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 Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2012 3:05 pm
An Ache in the Bones
Solo RP #14
500+ words
Upon reaching the Pantheon, the soldier gruffly excused himself after he led them to his--Famine's--quarters. He could hear the god practically seething with irritation at the mere thought of the woman and sniveling child making themselves comfortable in his domain. Arden would pay dearly for it later. Still, the host was unconcerned for his own welfare. Viira’s, however…
She was a beautiful woman. Strong, capable, and confident. He could admire her without having to commit to anything, after all. His time on this planet was short, and the man ground his teeth, irritated that he’d reminded himself. She’ll die soon enough, never fear. Bazyli purred somewhere in the back of his mind, rasping out a laugh soon afterwards. Arden’s temper flared before he could stop himself, and it took visible effort to reel in his initial, biting retort. Famine was trying to goad him, trying to force him to lose control. He wasn’t about to play the god’s game.
There had to be a way to help her. She had a boy to care for—surely Creation wouldn’t rip her away from him, would he? The gem was newly set, so there could still be a chance. Bazyli was whispering something else now, but the marine carefully steeled his mind so that it was nothing more than a buzz. Irritating, but hard to make out any real meaning behind it. His hands were flexing without him realizing it—and truthfully, he wasn’t the one even making the muscles twitch. The god was gaining more and more control as the days inched on, subtly and carefully worming his way into Arden’s consciousness.
As though suddenly aware of the spasm in his hand, the man frowned, shaking it out without much thought. He needed to just… think for a while. Pace. He was so tired all the time lately, and he couldn’t understand why. Even when he slept, he woke as though he’d never shut his eyes at all, and his muscles were starting to ache from it all.
This had to be Bazyli’s doing, somehow. He couldn’t say how, per say, but that didn’t mean it was impossible. If anything, that only hardened his thought that it had to be the god of Famine. He couldn’t go back to his place just yet, not after leaving so soon, and he was just pacing the gardens now in an attempt to distract himself. To his surprise, the god was quiet now. Perhaps Arden ignoring him had finally done some good, though the soldier doubted it.
With a frustrated sound in the back of his throat, he lengthened his stride, working more muscles in an attempt to use physical activity in order to stave off his building temper. He’d never wanted any of this. It wasn’t fair, as childish and petulant as that sounded. That was why he would only allow himself to vent like this in private, away from prying, curious eyes. If he had to suffer, so be it, but he would not do so graciously.
fin.
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Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2012 3:06 pm
I hope you weren't hungry...Meeking Enekpe, Host to AnimalsJoint RP #14 500+ words Meepfur Nom nom nom nom...It had been a long time since her bacon and egg breakfast, or at least it felt that way to the little pooka now muching her way through a blackberry bush in the garden. Searching out all the fruit within her limited reached, Enekpe had all but climbed into the bush, until only her hind legs and fluffy tail were visible. Said tail wagged busily behind her, a bushy little flag that gave her away to passersby - not that she noticed any. She was far too absorbed in the task at hand, which was filling her furry belly. Tsunake He had worked off quite a bit of his temper just by stretching his already tired limbs in a walk around the gardens, though he'd be a fool to say that Famine's continued silence hadn't helped. Arden was in no mood for the god, now or ever again, but eventually his furious gait would halt completely. The soldier was tired, achy almost, and his muddled gaze swept about the area without really seeing. There'd been no hide or hair of that Phaedra woman, thankfully, but it was shameful to know that he would forever give that labyrinth door a wide berth. Hopefully his two companions wouldn't ever have to meet her--he'd only survived thanks to his armored suit. And by living, he'd done little more than given her some entertainment.His eyes came to a halt on a peculiar, fruited bush that seemed to be wiggling, and he had to wonder for a moment if it was able to actively move on its own. Only then did he realize there was something small and furry protruding from the thing, and it was impossible to tell if the bush was eating the animal, or the animal was eating the bush. He didn't have time to wonder too long, however; there was a strange, sudden urge to sneeze the longer he stared at the spectacle, and before he could stop himself, the urge became a result. A very loud, sudden result. Apparently he had allergies. All the marine really knew was that his eyes were starting to water... Meepfur Reflexively, Enekpe called a muffled "Bless you!" from inside the bush, before she fully realized that there was someone behind her. Backing out of her feast, she turned and peered up at the stranger, finishing her last mouthful of berries before speaking again. "Hello!" she offered cheerily. Tsunake That gave him quite a start, and the man immediately glanced over his shoulder for the person he'd missed on his way over. Bad enough to have not even noticed there was someone else nearby... but then the creature was moving again, distracting him, and Arden curiously studied its tiny face even as it finished off the last of the fruit it had been munching on. Then it talked. The soldier merely blinked once or twice before he crouched with a creak of armored knees, apparently very accepting of the fact that a small, furry creature was speaking to him. "Hello." He responded after a heartbeat, as awkward as ever when it came to initiating conversation. "I am sorry if I. Ah. Interrupted." Her meal, that was, and Arden had to pause to rub irritably at his eyes. "Are you a native here...?" Meepfur "That's okay," En assured him, tail wagging as though she were a friendly dog. "I was just about full." "A native?" The pooka was quiet for a few moments, as she had to consult with Kikechum about what exactly that was supposed to mean. "Nope! I'm from, umm...somewhere else." She still wasn't sure where that somewhere was in relation to here, hence her hesitance. "I'm a host, though." She eyed the large man curiously. He was dressed a little funny! Tsunake The auburn-haired man nodded a little awkwardly at that, at least content with the knowledge that his presence hadn't disturbed her too badly. It seemed as though everyone he met was from somewhere other than the Pantheon, but she had finally cracked the soldier's stony exterior; his eyes widened with surprise when she revealed that she was a host, and there was an uncomfortable moment where he wanted to touch the gem implanted in the side of his neck. "Do you know whom you're host to?" He asked as gently as he could, and he could not help but feel sorry for the poor little creature. Did she even know what she was getting into? Did any of them? Meepfur "k**e," she answered brightly, seemingly unperturbed by her situation. En really liked her goddess! She was nice to talk to, and she had nice friends like Galitzi. "Kikechum. She's the Goddess of Animals. Are you a host, too?" Tsunake The simplicity of the name and how cheerfully she said it was enough to make Arden relax almost entirely, though he didn't at first understand exactly what 'k**e' was. Still, for the little creature to say it so happily meant she wasn't traumatized or afraid, and that was good. Goddess of Animals made much more sense, though the next question made him sigh. "Yes. Host to Famine." He wouldn't even bother to reveal the god's name, not when he hoped she would never have to meet Bazyli face-to-face. "Not nearly as nice as Animals." Meepfur "It's not?" Enekpe canted her ears curiously, looking a little perplexed. "What is it?" Talking to the pooka was much like talking to a child...and a very sheltered child, at that. Tsunake The marine wasn't very good with softening his words, but he hesitated now, struggling to define famine in a way that wouldn't.. well, frighten the creature. Child-like indeed; he didn't want to be the one to despoil such innocence if he could avoid it. "Well... It means, ah, that people get very hungry and there's not enough food to eat." That was bland enough, wasn't it? No need to go into detail. Meepfur "Oh, is that what that's called?" En seemed happy to be enlightened. "I never knew there was a word for it! Or a god. Why would anybody want a god about that? I hated when things were that way." Tsunake "I don't." The man said almost unhappily, though steadied himself with a slow breath and a sigh. "...But, someone said it had something to do with balance. There must be good things and bad things. And I would rather be the one to take the bad, then let anyone else get stuck with it." Much as he despaired over his current situation, it was true. If Bazyli had received that little, tiny creature as a host.... well, Arden didn't like to think about it. "I'm Arden." He introduced himself to the creature after a moment. "...I've never seen anything like you before." Meepfur "Hmmm." Enekpe considered his explanation carefully, and soon decided he was probably right. "I see." People were automatically authority figures in the pooka's mind, and she tended to believe what they told her, even if she didn't always understand. "I'm Enekpe," she replied, "And I'm a pooka." She was now rather used to having to tell people what she was, and didn't mind very much. Tsunake Enekpe the pooka. He'd never heard of such a creature, but noted that she swallowed up his explanation without a squeak of protest. Was she truly content with that fact, or merely keeping her opinions to herself on the matter? Well, he'd never know for sure, and left the thought alone for the time being. "Be careful around here." The marine did his best to say the words gently. He didn't want to frighten the poor thing. "Stay away from a dark-skinned woman. Goddess. Feline features. She wouldn't be kind to something as little as you." He felt the need to at least warn the tiny ball of fluff, and hoped that her goddess would at least take a little more interest in keeping her host alive and well. Meepfur Enekpe's large, ragged ears flicked forward. Be careful? Everyone she'd met here was nice, though! Even if that really big dog/dragon thing looked pretty scary. "Would she eat me?" Tsunake Er. Arden wasn't exactly sure about that, but figured it couldn't hurt. "I don't know about that. I have no doubts that she'll try to hurt you though." There was a pause, and the soldier must have sensed how heavy those words weighed in the air. "...But tell her you are a host without delay. That won't hurt anything." Meepfur Ask him who this goddess is, if he knows, Kikechum prompted. Obediently, Enekpe inquired, "k**e wants to know what goddess it is?" Tsunake That was a surprise. The marine did blanch for a moment, but there was no way he could easily forget the lilting title that Famine had called the She-Panther by. "Greed. I don't know her name. But it was Greed." The demon that danced in his dreams, ensnaring him with her laughter and the golden glint of her mocking, false eye. Meepfur Enekpe was quiet for several long moments, and when she did speak again, her tone was changed - less cheerful and more mature. "We all have many names, but I know the one you speak of. I would not soon forget her."
