daddy.
”Saw Uncle Tian Yue,” He said, with a nod. ”Said he wanted to see you.”
”Oh ?” That seemed to catch his uncle's interest nicely. ”Did he tell you what for ?”
”Hm...” The little godling frowned in thought. ”Don't think so,” He finally admitted. ”Slept for a long time and just woke up. Said he would like to talk to you.”
”I see... I guess I will have to figure it out, hmm ?” His uncle reached one hand to ruffle his hair playfully, and Akakios let out a little squeak of protest. Why did everyone like to mess with his hairs ?! ”Thank you. I do have a few things to do, but... I will go promptly.”
”What you're doing ?” Lament asked, curious now that his message had been delivered. He wanted to know what had made his uncle so hard to find, now that he had actually found the Guide !
”Gathering things. Useful things.” His uncle answered, getting up again. ”Not a task for you, before you ask.” The godling frowned. How did he know exactly what he was going to ask ?! That wasn't very fair ! ”And what are you doing, hmm ?”
”Writing.” Akakios realized, belatedly, that he had not brought his notebook with him. ”Will show you and Aunt Cos later. Kay ?” Once he had grown past his initial shyness, he had found out that he did enjoy having his writing read by other people, and to know what they thought of it.
”That better be a promise,” The Guide said with a wink, patting the boy's shoulder before turning and leaving, to do whatever it was that he did. And the boy turned to make his way back into his room, feeling rather accomplished. Time to write, maybe, or to look at the snapdragons and listen to the fountain. He could be lazy for a little bit now. |
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Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2012 9:42 am
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Even Big Sisters Need Snuggles
Everyone was leaving. First it had been daddy, to make his place for the dead. Then it had been mommy, to see why daddy hadn't sent any ghosts to bring news to him... and now it was Ankou that had left... with Tian Yue, auntie Cosine had told him.
What was it with people leaving all of sudden ? He did not like this. Not. One. Bit. People needed to stop leaving and start coming back, or soon enough there wouldn't be anyone left that he knew !
Hrrrmph. If Soto or Crys got the idea in their heads that they were going to leave too, he was so going to throw the most epic tantrum ever. Not that he allowed himself many of those to begin with, as it seemed better to save them for when he was really, really upset for optimal results.
Akakios stared at the open book in front of him for a few more minutes, grumbling a bit. Words didn't come easily to him right now – he was too upset for it, his thoughts going round and round in his head. He needed to calm down first... so he flipped the book closed, and got up from his chair to go and flop on his beanbag bed instead, flicking the light off as he walked by it.
Bearing most of his elder brother's annoyance was starting to get to him, but he did his best to remain neutral in Soto's presence, and not give in to his own annoyance. It was something his older brother needed to let out. Better for him to take the brunt of Soto's moods - he knew his brother didn't mean anything by it. His sister, however, might not realize that.
If only people would start coming back instead of just leaving... or at least had sent some news. Or something. Something that would lift the general mood lingering around his home and those who lived in it.
He turned around in his bed to settle on his right side, not so much for sleep than to just rest a little. The aoidei were sleeping when he had gone to his room, so there was little use in going out and about to try and find company at this time.
The door to his right opened, and he perked up. He was not sure just who it was that had come in – he could not see well in the darkness – but realization came swiftly.
It was someone small, so not an aoidei.
It was someone who could make her way in darkness, as the figure made no effort to light up the room.
It was his sister. So he held still, and waited. And sure enough, she made her way to him, curling up at his side and starting to nibble on his braid as she often did. Lament smiled, and it was only when she was still that he moved, to run his small fingers though her dull strands of hair.
Even big sisters, it seemed, needed comfort sometimes.
It was not going to solve everything, it was not going to make his parents and his family come back...
But this he could do. For her, who worried just as much as he did. Maybe... even more than he did. |
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Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2012 9:44 am
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The Teahouse...
Cinderfae  Everything seemed to be happening so very quickly, or rather many things happened all at once. Everyone had been moved into the pantheon, a much safer place...and she hoped more then anything else that being near the others would allow everyone time to plan; so the world could be rebuilt. Between moving, running into left over pirates and domestic drama she hadn't been able to enjoy the rebirth of the world. Stepping out into the open the goddess smiled and let in a deep breath, looking over at the fresh grass, and transformation that the pantheon had undergone. She was wearing a loose cotton dress and was barefoot. Cinder's tough space boots had made it through what were almost the end times; but had seen better days. Smiling slightly Karaskis stepped down the slightly chilled stone steps touching her toes to the grass. Indulging a moment in the feel of the grass her gaze then went up to look over at the other nearby areas. She had spotted the teahouses while helping Rhys carry his things toward her and Taj's rooms, curiously she moved over toward one deciding that if she was actually going to take a closer look now would be the time. Moving in closer she smiled some examining the structure of the place, it was simple yet interesting. Wondering if perhaps others had found their way outside she moved up to look inside of the teahouse.
Zero Dream Indeed, it seemed like she had not been the only one to notice the teahouses, or to make use of them. At least, if her ears were to be believed, as one was more likely to hear the occupant before seeing him.
tap, tap, tap, tap...
Lament sat on one chair, having managed to sit on a rather high chair and was now surveying a book Gianfar had allowed him to take out of the library. A work of fiction, with many big words he did not understand, but it kept his attention all the same. Ianthe was most likely somewhere nearby, as the aoidei never strayed far when Akakios bothered to go out of the main building proper, but he was not sure exactly where. Nor was he especially paying attention, his gold and platina eyes locked on his book, little legs going back and forth under the table and hitting the back of the chair.
tap, tap, tap, tap.
Cinderfae Hearing the sounds of another within the teahouse she peeked inside curiously. A smile tugged at her lips as she spotted the godling looking over the book, his little legs swinging. She leaned against the door a moment watching Lament and his book before stepping more into the teahouse so she'd be easier to spot. "Hello there, I believe I saw you at the ceremony in passing," Karaskis stayed back toward the door some as she spoke not wanting to frighten the child. Considering a moment she attempted to remember who exactly he had been with at the ceremony. Her eyes shifted some to look down at the book and then to the child offering a small smile, "I'm Karaskis."
Zero Dream Hmmm... ?
The boy finally looked up, a curious expression on his face. Ah, it was the firey lady ! She still seemed to talk in multiple voices, but that seemed different somehow... Hm.
"Hi." He said, looking at her still. "Met you before that, remember ? With mommy and daddy and... pieces of stuff." He didn't remember that very well - more like had not really paid attention - but he remembered her. And the man that was with her, that made the coin go away.
...He had never found any glue for her, hadn't he ? Oops. Maybe she had forgotten about it. "'m Kios."
Cinderfae Chuckling slightly Karaskis nodded, "your right, and that must have slipped my mind. Hm, but things have been rather busy everywhere.""It's good to see you again Kios," moving forward slightly so she was standing more in the teahouse Karaskis considered a moment, "so what has brought you out here today?"Now that he had began speaking she remembered more the child. A bit of brightness in the woes of Gehenna ... and now he was there for the rebirth. She hadn't seen his mother or father since the ceremony either and wondered a moment on how they were fairing. The growth of the area was the work of creation...but she knew further away there were many more things that must be done.
Zero Dream "Everyone's busy." The child stated, his feet still kicking back and forth. He just wished things would become a bit less busy soon. He missed his daddy, his mommy, and even his uncle very much. It seemed that they all had been gone for much longer than they actually had, to his young mind.
"Was just reading." He shrugged. He could read later, really. Company was more interesting right now. "Why do you talk in many voices ?" The boy asked, curious.
Cinderfae Karaskis stepped over slightly to rest against the window of the teahouse, "There are many things that need done now, hopefully things will settle with time. Though I'm sure there are somethings even you could help with if you wanted." She wasn't sure if he was feeling excluded at all but, she had spoken the truth many of the projects people were coming up with he could aid with. Perhaps even helping Rhys with the various plants in the gardens. Her gaze shifted more directly on Kios when he asked about the voices. Several thoughts came to her...first of all had his parents explained how the gods had to be reborn...living around the reborn deities it would be hard not to know, and if he didn't he likely should be told. She just hoped his parents wouldn't be upset by it... "Well I hate to answer a question with a question but how much do you know of the history of us? Do you know that long ago, belief in the true gods was lost...?" She really had no idea where to start with...hopefully the beginning would work.
Zero Dream "'m helping... A little. Writing. 'bout the sky being Gone." It had made Tian Yue feel better, and so he left with Ankou to do things... That counted as helping, yes ?
The young boy turned pensive at the question he had been asked. Hadn't Creation mentioned something similar ? Drat, he should have asked right there and then. "...Kinda... ?" He admitted, looking a little embarrassed that he did not know much about it. "Harmodius..." The boy struggled a little with the name. "said things 'bout a 'fading'..."
Cinderfae Karaskis smiled listening and nodded, "Your right that is helping - I believe you are helping a great deal more then you might realize." Considering a moment Karaskis knew she was right in that, after all the godling was doing more then just physical work he was helping with the state of others. With all the work everyone was doing a bit of joy to counteract it was welcomed. Karaskis nodded slightly, "the fading, when belief in the gods disappeared and so too did the gods. The gods didn't stay gone however, Harmodius never quite faded and he found a way to take what was left of the faded deities and in the form of a stone, help them become reborn." Karaskis paused, the next part was the tricky part, "for the gods that had faded to come back...they needed the strength of another. So the stones with what remained of the faded deities were given to mortals. These mortals sacrifice themselves so that the true gods could once again exist." Karaskis paused letting him take in the information before going on more about her and Cinder's particular relationship.
Zero Dream He listened, silent and with wide, curious eyes, as if absorbing the information just like a sponge. "Everyone died ?" That seemed rather impossible. After all, everyone was here now... And did they go to daddy's place when they died ?
But then, the nice firey lady said they all died, beside Harmodius. So that meant his daddy had died too ? The thought was rather... disconcerting.
But then, a sudden thought occurred to him. "That happened to me, too ?" That seemed even more impossible. After all, if he had died... wouldn't he remember it ?
Hm.
Still, he did not think Karaskis was lying. He'd never seen the stones she was talking about either parent, but he had seen one on his uncle, settled in the small of his back, sometime visible due to Ankou's more eccentric fashion choices. He had thought it odd, but he had never figured out what it meant, and never thought about asking. "So there's another person with you, and she speaks too.... ?"
Cinderfae Karaskis considered the child's words...death was not how she meant to explain it. "Hm, I'm not sure being faded is exactly like death...maybe more like being very very weak." Shaking her head slightly she smiled again, "No, you never faded, since you were created not long ago. By your father and mother."Settling in on the little ledge under the window she nodded again, "yes, my host and I our voices are melding together. Slowly she is becoming part of me," chuckling slightly the goddess grinned faintly, "she was a very opinionated woman and sometimes you will hear her voice more then my own. In the end it won't matter...we will fully be one and my voice will settle."
Zero Dream Hmmm.... This was really, really confusing. And complicated. So they just got really really weak, then became stones... ? That a mortal had to take, and so that mortal became the god ? But him and his siblings weren't like that because daddy and mommy made them. But not as stones. He didn't remember being a stone.
...Uh.
"Uh huh, Was never a stone." He said, looking up at her, expression calm - much unlike one would expect a child talking such serious topics. "Mommy and Daddy made me and Soto and Crys." He started to explain. "Don't remember much at first... Was tiny tiny little... wisp, following mommy around." He remembered following his mommy, yes. but where they had been... he could not remember. He had not been very strong back then, so memories were few and far in between. "Then mommy sang and made me look like... me." If that made sense.
The child blinked again, and another question occurred to him, ever-so-curious. "How's like, having someone else become you, too ? Do you like it ?" Akakios asked with child-like innocence, unaware that his questions were getting rather personal.
Cinderfae Karaskis smiled slightly and nodded slightly, she was actually glad he didn't ask more about how he was made - she'd happily leave that to his parents. "Well knowing your mother I can easily believe that she sang to make you look like you do now."At the next question Karaskis paused thoughtfully, it was getting personal but Kios was asking in such a way that his innocence made it easier to answer and she knew he wasn't intentionally being intrusive. "It can be very strange at times, experiences and memories I know weren't originally mine are now becoming mine. And I do like it...I believe that we need to understand mortals better then we once did. Perhaps if we had a greater understanding the fading would have never happened."
Zero Dream "Uh huh... Gotta be weird." Really, really weird. He could barely imagine it, to be honest. Having someone else in his head. Or being trapped in a stone. That could not possibly be fun.
The boy folded his arms on the table and rested his chin on top of them, still peering up at Karaskis with curious eyes. "How d'you... decide on her ?" There were, after all, many mortals in the world - she had to decide somehow that this girl was the right one... Or was Harmodius the one who decided such things... ? He wasn't sure. It would be odd for something so important to be left to chance.
Cinderfae Karaskis smiled slightly at Kios sentiment, it was weird she supposed. The child's take on it was amusing and more insightful then he might realize. Pausing a moment she considered his next question, it seemed so long ago that she was just a touch of essence caught in a gem. "That's actually more hard to answer then you might realize. Before I had my host my mind wasn't fully there. I believe it was Lord Harmodius that sent the stone to Cinder." Moving over to one of the chairs Karaskis soothed her dress as she sat curling her legs under her. "But I believe my temperament helped to chose her," a bit of a mile came to her face, "so I wapassed on by Harmodius, since I couldn't very well do it on my own. Cinder was a good choice, she had a fiery spirit that I grew quite attached to when we were first learning of each other."
Zero Dream The young boy nodded. He was not sure if he was really understanding everything, but he was listening, and doing his best. So Harmodius gave out these stones, with gods in them... to take over mortals he chose for them ?