"I will keep my host safe."Tsunake The shift in personality was enough to make the marine straighten unconsciously; though he'd met a few gods so far, it was the unfriendly ones whom had stuck in his memory. Conscious of his actions now, he respectfully inclined his head downward to the goddess. "...I understand. ...I didn't mean to offend, or question you." There was a brief hesitation. It was in his nature, really. Striving to protect the innocent. Something he hadn't been able to do for what felt like a long time. Meepfur "No offense taken. The warning is appreciated, and I thank you for it."A very un-goddess-like giggle came at the end of her sentence, and her host spoke up again, "Hehe! It feels funny when she does that." Tsunake Another switch. Arden barely had time to blink before it seemed that the pooka was speaking again... It was strange. Bazyli had seized control whenever he'd pleased, but it clearly wasn't the case here. A mutual relationship--one that the host allowed, and the goddess made sure to keep her safe. Not run her through some hellish labyrinth only for the sake of amusement and perhaps impressing some twisted, vengeful embodiment of vice. "In the future, you should probably stay away from me, too." He said it without thinking, and despite how he fell silent, he didn't regret the words. There was no sense in hiding knowledge of a potential threat from Enekpe or Kikechum. Meepfur "But you're nice!" Enekpe was clearly perplexed. "Why would I stay away from you?" Tsunake "...I don't think I'll be very nice, once I'm no longer a host." The marine was careful to try and explain without... well, frightening the pooka too badly. It was very much like talking to a child, and he'd never been good with children. It was as good a time as any to learn. "...If I act different if I ever see you again, just be careful." He didn't think he could handle the knowledge that he might do something terrible to someone so small and fragile. Meepfur "Oh, I see. So when you're your god and not you anymore." En wasn't usually one to be frightened just by words, or by uncertain future. She lived very much in the now, and cheerfully so, now that the world was back to being more-or-less the way it was supposed to be. Tsunake "Yes." The soldier finally concluded after a brief pause, supposing that was an easy way to put it. "But that won't be..." For a while? He knew that wasn't true. It was a grim thought. "...right now." Meepfur "That's good. It would be really weird if it was right now, and we wouldn't be able to talk anymore." Enekpe nodded, mostly to herself. "Were you going somewhere? Or did you want some berries too?" Tsunake "It might be a little weird." He admitted, resisting the urge to sigh. Weird didn't even come close to it--but he'd handle whatever was thrown his way. Well, as best he could, anyway. It was the pooka's thoughtfulness that made him blink, and he awkwardly shifted for a moment. "...No, but thank you. I probably should be going." He couldn't bring himself to impose on the female, offering an awkward smile at her after a moment. "Thank you for talking with me though, Enekpe." Meepfur Aw. As ever, Enekpe hated to lose company, but beyond a little droop of her ears, she didn't protest. Humans - people in general - were often very busy. So she wagged her tail and bid Arden farewell with a genuine "It was nice meeting you!" Tsunake "You as well. Both of you." The man said a bit awkwardly, feeling his eyes starting to water again. Even as he went, he soon launched into another sneezing fit, and despite the pleasure he'd gained at meeting the small, friendly creature, his aching head did not appreciate any of it.
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Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2012 3:07 pm
Daydreams and MarinesMeeting Adi, daughter of LoveJoint RP #15 +1,001 words Meepfur Adi lay back on the riverbank with her arms crossed behind her head, her paws in just enough that she could wiggle her wolfy toes in the mud. It was wonderfully cool and squishy, and she liked the feel of it in between her pawpads. Her eyes were closed, but she wasn't sleeping - just daydreaming about this and that. Like when Glyph came back, would she be ready to be an aoide? She hoped so. She thought she was ready, but that wasn't what mattered. And would Illisia be proud of her for having found Elik? She really hoped she was there when her teacher came back - she'd love to see the look on her face!
And would Elik stay? She hoped for that, too. Then she'd have two teachers! And there was a potential plus there, since the green-haired night elf hadn't known her when she was little.
...okay, she was probably getting way ahead of herself, but she was a teenage girl. Tsunake There was no daydreaming for some of them, and there likely wouldn’t be for him ever again. Soon, anyway. Arden wasn’t mourning; he’d made his peace with the thought that it wouldn’t be long until death took him. There would be no eternal rest, but the marine had done what he could to twist it into a grimly positive outlook. What soldier really wanted rest over the heat of battle? The sound of running water was what appealed to his senses, especially on a hot day like this, and there was the soft sound of air hissing from well oiled joints even as his battered and faithful suit propelled him forward. Though its smooth sleek exterior had been roughed up and perhaps not as shiny as it had once been, it was well made. It would last a good while longer—long enough for him to see his mission through till its end. He stopped abruptly mid-step at the sight of someone reclining against the riverbank, his muddy gaze trailing over the thick fur coating her calves and the pointed ears. A tail, too, if he wasn’t mistaken, among other things. In short, not human. Arden had plenty of experience with other species. Gingerly, he eased himself into a sitting position, set out in front of him while his elbows rested on his knee caps. He felt half tempted to say something, but with her eyes closed, he couldn’t quite tell if the female was asleep or not. And sometimes, startling a stranger—no matter the species—ended very poorly for both parties involved. The marine took her in yet again, but with the calculating eye of a soldier rather than anything inappropriate. He was curious, was all. Curiosity was a nice change from his normal, stewed thoughts these days. Meepfur If she'd been sleeping, Adrienne might have dreamed on obliviously, but the odd sound of the stranger's approach was enough to pull her from her musings. Her tufted ears flicked, and she cracked one eye open, turning her head to see what company she'd acquired.
It was someone she'd never met before! Ohh, that was always exciting! She rolled over to face him with a cheerful smile. "Hello!" Tsunake She'd heard his approach, that much was obvious, but Arden had to blink a little with surprise when he was greeted with a smile and such a happy greeting. A complete stranger, but she clearly had no fear or suspicion of him. Either she'd been raised well... or she didn't have any reason to be afraid. "Hello." He remembered he had to actually reply to her rather than simply mulling over it, and though his smile was wooden and a little awkward, it was there. "I didn't mean to disturb you, if you were asleep." All right. That hadn't been so bad. He didn't have much experience talking to women, any women, but escorting Viira and the boy back to the Pantheon had made things easier. He could flounder around with conversation as best he could. So who was this girl, exactly? Was she new around here, or did she already know... everything? "Arden Valkov," An introduction would work best here, or so he hoped. Meepfur "Nope!" Behind her, Adi's patched tail wagged. "I was just thinking."