It was in his very nature to know it did not always end well - mortals had families and loved ones, after all. Even if the mortal didn't die when the god took over... would they know any better ?
He could understand that.
"...That must have been lonely." He shook his head, his eyes becoming more sorrowful. "If he was the only one left... For a long time ?" Another question came out of it, platina and gold eyes focused on the goddess of fire.
Maybe he needed to go and give him another hug. It looked like Creation needed many of those.
Cinderfae Karaskis nodded slightly in agreement with the godling, "yes it must have been very lonely...and you have reminded me in all of this I need to go and speak with Harmodius again soon." She sighed gently resting back her fiery eyes looking distant a moment, Cinder had kept her distance from Harmodius because of the feelings of another. She knew she needed to speak to him, even if she felt it may in the end be more for herself then anyone else. "Have you gotten to speak to many others now that things have quieted down?" She guessed that the godling hadn't by the questions he asked. But perhaps others just were not so obvious in ways he would notice and just did not bring it up.
Zero Dream The boy thought for a moment, with a slight humming sound, before he answered. "Saw Harmodius... And Gianfar. Gianfar's taught me how to write." He announced, with no shortage of pride in his voice. "And Uncle Tian Yue and Uncle Ankou and Uncle Cosine." It seemed meaningless to mention his parents and his siblings - that was a given, after all, though...
"Mommy and Daddy's been gone for a long time. Daddy went to make his place for the ghosts and said he would send me one to let me know. He never did. So Mommy went to see what was wrong." The boy paused. "...Think he's just sleepy like Uncle Tian Yue was."
Cinderfae Karaskis nodded slightly listening, the list of those he had spoken to didn't surprise her. Though another reminder that she should go and find her way to Lord Harmodius at some point for a visit, was yet again given. Karaskis wrinkled a brow slightly listening, "I'm sure your parents will be back with you soon..." what exactly was it that would keep Underworld and Music away from their family and truthfully, she didn't have much to tell the child on the matter afraid that her speculations might frighten him she left them unsaid. As for the place for his ghosts Karaskis' mind quickly turned to that of the underworld...many things that were once gone will now return. A bit of a rebirth and renewal for the world in the face of almost disaster. "Why do you think your father would be sleepy like Tian Yue once was?" she didn't know the dragon king personally but knew of him.
Zero Dream "Well." The boy said, apparently gearing up for what would be a long and elaborate explanation. "Uncle Tian Yue did big big thing at Ritual, yes ? And said he'd gotten bigger right before." He nodded along with his train of thought. "Big big things like this made him sleepy. So he slept. Slept for a long long time until I came and woke him up." His grief had also played a part in it, he knew, but this was not for him to reveal.
"Daddy left to make his place. For dead people." He looked up at her again. "That's a big big thing too... Makes him tired, and sleepy." The thought itself was alien, as he had never seen his daddy sleep at all. But the more he thought about it.... the more it seemed to make sense. After all... "Daddy woulda sent a ghost to me to say things are okay. But if he's sleeping... he can't."
It was the only reason his daddy could have not gotten back to him. After all, daddy was daddy - an surmountable, invincible pillar to his young mind. Even the most difficult of tasks could not truly be too much for his daddy of all things. "So mommy had to go and wake him up."
Cinderfae Nodding slightly she listened to Kios explanation. Once he started talking about it she realized he meant when Tian Yue grew in power. Being tired after a change such as was described made sense, after all she had been tired after she had grown in power within her host. "Well soon I'm sure your parents will return, after all it is a lot of work making such a bit place. There are many ghosts after all that will need a place." She wasn't sure how the underworld worked but in size it would have to be sizable after all. With both Nergal and Echo gone she frowned thoughtfully before deciding it would just be better to ask the boy outright. "With your parents away...who is watching you?" Young gods were much more self efficient then other children but still she considered would need quite a bit of care.
Zero Dream "Auntie Cosine comes by." And then there were the aoidei... But Akakios, in typical child-like fashion, was certain that he needed little outside interference to take care of himself. But, with his brother taking to the outdoors in frustration of the events that had unfolded, and his sister much the same... He was starting to dislike the silence in the place he called home.
The lack of life that had overtook it.
"I hope they come back soon." He said, and with that statement, it was evident that the boy missed his parents very much.
Cinderfae She gave a slight nod and smile of understanding as the child spoke. She didn't know who Cosine was exactly likely another met in passing. At least there were others keeping an eye on the young ones, and she suspected that there were aoidei as well. With the number of servants that had shown up for her Underworld and Music likely had a great deal of their own. "Well ... until they come back or even after they do. If you would like you are welcome to visit Lord Mystery and myself. We have quite a bit going on, so many others to meet...and there are some children that live with us. None quite around your age ... but one is a teenage mortal and the other a baby." She decided to throw the offer out there ... their rooms were bustling to say the least and if he decided on a visit there was sure to be something going on. "The door is a bit tricky to find though...it looks like a plain closet and you don't see the actual inside until you open the door twice."
Zero Dream The boy listened - he seemed to be rather good at simply sitting still and listening to others, where most children his age may not have been able to focus for so long. Something seemed to puzzle him, the door perhaps ?
But then, after a few seconds, he looked at her again, the sense of melancholy never quite leaving him. "...Baby ?"
Lament had yet to meet a child that was younger than his physical age, or at least with a noticeable difference. And therefore, the concept was unknown to him.
Cinderfae Smiling slightly at the question Karaskis nodded, "yes a baby. Mortal children are smaller when they are first born." Pausing she gestured with her hands to give him a vague idea of the size. "You'd be welcome to come see if you like...Madrigal won't stay a baby for long though," at least not long in comparison to the years of a god or goddess. Those that lived within their rooms wouldn't have a problem with the child she decided. And it might be good for all the children to see more of one another. As things were more visitors were always welcome.
Zero Dream Akakios could not help but stare a bit and blink when Fire seemed to give him a rough size estimation. That... that was so tiny ! Much more tiny than he and his siblings had been when they were born, though he knew for a fact he, at least, was a bit bigger now.
"Maybe." Perhaps he should go see this for himself. It seemed rather curious.
Cinderfae Chuckling Karaskis stood, her gaze drifted back toward the buildings nearby, "well you are welcome and I should be going to make sure everything is in one piece...and to see to a few things." Glancing over Karaskis smiled slightly to Kios, "it was a pleasure meeting you."Moving to the door the goddess gave a smile to Kios before starting to head down the stairs and back to the Pantheon. Meeting the young godling had been interesting and informative at some points. Perhaps when his parents returned she could hear what had been keeping them. |
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Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2012 9:45 am
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Pint-Sized Powers
NinetailedNightmare Now that he was here, James was eager to explore the world in and around the Pantheon. He had promised to come see Arden again, but right now it was time to begin fulfilling his curiosity of the planet to which he had been delivered. The architecture around here was simply stunning, though he had expected no less of those proclaimed to be gods. Everything around here seemed rich and flowing, and he felt quite humble walking along the vast stretch of green between the various archaic buildings. There were some orbiting structures in the distance that he could see, and he planned to investigate as to what they may be. Unbeknownst to the brunette mortal, he was approaching one of the Pantheon's teahouses. He moved slowly with his head on a slow and constant swivel, green gaze peering intuitively at the world through the lenses of glasses as if he expected the sedate field around him to change any minute, or present something he hadn't noticed before. When he got to the tea house, he was hesitant about entering right away. What if this was someone's home? But he did begin to circle the building, looking for any windows he could simply 'glance' into before he tried another method of seeing.
Una Daughter of Water  Una had found her way out of her father's rooms. With the change in the world things were really starting to grow excitable. She had sat down and talked to Yaxha some about the new changes...now that the world was alive or starting to be what mortals had come to living within her father's rooms could start branching out. Una's attention didn't stay on such matters long as she was still young and would prefer to be playing or listening to Baxter's stories. But such times as those of Gehenna, and learning of independence taking charge at least some...hadn't lead to such quiet and carefree paths.
Grinning slightly Una walked through the grass she was enjoying the slight tickling feeling she got from the grass blades running over the sides of her feet and wasn't really paying much attention to where she was heading. After sometime of her meandering her gaze went toward a grouping of flowers, pausing she reached for one of the violets it was a very similar color to her skin she mused a moment over that when movement off to the side caught her attention.
There was a man peeking into one of the tea houses. Blinking slightly Una stood up, plucking one of the violets as she did. Starting over toward the man she paused with her head slightly cant to the side, "Hello...are you looking for someone?" she wasn't speaking overly loud but her voice would likely carry to anyone close to the window of the teahouse.
Zero Dream There was, indeed, someone in that building, though it likely would not be what James was expecting.
There was a young child inside, who could have been considered normal, was it not for the curly purple locks framing his face, and those eyes, platina and gold with no white or black.
Those eyes... soulful and sorrowful, unbelievably deep keeping in mind that they belonged to a child.
He was sitting, calmly, small hand reaching for the pen down on the table - he prefered quills, but they where not practical to carry - and slid it to touch the paper of one of the many notebooks that had once belonged to his mother.
The sound of Una's speech, however, seemed to catch his attention, and he looked forward to the open door. There were, of course, other children, beyond him or his sibilings, but he had rarely ever seen any of them that he sometimes forgot. The girl's voice, however, was familar...
The book closed softly, and Akakios let himself slide down from his perch on the rather tall chair to his bare feet, padding his way outside.
NinetailedNightmare The mortal would straighten slowly at the sound of a voice, trying not to look too much like a child with his hand in the cookie jar. What his eyes found when he looked around gave him a pleasant surprise. There was a child, or that was what it appeared to be, with lilac skin and wispy white hair. Was this a native of the world? A mortal? "Just looking," He admitted honestly, giving a small smile. Children seemed to know the truth, in his plain experience with them, and he wasn't really sure just how much there was to hide in a world like this. No, he thought to himself, she must be something more than mortal. The more he looked at her, compared to the collection of flowers she held to her chest, the more radiant she seemed. She complimented them, not the other way around. "What is this place?" He sensed another presence, having a rather keen sense of vibration even when he was in his human shape. Faint, maybe he imagined it, but it was a whisper of disturbance nonetheless. Soon another child appeared, and at first it seemed like a female as well from the delicate motions it took along the way. "Hello."
Una Daughter of Water Una blinked once curiously, shifting her gaze to the teahouse. "Well...Yaxha told me that was called a teahouse. There are a few of them on the grounds," pausing she beamed for a moment, "but if you are wondering what the overall place is - it's the Pantheon." Wrinkling her brow a moment she watched James, "where did you come from?" Most of those in the area had been at the ritual and knew at least to some degree what was going on.
Movement behind James then drew her attention, smiling she waved seeing another child, "Hello!" he seemed familiar. She was guessing from the ceremony, many people seemed familiar from that; she'd just been very very tired after calling the water and didn't remember it all very well.
Zero Dream Lament only nodded in answer to Una at first, though he made his way to stand beside her - taller, but not by much, as little boys tended to be at this age. He seemed to study the man for a moment, silent, soulful eyes locked on him. He... was no one he knew, he noticed, and lacked the 'feel' gods had.
A mortal then.
"Are you lost ?" He asked, his voice light and even, more curious than accusatory. If he did not know where he was, perhaps he was lost indeed ? His mother had helped the mortals when she was still around, and now that only left him to do it.
Well, him and the purple skinned girl at his side, familiar yet unknown.
NinetailedNightmare "Far, far away. My friend brought me here," He would tell the little girl, thinking carefully on how he should reply, watching the other child approach from the corner of his eye and taking his question into account. "He said it was a safe place. Now I'm just looking around and trying to get myself acquainted." His eyes flitted over to regard Akakios, and there was something about the boy's eyes that... touched him. Somehow. He was more surprised by the feeling than he was the appearances of the children. He had seen some pretty odd things in his life. James turned his gaze back to Una as soon as he could remove it from the pale boy's. "My name is James Dionysus. May I ask your names?"
Una Daughter of Water Una watched him thoughtfully at the explanation wondering to herself just how far away he really was from. It sounded as if he was one of the few survivors from outside of the pantheon, frowning to herself she wondered how many were out there attempting to find their way...like when she helped with the people at the church; maybe they needed help.
"Where there others that needed to be safe too?" she wondered more to herself then to the mortal but spoke her mind before she knew it and just adjusted her gaze to look to him questioningly.
Una considered a moment on the question of names, if he was like the people from the church was she decided she should use her name and title...like her father when he introduced himself.
"I'm Una, the Maiandros Riparia." She smiled slightly after speaking not just to the two with her but also because she was able to say it without stumbling over the wording as she once had. She knew that she was only a little goddess...but had come to realize that still at times that was very important.
Zero Dream Ah, so that was the girl's name - Una. But wait... Mailawhat now ?
Hm.
"Akakios." He answered in turn, hands clutching the notebook he carried with him. "Lament." Unlike Una, he had no fancy way to refer to himself, rather than to plainly what he was. Though he preferred to be called by name rather by influence. He was simply unusued to be referred to by any other way than the name his father had given him.
NinetailedNightmare "I was alone when I came here," James told her, carefully, "So I don't think so. If there was anyone else around, I would have helped them myself." It was noble of her to ask about others, and it made him wonder if she could do something about it, had he told her there were others out there. It was also possible that she might be curious as to whether other strangers like him were going to be out, lurking around the teahouses. Because she was a child, he considered the latter the more likely intent. She gave him a name, and then a title. James' lips thinned somewhat with thought, but curled into an amused smile. "That's Latin, isn't it? A meandering, winding... river bank, is it?" His eyes seemed to wander off a moment as thoughts, one after the other, were pulled up in connection with the last. There was an Una river in Earth, in Brazil, he noted, in correlation to the title. He resurfaced as the boy spoke his name and title as well. "You're deities," He sighed, a little wistfully, the shine of his eyes only dulled by the lenses of his glasses. He had suspected as much, but due to their age and... well, he didn't see a gem on them anywhere, he had withheld judgement. Many questions buzzed in his head now. What a curious world! "Una, Akakios... Would you mind if I asked you a few questions? About you and the other gods?" He seemed bright and curious, and in fact he was eager to learn more about this new discovery. Also, he hadn't had the chance to speak more than a few words with a god so far.