"I'm Adrienne. You can call me Adi, though. Everybody does." Propping herself up on one arm, she studied Arden. "What are you wearing?" The question was purely curious, not meant to be rude. Tsunake Adrienne, but he could call her Adi. Simple, short, and easy to remember. Charming, in a way, though his eyes fell to watch her tail wagging. So much like Earth canines... With a blink, the soldier unconsciously cast a look down at himself. Irony. He'd spent so much time studying Adi that he didn't even think how he must look to her. "My protective suit. I am--was-- a space marine. It keeps me safe whether I'm in space, or on another planet." That was a simple enough way to put it, or so he thought. Meepfur Adi was suitably impressed, and her eyes went wide with wonder. "You've been in space? That is so cool!" She'd never been to any world but this one, by any means of travel whatsoever, but space had always seemed especially cool. "So do you always wear it? Do you sleep in it, too? It doesn't look very comfortable."
Unable to resist, she moved closer for a better look. Tsunake A smile briefly touched his lips at her awe, and he gave a little nod. "It's my duty." Not a job, but a calling that he'd devoted his life to. "When I'm active, yes, I keep it on me. But no, it's not the most comfortable for sleeping. I will if I need to, but I can step out of it when I'd like." He hesitated for a moment when she scooted a bit closer. He'd have offered to show her exactly how it worked, but after nearly being impaled in a seemingly innocent room, Arden hadn't felt safe without it. Still. "These regulate gravity." He'd point out to point on the undersides of his boots for her to see. "Makes it so walking's never much of a problem. My helmet is out of commission, but the suit has held up well enough." Meepfur Scootch, scootch. Lessons in personal space had never really stuck with Adi. She peered at his boots when he pointed them out, and the rest of it, too. How cool was that? Technology beyond kitchen appliances was pretty foreign to her, and might as well have been another kind of magic. "So what're you wearing it now for? It's not dangerous out here." Tsunake Thankfully, Arden wasn't exactly uncomfortable with a lack of personal space--he just didn't know how to react to it. If she seemed okay with it, then he would assume everything was fine until proven otherwise. Of course, her words made him stare a little, and he lifted a hand to rub at the faint gouge in his chest plate, the various nicks in his armor... "...Someone tried to kill me, before. Here." His voice was steady, and almost contemplative. "Seemed to think it was some sort of game." No, he didn't feel like taking off his suit much at all right now. Meepfur Adrienne's eyes widened again, her mouth dropped open, and her ears fell about as far as they could. But...but it was here! It was home! And Arden was nice! It didn't make any sense. Mystified in the worst possible way, she felt at the gouge in the marine's chestplate as she tried to process what she'd been told.
"...w-why would anybody wanna do that?" Tsunake As her pale hand ran over the ugly scrape across the center of his torso, Arden was carefully watching the young woman's expression, gauging her shock. She truly didn't know. She seemed horrified that anyone would even attempt such a thing, at least outwardly, and the marine questioned himself silently. Could he warn her to get out from this place while she still could? Before she ended up like Viira? "For amusement, I think." He said slowly. "...There are these... gods, around here, in this place. I'm not sure if they are, really. But you'll want to avoid them. Greed, is one I know, and... me, in the future." Brown eyes slid to glance at her sideways, almost apologetic. "They don't think much of mortals." Meepfur He...a god had done that to him? And he was a host? She guessed he hadn't wanted to be. He seemed to dislike all the gods, and was even worried about her. She'd had no idea there were that many mean people around the Pantheon, let alone anyone that terrible.
Adi withdrew her hand, looking as though she was close to tears. But rather than cry, she hugged him. "I'm so sorry. I'm sorry you found the bad ones." Tsunake He should have kept quiet about the whole incident; he'd clearly shaken the girl up with his words, and was immediately regretting them. "It's alright," He started to say, but trailed off as she hugged him, his guilt intensifying. The bad ones... With a barely audible sigh, the soldier hesitantly touched Adi's back for a moment, his forehead barely grazing her shoulder for a moment with a sigh before he'd straightened. "It's alright." He said again, weary, but calm. "I can handle it." Better him than someone who couldn't. Meepfur "It's not right, though." It upset her that anyone could do something like that, and that a god had to boot. They should know better! She'd have to tell Rio about this. "You're a host, aren't you? Who do you have?" Tsunake "No." The marine agreed. It wasn't right. A lot of things weren't right in the world--the universe, even. "Things just aren't fair sometimes. ...Balance, right?" The only logical explanation he could think of for why there could be so much good and so much wrong simultaneously existing at once. "Famine. He calls himself Bazyli." Came the dutiful, if clipped response. "...You know about them? You aren't..." He was looking awkward now, uncertain, hesitating to ask if she had already been condemned to a fate she hadn't asked for. Meepfur "Famine? That's awful." No wonder he wasn't happy about it! It wasn't even something...something helpful. Just something terrible, period. Who would want that?
"Yeah, I know about them," she confirmed, drawing away with a nod. "I was born there, at the Pantheon. One of my parents is Love." Tsunake His arms fell a little too quickly to be natural, as though embarrassed, but the marine's face never changed. "I understand." Though he was in between a rock and a hard place as far as his situation went, that meant there might be hope for Adi, at least. The daughter of a goddess (god?), of Love, even. Arden reminded himself to watch his tongue a little better when talking about gods now; Adi would have every right to be personally offended if he spoke harshly. But from the sounds of it, she had grown up in a happy and stable environment. It was hard to resent all the gods when he very well knew there were some that weren't so filled with animosity. "Never had much luck with love." Was the only thing he found himself muttering, and the worn out soldier actually grinned to himself tiredly, reflecting. Meepfur "You haven't? You don't look so bad to me, even if you do dress funny," Adi teased, going along with the topic change without complaint. "I've never been in love or anything, either." Tsunake Well, there had been a few women in his life, but... "Comes with the territory." The sigh that slipped from him was a content one, rather than wistful. "Too much moving around. And the women dress just like I do." Another smile there, but this one seemed distant as he recalled certain memories. He glanced at the young woman for a moment, considering. "You're still young yet. ...I'm no good with advice on the subject, though." Meepfur "They do?" Adi looked down at herself, trying to imagine what it would be like to tromp around in a suit like Arden's. For someone who preferred to wear as little as possible - really, if it were at all practical she'd have been happy without - it was rather difficult. And how would she go swimming?
The werewolf's ears fell a little again...even someone who didn't know her age thought she was young! "It's just that everybody I know's known me since I was little. They all still think I'm a kid."
Not that she minded being cute and lovable, but... Tsunake "Smaller," The man corrected himself after Adi glanced down at herself, "But they do." The wilt of her ears made him pause for a moment, having to think quickly about if he'd said anything that could potentially bruise feelings. The source of her dismay was revealed soon enough, and the marine offered an apologetic shift. He hadn't meant to step on an already sore subject. "Ah. From what I know, sometimes people adapt slowly to change. ...One day, though, they'll be forced to accept that you are an adult." And it would happen, sooner or later. "You might find you miss being thought of as a child." There was a wane smile at that; the responsibility that came with adulthood was sometimes a little too much to handle right away. Still, if her parent truly was a god, then perhaps she'd be kept safe and allowed to flourish. Meepfur "Maybe once I'm an aoide, they'll realize." She smiled hopefully at the thought, but looked perplexed by what Arden said next. "Why would I miss that?" By and large, she didn't mind still being the adorable and fluffy Adi, but it sort of limited potential interest from boys. Tsunake An aoide? His thoughts strayed briefly to Kiania, and... well, the not-child that called himself Phaaze as though in mockery of Arden's discomfort. "You plan on serving a god?" He was curious. The aoide weren't something he knew much about, other than his own, sometimes awkward encounters with the ones loyal to Famine. "Well," The marine wasn't sure if he could explain without making a fool of himself, and eventually just shook his head. "I'm not sure how to explain. And it isn't right to assume that you'll feel the same, so it was out of line to say." There was a shift of his shoulders. "Did you choose to become an aoide?" Meepfur "I already do." Adrienne beamed proudly, and her tail waved a little. "He's Glyph, Forest, and he's really nice."