Una Daughter of Water Glancing over curiously she looked to Akakios, she wasn't really sure what lament was all about but maybe he'd tell them. Looking over to James she nodded slightly still looking rather curious.
A bit of a smile came to her face as he realized they were deities, considering his request a moment she gave a bit of a nod. After all Yaxha had told her that many of the mortals were curious and well she saw at the ceremony that the humans were important...so answering his questions she decided would be alright, "well, it depends on the question but I can try to answer." Giving a bit of a nod she glanced over at Kios wondering how the other godling would respond.
Zero Dream For his part, the lavender-haired boy tapped his fingers against the spine of his book in thought. Mommy often did just that, answer questions for mortals, talked to them, kept them company - she always told him that these things were important. But now she was not here... But it didn't matter, he and Una would do just fine ! He knew many things, after all.
"What do you want to know ?" He asked, tilting his head to the side while looking up at James, clearly as curious as the purple-skinned girl at his side.
NinetailedNightmare "I think they're fairly simple questions myself. They're mostly about yourselves." He mused. Just how much about this world could children tell him, after all? What was more interesting to him at the moment would be the mannerisms of the godlings. How did a deity think? How did they act? "I suppose my first question is... did you two originate from gems? The last god I met, he had a stone set into his neck." It was a lot more sensible than asking them if they had hosts, to which James congratulated himself. He was slowly beginning to get back into the swing of being subtle, although he didn't know how necessary it was when it came to gods. Were they not beyond possessing the bodies of children? Or was this something entirely new...?
Zero Dream Akakios tilted his head at the question. "No. Mom and Dad made me." Duh. "They have gems, through. But I don't have one." He'd pondered about this for some time, but simply let it go.
"My big brother and big sister don't have gems either." He thought to answer before the man could ask. It was really such a strange notion. He'd never stopped to think, really think, about what had made his mother and father decide to make him and his brother and sister, or how they had done it.
Maybe he needed to ask, sometime. Though... Yes, that was Concerto in the distance. He didn't want to, but...
"I gotta go. Mom's aoidei need me." Well, Concerto had probably been looking for him and he was about to be scolded, but James didn't need to know that.
"I'll answer more questions later, okay ?" He gave a nod to both the mortal and Una before he left. |
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Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2012 9:46 am
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...Mommy's Coming Back ?!
The day had started out much like the days that had come before it – his siblings had awakened, then promptly left for the gardens. The aoidei were doing... whatever it was that they would be doing at this time. He did not especially pay attention to most of them, besides Ianthe, unless given a reason to. Even Ianthe was... somewhere else, he was not too sure. Lament could only hope it was nowhere dangerous – the runed aoide was damaged enough as is. Silly adults, always getting themselves in trouble.
Or going away.
He sat next to the snapdragons his cousin Adrienne had given him (well, him and his mother, but he had chosen them, so ha.) with one book open. He was getting better and better at writing every day that passed, remembering more words the more he read, and his handwriting getting much more even and neat the more he wrote. Almost like his mother's, though not as neat and elegant.
He was oddly proud of the fact.
But inspiration did not seem to come, not at this time. Akakios stared at the blank page, lastest in line of the many things that annoyed him, as if he could somehow intimidate it into filling itself.
Which, of course, did not happen, so he started poking at it with his pen. That did not help either, but there was something pleasing about the motion.
'...Little Lament ?'
The voice got his attention instantaneously, and he looked around himself reflexively. But there was no one with him. No one at all. No one he could see, anyway.
Akakios knew what this meant. And come to think of it, that voice was familiar, too. But it was not Anika. So it was... had to be...
”Melody !” He called out.
'Awww, you remember me ? How sweet of you !'
The ghost's voice was warm and cheerful, apparently very happy to have been remembered. But then, she grew a little more serious.
'I can't stay long, dear – your father allowed me out, but I have to return quickly.'
Lament's eyes went wide. ”Daddy sent you ?!” That meant... That meant daddy was okay ! And mommy, too ! She just had to be ! Calm and melancholic as he often was, he could barely suppress his own excitement.
'Yes, he is well... And so is your mother. She had to stay with him for some time...'
There was a pause in the ghost's speech, as if she was carefully choosing her words.
'To help with a few things. But that won't be needed anymore, so she can come back. I'm not too sure when, but ill'll be soon.'
”Soon...” That was vague, but at this point anything was better than nothing at all, and he absorbed the information like a sponge, committing it to memory. Soon... soon. That she had said nothing about his father did not escape him... but one parent was better than none at all.
Maybe it would make his brother less cranky. Not that he was not cranky as well, but he preferred to express it by writing up nonsense to clear his mind rather than slam doors, throw things about, and yell. Maybe he should have taken the room in the back... But then Crys would have needed to act as buffer, and that was bad.
'Also, your father said that the Day of the Dead is coming soon. The notion of time seems kind of skewed everywhere, so he thought a reminder would be needed. You can tell everyone else about that, yes ?'
Day of the.... Ohhhh, yes. Daddy's day. He remembered the last one... well, bits of it. What he had liked best, like doing lanterns and setting them along the river, and playing tag with the ghost children. ”Uh huh. I can.”
'I knew you would. Well, that's all I have to say... I should probably go back, before your father wonders where I went. It was nice to see you again.'
Akakios frowned a bit. He kind of wanted her to stay – it had been awhile since he had a ghost to talk to, and to be honest he liked them. But if daddy had asked her to come back quickly, then she did not have much choice, did she ? ”Okay. Bye bye, Melody.”
'Bye~'
And then there was only silence, and Lament darted up like children tended to do. Mommy was coming back ! Mommy was coming back ! Where were his brother and his sister, they needed to know...
...But there was daddy's day, too. He had promised, after all, so there had something he could do about it. He remembered a little of what happened last year... But not everything. Far from everything.
Uh oh.
He needed to think really, really hard about this... he could not let his daddy down, after all. |
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Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2012 9:49 am
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Last Minute Brainstorm
Zero Dream His siblings were nowhere to be found.
And This... was Bad.
Not only did it mean he could not inform them of their mother's return, which was bad enough, but it also meant that he could not ask them for guidance. The Day of the Dead was soon, Melody had told him.
Daddy has promised, of course, but daddy wasn't here. Which was extremely problematic. There needed to be something to honor that promise, the child knew of such, but what... and how... This eluded him. He had never even thought about doing something the scope of this. He knew how last year's went, loosely, but how was he supposed to do something like this ?!
Lament let out a loud, frustrated wail, pacing along the gardens in a way his own father had once did, minutes before they came to be in truth.
Thabara It was Ishum who first heard the distraught outcry, when he entered, almost dropping the large bowl of fruit he was balancing in his left. He got a hold of it before it could all come down, but not quickly enough to prevent a few from rolling and bopping across the ground. The keening, he determined after a short while of careful listening, was nothing urgent. No one was hurt, he could tell that much with certainty. No, if anything, this rather had the sound of frustration to it. And it was ... "Kios?" he called out. "I accidentally dropped some fruit just now. Would you help me gathering them up? There's peaches too." There, that ought to bring him in. 'Peaches' was one of the magic words.
Reyna Crelos Sotiris’ ears perked at the shrill noise of the cry that permeated the air. It sounded distinctly familiar, so he paused and listened for a long moment. His wisp-like eyes flared brightly. “Kios,” he hissed under his breath before taking off at a dead run to where he thought the location of the wailing was coming from.“What is it, young Master?” Mandara voiced sweetly as she came to a quick stop to avoid colliding with the little godling she’d been trailing after. She looked startled when he bolted and immediately moved to follow after him. “Young Master!” she called, “Please allow me to help you!” The godling in question groaned. He would never be rid of this infernal aoide! He came once more to a stop once he reached the gardens. He growled and flailed about as the lotus woman picked him up with her many arms to again avoid colliding with him.“Young Master, do be careful!” she cautioned before setting him down and petting him atop his head lightly. Soto growled and then stalked past Ishum to find his brother. His eyes widened slightly. He didn’t appear hurt. No one was bothering him. He cast a glance back towards Ishum. At least it didn’t look like he was being bothered by an aoide or some other person. “Kiosss,” he whined, “What is wroo~oong?”
Zero Dream "Peaches ?" The lavender-haired godling perked. It seemed like the bait tactic would have worked flawlessly...
Had it not been for his older brother making his way in. And as such, like every good little brother, Akakios made his way to Sotiris for protection. "Trying to think... s'daddy's day coming, but... he promised, and he isn't here ! Gotta do something, but..."
But that was nothing. He had, indeed, very happy news to give, too. "But !" Lament gave out one of his rare grins. "Daddy sent a ghost for me. Mommy's okay, and she's coming home soon ! Dunno when, ghost didn't tell... But soon !"
Thabara Well, with a reaction that promptly, whatever had been upsetting the kid couldn't have been too bad, and Soto was apparently already taking care of it. So Ishum settled to pick up the dropped fruit by himself, one ear perked to listen in on the conversation as he usually did. At the mention of 'daddy', however, he promptly dropped once more what he had gathered so far. „You've heard back from Lord Nergal?“
Reyna Crelos Sotiris' eyes widened impossibly so. He reached forward and gripped his brother's shoulders, tail wagging in excitement he could barely contain. "DADISOKAYMOMMAISCOMINGBACK???" he yelled despite his very best efforts to remain calm.
He sucked in a sharp breath and took a step away from his brother before dancing from foot to foot. "Day of the Dead!" he shouted, "Is coming and with Momma!"
He laughed merrily and did a cartwheel before allowing himself to collapse against the floor in a fit of giggles. If he could be any happier he was quite certain he'd simply burst!Mandara for once was stricken by silence. She had never seen the child act in such a manner! She smiled brightly and clasped her many hands before her to give thanks in a quick prayer. Her Lady was returning! This was indeed excellent news, however she did not quite feel that she was going to celebrate in quite the same manner as her excitable ward.
Zero Dream While Akakios did not exactly smile often, his older brother's happiness was infectious, and one drew it's way onto his small face. "Yeah !" He chirped, answering both Ishum and his brother. "Did not tell when, though..." He reminded Sotiris again, gently, but was doubtful he would actually listen to him on that statement. She knew very well how he was, indeed.
The second spilling of the basket did not go unnoticed - gold and platina eyes trailed one rolling peach for a moment before it came close enough for him to nab it. It was when, it seemed, he actually took notice of Mandara. "...Who's that ?" He asked, clearly a little confused. He'd never seen any one with that many arms before ! Though she had pretty red hair. Even redder than the firey lady.
Thabara „Kios,“ the golden winged aoide interfered, „what exactly did the ghost tell you? Lord Nergal, did he leave any orders with you, anything he wishes to be carried out?“ The day of the dead drawing close caught him a bit by surprise – he hadn't thought this much time had passed already. It was hard to tell with no sun, no moon, nor any other celestial bodies upon the firmament. Still, last year's festivities had been well received among the mortals – they should be able to whip something up, even if it was last minute, if only word got around fast enough.
Reyna Crelos Sotiris paused in his celebratory merriment for a moment as he hopped up out of the floor and slung one arm around his brother’s shoulders companionably. “Is Momma’s aoide,” he whispered to him with a dry look and a sly glance that he hoped his brother understood. His siblings knew very well how he felt about aoidei in general.
Still, his excitement could not be kept at bay for very long, and he was soon once more bouncing around the room and shouting joyously as he did so. “Am to go tell everyone good news!” he shouted before darting around both Mandara and Ishum, cackling with glee as he did so.
He paused only a moment in the threshold of the doorway to point at Mandara. “YOU,” he ordered, “Stay and help Akakios.”
He darted out of the doorway and dashed through his family’s halls before anyone could stop him, still laughing and shouting as he did so.Mandara stared after him helplessly and one pair of her hands twisted together as she fretted. “Well,” she replied slowly, “Might I help you plan the festivities, Master Akakios?” She was not a servant of Underworld’s but seeing as the child before her belonged to Music, and Underworld was her Lady’s betrothed, she was more than happy to offer assistance in any way she could.
Zero Dream And indeed, Sotiris needed to say nothing else - the youngest understood, and was already cooking up some elaborate plan to free his older brother from the aoide's presence - though that seemed wasted when the green godling skittered off.
Oh well. He certainly was loud enough that others would know.
He took one bite of his fruit, expression turning pensive. "No... Just that daddy was fine, mommy was coming back, and it's soon." The boy admitted - dammit, he should have thought to ask ! "Can't ask anymore... She's gone." He admitted, a little sheepish.
He turned his attention to Mandara then - after all, if he kept her busy, she would not skitter off after his brother. He didn't mind aoidei that much - to be honest, he kind of liked the attention, and they were handy for reaching things he could not reach - and thus, offered the red-haired aoide a thoughtful glance. "Have any ideas ? Im not sure... Just that daddy promised and..." That promise was not meant to be broken. It was important, he could understand that much.