She nodded. "My dad's one of the Hunt's aoidei, and I wanted to be one too. Harmodius told me how." Tsunake Glyph, Forest... Forests were good things, healthy things. "I haven't met him." Arden admitted, and straightened slightly when she mentioned that her father had been an aoide. Belonging to Hunt? Another god, had to be. Harmodius again. There was a thoughtful frown. Arden... didn't know how he felt about Harmodius. Did he know what was best for any of them? For this girl, Adi? The girl who wanted to serve a god... "May I ask you how?" He inquired, curious. He wasn't sure if he was allowed to know something that might have potentially been sacred in this world, but... well, knowledge could be a potentially useful weapon. ...That, and James might be interested. He was still here, collecting information. Meepfur "Hmm, well, sometimes they're just made, but that sounded pretty complicated. Something about lots of mana and emotion, effort and blessings, or using a spark of Being." Whatever that was, exactly.
"Or a god can turn someone into an aoide by infusing them with some of their strength." Much easier to understand, and much more relevant to her situation, so the one she'd paid the most attention to. Tsunake From Arden's face, it was clear that he thought it sounded complicated as well, and he shook his head for a moment after carefully considering such, uh, ingredients. He wasn't quite sure what mana was, perhaps a type of energy... It was playing scientist, but with more primal and raw elements. That's how it sounded anything. The simper explanation made him nod a bit more firmly. "I see... And Glyph has not done this to you quite yet?" He wondered how exactly a god transferred strength... but that was a question for a god themselves, and not necessarily Adi. Meepfur Adi shook her head. "Not yet. I've got a lot to learn still, and I think he wants to make sure I'm sure. But once I'm ready, we'll go to Harmodius and I guess he'll help somehow."
Glyph wasn't very powerful yet, after all, and might not remember how to do it, either. Tsunake A cautious god.That was good. The mention of Harmodius again did make the marine frown a little, but he said nothing. So Harmodius was to help turn this girl into an aoide... "I'm sure you'll be fine. ...But what's all an aoide's supposed to do for the god they served?" Furthermore, what would Kiania and Phaaze do for Bazyli? Meepfur "It depends on the god, and the aoide too. Kind of a little bit of everything if they don't have many. They can be cooks, gardeners, babysitters, friends, lovers, priests or priestesses, whatever the god needs."
"I'm going to be a druid," Adi added proudly. Tsunake That made sense. He could... well, still recall his first 'encounter' with an aoide, one that, though perhaps not unpleasant... A muscle in his jaw twitched as he thought about it, and the soldier had to forcibly snap himself out of it. "I've never heard of a druid." Arden would admit, though he could hear the pride in her tone. "What does that entail?' Meepfur Hmm, how to explain it? Adi thought about it for a long moment, then settled on, "They look after nature and help things grow, or heal it if there's something wrong with it. That's kind of the simplest way to put it, I think." Tsunake His eyes widened a fraction at that, respectful. "...On our home base, there is nothing green growing there. Not like here." A glance was cast around at the riverbanks, the trees, both fruit-bearing and not. "Always envied anyone who could be a medic." To give life, instead of death. It was a strange concept. But he had always been good at the latter. Meepfur "Nothing at all?" Adi was stunned by that. Even when Destruction had reigned, even when things had almost come to an End, there had been green things growing, at least in special places like Rio's rooms and Ea's forest. "That must have been terrible."
"I don't know if I could heal people, but I can kind of do plants. Just a little. It's harder than just getting a flower to bloom." That she could do, provided the flower actually wanted to open up. Sometimes they didn't, if they didn't know her. Tsunake "I never knew anything else." The marine had to smile a little at her incredulity. "It was where I grew up. ...I'd seen pictures of Earth, videos, but nothing real." It hadn't been so bad, not really. There'd been plenty of fauna on the alien homeworlds he'd gotten to 'visit'. "It's still impressive." Arden said with a shrug. "Is it magic?" He wanted to know, shifting a little curiously. Meepfur Growing up with no flowers or trees or even grass...that would be awful! She could hardly imagine it. And what would she do all day, besides?
"Mm-hm," she answered, nodding, "It's a kind of magic, but not something you're born with, really. You just learn how to use what's in the earth." Tsunake "Anyone can learn?" He sounded mildly impressed, though not entirely certain she was correct. "You'd think that humans would have learned how to do that a long time ago..." But if they didn't pay attention, or didn't know what they were looking for, then who knew? "You said your father was an aoide? Your mother is Love, then?" Meepfur "I think you have to have an...affinity for it. So maybe some humans could, I'm not sure. I'll have to ask Illisia sometime."
"Well, that part's a little complicated." Adi chuckled. "Rio - that's Love - his host was a girl, Alex, and she fell in love with my dad. Later on, after Rio took over, they stayed separate for awhile and their body was still female, and they got pregnant. They're the same now, though, they have been since before my brother and I were born." Tsunake That made a little more sense and seemed to satisfy him. More in-tune with nature, huh? There was a mildly curious look at the mention of Illisia, but he wouldn't pry, only doing his best to shuffle away the name for later. Then came the explanation. Though the soldier seemed to take it in stride (he'd heard of weirder things), the concept was what puzzled him. "But he's male now? His body? And you weren't affected by the change...?" A brother, to boot. Meepfur "He is now." Adi nodded and elaborated, "He has been since...hmm, a little while after they took Harmodius' name. He was still a girl when he had us, but it was after he and Alex stopped being separate."
"It's all Kin and I have ever known." The werewolf shrugged. "It doesn't bother us, what happened. It's harder for our dad, though." Tsunake Since after the whole... Gehenna, or whatever it was. The apocalypse. He assumed that was what she meant, though her description earned a frown. Would it be the same when Bazyli... No, he was quite certain that the god would do everything in his power to make it so there was only one master of this body when the time came. "I understand." The soldier said quietly, and to a degree, he did. It was never easy to lose someone close to you--and to be haunted by the knowledge that they were still, in some twisted sense, alive and being put to use, even if it was by a deity... It was rough. "...How did Alex manage to stay alive, even when... when Love took over?" Meepfur "Because he wanted her to, I think," Adrienne answered. "They were friends, and he wouldn't've wanted to hurt her or anything, y'know? Or get rid of her. He can explain it better than I can, but they were really special to each other." Tsunake Ah, well. That made sense. Arden might have smiled a little, but wisely chose to keep his thoughts to himself. There was no need to upset Adi any further, but it might have been fairly obvious that he believed he would not one of those lucky few who had been spared. There was no lost love between him and Famine, after all. "It sounds as though they were happy together." Was all he could offer. Meepfur "They were," she confirmed with a warm smile. From what Rio had told her, happiness was something Alex had desperately needed, though in the beginning she'd only been looking for a way out.
Adi was silent for a moment, wiggling her paw-toes, then decided, "We should do something!"
Something fun, because clearly Arden needed some. Tsunake "Something?" Arden sounded puzzled, but not opposed. It wasn't as though he had anything better to do these days, and he rather liked Adi. "Alright. What would you like to do?" He seemed to be up for most anything--but then again, he was used to the daily routine of a soldier's life. In short, the marine had little idea on what fun things were. Meepfur "Hmmm. Well, we could go swimming." The river was right here, after all! Arden would have to take off his suit, though. "Oooor...we could play a game!" Come to think of it, what was something they could do? What else did she do? Most of Adi's extracurricular activities, curiously enough, tended to be one-person things. "Is there something fun you like to do?" Tsunake Arden's experience with water was limited to bathing--he eyed the river curiously, but didn't offer an opinion one way or another. "What sort of games do you play?" The soldier questioned, and shook his head ruefully when he was asked one in turn. "I haven't had a lot of time to myself, so I don't really know the answer. ...What do you do?" Meepfur "Can you run in that?" Adi again turned a speculative eye to her new friend's suit. "There's stuff like tag, and hide-n-seek...those can work with two people." Two was a hard number to work with. Hmm, hmm. Oh! There was always... "Or Phlox can be third, I'm sure he's still around here somewhere."
She called his name, and the floox soon came bustling into view, then right over to Arden. Who was this~? Tsunake "I can." It was heavy, but it had been designed to help protect the body, not make it a sitting duck. That, and he was used to shouldering the weight around by now. "Hide-n-seek might not be as easy, but I think I could play tag." There was a faint smile at that. Never in a million years did he think this would have been happening, but it was a nice surprise. The sudden appearance of the small, fluffy creature was enough to make him blink, and it wasn't long before his eyes were starting to water. Hell, he fought it for a moment, but it wouldn't be long until he sneezed. "This is--Phlox?" Cute. Cuter than most things bursting out of the bushes, anyway. Meepfur "Bless you!" Adi offered, failing to connect the sneeze with Phlox's appearance. She didn't really know anyone with allergies. "Yep, this is Phlox! He's a floox. He's kinda hard to tag since he's so little, but to be fair, tell him to 'freeze' and he'll stop for five seconds - if you're It. But we'll start with him. Okay, Phlox?"
Upon receiving an affirmative, she continued, "Good! Now close your eyes and count to...fifteen!"
The fluffy creature obliged, squeezing his beady eyes shut and beginning to yip. Adi hopped to her feet and grinned at Arden before darting off. Tsunake "Thank you." He muttered, rubbing at his face with an inward sigh. He didn't know much about allergies either. He didn't usually have contact with locals without his helmet on. "Phlox the floox." It had a nice ring to it. The marina nodded slowly, more concerned about accidentally stepping on the animal then how to tag it. To his surprise, it seemed like the floox fully understood the concept of counting, and he steadily began to jog in the opposite direction that Adi had gone. Tsunake After a long game of tag with Adi and her floox, Arden found his spirits considerably lifted. He bid the girl farewell, reluctantly knowing it was time for him to head back to the eerie room that Harmodius had granted him. Knowing people as pure-hearted as Adi still existed... well, it gave him all the more reason to fight and try to change Famine for the better.
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Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2012 3:34 pm
Healthy SuspicionsMeeting AliceJoint RP #16 +1,001 words Meepfur Alice was beginning to think it was time to leave. This place was nice and all, but when some weird purple chick with pigtails and hooves wanted to stick a crystal in you that was going to take over your body and eat your soul, it was probably time to go. But for some reason, she hesitated. What if this was all real, what everyone said it was? She'd been happy to stay on the fence until now, but it was suddenly much more important to know one way or the other. If that was even possible. Divesting herself of her sword and setting it carefully on the teahouse floor, she sat and leaned back against a comfortable pillow. Tsunake The marine was feeling way more at ease after some simple conversation with some of the more friendly inhabitants of the Pantheon. To think it was a normal thing, conversing with others to just... talk. Arden had accepted this new routine in life. No more checking his weapon and keeping it in proper condition, running drills, and being sent out to wage war against those that wished to harm the whole of the universe. His feet led him to one of the teahouses on the grounds, and as he slid the door open and absently made to step inside, he didn't realize that he was no longer alone. For a moment, the man lingered in the doorway, fixated on the sword lain across the floor. A weapon openly barred. How much use had it seen, he wondered? And how often had she been forced to use it? Still, it didn't take him long to realize he was staring, and he respectfully slid his eyes away from sword and the girl. "...Sorry." Meepfur The one-time guard looked up at the sound of someone entering, fixing the stranger with a stare of her own. He was wearing some kind of...suit? A little sci-fi looking. Interesting. As for her, she was pretty used to being stared at, although it wasn't usually her sword that got the stares; her blindfold was what attracted most of them. She shrugged at his apology. "It's fine." Tsunake When she glanced up at him, he could fully see her face and all its quirks. It was a pretty face, youthful, but the sash wound around her eyes led him to believe that she may have been blind. The man stood there for a moment more, unable to help but feel obligated. She was a woman, alone, and possibly handicapped. Anyone could come along in a place like this, and that knowledge didn't sit easily on his conscious. "...You mind if I sit down?" He inquired, gesturing at one of the floor cushions before he realized it was probably a fruitless effort. Meepfur Ah, there it was. He did notice, if a little late. "Go for it," she allowed with another shrug and a small smile, "They're not all mine." The woman watched a moment more, then offered, "I'm Alice." Tsunake The marine seemed to relax a little with an acknowledging tip of his head, before settling down with a slight hiss of mechanics. "Arden Valkov." He extended his hand to her, both to be polite and to see if she... well, really could see after all. "You... new around here?' Meepfur That was new! Everyone tended to just assume she was blind, and didn't bother to test the theory. She shook the offered hand, her curiosity growing a little. The suit was...intriguing. "More or less," she answered. Tsunake Though Arden was indeed surprised that she deftly grabbed his hand without problem, he was wise enough to keep his comments to himself. "...You... know what's going on here?" He almost absently scratched at the ragged scars that marred the side of his neck, and, of course, avoided the pale, sickly looking gem embedded within his skin. Meepfur "Yeah, pretty much." Alice eyed her new acquaintance's scars from beneath the safety of her blindfold, and noticed the gem as well. Did that mean he was...? To ask was tempting, but they'd only just met, and she wasn't sure she wanted to be that direct right off. "Do you think it's, you know...all true, what this is?" A more conversational approach. Tsunake There was a long period of silence from the marine, his hand slowly falling away from his neck as to settle somewhat awkwardly across an armored leg. Did he think it was true? The gods... Were they really gods? Or were they just glorified beings with strength natural to their race? "...I don't know." There was a slow sigh. "I don't know how much of it is true, or not." Were they gods? Or was he just crazy? "There's a voice," He watched her silently for a moment, expressionless, "In my head, now. From this gem. And I have been told that it is slowly beginning to eat away at me. I didn't believe any of it at first." A swallow, the first crack in that outer armor. "Now I do." Let her take that as she would. Meepfur "Oh. You have one, huh?" He didn't exactly seem enthusiastic about it, either. It was a far cry from Shyamaath going on and on about what an honor it was, how important it was, what a difference she would make. Except, you know, she'd really rather not die, thank you very much. "Which one have you got?" Tsunake "Famine." There was another sigh, but he'd fix his eyes on her face again, the cloth wrapped around Alice's eyes. "...It'd be easier if it was something else. It's how life goes. I could die willingly for something good." Simple logic, but effective. Who really wanted to die for something as devastating as famine? "I was going to die sooner or later." The marine finally said, and offered an honest shrug of his shoulders. Meepfur Famine. That was...that was awful in a way she couldn't quite express. It was difficult enough to imagine giving up your body and soul for another being to take, but for something like that? It was unimaginable. I could die willingly for something good. It was Alice's turn to swallow uncomfortably, and admit, "Someone wants to stick one in me. Not...one like that, but..." Tsunake The marine jolted as though he'd been electrocuted, suddenly upright, tense. Almost feral, in a way. "Not unless you want to." He ground out savagely, his eyes flashing. "You don't let anyone do that to you unless you want to. Once it's in, there's no going back." As long as he was alive, he'd do his best to warn anyone he could of that fate. "Are they threatening you with it?" The fury had vanished from his tone, leaving it composed, and eerily calm. Meepfur ...whoa. Alice hadn't expected such a strong reaction, although she probably shouldn't been so surprised, since he was clearly having understandable trouble with his own situation. "No, it's not like that," she assured him, apologetic for having disturbed him. "They just asked, nothing more than that." Tsunake His stare weighed down on her for a moment, judging her words and the truth behind them before Arden's tense posture faded away. Someone asking. Better than giving her no choice in the matter at all. "I apologize." He said after some time. It didn't take much to figure he'd probably alarmed her. "...There was another woman that I brought here, only fairly recently. She'd become a host as well, not by choice." Meepfur A frown pulled at her features. Just how many of these were there, and how many people ended up with one against their will? Alice was beginning to realize that Shyamaath, while overly forward, was actually being fairly considerate. "Does that...happen often?" Tsunake "I don't know." Arden just sounded tired now. "Truth be told, I haven't met many... It's probably half and half. I have bad luck." If only that explained everything. Meepfur "I'm sorry to...bring up bad things," she said awkwardly, though she genuinely felt guilty for asking about it now. "Here we've only just met, and I'm