Thabara „Well,“ Ishum stretched a little, and then reached for one of the peaches himself, tossing it into the air playfully before he took a bite. „I think people rather liked how it was last year, so I don't think we need to change much. Food, drinks, sweets – death-themed would be awesome, of course – performers … I could see if I can find Poltros and the troupe he hangs out with, but I haven't seen him for quite a while now.“ No loss, he added in his thoughts. „And, as it's for the dead, and for your dad – there should be offerings, and the like. Some belly dancers, perhaps?“ he added with a mischievous grin, not wholly serious, „He might like them.“
Zero Dream "...What's a belly dancer ?" The boy hadn't really gotten it, of course, but didn't get an answer to his question. Ishum and the new multi-armed lady were quite busy talking, and it seemed he wouldn't be able to interject much else.
This apparently just had became Grown Up Stuff.
Hrmph.
Akakios did seize his opportunity to escape for now, carefully picking one peach out of the basket without the golden-winged aoide noticing a thing. He'd think of things too, and see it got done too. |
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Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2012 9:49 am
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Last Minute Preparations
The current business was something to behold. They were very, very last minute indeed, but... they'd managed. They had made things happen.
It hadn't taken long for his elder brother to spread the word, it seemed, and quickly enough, it seemed that the mortal themselves were coming to them. Those who did not were easy to find. Some faces he recognized from last year, and some were familiar. Some were unknown, probably dragged in by rumors and the other mortals.
This was an aspect of the celebration Akakios had not quite been aware of. He remembered little of this the year before, had not assisted actual construction or planning. He had been quite a bit younger then, barely a few months old, and had remained with his mommy.
But now both his daddy and his mommy were gone, and his uncle only recently returned a few days ago - and that left him to do it. Obviously he was not the one to do most of the work – Ishum was – but Akakios' place as the 'overseer' seemed rather stable as he had been the one to kick start all this into motion, the one to have been reminded that the time grew near and the one to remind everyone else in turn.
And all the mortal ladies (Ishum always seemed to find a lot of these for some reason...) thought him quite pretty and adorable, and some fanning and attention was never a bad thing. Of course not.
Therefore, Akakios was quite comfortable in his current role of overseer of the festivities. His favourite spot was sitting squarely on Ishum's shoulders, negating his shortness somewhat, which in theory would result in him being able to see everything. The young god was also still small enough that he fit there rather nicely and that the aoidei did not seem to strain under the added weight. Perfect.
Lament had thought about Ianthe for such a purpose, but the decayed aoidei was just that... decayed. And he did not look very strong to begin with. His daddy would surely be upset if Ianthe got hurt.
And there his older brother thought aoidei were useless. Akakios certainly knew better on that ! True, they were annoying at times, but easily prodded into doing what the lavender-haired boy wanted if he tried hard enough.
And so there he was, leaning against the back of Ishum's head, watching everything with passive interest. The boots were much nicer than last years, probably because Allysia was making them, and there had all sort of lovely scents lingering in the air – mostly of sweets. These had been his idea ! The fact that there had been some even last year, even thought it had not been much, seemed to blissfully escape the boy's mind.
And then there were the curious mortals, those who weren't especially doing anything, but were watching with interest. Talking among themselves with hushed whispers. Lament's hearing was in no way as good as his mother's, for his talents were elsewhere, but every now and then, Ishum would get close enough for him to overhear.
'Do you think... that it will happen again ? That the dead will come ?'
'I don't know...'
And the godling frowned at that. Silly adults, all of them. Of course the dead would come. Tomorrow. Tomorrow was the day, and everything would be ready. And the dead would come.
Lament's faith on that front was absolute. Daddy had said so, after all. And Melody wasn't the kind of person who lied and played pranks, from what little he knew of the mousegirl ghost.
He could only hope that mommy would come back in time to see all that they'd did here. Surely she would be very proud of him and his siblings ! There was still time, and it could still happen.
In spite of his domain, Lament was still hopeful. |
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Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2012 9:50 am
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Day of the Dead :: The Gray Prince
The day came.
Celebration started early in the 'morning' – at least, what the mortals and Ishum had called morning. Having known little of the sky, not even one witnessed it at it's full glory, as well as requiring so little sleep, made it harder to understand such patterns for him. Apparently mortals, most of them, slept at night... but how did they know if it was night or day now ?
Confusing...
But people had came, and it was good. The musicians had came in first, set their instruments by – so many different ones that it made him wish his mommy was there already. From those he recognized, like guitars and violins and those strange shell-like things that were at the ritual, to those he did not. His mommy would tell him all about the latter when she came back.
It had to be soon. Had to be. Why would daddy send up the dead and not mommy ? It made no sense at all. So it could not be long now.
The artisans were next to come, setting up in the little booths that had been built for them. Some had little dolls, or other trinkets. But most were food – roasted chicken, all sort of candies (like apples in sugar – delicious !) and some sort of yellow... thing. Ishum had let him taste it, but it tasted downright disgusting. Why did anyone drink this ?! Beh.
Adults. So wierd.
But now Ishum was gone, which had left him to take perch somewhere else. Lament had a plan, of course – he had done alot of work this year so of course he would have to see it all. His shortness had made it rather easy for him to perch on Ishum's shoulders all this time, from which he could totally see everything. Ha, take that mortals ! He would have just asked Ianthe, but the decayed aoide was more likely to break than anything else.
In the end, however, Alto had done just fine, even if he had needed to prod a little before his mother's aoide finally caved in.
Time passed, and all seemed to be going well. All was missing were the ghosts, though... It could not be much longer.
Certainly.
It had to--
It was a small ball of light that distracted Akakios, eyes locking onto it in surprise. Had he not known better, he might have thought it a star.
And then...
Voices. Countless. Familiar in the echo-like effect which allowed him to recognize them exactly as they were instantaneously.
The dead.
And with them...
The music died down, as did the conversations of the living. All went silent... beside one familiar hum that his mind also recognized instantaneously.
”MOMMY !” And that was all it took. The young god launched himself off Alto's shoulder like a cannonball, rushing toward the opening of the cathedral.
Sure enough, there was mommy there, dressed in white and with her hair all done in the most beautiful way he had ever seen. And she walked, gracefully, one step before the other like clock work, with...
... ?
It did, indeed, take Akakios a moment to truly recognize his own father, who was so tall that he could actually see him well in spite of the crowd closing around him. That crowd, however, made the small boy have a hard time at making his way though – the mortals were just as excited as him, apparently, but they were his parents and he totally had first dibs !
Or would have if all those tall people weren't cheating.
Feh !
He'll just wait a little and he'd cannonball his way thought once the crowd died down a little... |
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Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2012 9:51 am
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Day of the Dead :: A Son and His Mother
This was just a bit ridiculous. He had very well been expecting people to come (that was the point, after all) but... come on ! One would think they would have at least come consideration for him. He'd helped put all this together, after all !
Hrmph.
Things had been pretty well when he had Ishum with him – he could just sit on the aoide's shoulder and see everything, but he had skipped off to part unknown quite some time ago, which left him alone to deal with his shortness. He had parents to find, could these people not just move over for a minute or so ? He could not even see anything from here at all ! Maybe he really needed to ask his daddy how to get taller. Daddy was much taller, he could tell from the distance, so he would know, right ? And maybe he'd tell him, since Harmodius hadn't really seemed to want to.
If everyone else was as small as he was, then it would not have been so bad...
In the end, it was not his sense of sight that located what he had sought, but his sense of hearing, which picked out one sound that stood out from the rest of the noisy crowd, one sound that had grown absent and thus was picked up immediately.
The soft hum of familiars wings.
Mommy ! Mommy mommy mommy ! Ah, where was she ?! Akakios looked, but could not quite locate his mother. Maybe she needed to ask daddy how to get taller too...
And then, at least, he saw golden strings trailing on the ground. Aha ! There were many people, way too many people, in between him and his mother, but he knew exactly how to fix that little problem.
”MOOOOOMYYYYY !!!!” When in doubt, wail a little. That cleared the sea of people very nicely indeed, and had the bonus effect to have his mommy notice him instantaneously.
”Akakios !” Her look of confusion turned into the bright, pretty smile he loved so much, and she croutched down and opened her arms for him.
He ran right into it, all but burrying himself in his mother's dress as her arms closed around him. Finally, finally mommy was back, and she wouldn't leave for that long again ! Of course not ! Once was enough, thank you.
”Mommy~” Lament smiled, one of his rare, true smile, and then looked around, expecting to see his father... but no, daddy was nowhere in sight. And he was rather hard to overlook with how big he was now ! ”Where did daddy go ?”
”I am not too sure where he went to hide to this time.” Echo noted, a pensive look sliding onto her fair features. ”But we will find him eventually, I am certain. But oh, can you show me around, my dear ? I am eager to see your hard work in action.”
Oh he liked this. Oh did he ever like this, indeed. This all got done because of him, after all ! He gave his mommy prideful grin and wriggled out of her embrace, waiting for her to rise to stand again, and holding out his hand for her to take – not the other way around, thank you ! He was a big boy and he was gonna how his mother around. “I'll show you, mommy. Come~”
He started slowly, but... that did not last long. Soon he was zipping about, with his mommy in tow.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mommy seemed pretty sad to see that building from last year was gone, and he kind of regretted showing it to her when it happened. His mommy was meant to be happy, really, but at least he knew it would probably not last long. And he had many, many things to show her that would make her happy again.
After that, he dragged her back toward the festivities proper, toward the sounds, the music and the lights. The mortals bowed when she passed in front of them, as they should, as did the ghosts – it was odd to be able to see them again after so long, but he knew how to identify them easily. They still spoke with that same kind of effect to their voice which always let him recognize a ghost from a living person before.
There were a few booths set up, mostly of food items, some traditional and some not, and of course he had to stop and have her taste his favorite. Nothing else would do, really, and so Lament stopped at the booth and asked for two candy apples, while watching his mommy as if to make sure she did not skitter away. She kept looking toward the people that were playing music, and come to think of it, that gave him an idea...
But apples first, through.
”Moooommmmmmyyyy~” He held up one apple-on-a-stick as high as his arm could reach, for her to take. ”Try this !”
”Ah, what is this ?” She asked him, looking a little confused as to what this was supposed to be. Mommy could be so silly.
”Candy apple.” He explained, taking a bite of his own apple-on-a-stick, causing Music to follow
”Oh, yes, won't you look at that ? A perfect choice, my dear. It is very delicious.” Ah, of course she would like it ! He had given her the best one, the one with the most candy – that the mortal had called caramel – on top of the apple.
He swallowed his own bite, careful to make sure there was no more stray candy in his mouth before speaking ”Yeah. Come, mommy !” Taking her hand, he led her away from the stands... and right toward the orchestra.
Lament had a plan indeed.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
He stepped onto the scene, gave one look to the conductor, and it seemed like that was all that was needed. Someone was getting a break indeed.
His mother followed closely after him, a smile on her face, looking rather pleased indeed.
The conductor saw her, and knelt – holding her wand up to her. As he should so, after all. Mommy was music. She could show them a thing or two.
She took it, eagerly, and turned to face the orchestra, standing where the man had stood before... she rose that stick much like he had, and the mortal orchestra followed.
Akakios nodded silently to himself, sitting at the edge of the small scene to listen.
She would not move from that spot until this event was over, too absorbed in her own element, and the youngest son never minded. |
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Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2012 9:52 am
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Father And Son
Zero Dream Akakios liked to think he had been patient enough.
He had waited, first at the event proper, where there had been so many people that he simply had not been able to approach his father at all - eventually he had given up on that and spent a lovely evening with his mother instead, so it had not been a complete loss.
Secondly when the mortals had came here, at his own home of all places, with offerings and all other sorts of things he did not quite understand so far, things like allegiances and belief. Many came, and it had taken a long time indeed. And the more of that time passed, the more the young boy grew impatient. Could that not wait ?
And then, finally, right when it seemed that this was over, his uncle beat him to it. And that was the cherry that topped the sundae. The second Ankou had left, however, the boy was determined that this was his turn, thank you very much.
"DAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAADDDDYYYYYYYYYY !!!!" Ha. He would like to see anyone try to wrestle attention away from him now. This was in no way the loudest he was able to scream.
Thabara  „Kios.“ After the Day of the Dead, followed up by a seemingly neverending stream of supplicants, and then his brother's visit, Nergal was starting to feel rather worn and spent. It was … beginning to be somewhat of a challenge to keep his focus here, on the living. He had hoped for some rest, yet his youngest son's tone left no doubt there wouldn't be a chance for such anytime soon.
No rest for the wicked, is it?
He knelt, extending his arms to Kios in a silent offer to pick him up.
Zero Dream And the boy was quick to answer, zipping though in a manner more suited to his older brother and allowing himself to be picked up and held. Ah, this was better. This was better indeed !
He looked slightly different than Nergal would remember - the hair length, mostly - but much the same in every other way. "Missed you." He muttered, but then something seemed to catch his attention, and he blinked, suddenly confused.
What was that... ?
Whispers, in and out, just barely audible, but how... ?
"Uh." Lament pondered out loud, but seemed to find his own answer quickly enough, head leaning against Nergal's chest.
AHA ! Whispers came from... inside daddy.
...That was right up there with the wierdest thing he'd ever heard. "...Ghosts inside daddy." He stated.
Thabara „I missed you too,“ he whispered gently, easily lifting the excited child from the ground, and holding the lightweight little godling with one arm only. He ruffled the boy's hair with the other hand. „I missed all of you, and I am very sorry I did not have more time for you until now,“ he apologized solemnly. He was about to add something else, but then noticed his son's puzzled look, his own confusion only increasing when the child bent to lay one of its ears against his chest, as if to listen..
What the …?
Oh.
He blinked, and then smiled, almost laughing out loud.
Almost.
„Yes,“ he confirmed, „they are all within me now. Well, not all of them. There are many, many dead which have not yet found their way, but that is for your uncle to take care of. But all those you saw during the festival, those are.“
Zero Dream Akakios usually would have scowled a bit at having his hair ruffled - which was not the same than having his hair combed, thank you very much - but this was dad and it had been a long time, so the young god figured he could let this one slide.