prying. I just don't know what to think about all this." Tsunake "Don't apologize." His accented tone was rough from disuse, but one could tell the man was awkwardly attempting to gentle it. "I don't want anyone else being tricked into giving up their life for something they don't believe in." The man didn't smile, but his features were at least a little softer now as he watched the woman, struggling to think of something to say. The truth was the best option. He wasn't good with lies, anyway. "...If it were something that could bring good to the world, I wouldn't mind it. The fact that it's Famine makes me think maybe it'd be better if I managed to kill myself before it happens. Don't even think that would work, but who knows?" With a sigh, he leaned back against the wall of the tea house, seeing as he couldn't really feel the cushion anyway. "...What did they offer you?" He wasn't going to judge her, no matter her decision. Hell, if she was smart, she'd pack up and get out of here before something else tried to claim her, this time without her consent. Meepfur "Justice," she answered after a moment of hesitation. Something good...but was it real? What good was there in giving up her life - her soul - if these things weren't actually what everyone said they were? She wanted to know, and know for sure. Alice needed something more than Look at yourself, you're meant for this.Tsunake Justice. A thin, merciless smile actually twitched at Arden's lips for a moment before he tilted his head back, closing his eyes as though to ride out some unknown wave of emotion. "...The worlds could use a bit more of that, I'd wager." Was all he said, and his eyes opened to focus thoughtfully on her once more. Now that was something he could die for, assuming it was all true. That was a noble cause, a righteous one. "Life is a precious thing. If you aren't ready to give it up, then walk away from here, far away. But..." He looked tired again. "...But if this does turn out to be true, these gods, I think it's something to consider." Easy to say as a soldier. He'd already accept that he'd die to protect others. "But I don't think you should go into something like that with regrets." Better to embrace it, then spend her remaining time going slightly crazy like he was. Meepfur "That's...the thing, I guess. Whether or not it's true." And it was a strange thing, to be asked to die - and not just die, but end. To lose your soul, and any chance at yet another life. Perhaps that had a certain bright side, if it could be called that. "I've never thought I was afraid to die or anything, but it's...it's different, when someone's asking you to." "And to just end completely." The more she thought about it all, the more twisted up she got, and the conflict was visible. "It's one thing when you know there's something after, but..." Tsunake "Most people don't think about it." The marine only said, and maybe from someone older than himself, it might have sounded wise. "But when death is staring you in the face, your perspective changes." At least, his had. That wasn't to say that he knew anything about this woman still, or had any right to assume. Death might have been a constant risk in her life as well. The silence grew between them for a moment, making her last words seem all the more eerie. But, eventually, "I think that's just it." Arden slowly said, glancing over. "To know that there might have been something after all, and to have to give up that chance. It's a big decision." One that shouldn't be taken lightly. Meepfur "It's different in the abstract, when you're only thinking about it..." Oh, Alice had thought about death quite a bit, but not often about dying in this life. She knew full well she'd died at least once before, but the how continued to escape her. "That's exactly it, giving up everything after." The woman shook her head, shaking away the thoughts. It might be helpful for her to talk about these things, but probably not so much for someone who didn't have a choice. "Sorry." She laughed self-consciously, without humor. "So, what's up with the suit?" Awkward topic-switch time. Tsunake "It sounds much more noble." Arden agreed quietly. "Never used to think much of an afterlife. Always sort of hoped for one. Made the thought of going into battle a bit easier. But knowing for sure that you'd have to sacrifice it..." And he had to, was being forced to against his will. The realization stung. Curious, he glanced down at himself, puzzled. "It protects me from the environments of different planets. Regulations temperature, pressure, provides me with oxygen. It's essential that I have it... or, it was." He didn't think he would ever be exploring the stars again. Meepfur There had been a time when Alice hadn't given the possiblities of an afterlife a significant amount of thought, either, until being more or less sucked back into a past life. It was...well, complicated, and going into it was probably oversharing. Maybe it was better that Arden didn't know for certain what was being taken away from him. His suit was most likely a much safer subject. "Oh. So it's a spacesuit." Her surprise was muted, a sort of 'of course it is' tone. Elves, gods, why not a futuristic spaceman? Tsunake "A spacesuit," Arden seemed relieved. Some people, like Adi, hadn't even heard of anything like it before, so he was grateful that he didn't have to explain. "I'm a marine. It was my duty to help enforce peace in the neighboring galaxies, as well as our own. Our vessel crash-landed on this planet... I was the only survivor." His tone was a bit heavy, but the marine was composed. He wouldn't dishonor his fellows with tears and grieving. Meepfur Not just an astronaut, but an astronaut soldier. But for an interglactic traveler, he looked very...well, normal. Human. It was almost disappointing, in retrospect. As to the revelation that his friends had died, she could do little but offer the obligatory (but still sincere), "I'm sorry." She allowed a respectful pause before asking, "Where were you from? I mean, originally?" Alice had a little bit of a nosiness curiosity problem, and she knew it, but she often let it get away from her anyway. Tsunake He shook his head mildly at her offered apology, accepting it, but... Well, there was nothing anyone could do. They had all signed up, knowing the risks. It had been a tragedy, but his thoughts and feelings on the whole situation were a confusing jumble. Arden had never been strong with emotional attachments. "Never really had a home. Lived on colonies out in space, mostly. Ships. Registered with the Marines when I was eighteen, and that was that." Fortunately, he didn't mind sharing. Figuring it would be polite, he would even go so far as to return the question. "What about you?" Meepfur "Huh. So they have Marines where you're from, too?" She'd sort of glossed over it a little earlier, but it caught her attention more this time. Not that it was odd for different places to have similar concepts, but happening to call them the same thing...god, this was going to be some sort of weird, parallel universe crap, wasn't it? She should have anticipated that he'd ask her the same question; not that she minded sharing, it was just...complicated and a touch on the crazy side of things, which somehow made it simultaneously embarrassing to admit. "Oh, nowhere interesting. No space colonies or anything." A grin twitched at her lips before she continued, like acknowledging it was ridiculous might make it less so. "Then I ended up in a pocket dimension, and..." She fingered the edges of her blindfold. "Well, yeah. It never sounds any less crazy when I say it out loud." Tsunake "Uh-huh. The Federation." Now he was studying her curiously, not even daring to hope. "Help make sure there's peace in the galaxy. Prevent Space Pirate raids, the like." Or, tried to. He grimaced briefly, but didn't bring that up. He wouldn't dishonor the men that had died that way--not again. "You could be from the past. Or, hell, even my future." Or, unfortunately, a different universe entirely. If he had been curious before, his expression was the perfect picture of disbelief. "No ship or anything? I've heard of that happening, rarely, usually has to do with alien technology..." He shook his head, marveling. He certainly didn't seem to think she was crazy, and what would she gain by making up something like that? Arden believed her. "Sounds disconcerting, anyway." He rubbed absently at his neck, where the gem was implanted. "That's how you ended up here?" Meepfur "Past, probably," she guessed, "Or a parallel universe, or something. Unless things went all Playstation while I was gone, but it was only five years, so...I doubt it." "Nope." Alice shook her head. "It was kind of...the opposite of technology, I guess. Magic, a castle - fantasy, really, not sci-fi." It was a silly comparison, something she acknowledged with a laugh, but it was a valid way of thinking about it. "Sort of. We had these cards we could use to go back and forth when we wanted, they made little portals. I wanted to see if things were bad outside, too, so I used it, but I ended up on this world instead. And then I lost my card, so...I got stuck." Tsunake Play...station... A station designated merely for play? His brow furrowed until his forehead creased, and Arden was politely attempting to puzzle out exactly what she meant. Thankfully, Alice steered the conversation in another direction before he could embarrass himself. "Were there dragons?" He inquired politely. He knew a little about fantasy. Mythical creatures, unicorns and princesses and heroes in shining armor. They also rode beasts--horses, if he recalled correctly. It was easy enough to equate 'card' to 'transporter' in his mind, though the mention of it being lost made things tricky. "Is there any chance it could be found? Or someone else being able to use it again?" Meepfur "No dragons, at least not that