Just this one, however.
"Oh." The young boy stated, as if that made perfect sense. In a sense, it did, really. He knew what he was hearing, even if he could not make out the words. That seemed explanation enough.
"But wasn't really far... really ?" He asked, finally peering back toward his father's face. "Harmodius told me... that you were everywhere. Kind of." He hadn't been sure if he actually understood that. But if his father had kind of been everywhere at the same time, then he hadn't been very far away... in theory.
Thabara Nergal quirked a brow. „You talked to Harmodius?“
But of course, his request to take care of Lucius' passing … He wondered how that had gone, Echo hadn't mentioned anything of it, and he … he'd had other things on his mind.
„Mh-hm, he is right. I am Underworld, and ideally, where there is a world for the living, there would be a world for the dead deep underneath, just as the term implies. It is not like that everywhere yet, but I am working on that. However, distances are not the same for everyone. My realm … I,“ he corrected himself, as the child seemed to have much less trouble wrapping his brain around the idea of his dad being a place as well, „am never far away for the dead. But someone alive could dig and dig and dig and dig, and they would never reach me.“
„But, yes, if you were to go through one of the Doors to another world, I would not be further away from you than I am here.“
Zero Dream Indeed, Lament seemed to have no problem wraping his mind around the concept. After all, he was young - young enough to not have much in preconcieved notions, as well as no mortal host to influence those notions into shape.
"So... Very very very far down ?" He asked, head tilting to the side as he tended to do. "Hm-m, seen Harmodius..." The young boy started, but then went quiet, eyes widening a bit as if just now remembering something. "Just a second !" He gave the door a glare (at least, the best impression of such something as small and cute as he was could manage), as if daring anything to come in and distract his daddy while he was gone, and then the boy zoomed off, toward his room.
Thabara Nergal blinked with surprise as the little one wriggled free from his hold to dash off so suddenly. What now …?
Zero Dream The answer, in retrospect, was somewhat evident - the door opened and closed again, carefully, revealing his child and...
Well, the book he would not have come to know well. He had still been using the wax tablets when he had left. Nothing out of the ordinary about it, a simple black tome, but Akakios wielded it like if it was his most precious treasure, his very reason for existing.
He returned back to his father, plopping down on the floor and laying the book open in front of him. "I wrote about Lucius... Whereitis..." Pages after pages were turned, until, finally, he had found the right one. It seemed like Lament still had much to learn about organization.
He looked over the text, more out of nervous habit than anything else, and sang. Daddy needed to hear this, after all.
"There were once stars in the sky
Bright and clear
Dancing and dancing
Even if clouded
Then a great shadow cast
Darker than night, feel of absence
Stretching, covering all
And there was nothing left
Mortals panicked, screamed, wept
Thought they did not know
It was not only the great sky that was lost
But someone beloved
He will never come again
But He will never be forgotten
His memory kept close
in people's hearts"
Thabara There was only a moment's hesitation before Nergal moved to sit at his youngest son's side – on the floor – his long braids winding across the tiled slabs of dark stones like pale albino snakes.
Curiously, he peered as the pages were turned, catching a glimpse of young Lament's writing here and there. It was notable the texts had grown more complex with time, the writ going from the wobbly letters of a beginner to something more steady – though he certainly still required more practice. There was no doubt though, someone had taught his son in his absence. He wondered about that.
He closed his eyes as his son began to sing – using a real text for the first time instead of the non-sensical words and sounds he had heard of him before – and when he song ended, his expression was solemn, the gray eyes seeming darker than usual when they fluttered open once more, and … a little moist. He had not thought the little one would be able to tear on those wounds he'd thought scarred over, but there just was something about his voice … „You have done well,“ he complimented. „Did Harmodius like it?“ He certainly hoped so. If not … Well, there wasn't exactly much he could do about it, in that case.
„There is a star, a tiny, lonely one, in my domain now. Lucius and I … we met only twice, in this life. The first time was to ask a favor of him, and the second time … to seek his company, and, mayhaps, his friendship. We played a game, and promises were made, for further meetings and further games. But he … died, before I could keep up to it.“
He shifted, to sit a little more comfortably. „He gave me a gift, that time, some of his own blood. That is what I made the star from, the only one in the whole of the Underworld. There is no Sky down there, there never was, so I … always admired him from afar. And, perhaps, I was a little envious as well.“
Zero Dream "Yes." There was pride in his voice, but it was mostly hidden by the solemn tone that overwhelmed it. "Tian Yue liked it, too."
The boy was silent, however, as his father started his explanation. He listened all the way, did not even try to interrupt once, his only movement being the flick of the wrist that closed the book with a soft thud. It was odd to see his daddy like this, to hear these things from the Lord of the Dead himself, but... this wasn't the same thing at all.
Not the same kind of death, per-se, something that was beyond his understanding, and so there wasn't much he could do to help about that. One finger rose, silently, to brush his own tears away from his cheeks.
"...I want to see it." He said, softly. The first time Nergal would have heard him not refer himself with the third person.
Thabara „My realm?“ he queried, placing one pale finger underneath the boy's chin to gently lift his head. He had grown so much, during his absence. Not physically, not by much, with the obvious exception of his hair. But mentally. Speaking in whole sentences now, well-articulated, writing poetry now – even if he was still lacking refinement – when he had been merely learning his first letters when he had left.
Children. Turn your back to them for a second, and suddenly they will be adults.
Jessica, Xing … He knew what they meant now, when they talked about their children that way.
Zero Dream "Yes." He said, his voice still soft, his eyes still as emotional as they always were. True windows to the soul, in that case. Everything that Lament felt could be seen in his eyes, if one only bothered to look closely enough to see it. Now they spoke of sadness, as they often did, and longing.
He really did want to see it for himself. That lone star. Where all the ghosts were now. And everything that he had never seen before. He had always been a curious one, overeager to learn, know, and understand. That it was his father only made that want more pronounced.
"Soon ?" He knew better than to ask now. His mother would not appreciate, most likely.
Thabara Nergal was torn. With that look in Akakios' eyes, he really wanted to proudly show it to him now, his realm, the beauty of it.
He glanced over his shoulder through the wide open gates at his back, the garden in the peristyle of their rooms, and beyond. The door beyond which he knew Echo to be resting, sleeping.
Recovering as well, from the ill effects of his domain, the monotony, the cold. Of nothing there being truly alive. She'd not complained, not ever, but upon their return, she'd walked straighter, her step had been lighter, as if a great weight had been taken from her lithe form.
And while taking the boy down certainly would not be a problem, to bring him back up, worn out as he was now …
It might be somewhat of an issue.
He had seen the longing in Echo's eyes, when she spoke of their children, so similar to Kios' expression right now.
„Soon,“ he promised quietly, his heart heavy as he cupped the boy's face in both large hands and bent down to place a kiss upon his forehead.
Zero Dream Akakios, at least, seemed to possess enough sense to not put the matter forward further, staying still until Nergal let go, and nodding. He was totally holding him up to this, however.
For now, though... Ah. Lament reached for his book once more, looking for something else he liked enough to show his father. There... didn't seem to be much that fitted that description, but Nergal would be able to get a peek at the texts as he flipped though them again.
Thabara „You have been writing a lot,“ Nergal stated, considerably impressed by the sheer amount of pages which were covered with the boy's still unsteady writing. „Who has taught you?“ He had a feeling it could not have been Echo, the idea just … didn't quite seem to fit.
Zero Dream "Gianfar." The answer came quickly enough. "Was in the library trying to figure things... Didn't go too well." He frowned to himself, remembering that day. It had been soon after his father had departed, but that seemed so long ago, so far away now. "Taught me lots of stuff."
Little did Lament knew that Knowledge had probably been the happier party in that situation.
Thabara Well, that certainly did explain the progress. He would have to pay his respects to Gianfar at some point then, to thank him for his efforts. „Is that so,“ he asked idly. „What kind of … 'stuff'?“
Zero Dream "Lots of words." The child clarified... lightly. "All sort of words, how to write them and put them together. How to understand them instead of just copying the letters." Which, indeed, had been pretty much all that he had managed when Knowledge had found him, but he wasn't about to admit that. Not to daddy, thank you. "Oh, and how to use tablets and dictionaries for reference..." Well. They'd certainly been rather busy, hadn't they ?
Thabara „I am impressed,“ Nergal remarked, honestly meaning those words. At the same time, he was glad it was obviously no dangerous knowledge the child had been taught. He had not yet met Gianfar in this new life, but there was a lingering feeling, some sort of echo of the long lost past that … he could go overboards in his desire to teach. Hopefully he knew what was apropriate for children, and what not.
„Would you, mayhaps, consider writing something for me?“
Zero Dream Write something for daddy ? Well, why not ? He'd written for Creation, after all. And for his mommy and his sister. With his mind set, though, Lament was left wondering about one thing.
Hm.
"...What do you want me to write about ?" An honest question, really. One that would likely jolt inspiration from the slightest answer.
Thabara „Hrm …” Nergal considered this. The request had been made on a whim, really, after having seen just how much his son actually seemed to enjoy his own writing.
„Something, perhaps, for those left behind? That they need not to fear for those they have lost, for I welcome everyone the same.” He didn't mention judgment, not yet, though that probably wasn't fair. „I can tell you of the beauty of my realm, if you want to,” he said, leaning his back against the massive chair which usually served as his seat in this room. The position was awkward, but not too uncomfortable. And he was too tired to mind, really.
Zero Dream Well, that was the next best thing if he couldn't see for himself just yet, wouldn't he ? "Please." Lament was all ears now, his attention wolly focused on his father. He probably would not write right there and right now, but.... he'd get to it. Inspiration was sometime a fickle thing, even for little gods such as he.
Thabara „Hm …“ He picked up the child to sit in his lap, pale fingers idly playing with the soft, lavender hair, before he smoothed it and began undoing the braid. Considering his overall build, his fingers were surprisingly nimble, and the long, sharp nails helped with the task.
„It is similar to here, as it is an echo, a shadow of the world of the living … but at the same time shaped by their desires, their hopes and expectations. It is lesser,.and at the same time, larger than life. Seemingly endless plains and rolling hills, giant waterfalls and sheer cliffs which drop into a bottomless abyss. Caves of a size which could – and may – house cities, countries.“
„Nothing lives there, but to the dead it does not matter.“
„There is no sky … but looking upwards, you would find yourself looking akin to an aurora, like a giant stream of soft, muted light.“ He wondered if auroras were actually still witnessed, with the sky gone. „That is the River of Souls, as they pass into my realm.“
„There is not … really much made yet,“ he admitted. „My court consists of a throne and a row of collumns, the only building yet is the villa I crafted for your mother-“ He paused, suddenly thinking of something. „Is there anything you would like to have made for you?“ he queried. „My powers are by no means comparable to Creation's, but …“
Zero Dream The youngest son sat still in his father's lap, unusually still for a boy his age, listening with great interest as his father spoke, as if enraptured by the words spoken to him. At the description of this place that, even if it was his father, he did not yet know of. Listened and did his best to commit it all to memory.
The last question left the child pondering for a moment. What could he ask for ? What was it that he wanted ? "....A library." He finally said, softly as if afraid that the idea was silly. But he liked Gianfar's library - comfortable and quiet, with a multitude of ancient tablets and newly re-written tomes always ready to be found and to reveal their secrets. It had always captivated him.
Thabara „A library?“ Nergal blinked, not having foreseen that wish. His children, even the one seemingly most demure and quiet among them, would never cease to surprise him. „Well then,“ he said, „a library. It will take some time though …“ He might need Knowledge or Number's help with this, in fact.
„There is a condition though, one thing that I would ask of you in return.“
Zero Dream ...One thing his father needed in return ? A thoughtfull expression crossed the boy's face, but they as he might, he could not figure out what his father would need of him.
"What is it ?" The boy finally asked, after running out of guessing options.
Thabara „That, whenever you finish one of your pieces, little Mournsong, you will contribute a copy of it to this library.“ He smiled, all proud father, before he set himself to the task of braiding his son's hair anew.
Zero Dream Ah, well... That wouldn't be too hard, wouldn't it ? Writing was meant to be read, after all.
"'Kay." The boy answered, going still once more as his father started braiding.
Thabara
„It is a promise then.“ Nergal nodded, his fingers working swiftly and nimbly, despite the fact they – all him, in fact – were beginning to feel heavy as lead. The resulting braid certainly looked a good bit neater than the previous one – he wondered who'd woven it.
„So … Would you then, little Mournsong, whenever you have got the time, write down the Lament for the Skies for me, as neatly as you can?“ He tapped one clawed finger against his own massive chin in thought. „On parchment, or something else that is more durable than paper. It does look nicer too.“
„That other song I requested of you … It has time. Feel free to wait with it until you have seen my realm with your own eyes.“ He finished off the braid, securing it again with the small length of leather string.
Zero Dream Parchment ? He knew the word, knew what it refered to, but he had never seen such thing with his own eyes. "Where can I find that ?" That would be the issue, indeed.
He nodded at the second statement, and was glad for that, too, because he was not quite sure what to write about that yet. Seeing often worked better at sparking inspiration in his young mind than simple explanations.
Thabara Nergal frowned. He hadn't thought of it really, and not expected for his son to shoot yet another question at him. „Hunt's followers might have some,“ he pondered, „otherwise … Gianfar might know. Really, if you cannot get hold of it, paper is just fine.“
Zero Dream Hm. Well, he'll still do his best to find some first. Lament would not be deterred so easily. "Ill find some."
He moved away from his father's lap, then, gathering his book, which was still laying open on the ground.
Thabara „I am certain you will. Feel free to 'borrow' any aoide or follower of mine to help you in the task.” Really, he'd rather not Kios made the long trek into the woods that were Hunt's without company. Taking the cue from his son, Nergal gathered his robes and got up himself, the bone ornaments in his hair faintly clicking against one another as he moved. He just barely managed not to sway in the wave of dizziness which assaulted him all of a sudden. The god rested one hand upon the armrest of his seat momentarily, the fingers of his other rubbing the bridge of his nose, as if he was having a headache. Indeed, the sensation was very close to it. The symptoms were strangely familiar, not not something he'd felt … Not something he had felt, but of his host's memories, rather. When he recognized them for what they were, his lips pressed into a thin, annoyed line. This cannot be, I just slept for months … But indeed, this was what lack of sleep felt like. That, and gravity seemed to double with every passing second, insisting on pulling him down.
He straightened nonetheless, smoothing out his robes. „Akakios,” he said calmly, „I am going to join your mother now, and then … I may have to leave again, I think. I am very tired. But, I promise I will not be gone, or asleep, for long.”
Zero Dream "Kay." The young god nodded again, not looking sleepy in the least, for his part. He did not mind. He had gotten used to keeping himself occupied while everyone else slept, after all. And he was too young to truly be concerned about the signs he saw, of what his father spoke. He took it simply as him wanting to be with his mother for a bit.
Thabara „Sweet child.“ Nergal bent down, breathing a faint kiss upon his youngest's forehead before he turned to leave; the feathers of his wings brushing against the boy's skin almost affectionately as he did. |
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Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2012 9:53 am
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Have You Seen My Parchment ?
It went without saying that Akakios was very excited. His father had returned... even though he seemed to have left again, since now Lament could not find him anywhere. That was fine, he figured. His father had said he would not be gone for long this time, and ever since Harmodius had told him that Nergal was basically everywhere... it hadn't been so bad. That meant his father was never really far away. And having Underworld himself say the same had settled it, in his mind. There was no reason to worry, not really.
He could only hope his mother understood the same, as if it would make this so much easier.
Add to that the fact that he was getting a library, a place that was really, really only for him, and he was practically jumping to the ceiling. So he had to do something for it, not a big deal. The big deal was that his father asked for parchment, and he had no idea where to find it. Sure, he could use something else, Nergal had said so, but he wanted to find what his dad had asked. Or at least try to, first. He did not want to bother Gianfar about it just yet... his mother might have some, after all. She had so many things, many books and pens and all that. Maybe she had some parchment, too ! That would be handy.
Akakios looked into the garden first, but Echo was not there. She was not in her bedroom either, or in the common room or the kitchen. Which really left only one place where the boy thought his mother would be right now, if she was still inside.
If she wasn't, then this was about to become a little more difficult.
Akakios paused in front of the closed door of what his mother called the music room. He had been in here once or twice before, going to see her for help with words or whatnot, but he had never been in there alone. It was his mother's place, and no one else was really allowed to go in there alone. Fair enough, he thought, as he would be a little upset if someone just went thought his room without asking him first.
He rose his hand, and knocked on the smooth wood. There was silence for a few seconds, but then, finally, an answer. ”Yes ?”
Lament took it as his indicator to come inside, and he opened the door, sliding inside before closing it again, careful not to drop his book in the process. His mother was there, sitting at her desk, a pen in hand. She'd been busy... At least it seemed so. The goddess moved to stand, however, and walk toward him, a smile on her face. ”Ah, hello, my dear.”
”Are you busy, mommy ?” He hadn't meant to bother her, really, not if she was busy. She probably had so many things to do now that she was back and that his father was okay.
Echo croutched in front of him, however, stopping there to look at him with her beautiful eyes. They moved whenever she talked. He often wondered how his mother managed that. He had never managed to do it with his own when he tried. ”Of course not.”
Akakios knew otherwise, but at least she seemed okay with it. He could ask, then. ”I have a question.”
”And what would it be, my dear ?”
”Do you know where to find some parchment ?” Well, there it was. He could only hope she had some, or knew where to find some now.
The second he had asked that, he could see the look on her face change to one of open curiosity. ”And what do you need parchment for ?”
Lament pondered this for a moment. He could tell her... or he could keep it a surprise for when it was all said and done. Even he knew of his mother's curiosity, which rivaled his own – the latter was a much funner idea. ”It's a secret.”
Sure enough, a small pout formed on her face at that, but she seemed to relent. ”And secrets certainly require important things.” She said, working herself to stand upright again. ”Unfortunately, I have not seen parchment for a long time. It is rather fragile, you see...” Echo stopped them, apparently thinking about something before continuing ”Many things broke before the ritual, do you remember ?”
”Uh-uh.” Akakios wasn't sure he liked the way this was going... and he frowned a little bit. ”So it's all gone ?”
”Ah, no, I would not think so. There has probably been some more made, since things became better again, but I do not have any, and I am unsure who would. Gianfar, maybe ? Or, well...” Ah, at least that was that. He could still find some... his mother seemed to have an idea, however, and he took her outstretched hand with his free hand. She led him toward the huge bookcase at the back of the room, where there were many tomes and loose packs of paper. ”I might not have any parchment, but I certainly have a lot of pretty paper here. Would that do ?”
But it was parchment that he wanted... !!! Well, if he couldn't find any and his mother had something pretty enough, it would still be better than plain white paper, at least. ”Still want to find some parchment, but... maybe ?”
”If you find something you like here, you can keep it. Even if you do find your parchment, then you can use it for something else.” She pulled one of the piles of loose paper from the top shelf and crouched again so he could have a good look at them. ”Any of these ?”
Akakios watched them all, but... he didn't like any of them, not really. They were either pale pastels, which didn't really fit, or too fancy, even, where the design would make it hard to read things on them. ”Don't like those.” Echo nodded at him, then returned the piles to the top shelf. She looked again for a minute or so, then pulled down something else.
”Ah, look, Kios.” She held out another stack at him. ”This one is still just paper, but it's patterned like parchment. Would that do ?”
Truth was, he had never seen parchment – he had no idea what it looked like, but if his mother said it looked like parchment, then he had no reason to not believe her. It was a nice brown color, each sheet patterned lightly, and yet definitively normal paper under his touch. This wasn't too bad, he figured, but he would not relent so quickly. He would still try to find some real parchment first. ”I think so.”
”You can keep it then.” Echo said, handing him the pile – which he slid over his book and tucked back under his arm, with his left hand closing on the side of the whole thing to keep both book and pack of paper from tumbling over on the floor. ”I would just write on a normal sheet of ruled paper first.” Akakios perked at that, unsure where his mother was going at. ”To make sure everything is even and you like the shape of the letters. Then just put the patterned paper over and retrace the whole thing onto it. This way you make sure everything is where you want it to be.”
Oh ! He hadn't thought about that at all. That paper did not have lines, she was right. He smiled for her, and leaned over to kiss her cheek. ”Thanks, mommy !” He had one answer, at least, one tidbit of information even if it wasn't the one he sought. It would still be useful.
He still had to try to find some parchment first, and perhaps Gianfar was indeed his best option... |
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Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2012 9:54 am
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A Mysterious Closet
Zero Dream It was still somewhat early, by mortal standard, when Akakios carefully opened and closed the main door to his parents' room in the pantheon to slide into the hallway. No one seemed to have noticed his sneaking out, thanks to his older brother - which was a scene straight outside oppositeland in itself. Sotiris covering for him ?
The irony had not been lost on young Lament.
He had a mission, however, and he was not about to let over-protective aoidei get in his way, not even Ianthe - he was a big boy, and he would do it on his own. He had to find some parchment...
Problem is, he had no idea where to start. His steps had started to lead him toward the library, but he stopped before the closet in the hallway as he often did, regarding it with open curiosity. The young god had never thought much about it... until he had met Karaskis again and she had told him about what was supposedly behind. Ever since then, he could barely resist the urge to knock on it and see if it was true, but he had been rather busy before.
And now... not so much, not with both parents accounted for. The parchment could wait... and maybe Mystery would know where to find some. It did seem like a mystery to him, at least.
He rose one small fist, and knocked.
Eftemie She was headed towards the audience hall to dust it when she heard the knock. Unusual as most people thought it was a closet and simply opened the door to discover them. Excentrique moved quietly, feather duster in her hand to open the door. A smile crossed her face at seeing such a young person there but she knew it was a young godly by his appearance.
"And what may I do for you, my Lord?" she asked, opening the door wide so that Kios could enter fully. "Is it Lord Tajnevaki you seek?" There was a bit of amusement in her voice though she was entirely serious in her question. Few this age sought him out deliberately. "We do not often get knocks upon our door but visitors just the same."The aoide knew that Taj was upstairs playing with his son. He would not mind the young godling coming up but would consider it an adventure for Maddie. The baby was growing like a weed and was now about seven months old, trying to crawl as well as stand sometimes. Madrigal was a happy child and seemed to love holding onto Siddhi's hair much to the amusement of everyone. Taj sat on the floor with the boy, teasing him with a toy rattle he had made for him. The upper portion was a hollowed out globe of wood that he had placed a few rocks inside to rattle around. The handle was wooden and looked like a bird's claw. He had spent an entire week making the item for his son to play with. The globe itself was threaded to screw down into the handle tightly. Maddie giggled as he reached out for it, but then crawled into his father's lap to get even closer. Sitting himself up, the child watched his father and then grabbed his hand to try to reach the rattle.
Zero Dream Akakios straightned up a little when the door actually opened - he was half expecting it not to, to be honest, and peered up at the aoidei that answered the door.
"Erm..." Well, now that he thought about it, his reasons were a little silly. "Karaskis said I could drop by sometime ?" Yes, this was all he had to give as reason to be standing here right now, but perhaps he did not need any other reason. He stepped inside carefully as Excentrique moved aside, taking it as an invitation to enter.
...Well, this was one big closet.
Eftemie Triq smiled warmly at the little godling. "Well, we enjoy company although most do not know. They think it is a closet or an attic door and that is what they see of course. The first time they open it. I'm sure that Lord Taj would like to see you. He's playing with his son, so how about I show you the way upstairs to his room?"She started to turn down the hallway but then stopped a mischievious smile on her face. "Would you like to go the long way and see everything or the short way and explore later?" She was somehow sure the boy would want to go the long way and see it all but then again, children liked to explore also. Triq was prepared to take him either way he wanted to go. It delayed the dusting she really did not like doing.
Zero Dream Hmmm, this required pondering. The shorter way would have him there quicker, to see that baby Fire had talked to him about and ask Mystery some questions he had. But on the other hand... the long way was an adventure. Unlike his elder brother, he did not embark such things often, and the prospect was thrilling. An adventure all on his own !
Well, not truly all on his own, but very nearly so.
"The long way." He answered after a few seconds, rather predictably.
Eftemie "Somehow I figured you might pick that." Triq replied in amusement as she watched Kios. "This way, my Lord." The aoide indicated that they exit through the opening to the right. It led directly over to the fairy castle sitting in front of the small waterfall. "Those are some of the fairies that Lord Taj managed to save. They can be quite mischievious sometimes."
The castle was aglow with small lights or perhaps they were fireflies that had been coaxed into giving the fairies some light. The fairies themselves laughed and played as they flew through the air around and in the waterfall beside it. She gave him a minute or two to see them before leading him on down the stone path. Triq could have taken him down the hallway and circling around to Taj's room, but somehow she was sure he would enjoy the outside more than the inside of the area. Leading him to the back corner, she stopped as several small childlike oni ran through teasing one another.
"Those are oni. The larger demons were terrible to them, but Hagenti and Anji managed to save some of their race. They seem to like being here and they do not cause too much trouble." Triq knew there were other things that probably caught the boy's attention. The mushrooms and moss that glowed lighting their path. The insects that buzzed and hummed from place to place. Even the small lizards that skittered away or hesitated and watched as they passed by. By the time she led him to the large waterfall at the back, Triq had shown him nearly everything. The water cascaded down into the pond below while several fish glinted in the depths. "So what do you think?"
Zero Dream Akakios followed the aoide, stopping in front of the small castle and waterfall, looking at the whole thing with wide, curious eyes, his expression in awe. He had read about fairies, but had never seen any for real - they were so tiny ! The books had certain said that they were, but he had still imagined them to be bigger than that. He certainly did not feel as small as he thought, now.
It took a few seconds for him to notice that Triq had started to move on, but a quick dash was enough to get back beside her once he had managed to tear his eyes away from the fairies. Lament certainly had the energy level of a child, though it was subdued most of the time.
He looked at the oni with a similar curiosity, perhaps even deeper since he had not read about them and knew nothing. They seemed happy now, even thought they had suffered in the past, as the aoide told him. Such was life, really, and he saw no need to pity them.
Out of all the other things, it seemed that it was the glowing mushrooms that held his attention, as well as the waterfall. That was nifty ! "Wow." That summed it all up nicely, actually. "That's very nice."
Eftemie Triq laughed. "Yes, Lord Taj likes the sound as it echos, so lots of water. He likes the mushrooms for light also and I'm sure if you want to take one to study it, he would let you have one. Some of the insects glow also. He has alot of secrets laced here. Some I know and others I do not. I am sure he will want his temple underground and quite possibly with a labyrinth of some sort. He seems to like mazes and riddles even though he does not speak. I'm sure you will understand him though. You seem to catch on quick."Leading him inside the back opening, she stopped at the kitchen. "Delphine, this is Lord Kios. How about a tray of cookies and tea to take upstairs? Maddie likes cookies and so too does Lord Taj have a sweet tooth. I'm sure he does also." It only took a moment to get the tray ready. Delphine handed over the cookies as she bowed to the boy. "I'm Delphine. I just finished baking those. So they are fresh and still warm. Are you going up the secret way or the normal way?" she asked, trying to intrigue the boy further.