I ever saw. There was a basilisk once, though." That had been a rather...frightening episode, to say the least. And everyone had insisted on helping which had made it that much more nerve-wracking for her. She much preferred to be the only one in danger, as impossible as that was. "Found? I guess there's a chance, but not much of one. It was just a card, just..." Alice made the approximate size and shape of it with her fingers, a little larger than a standard playing card. Assuming they still had those in the future, although Playstation had clearly not survived. "And just paper, I can't imagine it would ave made it, but I could be wrong. No one else would be able to use it, though. The cards were specific to each of us." Tsunake "A basilisk." His tongue stumbled over the foreign word, quite pleasant despite its strange repetition of consonants. "I do not know of those. Are they dangerous?" That was how Arden worked, of course, measuring danger as a sign of significance. There was a nod to show he understood, and a significant amount of relief that came with it. "Good. I would not like..." He hesitated, and then continued. "The beings that are in this realm should stay in this realm." He couldn't even begin to imagine what Bazyli would do if he were allowed to run free in a place that he could devastate to his heart's content. "Another cannot be made?' Meepfur "Hm. It's like...a giant lizard, basically. Kind of like a komodo dragon, if you have those?" Or had them. There was always the possibility they'd gone extinct. "Except if you look them in the eye, they'll turn you to stone." Alice shook her head. "Not as far as I know. These were...relics, sort of? We never knew how they worked. A lot of what happened there, we never figured out how or why." Tsunake A giant lizard was something he could work with, in his mind, and though Arden didn't fully understand... well, he had enough of an imagination to piece it together. "Can't imagine that goes over well with people." Turning to stone didn't seem like it was something that could exactly be fixed. Well, alien technology could be just as finicky and just as impossible to sort out. "Makes you wish you had a good engineer, sometimes." He offered with a lopsided smile. Meepfur "No, it really doesn't," she confirmed, shaking her head. None of the 'Court' had fallen victim, but some of the servants had, and that was no more acceptable than if it had been one of the cards. They'd hoped killing the creature would reverse the state of the victims, but it had proven irreversible. "We did have a Magician, but he was just as clueless as the rest of us." Alice chuckled, although her expression fell just a little. What had happened to him, and to everyone else? She'd probably never know. Tsunake Ah, a Magician--for magic! Just as engineers were for technology. Though it didn't show on the man's stony face, he was fairly pleased with himself for making such an analogy. "Did you know how to use magic?" He asked after a beat, feeling a little ridiculous for asking. It was hard for him to really understand what sort of magic she was talking about. What could magic do that technology couldn't? Meepfur "Not exactly." She almost left it at that, but after a moment, decided to elaborate. He'd indulged her curiosity, so it was only fair. "Not in a broad sense. We each have something we can do, a...power, I guess you could say." Tsunake "Can you still do it, even here?" Arden didn't seem to realize this could be dwelling into 'far too personal' territory. As far as he was concerned, they were simply comparing skill sets, and hers were far more interesting than his were. Meepfur "Yes," she answered, with a only a touch of hesitation. It wasn't especially personal, as far as she was concerned, it was just one of those things that sounded a little odd to talk about. Arden didn't seem to be having any real trouble with it so far, so what was the harm? "It's not something I can really show you, though - well, I could, but I wouldn't." "I can sense the guilt in people, and I can make it worse. It's...I've only done it once. I think it's cruel." Tsunake Arden wordlessly tipped his head forward, considering the pros and cons. Emotional regret had long ago been stomped out of him, but that was just one casualty in a much greater war. A worthy price for peace. "It sounds disconcerting. Useful, though." He wouldn't hide his appreciation of such a talent. "I think it would be nice, if I could guilt people into repenting for what they've done, rather than being forced to engage them in battle." And, of course, kill them. Meepfur "It doesn't necessarily work that well." She could understand, objectively, the potential for such a power, but messing with someone's head that way...disturbed her. "It can be resisted, if someone's will is strong enough, and it doesn't create guilt. If they don't feel any in the first place, it's useless." "It's meant to force a confession, but...it's better in theory than in practice, really." Tsunake That did earn a grimace. So, simply put, those who were standing on the opposite side of battle from him were already likely unrepentant, and trying to remind them of guilt they just did not feel would have no affect. "I understand. The only people it would work on... It would be cruel." He finally finished, not needing to elaborate. Tsunake His talks with Alice continued long into the night, and with a start, Arden realized it was long since time to go. He bid the young woman farewell, exiting the tea house with much on his mind. Different gods, different burdens.. still, he hardly felt as though much could be worse than Famine.
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Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2012 3:35 pm
Dreaming of Dreams
Solo RP #16
500+ words
The amount of sleep required by mortals never ceased to amaze him. Said requirement would be Arden’s downfall. Bazyli was allowed to proceed unhindered, picking away at the fragile strings of the marine’s dreams. Let him suffer. Let him stir with nightmares, unable to fall into the deep, restful sleep of the weary. That weakness would only serve as a boon for Famine, and the mortal’s eventual downfall. How easy it was to pluck at the strands that this mortal brain weaved, disrupting the patterns of sleep and rattling the man far more than he would ever know. Bazyli allowed himself to feed on Arden’s quickly dwindling strength, robbing the mortal for his own benefit. What did he care if the soldier passed away suddenly and abruptly? It simply meant that this body would be his and his alone, fully conquered and unable to resist his whims with petty things such as morals and the like.
Honestly. Mortals could be unbelievably soft-hearted.
Once more, the god extended his influence as far as he could, reaching to the stars above to reap from the suffering of all the creatures still suffering from the effects of the Gehenna. Their starvation fueled him, gave him strength and he greedily sucked down their pain to add it to his own influence. What other purpose did mortal serve, if not to lend their strength to beings that were so much greater than they could ever be?
The tenacity of mortals still perplexed him even now. Why did they continue to pathetically cling to life, even when it was clear that all was lost? Death would be a much kinder release than anything living could offer, but that seemed to matter very little.
Let them fight, then. Bazyli would revel in their struggles; just as Arden’s constant battle against the inevitable provided a constant source of amusement. Although they both knew that there was only one outcome to this battle, Harmodius’ words had strengthened the marine’s resolve and forced him to dig in his heels. Bazyli scoffed at the notion of gaining anything from this creature. He had existed for centuries in comparison. The only thing he could possibly obtain from Arden was his stupidity in the face of overwhelming odds.
Famine felt himself swell, drinking in the Famine that still ravaged All That Was due to the effects of the Gehenna. True, Harmodius’ influence was healing all that had been damaged, but that did not mean he could not benefit from the still badly damaged worlds.
I will make you suffer. The god promised, stroking at his host’s mind if only to make him grimace and stir soundlessly in his sleep. You will know pain. I’ll give you a taste of what I have in store for all the galaxies, if only so you can realize that you are utterly helpless to stop it.
Arden moaned in his sleep, turning onto his side, and the god chuckled quietly to himself. Bazyli would make certain to give the soldier night terrors that he would not soon forget.
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Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2012 3:35 pm
Passing AfternoonMeeting EndiovarJoint RP #17 500+ words [RECLAIMED] Syrie  Cleaning up the Great Library - even with the help of Akakios, Revei, Hue and the various other members of his retinue - was slow going. For every one book, manuscript or scroll that they were able to save three were beyond help or repair. There were endless piles of dust and debris to be cleaned and removed (burned or disposed of in a manner that would allow them to reuse the remains), shelving that either had to be fixed or removed...the list went on and on. It was a daunting task, to be sure - and add onto that the fact that Endiovar and Revei had plans to begin a temple for themselves (and Gianfar, of course)...well, there were times when the curly-haired god of Silence felt that they would never complete the work.
And yet, day after day, he labored; with love in his heart and a sense of purpose in his mind. There were other things to be done, outside of the Library - his promise to Creation...his wont to return to the Silent Forest and have it remade with Glyph's help...the Towers of Silence planned with Nergal...
Many things to be done. Things that would be done - in their own time.
At this moment, he had the doors to the Great Library held wide open; a small table set with food and drink. Break time, apparently. He nibbled at cheeses and fruits, sipped at hot tea with honey and cinnamon...and sat quietly on his own; enjoying the silence.Tsunake As expected, Arden was tired. It was becoming far too easy to fall asleep these days, and far too difficult to wake up. His strong, angular face was becoming rough with stubble, and the dark shadows clumped underneath his eyes gave him a sickly hue. The soldier had taken to roaming mindlessly about the Pantheon, tuning out the sympathetic whispers and chuckles floating just behind his consciousness. He tried not to think about how this was likely all of Bazyli's doing, and how, inevitably, his strength was beginning to fail him. The only reason he took any notice that he had wandered into a library of sorts was when he bumped into what appeared to be a small table of sorts, which rattled its dishes disapprovingly at his lack of sense. There was a sluggish sort of blink, and Arden took in the sight for a moment, slowly tracing it until, he realized with a faint ping of alarm, his eyes settled upon someone. Something. "Sorry." He muttered, armored fingers pressing woozily at his forehead. He was unaware that his physical state might have been alarming to some--particularly with out of it he seemed to be. Where Arden was oblivious to whom he had interrupted, however, Bazyli was not. The god gently encouraged his host to lift his head and take in the pale being a bit more closely, studying the telltale signs and feelings that this was one of his... kin. How delightful. "Forgive him, brother, he was never one for manners..." It was a dry rasp of sound, like the wind rattling through dead leaves. Arden mistook the voice for merely being inside his head again, and didn't bother to correct him. Even the buzz of speech against his lips was, mostly, ignored. Syrie A haggard looking ghost of a man came wandering into the Great Library with empty, soulless eyes and an expression that was faintly distressing. Endiovar watched him nearly stumbling through the door, wondering when - indeed if - the man would notice him; it was even more disconcerting to realize that whomever this person was...he obviously had no idea where he was or even that there was another person nearby. Granted, Silence was probably one of the True Gods that people found easiest to pass over, but still...The man had all but been looking right at him (or at least in his direction!).
It was quite obvious to Silence that there was something very unwell about his new companion: by face, form and also by the faint thread of diefic energy that could be felt winding away from the sunken eyes, sallow cheeks and bowed body. 'Another host...and one that is not doing well at all...' Endiovar sadly thought to himself, kind eyes watching Arden as he bumped into the table, rattling the dishes - he had meant to call out, one hand raised up as though it would help, but he had not. Something had kept his tongue still...Arden seemed like utterly dispondent and Silence was loathe to force him from the stupor he had retreated into.
'Do not apologise my friends. Please, sit and rest...I would like if you would join me. As he not-spoke to Arden and whomever was being reborn through him, the curly-haired god rose so that he could gently guide the armoured man into a chair at the table; he would even set some food and drink out for him, encourage Arden to eat and drink. That rasping, buzzing sound that came from the man's mouth was colored with mana - definitely the God's voice. Familiar and yet not...interesting.
"I am Endiovar of Silence. Know that within my presence you need not struggle to speak, for I 'hear' what is unspoken and intended." He didn't want man nor God to strain themselves...not when it was painfully obvious one was not doing well and the other should be resting for the emminent rebirth. Tsunake His weary limbs nearly folded in upon themselves as gentle hands eased him into a nearby chair, but he only stared dully at the food for a moment, taking a mild interest in the colors and nothing more. His very will to live was, currently, being suppressed. A useful trait, to be sure. I am Bazyli. Famine. It would not do for this body to perish before he had obtained it, and carefully, the god unwound his will from the more primal instincts of the mortal. Arden suddenly was aware of how hungry he was, and he set upon the food ravenously, only able to comprehend the stabbing ache in his gut. How long have you walked in this realm again? Bazyli wanted to know, pleased he could still communicate while ignoring his host altogether. It was no different than a servant, though he'd have struck down any lesser being for such noise. Of course, it wouldn't be much longer now. Of that, he had no doubt. Syrie 'Quite, yes.' As long as Arden would eat, Endiovar would ply him with food and drink while mentally chiding the weary host's immortal 'houseguest' for being so rough with him. Mortals required food and drink, closeness and touch, to survive - granted, this mortal was not slated to 'survive' much longer, but still...
Ah, to each deity their own, really - who was he to try and make another God treat their host with more respect? They could be as kind or unkind as they wished.
'I have been here some time now...before the Grigori removed His name, much before. None of the children were yet in this world...so much was not around, friend.' Whether this god would prove friend or foe in time was a moot point; Endiovar would not treat his guests as anything but. Tsunake The soldier had seen better days, surely, and the kindness was an unexpected, but greatly appreciated sentiment. If he were in his right mind, he would have thanked the God of Silence profusely. As it was, he could only think to reach out, his armor-plated hand lightly touching the pale, seemingly delicate skin of Endiovar's. Emotions flickered over the man's face, conflicted, but he couldn't seem to sort out exactly what it was that he wanted to do, or say. After a moment, he removed his hand, and returned to the meal that had been generously provided for him. I see. A pity, that, but we can only move forward now. Not quite a dismissal, but close. Silence was a neutral realm, one that Bazyli had no thoughts on one way or another. Still, information was incredibly useful, and he would not waste such an opportunity. The Grigori. How soon until you think they strike again? Much as he would have craved the presence of Destruction once more, Balance was what was vital, here. They could not risk everything falling to pieces again quite so soon. Syrie So poignant was the soldier's plight, the soft touch to his hand and display of emotion unfettered, that Endiovar felt his heart ache for the man. Clearly he wished to thank him for the meal, for the courtesy and kindness that he offered as a rule...but he could not; with a smile, Silence reminded him that speech - that thanks were not necessary. With Arden returned to his meal, the god of Silence returned his attention back to Bazyli.
'Indeed, that is what we all work towards.' Moving forward, that is. Rebuilding and working to return All That Is to a stable, wonderfully lush place once more. 'There is no telling, but I feel that they will not tarry long. The longer they wait, the stronger we become - it makes little sense to allow us a long stretch.' He remembered seeing the Void-rot on Arctang's neck...the Dragon King Yu Five Claws' leg (returned only to him with the aid of his shifting body) and he knew that the Grigori would return as swiftly as they could bring their army over using Gaia's arm as their own personal gateway. Tsunake Surprise colored Arden's features for a moment, his mindless, hungry movements crawling to a halt. The words, in his head. Like Bazyli's, but different somehow. Gentler. It didn't set him on edge, though--not that he really would have been able to be intimidating in this sort of state. How can we speak like this? He ventured wearily, wetting his throat with a bit of drink. Famine saw no need to quash his host for now. The man was already beginning to rot away from the inside out. Soon, he would be little more than a husk, ripe for the taking. Perhaps they grow stronger as well. They have already proven that they can overpower us--and with time, they will devise a new, clever plan. The god chuckled, but the sound held no mirth. Time will tell. The weak will be crushed, and the strong shall survive.Arden is able to communicate with the gentle god of Silence for a time until his weariness threatens to devour him. He begs to be excused... though not before thanking Endiovar. Amused, Bazyli will do the same, and allows his host to wander off in a daze. fin
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Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2012 3:37 pm
Repaying a debt to Gideon.Joint RP #18 1,001+ words
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Posted: Thu Sep 11, 2014 6:07 pm
To space!Joint RP #18 1,001+ words
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Posted: Sun Sep 14, 2014 7:01 pm
WoG #1
Morph StageA rattle of breath through malnourished teeth,
Paper thin skin clinging to fragile bone,
Withering away until naught remains,
Only worms crawl in the soil underneath,
The world above dead and still like cold hard stone,
Four of Destruction's seven tails have broken free of their chains,
Famine claims all be they young or old,
His hunger never sated, his work a horror to behold.
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Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2014 5:19 am
WoG #2
Morph StageNo worse pain
than the agony
of a hungry belly.
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