"The normal way. It's up to Taj to show him those secrets or for him to discover them himself." Excentrique replied, a smile on her face. "What fun would there be if it was all told instead of looked for? Don't you agree, my Lord? Half the fun is in getting there."
"I definitely agree." she replied, nodding emphatically. "Have fun."Turning she moved towards the inner curve holding the tray firmly. "The stairs are this way. Lord Mystery's room is upstairs as is Madrigal. Rhys is nearby also with his guardian. That is Lady Karaskis' son. I think Lady Cosine was the last person to visit Madrigal." she stated as she moved further inward. Taj was sure to have fun with both Kios and his son.
Zero Dream It was, perhaps, the word underground that caught his attention first of all. "Dad has a whole realm underground." That certainly beat a temple, and maybe his dad could help Taj with getting it just right. "Very very far down. He told me that someone alive could just dig, and dig, and dig forever and never get there." He said, sagely. "Ghosts don't have a problem getting there, through." He had not seen it for himself, certainly, but it was what his father had said, and the young god had no reason to doubt it.
He quieted when the two started to talk to each other, his expression turning to curiosity, then to a pout as they did not reveal more of those secrets. That wasn't very fair, to start talking about interesting things and not finish like that !
He said nothing, however - the boy knew better than complain in a place that wasn't his - and instead he followed Triq again as she went toward the stairs. Were Maddie and Rhys brothers like he and Soto were brothers, then ? No, that seemed wrong, Karaskis hadn't described Maddie at being like him at all. Not a god-child. A baby of all things. Akakios wasn't quite sure how to deal with something like that. "Cosine ?" He perked. "That's my aunt." He announced, with no shortage of pride in his voice. "She's very nice. And she teach me numbers."
Eftemie "Numbers are important. And she is probably the best teacher of such and even better that she is an aunt." Triq agreed and nodded. "I would imagine before the fading that your father and Mystery were known to one another. With the underground returned, I would think that soon Lord Taj will be wanting to recreate the labyrinth again. And I would think that they would want it hard for most people to get there. It makes them more worthy when they do, no? I don't remember all of the maze but it was filled with lots of secrets that only Taj knew were there. And perhaps Lord Creation and Lord Nergal. They would know." As they climbed the stairs she stopped at the door directly in front, knocking on it. Holding the tray to the side, she waited for a moment. Taj glanced up from where he was sitting on the floor playing with Maddie. The baby was giggling as he knocked over the blocks they had been stacking. Opening the door, the god glanced at Triq and then winked at Kios, pushing the door wide enough they could both enter.
"We brought some cookies and tea, and Lord Kios is here for a visit, my Lord. Please help yourselves to the cookies and tea." Triq explained as Taj pulled his tablet from his pocket. Bowing politely to both, she exited quickly leaving the three alone.
he wrote and then indicated the blocks and baby in the center of the room as the aoide placed the tray on the table nearby. With a gesture he indicated that Kios take cookies and tea as he liked, then wrote, < This is my son, Madrigal Araven, or Maddie as he is known. > Maddie giggled as he placed the blocks on top of one another and then knocked them down again. Each action was the same but he giggled more and more each time they fell. It seemed as if he had his own little world to build and destroy. Then he noticed Kios and watched him closely for a moment. A block was offered and then stacked on top as the baby watched him.
Zero Dream "Uh uh." The boy pondered this for a moment, and decided he agreed with it. Not everything could be easy, just the same as not everything could be bright and happy all the time. That was fine this way.
Akakios winked back, and stepped in carefully behind the aoidei, looking around the room with great interest, eyes finally settling on Maddie. He... he was so tiny ! Sure, he had been told so, but he hadn't expected this tiny at all.
Him and his siblings, they had definitively never been this tiny. How curious !
The young god moved toward the child, snagging a cookie as he passed and croutching near Maddie. "Hi, Maddie. Those are nice blocks you have. Did you dad find them for you ?"
It never occurred to him that Madrigal was too young to properly answer him. Lament observed the offered block with curiosity, taking it then starting to put another tower back together. It was probably going to be destroyed in seconds, but he didn't mind.
Eftemie  Taj grinned as Kios moved over to Maddie wondering what had prompted the godling to visit. Picking up two cookies, he sat back down on the floor near both boys. The cookies were soft enough that Maddie could eat them so he held one out to the baby. Maddie continued to stack the blocks and then knocked them all down to the last one with glee. He shoved a block at Kios giggling as he pulled it back teasing the godling. Then he pushed another one at him, stacking his own block the next instant. He ignored the cookie. The blocks were far more interesting and made noise when he banged them together. His eyes were lit up in delight at the attention of someone new. Taj wrote, < What brings Lament to my doorstep? Surely not the simple curiousity of babes and blocks. Or even cookies. Secrets abound here within whispers and reach. >
Zero Dream Akakios pouted a bit at the teasing, but was mature enough to know not to let him get to him too much. But he took one of the blocks and held it high in the air, right out of Maddie's reach. Ah, two could play that game, really !
He munched on his own cookie thoughtfully as he peered over at the paper to read what had been written. The first time he had seen Mystery, he had not known how to read, so whatever he had written back then, he had not known. Writing was probably the accomplishment he was the most proud of. "Kara said I could drop by." He offered as explanation. "And I was wondering... do you know where I can find some parchment ? I really need some. It's really important." Sure, Nergal had said normal paper would be okay too, but it was really important for him. He had to at least try to find it first.
Eftemie Taj grinned widely as Maddie teased Kios and then the godling teased him back. Maddie stared at the block suddenly out of his reach and wanted it. A moment later he was crawling over to Kios and suddenly in his lap trying to reach the block. Each action elicited a giggle from the baby. Shaking his head, Taj simply let it continue as he took the tablet in hand. He frowned thoughtfully at the request for parchment. There had been various kinds of paper in the desk they had at the house. Everything in the drawers had been brought as had the piece of furniture. It now resided in his workshop the top of which he used to lay out the drawings and plans he worked on from time to time. Rhys also used it. Pen in hand, he wrote < Perhaps an old desk hides such ancient secrets. When childish play is done and sleep nearer, then a search can ensue. > He knew that Maddie would need a nap soon. Siddhi would come from downstairs and see that he got such allowing them to freely move to the workshop nearby.
Zero Dream Akakios looked over to Maddie with obvious amusement in his eyes, but the rest of his face did not quite follow suit. Lament teasingly moved the block away, pulling back further and further, eventually losing his balance and falling onto his back with a startled eep. From there on it would be all too easy for the baby so simply crawl his way to the desired block.
Clearly, he'd been outwitted, and he probably could have gotten back up in time, but Maddie would have probably toppled over. He'd toppled over a few times, and that hurted, and he didn't want to hurt Maddie at all.
Akakios could not quite see the tablet from his unfortunate angle, which left him unable to answer Mystery.
Eftemie Maddie giggled in delight as he clambored on top of Kios to get the block. Once he had it from the godling, he sort of rolled off and crawled back to stacking blocks. Just as they reached a nice height, he rubbed his eyes sleepily but then knocked them over. Only a portion fell but he did not seem to notice. Instead, he began to fuss shoving them away from him entirely. Footsteps could be heard coming up the stairs in the far corner. Siddhi carried some clean towels and clothing to the table nearby. "Oh, you have company, my Lord." Smiling, she bowed to Kios. "I am Siddhi and I take care of Madrigal."Taj picked Madrigal up entirely, holding his son close for a moment. Then he handed him off to two of the four arms the aoide had. Glancing back at Kios, he smiled and added to the words he had already written, < A secret is waiting to be found. > Moving towards the door, he opened it, but picked up the tray of tea and cookies while waiting on Kios. They would simply move to the workshop.
Zero Dream The godling-turned-play park remained still until Maddie rolled off, and it was only then that he moved to sit again.
And then... Maddie wasn't too interested in playing anymore, it looked like. He recognized it for what it was, having dealt with it often with his older siblings in their younger days. Now he knew that the middle of the night was not the best time for playtime.
He nodded when Siddhi showed up - she looked just like the one aoide that bothered Soto so much, and almost asked if they were sisters before he stopped himself and let her to take care of the little one instead.
Lament stood one more, glancing at the paper, then following with a curious glimmer in his eyes. "Where are we going ?"
Eftemie Taj grinned indicating for the godling to follow him, but instead of going down the stairs in front of them, he walked towards the wall. With a twitch of amusement to his lips, he stepped through the wall entirely. A door was suddenly seen as soon as the god stopped within it and once Kios went through it, the doorway was entirely hidden again. One had to know it was there to find it a second time. Much like the god's room. When he was certain that Kios knew the spot, Taj moved on straight across the bedroom. He stopped in front of the wall on the opposite side with a smile. A quick nod of his head to continue to follow him and he stood in a similarly hidden doorway which led into the workshop beyond. The desk carved of dark wood stood against the curved wall just in front of them. The roll top was open revealing the drawers and cubby holes that had once contained whatever papers its owner had once considered of importance. Taj had done little other than refresh the wood with some oils to protect the finish and it shined with importance once more but to his plan of use. Empty shelves lined the sides of the curving room that branched off. One or two oddities were carefully placed in various places. Taj had been tempted to put Pretzel there but had instead placed the staff in a hidden corner of the workshop nearer to his room where it remained unseen. And unheard. Pretzel was not impressed nor happy, but for now he remained silent about it while plotting some sort of revenge upon the god. Time would tell whether he got it or not. Setting the tray on an empty table, Taj wrote, < An ancient desk where parchment lies fallow. > He was unsure if there was parchment within it, but if so then Kios should find something suitable for his use. Stopping, eyes amused, he waited on the godling to begin his search in the drawers.
Zero Dream Okay, those hidden doors were something else. The boy's eyes went wide at the first sight, and he hesitated at each passing of such doors. Try as he might, he wasn't quite sure how that worked out. Was Taj hiding them like he had done with the coin, when he had first seen him ?
"How do you do that ?" Oh, yes, he was very curious, but beside those spots, he followed Mystery, taking in the surroundings as they passed, until they got to the workshop.
That desk was gorgeous, really. Much more so than the one he had, which was... well, moreso a table than a desk. He stared at it for a moment, then eyed Taj as if to ask for silent permission once more before stepping toward it and taking a peek in the first drawer.
Eftemie Taj nodded indicating that he could look in the desk and the rest of the workroom. If he had parchment it was most likely here somewhere. The obvious place to look was the desk but Taj was seldom obvious and the parchment could be anywhere. It might even simply be rolled up and placed in the oddities room as a distraction from the things really there. Tilting his head, he smiled taking his tablet into his hand. When the boy was finished, he would give him an explanation of the doors. At least as much as he gave anyone. With pen in hand, he began writing. < If one knows the path, then everything can be hidden. A step often goes over what hides it from view. Test what you think you see. > A riddle but he would let Lament search the doors to see if he could figure out what was there and why the doors were not. Then he would change it so that the next time the boy came, he could once more discover how it was hidden. Sitting down after placing the tablet to side, Taj watched while the boy began looking though things. The things that would be harmful Mystery would carefully hide, obscuring their paths, so that few would find them if they even gained entrance here. Few would.
Zero Dream Lament was not quite giving any attention to the tablet yet, peeking through the drawer. This first drawer had no paper, but it had plenty of curious things which made him look upon the contents with wonder. Pens, so many pens, and a few things like paperclips that he had yet to really see or use, and therefore caught his attention.
Everything could be a treasure, after all, especially to a young mind.
The second drawer proved to be more satisfactory - there was indeed paper in there ! Maybe,,, He started looking though the stacks, carefully moving small piles back so that he could see.
His fingers stopped onto something different and he paused. It looked like what his mother had given him - paper patterned like parchment - but it did feel a little different. Heavier, mostly. That had to be it. "I think I found some !" He exclaimed, with a grin.
Eftemie Grinning widely, Taj watched Kios closely. The boy was excited. It was written in his expression that Kios liked the desk and was having fun searching through the drawers for parchment. Taj had no idea that there had been some there but it seemed the logical place to look for it. If there had been more oddities in his storage, he would have let the boy explore to his heart's content. But there was nothing there except a jar of eyes. There was still something about it that made him keep it. Though he was uncertain what it was. And Pretzel, carefully hidden for now. Leaving the tablet where it lay for Kios to read, Taj moved towards the pens. Pulling out two that he knew worked well and still had enough ink, he held them out to Kios. Then he picked up several paperclips and handed them to him as well. To the tablet he added more words to what he had written before, < Take what you will to write songs of beautious lament that those who give it all in sacrifice may be well remembered. It is their due and our debt to pay. >
Zero Dream Lament observed the pens and the paperclips as they were offered to him, uncertain for a moment. He already had many pens, and he was not even sure what the paperclips were meant to do, but... Mystery seemed to want him to take them, so he did.
He pulled the heavy stack of parchment from the drawer and let it lay on his lap. It was indeed heavy... much more heavy than the paper he had encountered so far. Some sheets were brittle, but overall, the desk and it's contents had survived decay rather well.
He looked over to Taj's tablet when he saw him write, and nodded. This... was not exactly what he needed it for - he certainly would not dream on writing drafts on something like that, really, it was just so... pretty and important, too pretty and important to be wasted on draft, and he could see why his father seemed to like it so much now. "Yeah." He wasn't quite sure he understood it all, but he nodded. It was what he had to do. He felt it, deep within him.
Eftemie Taj smiled widely as he indicated the tea and cookies still waiting for them. Picking one up, he bit into it as he moved towards a grouping of boxes that he had been slowly working on from time to time. Watching Kios from the corner of his eye, he moved towards one in particular. The size and shape would work well for the parchment. The boy seemed so delighted with finding it that perhaps he needed a special place to keep it and something that would inspire him so that when those final drafts were ready, the parchment was protected until then. With a smile, he carried it back over, placing it in front of the godling. The box itself was a rich dark wood that was burnished lighter in some places. At one time it had been painted with deep purple and Taj had left some of that coloring in it when he cleaned and repaired the surface. Silvery metal bands had been hammered around the chest for support. And the latch was a dark silver nearly black latch that turned to lock the box up tightly. It could be carried easily without ever opening by accident. The parchment would fit perfectly inside with a bit of room to spare for a prized pen or two. Picking up his tablet again, Taj simply wrote < Such a treasure needs to be protected. > When he had salvaged the chest, he had noone in mind, but it suited the young godling perfectly.
Zero Dream Lament helped himself to another cookie, not moving from his position in front of the desk but his curious glance following Mystery's movements as he reached toward the box. It was only when Taj came back to him with it that Akakios understood, and he nodded. The box itself was unlike anything he had seen - the patches of purple where a little odd but it seemed to add to it, somehow. One could tell that it was an object that had seen and likely carried many things. The godling wanted to ask Taj just where he had found it to be able to know at least some of that history, but that seemed a little silly.
"You're right." He agreed with a small, almost shy sort of smile - as if he was unused to the expression - and he carefully placed the parchment, the pens and the paper clips within. It was like a treasure box, really.
"Thank you." Akakios inclined his head respectfully - something his mother had taught him. "Ill make good use of everything."
Eftemie Taj watched the godling a moment, smiling. He would get some used from the box and take care of it. He did not tell him that it had been taken from things they had salvaged from the crates on the spaceship. What planet it came from, Taj did not know. All that mattered was that Kios could use it. As he sipped his tea and indicated that Kios help himself, he noted that the boy liked the desk. He would keep watch for a second desk for the boy. It was not hard to see the wistful way he looked at it. Such a treasure would fit one who had it in them to write. Taking his tablet in hand, Taj wrote once more. < Your father has returned? > He had heard a rumor that Nergal was created the underworld again. Faint images of a labyrinth had slipped down over him when he had first understood. His own realm was perhaps close to Nergal's or perhaps even a portion of it. Perhaps he should speak to him and see what the other deities thoughts were on it. < There was rumor of such and a new underground. > As he waited on an answer, Mystery moved towards the wood nearby. Picking up one of his knives, he began to carve on a piece he had been working on. When he had the image worked in, the knife was replaced with bits of sandpaper to smooth the surface. He had begun this piece with nothing in mind and the shape of it reflected such, but it was an interesting design until he found what it would become.
Zero Dream Akakios looked over at the tea when it was gestured toward. He had never really tried it before - he know his mother liked it, but his father drank something completely different, a pitch black liquid that he was not allowed to try, which only made him want to try it more, of course. He took one of the cups and sipped from it, making a bit of a face at the taste.
It needed more sugar. Definitively. There were some undertones in flavors he recognized, which probably was the reason he did not dismiss it outright after that first experiment.
"Yeah." He answered the question written on the tablet, after having observed what Mystery was carving for a moment. "He made his place again, and almost all the ghosts are there now." There was a bit of melancholy in his voice - he had grown used to the relative silence, but he still missed his 'invisible friends', especially late when everyone else was sleeping. "He comes and goes to see us and mom, but he doesn't stick around for long." His father was busy and... it looked difficult for him to remain here, somehow. It made no sense since he had no problem with it before, but it was the impressions he got from it.
"What are you doing ?" It was his turn to ask a question, expression eager. He had never seen someone carve things before. Sculpting yes, but not carving.
Eftemie Taj nodded as he listened closely to the boy. He missed his father and he could hear it in the child's voice. Mystery briefly wondered if the boy would not be happier in the underground with his father than here, but he was sure Nergal had much to do having just made the place again. He would find more time for his children when things slowed down. Taj stopped, picking up the tablet again. < Something lies within and wants free. Rabbit perhaps. Squirrel very likely. Blossom in full bloom. Maybe. A carver on another planet taught this. It will eventually shape itself when it tells my fingers what it wants to be. > Catching the eagerness in Kios' voice, Taj grinned as he watched him. Picking up another piece of wood, Taj handed it to Kios. < What does Lament see within? Perhaps it wants out. > He had always studied the wood he used for other things seeing shapes and creatures within them. Carving was relaxing to him as he tried to bring out whatever it was he saw within. Perhaps Kios would see something he did not.
Zero Dream Lament listened attentively, then blinked at the piece of wood that was offered to him before setting the tea cup aside and accepting it, plopping down to sit cross-legged on the floor. He wasn't really sure this made sense, but maybe it was something similar to him and words, and how they just sometime wanted out. So he could relate to the feeling at least loosely.
"Crys is really good with making things." He explained. "With clay. Im not very good at it." The boy then admitted, seeming a little embarrassed by the admission, looking at the piece of wood and twirling it in his hands. He was trying, at least, to figure something out about this.
Eftemie Taj sat down beside the boy on the floor. The surface of the wooden floor was not uncomfortable and he watched Kios a moment. < All see differently. All have their own unique gift that only they see. But as one carves, one writes, two sing, and another forges, domains overlap. It is in the doing that makes the differences stand out. > To Taj and to Jaster both, this had been one of the truths they had learned well. A father belittled what he could not see while a mother loved with all her heart and praised. In the end Jaster had to decide to be himself no matter what anyone thought. Just because Lament was a writer- a songmaker- did not mean he could not find the beauty of carving or clay or even metal. He would simply have to find it for himself. With enough time he would find something that helped him just as Taj had. Perhaps it would be wood also. Perhaps not. But if he did not explore such then perhaps it would be lost to him when he needed it most. Picking up another piece of wood, Taj studied it for a moment. It was chubby and chunky and he could almost see the fur of a fluffy tail. A rabbit he decided as he picked up a pencil to mark the places where eyes and ears would be. With a smile he held it out to Kios to show what he had done and how the rabbit within it was trying to get out. Perhaps it would help Kios to see more in his own piece of wood.
Zero Dream Akakios peered over when Taj held out the new piece of wood, leaning forward slightly so he could get a good look at it and the tablet. The pencil lines helped... kind of.
He returned his own gaze down to his own piece of wood, trying to see similar things in it. Drawing mental lines along the grain and swirl of the material. One part looked like a V, but that didn't help him much.
...Hm.
If he put it on the side, it wasn't a V anymore. But he'd seen the shape before, somewhere... the memory of a few, then-scatted black birds perching on the railing of his uncle's balcony when he still used to live there.
A beak, then ?
Maybe. A beak wasn't the only part of a bird, however, so he kept on looking, tracing shapes with one finger that would give Mystery hints as to what he was thinking.
Eftemie Taj nodded, smiling suddenly. A bird of some sort. But what type? Writing on the tablet, he asked, < A bird fits very well. And one that has been seen before? > A description would help him find what the piece of wood was and wanted to be. It always seemed easier to go with what was felt from it. The knives seemed to slide smoother and there were less mistakes. Each thing had a life of its own and knew what it was. Why not a carving brought to life by another's hands? Holding the pencil out to Kios, he indicated that he should mark what he saw there. The markings did not have to be entirely accurate. The blades would do that, but it would give them more of an idea what needed to be shaped to help the bird fly free as it seemed to want to. And once they had it in the padded vise on the table, they could begin. One this size would not take long and Kios would have it finished before he left. He was quite certain that his siblings would be slightly jealous at such and perhaps it would lead Kios to making some for them.
Zero Dream Lament accepted the pencil as it was handed to him, and began to scribble shaky lines in truth. Much like his letters, his lines were still on the wobbly side. The boy still had quite a bit to learn about precision, even if he already had improved leaps and bounds over his initial first scribbling.
At first it didn't make much sense, but then it became a bit clearer. An eye there, the side of a wing there... It didn't look very much like a realistic crow, but it did look like a bird indeed.
Eftemie Taj nodded at the markings though shaky they might be. They were enough that he knew Lament had understood what was needed. A bird was what he had seen there also, but he wondered what type of bird. Getting to his feet, he offered the boy a hand up before turning with a grin once they were both on their feet. The small vise in front of them was perhaps best for holding the piece of wood. The larger one would make it more difficult to shape such a small piece. Indicating that they place the fragment into the vice with the side up, he began looking at his tools to see which would work the best. They were all sharp and he knew that Lament had never done so before. Showing him how to hold the tool itself, he indicated how to keep fingers back out of the way. Once he had made the grooves that marked the beginning, Taj handed the carving tool to the godling. All that really needed done was the curves of the body smoothed to indicate that there were portions that were round. Feather markings would come later and the blade that he handed him was slightly curved for such a purpose. Writing again, Taj said < Thin long strokes to shave small slivers off. Merely to shape. > Once the body was shaped, he could change the angle of the bird in the vise and work on the beak, eye, and detail feathers in the wings and tail. It would be a proper bird when finished.
Zero Dream Akakios took the offered hand and worked himself back onto his feet, following Mystery, unsure of what was going on. It was hard to read Taj sometimes, really, especially when he wasn't writing. Still, he eagerly followed, climbing up onto a nearby chair.
"Like... This ?" He asked, putting the piece of wood in the vice with the faint pencil markings facing upward. It seemed to do, and then he carefully settled it in place. Hopefully not too tight. He wasn't sure, but Taj would likely tell him when it was.
Lament watched, still with great interest, but then looked up when he was handed one of the sharp carving tools. Much like Crys wasn't allowed to use the stove alone, he really wasn't allowed to handle extremely sharp objects. But then, he had supervision, didn't he ?
He took it, and felt the weight of it in his hand for a moment before he went to try and mimic Mystery's previous movements, rather slowly.
Eftemie Taj nodded as he watched Akakios begin to mimic his motions. A few times he indicated that the boy needed to change the direction the piece of wood was in the vise to make it easier for him to continue, but otherwise, Kios picked it up quickly. Making sure that Kios kept his fingers out of the way was also a priority as the god watched him. Taj stopped him once or twice while they worked, indicating he keep his appendages back. Safety first as Taj had learned the hard way by injuring himself unnecessarily. Studying the bird's form, Taj smiled. Kios could very well find this relaxing once he understood what he was doing. Perhaps he would even make a few wooden quills or writing utensils that he could use to shape his songs with. Or even simply for decorative purposes to shape his room. As he watched over his apprentice of the moment, Taj thought about Araven. Perhaps he would one day be teaching his son also. They would both enjoy that when the time was right and it was something that Jaster would have done. Even gone, he was still included.
Zero Dream This wasn't too hard, really, once one got a hang of the movements. He was indeed very careful, even if it did lengthen the time span spent on each detail of the wooden bird. He did not want to get hurt, and well, did not want Taj to get in trouble if he did hurt himself. His mother would worry again and that wouldn't do. So, instead, he was careful, and followed his mentor's instructions.
Eftemie Taj helped Kios finish carving the bird, making sure that fingers were out of the way each time he switched things around for the godling to continue. When he was sure the shape was what Kios wanted, he showed him how to sand it to smooth out the edges and give it a more refined surface. The finishing touch was the oil, rubbed in slowly with a very soft cloth so that the wood ended up with a soft sheen to it. Nodding when the bird was finished, Taj glanced over at Kios' face. The boy was enjoying this as much as he thought he might. Picking up his tablet, he wrote, < It looks a proper crow to me. Perhaps one day there will be more to keep it company. > Taj's way of inviting Kios to return whenever he wanted to do so. Mystery was sure that there was a way to make a pen of some sort for the godling. He would have to think how to do so though. Something that a quill tip could be placed into and easily removed when there was wear to it. He might even talk to Eddard or Myles to see if such small pieces could be made, but in the meantime he'd have to look at various pens, quills, and other writing instruments to see what type to create. The details were what fascinated him and why when he stared at a block of wood, he just could not help to bring out what he saw. It would be interesting to see what Kios did also.
Zero Dream Lament tilted his head slightly, looking at the carving when it was finally finished. He was familiar enough with crows - after all, wherever his uncle Ankou was, the black birds tended to be here as well, as if followed him or drawn by his presence - and... well.
"It does look like a crow..." Lament mused out loud. He would have to show Crys. She liked crows too, had even been given one by their aunt Cosine. It was still a tiny crow, last he had checked. "There's always a lot of crows around. He will have company." He said with, at last, a smile. Of course the carving wasn't alive, he knew that, could feel it in a way, and yet... well, it was part of the merriment that still made him a child, the ability to put aside what he knew and pretend.
With the crow carefully balanced on top of the chest, the godling looked around for a clock, but couldn't see one at first glance - probably hidden some place he wasn't thinking to look at, knowing Mystery. "I should probably go... Mom's gonna wonder where I went." He did not like it when his mother worried, and he liked it even less when she worried about him. "Can come back again later ?" He offered.
Eftemie Taj grinned, nodding at the godling's words. Of course he was welcome to return. It took but a moment to write an open invitation to visit he and Maddie. He was sure the child would enjoy visits from Kios. < Lament is always welcome and knows where Madrigal and Mystery live. > One might say he was too trusting to reveal such secret halls and doors, but walls and doors could easily be changed if the need arose. Taj fully intended to take the boy the secret way because he knew Kios would enjoy it. It was also shorter and if Kios was worried about his mother, then giving him no chance to dawdle and look at things was best. < The quick way so as not to worry mother. > Taj wrote before turning in the opposite direction. Moving forwards, he led Kios directly down the hidden staircase to a secret door in the very front hall. Kios had definitely gone the long way when he arrived. With a wink, Taj opened the outer door to the hallway. Hopefully Echo had not worried about where the boy was. |
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